SEAGULL ENERGY CORP
S-3, 1997-09-03
NATURAL GAS TRANSMISISON & DISTRIBUTION
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<PAGE>   1
 
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             ---------------------
                                    FORM S-3
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                             ---------------------
                           SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in its Charter)
                             ---------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                        TEXAS                                                 74-1764876
           (State or other Jurisdiction of                                 (I.R.S. Employer
            Incorporation or Organization)                               Identification No.)
</TABLE>
 
                            1001 FANNIN, SUITE 1700
                           HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-6714
                                 (713) 951-4700
              (Address, including zip code, and telephone number,
       including area code, of Registrant's principal executive offices)
 
                   WILLIAM L. TRANSIER, SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT
                          AND CHIEF FINANCIAL OFFICER
                            1001 FANNIN, SUITE 1700
                           HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-6714
                                 (713) 951-4700
               (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone
               number, including area code, of agent for service)
                             ---------------------
                                   Copies To:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                     <C>
                VINSON & ELKINS L.L.P.                                SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT
                2300 FIRST CITY TOWER                                    425 LEXINGTON AVENUE
              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77002-6760                             NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017-3909
              ATTN: J. MARK METTS, ESQ.                           ATTN: GEORGE R. KROUSE, JR., ESQ.
</TABLE>
 
     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: From time
to time after the effective date of this registration statement.
 
     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box.  [ ]
 
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box.  [X]
 
     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.  [ ]
- ---------------
 
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier registration statement for the same
offering.  [ ]
- ---------------
 
     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box.  [ ]
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
===============================================================================================================
                                                                      PROPOSED
                                                                 MAXIMUM AGGREGATE
                   TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                             OFFERING                AMOUNT OF
             SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED(1)(2)                   PRICE(3)(4)(5)(6)         REGISTRATION FEE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                           <C>                      <C>
Debt Securities(7)..........................................
Preferred Stock.............................................
Depositary Shares(8)........................................
Common Stock(9).............................................
Securities Warrants.........................................            $100                    $1(3)
Total.......................................................
===============================================================================================================
</TABLE>
 
     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(A) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
 
     PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF RULE 429 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS
AMENDED, THE PROSPECTUS CONTAINED IN THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ALSO RELATES TO
$100,000,000 OF DEBT SECURITIES COVERED BY REGISTRANT'S REGISTRATION STATEMENT
ON FORM S-3 (REGISTRATION NO. 33-65118) AND $300,000,000 OF SECURITIES COVERED
BY THE REGISTRANT'S REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 (REGISTRATION NO.
33-64051). SUCH REGISTRATION STATEMENTS ARE ACCORDINGLY AMENDED TO REFLECT THE
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN.
                                                   (Footnotes on following page)
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
 
(Footnotes from previous page)
 
 (1) Not specified as to each class of securities to be registered pursuant to
     General Instruction II(D) to Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as
     amended.
 
 (2) This registration statement also covers such indeterminate amount of
     securities as may be issued in exchange for, or upon conversion or exercise
     of, as the case may be, the Debt Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary
     Shares or Securities Warrants registered hereunder. Any securities
     registered hereunder may be sold separately or as units with other
     securities registered hereunder.
 
 (3) Pursuant to Rule 429 of the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and
     Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
     Prospectus herein also relates to $100,000,000 of debt securities of the
     Registrant registered under Registration Statement No. 33-65118 and
     $300,000,000 of securities of the Registrant registered under Registration
     Statement No. 33-64051.
 
 (4) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
     pursuant to Rule 457(o) of the Rules and Regulations of the Securities and
     Exchange Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
 (5) No separate consideration will be received for any securities registered
     hereunder that are issued in exchange for, or upon conversion of, as the
     case may be, the Debt Securities, Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares
     registered hereunder.
 
 (6) The proposed maximum offering price per unit will be determined from time
     to time by the registrant in connection with, and at the time of, the
     issuance by the registrant of the securities registered hereunder.
 
 (7) The aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities may be increased if
     any Debt Securities are issued at an original issue discount by an amount
     such that the gross proceeds to be received by the registrant shall be
     equal to the above amount to be registered. Any offering of Debt Securities
     denominated other than in U.S. dollars will be treated as the equivalent of
     U.S. dollars based on the exchange rate applicable to the purchase of such
     Debt Securities at the time of initial offering.
 
 (8) Such indeterminate number of Depositary Shares to be evidenced by
     Depositary Receipts issued pursuant to a Deposit Agreement. In the event
     that the Registrant elects to offer to the public fractional interests in
     shares of the Preferred Stock registered hereunder, Depositary Receipts
     will be distributed to those persons purchasing such fractional interests
     and such shares will be issued to the Depositary under the Deposit
     Agreement.
 
 (9) Including associated preferred stock purchase rights. Prior to the
     occurrence of certain events, the preferred stock purchase rights will not
     be evidenced or traded separately from the Common Stock.
<PAGE>   3
 
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
     MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
     BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
     THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
     SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
     UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
     OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
PROSPECTUS
 
                           SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION
 
[SEAGULL LOGO]                  DEBT SECURITIES
                                PREFERRED STOCK
                                  COMMON STOCK
                              SECURITIES WARRANTS
                             ---------------------
     Seagull Energy Corporation ("Seagull" or the "Company") may offer and sell,
from time to time, (i) unsecured debt securities, in one or more series,
consisting of notes, debentures or other evidences of indebtedness (the "Debt
Securities"), (ii) shares of preferred stock, par value $1.00 per share, in one
or more series (the "Preferred Stock"), which may be issued in the form of
depositary shares evidenced by depositary receipts (the "Depositary Shares"),
(iii) shares of common stock, par value $.10 per share (the "Common Stock"),
accompanied by rights to purchase Junior Participating Preferred Stock (the
"Rights"), and (iv) Securities Warrants ("Securities Warrants") to purchase Debt
Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Common Stock. The Company may
offer and sell up to $300,000,100 aggregate public offering price of Debt
Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares, Common Stock and Securities
Warrants (collectively, the "Securities"), and up to an additional $100,000,000
aggregate public offering price of Debt Securities.
 
     The specific terms of the particular Securities to be issued will be set
forth in a supplement to this Prospectus (a "Prospectus Supplement"), which will
be delivered together with this Prospectus, including, where applicable, (i) in
the case of Debt Securities, the specific designation, aggregate principal
amount, ranking as senior or senior subordinated Debt Securities, maturity, rate
or rates (or method of determining the same) and time or times for the payment
of interest, if any, any exchangeability or conversion terms or any terms for
optional or mandatory redemption or repurchase, or payment of additional amounts
or any sinking fund provisions and any other specific terms of such Debt
Securities, will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, (ii) in the case of
Preferred Stock, the specific designation, number of shares and liquidation
value thereof and the dividend, liquidation, redemption, voting and other
rights, including conversion or exchange rights, if any, and any other special
terms, as well as whether interests in the Preferred Stock will be represented
by Depositary Shares, (iii) in the case of Common Stock, the number of shares,
and (iv) in the case of Securities Warrants, the number and terms thereof, the
designation and number or amount of Securities issuable upon their exercise, the
exercise price, the terms of the offering and sale thereof and, where
applicable, the duration and detachability thereof. The Prospectus Supplement
will also contain information regarding the initial public offering price, the
net proceeds to the Company and, where applicable, the United States Federal
income tax considerations relating to the Securities covered by the Prospectus
Supplement.
 
     The Securities may be sold directly by the Company to investors, through
agents designated from time to time or to or through underwriters or dealers.
See "Plan of Distribution." If any agents of the Company or any underwriters are
involved in the sale of any Securities in respect of which the Prospectus is
being delivered, the names of such agents or underwriters and any applicable
commissions or discounts will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.
 
     The Common Stock is listed on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. under the
symbol "SGO." The Prospectus Supplement will contain information about any
listing on a securities exchange of the Securities covered by the Prospectus
Supplement.
 
 THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
     AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS
       THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
         COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
             PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                               CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                             ---------------------
     THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE SALES OF THE SECURITIES
UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
 
          , 1997
<PAGE>   4
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy statements
and other information filed by the Company may be inspected and copied at the
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission, 450 Fifth Street,
N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549; and at regional
offices of the Commission at the Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison, Suite 1400,
Chicago, Illinois 60661 and at 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048.
Copies of such material may be obtained by mail from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at
prescribed rates. Such material may also be inspected and copied at the offices
of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
Certain of such material is also available on the Commission's World Wide Web
site, http://www.sec.gov.
 
     As permitted by the rules and regulations of the Commission, this
Prospectus omits certain information contained in the Registration Statement on
Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") of which this Prospectus is a part. For
such information, reference is made to the Registration Statement and the
exhibits thereto. Statements made in this Prospectus as to the contents of any
contract, agreement or other document are not necessarily complete; with respect
to each such contract, agreement or other document filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement or incorporated by reference herein, reference is made to
such contract, agreement or other document for a more complete description of
the matter involved, and each such statement is qualified in its entirety by
such reference.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
     The Company hereby incorporates by reference in this Prospectus the
following documents previously filed with the Commission pursuant to the
Exchange Act: (i) the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1996; (ii) the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
quarters ended March 31, 1997 and June 30, 1997; and (iii) the description of
the Common Stock contained in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A declared
effective by the Commission on January 30, 1981, together with the amendments on
Form 8 filed with the Commission on January 29, 1981, January 30, 1981 and
October 28, 1991.
 
     Each document filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the termination of the offering of the Securities pursuant hereto shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part of
this Prospectus from the date of filing of such document. Any statement
contained in this Prospectus or in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of the Registration Statement and this Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained in this Prospectus or in any subsequently
filed document that also is or deemed to be incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified
or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of the Registration Statement or this Prospectus.
 
     The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of any such person, a
copy of any or all of the documents that are incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus, other than exhibits to such documents (unless such exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference into such documents). Requests should be
directed to Investor Relations, Seagull Energy Corporation, 1001 Fannin, Suite
1700, Houston, Texas 77002, telephone (713) 951-4700.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   5
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     Seagull is an independent, international oil and natural gas company
engaged primarily in exploring for and producing crude oil and natural gas. Its
operations are conducted through two business segments, the most prominent of
which, Oil and Gas Operations, involves primarily exploration and production
("E&P").
 
     E&P operations consist of oil and gas exploration and production in the
United States, Egypt, Cote d'Ivoire, Indonesia and the Russian Republic of
Tatarstan. The Company is currently exploring the possible sale of its E&P
operations in Canada. In addition, the Company has an interest in an exploration
venture in the Irish Sea.
 
     Within its Oil and Gas Operations segment, the Company also includes its
oil and gas marketing activities and its engineering, design, construction
management and full-service operations of pipelines and related facilities for
other parties.
 
     The Company's other operating segment, Alaska Transmission and
Distribution, involves the operation as one unit, referred to as ENSTAR Alaska,
of natural gas transmission and distribution systems which serve the greater
Anchorage, Alaska area.
 
     The Company was incorporated in Texas in 1973 as a wholly owned subsidiary
of Houston Oil & Minerals Corporation ("HO&M"). In March 1981, the Company
became an independent entity as a result of the spinoff of its shares to the
stockholders of HO&M. The Company's principal executive offices are located at
1001 Fannin, Suite 1700, Houston, Texas 77002, and the Company's telephone
number is (713) 951-4700. The "Company" or "Seagull" refers to Seagull Energy
Corporation and its consolidated subsidiaries, unless otherwise indicated or the
context otherwise suggests.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement, the net proceeds
from the sale of the Securities offered by this Prospectus and the Prospectus
Supplement (the "Offered Securities") will be added to the Company's general
funds and used for general corporate purposes. Until so utilized, it is expected
that such net proceeds will be invested in interest-bearing time deposits or
short-term marketable securities.
 
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
     The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for
the Company for the periods indicated:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
         SIX
       MONTHS
        ENDED               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
      JUNE 30,          --------------------------------
        1997            1996   1995   1994   1993   1992
- ---------------------   ----   ----   ----   ----   ----
<C>                     <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
        2.79            2.10   1.00   0.97   2.15   1.52
       =====            ====   ====   ====   ====   ====
</TABLE>
 
     On October 3, 1996, the Company acquired Global Natural Resources, Inc.
("Global") in a stock-for-stock merger accounted for as a pooling of interests.
Accordingly, the financial statements of the Company for the period prior to
October 3, 1996 have been restated to combine the results of Seagull and Global.
 
     For purposes of computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges: (i)
earnings consist of income from continuing operations before provision for
income taxes and cumulative effect of changes in accounting principles plus
fixed charges as described below, excluding capitalized interest for the period
and (ii) fixed charges consist of interest expensed and capitalized and
amortization of debt discount and expense relating to indebtedness. For the year
ended December 31, 1994, the amount of earnings was not adequate to cover fixed
charges by $1,059,000.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   6
 
     There were no shares of Preferred Stock outstanding during any of the
periods indicated above and therefore the combined ratio of earnings to fixed
charges and preferred stock dividend requirements would have been the same as
set forth above for all periods indicated.
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
     The Debt Securities will be unsecured senior or senior subordinated debt of
the Company and will be issued, in the case of Debt Securities that will be
senior debt ("Senior Debt Securities"), under a Senior Indenture (the "Senior
Debt Indenture") between the Company and The Bank of New York, as trustee, and,
in the case of Debt Securities that will be senior subordinated debt ("Senior
Subordinated Debt Securities"), under a Senior Subordinated Indenture (the
"Senior Subordinated Debt Indenture") between the Company and The Bank of New
York, as trustee. The Senior Debt Indenture and the Senior Subordinated Debt
Indenture are sometimes hereinafter referred to individually as an "Indenture"
and collectively as the "Indentures." The Bank of New York (and any successor
thereto as trustee under either Indenture) is hereinafter referred to as the
"Trustee." The Indentures are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus is a part. The following summaries of certain provisions
of the Indentures and the Debt Securities do not purport to be complete and such
summaries are subject to the detailed provisions of the applicable Indenture to
which reference is hereby made for a full description of such provisions,
including the definition of certain terms used herein. Section references in
parentheses below are to sections in both Indentures unless otherwise indicated.
Wherever particular sections or defined terms of the applicable Indenture are
referred to, such sections or defined terms are incorporated herein by reference
as part of the statement made, and the statement is qualified in its entirety by
such reference. The Indentures are substantially identical, except for
provisions relating to subordination.
 
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE TO BOTH SENIOR AND SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
 
     General. The Debt Securities will be unsecured senior or senior
subordinated obligations of the Company and may be issued from time to time in
one or more series. Neither of the Indentures limits the amount of Debt
Securities that may be issued thereunder nor does either limit the aggregate
unsecured indebtedness of the Company or any subsidiary thereof or limit the
payment of dividends or the acquisition of stock of the Company. The Company
currently conducts a substantial portion of its operations through subsidiaries.
Consequently, the rights of the Company to receive assets of any subsidiary (and
thus the ability of holders of Debt Securities to benefit indirectly from such
assets) are subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary. Except
to the extent set forth in any Prospectus Supplement, the Indentures do not, and
the Debt Securities will not, contain any covenants or other provisions that are
intended to afford holders of the Debt Securities special protection in the
event of either a change of control of the Company or a highly leveraged
transaction by the Company.
 
     Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement for the following terms of
and information relating to the Debt Securities offered by such Prospectus
Supplement ("Offered Debt Securities") (to the extent such terms and information
are applicable to such Offered Debt Securities): (i) the title of the Offered
Debt Securities; (ii) classification as Senior Debt Securities or Senior
Subordinated Debt Securities, aggregate principal amount, purchase price and
denomination; (iii) the date or dates on which the Offered Debt Securities will
mature; (iv) the method by which amounts payable in respect of principal,
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on or upon the redemption of such Offered
Debt Securities may be calculated; (v) the interest rate or rates (or the method
by which such will be determined), and the date or dates from which such
interest, if any, will accrue; (vi) the date or dates on which such interest, if
any, will be payable; (vii) the place or places where and the manner in which
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Offered Debt
Securities will be payable and the place or places where the Offered Debt
Securities may be presented for transfer; (viii) the right, if any, or
obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or purchase the Offered Debt
Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option
of a holder thereof and the period or periods within which, the price or prices
(or the method by which such price or prices will be determined, or both) at
which, the form or method of payment therefor if other than in cash and the
terms and conditions upon which the Offered Debt Securities will be redeemed,
repaid or purchased
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   7
 
pursuant to any such obligation; (ix) any provision relating to the issuance of
the Offered Debt Securities at an original issue discount; (x) if the amounts of
payments of principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Offered Debt
Securities are to be determined with reference to an index, the manner in which
such amounts shall be determined; (xi) any applicable United States federal
income tax consequences; (xii) the aggregate amount of outstanding indebtedness
as of the most recent practicable date that would be senior to the Senior
Subordinated Debt Securities; and (xiii) any other specific terms of the Offered
Debt Securities, including any deleted, modified or additional events of
default, remedies or covenants provided with respect to such Offered Debt
Securities, and any terms that may be required by or advisable under applicable
laws or regulations.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in any Prospectus Supplement, the Debt
Securities will be issuable in registered form and in denominations of $1,000
and any integral multiple thereof (Section 2.7). No service charge will be made
for any transfer or exchange of any Debt Securities but the Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
payable in connection therewith (Section 2.8).
 
     Debt Securities may bear interest at a fixed rate or a floating rate. Debt
Securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time of
issuance is below the prevailing market rate may be sold at a discount below
their stated principal amount. Special United States federal income tax
considerations applicable to any such discounted Debt Securities or to certain
Debt Securities issued at par that are treated as having been issued at a
discount for United States federal income tax purposes will be described in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal
amount of outstanding Debt Securities of any series have given any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver under the
Indentures, the principal amount of any series of Debt Securities originally
issued at a discount from their stated principal amount that will be deemed to
be outstanding for such purposes will be the amount of the principal thereof
that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a
declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof.
 
     Global Securities. The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole
or in part in the form of one or more global securities ("Global Securities")
that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary (the "Depositary")
identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. Global
Securities may be issued only in fully registered form and in either temporary
or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the
individual Debt Securities represented thereby, a Global Security (i) may not be
transferred except as a whole and (ii) may only be transferred (A) by the
Depositary for such Global Security to its nominee, (B) by a nominee of such
Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or (C) by
such Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary or nominee of such
successor Depositary (Section 2.8).
 
     The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series
of Debt Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such series. The Company anticipates that the following provisions will
generally apply to depositary arrangements.
 
     Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global
Security or its nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer
system, the respective principal amounts of the individual Debt Securities
represented by such Global Security to the accounts of persons that have
accounts with such Depositary. Such accounts shall be designated by the dealers,
underwriters or agents with respect to such Debt Securities or by the Company if
such Debt Securities are offered and sold directly by the Company. Ownership of
beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited to persons that have
accounts with the applicable Depositary ("participants") or persons that may
hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such
Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be
effected only through, records maintained by the applicable Depositary or its
nominee (with respect to interests of participants) and the records of
participants (with respect to interests of persons other than participants). The
laws of some states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical
delivery of
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   8
 
such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the
ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.
 
     So long as the Depositary for a Global Security or its nominee is the
registered owner of such Global Security, such Depositary or its nominee, as the
case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Debt Securities
of the series represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the
Indenture governing such Debt Securities. Except as provided below, owners of
beneficial interests in a Global Security will not be entitled to have any of
the individual Debt Securities of the series represented by such Global Security
registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical
delivery of any such Debt Securities in definitive form and will not be
considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture governing such Debt
Securities.
 
     Payment of principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on
individual Debt Securities represented by a Global Security registered in the
name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to the Depositary or its
nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Security
representing such Debt Securities. The Company expects that the Depositary for a
series of Debt Securities or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of
principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, in respect of a Global
Security representing any such Debt Securities, immediately will credit
participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their
respective beneficial interests in the principal amount of such Global Security
for such Debt Securities as shown on the records of such Depositary or its
nominee. The Company also expects that payments by participants to owners of
beneficial interests in such Global Security held through such participants will
be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case
with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered
in "street name." Such payments will be the responsibility of such participants.
Neither the Company, the Trustee for such Debt Securities, any paying agent nor
the registrar for such Debt Securities will have any responsibility or liability
for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of
beneficial ownership interests of the Global Security for such Debt Securities
or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such
beneficial ownership interests.
 
     If the Depositary for a series of Debt Securities is at any time unwilling,
unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not
appointed by the Company within 90 days, the Company will issue individual Debt
Securities of such series in exchange for the Global Security representing such
series of Debt Securities. In addition, the Company may at any time and in its
sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such Debt Securities, determine not to have any Debt
Securities of a series represented by one or more Global Securities and, in such
event, will issue individual Debt Securities of such series in exchange for the
Global Security or Securities representing such series of Debt Securities.
Further, if the Company so specifies with respect to the Debt Securities of a
series, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security representing Debt
Securities of such series may, on terms acceptable to the Company, the Trustee
and the Depositary for such Global Security, receive individual Debt Securities
of such series in exchange for such beneficial interests, subject to any
limitations described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt
Securities. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global
Security will be entitled to physical delivery of individual Debt Securities of
the series represented by such Global Security equal in principal amount to such
beneficial interest and to have such Debt Securities registered in its name.
Individual Debt Securities of such series so issued will be issued in registered
form and in denominations, unless otherwise specified by the Company, of $1,000
and integral multiples thereof.
 
     Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions. At such time as any series
of Debt Securities has been issued and is outstanding, Sale and Leaseback
Transactions are prohibited unless (a) the Company or the Restricted Subsidiary
owning such Principal Property would be entitled to incur Secured Debt equal to
the amount realizable upon the sale or transfer of the property to be so leased
secured by a mortgage on such property without equally and ratably securing such
Debt Securities or (b) an amount equal to the value of the property so leased is
applied to the retirement (other than mandatory retirement) of the Debt
Securities of such series or certain other funded indebtedness of the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries ranking prior to or on a parity with the Debt
Securities within 120 days of the effective date of any such arrangement
(Section 3.7).
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   9
 
     Certain Definitions. The following definitions are applicable to the
discussions of the Indentures (Article One).
 
     "Subsidiary" means any corporation of which the Company, or the Company and
one or more Subsidiaries, or any one or more Subsidiaries, directly or
indirectly own voting securities entitling any one or more of the Company and
its Subsidiaries to elect a majority of the directors, either at all times, or
so long as there is no default or contingency which permits the holders of any
other class or classes of securities to vote for the election of one or more
directors.
 
     "Principal Property" means any real property, manufacturing plant,
processing plant, pipeline, office building, warehouse or other physical
facility, or any other like depreciable or depletable asset of the Company or of
any Restricted Subsidiary, whether owned at the date of the applicable Indenture
or thereafter acquired (other than any facility thereafter acquired for the
control or abatement of atmospheric pollutants or contaminants or water, noise,
odor or other pollution), that in the opinion of the Board of Directors of the
Company is of material importance to the total business conducted by the Company
and its Restricted Subsidiaries, as a whole; provided, however, that any such
property shall not be deemed a Principal Property if such property does not have
a fair value in excess of 3% of the total assets included on a consolidated
balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries prepared in
accordance with generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.
 
     "Restricted Subsidiary" means (a) any currently existing Subsidiary whose
principal assets and business are located in the United States or Canada, except
certain sales financing, real estate and other Subsidiaries so designated, and
(b) any Subsidiary that is designated by the Company to be a Restricted
Subsidiary.
 
     "Secured Debt" means indebtedness for money borrowed by the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary, and any other indebtedness of the Company or a Restricted
Subsidiary, on which interest is paid or payable (other than indebtedness owed
by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company, by a Restricted Subsidiary to another
Restricted Subsidiary or by the Company to a Restricted Subsidiary), that in any
such case is secured by (a) a mortgage or other lien on any Principal Property
of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, or (b) a pledge, lien or other
security interest on any shares of stock or indebtedness of a Restricted
Subsidiary, or (c) in the case of any such indebtedness of the Company, a
guaranty by any Restricted Subsidiary. The amount of Secured Debt at any time
outstanding shall be the amount then owing thereon by the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary.
 
     "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the aggregate amount of assets
included on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items and
after deducting therefrom (a) all current liabilities and (b) all goodwill,
trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount and expense and
other like intangibles, all in accordance with generally accepted accounting
principles consistently applied.
 
     "Sale and Leaseback Transaction" means the sale or transfer by the Company
or a Restricted Subsidiary of any Principal Property owned by it that has been
in full operation for more than 120 days prior to such sale or transfer with the
intention of taking back a lease on such property (other than a lease not
exceeding 36 months) where the use by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary
of such property will be discontinued on or before the expiration of the term of
such lease.
 
     Events of Default. Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement,
an Event of Default is defined under each Indenture with respect to the Debt
Securities of any series issued under such Indenture as being: (a) default in
the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Debt Securities of
such series when due, continued for 30 days; (b) default in the payment of
principal of or premium, if any, with respect to Debt Securities of such series
when due; (c) default in the payment or satisfaction of any sinking fund or
other purchase obligation with respect to Debt Securities of such series when
due; (d) default in the performance of any other covenant of the Company
applicable to Debt Securities of such series, continued for 60 days after
written notice to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the Trustee
by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities of such series then outstanding and; (e) certain events of
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization (Section 5.1).
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   10
 
     If any Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the Trustee or the
holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities of such series then outstanding, by notice in writing to the Company
(and to the Trustee, if given by the holders), may declare the principal (or, in
the case of any series of Debt Securities originally issued at a discount from
their stated principal amount, such portion of the principal amount as may be
specified in the terms of such series) of all of the Debt Securities of such
series and the interest, if any, accrued thereon to be due and payable
immediately, but the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debt Securities of such series then outstanding, by notice in writing to the
Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annul such declaration and its
consequences if all defaults under such Indenture are cured or waived (Section
5.1).
 
     Each Indenture provides that no holder of any series of Debt Securities
then outstanding may institute any suit, action or proceeding with respect to,
or otherwise attempt to enforce, such Indenture, unless (i) such holder
previously shall have given to the Trustee written notice of default and of the
continuance thereof, (ii) the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
principal amount of such series of Debt Securities then outstanding shall have
made written request to the Trustee to institute such suit, action or proceeding
and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may
require with respect thereto and (iii) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt
of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have neglected or refused
to institute any such action, suit or proceeding; provided that, subject to the
subordination provisions applicable to the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities,
the right of any holder of any Debt Security to receive payment of the principal
of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such Debt Security, on or after the
respective due dates, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such holder
(Section 5.4). The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debt Securities of such series then outstanding may direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the Debt
Securities of such series, provided that the Trustee may decline to follow such
direction if the Trustee determines that such action or proceeding is unlawful
or would involve the Trustee in personal liability (Section 5.7).
 
     The Company is required to furnish to the Trustee annually a certificate as
to the compliance by the Company with all conditions and covenants under each
Indenture (Section 4.3).
 
     Discharge and Defeasance. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement, the Company can discharge or defease its obligations with
respect to each series of Debt Securities as set forth below (Article Ten).
 
     The Company may discharge all of its obligations (except those set forth
below) to holders of any series of Debt Securities issued under either Indenture
that have not already been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation and that
have either become due and payable or are by their terms due and payable within
one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by irrevocably depositing
with the Trustee cash or U.S. Government Obligations (as defined in such
Indenture), or a combination thereof, as trust funds in an amount certified to
be sufficient to pay when due the principal of and interest, if any, on all
outstanding Debt Securities of such series and to make any mandatory sinking
fund payments thereon when due.
 
     Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Company may also discharge at any time all of its obligations (except those set
forth below) to holders of any series of Debt Securities issued under either
Indenture ("defeasance") if, among other things: (i) the Company irrevocably
deposits with the Trustee cash or U.S. Government Obligations, or a combination
thereof, as trust funds in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay when due
the principal of and interest, if any, on all outstanding Debt Securities of
such series and to make any mandatory sinking fund payments thereon when due and
such funds have been so deposited for 91 days; (ii) such deposit will not result
in a breach or violation of, or cause a default under, any agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound; and (iii)
the Company delivers to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that the
holders of such series of Debt Securities will not recognize income, gain or
loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such
defeasance and that defeasance will not otherwise alter the United States
federal income tax treatment of such holders' principal and interest payments on
such series of Debt Securities. Such opinion must be based on a ruling of
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   11
 
the Internal Revenue Service or a change in United States federal income tax law
occurring after the date of the Indenture relating to the Debt Securities of
such series, since such a result would not occur under current tax law (Section
10.1).
 
     Notwithstanding the foregoing, no discharge or defeasance described above
shall affect the following obligations to or rights of the holders of any series
of Debt Securities: (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange of Debt
Securities of such series, (ii) rights of substitution of mutilated, defaced,
destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Securities of such series, (iii) rights of
holders of Debt Securities of such series to receive payments of principal
thereof and premium, if any, and interest, if any, thereon, upon the original
due dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and to receive mandatory sinking
fund payments thereon when due, if any, (iv) rights, obligations, duties and
immunities of the Trustee, (v) rights of holders of Debt Securities of such
series as beneficiaries with respect to property so deposited with the Trustee
payable to all or any of them and (vi) obligations of the Company to maintain an
office or agency in respect of Debt Securities of such series (Section 10.1).
 
     Modification of the Indenture. Each Indenture provides that the Company and
the Trustee may enter into supplemental indentures without the consent of the
holders of the Debt Securities to (a) evidence the assumption by a successor
entity of the obligations of the Company under such Indenture, (b) add covenants
or new events of default for the protection of the holders of such Debt
Securities, (c) cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in the
Indenture, (d) establish the form and terms of Debt Securities of any series,
(e) evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee and (f) in the
case of Senior Debt Securities, secure such Debt Securities (Section 8.1).
 
     Each Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of each series then outstanding
and affected, to add any provisions to, or change in any manner or eliminate any
of the provisions of, such Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or modify
in any manner the rights of the holders of the Debt Securities of such series;
provided that the Company and the Trustee may not, without the consent of the
holder of each outstanding Debt Security affected thereby, (a) extend the stated
final maturity of any Debt Security, reduce the principal amount thereof, reduce
the rate or extend the time of payment of interest, if any, thereon, reduce or
alter the method of computation of any amount payable on redemption, repayment
or purchase by the Company, change the coin or currency in which principal,
premium, if any, and interest, if any, are payable, reduce the amount of the
principal of any original issue discount security payable upon acceleration or
provable in bankruptcy, impair or affect the right to institute suit for the
enforcement of any payment or repayment thereof or, if applicable, adversely
affect any right of prepayment at the option of the holder or (b) reduce the
aforesaid percentage in aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of any
series issued under such Indenture, the consent of the holders of which is
required for any such modification (Section 8.2).
 
     The Senior Subordinated Debt Indenture may not be amended to alter the
subordination of any outstanding Senior Subordinated Debt Securities without the
written consent of each holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding that
would be adversely affected thereby (Section 8.6 of the Senior Subordinated Debt
Indenture).
 
     Conversion or Exchange Rights. The Prospectus Supplement for any Offered
Debt Securities offered thereby will state the terms, if any, on which shares of
such Offered Debt Securities are convertible into, or exchangeable for,
securities of the Company or another person.
 
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE SOLELY TO SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
 
     General. Senior Debt Securities will be issued under the Senior Debt
Indenture and will rank pari passu with all other unsecured and unsubordinated
debt of the Company.
 
     Limitations on Liens. At such time as any series of Senior Debt Securities
has been issued and is outstanding, the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries
are prohibited from creating, incurring, assuming or guaranteeing any Secured
Debt without making effective provision whereby the Senior Debt Securities then
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   12
 
outstanding and any other indebtedness of or guaranteed by the Company or any
such Restricted Subsidiary then entitled thereto, subject to applicable
priorities of payment, shall be secured by such mortgage, security interest,
pledge, lien or encumbrance equally and ratably with any and all other
obligations and indebtedness thereby secured, so long as any such other
obligations and indebtedness shall be so secured; provided, that if any such
mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance securing such
Indebtedness ceases to exist, such equal and ratable security for the benefit of
the holders of Senior Debt Securities shall automatically cease to exist without
any further action; provided, further, that if such Indebtedness is expressly
subordinated to the Senior Debt Securities, the mortgage, security interest,
pledge, lien or encumbrance securing such subordinated Indebtedness shall be
subordinate and junior to the mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or
encumbrance securing the Senior Debt Securities with the same relative priority
as such Indebtedness shall have with respect to the Senior Debt Securities
(Section 3.6 of the Senior Debt Indenture). The foregoing restrictions are not
applicable to (i) certain purchase money mortgages, (ii) certain mortgages to
finance construction on unimproved property, (iii) mortgages existing on
property at the time of acquisition by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary,
(iv) mortgages existing on the property or on the outstanding shares or
indebtedness of a corporation at the time it becomes a Restricted Subsidiary,
(v) mortgages on property of a corporation existing at the time such corporation
is merged or consolidated with the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, (vi)
mortgages in favor of governmental bodies to secure certain payments of
indebtedness, (vii) mortgages, security interests, pledges, liens or
encumbrances existing on property owned by the Company or any of its
Subsidiaries on the date of the applicable Indenture, (viii) mortgages, security
interests, pledges, liens or encumbrances created pursuant to the creation of
trusts or other arrangements funded solely with cash or securities of the type
customarily subject to such arrangements in customary financial practice with
respect to long-term or medium-term indebtedness for borrowed money, the sole
purpose of which is to make provision for the retirement or defeasance, without
prepayment of Indebtedness, (ix) mortgages, security interests, pledges, liens
or encumbrances on the assets or properties of ENSTAR Natural Gas Company, a
division of the Company, or on Alaska Pipeline Company, a Subsidiary of the
Company (together, "ENSTAR Alaska"), (x) mortgages, security interests, pledges,
liens or encumbrances securing (i) all or part of the cost of exploring,
producing, gathering, processing, marketing, drilling or developing any
properties of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries, or securing indebtedness
incurred to provide funds therefor, or (ii) indebtedness incurred to finance all
or part of the cost of acquiring, constructing, altering, improving or repairing
any such property or assets, or securing indebtedness incurred to provide funds
therefor; or (xi) extensions, renewals or replacements of the foregoing (Section
3.6 of the Senior Debt Indenture). Solely for the purpose of the foregoing
exceptions, the term "mortgage" shall be deemed to include any arrangements in
connection with a production payment or similar financing arrangement.
 
     Notwithstanding the foregoing restrictions, the Company and any one or more
Restricted Subsidiaries may create, incur, assume or guarantee Secured Debt not
otherwise permitted or excepted without equally and ratably securing the Senior
Debt Securities of each series issued and outstanding under the Senior Debt
Indenture if the sum of (a) the amount of such Secured Debt plus (b) the
aggregate value of Sale and Leaseback Transactions (subject to certain
exceptions) does not exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (excluding
ENSTAR Alaska) (Section 3.6 of the Senior Debt Indenture).
 
     Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance. No consolidation or merger of
the Company, and no sale of substantially all of its property, shall be made
with or to another corporation if any Principal Property of the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary would become subject to any mortgage or lien (other than
those permitted by Section 3.6 of the Senior Debt Indenture) unless prior
thereto all Senior Debt Securities then outstanding are secured (equally and
ratably, or with such other relative priority described above, with any other
indebtedness of or guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary then
entitled thereto) by a direct lien on any such Principal Property and certain
other properties (Section 9.2 of the Senior Debt Indenture). Subject to the
foregoing, the Company may, without the consent of the holders of Debt
Securities, consolidate with, merge into or transfer, exchange or dispose of all
of its properties to, any other corporation organized under the laws of the
United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, provided that the
successor corporation assumes all obligations of the Company under the
Indentures and the Debt Securities and that certain other conditions are met.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   13
 
PROVISIONS APPLICABLE SOLELY TO SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
 
     Certain Definitions. For purposes of the following discussion, the
following definitions are applicable (Article One of the Senior Subordinated
Debt Indenture).
 
     "Indebtedness" is defined as, with respect to any person,
 
          (a) (i) the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on
     indebtedness for money borrowed of such person evidenced by bonds, notes,
     debentures or similar obligations, including any guaranty by such person of
     any indebtedness for money borrowed of any other person, evidenced by
     bonds, notes, debentures or similar obligations, including any guarantee by
     such person of any indebtedness of money borrowed by any other person,
     whether any such indebtedness or guaranty is outstanding on the date of the
     Indenture or is thereafter created, assumed or incurred, (ii) the principal
     of and premium and interest, if any, on indebtedness for money borrowed,
     incurred, assumed or guaranteed by such person in connection with the
     acquisition by it or any of its subsidiaries of any other businesses,
     properties or other assets and (iii) lease obligations that such person
     capitalizes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards
     No. 13 promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such
     other generally accepted accounting principles as may be from time to time
     in effect;
 
          (b) any other indebtedness of such person, including any indebtedness
     representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price of any
     property or interest therein, and any guaranty, endorsement or other
     contingent obligation of such person in respect of any indebtedness of
     another that is outstanding on the date of the Indenture or is thereafter
     created, assumed or incurred by such person; and
 
          (c) any amendments, modifications, refundings, renewals or extensions
     of any indebtedness or obligation described as Indebtedness in clauses (a)
     or (b) above.
 
     "Senior Indebtedness" is defined in the Senior Subordinated Debt Indenture
as Indebtedness of the Company outstanding at any time except (a) any
Indebtedness as to which, by the terms of the instrument creating or evidencing
the same, it is provided that such Indebtedness is not senior in right of
payment to the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities, (b) the Senior Subordinated
Debt Securities, (c) any Indebtedness of the Company to a wholly-owned
Subsidiary of the Company, (d) interest accruing after the filing of a petition
initiating certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency unless such interest is an
allowed claim enforceable against the Company in a proceeding under federal or
state bankruptcy laws and (e) trade payables.
 
     "Senior Subordinated Indebtedness" means the Senior Subordinated Debt
Securities and any other Indebtedness of the Company that ranks pari passu with
the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities. Any Indebtedness of the Company that is
subordinate or junior by its terms in right of payment to any other Indebtedness
of the Company shall be subordinate to Senior Subordinated Indebtedness unless
the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is
outstanding specifically provides that such Indebtedness (i) is to rank pari
passu with other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness and (ii) is not subordinated
by its terms to any Indebtedness of the Company which is not Senior
Indebtedness.
 
     "Subordinated Indebtedness" means the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities,
any other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness and any other Indebtedness that is
subordinate or junior in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness.
 
     Subordination. The Senior Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinate
and junior in right of payment, to the extent set forth in the Senior
Subordinated Debt Indenture, to all Senior Indebtedness of the Company. The
Senior Subordinated Debt Securities will rank senior to all existing and future
Indebtedness of the Company that is neither Senior Indebtedness nor Senior
Subordinated Indebtedness, and only Indebtedness of the Company that is Senior
Indebtedness will rank senior to the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities in
accordance with the subordination provisions of the Senior Subordinated
Indenture. If (i) the Company should default in the payment of any principal of,
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Senior Indebtedness when the same
becomes due and payable, whether at maturity or at a date fixed for prepayment
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   14
 
or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise or (ii) any other default with
respect to Senior Indebtedness shall occur and the maturity of such Senior
Indebtedness has been accelerated in accordance with its terms, then, upon
written notice of such default to the Company by the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness or any trustee therefor, unless and until such default shall have
been cured or waived or shall have ceased to exist or such acceleration shall
have been rescinded, no direct or indirect payment (in cash, property,
securities, by set-off or otherwise) will be made or agreed to be made for
principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the Senior
Subordinated Debt Securities, or in respect of any redemption, retirement,
purchase or other acquisition of the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities other
than those made in capital stock of the Company (or cash in lieu of fractional
shares thereof) (Sections 13.1 and 13.4 of the Senior Subordinated Debt
Indenture).
 
     If any default (other than a default described in the preceding paragraph)
under the Senior Indebtedness, pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be
accelerated immediately or the expiration of any applicable grace periods occurs
(a "Senior Nonmonetary Default"), then, upon the receipt by the Company and the
Trustee of written notice thereof (a "Payment Notice") from or on behalf of
holders of such Senior Indebtedness specifying an election to prohibit such
payment and other action by the Company in accordance with the following
provisions of this paragraph, the Company may not make any payment or take any
other action that would be prohibited by the immediately preceding paragraph
during the period (the "Payment Blockage Period") commencing on the date of
receipt of such Payment Notice and ending on the earlier of (i) the date, if
any, on which the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative
notify the Trustee that such Senior Nonmonetary Default is cured or waived or
ceases to exist or the Senior Indebtedness to which such Senior Nonmonetary
Default relates is discharged or (ii) the 179th day after the date of receipt of
such Payment Notice. Notwithstanding the provisions described in the immediately
preceding sentence, the Company may resume payments on the Debt Securities after
such Payment Blockage Period.
 
     If (i) (A) without the consent of the Company, a receiver, conservator,
liquidator or trustee of the Company or of any of its property is appointed by
the order or decree of any court or agency or supervisory authority having
jurisdiction, and such decree or order remains in effect for more than 60 days
or (B) the Company is adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent or (C) any of its
property is sequestered by court order and such order remains in effect for more
than 60 days or (D) a petition is filed against the Company under any state or
federal bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of
debt, dissolution, liquidation or receivership law of any jurisdiction whether
now or hereafter in effect, and is not dismissed within 60 days after such
filing; or (ii) the Company (A) commences a voluntary case or other proceeding
seeking liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of
debt, dissolution, liquidation or other relief with respect to itself or its
debt or other liabilities under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law
now or hereafter in effect or seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver,
liquidator, custodian or other similar official of it or any substantial part of
its property, or (B) consents to any such relief or to the appointment of or
taking possession by any such official in an involuntary case or other
proceeding commenced against it, or (C) fails generally to, or cannot, pay its
debts generally as they become due or (D) takes any corporate action to
authorize or effect any of the foregoing; or (iii) any Subsidiary of the Company
takes, suffers or permits to exist any of the events or conditions referred to
in the foregoing clause (i) or (ii), then all Senior Indebtedness (including any
interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) will
first be paid in full before any payment or distribution, whether in cash,
securities or other property, is made to any holder of Senior Subordinated Debt
Securities on account of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any,
on such Senior Subordinated Debt Securities. Any payment or distribution,
whether in cash, securities or other property (other than securities of the
Company or any other corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or
readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to the extent
provided in the subordination provisions with respect to the indebtedness
evidenced by the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities, to the payment of all
Senior Indebtedness then outstanding and to any securities issued in respect
thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment) that would
otherwise (but for the subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in
respect of the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities of any series will be paid or
delivered directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the
priorities then existing among such holders until all Senior Indebtedness
(including any interest thereon accruing after the commencement of any such
proceedings) has been paid in
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   15
 
full. In the event of any such proceeding, after payment in full of all sums
owing with respect to Senior Indebtedness, the holders of Senior Subordinated
Debt Securities, together with the holders of any obligations of the Company
ranking on a parity with the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities, will be
entitled to be repaid from the remaining assets of the Company the amounts at
that time due and owing on account of unpaid principal of, premium, if any, or
interest, if any, on the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities and such other
obligations before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property
or otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital stock or obligations of
the Company ranking junior to the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities and such
other obligations (Section 13.1 of the Senior Subordinated Debt Indenture).
 
     If any payment or distribution of any character, whether in cash,
securities or other property (other than securities of the Company or any other
corporation provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment the payment
of which is subordinate, at least to the extent provided in the subordination
provisions with respect to the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities, to the
payment of all Senior Indebtedness then outstanding and to any securities issued
in respect thereof under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), shall
be received by the Trustee or any holder of any Senior Subordinated Debt
Securities in contravention of any of the terms of the Senior Subordinated Debt
Indenture, such payment or distribution of securities will be received in trust
for the benefit of, and will be paid over or delivered and transferred to, the
holders of the Senior Indebtedness then outstanding in accordance with the
priorities then existing among such holders for application to the payment of
all Senior Indebtedness remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all such
Senior Indebtedness in full (Section 13.1 of the Senior Subordinated Debt
Indenture).
 
     By reason of such subordination, in the event of the insolvency of the
Company, holders of Senior Indebtedness may receive more, ratably, than holders
of the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities. Such subordination will not prevent
the occurrence of any Event of Default (as defined in the Indentures) or limit
the right of acceleration in respect of the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities.
 
     Limitations on Liens. At such time as any series of Senior Subordinated
Debt Securities has been issued and is outstanding, the Company and its
Restricted Subsidiaries are prohibited from creating, incurring, assuming or
guaranteeing any Secured Debt that is expressly by its terms Subordinated
Indebtedness without making effective provision whereby the Senior Subordinated
Debt Securities then outstanding and any other indebtedness of or guaranteed by
the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary then entitled thereto, subject to
applicable priorities of payment, shall be secured by such mortgage, security
interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance equally and ratably with any and all other
obligations and indebtedness thereby secured, so long as any such other
obligations and indebtedness shall be so secured; provided, that if any such
mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance securing such
Subordinated Indebtedness ceases to exist, such equal and ratable security for
the benefit of the holders of Senior Subordinated Debt Securities shall
automatically cease to exist without any further action; provided, further, that
if such Subordinated Indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the Senior
Subordinated Debt Securities, the mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or
encumbrance securing such Subordinated Indebtedness shall be subordinate and
junior to the mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance securing
the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities with the same relative priority as such
Subordinated Indebtedness shall have with respect to the Senior Subordinated
Debt Securities (Section 3.6 of the Senior Subordinated Debt Indenture). The
foregoing restrictions are subject to the same exceptions applicable to the
comparable restriction on Secured Debt contained in Section 3.6 of the Senior
Debt Indenture. See "Provisions Applicable Solely to Senior Debt
Securities -- Limitation on Liens."
 
     Consolidation, Merger, Sale or Conveyance. No consolidation or merger of
the Company, and no sale of substantially all of its property, shall be made
with or to another corporation if any Principal Property of the Company or a
Restricted Subsidiary would become subject to any mortgage or lien securing
Subordinated Indebtedness (other than those permitted by Section 3.6 of the
Senior Subordinated Debt Indenture) unless prior thereto all Senior Subordinated
Debt Securities then outstanding are secured (equally and ratably, or with such
other relative priority described above, with any other indebtedness of or
guaranteed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary then entitled thereto to
the extent such indebtedness constitutes Subordinated Indebtedness) by a direct
lien on any such Principal Property and certain other properties
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   16
 
(Section 9.2 of the Senior Subordinated Debt Indenture). Subject to the
foregoing, the Company may, without the consent of the holders of Debt
Securities, consolidate with, merge into or transfer, exchange or dispose of all
of its properties to, any other corporation organized under the laws of the
United States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, provided that the
successor corporation assumes all obligations of the Company under the
Indentures and the Debt Securities and that certain other conditions are met.
 
     Limitation on Issuance of Certain Other Subordinated Indebtedness. The
Senior Subordinated Debt Indenture provides that the Company will not issue,
guarantee, assume or incur, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness that by its
terms is both subordinate or junior in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness
and senior in right of payment to the Senior Subordinated Debt Securities.
(Section 3.8 of the Senior Subordinated Debt Indenture).
 
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
 
     Pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, should a default
occur with respect to either the Senior Debt Securities or the Senior
Subordinated Debt Securities, The Bank of New York would be required to resign
as Trustee under one of the Indentures within 90 days of such default unless
such default were cured, duly waived or otherwise eliminated.
 
     The Bank of New York, the Trustee under both Indentures, makes loans to the
Company in the normal course of business.
 
                DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK AND PREFERRED STOCK
 
     The Company's authorized capital stock consists of 100,000,000 shares of
Common Stock, par value $.10 per share, and 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock,
par value $1.00 per share, each of which is described below. The summary
description of the capital stock of the Company contained herein is necessarily
general and reference should be made in each case to the Company's Articles of
Incorporation, Bylaws and Rights Agreement described below, which are exhibits
to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
COMMON STOCK
 
     General. As of August 1, 1997, an aggregate of 63,175,401 shares of Common
Stock were issued and outstanding, excluding shares held in treasury and
5,776,532 shares that had been reserved for issuance under the Company's
employee stock option plans. Subject to any prior rights of the Preferred Stock
then outstanding, holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive such dividends
as are declared by the Board of Directors out of funds legally available
therefor. Subject to the voting rights, if any, of the Preferred Stock, all
voting rights are vested in the holders of shares of Common Stock, each share
being entitled to one vote. The holders of Common Stock are not entitled to
cumulative voting rights in the election of directors. In the event of the
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, holders of Common Stock
are entitled to share ratably in all assets remaining after payment of
liabilities and any preferential amount to which the holders of Preferred Stock
are entitled. The holders of Common Stock have no preemptive or conversion
rights and are not subject to further calls or assessments by the Company. The
Common Stock currently outstanding is, and the Common Stock to be issued
hereunder will be, fully paid and nonassessable.
 
     Classified Board; Removal of Directors. The Bylaws of the Company provide
that the members of the Company's Board of Directors are divided into three
classes as nearly equal as possible. Each class is elected for a three-year
term. At each annual meeting of shareholders, approximately one-third of the
members of the Board of Directors are elected for a three-year term and the
other directors remain in office until their three-year terms expire.
Furthermore, the Bylaws of the Company provide that neither any director nor the
Board of Directors may be removed without cause, and that any removal for cause
would require the affirmative vote of the holders of at least a majority of the
voting power of the outstanding capital stock entitled to vote for the election
of directors. Thus, control of the Board of Directors cannot be changed in one
year without removing the directors for cause as described above; rather, at
least two annual meetings must be held before a majority
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   17
 
of the members of the Board of Directors could be changed. The Bylaws of the
Company provide that the Bylaw provisions related to the classified board and
removal of directors cannot be altered, amended or repealed without the approval
of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding shares entitled to vote
thereon.
 
     Preferred Stock Purchase Rights. In order to protect the Company's
shareholders from coercive or unfair takeover tactics, the Company's Board of
Directors on March 1, 1989 adopted a Share Purchase Rights Plan (the "Share
Purchase Rights Plan"). Pursuant to the Share Purchase Rights Plan, the
Company's Board of Directors declared a distribution of one right ("Right") to
purchase, until March 22, 1999 (or, if earlier, the redemption of the Rights), a
unit consisting of 1/100th of one share of Series B Preferred Stock (the "Unit")
at an exercise price of $65.50 per Unit, subject to certain antidilution
adjustments, for each outstanding share of Common Stock, and approved the
further issuance of Rights for all shares of Common Stock that are subsequently
issued. See "Preferred Stock -- Series B Preferred Stock" below. Accordingly, a
Right will be issued for each share of Common Stock issued hereunder. Until
certain specified conditions described below exist, the Rights will be
represented by the certificates for the Common Stock and will not be exercisable
or transferable apart from the certificates for the Common Stock.
 
     Generally, in the event that the Company is acquired in a merger or other
business combination transaction or 50% or more of the Company's consolidated
assets or earning power is sold, proper provision will be made so that each
holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise
thereof at the then current exercise price of the Right, the number of shares of
common stock of the acquiring company that at the time of such transaction will
have a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.
 
     After the tenth day following the date on which any person or group of
affiliated or associated persons (other than certain excepted persons) acquires
beneficial ownership of 20% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock
(unless such person first acquires 20% or more of the outstanding shares of
Common Stock pursuant to a cash tender offer for all of the Common Stock, which
purchase increases such person's beneficial ownership to 85% or more of the
outstanding Common Stock) (an "Acquiring Person") or during such time as there
is an Acquiring Person, there shall be any reclassification of securities or
recapitalization or reorganization of the Company or other transaction or series
of transactions that has the effect of increasing by more than 1% the
proportionate share of the outstanding shares of any class of equity securities
of the Company or any of its subsidiaries beneficially owned by the Acquiring
Person, proper provision shall be made so that each holder of a Right, other
than Rights beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereafter be
void), will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise that number of
shares of Common Stock having a market value of two times the exercise price of
the Right.
 
     The Rights have certain anti-takeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company
without conditioning the offer on a substantial number of Rights being acquired
or approval of the Board. The Rights should not interfere with any merger or
other business combination approved by the Board of Directors of the Company
since, among other things, the Board of Directors may, at its option, at any
time until 10 days (subject to extension) following the date on which a person
or group (other than certain excepted persons) acquires 20% or more of the
outstanding Common Stock, redeem all but not less than all the then outstanding
Rights at $.01 per Right.
 
     A Rights Agreement dated as of March 17, 1989, as amended, between the
Company and The First National Bank of Boston, as Rights Agent (as amended, the
"Rights Agreement"), specifies the terms of the Rights and the foregoing
description of the Rights is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Rights Agreement, a copy of which is available upon written request to Investor
Relations, Seagull Energy Corporation, 1001 Fannin, Suite 1700, Houston, Texas
77002, telephone (713) 951-4700.
 
     The transfer agent and registrar for the Common Stock of the Company is The
First National Bank of Boston.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   18
 
PREFERRED STOCK
 
     The following description of the terms of the Preferred Stock sets forth
certain general terms and provisions of the Preferred Stock to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. Certain terms of a series of the Preferred
Stock offered by any Prospectus Supplement will be described in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such series of the Preferred Stock. If so indicated in
the Prospectus Supplement, the terms of any such series may differ from the
terms set forth below. The following description of the Preferred Stock
summarizes certain provisions of the Company's Articles of Incorporation and the
form of Statement of Designations filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement to which this Prospectus relates and is subject to and qualified in
its entirety by reference to the Articles of Incorporation and such Statement of
Designations that will be filed with the Commission promptly after the offering
of such series of Preferred Stock.
 
     General. Under the Company's Articles of Incorporation, the Board of
Directors is authorized, without further shareholder action, to provide for the
issuance of up to 5,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock in one or more series,
with such voting powers, or without voting powers, and with such designations
and relative rights and preferences as shall be set forth in resolutions
providing for the issuance thereof adopted by the Board of Directors. At
present, 500,000 shares of Preferred Stock are designated as Series B Junior
Participating Preferred Stock (the "Series B Preferred Stock") in connection
with the Share Purchase Rights Plan described above, although no such shares of
Series B Preferred Stock are issued and outstanding. No other shares of
Preferred Stock are issued, outstanding or designated as to series. It is not
possible to state the actual effect of the authorization and issuance of a new
series of Preferred Stock upon the rights of holders of the Common Stock and
other series of Preferred Stock unless and until the Board of Directors
determines the attributes of such new series of Preferred Stock and the specific
rights of its holders. Such effects might include, however, (i) restrictions on
dividends on Common Stock and other series of Preferred Stock if dividends on
such new series of Preferred Stock have not been paid; (ii) dilution of the
voting power of Common Stock and other series of Preferred Stock to the extent
that such new series of Preferred Stock has voting rights, or to the extent that
any such new series of Preferred Stock is convertible into Common Stock; (iii)
dilution of the equity interest of Common Stock and other series of Preferred
Stock; and (iv) limitation on the right of holders of Common Stock and other
series of Preferred Stock to share in the Company's assets upon liquidation
until satisfaction of any liquidation preference attributable to such new series
of Preferred Stock. While the ability of the Company to issue Preferred Stock
provides flexibility in connection with possible acquisitions and other
corporate purposes, its issuance could be used to impede an attempt by a third
party to acquire a majority of the outstanding voting stock of the Company.
 
     The Preferred Stock will have the dividend, liquidation, redemption and
voting rights set forth below unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to a particular series of the Preferred Stock. Reference is
made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular series of the
Preferred Stock offered thereby for specific terms, including: (i) the
designation of such Preferred Stock, the number of shares offered and the
liquidation value thereof; (ii) the price at which such Preferred Stock will be
issued; (iii) the dividend rate (or method of calculation), the dates on which
dividends shall be payable, whether such dividends shall be cumulative or
noncumulative and, if cumulative, the dates from which dividends shall commence
to accumulate; (iv) the liquidation preference thereof; (v) any redemption or
sinking fund provisions; (vi) any conversion or exchange provisions of such
Preferred Stock; and (vii) any additional dividend, liquidation, redemption,
sinking fund and other rights, preferences, limitations and restrictions of such
Preferred Stock.
 
     The Preferred Stock will, when issued, be fully paid and nonassessable.
Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular
series of the Preferred Stock, each series of the Preferred Stock will rank on a
parity as to dividends and distributions in the event of a liquidation with each
other series of the Preferred Stock, if any, and senior to the Series B
Preferred Stock. Holders of Preferred Stock will have no preemptive rights to
subscribe for or purchase shares of capital stock.
 
