HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL INC
S-3/A, 1995-05-26
PERSONAL CREDIT INSTITUTIONS
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<PAGE>
 
      
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 26, 1995.     
                                                     
                                                  REGISTRATION NO. 33-59385     
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                                ---------------
                                 
                              AMENDMENT NO. 1     
                                       
                                    TO     
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                                ---------------
 
                         HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
  (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER OR GOVERNING DOCUMENT)
 
                DELAWARE                               36-3121988
    (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                 (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)              IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
 
                           HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I
  (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER OR GOVERNING DOCUMENT)
 
                DELAWARE                              APPLIED FOR
    (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                 (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
     INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)              IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)
 
                               2700 SANDERS ROAD
                        PROSPECT HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS 60070
                                  708-564-5000
  (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
                   REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
       PATRICK D. SCHWARTZ, ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL--CORPORATE FINANCE
                         HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                               2700 SANDERS ROAD
                        PROSPECT HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS 60070
                                  708-564-6301
 (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                             OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
 
                                ---------------
 
                                WITH A COPY TO:
            SCOTT N. GIERKE                          JOHN W. BLENKE
        MCDERMOTT, WILL & EMERY         ASSISTANT GENERAL COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
         227 WEST MONROE STREET              HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
        CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60606                    2700 SANDERS ROAD
              312-984-7521                  PROSPECT HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS 60070
                                                      708-564-6150
 
  APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable 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. [_]
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                PROPOSED MAXIMUM  PROPOSED MAXIMUM   AMOUNT OF
    SECURITIES TO BE      AMOUNT TO BE  OFFERING PRICE  AGGREGATE OFFERING REGISTRATION
       REGISTERED          REGISTERED   PER UNIT(2)(3)     PRICE(2)(3)        FEE(5)
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                       <C>          <C>              <C>                <C>
Trust Preferred
 Securities of Household
 Capital Trust I and
 Junior Subordinated
  Deferrable Interest
  Notes of Household
  International,
  Inc.(1)..............    3,000,000        $25.00         $75,000,000      $25,862.25
Guarantees of Trust
 Preferred Securities by
 Household                 Preferred
 International, Inc.(4)    Securities
</TABLE>    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) The Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Notes will be purchased by and
    constitute assets of Household Capital Trust I. No separate consideration
    therefor will be received.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
    pursuant to Rule 457(i) and Rule 457(n).
(3) Exclusive of accrued interest and distributions, if any.
(4) No separate consideration will be received for the Guarantees.
   
(5) $344.83 of the filing fee was previously paid.     
 
                                ---------------
 
  THE REGISTRANTS HEREBY AMEND THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANTS
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 THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(A),
MAY DETERMINE.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A         +
+REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE   +
+SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY  +
+OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT        +
+BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR   +
+THE SOLICITATION OF 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.                                                               +
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
                             SUBJECT TO COMPLETION
                    
                 PRELIMINARY PROSPECTUS DATED MAY 26, 1995     
 
PROSPECTUS
                         
                      3,000,000 PREFERRED SECURITIES     
                           HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I
              % TRUST ORIGINATED PREFERRED SECURITIESSM ("TOPRSSM")
                (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $25 PER PREFERRED SECURITY)
                  GUARANTEED TO THE EXTENT SET FORTH HEREIN BY
                         HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
                                  ----------
 
  The    % Trust Originated Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities")
offered hereby evidence preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of Household Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust formed under the laws
of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"). Household International, Inc., a
Delaware corporation ("Household International" or the "Company"), will own all
the common securities (the "Common Securities" and, together with the Preferred
Securities, the "Trust Securities") representing undivided beneficial interests
in the assets of the Trust. The Trust exists for the sole purpose of issuing
the Preferred Securities and Common Securities and investing the proceeds
thereof in an equivalent amount of    % Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Notes due 2025 (the "Junior Subordinated Notes") of Household International.
The Junior Subordinated Notes will be the unsecured obligations of Household
International and will
                                                        (continued on next page)
 
                                  ----------
 
  SEE "INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS" FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION RELEVANT TO AN
INVESTMENT IN THE PREFERRED SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE PERIOD AND CIRCUMSTANCES
DURING AND UNDER WHICH PAYMENTS OF DISTRIBUTIONS ON THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
MAY BE DEFERRED AND THE RELATED UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
OF SUCH DEFERRAL.
 
  Application has been made to list the Preferred Securities on the New York
Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "New York Stock Exchange"). If approved, trading of
the Preferred Securities on the New York Stock Exchange is expected to commence
within a 30 day period after the initial delivery of the Preferred Securities.
See "Underwriting."
 
                                  ----------
 
 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.
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                           INITIAL PUBLIC          UNDERWRITING           PROCEEDS TO
                                         OFFERING PRICE(1)        COMMISSION(2)           TRUST(3)(4)
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                    <C>                    <C>                    <C>
Per Preferred Security................         $25.00                  (3)                   $25.00
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.................................      $75,000,000                (3)                $75,000,000
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>    
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Plus accrued distributions, if any, from             , 1995.
(2) Household International and the Trust have agreed to indemnify the several
    Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the
    Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting."
(3) In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred
    Securities will be invested in Junior Subordinated Notes, Household
    International has agreed to pay to the Underwriters as compensation (the
    "Underwriters' Compensation") for their arranging the investment therein of
    such proceeds, $         per Preferred Security (or $      in the
    aggregate); provided, that such compensation for sales of 10,000 or more
    Preferred Securities to a single purchaser will be $     per Preferred
    Security. Therefore, to the extent of such sales, the actual amount of
    Underwriters Compensation will be less than the aggregate amount specified
    in the preceding sentence. See "Underwriting."
   
(4) Expenses of the offering which are payable by Household International are
    estimated to be $275,000.     
 
  The Preferred Securities offered hereby are offered severally by the
Underwriters, as specified herein, subject to receipt and acceptance by them
and subject to their right to reject any order in whole or in part. It is
expected that delivery of the Preferred Securities will be made only in book-
entry form through the facilities of The Depository Trust Company on or about
          , 1995.
 
                                  ----------
 
MERRILL LYNCH & CO.                                            SMITH BARNEY INC.
                              GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
 
                                  ----------
                 
              The date of this Prospectus is          , 1995.     
 
   SM"TRUST ORIGINATED PREFERRED SECURITIES" AND "TOPRS" ARE SERVICE MARKS OF
                           MERRILL LYNCH & CO., INC.
<PAGE>
 
(continued from previous page)
   
be subordinate and junior in right of payment to certain other indebtedness of
Household International, as described herein. In addition, because Household
International is a holding company, its obligations under the Junior
Subordinated Notes will be effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of its subsidiaries, as described herein. Upon an event of default
under the Declaration (as defined herein), the holders of the Preferred
Securities will have a preference over the holders of the Common Securities
with respect to payments in respect of distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise.     
   
  Holders of the Preferred Securities are entitled to receive cumulative cash
distributions at an annual rate of   % of the liquidation amount of $25 per
Preferred Security, accruing from the date of original issuance and payable
quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each
year commencing June 30, 1995 (the "distributions"). The payment of
distributions out of moneys held by the Trust, and payments on liquidation of
the Trust or the redemption of Preferred Securities, as set forth below, are
guaranteed by Household International (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee") to
the extent the Trust has funds available therefor as described under
"Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee". The obligations of
Household International under the Preferred Securities Guarantee are
subordinate and junior in right of payment to all other liabilities of
Household International and will be pari passu with preferred stock issued by
Household International. In addition, because Household International is a
holding company, its obligations under the Preferred Securities Guarantee are
effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of its
subsidiaries.     
 
  The distribution rate and the distribution and other payment dates for the
Preferred Securities will correspond to the interest rate and interest and
other payment dates on the Junior Subordinated Notes, which will be the sole
assets of the Trust. As a result, if principal or interest is not paid on the
Junior Subordinated Notes, no amounts will be paid on the Preferred Securities.
If Household International does not make principal or interest payments on the
Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to make
distributions on the Preferred Securities, in which event the Preferred
Securities Guarantee will not apply to such distributions until the Trust has
sufficient funds available therefor.
   
  Household International has the right to defer payments of interest on the
Junior Subordinated Notes by extending the interest payment period on the
Junior Subordinated Notes, at any time, for up to 20 consecutive quarters
(each, an "Extension Period"). If interest payments are so deferred,
distributions will also be deferred. Despite such deferral, distributions will
continue to accrue with interest thereon (to the extent permitted by applicable
law) at an annual rate of   % per annum, compounded quarterly, and during any
Extension Period, holders of Preferred Securities will be required to include
deferred interest income in their gross income for United States federal income
tax purposes in advance of receipt of the cash interest payments attributable
to such deferred income. There could be multiple Extension Periods of varying
lengths throughout the term of the Junior Subordinated Notes. See "Description
of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period,"
"Investment Considerations--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period" and
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Original Issue Discount, Premium and
Market Discount."     
 