     Dividend Rights. Holders of the Preferred Stock of each series will be
entitled to receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors, out of
assets of the Company legally available therefor, cash dividends at such rates
and on such dates as are set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
series of the
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   19
 
Preferred Stock. Such rate may be fixed or variable or both. Each such dividend
will be payable to the holders of record as they appear on the stock books of
the Company on such record dates as will be fixed by the Board of Directors or a
duly authorized committee thereof. Dividends on any series of the Preferred
Stock may be cumulative or noncumulative, as provided in the Prospectus
Supplement relating thereto. If the Board of Directors fails to declare a
dividend payable on a dividend payment date on any series of Preferred Stock for
which dividends are noncumulative, then the right to receive a dividend in
respect of the dividend period ending on such dividend payment date will be
lost, and the Company shall have no obligation to pay the dividend accrued for
that period, whether or not dividends are declared for any future period.
 
     No full dividends will be declared or paid or set apart for payment on
preferred stock of any series ranking, as to dividends, on a parity with or
junior to any series of Preferred Stock for any period unless full dividends
have been or contemporaneously are declared and paid, or declared and a sum
sufficient for the payment thereof set apart for such payment on such series of
Preferred Stock for the then-current dividend period and, if such Preferred
Stock is cumulative, all other dividend periods terminating on or before the
date of payment of such full dividends. When dividends are not paid in full upon
any series of the Preferred Stock and any other preferred stock ranking on a
parity as to dividends with such series of the Preferred Stock, all dividends
declared upon such series of the Preferred Stock and any other preferred stock
ranking on a parity as to dividends will be declared pro rata so that the amount
of dividends declared per share on such series of the Preferred Stock and such
other preferred stock will in all cases bear to each other the same ratio that
accrued dividends, including, in the case of cumulative Preferred Stock,
accumulations, if any, in respect of prior dividend periods, per share on such
series of the Preferred Stock and such other preferred stock bear to each other.
Except as provided in the preceding sentence, unless full dividends, including,
in the case of cumulative Preferred Stock, accumulations, if any, in respect of
prior dividend periods, on all outstanding shares of any series of the Preferred
Stock have been paid or declared and set aside for payment, no dividends (other
than a dividend or distribution paid in shares of, or warrants, rights or
options exercisable for or convertible into, Common Stock or another stock
ranking junior to such series of the Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon
liquidation) will be declared or paid or set aside for payment or other
distributions made upon the Common Stock or any other stock of the Company
ranking junior to or on a parity with the Preferred Stock as to dividends or
upon liquidation, nor will any Common Stock or any other stock of the Company
ranking junior to or on a parity with such series of the Preferred Stock as to
dividends or upon liquidation be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for
any consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund
for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by the Company (except by
conversion into or exchange for stock of the Company ranking junior to such
series of the Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation). No
interest, or sum of money in lieu of interest, shall be payable in respect of
any dividend payment or payments which may be in arrears.
 
     The amount of dividends payable for each dividend period will be computed
by annualizing the applicable dividend rate and dividing by the number of
dividend periods in a year, except that the amount of dividends payable for the
initial dividend period or any period longer or short other than a full dividend
period shall be computed on the basis of 30-day months and a 360-day year.
 
     Each series of Preferred Stock will be entitled to dividends as described
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series, which may be based upon
one or more methods of determination. Different series of the Preferred Stock
may be entitled to dividends at different dividend rates or based upon different
methods of determination.
 
     Rights Upon Liquidation. In the event of any voluntary or involuntary
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company, the holders of each
series of Preferred Stock will be entitled to receive out of assets of the
Company available for distribution to stockholders, before any distribution of
assets is made to holders of Common Stock or any other class of stock ranking
junior to such series of the Preferred Stock upon liquidation, liquidating
distributions in the amount set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such series of the Preferred Stock plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends for the then-current dividend period and, if such series of the
Preferred Stock is cumulative, for all dividend periods prior thereto. If, upon
any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the
Company, the amounts payable with respect to the Preferred Stock of any series
and any other shares of stock of the Company ranking
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   20
 
as to any such distribution on a parity with such series of the Preferred Stock
are not paid in full, the holders of the Preferred Stock of such series and of
such other shares will share ratably in any such distribution of assets of the
Company in proportion to the full respective preferential amounts to which they
are entitled. After payment of the full amount of the liquidating distribution
to which they are entitled, the holders of such series of Preferred Stock will
have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of the Company. Neither
the sale of all or substantially all the property or business of the Company nor
the merger or consolidation of the Company into or with any other corporation
shall be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up, voluntary or
involuntary, of the Company.
 
     Redemption. A series of the Preferred Stock may be redeemable, in whole or
in part, at the option of the Company, and may be subject to mandatory
redemption pursuant to a sinking fund, in each case upon terms, at the times and
at the redemption prices set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
series.
 
     The Prospectus Supplement relating to a series of Preferred Stock that is
subject to mandatory redemption will specify the number of shares of such series
of Preferred Stock that will be redeemed by the Company in each year commencing
after a date to be specified, at a redemption price per share to be specified,
together with an amount equal to any accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the
date of redemption. The redemption price may be payable in cash, capital stock
or in cash received from the net proceeds of the issuance of capital stock of
the Company, as specified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series
of Preferred Stock.
 
     If fewer than all the outstanding shares of any series of the Preferred
Stock are to be redeemed, whether by mandatory or optional redemption, the
selection of the shares to be redeemed will be determined by lot or pro rata as
may be determined by the Board of Directors or a duly authorized committee
thereof, or by any other method which may be determined by the Board of
Directors or such committee to be equitable. From and after the date of
redemption (unless default shall be made by the Company in providing for the
payment of the redemption price), dividends shall cease to accrue on the shares
of Preferred Stock called for redemption and all rights of the holders thereof
(except the right to receive the redemption price) shall cease.
 
     In the event that full dividends, including accumulations in the case of
cumulative Preferred Stock, on any series of the Preferred Stock have not been
paid, such series of the Preferred Stock may not be redeemed in part and the
Company may not purchase or acquire any shares of such series of the Preferred
Stock otherwise than pursuant to a purchase or exchange offer made on the same
terms to all holders of such series of the Preferred Stock.
 
     Conversion or Exchange Rights. The Prospectus Supplement for any series of
the Preferred Stock will state the terms, if any, on which shares of such series
are convertible into, or exchangeable for, securities of the Company or another
person.
 
     Voting Rights. Unless otherwise determined by the Board of Directors and
indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular series of
Preferred Stock, the holders of the Preferred Stock will not be entitled to
vote, except as set forth below or except as expressly required by applicable
law. In the event the Company issues share of any series of Preferred Stock with
voting rights, including any voting rights in the case of dividend arrearages,
unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular
series of Preferred Stock, each such share will be entitled to one vote on
matters on which holders of such series of the Preferred Stock are entitled to
vote. In the case of any series of Preferred Stock having one vote per share on
matters on which holders of such series are entitled to vote, the voting power
of such series, on matters on which holders of such series and holders of other
series of preferred stock are entitled to vote as a single class, will depend on
the number of shares in such series, not on the aggregate liquidation preference
or initial offering price of the shares of such series of Preferred Stock.
 
     Except as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a series of
Preferred Stock, if at any time dividends on any series of Preferred Stock shall
be in arrears in an amount equal to six quarterly dividends thereon, (which,
with respect to any series of Preferred Stock whose dividend periods are other
than quarterly, shall be deemed to be a number of dividend periods containing
not less than 540 days), all holders of Preferred Stock on which dividends are
in arrears and as to which similar voting rights have been conferred, voting as
a
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   21
 
class, irrespective of series, shall have the right to elect two directors.
Directors so elected by such holders of Preferred Stock shall continue in office
until their successors shall have been elected or until such time as all accrued
and unpaid dividends for all previous dividend periods and for any current
dividend period on all shares of such Preferred Stock then outstanding shall
have been declared and paid or set apart for payment.
 
     The affirmative vote or consent of the holders of at least two-thirds of
the outstanding shares of any series of Preferred Stock, voting as a separate
class, will be required for any amendment, alteration or repeal, whether by
merger, consolidation or otherwise, of the Articles of Incorporation that will
(i) increase or decrease the aggregate number of authorized shares of such
series or of Preferred Stock, (ii) increase or decrease the par value of the
Preferred Stock, (iii) effect an exchange, reclassification or cancellation of
all or part of the shares of such series or of the Preferred Stock, (iv) effect
an exchange, or create a right of exchange, of all or any part of the shares of
another class into the shares of such series or of Preferred Stock, (v) change
the designations, preferences, limitations or relative rights of the shares of
such series or the Preferred Stock, (vi) change the shares of such series or the
Preferred Stock into the same or a different number of shares of the same class
or series or another class or series, (vii) create a new class or series of
shares having rights and preferences equal, prior or superior to the shares of
such series or the Preferred Stock, or increase the rights and preferences of
any class or series having rights and preferences equal, prior or superior to
the shares of such series or the Preferred Stock, or increase the rights and
preferences of any class or series having rights or preferences later or
inferior to the shares of such series or the Preferred Stock in such a manner as
to become equal, prior or superior to the shares of such class or series, (viii)
divide the shares of Preferred Stock into series and fix and determine the
designation of such series and the variations in the relative rights and
preferences between the shares of such series, (ix) limit or deny the existing
preemptive rights of the shares of such series or of the Preferred Stock, (x)
cancel or otherwise affect dividends on the shares of such series or the
Preferred Stock that had accrued but had not been declared or (xi) include in or
delete from the Articles of Incorporation any provisions required or permitted
to be included in the Articles of Incorporation of a close corporation within
the meaning of the Texas Business Corporation Act. The foregoing provisions are
not applicable to the designation of series by the Board of Directors in the
manner described under the heading "General" above. If the holders of the
outstanding shares of Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as a class on a
proposed amendment and the amendment would affect all series of such class
(other than any series of which no shares are outstanding or any series that is
not affected by the amendment) equally, then the holders of the separate series
shall not be entitled to separate class votes, but shall instead vote together
as one class. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the approval of a proposed
amendment to the Articles of Incorporation that would solely effect changes in
the designations, preferences, limitations and relative rights, including voting
rights, of one or more series of shares that have been established by the Board
of Directors as described above under the heading "General," shall not require
the approval of the holders of the outstanding shares of any class or series
other than such series if the preferences, limitations and relative rights of
such series after giving effect to such amendment and of any series that may be
established as a result of a reclassification of such series are, in each case,
within those permitted to be fixed and determined by the Board of Directors with
respect to the establishment of any new series of shares pursuant to the
authority granted the Board of Directors as described above under the heading
"General."
 
     Series B Preferred Stock. In connection with the adoption of the Share
Purchase Rights Plan described above, on March 1, 1989, the Company's Board of
Directors designated 500,000 shares of the Company's authorized but unissued
Preferred Stock as the Series B Preferred Stock. The terms of Series B Preferred
Stock are such that one share of Series B Preferred Stock will be approximately
equivalent to 100 shares of Common Stock. Each 1/100th of one share of Series B
Preferred Stock has the same dividend and voting rights as one full share of
Common Stock. In addition, each 1/100th of one share of Series B Preferred Stock
has a minimum quarterly dividend of $.01, a liquidation preference and certain
other rights preferential to Common Stock. Pursuant to the Share Purchase Rights
Plan, Rights have been issued to the holders of the Common Stock, but such
Rights have not yet become exercisable or transferable apart from the
certificate for the Common Stock, and no shares of Series B Preferred Stock have
been issued.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   22
 
DEPOSITARY SHARES
 
     General. The Company may, at its option, elect to offer fractional shares
of Preferred Stock, rather than full shares of Preferred Stock. In the event
such option is exercised, the Company will issue to the public receipts for
Depositary Shares, each of which will represent a fraction (to be set forth in
the Prospectus Supplement relating to a particular series of Preferred Stock) of
a share of a particular series of Preferred Stock as described below.
 
     The shares of any series of Preferred Stock represented by Depositary
Shares will be deposited under a Deposit Agreement (the "Deposit Agreement")
between the Company and a bank or trust company selected by the Company having
its principal office in the United States and having a combined capital and
surplus of at least $50,000,000 (the "Depositary"). Subject to the terms of the
Deposit Agreement, each owner of a Depositary Share will be entitled, in
proportion to the applicable fraction of a share of Preferred Stock represented
by such Depositary Share, to all the rights and preferences of the Preferred
Stock represented thereby (including dividend, voting, redemption and
liquidation rights).
 
     The Depositary Shares will be evidenced by depositary receipts issued
pursuant to the Deposit Agreement ("Depositary Receipts"). Depositary Receipts
will be distributed to those persons purchasing the fractional shares of
Preferred Stock in accordance with the terms of the offering. Copies of the
forms of Deposit Agreement and Depositary Receipt are filed as exhibits to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part, and the following
summary is qualified in its entirety by reference to such exhibits.
 
     If required by law or applicable securities exchange rules, engraved
Depositary Receipts will be prepared. Pending the preparation of definitive
engraved Depositary Receipts, the Depositary may, upon the written order of the
Company, issue temporary Depositary Receipts substantially identical to (and
entitling the holders thereof to all the rights pertaining to) the definitive
Depositary Receipts but not in definitive form. Definitive Depositary Receipts
will be prepared thereafter without unreasonable delay, and temporary Depositary
Receipts will be exchangeable for definitive Depositary Receipts at the
Company's expense.
 
     Dividends and Other Distributions. The Depositary will distribute all cash
dividends or other cash distributions received in respect of the Preferred Stock
to the record holders of Depositary Shares relating to such Preferred Stock in
proportion to the number of such Depositary Shares owned by such holders.
 
     In the event of a distribution other than in cash, the Depositary will
distribute property received by it to the record holders of Depositary Shares
entitled thereto, unless the Depositary determines that it is not feasible to
make such distribution, in which case the Depositary may, with the approval of
the Company, sell such property and distribute the net proceeds from such sale
to such holders.
 
     Redemption of Depositary Shares. If a series of Preferred Stock represented
by Depositary Shares is subject to redemption, the Depositary Shares will be
redeemed from the proceeds received by the Depositary resulting from the
redemption, in whole or in part, of such series of Preferred Stock held by the
Depositary. The redemption price per Depositary Share will be equal to the
applicable fraction of the redemption price per share payable with respect to
such series of the Preferred Stock. Whenever the Company redeems shares of
Preferred Stock held by the Depositary, the Depositary will redeem as of the
same redemption date the number of Depositary Shares representing the shares of
Preferred Stock so redeemed. If fewer than all the Depositary Shares are to be
redeemed, the Depositary Shares to be redeemed will be selected by lot or pro
rata as may be determined by the Depositary.
 
     Voting the Preferred Stock. Upon receipt of notice of any meeting at which
the holders of the Preferred Stock are entitled to vote, the Depositary will
mail the information contained in such notice of meeting to the record holders
of the Depositary Shares relating to such Preferred Stock. Each record holder of
such Depositary Shares on the record date (which will be the same date as the
record date for the Preferred Stock) will be entitled to instruct the Depositary
as to the exercise of the voting rights pertaining to the amount of the
Preferred Stock represented by such holder's Depositary Shares. The Depositary
will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount of the Preferred Stock
represented by such Depositary Shares in accordance with such instructions, and
the Company will agree to take all action that may be deemed necessary by the
Depositary in order to enable the Depositary to do so. The Depositary will
abstain from voting shares of the
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   23
 
Preferred Stock to the extent it does not receive specific instructions from the
holders of Depositary Shares representing such Preferred Stock.
 
     Amendment and Termination of the Depositary Agreement. The form of
Depositary Receipt evidencing the Depositary Shares and any provision of the
Deposit Agreement may at any time be amended by agreement between the Company
and the Depositary. However, any amendment that materially and adversely alters
the rights of the holders of Depositary Shares will not be effective unless such
amendment has been approved by the holders of at least a majority of the
Depositary Shares then outstanding. The Deposit Agreement may be terminated by
the Company or the Depositary only if (i) all outstanding Depositary Shares have
been redeemed or (ii) there has been a final distribution in respect of the
Preferred Stock in connection with any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of
the Company and such distribution has been distributed to the holders of
Depositary Receipts.
 
     Charges of Depositary. The Company will pay all transfer and other taxes
and governmental charges arising solely from the existence of the depositary
arrangements. The Company will pay charges of the Depositary in connection with
the initial deposit of the Preferred Stock and any redemption of the Preferred
Stock. Holders of Depositary Receipts will pay other transfer and other taxes
and governmental charges and such other charges, including a fee for the
withdrawal of shares of Preferred Stock upon surrender of Depositary Receipts,
as are expressly provided in the Deposit Agreement to be for their accounts.
 
     Withdrawal of Preferred Stock. Upon surrender of Depositary Receipts at the
principal office of the Depositary, subject to the terms of the Deposit
Agreement, the owner of the Depositary Shares evidenced thereby is entitled to
delivery of the number of whole shares of Preferred Stock and all money and
other property, if any, represented by such Depositary Shares. Partial shares of
Preferred Stock will not be issued. If the Depositary Receipts delivered by the
holder evidence a number of Depositary Shares in excess of the number of
Depositary Shares representing the number of whole shares of Preferred Stock to
be withdrawn, the Depositary will deliver to such holder at the same time a new
Depositary Receipt evidencing such excess number of Depositary Shares. Holders
of Preferred Stock thus withdrawn will not thereafter be entitled to deposit
such shares under the Deposit Agreement or to receive Depositary Receipts
evidencing Depositary Shares therefor.
 
     Miscellaneous. The Depositary will forward to holders of Depository
Receipts all reports and communications from the Company that are delivered to
the Depositary and that the Company is required to furnish to the holders of the
Preferred Stock.
 
     Neither the Depositary nor the Company will be liable if it is prevented or
delayed by law or any circumstance beyond its control in performing its
obligations under the Deposit Agreement. The obligations of the Company and the
Depositary under the Deposit Agreement will be limited to performance in good
faith of their duties thereunder and they will not be obligated to prosecute or
defend any legal proceeding in respect of any Depositary Shares or Preferred
Stock unless satisfactory indemnity is furnished. They may rely upon written
advice of counsel or accountants, or upon information provided by persons
presenting Preferred Stock for deposit, holders of Depositary Receipts or other
persons believed to be competent and on documents believed to be genuine.
 
     Resignation and Removal of Depositary. The Depositary may resign at any
time by delivering to the Company notice of its election to do so, and the
Company may at any time remove the Depositary, any such resignation or removal
to take effect upon the appointment of a successor Depositary and its acceptance
of such appointment. Such successor Depositary must be appointed within 60 days
after delivery of the notice of resignation or removal and must be a bank or
trust company having its principal office in the United States and having a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   24
 
                       DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES WARRANTS
 
     The Company may issue Securities Warrants for the purchase of Debt
Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Common Stock. Securities
Warrants may be issued independently or together with Debt Securities, Preferred
Stock, Depositary Shares or Common Stock offered by any Prospectus Supplement
and may be attached to or separate from any such Offered Securities. Each series
of Securities Warrants will be issued under a separate warrant agreement (a
"Securities Warrant Agreement") to be entered into between the Company and a
bank or trust company, as warrant agent (the "Securities Warrant Agent"), all as
set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular issue of
Securities Warrants. The Securities Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent of
the Company in connection with the Securities Warrants and will not assume any
obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any holders of
Securities Warrants or beneficial owners of Securities Warrants. The following
summary of certain provisions of the Securities Warrants does not purport to be
complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to,
all provisions of the Securities Warrant Agreements.
 
     Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular
issue of Securities Warrants offered thereby for the terms of and information
relating to such Securities Warrants, including, where applicable: (i) the
designation, aggregate principal amount, currencies, denominations, and terms of
the series of Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of Debt Warrants and the
price at which such Debt Securities may be purchased upon such exercise; (ii)
the number of shares of Common Stock purchasable upon the exercise of Common
Stock Warrants and the price at which such number of shares of Common Stock may
be purchased upon such exercise; (iii) the number of shares and series of
Preferred Stock and/or Depositary Shares purchasable upon the exercise of
Preferred Stock Warrants and the price at which such number of shares of such
series of Preferred Stock and/or Depositary Shares may be purchased upon such
exercise; (iv) the date on which the right to exercise such Securities Warrants
shall commence and the date on which such right shall expire (the "Expiration
Date"); (v) United States Federal income tax consequences applicable to such
Securities Warrants; (vi) the amount of Securities Warrants outstanding as of
the most recent practicable date; and (vii) any other terms of such Securities
Warrants. Common Stock Warrants will be offered and exercisable for U.S. dollars
only. Securities Warrants will be issued in registered form only. The exercise
price for Securities Warrants will be subject to adjustment in accordance with
the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     Each Securities Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase such
principal amount of Debt Securities or such number of shares of Preferred Stock,
Depositary Shares or Common Stock at such exercise price as shall in each case
be set forth in, or calculable from, the Prospectus Supplement relating to the
Securities Warrants, which exercise price may be subject to adjustment upon the
occurrence of certain events as set forth in such Prospectus Supplement. After
the close of business on the Expiration Date (or such later date to which such
Expiration Date may be extended by the Company), unexercised Securities Warrants
will become void. The place or places where, and the manner in which, Securities
Warrants may be exercised shall be specified in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such Securities Warrants.
 
     Prior to the exercise of any Securities Warrants to purchase Debt
Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Common Stock, holders of such
Securities Warrants will not have any of the rights of holders of Debt
Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares or Common Stock, as the case may
be, purchasable upon such exercise, including the right to receive payments of
principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the Debt Securities
purchasable upon such exercise or to enforce covenants in the applicable
Indenture, or to receive payments of dividends, if any, on the Preferred Stock,
Depositary Shares or Common Stock purchasable upon such exercise, or to exercise
any applicable right to vote.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   25
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
GENERAL
 
     The Company may sell Securities to or through underwriters or dealers, and
also may sell Securities directly to one or more other purchasers or through
agents. The Prospectus Supplement sets forth the names of any underwriters or
agents involved in the sale of the Offered Securities and any applicable
commissions or discounts.
 
     Underwriters, dealers or agents may offer and sell the Offered Securities
at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or from time to time at market
prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such prevailing
market prices or at negotiated prices. In connection with the sale of the
Securities, underwriters or agents may be deemed to have received compensation
from the Company in the form of underwriting discounts or commissions and may
also receive commissions from purchasers of the Securities for whom they may act
as agent. Underwriters or agents may sell the Securities to or through dealers,
and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions
or commissions from the underwriters or commissions from the purchasers for whom
they may act as agent.
 
     The Securities (other than the Common Stock), when first issued, will have
no established trading market. Any underwriters or agents to or through whom
Securities are sold by the Company for public offering and sale may make a
market in such Securities, but such underwriters or agents will not be obligated
to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No
assurance can be given as to the liquidity of the trading market for any such
Securities.
 
     Any underwriters, dealers or agents participating in the distribution of
the Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and
commissions received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of the
Securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and commissions under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"). Underwriters, dealers or
agents may be entitled, under agreements entered into with the Company, to
indemnification against or contribution toward certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the 1933 Act.
 
DELAYED DELIVERY ARRANGEMENTS
 
     If so indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company will authorize
underwriters or other persons acting as the Company's agents to solicit offers
by certain institutions to purchase Securities from the Company pursuant to
contracts providing for payment and delivery on a future date. Institutions with
which such contracts may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance
companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable
institutions and others, but in all cases will be subject to the condition that
the purchase of the Securities shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited
under the laws of the jurisdiction to which such purchaser is subject. The
underwriters and such agents will not have any responsibility in respect of the
validity or performance of such contracts.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     Certain legal matters with respect to the validity of the Securities are
expected to be passed upon for the Company by Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., Houston,
Texas and for the underwriters, dealers or agents, if any, of a particular issue
of Securities by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (a partnership which includes
professional corporations), New York, New York. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett will
rely upon Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. with respect to matters of Texas law. Mr. J.
Evans Attwell, an attorney with Vinson & Elkins L.L.P., is a director of the
Company.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   26
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The consolidated financial statements of Seagull Energy Corporation and
subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995, and for each of the years in the
three-year period ended December 31, 1996, incorporated by reference herein and
elsewhere in the Registration Statement have been incorporated herein and in the
Registration Statement in reliance upon the reports of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent certified public accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and
upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The
report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP covering the 1996 consolidated financial
statements refers to a change in the Company's method of accounting for the
impairment of long-lived assets and long-lived assets to be disposed of.
 
     Certain information with respect to the oil and gas reserves associated
with a portion of the Company's oil and gas properties derived from the report
of DeGolyer and MacNaughton, independent consulting petroleum engineers, has
been included and incorporated by reference herein upon the authority of said
firm as experts with respect to the matters covered by such report and in giving
such report.
 
     Certain information with respect to the oil and gas reserves associated
with a portion of the Company's oil and gas properties derived from the report
of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc., independent petroleum engineers, has
been included and incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon such firm as
experts with respect to the matters contained therein.
 
     Certain information with respect to the oil and gas reserves associated
with a portion of the Company's oil and gas properties derived from the report
of Ryder Scott Company, independent petroleum engineers, has been included and
incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon such firm as experts with
respect to the matters contained therein.
 
                              CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
 
     As used in this Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement:
 
          With respect to volumes, "bcf" means billion cubic feet, "mcf" means
     thousand cubic feet, "mmbbls" means million barrels, one "bcfe" equals the
     energy equivalent of one bcf of natural gas, "mmcf/d" means million cubic
     feet per day, "mbbls/d" means thousand barrels per day, "bbls/d" means
     barrels per day and one "mmcfe/d" means the energy equivalent of one
     million cubic feet of natural gas per day. Unless otherwise indicated in
     this Prospectus or in any Prospectus Supplement, gas volumes are stated at
     the legal pressure base of the state or area in which the reserves are
     located and at 60 degrees Fahrenheit. Where crude oil, condensate and
     natural gas liquids volumes are converted into natural gas equivalents, a
     ratio of six mcf to one barrel is used, which approximates the relative
     energy content of crude oil, condensate and natural gas liquids as compared
     to natural gas.
 
          When used in describing acreage on drilling locations, the term "net"
     refers to the total acres on drilling locations in which the Company has a
     working interest, multiplied by the percentage working interest owned by
     the Company. When used in describing production, the term "net" refers to
     the sum of (i) the total production in which the Company has a working
     interest, multiplied by the percentage of net revenue interest owned by the
     Company and (ii) the total production that is attributable to royalty
     interests held by the Company.
 
          "Proved" reserves refer to net proved developed and undeveloped
     reserves of crude oil, condensate, natural gas and natural gas liquids that
     geological and engineering data demonstrate with reasonable certainty to be
     economically recoverable in the future from known reservoirs under existing
     conditions. Proved "developed" reserves are those proved reserves
     reasonably expected to be recovered with existing equipment and operating
     methods, while proved "undeveloped" reserves are those proved reserves
     reasonably expected to be recovered from new wells on undrilled acreage,
     from existing wells where a relatively large expenditure is required and
     from acreage where an application of fluid injection or other improved
     recovery technique is contemplated (where such technique has been proved
     effective by actual tests in the area in the same reservoir or one with
     similar rock and fluid properties). THE RESERVE
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   27
 
     VOLUMES PROVIDED IN AND INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS OR IN
     ANY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT ARE ESTIMATES ONLY AND SHOULD NOT BE CONSTRUED AS
     BEING EXACT QUANTITIES. THEY MAY OR MAY NOT BE ACTUALLY RECOVERED.
     MOREOVER, ESTIMATES OF PROVED RESERVES MAY INCREASE OR DECREASE AS A RESULT
     OF FUTURE OPERATIONS OF THE COMPANY AND CHANGES IN MARKET CONDITIONS.
 
          A "reserve life index" is a measure of how long it will take to
     produce a quantity of reserves, calculated by dividing end of year reserves
     by annual production for the most recent fiscal year (in gas equivalents).
     An "infill" well is a well drilled between known producing wells to better
     exploit the reservoir. "Deliverability" refers to the volume of net
     production capability attributable to a well or group of wells. "Workover
     expenses" are the remedial costs incurred on producing wells to increase
     the rate of production. "Shut in" refers to the closing of the valves on a
     well so that it stops producing.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   28
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION
 
     The expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the
securities being registered are estimated as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                            <C>
Registration Fee............................................   $      1
Blue Sky fees and expenses..................................      5,000
Legal fees and expenses.....................................    100,000
Accounting fees and expenses................................     35,000
Printing and engraving expenses.............................    100,000
Trustee's fees and expenses.................................      5,000
Depositary's fees and expenses..............................      5,000
Miscellaneous expenses......................................      9,999
                                                               --------
          Total.............................................   $260,000
                                                               ========
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
     Article 2.02-1 of the Texas Business Corporation Act provides that any
director or officer of a Texas corporation may be indemnified against judgments,
penalties, fines, settlements and reasonable expenses actually incurred by him
in connection with or in defending any action, suit or proceeding in which he is
a party by reason of his position. With respect to any proceeding arising from
actions taken in his official capacity, as a director or officer, he may be
indemnified so long as it shall be determined that he conducted himself in good
faith and that he reasonably believed that such conduct was in the corporation's
best interest. In cases not concerning conduct in his official capacity as a
director or officer, a director or officer may be indemnified so long as it
shall be determined that he conducted himself in good faith and that he
reasonably believed that his conduct was not opposed to the corporation's best
interest. In the case of any criminal proceeding, a director or officer may be
indemnified if he had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful.
If a director or officer is wholly successful, on the merits or otherwise, in
connection with such a proceeding, such indemnification is mandatory.
 
     Article VI of the Company's Bylaws requires the indemnification of officers
and directors to the fullest extent permitted by the Texas Business Corporation
Act. The Company also has policies insuring its officers and directors against
certain liabilities for actions taken in such capacities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
     Reference is made to Article Eleven of the Articles of Incorporation of the
Registrant, which was adopted by the Company's shareholders on May 11, 1988 and
which provides as follows:
 
                                "ARTICLE ELEVEN
 
          A director of the corporation shall not be liable to the corporation
     or its shareholders for monetary damages for an act or omission in the
     director's capacity as a director, except for liability (i) for any breach
     of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation or its shareholders;
     (ii) for acts or omissions not in good faith or that involve intentional
     misconduct or a knowing violation of law; (iii) for any transaction from
     which the director received an improper benefit, whether or not the benefit
     resulted from an action taken within the scope of the director's office;
     (iv) for acts or omissions for which the liability of a director is
     expressly provided for by statute; or (v) for acts related to an unlawful
     stock repurchase or dividend payment. Any repeal or amendment of this
     Article by the shareholders of the corporation shall be prospective only,
     and shall not adversely affect any limitation on the liability of a
     director of the corporation existing at the time of such repeal or
     amendment. In addition to the circumstances in which a director of the
     corporation is not liable as set forth in the preceding sentences, a
     director shall not be
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   29
 
     liable to the fullest extent permitted by any provision of the statutes of
     Texas hereafter enacted that further limits the liability of a director."
 
     Effective as of August 28, 1989, Article 7.06.B of the Texas Miscellaneous
Corporation Laws Act was amended to read in its entirety as follows:
 
          "B. The articles of incorporation of a corporation may provide that a
     director of the corporation shall not be liable, or shall be liable only to
     the extent provided in the articles of incorporation, to the corporation or
     its shareholders or members for monetary damages for an act or omission in
     the director's capacity as a director, except that this article does not
     authorize the elimination or limitation of the liability of a director to
     the extent the director is found liable for:
 
             (1) a breach of the director's duty of loyalty to the corporation
        or its shareholders or members;
 
             (2) an act or omission not in good faith that constitutes a breach
        of duty of the director to the corporation or an act or omission that
        involves intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law;
 
             (3) a transaction from which the director received an improper
        benefit, whether or not the benefit resulted from an action taken within
        the scope of the director's office; or
 
             (4) an act or omission for which the liability of a director is
        expressly provided for by an applicable statute."
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<S>                      <S>
           *1.1          -- Proposed Form of Underwriting Agreement.
          **4.1          -- Form of Debt Securities.
            4.2          -- Form of Senior Indenture among the Company and The Bank
                            of New York, as Trustee.
            4.3          -- Form of Senior Subordinated Indenture among the Company
                            and The Bank of New York, as Trustee.
            4.4          -- Senior Indenture by and between the Company and The Bank
                            of New York, as Trustee, dated as of July 15, 1993
                            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Current
                            Report on Form 8-K dated August 4, 1993).
            4.5          -- Senior Subordinated Indenture by and between the Company
                            and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, dated as of July
                            15, 1993 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to
                            Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 4, 1993).
            4.6          -- Specimen of 7 7/8% Senior Note due 2003 and resolutions
                            adopted by the Chairman of the Board of Directors
                            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Current
                            Report on Form 8-K dated August 4, 1993).
            4.7          -- Specimen of 8 5/8% Senior Subordinated Note due 2005 and
                            resolutions adopted by the Chairman of the Board of
                            Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to
                            Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 4, 1993).
            4.8          -- Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended,
                            including Articles of Amendment filed May 12, 1988, May
                            21, 1991, and May 21, 1993 with the Secretary of State of
                            the State of Texas, that certain Statement of Relative
                            Rights and Preferences related to the designation and
                            issuance of the Company's $2.25 Convertible Exchangeable
                            Preferred Stock, Series A, filed August 6, 1986 with the
                            Secretary of State of the State of Texas and that certain
                            Statement of Resolution Establishing Series of Shares of
                            Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Seagull
                            Energy Corporation filed March 21, 1989 with the
                            Secretary of State of the State of Texas (incorporated by
                            reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
                            for the quarter ended June 30, 1993).
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   30
 
<TABLE>
<S>                      <S>
            4.9          -- Bylaws of the Company as amended through March 7, 1997.
            4.10         -- Rights Agreement dated as of March 17, 1989 between the
                            Company and NCNB Texas National Bank, as Rights Agent,
                            which includes the form of Statement of Resolution
                            setting forth the terms of the Series B Junior
                            Participating Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share,
                            as Exhibit A, the form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B
                            and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares as
                            Exhibit C (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to
                            Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
                            30, 1993).
            4.11         -- First Amendment to Rights Agreement by and between the
                            Company and NationsBank of Texas, N.A. (formerly NCNB
                            Texas National Bank) dated as of June 18, 1992
                            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to Registration
                            Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-55426)).
          **4.12         -- Form of Securities Warrants.
           *4.13         -- Form of Depositary Agreement.
           *4.14         -- Form of Depositary Receipt.
            4.15         -- Credit Agreement, U.S. $450 million Revolving Credit and
                            Competitive Bid Facility, dated June 17, 1997, among
                            Seagull Energy Corporation, The Chase Manhattan Bank,
                            Individually and as Agent, and the other Banks signatory
                            hereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
                            Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
                            30, 1997).
            4.16         -- Credit Agreement, U.S. $100 million Revolving Credit
                            Facility, dated June 17, 1997, among Seagull Energy
                            Canada Ltd. and The Chase Manhattan Bank of Canada,
                            Individually and as Arranger and Administrative Agent,
                            The Bank of Nova Scotia, Individually and as Paying Agent
                            and Co-Agent, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce,
                            Individually and as Co-Agent, and the other Banks
                            signatory hereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                            4.2 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                            ended June 30, 1997).
          **5.1          -- Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
           12.1          -- Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
           23.1          -- Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
           23.2          -- Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit
                            5.1).
           23.3          -- Consent of Ryder Scott Company, independent petroleum
                            engineers.
           23.4          -- Consent of DeGolyer and MacNaughton, independent
                            consulting petroleum engineers.
           23.5          -- Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.,
                            independent petroleum engineers.
           24.1          -- Powers of Attorney (contained in the Signatures section
                            of this registration statement).
           25.1          -- Statements of eligibility of Trustee.
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
  * To be filed by amendment.
 
 ** The Company will file any forms of Debt Securities or Securities Warrants,
    or any legal opinions, not previously so filed in a Current Report on Form
    8-K.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   31
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:
 
          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post effective amendment to this registration statement:
 
             (i) To include any prospectus required by section 10(a)(3) of the
        Securities Act of 1933;
 
             (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
        the effective date of the registration statement (or the most recent
        post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in the
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
        in the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
        increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
        dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
        registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
        maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
        with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act of
        1933 if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent no
        more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth
        in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective
        registration statement;
 
             (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
        of distribution not previously disclosed in the registration statement
        or any material change to such information in the registration
        statement;
 
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
section 13 or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement.
 
          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed
     to be a new registration statement relating to the securities offered
     therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed
     to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.
 
     The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable, each filing of an
employee benefit plan's annual report pursuant to section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934) that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrant pursuant to the provisions set forth in response to Item 15, or
otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities
and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim
for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by the
registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling
person of the registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person in
connection with the securities being registered, the registrant will, unless in
the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent,
submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such
indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will
be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   32
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Registration
Statement amendment to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized in the City of Houston, State of Texas, on the 29th day of
August, 1997.
 
                                            SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION
 
                                            By:     /s/ BARRY J. GALT
 
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                        Barry J. Galt
                                                    Chairman of the Board
                                                 and Chief Executive Officer
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement Amendment has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
     Each person whose signature appears below appoints Barry J. Galt and
William L. Transier, and both of them, either of whom may act without the
joinder of the other, as his true and lawful attorneys-in-fact and agents, with
full power of substitution and resubstitution, for him, and in his name, place
and stead, in any and all capacities to sign any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to this Registration Statement, and to file the same,
with all exhibits thereto and all other documents in connection therewith, with
the commission, granting unto said attorneys-in-fact and agents full power and
authority to do and perform each and every act and thing requisite and necessary
to be done, as fully to all intents and purposes as he might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents or their substitute or substitutes may lawfully do or cause to be done by
virtue hereof.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                     DATE
                     ---------                                   -----                     ----
<C>                                                  <S>                             <C>
 
               /s/ J. EVANS ATTWELL                  Director                         August 29, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                 J. Evans Attwell
 
              /s/ RICHARD J. BURGESS                 Director                         August 28, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                Richard J. Burgess

 
                /s/ MILTON CARROLL                   Director                         August 29, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                  Milton Carroll
 
             /s/ THOMAS H. CRUIKSHANK                Director                         August 28, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
               Thomas H. Cruikshank
 
                 /s/ JOHN W. ELIAS                   Executive Vice President         August 29, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------    and Director
                   John W. Elias
 
                /s/ PETER J. FLUOR                   Director                         August 29, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                  Peter J. Fluor
 
                 /s/ BARRY J. GALT                   Chairman of the Board, Chief     August 29, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------    Executive Officer and
                   Barry J. Galt                       Director (Principal
                                                       Executive Officer)

</TABLE>
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>   33
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     SIGNATURE                                       TITLE                           DATE
- ---------------------------------------------------  --------------------------------------  ---------------------
<C>                                                  <S>                                     <C>
 
               /s/ WILLIAM R. GRANT                  Director                                   August 29, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                 William R. Grant
 
                                                     Director                                   August   , 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                  Dean P. Guerin
 
              /s/ GORDON L. MCCONNELL                Vice President and Controller              August 29, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------    (Principal Accounting Officer)
                Gordon L. McConnell
 
               /s/ RICHARD M. MORROW                 Director                                   August 28, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                 Richard M. Morrow
 
                /s/ DEE S. OSBORNE                   Director                                   August 29, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                  Dee S. Osborne
 
                                                     Director                                   August   , 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                Sidney R. Petersen
 
                 /s/ SAM F. SEGNAR                   Director                                   August 29, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                   Sam F. Segnar
 
              /s/ WILLIAM L. TRANSIER                Senior Vice President and Chief            August 29, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------    Financial Officer (Principal
                William L. Transier                    Financial Officer)
 
                /s/ ROBERT F. VAGT                   Director                                   August 29, 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                  Robert F. Vagt
 
                                                     Director                                   August   , 1997
- ---------------------------------------------------
                   R. A. Walker
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>   34
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
        -------                                  -----------
<C>                      <S>
           *1.1          -- Proposed Form of Underwriting Agreement.
          **4.1          -- Form of Debt Securities.
            4.2          -- Form of Senior Indenture among the Company and The Bank
                            of New York, as Trustee.
            4.3          -- Form of Senior Subordinated Indenture among the Company
                            and The Bank of New York, as Trustee.
            4.4          -- Senior Indenture by and between the Company and The Bank
                            of New York, as Trustee, dated as of July 15, 1993
                            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to Current
                            Report on Form 8-K dated August 4, 1993).
            4.5          -- Senior Subordinated Indenture by and between the Company
                            and The Bank of New York, as Trustee, dated as of July
                            15, 1993 (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.2 to
                            Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 4, 1993).
            4.6          -- Specimen of 7 7/8% Senior Note due 2003 and resolutions
                            adopted by the Chairman of the Board of Directors
                            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.3 to Current
                            Report on Form 8-K dated August 4, 1993).
            4.7          -- Specimen of 8 5/8% Senior Subordinated Note due 2005 and
                            resolutions adopted by the Chairman of the Board of
                            Directors (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.4 to
                            Current Report on Form 8-K dated August 4, 1993).
            4.8          -- Articles of Incorporation of the Company, as amended,
                            including Articles of Amendment filed May 12, 1988, May
                            21, 1991, and May 21, 1993 with the Secretary of State of
                            the State of Texas, that certain Statement of Relative
                            Rights and Preferences related to the designation and
                            issuance of the Company's $2.25 Convertible Exchangeable
                            Preferred Stock, Series A, filed August 6, 1986 with the
                            Secretary of State of the State of Texas and that certain
                            Statement of Resolution Establishing Series of Shares of
                            Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock of Seagull
                            Energy Corporation filed March 21, 1989 with the
                            Secretary of State of the State of Texas (incorporated by
                            reference to Exhibit 3.1 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
                            for the quarter ended June 30, 1993).
            4.9          -- Bylaws of the Company as amended through March 7, 1997.
            4.10         -- Rights Agreement dated as of March 17, 1989 between the
                            Company and NCNB Texas National Bank, as Rights Agent,
                            which includes the form of Statement of Resolution
                            setting forth the terms of the Series B Junior
                            Participating Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share,
                            as Exhibit A, the form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B
                            and the Summary of Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares as
                            Exhibit C (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.8 to
                            Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
                            30, 1993).
            4.11         -- First Amendment to Rights Agreement by and between the
                            Company and NationsBank of Texas, N.A. (formerly NCNB
                            Texas National Bank) dated as of June 18, 1992
                            (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 3.4 to Registration
                            Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 33-55426)).
          **4.12         -- Form of Securities Warrants.
           *4.13         -- Form of Depositary Agreement.
           *4.14         -- Form of Depositary Receipt.
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   35
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
        -------                                  -----------
<C>                      <S>
            4.15         -- Credit Agreement, U.S. $450 million Revolving Credit and
                            Competitive Bid Facility, dated June 17, 1997, among
                            Seagull Energy Corporation, The Chase Manhattan Bank,
                            Individually and as Agent, and the other Banks signatory
                            hereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit 4.1 to
                            Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
                            30, 1997).
            4.16         -- Credit Agreement, U.S. $100 million Revolving Credit
                            Facility, dated June 17, 1997, among Seagull Energy
                            Canada Ltd. and The Chase Manhattan Bank of Canada,
                            Individually and as Arranger and Administrative Agent,
                            The Bank of Nova Scotia, Individually and as Paying Agent
                            and Co-Agent, Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce,
                            Individually and as Co-Agent, and the other Banks
                            signatory hereto (incorporated by reference to Exhibit
                            4.2 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter
                            ended June 30, 1997).
          **5.1          -- Opinion of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P.
           12.1          -- Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
           23.1          -- Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP.
           23.2          -- Consent of Vinson & Elkins L.L.P. (included in Exhibit
                            5.1).
           23.3          -- Consent of Ryder Scott Company, independent petroleum
                            engineers.
           23.4          -- Consent of DeGolyer and MacNaughton, independent
                            consulting petroleum engineers.
           23.5          -- Consent of Netherland, Sewell & Associates, Inc.,
                            independent petroleum engineers.
           24.1          -- Powers of Attorney (contained in the Signatures section
                            of this registration statement).
           25.1          -- Statements of eligibility of Trustee.
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
  * To be filed by amendment.
 
 ** The Company will file any forms of Debt Securities or Securities Warrants,
    or any legal opinions, not previously so filed in a Current Report on Form
    8-K.

<PAGE>   1





                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2
================================================================================





                           SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION

                                      AND

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK


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


                                Senior Indenture

                          Dated as of August ___, 1997





================================================================================
<PAGE>   2


                            CROSS REFERENCE SHEET*
                                                                     
                              -----------------

         Provisions of Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture to be dated 
as of August ___, 1997 between SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION and The Bank of New 
York, Trustee:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section of the Act                                                                       Section of Indenture
- ------------------                                                                       --------------------
<S>                                                                                      <C>
310(a)(1), (2) and (5)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          6.9
310(a)(3) and (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
310(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          6.8 and 6.10(a), (b) and (d)
310(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
311(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          6.13(a) and (c)
311(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          6.13(b) and (c)
311(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
312(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.1 and 4.2(a)
312(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.2(a) and (b)(i) and (ii)
312(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.2(c)
313(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.4(a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv),
                                                                                         (v), (vi) and (vii)
313(a)(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
313(b)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
313(b)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.4(b)
313(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.4(c)
313(d)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.4(d)
314(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.3
314(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
314(c)(1) and (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          11.5
314(c)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
314(d)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
314(e)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          11.5
314(f)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
315(a), (c) and (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          6.1
315(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          5.8
315(e)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          5.9
316(a)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          5.7
316(a)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Not required
316(a) (last sentence)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          7.4
316(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          5.4
317(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          5.2
317(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          3.5(a)
318(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          11.7
</TABLE>

- ------





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

     *This Cross Reference Sheet is not part of the Indenture.
<PAGE>   3
<TABLE>
         <S>                                                                                                            <C>
                                                       ARTICLE ONE
                                                       DEFINITIONS

         Affiliate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
         Authenticating Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Bankruptcy Code  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Board Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Business Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Consolidated Net Tangible Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Corporate Trust Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Depositary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         ENSTAR Alaska  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Event of Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Global Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Holder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Holder of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Securityholder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
         Indenture  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
         interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
         Issuer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
         Issuer Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
         Officers' Certificate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
         Opinion of Counsel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
         original issue date  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
         original issue discount  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
         Original Issue Discount Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
         Outstanding  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
         Periodic Offering  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
         Person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
         Place of Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
         principal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
         principal amount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
         Principal Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
         record date  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
         Responsible Officer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
         Restricted Subsidiary  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
         Sale and Leaseback Transaction . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
         Secured Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
         Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
         Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
         Subsidiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
         Trust Indenture Act of 1939  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
         Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
         Unrestricted Subsidiary  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
         U.S. Government Obligations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
         vice president . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
         Yield to Maturity  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6

                                                       ARTICLE TWO
                                                        SECURITIES

         SECTION 2.1      Forms Generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
         SECTION 2.2      Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
         SECTION 2.3      Amount Unlimited, Issuable in Series  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>
         <S>              <C>                                                                                          <C>
         SECTION 2.4      Authentication and Delivery of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 8
         SECTION 2.5      Execution of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
         SECTION 2.6      Certificate of Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
         SECTION 2.7      Denomination and Date of Securities; Payments of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
         SECTION 2.8      Registration Transfer and Exchange  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
         SECTION 2.9      Mutilated, Defaced, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
         SECTION 2.10     Cancellation of Securities; Disposition Thereof.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
         SECTION 2.11     Temporary Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
         SECTION 2.12     CUSIP Numbers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14


                                                      ARTICLE THREE
                                                 COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER

         SECTION 3.1      Payment of Principal and Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
         SECTION 3.2      Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
         SECTION 3.3      No Interest Extension . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
         SECTION 3.4      Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
         SECTION 3.5      Provision as to Paying Agent  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
         SECTION 3.6      Restriction on Creation of Secured Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
         SECTION 3.7      Restriction on Sale and Leaseback Transactions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17


                                                       ARTICLE FOUR
                                         SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE
                                                  ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE

         SECTION 4.1      Issuer to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of
                          Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
         SECTION 4.2      Preservation and Disclosure of Securityholders Lists  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
         SECTION 4.3      Reports by the Issuer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
         SECTION 4.4      Reports by the Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19


                                                       ARTICLE FIVE
                                       REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITY HOLDERS
                                                   ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

         SECTION 5.1      Events of Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
         SECTION 5.2      Payment of Securities on Default; Suit Therefor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
         SECTION 5.3      Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
         SECTION 5.4      Proceedings by Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
         SECTION 5.5      Proceedings by Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
         SECTION 5.6      Remedies Cumulative and Continuing  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
         SECTION 5.7      Direction of Proceedings; Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders . . . . . . . .  25
         SECTION 5.8      Notice of Defaults  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
         SECTION 5.9      Undertaking to Pay Costs  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25


                                                       ARTICLE SIX
                                                  CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

         SECTION 6.1      Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee; During Default; Prior to Default  . . . . . . .  26
         SECTION 6.2      Certain Rights of the Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
         SECTION 6.3      Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Disposition of Securities or Application of Proceeds
                          Thereof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
         SECTION 6.4      Trustee and Agents May Hold Securities; Collections, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
         <S>              <C>                                                                                          <C>
         SECTION 6.5      Moneys Held by Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
         SECTION 6.6      Compensation and Indemnification of Trustee and Its Prior Claim . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
         SECTION 6.7      Right of Trustee to Rely on Officers' Certificate, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
         SECTION 6.8      Qualification of Trustee; Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
         SECTION 6.9      Persons Eligible for Appointment as Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
         SECTION 6.10     Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
         SECTION 6.11     Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
         SECTION 6.12     Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business of Trustee  . . . . . . . . . .  35
         SECTION 6.13     Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
         SECTION 6.14     Appointment of Authenticating Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38


                                                      ARTICLE SEVEN
                                              CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

         SECTION 7.1      Evidence of Action Taken by Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
         SECTION 7.2      Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
         SECTION 7.3      Holders to be Treated as Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
         SECTION 7.4      Securities Owned by Issuer Deemed Not Outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
         SECTION 7.5      Right of Revocation of Action Taken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
         SECTION 7.6      Record Date for Consents and Waivers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40


                                                      ARTICLE EIGHT
                                                 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

         SECTION 8.1      Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
         SECTION 8.2      Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
         SECTION 8.3      Effect of Supplemental Indenture  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
         SECTION 8.4      Documents to Be Given to Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
         SECTION 8.5      Notation on Securities in Respect of Supplemental Indentures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42


                                                       ARTICLE NINE
                               CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE, EXCHANGE OR DISPOSITION

         SECTION 9.1      Issuer May Consolidate, etc.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
         SECTION 9.2      Securities to be Secured in Certain Events  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
         SECTION 9.3      Successor Corporation to be Substituted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
         SECTION 9.4      Opinion of Counsel to be Given Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43


                                                       ARTICLE TEN
                                SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

         SECTION 10.1     Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
         SECTION 10.2     Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
         SECTION 10.3     Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
         SECTION 10.4     Return of Moneys Held by Trustee and Paying Agent Unclaimed for Two Years . . . . . . . . .  46
         SECTION 10.5     Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46


                                                      ARTICLE ELEVEN
                                                 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

         SECTION 11.1     Partners, Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors of Issuer Exempt from
                                  Individual Liability  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   6
<TABLE>
         <S>            <C>                                                                                            <C>
         SECTION 11.2     Provisions of Indenture for the Sole Benefit of Parties and Holders of Securities . . . . .  46
         SECTION 11.3     Successors and Assigns of Issuer Bound by Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
         SECTION 11.4     Notices and Demands on Issuer, Trustee and Holders of Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
         SECTION 11.5     Officers' Certificates and Opinions of Counsel; Statements to Be Contained
                          Therein . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
         SECTION 11.6     Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
         SECTION 11.7     Conflict of Any Provision of Indenture with Trust Indenture Act of 1939 . . . . . . . . . .  48
         SECTION 11.8     GOVERNING LAW . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
         SECTION 11.9     Counterparts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
         SECTION 11.10    Effect of Headings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48


                                                      ARTICLE TWELVE
                                        REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS


         SECTION 12.1     Applicability of Article  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
         SECTION 12.2     Notice of Redemption; Partial Redemptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
         SECTION 12.3     Payment of Securities Called for Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
         SECTION 12.4     Exclusion of Certain Securities from Eligibility for Selection for Redemption . . . . . . .  50
         SECTION 12.5     Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   7
         THIS SENIOR INDENTURE, dated as of August ____, 1997 between SEAGULL
ENERGY CORPORATION, a Texas corporation (the "Issuer"), and The Bank of New
York, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the "Trustee"),

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the issuance from time to time
of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to be
issued in one or more series (the "Securities") up to such principal amount or
amounts as may from time to time be authorized in accordance with the terms of
this Indenture;

         WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of
this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the authentication, delivery
and administration of the Securities; and

         WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid indenture
and agreement according to its terms have been undertaken and completed;

         NOW, THEREFORE:

         In consideration of the premises and the purchases of the Securities
by the Holders (as hereinafter defined) thereof, the Issuer and the Trustee
mutually covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the
respective Holders from time to time of the Securities as follows:


                                  ARTICLE ONE
                                  DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.1      For all purposes of this Indenture and of any
indenture supplemental hereto the following terms shall have the respective
meanings specified in this Section 1.1 (except as otherwise expressly provided
or unless the context otherwise clearly requires).  All other terms used in
this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, including
terms defined therein by reference to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and
in said Securities Act as in force at the date of this Indenture (except as
herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise clearly
requires).

         All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have
the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and the term "generally accepted accounting principles"
means such accounting principles as are generally accepted at the time of any
computation.

         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.  The expressions "date of this
Indenture", "date hereof", "date as of which this Indenture is dated" and "date
of execution and delivery of this Indenture" and other expressions of similar
import refer to the effective date of the original execution and delivery of
this Indenture, viz.  August ____, 1997.

         The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them
in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular.

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





<PAGE>   8
         "Authenticating Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.14.

         "Bankruptcy Code" means the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 United
States Code Sections  101 et seq., or any successor statute thereto.

         "Board of Directors" means either the Board of Directors of the Issuer
or any committee of such Board duly authorized to act on its behalf.

         "Board Resolution" means one or more resolutions, certified by the
secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer to have been duly adopted or
consented to by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect.

         "Business Day" means, with respect to any Security, a day that (a) in
the Place of Payment (or in any of the Places of Payment, if more than one) in
which amounts are payable, as specified in the form of such Security, and (b)
in the city in which the Corporate Trust Office is located, is not a day on
which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to
close.

         "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from
time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or, if at any time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture
such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, then the body performing such duties on
such date.

         "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the aggregate amount of
assets included on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and
its Restricted Subsidiaries, less applicable reserves and other properly
deductible items and after deducting therefrom (a) all current liabilities and
(b) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount
and expense and other like intangibles, all in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

         "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which the
corporate trust business of the Trustee shall, at any particular time, be
principally administered, which office is, at the date as of which this
Indenture is dated, located in New York, New York.

         "Depositary" means, with respect to the Securities of any series
issuable or issued in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person
designated as Depositary by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3 until a
successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Depositary" shall mean or include
each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and, if at any time there is
more than one such Person, "Depositary" as used with respect to the Securities
of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Global
Securities of such series.

         "ENSTAR Alaska" means (i) the division of the Issuer known on the date
of this Indenture as ENSTAR Natural Gas Company, which owns on the date of this
Indenture the gas distribution system in south-central Alaska, and (ii) Alaska
Pipeline Company, an Alaska corporation and a Subsidiary of the Issuer, in each
case together with successors and assigns.

         "Event of Default" means any event or condition specified as such in
Section 5.1.

         "Global Security" means a Security evidencing all or a part of a
series of Securities issued to the Depositary for such series in accordance
with Section 2.3 and bearing the legend prescribed in Section 2.4.

         "Holder", "Holder of Securities", "Securityholder" or other similar
terms mean, in the case of any Security, the person in whose name such Security
is registered in the security register kept by the Issuer for that purpose in
accordance with the terms hereof.





                                      -2-
<PAGE>   9
         "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and delivered
or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or
supplemented or both, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any
such supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 that are
deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplement,
respectively, and shall include the forms and terms of particular series of
Securities established as contemplated hereunder.

         The term "interest" means, when used with respect to non-interest
bearing Securities (including, without limitation, any Original Issue Discount
Security that by its terms bears interest only after maturity or upon default
in any other payment due on such Security), interest payable after maturity
(whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or redemption or otherwise) or
after the date, if any, on which the Issuer becomes obligated to acquire a
Security, whether upon conversion, by purchase or otherwise.

         "Issuer" means (except as otherwise provided in Section 6.8) Seagull
Energy Corporation, a Texas corporation, and, subject to Article Nine, its
successors and assigns.

         "Issuer Order" means a written statement, request or order of the
Issuer which is signed in its name by the chairman of the Board of Directors,
the president or any vice president of the Issuer.

         "Officers' Certificate", when used with respect to the Issuer, means a
certificate signed by the chairman of the Board of Directors, the president, or
any vice president and by the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the
controller, any assistant controller, the secretary or any assistant secretary
of the Issuer.  Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for
in Section 11.5 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section
11.5.  One of the officers signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to
Section 4.3 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer
of the Issuer.

         "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing signed by the chief
counsel of the Issuer or by such other legal counsel who may be an employee of
or counsel to the Issuer and who shall be satisfactory to the Trustee.  Each
such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 11.5, if and
to the extent required by the provisions of such Section 11.5.

         The term "original issue date" of any Security (or portion thereof)
means the earlier of (a) the date of such Security or (b) the date of any
Security (or portion thereof) for which such Security was issued (directly or
indirectly) on registration of transfer, exchange or substitution.

         The term "original issue discount" of any debt security, including any
Original Issue Discount Security, means the difference between the principal
amount of such debt security and the initial issue price of such debt security
(as set forth in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security on the face of
such Security).

         "Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security that provides
for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon
a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1.

         "Outstanding" (except as otherwise provided in Section 6.8), when used
with reference to Securities, shall, subject to the provisions of Section 7.4,
mean, as of any particular time, all Securities authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee under this Indenture, except:

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

         (b)     Securities (other than Securities of any series as to which
the provisions of Article Ten hereof shall not be applicable), or portions
thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys or U.S. Government
Obligations (as provided for in Section 10.1) in the necessary amount shall
have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other
than the Issuer) or shall have been set aside, segregated and held in trust by
the Issuer for the Holders of such Securities (if the Issuer shall act as its
own paying agent), provided that, if such





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   10
Securities, or portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to the maturity
thereof, notice of such redemption shall have been given as herein provided, or
provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving such
notice; and

         (c)     Securities which shall have been paid or in substitution for
which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to
the terms of Section 2.9 (except with respect to any such Security as to which
proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that such Security is held by a
person in whose hands such Security is a legal, valid and binding obligation of
the Issuer).

         In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate
principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have given any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,
the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be
deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the portion of the
principal amount thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such
determination (as certified by the Issuer to the Trustee) upon a declaration of
acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1.

         "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, if any, thereon, the stated maturity
or maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect
thereto, are to be determined by the Issuer or its agents upon the issuance of
such Securities.

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

         "Place of Payment", when used with respect to the Securities of any
series, means the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any,
on the Securities of such series are payable as determined in accordance with
Section 2.3.

         The term "principal" of a debt security, including any Security, means
the amount (including, without limitation, if and to the extent applicable, any
premium and, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, any accrued
original issue discount, but excluding interest) that is payable with respect
to such debt security as of any date and for any purpose (including, without
limitation, in connection with any sinking fund, upon any redemption at the
option of the Issuer, upon any purchase or exchange at the option of the Issuer
or the holder of such debt security and upon any acceleration of the maturity
of such debt security).

         The term "principal amount" of a debt security, including any
Security, means the principal amount as set forth on the face of such debt
security.

         "Principal Property" means any real property, manufacturing plant,
processing plant, pipeline, office building, warehouse or other physical
facility, or any other like depreciable or depletable asset of the Issuer or
any Restricted Subsidiary whether owned at August ___, 1997 or thereafter
acquired (other than any facility thereafter acquired for the control or
abatement of atmospheric pollutants or contaminants or water, noise, odor or
other pollution) which in the opinion of the Board of Directors is of material
importance to the total business conducted by the Issuer and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, as a whole; provided, however, that any such property shall not
be deemed a Principal Property if such property does not have a fair value in
excess of 3% of the total assets included on a consolidated balance sheet of
the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

         The term "record date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.7.

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





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   11
         "Restricted Subsidiary" means (a) any Subsidiary other than an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, and (b) any Subsidiary which was an Unrestricted
Subsidiary but which, subsequent to the date hereof, is designated by the
Issuer (by certified resolution of the Board of Directors delivered to the
Trustee) to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Issuer may
not designate any such Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if the Issuer
would thereby breach any covenant or agreement herein contained (on the
assumptions that any outstanding indebtedness of such Subsidiary was incurred
at the time of such designation and that any Sale and Leaseback Transaction to
which such Subsidiary is then a party was entered into at the time of such
designation).

         "Sale and Leaseback Transaction" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.7.

         "Secured Debt" means indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or
a Restricted Subsidiary and any other indebtedness of the Issuer or a
Restricted Subsidiary on which interest is paid or payable (other than
indebtedness owed by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer, by a Restricted
Subsidiary to another Restricted Subsidiary or by the Issuer to a Restricted
Subsidiary), that in any such case is secured by (a) a mortgage or other lien
on any Principal Property of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, or (b) a
pledge, lien or other security interest on any shares of stock or indebtedness
of a Restricted Subsidiary, or (c) in the case of any such indebtedness of the
Issuer, a guaranty by any Restricted Subsidiary.  The amount of Secured Debt at
any time outstanding shall be the amount then owing thereon by the Issuer or a
Restricted Subsidiary.

         "Security" or "Securities" (except as otherwise provided in Section
6.8) has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture or, as the
case may be, Securities that have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to
this Indenture.

         "Subsidiary" means any corporation of which the Issuer, or the Issuer
and one or more Subsidiaries, or any one or more Subsidiaries, directly or
indirectly own voting securities entitling any one or more of the Issuer and
its Subsidiaries to elect a majority of the directors, either at all times or,
so long as there is no default or contingency which permits the holders of any
other class or classes of securities to vote for the election of one or more
directors.

         "Trust Indenture Act of 1939" (except as otherwise provided in
Sections 8.1 and 8.2) means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by the
Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990, as in force at the date as of which this
Indenture is originally executed.

         "Trustee" means the Person identified as "Trustee" in the first
paragraph hereof and, subject to the provisions of Article Six, shall also
include any successor trustee.  "Trustee" shall also 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 the trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

         "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means (a) any Subsidiary acquired or
organized after the date hereof, provided, however, that such Subsidiary shall
not be a successor, directly or indirectly, to any Restricted Subsidiary, and
(b) any Subsidiary whose principal business and assets are located outside the
United States of America, its territories and possessions and Canada or are
located in Puerto Rico, and (c) any Subsidiary the principal business of which
consists of financing or assisting in financing the acquisition or disposition
of products of the Issuer or a Subsidiary by dealers, distributors or other
customers, and (d) any Subsidiary the principal business of which is owning,
leasing, dealing in or developing real property, and (e) any Subsidiary
substantially all the assets of which consist of stock or other securities of a
Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the character described in clauses (a) through
(d) of this paragraph, unless and until such Subsidiary shall have been
designated to be a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (b) of the
definition of "Restricted Subsidiary".

         "U.S. Government Obligations" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 10.1(B).

         The term "vice president," when used with respect to the Issuer or the
Trustee, means any vice president, regardless of whether designated by a number
or a word or words added before or after the title "vice president."





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   12
         "Yield to Maturity" means the yield to maturity on a series of
Securities, calculated at the time of issuance of such series, or, if
applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and
calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice or as
otherwise provided in the terms of such series of Securities.


                                  ARTICLE TWO
                                   SECURITIES

         SECTION 2.1      Forms Generally.  The Securities of each series shall
be substantially in such form (not inconsistent with this Indenture) as shall
be established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (as set forth in
a Board Resolution or, to the extent established pursuant to rather than set
forth in a Board Resolution, an Officers' Certificate detailing such
establishment) 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 imprinted or
otherwise reproduced thereon such legend or legends or endorsements, not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, as may be required to
comply with any law or with any rules or regulations pursuant thereto, or with
any rules of any securities exchange or to conform to general usage, all as may
be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution of such 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.

         SECTION 2.2      Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.  The
Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Securities shall be
substantially as follows:

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

                                      The Bank of New York, as Trustee
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      By                                  
                                         ---------------------------------
                                              Authorized Signatory
                                      
                                      
         If at any time there shall be an Authenticating Agent appointed with
respect to any series of Securities, then the Securities of such series shall
bear, in addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternate
Certificate of Authentication which shall be substantially as follows:

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

                                      The Bank of New York, as Trustee
                                      
                                      By                                    
                                         -----------------------------------
                                             as Authenticating Agent
                                      
                                      
                                      By                                    
                                         -----------------------------------
                                              Authorized Signatory
                                      
                                      
                                      


                                      -6-
<PAGE>   13
         SECTION 2.3      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 and the Securities
of each such series shall rank equally and pari passu with the Securities of
each other series and with all other unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the
Issuer.  There shall be established in or pursuant to one or more Board
Resolutions (and, to the extent established pursuant to rather than set forth
in a Board Resolution, in an Officers' Certificate detailing such
establishment) or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto,
prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series:

                 (1)      the designation of the Securities of the series,
         which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from the
         Securities of all other series;

                 (2)      any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the
         Securities of the series that 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 2.8, 2.9, 2.11, 8.5 or
         12.3);

                 (3)      the date or dates on which the principal of the
         Securities of the series is payable;

                 (4)      the rate or rates at which the Securities of the
         series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which any
         such interest shall accrue, on which any such interest shall be
         payable and on which a record shall be taken for the determination of
         Holders to whom any such interest is payable or the method by which
         such rate or rates or date or dates shall be determined or both;

                 (5)      the place or places where and the manner in which the
         principal of and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall
         be payable (if other than as provided in Section 3.2) and the office
         or agency for the Securities of the series maintained by the Issuer
         pursuant to Section 3.2;

                 (6)      the right, if any, of the Issuer to redeem, purchase
         or repay Securities of the series, in whole or in part, at its option
         and the period or periods within which, the price or prices (or the
         method by which such price or prices shall be determined or both) at
         which, the form or method of payment therefor if other than in cash
         and any terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which (if
         different from the provisions of Article Twelve) Securities of the
         series may be so redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part,
         pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise;

                 (7)      the obligation, if any, of the Issuer to redeem,
         purchase or repay Securities of the series in whole or in part
         pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous
         provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or
         periods within which the price or prices (or the method by which such
         price or prices shall be determined or both) at which, the form or
         method of payment therefor if other than in cash and any terms and
         conditions upon which and the manner in which (if different from the
         provisions of Article Twelve) Securities of the series shall be
         redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such
         obligation;

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

                 (9)      if other than the principal amount thereof, the
         portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which
         shall be payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

                 (10)     whether Securities of the series will be issuable as
         Global Securities;

                 (11)     if the Securities of such series are to be issuable
         in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a
         temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain
         certificates or





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   14
         other documents or satisfaction of other conditions, the form and
         terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

                 (12)     any trustees, depositaries, authenticating or paying
         agents, transfer agents or registrars or any other agents with respect
         to the Securities of such series;

                 (13)     any deleted, modified or additional events of
         default, remedies or covenants with respect to the Securities of such
         series;

                 (14)     whether the provisions of Section 10.1(C) will be
         applicable to Securities of such series;

                 (15)     any provision relating to the issuance of Securities
         of such series at an original issue discount (including, without
         limitation, the issue price thereof, the rate or rates at which such
         original issue discount shall accrue, if any, and the date or dates
         from or to which or period or periods during which such original issue
         discount shall accrue at such rate or rates);

                 (16)     if the amounts of payments of principal of and
         interest on the Securities of such series are to be determined with
         reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be
         determined; and

                 (17)     any other terms of the series (which terms shall not
         be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).

         All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical,
except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided by or
pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate referred to above or
as set forth in any such indenture supplemental hereto.  All Securities of any
one series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to
time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or
pursuant to such Board Resolution, such Officers' Certificate or in any such
indenture supplemental hereto.

         Any such Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate referred to above
with respect to Securities of any series filed with the Trustee on or before
the initial issuance of the Securities of such series shall be incorporated
herein by reference with respect to Securities of such series and shall
thereafter be deemed to be a part of the Indenture for all purposes relating to
Securities of such series as fully as if such Board Resolution or Officers'
Certificate were set forth herein in full.

         SECTION 2.4      Authentication and Delivery of Securities.  The
Issuer may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Issuer to the
Trustee for authentication together with the applicable documents referred to
below in this Section 2.4, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and
deliver such Securities to, or upon the order of, the Issuer (contained in the
Issuer Order referred to below in this Section 2.4) or pursuant to such
procedures acceptable to the Trustee and to such recipients as may be specified
from time to time by an Issuer Order.  The maturity date, original issue date,
interest rate, if any, and any other terms of the Securities of such series
shall be determined by or pursuant to such Issuer Order and procedures.  If
provided for in such procedures and agreed to by the Trustee, such Issuer Order
may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral instructions from
the Issuer or its duly authorized agent, which instructions shall be promptly
confirmed in writing.  In authenticating the Securities of such series and
accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to
such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive (in the case of
subparagraphs (2), (3) and (4) below only at or before the time of the first
request of the Issuer to the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series)
and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, unless
and until such documents have been superseded or revoked:

                 (1)      an Issuer Order requesting such authentication and
         setting forth delivery instructions if the Securities of such series
         are not to be delivered to the Issuer, provided that, with respect to
         Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (a) such Issuer
         Order may be delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee prior to the
         delivery to the Trustee of such Securities for authentication and
         delivery, (b) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities of
         such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   15
         principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount
         established for such series, pursuant to an Issuer Order or pursuant
         to procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time
         to time by an Issuer Order, (c) the maturity date or dates, original
         issue date or dates, interest rate or rates, if any, and any other
         terms of Securities of such series shall be determined by an Issuer
         Order or pursuant to such procedures, (d) if provided for in such
         procedures, such Issuer Order may authorize authentication and
         delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Issuer
         or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall
         be promptly confirmed in writing and (e) after the original issuance
         of the first Security of such series to be issued, any separate
         request by the Issuer that the Trustee authenticate Securities of such
         series for original issuance will be deemed to be a certification by
         the Issuer that it is in compliance with all conditions precedent
         provided for in this Indenture relating to the authentication and
         delivery of such Securities;

                 (2)      the Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or
         executed supplemental indenture referred to in Sections 2.1 and 2.3 by
         or pursuant to which the forms and terms of the Securities of such
         series were established;

                 (3)      an Officers' Certificate setting forth the form or
         forms and terms of the Securities stating that the form or forms and
         terms of the Securities have been established pursuant to Sections 2.1
         and 2.3 and comply with this Indenture and covering such other matters
         as the Trustee may reasonably request; and

                 (4)      at the option of the Issuer, either an Opinion of
         Counsel, or a letter from legal counsel addressed to the Trustee
         permitting it to rely on an Opinion of Counsel, substantially to the
         effect that:

                          (a)     the form or forms of the Securities of such
                 series have been duly authorized and established in conformity
                 with the provisions of this Indenture;

                          (b)     in the case of an underwritten offering, the
                 terms of the Securities of such series have been duly
                 authorized and established in conformity with the provisions
                 of this Indenture, and, in the case of an offering that is not
                 underwritten, certain terms of the Securities of such series
                 have been established pursuant to a Board Resolution, an
                 Officers' Certificate or a supplemental indenture in
                 accordance with this Indenture, and when such other terms as
                 are to be established pursuant to procedures set forth in an
                 Issuer Order shall have been established, all such terms will
                 have been duly authorized by the Issuer and will have been
                 established in conformity with the provisions of this
                 Indenture;

                          (c)     when the Securities of such series have been
                 executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee in
                 accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and delivered
                 to and duly paid for by the purchasers thereof, they will have
                 been duly issued under this Indenture and will be valid and
                 legally binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable in
                 accordance with their respective terms, and will be entitled
                 to the benefits of this Indenture; and

                          (d)     the execution and delivery by the Issuer of,
                 and the performance by the Issuer of its obligations under,
                 the Securities of such series will not contravene any
                 provision of applicable law or the articles of incorporation
                 or bylaws of the Issuer or any agreement or other instrument
                 binding upon the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries that is
                 material to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, considered as one
                 enterprise, or, to such counsel's knowledge after the inquiry
                 indicated therein, any judgment, order or decree of any
                 governmental agency or any court having jurisdiction over the
                 Issuer or any Subsidiary, and no consent, approval or
                 authorization of any governmental body or agency is required
                 for the performance by the Issuer of its obligations under the
                 Securities, except such as are specified and have been
                 obtained and such as may be required by the securities or blue
                 sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer
                 and sale of the Securities.





                                      -9-
<PAGE>   16

         In rendering such opinions, such counsel may qualify any opinions as
to enforceability by stating that such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, moratorium and other
similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and is subject to
general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).  Such counsel may rely, as to
all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the State of Texas
and the federal law of the United States, upon opinions of other counsel
(copies of which shall be delivered to the Trustee), who shall be counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, in which case the opinion shall state
that such counsel believes that both such counsel and the Trustee are entitled
so to rely.  Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves
factual matters, such counsel has relied, to the extent such counsel deems
proper, upon certificates of officers of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and
certificates of public officials.

         The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and
deliver any Securities of any series under this Section 2.4 if the Trustee,
being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken
by the Issuer or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or
board of trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors or
trustees or Responsible Officers shall determine that such action would expose
the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders or would adversely affect
the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities, this
Indenture or otherwise.

         If the Issuer shall establish pursuant to Section 2.3 that the
Securities of a series are to be issued in the form of one or more Global
Securities, then the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance
with this Section 2.4 and the Issuer Order with respect to such series,
authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent
and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount
of all of the Securities of such series to be issued in the form of Global
Securities and not yet canceled, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the
Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such
Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or
pursuant to such Depositary's instructions, and (iv) shall bear a legend
substantially to the following effect: "Unless and until it is exchanged in
whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, this Security
may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to the nominee of
the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another
nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a
successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary."

         Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 2.3 must, at the time
of its designation and at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a
clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and any other applicable statute or regulation.

         SECTION 2.5      Execution of Securities.  The Securities shall be
signed on behalf of the Issuer by the chairman of the Board of Directors, the
president, any vice president or the treasurer of the Issuer, under its
corporate seal which may, but need not, be attested by its secretary or one of
its assistant secretaries.  Such signatures may be the manual or facsimile
signatures of the present or any future such officers.  The seal of the Issuer
may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed,
imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.  Typographical and other
minor errors or defects in any such reproduction of the seal or any such
signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that
has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

         In case any officer of the Issuer who shall have signed any of the
Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Security so signed shall
be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or disposed of by the Issuer,
such Security nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as
though the person who signed such Security had not ceased to be such officer of
the Issuer; and any Security may be signed on behalf of the Issuer by such
persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Security, shall be the
proper officers of the Issuer, although at the date of the execution and
delivery of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.

         SECTION 2.6      Certificate of Authentication.  Only such Securities
as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form
hereinbefore recited, executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of
its authorized signatories, or its Authenticating Agent, shall be entitled to
the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.  The
execution of such certificate by the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent upon
any





                                      -10-
<PAGE>   17
Security executed by the Issuer shall be conclusive evidence that the Security
so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder and that
the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.  Each reference in
this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by an
agent appointed pursuant to Section 6.14.

         SECTION 2.7      Denomination and Date of Securities; Payments of
Interest.  The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form
in denominations established as contemplated by Section 2.3 or, with respect to
the Securities of any series, if not so established, in denominations of $1,000
and any integral multiple thereof.  The Securities of each series shall be
numbered, lettered or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance
with such plan as the officers of the Issuer executing the same may determine
with the approval of the Trustee, as evidenced by the execution and
authentication thereof.

         Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.  The
Securities of each series shall bear interest, if any, from the date, and such
interest, if any, shall be payable on the dates, established as contemplated by
Section 2.3.

         The Person in whose name any Security of any series is registered at
the close of business on any record date applicable to a particular series with
respect to any interest payment date for such series shall be entitled to
receive the interest, if any, payable on such interest payment date
notwithstanding any transfer or exchange of such Security subsequent to the
record date and prior to such interest payment date, except if and to the
extent the Issuer shall default in the payment of the interest due on such
interest payment date for such series, in which case such defaulted interest
shall be paid to the Persons in whose names Outstanding Securities for such
series are registered (a) at the close of business on a subsequent record date
(which shall be not less than five Business Days prior to the date of payment
of such defaulted interest) established by notice given by mail by or on behalf
of the Issuer to the Holders of Securities not less than 15 days preceding such
subsequent record date or (b) as determined by such other procedure as is
mutually acceptable to the Issuer and the Trustee.  The term "record date" as
used with respect to any interest payment date (except a date for payment of
defaulted interest) for the Securities of any series shall mean the date
specified as such in the terms of the Securities of such series established as
contemplated by Section 2.3, or, if no such date is so established, if such
interest payment date is the first day of a calendar month, the fifteenth day
of the next preceding calendar month or, if such interest payment date is the
fifteenth day of a calendar month, the first day of such calendar month,
whether or not such record date is a Business Day.

         SECTION 2.8      Registration Transfer and Exchange.  The Issuer will
keep at each office or agency to be maintained for the purpose as provided in
Section 3.2 for each series of Securities a register or registers in which,
subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, it will provide for
the registration of Securities of each series and the registration of transfer
of Securities of such series.  Each such register shall be in written form in
the English language or in any other form capable of being converted into such
form within a reasonable time.  At all reasonable times such register or
registers shall be open for inspection and available for copying by the
Trustee.

         Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security of
any series at any such office or agency to be maintained for the purpose as
provided in Section 3.2, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new
Security or Securities of the same series, maturity date, interest rate, if
any, and original issue date in authorized denominations for a like aggregate
principal amount.

         All Securities presented for registration of transfer shall (if so
required by the Issuer or the Trustee) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied
by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Issuer and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder or his attorney duly
authorized in writing.

         At the option of the Holder thereof, Securities of any series (other
than a Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for a
Security or Securities of such series having authorized denominations and an
equal aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of such Securities to be
exchanged at the agency of the Issuer that shall be maintained for such purpose
in accordance with Section 3.2.  All Securities surrendered upon any exchange
or transfer provided for in this Indenture shall be promptly canceled and
returned to the Issuer.





                                      -11-
<PAGE>   18
         The Issuer 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 of Securities.  No service charge shall be made for
any such transaction or for any exchange of Securities of any series as
contemplated by the immediately preceding paragraph.

         The Issuer shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of
(a) any Securities of any series for a period of 15 days next preceding the
first mailing or publication of notice of redemption of Securities of such
series to be redeemed, (b) any Securities selected, called or being called for
redemption, in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Security to be
redeemed in part, the portion thereof not so to be redeemed or (c) any Security
if the Holder thereof has exercised his right, if any, to require the Issuer to
repurchase such Security in whole or in part, except the portion of such
Security not required to be repurchased.

         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.8, unless and
until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive
registered form, a Global Security representing all or a part of the Securities
of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such
series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to
such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or
any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such
successor Depositary.

         If at any time the Depositary for any Securities of a series
represented by one or more Global Securities notifies the Issuer that it is
unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Securities or if at any
time the Depositary for such Securities shall no longer be eligible under
Section 2.4, the Issuer shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to
such Securities.  If a successor Depositary for such Securities is not
appointed by the Issuer within 90 days after the Issuer receives such notice or
becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Issuer's election pursuant to Section
2.3 that such Securities be represented by one or more Global Securities shall
no longer be effective and the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee, upon
receipt of an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive
Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver Securities of such
series in definitive registered form, in any authorized denominations, in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security
or Securities representing such Securities in exchange for such Global Security
or Securities.

         The Issuer may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that
the Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Global
Securities shall no longer be represented by a Global Security or Securities.
In such event the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an
Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of
such series, shall authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in
definitive registered form, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or
Securities representing such Securities, in exchange for such Global Security
or Securities.

         If specified by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3 with respect to
Securities represented by a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global
Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for
Securities of the same series in definitive registered form on such terms as
are acceptable to the Issuer and such Depositary.  Thereupon, the Issuer shall
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service
charge,

                 (i)      to the Person specified by such Depositary, a new
         Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized
         denominations as requested by such Person, in an aggregate principal
         amount equal to and in exchange for such Person's beneficial interest
         in the Global Security; and

                 (ii)     to such Depositary a new Global Security in a
         denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal
         amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal
         amount of Securities authenticated and delivered pursuant to clause
         (i) above.

         Upon the exchange of a Global Security for Securities in definitive
registered form in authorized denominations, such Global Security shall be
canceled by the Trustee or an agent of the Issuer or the Trustee.  Securities
in definitive registered form issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant
to this Section 2.8 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized
denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant





                                      -12-
<PAGE>   19
to instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall
instruct the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee or the Issuer or an agent of
the Issuer.  The Trustee or such agent shall deliver at its office such
Securities to or as directed by the Persons in whose names such Securities are
so registered.

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

         SECTION 2.9      Mutilated, Defaced, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen
Securities.  In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become
mutilated, defaced or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer in its
discretion may execute, and upon the written request of any officer of the
Issuer, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver a new Security of the same
series, maturity date, interest rate, if any, and original issue date, bearing
a number or other distinguishing symbol not contemporaneously outstanding, in
exchange and substitution for the mutilated or defaced Security, or in lieu of
and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen.  In every
case the applicant for a substitute Security shall furnish to the Issuer and to
the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee such security or
indemnity as may be required by the Trustee or the Issuer to indemnify and
defend and to save each of the Trustee and the Issuer harmless and, in every
case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof and in
the case of mutilation or defacement, shall surrender the Security to the
Trustee or such agent.

         Upon the issuance of any substitute Security, the Issuer 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 or its agent) connected therewith.  In case
any Security which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for
redemption in full shall become mutilated or defaced or be destroyed, lost or
stolen, the Issuer may instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or
authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case
of a mutilated or defaced Security), if the applicant for such payment shall
furnish to the Issuer and to the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the
Trustee such security or indemnity as any of them may require to hold each of
them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant
shall also furnish to the Issuer and the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or
the Trustee evidence to the Trustee's satisfaction of the destruction, loss or
theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.

         Every substitute Security of any series issued pursuant to the
provisions of this Section by virtue of the fact that any such Security is
destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation
of the Issuer, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be
at any time enforceable by anyone and shall be entitled to all the benefits of
(but shall be subject to all the limitations of rights set forth in) this
Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such
series duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.  All Securities shall be
held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by law,
the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or
payment of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities and shall
preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or
statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the
replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without
their surrender.

         SECTION 2.10     Cancellation of Securities; Disposition Thereof.  All
Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or
exchange, or for credit against any payment in respect of a sinking or
analogous fund, if surrendered to the Issuer or any agent of the Issuer or the
Trustee or any agent of the Trustee, shall be delivered to the Trustee or its
agent for cancellation or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by
it; and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly
permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture.  The Trustee or its agent
shall return canceled Securities to the Issuer.  If the Issuer or its agent
shall acquire any of the Securities, such acquisition shall not operate as a
redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities
unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee or its agent for
cancellation.

         SECTION 2.11     Temporary Securities.  Pending the preparation of
definitive Securities for any series, the Issuer may execute and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver temporary Securities for such series (printed,





                                      -13-
<PAGE>   20
lithographed, typewritten or otherwise reproduced, in each case in form
satisfactory to the Trustee).  Temporary Securities of any series shall be
issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the
definitive Securities of such series but with such omissions, insertions and
variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be
determined by the Issuer with the concurrence of the Trustee as evidenced by
the execution and authentication thereof.  Temporary Securities may contain
such references to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate.
Every temporary Security shall be executed by the Issuer and be authenticated
by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner,
and with like effect, as the definitive Securities.  Without unreasonable delay
the Issuer shall execute and shall furnish definitive Securities of such series
and thereupon temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in
exchange therefor without charge at each office or agency to be maintained by
the Issuer for that purpose pursuant to Section 3.2 and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities of such
series an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same
series having authorized denominations.  Until so exchanged, the temporary
Securities of any series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this
Indenture as definitive Securities of such series, unless otherwise established
pursuant to Section 2.3.

         SECTION 2.12     CUSIP Numbers.  The Issuer in issuing the Securities
may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee
shall use "CUSIP" numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders;
provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to
the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as
contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on
the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such
redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.


                                 ARTICLE THREE
                            COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER

         SECTION 3.1      Payment of Principal and Interest.  The Issuer
covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid
the principal of and interest, if any, on each of the Securities at the place,
at the respective times and in the manner provided in the Securities.

         SECTION 3.2      Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.  So long as
any of the Securities are Outstanding, the Issuer will maintain in each Place
of Payment, an office or agency where the Securities may be presented for
payment, an office or agency where the Securities may be presented for
registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided, and an
office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of
the Securities or of this Indenture may be served.  In case the Issuer shall at
any time fail to maintain any such office or agency, or shall fail to give
notice to the Trustee of any change in the location thereof, presentation may
be made and notice and demand may be served in respect of the Securities or of
this Indenture at the Corporate Trust Office.  The Issuer hereby initially
designates the Corporate Trust Office for each such purpose and appoints the
Trustee as registrar and paying agent and as the agent upon whom notices and
demands may be served with respect to the Securities.

         SECTION 3.3      No Interest Extension.  In order to prevent any
accumulation of claims for interest after maturity thereof, the Issuer will not
directly or indirectly extend or consent to the extension of the time for the
payment of any claim for interest on any of the Securities and will not
directly or indirectly be a party to or approve any such arrangement by the
purchase or funding of said claims or in any other manner; provided, however,
that this Section 3.3 shall not apply in any case where an extension shall be
made pursuant to a plan proposed by the Issuer to the Holders of all Securities
of any series then Outstanding.

         SECTION 3.4      Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office.
The Issuer, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of the
Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.10, a Trustee, so
that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.





                                      -14-
<PAGE>   21

         SECTION 3.5      Provision as to Paying Agent.  (a) If the Issuer
shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee, it will cause such paying
agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent
shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 3.5,

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

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

                 (3)      that it will, at any time during the continuance of
         any such failure, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith
         pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent.

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

         (c)     Anything in this Section 3.5 to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Issuer may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid
to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it, or any paying agent hereunder, as
required by this Section 3.5, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the
trusts herein contained.

         (d)     Anything in this Section 3.5 to the contrary notwithstanding,
any agreement of the Trustee or any paying agent to hold sums in trust as
provided in this Section 3.5 is subject to Sections 10.3 and 10.4.

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

         SECTION 3.6      Restriction on Creation of Secured Debt.  So long as
any of the Securities are outstanding, the Issuer shall not at any time create,
incur, assume or guarantee, and shall not cause, suffer or permit a Restricted
Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or guarantee, any Secured Debt without
making effective provision (and the Issuer covenants that in such case it will
make or cause to be made such effective provision) whereby the Securities then
Outstanding and any other indebtedness of or guaranteed by the Issuer or such
Restricted Subsidiary then entitled thereto, subject to applicable priorities
of payment, shall be secured by such mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien
or encumbrance equally and ratably with any and all other obligations and
indebtedness thereby secured, so long as any such other obligations and
indebtedness shall be so secured; provided, that if any such mortgage, security
interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance securing such indebtedness ceases to
exist, such equal and ratable security for the benefit of the Holders of
Securities shall automatically cease to exist without any further action;
provided further that if such indebtedness is expressly subordinated to the
Securities, the mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance
securing such indebtedness shall be subordinate and junior to the mortgage,
security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance securing the Securities with the
same relative priority as such indebtedness shall have with respect to the
Securities; provided further, that the foregoing covenants shall not be
applicable to the following:

         (a)(i)  Any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance
on any property hereafter acquired (including acquisition through merger or
consolidation) or constructed by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary and
created contemporaneously with, or within twelve months after, such acquisition
or the completion of construction





                                      -15-
<PAGE>   22
to secure or provide for the payment of all or any part of the purchase price
of such property or the cost of construction thereof, as the case may be; or
(ii) any mortgage on property (including any unimproved portion of partially
improved property) of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary created within
twelve months of completion of construction of a new plant or plants on such
property to secure all or part of the cost of such construction if, in the
opinion of the Board of Directors, such property or such portion thereof was
prior to such construction substantially unimproved for the use intended by the
Issuer; or (iii) the acquisition of property subject to any mortgage, security
interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance upon such property existing at the time
of acquisition thereof, whether or not assumed by the Issuer or such Restricted
Subsidiary; or (iv) any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or
encumbrance existing on the property or on the outstanding shares or
indebtedness of a corporation or other entity at the time such corporation or
other entity shall become a Restricted Subsidiary; or (v) any mortgage,
security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance on property of a corporation or
other entity existing at the time such corporation or other entity is merged
into or consolidated with the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time
of a sale, lease or other disposition of the properties of a corporation or
other entity as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Issuer or a
Restricted Subsidiary; or

         (b)     Mortgages on property of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary
in favor of the United States of America or any State thereof or any foreign
government, or any department, agency or instrumentality or political
subdivision of any thereof, to secure partial, progress, advance or other
payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any indebtedness
incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or
the cost of construction of the property subject to such mortgages; or

         (c)     Any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance
existing on property owned by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries on the date
of this Indenture; or

         (d)     Any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance
created pursuant to the creation of trusts or other arrangements funded solely
with cash, cash equivalents or other marketable investments or securities of
the type customarily subject to such arrangements in customary financial
practice with respect to long-term or medium-term indebtedness for money
borrowed, the sole purpose of which is to make provision for the retirement or
defeasance, without prepayment of indebtedness; or

         (e)     Any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance
on the assets or properties of ENSTAR Alaska; or

         (f)     Any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance
securing (i) all or part of the cost of exploring, producing, gathering,
processing, marketing, drilling or developing any properties of the Company or
any  of its Subsidiaries, or securing indebtedness incurred to provide funds
therefor, or (ii) indebtedness incurred to finance all or part of the cost of
acquiring, constructing, altering, improving or repairing any such property or
assets, or securing indebtedness incurred to provide funds therefor; or

         (g)     Any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive
extensions, renewals or replacements) in whole or in part of any mortgage,
security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance referred to in the foregoing
subparagraphs (a) through (f); provided, however, that the principal amount of
Secured Debt secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount outstanding
at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, and that such extension,
renewal or replacement shall be limited to the property which secured the
mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance so extended, renewed
or replaced and additions to such property.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.6, the
Issuer and any one or more Restricted Subsidiaries may create, incur, assume or
guarantee Secured Debt which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing
restrictions in an aggregate amount that, without duplication, together with
all other Secured Debt of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries which
would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions (not including Secured
Debt permitted to be secured under subparagraphs (a) through (g) above) and the
aggregate value of the Sale and Leaseback Transactions (as defined in Section
3.7) in existence at such time (not including Sale and Leaseback Transactions
the proceeds of which have been or will be applied in accordance with clause
(b) of Section 3.7) does not at the time





                                      -16-
<PAGE>   23
exceed 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets (excluding ENSTAR Alaska).
Solely for purposes of subparagraphs (a) through (g) above, the term "mortgage"
shall include any arrangements in connection with a production payment or
similar financing arrangement.

         SECTION 3.7      Restriction on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.  The
Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell or
transfer (except to the Issuer or to one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, or
both) any Principal Property owned by it and which has been in full operation
for more than 120 days prior to such sale or transfer with the intention (i) of
taking back a lease on such property (other than a lease for a period not
exceeding 36 months) and (ii) that the use by the Issuer or such Restricted
Subsidiary of such property will be discontinued on or before the expiration of
the term of such lease (any such transaction being herein referred to as a
"Sale and Leaseback Transaction"), unless (a) the Issuer or such Restricted
Subsidiary would be entitled, pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.6, to
incur Secured Debt equal in amount to the amount realized or to be realized
upon such sale or transfer secured by a mortgage on the property to be leased
without equally and ratably securing the Securities, or (b) the Issuer or a
Restricted Subsidiary shall apply an amount equal to the value of the property
so leased to the retirement (other than any mandatory retirement), within 120
days of the effective date of any such arrangement, of indebtedness for money
borrowed by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than such
indebtedness owned by the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary) which was
recorded as funded debt as of the date of its creation and which, in the case
of such indebtedness of the Issuer, is not subordinate and junior in right of
payment to the prior payment of the Securities; provided, however, that the
amount to be so applied to the retirement of such indebtedness shall be reduced
by (i) the aggregate principal amount of any Securities delivered within 120
days of the effective date of any such arrangement to the Trustee for
retirement and cancellation, and (ii) the aggregate principal amount of such
indebtedness (other than the Securities) retired by the Issuer or a Restricted
Subsidiary within 120 days of the effective date of any such arrangement.

         The term "value" shall mean, with respect to a Sale and Leaseback
Transaction, as of any particular time, the amount equal to the greater of (i)
the net proceeds of the sale of the property leased pursuant to such Sale and
Leaseback Transaction, or (ii) the fair value of such property at the time of
entering into such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, as determined by the Board
of Directors, in either case divided first by the number of full years of the
term of the lease and then multiplied by the number of full years of such term
remaining at the time of determination, without regard to any renewal or
extension options contained in the lease.



                                  ARTICLE FOUR
                    SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE
                             ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE

         SECTION 4.1      Issuer to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and
Addresses of Securityholders.  The Issuer and any other obligor on the
Securities covenant and agree that they will furnish or cause to be furnished
to the Trustee a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the
names and addresses of the Holders of the Securities of each series:

         (a)     semiannually and not more than 15 days after each March 1 and
September 1, and

         (b)     at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing,
within 30 days after receipt by the Issuer of any such request,

provided that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the registrar for such
series, such list shall not be required to be furnished.

         SECTION 4.2      Preservation and Disclosure of Securityholders Lists.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of
each





                                      -17-
<PAGE>   24
series of Securities (i) contained in the most recent list furnished to it as
provided in Section 4.1, and (ii) received by it in the capacity of registrar
or paying agent for such series, if so acting.  The Trustee may destroy any
list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 upon receipt of a new list so
furnished.

         (b)     In case three or more Holders of Securities (hereinafter
referred to as "applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the
Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security for a
period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such
application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders
of Securities of a particular series (in which case the applicants must all
hold Securities of such series) or with Holders of all Securities with respect
to their rights under this Indenture or under such Securities and such
application is accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other
communication which such applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee
shall, within five Business Days after the receipt of such application, at its
election, either

                 (i)      afford to such applicants access to the information
         preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions
         of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, or

                 (ii)     inform such applicants as to the approximate number
         of Holders of Securities of such series or of all Securities, as the
         case may be, whose names and addresses appear in the information
         preserved at the time by the Trustee, in accordance with the
         provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, and as to the
         approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy
         or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

         If the Trustee shall elect not to afford to such applicants access to
such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such
applicants, mail to each Securityholder of such series or all Holders of
Securities, as the case may be, whose name and address appears in the
information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the
provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2 a copy of the form of proxy or
other communication which is specified in such request, with reasonable
promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of
payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing,
unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such
applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material
to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the
Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the Holders of
Securities of such series or of all Securities, as the case may be, or would be
in violation of applicable law.  Such written statement shall specify the basis
of such opinion.  If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the
objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order
refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order
sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission shall find, after
notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have
been met, and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies
of such material to all such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after
the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee
shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their
application.

         (c)     Each and every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding
the same, agrees with the Issuer and the Trustee that neither the Issuer nor
the Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be held
accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names
and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with the provisions of
subsection (b) of this Section 4.2, regardless of the source from which such
information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by
reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under such subsection
(b).

         SECTION 4.3      Reports by the Issuer.  The Issuer covenants:

         (a)     to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Issuer 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 rules and
regulations prescribe) which the Issuer may be required to file with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended; or, if the Issuer is not required to file information,
documents or reports pursuant





                                      -18-
<PAGE>   25
to either of such Sections, then to 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 Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended, in respect of a debt security listed and registered on
a national securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such
rules and regulations;

         (b)     to 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
Issuer with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture as may
be required from time to time by such rules and regulations;

         (c)     to transmit by mail to the Holders of Securities within 30
days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent
provided in Section 4.4(c), such summaries of any information, documents and
reports required to be filed by the Issuer pursuant to subsections (a) and (b)
of this Section 4.3 as may be required to be transmitted to such Holders by
rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission; and

         (d)     furnish to the Trustee, not less than annually, a brief
certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer
or principal accounting officer as to his knowledge of the Issuer's compliance
with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture.  For purposes of this
subsection (d), such compliance shall be determined without regard to any
period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture.

         SECTION 4.4      Reports by the Trustee.  (a) Within 60 days after
January 1 of each year commencing with the year 1994, the Trustee shall
transmit by mail to the Holders of Securities, as provided in subsection (c) of
this Section, a brief report dated as of such January 1 with respect to any of
the following events which may have occurred within the last 12 months (but if
no such event has occurred within such period, no report need be transmitted):

                 (i)      any change to its eligibility under Section 6.9 and
         its qualification under Section 6.8;

                 (ii)     the creation of, or any material change to, a
         relationship specified in paragraph (i) through (x) of Section 6.8
         (c);

                 (iii)    the character and amount of any advances (and if the
         Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making
         thereof) made by the Trustee (as such) which remain unpaid on the date
         of such report and for the reimbursement of which it claims or may
         claim a lien or charge, prior to that of the Securities of any series,
         on any property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee, except
         that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such
         advances if such advances so remaining unpaid aggregate not more than
         1/2 of 1% of the principal amount of all Securities Outstanding on the
         date of such report;

                 (iv)     the amount, interest rate, if any, and maturity date
         of all other indebtedness owing by the Issuer (or by any other obligor
         on the Securities) to the Trustee in its individual capacity on the
         date of such report, with a brief description of any property held as
         collateral security therefor, except any indebtedness based upon a
         creditor relationship arising in any manner described in Section
         6.13(b) (2), (3), (4) or (6);

                 (v)      any change to the property and funds, if any,
         physically in the possession of the Trustee (as such) on the date of
         such report;

                 (vi)     any additional issue of Securities which the Trustee
         has not previously reported; and

                 (vii)    any action taken by the Trustee in the performance of
         its duties under this Indenture which it has not previously reported
         and which in its opinion materially affects the Securities, except
         action in respect of a default, notice of which has been or is to be
         withheld by it in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.8.





                                      -19-
<PAGE>   26

         (b)     The Trustee shall transmit to the Securityholders of each
series, as provided in subsection (c) of this Section 4.4, a brief report with
respect to the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects
so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by the
Trustee, as such, since the date of the last report transmitted pursuant to the
provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.4 (or if no such report has yet
been so transmitted, since the date of this Indenture) for the reimbursement of
which it claims or may claim a lien or charge prior to that of the Securities
of such series on property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee and
which it has not previously reported pursuant to this subsection (b), except
that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such advances
if such advances remaining unpaid at any time aggregate 10% or less of the
principal amount of all Securities Outstanding at such time, such report to be
transmitted within 90 days after such time.

         (c)     Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted by mail:

                 (i)      to all Holders of Securities, as the names and
         addresses of such Holders appear upon the registry books of the
         Issuer; and

                 (ii)     to all other Persons to whom such reports are
         required to be transmitted pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust
         Indenture Act of 1939.

         (d) A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission
to Securityholders, be furnished to the Issuer and be filed by the Trustee with
each stock exchange upon which the Securities of any applicable series are
listed and also with the Commission.  The Issuer agrees to promptly notify the
Trustee with respect to any series when and as the Securities of such series
become admitted to trading on any national securities exchange.


                                  ARTICLE FIVE
                  REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITY HOLDERS
                              ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

         SECTION 5.1      Events of Default.  "Event of Default", wherever used
herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one or more of the
following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default), unless it is
either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or
modified in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture
establishing such series of Securities or in the form of Security, for such
series:

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

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

         (c)     default in the payment or satisfaction of any sinking fund or
other purchase obligation with respect to Securities of such series, as and
when such obligation shall become due and payable as in this Indenture
expressed; or

         (d)     failure on the part of the Issuer duly to observe or perform
any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Issuer in the
Securities of such series or in this Indenture continued for a period of 60
days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same
to be remedied, shall have been given to the Issuer by the Trustee by certified
or registered mail, or to the Issuer and the Trustee by the Holders of at least
25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then
Outstanding; or

         (e)     without the consent of the Issuer a court having jurisdiction
shall enter an order for relief with respect to the Issuer under the Bankruptcy
Code or without the consent of the Issuer a court having jurisdiction shall
enter a judgment, order or decree adjudging the Issuer a bankrupt or insolvent,
or enter an order for relief for reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition of or in respect of the Issuer under the Bankruptcy Code or





                                      -20-
<PAGE>   27
applicable state insolvency law and the continuance of any such judgment, order
or decree is unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

         (f)     the Issuer shall institute proceedings for entry of an order
for relief with respect to the Issuer under the Bankruptcy Code or for an
adjudication of insolvency, or shall consent to the institution of bankruptcy
or insolvency proceedings against it, or shall file a petition seeking, or seek
or consent to reorganization, arrangement, composition or relief under the
Bankruptcy Code or any applicable state law, or shall consent to the filing of
such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, custodian, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or of
substantially all of its property, or the Issuer shall make a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors as recognized under the Bankruptcy
Code; or

         (g)     any other Event of Default provided with respect to the
Securities of such series.

         If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series then
Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in each and every such case,
unless the principal of all of the Securities of such series shall have already
become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then
Outstanding, by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by
Securityholders), may declare the principal (or, if the Securities of such
series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal
amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all the Securities
of such series and the interest, if any, accrued thereon to be due and payable
immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become and shall be
immediately due and payable, notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained
in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series.  This provision,
however, is subject to the condition that, if at any time after the unpaid
principal amount (or such specified amount) of the Securities of such series
shall have been so declared due and payable and before any judgment or decree
for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as
hereinafter provided, the Issuer shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a
sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest, if any, upon all of
the Securities of such series and the principal of any and all Securities of
such series which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with
interest on overdue installments of interest, if any, to the extent that
payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and on such
principal at the rate borne by the Securities of such series to the date of
such payment or deposit) and the reasonable compensation, disbursements,
expenses and advances of the Trustee, and any and all defaults under this
Indenture, other than the nonpayment of such portion of the principal amount of
and accrued interest, if any, on Securities of such series which shall have
become due by acceleration, shall have been cured or shall have been waived in
accordance with Section 5.7 or provision deemed by the Trustee to be adequate
shall have been made therefor, then and in every such case the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then
Outstanding, by written notice to the Issuer and to the Trustee, may rescind
and annul such declaration and its consequences; but no such rescission and
annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default, or shall
impair any right consequent thereon.  If any Event of Default with respect to
the Issuer specified in Section 5.1(e) or 5.1(f) occurs, all unpaid principal
amount (or, if the Securities of any series then Outstanding are Original Issue
Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified
in the terms of each such series) and accrued interest on all Securities of
each series then Outstanding shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and
payable without any declaration or other act by the Trustee or any
Securityholder.

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

         Except with respect to an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5.1
(a), (b) or (c), the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event
of Default unless written notice thereof shall have been given to a Responsible
Officer by the Issuer, a paying agent or any Securityholder.





                                      -21-
<PAGE>   28

         SECTION 5.2      Payment of Securities on Default; Suit Therefor.  The
Issuer covenants that (a) if default shall be made in the payment of any
installment of interest upon any of the Securities of any series then
Outstanding as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default
shall have continued for a period of 30 days, or (b) if default shall be made
in the payment of the principal of any of the Securities of such series as and
when the same shall have become due and payable, whether at maturity of the
Securities of such series or upon redemption or by declaration or otherwise,
then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Issuer will pay to the Trustee, for the
benefit of the Holders of the Securities, the whole amount that then shall have
become due and payable on all such Securities of such series for principal or
interest, if any, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue
principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
applicable law) upon the overdue installments of interest, if any, at the rate
borne by the Securities of such series; and, in addition thereto, such further
amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection,
including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and
counsel, and any expenses or liabilities incurred by the Trustee hereunder
other than through its negligence or bad faith.

         If the Issuer shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such
demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall
be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in
equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any
such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such
judgment or final decree against the Issuer or any other obligor on the
Securities of such series and collect in the manner provided by law out of the
property of the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities of such series,
wherever situated, the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.

         If there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the
reorganization of the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities of any
series then Outstanding under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law
now or hereafter in effect, or if a receiver or trustee or similar official
shall have been appointed for the property of the Issuer or such other obligor,
or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer
or other obligor upon the Securities of such series, or to the creditors or
property of the Issuer or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of
whether the principal of the Securities of such series shall then be due and
payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of
whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 5.2, shall be entitled and empowered by intervention in such
proceedings or otherwise to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole
amount of principal and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the
Securities of such series, and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file
such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or
advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the Securityholders
allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or any other
obligor on the Securities of such series, its or their creditors, or its or
their property, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable
or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the
deduction of its charges and expenses, and any receiver, assignee or trustee or
similar official in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each
of the Securityholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, if the
Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the
Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for compensation and
expenses, including counsel fees and expenses incurred by it up to the date of
such distribution.  To the extent that such payment of reasonable compensation,
expenses and counsel fees and expenses out of the estate in any such
proceedings shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be
secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions,
dividends, moneys, securities and other property which the Holders of the
Securities of such series may be entitled to receive in such proceedings,
whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or
otherwise.

         All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or
under any of the Securities, may be enforced by the Trustee without the
possession of any of the Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or
other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted
by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust,
and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of
the Securities of the series in respect of which such judgment has been
recovered.

         SECTION 5.3      Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee.  Any
moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.2 with respect to
Securities of any series then Outstanding shall be applied in the order
following, at the





                                      -22-
<PAGE>   29
date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of such moneys, upon
presentation of the several Securities of such series, and stamping thereon the
payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender thereof, if fully paid:

         FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and
reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and counsel, and
of all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the
Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6 except as a result of its negligence or bad
faith;

         SECOND:  If the principal of the Outstanding Securities of such series
shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of interest, if any, on
the Securities of such series, in the order of the maturity of the installments
of such interest, if any, with interest (to the extent that such interest has
been collected by the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest, if
any, at the rate borne by the Securities of such series, such payment to be
made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto;

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

         FOURTH: To the payment of any surplus then remaining to the Issuer,
its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive
the same.

         No claim for interest which in any manner at or after maturity shall
have been transferred or pledged separate or apart from the Securities to which
it relates, or which in any manner shall have been kept alive after maturity by
an extension (otherwise than pursuant to an extension made pursuant to a plan
proposed by the Issuer to the Holders of all Securities of any series then
Outstanding), purchase, funding or otherwise by or on behalf or with the
consent or approval of the Issuer shall be entitled, in case of a default
hereunder, to any benefit of this Indenture, except after prior payment in full
of the principal of all Securities of any series then Outstanding and of all
claims for interest not so transferred, pledged, kept alive, extended,
purchased or funded.

         SECTION 5.4      Proceedings by Securityholders.  No Holder of any
Securities of any series then Outstanding shall have any right by virtue of or
by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or
proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture
or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or similar official, or for any
other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the
Trustee written notice of default and of the continuance thereof, as
hereinbefore provided, and unless the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have
made written request to the Trustee to institute such action, suit or
proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the
Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses
and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days
after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have
neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding, it being
understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every
Security of such series with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee, that
no one or more Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any
manner whatever by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture
or of the Securities to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other
Holder of such Securities of such series, or to obtain or seek to obtain
priority over or preference as to any other such Holder, or to enforce any
right under this Indenture or the Securities, except in the manner herein
provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders of
Securities of such series.

         Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, however, the
right of any Holder of any Security to receive payment of the principal of and
interest, if any, on such Security, on or after the respective due dates





                                      -23-
<PAGE>   30
expressed in such Security, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any
such payment on or after such respective dates shall not be impaired or
affected without the consent of such Holder.

         SECTION 5.5      Proceedings by Trustee.  In case of an Event of
Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and
enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial
proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any
of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceedings
in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any
covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of
any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable
right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

         SECTION 5.6      Remedies Cumulative and Continuing.  All powers and
remedies given by this Article Five to the Trustee or to the Securityholders
shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive
of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or
the Securityholders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the
performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this
Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Securityholder to
exercise any right or power accruing upon any default occurring and continuing
as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be
a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the
provisions of Section 5.4, every power and remedy given by this Article Five or
by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to
time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the
Securityholders.

         SECTION 5.7      Direction of Proceedings; Waiver of Defaults by
Majority of Securityholders.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities of any series then Outstanding shall have the right to
direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the
Trustee with respect to Securities of such series; provided, however, that
(subject to the provisions of Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have the right to
decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee shall determine upon advice
of counsel that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken
or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors, its executive
committee, or a trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers or both
shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the
Trustee in personal liability.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of any series then Outstanding may on behalf
of the Holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default
or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except a default in the
payment of interest, if any, on, or the principal of, the Securities of such
series.  Upon any such waiver the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of the
Securities of such series shall be restored to their former positions and
rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent
thereon.  Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been
waived as permitted by this Section 5.7, said default or Event of Default shall
for all purposes of the Securities and this Indenture be deemed to have been
cured and to be not continuing.

         SECTION 5.8      Notice of Defaults.  The Trustee shall, within 90
days after the occurrence of a default, with respect to Securities of any
series then Outstanding, mail to all Holders of Securities of such series, as
the names and the addresses of such Holders appear upon the Securities
register, notice of all defaults known to the Trustee with respect to such
series, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such
notice (the term "defaults" for the purpose of this Section 5.8 being hereby
defined to be the events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and
(g) of Section 5.1, not including periods of grace, if any, provided for
therein and irrespective of the giving of the written notice specified in said
clause (d) but in the case of any default of the character specified in said
clause (d) no such notice to Securityholders shall be given until at least 60
days after the giving of written notice thereof to the Issuer pursuant to said
clause (d), as the case may be); provided, however, that, except in the case of
default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any of the
Securities, or in the payment or satisfaction of any sinking fund or other
purchase obligation, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice
if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee, or a trust
committee of directors or Responsible Officers or both of the Trustee in good
faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the best interests
of the Securityholders.





                                      -24-
<PAGE>   31

         SECTION 5.9      Undertaking to Pay Costs.  All parties to this
Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof
shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require,
in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or
in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as
Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay
the cost of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess
reasonable costs, including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses, against
any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith
of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of
this Section 5.9 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any
suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in
the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities of any series
then Outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholders for the
enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any
Security against the Issuer on or after the due date expressed in such
Security.


                                  ARTICLE SIX
                             CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

         SECTION 6.1      Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee; During
Default; Prior to Default.  With respect to the Holders of any series of
Securities issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event
of Default with respect to the Securities of a particular series and after the
curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred with respect
to such series, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Indenture.  In case an Event of Default with
respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (which has not been cured or
waived) the Trustee shall exercise with respect to such series of Securities
such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same
degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent man would exercise or
use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

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

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

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

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

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

         (c)     the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action
taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the
direction of the Holders pursuant to Section 5.7 relating to the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee,
or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this
Indenture.





                                      -25-
<PAGE>   32
         None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall require the
Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial
liability in the performance of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of
its rights or powers, if there shall be reasonable ground for believing that
the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such liability is not
reasonably assured to it.

         SECTION 6.2      Certain Rights of the Trustee.  Subject to Section
6.1:

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

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

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

         (d)     the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of
the trusts or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or
direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 5.1), unless such
Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred
therein or thereby;

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

         (f)     prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder and
after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default, 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, consent, order, approval, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, coupon,
security, or other paper or document unless requested in writing so to do by
the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of all series affected then Outstanding; provided that, if the
payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or
liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is,
in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the
security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require
reasonable indemnity against such expenses or liabilities as a condition to
proceeding; the reasonable expenses of every such investigation shall be paid
by the Issuer or, if paid by the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee, shall be
repaid by the Issuer upon demand; and

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

         SECTION 6.3      Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Disposition of
Securities or Application of Proceeds Thereof. The recitals contained herein
and in the Securities, except the Trustee's certificates of authentication,
shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer, and the Trustee assumes no
responsibility for the correctness of the same.  The Trustee makes no
representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture, of the
Securities or of any prospectus used to sell the Securities.  The Trustee shall
not be accountable for the use or application by the Issuer of any of the
Securities or of the proceeds thereof.





                                      -26-
<PAGE>   33

         SECTION 6.4      Trustee and Agents May Hold Securities; Collections,
etc.  The Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee, in its individual
or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the
same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent and, subject
to Sections 6.8 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Issuer and receive,
collect, hold and retain collections from the Issuer with the same rights it
would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent.

         SECTION 6.5      Moneys Held by Trustee.  Subject to the provisions of
Section 10.4 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or
applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they
were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent
required by mandatory provisions of law.  Neither the Trustee nor any agent of
the Issuer or the Trustee shall be under any liability for interest on any
moneys received by it hereunder.

         SECTION 6.6      Compensation and Indemnification of Trustee and Its
Prior Claim.  The Issuer covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time
to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as shall be
agreed to in writing between the Issuer and the Trustee (which shall not be
limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of
an express trust) and the Issuer covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the
Trustee and each predecessor Trustee upon its request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by or on behalf of it in
accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the
reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and
of all agents and other persons not regularly in its employ) except any such
expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith.
The Issuer also covenants to indemnify the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee
for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage,
claim or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the
Trustee), incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of
or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture or the
trusts hereunder and its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of
defending itself against or investigating any claim or liability in the
premises.  The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 6.6 to compensate
and indemnify the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee and to pay or reimburse
the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee for expenses, disbursements and
advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive
the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the resignation or removal
of the Trustee.  Such additional indebtedness shall be a senior claim 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, and the Securities are hereby subordinated to such
senior claim.  When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in
connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1 or in connection
with Article Five hereof, the expenses (including the reasonable fees and
expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the service in connection
therewith are intended to constitute expenses of administration under any
bankruptcy law.