  The Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemable by Household International (in
whole or in part) from time to time, on or after          , 2000 or at any time
in certain circumstances upon the occurrence of a Tax Event (as defined
herein). If Household International redeems the Junior Subordinated Notes, the
Trust must redeem Trust Securities having an aggregate liquidation amount equal
to the aggregate principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes so redeemed
at $25 per Preferred Security plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon
(the "Redemption Price") to the date fixed for redemption. See "Description of
the Preferred Securities--Mandatory Redemption." The Preferred Securities will
be redeemed upon maturity of the Junior Subordinated Notes. The Junior
Subordinated Notes mature on          , 2025, but the maturity date may be
extended once only for up to an additional 19 years at the option of Household
International, provided certain financial covenants are met. See "Description
of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Option to Extend Maturity Date." In addition,
upon the occurrence of a Special Event (as defined herein) arising from a
change in law or a change in legal interpretation, unless the Junior
Subordinated Notes are redeemed in the limited circumstances described below,
the Trust shall be dissolved with the result that the Junior Subordinated Notes
will be distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities, on a pro rata
basis, in lieu of any cash distribution. In the case of a Special Event that is
a Tax Event, Household International will have the right in certain
circumstances to redeem the Junior Subordinated Notes, which would result in
the redemption by the Trust of the Trust Securities in the same amount on a pro
rata basis. If the Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to the holders of
the Preferred Securities, Household International will use its best efforts to
have the Junior Subordinated Notes listed on the New York Stock Exchange or on
such other exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed. See
"Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption or
Distribution" and "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes."
 
  In the event of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding up or
termination of the Trust, the holders of the Preferred Securities will be
entitled to receive, for each Preferred Security, a liquidation amount of $25
plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon (including interest thereon) to
the date of payment, unless in connection with such dissolution, the Junior
Subordinated Notes are distributed to the holders of the Preferred Securities.
See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Liquidation Distribution Upon
Dissolution."
 
                                --------------
 
IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE SECURITIES
OFFERED HEREBY AT LEVELS ABOVE THOSE WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE, IN
THE OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY
BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
  Household International and the Trust have filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") a combined registration statement on
Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement", which term encompasses any amendments
thereof) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to the
Junior Subordinated Notes, Preferred Securities and Preferred Securities
Guarantee offered hereby. As permitted by the rules and regulations of the
Commission, this Prospectus does not contain all of the information set forth
in the Registration Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto to which
reference is hereby made. Statements or extracts presented in this Prospectus
from financial statements, contracts, agreements or other documents included as
an exhibit to the Registration Statement are not necessarily complete. With
respect to each such financial statement, contract, agreement or other document
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement, reference is hereby made to
the exhibit for a more complete description of the matter involved.
 
  Household International 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 Commission. Such reports, proxy statements and other information can be
inspected and copied at the public reference facilities of the Commission at
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's
Regional Offices at 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois
60661 and Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048.
Copies of such material can also be obtained at prescribed rates by writing to
the Public Reference Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549. In addition, reports, proxy statements and other
material concerning Household International can be inspected at the offices of
the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005, and the
Chicago Stock Exchange, 440 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois, 60605.
Although Household International is not required to send a copy of its latest
Annual Report to Shareholders to holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes,
Preferred Securities or Preferred Securities Guarantee, Household International
will, upon request, send to any holder of such securities a copy of its latest
Annual Report to Shareholders, as filed with the Commission, which contains
financial information that has been examined and reported upon, with an opinion
expressed, by independent certified public accountants.
 
  No separate financial statements of the Trust are included herein as such
statements are not material to holders of the Preferred Securities. The Trust
is currently not subject to the informational reporting requirements of the
Exchange Act. The Trust will become subject to such requirements upon
effectiveness of the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a
part, although it intends to seek and expects to receive an exemption
therefrom.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
  The following documents have been filed with the Commission (File No. 1-8198)
pursuant to the Exchange Act and are incorporated herein by reference and made
a part of this Prospectus:
 
    (a) Household International's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
  year ended December 31, 1994;
 
    (b) Household International's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
  quarter ended March 31, 1995; and
 
    (c) Household International's Current Report on Form 8-K dated February
  7, 1995.
 
  All documents filed by Household International or the Trust, as the case may
be, with the Commission pursuant to Sections 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 Junior Subordinated Notes, Preferred
Securities or Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to be incorporated
herein by reference and made a part of this
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
Prospectus from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained
in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to
the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any statement so modified or superseded
shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part
of this Prospectus.
  HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL WILL PROVIDE WITHOUT CHARGE TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM
THIS PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED, ON THE WRITTEN OR ORAL REQUEST OF ANY SUCH
PERSON, A COPY OF ANY OR ALL DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE
(WITHOUT EXHIBITS OTHER THAN EXHIBITS SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE).
REQUESTS SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO:
 
                           HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                           2700 SANDERS ROAD
                           PROSPECT HEIGHTS, ILLINOIS 60070
                           ATTENTION: OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY
                           TELEPHONE: 708-564-6989
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                           INVESTMENT CONSIDERATIONS
 
  Prospective purchasers of Preferred Securities should carefully review the
information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus and should particularly
consider the following matters:
 
RANKING OF PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AND JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
   
  Household International's obligations under the Preferred Securities
Guarantee are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all liabilities of
Household International and will be pari passu with preferred stock issued by
Household International. The obligations of Household International under the
Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all
present and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined herein) of Household
International. At March 31, 1995, Senior Indebtedness of Household
International aggregated approximately $2.8 billion. In addition, because
Household International is a holding company, its obligations under the
Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Junior Subordinated Notes will be
effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of its
subsidiaries. At March 31, 1995, such subsidiaries had total liabilities of
approximately $20.3 billion. There are no terms in the Preferred Securities,
the Junior Subordinated Notes or the Preferred Securities Guarantee that limit
Household International's ability to incur additional indebtedness, including
indebtedness that ranks senior to the Junior Subordinated Notes or the
Preferred Securities Guarantee. See "Description of the Preferred Securities
Guarantee" and "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Subordination."
    
RIGHTS UNDER THE PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE
   
  The Preferred Securities Guarantee guarantees to the holders of the Preferred
Securities the payment of (i) any accrued and unpaid distributions which are
required to be paid on the Preferred Securities, to the extent the Trust shall
have funds available therefor, (ii) the Redemption Price, including all accrued
and unpaid distributions with respect to Preferred Securities called for
redemption by the Trust, to the extent the Trust has funds available therefor
and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or
termination of the Trust (other than in connection with the distribution of
Junior Subordinated Notes to the holders of Preferred Securities or a
redemption of all of the Preferred Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate
of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid distributions on the
Preferred Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Trust has funds
available therefor and (b) the amount of assets of the Trust remaining
available for distribution to holders of the Preferred Securities in
liquidation of the Trust. The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of
the Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee (as defined herein) or to direct the exercise of any trust or power
conferred upon the Preferred Guarantee Trustee under the Preferred Securities
Guarantee. If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce the Preferred
Securities Guarantee, any holder of Preferred Securities may, after a period of
30 days has elapsed from such holder's written request to the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee to enforce the Preferred Securities Guarantee, institute a
legal proceeding directly against Household International to enforce the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee's rights under the Preferred Securities Guarantee,
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trust, the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. If Household International
were to default in its obligation to pay amounts payable on the Junior
Subordinated Notes, the Trust would lack available funds for the payment of
distributions or amounts payable on redemption of the Preferred Securities or
otherwise, and in such event holders of the Preferred Securities would not be
able to rely upon the Preferred Securities Guarantee for payment of such
amounts. Instead, holders of the Preferred Securities would rely on the
enforcement by the Property Trustee (as defined herein) of its rights as
registered holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes against Household
International pursuant to the terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes and may
also vote to appoint a Special Regular Trustee (as defined herein), who shall
have the same rights, powers and privileges as the other Regular Trustees (as
defined herein). See "Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee--Status
of the Preferred Securities Guarantee" and "Description of the Junior
Subordinated Notes--Subordination." The Declaration (as defined herein)
provides that each holder of Preferred Securities by acceptance thereof agrees
to the provisions of the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Indenture (as
defined herein).     
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
   
  If (i) the Trust fails to pay distributions in full on the Preferred
Securities for six consecutive quarterly distribution periods, or (ii) a
Declaration Event of Default (as defined herein) occurs and is continuing, then
the holders of Preferred Securities would rely on the enforcement by the
Property Trustee of its rights as a holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes
against Household International. In addition, the holders of a majority in
aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities will have the right to
direct the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
available to the Property Trustee or to direct the exercise of any trust or
power conferred upon the Property Trustee under the Declaration, including the
right to direct the Property Trustee to exercise the remedies available to it
as a holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes. If the Property Trustee fails to
enforce its rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes, a holder of Preferred
Securities may, after a period of 30 days has elapsed from such holder's
written request to the Property Trustee to enforce such rights, institute a
legal proceeding directly against Household International to enforce the
Property Trustee's rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes without first
instituting any legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other
person or entity, including the Trust. Upon the occurrence of any of the events
described in clauses (i) or (ii) above, the holders of the Preferred Securities
also will be entitled, by majority vote, to appoint a Special Regular Trustee,
who shall have the same rights, powers and privileges as the other Regular
Trustees.     
 
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
   
  Household International has the right under the Indenture to defer payments
of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes by extending the interest payment
period at any time, and from time to time, on the Junior Subordinated Notes. As
a consequence of such an extension, quarterly distributions on the Preferred
Securities would be deferred (but despite such deferral would continue to
accrue with interest thereon compounded quarterly) by the Trust during any such
extended interest payment period. Such right to extend the interest payment
period for the Junior Subordinated Notes is limited to a period not exceeding
20 consecutive quarters. In the event that Household International exercises
this right to defer payments of interest, then (a) Household International
shall not declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect
to, or redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
its capital stock, and (b) Household International shall not make any payment
of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem
any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by Household International
which rank pari passu with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Prior to
the termination of any such Extension Period, Household International may
further defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period,
provided that such Extension Period, together with all such previous and
further extensions thereof, may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters. Upon the
termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due,
Household International may select a new Extension Period, subject to the above
requirements. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Distributions" and
"Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Option to Extend Interest
Payment Period."     
 
  Should Household International exercise its rights to defer payments of
interest by extending the interest payment period, each holder of Preferred
Securities will continue to accrue income (as original issue discount) for
United States federal income tax purposes in respect of the deferred interest
allocable to its Preferred Securities. As a result, holders of Preferred
Securities will recognize income for United States federal income tax purposes
in advance of the receipt of cash and will not receive the cash from the Trust
related to such income if such holder disposes of its Preferred Securities
prior to the record date for the date on which distributions of such amounts
are made. Household International has no current intention of exercising its
right to defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on
the Junior Subordinated Notes. However, should Household International
determine to exercise such right in the future, the market price of the
Preferred Securities is likely to be affected. A holder that disposes of its
Preferred Securities during an Extension Period, therefore, might not receive
the same return on its investment as a holder that continues to hold its
Preferred Securities. In addition, as a result of the existence of Household
International's right to
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
defer interest payments, the market price of the Preferred Securities (which
represent an undivided beneficial interest in the Junior Subordinated Notes)
may be more volatile than other securities on which original issue discount
accrues that do not have such rights. See "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences--Original Issue Discount, Premium and Market Discount."
 
SPECIAL EVENT DISTRIBUTION
 
  Upon the occurrence of a Special Event, the Trust shall be dissolved, except
in the limited circumstances described below, with the result that the Junior
Subordinated Notes would be distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities
in connection with the liquidation of the Trust. In the case of a Special Event
that is a Tax Event, in certain circumstances Household International shall
have the right to redeem the Junior Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, in
which event the Trust will redeem the Trust Securities on a pro rata basis to
the same extent as the Junior Subordinated Notes are redeemed. See "Description
of the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption or Distribution" and
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences."
 
  There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred
Securities or the Junior Subordinated Notes that may be distributed in exchange
for Preferred Securities if a dissolution or liquidation of the Trust were to
occur. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities that an investor may purchase, or
the Junior Subordinated Notes that the investor may receive on dissolution and
liquidation of the Trust, may trade at a discount to the price that the
investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered hereby. Because
holders of Preferred Securities may receive Junior Subordinated Notes upon the
occurrence of a Special Event, prospective purchasers of Preferred Securities
are also making an investment decision with regard to the Junior Subordinated
Notes and should carefully review all the information regarding the Junior
Subordinated Notes contained herein. See "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Special Event Redemption or Distribution" and "Description of the
Junior Subordinated Notes."
 
LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS
 
  Holders of Preferred Securities will have limited voting rights and, except
for the rights of holders of Preferred Securities to appoint a Special Regular
Trustee upon the occurrence of certain events described herein, will not be
entitled to vote to appoint, remove or replace, or to increase or decrease the
number of, Household International Trustees (as defined herein), which voting
rights are vested exclusively in the holder of the Common Securities.
 
TRADING PRICE OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
  The Preferred Securities may trade at a price that does not fully reflect the
value of accrued but unpaid interest with respect to the underlying Junior
Subordinated Notes. A holder who disposes of his Preferred Securities between
record dates for payments of distributions thereon will be required to include
accrued but unpaid interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes through the date
of disposition in income as ordinary income (i.e., OID, as defined herein), and
to add such amount to his adjusted tax basis in his pro rata share of the
underlying Junior Subordinated Notes deemed disposed of. To the extent the
selling price is less than the holder's adjusted tax basis (which will include,
in the form of OID, all accrued but unpaid interest), a holder will recognize a
capital loss. Subject to certain limited exceptions, capital losses cannot be
applied to offset ordinary income for United States federal income tax
purposes. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences--Original Issue
Discount, Premium and Market Discount" and "--Sales of Preferred Securities."
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
                            HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL
 
  Household International was formed in 1981 as a holding company for various
subsidiaries which operated in the financial services, manufacturing,
transportation and merchandising industries. In 1985 the Company initiated a
restructuring program that has resulted in the disposition of its
merchandising, transportation and manufacturing businesses. This has enabled
the Company to focus its resources in the financial services industry through
the operation of businesses involved in finance and banking, and insurance. The
Company's principal executive office is located at 2700 Sanders Road, Prospect
Heights, Illinois 60070 (telephone: 708-564-5000).
 
  The finance and banking business of the Company is the largest segment of the
Company's operations. Through subsidiaries, such as Household Finance
Corporation ("HFC"), Household Bank, f.s.b., Household Retail Services, Inc.,
Household Bank (Illinois), National Association, Household Financial
Corporation Limited, Household Trust Company and HFC Bank plc, the Company
offers numerous consumer finance products, including home equity credit lines,
revolving and closed-end unsecured personal loans, private label credit cards,
and VISA* and MasterCard* credit cards. Also, in conjunction with its consumer
finance business, and where applicable laws permit, the Company makes credit
life, credit accident and health, household contents, and term insurance
available to its customers. This insurance is generally directly written by or
reinsured with the Company's insurance subsidiary, Alexander Hamilton Life
Insurance Company of America ("Alexander Hamilton").
 
  The Company has included its ongoing commercial finance operations in the
finance and banking segment. These operations are generally administered by
Household Commercial Financial Services, Inc. ("Household Commercial"), a
subsidiary of HFC. Products offered by Household Commercial include loan and
lease financing to businesses for capital equipment, including aircraft and
other transportation equipment, and specialized secured corporate loans. In
addition, Household Commercial also invests in publicly issued or privately
placed term preferred stocks of unaffiliated entities.
 
  The Company's individual life insurance products are offered by Alexander
Hamilton. These products include universal life, whole life and term insurance
policies, as well as annuity products, and are sold through a network of
independent agents in the United States.
 
  Household International is principally a holding company whose primary source
of funds is dividends from its subsidiaries. Dividend distributions to the
Company from its savings and loan, banking and insurance subsidiaries may be
restricted by federal and state laws and regulations. Dividend distributions
from its foreign subsidiaries may also be restricted by exchange controls of
the country in which the subsidiary is located. Also, as a holding company the
rights of any creditors or stockholders of Household International to
participate in the assets of any subsidiary upon the latter's liquidation or
recapitalization will be subject to the prior claims of the subsidiary's
creditors, except to the extent that the Company may itself be a creditor with
recognized claims against the subsidiary. Nevertheless, there are no
restrictions that currently materially limit the Company's ability to make
payments to its creditors or to pay dividends on its preferred stock or common
stock at current levels nor are there any restrictions which Household
International reasonably believes are likely to limit materially such payments
in the future.
- --------
*VISA and MasterCard are registered trademarks of VISA, USA, Inc. and
 MasterCard International Incorporated, respectively.
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
                           HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I
   
  The Trust is a statutory business trust formed under Delaware law pursuant to
the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State on
May 16, 1995. The Trust's business is defined in a Declaration of Trust,
executed by Household International, as Sponsor (the "Sponsor") and the
Household International Trustees (as defined herein). The Declaration of Trust
will be amended and restated in its entirety (as so amended and restated, the
"Declaration") substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The Declaration
will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). Upon issuance of the Preferred Securities,
the purchasers thereof will own all of the Preferred Securities. Household
International will acquire all of the Common Securities in an aggregate
liquidation amount equal to 3% of the total capital of the Trust. The Trust
exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing the Trust Securities
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, (ii)
investing the gross proceeds of the Trust Securities in the Junior Subordinated
Notes and (iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary or incidental
thereto. The Trust has a term of approximately 55 years, but may terminate
earlier as provided in the Declaration.     
 