         SECTION 6.7      Right of Trustee to Rely on Officers' Certificate,
etc.  Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the
trusts of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that
a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any
action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith
on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in
the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be
full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

         SECTION 6.8      Qualification of Trustee; Conflicting Interests.  (a)
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting interest (as defined in
subsection (c)), then within 90 days after ascertaining that it has such
conflicting interest, and if the default (as defined in subsection (c)) to
which such conflicting interest relates has not been cured or duly waived or
otherwise eliminated before the end of such 90-day period, the Trustee shall
either eliminate such conflicting interest or, except as otherwise provided
below, resign, and the Issuer shall take prompt steps to have a successor
appointed in the manner provided in Section 6.10.

         (b)     If the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of
subsection (a), the Trustee shall, within 10 days after the expiration of such
90-day period, transmit notice of such failure to the Securityholders in the
manner





                                      -27-
<PAGE>   34
and to the extent provided in Section 4.4 and, subject to the provisions of
Section 5.9, unless the Trustee's duty to resign is stayed as provided below,
any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of Securities 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,
and the appointment of a successor, if the Trustee fails, after written request
thereof by such Securityholder, to comply with the provisions of subsection
(a).

         Except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of or
interest on any Security, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund
installment, the Trustee shall not be required to resign as provided by this
Section 6.8 if the Trustee shall have sustained the burden of proving, on
application to the Commission and after opportunity for hearing thereon, that

                 (i)      the default under the Indenture may be cured or
         waived during a reasonable period and under the procedures described
         in such application, and

                 (ii)     a stay of the Trustee's duty to resign will not be
         inconsistent with the interests of Holders of the Securities.

         The filing of such an application shall automatically stay the
performance of the duty to resign until the Commission orders otherwise.  Any
resignation of the Trustee shall become effective only upon the appointment of
a successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.10 and such
successor's acceptance of such an appointment.

         (c)     For the purposes of this Section 6.8, the Trustee shall be
deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to Securities of any series
if the Securities of such series are in default (as determined in accordance
with the provisions of Section 5.1, but exclusive of any period of grace or
requirement of notice) and

                 (i)      the Trustee is trustee under this Indenture with
         respect to the Outstanding securities of any other series or is a
         trustee under another indenture under which any other securities, or
         certificates of interest or participation in any other securities, of
         the Issuer are outstanding, unless such other indenture is a
         collateral trust indenture under which the only collateral consists of
         Securities issued under this Indenture; provided that there shall be
         excluded from the operation of this paragraph (i), this Indenture with
         respect to the Securities of any other series and there shall also be
         so excluded any other indenture or indentures under which other
         securities, or certificates of interest or participation in other
         securities, of the Issuer are outstanding if (x) this Indenture is
         and, if applicable, this Indenture and any series issued pursuant to
         this Indenture and such other indenture or indentures are wholly
         unsecured and rank equally and such other indenture or indentures are
         hereafter qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, unless the
         Commission shall have found and declared by order pursuant to Section
         305(b) or Section 307(c) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 that
         differences exist between the provisions of this Indenture with
         respect to Securities of such series and one or more other series, or
         the provisions of this Indenture and the provisions of such other
         indenture or indentures which are so likely to involve a material
         conflict of interest as to make it necessary in the public interest or
         for the protection of investors to disqualify the Trustee from acting
         as such under this Indenture with respect to Securities of such series
         and such other series, or under this Indenture or such other indenture
         or indentures, or (y) the Issuer shall have sustained the burden of
         proving, on application to the Commission and after opportunity for
         hearing thereon, that trusteeship under this Indenture with respect to
         Securities of such series and such other series, or under this
         Indenture and such other indenture or indentures is not so likely to
         involve a material conflict of interest as to make it necessary in the
         public interest or for the protection of investors to disqualify the
         Trustee from acting as such under this Indenture with respect to
         Securities of such series and such other series, or under this
         Indenture and such other indentures;

                 (ii)     the Trustee or any of its directors or executive
         officers is an underwriter for the Issuer;

                 (iii)    the Trustee directly or indirectly controls or is
         directly or indirectly controlled by or is under direct or indirect
         common control with an underwriter for the Issuer;





                                      -28-
<PAGE>   35
                 (iv)     the Trustee or any of its directors or executive
         officers is a director, officer, partner, employee, appointee, or
         representative of the Issuer, or of an underwriter (other than the
         Trustee itself) for the Issuer who is currently engaged in the
         business of underwriting, except that (x) one individual may be a
         director or an executive officer, or both, of the Trustee and a
         director or an executive officer, or both, of the Issuer, but may not
         be at the same time an executive officer of both the Trustee and the
         Issuer; (y) if and so long as the number of directors of the Trustee
         in office is more than nine, one additional individual may be a
         director or an executive officer, or both, of the Trustee and a
         director of the Issuer; and (z) the Trustee may be designated by the
         Issuer or by any underwriter for the Issuer to act in the capacity of
         transfer agent, registrar, custodian, paying agent, fiscal agent,
         escrow agent, or depositary, or in any other similar capacity, or,
         subject to the provisions of subsection (c) (i) of this Section, to
         act as trustee, whether under an indenture or otherwise;

                 (v)      10% or more of the voting securities of the Trustee
         is beneficially owned either by the Issuer or by any director, partner
         or executive officer thereof, or 20% or more of such voting securities
         is beneficially owned, collectively, by any two or more of such
         persons; or 10% or more of the voting securities of the Trustee is
         beneficially owned either by an underwriter for the Issuer or by any
         director, partner, or executive officer thereof, or is beneficially
         owned, collectively, by any two or more such persons;

                 (vi)     the Trustee is the beneficial owner of, or holds as
         collateral security for an obligation which is in default, (x) 5% or
         more of the voting securities or 10% or more of any other class of
         security of the Issuer, not including the Securities issued under this
         Indenture and securities issued under any other indenture under which
         the Trustee is also trustee, or (y) 10% or more of any class of
         security of an underwriter for the Issuer;

                 (vii)    the Trustee is the beneficial owner of, or holds as
         collateral security for an obligation which is in default, 5% or more
         of the voting securities of any person who, to the knowledge of the
         Trustee, owns 10% or more of the voting securities of, or controls
         directly or indirectly or is under direct or indirect common control
         with, the Issuer;

                 (viii)   the Trustee is the beneficial owner of, or holds as
         collateral security for an obligation which is in default, 10% or more
         of any class security of any person who, to the knowledge of the
         Trustee, owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the Issuer;

                 (ix)     the Trustee owns on the date of default (as
         determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.1, but
         exclusive of any period of grace or requirement of notice) or on any
         anniversary of such default while such default remains outstanding, in
         the capacity of executor, administrator, testamentary or inter vivos
         trustee, guardian, committee or conservator, or in any other similar
         capacity, an aggregate of 25% or more of the voting securities, or of
         any class of security, of any Person, the beneficial ownership of a
         specified percentage of which would have constituted a conflicting
         interest under paragraphs (vi), (vii) or (viii) of this subsection.
         As to any such securities of which the Trustee acquired ownership
         through becoming executor, administrator, or testamentary trustee of
         an estate which included them, the provisions of the preceding
         sentence shall not apply, for a period of two years from the date of
         such acquisition, to the extent that such securities included in such
         estate do not exceed 25% of such voting securities or 25% of any such
         class of security.  Promptly after the dates of any such default and
         annually in each succeeding year that the Securities remain in
         default, the Trustee shall make a check of its holdings of such
         securities in any of the above-mentioned capacities as of such dates.
         If the Issuer fails to make payment in full of principal of or
         interest on any of the Securities when and as the same becomes due and
         payable, and such failure continues for 30 days thereafter, the
         Trustee shall make a prompt check of its holdings of such Securities
         in any of the above-mentioned capacities as of the date of the
         expiration of such 30-day period, and after such date, notwithstanding
         the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, all such Securities so
         held by the Trustee, with sole or joint control over such Securities
         vested in it, shall, but only so long as such failure shall continue,
         be considered as though beneficially owned by the Trustee for the
         purposes of paragraphs (vi), (vii) and (viii) of this subsection; or





                                      -29-
<PAGE>   36
         (x) except under the circumstances described in paragraphs (1), (3),
(4), (5) or (6) of Section 6.13(b), the Trustee shall be or shall become a
creditor of the Issuer.

         For purposes of subsection (c) (i), the term "series of securities" or
"series" means a series, class or group of securities issuable under an
indenture pursuant to the terms of which holders of one such series may vote to
direct the Trustee, or otherwise take action pursuant to a vote of such
holders, separately from holders of another such series; provided that "series
of securities" or "series" shall not include any series of securities issuable
under an indenture if all such series rank equally and are wholly unsecured.

         The specification of percentages in subsections (c) (v) to (ix)
inclusive of this Section 6.8 shall not be construed as indicating that the
ownership of such percentages of the securities of a person is or is not
necessary or sufficient to constitute direct or indirect control for the
purposes of subsections (c) (iii) or (vii) of this Section.

         For the purposes of subsections (c) (vi), (vii), (viii) and (ix), of
this Section 6.8, only,

                 (A)      the terms "security" and "securities" shall include
         only such securities as are generally known as corporate securities,
         but shall not include any note or other evidence of indebtedness
         issued to evidence an obligation to repay moneys lent to a person by
         one or more banks, trust companies, or banking firms, or any
         certificate of interest or participation in any such note or evidence
         of indebtedness;

                 (B)      an obligation shall be deemed to be in default when a
         default in payment of principal shall have continued for 30 days or
         more and shall not have been cured; and

                 (C)      the Trustee shall not be deemed to be the owner or
         holder of (x) any security which it holds as collateral security, as
         trustee or otherwise, for an obligation which is not in default as
         defined in clause (B) above, or (y) any security which it holds as
         collateral security under this Indenture, irrespective of any default
         hereunder, or (z) any security which it holds as agent for collection,
         or as custodian, escrow agent, or depositary, or in any similar
         representative capacity.

         Except as provided above, the word "security" or "securities" as used
in this Section 6.8 shall mean any note, stock, treasury stock, bond,
debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation
in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral trust certificate, preorganization
certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting
trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided
interest in oil, gas or other mineral rights, or, in general, any interest or
instrument commonly known as a "security", or any certificate of interest or
participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee
of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing.

         (d) For purposes of this Section 6.8:

                 (i)      the term "underwriter" when used with reference to
         the Issuer shall mean every person who, within a one year period prior
         to the time as of which the determination is made, was an underwriter
         of any security of the Issuer outstanding at the time of the
         determination;

                 (ii)     the term "director" shall mean any director of a
         corporation or any individual performing similar functions with
         respect to any organization whether incorporated or unincorporated;

                 (iii)    the term "person" shall mean an individual, a
         corporation, a partnership, an association, a joint-stock company, a
         trust, an unincorporated organization, or a government or political
         subdivision thereof; as used in this paragraph, the term "trust" shall
         include only a trust where the interest or interests of the
         beneficiary or beneficiaries are evidenced by a security;

                 (iv)     the term "voting security" shall mean any security
         presently entitling the owner or holder thereof to vote in the
         direction or management of the affairs of a person, or any security
         issued under or





                                      -30-
<PAGE>   37

         pursuant to any trust, agreement or arrangement whereby a trustee or
         trustees or agent or agents for the owner or holder of such security
         are presently entitled to vote in the direction or management of the
         affairs of a person;

                 (v)      the term "Issuer" shall mean any obligor upon the
         Securities; and

                 (vi)     the term "executive officer" shall mean the
         president, every vice president, every trust officer, the cashier, the
         secretary, and the treasurer of a corporation, and any individual
         customarily performing similar functions with respect to any
         organization whether incorporated or unincorporated, but shall not
         include the chairman of the board of directors.

         (e)     The percentages of voting securities and other securities
specified in this Section 6.8 shall be calculated in accordance with the 
following provisions:

                 (i)      a specified percentage of the voting securities of
         the Trustee, the Issuer or any other person referred to in this
         Section (each of whom is referred to as a "person" in this paragraph)
         means such amount of the outstanding voting securities of such person
         as entitles the holder or holders thereof to cast such specified
         percentage of the aggregate votes which the holders of all the
         outstanding voting securities of such person are entitled to cast in
         the direction or management of the affairs of such person;

                 (ii)     a specified percentage of a class of securities of a
         person means such percentage of the aggregate amount of securities of
         the class outstanding;

                 (iii)    the term "amount", when used in regard to securities,
         means the principal amount if relating to evidences of indebtedness,
         the number of shares if relating to capital shares, and the number of
         units if relating to any other kind of security;

                 (iv)     the term "outstanding" means issued and not held by
         or for the account of the issuer; the following securities shall not
         be deemed outstanding within the meaning of this definition:

                          (A)     securities of an issuer held in a sinking
                 fund relating to securities of the issuer of the same class;

                          (B)     securities of an issuer held in a sinking
                 fund relating to another class of securities of the issuer, if
                 the obligation evidenced by such other class of securities is
                 not in default as to principal or interest or otherwise;

                          (C)     securities pledged by the issuer thereof as
                 security for an obligation of the issuer not in default as to
                 principal or interest or otherwise; and

                          (D)     securities held in escrow if placed in escrow
                 by the issuer thereof;

                 provided, that any voting securities of an issuer shall be
                 deemed outstanding if any person other than the issuer is
                 entitled to exercise the voting rights thereof; and

                 (v)      a security shall be deemed to be of the same class as
         another security if both securities confer upon the holder or holders
         thereof substantially the same rights and privileges; provided, that,
         in the case of secured evidences of indebtedness, all of which are
         issued under a single indenture, differences in the interest rates or
         maturity dates of various series thereof shall not be deemed
         sufficient to constitute such series different classes and provided,
         further, that, in the case of unsecured evidences of indebtedness,
         differences in the interest rates or maturity dates thereof shall not
         be deemed sufficient to constitute them securities of different
         classes, whether or not they are issued under a single indenture.





                                      -31-
<PAGE>   38

         SECTION 6.9      Persons Eligible for Appointment as Trustee.  The
Trustee for each series of Securities hereunder shall at all times be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of
America or of any state or the District of Columbia having a combined capital
and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and which is authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by
federal, state or District of Columbia authority, or a corporation or other
Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission.  If such corporation
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the
purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation
shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most
recent report of condition so published.  No obligor upon the Securities or any
Affiliate of such obligor shall serve as trustee upon the Securities.  In case
at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 6.9, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the
manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.10.

         SECTION 6.10     Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor
Trustee.  (a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may
at any time resign with respect to one or more or all series of Securities by
giving written notice of resignation to the Issuer.  Upon receiving such notice
of resignation, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or
trustees with respect to the applicable series by written instrument in
duplicate, executed by authority of the Board of Directors, one copy of which
instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the
successor trustee or trustees.  If no successor trustee shall have been so
appointed with respect to any series and have accepted appointment within 30
days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning trustee may
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or
Securities of the applicable series for at least six months may, subject to the
provisions of Section 5.9, on behalf of himself and all others similarly
situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee.
Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and
prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

         (b)     In case at any time any of the following shall occur:

                 (i)      the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions
         of Section 6.8 with respect to any series of Securities after written
         request therefor by the Issuer or by any Securityholder who has been a
         bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at
         least six months; or

                 (ii)     the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance
         with the provisions of Section 6.9 and shall fail to resign after
         written request therefor by the Issuer or by any such Securityholder;
         or

                 (iii)    the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with
         respect to any series of Securities, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt
         or insolvent, or a receiver or liquidator 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, the Issuer may remove the Trustee with respect
to the applicable series of Securities and appoint a successor trustee for such
series by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of
Directors one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so
removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of
Section 5.9, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security
or Securities 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 removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee with
respect to such series.  Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any,
as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor
trustee.

         (c)     The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of each series then Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee
with respect to Securities of such series and appoint a successor trustee with
respect to the Securities of such series by delivering to the Trustee so
removed, to the successor trustee so appointed and to the Issuer the evidence
provided for in Section 7.1 of the action in that regard taken by the





                                      -32-
<PAGE>   39
Securityholders.  If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed with
respect to any series and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the
delivery of such evidence of removal, the Trustee may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any
Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of
the applicable series for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of
Section 5.9, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition
any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee.  Such court may
thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe,
appoint a successor trustee.

         (d)     Any resignation or removal of the Trustee with respect to any
series and any appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series
pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 6.10 shall become effective
upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section
6.11.

         SECTION 6.11     Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee.  Any
successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.10 shall execute and
deliver to the Issuer and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting
such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the
predecessor trustee with respect to all or any applicable series shall become
effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or
conveyance, shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and obligations
with respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as
if originally named as trustee for such series hereunder; but, nevertheless, on
the written request of the Issuer or of the successor trustee, upon payment of
its charges then unpaid, the trustee ceasing to act shall, subject to Section
10.4, pay over to the successor trustee all moneys at the time held by it
hereunder and shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor trustee all such rights, powers, duties and obligations.  Upon
request of any such successor trustee, the Issuer shall execute any and all
instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor trustee all such rights and powers.  Any trustee ceasing to
act shall, nevertheless, retain a prior claim upon all property or funds held
or collected by such trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the
provisions of Section 6.6.

         If a successor trustee is appointed with respect to the Securities of
one or more (but not all) series, the Issuer, the predecessor Trustee and each
successor trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall
execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such
provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to
the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor Trustee is not
retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add
to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to
provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more
than one trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such
supplemental indenture shall constitute such trustees co-trustees of the same
trust and that each such trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts under
separate indentures.

         No successor trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall
accept appointment as provided in this Section 6.11 unless at the time of such
acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified under the provisions of
Section 6.8 and eligible under the provisions of Section 6.9.

         Upon acceptance of appointment by any successor trustee as provided in
this Section 6.11, the Issuer shall give notice thereof to the Holders of
Securities of each series affected, by mailing such notice to such Holders at
their addresses as they shall appear on the registry books.  If the Issuer
fails to give such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by
the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be
given at the expense of the Issuer.

         SECTION 6.12     Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
Business of Trustee.  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 the corporate trust business of the
Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such
corporation shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 6.8 and eligible
under the provisions of Section 6.9, without the execution or filing of any
paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding.





                                      -33-
<PAGE>   40
         In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the
trusts created by this Indenture any of the Securities of any series shall have
been authenticated but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may
adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor Trustee and deliver
such Securities so authenticated; and, in case at that time any of the
Securities of any series shall not have been authenticated, any successor to
the Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of any
predecessor hereunder or in the name of the successor Trustee; and in all such
cases such certificate shall have the full force which it is anywhere in the
Securities of such series or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of
the Trustee shall have; provided, that the right to adopt the certificate of
authentication of any predecessor Trustee or to authenticate Securities of any
series in the name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor
or successors by merger, conversion or consolidation.

         SECTION 6.13     Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section, if the Trustee shall be or shall
become a creditor, directly or indirectly, secured or unsecured, of the Issuer
within three months prior to a default, as defined in subsection (c) of this
Section 6.13, or subsequent to such a default, then, unless and until such
default shall be cured, the Trustee shall set apart and hold in a special
account for the benefit of the Trustee individually, the Holders of the
Securities and the holders of other indenture securities (as defined in this
Section 6.13):

                 (1)      an amount equal to any and all reductions in the
         amount due and owing upon any claim as such creditor in respect of
         principal or interest, effected after the beginning of such three
         month period and valid as against the Issuer and its other creditors,
         except any such reduction resulting from the receipt or disposition of
         any property described in subsection (a) (2) of this section, or from
         the exercise of any right of set-off which the Trustee could have
         exercised if a petition in bankruptcy had been filed by or against the
         Issuer upon the date of such default; and

                 (2)      all property received by the Trustee in respect of
         any claim as such creditor, either as security therefor, or in
         satisfaction or composition thereof, or otherwise, after the beginning
         of such three month period, or an amount equal to the proceeds of any
         such property, if disposed of, subject, however, to the rights, if
         any, of the Issuer and its other creditors in such property or such
         proceeds.

         Nothing herein contained, however, shall affect the right of the
         Trustee:

                 (A)      to retain for its own account (i) payments made on
         account of any such claim by any Person (other than the Issuer) who is
         liable thereon, (ii) the proceeds of the bona fide sale of any such
         claim by the Trustee to a third Person, and (iii) distributions made
         in cash, securities or other property in respect of claims filed
         against the Issuer in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for
         reorganization pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code or applicable state
         law;

                 (B)      to realize, for its own account, upon any property
         held by it as security for any such claim, if such property was so
         held prior to the beginning of such three month period;

                 (C)      to realize, for its own account, but only to the
         extent of the claim hereinafter mentioned, upon any property held by
         it as security for any such claim, if such claim was created after the
         beginning of such three month period and such property was received as
         security therefor simultaneously with the creation thereof, and if the
         Trustee shall sustain the burden of proving that at the time such
         property was so received the Trustee had no reasonable cause to
         believe that a default as defined in subsection (c) of this Section
         would occur within three months; or

                 (D)      to receive payment on any claim referred to in
         paragraph (B) or (C), against the release of any property held as
         security for such claim as provided in such paragraph (B) or (C), as
         the case may be, to the extent of the fair value of such property.

         For the purposes of paragraphs (B), (C) and (D), property substituted
after the beginning of such three month period for property held as security at
the time of such substitution shall, to the extent of the fair value of the
property





                                      -34-
<PAGE>   41
released, have the same status as the property released, and, to the extent
that any claim referred to in any of such paragraphs is created in renewal of
or in substitution for or for the purpose of repaying or refunding any
preexisting claim of the Trustee as such creditor, such claim shall have the
same status as such pre-existing claim.

         If the Trustee shall be required to account, the funds and property
held in such special account and the proceeds thereof shall be apportioned
between the Trustee, the Securityholders and the holders of other indenture
securities in such manner that the Trustee, such Securityholders and the
holders of other indenture securities realize, as a result of payments from
such special account and payments of dividends on claims filed against the
Issuer in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for reorganization
pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code or applicable state law, the same percentage of
their respective claims, figured before crediting to the claim of the Trustee
anything on account of the receipt by it from the Issuer of the funds and
property in such special account, and before crediting to the respective claims
of the Trustee, such Securityholders and the holders of other indenture
securities, dividends on claims filed against the Issuer in bankruptcy or
receivership or in proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the Bankruptcy
Code or applicable state law, but after crediting thereon receipts on account
of the indebtedness represented by their respective claims from all sources
other than from such dividends and from the funds and property so held in such
special account.  As used in this paragraph, with respect to any claim, the
term "dividends" shall include any distribution with respect to such claim, in
bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the
Bankruptcy Code or applicable state law, whether such distribution is made in
cash, securities or other property, but shall not include any such distribution
with respect to the secured portion, if any, of such claim.  The court in which
such bankruptcy, receivership or proceeding for reorganization is pending shall
have jurisdiction (i) to apportion between the Trustee, such Securityholders
and the holders of other indenture securities, in accordance with the
provisions of this paragraph, the funds and property held in such special
account and the proceeds thereof, or (ii) in lieu of such apportionment, in
whole or in part, to give to the provisions of this paragraph due consideration
in determining the fairness of the distributions to be made to the Trustee,
such Securityholders and the holders of other indenture securities with respect
to their respective claims, in which event it shall not be necessary to
liquidate or to appraise the value of any securities or other property held in
such special account or as security for any such claim, or to make a specific
allocation of such distributions as between the secured and unsecured portions
of such claims, or otherwise to apply the provisions of this paragraph as a
mathematical formula.

         Any Trustee who has resigned or been removed after the beginning of
such three month period shall be subject to the provisions of this subsection
(a) as though such resignation or removal had not occurred.  If any Trustee has
resigned or been removed prior to the beginning of such three month period, it
shall be subject to the provisions of this subsection (a) if and only if the
following conditions exist:

                 (i)      the receipt of property or reduction of claim which
         would have given rise to the obligation to account, if such Trustee
         had continued as trustee, occurred after the beginning of such three
         month period; and

                 (ii)     such receipt of property or reduction of claim
         occurred within three months after such resignation or removal.

         (b)     There shall be excluded from the operation of this Section
6.13 a creditor relationship arising from:

                 (1)      the ownership or acquisition of securities issued
         under any indenture or any security or securities having a maturity of
         one year or more at the time of acquisition by the Trustee;

                 (2)      advances authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy
         court of competent jurisdiction or by this Indenture for the purpose
         of preserving any property which shall at any time be subject to the
         lien of this Indenture or of discharging tax liens or other prior
         liens or encumbrances thereon, if notice of such advance and of the
         circumstances surrounding the making thereof is given to the
         Securityholders at the time and in the manner provided in this
         Indenture;





                                      -35-
<PAGE>   42
                 (3)      disbursements made in the ordinary course of business
         in the capacity of trustee under an indenture, transfer agent,
         registrar, custodian, paying agent, fiscal agent or depositary, or
         other similar capacity;

                 (4)      an indebtedness created as a result of services
         rendered or premises rented or an indebtedness created as a result of
         goods or securities sold in a cash transaction as defined in
         subsection (c)(2) of this Section;

                 (5)      the ownership of stock or of other securities of a
         corporation organized under the provisions of Section 25 (a) of the
         Federal Reserve Act, as amended, which is directly or indirectly a
         creditor of the Issuer; or

                 (6)      the acquisition, ownership, acceptance or negotiation
         of any drafts, bills of exchange, acceptances or obligations which
         fall within the classification of self-liquidating paper as defined in
         subsection (c) (3) of this Section.

         (c)     As used in this Section 6.13:

                 (1)      the term "default" shall mean any failure to make
         payment in full of the principal of or interest on any of the
         Securities when and as such principal or interest becomes due and
         payable;

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

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

                 (4)      the term "Issuer" shall mean any obligor upon the
         Securities.

         SECTION 6.14     Appointment of Authenticating Agent.  As long as any
Securities of a series remain Outstanding, the Trustee may, by an instrument in
writing, appoint with the approval of the Issuer an authenticating agent (the
"Authenticating Agent") which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the
Trustee to authenticate Securities, including Securities issued upon exchange,
registration of transfer, partial redemption or pursuant to Section 2.9.
Securities of each such series authenticated by such Authenticating Agent shall
be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory
for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee.  Whenever reference is
made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities of any
series by the Trustee or to 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 for such series and a Certificate of
Authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by such Authenticating Agent.
Such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state
or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000
(determined as provided in Section 6.9 with respect to the Trustee) and subject
to supervision or examination by federal or state authority.

         Any corporation into which any 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 any





                                      -36-
<PAGE>   43
Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the
corporate agency business of any Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be the
Authenticating Agent with respect to all series of Securities for which it
served as Authenticating Agent without the execution or filing of any paper or
any further act on the part of the Trustee or such Authenticating Agent.  Any
Authenticating Agent may at any time, and if it shall cease to be eligible
shall, resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the
Issuer.  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
Issuer.

         Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a
termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.14 with respect to
one or more series of Securities, the Trustee may appoint a successor
Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Issuer and the Issuer
shall provide notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of such
series in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 11.4.  Any successor
Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become
vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities of its predecessor
hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent.
The Issuer agrees to pay to the Authenticating Agent for such series from time
to time reasonable compensation.  The Authenticating Agent for the Securities
of any series shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by
it as such at the direction of the Trustee.

         Sections 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 and 7.3 shall be applicable to any
Authenticating Agent.


                                 ARTICLE SEVEN
                         CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

         SECTION 7.1      Evidence of Action Taken by Securityholders.  Any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a specified
percentage in principal amount of the Securityholders of any or all series may
be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially
similar tenor signed by such specified percentage of Securityholders 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 to the Trustee.  Proof of execution of any instrument
or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose
of this Indenture and (subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2) conclusive in favor of
the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Article
Seven.

         SECTION 7.2      Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of
Securities.  Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, the execution of any instrument
by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy may be proved in the following
manner:

         (a)     The fact and date of the execution by any Holder of any
instrument may be proved by the certificate of any notary public or other
officer of any jurisdiction authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds or
administer oaths that the person executing such instruments acknowledged to him
the execution thereof, or by an affidavit of a witness to such execution sworn
to before any such notary or other such officer.  Where such execution is by or
on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or
affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of the authority of the person
executing the same.

         (b)     The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security
register or by a certificate of the Security registrar.

         SECTION 7.3      Holders to be Treated as Owners.  The Issuer, the
Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may deem and treat the
Person in whose name any Security shall be registered upon the Security
register for such series as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not
such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or
other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of
the principal of and, subject to the provisions of this Indenture, interest, if
any, on such Security and for





                                      -37-
<PAGE>   44
all other purposes; and neither the Issuer nor the Trustee nor any agent of the
Issuer or the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.

         SECTION 7.4      Securities Owned by Issuer Deemed Not Outstanding.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount
of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have concurred in any direction,
consent or waiver under this Indenture, Securities which are owned by the
Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such
determination is being made or by any Affiliate of the Issuer or any other
obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination is being
made shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of
any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver
only securities which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as
Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the
pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee
is not the Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of
the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities.  In case of a dispute as to
such right, the advice of counsel shall be full protection in respect of any
decision made by the Trustee in accordance with such advice.  Upon request of
the Trustee, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officers'
Certificate listing and identifying all Securities, if any, known by the Issuer
to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above-described
Persons; and, subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, the Trustee shall be entitled to
accept such Officers' Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein
set forth and of the fact that all Securities not listed therein are
Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.

         SECTION 7.5      Right of Revocation of Action Taken.  At any time
prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section
7.1, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be,
specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a
Security the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included
among the serial numbers of the Securities the Holders of which have consented
to such action may, by filing written notice at the Corporate Trust Office and
upon proof of holding as provided in this Article Seven, revoke such action so
far as concerns such Security provided that such revocation shall not become
effective until three business days after such filing.  Except as aforesaid any
such action taken by the Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding
upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of such Security and of
any Securities issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration
of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard
thereto is made upon any such Security.  Any action taken by the Holders of the
percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all
series, as the case may be, specified in this Indenture in connection with such
action shall be conclusively binding upon the Issuer, the Trustee and the
Holders of all the Securities affected by such action.

         SECTION 7.6      Record Date for Consents and Waivers.  The Issuer
may, but shall not be obligated to, direct the Trustee to establish a record
date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to (i) waive any past
default with respect to the Securities of such series in accordance with
Section 5.7 of the Indenture, (ii) consent to any supplemental indenture in
accordance with Section 8.2 of the Indenture or (iii) waive compliance with any
term, condition or provision of any covenant hereunder.  If a record date is
fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and
any such Persons, shall be entitled to waive any such past default, consent to
any such supplemental indenture or waive compliance with any such term,
condition or provision, whether or not such Holder remains a Holder after such
record date; provided, however, that unless such waiver or consent is obtained
from the Holders, or duly designated proxies, of the requisite principal amount
of Outstanding Securities of such series prior to the date which is the 180th
day after such record date, any such waiver or consent previously given shall
automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no
further effect.


                                 ARTICLE EIGHT
                            SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

         SECTION 8.1      Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of
Securityholders.  The Issuer, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of
Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such
action





                                      -38-
<PAGE>   45
and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined in
accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order), and the Trustee may from time
to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental
hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of
1939 as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or more of the
following purposes:

         (a)     to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the Trustee
as security for the Securities of one or more series any property or assets;

         (b)     to evidence the succession of another corporation to the
Issuer, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor
corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Issuer pursuant
to Article Nine;

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

         (d)     to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any
provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any
supplemental indenture, or to make any other provisions as the Issuer may deem
necessary or desirable, provided, however, that no such action shall adversely
affect the interests of the Holders of the Securities;

         (e)     to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as
permitted by Sections 2.1 and 2.3; and

         (f)     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
6.11.

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

         Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this
Section may be executed without the consent of the Holders of any of the
Securities then Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section
8.2.

         SECTION 8.2      Supplemental Indentures with Consent of
Securityholders.  With the consent (evidenced as provided in Article Seven) of
the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities then Outstanding of any series affected by such supplemental
indenture, the Issuer, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of
Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such
action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined
in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order), and the Trustee may, from
time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures
supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date of execution thereof) for the





                                      -39-
<PAGE>   46
purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating
any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such
series; provided, that no such supplemental indenture shall (a) extend the
stated final maturity of the principal of any Security, or reduce the principal
amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest,
if any, thereon (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, reduce
the rate of accrual of original issue discount thereon), or reduce or alter the
method of computation of any amount payable on redemption, repayment or
purchase by the Issuer thereof (or the time at which any such redemption,
repayment or purchase may be made), or make the principal thereof (including
any amount in respect of original issue discount), or interest, if any, thereon
payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Securities or
in accordance with the terms of the Securities, or reduce the amount of the
principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable
upon an acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1 or the
amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.2, or impair or
affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for the payment
thereof or, if the Securities provide therefor, any right of repayment or
purchase at the option of the Securityholder, in each case without the consent
of the Holder of each Security so affected, or (b) reduce the aforesaid
percentage of Securities of any series, the consent of the Holders of which is
required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the
Holders of each Security so affected.  No consent of any Holder of any Security
shall be necessary under this Section 8.2 to permit the Trustee and the Issuer
to execute supplemental indentures pursuant to Sections 8.1 and 9.2.

         A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant,
Event of Default 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 Holders of Securities of such series, with
respect to such covenant or provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights
under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

         Upon the request of the Issuer, accompanied by a copy of a resolution
of the Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or
parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such
action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order)
certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer authorizing
the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the
Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders of the Securities as
aforesaid and other documents, if any, required by Section 7.1, the Trustee
shall join with the Issuer in the execution of such supplemental indenture
unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in
its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental
indenture.

         It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under
this Section 8.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental
indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the
substance thereof.

         Promptly after the execution by the Issuer and the Trustee of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section 8.2, the
Trustee shall give notice thereof to the Holders of then Outstanding Securities
of each series affected thereby, as provided in Section 11.4.  Any failure of
the Issuer to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in
any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

         SECTION 8.3      Effect of Supplemental Indenture.  Upon the execution
of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions hereof, this Indenture
shall be and shall be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith
and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and
immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Issuer and the Holders of
Securities of each series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined,
exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications
and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental
indenture shall be and shall be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions
of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

         SECTION 8.4      Documents to Be Given to Trustee.  The Trustee,
subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall be entitled to receive
an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that
any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Eight complies
with the applicable provisions of this Indenture.





                                      -40-
<PAGE>   47

         SECTION 8.5      Notation on Securities in Respect of Supplemental
Indentures.  Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the
execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this
Article Eight may bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee for such
series as to any matter provided for by such supplemental indenture or as to
any action taken by Securityholders.  If the Issuer or the Trustee shall so
determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the
opinion of the Trustee and the Issuer, to any modification of this Indenture
contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Issuer,
authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of
such series then Outstanding.


                                  ARTICLE NINE
          CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE, EXCHANGE OR DISPOSITION

         SECTION 9.1      Issuer May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
Subject to the provisions of Section 9.3, nothing contained in this Indenture
or in any of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the
Issuer with or into any other corporation or corporations (whether or not
affiliated with the Issuer), or successive consolidations or mergers in which
the Issuer or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall
prevent any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially
all the property and assets of the Issuer to any other corporation (whether or
not affiliated with the Issuer) authorized to acquire and operate the same;
provided, however, and the Issuer hereby covenants and agrees, that any such
consolidation, merger, sale, lease, exchange or other disposition shall be upon
the conditions that (a) immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale,
lease, exchange or other disposition of the corporation (whether the Issuer or
such other corporation) formed by or surviving any such consolidation or
merger, or to which such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition shall have
been made, shall not be in default in the performance or observance of any of
the terms, covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed
by the Issuer; (b) the corporation (if other than the Issuer) formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger, or to which such sale, lease,
exchange or other disposition shall have been made, shall be a corporation
organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or
the District of Columbia; and (c) the due and punctual payment of the principal
of and interest, if any, on all the Securities, according to their tenor, and
the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and
conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Issuer, shall be expressly
assumed, by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed
and delivered to the Trustee, by the corporation (if other than the Issuer)
formed by such consolidation, or into which the Issuer shall have been merged,
or by the corporation which shall have acquired or leased such property.

         SECTION 9.2      Securities to be Secured in Certain Events.  If, upon
any such consolidation, merger, or upon any such sale, lease, exchange or other
disposition, or upon any acquisition by the Issuer by purchase or otherwise of
all or any part of the properties of any other corporation, any Principal
Property owned by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary immediately prior
thereto would thereupon become subject to any mortgage, security interest,
pledge, lien or encumbrance, not permitted by Section 3.6 hereof, the Issuer,
prior to such consolidation, merger, sale, lease, exchange or other disposition
or acquisition, will by indenture supplemental hereto secure the due and
punctual payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities
then outstanding (equally and ratably, or with such other relative priority
specified in Section 3.6, with any other indebtedness of or guaranteed by the
Issuer then entitled thereto) by a direct lien on such Principal Property,
together with any other properties and assets of the Issuer or of any such
Restricted Subsidiary, whichever shall be the owner of any such Principal
Property, which would thereupon become subject to any such mortgage, security
interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance, prior to all liens other than any
theretofore existing thereon.

         SECTION 9.3      Successor Corporation to be Substituted.  In case of
any such consolidation or merger or any sale, conveyance or lease of all or
substantially all of the property of the Issuer and upon the assumption by the
successor corporation, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the
Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual
payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on all of the Securities and
the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this
Indenture to be performed by the Issuer, such successor corporation shall
succeed to and be substituted for the Issuer, with the same effect as if it had
been named herein as the party of the first part, and the Issuer (including any
intervening successor to the Issuer which shall





                                      -41-
<PAGE>   48
have become the obligor hereunder) shall be relieved of any further obligation
under this Indenture and the Securities; provided, however, that in the case of
a sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of the property and assets of the
Issuer (including any such intervening successor), the Issuer (including any
such intervening successor) shall continue to be liable on its obligations
under this Indenture and the Securities to the extent, but only to the extent,
of liability to pay the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities at
the time, places and rate prescribed in this Indenture and the Securities.
Such successor corporation thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue
either in its own name or in the name of the Issuer, any or all of the
Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by
the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor
corporation instead of the Issuer and subject to all the terms, conditions and
limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and
shall deliver any Securities which previously shall have been signed and
delivered by the officers of the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication, and
any Securities which such successor corporation thereafter shall cause to be
signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose.  All the Securities so
issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this
Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with
the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at
the date of the execution hereof.

         In case of any such consolidation or merger or any sale, lease,
exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property and
assets of the Issuer, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in
substance) may be made in the Securities, thereafter to be issued, as may be
appropriate.

         SECTION 9.4      Opinion of Counsel to be Given Trustee.  The Trustee,
subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, may receive an Officers' Certificate and
Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger,
sale, lease, exchange or other disposition and any such assumption complies
with the provisions of this Article Nine.


                                  ARTICLE TEN
           SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

         SECTION 10.1     Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

                 (A)      If at any time (a) the Issuer shall have paid or
         caused to be paid the principal of and interest, if any, on all the
         Securities Outstanding (other than Securities which have been
         destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid as
         provided in Section 2.9) as and when the same shall have become due
         and payable, or (b) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee for
         cancellation all Securities theretofore authenticated (other than
         Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have
         been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9); and if, in any such
         case, the Issuer shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums
         payable hereunder by the Issuer, then this Indenture shall cease to be
         of further effect, and the Trustee, on demand of the Issuer
         accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel,
         each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the
         satisfaction and discharge contemplated by this provision have been
         complied with, and at the cost and expense of the Issuer, shall
         execute proper instruments acknowledging such satisfaction and
         discharging this Indenture.  The Issuer agrees to reimburse the
         Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly
         incurred, and to compensate the Trustee for any services thereafter
         reasonably and properly rendered, by the Trustee in connection with
         this Indenture or the Securities.

                 (B)      If at any time (a) the Issuer shall have paid or
         caused to be paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if
         any, on all the Securities of any series Outstanding (other than
         Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen
         and which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9) as
         and when the same shall have become due and payable, or (b) the Issuer
         shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities of
         any series theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities of
         such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have
         been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9), or (c) in the case
         of any series of Securities with respect to which the exact amount
         described in clause (ii) below can be determined at the time of making
         the deposit referred to in such clause (ii), (i) all the Securities of
         such series not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
         shall have become





                                      -42-
<PAGE>   49
         due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and payable
         within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year
         under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of
         notice of redemption, and (ii) the Issuer shall have irrevocably
         deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as funds in trust,
         specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the
         benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series, cash in an amount
         (other than moneys repaid by the Trustee or any paying agent to the
         Issuer in accordance with Section 10.4) or direct obligations of the
         United States of America, backed by its full faith and credit ("U.S.
         Government Obligations"), maturing as to principal and interest, if
         any, at such times and in such amounts as will insure the availability
         of cash, or 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 of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all
         Securities of such series on each date that such principal of,
         premium, if any, or interest, if any, is due and payable, 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; then the Issuer shall be deemed to have
         paid and discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Securities of
         such series on the date of the deposit referred to in clause (ii)
         above and the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the
         Securities of such series shall no longer be in effect (except, in the
         case of clause (c) of this Section 10.1(B), as to (i) rights of
         registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such series,
         (ii) rights of substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or
         stolen Securities of such series, (iii) rights of Holders of
         Securities of such series to receive payments of principal thereof and
         premium, if any, and interest, if any, thereon upon the original
         stated due dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining
         rights of the Holders of Securities of such series to receive
         mandatory sinking fund payments thereon, if any, when due, (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 Issuer under Section 3.2 with respect to Securities of such
         series) and the Trustee, on demand of the Issuer accompanied by an
         Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all
         conditions precedent contemplated by this provision have been complied
         with, and at the cost and expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper
         instruments acknowledging the same.

                 (C)      The following provisions shall apply to the
         Securities of each series unless specifically otherwise provided in a
         Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or indenture supplemental
         hereto provided pursuant to Section 2.3.  In addition to discharge of
         the Indenture pursuant to the next preceding paragraph, in the case of
         any series of Securities with respect to which the exact amount
         described in subparagraph (a) below can be determined at the time of
         making the deposit referred to in such subparagraph (a), the Issuer
         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 subparagraph (a) 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, (ii) substitution
         of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities of such
         series, (iii) rights of Holders of Securities of such series to
         receive payments of principal thereof, premium, if any, and interest,
         if any, thereon upon the original stated due dates therefor (but not
         upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders of Securities
         of such series 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 Issuer under Section 3.2 with respect to Securities of such
         series) and the Trustee, on demand of the Issuer accompanied by an
         Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all
         conditions precedent contemplated by this provision have been complied
         with, and at the cost and expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper
         instruments acknowledging the same, if

                          (a)     with reference to this provision the Issuer
                 has irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably
                 deposited with the Trustee as funds in trust, specifically
                 pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefit
                 of the Holders of Securities of such series (i) cash in an
                 amount, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations, maturing as to
                 principal and interest, if any, at such times and





                                      -43-
<PAGE>   50
                 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 of, premium, if any, and
                 interest, if any, on all Securities of such series on each
                 date that such principal or interest, if any, is due and
                 payable, 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;

                          (b)     such deposit will not result in a breach or
                 violation of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or
                 instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it is
                 bound; and

                          (c)     the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an
                 Opinion of Counsel based on the fact that (x) the Issuer 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 United States 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,
                 defeasance and discharge 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, defeasance
                 and discharge had not occurred.

         SECTION 10.2     Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment
of Securities.  Subject to Section 10.4, all moneys and U.S. Government
Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.1 shall be held
in trust, and such moneys and all moneys from such U.S. Government Obligations
shall be applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying
agent (including the Issuer 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 and U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited with the
Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest,
if any, but such moneys and U.S. Government Obligations need not be segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law.

         SECTION 10.3     Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent.  In
connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect
to Securities of any series, all moneys then held by any paying agent under the
provisions of this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities shall,
upon demand of the Issuer, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee and thereupon
such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to
such moneys.

         SECTION 10.4     Return of Moneys Held by Trustee and Paying Agent
Unclaimed for Two Years.  Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or
any paying agent for the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on
any Security of any series and not applied but remaining unclaimed for two
years after the date upon which such principal or interest, if any, shall have
become due and payable, shall, upon the written request of the Issuer and
unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or
abandoned or unclaimed property law, be repaid to the Issuer by the Trustee for
such series or such paying agent, and the Holder of the Securities of such
series shall, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable
escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property laws, thereafter look only to the
Issuer for any payment which such Holder may be entitled to collect, and all
liability of the Trustee or any paying agent with respect to such moneys shall
thereupon cease.

         SECTION 10.5     Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations.  The
Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge
imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited
pursuant to Section 10.1 or the principal or interest received in respect of
such obligations.





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<PAGE>   51
                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN
                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

         SECTION 11.1     Partners, Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and
Directors of Issuer Exempt from Individual Liability.  No recourse under or
upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in
any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had
against any incorporator, as such or against any past, present or future
stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Issuer, or any partner of the
Issuer or of any successor, either directly or through the Issuer or any
successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the
enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or
otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the
acceptance of the Securities by the Holders thereof and as part of the
consideration for the issue of the Securities.

         SECTION 11.2     Provisions of Indenture for the Sole Benefit of
Parties and Holders of Securities.  Nothing in this Indenture or in the
Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any
Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors and the Holders of
the Securities, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this
Indenture or under any covenant or provision herein contained, all such
covenants and provisions being for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and
their successors and of the Holders of the Securities.

         SECTION 11.3     Successors and Assigns of Issuer Bound by Indenture.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture
contained by or on behalf of the Issuer shall bind its successors and assigns,
whether so expressed or not.

         SECTION 11.4     Notices and Demands on Issuer, Trustee and Holders of
Securities.  Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is
required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders of
Securities to or on the Issuer, or as required pursuant to the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, may be given or served by being deposited postage prepaid,
first-class mail (except as otherwise specifically provided herein) addressed
(until another address of the Issuer is filed by the Issuer with the Trustee)
to Seagull Energy Corporation, 1001 Fannin, Suite 1700, Houston, Texas 77002,
Attention: Chairman of the Board.  Any notice, direction, request or demand by
the Issuer or any Holder of Securities to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed
to have been sufficiently given or served by being deposited postage prepaid,
first-class mail (except as otherwise specifically provided herein) addressed
(until another address of the Trustee is filed by the Trustee with the Issuer)
to The Bank of New York, 101 Barclay Street, Floor 21 West, New York, New York
10286, Attention: Corporate Trust Trustee Administration.

         Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities,
such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly
provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder
entitled thereto, at his last address as it appears in the Security register.
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 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 or irregularities in regular
mail service, it shall be impracticable to mail notice to the Issuer when such
notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture,
then any manner of giving such notice as shall be reasonably satisfactory to
the Trustee shall be deemed to be sufficient notice.

         SECTION 11.5     Officers' Certificates and Opinions of Counsel;
Statements to Be Contained Therein.  Upon any application or demand by the
Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this
Indenture, or as required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the
Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that all
conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the
opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with,
except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the
furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this
Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional
certificate or opinion need be furnished.





                                      -45-
<PAGE>   52
         Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture (other than
a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.3(d)) and delivered to the Trustee
with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this
Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the person making such certificate
or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (b) a brief statement as to the
nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements
or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based, (c) a statement
that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or
investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an opinion as to whether
or not such covenant or condition has been complied with, and (d) a statement
as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant
has been complied with.

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

         Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Issuer or
of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a
certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of
accountants in the employ of the Issuer, unless such officer or counsel, as the
case may be, knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with
respect to the accounting matters upon which his certificate, statement or
opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.

         Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public
accountants filed with and directed to the Trustee shall contain a statement
that such firm is independent.

         SECTION 11.6     Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.  If
the date of maturity of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of
any series or the date fixed for redemption, purchase or repayment of any such
Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest, if any, or
principal need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding
Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity
or the date fixed for redemption, purchase or repayment, and, in the case of
payment, no interest shall accrue for the period after such date.

         SECTION 11.7     Conflict of Any Provision of Indenture with Trust
Indenture Act of 1939.  If and to the extent that any provision of this
Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in
this Indenture which is required to be included herein by any of Sections 310
to 317, inclusive, or is deemed applicable to this Indenture by virtue of the
provisions, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, such required provision shall
control.

         SECTION 11.8     GOVERNING LAW.  THIS INDENTURE AND EACH SECURITY
SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND
FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS
OF SUCH STATE.

         SECTION 11.9     Counterparts.  This Indenture may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

         SECTION 11.10  Effect of Headings.  The Article and Section headings
herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect
the construction hereof.





                                      -46-
<PAGE>   53
                                 ARTICLE TWELVE
                   REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS

         SECTION 12.1     Applicability of Article.  The provisions of this
Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are
redeemable before their maturity or to any sinking fund for the retirement of
Securities of a series except as otherwise specified, as contemplated by
Section 2.3 for Securities of such series.

         SECTION 12.2     Notice of Redemption; Partial Redemptions.  Notice of
redemption to the Holders of Securities of any series to be redeemed as a whole
or in part at the option of the Issuer shall be given by mailing notice of such
redemption by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 days and not more
than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to such Holders of
Securities of such series at their last addresses as they shall appear in the
Security register.  Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the
Holder receives the notice.  Failure to give notice by mail, or any defect in
the notice to the Holder of any Security of a series designated for redemption
as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any other Security of such series.

         The notice of redemption to each such Holder shall specify the
principal amount of each Security of such series held by such Holder to be
redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price, the place or
places of payment, the CUSIP number relating to such Securities, that payment
will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that such
redemption is pursuant to the mandatory or optional sinking fund, or both, if
such be the case, that interest, if any, (or, in the case of Original Issue
Discount Securities, original issue discount) accrued to the date fixed for
redemption will be paid as specified in such notice and that on and after said
date interest, if any, (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities,
original issue discount) thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will
cease to accrue.  In case any Security of a series is to be redeemed in part
only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount
thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for
redemption, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of
such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be
issued.

         The notice of redemption of Securities of any series to be redeemed at
the option of the Issuer shall be given by the Issuer or, at the Issuer's
request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer.

         On or before the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption
given as provided in this Section 12.2, the Issuer will deposit with the
Trustee or with one or more paying agents (or, if the Issuer is acting as its
own paying agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section
3.5) an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the
Securities of such series so called for redemption at the appropriate
redemption price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for
redemption.  The Issuer will deliver to the Trustee at least 45 days prior to
the date fixed for redemption (unless a shorter notice period shall be
satisfactory to the Trustee) an Officers' Certificate stating the aggregate
principal amount of Securities to be redeemed.  In case of a redemption at the
election of the Issuer prior to the expiration of any restriction on such
redemption, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, prior to the giving of any
notice of redemption to Holders pursuant to this Section, an Officers'
Certificate stating that such restriction has been complied with.

         If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the
Trustee shall select, in such manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair,
Securities of such series to be redeemed.  Securities may be redeemed in part
in multiples equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of
such series or any multiple thereof.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the
Issuer in writing of the Securities of such series selected for redemption and,
in the case of any Securities of such series 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 of any series shall relate, in the case of any
Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the
principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.

         SECTION 12.3     Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.  If
notice of redemption has been given as above provided, the Securities or
portions of Securities specified in such notice shall become due and payable on
the





                                      -47-
<PAGE>   54
date and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable
redemption price, together with interest, if any, accrued to the date fixed for
redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Issuer shall default in the
payment of such Securities at the redemption price, together with interest, if
any, accrued to said date) interest (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount
Securities, original issue discount) on the Securities or portions of
Securities so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and such Securities
shall cease from and after the date fixed for redemption (unless an earlier
date shall be specified in a Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or
executed supplemental indenture referred to in Sections 2.1 and 2.3 by or
pursuant to which the form and terms of the Securities of such series were
established) except as provided in Sections 6.5 and 10.4, to be entitled to any
benefit or security under this Indenture, and the Holders thereof shall have no
right in respect of such Securities except the right to receive the redemption
price thereof and unpaid interest to the date fixed for redemption.  On
presentation and surrender of such Securities at a place of payment specified
in said notice, said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid
and redeemed by the Issuer at the applicable redemption price, together with
interest, if any, accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption; provided
that payment of interest, if any, becoming due on or prior to the date fixed
for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of Securities registered as such
on the relevant record date subject to the terms and provisions of Sections 2.3
and 2.7 hereof.

         If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender thereof for redemption, the redemption price shall, until paid or
duly provided for, bear interest from the date fixed for redemption at the rate
of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of an Original Issue Discount
Security) borne by such Security.

         Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the Issuer
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or on the order
of the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Issuer, a new Security or
Securities of such series, and of like tenor, of authorized denominations, in
principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

         SECTION 12.4     Exclusion of Certain Securities from Eligibility for
Selection for Redemption.  Securities shall be excluded from eligibility for
selection for redemption if they are identified by registration and certificate
number in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least 45 days
prior to the last date on which notice of redemption may be given as being
owned of record and beneficially by, and not pledged or hypothecated by either
(a) the Issuer, or (b) a Person specifically identified in such written
statement as an Affiliate of the Issuer.

         SECTION 12.5     Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds.  The minimum
amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the 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 the
Securities of any series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund
payment".  The date on which a sinking fund payment is to be made is herein
referred to as the "sinking fund payment date".

         In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund
payment with respect to any series of Securities in cash, the Issuer may at its
option (a) deliver to the Trustee Securities of such series theretofore
purchased or otherwise acquired (except upon redemption pursuant to the
mandatory sinking fund) by the Issuer or receive credit for Securities of such
series (not previously so credited) theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired
(except as aforesaid) by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation pursuant to Section 2.10, (b) receive credit for optional sinking
fund payments (not previously so credited) made pursuant to this Section 12.5,
or (c) receive credit for Securities of such series (not previously so
credited) redeemed by the Issuer through any optional redemption provision
contained in the terms of such series.  Securities so delivered or credited
shall be received or credited by the Trustee at the sinking fund redemption
price specified in such Securities.

         On or before the 60th day next preceding each sinking fund payment
date for any series, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate (a) specifying the portion of the mandatory sinking fund payment to
be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion to be satisfied by credit of
Securities of such series and the basis for such credit, (b) stating that none
of the Securities of such series to be so credited has theretofore been so
credited, (c) stating that no defaults in the payment of interest or Events of
Default with respect to such series have occurred (which have not been waived
or cured or otherwise ceased to exist) and are continuing, and (d) stating
whether or not the





                                      -48-
<PAGE>   55
Issuer intends to exercise its right to make an optional sinking fund payment
with respect to such series and, if so, specifying the amount of such optional
sinking fund payment which the Issuer intends to pay on or before the next
succeeding sinking fund payment date.  Any Securities of such series to be
credited and required to be delivered to the Trustee in order for the Issuer to
be entitled to credit therefor as aforesaid which have not theretofore been
delivered to the Trustee shall be delivered for cancellation pursuant to
Section 2.10 to the Trustee with such Officers' Certificate (or reasonably
promptly thereafter if acceptable to the Trustee).  Such Officers' Certificate
shall be irrevocable and upon its receipt by the Trustee the Issuer shall
become unconditionally obligated to make all the cash payments or payments
therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund
payment date.  Failure of the Issuer, on or before any such 60th day, to
deliver such Officers' Certificate and Securities (subject to the parenthetical
clause in the second preceding sentence) specified in this paragraph, if any,
shall not constitute a default but shall constitute, on and as of such date,
the irrevocable election of the Issuer (i) that the mandatory sinking fund
payment for such series due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date
shall be paid entirely in cash without the option to deliver or credit
Securities of such series in respect thereof, and (ii) that the Issuer will
make no optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series as provided
in this Section 12.5.

         If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional or
both) to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date plus
any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash shall
exceed $50,000, or a lesser sum if the Issuer shall so request with respect to
the Securities of any particular series, such cash shall be applied on the next
succeeding sinking fund payment date to the redemption of Securities of such
series at the sinking fund redemption price together with accrued interest, if
any, to the date fixed for redemption.  If such amount shall be $50,000 or less
and the Issuer makes no such request, then it shall be carried over until a sum
in excess of $50,000 is available.  The Trustee shall select, in the manner
provided in Section 12.2, for redemption on such sinking fund payment date a
sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to absorb said cash,
as nearly as may be, and shall (if requested in writing by the Issuer) inform
the Issuer of the serial numbers of the Securities of such series (or portions
thereof) so selected.  The Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the
Issuer (or the Issuer, if it shall so request the Trustee in writing) shall
cause notice of redemption of the Securities of such series to be given in
substantially the manner provided in Section 12.2 (and with the effect provided
in Section 12.3) for the redemption of Securities of such series in part at the
option of the Issuer.  The amount of any sinking fund payments not so applied
or allocated to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to
the next cash sinking fund payment for such series and, together with such
payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section
12.5.  Any and all sinking fund moneys held on the stated maturity date of the
Securities of any particular series (or earlier, if such maturity is
accelerated), which are not held for the payment or redemption of particular
Securities of such series shall be applied, together with other moneys, if
necessary, sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of, and
interest, if any, on, the Securities of such series at maturity.