  The Trust's business and affairs will be conducted by the trustees (the
"Household International Trustees") appointed by Household International, as
holder of the Common Securities. The duties and obligations of the Household
International Trustees shall be governed by the Declaration. Pursuant to the
Declaration, the number of Household International Trustees will initially be
three. Two of the Household International Trustees (the "Regular Trustees")
will be persons who are employees or officers of, or affiliated with Household
International. The third trustee will be a financial institution which
maintains a principal place of business in the State of Delaware which is
unaffiliated with Household International that will serve as property trustee
under the Declaration and as indenture trustee for purposes of the Trust
Indenture Act (the "Property Trustee"). Wilmington Trust Company will act as
the Property Trustee until removed or replaced by the holder of the Common
Securities. Wilmington Trust Company will also act as indenture trustee under
the Preferred Securities Guarantee (the "Preferred Guarantee Trustee"). See
"Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee." In certain circumstances,
the holders of a majority of the Preferred Securities will be entitled to
appoint one Regular Trustee (a "Special Regular Trustee"), who need not be an
officer or employee of, or otherwise affiliated with, Household International.
See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Voting Rights."
 
  The Property Trustee will hold title to the Junior Subordinated Notes for the
benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities and will have the power to
exercise all rights, powers and privileges under the Indenture (as defined
herein) as the holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes. In addition, the
Property Trustee will maintain exclusive control of a segregated non-interest
bearing bank account (the "Property Account") to hold all payments made in
respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes for the benefit of the holders of
Trust Securities. The Property Trustee will make payments of distributions and
payments on liquidation, redemption and otherwise to the holders of the Trust
Securities out of funds from the Property Account. The Preferred Guarantee
Trustee will hold the Preferred Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the
holders of the Preferred Securities. Subject to the right of the holders of the
Preferred Securities to appoint a Special Regular Trustee, Household
International, as the holder of all the Common Securities, will have the right
to appoint, remove or replace any Household International Trustee and to
increase the number of Household International Trustees, provided that the
number of Household International Trustees shall be at least three, a majority
of which shall be Regular Trustees. Household International will pay all fees
and expenses related to the Trust and the offering of the Trust Securities. See
"Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Miscellaneous."
 
  The rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities, including economic
rights, rights to information and voting rights, are as set forth in the
Declaration, the Delaware Business Trust Act (the "Trust Act") and the Trust
Indenture Act. See "Description of the Preferred Securities."
   
  The Trust's registered office in the State of Delaware is c/o Wilmington
Trust Company, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington,
Delaware 19890. The principal place of business of the Trust shall be c/o
Household International, 2700 Sanders Road, Prospect Heights, Illinois 60070
(telephone number (708) 564-6150).     
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
                         SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
  The financial information which is set forth below for the three years ended
December 31, 1994 has been derived from the financial statements of the Company
which have been audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent certified public
accountants. All financial information of the Company and subsidiaries
presented below should be read in conjunction with the detailed financial
statements included in documents on file with the Commission and listed under
"Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference" in the Prospectus. The
results of operations of the Company and subsidiaries for the three month
period ended March 31, 1995 and 1994 reflect all adjustments of a normal
recurring nature which are, in the opinion of the Company's management,
necessary for a fair statement of the results for the interim period and such
results are not necessarily indicative of the results of operations that may be
expected for the entire year. In addition, certain prior period amounts have
been reclassified to conform with the current period's presentation. All dollar
amounts stated below are in millions.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        (UNAUDITED)
                                       THREE MONTHS
                                           ENDED
                                         MARCH 31,    YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                       ------------- --------------------------
                                        1995   1994    1994     1993     1992
                                       ------ ------ -------- -------- --------
<S>                                    <C>    <C>    <C>      <C>      <C>
STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA:
  Finance income...................... $681.7 $616.1 $2,642.3 $2,561.4 $2,584.4
  Interest income from noninsurance
   investment securities..............   36.3   31.7    131.9    129.3    152.8
  Interest expense....................  377.4  257.4  1,242.7  1,149.5  1,420.2
                                       ------ ------ -------- -------- --------
  Net interest margin.................  340.6  390.4  1,531.5  1,541.2  1,317.0
  Provision for credit losses on owned
   receivables........................  164.3  174.1    606.8    735.8    671.5
                                       ------ ------ -------- -------- --------
  Net interest margin after provision
   for credit losses..................  176.3  216.3    924.7    805.4    645.5
                                       ------ ------ -------- -------- --------
  Securitization and servicing fee
   income.............................  228.3  171.0    733.9    460.0    376.0
  Insurance premiums and contract
   revenues...........................   87.7   80.6    282.0    288.3    281.2
  Investment income...................  139.8  138.5    514.4    574.0    523.7
  Fee income..........................   46.8   62.8    250.5    292.6    164.5
  Other income........................   25.4   27.9     48.3    148.9     98.0
                                       ------ ------ -------- -------- --------
  Total other revenues................  528.0  480.8  1,829.1  1,763.8  1,443.4
                                       ------ ------ -------- -------- --------
  Salaries and fringe benefits........  145.8  164.3    656.6    615.4    535.9
  Other operating expenses............  274.7  283.1  1,104.5    964.0    761.1
  Policyholders' benefits.............  140.2  130.1    464.4    539.1    513.9
                                       ------ ------ -------- -------- --------
  Total costs and expenses............  560.7  577.5  2,225.5  2,118.5  1,810.9
                                       ------ ------ -------- -------- --------
  Income before income taxes..........  143.6  119.6    528.3    450.7    278.0
  Income taxes........................   47.6   42.0    160.7    152.0     87.1
                                       ------ ------ -------- -------- --------
  Net income.......................... $ 96.0 $ 77.6 $  367.6 $  298.7 $  190.9
                                       ====== ====== ======== ======== ========
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                    (UNAUDITED)   -----------------------------
                                   MARCH 31, 1995   1994      1993      1992
                                   -------------- --------- --------- ---------
<S>                                <C>            <C>       <C>       <C>
PERIOD END BALANCE SHEET DATA:
  Total assets....................   $34,564.9    $34,338.4 $32,961.5 $31,128.4
  Total debt......................    23,148.4     23,085.2  22,272.0  22,298.0
  Deposits........................     8,252.2      8,439.0   7,516.1   8,030.3
  Convertible preferred stock
   subject to mandatory
   redemption.....................         2.6          2.6      19.3      36.0
  Preferred stock.................       320.0        320.0     320.0     300.0
  Common shareholders' equity.....     2,323.2      2,200.4   2,078.3   1,545.6
</TABLE>
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
 
                   CAPITALIZATION OF HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL
  The following table sets forth the unaudited consolidated capitalization of
Household International at March 31, 1995, and as adjusted to reflect the
application of the estimated net proceeds from the sale of the Preferred
Securities. See "Use of Proceeds." The table should be read in conjunction with
Household International's consolidated financial statements and notes thereto
included in the documents incorporated by reference herein. See "Incorporation
of Certain Documents by Reference."
 
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                              MARCH 31, 1995
                                                            -------------------
                                                             ACTUAL   PRO FORMA
                                                            --------- ---------
                                                                (DOLLARS IN
                                                                 MILLIONS)
<S>                                                         <C>       <C>
Short-term borrowings...................................... $ 4,981.7 $ 4,909.3
                                                            ========= =========
Deposits................................................... $ 8,252.2 $ 8,252.2
                                                            ========= =========
Long-term borrowings....................................... $ 9,914.5 $ 9,914.5
Company obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred
 securities in trust(1)....................................       --       75.0
Convertible preferred stock subject to mandatory
 redemption(2).............................................       2.6       2.6
Preferred stock(3).........................................     320.0     320.0
Common shareholders' equity................................   2,323.2   2,320.6
                                                            --------- ---------
Total capitalization....................................... $12,560.3 $12,632.7
                                                            ========= =========
</TABLE>    
- --------
   
(1) As described in this Prospectus, the sole asset of the Trust will be the
       % Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Notes of Household
    International with a principal amount of $      .     
(2) The Company has called for redemption all outstanding shares of this
    preferred stock which may be converted into common stock of the Company. It
    is anticipated that most holders of this preferred stock will exercise
    their conversion right.
(3) The Company has called for redemption all outstanding shares of its
    Flexible Rate Auction Preferred Stock, Series B ($40 million) and intends
    to redeem all outstanding shares of its 9 1/2% Cumulative Preferred Stock,
    Series 1989-A ($75 million).
                      RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
 
  The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for Household International and
subsidiaries for the periods indicated below was as follows:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                          THREE MONTHS
                                              ENDED
                                            MARCH 31,   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                          ------------- ------------------------
                                           1995   1994  1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
                                          ------ ------ ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
<S>                                       <C>    <C>    <C>  <C>  <C>  <C>  <C>
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.......   1.37   1.45 1.41 1.38 1.19 1.10 1.17
</TABLE>
 
  For purposes of calculating the above ratios, earnings consist of income from
continuing operations to which has been added income taxes and fixed charges.
Fixed charges consist of interest on all indebtedness (including capitalized
interest) and one-third of rental expense (approximate portion representing
interest).
                              ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
   
  The financial statements of the Trust will be consolidated with Household
International's financial statements, with the Preferred Securities shown as
Company obligated mandatorily redeemable preferred securities in trust.     
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
 
  The proceeds of the sale of the Preferred Securities will be invested by the
Trust in the Junior Subordinated Notes of Household International. Household
International will use the net proceeds from the sale of such Junior
Subordinated Notes for the reduction of short-term indebtedness incurred in the
normal and ordinary course of its business, and for other general corporate
purposes.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
 
                    DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
  The Preferred Securities will be issued pursuant to the terms of the
Declaration. The Declaration will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust
Indenture Act. The Property Trustee will act as the indenture trustee for
purposes of compliance with the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act. The
terms of the Preferred Securities will include those stated in the Declaration
and those made part of the Declaration by the Trust Indenture Act. The
following summary of the principal terms and provisions of the Preferred
Securities does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in
its entirety by reference to, the Declaration, a copy of which is filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement, of which this Prospectus is a part, the
Trust Act and the Trust Indenture Act.
 
GENERAL
 
  The Declaration authorizes the Regular Trustees, on behalf of the Trust, to
issue the Preferred Securities, which represent preferred undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Trust, and the Common Securities, which
represent common undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. All
of the Common Securities will be owned by Household International. The Common
Securities rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon on a pro rata
basis with the Preferred Securities, except that upon the occurrence of a
Declaration Event of Default, the rights of the holders of the Common
Securities to receive payment of periodic distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise will be subordinated to the rights of the
holders of the Preferred Securities. The Declaration does not permit the
issuance by the Trust of any securities other than the Trust Securities or the
incurrence of any indebtedness by the Trust. Pursuant to the Declaration, the
Property Trustee will own and hold the Junior Subordinated Notes for the
benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. The payment of distributions
out of money held by the Trust, and payments upon redemption of the Preferred
Securities or liquidation of the Trust, are guaranteed by Household
International on a subordinated basis as and to the extent described under
"Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee." The Preferred Guarantee
Trustee will hold the Preferred Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the
holders of the Preferred Securities. The Preferred Securities Guarantee does
not cover payment of distributions on the Preferred Securities when the Trust
does not have sufficient available funds in the Property Account to make such
distributions. In such event, the remedy of a holder of Preferred Securities is
to vote to appoint a Special Regular Trustee and to direct the Property Trustee
to enforce its rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes. See "'Description of
the Preferred Securities--Voting Rights."
 
DISTRIBUTIONS
 
  Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be fixed at a rate per annum
of    % of the stated liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security.
Distributions in arrears for more than one quarter will bear interest thereon
at the rate per annum of    % thereof. The term "distributions" as used herein
includes any such interest payable unless otherwise stated. The amount of
distributions payable for any period will be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year of twelve 30-day months.
 
  Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be cumulative, will accrue
from           , 1995 and will be payable quarterly in arrears on March 31,
June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year to the holders of record on
the applicable record date, commencing           , 1995 when, as and if
available for payment by the Property Trustee, except as otherwise described
below.
 
  Household International has the right under the Indenture to defer payments
of interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes by extending the interest payment
period from time to time on the Junior Subordinated Notes (each, an "Extension
Period") which, if exercised, would defer quarterly distributions on the
Preferred Securities (though such distributions would continue to accrue
interest since interest would continue to accrue on the Junior Subordinated
Notes) during any such extended interest payment period. In the event that
Household International exercises this right, then (a) Household International
shall not declare or pay any
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
 
   
dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or
make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, and (b)
Household International shall not make any payment of interest, principal or
premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities
(including guarantees) issued by Household International which rank pari passu
with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Prior to the termination of
any such Extension Period, Household International may further extend the
interest payment period, provided that such Extension Period together with all
such previous and further extensions thereof may not exceed 20 consecutive
quarters. Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all
amounts then due, Household International may select a new Extension Period as
if no Extension Period had previously been declared, subject to the above
requirements. See "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Interest" and
"--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period." If distributions are deferred,
the deferred distributions and accrued interest thereon shall be paid to
holders of record of the Preferred Securities, if funds are available therefor,
as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the record date next
following the termination of such Extension Period.     
 
  Distributions on the Preferred Securities must be paid on the dates payable
to the extent that the Trust has funds available for the payment of such
distributions in the Property Account. The Trust's funds available for
distribution to the holders of the Preferred Securities will be limited to
payments received under the Junior Subordinated Notes. See "Description of the
Junior Subordinated Notes." The payment of distributions out of moneys held by
the Trust is guaranteed by Household International to the extent set forth
under "Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee."
 
  Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be payable to the holders
thereof as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the relevant
record dates, which, as long as the Preferred Securities remain in book-entry
only form, will be one Business Day (as defined herein) prior to the relevant
payment dates. Such distributions will be paid through the Property Trustee,
who will hold amounts received in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes in
the Property Account for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities.
Subject to any applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the
Declaration, each such payment will be made as described under "--Book-Entry
Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company" below. In the event the Preferred
Securities shall not continue to remain in book-entry only form, the Regular
Trustees shall have the right to select record dates which shall be more than
one Business Day, but less than 30 Business Days prior to the relevant payment
dates. In the event that any date on which distributions are to be made on the
Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the distributions
payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is a
Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of any such
delay) except that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar
year, such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in
each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date. A "Business
Day" shall mean any day other than Saturday, Sunday or any day on which banking
institutions in the City of New York are authorized or required by law to
close.
 
MANDATORY REDEMPTION
 
  The Junior Subordinated Notes will mature on          , 2025, unless the
maturity date is extended, and may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at any
time on or after          , 2000, or at any time in certain circumstances upon
the occurrence of a Tax Event. Upon the repayment of the Junior Subordinated
Notes, whether at maturity or upon redemption, the proceeds from such repayment
or payment shall simultaneously be applied to redeem Trust Securities having an
aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Notes so repaid or redeemed at the Redemption Price;
provided that holders of Trust Securities shall be given not less than 30 nor
more than 60 days notice of such redemption. See "Description of the Junior
Subordinated Notes." In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding
Preferred Securities are to be redeemed, the Preferred Securities will be
redeemed pro rata as described under "--Book-Entry Only Issuance--The
Depository Trust Company" below.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
 
SPECIAL EVENT REDEMPTION OR DISTRIBUTION
 
  "Tax Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have received an opinion
from independent tax counsel experienced in such matters (a "Dissolution Tax
Opinion") to the effect that, as a result of (a) any amendment to, or change
(including any announced prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations
thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof or therein or (b) any amendment to, or change in, an
interpretation or application of such laws or regulations, there is more than
an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust would be subject to United States
federal income tax with respect to income accrued or received on the Junior
Subordinated Notes, (ii) interest payable to the Trust on the Junior
Subordinated Notes would not be deductible by Household International for
United States federal income tax purposes or (iii) the Trust would be subject
to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental
charges, which change or amendment becomes effective on or after the date of
this Prospectus.
 
  "Investment Company Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have
received an opinion from independent counsel to the effect that, as a result of
the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a written change in
interpretation or application of law or regulation by any legislative body,
court, governmental agency or regulatory authority (a "Change in 1940 Act
Law"), there is more than an insubstantial risk that the Trust is or will be
considered an "investment company" which is required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act"), which Change in
1940 Act Law becomes effective on or after the date of this Prospectus.
 