         On or before each sinking fund payment date, the Issuer shall pay to
the Trustee in cash or shall otherwise provide for the payment of all interest,
if any, accrued to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed
on such sinking fund payment date.

         The Trustee shall not redeem or cause to be redeemed any Securities of
a series with sinking fund moneys or give any notice of redemption of
Securities for such series by operation of the sinking fund during the
continuance of a default in payment of interest on such Securities or of any
Event of Default with respect to such series except that, where the giving of
notice of redemption of any Securities shall theretofore have been made, the
Trustee shall redeem or cause to be redeemed such Securities, provided that it
shall have received from the Issuer a sum sufficient for such redemption.
Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at the time
when any such default or Event of Default shall occur, and any moneys
thereafter paid into the sinking fund, shall, during the continuance of such
default or Event of Default, be deemed to have been collected under Article
Five and held for the payment of all such Securities.  In case such Event of
Default shall have been waived as provided in Section 5.7 or the default cured
on or before the 60th day preceding the sinking fund payment date in any year,
such moneys shall thereafter be applied on the next succeeding sinking fund
payment date in accordance with this Section to the redemption of such
Securities.





                                      -49-
<PAGE>   56
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to
be duly executed as of August _____, 1997.

                                      SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      By: 
                                         ------------------------------------
                                      Title: 
                                            ---------------------------------
                                      
                                      
Attest:                               
                                      
By: 
   ------------------------------------
Title: 
      ---------------------------------

                                      
                                      THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                        as Trustee
                                      
                                      
                                      By: 
                                         ------------------------------------
                                      Title: 
                                            ---------------------------------
                                      
Attest:                               
                                      
By: 
   ------------------------------------
Title: 
      ---------------------------------





                                      -50-

<PAGE>   1




                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3

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




                           SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION

                                      AND

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK


                                 ______________



                         Senior Subordinated Indenture

                         Dated as of ___________, 1997



================================================================================
<PAGE>   2

                             CROSS REFERENCE SHEET


         Provisions of Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Indenture to be dated as
of August __, 1997, between SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION and The Bank of New
York, Trustee:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section of the Act                                                                          Section of Indenture
- ------------------                                                                          --------------------
<S>                                                                                      <C>
310(a)(1), (2) and (5)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          6.9
310(a)(3) and (4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
310(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          6.8 and 6.10(a), (b) and (d)
310(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
311(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          6.13(a) and (c)
311(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          6.13(b) and (c)
311(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
312(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.1 and 4.2(a)
312(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.2(a) and (b)(i) and (ii)
312(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.2(c)
313(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.4(a)(i), (ii), (iii), (iv),
                                                                                         (v), (vi) and (vii)
313(a)(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
313(b)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
313(b)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.4(b)
313(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.4(c)
313(d)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.4(d)
314(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          4.3
314(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
314(c)(1) and (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          11.5
314(c)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
314(d)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
314(e)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          11.5
314(f)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Inapplicable
315(a), (c) and (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          6.1
315(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          5.8
315(e)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          5.9
316(a)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          5.7
316(a)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          Not required
316(a) (last sentence)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          7.4
316(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          5.4
317(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          5.2
317(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          3.5(a)
318(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .          11.7
</TABLE>

_________________
<PAGE>   3
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                  ARTICLE ONE
                                  DEFINITIONS

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                                                                     <C>
Affiliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Authenticating Agent  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 1
Bankruptcy Code . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Board of Directors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Board Resolution  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Business Day  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Commission  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Consolidated Net Tangible Assets  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Corporate Trust Office  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Depositary  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
ENSTAR Alaska . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Event of Default  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Global Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Holder  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Holder of Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Securityholder  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Indebtedness  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2
Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
interest  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Issuer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Issuer Order  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Officers' Certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
Opinion of Counsel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
original issue date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 3
original issue discount . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Original Issue Discount Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Periodic Offering . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Person  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Place of Payment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
principal . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
principal amount  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4
Principal Property  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
record date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Responsible Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Restricted Subsidiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Sale and Leaseback Transaction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Secured Debt  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Senior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Senior Subordinated Indebtedness  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5
Subordinated Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Subsidiary  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Unrestricted Subsidiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
U.S. Government Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
vice president  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
Yield to Maturity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
</TABLE>





                                       i
<PAGE>   4
                                  ARTICLE TWO
                                   SECURITIES

<TABLE>
<S>              <C>                                                                                                   <C>
SECTION 2.1      Forms Generally  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6
SECTION 2.2      Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
SECTION 2.3      Amount Unlimited, Issuable in Series . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7
SECTION 2.4      Authentication and Delivery of Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9
SECTION 2.5      Execution of Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
SECTION 2.6      Certificate of Authentication  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
SECTION 2.7      Denomination and Date of Securities; Payments of Interest  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
SECTION 2.8      Registration Transfer and Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11
SECTION 2.9      Mutilated, Defaced, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
SECTION 2.10     Cancellation of Securities; Disposition Thereof  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13
SECTION 2.11     Temporary Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
SECTION 2.12     CUSIP Numbers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14

                                                      ARTICLE THREE
                                                 COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER

SECTION 3.1      Payment of Principal and Interest  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
SECTION 3.2      Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
SECTION 3.3      No Interest Extension  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
SECTION 3.4      Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
SECTION 3.5      Provision as to Paying Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
SECTION 3.6      Restriction on Creation of Secured Debt  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
SECTION 3.7      Restriction on Sale and Leaseback Transactions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
SECTION 3.8      Limitation on Issuance of Certain Other Subordinated Indebtedness  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17

                                                       ARTICLE FOUR
                              SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 4.1      Issuer to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and Addresses of Securityholders . . . . . . . . .  17
SECTION 4.2      Preservation and Disclosure of Securityholders Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
SECTION 4.3      Reports by the Issuer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
SECTION 4.4      Reports by the Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19

                                                       ARTICLE FIVE
                             REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITY HOLDERSON EVENT OF DEFAULT

SECTION 5.1      Events of Default  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  20
SECTION 5.2      Payment of Securities on Default; Suit Therefor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
SECTION 5.3      Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22
SECTION 5.4      Proceedings by Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
SECTION 5.5      Proceedings by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
SECTION 5.6      Remedies Cumulative and Continuing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
SECTION 5.7      Direction of Proceedings; Waiver of Defaults by Majority of Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
SECTION 5.8      Notice of Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
SECTION 5.9      Undertaking to Pay Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24

                                                       ARTICLE SIX
                                                  CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 6.1      Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee; During Default; Prior to Default . . . . . . . . . . . .  24
SECTION 6.2      Certain Rights of the Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
</TABLE>





                                       ii
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
<S>              <C>                                                                                                   <C>
SECTION 6.3      Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Disposition of Securities or Application of Proceeds
                          Thereof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
SECTION 6.4      Trustee and Agents May Hold Securities; Collections, etc.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
SECTION 6.5      Moneys Held by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
SECTION 6.6      Compensation and Indemnification of Trustee and Its Prior Claim  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
SECTION 6.7      Right of Trustee to Rely on Officers' Certificate, etc.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26
SECTION 6.8      Qualification of Trustee; Conflicting Interests  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
SECTION 6.9      Persons Eligible for Appointment as Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30
SECTION 6.10     Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
SECTION 6.11     Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
SECTION 6.12     Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
SECTION 6.13     Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
SECTION 6.14     Appointment of Authenticating Agent  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35

                                                      ARTICLE SEVEN
                                              CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

SECTION 7.1      Evidence of Action Taken by Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
SECTION 7.2      Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
SECTION 7.3      Holders to be Treated as Owners  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
SECTION 7.4      Securities Owned by Issuer Deemed Not Outstanding  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
SECTION 7.5      Right of Revocation of Action Taken  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
SECTION 7.6      Record Date for Consents and Waivers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37

                                                      ARTICLE EIGHT
                                                 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 8.1      Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
SECTION 8.2      Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
SECTION 8.3      Effect of Supplemental Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
SECTION 8.4      Documents to Be Given to Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
SECTION 8.5      Notation on Securities in Respect of Supplemental Indentures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
SECTION 8.6      Subordination Unimpaired . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39

                                                       ARTICLE NINE
                            CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE, EXCHANGE OR OTHER DISPOSITION

SECTION 9.1      Issuer May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
SECTION 9.2      Securities to be Secured in Certain Events . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
SECTION 9.3      Successor Corporation to be Substituted  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
SECTION 9.4      Opinion of Counsel to be Given Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40

                                                       ARTICLE TEN
                                SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

SECTION 10.1     Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40
SECTION 10.2     Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment of Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
SECTION 10.3     Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
SECTION 10.4     Return of Moneys Held by Trustee and Paying Agent Unclaimed for Two Years  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
SECTION 10.5     Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42

                                                      ARTICLE ELEVEN
                                                 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 11.1     Partners, Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors of Issuer Exempt from Individual
                          Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
</TABLE>





                                      iii
<PAGE>   6
<TABLE>
<S>            <C>                                                                                                     <C>
SECTION 11.2     Provisions of Indenture for the Sole Benefit of Parties and Holders of Securities  . . . . . . . . .  43
SECTION 11.3     Successors and Assigns of Issuer Bound by Indenture  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
SECTION 11.4     Notices and Demands on Issuer, Trustee and Holders of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
SECTION 11.5     Officers' Certificates and Opinions of Counsel; Statements to Be Contained Therein . . . . . . . . .  43
SECTION 11.6     Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
SECTION 11.7     Conflict of Any Provision of Indenture with Trust Indenture Act of 1939  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
SECTION 11.8     GOVERNING LAW  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
SECTION 11.9     Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
SECTION 11.10    Effect of Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44

                                                      ARTICLE TWELVE
                                        REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 12.1     Applicability of Article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
SECTION 12.2     Notice of Redemption; Partial Redemptions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
SECTION 12.3     Payment of Securities Called for Redemption  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
SECTION 12.4     Exclusion of Certain Securities from Eligibility for Selection for Redemption  . . . . . . . . . . .  46
SECTION 12.5     Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46

                                                     ARTICLE THIRTEEN
                                                      SUBORDINATION

SECTION 13.1     Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
SECTION 13.2     Reliance on Certificate of Liquidating Agent; Further Evidence as to Ownership of Senior
                          Indebtedness  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
SECTION 13.3     Payment Permitted If No Default  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
SECTION 13.4     Disputes with Holders of Certain Senior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
SECTION 13.5     Trustee Not Charged with Knowledge of Prohibition  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
SECTION 13.6     Trustee to Effectuate Subordination  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
SECTION 13.7     Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
SECTION 13.8     Article Applicable to Paying Agents  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
SECTION 13.9     Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or Omissions of the Issuer or Holders of Senior
                          Indebtedness  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
SECTION 13.10    Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
</TABLE>





                                       iv
<PAGE>   7
         THIS SENIOR SUBORDINATED INDENTURE, dated as of __________, 1997
between SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION, a Texas corporation (the "Issuer"), and The
Bank of New York, a ___________ banking corporation, as trustee (the
"Trustee"),

                              W I T N E S S E T H:

         WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the issuance from time to time
of its unsecured senior subordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of
indebtedness to be issued in one or more series (the "Securities") up to such
principal amount or amounts as may from time to time be authorized in
accordance with the terms of this Indenture;

         WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and delivery of
this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the authentication, delivery
and administration of the Securities; and

         WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid indenture
and agreement according to its terms have been undertaken and completed;

         NOW, THEREFORE:

         In consideration of the premises and the purchases of the Securities
by the Holders (as hereinafter defined) thereof, the Issuer and the Trustee
mutually covenant and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the
respective Holders from time to time of the Securities as follows:


                                  ARTICLE ONE
                                  DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.1      For all purposes of this Indenture and of any
indenture supplemental hereto the following terms shall have the respective
meanings specified in this Section 1.1 (except as otherwise expressly provided
or unless the context otherwise clearly requires).  All other terms used in
this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, including
terms defined therein by reference to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended,
shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and
in said Securities Act as in force at the date of this Indenture (except as
herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise clearly
requires).

         All accounting terms used herein and not expressly defined shall have
the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with generally accepted
accounting principles, and the term "generally accepted accounting principles"
means such accounting principles as are generally accepted at the time of any
computation.

         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.  The expressions "date of this
Indenture", "date hereof", "date as of which this Indenture is dated" and "date
of execution and delivery of this Indenture" and other expressions of similar
import refer to the effective date of the original execution and delivery of
this Indenture, viz.  ___________, 1997.

         The terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them
in this Article and include the plural as well as the singular.

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

         "Authenticating Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
6.14.

<PAGE>   8

         "Bankruptcy Code" means the United States Bankruptcy Code, 11 United
States Code Sections  101 et seq., or any successor statute thereto.

         "Board of Directors" means either the Board of Directors of the Issuer
or any committee of such Board duly authorized to act on its behalf.

         "Board Resolution" means one or more resolutions, certified by the
secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer to have been duly adopted or
consented to by the Board of Directors and to be in full force and effect.

         "Business Day" means, with respect to any Security, a day that (a) in
the Place of Payment (or in any of the Places of Payment, if more than one) in
which amounts are payable, as specified in the form of such Security, and (b)
in the city in which the Corporate Trust Office is located, is not a day on
which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to
close.

         "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from
time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, or, if at any time after the execution and delivery of this Indenture
such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned to it
under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, then the body performing such duties on
such date.

         "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the aggregate amount of
assets included on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and
its Restricted Subsidiaries, less applicable reserves and other properly
deductible items and after deducting therefrom (a) all current liabilities and
(b) all goodwill, trade names, trademarks, patents, unamortized debt discount
and expense and other like intangibles, all in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

         "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at which the
corporate trust business of the Trustee shall, at any particular time, be
principally administered, which office is, at the date as of which this
Indenture is dated, located in New York, New York.

         "Depositary" means, with respect to the Securities of any series
issuable or issued in the form of one or more Global Securities, the Person
designated as Depositary by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3 until a
successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the applicable
provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Depositary" shall mean or include
each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and, if at any time there is
more than one such Person, "Depositary" as used with respect to the Securities
of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the Global
Securities of such series.

         "ENSTAR Alaska" means (i) the division of the Issuer known on the date
of this Indenture as ENSTAR Natural Gas Company, which owns on the date of this
Indenture the gas distribution system in south-central Alaska, and (ii) Alaska
Pipeline Company, an Alaska corporation and a Subsidiary of the Issuer, in each
case together with successors and assigns.

         "Event of Default" means any event or condition specified as such in
Section 5.1.

         "Global Security" means a Security evidencing all or a part of a
series of Securities issued to the Depositary for such series in accordance
with Section 2.3 and bearing the legend prescribed in Section 2.4.

         "Holder", "Holder of Securities", "Securityholder" or other similar
terms mean, in the case of any Security, the person in whose name such Security
is registered in the security register kept by the Issuer for that purpose in
accordance with the terms hereof.

         "Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person,

         (a)     (i)  the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if
any, on indebtedness for money borrowed of such Person, indebtedness of such
Person evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar obligations, and any
guaranty by such Person of any indebtedness for money borrowed or indebtedness
evidenced by bonds, notes, debentures or similar obligations of any other
Person, whether any such indebtedness or guaranty is outstanding on the date of
this





                                       2

<PAGE>   9

Indenture or is thereafter created, assumed or incurred, (ii) the principal of
and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on indebtedness for money borrowed,
incurred, assumed or guaranteed by such Person in connection with the
acquisition by it or any of its subsidiaries of any other businesses,
properties or other assets and (iii) lease obligations which such Person
capitalizes in accordance with Statement of Financial Accounting Standards No.
13 promulgated by the Financial Accounting Standards Board or such other
generally accepted accounting principles as may be from time to time in effect;

         (b)     any other indebtedness of such Person, including any
indebtedness representing the balance deferred and unpaid of the purchase price
of any property or interest therein, and any guaranty, endorsement or other
contingent obligation of such Person in respect of any indebtedness of another
that is outstanding on the date of this Indenture or is thereafter created,
assumed or incurred by such Person;

         (c)     obligations of such Person under interest rate, commodity or
currency swaps, caps, collars, options and similar arrangements;

         (d)     obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any
obligor on any letter of credit, banker's acceptance or similar credit
transaction; and

         (e)     any amendments, modifications, refundings, renewals or
extensions of any indebtedness or obligation described as Indebtedness in
clauses (a) through (d) above.

         "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and delivered
or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or
supplemented or both, including, for all purposes of this instrument and any
such supplement, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 that are
deemed to be a part of and govern this instrument and any such supplement,
respectively, and shall include the forms and terms of particular series of
Securities established as contemplated hereunder.

         The term "interest" means, when used with respect to non-interest
bearing Securities (including, without limitation, any Original Issue Discount
Security that by its terms bears interest only after maturity or upon default
in any other payment due on such Security), interest payable after maturity
(whether at stated maturity, upon acceleration or redemption or otherwise) or
after the date, if any, on which the Issuer becomes obligated to acquire a
Security, whether upon conversion, by purchase or otherwise.

         "Issuer" means (except as otherwise provided in Section 6.8) Seagull
Energy Corporation, a Texas corporation, and, subject to Article Nine, its
successors and assigns.

         "Issuer Order" means a written statement, request or order of the
Issuer which is signed in its name by the chairman of the Board of Directors,
the president or any vice president of the Issuer.

         "Officers' Certificate", when used with respect to the Issuer, means a
certificate signed by the chairman of the Board of Directors, the president, or
any vice president and by the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the
controller, any assistant controller, the secretary or any assistant secretary
of the Issuer.  Each such certificate shall include the statements provided for
in Section 11.5 if and to the extent required by the provisions of such Section
11.5.  One of the officers signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to
Section 4.3 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer
of the Issuer.

         "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing signed by the chief
counsel of the Issuer or by such other legal counsel who may be an employee of
or counsel to the Issuer and who shall be satisfactory to the Trustee.  Each
such opinion shall include the statements provided for in Section 11.5, if and
to the extent required by the provisions of such Section 11.5.

         The term "original issue date" of any Security (or portion thereof)
means the earlier of (a) the date of such Security or (b) the date of any
Security (or portion thereof) for which such Security was issued (directly or
indirectly) on registration of transfer, exchange or substitution.





                                       3

<PAGE>   10

         The term "original issue discount" of any debt security, including any
Original Issue Discount Security, means the difference between the principal
amount of such debt security and the initial issue price of such debt security
(as set forth in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security on the face of
such Security).

         "Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security that provides
for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon
a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1.

         "Outstanding" (except as otherwise provided in Section 6.8), when used
with reference to Securities, shall, subject to the provisions of Section 7.4,
mean, as of any particular time, all Securities authenticated and delivered by
the Trustee under this Indenture, except:

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

         (b)     Securities (other than Securities of any series as to which
the provisions of Article Ten hereof shall not be applicable), or portions
thereof, for the payment or redemption of which moneys or U.S. Government
Obligations (as provided for in Section 10.1) in the necessary amount shall
have been deposited in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other
than the Issuer) or shall have been set aside, segregated and held in trust by
the Issuer for the Holders of such Securities (if the Issuer shall act as its
own paying agent), provided that, if such Securities, or portions thereof, are
to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall
have been given as herein provided, or provision satisfactory to the Trustee
shall have been made for giving such notice; and

         (c)     Securities which shall have been paid or in substitution for
which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to
the terms of Section 2.9 (except with respect to any such Security as to which
proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented that such Security is held by a
person in whose hands such Security is a legal, valid and binding obligation of
the Issuer).

         In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate
principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have given any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,
the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be
deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the portion of the
principal amount thereof that would be due and payable as of the date of such
determination (as certified by the Issuer to the Trustee) upon a declaration of
acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1.

         "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, if any, thereon, the stated maturity
or maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with respect
thereto, are to be determined by the Issuer or its agents upon the issuance of
such Securities.

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

         "Place of Payment", when used with respect to the Securities of any
series, means the place or places where the principal of and interest, if any,
on the Securities of such series are payable as determined in accordance with
Section 2.3.

         The term "principal" of a debt security, including any Security, means
the amount (including, without limitation, if and to the extent applicable, any
premium and, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, any accrued
original issue discount, but excluding interest) that is payable with respect
to such debt security as of any date and for any purpose (including, without
limitation, in connection with any sinking fund, upon any redemption at the
option of the Issuer, upon any purchase or exchange at the option of the Issuer
or the holder of such debt security and upon any acceleration of the maturity
of such debt security).

         The term "principal amount" of a debt security, including any
Security, means the principal amount as set forth on the face of such debt
security.





                                       4

<PAGE>   11

         "Principal Property" means any real property, manufacturing plant,
processing plant, pipeline, office building, warehouse or other physical
facility, or any other like depreciable or depletable asset of the Issuer or
any Restricted Subsidiary whether owned at ______________, 1997 or thereafter
acquired (other than any facility thereafter acquired for the control or
abatement of atmospheric pollutants or contaminants or water, noise, odor or
other pollution) which in the opinion of the Board of Directors is of material
importance to the total business conducted by the Issuer and its Restricted
Subsidiaries, as a whole; provided, however, that any such property shall not
be deemed a Principal Property if such property does not have a fair value in
excess of 3% of the total assets included on a consolidated balance sheet of
the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries prepared in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles consistently applied.

         The term "record date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2.7.

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

         "Restricted Subsidiary" means (a) any Subsidiary other than an
Unrestricted Subsidiary, and (b) any Subsidiary which was an Unrestricted
Subsidiary but which, subsequent to the date hereof, is designated by the
Issuer (by certified resolution of the Board of Directors delivered to the
Trustee) to be a Restricted Subsidiary; provided, however, that the Issuer may
not designate any such Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary if the Issuer
would thereby breach any covenant or agreement herein contained (on the
assumptions that any outstanding Indebtedness of such Subsidiary was incurred
at the time of such designation and that any Sale and Leaseback Transaction to
which such Subsidiary is then a party was entered into at the time of such
designation).

         "Sale and Leaseback Transaction" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3.7.

         "Secured Debt" means indebtedness for money borrowed by the Issuer or
a Restricted Subsidiary and any other indebtedness of the Issuer or a
Restricted Subsidiary on which interest is paid or payable (other than
indebtedness owed by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Issuer, by a Restricted
Subsidiary to another Restricted Subsidiary or by the Issuer to a Restricted
Subsidiary), that in any such case is secured by (a) a mortgage or other lien
on any Principal Property of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary, or (b) a
pledge, lien or other security interest on any shares of stock or indebtedness
of a Restricted Subsidiary, or (c) in the case of any such indebtedness of the
Issuer, a guaranty by any Restricted Subsidiary.  The amount of Secured Debt at
any time outstanding shall be the amount then owing thereon by the Issuer or a
Restricted Subsidiary.

         "Security" or "Securities" (except as otherwise provided in Section
6.8) has the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture or, as the
case may be, Securities that have been authenticated and delivered pursuant to
this Indenture.

         "Senior Indebtedness" means Indebtedness of the Issuer outstanding at
any time except (a) any Indebtedness as to which, by the terms of the
instrument creating or evidencing the same, it is provided that such
Indebtedness is not senior in right of payment to the Securities, (b) the
Securities, (c) any Indebtedness of the Issuer to a wholly-owned subsidiary of
the Issuer, (d) interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any
proceeding referred to in Sections 5.1(e) and 5.1(f) unless such interest is an
allowed claim enforceable against the Issuer in a proceeding under federal or
state bankruptcy laws and (e) trade payables.

         "Senior Subordinated Indebtedness" means the Securities, the Issuer's
8 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2005 issued pursuant to the Senior
Subordinated Indenture dated July 15, 1993 between the Issuer and The Bank of
New York, as trustee, and any other Indebtedness of the Issuer that ranks pari
passu with the Securities.  Any Indebtedness of the Issuer that is subordinate
or junior by its terms in right of payment to any other Indebtedness of the
Issuer shall be subordinate to Senior Subordinated Indebtedness unless the
instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is
outstanding specifically provides that such Indebtedness (i) is to rank pari
passu with  other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness and (ii) is not subordinated
by its terms to any Indebtedness of the Issuer which is not Senior
Indebtedness.





                                       5

<PAGE>   12

         "Subordinated Indebtedness" means the Securities, any other Senior
Subordinated Indebtedness and any other Indebtedness that is subordinate or
junior in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness.

         "Subsidiary" means any corporation of which the Issuer, or the Issuer
and one or more Subsidiaries, or any one or more Subsidiaries, directly or
indirectly own voting securities entitling any one or more of the Issuer and
its Subsidiaries to elect a majority of the directors, either at all times or,
so long as there is no default or contingency which permits the holders of any
other class or classes of securities to vote for the election of one or more
directors.

         "Trust Indenture Act of 1939" (except as otherwise provided in
Sections 8.1 and 8.2) means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by the
Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990, as in force at the date as of which this
Indenture is originally executed.

         "Trustee" means the Person identified as "Trustee" in the first
paragraph hereof and, subject to the provisions of Article Six, shall also
include any successor trustee.  "Trustee" shall also 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 the trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

         "Unrestricted Subsidiary" means (a) any Subsidiary acquired or
organized after the date hereof, provided, however, that such Subsidiary shall
not be a successor, directly or indirectly, to any Restricted Subsidiary, and
(b) any Subsidiary whose principal business and assets are located outside the
United States of America, its territories and possessions and Canada or are
located in Puerto Rico, and (c) any Subsidiary the principal business of which
consists of financing or assisting in financing the acquisition or disposition
of products of the Issuer or a Subsidiary by dealers, distributors or other
customers, and (d) any Subsidiary the principal business of which is owning,
leasing, dealing in or developing real property, and (e) any Subsidiary
substantially all the assets of which consist of stock or other securities of a
Subsidiary or Subsidiaries of the character described in clauses (a) through
(d) of this paragraph, unless and until such Subsidiary shall have been
designated to be a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to clause (b) of the
definition of "Restricted Subsidiary".

         "U.S. Government Obligations" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 10.1(B).

         The term "vice president," when used with respect to the Issuer or the
Trustee, means any vice president, regardless of whether designated by a number
or a word or words added before or after the title "vice president."

         "Yield to Maturity" means the yield to maturity on a series of
Securities, calculated at the time of issuance of such series, or, if
applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and
calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice or as
otherwise provided in the terms of such series of Securities.


                                  ARTICLE TWO
                                   SECURITIES

         SECTION 2.1      Forms Generally.  The Securities of each series shall
be substantially in such form (not inconsistent with this Indenture) as shall
be established by or pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (as set forth in
a Board Resolution or, to the extent established pursuant to rather than set
forth in a Board Resolution, an Officers' Certificate detailing such
establishment) 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 imprinted or
otherwise reproduced thereon such legend or legends or endorsements, not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, as may be required to
comply with any law or with any rules or regulations pursuant thereto, or with
any rules of any securities exchange or to conform to general usage, all as may
be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution of such 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.





                                       6

<PAGE>   13

         SECTION 2.2      Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.  The
Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Securities shall be
substantially as follows:

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

                                              The Bank of New York, as Trustee

                                              By                    
                                                ------------------------------
                                                     Authorized Signatory


         If at any time there shall be an Authenticating Agent appointed with
respect to any series of Securities, then the Securities of such series shall
bear, in addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternate
Certificate of Authentication which shall be substantially as follows:

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

                                              The Bank of New York, as Trustee

                                              By 
                                                ------------------------------
                                                as Authenticating Agent


                                              By
                                                ------------------------------
                                                     Authorized Signatory

         SECTION 2.3      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 and the Securities
of each such series shall rank equally and pari passu with the Securities of
each other series, but all Securities issued hereunder shall be subordinate and
junior in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in
Article Thirteen, to all Senior Indebtedness.  There shall be established in or
pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (and, to the extent established
pursuant to rather than set forth in a Board Resolution, in an Officers'
Certificate detailing such establishment) or established in one or more
indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the initial issuance of Securities of
any series:

                 (1)      the designation of the Securities of the series,
         which shall distinguish the Securities of such series from the
         Securities of all other series;

                 (2)      any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the
         Securities of the series that 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 2.8, 2.9, 2.11, 8.5 or
         12.3);

                 (3)      the date or dates on which the principal of the
         Securities of the series is payable;

                 (4)      the rate or rates at which the Securities of the
         series shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which any
         such interest shall accrue, on which any such interest shall be
         payable and on which a record shall be taken for the determination of
         Holders to whom any such interest is payable or the method by which
         such rate or rates or date or dates shall be determined or both;

                 (5)      the place or places where and the manner in which the
         principal of and interest, if any, on Securities of the series shall
         be payable (if other than as provided in Section 3.2) and the office
         or agency for the Securities of the series maintained by the Issuer
         pursuant to Section 3.2;





                                       7

<PAGE>   14

                 (6)      the right, if any, of the Issuer to redeem, purchase
         or repay Securities of the series, in whole or in part, at its option
         and the period or periods within which, the price or prices (or the
         method by which such price or prices shall be determined or both) at
         which, the form or method of payment therefor if other than in cash
         and any terms and conditions upon which and the manner in which (if
         different from the provisions of Article Twelve) Securities of the
         series may be so redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part,
         pursuant to any sinking fund or otherwise;

                 (7)      the obligation, if any, of the Issuer to redeem,
         purchase or repay Securities of the series in whole or in part
         pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous
         provisions or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or
         periods within which the price or prices (or the method by which such
         price or prices shall be determined or both) at which, the form or
         method of payment therefor if other than in cash and any terms and
         conditions upon which and the manner in which (if different from the
         provisions of Article Twelve) Securities of the series shall be
         redeemed, purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such
         obligation;

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

                 (9)      if other than the principal amount thereof, the
         portion of the principal amount of Securities of the series which
         shall be payable upon acceleration of the maturity thereof;

                 (10)     whether Securities of the series will be issuable as
         Global Securities;

                 (11)     if the Securities of such series are to be issuable
         in definitive form (whether upon original issue or upon exchange of a
         temporary Security of such series) only upon receipt of certain
         certificates or other documents or satisfaction of other conditions,
         the form and terms of such certificates, documents or conditions;

                 (12)     any trustees, depositaries, authenticating or paying
         agents, transfer agents or registrars or any other agents with respect
         to the Securities of such series;

                 (13)     any deleted, modified or additional events of
         default, remedies or covenants with respect to the Securities of such
         series;

                 (14)     whether the provisions of Section 10.1(C) will be
         applicable to Securities of such series;

                 (15)     any provision relating to the issuance of Securities
         of such series at an original issue discount (including, without
         limitation, the issue price thereof, the rate or rates at which such
         original issue discount shall accrue, if any, and the date or dates
         from or to which or period or periods during which such original issue
         discount shall accrue at such rate or rates);

                 (16)     if the amounts of payments of principal of and
         interest on the Securities of such series are to be determined with
         reference to an index, the manner in which such amounts shall be
         determined; and

                 (17)     any other terms of the series (which terms shall not
         be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).

         All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical,
except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided by or
pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate referred to above or
as set forth in any such indenture supplemental hereto.  All Securities of any
one series need not be issued at the same time and may be issued from time to
time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so provided by or
pursuant to such Board Resolution, such Officers' Certificate or in any such
indenture supplemental hereto.

         Any such Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate referred to above
with respect to Securities of any series filed with the Trustee on or before
the initial issuance of the Securities of such series shall be incorporated
herein by reference with respect to Securities of such series and shall
thereafter be deemed to be a part of the Indenture for all





                                       8

<PAGE>   15

purposes relating to Securities of such series as fully as if such Board
Resolution or Officers' Certificate were set forth herein in full.

         SECTION 2.4      Authentication and Delivery of Securities.  The
Issuer may deliver Securities of any series executed by the Issuer to the
Trustee for authentication together with the applicable documents referred to
below in this Section 2.4, and the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and
deliver such Securities to, or upon the order of, the Issuer (contained in the
Issuer Order referred to below in this Section 2.4) or pursuant to such
procedures acceptable to the Trustee and to such recipients as may be specified
from time to time by an Issuer Order.  The maturity date, original issue date,
interest rate, if any, and any other terms of the Securities of such series
shall be determined by or pursuant to such Issuer Order and procedures.  If
provided for in such procedures and agreed to by the Trustee, such Issuer Order
may authorize authentication and delivery pursuant to oral instructions from
the Issuer or its duly authorized agent, which instructions shall be promptly
confirmed in writing.  In authenticating the Securities of such series and
accepting the additional responsibilities under this Indenture in relation to
such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive (in the case of
subparagraphs (2), (3) and (4) below only at or before the time of the first
request of the Issuer to the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series)
and (subject to Section 6.1) shall be fully protected in relying upon, unless
and until such documents have been superseded or revoked:

                 (1)      an Issuer Order requesting such authentication and
         setting forth delivery instructions if the Securities of such series
         are not to be delivered to the Issuer, provided that, with respect to
         Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (a) such Issuer
         Order may be delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee prior to the
         delivery to the Trustee of such Securities for authentication and
         delivery, (b) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities of
         such series for original issue from time to time, in an aggregate
         principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal amount
         established for such series, pursuant to an Issuer Order or pursuant
         to procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified from time
         to time by an Issuer Order, (c) the maturity date or dates, original
         issue date or dates, interest rate or rates, if any, and any other
         terms of Securities of such series shall be determined by an Issuer
         Order or pursuant to such procedures, (d) if provided for in such
         procedures, such Issuer Order may authorize authentication and
         delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Issuer
         or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall
         be promptly confirmed in writing and (e) after the original issuance
         of the first Security of such series to be issued, any separate
         request by the Issuer that the Trustee authenticate Securities of such
         series for original issuance will be deemed to be a certification by
         the Issuer that it is in compliance with all conditions precedent
         provided for in this Indenture relating to the authentication and
         delivery of such Securities;

                 (2)      the Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or
         executed supplemental indenture referred to in Sections 2.1 and 2.3 by
         or pursuant to which the forms and terms of the Securities of such
         series were established;

                 (3)      an Officers' Certificate setting forth the form or
         forms and terms of the Securities stating that the form or forms and
         terms of the Securities have been established pursuant to Sections 2.1
         and 2.3 and comply with this Indenture and covering such other matters
         as the Trustee may reasonably request; and

                 (4)      at the option of the Issuer, either an Opinion of
         Counsel, or a letter from legal counsel addressed to the Trustee
         permitting it to rely on an Opinion of Counsel, substantially to the
         effect that:

                          (a)     the form or forms of the Securities of such
                 series have been duly authorized and established in conformity
                 with the provisions of this Indenture;

                          (b)     in the case of an underwritten offering, the
                 terms of the Securities of such series have been duly
                 authorized and established in conformity with the provisions
                 of this Indenture, and, in the case of an offering that is not
                 underwritten, certain terms of the Securities of such series
                 have been established pursuant to a Board Resolution, an
                 Officers' Certificate or a supplemental indenture in
                 accordance with this Indenture, and when such other terms as
                 are to be established pursuant to procedures set forth in an
                 Issuer Order shall have been established, all such terms will
                 have been duly authorized by the Issuer and will have been
                 established in conformity with the provisions of this
                 Indenture;





                                       9

<PAGE>   16

                          (c)     when the Securities of such series have been
                 executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee in
                 accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and delivered
                 to and duly paid for by the purchasers thereof, they will have
                 been duly issued under this Indenture and will be valid and
                 legally binding obligations of the Issuer, enforceable in
                 accordance with their respective terms, and will be entitled
                 to the benefits of this Indenture; and

                          (d)     the execution and delivery by the Issuer of,
                 and the performance by the Issuer of its obligations under,
                 the Securities of such series will not contravene any
                 provision of applicable law or the articles of incorporation
                 or bylaws of the Issuer or any agreement or other instrument
                 binding upon the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries that is
                 material to the Issuer and its Subsidiaries, considered as one
                 enterprise, or, to such counsel's knowledge after the inquiry
                 indicated therein, any judgment, order or decree of any
                 governmental agency or any court having jurisdiction over the
                 Issuer or any Subsidiary, and no consent, approval or
                 authorization of any governmental body or agency is required
                 for the performance by the Issuer of its obligations under the
                 Securities, except such as are specified and have been
                 obtained and such as may be required by the securities or blue
                 sky laws of the various states in connection with the offer
                 and sale of the Securities.

         In rendering such opinions, such counsel may qualify any opinions as
to enforceability by stating that such enforceability may be limited by
bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, moratorium and other
similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and is subject to
general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).  Such counsel may rely, as to
all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other than the State of Texas
and the federal law of the United States, upon opinions of other counsel
(copies of which shall be delivered to the Trustee), who shall be counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, in which case the opinion shall state
that such counsel believes that both such counsel and the Trustee are entitled
so to rely.  Such counsel may also state that, insofar as such opinion involves
factual matters, such counsel has relied, to the extent such counsel deems
proper, upon certificates of officers of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries and
certificates of public officials.

         The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and
deliver any Securities of any series under this Section 2.4 if the Trustee,
being advised by counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken
by the Issuer or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or
board of trustees, executive committee or a trust committee of directors or
trustees or Responsible Officers shall determine that such action would expose
the Trustee to personal liability to existing Holders or would adversely affect
the Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under the Securities, this
Indenture or otherwise.

         If the Issuer shall establish pursuant to Section 2.3 that the
Securities of a series are to be issued in the form of one or more Global
Securities, then the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance
with this Section 2.4 and the Issuer Order with respect to such series,
authenticate and deliver one or more Global Securities that (i) shall represent
and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate principal amount
of all of the Securities of such series to be issued in the form of Global
Securities and not yet canceled, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the
Depositary for such Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such
Depositary, (iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or
pursuant to such Depositary's instructions, and (iv) shall bear a legend
substantially to the following effect: "Unless and until it is exchanged in
whole or in part for Securities in definitive registered form, this Security
may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary to the nominee of
the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another
nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a
successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary."

         Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 2.3 must, at the time
of its designation and at all times while it serves as Depositary, be a
clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended, and any other applicable statute or regulation.

         SECTION 2.5      Execution of Securities.  The Securities shall be
signed on behalf of the Issuer by the chairman of the Board of Directors, the
president, any vice president or the treasurer of the Issuer, under its
corporate seal which may, but need not, be attested by its secretary or one of
its assistant secretaries.  Such signatures may be the manual or facsimile
signatures of the present or any future such officers.  The seal of the Issuer
may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed,
imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.  Typographical and other





                                       10

<PAGE>   17

minor errors or defects in any such reproduction of the seal or any such
signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that
has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

         In case any officer of the Issuer who shall have signed any of the
Securities shall cease to be such officer before the Security so signed shall
be authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or disposed of by the Issuer,
such Security nevertheless may be authenticated and delivered or disposed of as
though the person who signed such Security had not ceased to be such officer of
the Issuer; and any Security may be signed on behalf of the Issuer by such
persons as, at the actual date of the execution of such Security, shall be the
proper officers of the Issuer, although at the date of the execution and
delivery of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.

         SECTION 2.6      Certificate of Authentication.  Only such Securities
as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form
hereinbefore recited, executed by the Trustee by the manual signature of one of
its authorized signatories, or its Authenticating Agent, shall be entitled to
the benefits of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.  The
execution of such certificate by the Trustee or its Authenticating Agent upon
any Security executed by the Issuer shall be conclusive evidence that the
Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder
and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.  Each
reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes
authentication by an agent appointed pursuant to Section 6.14.

         SECTION 2.7      Denomination and Date of Securities; Payments of
Interest.  The Securities of each series shall be issuable in registered form
in denominations established as contemplated by Section 2.3 or, with respect to
the Securities of any series, if not so established, in denominations of $1,000
and any integral multiple thereof.  The Securities of each series shall be
numbered, lettered or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance
with such plan as the officers of the Issuer executing the same may determine
with the approval of the Trustee, as evidenced by the execution and
authentication thereof.

         Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.  The
Securities of each series shall bear interest, if any, from the date, and such
interest, if any, shall be payable on the dates, established as contemplated by
Section 2.3.

         The Person in whose name any Security of any series is registered at
the close of business on any record date applicable to a particular series with
respect to any interest payment date for such series shall be entitled to
receive the interest, if any, payable on such interest payment date
notwithstanding any transfer or exchange of such Security subsequent to the
record date and prior to such interest payment date, except if and to the
extent the Issuer shall default in the payment of the interest due on such
interest payment date for such series, in which case such defaulted interest
shall be paid to the Persons in whose names Outstanding Securities for such
series are registered (a) at the close of business on a subsequent record date
(which shall be not less than five Business Days prior to the date of payment
of such defaulted interest) established by notice given by mail by or on behalf
of the Issuer to the Holders of Securities not less than 15 days preceding such
subsequent record date or (b) as determined by such other procedure as is
mutually acceptable to the Issuer and the Trustee.  The term "record date" as
used with respect to any interest payment date (except a date for payment of
defaulted interest) for the Securities of any series shall mean the date
specified as such in the terms of the Securities of such series established as
contemplated by Section 2.3, or, if no such date is so established, if such
interest payment date is the first day of a calendar month, the fifteenth day
of the next preceding calendar month or, if such interest payment date is the
fifteenth day of a calendar month, the first day of such calendar month,
whether or not such record date is a Business Day.

         SECTION 2.8      Registration Transfer and Exchange.  The Issuer will
keep at each office or agency to be maintained for the purpose as provided in
Section 3.2 for each series of Securities a register or registers in which,
subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, it will provide for
the registration of Securities of each series and the registration of transfer
of Securities of such series.  Each such register shall be in written form in
the English language or in any other form capable of being converted into such
form within a reasonable time.  At all reasonable times such register or
registers shall be open for inspection and available for copying by the
Trustee.

         Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security of
any series at any such office or agency to be maintained for the purpose as
provided in Section 3.2, the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new
Security or Securities of the same series, maturity date, interest rate, if
any, and original issue date in authorized denominations for a like aggregate
principal amount.





                                       11

<PAGE>   18

         All Securities presented for registration of transfer shall (if so
required by the Issuer or the Trustee) be duly endorsed by, or be accompanied
by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Issuer and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder or his attorney duly
authorized in writing.

         At the option of the Holder thereof, Securities of any series (other
than a Global Security, except as set forth below) may be exchanged for a
Security or Securities of such series having authorized denominations and an
equal aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of such Securities to be
exchanged at the agency of the Issuer that shall be maintained for such purpose
in accordance with Section 3.2.  All Securities surrendered upon any exchange
or transfer provided for in this Indenture shall be promptly cancelled and
returned to the Issuer.

         The Issuer 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 of Securities.  No service charge shall be made for
any such transaction or for any exchange of Securities of any series as
contemplated by the immediately preceding paragraph.

         The Issuer shall not be required to exchange or register a transfer of
(a) any Securities of any series for a period of 15 days next preceding the
first mailing or publication of notice of redemption of Securities of such
series to be redeemed, (b) any Securities selected, called or being called for
redemption, in whole or in part, except, in the case of any Security to be
redeemed in part, the portion thereof not so to be redeemed or (c) any Security
if the Holder thereof has exercised his right, if any, to require the Issuer to
repurchase such Security in whole or in part, except the portion of such
Security not required to be repurchased.

         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.8, unless and
until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in definitive
registered form, a Global Security representing all or a part of the Securities
of a series may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such
series to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to
such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or
any such nominee to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such
successor Depositary.

         If at any time the Depositary for any Securities of a series
represented by one or more Global Securities notifies the Issuer that it is
unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Securities or if at any
time the Depositary for such Securities shall no longer be eligible under
Section 2.4, the Issuer shall appoint a successor Depositary with respect to
such Securities.  If a successor Depositary for such Securities is not
appointed by the Issuer within 90 days after the Issuer receives such notice or
becomes aware of such ineligibility, the Issuer's election pursuant to Section
2.3 that such Securities be represented by one or more Global Securities shall
no longer be effective and the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee, upon
receipt of an Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive
Securities of such series, will authenticate and deliver Securities of such
series in definitive registered form, in any authorized denominations, in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security
or Securities representing such Securities in exchange for such Global Security
or Securities.

         The Issuer may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that
the Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more Global
Securities shall no longer be represented by a Global Security or Securities.
In such event the Issuer shall execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an
Issuer Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of
such series, shall authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in
definitive registered form, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security or
Securities representing such Securities, in exchange for such Global Security
or Securities.

         If specified by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3 with respect to
Securities represented by a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global
Security may surrender such Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for
Securities of the same series in definitive registered form on such terms as
are acceptable to the Issuer and such Depositary.  Thereupon, the Issuer shall
execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, without service
charge,

                 (i)      to the Person specified by such Depositary, a new
         Security or Securities of the same series, of any authorized
         denominations as requested by such Person, in an aggregate principal
         amount equal to and in exchange for such Person's beneficial interest
         in the Global Security; and





                                       12

<PAGE>   19

                 (ii)     to such Depositary a new Global Security in a
         denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal
         amount of the surrendered Global Security and the aggregate principal
         amount of Securities authenticated and delivered pursuant to clause
         (i) above.

         Upon the exchange of a Global Security for Securities in definitive
registered form in authorized denominations, such Global Security shall be
cancelled by the Trustee or an agent of the Issuer or the Trustee.  Securities
in definitive registered form issued in exchange for a Global Security pursuant
to this Section 2.8 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized
denominations as the Depositary for such Global Security, pursuant to
instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall
instruct the Trustee or an agent of the Trustee or the Issuer or an agent of
the Issuer.  The Trustee or such agent shall deliver at its office such
Securities to or as directed by the Persons in whose names such Securities are
so registered.

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

         SECTION 2.9      Mutilated, Defaced, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen
Securities.  In case any temporary or definitive Security shall become
mutilated, defaced or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer in its
discretion may execute, and upon the written request of any officer of the
Issuer, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver a new Security of the same
series, maturity date, interest rate, if any, and original issue date, bearing
a number or other distinguishing symbol not contemporaneously outstanding, in
exchange and substitution for the mutilated or defaced Security, or in lieu of
and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen.  In every
case the applicant for a substitute Security shall furnish to the Issuer and to
the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee such security or
indemnity as may be required by the Trustee or the Issuer to indemnify and
defend and to save each of the Trustee and the Issuer harmless and, in every
case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof and in
the case of mutilation or defacement, shall surrender the Security to the
Trustee or such agent.

         Upon the issuance of any substitute Security, the Issuer 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 or its agent) connected therewith.  In case
any Security which has matured or is about to mature or has been called for
redemption in full shall become mutilated or defaced or be destroyed, lost or
stolen, the Issuer may instead of issuing a substitute Security, pay or
authorize the payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case
of a mutilated or defaced Security), if the applicant for such payment shall
furnish to the Issuer and to the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the
Trustee such security or indemnity as any of them may require to hold each of
them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant
shall also furnish to the Issuer and the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or
the Trustee evidence to the Trustee's satisfaction of the destruction, loss or
theft of such Security and of the ownership thereof.

         Every substitute Security of any series issued pursuant to the
provisions of this Section by virtue of the fact that any such Security is
destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation
of the Issuer, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be
at any time enforceable by anyone and shall be entitled to all the benefits of
(but shall be subject to all the limitations of rights set forth in) this
Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities of such
series duly authenticated and delivered hereunder.  All Securities shall be
held and owned upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by law,
the foregoing provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or
payment of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities and shall
preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or
statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the
replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without
their surrender.

         SECTION 2.10     Cancellation of Securities; Disposition Thereof.  All
Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of transfer or
exchange, or for credit against any payment in respect of a sinking or
analogous fund, if surrendered to the Issuer or any agent of the Issuer or the
Trustee or any agent of the Trustee, shall be delivered to the Trustee or its
agent for cancellation or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be canceled by
it; and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly
permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture.  The Trustee or its agent
shall return canceled Securities to the Issuer.  If the Issuer or its agent
shall acquire any of the Securities, such acquisition





                                       13

<PAGE>   20

shall not operate as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness
represented by such Securities unless and until the same are delivered to the
Trustee or its agent for cancellation.

         SECTION 2.11     Temporary Securities.  Pending the preparation of
definitive Securities for any series, the Issuer may execute and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver temporary Securities for such series (printed,
lithographed, typewritten or otherwise reproduced, in each case in form
satisfactory to the Trustee).  Temporary Securities of any series shall be
issuable in any authorized denomination, and substantially in the form of the
definitive Securities of such series but with such omissions, insertions and
variations as may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be
determined by the Issuer with the concurrence of the Trustee as evidenced by
the execution and authentication thereof.  Temporary Securities may contain
such references to any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate.
Every temporary Security shall be executed by the Issuer and be authenticated
by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner,
and with like effect, as the definitive Securities.  Without unreasonable delay
the Issuer shall execute and shall furnish definitive Securities of such series
and thereupon temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in
exchange therefor without charge at each office or agency to be maintained by
the Issuer for that purpose pursuant to Section 3.2 and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities of such
series an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same
series having authorized denominations.  Until so exchanged, the temporary
Securities of any series shall be entitled to the same benefits under this
Indenture as definitive Securities of such series, unless otherwise established
pursuant to Section 2.3.

         SECTION 2.12     CUSIP Numbers.  The Issuer in issuing the Securities
may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use), and, if so, the Trustee
shall use "CUSIP" numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders;
provided that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to
the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as
contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on
the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such
redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.


                                 ARTICLE THREE
                            COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER

         SECTION 3.1      Payment of Principal and Interest.  The Issuer
covenants and agrees that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid
the principal of and interest, if any, on each of the Securities at the place,
at the respective times and in the manner provided in the Securities.

         SECTION 3.2      Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.  So long as
any of the Securities are Outstanding, the Issuer will maintain in each Place
of Payment, an office or agency where the Securities may be presented for
payment, an office or agency where the Securities may be presented for
registration of transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided, and an
office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the Issuer in respect of
the Securities or of this Indenture may be served.  In case the Issuer shall at
any time fail to maintain any such office or agency, or shall fail to give
notice to the Trustee of any change in the location thereof, presentation may
be made and notice and demand may be served in respect of the Securities or of
this Indenture at the Corporate Trust Office.  The Issuer hereby initially
designates the Corporate Trust Office for each such purpose and appoints the
Trustee as registrar and paying agent and as the agent upon whom notices and
demands may be served with respect to the Securities.

         SECTION 3.3      No Interest Extension.  In order to prevent any
accumulation of claims for interest after maturity thereof, the Issuer will not
directly or indirectly extend or consent to the extension of the time for the
payment of any claim for interest on any of the Securities and will not
directly or indirectly be a party to or approve any such arrangement by the
purchase or funding of said claims or in any other manner; provided, however,
that this Section 3.3 shall not apply in any case where an extension shall be
made pursuant to a plan proposed by the Issuer to the Holders of all Securities
of any series then Outstanding.

         SECTION 3.4      Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office.
The Issuer, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the office of the
Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.10, a Trustee, so
that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.





                                       14

<PAGE>   21

         SECTION 3.5      Provision as to Paying Agent.  (a) If the Issuer
shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee, it will cause such paying
agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such agent
shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 3.5,

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

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

                 (3)      that it will, at any time during the continuance of
         any such failure, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith
         pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by such paying agent.

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

         (c)     Anything in this Section 3.5 to the contrary notwithstanding,
the Issuer may, at any time, for the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be paid
to the Trustee all sums held in trust by it, or any paying agent hereunder, as
required by this Section 3.5, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the
trusts herein contained.

         (d)     Anything in this Section 3.5 to the contrary notwithstanding,
any agreement of the Trustee or any paying agent to hold sums in trust as
provided in this Section 3.5 is subject to Sections 10.3 and 10.4.

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

         SECTION 3.6      Restriction on Creation of Secured Debt.  So long as
any of the Securities are outstanding, the Issuer shall not at any time create,
incur, assume or guarantee, and shall not cause, suffer or permit a Restricted
Subsidiary to create, incur, assume or guarantee, any Secured Debt that is
expressly by its terms Subordinated Indebtedness without making effective
provision (and the Issuer covenants that in such case it will make or cause to
be made such effective provision) whereby the Securities then Outstanding and
any other indebtedness of or guaranteed by the Issuer or such Restricted
Subsidiary then entitled thereto, subject to applicable priorities of payment,
shall be secured by such mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or
encumbrance equally and ratably with any and all other obligations and
indebtedness thereby secured, so long as any such other obligations and
indebtedness shall be so secured; provided, that if any such mortgage, security
interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance securing such Subordinated Indebtedness
ceases to exist, such equal and ratable security for the benefit of the Holders
of Securities shall automatically cease to exist without any further action;
provided further that if such Subordinated Indebtedness is expressly
subordinated to the Securities, the mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien
or encumbrance securing such Subordinated Indebtedness shall be subordinate and
junior to the mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance securing
the Securities with the same relative priority as such Subordinated
Indebtedness shall have with respect to the Securities; provided further, that
the foregoing covenants shall not be applicable to the following:

         (a)(i)  Any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance
on any property hereafter acquired (including acquisition through merger or
consolidation) or constructed by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary and
created contemporaneously with, or within twelve months after, such acquisition
or the completion of construction to secure or provide for the payment of all
or any part of the purchase price of such property or the cost of construction
thereof, as the case may be; or (ii) any mortgage on property (including any
unimproved portion of partially improved





                                       15

<PAGE>   22

property) of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary created within twelve months
of completion of construction of a new plant or plants on such property to
secure all or part of the cost of such construction if, in the opinion of the
Board of Directors, such property or such portion thereof was prior to such
construction substantially unimproved for the use intended by the Issuer; or
(iii) the acquisition of property subject to any mortgage, security interest,
pledge, lien or encumbrance upon such property existing at the time of
acquisition thereof, whether or not assumed by the Issuer or such Restricted
Subsidiary; or (iv) any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or
encumbrance existing on the property or on the outstanding shares or
indebtedness of a corporation or other entity at the time such corporation or
other entity shall become a Restricted Subsidiary; or (v) any mortgage,
security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance on property of a corporation or
other entity existing at the time such corporation or other entity is merged
into or consolidated with the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary or at the time
of a sale, lease or other disposition of the properties of a corporation or
other entity as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Issuer or a
Restricted Subsidiary; or

         (b)     Mortgages on property of the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary
in favor of the United States of America or any State thereof or any foreign
government, or any department, agency or instrumentality or political
subdivision of any thereof, to secure partial, progress, advance or other
payments pursuant to any contract or statute or to secure any indebtedness
incurred for the purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price or
the cost of construction of the property subject to such mortgages; or

         (c)     Any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance
existing on property owned by the Issuer or any of its Subsidiaries on the date
of this Indenture; or

         (d)     Any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance
created pursuant to the creation of trusts or other arrangements funded solely
with cash, cash equivalents or other marketable investments or securities of
the type customarily subject to such arrangements in customary financial
practice with respect to long-term or medium-term Indebtedness for money
borrowed, the sole purpose of which is to make provision for the retirement or
defeasance, without prepayment, of Indebtedness; or

         (e)     Any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance
on the assets or properties of ENSTAR Alaska; or

         (f)     Any mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance
securing (i) all or part of the cost of exploring, producing, gathering,
processing, marketing, drilling or developing any properties of the Company or
any  of its Subsidiaries, or securing Indebtedness incurred to provide funds
therefor, or (ii) Indebtedness incurred to finance all or part of the cost of
acquiring, constructing, altering, improving or repairing any such property or
assets, or securing Indebtedness incurred to provide funds therefor; or

         (g)     Any extension, renewal or replacement (or successive
extensions, renewals or replacements) in whole or in part of any mortgage,
security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance referred to in the foregoing
subparagraphs (a) through (f); provided, however, that the principal amount of
Secured Debt secured thereby shall not exceed the principal amount outstanding
at the time of such extension, renewal or replacement, and that such extension,
renewal or replacement shall be limited to the property which secured the
mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance so extended, renewed
or replaced and additions to such property.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 3.6, the
Issuer and any one or more Restricted Subsidiaries may create, incur, assume or
guarantee Secured Debt which would otherwise be subject to the foregoing
restrictions in an aggregate amount that, without duplication, together with
all other Secured Debt of the Issuer and its Restricted Subsidiaries which
would otherwise be subject to the foregoing restrictions (not including Secured
Debt permitted to be secured under subparagraphs (a) through (g) above) and the
aggregate value of the Sale and Leaseback Transactions (as defined in Section
3.7) in existence at such time (not including Sale and Leaseback Transactions
the proceeds of which have been or will be applied in accordance with clause
(b) of Section 3.7) does not at the time exceed 10% of Consolidated Net
Tangible Assets (excluding ENSTAR Alaska).  Solely for purposes of
subparagraphs (a) through (g) above, the term "mortgage" shall include any
arrangements in connection with a production payment or similar financing
arrangement.

         SECTION 3.7      Restriction on Sale and Leaseback Transactions.  The
Issuer will not, and will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, sell or
transfer (except to the Issuer or to one or more Restricted Subsidiaries, or
both) any





                                       16

<PAGE>   23

Principal Property owned by it and which has been in full operation for more
than 120 days prior to such sale or transfer with the intention (i) of taking
back a lease on such property (other than a lease for a period not exceeding 36
months) and (ii) that the use by the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary of
such property will be discontinued on or before the expiration of the term of
such lease (any such transaction being herein referred to as a "Sale and
Leaseback Transaction"), unless (a) the Issuer or such Restricted Subsidiary
would be entitled, pursuant to the provisions of Section 3.6, to incur Secured
Debt equal in amount to the amount realized or to be realized upon such sale or
transfer secured by a mortgage on the property to be leased without equally and
ratably securing the Securities, or (b) the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary
shall apply an amount equal to the value of the property so leased to the
retirement (other than any mandatory retirement), within 120 days of the
effective date of any such arrangement, of indebtedness for money borrowed by
the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary (other than such indebtedness owned by
the Issuer or any Restricted Subsidiary) which was recorded as funded debt as
of the date of its creation and which, in the case of such indebtedness of the
Issuer, is not subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment
of the Securities; provided, however, that the amount to be so applied to the
retirement of such indebtedness shall be reduced by (i) the aggregate principal
amount of any Securities delivered within 120 days of the effective date of any
such arrangement to the Trustee for retirement and cancellation, and (ii) the
aggregate principal amount of such indebtedness (other than the Securities)
retired by the Issuer or a Restricted Subsidiary within 120 days of the
effective date of any such arrangement.

         The term "value" shall mean, with respect to a Sale and Leaseback
Transaction, as of any particular time, the amount equal to the greater of (i)
the net proceeds of the sale of the property leased pursuant to such Sale and
Leaseback Transaction, or (ii) the fair value of such property at the time of
entering into such Sale and Leaseback Transaction, as determined by the Board
of Directors, in either case divided first by the number of full years of the
term of the lease and then multiplied by the number of full years of such term
remaining at the time of determination, without regard to any renewal or
extension options contained in the lease.

         SECTION 3.8      Limitation on Issuance of Certain Other Subordinated
Indebtedness.  The Issuer shall not issue, guarantee, assume or incur, directly
or indirectly, any Indebtedness which by its terms is both (a) subordinate or
junior in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness and (b) senior in right of
payment to the Securities.


                                  ARTICLE FOUR
                    SECURITYHOLDERS LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE
                             ISSUER AND THE TRUSTEE

         SECTION 4.1      Issuer to Furnish Trustee Information as to Names and
Addresses of Securityholders.  The Issuer and any other obligor on the
Securities covenant and agree that they will furnish or cause to be furnished
to the Trustee a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the
names and addresses of the Holders of the Securities of each series:

         (a)     semiannually and not more than 15 days after each March 1 and
September 1, and

         (b)     at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing,
within 30 days after receipt by the Issuer of any such request,

provided that if and so long as the Trustee shall be the registrar for such
series, such list shall not be required to be furnished.

         SECTION 4.2      Preservation and Disclosure of Securityholders Lists.
(a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, all information as to the names and addresses of the Holders of
each series of Securities (i) contained in the most recent list furnished to it
as provided in Section 4.1, and (ii) received by it in the capacity of
registrar or paying agent for such series, if so acting.  The Trustee may
destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 4.1 upon receipt of a
new list so furnished.

         (b)     In case three or more Holders of Securities (hereinafter
referred to as "applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee and furnish to the
Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security for a
period of at least six months preceding the date of such application, and such
application states that the applicants desire to communicate with other Holders
of Securities of a particular series (in which case the applicants must all
hold Securities





                                       17

<PAGE>   24

of such series) or with Holders of all Securities with respect to their rights
under this Indenture or under such Securities and such application is
accompanied by a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such
applicants propose to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five Business
Days after the receipt of such application, at its election, either

                 (i)      afford to such applicants access to the information
         preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions
         of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, or

                 (ii)     inform such applicants as to the approximate number
         of Holders of Securities of such series or of all Securities, as the
         case may be, whose names and addresses appear in the information
         preserved at the time by the Trustee, in accordance with the
         provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2, and as to the
         approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders the form of proxy
         or other communication, if any, specified in such application.

         If the Trustee shall elect not to afford to such applicants access to
such information, the Trustee shall, upon the written request of such
applicants, mail to each Securityholder of such series or all Holders of
Securities, as the case may be, whose name and address appears in the
information preserved at the time by the Trustee in accordance with the
provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.2 a copy of the form of proxy or
other communication which is specified in such request, with reasonable
promptness after a tender to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of
payment, or provision for the payment, of the reasonable expenses of mailing,
unless within five days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such
applicants and file with the Commission, together with a copy of the material
to be mailed, a written statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the
Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best interests of the Holders of
Securities of such series or of all Securities, as the case may be, or would be
in violation of applicable law.  Such written statement shall specify the basis
of such opinion.  If the Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the
objections specified in the written statement so filed, shall enter an order
refusing to sustain any of such objections or if, after the entry of an order
sustaining one or more of such objections, the Commission shall find, after
notice and opportunity for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have
been met, and shall enter an order so declaring, the Trustee shall mail copies
of such material to all such Securityholders with reasonable promptness after
the entry of such order and the renewal of such tender; otherwise the Trustee
shall be relieved of any obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their
application.

         (c)     Each and every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding
the same, agrees with the Issuer and the Trustee that neither the Issuer nor
the Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be held
accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names
and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with the provisions of
subsection (b) of this Section 4.2, regardless of the source from which such
information was derived, and that the Trustee shall not be held accountable by
reason of mailing any material pursuant to a request made under such subsection
(b).

         SECTION 4.3      Reports by the Issuer.  The Issuer covenants:

         (a)     to file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Issuer 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 rules and
regulations prescribe) which the Issuer may be required to file with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934, as amended; or, if the Issuer is not required to file information,
documents or reports pursuant to either of such Sections, then to 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 Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, in respect of a debt
security listed and registered on a national securities exchange as may be
prescribed from time to time in such rules and regulations;

         (b)     to 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
Issuer with the conditions and covenants provided for in this Indenture as may
be required from time to time by such rules and regulations;





                                       18

<PAGE>   25

         (c)     to transmit by mail to the Holders of Securities within 30
days after the filing thereof with the Trustee, in the manner and to the extent
provided in Section 4.4(c), such summaries of any information, documents and
reports required to be filed by the Issuer pursuant to subsections (a) and (b)
of this Section 4.3 as may be required to be transmitted to such Holders by
rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission; and

         (d)     furnish to the Trustee, not less than annually, a brief
certificate from the principal executive officer, principal financial officer
or principal accounting officer as to his knowledge of the Issuer's compliance
with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture.  For purposes of this
subsection (d), such compliance shall be determined without regard to any
period of grace or requirement of notice provided under this Indenture.

         SECTION 4.4      Reports by the Trustee.  (a) Within 60 days after
January 1 of each year commencing with the year 1994, the Trustee shall
transmit by mail to the Holders of Securities, as provided in subsection (c) of
this Section, a brief report dated as of such January 1 with respect to any of
the following events which may have occurred within the last 12 months (but if
no such event has occurred within such period, no report need be transmitted):

                 (i)      any change to its eligibility under Section 6.9 and
         its qualification under Section 6.8;

                 (ii)     the creation of, or any material change to, a
         relationship specified in paragraph (i) through (x) of Section 6.8
         (c);

                 (iii)    the character and amount of any advances (and if the
         Trustee elects so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making
         thereof) made by the Trustee (as such) which remain unpaid on the date
         of such report and for the reimbursement of which it claims or may
         claim a lien or charge, prior to that of the Securities of any series,
         on any property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee, except
         that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such
         advances if such advances so remaining unpaid aggregate not more than
         1/2 of 1% of the principal amount of all Securities Outstanding on the
         date of such report;

                 (iv)     the amount, interest rate, if any, and maturity date
         of all other indebtedness owing by the Issuer (or by any other obligor
         on the Securities) to the Trustee in its individual capacity on the
         date of such report, with a brief description of any property held as
         collateral security therefor, except any indebtedness based upon a
         creditor relationship arising in any manner described in Section
         6.13(b) (2), (3), (4) or (6);

                 (v)      any change to the property and funds, if any,
         physically in the possession of the Trustee (as such) on the date of
         such report;

                 (vi)     any additional issue of Securities which the Trustee
         has not previously reported; and

                 (vii)    any action taken by the Trustee in the performance of
         its duties under this Indenture which it has not previously reported
         and which in its opinion materially affects the Securities, except
         action in respect of a default, notice of which has been or is to be
         withheld by it in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.8.

         (b)     The Trustee shall transmit to the Securityholders of each
series, as provided in subsection (c) of this Section 4.4, a brief report with
respect to the character and amount of any advances (and if the Trustee elects
so to state, the circumstances surrounding the making thereof) made by the
Trustee, as such, since the date of the last report transmitted pursuant to the
provisions of subsection (a) of this Section 4.4 (or if no such report has yet
been so transmitted, since the date of this Indenture) for the reimbursement of
which it claims or may claim a lien or charge prior to that of the Securities
of such series on property or funds held or collected by it as Trustee and
which it has not previously reported pursuant to this subsection (b), except
that the Trustee shall not be required (but may elect) to report such advances
if such advances remaining unpaid at any time aggregate 10% or less of the
principal amount of all Securities Outstanding at such time, such report to be
transmitted within 90 days after such time.

         (c)     Reports pursuant to this Section shall be transmitted by mail:

                 (i)      to all Holders of Securities, as the names and
         addresses of such Holders appear upon the registry books of the
         Issuer; and





                                       19

<PAGE>   26

                 (ii)     to all other Persons to whom such reports are
         required to be transmitted pursuant to Section 313(c) of the Trust
         Indenture Act of 1939.

         (d)     A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such
transmission to Securityholders, be furnished to the Issuer and be filed by the
Trustee with each stock exchange upon which the Securities of any applicable
series are listed and also with the Commission.  The Issuer agrees to promptly
notify the Trustee with respect to any series when and as the Securities of
such series become admitted to trading on any national securities exchange.


                                  ARTICLE FIVE
                  REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITY HOLDERS
                              ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

         SECTION 5.1      Events of Default.  "Event of Default", wherever used
herein with respect to Securities of any series, means any one or more of the
following events (whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it
shall be occasioned by the provisions of Article Thirteen or otherwise), unless
it is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted
or modified in or pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture
establishing such series of Securities or in the form of Security, for such
series:

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

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

         (c)     default in the payment or satisfaction of any sinking fund or
other purchase obligation with respect to Securities of such series, as and
when such obligation shall become due and payable as in this Indenture
expressed; or

         (d)     failure on the part of the Issuer duly to observe or perform
any other of the covenants or agreements on the part of the Issuer in the
Securities of such series or in this Indenture continued for a period of 60
days after the date on which written notice of such failure, requiring the same
to be remedied, shall have been given to the Issuer by the Trustee by certified
or registered mail, or to the Issuer and the Trustee by the Holders of at least
25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then
Outstanding; or

         (e)     without the consent of the Issuer a court having jurisdiction
shall enter an order for relief with respect to the Issuer under the Bankruptcy
Code or without the consent of the Issuer a court having jurisdiction shall
enter a judgment, order or decree adjudging the Issuer a bankrupt or insolvent,
or enter an order for relief for reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition of or in respect of the Issuer under the Bankruptcy Code or
applicable state insolvency law and the continuance of any such judgment, order
or decree is unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

         (f)     the Issuer shall institute proceedings for entry of an order
for relief with respect to the Issuer under the Bankruptcy Code or for an
adjudication of insolvency, or shall consent to the institution of bankruptcy
or insolvency proceedings against it, or shall file a petition seeking, or seek
or consent to reorganization, arrangement, composition or relief under the
Bankruptcy Code or any applicable state law, or shall consent to the filing of
such petition or to the appointment of a receiver, custodian, liquidator,
assignee, trustee, sequestrator or similar official of the Issuer or of
substantially all of its property, or the Issuer shall make a general
assignment for the benefit of creditors as recognized under the Bankruptcy
Code; or

         (g)     any other Event of Default provided with respect to the
Securities of such series.

         If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series then
Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then and in each and every such case,
unless the principal of all of the Securities of such series shall have already
become due and payable, either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25%
in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then
Outstanding, by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by
Securityholders), may declare the principal (or, if the Securities of such
series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the





                                       20

<PAGE>   27

principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all the
Securities of such series and the interest, if any, accrued thereon to be due
and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration the same shall become
and shall be immediately due and payable, notwithstanding anything to the
contrary contained in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series.  This
provision, however, is subject to the condition that, if at any time after the
unpaid principal amount (or such specified amount) of the Securities of such
series shall have been so declared due and payable and before any judgment or
decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as
hereinafter provided, the Issuer shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a
sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest, if any, upon all of
the Securities of such series and the principal of any and all Securities of
such series which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with
interest on overdue installments of interest, if any, to the extent that
payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law and on such
principal at the rate borne by the Securities of such series to the date of
such payment or deposit) and the reasonable compensation, disbursements,
expenses and advances of the Trustee, and any and all defaults under this
Indenture, other than the nonpayment of such portion of the principal amount of
and accrued interest, if any, on Securities of such series which shall have
become due by acceleration, shall have been cured or shall have been waived in
accordance with Section 5.7 or provision deemed by the Trustee to be adequate
shall have been made therefor, then and in every such case the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then
Outstanding, by written notice to the Issuer and to the Trustee, may rescind
and annul such declaration and its consequences; but no such rescission and
annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default, or shall
impair any right consequent thereon.  If any Event of Default with respect to
the Issuer specified in Section 5.1(e) or 5.1(f) occurs, all unpaid principal
amount (or, if the Securities of any series then Outstanding are Original Issue
Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount as may be specified
in the terms of each such series) and accrued interest on all Securities of
each series then Outstanding shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and
payable without any declaration or other act by the Trustee or any
Securityholder.

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

         Except with respect to an Event of Default pursuant to Section 5.1
(a), (b) or (c), the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of any Event
of Default unless written notice thereof shall have been given to a Responsible
Officer by the Issuer, a paying agent or any Securityholder.

         SECTION 5.2      Payment of Securities on Default; Suit Therefor.  The
Issuer covenants that (a) if default shall be made in the payment of any
installment of interest upon any of the Securities of any series then
Outstanding as and when the same shall become due and payable, and such default
shall have continued for a period of 30 days, or (b) if default shall be made
in the payment of the principal of any of the Securities of such series as and
when the same shall have become due and payable, whether at maturity of the
Securities of such series or upon redemption or by declaration or otherwise,
then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Issuer will pay to the Trustee, for the
benefit of the Holders of the Securities, the whole amount that then shall have
become due and payable on all such Securities of such series for principal or
interest, if any, or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue
principal and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
applicable law) upon the overdue installments of interest, if any, at the rate
borne by the Securities of such series; and, in addition thereto, such further
amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection,
including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and
counsel, and any expenses or liabilities incurred by the Trustee hereunder
other than through its negligence or bad faith.

         If the Issuer shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon such
demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, shall
be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law or in
equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute any
such action or proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any such
judgment or final decree against the Issuer or any other obligor on the
Securities of such series and collect in the manner provided by law out of the
property of the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities of such series,
wherever situated, the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.

         If there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy or for the
reorganization of the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities of any
series then Outstanding under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law
now or hereafter in effect, or if a receiver or trustee or similar official
shall have been appointed for the property of the Issuer





                                       21

<PAGE>   28

or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings
relative to the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities of such series, or
to the creditors or property of the Issuer or such other obligor, the Trustee,
irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities of such series shall
then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and
irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the
provisions of this Section 5.2, shall be entitled and empowered by intervention
in such proceedings or otherwise to file and prove a claim or claims for the
whole amount of principal and interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of
the Securities of such series, and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to
file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or
advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and of the Securityholders
allowed in such judicial proceedings relative to the Issuer or any other
obligor on the Securities of such series, its or their creditors, or its or
their property, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable
or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the
deduction of its charges and expenses, and any receiver, assignee or trustee or
similar official in bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each
of the Securityholders to make such payments to the Trustee, and, if the
Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the
Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for compensation and
expenses, including counsel fees and expenses incurred by it up to the date of
such distribution.  To the extent that such payment of reasonable compensation,
expenses and counsel fees and expenses out of the estate in any such
proceedings shall be denied for any reason, payment of the same shall be
secured by a lien on, and shall be paid out of, any and all distributions,
dividends, moneys, securities and other property which the Holders of the
Securities of such series may be entitled to receive in such proceedings,
whether in liquidation or under any plan of reorganization or arrangement or
otherwise.

         All rights of action and of asserting claims under this Indenture, or
under any of the Securities, may be enforced by the Trustee without the
possession of any of the Securities, or the production thereof at any trial or
other proceeding relative thereto, and any such suit or proceeding instituted
by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust,
and any recovery of judgment shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of
the Securities of the series in respect of which such judgment has been
recovered.

         SECTION 5.3      Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee.  Any
moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to Section 5.2 with respect to
Securities of any series then Outstanding shall be applied in the order
following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution of
such moneys, upon presentation of the several Securities of such series, and
stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid, and upon surrender
thereof, if fully paid:

                 FIRST: To the payment of costs and expenses of collection and
         reasonable compensation to the Trustee, its agents, attorneys and
         counsel, and of all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all
         advances made, by the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.6 except as a
         result of its negligence or bad faith;

                 SECOND:  If the principal of the Outstanding Securities of
         such series shall not have become due and be unpaid, to the payment of
         interest, if any, on the Securities of such series, in the order of
         the maturity of the installments of such interest, if any, with
         interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by the
         Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest, if any, at the
         rate borne by the Securities of such series, such payment to be made
         ratably to the Persons entitled thereto;

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

                 FOURTH: To the payment of any surplus then remaining to the
         Issuer, its successors or assigns, or to whomsoever may be lawfully
         entitled to receive the same.

         No claim for interest which in any manner at or after maturity shall
have been transferred or pledged separate or apart from the Securities to which
it relates, or which in any manner shall have been kept alive after maturity by
an





                                       22

<PAGE>   29

extension (otherwise than pursuant to an extension made pursuant to a plan
proposed by the Issuer to the Holders of all Securities of any series then
Outstanding), purchase, funding or otherwise by or on behalf or with the
consent or approval of the Issuer shall be entitled, in case of a default
hereunder, to any benefit of this Indenture, except after prior payment in full
of the principal of all Securities of any series then Outstanding and of all
claims for interest not so transferred, pledged, kept alive, extended,
purchased or funded.

         SECTION 5.4      Proceedings by Securityholders.  No Holder of any
Securities of any series then Outstanding shall have any right by virtue of or
by availing of any provision of this Indenture to institute any suit, action or
proceeding in equity or at law upon or under or with respect to this Indenture
or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee or similar official, or for any
other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall have given to the
Trustee written notice of default and of the continuance thereof, as
hereinbefore provided, and unless the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding shall have
made written request to the Trustee to institute such action, suit or
proceeding in its own name as Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the
Trustee such reasonable indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses
and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the Trustee for 60 days
after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of indemnity, shall have
neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or proceeding, it being
understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the Holder of every
Security of such series with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee, that
no one or more Holders of Securities of such series shall have any right in any
manner whatever by virtue of or by availing of any provision of this Indenture
or of the Securities to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other
Holder of such Securities of such series, or to obtain or seek to obtain
priority over or preference as to any other such Holder, or to enforce any
right under this Indenture or the Securities, except in the manner herein
provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all Holders of
Securities of such series.

         Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture, but subject to
Article Thirteen, the right of any Holder of any Security to receive payment of
the principal of and interest, if any, on such Security, on or after the
respective due dates expressed in such Security, or to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates shall not be
impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

         SECTION 5.5      Proceedings by Trustee.  In case of an Event of
Default hereunder, the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and
enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial
proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any
of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by proceedings
in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of any
covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise of
any power granted in this Indenture, or to enforce any other legal or equitable
right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

         SECTION 5.6      Remedies Cumulative and Continuing.  All powers and
remedies given by this Article Five to the Trustee or to the Securityholders
shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not exclusive
of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or
the Securityholders, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the
performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this
Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Securityholder to
exercise any right or power accruing upon any default occurring and continuing
as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be construed to be
a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and, subject to the
provisions of Section 5.4, every power and remedy given by this Article Five or
by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised from time to
time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the
Securityholders.

         SECTION 5.7      Direction of Proceedings; Waiver of Defaults by
Majority of Securityholders.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Securities of any series then Outstanding shall have the right to
direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the
Trustee with respect to Securities of such series; provided, however, that
(subject to the provisions of Section 6.1) the Trustee shall have the right to
decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee shall determine upon advice
of counsel that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken
or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors, its executive
committee, or a trust committee of directors or Responsible Officers or both
shall determine that the action or proceeding so directed would involve the
Trustee in personal liability.  The Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of any series then Outstanding may on behalf
of the Holders of all of the Securities of such series waive any past default
or Event of Default hereunder and its consequences except a default in the
payment of interest, if any, on, or the principal of, the Securities of such
series.





                                       23

<PAGE>   30

Upon any such waiver the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of the Securities
of such series shall be restored to their former positions and rights
hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.
Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as
permitted by this Section 5.7, said default or Event of Default shall for all
purposes of the Securities and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and
to be not continuing.

         SECTION 5.8      Notice of Defaults.  The Trustee shall, within 90
days after the occurrence of a default, with respect to Securities of any
series then Outstanding, mail to all Holders of Securities of such series, as
the names and the addresses of such Holders appear upon the Securities
register, notice of all defaults known to the Trustee with respect to such
series, unless such defaults shall have been cured before the giving of such
notice (the term "defaults" for the purpose of this Section 5.8 being hereby
defined to be the events specified in clauses (a), (b), (c), (d), (e), (f) and
(g) of Section 5.1, not including periods of grace, if any, provided for
therein and irrespective of the giving of the written notice specified in said
clause (d) but in the case of any default of the character specified in said
clause (d) no such notice to Securityholders shall be given until at least 60
days after the giving of written notice thereof to the Issuer pursuant to said
clause (d), as the case may be); provided, however, that, except in the case of
default in the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any of the
Securities, or in the payment or satisfaction of any sinking fund or other
purchase obligation, the Trustee shall be protected in withholding such notice
if and so long as the board of directors, the executive committee, or a trust
committee of directors or Responsible Officers or both of the Trustee in good
faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the best interests
of the Securityholders.

         SECTION 5.9      Undertaking to Pay Costs.  All parties to this
Indenture agree, and each Holder of any Security by his acceptance thereof
shall be deemed to have agreed, that any court may in its discretion require,
in any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture, or
in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as
Trustee, the filing by any party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay
the cost of such suit, and that such court may in its discretion assess
reasonable costs, including reasonable attorney's fees and expenses, against
any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith
of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant; but the provisions of
this Section 5.9 shall not apply to any suit instituted by the Trustee, to any
suit instituted by any Securityholder, or group of Securityholders, holding in
the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities of any series
then Outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any Securityholders for the
enforcement of the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on any
Security against the Issuer on or after the due date expressed in such
Security.

                                  ARTICLE SIX
                             CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

         SECTION 6.1      Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee; During
Default; Prior to Default.  With respect to the Holders of any series of
Securities issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event
of Default with respect to the Securities of a particular series and after the
curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred with respect
to such series, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this Indenture.  In case an Event of Default with
respect to the Securities of a series has occurred (which has not been cured or
waived) the Trustee shall exercise with respect to such series of Securities
such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same
degree of care and skill in their exercise as a prudent man would exercise or
use under the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

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

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

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





                                       24

<PAGE>   31

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

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

         (c)     the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action
taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith in accordance with the
direction of the Holders pursuant to Section 5.7 relating to the time, method
and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee,
or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this
Indenture.

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

         SECTION 6.2      Certain Rights of the Trustee. Subject to Section 6.1:

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

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

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

         (d)     the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of
the trusts or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request, order or
direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture (including, without limitation, pursuant to Section 5.1), unless such
Securityholders shall have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred
therein or thereby;


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

         (f)     prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder and
after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default, 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, consent, order, approval, appraisal, bond, debenture, note, coupon,
security, or other paper or document unless requested in writing so to do by
the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of all series affected then Outstanding; provided that, if the
payment within a reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or
liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is,
in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by the
security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require
reasonable indemnity against such expenses or liabilities as a condition to
proceeding; the reasonable expenses of every such investigation shall be paid
by the Issuer or, if paid by the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee, shall be
repaid by the Issuer upon demand; and





                                       25

<PAGE>   32

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

         SECTION 6.3      Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Disposition of
Securities or Application of Proceeds Thereof. The recitals contained herein
and in the Securities, except the Trustee's certificates of authentication,
shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer, and the Trustee assumes no
responsibility for the correctness of the same.  The Trustee makes no
representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture, of the
Securities or of any prospectus used to sell the Securities.  The Trustee shall
not be accountable for the use or application by the Issuer of any of the
Securities or of the proceeds thereof.

         SECTION 6.4      Trustee and Agents May Hold Securities; Collections,
etc.  The Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee, in its individual
or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the
same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent and, subject
to Sections 6.8 and 6.13, may otherwise deal with the Issuer and receive,
collect, hold and retain collections from the Issuer with the same rights it
would have if it were not the Trustee or such agent.

         SECTION 6.5      Moneys Held by Trustee.  Subject to the provisions of
Section 10.4 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee shall, until used or
applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for which they
were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent
required by mandatory provisions of law.  Neither the Trustee nor any agent of
the Issuer or the Trustee shall be under any liability for interest on any
moneys received by it hereunder.

         SECTION 6.6      Compensation and Indemnification of Trustee and Its
Prior Claim.  The Issuer covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from time
to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as shall be
agreed to in writing between the Issuer and the Trustee (which shall not be
limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of
an express trust) and the Issuer covenants and agrees to pay or reimburse the
Trustee and each predecessor Trustee upon its request for all reasonable
expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by or on behalf of it in
accordance with any of the provisions of this Indenture (including the
reasonable compensation and the expenses and disbursements of its counsel and
of all agents and other persons not regularly in its employ) except any such
expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its negligence or bad faith.
The Issuer also covenants to indemnify the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee
for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, liability, damage,
claim or expense, including taxes (other than taxes based on the income of the
Trustee), incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of
or in connection with the acceptance or administration of this Indenture or the
trusts hereunder and its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of
defending itself against or investigating any claim or liability in the
premises.  The obligations of the Issuer under this Section 6.6 to compensate
and indemnify the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee and to pay or reimburse
the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee for expenses, disbursements and
advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall survive
the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture or the resignation or removal
of the Trustee and shall not be subordinate to the payment of Senior
Indebtedness pursuant to Article Thirteen.  Such additional indebtedness shall
be a senior claim 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, and the Securities are hereby
subordinated to such senior claim.  When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders
services in connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.1 or in
connection with Article Five hereof, the expenses (including the reasonable
fees and expenses of its counsel) and the compensation for the service in
connection therewith are intended to constitute expenses of administration
under any bankruptcy law.

         SECTION 6.7      Right of Trustee to Rely on Officers' Certificate,
etc.  Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, whenever in the administration of the
trusts of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it necessary or desirable that
a matter be proved or established prior to taking or suffering or omitting any
action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect thereof be
herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith
on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and established
by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in
the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be
full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.





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<PAGE>   33

         SECTION 6.8      Qualification of Trustee; Conflicting Interests.  (a)
If the Trustee has or shall acquire any conflicting interest (as defined in
subsection (c)), then within 90 days after ascertaining that it has such
conflicting interest, and if the default (as defined in subsection (c)) to
which such conflicting interest relates has not been cured or duly waived or
otherwise eliminated before the end of such 90-day period, the Trustee shall
either eliminate such conflicting interest or, except as otherwise provided
below, resign, and the Issuer shall take prompt steps to have a successor
appointed in the manner provided in Section 6.10.

         (b)     If the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of
subsection (a), the Trustee shall, within 10 days after the expiration of such
90-day period, transmit notice of such failure to the Securityholders in the
manner and to the extent provided in Section 4.4 and, subject to the provisions
of Section 5.9, unless the Trustee's duty to resign is stayed as provided
below, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of Securities 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,
and the appointment of a successor, if the Trustee fails, after written request
thereof by such Securityholder, to comply with the provisions of subsection
(a).

         Except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal of or
interest on any Security, or in the payment of any sinking or purchase fund
installment, the Trustee shall not be required to resign as provided by this
Section 6.8 if the Trustee shall have sustained the burden of proving, on
application to the Commission and after opportunity for hearing thereon, that

                 (i)      the default under the Indenture may be cured or
         waived during a reasonable period and under the procedures described
         in such application, and

                 (ii)     a stay of the Trustee's duty to resign will not be
         inconsistent with the interests of Holders of the Securities.

         The filing of such an application shall automatically stay the
performance of the duty to resign until the Commission orders otherwise.  Any
resignation of the Trustee shall become effective only upon the appointment of
a successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of Section 6.10 and such
successor's acceptance of such an appointment.

         (c)     For the purposes of this Section 6.8, the Trustee shall be
deemed to have a conflicting interest with respect to Securities of any series
if the Securities of such series are in default (as determined in accordance
with the provisions of Section 5.1, but exclusive of any period of grace or
requirement of notice) and

                 (i)      the Trustee is trustee under this Indenture with
         respect to the Outstanding securities of any other series or is a
         trustee under another indenture under which any other securities, or
         certificates of interest or participation in any other securities, of
         the Issuer are outstanding, unless such other indenture is a
         collateral trust indenture under which the only collateral consists of
         Securities issued under this Indenture; provided that there shall be
         excluded from the operation of this paragraph (i), this Indenture with
         respect to the Securities of any other series and there shall also be
         so excluded any other indenture or indentures under which other
         securities, or certificates of interest or participation in other
         securities, of the Issuer are outstanding if (x) this Indenture is
         and, if applicable, this Indenture and any series issued pursuant to
         this Indenture and such other indenture or indentures are wholly
         unsecured and rank equally and such other indenture or indentures are
         hereafter qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, unless the
         Commission shall have found and declared by order pursuant to Section
         305(b) or Section 307(c) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 that
         differences exist between the provisions of this Indenture with
         respect to Securities of such series and one or more other series, or
         the provisions of this Indenture and the provisions of such other
         indenture or indentures which are so likely to involve a material
         conflict of interest as to make it necessary in the public interest or
         for the protection of investors to disqualify the Trustee





                                       27

<PAGE>   34

         from acting as such under this Indenture with respect to Securities of
         such series and such other series, or under this Indenture or such
         other indenture or indentures, or (y) the Issuer shall have sustained
         the burden of proving, on application to the Commission and after
         opportunity for hearing thereon, that trusteeship under this Indenture
         with respect to Securities of such series and such other series, or
         under this Indenture and such other indenture or indentures is not so
         likely to involve a material conflict of interest as to make it
         necessary in the public interest or for the protection of investors to
         disqualify the Trustee from acting as such under this Indenture with
         respect to Securities of such series and such other series, or under
         this Indenture and such other indentures;

                 (ii)     the Trustee or any of its directors or executive
         officers is an underwriter for the Issuer;

                 (iii)    the Trustee directly or indirectly controls or is
         directly or indirectly controlled by or is under direct or indirect
         common control with an underwriter for the Issuer;

                 (iv)     the Trustee or any of its directors or executive
         officers is a director, officer, partner, employee, appointee, or
         representative of the Issuer, or of an underwriter (other than the
         Trustee itself) for the Issuer who is currently engaged in the
         business of underwriting, except that (x) one individual may be a
         director or an executive officer, or both, of the Trustee and a
         director or an executive officer, or both, of the Issuer, but may not
         be at the same time an executive officer of both the Trustee and the
         Issuer; (y) if and so long as the number of directors of the Trustee
         in office is more than nine, one additional individual may be a
         director or an executive officer, or both, of the Trustee and a
         director of the Issuer; and (z) the Trustee may be designated by the
         Issuer or by any underwriter for the Issuer to act in the capacity of
         transfer agent, registrar, custodian, paying agent, fiscal agent,
         escrow agent, or depositary, or in any other similar capacity, or,
         subject to the provisions of subsection (c) (i) of this Section, to
         act as trustee, whether under an indenture or otherwise;

                 (v)      10% or more of the voting securities of the Trustee
         is beneficially owned either by the Issuer or by any director, partner
         or executive officer thereof, or 20% or more of such voting securities
         is beneficially owned, collectively, by any two or more of such
         persons; or 10% or more of the voting securities of the Trustee is
         beneficially owned either by an underwriter for the Issuer or by any
         director, partner, or executive officer thereof, or is beneficially
         owned, collectively, by any two or more such persons;

                 (vi)     the Trustee is the beneficial owner of, or holds as
         collateral security for an obligation which is in default, (x) 5% or
         more of the voting securities or 10% or more of any other class of
         security of the Issuer, not including the Securities issued under this
         Indenture and securities issued under any other indenture under which
         the Trustee is also trustee, or (y) 10% or more of any class of
         security of an underwriter for the Issuer;

                 (vii)    the Trustee is the beneficial owner of, or holds as
         collateral security for an obligation which is in default, 5% or more
         of the voting securities of any person who, to the knowledge of the
         Trustee, owns 10% or more of the voting securities of, or controls
         directly or indirectly or is under direct or indirect common control
         with, the Issuer;

                 (viii)   the Trustee is the beneficial owner of, or holds as
         collateral security for an obligation which is in default, 10% or more
         of any class security of any person who, to the knowledge of the
         Trustee, owns 50% or more of the voting securities of the Issuer;

                 (ix)     the Trustee owns on the date of default (as
         determined in accordance with the provisions of Section 5.1, but
         exclusive of any period of grace or requirement of notice) or on any
         anniversary of such default while such default remains outstanding, in
         the capacity of executor, administrator, testamentary or inter vivos
         trustee, guardian, committee or conservator, or in any other similar
         capacity, an aggregate of 25% or more of the voting securities, or of
         any class of security, of any Person, the beneficial ownership of a
         specified percentage of which would have constituted a conflicting
         interest under paragraphs (vi), (vii) or (viii) of this subsection.
         As to any such securities of which the Trustee acquired ownership
         through becoming executor, administrator, or testamentary trustee of
         an estate which included them, the provisions of the preceding
         sentence shall not apply, for a period of two years from the date of
         such acquisition, to the extent that such securities included in such
         estate do not exceed 25% of such voting securities or 25% of any such
         class of security.  Promptly after the dates of any such default and
         annually in each succeeding year that the Securities remain in
         default, the Trustee shall make a check of its holdings of such
         securities in any of the above-mentioned capacities as of such dates.
         If the Issuer fails to make payment in full of principal of or
         interest on any of the Securities when and as the same becomes due and
         payable, and such failure continues for 30 days thereafter, the
         Trustee shall make a prompt check of its holdings of such Securities
         in any of the above-mentioned capacities as of the date of the
         expiration of such 30-day period, and after such date, notwithstanding
         the foregoing provisions of this paragraph, all such Securities so
         held by the Trustee, with sole or joint control over





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<PAGE>   35

         such Securities vested in it, shall, but only so long as such failure
         shall continue, be considered as though beneficially owned by the
         Trustee for the purposes of paragraphs (vi), (vii) and (viii) of this
         subsection; or

                 (x)      except under the circumstances described in
         paragraphs (1), (3), (4), (5) or (6) of Section 6.13(b), the Trustee
         shall be or shall become a creditor of the Issuer.

         For purposes of subsection (c) (i), the term "series of securities" or
"series" means a series, class or group of securities issuable under an
indenture pursuant to the terms of which holders of one such series may vote to
direct the Trustee, or otherwise take action pursuant to a vote of such
holders, separately from holders of another such series; provided that "series
of securities" or "series" shall not include any series of securities issuable
under an indenture if all such series rank equally and are wholly unsecured.

         The specification of percentages in subsections (c) (v) to (ix)
inclusive of this Section 6.8 shall not be construed as indicating that the
ownership of such percentages of the securities of a person is or is not
necessary or sufficient to constitute direct or indirect control for the
purposes of subsections (c) (iii) or (vii) of this Section.

         For the purposes of subsections (c) (vi), (vii), (viii) and (ix), of
this Section 6.8, only,

                 (A)      the terms "security" and "securities" shall include
         only such securities as are generally known as corporate securities,
         but shall not include any note or other evidence of indebtedness
         issued to evidence an obligation to repay moneys lent to a person by
         one or more banks, trust companies, or banking firms, or any
         certificate of interest or participation in any such note or evidence
         of indebtedness;

                 (B)      an obligation shall be deemed to be in default when a
         default in payment of principal shall have continued for 30 days or
         more and shall not have been cured; and

                 (C)      the Trustee shall not be deemed to be the owner or
         holder of (x) any security which it holds as collateral security, as
         trustee or otherwise, for an obligation which is not in default as
         defined in clause (B)above, or (y) any security which it holds as
         collateral security under this Indenture, irrespective of any default
         hereunder, or (z) any security which it holds as agent for collection,
         or as custodian, escrow agent, or depositary, or in any similar
         representative capacity.

         Except as provided above, the word "security" or "securities" as used
in this Section 6.8 shall mean any note, stock, treasury stock, bond,
debenture, evidence of indebtedness, certificate of interest or participation
in any profit-sharing agreement, collateral trust certificate, preorganization
certificate or subscription, transferable share, investment contract, voting
trust certificate, certificate of deposit for a security, fractional undivided
interest in oil, gas or other mineral rights, or, in general, any interest or
instrument commonly known as a "security", or any certificate of interest or
participation in, temporary or interim certificate for, receipt for, guarantee
of, or warrant or right to subscribe to or purchase, any of the foregoing.

         (d)     For purposes of this Section 6.8:

                 (i)      the term "underwriter" when used with reference to
         the Issuer shall mean every person who, within a one year period prior
         to the time as of which the determination is made, was an underwriter
         of any security of the Issuer outstanding at the time of the
         determination;

                 (ii)     the term "director" shall mean any director of a
         corporation or any individual performing similar functions with
         respect to any organization whether incorporated or unincorporated;

                 (iii)    the term "person" shall mean an individual, a
         corporation, a partnership, an association, a joint-stock company, a
         trust, an unincorporated organization, or a government or political
         subdivision thereof; as used in this paragraph, the term "trust" shall
         include only a trust where the interest or interests of the
         beneficiary or beneficiaries are evidenced by a security;

                 (iv)     the term "voting security" shall mean any security
         presently entitling the owner or holder thereof to vote in the
         direction or management of the affairs of a person, or any security
         issued under or





                                       29

<PAGE>   36

         pursuant to any trust, agreement or arrangement whereby a trustee or
         trustees or agent or agents for the owner or holder of such security
         are presently entitled to vote in the direction or management of the
         affairs of a person;

                 (v)      the term "Issuer" shall mean any obligor upon the
         Securities; and

                 (vi)     the term "executive officer" shall mean the
         president, every vice president, every trust officer, the cashier, the
         secretary, and the treasurer of a corporation, and any individual
         customarily performing similar functions with respect to any
         organization whether incorporated or unincorporated, but shall not
         include the chairman of the board of directors.

         (e)     The percentages of voting securities and other securities
specified in this Section 6.8 shall be calculated in accordance with the
following provisions:

                 (i)      a specified percentage of the voting securities of
         the Trustee, the Issuer or any other person referred to in this
         Section (each of whom is referred to as a "person" in this paragraph)
         means such amount of the outstanding voting securities of such person
         as entitles the holder or holders thereof to cast such specified
         percentage of the aggregate votes which the holders of all the
         outstanding voting securities of such person are entitled to cast in
         the direction or management of the affairs of such person;

                 (ii)     a specified percentage of a class of securities of a
         person means such percentage of the aggregate amount of securities of
         the class outstanding;

                 (iii)    the term "amount", when used in regard to securities,
         means the principal amount if relating to evidences of indebtedness,
         the number of shares if relating to capital shares, and the number of
         units if relating to any other kind of security;

                 (iv)     the term "outstanding" means issued and not held by
         or for the account of the issuer; the following securities shall not
         be deemed outstanding within the meaning of this definition:

                          (A)     securities of an issuer held in a sinking
                 fund relating to securities of the issuer of the same class;

                          (B)     securities of an issuer held in a sinking
                 fund relating to another class of securities of the issuer, if
                 the obligation evidenced by such other class of securities is
                 not in default as to principal or interest or otherwise;

                          (C)     securities pledged by the issuer thereof as
                 security for an obligation of the issuer not in default as to
                 principal or interest or otherwise; and

                          (D)     securities held in escrow if placed in escrow
                 by the issuer thereof;

                 provided, that any voting securities of an issuer shall be
                 deemed outstanding if any person other than the issuer is
                 entitled to exercise the voting rights thereof; and

                 (v)      a security shall be deemed to be of the same class as
         another security if both securities confer upon the holder or holders
         thereof substantially the same rights and privileges; provided, that,
         in the case of secured evidences of indebtedness, all of which are
         issued under a single indenture, differences in the interest rates or
         maturity dates of various series thereof shall not be deemed
         sufficient to constitute such series different classes and provided,
         further, that, in the case of unsecured evidences of indebtedness,
         differences in the interest rates or maturity dates thereof shall not
         be deemed sufficient to constitute them securities of different
         classes, whether or not they are issued under a single indenture.

         SECTION 6.9      Persons Eligible for Appointment as Trustee.  The
Trustee for each series of Securities hereunder shall at all times be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of
America or of any state or the District of Columbia having a combined capital
and surplus of at least $50,000,000, and which is authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust powers and is subject to supervision or examination by
federal,





                                       30

<PAGE>   37

state or District of Columbia authority, or a corporation or other Person
permitted to act as trustee by the Commission.  If such corporation publishes
reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements
of the aforesaid supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of
this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be
deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent
report of condition so published.  No obligor upon the Securities or any
Affiliate of such obligor shall serve as trustee upon the Securities.  In case
at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 6.9, the Trustee shall resign immediately in the
manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.10.

         SECTION 6.10     Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor
Trustee.  (a) The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may
at any time resign with respect to one or more or all series of Securities by
giving written notice of resignation to the Issuer.  Upon receiving such notice
of resignation, the Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or
trustees with respect to the applicable series by written instrument in
duplicate, executed by authority of the Board of Directors, one copy of which
instrument shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the
successor trustee or trustees.  If no successor trustee shall have been so
appointed with respect to any series and have accepted appointment within 30
days after the mailing of such notice of resignation, the resigning trustee may
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
trustee, or any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or
Securities of the applicable series for at least six months may, subject to the
provisions of Section 5.9, on behalf of himself and all others similarly
situated, petition any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee.
Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and
prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

         (b)     In case at any time any of the following shall occur:

                 (i)      the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions
         of Section 6.8 with respect to any series of Securities after written
         request therefor by the Issuer or by any Securityholder who has been a
         bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of such series for at
         least six months; or

                 (ii)     the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance
         with the provisions of Section 6.9 and shall fail to resign after
         written request therefor by the Issuer or by any such Securityholder;
         or

                 (iii)    the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with
         respect to any series of Securities, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt
         or insolvent, or a receiver or liquidator 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, the Issuer may remove the Trustee with respect to the
applicable series of Securities and appoint a successor trustee for such series
by written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of
Directors one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so
removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the provisions of
Section 5.9, any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security
or Securities 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 removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee with
respect to such series.  Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any,
as it may deem proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor
trustee.

         (c)     The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of each series then Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee
with respect to Securities of such series and appoint a successor trustee with
respect to the Securities of such series by delivering to the Trustee so
removed, to the successor trustee so appointed and to the Issuer the evidence
provided for in Section 7.1 of the action in that regard taken by the
Securityholders.  If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed with
respect to any series and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the
delivery of such evidence of removal, the Trustee may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any
Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of
the applicable series for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of
Section 5.9, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition
any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee.  Such court may
thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe,
appoint a successor trustee.





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<PAGE>   38

         (d)     Any resignation or removal of the Trustee with respect to any
series and any appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series
pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 6.10 shall become effective
upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section
6.11.

         SECTION 6.11     Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee.  Any
successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.10 shall execute and
deliver to the Issuer and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting
such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the
predecessor trustee with respect to all or any applicable series shall become
effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or
conveyance, shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and obligations
with respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as
if originally named as trustee for such series hereunder; but, nevertheless, on
the written request of the Issuer or of the successor trustee, upon payment of
its charges then unpaid, the trustee ceasing to act shall, subject to Section
10.4, pay over to the successor trustee all moneys at the time held by it
hereunder and shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor trustee all such rights, powers, duties and obligations.  Upon
request of any such successor trustee, the Issuer shall execute any and all
instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor trustee all such rights and powers.  Any trustee ceasing to
act shall, nevertheless, retain a prior claim upon all property or funds held
or collected by such trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the
provisions of Section 6.6.

         If a successor trustee is appointed with respect to the Securities of
one or more (but not all) series, the Issuer, the predecessor Trustee and each
successor trustee with respect to the Securities of any applicable series shall
execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto which shall contain such
provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm that all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the predecessor Trustee with respect to
the Securities of any series as to which the predecessor Trustee is not
retiring shall continue to be vested in the predecessor Trustee, and shall add
to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be necessary to
provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts hereunder by more
than one trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or in such
supplemental indenture shall constitute such trustees co-trustees of the same
trust and that each such trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts under
separate indentures.

         No successor trustee with respect to any series of Securities shall
accept appointment as provided in this Section 6.11 unless at the time of such
acceptance such successor trustee shall be qualified under the provisions of
Section 6.8 and eligible under the provisions of Section 6.9.

         Upon acceptance of appointment by any successor trustee as provided in
this Section 6.11, the Issuer shall give notice thereof to the Holders of
Securities of each series affected, by mailing such notice to such Holders at
their addresses as they shall appear on the registry books.  If the Issuer
fails to give such notice within ten days after acceptance of appointment by
the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such notice to be
given at the expense of the Issuer.

         SECTION 6.12     Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to
Business of Trustee.  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 the corporate trust business of the
Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder, provided that such
corporation shall be qualified under the provisions of Section 6.8 and eligible
under the provisions of Section 6.9, without the execution or filing of any
paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything
herein to the contrary notwithstanding.

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





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<PAGE>   39

         SECTION 6.13     Preferential Collection of Claims Against the Issuer.
(a) Subject to the provisions of this Section, if the Trustee shall be or shall
become a creditor, directly or indirectly, secured or unsecured, of the Issuer
within three months prior to a default, as defined in subsection (c) of this
Section 6.13, or subsequent to such a default, then, unless and until such
default shall be cured, the Trustee shall set apart and hold in a special
account for the benefit of the Trustee individually, the Holders of the
Securities and the holders of other indenture securities (as defined in this
Section 6.13):

                 (1)      an amount equal to any and all reductions in the
         amount due and owing upon any claim as such creditor in respect of
         principal or interest, effected after the beginning of such three
         month period and valid as against the Issuer and its other creditors,
         except any such reduction resulting from the receipt or disposition of
         any property described in subsection (a) (2) of this section, or from
         the exercise of any right of set-off which the Trustee could have
         exercised if a petition in bankruptcy had been filed by or against the
         Issuer upon the date of such default; and

                 (2)      all property received by the Trustee in respect of
         any claim as such creditor, either as security therefor, or in
         satisfaction or composition thereof, or otherwise, after the beginning
         of such three month period, or an amount equal to the proceeds of any
         such property, if disposed of, subject, however, to the rights, if
         any, of the Issuer and its other creditors in such property or such
         proceeds.

         Nothing herein contained, however, shall affect the right of the
         Trustee:

                 (A)      to retain for its own account (i) payments made on
         account of any such claim by any Person (other than the Issuer) who is
         liable thereon, (ii) the proceeds of the bona fide sale of any such
         claim by the Trustee to a third Person, and (iii) distributions made
         in cash, securities or other property in respect of claims filed
         against the Issuer in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for
         reorganization pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code or applicable state
         law;

                 (B)      to realize, for its own account, upon any property
         held by it as security for any such claim, if such property was so
         held prior to the beginning of such three month period;

                 (C)      to realize, for its own account, but only to the
         extent of the claim hereinafter mentioned, upon any property held by
         it as security for any such claim, if such claim was created after the
         beginning of such three month period and such property was received as
         security therefor simultaneously with the creation thereof, and if the
         Trustee shall sustain the burden of proving that at the time such
         property was so received the Trustee had no reasonable cause to
         believe that a default as defined in subsection (c) of this Section
         would occur within three months; or

                 (D)      to receive payment on any claim referred to in
         paragraph (B) or (C), against the release of any property held as
         security for such claim as provided in such paragraph (B) or (C), as
         the case may be, to the extent of the fair value of such property.

         For the purposes of paragraphs (B), (C) and (D), property substituted
after the beginning of such three month period for property held as security at
the time of such substitution shall, to the extent of the fair value of the
property released, have the same status as the property released, and, to the
extent that any claim referred to in any of such paragraphs is created in
renewal of or in substitution for or for the purpose of repaying or refunding
any preexisting claim of the Trustee as such creditor, such claim shall have
the same status as such pre-existing claim.

         If the Trustee shall be required to account, the funds and property
held in such special account and the proceeds thereof shall be apportioned
between the Trustee, the Securityholders and the holders of other indenture
securities in such manner that the Trustee, such Securityholders and the
holders of other indenture securities realize, as a result of payments from
such special account and payments of dividends on claims filed against the
Issuer in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for reorganization
pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code or applicable state law, the same percentage of
their respective claims, figured before crediting to the claim of the Trustee
anything on account of the receipt by it from the Issuer of the funds and
property in such special account, and before crediting to the respective claims
of the Trustee, such Securityholders and the holders of other indenture
securities, dividends on claims filed against the Issuer in bankruptcy or
receivership or in proceedings for reorganization pursuant to the Bankruptcy
Code or applicable state law, but after





                                       33

<PAGE>   40

crediting thereon receipts on account of the indebtedness represented by their
respective claims from all sources other than from such dividends and from the
funds and property so held in such special account.  As used in this paragraph,
with respect to any claim, the term "dividends" shall include any distribution
with respect to such claim, in bankruptcy or receivership or in proceedings for
reorganization pursuant to the Bankruptcy Code or applicable state law, whether
such distribution is made in cash, securities or other property, but shall not
include any such distribution with respect to the secured portion, if any, of
such claim.  The court in which such bankruptcy, receivership or proceeding for
reorganization is pending shall have jurisdiction (i) to apportion between the
Trustee, such Securityholders and the holders of other indenture securities, in
accordance with the provisions of this paragraph, the funds and property held
in such special account and the proceeds thereof, or (ii) in lieu of such
apportionment, in whole or in part, to give to the provisions of this paragraph
due consideration in determining the fairness of the distributions to be made
to the Trustee, such Securityholders and the holders of other indenture
securities with respect to their respective claims, in which event it shall not
be necessary to liquidate or to appraise the value of any securities or other
property held in such special account or as security for any such claim, or to
make a specific allocation of such distributions as between the secured and
unsecured portions of such claims, or otherwise to apply the provisions of this
paragraph as a mathematical formula.

         Any Trustee who has resigned or been removed after the beginning of
such three month period shall be subject to the provisions of this subsection
(a) as though such resignation or removal had not occurred.  If any Trustee has
resigned or been removed prior to the beginning of such three month period, it
shall be subject to the provisions of this subsection (a) if and only if the
following conditions exist:

                 (i)      the receipt of property or reduction of claim which
         would have given rise to the obligation to account, if such Trustee
         had continued as trustee, occurred after the beginning of such three
         month period; and

                 (ii)     such receipt of property or reduction of claim
         occurred within three months after such resignation or removal.

         (b)     There shall be excluded from the operation of this Section
6.13 a creditor relationship arising from:

                 (1)      the ownership or acquisition of securities issued
         under any indenture or any security or securities having a maturity of
         one year or more at the time of acquisition by the Trustee;

                 (2)      advances authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy
         court of competent jurisdiction or by this Indenture for the purpose
         of preserving any property which shall at any time be subject to the
         lien of this Indenture or of discharging tax liens or other prior
         liens or encumbrances thereon, if notice of such advance and of the
         circumstances surrounding the making thereof is given to the
         Securityholders at the time and in the manner provided in this
         Indenture;

                 (3)      disbursements made in the ordinary course of business
         in the capacity of trustee under an indenture, transfer agent,
         registrar, custodian, paying agent, fiscal agent or depositary, or
         other similar capacity;

                 (4)      an indebtedness created as a result of services
         rendered or premises rented or an indebtedness created as a result of
         goods or securities sold in a cash transaction as defined in
         subsection (c)(2) of this Section;

                 (5)      the ownership of stock or of other securities of a
         corporation organized under the provisions of Section 25(a) of the
         Federal Reserve Act, as amended, which is directly or indirectly a
         creditor of the Issuer; or

                 (6)      the acquisition, ownership, acceptance or negotiation
         of any drafts, bills of exchange, acceptances or obligations which
         fall within the classification of self-liquidating paper as defined in
         subsection (c) (3) of this Section.

         (c)     As used in this Section 6.13:

                 (1)      the term "default" shall mean any failure to make
         payment in full of the principal of or interest on any of the
         Securities when and as such principal or interest becomes due and
         payable;





                                       34

<PAGE>   41

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

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

                 (4)      the term "Issuer" shall mean any obligor upon the
                          Securities.

         SECTION 6.14     Appointment of Authenticating Agent.  As long as any
Securities of a series remain Outstanding, the Trustee may, by an instrument in
writing, appoint with the approval of the Issuer an authenticating agent (the
"Authenticating Agent") which shall be authorized to act on behalf of the
Trustee to authenticate Securities, including Securities issued upon exchange,
registration of transfer, partial redemption or pursuant to Section 2.9.
Securities of each such series authenticated by such Authenticating Agent shall
be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory
for all purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee.  Whenever reference is
made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities of any
series by the Trustee or to 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 for such series and a Certificate of
Authentication executed on behalf of the Trustee by such Authenticating Agent.
Such Authenticating Agent shall at all times be a corporation organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States of America or of any state
or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate
trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000
(determined as provided in Section 6.9 with respect to the Trustee) and subject
to supervision or examination by federal or state authority.

         Any corporation into which any 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 any Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency
business of any Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be the Authenticating
Agent with respect to all series of Securities for which it served as
Authenticating Agent without the execution or filing of any paper or any
further act on the part of the Trustee or such Authenticating Agent.  Any
Authenticating Agent may at any time, and if it shall cease to be eligible
shall, resign by giving written notice of resignation to the Trustee and to the
Issuer.  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
Issuer.

         Upon receiving such a notice of resignation or upon such a
termination, or in case at any time any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be
eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.14 with respect to
one or more series of Securities, the Trustee may appoint a successor
Authenticating Agent which shall be acceptable to the Issuer and the Issuer
shall provide notice of such appointment to all Holders of Securities of such
series in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 11.4.  Any successor
Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become
vested with all rights, powers, duties and responsibilities of its predecessor
hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent.
The Issuer agrees to pay to the Authenticating Agent for such series from time
to time reasonable compensation.  The Authenticating Agent for the Securities
of any series shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by
it as such at the direction of the Trustee.

         Sections 6.2, 6.3, 6.4 and 7.3 shall be applicable to any
Authenticating Agent.





                                       35

<PAGE>   42


                                 ARTICLE SEVEN
                         CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

         SECTION 7.1      Evidence of Action Taken by Securityholders.  Any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a specified
percentage in principal amount of the Securityholders of any or all series may
be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially
similar tenor signed by such specified percentage of Securityholders 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 to the Trustee.  Proof of execution of any instrument
or of a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose
of this Indenture and (subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2) conclusive in favor of
the Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Article
Seven.

         SECTION 7.2      Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of
Securities.  Subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, the execution of any instrument
by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy may be proved in the following
manner:

         (a)     The fact and date of the execution by any Holder of any
instrument may be proved by the certificate of any notary public or other
officer of any jurisdiction authorized to take acknowledgments of deeds or
administer oaths that the person executing such instruments acknowledged to him
the execution thereof, or by an affidavit of a witness to such execution sworn
to before any such notary or other such officer.  Where such execution is by or
on behalf of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or
affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of the authority of the person
executing the same.

         (b)     The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security
register or by a certificate of the Security registrar.

         SECTION 7.3      Holders to be Treated as Owners.  The Issuer, the
Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may deem and treat the
Person in whose name any Security shall be registered upon the Security
register for such series as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not
such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or
other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of
the principal of and, subject to the provisions of this Indenture, interest, if
any, on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Issuer nor
the Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be affected by any
notice to the contrary.