  If, at any time, a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event (each, as defined
above, a "Special Event") shall occur and be continuing, the Trust shall,
except in the circumstances described below, be dissolved with the result that
Junior Subordinated Notes with an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the
distribution rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and
unpaid distributions on, the Trust Securities would be distributed to the
holders of the Trust Securities, in liquidation of such holders' interests in
the Trust on a pro rata basis, within 90 days following the occurrence of such
Special Event; provided, however, that in the case of the occurrence of a Tax
Event, as a condition of such dissolution and distribution, the Regular
Trustees shall have received an opinion from independent tax counsel
experienced in such matters (a "No Recognition Opinion"), which opinion may
rely on published revenue rulings of the Internal Revenue Service, to the
effect that the holders of the Trust Securities will not recognize any gain or
loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of such
dissolution and distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes; and, provided,
further, that, if at the time there is available to the Trust the opportunity
to eliminate, within such 90 day period, the Special Event by taking some
ministerial action, such as filing a form or making an election, or pursuing
some other similar reasonable measure, which has no adverse effect on the
Trust, Household International or the holders of the Trust Securities, the
Trust will pursue such measure in lieu of dissolution. Furthermore, if in the
case of the occurrence of a Tax Event, (i) Household International has received
an opinion (a "Redemption Tax Opinion") from independent tax counsel
experienced in such matters that, as a result of a Tax Event, there is more
than an insubstantial risk that Household International would be precluded from
deducting the interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes for United States
federal income tax purposes even after the Junior Subordinated Notes were
distributed to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of such holders'
interests in the Trust as described above or (ii) the Regular Trustees shall
have been informed by such tax counsel that a No Recognition Opinion cannot be
delivered, Household International shall have the right, upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days notice, to redeem the Junior Subordinated Notes in whole
or in part for cash within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event,
and, following such redemption, Trust Securities with an aggregate liquidation
amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes
so redeemed shall be redeemed by the Trust at the Redemption Price on a pro
rata basis; provided, however, that, if at the time there is available to
Household International or the Trust the opportunity to eliminate, within such
90 day period, the Tax Event by taking some ministerial action, such as filing
a form or making an election, or pursuing some other similar reasonable measure
which has no
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
 
adverse effect on the Trust, or the holders of the Trust Securities or
Household International, the Trust will pursue such measure in lieu of
redemption.
 
  If Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to the holders of the Preferred
Securities, Household International will use its best efforts to have the
Junior Subordinated Notes listed on the New York Stock Exchange or on such
other exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed.
 
  After the date for any distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes upon
dissolution of the Trust, (i) the Preferred Securities and Preferred Securities
Guarantee will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii) the depositary or
its nominee, as the record holder of the Preferred Securities, will receive a
registered global certificate or certificates representing the Junior
Subordinated Notes to be delivered upon such distribution and (iii) any
certificates representing Preferred Securities and the Preferred Securities
Guarantee not held by the depositary or its nominee will be deemed to represent
Junior Subordinated Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the
distribution rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and
unpaid distribution on, such Preferred Securities, until such certificates are
presented to Household International or its agent for transfer or reissuance.
 
  There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred
Securities or the Junior Subordinated Notes that may be distributed in exchange
for the Preferred Securities if a dissolution and liquidation of the Trust were
to occur. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities that an investor may purchase,
or the Junior Subordinated Notes that the investor may receive on dissolution
and liquidation of the Trust, may trade at a discount to the price that the
investor paid to purchase the Preferred Securities offered hereby.
 
REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
 
  The Trust may not redeem fewer than all of the outstanding Preferred
Securities unless all accrued and unpaid distributions have been paid on all
Preferred Securities for all quarterly distribution periods terminating on or
prior to the date of redemption.
 
  If the Trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of Preferred Securities
(which notice will be irrevocable), then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on
the redemption date, provided that Household International has paid to the
Property Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in connection with the related
redemption or maturity of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Trust will
irrevocably deposit with the depositary funds sufficient to pay the applicable
Redemption Price and will give the depositary irrevocable instructions and
authority to pay the Redemption Price to the holders of the Preferred
Securities. See "--Book-Entry Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company." If
notice of redemption shall have been given and funds deposited as required,
then immediately prior to the close of business on the date of such deposit,
distributions will cease to accrue and all rights of holders of such Preferred
Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the right of the holders
of such Preferred Securities to receive the Redemption Price, but without
interest on such Redemption Price. In the event that any date fixed for
redemption of Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the
Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day
which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect
of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next
calendar year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business
Day. In the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of Preferred
Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either by the Trust
or by Household International pursuant to the Preferred Securities Guarantee,
distributions on such Preferred Securities will continue to accrue, from the
original redemption date to the actual date of payment, in which case the
actual payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for
purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.
 
  In the event that fewer than all of the outstanding Preferred Securities are
to be redeemed, the Preferred Securities will be redeemed pro rata as described
under "--Book-Entry Only Issuance--The Depository Trust Company" below.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
 
  Subject to the foregoing and to applicable law (including, without
limitation, United States federal securities laws), Household International or
its affiliates may, at any time and from time to time, purchase outstanding
Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or by private agreement.
 
LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON DISSOLUTION
 
  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution,
winding-up or termination of the Trust, the holders of the Preferred Securities
at that time will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust, after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, distributions in an amount equal to
the aggregate of the stated liquidation amount of $25 per Preferred Security
plus accrued and unpaid distributions thereon to the date of payment (the
"Liquidation Distribution"), unless, in connection with such liquidation,
dissolution, winding-up or termination, Junior Subordinated Notes in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of,
with an interest rate identical to the distribution rate of, and accrued and
unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid distributions on, the Preferred
Securities have been distributed on a pro rata basis to the holders of
Preferred Securities.
 
  If, upon any such dissolution, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only
in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full the
aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the
Trust on the Preferred Securities shall be paid on a pro rata basis. The
holders of the Common Securities will be entitled to receive distributions upon
any such dissolution pro rata with the holders of the Preferred Securities,
except that if a Declaration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
the Preferred Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities.
 
  Pursuant to the Declaration, the Trust shall terminate (i) on             ,
2050, the expiration of the term of the Trust, (ii) upon the bankruptcy of
Household International, (iii) upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution
or its equivalent with respect to Household International (except for permitted
mergers, consolidations or reorganizations of Household International), the
filing of a certificate of cancellation with respect to the Trust, or the
revocation of the charter of Household International and the expiration of 90
days after the date of revocation without a reinstatement thereof, (iv) upon
the distribution of the Junior Subordinated Notes following the occurrence of a
Special Event, (v) upon the redemption of all of the Trust Securities or (vi)
upon the entry of a decree of a judicial dissolution of Household International
or the Trust.
 
DECLARATION EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
  An event of default under the Indenture (an "Indenture Event of Default")
constitutes an event of default under the Declaration with respect to the Trust
Securities (a "Declaration Event of Default"), provided that pursuant to the
Declaration, the holder of the Common Securities will be deemed to have waived
any Declaration Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities until
all Declaration Events of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have
been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until such Declaration Events of
Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been so cured, waived or
otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee will be deemed to be acting solely
on behalf of the holders of the Preferred Securities and only the holders of
the Preferred Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee
with respect to certain matters under the Declaration, and therefore the
Indenture.
 
  Upon the occurrence of a Declaration Event of Default, the Property Trustee,
as the sole holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes, will have the right under
the Indenture to declare the principal of and interest on the Junior
Subordinated Notes to be immediately due and payable.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
   
  Except as provided below, under the Trust Act, the Trust Indenture Act and
"Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee--Amendments and Assignment"
and as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the holders of the
Preferred Securities will have no voting rights.     
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
 
   
  If (i) the Trust fails to pay distributions in full on the Preferred
Securities for six consecutive quarterly distribution periods, or (ii) a
Declaration Event of Default occurs and is continuing (each, an "Appointment
Event"), then the holders of the Preferred Securities, acting as a single
class, will be entitled by the majority vote of such holders to appoint a
Special Regular Trustee. For purposes of determining whether the Trust has
failed to pay distributions in full for six consecutive quarterly distribution
periods, distributions shall be deemed to remain in arrears, notwithstanding
any payments in respect thereof, until full cumulative distributions have been
or contemporaneously are paid with respect to all quarterly distribution
periods terminating on or prior to the date of payment of such cumulative
distributions. Any holder of Preferred Securities (other than Household
International or any of its affiliates) shall be entitled to nominate any
person to be appointed as Special Regular Trustee. Not later than 30 days after
such right to appoint a Special Regular Trustee arises, the Regular Trustees
shall convene a meeting of the holders of Preferred Securities for the purpose
of appointing a Special Regular Trustee. If the Regular Trustees fail to
convene such meeting within such 30-day period, the holders of not less than
10% of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the outstanding Preferred
Securities will be entitled to convene such meeting. The provisions of the
Declaration relating to the convening and conduct of the meetings of the
holders will apply with respect to any such meeting. Any Special Regular
Trustee so appointed shall cease to be a Special Regular Trustee if the
Appointment Event pursuant to which the Special Regular Trustee was appointed
and all other Appointment Events cease to be continuing. Notwithstanding the
appointment of any Special Regular Trustee, Household International shall
retain all rights under the Indenture, including the right to declare an
Extension Period as provided under "Description of the Junior Subordinated
Notes--Option to Extend Interest Payment Period." If such an Extension Period
occurs, there will be no Indenture Event of Default, and therefore no
Declaration Event of Default, for failure to make any scheduled interest
payment during the Extension Period on the date originally scheduled.     
   