         SECTION 7.4      Securities Owned by Issuer Deemed Not Outstanding.
In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount
of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have concurred in any direction,
consent or waiver under this Indenture, Securities which are owned by the
Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such
determination is being made or by any Affiliate of the Issuer or any other
obligor on the Securities with respect to which such determination is being
made shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the purpose of
any such determination, except that for the purpose of determining whether the
Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, consent or waiver
only securities which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.
Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as
Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the
pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee
is not the Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of
the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities.  In case of a dispute as to
such right, the advice of counsel shall be full protection in respect of any
decision made by the Trustee in accordance with such advice.  Upon request of
the Trustee, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee promptly an Officers'
Certificate listing and identifying all Securities, if any, known by the Issuer
to be owned or held by or for the account of any of the above-described
Persons; and, subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, the Trustee shall be entitled to
accept such Officers' Certificate as conclusive evidence of the facts therein
set forth and of the fact that all Securities not listed therein are
Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination.

         SECTION 7.5      Right of Revocation of Action Taken.  At any time
prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section
7.1, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be,
specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a
Security the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included
among the serial numbers of the Securities the Holders of which have consented
to such action may, by filing written notice at the Corporate Trust Office and
upon proof of holding as provided in this Article Seven, revoke such action so
far as concerns such Security provided that such revocation shall not become
effective until three business days after such filing.  Except





                                       36

<PAGE>   43

as aforesaid any such action taken by the Holder of any Security shall be
conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners
of such Security and of any Securities issued in exchange or substitution
therefor or on registration of transfer thereof, irrespective of whether or not
any notation in regard thereto is made upon any such Security.  Any action
taken by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of any or all series, as the case may be, specified in this
Indenture in connection with such action shall be conclusively binding upon the
Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of all the Securities affected by such
action.

         SECTION 7.6      Record Date for Consents and Waivers.  The Issuer
may, but shall not be obligated to, direct the Trustee to establish a record
date for the purpose of determining the Persons entitled to (i) waive any past
default with respect to the Securities of such series in accordance with
Section 5.7 of the Indenture, (ii) consent to any supplemental indenture in
accordance with Section 8.2 of the Indenture or (iii) waive compliance with any
term, condition or provision of any covenant hereunder.  If a record date is
fixed, the Holders on such record date, or their duly designated proxies, and
any such Persons, shall be entitled to waive any such past default, consent to
any such supplemental indenture or waive compliance with any such term,
condition or provision, whether or not such Holder remains a Holder after such
record date; provided, however, that unless such waiver or consent is obtained
from the Holders, or duly designated proxies, of the requisite principal amount
of Outstanding Securities of such series prior to the date which is the 180th
day after such record date, any such waiver or consent previously given shall
automatically and without further action by any Holder be canceled and of no
further effect.


                                 ARTICLE EIGHT
                            SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

         SECTION 8.1      Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of
Securityholders.  The Issuer, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of
Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such
action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined
in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order), and the Trustee may from
time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental
hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of
1939 as in force at the date of the execution thereof) for one or more of the
following purposes:

         (a)     to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the Trustee
as security for the Securities of one or more series any property or assets;

         (b)     to evidence the succession of another corporation to the
Issuer, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor
corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Issuer pursuant
to Article Nine;

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

         (d)     to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any
provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be
defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any
supplemental indenture, or to make any other provisions as the Issuer may deem
necessary or desirable, provided, however, that no such action shall adversely
affect the interests of the Holders of the Securities;

         (e)     to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as
permitted by Sections 2.1 and 2.3; and





                                       37

<PAGE>   44

         (f)     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
6.11.

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

         Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this
Section may be executed without the consent of the Holders of any of the
Securities then Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of Section
8.2.

         SECTION 8.2      Supplemental Indentures with Consent of
Securityholders.  With the consent (evidenced as provided in Article Seven) of
the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities then Outstanding of any series affected by such supplemental
indenture, the Issuer, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of
Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such
action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined
in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order), and the Trustee may, from
time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture or indentures
supplemental hereto (which shall conform to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 as in force at the date of execution thereof) for the
purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating
any of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Securities of such
series; provided, that no such supplemental indenture shall (a) extend the
stated final maturity of the principal of any Security, or reduce the principal
amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest,
if any, thereon (or, in the case of an Original Issue Discount Security, reduce
the rate of accrual of original issue discount thereon), or reduce or alter the
method of computation of any amount payable on redemption, repayment or
purchase by the Issuer thereof (or the time at which any such redemption,
repayment or purchase may be made), or make the principal thereof (including
any amount in respect of original issue discount), or interest, if any, thereon
payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the Securities or
in accordance with the terms of the Securities, or reduce the amount of the
principal of an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable
upon an acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 5.1 or the
amount thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 5.2, or impair or
affect the right of any Securityholder to institute suit for the payment
thereof or, if the Securities provide therefor, any right of repayment or
purchase at the option of the Securityholder, in each case without the consent
of the Holder of each Security so affected, or (b) reduce the aforesaid
percentage of Securities of any series, the consent of the Holders of which is
required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the
Holders of each Security so affected.  No consent of any Holder of any Security
shall be necessary under this Section 8.2 to permit the Trustee and the Issuer
to execute supplemental indentures pursuant to Sections 8.1 and 9.2.

         A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant,
Event of Default 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 Holders of Securities of such series, with
respect to such covenant or provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights
under this Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

         Upon the request of the Issuer, accompanied by a copy of a resolution
of the Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or
parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such
action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order)
certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer authorizing
the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the
Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders of the Securities as
aforesaid and other documents, if any, required by Section 7.1, the Trustee
shall join with the Issuer in the execution of such supplemental indenture
unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the Trustee may in
its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such supplemental
indenture.

         It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders under
this Section 8.2 to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental
indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve the
substance thereof.





                                       38

<PAGE>   45

         Promptly after the execution by the Issuer and the Trustee of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section 8.2, the
Trustee shall give notice thereof to the Holders of then Outstanding Securities
of each series affected thereby, as provided in Section 11.4.  Any failure of
the Issuer to give such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in
any way impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

         SECTION 8.3      Effect of Supplemental Indenture.  Upon the execution
of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions hereof, this Indenture
shall be and shall be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance therewith
and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and
immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Issuer and the Holders of
Securities of each series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined,
exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications
and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental
indenture shall be and shall be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions
of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

         SECTION 8.4      Documents to Be Given to Trustee.  The Trustee,
subject to the provisions of Sections 6.1 and 6.2, shall be entitled to receive
an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that
any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Eight complies
with the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

         SECTION 8.5      Notation on Securities in Respect of Supplemental
Indentures.  Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the
execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this
Article Eight may bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee for such
series as to any matter provided for by such supplemental indenture or as to
any action taken by Securityholders.  If the Issuer or the Trustee shall so
determine, new Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the
opinion of the Trustee and the Issuer, to any modification of this Indenture
contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Issuer,
authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of
such series then Outstanding.

         SECTION 8.6      Subordination Unimpaired.  This Indenture may not be
amended to alter the subordination of any Outstanding Securities without the
written consent of each holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding that
would be adversely affected thereby.


                                  ARTICLE NINE
       CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE, EXCHANGE OR OTHER DISPOSITION

         SECTION 9.1      Issuer May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.
Subject to the provisions of Section 9.3, nothing contained in this Indenture
or in any of the Securities shall prevent any consolidation or merger of the
Issuer with or into any other corporation or corporations (whether or not
affiliated with the Issuer), or successive consolidations or mergers in which
the Issuer or its successor or successors shall be a party or parties, or shall
prevent any sale, lease, exchange or other disposition of all or substantially
all the property and assets of the Issuer to any other corporation (whether or
not affiliated with the Issuer) authorized to acquire and operate the same;
provided, however, and the Issuer hereby covenants and agrees, that any such
consolidation, merger, sale, lease, exchange or other disposition shall be upon
the conditions that (a) immediately after such consolidation, merger, sale,
lease, exchange or other disposition of the corporation (whether the Issuer or
such other corporation) formed by or surviving any such consolidation or
merger, or to which such sale, lease, exchange or other disposition shall have
been made, shall not be in default in the performance or observance of any of
the terms, covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed
by the Issuer; (b) the corporation (if other than the Issuer) formed by or
surviving any such consolidation or merger, or to which such sale, lease,
exchange or other disposition shall have been made, shall be a corporation
organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or
the District of Columbia; and (c) the due and punctual payment of the principal
of and interest, if any, on all the Securities, according to their tenor, and
the due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and
conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the Issuer, shall be expressly
assumed, by supplemental indenture satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed
and delivered to the Trustee, by the corporation (if other than the Issuer)
formed by such consolidation, or into which the Issuer shall have been merged,
or by the corporation which shall have acquired or leased such property.

         SECTION 9.2      Securities to be Secured in Certain Events.  If, upon
any such consolidation, merger, or upon any such sale, lease, exchange or other
disposition or upon any acquisition by the Issuer by purchase or otherwise of
all or any part of the properties of any other corporation, any Principal
Property owned by the Issuer or a Restricted





                                       39

<PAGE>   46

Subsidiary immediately prior thereto would thereupon become subject to any
mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance, not permitted by
Section 3.6 hereof, the Issuer, prior to such consolidation, merger, sale,
lease, exchange or other disposition or acquisition, will by indenture
supplemental hereto secure the due and punctual payment of the principal of and
interest, if any, on the Securities then outstanding (equally and ratably, or
with such other relative priority specified in Section 3.6, with any other
indebtedness of or guaranteed by the Issuer then entitled thereto, but only to
the extent that such indebtedness is Subordinated Indebtedness) by a direct
lien on such Principal Property, together with any other properties and assets
of the Issuer or of any such Restricted Subsidiary, whichever shall be the
owner of any such Principal Property, which would thereupon become subject to
any such mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien or encumbrance, prior to all
liens other than any theretofore existing thereon and other than liens securing
Senior Indebtedness.

         SECTION 9.3      Successor Corporation to be Substituted.  In case of
any such consolidation or merger or any sale, conveyance or lease of all or
substantially all of the property of the Issuer and upon the assumption by the
successor corporation, by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the
Trustee and satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual
payment of the principal of and interest, if any, on all of the Securities and
the due and punctual performance of all of the covenants and conditions of this
Indenture to be performed by the Issuer, such successor corporation shall
succeed to and be substituted for the Issuer, with the same effect as if it had
been named herein as the party of the first part, and the Issuer (including any
intervening successor to the Issuer which shall have become the obligor
hereunder) shall be relieved of any further obligation under this Indenture and
the Securities; provided, however, that in the case of a sale, lease, exchange
or other disposition of the property and assets of the Issuer (including any
such intervening successor), the Issuer (including any such intervening
successor) shall continue to be liable on its obligations under this Indenture
and the Securities to the extent, but only to the extent, of liability to pay
the principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities at the time, places
and rate prescribed in this Indenture and the Securities.  Such successor
corporation thereupon may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own
name or in the name of the Issuer, any or all of the Securities issuable
hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed by the Issuer and
delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor corporation
instead of the Issuer and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations
in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver
any Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered by the
officers of the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities
which such successor corporation thereafter shall cause to be signed and
delivered to the Trustee for that purpose.  All the Securities so issued shall
in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as
the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of
this Indenture as though all of such Securities had been issued at the date of
the execution hereof.

         In case of any such consolidation or merger or any sale, lease,
exchange or other disposition of all or substantially all of the property and
assets of the Issuer, such changes in phraseology and form (but not in
substance) may be made in the Securities, thereafter to be issued, as may be
appropriate.

         SECTION 9.4      Opinion of Counsel to be Given Trustee.  The Trustee,
subject to Sections 6.1 and 6.2, may receive an Officers' Certificate and
Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger,
sale, lease, exchange or other disposition and any such assumption complies
with the provisions of this Article Nine.


                                  ARTICLE TEN
           SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; UNCLAIMED MONEYS

         SECTION 10.1     Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

         (A) If at any time (a) the Issuer shall have paid or caused to be paid
the principal of and interest, if any, on all the Securities Outstanding (other
than Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been
replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9) as and when the same shall have
become due and payable, or (b) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee
for cancellation all Securities theretofore authenticated (other than
Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been
replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9); and if, in any such case, the
Issuer shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable hereunder by
the Issuer, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect, and the
Trustee, on demand of the Issuer accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an
Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent relating to the
satisfaction and discharge contemplated by this provision have been complied
with, and at the cost and expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper
instruments





                                       40

<PAGE>   47

acknowledging such satisfaction and discharging this Indenture.  The Issuer
agrees to reimburse the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably
and properly incurred, and to compensate the Trustee for any services
thereafter reasonably and properly rendered, by the Trustee in connection with
this Indenture or the Securities.

         (B)     If at any time (a) the Issuer shall have paid or caused to be
paid the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all the
Securities of any series Outstanding (other than Securities of such series
which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have been replaced or paid
as provided in Section 2.9) as and when the same shall have become due and
payable, or (b) the Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
all Securities of any series theretofore authenticated (other than any
Securities of such series which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which
have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9), or (c) in the case of
any series of Securities with respect to which the exact amount described in
clause (ii) below can be determined at the time of making the deposit referred
to in such clause (ii), (i) all the Securities of such series not theretofore
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have become due and payable, or
are by their terms to become due and payable within one year or are to be
called for redemption within one year under arrangements satisfactory to the
Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption, and (ii) the Issuer shall have
irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as funds in
trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely to, the
benefit of the Holders of Securities of such series, cash in an amount (other
than moneys repaid by the Trustee or any paying agent to the Issuer in
accordance with Section 10.4) or direct obligations of the United States of
America, backed by its full faith and credit ("U.S.  Government Obligations"),
maturing as to principal and interest, if any, at such times and in such
amounts as will insure the availability of cash, or 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 of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on
all Securities of such series on each date that such principal of, premium, if
any, or interest, if any, is due and payable, 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;
then the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire
indebtedness on all the Securities of such series on the date of the deposit
referred to in clause (ii) above and the provisions of this Indenture with
respect to the Securities of such series shall no longer be in effect (except,
in the case of clause (c) of this Section 10.1(B), as to (i) rights of
registration of transfer and exchange of Securities of such series, (ii) rights
of substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities of
such series, (iii) rights of Holders of Securities of such series to receive
payments of principal thereof and premium, if any, and interest, if any,
thereon upon the original stated due dates therefor (but not upon
acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders of Securities of such series
to receive mandatory sinking fund payments thereon, if any, when due, (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 Issuer under Section 3.2 with respect to
Securities of such series) and the Trustee, on demand of the Issuer accompanied
by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all
conditions precedent contemplated by this provision have been complied with,
and at the cost and expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging the same.

         (C)     The following provisions shall apply to the Securities of each
series unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution, Officers'
Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto provided pursuant to Section 2.3.
In addition to discharge of the Indenture pursuant to the next preceding
paragraph, in the case of any series of Securities with respect to which the
exact amount described in subparagraph (a) below can be determined at the time
of making the deposit referred to in such subparagraph (a), the Issuer 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 subparagraph (a) 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, (ii) substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or
stolen Securities of such series, (iii) rights of Holders of Securities of such
series to receive payments of principal thereof, premium, if any, and interest,
if any, thereon upon the original stated due dates therefor (but not upon
acceleration), and remaining rights of the Holders of Securities of such series
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 Issuer under Section 3.2 with respect to Securities
of such series) and the Trustee, on demand of the Issuer accompanied by an
Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all
conditions precedent contemplated by this provision have been complied with,
and at the cost and expense of the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging the same, if





                                       41

<PAGE>   48

                 (a)      with reference to this provision the Issuer has
         irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the
         Trustee as funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and
         dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of Securities of such
         series (i) cash in an amount, or (ii) U.S.  Government Obligations,
         maturing as to principal and interest, if any, 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 of, premium, if any, and interest, if any, on all Securities
         of such series on each date that such principal or interest, if any,
         is due and payable, 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;

                 (b)      such deposit will not result in a breach or violation
         of, or constitute a default under, any agreement or instrument to
         which the Issuer is a party or by which it is bound; and

                 (c)      the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of
         Counsel based on the fact that (x) the Issuer 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
         United States 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, defeasance
         and discharge 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, defeasance and discharge had not
         occurred.

         SECTION 10.2     Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment
of Securities.  Subject to Section 10.4, all moneys and U.S. Government
Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 10.1 shall be held
in trust, and such moneys and all moneys from such U.S. Government Obligations
shall be applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying
agent (including the Issuer 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 and U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited with the
Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest,
if any, but such moneys and U.S. Government Obligations need not be segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law.

         SECTION 10.3     Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent.  In
connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect
to Securities of any series, all moneys then held by any paying agent under the
provisions of this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities shall,
upon demand of the Issuer, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee and thereupon
such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to
such moneys.

         SECTION 10.4     Return of Moneys Held by Trustee and Paying Agent
Unclaimed for Two Years.  Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or
any paying agent for the payment of the principal of or interest, if any, on
any Security of any series and not applied but remaining unclaimed for two
years after the date upon which such principal or interest, if any, shall have
become due and payable, shall, upon the written request of the Issuer and
unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or
abandoned or unclaimed property law, be repaid to the Issuer by the Trustee for
such series or such paying agent, and the Holder of the Securities of such
series shall, unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable
escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property laws, thereafter look only to the
Issuer for any payment which such Holder may be entitled to collect, and all
liability of the Trustee or any paying agent with respect to such moneys shall
thereupon cease.

         SECTION 10.5     Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations.  The
Issuer shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge
imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations deposited
pursuant to Section 10.1 or the principal or interest received in respect of
such obligations.





                                       42

<PAGE>   49


                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN
                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

         SECTION 11.1     Partners, Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and
Directors of Issuer Exempt from Individual Liability.  No recourse under or
upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in
any Security, or because of any indebtedness evidenced thereby, shall be had
against any incorporator, as such or against any past, present or future
stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Issuer, or any partner of the
Issuer or of any successor, either directly or through the Issuer or any
successor, under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the
enforcement of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or
otherwise, all such liability being expressly waived and released by the
acceptance of the Securities by the Holders thereof and as part of the
consideration for the issue of the Securities.

         SECTION 11.2     Provisions of Indenture for the Sole Benefit of
Parties and Holders of Securities.  Nothing in this Indenture or in the
Securities, expressed or implied, shall give or be construed to give to any
Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors and the Holders of
the Senior Indebtedness and the Holders of the Securities, any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture or under any covenant or
provision herein contained, all such covenants and provisions being for the
sole benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and of the Holders of
the Securities.

         SECTION 11.3     Successors and Assigns of Issuer Bound by Indenture.
All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Indenture
contained by or on behalf of the Issuer shall bind its successors and assigns,
whether so expressed or not.

         SECTION 11.4     Notices and Demands on Issuer, Trustee and Holders of
Securities.  Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is
required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the Holders of
Securities to or on the Issuer, or as required pursuant to the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, may be given or served by being deposited postage prepaid,
first-class mail (except as otherwise specifically provided herein) addressed
(until another address of the Issuer is filed by the Issuer with the Trustee)
to Seagull Energy Corporation, 1001 Fannin, Suite 1700, Houston, Texas 77002,
Attention: Chairman of the Board.  Any notice, direction, request or demand by
the Issuer or any Holder of Securities to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed
to have been sufficiently given or served by being deposited postage prepaid,
first-class mail (except as otherwise specifically provided herein) addressed
(until another address of the Trustee is filed by the Trustee with the Issuer)
to The Bank of New York, ____________________________________, Attention:
Corporate Trust Trustee Administration.

         Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities,
such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly
provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder
entitled thereto, at his last address as it appears in the Security register.
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 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 or irregularities in regular
mail service, it shall be impracticable to mail notice to the Issuer when such
notice is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture,
then any manner of giving such notice as shall be reasonably satisfactory to
the Trustee shall be deemed to be sufficient notice.

         SECTION 11.5     Officers' Certificates and Opinions of Counsel;
Statements to Be Contained Therein.  Upon any application or demand by the
Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this
Indenture, or as required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the
Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that all
conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed
action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel stating that in the
opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have been complied with,
except that in the case of any such application or demand as to which the
furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision of this
Indenture relating to such particular application or demand, no additional
certificate or opinion need be furnished.

         Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture (other than
a certificate provided pursuant to Section 4.3(d)) and delivered to the Trustee
with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this





                                       43

<PAGE>   50

Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the person making such certificate
or opinion has read such covenant or condition, (b) a brief statement as to the
nature and scope of the examination or investigation upon which the statements
or opinions contained in such certificate or opinion are based, (c) a statement
that, in the opinion of such person, he has made such examination or
investigation as is necessary to enable him to express an opinion as to whether
or not such covenant or condition has been complied with, and (d) a statement
as to whether or not, in the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant
has been complied with.

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

         Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the Issuer or
of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters, upon a
certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of
accountants in the employ of the Issuer, unless such officer or counsel, as the
case may be, knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with
respect to the accounting matters upon which his certificate, statement or
opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.

         Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public
accountants filed with and directed to the Trustee shall contain a statement
that such firm is independent.

         SECTION 11.6     Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.  If
the date of maturity of principal of or interest, if any, on the Securities of
any series or the date fixed for redemption, purchase or repayment of any such
Security shall not be a Business Day, then payment of interest, if any, or
principal need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding
Business Day with the same force and effect as if made on the date of maturity
or the date fixed for redemption, purchase or repayment, and, in the case of
payment, no interest shall accrue for the period after such date.

         SECTION 11.7     Conflict of Any Provision of Indenture with Trust
Indenture Act of 1939.  If and to the extent that any provision of this
Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in
this Indenture which is required to be included herein by any of Sections 310
to 317, inclusive, or is deemed applicable to this Indenture by virtue of the
provisions, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, such required provision shall
control.

         SECTION 11.8     GOVERNING LAW.  THIS INDENTURE AND EACH SECURITY
SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND
FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS
OF SUCH STATE.

         SECTION 11.9     Counterparts.  This Indenture may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

         SECTION 11.10  Effect of Headings.  The Article and Section headings
herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect
the construction hereof.


                                 ARTICLE TWELVE
                   REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS

         SECTION 12.1     Applicability of Article.  The provisions of this
Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are
redeemable before their maturity or to any sinking fund for the retirement of
Securities of a series except as otherwise specified, as contemplated by
Section 2.3 for Securities of such series.





                                       44

<PAGE>   51

         SECTION 12.2     Notice of Redemption; Partial Redemptions.  Notice of
redemption to the Holders of Securities of any series to be redeemed as a whole
or in part at the option of the Issuer shall be given by mailing notice of such
redemption by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 days and not more
than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption to such Holders of
Securities of such series at their last addresses as they shall appear in the
Security register.  Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein provided
shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not the
Holder receives the notice.  Failure to give notice by mail, or any defect in
the notice to the Holder of any Security of a series designated for redemption
as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the
redemption of any other Security of such series.

         The notice of redemption to each such Holder shall specify the
principal amount of each Security of such series held by such Holder to be
redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price, the place or
places of payment, the CUSIP number relating to such Securities, that payment
will be made upon presentation and surrender of such Securities, that such
redemption is pursuant to the mandatory or optional sinking fund, or both, if
such be the case, that interest, if any, (or, in the case of Original Issue
Discount Securities, original issue discount) accrued to the date fixed for
redemption will be paid as specified in such notice and that on and after said
date interest, if any, (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities,
original issue discount) thereon or on the portions thereof to be redeemed will
cease to accrue.  In case any Security of a series is to be redeemed in part
only, the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount
thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for
redemption, upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities of
such series in principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be
issued.

         The notice of redemption of Securities of any series to be redeemed at
the option of the Issuer shall be given by the Issuer or, at the Issuer's
request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer.

         On or before the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption
given as provided in this Section 12.2, the Issuer will deposit with the
Trustee or with one or more paying agents (or, if the Issuer is acting as its
own paying agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section
3.5) an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the
Securities of such series so called for redemption at the appropriate
redemption price, together with accrued interest, if any, to the date fixed for
redemption.  The Issuer will deliver to the Trustee at least 45 days prior to
the date fixed for redemption (unless a shorter notice period shall be
satisfactory to the Trustee) an Officers' Certificate stating the aggregate
principal amount of Securities to be redeemed.  In case of a redemption at the
election of the Issuer prior to the expiration of any restriction on such
redemption, the Issuer shall deliver to the Trustee, prior to the giving of any
notice of redemption to Holders pursuant to this Section, an Officers'
Certificate stating that such restriction has been complied with.

         If less than all the Securities of a series are to be redeemed, the
Trustee shall select, in such manner as it shall deem appropriate and fair,
Securities of such series to be redeemed.  Securities may be redeemed in part
in multiples equal to the minimum authorized denomination for Securities of
such series or any multiple thereof.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the
Issuer in writing of the Securities of such series selected for redemption and,
in the case of any Securities of such series 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 of any series shall relate, in the case of any
Security redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the
principal amount of such Security which has been or is to be redeemed.

         SECTION 12.3     Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.  If
notice of redemption has been given as above provided, the Securities or
portions of Securities specified in such notice shall become due and payable on
the date and at the place or places stated in such notice at the applicable
redemption price, together with interest, if any, accrued to the date fixed for
redemption, and on and after said date (unless the Issuer shall default in the
payment of such Securities at the redemption price, together with interest, if
any, accrued to said date) interest (or, in the case of Original Issue Discount
Securities, original issue discount) on the Securities or portions of
Securities so called for redemption shall cease to accrue, and such Securities
shall cease from and after the date fixed for redemption (unless an earlier
date shall be specified in a Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate or
executed supplemental indenture referred to in Sections 2.1 and 2.3 by or
pursuant to which the form and terms of the Securities of such series were
established) except as provided in Sections 6.5 and 10.4, to be entitled to any
benefit or security under this Indenture, and the Holders thereof shall have no
right in respect of such Securities except the right to receive the redemption
price thereof and unpaid interest to the date fixed for redemption.  On
presentation and surrender of such Securities at a place of payment specified





                                       45

<PAGE>   52

in said notice, said Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid
and redeemed by the Issuer at the applicable redemption price, together with
interest, if any, accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption; provided
that payment of interest, if any, becoming due on or prior to the date fixed
for redemption shall be payable to the Holders of Securities registered as such
on the relevant record date subject to the terms and provisions of Sections 2.3
and 2.7 hereof.

         If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender thereof for redemption, the redemption price shall, until paid or
duly provided for, bear interest from the date fixed for redemption at the rate
of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of an Original Issue Discount
Security) borne by such Security.

         Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the Issuer
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or on the order
of the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Issuer, a new Security or
Securities of such series, and of like tenor, of authorized denominations, in
principal amount equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

         SECTION 12.4     Exclusion of Certain Securities from Eligibility for
Selection for Redemption.  Securities shall be excluded from eligibility for
selection for redemption if they are identified by registration and certificate
number in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee at least 45 days
prior to the last date on which notice of redemption may be given as being
owned of record and beneficially by, and not pledged or hypothecated by either
(a) the Issuer, or (b) a Person specifically identified in such written
statement as an Affiliate of the Issuer.

         SECTION 12.5     Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds.  The minimum
amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the 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 the
Securities of any series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund
payment".  The date on which a sinking fund payment is to be made is herein
referred to as the "sinking fund payment date".

         In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund
payment with respect to any series of Securities in cash, the Issuer may at its
option (a) deliver to the Trustee Securities of such series theretofore
purchased or otherwise acquired (except upon redemption pursuant to the
mandatory sinking fund) by the Issuer or receive credit for Securities of such
series (not previously so credited) theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired
(except as aforesaid) by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation pursuant to Section 2.10, (b) receive credit for optional sinking
fund payments (not previously so credited) made pursuant to this Section 12.5,
or (c) receive credit for Securities of such series (not previously so
credited) redeemed by the Issuer through any optional redemption provision
contained in the terms of such series.  Securities so delivered or credited
shall be received or credited by the Trustee at the sinking fund redemption
price specified in such Securities.

         On or before the 60th day next preceding each sinking fund payment
date for any series, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate (a) specifying the portion of the mandatory sinking fund payment to
be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion to be satisfied by credit of
Securities of such series and the basis for such credit, (b) stating that none
of the Securities of such series to be so credited has theretofore been so
credited, (c) stating that no defaults in the payment of interest or Events of
Default with respect to such series have occurred (which have not been waived
or cured or otherwise ceased to exist) and are continuing, and (d) stating
whether or not the Issuer intends to exercise its right to make an optional
sinking fund payment with respect to such series and, if so, specifying the
amount of such optional sinking fund payment which the Issuer intends to pay on
or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date.  Any Securities of
such series to be credited and required to be delivered to the Trustee in order
for the Issuer to be entitled to credit therefor as aforesaid which have not
theretofore been delivered to the Trustee shall be delivered for cancellation
pursuant to Section 2.10 to the Trustee with such Officers' Certificate (or
reasonably promptly thereafter if acceptable to the Trustee).  Such Officers'
Certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its receipt by the Trustee the Issuer
shall become unconditionally obligated to make all the cash payments or
payments therein referred to, if any, on or before the next succeeding sinking
fund payment date.  Failure of the Issuer, on or before any such 60th day, to
deliver such Officers' Certificate and Securities (subject to the parenthetical
clause in the second preceding sentence) specified in this paragraph, if any,
shall not constitute a default but shall constitute, on and as of such date,
the irrevocable election of the Issuer (i) that the mandatory sinking fund
payment for such series due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date
shall be paid entirely in cash without the option to deliver or credit
Securities of such series in respect thereof, and (ii) that the Issuer will
make no optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series as provided
in this Section 12.5.





                                       46

<PAGE>   53

         If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional or
both) to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date plus
any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash shall
exceed $50,000, or a lesser sum if the Issuer shall so request with respect to
the Securities of any particular series, such cash shall be applied on the next
succeeding sinking fund payment date to the redemption of Securities of such
series at the sinking fund redemption price together with accrued interest, if
any, to the date fixed for redemption.  If such amount shall be $50,000 or less
and the Issuer makes no such request, then it shall be carried over until a sum
in excess of $50,000 is available.  The Trustee shall select, in the manner
provided in Section 12.2, for redemption on such sinking fund payment date a
sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to absorb said cash,
as nearly as may be, and shall (if requested in writing by the Issuer) inform
the Issuer of the serial numbers of the Securities of such series (or portions
thereof) so selected.  The Trustee, in the name and at the expense of the
Issuer (or the Issuer, if it shall so request the Trustee in writing) shall
cause notice of redemption of the Securities of such series to be given in
substantially the manner provided in Section 12.2 (and with the effect provided
in Section 12.3) for the redemption of Securities of such series in part at the
option of the Issuer.  The amount of any sinking fund payments not so applied
or allocated to the redemption of Securities of such series shall be added to
the next cash sinking fund payment for such series and, together with such
payment, shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section
12.5.  Any and all sinking fund moneys held on the stated maturity date of the
Securities of any particular series (or earlier, if such maturity is
accelerated), which are not held for the payment or redemption of particular
Securities of such series shall be applied, together with other moneys, if
necessary, sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of, and
interest, if any, on, the Securities of such series at maturity.

         On or before each sinking fund payment date, the Issuer shall pay to
the Trustee in cash or shall otherwise provide for the payment of all interest,
if any, accrued to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed
on such sinking fund payment date.

         The Trustee shall not redeem or cause to be redeemed any Securities of
a series with sinking fund moneys or give any notice of redemption of
Securities for such series by operation of the sinking fund during the
continuance of a default in payment of interest on such Securities or of any
Event of Default with respect to such series except that, where the giving of
notice of redemption of any Securities shall theretofore have been made, the
Trustee shall redeem or cause to be redeemed such Securities, provided that it
shall have received from the Issuer a sum sufficient for such redemption.
Except as aforesaid, and subject to Article Thirteen, any moneys in the sinking
fund for such series at the time when any such default or Event of Default
shall occur, and any moneys thereafter paid into the sinking fund, shall,
during the continuance of such default or Event of Default, be deemed to have
been collected under Article Five and held for the payment of all such
Securities.  In case such Event of Default shall have been waived as provided
in Section 5.7 or the default cured on or before the 60th day preceding the
sinking fund payment date in any year, such moneys shall thereafter be applied
on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date in accordance with this
Section to the redemption of such Securities.


                                ARTICLE THIRTEEN
                                 SUBORDINATION

         SECTION 13.1     Securities Subordinated to Senior Indebtedness.  (a)
The Issuer covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities of each series,
by his acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that anything in this
Indenture or the Securities of any series to the contrary notwithstanding, the
indebtedness evidenced by the Securities of each series is subordinate and
junior in right of payment, to the extent provided herein, to all Senior
Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of execution of this Indenture or
thereafter created, incurred or assumed, and that the subordination is for the
benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness, but the Securities shall in all
respects rank pari passu with all other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness of the
Issuer.  The Securities shall rank senior to all existing and future
Indebtedness of the Issuer that is neither Senior Indebtedness nor Senior
Subordinated Indebtedness and only Indebtedness of the Issuer that is Senior
Indebtedness shall rank senior to the Securities in accordance with the
provisions set forth herein.

         (b)     Subject to Section 13.4, if (i) the Issuer shall default in
the payment of any principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any
Senior Indebtedness when the same becomes due and payable, whether at maturity
or at a date fixed for prepayment or by declaration of acceleration or
otherwise, or (ii) any other default shall occur with respect to Senior
Indebtedness and the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness has been accelerated
in accordance with





                                       47

<PAGE>   54

its terms, then, upon written notice of such default to the Issuer by the
holders of Senior Indebtedness or any trustee therefor, unless and until, in
either case, the default has been cured or waived, and any such acceleration
has been rescinded or such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full, no direct
or indirect payment (in cash, property, securities, by set-off or otherwise)
shall be made or agreed to be made on account of the principal of, premium, if
any, or interest, if any, on any of the Securities, or in respect of any
redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Securities
other than those made in capital stock of the Issuer (or cash in lieu of
fractional shares thereof).

         (c)     If any default (other than a default described in paragraph
(b)) shall occur under the Senior Indebtedness, pursuant to which the maturity
thereof may be accelerated immediately without further notice (except such
notice as may be required to effect such acceleration) or the expiration of any
applicable grace periods occurs (a "Senior Nonmonetary Default"), then, upon
the receipt by the Issuer and the Trustee of written notice thereof (a "Payment
Notice") from or on behalf of holders of such Senior Indebtedness specifying an
election to prohibit such payment and other action by the Issuer  in accordance
with the following provisions of this paragraph, the Issuer may not make any
payment or take any other action that would be prohibited by paragraph (b)
above during the period (the "Payment Blockage Period") commencing on the date
of receipt of such Payment Notice and ending on the earlier of (i) the date, if
any, on which the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their representative
notify the Trustee that such Senior Nonmonetary Default is cured or waived or
ceases to exist or the Senior Indebtedness to which such Senior Nonmonetary
Default relates is discharged or (ii) the 179th day after the date of receipt
of such Payment Notice.  Notwithstanding the provisions described in the
immediately preceding sentence, the Issuer may resume payments on the
Securities after such Payment Blockage Period.

         (d)     If (i) (A) without the consent of the Issuer, a receiver,
conservator, liquidator or trustee of the Issuer or of any of its property is
appointed by the order or decree of any court or agency or supervisory
authority having jurisdiction, and such decree or order remains in effect for
more than 60 days or (B) the Issuer is adjudicated bankrupt or insolvent or (C)
any of its property is sequestered by court order and such order remains in
effect for more than 60 days or (D) a petition is filed against the Issuer
under any state or federal bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency,
readjustment of debt, dissolution, liquidation or receivership law of any
jurisdiction whether now or hereafter in effect (including without limitation
the Bankruptcy Code), and is not dismissed within 60 days after such filing; or
(ii) the Issuer (A) commences a voluntary case or other proceeding seeking
liquidation, reorganization, arrangement, insolvency, readjustment of debt,
dissolution, liquidation or other relief with respect to itself or its debt or
other liabilities under any bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or
hereafter in effect (including without limitation the Bankruptcy Code) or
seeking the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other
similar official of it or any substantial part of its property, or (B) consents
to any such relief or to the appointment of or taking possession by any such
official in an involuntary case or other proceeding commenced against it, or
(C) fails generally to, or cannot, pay its debts generally as they become due
or (D) takes any corporate action to authorize or effect any of the foregoing;
or (iii) any Subsidiary of the Issuer takes, suffers or permits to exist any of
the events or conditions referred to in the foregoing clause (i) or (ii), then
all Senior Indebtedness (including any interest thereon accruing after the
commencement of any such proceedings) shall first be paid in full before any
payment or distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property, shall
be made to any Holder of any Securities on account thereof.  Any payment or
distribution, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than
securities of the Issuer or any other corporation provided for by a plan of
reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to
the extent provided in these subordination provisions with respect to the
indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness then outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof
under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment) which would otherwise
(but for these subordination provisions) be payable or deliverable in respect
of the Securities of any series shall be paid or delivered directly to the
holders of Senior Indebtedness in accordance with the priorities then existing
among such holders until all Senior Indebtedness (including any interest
thereon accruing after the commencement of any such proceedings) shall have
been paid in full.  In the event of any such proceeding, after payment in full
of all sums owing with respect to Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of the
Securities, together with the holders of any obligations of the Issuer ranking
on a parity with the Securities, shall be entitled to be paid from the
remaining assets of the Issuer the amounts at the time due and owing on account
of unpaid principal of and interest, if any, on the Securities and such other
obligations before any payment or other distribution, whether in cash, property
or otherwise, shall be made on account of any capital stock or any obligations
of the Issuer ranking junior to the Securities and such other obligations.

         (e)     If, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or distribution
of any character, whether in cash, securities or other property (other than
securities of the Issuer or any other corporation provided for by a plan of





                                       48

<PAGE>   55

reorganization or readjustment the payment of which is subordinate, at least to
the extent provided in the subordination provisions with respect to the
indebtedness evidenced by the Securities, to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness then outstanding and to any securities issued in respect thereof
under any such plan of reorganization or readjustment), shall be received by
the Trustee or any Holder in contravention of any of the terms hereof, such
payment or distribution of securities shall be received in trust for the
benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered and transferred to the holders
of the Senior Indebtedness then outstanding in accordance with the priorities
then existing among such holders for application to the payment of all Senior
Indebtedness remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all such Senior
Indebtedness in full.  In the event of the failure of the Trustee or any Holder
to endorse or assign any such payment, distribution or security, each holder of
Senior Indebtedness is hereby irrevocably authorized to endorse or assign the
same.

         (f)     No present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness shall
be prejudiced in the right to enforce subordination of the indebtedness
evidenced by the Securities by any act or failure to act on the part of the
Issuer or any Holder of Securities.  Nothing contained herein shall impair, as
between the Issuer and the Holders of Securities of each series, the obligation
of the Issuer to pay to such Holders the principal of and interest, if any, on
such Securities or prevent the Trustee or the Holder from exercising all
rights, powers and remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law or hereunder
upon a default or Event of Default hereunder, all subject to the rights of the
holders of the Senior Indebtedness to receive cash, securities or other
property otherwise payable or deliverable to the Holders.

         (g)     Senior Indebtedness shall not be deemed to have been paid in
full unless the holders thereof shall have received cash, securities or other
property equal to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness then outstanding.
Upon the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness, the Holders of Securities
of each series shall be subrogated to all rights of any holders of Senior
Indebtedness to receive any further payment or distributions applicable to the
Senior Indebtedness until the indebtedness evidenced by the Securities of such
series shall have been paid in full and such payments or distributions received
by such Holders, by reason of such subrogation, of cash, securities or other
property which otherwise would be paid or distributed to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, shall, as between the Issuer and its creditors other than the
holders of Senior Indebtedness, on the one hand, and such Holders, on the other
hand, be deemed to be a payment by the Issuer on account of Senior
Indebtedness, and not on account of the Securities of such series.

         (h)     The provisions of this Section 13.1 shall not impair any
rights, interests, remedies or powers of any secured creditor of the Issuer in
respect of any security interest the creation of which is not prohibited by the
provisions of this Indenture.

         (i)     The securing of any obligations of the Issuer, otherwise
ranking on a parity with the Securities or ranking junior to the Securities,
shall not be deemed to prevent such obligations from constituting,
respectively, obligations ranking on a parity with the Securities or ranking
junior to the Securities.

         SECTION 13.2     Reliance on Certificate of Liquidating Agent; Further
Evidence as to Ownership of Senior Indebtedness.  Upon any payment or
distribution of assets of the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders shall be
entitled to rely upon an order or decree issued by any court of competent
jurisdiction in which such dissolution or winding up or liquidation or
reorganization or arrangement proceedings are pending or upon a certificate of
the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors or
other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or
to the Holders, for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to
participate in such distribution, the holders of the Senior Indebtedness and
other indebtedness of the Issuer, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the
amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent
thereto or to this Article Thirteen.  In the absence of any such bankruptcy
trustee, receiver, assignee or other Person, the Trustee shall be entitled to
rely upon written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of
Senior Indebtedness (or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder)
as evidence that such Person is a holder of Senior Indebtedness (or is such a
trustee or representative).  If the Trustee determines, in good faith, that
further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a
holder of Senior Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distributions
pursuant to this Article Thirteen, the Trustee may request such Person to
furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount
of Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, as to the extent to which such
Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, and as to
other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article Thirteen,
and if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to
such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to
receive such payment.





                                       49

<PAGE>   56

         SECTION 13.3     Payment Permitted If No Default.  Nothing contained
in this Article Thirteen or elsewhere in this Indenture, or in any of the
Securities, shall prevent (a) the Issuer at any time, except during the
pendency of any default with respect to Senior Indebtedness described in
Section 13.1(b) or Section 13.1(c) or of any of the events described in Section
13.1(d), from making payments of the principal of or interest, if any, on the
Securities, or (b) the application by the Trustee or any paying agent of any
moneys deposited with it hereunder to payments of the principal of or interest,
if any, on the Securities, if, at the time of such deposit, the Trustee or such
paying agent, as the case may be, did not have the written notice provided for
in Section 13.5 of any event prohibiting the making of such deposit, or if, at
the time of such deposit (whether or not in trust) by the Issuer with the
Trustee or paying agent (other than the Issuer) such payment would not have
been prohibited by the provisions of this Article Thirteen, and the Trustee or
any paying agent shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary received
by it on or after such date.

         SECTION 13.4     Disputes with Holders of Certain Senior Indebtedness.
Any failure by the Issuer to make any payment on or under any Senior
Indebtedness, other than any Senior Indebtedness as to which the provisions of
this Section 13.4 shall have been waived by the Issuer in the instrument or
instruments by which the Issuer incurred, assumed, guaranteed or otherwise
created such Senior Indebtedness, shall not be deemed a default under Section
13.1 if (i) the Issuer shall be disputing its obligation to make such payment
or perform such obligation, and (ii) either (A) no final judgment relating to
such dispute shall have been issued against the Issuer which is in full force
and effect and is not subject to further review, including a judgment that has
become final by reason of the expiration of the time within which a party may
seek further appeal or review, or (B) if a judgment that is subject to further
review or appeal has been issued, the Issuer shall in good faith be prosecuting
an appeal or other proceeding for review, and a stay of execution shall have
been obtained pending such appeal or review.

         SECTION 13.5     Trustee Not Charged with Knowledge of Prohibition.
Anything in this Article Thirteen or elsewhere in this Indenture contained to
the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall not at any time be charged with
knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any
payment of moneys to or by the Trustee and shall be entitled to assume
conclusively that no such facts exists and that no event specified in clauses
(a) and (b) of Section 13.1 has happened unless and until the Trustee shall
have received an Officers' Certificate to the effect or notice in writing to
that effect signed by or on behalf of the holder or holders, or the
representatives, of Senior Indebtedness who shall have been certified by the
Issuer or otherwise established to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee
to be such holder or holders or representatives or from any trustee under any
indenture pursuant to which such Senior Indebtedness shall be outstanding;
provided, however, that, if the Trustee shall not have received the Officers'
Certificate or notice provided for in this Section 13.5 at least three Business
Days preceding the date upon which by the terms hereof any moneys become
payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of either
the principal of or interest, if any, on any Security), then, anything herein
contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power
and authority to receive such moneys and apply the same to the purpose for
which they were received and shall not be affected by any notice to the
contrary that may be received by it within three Business Days preceding such
date.  The Issuer shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee and to each
paying agent of any facts that would prohibit any payment of moneys to or by
the Trustee or any paying agent, and the Trustee shall not be charged with
knowledge of the curing of any default or the elimination of any other fact or
condition preventing such payment or distribution unless and until the Trustee
shall have received an Officers' Certificate to such effect.

         SECTION 13.6     Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.  Each Holder of
Securities by his acceptance thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on his
behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the
subordination as between such Holder and holders of Senior Indebtedness as
provided in this Article Thirteen and appoints the Trustee its attorney-in-fact
for any and all such purposes.

         SECTION 13.7     Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Indebtedness.
The Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article
Thirteen with respect to any Senior Indebtedness which may at the time be held
by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness and
nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as
such holder.  Nothing in this Article Thirteen shall apply to claims of, or
payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.6.

         SECTION 13.8     Article Applicable to Paying Agents.  In case at any
time any paying agent other than the Trustee shall have been appointed by the
Issuer and be then acting hereunder, the term "Trustee" as used in this Article
Thirteen shall in such case (unless the context shall otherwise require) be
construed as extending to and including such paying agent within its meaning as
fully for all intents and purposes as if the paying agent were named in this





                                       50

<PAGE>   57

Article Thirteen in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided, however,
that Sections 13.5 and 13.7 shall not apply to the Issuer if it acts as paying
agent.

         SECTION 13.9     Subordination Rights Not Impaired by Acts or
Omissions of the Issuer or Holders of Senior Indebtedness.  No right of any
present or future holders of any Senior Indebtedness to enforce subordination
as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or impaired by
any act or failure to act on the part of the Issuer or by any act or failure to
act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the Issuer
with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture, regardless of any
knowledge thereof which any such holder may have or be otherwise charged with.
The holders of Senior Indebtedness, may at any time or from time to time and in
their absolute direction, change the manner, place or terms of payment, change
or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, any such Senior
indebtedness, or amend or supplement any instrument pursuant to which any such
Senior Indebtedness is issued or by which it may be secured, or release any
security therefor, or exercise or refrain from exercising any other of their
rights under the Senior Indebtedness, including, without limitation, the waiver
of default thereunder, all without notice to or assent from the Holders of the
Securities or the Trustee and without affecting the obligations of the Issuer,
the Trustee or the Holders of Securities under this Article Thirteen.

         SECTION 13.10  Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior
Indebtedness.  The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the
holders of the Senior Indebtedness, and shall not be liable to any such holders
if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute money or assets to
Securityholders or the Issuer.  With respect to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its
covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Thirteen
and no implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of Senior
Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.





                                       51

<PAGE>   58


         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to
be duly executed, effective as of ______________, 1997.


                                      SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION
                                      
                                      
                                      
                                      By: 
                                         ------------------------------------
                                      Title: 
                                            ---------------------------------
                                      
                                      
Attest:                               
                                      
By: 
   ------------------------------------
Title: 
      ---------------------------------

                                      
                                      THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                        as Trustee
                                      
                                      
                                      By: 
                                         ------------------------------------
                                      Title: 
                                            ---------------------------------
                                      
Attest:                               
                                      
By: 
   ------------------------------------
Title: 
      ---------------------------------





                                       52

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.9




                              AMENDED AND RESTATED


                                     BYLAWS


                                       OF



                           SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION





                              A Texas Corporation





                  Last Amended and Restated: January 31, 1990
                          Last Amended: March 17, 1995
                          Last Amended: March 7, 1997
(As required by Item 601 of Regulation S-K, the 1995 amendment is included in
the text as if the Board had restated the Amended and Restated Bylaws to
incorporate the change.)
<PAGE>   2
                          AMENDED AND RESTATED BYLAWS

                                       OF

                           SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION
                              A Texas Corporation


                                   ARTICLE I

                               REGISTERED OFFICE

         The registered office of the Corporation required by the Texas
Business Corporation Act (the "TBCA") to be maintained in the State of Texas
shall be 1001 Fannin, Suite 1700, Houston, Texas 77002 or such other office
(which need not be a place of business of the Corporation) as may be designated
from time to time by the Board of Directors in the manner provided by law.

                                   ARTICLE II

                                  SHAREHOLDERS

         Section 1.  Place of Meetings.  All meetings of the shareholders shall
be held at the principal place of business of the Corporation or at such other
place within or without the State of Texas as shall be specified or fixed in
the notices or waivers of notice thereof; provided that any or all shareholders
may participate in any such meeting by means of conference telephone or similar
communications equipment pursuant to Article II, Section 12 of these bylaws.

         Section 2.  Quorum; Required Vote for Shareholder Action; Adjournment
of Meetings.  (a)  Quorum.  A quorum shall be present at a meeting of
shareholders if the holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote are
represented at the meeting in person or by proxy, unless otherwise provided in
the Articles of Incorporation in accordance with the TBCA.  Once a quorum is
present at a meeting of shareholders, the shareholders represented in person or
by proxy at the meeting may conduct such business as may be properly brought
before the meeting until it is adjourned, and the subsequent withdrawal from
the meeting of any shareholder or the refusal of any shareholder represented in
person or by proxy to vote shall not affect the presence of a quorum at the
meeting.

         (b)     Voting on Matters Other Than the Election of Directors.  With
respect to any matter, other than the election of directors or a matter for
which the affirmative vote of the holders of a specified portion of the shares
entitled to vote is required by the TBCA, the affirmative vote of the holders
of a majority of the shares entitled to vote on that matter and represented in
person or by proxy at a meeting of shareholders at which a quorum is present
shall be the act of the shareholders, unless otherwise provided in the Articles
of Incorporation or these bylaws in accordance with the TBCA.





                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3
         (c)     Voting in the Election of Directors.  Unless otherwise
provided in the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws in accordance with
the TBCA, directors shall be elected by a plurality of the votes cast by the
holders of shares entitled to vote in the election of directors at a meeting of
shareholders at which a quorum is present.

         (d)     Adjournment.  Notwithstanding the other provisions of the
Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws, the chairman of the meeting or the
holders of a majority of the shares entitled to vote that are represented in
person or by proxy at any meeting of shareholders, whether or not a quorum is
present, shall have the power to adjourn such meeting from time to time,
without any notice other than announcement at the meeting of the time and place
of the holding of the adjourned meeting.  If such meeting is adjourned by the
shareholders, such time and place shall be determined by a vote of the holders
of a majority of the shares entitled to vote that are represented in person or
by proxy at such meeting.  Upon the resumption of such adjourned meeting, any
business may be transacted that might have been transacted at the meeting as
originally called.

         Section 3.  Annual Meetings.  An annual meeting of the shareholders,
for the election of directors to succeed those whose terms expire and for the
transaction of such other business as may properly come before the meeting,
shall be held at such place, within or without the State of Texas, on such date
and at such time as the Board of Directors shall fix and set forth in the
notice of the meeting, which date shall be within 13 months subsequent to the
most recent annual meeting of shareholders.

         Section 4.  Special Meetings.  Unless otherwise provided in the
Articles of Incorporation, special meetings of the shareholders for any proper
purpose or purposes may be called at any time by (a) the Chairman of the Board
(if any), the President, the Board of Directors, or such other person or
persons as may be authorized in the Articles of Incorporation or (b) unless the
Articles of Incorporation provide otherwise, the holders of at least ten
percent of all the shares entitled to vote at the proposed special meeting.

         If not otherwise stated in or fixed in accordance with the remaining
provisions hereof, the record date for determining shareholders entitled to
call a special meeting is the date any shareholder first signs the notice of
that meeting.

         Only business within the purpose or purposes described in the notice
(or waiver thereof) required by these bylaws may be conducted at a special
meeting of the shareholders.

         Section 5.  Closing Share Transfer Records; Record Date.  For the
purpose of determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at any
meeting of shareholders or any adjournment thereof, or entitled to receive a
distribution by the Corporation (other than a distribution involving a purchase
or redemption by the Corporation of any of its own shares) or a share dividend,
or in order to make a determination of shareholders for any other purpose
(other than determining shareholders entitled to consent to action by
shareholders proposed to be taken without a meeting of shareholders), the Board
of Directors of the Corporation may provide that the share transfer records
shall be closed for a stated period but not to exceed, in any case, 60





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4
days.  If the share transfer records shall be closed for the purpose of
determining shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at a meeting of
shareholders, such records shall be closed for at least ten days immediately
preceding such meeting.

         In lieu of closing the share transfer records, the Board of Directors
may fix in advance a date as the record date for any such determination of
shareholders, such date in any case to be not more than 60 days and, in the
case of a meeting of shareholders, not less than ten days, prior to the date on
which the particular action requiring such determination of shareholders is to
be taken.

         If the share transfer records are not closed and no record date is
fixed for the determination of shareholders entitled to notice of or to vote at
a meeting of shareholders, or shareholders entitled to receive a distribution
(other than a distribution involving a purchase or redemption by the
Corporation of any of its own shares) or a share dividend, the date on which
notice of the meeting is mailed or the date on which the resolution of the
Board of Directors declaring such distribution or share dividend is adopted, as
the case may be, shall be the record date for such determination of
shareholders.

         When a determination of shareholders entitled to vote at any meeting
of shareholders has been made as provided herein, such determination shall also
apply to any adjournment thereof except where the determination has been made
through the closing of share transfer records and the stated period of closing
has expired.

         Section 6.  Notice of Meetings.  Written or printed notice stating the
place, day and hour of the meeting and, in the case of a special meeting, the
purpose or purposes for which the meeting is called, shall be delivered not
less than ten nor more than 60 days  before the date of the meeting, either
personally or by mail, by or at the direction of the President, the Secretary
or the officer or person calling the meeting, to each shareholder entitled to
vote at such meeting.  If mailed, any such notice shall be deemed to be
delivered when deposited in the United States mail, addressed to the
shareholder at his address as it appears on the share transfer records of the
Corporation, with postage thereon prepaid.

         Any notice required to be given to any shareholder, under any
provision of the TBCA or the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws need not
be given to the shareholder if (a) notice of two consecutive annual meetings
and all notices of meetings held during the period between those annual
meetings, if any, or (b) all (but in no event less than two) payments of
distributions or interest on securities during a 12-month period have been
mailed to that person by first-class mail, addressed to him at his address as
shown on the share transfer records of the Corporation, and have been returned
undeliverable.  Any action or meeting taken or held without notice to such
person shall have the same force and effect as if the notice had been duly
given and, if the action taken by the Corporation is reflected in any articles
or document filed with the Secretary of State, those articles or that document
may state that notice was duly given to all persons to whom notice was required
to be given.  If such a person delivers to the Corporation written notice
setting forth his then current address, the requirement that notice be given to
that person shall be reinstated.





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
         Section 7.  Voting List.  The officer or agent having charge of the
share transfer records of the Corporation shall make, at least ten days before
each meeting of shareholders, a complete list of the shareholders entitled to
vote at such meeting or any adjournment thereof, arranged in alphabetical
order, with the address of and the number of shares held by each, which list,
for a period of ten days prior to such meeting, shall be kept on file at the
registered office or principal place of business of the Corporation and shall
be subject to inspection by any shareholder at any time during usual business
hours.  Such list shall also be produced and kept open at the time and place of
the meeting and shall be subject to the inspection of any shareholder during
the whole time of the meeting.  The original share transfer records shall be
prima-facie evidence as to who are the shareholders entitled to examine such
list or transfer records or to vote at any meeting of shareholders.  Failure to
comply with the requirements of this Section shall not affect the validity of
any action taken at such meeting.

         Section 8.  Proxies.  A shareholder may vote either in person or by
proxy executed in writing by the shareholder.  A telegram, telex, cablegram or
similar transmission by the shareholder, or a photographic, photostatic,
facsimile or similar reproduction of a writing executed by the shareholder
shall be treated as an execution in writing for purposes of this Section.
Proxies for use at any meeting of shareholders or in connection with the taking
of any action by written consent shall be filed with the Secretary, or such
other officer as the Board of Directors may from time to time determine by
resolution, before or at the time of the meeting or execution of the written
consent, as the case may be.  All proxies shall be received and taken charge of
and all ballots shall be received and canvassed by the secretary of the meeting
who shall decide all questions touching upon the qualification of voters, the
validity of the proxies, and the acceptance or rejection of votes, unless an
inspector or inspectors shall have been appointed by the chairman of the
meeting, in which event such inspector or inspectors shall decide all such
questions.

         No proxy shall be valid after 11 months from the date of its execution
unless otherwise provided in the proxy.  A proxy shall be revocable unless the
proxy form conspicuously states that the proxy is irrevocable and the proxy is
coupled with an interest.  Proxies coupled with an interest shall include the
appointment as proxy of any of the persons set forth in the TBCA, including
without limitation:

         (a)     a pledgee;
         (b)     a person who purchased or agreed to purchase, or owns or holds
                 an option to purchase, the shares;
         (c)     a creditor of the Corporation who extended it credit under
                 terms requiring the appointment;
         (d)     an employee of the Corporation whose employment contract
                 requires the appointment; or
         (e)     a party to a voting agreement executed under Section B,
                 Article 2.30 of the TBCA.

         Should a proxy designate two or more persons to act as proxies, unless
such instrument shall provide to the contrary, a majority of such persons
present at any meeting at which their





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6
powers thereunder are to be exercised shall have and may exercise all the
powers of voting or giving consents thereby conferred, or if only one be
present, then such powers may be exercised by that one; or, if an even number
attend and a majority do not agree on any particular issue, the Corporation
shall not be required to recognize such proxy with respect to such issue if
such proxy does not specify how the shares that are the subject of such proxy
are to be voted with respect to such issue.

         Section 9.  Voting; Inspectors; Elections.  Unless otherwise required
by law or provided in the Articles of Incorporation, each outstanding share,
regardless of class, shall be entitled to one vote on each matter submitted to
a vote at a meeting of shareholders.  If the Articles of Incorporation provide
for more or less than one vote per share for all the outstanding shares or for
the shares of any class or series on any matter, every reference in these
bylaws or in the Article of Incorporation (unless expressly stated otherwise
therein), in connection with such matter, to a specified portion of such shares
shall mean such portion of the votes entitled to be cast in respect of such
shares by virtue of the provisions of such Articles of Incorporation.

         All voting, except as required by the Articles of Incorporation or
where otherwise required by law, may be by a voice vote; provided, however,
that a vote by ballot shall be taken upon demand therefor by shareholders
holding issued and outstanding shares representing a majority of the voting
power present in person or by proxy at any meeting.  Every vote by ballot shall
be taken by written ballots, each of which shall state the name of the
shareholder or proxy voting and such other information as may be required under
the procedure established for the meeting.

         At any meeting at which a vote is taken by ballots, the chairman of
the meeting may appoint one or more inspectors, each of whom shall subscribe an
oath or affirmation to execute faithfully the duties of inspector at such
meeting with strict impartiality and according to the best of his ability.
Such inspector shall receive the ballots, count the votes and make and sign a
certificate of the result thereof.  The chairman of the meeting may appoint any
person to serve as inspector, except no candidate for the office of director
shall be appointed as an inspector.

         At each election of directors each shareholder entitled to vote
thereat shall, unless otherwise provided by law or by the Articles of
Incorporation, have the right to vote the number of shares owned by him for as
many persons as there are to be elected and for whose election he has a right
to vote.

         Section 10.  Conduct of Meetings.  All meetings of the shareholders
shall be presided over by the chairman of the meeting, who shall be the
Chairman of the Board (if any), or if he is not present, the President, or if
neither the Chairman of the Board (if any) nor President is present, a chairman
elected at the meeting.  The Secretary of the Corporation, if present, shall
act as secretary of such meetings, or if he is not present, an Assistant
Secretary (if any) shall so act; if neither the Secretary nor an Assistant
Secretary (if any) is present, then a secretary shall be appointed by the
chairman of the meeting.  The chairman of any meeting of shareholders shall
determine the order of business and the procedure at the meeting, including
such regulation of the manner of voting and the conduct of discussion as seem
to him in order.  Unless the chairman of





                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7
the meeting shall otherwise determine or otherwise conduct the meeting, the
order of business shall be as follows:

         (a)     Calling of meeting to order.
         (b)     Election of a chairman, and the appointment of a secretary, if
                 necessary.
         (c)     Presentation of proof of the due calling of the meeting.
         (d)     Presentation and examination of proxies and determination of a
                 quorum.
         (e)     Reading and settlement of the minutes of the previous meeting.
         (f)     Reports of officers and committees.
         (g)     The election of directors, if an annual meeting or a meeting
                 called for that purpose.
         (h)     Other business.
         (i)     Adjournment.

         Section 11.  Treasury Shares.  Neither the Corporation nor any other
person shall vote, directly or indirectly, at any meeting, shares of the
Corporation's own stock owned by the Corporation, shares of the Corporation's
own stock owned by another corporation the majority of the voting stock of
which is owned or controlled by the Corporation, and shares of the
Corporation's own stock held by the Corporation in a fiduciary capacity; and
such shares shall not be counted in determining the total number of outstanding
shares at any given time.

         Section 12.  Action by Written Consent or Telephone Conference.  Any
action required or permitted to be taken at any annual or special meeting of
shareholders may be taken without a meeting, without prior notice, and without
a vote, if a consent or consents in writing, setting forth the action so taken,
shall be signed by the holder or holders of all the shares entitled to vote
with respect to the action that is the subject of the consent.

         Every written consent shall bear the date of signature of each
shareholder who signs the consent.  No written consent shall be effective to
take the action that is the subject to the consent unless, within 60 days after
the date of the earliest dated consent delivered to the Corporation in the
manner required by this Section, a consent or consents signed by the holder or
holders of all shares entitled to vote with respect to the action that is the
subject of the consent are delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its
registered office, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of
the Corporation having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of
shareholders are recorded.  Delivery shall be by hand or certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested.  Delivery to the Corporation's
principal place of business shall be addressed to the President or chief
executive officer.

         A telegram, telex, cablegram or similar transmission by a shareholder,
or a photostatic, facsimile or similar reproduction of a writing signed by a
shareholder, shall be regarded as signed by the shareholder for purposes of
this Section.

         If any action by shareholders is taken by written consent, any
articles or documents filed with the Secretary of State as a result of the
taking of the action shall state, in lieu of any statement required by the TBCA
concerning any vote of shareholders, that written consent has





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8
been given in accordance with the provisions of the TBCA and that any written
notice required by the TBCA has been given.

         Subject to the provisions of the TBCA, the Articles of Incorporation
or these bylaws for notice of meetings, and unless otherwise restricted by the
Articles of Incorporation, shareholders may participate in and hold a meeting
by means of conference telephone or similar communications equipment by means
of which all persons participating in the meeting can hear each other, and
participation in such meeting shall constitute attendance and presence in
person at such meeting, except where a person participates in the meeting for
the express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the
ground that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

         Section 13.  Fixing Record Dates for Consents to Action.  Whenever
action by shareholders is proposed to be taken by consent in writing without a
meeting of shareholders, the Board of Directors may fix a record date for the
purpose of determining shareholders entitled to consent to that action, which
record date shall not precede, and shall not be more than ten days after, the
date upon which the resolution fixing the record date is adopted by the Board
of Directors.  If no record date has been fixed by the Board of Directors and
the prior action of the Board of Directors is not required by law, the Articles
of Incorporation or these bylaws, the record date for determining shareholders
entitled to consent to action in writing without a meeting shall be the first
date on which a signed written consent setting forth the action taken or
proposed to be taken is delivered to the Corporation by delivery to its
registered office, its principal place of business, or an officer or agent of
the Corporation having custody of the books in which proceedings of meetings of
shareholders are recorded.  Delivery shall be by hand or by certified or
registered mail, return receipt requested.  Delivery to the Corporation's
principal place of business shall be addressed to the President or the chief
executive officer of the Corporation.  If no record date shall have been fixed
by the Board of Directors and prior action of the Board of Directors is
required by the TBCA, the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws, the record
date for determining shareholders entitled to consent to action in writing
without a meeting shall be at the close of business on the date on which the
Board of Directors adopts a resolution taking such prior action.

         Section 14.  Business to Be Brought Before the Annual Meeting.  To be
properly brought before an annual meeting of shareholders, business must be
either (a) specified in the notice of meeting (or any supplement thereto) given
by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, (b) otherwise brought before
the meeting by or at the direction of the Board of Directors, or (c) otherwise
properly brought before the meeting by a shareholder of the Corporation who is
a shareholder of record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this
Section, who shall be entitled to vote at such meeting and who complies with
the notice procedures set forth in this Section.  In addition to any other
applicable requirements, for business to be brought before an annual meeting by
a shareholder of the Corporation, the shareholder must have given timely notice
thereof in writing to the Secretary of the Corporation.  To be timely, a
shareholder's notice must be delivered to or mailed and received at the
principal executive offices of the Corporation not less than 90 days prior to
the anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of
shareholders of the Corporation.  A shareholder's notice to the Secretary shall
set forth as to each matter the shareholder proposed to bring before the annual





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9
meeting (i) a brief description of the business desired to be brought before
the annual meeting and the reasons for conducting such business at the annual
meeting, (ii) the name and address, as the appear on the Corporation's books,
of the shareholder proposing such business, (iii) the acquisition date, the
class and the number of shares of voting stock of the Corporation that are
owned beneficially by the shareholder, (iv) any material interest of the
shareholder in such business and (v) a representation that the shareholder
intends to appear in person or by proxy at the meeting to bring the proposed
business before the meeting.

         Notwithstanding anything in these bylaws to the contrary, no business
shall be conducted at the annual meeting except in accordance with the
procedures set forth in this Section.

         The chairman of the annual meeting shall, if the facts warrant,
determine and declare to the meeting that business was not properly brought
before the meeting in accordance with the provisions  of this Section, and if
the chairman should so determine, the chairman shall so declare to the meeting
and any such business not properly brought before the meeting shall not be
transacted.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, a
shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary set forth above, the provisions
of this Section 14 shall be effective only with respect to annual meetings of
shareholders held after December 31, 1995.  (Section added by Amendment on
March 17, 1995.)

                                  ARTICLE III

                               BOARD OF DIRECTORS

         Section 1.  Power; Number; Term of Office.  The business and affairs
of the Corporation shall be managed by or under the direction of the Board of
Directors and subject to the restrictions imposed by law or the Articles of
Incorporation, they may exercise all the powers of the Corporation.

         The authorized number of directors that shall constitute the entire
Board of Directors shall not be less than eight nor more than eighteen, and
shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors
(provided that no decrease in the number of directors that would have the
effect of shortening the term of an incumbent director may be made by the Board
of Directors).  The Board of Directors shall be divided into three classes:
Class I, Class II and Class III, and the membership of each class shall be as
nearly as equal as possible.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 8 of this
Article III, each director elected at an annual meeting shall serve for a term
ending on the third annual meeting following the meeting at which such director
was elected.  For purposes of the foregoing, as of May 1, 1997, the terms of
the directors designated to Classes I, II and III were scheduled to expire at
the Company's Annual Meetings of Shareholders for 1999, 1997 and 1998,
respectively.  The foregoing notwithstanding, each director shall serve until
his successor shall have been duly elected and qualified or until his earlier
death, resignation or removal.  The directors chosen to succeed those whose
terms then expire shall be identified as being of the same class as the
directors they succeed.  If for any reason the





                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10
number of directors in the various classes shall not conform with the formula
set forth in this paragraph, the Board of Directors (by the affirmative vote of
a majority of the total number of the directors) may redesignate any director
into a different class in order that the balance of directors in such classes
shall conform thereto; provided, however, that no such redesignation may have
the effect of reducing the term to which a director was elected.

         If the Board of Directors shall not be classified as set forth above,
each director shall hold office for the term for which he is elected, and until
his successor shall have been elected and qualified or until his earlier death,
resignation or removal.

         Unless otherwise provided in the Articles of Incorporation, directors
need not be residents of the State of Texas nor shareholders of the
Corporation.

         Section 2.  Quorum; Required Vote for Director Action.  Unless
otherwise required by law or provided in the Articles of Incorporation or these
bylaws, a majority of the total number of directors fixed in the manner
provided in these bylaws shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of
business of the Board of Directors, and the act of a majority of the directors
present at a meeting at which a quorum is present shall be the act of the Board
of Directors.

         Section 3.  Meetings; Order of Business.  Meetings of the Board of
Directors may be held at such place or places as shall be determined from time
to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.  At all meetings of the Board
of Directors business shall be transacted in such order as shall from time to
time be determined by the Chairman of the Board (if any), or in his absence by
the President (if the President is a director), or by resolution of the Board
of Directors.

         Attendance of a director at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of
notice of such meeting, except where a director attends a meeting for the
express purpose of objecting to the transaction of any business on the ground
that the meeting is not lawfully called or convened.

         Section 4.  First Meeting.  In connection with any annual meeting of
shareholders at which directors were elected, the Board of Directors may, if a
quorum is present, hold its first meeting for the transaction of business
immediately after and at the same place as such annual meeting of the
shareholders.  Notice of such meeting at such time and place shall not be
required.

         Section 5.  Regular Meetings.  Regular meetings of the Board of
Directors shall be held at such times and places as shall be designated from
time to time by resolution of the Board of Directors.  Notice of such regular
meetings shall not be required.

         Section 6.  Special Meetings.  Special meetings of the Board of
Directors may be called by the Chairman of the Board (if any), the President
or, on the written request of any one director, by the Secretary, in each case
on at least 24 hours personal, written, telegraphic, cable or wireless notice
to each director.  Such notice, or any waiver thereof pursuant to Article VIII,
Section 3 hereof, need not state the purpose or purposes of such meeting,
except as may otherwise be required by law or provided for by the Articles of
Incorporation or these bylaws.





                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11
         Section 7.  Removal.  At any meeting of shareholders at which a quorum
of shareholders is present called expressly for that purpose, any director may
be removed, but only for cause, by vote of the holders of a majority of the
shares then entitled to vote for the election of such director; provided that,
in the case shareholders have the right to accumulate votes for the election of
directors, if less than the entire Board is to be removed, no director may be
removed if the votes cast against his removal would be sufficient to elect him
if then cumulatively voted at an election of the entire Board of Directors or
if there be classes of directors at an election of the class of directors of
which such director is a part.

         Section 8.  Vacancies; Increases in the Number of Directors.  Any
vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors may be filled in accordance with
the following paragraph of this Section 8 or may be filled by the affirmative
vote of a majority of the remaining directors though less than a quorum of the
Board of Directors.  Except as otherwise provided below, a director elected to
fill a vacancy shall be elected for the unexpired term of his predecessor in
office.

         Any vacancy occurring in the Board of Directors or any directorship to
be filled by reason of an increase in the number of directors (i) may be filled
by election at an annual or special meeting of shareholders called for that
purpose or (ii) may be filled by the Board of Directors; provided that, with
respect to any directorship to be filled by the Board of Directors by reason of
an increase in the number of directors, (A) such directorship shall be for a
term of office continuing only until the next election of one or more directors
by the shareholders and (B) the Board of Directors may not fill more than two
such directorships during the period between any two successive annual meetings
of shareholders.  If the Board of Directors is classified, any director elected
to fill a directorship created by reason of an increase in the number of
directors at any annual or special meeting of shareholders shall be elected for
a term coterminous with the remaining term of the other members of the class to
which he has been designated in accordance with the provisions of these Bylaws.

         Section 9.  Compensation.  Unless restricted by the Articles of
Incorporation, the Board of Directors shall have the authority to fix the
compensation, if any, of directors.

         Section 10.  Presumption of Assent.  A director who is present at a
meeting of the Board of Directors at which action on any corporate matter is
taken shall be presumed to have assented to the action unless his dissent shall
be entered in the minutes of the meeting or unless he shall file his written
dissent to such action with the person acting as secretary of the meeting
before the adjournment thereof or shall forward such dissent by registered mail
to the Secretary immediately after the adjournment of the meeting.  Such right
to dissent shall not apply to a director who voted in favor of such action.

         Section 11.  Approval or Ratification of Acts or Contracts by
Shareholders.  The Board of Directors in its discretion may submit any act or
contract for approval or ratification at any annual meeting of the
shareholders, or at any special meeting of the shareholders called for the
purpose of considering any such act or contract, and any act or contract that
shall be approved or be ratified by the vote of the shareholders holding a
majority of the issued and outstanding shares of stock of the Corporation
entitled to vote and represented in person or by proxy at such meeting
(provided that a





                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12
quorum is present), shall be as valid and as binding upon the Corporation and
upon all the shareholders as if it shall have been approved or ratified by
every shareholder of the Corporation.

         Section 12.  Action by Written Consent or Telephone Conference.  Any
action permitted or required by the TBCA, the Articles of Incorporation or
these bylaws to be taken at a meeting of the Board of Directors or any
committee designated by the Board of Directors may be taken without a meeting
if a consent in writing, setting forth the action to be taken, is signed by all
the members of the Board of Directors or committee, as the case may be.  Such
consent shall have the same force and effect as a unanimous vote at a meeting
and may be stated as such in any document or instrument filed with the
Secretary of State, and the execution of such consent shall constitute
attendance or presence in person at a meeting of the Board of Directors or any
such committee, as the case may be.  Subject to the requirements of the TBCA,
the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws for notice of meetings, unless
otherwise restricted by the Articles of Incorporation, members of the Board of
Directors, or members of any committee designated by the Board of Directors,
may participate in and hold a meeting of the Board of Directors or any
committee of directors, as the case may be, by means of a conference telephone
or similar communications equipment by means of which all persons participating
in the meeting can hear each other, and participation in such meeting shall
constitute attendance and presence in person at such meeting, except where a
person participates in the meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the
transaction of any business on the ground that the meeting is not lawfully
called or convened.

         Section 13.  Nominations for Election as a Director.  Only persons who
are nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in these bylaws and
qualify for nomination pursuant to Section 1 of Article III shall be eligible
for election by shareholders as, and to serve as, directors.  Nominations of
persons for election to the Board of Directors of the Corporation may be made
at a meeting of shareholders (a) by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors or (b) by any shareholder of the Corporation who is a shareholder of
record at the time of giving of notice provided for in this Section, who shall
be entitled to vote for the election of directors at the meeting and who
complies with the notice procedures set forth in this Section.  Such
nominations, other than those made by or at the direction of the Board of
Directors, shall be made pursuant to timely notice in writing to the Secretary
of the Corporation.  To be timely, a shareholder's notice shall be delivered to
or mailed and received at the principal executive offices of the Corporation
(i) with respect to an election to be held at the annual meeting of the
shareholders of the Corporation, not less than ninety (90) days prior to the
anniversary date of the immediately preceding annual meeting of shareholders of
the Corporation, and (ii) with respect to an election to be held at a special
meeting of shareholders of the Corporation for the election of directors not
later than the close of business on the tenth (10th) day following the day on
which notice of the date of the special meeting was mailed to shareholders of
the Corporation as provided in these bylaws or public disclosure of the date of
the special meeting was made, whichever first occurs.  Such shareholder's
notice to the Secretary shall set forth (x) as to each person whom the
shareholder proposes to nominate for election or re-election as a director, all
information relating to such person that is required to be disclosed in
solicitations of proxies for election of directors, or is otherwise required,
pursuant to Regulation 14A under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (including such person's written consent to being named in the proxy
statement as a nominee





                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13
and to serve as a director if elected), and (y) as to the shareholder giving
the notice (i) the name and address, as they appear on the Corporation's books,
of such shareholder and (ii) the class and number of shares of voting stock of
the Corporation which are beneficially owned by such shareholder.  At the
request of the Board of Directors, any person nominated by the Board of
Directors for election as a director shall furnish to the Secretary of the
Corporation that information required to be set forth in a shareholder's notice
of nomination which pertains to the nominee.  In the event that a person is
validly designated as a nominee to the Board of Directors in accordance with
the procedures set forth in this Section and shall thereafter become unable or
unwilling to stand for election to the Board of Directors, the Board of
Directors or the shareholder who proposed such nominee, as the case may be, may
designate a substitute nominee.

         Other than directors chosen pursuant to the provisions of Section 8 of
Article III, no person shall be eligible to serve as a director of the
Corporation unless nominated in accordance with the procedures set forth in
this Section.

         The presiding officer of the meeting of shareholders shall, if the
facts warrant, determine and declare to the meeting that a nomination was not
made in accordance with the procedures prescribed by these bylaws, and if he
should so determine, he shall so declare to the meeting and the defective
nomination shall be disregarded.

         Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section, a
shareholder shall also comply with all applicable requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder with respect to the matters set forth in this Section.
Notwithstanding any provision to the contrary set forth above, the provisions
of this Section 13 shall be effective only with respect to annual meetings of
shareholders held after December 31, 1995.  (Section added by Amendment on
March 17, 1995.)

                                   ARTICLE IV

                                   COMMITTEES

         Section 1.  Designation; Powers.  The Board of Directors, by
resolution adopted by a majority of the full Board of Directors, may designate
from among its members one or more committees, each of which shall be comprised
of one or more of its members, and may designate one or more of its members as
alternate members of any committee, who may, subject to any limitations imposed
by the Board of Directors, replace absent or disqualified members at any
meeting of that committee.  Any such committee, to the extent provided in such
resolution or in the Articles of Incorporation or bylaws shall have and may
exercise all of the authority of the Board of Directors, subject to the
limitations set forth in the TBCA or below.

         No committee of the Board of Directors shall have the authority of the
Board of Directors in reference to:





                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14
                 (1)      amending the Articles of Incorporation, except that a
         committee may, to the extent provided in the resolution designating
         that committee or in the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws,
         exercise the authority of the Board of Directors vested in it in
         accordance with Article 2.13 of the TBCA;

                 (2)      proposing a reduction in the stated capital of the
         Corporation in the manner permitted by Article 4.12 of the TBCA;

                 (3)      approving a plan of merger or share exchange of the
         Corporation;

                 (4)      recommending to the shareholders the sale, lease or
         exchange of all or substantially all of the property and assets of the
         Corporation otherwise than in the usual and regular course of its
         business;

                 (5)      recommending to the shareholders a voluntary
         dissolution of the Corporation or a revocation thereof;

                 (6)      amending, altering or repealing the bylaws of the
         Corporation or adopting new bylaws of the Corporation;

                 (7)      filling vacancies in the Board of Directors;

                 (8)      filling vacancies in or designating alternate members
         of any such committee;

                 (9)      filling any directorship to be filled by reason of an
         increase in the number of directors;

                 (10)     electing or removing officers of the Corporation or
         members or alternate members of any such committee;

                 (11)     fixing the compensation of any member or alternate
         members of such committee; or

                 (12)     altering or repealing any resolution of the Board of
         Directors that by its terms provides that it shall not be so amendable
         or repealable.

         Unless the resolution designating a particular committee, the Articles
of Incorporation or these bylaws expressly so provide, no committee of the
Board of Directors shall have the authority to authorize a distribution (as
such term is defined in the TBCA) or to authorize the issuance of shares of the
Corporation.





                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15
         Section 2.  Procedure; Meetings; Quorum.  Any committee designated
pursuant to Section 1 of this Article shall choose its own chairman and
secretary, shall keep regular minutes of its proceedings and report the same to
the Board of Directors when requested, shall fix its own rules or procedures,
and shall meet at such times and at such place or places as may be provided by
such rules, or by resolution of such committee or of the Board of Directors.
At every meeting of any such committee, the presence of a majority of all the
members thereof shall constitute a quorum, and the affirmative vote of a
majority of the members present shall be necessary for the adoption by it of
any resolution.

         Section 3.  Dissolution.  The Board of Directors may dissolve any
committee at any time, unless otherwise provided in the Articles of
Incorporation or these bylaws.

                                   ARTICLE V

                                    OFFICERS

         Section 1.  Number, Titles and Term of Office.  The officers of the
Corporation shall be a President and a Secretary and such other officers as the
Board of Directors may from time to time elect or appoint, including, without
limitation, a Chairman of the Board, one or more Vice Presidents (any one or
more of whom may be designated Executive Vice President or Senior Vice
President), a Treasurer, one or more Assistant Treasurers and one or more
Assistant Secretaries.  Each officer shall hold office until his successor
shall be duly elected and shall qualify or until his death or until he shall
resign or shall have been removed in the manner hereinafter provided.  Any
number of offices may be held by the same person.  Except for the Chairman of
the Board, if any, no officer need be a director.

         Section 2.  Salaries.  The salaries or other compensation, if any, of
the officers and agents of the Corporation shall be fixed from time to time by
the Board of Directors.

         Section 3.  Removal.  Any officer or agent or member of a committee
elected or appointed by the Board of Directors may be removed, either with or
without cause, by the Board of Directors whenever in its judgment the best
interests of the Corporation will be served thereby, but such removal shall be
without prejudice to the contract rights, if any, of the person so removed.
Election or appointment of an officer or agent or member of a committee shall
not of itself create contract rights.

         Section 4.  Vacancies.  Any vacancy occurring in any office of the
Corporation may be filled by the Board of Directors.

         Section 5.  Powers and Duties of the Chief Executive Officer.  The
President shall be the chief executive officer of the Corporation unless the
Board of Directors designates the Chairman of the Board (if any) or other
officer as chief executive officer.  Subject to the control of the Board of
Directors, the chief executive officer shall have general executive charge,
management and control of the properties, business and operations of the
Corporation with all such powers as may be reasonably incident to such
responsibilities; he may agree upon and execute all leases, contracts,
evidences of





                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16
indebtedness and other obligations in the name of the Corporation and may sign
all certificates for shares of capital stock of the Corporation; and he shall
have such other powers and duties as designated in accordance with these bylaws
and as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.

         Section 6.  Powers and Duties of the Chairman of the Board.  The
Chairman of the Board (if any) shall preside at all meetings of the
shareholders and of the Board of Directors; and the Chairman shall have such
other powers and duties as designated in these bylaws and as from time to time
may be assigned to him by the Board of Directors.

         Section 7.  Powers and Duties of the President.  Unless the Board of
Directors otherwise determines, the President shall have the authority to agree
upon and execute all leases, contracts, evidences of indebtedness and other
obligations in the name of the Corporation; and, unless the Board of Directors
otherwise determines, he shall, in the absence of the Chairman of the Board or
if there be no Chairman of the Board, preside at all meetings of the
shareholders and (should he be a director) of the Board of Directors; and the
President shall have such other powers and duties as designated in accordance
with these bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board
of Directors.

         Section 8.  Vice Presidents.  The Vice President(s), if any, shall
perform such duties and have such powers as the Board of Directors may from
time to time prescribe.  In addition, in the absence of the Chairman of the
Board (if any) or President, or in the event of their inability or refusal to
act, (i) a Vice President designated by the Board of Directors or (ii) in the
absence of such designation, the Vice President who is present and who is
senior in terms of time as a Vice President of the Corporation, shall perform
the duties of the Chairman of the Board (if any), or the President, as the case
may be, and when so acting shall have all the powers of and be subject to all
the restrictions upon the Chairman of the Board (if any), or the President;
provided that he shall not preside at meetings of the Board of Directors unless
he is a director.

         Section 9.  Treasurer.  The Treasurer, if any, shall have
responsibility for the custody and control of all the funds and securities of
the Corporation, and he shall have such other powers and duties as designated
in these bylaws and as from time to time may be assigned to him by the Board of
Directors.  He shall perform all acts incident to the position of Treasurer
subject to the control of the chief executive officer and the Board of
Directors; and the Treasurer shall, if required by the Board of Directors, give
such bond for the faithful discharge of his duties in such form as the Board of
Directors may require.

         Section 10.  Assistant Treasurers.  Each Assistant Treasurer, if any,
shall have the usual powers and duties pertaining to his office, together with
such other powers and duties as designated in these bylaws and as from time to
time may be assigned to him by the chief executive officer or the Board of
Directors or the Treasurer.  The Assistant Treasurers shall exercise the powers
of the Treasurer during that officer's absence or inability or refusal to act.





                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17
         Section 11.  Secretary.  The Secretary shall keep the minutes of all
meetings of the Board of Directors, and the minutes of all meetings of the
shareholders, in books provided for that purpose; he shall attend to the giving
and serving of all notices; he may in the name of the Corporation affix the
seal (if any) of the Corporation to all contracts of the Corporation and attest
thereto; he may sign with the other appointed officers all certificates for
shares of capital stock of the Corporation; he shall have charge of the
certificate books, transfer books and stock ledgers, and such other books and
papers as the Board of Directors may direct, all of which shall at all
reasonable times be open to inspection of any director upon application at the
office of the Corporation during business hours; he shall have such other
powers and duties as designated in these bylaws and as from time to time may be
assigned to him by the chief executive officer or the Board of Directors; and
he shall in general perform all duties incident to the office of Secretary,
subject to the control of the chief executive officer and the Board of
Directors.

         Section 12.  Assistant Secretaries.  Each Assistant Secretary, if any,
shall have the usual powers and duties pertaining to his office, together with
such other powers and duties as designated in these bylaws and as from time to
time may be assigned to him by the chief executive officer or the Board of
Directors or the Secretary.  The Assistant Secretaries shall exercise the
powers of the Secretary during that officer's absence or inability or refusal
to act.

         Section 13.  Action With Respect to Securities of Other Corporations.
Unless otherwise directed by the Board of Directors, each of the chief
executive officer and the Treasurer (if any), or either of them, shall have
power to vote and otherwise act on behalf of the Corporation, in person or by
proxy, at any meeting of shareholders of or with respect to any action of
shareholders of any other corporation in which this Corporation may hold
securities and otherwise to exercise any and all rights and powers which this
Corporation may possess by reason of its ownership of securities in such other
corporation.

                                   ARTICLE VI

                         INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS,
                         OFFICERS, EMPLOYEES AND AGENTS

         Section 1.  Right to Indemnification.  Subject to the limitations and
conditions as provided in this Article VI, each person who was or is made a
party or is threatened to be made a party to or is involved in any threatened,
pending or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal,
administrative, arbitrative or investigative (hereinafter a "proceeding"), or
any appeal in such a proceeding or any inquiry or investigation that could lead
to such a proceeding, by reason of the fact that he or she, or a person of whom
he or she is the legal representative, is or was a director or officer of the
Corporation or while a director or officer of the Corporation is or was serving
at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner, venturer,
proprietor, trustee, employee, agent, or similar functionary of another foreign
or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole proprietorship,
trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise shall be indemnified by the
Corporation to the fullest extent permitted by the TBCA, as the same exists or
may hereafter be amended (but, in the case of any





                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18
such amendment, only to the extent that such amendment permits the Corporation
to provide broader indemnification rights than said law permitted the
Corporation to provide prior to such amendment) against judgments, penalties
(including excise and similar taxes and punitive damages), fines, settlements
and reasonable expenses (including, without limitation, attorneys' fees)
actually incurred by such person in connection with such proceeding, and
indemnification under this Article VI shall continue as to a person who has
ceased to serve in the capacity which initially entitled such person to
indemnity hereunder.  The rights granted pursuant to this Article VI shall be
deemed contract rights, and no amendment, modification or repeal of this
Article VI shall have the effect of limiting or denying any such rights with
respect to actions taken or proceedings arising prior to any such amendment,
modification or repeal. It is expressly acknowledged that the indemnification
provided in this Article VI could involve indemnification for negligence or
under theories of strict liability.

         Section 2.  Advance Payment.  The right to indemnification conferred
in this Article VI shall include the right to be paid or reimbursed by the
Corporation the reasonable expenses incurred by a person of the type entitled
to be indemnified under Section 1 who was, is or is threatened to be made a
named defendant or respondent in a proceeding in advance of the final
disposition of the proceeding and without any determination as to the person's
ultimate entitlement to indemnification; provided, however, that the payment of
such expenses incurred by any such person in advance of the final disposition
of a proceeding, shall be made only upon delivery to the Corporation of a
written affirmation by such director or officer of his or her good faith belief
that he or she has met the standard of conduct necessary for indemnification
under this Article VI and a written undertaking, by or on behalf of such
person, to repay all amounts so advanced if it shall ultimately be determined
that such indemnified person is not entitled to be indemnified under this
Article VI or otherwise.

         Section 3.  Indemnification of Employees and Agents.  The Corporation,
by adoption of a resolution of the Board of Directors, may indemnify and
advance expenses to an employee or agent of the Corporation to the same extent
and subject to the same conditions under which it may indemnify and advance
expenses to directors and officers under this Article VI; and, the Corporation
may indemnify and advance expenses to persons who are not or were not
directors, officers, employees or agents of the Corporation but who are or were
serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner,
venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent or similar functionary of
another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture, sole
proprietorship, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise against any
liability asserted against him and incurred by him in such a capacity or
arising out of his status as such a person to the same extent that it may
indemnify and advance expenses to directors under this Article VI.

         Section 4.  Appearance as a Witness.  Notwithstanding any other
provision of this Article VI, the Corporation may pay or reimburse expenses
incurred by a director or officer in connection with his or her appearance as a
witness or other participation in a proceeding at a time when he or she is not
a named defendant or respondent in the proceeding.

         Section 5.  Nonexclusivity of Rights.  The right to indemnification
and the advancement and payment of expenses conferred in this Article VI shall
not be exclusive of any other right which a





                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19
director or officer or other person indemnified pursuant to Section 3 of this
Article VI may have or hereafter acquire under any law (common or statutory),
provision of the Articles of Incorporation of the Corporation or these bylaws,
agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested directors or otherwise.

         Section 6.  Insurance.  The Corporation may purchase and maintain
insurance, at its expense, to protect itself and any person who is or was
serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation or is or
was serving at the request of the Corporation as a director, officer, partner,
venturer, proprietor, trustee, employee, agent or similar functionary of
another foreign or domestic corporation, partnership, joint venture,
proprietorship, employee benefit plan, trust or other enterprise against any
expense, liability or loss, whether or not the Corporation would have the power
to indemnify such person against such expense, liability or loss under this
Article VI.

         Section 7.  Shareholder Notification.  To the extent required by law,
any indemnification of or advance of expenses to a director or officer in
accordance with this Article VI shall be reported in writing to the
shareholders with or before the notice or waiver of notice of the next
shareholders' meeting or with or before the next submission to shareholders of
a consent to action without a meeting and, in any case, within the 12-month
period immediately following the date of the indemnification or advance.

         Section 8.  Savings Clause.  If this Article VI or any portion hereof
shall be invalidated on any ground by any court of competent jurisdiction, then
the Corporation shall nevertheless indemnify and hold harmless each director,
officer or any other person indemnified pursuant to this Article VI as to
costs, charges and expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement with respect to any action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative to the full extent
permitted by any applicable portion of this Article VI that shall not have been
invalidated and to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law.





                                      -19-
<PAGE>   20
                                  ARTICLE VII

                                 CAPITAL STOCK

         Section 1.  Certificates of Stock.  The certificates for shares of the
capital stock of the Corporation shall be in such form, not inconsistent with
that required by law and the Articles of Incorporation, as shall be approved by
the Board of Directors.  The Chairman of the Board (if any), President or a
Vice President (if any) shall cause to be issued to each shareholder one or
more certificates, which shall be signed by the Chairman of the Board (if any),
President or a Vice President (if any) and the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary (if any) or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer (if any)
certifying the number of shares (and, if the stock of the Corporation shall be
divided into classes or series, the class and series of such shares) owned by
such shareholder in the Corporation; provided, however, that any of or all the
signatures on the certificate may be facsimile.  If the Board of Directors
shall have provided for a seal, such certificates shall bear such seal or a
facsimile thereof.  The stock record books and the blank stock certificate
books shall be kept by the Secretary, or at the office of such transfer agent
or transfer agents as the Board of Directors may from time to time by
resolution determine.  In case any officer, transfer agent or registrar who
shall have signed or whose facsimile signature or signatures shall have been
placed upon any such certificate or certificates shall have ceased to be such
officer, transfer agent or registrar before such certificate is issued by the
Corporation, such certificate may nevertheless be issued by the Corporation
with the same effect as if such person were such officer, transfer agent or
registrar at the date of issue.  The stock certificates shall be consecutively
numbered and shall be entered in the books of the Corporation as they are
issued and shall exhibit the holder's name and number of shares.

         Each certificate shall conspicuously bear any legend required pursuant
to Article 2.19 or Article 2.22 of the TBCA, as well as any other legend
required by law.

         Section 2.  Transfer of Shares.  The shares of stock of the
Corporation shall be transferable only on the books of the Corporation by the
holders thereof in person or by their duly authorized attorneys or legal
representatives, upon surrender and cancellation of certificates for a like
number of shares (or upon compliance with the provisions of Section 5 of this
Article VII, if applicable).  Upon such surrender to the Corporation or a
transfer agent of the Corporation of a certificate for shares duly endorsed or
accompanied by proper evidence of succession, assignment or authority to
transfer (or upon compliance with the provisions of Section 5 of this Article
VII, if applicable) and of compliance with any transfer restrictions applicable
thereto contained in an agreement to which the Corporation is a party or of
which the Corporation has knowledge by reason of legend with respect thereto
placed on any such surrendered stock certificate, it shall be the duty of the
Corporation to issue a new certificate to the person entitled thereto, cancel
the old certificate and record the transaction upon its books.

         Section 3.  Ownership of Shares.  Unless otherwise provided in the
TBCA, and subject to the provisions of Chapter 8 - Investment Securities of the
Texas Business & Commerce Code:





                                      -20-
<PAGE>   21
                 (i)      the Corporation may regard the person in whose name
any shares issued by the Corporation are registered in the share transfer
records of the Corporation at any particular time (including, without
limitation, as of a record date fixed pursuant to Article 2.26B or 2.26C of the
TBCA) as the owner of those shares at that time for purposes of voting those
shares, receiving distributions thereon or notices in respect thereof,
transferring those shares, exercising rights of dissent with respect to those
shares, exercising or waiving any preemptive right with respect to those
shares, entering into agreements with respect to those shares in accordance
with Article 2.22 or 2.30 of the TBCA, or giving proxies with respect to those
shares; and

                 (ii)     neither the Corporation nor any of its officers,
directors, employees, or agents shall be liable for regarding that person as
the owner of those shares at that time for those purposes, regardless of
whether that person does not possess a certificate for those shares.

         Section 4.  Regulations Regarding Certificates.  The Board of
Directors shall have the power and authority to make all such rules and
regulations as they may deem expedient concerning the issuance, transfer and
registration or the replacement of certificates for shares of capital stock of
the Corporation.

         Section 5.  Lost, Stolen, Destroyed or Mutilated Certificates.  The
Board of Directors may determine the conditions upon which a new certificate of
stock may be issued in place of a certificate that is alleged to have been
lost, stolen, destroyed or mutilated; and may, in its discretion, require the
owner of such certificate or his legal representative to give bond, with
sufficient surety, to indemnify the Corporation and each transfer agent and
registrar against any and all losses or claims which may arise by reason of the
issuance of a new certificate in the place of the one so lost, stolen,
destroyed or mutilated.

                                  ARTICLE VIII

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

         Section 1.  Fiscal Year.  The fiscal year of the Corporation shall be
such as established from time to time by the Board of Directors.

         Section 2.  Corporate Seal.  The Board of Directors may provide a
suitable seal, containing the name of the Corporation.  The Secretary shall
have charge of the seal (if any).  If and when so directed by the Board of
Directors, duplicates of the seal may be kept and used by the Treasurer, if
any, or by any Assistant Secretary or Assistant Treasurer.

         Section 3.  Notice and Waiver of Notice.  Whenever any notice is
required to be given by law, the Articles of Incorporation or these bylaws,
except with respect to notices of meetings of shareholders (with respect to
which the provisions of Article II, Section 6 apply) and except with respect to
notices of special meetings of directors (with respect to which the provisions
of Article VIII, Section 6 apply), said notice shall be deemed to be sufficient
if given (a) by telegraphic, cable or





                                      -21-
<PAGE>   22
wireless transmission or (b) by deposit of same in a post office box in a
sealed prepaid wrapper addressed to the person entitled thereto at his address
as it appears on the records of the Corporation, and such notice shall be
deemed to have been given on the day of such transmission or mailing, as the
case may be.

         Whenever notice is required to be given by law, the Articles of
Incorporation or these bylaws, a written waiver thereof, signed by the person
entitled to notice, whether before or after the time stated therein, shall be
deemed equivalent to notice.

         Section 4.  Resignations.  Any director, member of a committee or
officer may resign at any time.  Such resignation shall be made in writing and
shall take effect at the time specified therein, or if no time be specified, at
the time of its receipt by the chief executive officer or Secretary.  The
acceptance of a resignation shall not be necessary to make it effective, unless
expressly so provided in the resignation.

         Section 5.  Facsimile Signatures.  In addition to the provisions for
the use of facsimile signatures elsewhere specifically authorized in these
bylaws, facsimile signatures of any officer or officers of the Corporation may
be used whenever and as authorized by the Board of Directors.

         Section 6.  Books and Records.  The Corporation shall keep books and
records of account and shall keep minutes of the proceedings of its
shareholders, its Board of Directors and each committee of its Board of
Directors.  The Corporation shall keep at its registered office or principal
place of business, or at the office of its transfer agent or registrar, a
record of the original issuance of shares issued by the Corporation and a
record of each transfer of those shares that have been presented to the
Corporation for registration of transfer.  Such records shall contain the names
and addresses of all past and current shareholders of the Corporation and the
number and class of shares issued by the Corporation held by each of them.  Any
books, records, minutes and share transfer records may be in written form or in
any other form capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable
time.

                                   ARTICLE IX

                                   AMENDMENTS

         Section 1.  Except as set forth below in Section 2, the Bylaws of the
Corporation may be altered, amended or repealed or new Bylaws may be adopted by
(i) the affirmative vote of the holders of the majority of the outstanding
shares of capital stock entitled to vote thereon at any annual meeting, or at
any special meeting, if notice of the proposed amendment is contained in the
notice of said special meeting, or by (ii) the affirmative vote of a majority
of the full Board of Directors.

         Section 2.  Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 1, the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least two-thirds of the outstanding
shares of capital stock of the Corporation entitled to vote thereon at a
meeting called for that purpose shall be required to alter, amend or repeal, or
to adopt any





                                      -22-
<PAGE>   23
provision inconsistent with, Section 1, Article III; Section 7, Article III;
Section 8, Article III or this Article IX of the Corporation's Bylaws.





                                      -23-

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 12.1


                           SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION
             COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES (1)
                      (AMOUNTS IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT RATIOS)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               
                                           Six 
                                         Months
                                          Ended                       Year Ended December 31,
                                         June 30,    -------------------------------------------------------------
                                           1997         1996         1995        1994          1993         1992
                                          -------      -------     -------     --------       -------      -------
<S>                                      <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>
 Earnings (loss) before income taxes
    and cumulative effect of changes
    accounting principles                $ 45,335     $ 54,856     $ 1,044     $   (665)     $ 44,297     $ 10,541

 Fixed Charges:
    Interest expense                       19,995       44,842      52,978        51,674       36,854       17,820
    Capitalized interest                    3,422        2,598       1,242           655          880          873
                                          -------      -------     -------     --------       -------      -------

 Total fixed charges                     $ 23,417     $ 47,440     $ 54,220     $ 52,329     $ 37,734     $ 18,693
                                         ========     ========     ========     ========     ========     ========

 Earnings (loss) plus fixed charges
    excluding capitalized interest       $ 65,330     $ 99,698     $ 54,022     $ 51,009     $ 81,151     $ 28,361
                                         ========     ========     ========     ========     ========     ========

 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges          2.79         2.10         1.00         0.97         2.15         1.52
                                         ========     ========     ========     ========      =======     ========
</TABLE>



 (1)    On October 3, 1996, the Company acquired Global Natural Resources, Inc.
        ("Global") in a stock-for-stock merger accounted for as a pooling of
        interests.  Accordingly, the financial statements of the Company for
        the period prior to October 3, 1996 have been restated to combine the
        results of Seagull and Global.  For purposes of computing the ratio of 
        earnings to fixed charges: (i) earnings consist of income from
        continuing operations before provision for income taxes and cumulative
        effect of changes in accounting principles plus fixed charges as
        described below, excluding capitalized interest for the period and (ii)
        fixed charges consist of interest expensed and capitalized and
        amortization of debt discount and expense relating to indebtedness.

 (2)    For the year ended December 31, 1994, the amount of earnings was not 
        adequate to cover fixed charges by $1,059.


<PAGE>   1





                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS



The Board of Directors
Seagull Energy Corporation:

         We consent to the incorporation by reference in the registration
statement to be filed on Form S-3 of Seagull Energy Corporation of our report
dated January 27, 1997, relating to the consolidated balance sheets of Seagull
Energy Corporation and Subsidiaries as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 and the
related consolidated statements of operations, shareholders' equity and cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1996,
which report is incorporated by reference in the December 31, 1996 Annual
Report on Form 10-K of Seagull Energy Corporation and to the reference to our
firm under the heading "Experts" in the prospectus. Our report on the
consolidated financial statements refers to a change in the Company's method of
accounting for the impairment of long-lived assets and for long-lived assets to
be disposed of.


/s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

KPMG Peat Marwick LLP





Houston, Texas
August 29, 1997

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.3


                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS


         We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of our name in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Seagull Energy Corporation and Subsidiaries (the
"Company") for the year ended December 31, 1996 into the Company's Registration
Statement on Form S-3, to which this consent is an exhibit.

         We hereby consent to the references to our firm under the heading
"Experts" in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement.





                                    /s/  RYDER SCOTT COMPANY
                                         PETROLEUM ENGINEERS
                                    
                                         RYDER SCOTT COMPANY
                                         PETROLEUM ENGINEERS



Houston, Texas
August 29, 1997

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.4


                   CONSENT of INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS


         We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of our name in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Seagull Energy Corporation and subsidiaries (the
Company) for the year ended December 31, 1996, into the Company's registration
statement on Form S-3, to which this consent is an exhibit. We further consent
to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in the Prospectus
included in the Registration Statement.




                                         
                                    /s/  DeGOLYER AND MacNAUGHTON

                                         DeGOLYER AND MacNAUGHTON



Dallas, Texas
August 29, 1997

<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.5


           CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PETROLEUM ENGINEERS AND GEOLOGISTS


         We hereby consent to the incorporation by reference of our name in the
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Seagull Energy Corporation and Subsidiaries (the
"Company") for the year ended December 31, 1996, into the Company's
Registration Statement on Form S-3 to which this consent is an exhibit.

         We hereby consent to the references to our firm under the heading
"Experts" in the prospectus included in the Registration Statement.




                                NETHERLAND, SEWELL & ASSOCIATES, INC.
                               
                                By:  /s/ Frederick D. Sewell
                                     Frederick D. Sewell
                                     NETHERLAND, SEWELL AND ASSOCIATES, INC.
                               



Houston, Texas
September 2, 1997

<PAGE>   1
            THIS CONFORMING PAPER FORMAT DOCUMENT IS BEING SUBMITTED
                   PURSUANT TO RULE 901(d) OF REGULATION S-T

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


                                    FORM T-1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

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

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

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)


New York                                                    13-5160382
(State of incorporation                                     (I.R.S. employer
if not a U.S. national bank)                                identification no.)

48 Wall Street, New York, N.Y.                              10286
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip code)

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

                           SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)


Texas                                                       74-1764876
(State or other jurisdiction of                             (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                              identification no.)

1001 Fannin, Suite 1700
Houston, Texas                                              77002-6714
(Address of principal executive offices)                    (Zip code)

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

                      Senior Subordinated Debt Securities
                      (Title of the indenture securities)

================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
1.   GENERAL INFORMATION. FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

     (a)  NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO WHICH
          IT IS SUBJECT.

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                 Name                                Address
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Superintendent of Banks of the State of  2 Rector Street, New York,
    New York                                 N.Y. 10006, and Albany, N.Y. 12203

    Federal Reserve Bank of New York         33 Liberty Plaza, New York,
                                             N.Y. 10045

    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation    Washington, D.C. 20429

    New York Clearing House Association      New York, New York 10005

     (b)  WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

     Yes.

2.   AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR.

     IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH
     AFFILIATION.

     None.

16.  LIST OF EXHIBITS.

     EXHIBITS IDENTIFIED IN PARENTHESES BELOW, ON FILE WITH THE COMMISSION, ARE
     INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AS AN EXHIBIT HERETO, PURSUANT TO RULE
     7A-29 UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 (THE "ACT") AND 17 C.F.R.
     229.10(d).

     1.   A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York
          (formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the
          authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise
          corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1
          filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to
          Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672 and Exhibit 1
          to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637.)

     4.   A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1
          filed with Registration Statement No. 33-31019.)


                                      -2-

<PAGE>   3
     6.   The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
          (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.
          33-44051.)

     7.   A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published
          pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or
          examining authority.


                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

                                   SIGNATURE



         Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New
York, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New
York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and
State of New York, on the 2nd day of September, 1997.


                                        THE BANK OF NEW YORK



                                        By:     /s/ THOMAS E. TABOR
                                            ------------------------------
                                            Name:  THOMAS E. TABOR
                                            Title: ASSISTANT TREASURER




                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5
                                                                      EXHIBIT 7


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

                      Consolidated Report of Condition of

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                    of 48 Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286

     And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries, a member of the Federal Reserve
System, at the close of business March 31, 1997, published in accordance with a
call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the
provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Dollar Amounts
ASSETS                                                                   in Thousands
<S>                                                         <C>          <C>        
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
  Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin .................   $ 8,249,820
  Interest-bearing balances ..........................................     1,031,026
Securities:
  Held-to-maturity securities ........................................     1,118,463
  Available-for-sale securities ......................................     3,005,838
Federal funds sold and Securities purchased under
  agreements to resell ...............................................     3,100,281
Loans and lease financing receivables:
  Loans and leases, net of unearned income .............    32,895,077
  LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses ............       633,877
  LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve ................           429
  Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, 
    and reserve ......................................................    32,260,771
Assets held in trading accounts ......................................     1,715,214
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) .............       684,704
Other real estate owned ..............................................        21,738
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
  associated companies ...............................................       195,761
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding .........     1,152,899
Intangible assets ....................................................       683,503
Other assets .........................................................     1,526,113
                                                                         -----------
Total assets .........................................................   $54,746,131
                                                                         ===========

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
  In domestic offices ................................................   $25,614,961
  Noninterest-bearing ..................................    10,564,652
  Interest-bearing .....................................    15,050,309
  In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement
    subsidiaries, and IBFs ...........................................    15,103,615
  Noninterest-bearing ..................................       560,944
  Interest-bearing .....................................    14,542,671
Federal funds purchased and Securities sold under
  agreements to repurchase ...........................................     2,093,286
Demand notes issued to the U.S. ......................................
  Treasury ...........................................................       239,354
Trading liabilities ..................................................     1,399,064
Other borrowed money:
  With remaining maturity of one year or less ........................     2,075,092
  With remaining maturity of more than one year ......................        20,679
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding .............     1,160,012
Subordinated notes and debentures ....................................     1,014,400
Other liabilities ....................................................     1,840,245
                                                                         -----------
Total liabilities ....................................................    50,560,708
                                                                         -----------

EQUITY CAPITAL
Common stock .........................................................       942,284
Surplus ..............................................................       731,319
Undivided profits and capital reserves ...............................     2,544,303
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on 
  available-for-sale securities ......................................       (19,449)
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ..................       (13,034)
                                                                         -----------
Total equity capital .................................................     4,185,423
                                                                         -----------
Total liabilities and equity capital .................................   $54,746,131
                                                                         ===========
</TABLE>


     I, Robert E. Keilman, Senior Vice President and Comptroller of the
above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been
prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System and is true to the best of my knowledge and
belief.

                                                              Robert E. Keilman

     We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of
Condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our
knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions
issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true and
correct.

                        )
      Alan R. Griffith  )
      J. Carter Bacot   }  Directors
      Thomas A. Renyi   )
                        )

================================================================================
<PAGE>   6
           THIS CONFORMING PAPER FORMAT DOCUMENT IS BEING SUBMITTED
                  PURSUANT TO RULE 901(d) OF REGULATION S-T

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


                                    FORM T-1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

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


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


                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)


New York                                              13-5160382
(State of incorporation                               (I.R.S. employer
if not a U.S. national bank)                          identification no.)

48 Wall Street, New York, N.Y.                        10286
(Address of principal executive offices)              (Zip code)


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



                           SEAGULL ENERGY CORPORATION
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)


Texas                                                 74-1764876
(State or other jurisdiction of                       (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                        identification no.)

1001 Fannin, Suite 1700
Houston, Texas                                        77002-6714
(Address of principal executive offices)              (Zip code)

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

                             Senior Debt Securities
                      (Title of the indenture securities)


===============================================================================
<PAGE>   7



1.  GENERAL INFORMATION.  FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

    (a)  NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO WHICH 
         IT IS SUBJECT.

- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                  Name                                  Address
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------

    Superintendent of Banks of the          2 Rector Street, New York,
    State of New York                       N.Y. 10006, and Albany, N.Y. 12203

    Federal Reserve Bank of New York        33 Liberty Plaza, New York,
                                            N.Y. 10045

    Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation   Washington, D.C. 20429

    New York Clearing House Association     New York, New York 10005

    (b)  WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

    Yes.

2.  AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR.

    IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH
    AFFILIATION.

    None.

16. LIST OF EXHIBITS.

    EXHIBITS IDENTIFIED IN PARENTHESES BELOW, ON FILE WITH THE COMMISSION,
    ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AS AN EXHIBIT HERETO, PURSUANT TO
    RULE 7A-29 UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 (THE "ACT") AND 17
    C.F.R. 229.10(d).

    1.   A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York
         (formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains the
         authority to commence business and a grant of powers to exercise
         corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to Form T-1
         filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits 1a and 1b to
         Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-21672 and Exhibit 1
         to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-29637.)

    4.   A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form T-1
         filed with Registration Statement No. 33-31019.)



                                      -2-
<PAGE>   8

     6.   The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
          (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.
          33-44051.)

     7.   A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published
          pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or
          examining authority.



                                      -3-
<PAGE>   9

                                   SIGNATURE



         Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New
York, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New
York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and
State of New York, on the 2nd day of September, 1997.


                                        THE BANK OF NEW YORK



                                        By:  /s/ THOMAS E. TABOR
                                           ------------------------------------
                                           Name:   Thomas E. Tabor
                                           Title:  Assistant Treasurer




                                      -4-


<PAGE>   10
                                                                      EXHIBIT 7


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

                      Consolidated Report of Condition of

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK

                    of 48 Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286

     And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries, a member of the Federal Reserve
System, at the close of business March 31, 1997, published in accordance with a
call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this District pursuant to the
provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                        Dollar Amounts
ASSETS                                                                   in Thousands
<S>                                                         <C>          <C>        
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
  Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin .................   $ 8,249,820
  Interest-bearing balances ..........................................     1,031,026
Securities:
  Held-to-maturity securities ........................................     1,118,463
  Available-for-sale securities ......................................     3,005,838
Federal funds sold and Securities purchased under
  agreements to resell ...............................................     3,100,281
Loans and lease financing receivables:
  Loans and leases, net of unearned income .............    32,895,077
  LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses ............       633,877
  LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve ................           429
  Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, 
    and reserve ......................................................    32,260,771
Assets held in trading accounts ......................................     1,715,214
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) .............       684,704
Other real estate owned ..............................................        21,738
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
  associated companies ...............................................       195,761
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding .........     1,152,899
Intangible assets ....................................................       683,503
Other assets .........................................................     1,526,113
                                                                         -----------
Total assets .........................................................   $54,746,131
                                                                         ===========

LIABILITIES
Deposits:
  In domestic offices ................................................   $25,614,961
  Noninterest-bearing ..................................    10,564,652
  Interest-bearing .....................................    15,050,309
  In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement
    subsidiaries, and IBFs ...........................................    15,103,615
  Noninterest-bearing ..................................       560,944
  Interest-bearing .....................................    14,542,671
Federal funds purchased and Securities sold under
  agreements to repurchase ...........................................     2,093,286
Demand notes issued to the U.S. ......................................
  Treasury ...........................................................       239,354
Trading liabilities ..................................................     1,399,064
Other borrowed money:
  With remaining maturity of one year or less ........................     2,075,092
  With remaining maturity of more than one year ......................        20,679
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding .............     1,160,012
Subordinated notes and debentures ....................................     1,014,400
Other liabilities ....................................................     1,840,245
                                                                         -----------
Total liabilities ....................................................    50,560,708
                                                                         -----------

EQUITY CAPITAL
Common stock .........................................................       942,284
Surplus ..............................................................       731,319
Undivided profits and capital reserves ...............................     2,544,303
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on 
  available-for-sale securities ......................................       (19,449)
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ..................       (13,034)
                                                                         -----------
Total equity capital .................................................     4,185,423
                                                                         -----------
Total liabilities and equity capital .................................   $54,746,131
                                                                         ===========
</TABLE>


     I, Robert E. Keilman, Senior Vice President and Comptroller of the
above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been
prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System and is true to the best of my knowledge and
belief.

                                                              Robert E. Keilman

     We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report of
Condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our
knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions
issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true and
correct.

                        )
      Alan R. Griffith  )
      J. Carter Bacot   }  Directors
      Thomas A. Renyi   )
                        )

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


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