  The holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or to direct
the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under
the Declaration, including the right to direct the Property Trustee, as the
holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes, to (i) exercise the remedies available
under the Indenture with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) waive
any past Indenture Event of Default which is waivable under the Base Indenture
(as defined herein), or (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a
declaration that the principal of all Junior Subordinated Notes shall be due
and payable, provided that where a consent under the Indenture would require
the consent of more than a majority of the holders (a "Super-Majority")
affected thereby, only the holders of at least such Super-Majority of the
Preferred Securities may direct the Property Trustee to give such consent. If
the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under the Junior Subordinated
Notes, a holder of Preferred Securities may, after a period of 30 days has
elapsed from such holder's written request to the Property Trustee to enforce
such rights, institute a legal proceeding directly against Household
International to enforce the Property Trustee's rights under the Junior
Subordinated Notes without first instituting any legal proceeding against the
Property Trustee or any other person or entity. The Property Trustee shall
notify all holders of the Preferred Securities of any notice of default
received from the Debt Trustee (as defined herein) with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes. Such notice shall state that such Indenture Event of
Default also constitutes a Declaration Event of Default. Except in the case of
directing the time, method and place of conducting a proceeding for a remedy,
the Property Trustee shall not take any action described in clauses (i), (ii)
or (iii) above unless the Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of
independent tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, the
Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust.     
 
  In the event the consent of the Property Trustee, as the holder of the Junior
Subordinated Notes, is required under the Indenture with respect to any
amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture, the Property Trustee
shall request the direction of the holders of the Trust Securities with respect
to such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with respect to
such amendment, modification or termination as directed by a majority in
liquidation amount of the Trust Securities, voting together as a single class,
provided that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of
a Super-Majority, the
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
 
   
Property Trustee may only give such consent at the direction of the holders of
at least the proportion in liquidation amount of the Trust Securities which the
relevant Super-Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Notes outstanding. The Property Trustee shall not take any
such action in accordance with the directions of the holders of the Trust
Securities unless the Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of independent
tax counsel to the effect that, as a result of such action, the Trust will not
be classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income
tax purposes.     
 
  A waiver of an Indenture Event of Default will constitute a waiver of the
corresponding Declaration Event of Default.
 
  Any required approval or direction of holders of Preferred Securities may be
given at a separate meeting of holders of Preferred Securities convened for
such purpose, at a meeting of all of the holders of Trust Securities or
pursuant to written consent. The Regular Trustees will cause a notice of any
meeting at which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote, or of
any matter upon which action by written consent of such holders is to be taken,
to be mailed to each holder of record of Preferred Securities. Each such notice
will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date
by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution
proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such holders are entitled to
vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and (iii)
instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents. No vote or consent of the
holders of Preferred Securities will be required for the Trust to redeem and
cancel Preferred Securities or distribute Junior Subordinated Notes in
accordance with the Declaration.
 
  Notwithstanding that holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote or
consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred
Securities at such time that are owned by Household International or any entity
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by, or under direct or
indirect common control with Household International, shall not be entitled to
vote or consent and shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as
if they were not outstanding.
 
  The procedures by which holders of Preferred Securities may exercise their
voting rights are described below. See "--Book-Entry Only Issuance--The
Depository Trust Company."
 
  Except in the limited circumstances described above in connection with the
appointment of a Special Regular Trustee, holders of the Preferred Securities
will have no rights to appoint or remove the Household International Trustees,
who may be appointed, removed or replaced solely by Household International, as
the holder of all the Common Securities.
 
MODIFICATION OF THE DECLARATION
 
  The Declaration may be amended or modified if approved and executed by a
majority of the Regular Trustees, provided that if any proposed amendment
provides for, or the Regular Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any
action that would materially adversely affect the powers, preferences or
special rights of the Trust Securities, whether by way of amendment to the
Declaration or otherwise or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of
the Trust other than pursuant to the terms of the Declaration, then the holders
of the Trust Securities as a single class will be entitled to vote on such
amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective
except with the approval of at least 66 2/3% in liquidation amount of the Trust
Securities affected thereby, provided that (a) any modification of the right of
holders of Preferred Securities to appoint a Special Regular Trustee or (b) a
reduction of the principal amount or the distribution rate, or a change in the
payment dates or maturity dates of the Preferred Securities, shall not be
permitted without the consent of each holder of Preferred Securities. In the
event any amendment or proposal referred to in clause (i) above would
materially adversely affect only the Preferred Securities or the Common
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
 
Securities, then only the affected class will be entitled to vote on such
amendment or proposal and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective
except with the approval of 66 2/3% in liquidation amount of such class of
Trust Securities.
   
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no amendment or modification may be made to
the Declaration if such amendment or modification would (i) cause the Trust to
be classified for purposes of United States federal income taxation as other
than a grantor trust, (ii) reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of
the Property Trustee or (iii) cause the Trust to be deemed to be an "investment
company" which is required to be registered under the 1940 Act.     
 
MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS OR AMALGAMATIONS
   
  The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced
by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any corporation or other body, except as described below. The Trust
may, with the consent of a majority of the Regular Trustees and without the
consent of the holders of the Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge
with or into, or be replaced by a trust organized as such under the laws of any
State; provided, that (i) such successor entity either (x) expressly assumes
all of the obligations of the Trust with respect to the Trust Securities or (y)
substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having substantially
the same terms as the Trust Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as
the Successor Securities rank the same as the Trust Securities rank in priority
with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and
otherwise, (ii) Household International expressly appoints a trustee of such
successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee
as the holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes, (iii) the Preferred Securities
or any Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor Securities will be
listed upon notification of issuance, on any national securities exchange or
other organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed, (iv) such
merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not cause the Preferred
Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any
nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v) such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the
rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the Trust Securities
(including any Successor Securities) in any material respect (other than with
respect to any dilution of the holders' interest in the new entity), (vi) such
successor entity has a purpose identical to that of the Trust, (vii) prior to
such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, Household
International has received an opinion from independent counsel to the Trust
experienced in such matters to the effect that (A) such merger, consolidation,
amalgamation or replacement does not adversely affect the rights, preferences
and privileges of the holders of the Trust Securities (including any Successor
Securities) in any material respect (other than with respect to any dilution of
the holders' interest in the new entity), and (B) following such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation or replacement, neither the Trust nor such
successor entity will be required to register as an investment company under
the 1940 Act and (viii) Household International guarantees the obligations of
such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent
provided by the Preferred Securities Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing,
the Trust shall not, except with the consent of holders of 100% in liquidation
amount of the Trust Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or
be replaced by any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation,
amalgamation, merger or replacement would cause the Trust or the successor
entity to be classified for United States federal income tax purposes as other
than a grantor trust.     
 
BOOK-ENTRY ONLY ISSUANCE--THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY
 
  The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") will act as securities depositary for
the Preferred Securities. The Preferred Securities will be issued only as fully
registered securities registered in the name of Cede & Co. (DTC's nominee). One
or more fully registered global Preferred Securities certificates will be
issued, representing in the aggregate the total number of Preferred Securities,
and will be deposited with DTC.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
 
  The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities
take physical delivery of securities in definitive form. Such laws may impair
the ability to transfer beneficial interests in a global Preferred Security.
 
  DTC is a limited-purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking
Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a
member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency"
registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC
holds securities that its participants ("Participants") deposit with DTC. DTC
also facilitates the settlement among Participants of securities transactions,
such as transfers and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic
computerized book-entry changes in Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating
the need for physical movement of securities certificates. Direct Participants
include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing
corporations and certain other organizations ("Direct Participants"). DTC is
owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by the New York Stock
Exchange, the American Stock Exchange, Inc., and the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is also available to others
such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust companies that clear
through or maintain a custodial relationship with a Direct Participant, either
directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules applicable to DTC
and its Participants are on file with the Commission.
 
  Purchases of Preferred Securities within the DTC system must be made by or
through Direct Participants, which will receive a credit for the Preferred
Securities on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of
Preferred Securities ("Beneficial Owner") is in turn to be recorded on the
Direct and Indirect Participants' records. Beneficial Owners will not receive
written confirmation from DTC of their purchases, but Beneficial Owners are
expected to receive written confirmations providing details of the
transactions, as well as periodic statements of their holdings, from the Direct
or Indirect Participants through which the Beneficial Owners purchased
Preferred Securities. Transfers of ownership interests in the Preferred
Securities are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of Participants
acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not receive
certificates representing their ownership interests in Preferred Securities,
except in the event that use of the book-entry system for the Preferred
Securities is discontinued.
 
  To facilitate subsequent transfers, all the Preferred Securities deposited by
Participants with DTC are registered in the name of DTC's nominee, Cede & Co.
The deposit of Preferred Securities with DTC and their registration in the name
of Cede & Co. effect no change in beneficial ownership. DTC has no knowledge of
the actual Beneficial Owners of the Preferred Securities. DTC's records reflect
only the identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such Preferred
Securities are credited, which may or may not be the Beneficial Owners. The
Participants will remain responsible for keeping account of their holdings on
behalf of their customers.
 
  Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct Participants,
by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct Participants and
Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by arrangements
among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time.
   
  Redemption notices shall be sent to Cede & Co. If less than all of the
Preferred Securities are being redeemed, DTC will reduce pro rata the amount of
the interest of each Direct Participant in the Preferred Securities in
accordance with its procedures.     
 
  Although voting with respect to the Preferred Securities is limited, in those
cases where a vote is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent
or vote with respect to Preferred Securities. Under its usual procedures, DTC
would mail an Omnibus Proxy to the Trust as soon as possible after the record
date. The Omnibus Proxy assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to
those Direct Participants to whose accounts the Preferred Securities are
credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus
Proxy).
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
 
  Distribution payments on the Preferred Securities will be made to DTC. DTC's
practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the relevant payment
date in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records unless
DTC has reason to believe that it will not receive payments on such payment
date. Payments by participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by
standing instructions and customary practices, as in the case with securities
held for the account of customers in bearer form or registered in "street
name," and will be the responsibility of such Participant and not of DTC, the
Trust, any trustee or Household International, subject to any statutory or
regulatory requirements as may be in effect from time to time. Payment of
distributions to DTC is the responsibility of the Trust, disbursement of such
payments to Direct Participants is the responsibility of DTC, and disbursement
of such payments to the Beneficial Owners is the responsibility of Direct and
Indirect Participants.
 
  Except as provided herein, a Beneficial Owner in a global Preferred Security
will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Preferred Securities.
Accordingly, each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of DTC to
exercise any rights under the Preferred Securities.
 
  DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with
respect to the Preferred Securities at any time by giving reasonable notice to
the Trust. Under such circumstances, in the event that a successor securities
depositary is not obtained, Preferred Securities certificates are required to
be printed and delivered. Additionally, the Regular Trustees (with consent of
Household International) may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-
entry transfers through DTC (or a successor depositary) with respect to the
Preferred Securities. In that event, certificates for the Preferred Securities
will be printed and delivered.
 
  The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system
have been obtained from sources that Household International and the Trust
believe to be reliable, but Household International and the Trust take no
responsibility for the accuracy thereof.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
   
  The Property Trustee, prior to the occurrence of a default with respect to
the Trust Securities, undertakes to perform only such duties as are
specifically set forth in the Declaration and, after default, shall exercise
the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct
of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provisions, the Property Trustee is
under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the
Declaration at the request of any holder of Preferred Securities, unless
offered reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and
liabilities which might be incurred thereby. The holders of Preferred
Securities will not be required to offer such indemnity in the event such
holders, by exercising their voting rights, direct the Property Trustee to take
any action following a Declaration Event of Default. The Property Trustee also
serves as trustee under the Preferred Securities Guarantee.     
 
REGISTRAR, TRANSFER AGENT AND PAYING AGENT
 
  In the event that the Preferred Securities do not remain in book-entry only
form, the Property Trustee will act as paying agent and may designate an
additional or substitute paying agent at any time. Registration of transfers of
Preferred Securities will be effected without charge by or on behalf of the
Trust, but upon payment (with the giving of such indemnity as the Trust or
Household International may require) in respect of any tax or other government
charges which may be imposed in relation to it. The Trust will not be required
to register or cause to be registered the transfer of Preferred Securities
after such Preferred Securities have been called for redemption.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
  The Declaration and the Preferred Securities will be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Delaware.
 
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
 
MISCELLANEOUS
   
  The Regular Trustees are authorized and directed to operate the Trust in such
a way so that the Trust will not be deemed to be an "investment company"
required to be registered under the 1940 Act or characterized for United States
federal income tax purposes as other than a grantor trust. Household
International is authorized and directed to conduct its affairs so that the
Junior Subordinated Notes will be treated as indebtedness of Household
International for United States federal income tax purposes. In this
connection, the Regular Trustees and Household International are authorized to
take any action, not inconsistent with applicable law, the Declaration or the
amended and restated certificate of incorporation of Household International,
that each of the Regular Trustees and Household International determines in
their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as
such action does not materially and adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the Preferred Securities.     
 
               DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE
 
  Set forth below is a summary of information concerning the Preferred
Securities Guarantee that will be executed and delivered by Household
International for the benefit of the holders from time to time of Preferred
Securities. The Preferred Securities Guarantee will be qualified as an
indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. Wilmington Trust Company will act as
indenture trustee under the Preferred Securities Guarantee (the "Preferred
Guarantee Trustee"). The terms of the Preferred Securities Guarantee will be
those set forth therein and those made part thereof by the Trust Indenture Act.
The summary does not purport to be complete and is subject in all respects to
the provisions of, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to the
Preferred Securities Guarantee, which is filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part and the Trust
Indenture Act. The Preferred Securities Guarantee will be held by the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of holders of the Preferred Securities.
 
GENERAL
   
  Pursuant to the Preferred Securities Guarantee, Household International will
irrevocably and unconditionally agree, to the extent set forth therein, to pay
in full, to the holders of the Preferred Securities, the Guarantee Payments (as
defined below) (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Trust),
to the extent not paid by the Trust, regardless of any defense, right of set-
off or counterclaim that the Trust may have or assert. The following payments
or distributions with respect to the Preferred Securities to the extent not
paid or made by the Trust (the "Guarantee Payments") will be subject to the
Preferred Securities Guarantee (without duplication): (i) any accrued and
unpaid distributions on the Preferred Securities where Household International
has made a payment of principal, premium or interest on the Junior Subordinated
Notes held by the Property Trustee, (ii) the Redemption Price, including all
accrued and unpaid dividends to the date of the redemption, to the extent the
Trust has funds available therefor with respect to the Preferred Securities
called for redemption by the Trust and (iii) upon a liquidation of the Trust
(other than in connection with the distribution of Junior Subordinated Notes to
the holders of Trust Securities or the redemption of all of the Preferred
Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the liquidation amount and all
accrued and unpaid distributions on the Preferred Securities to the date of
payment, to the extent the Trust has funds available therefor, and (b) the
amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to holders
of Preferred Securities in liquidation of the Trust. Household International's
obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of
the required amounts by Household International to the holders of Preferred
Securities or by causing the Trust to pay such amounts to such holders.     
 
  If Household International does not make interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Notes held by the Property Trustee, the Trust will not make
distributions on the Preferred Securities. The Preferred Securities Guarantee
will be a full and unconditional guarantee of the Guarantee Payments with
respect to
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
 
the Preferred Securities from the time of issuance of the Preferred Securities,
but will not apply to the payment of distributions and other payments on the
Preferred Securities when the Property Trustee does not have sufficient funds
in the Property Account to make such distributions or other payments.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS OF HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL
   
  In the Preferred Securities Guarantee, Household International will covenant
that, so long as the Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if there shall
have occurred and is continuing any event that would constitute an event of
default under the Preferred Securities Guarantee or the Declaration, then (a)
Household International will not declare or pay any dividends on, or purchase,
acquire or make a distribution or liquidation payment with respect to, any of
its capital stock, and (b) Household International shall not make any payment
of interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem
any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by Household International
which rank pari passu with or junior to such Junior Subordinated Notes.     
 
AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT
 
  Except with respect to any changes that do not materially adversely affect
the rights of holders of Preferred Securities (in which case no consent will be
required), the Preferred Securities Guarantee may be amended only with the
prior approval of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% in liquidation amount of
the outstanding Preferred Securities. The manner of obtaining any such approval
of holders of the Preferred Securities is set forth under "Description of the
Preferred Securities--Voting Rights". All guarantees and agreements contained
in the Preferred Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns,
receivers, trustees and representatives of Household International and shall
inure to the benefit of the holders of the Preferred Securities then
outstanding.
 
TERMINATION OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE
 
  The Preferred Securities Guarantee will terminate and be of no further force
and effect as to the Preferred Securities upon full payment of the Redemption
Price of all Preferred Securities, or upon distribution of the Junior
Subordinated Notes to the holders of Preferred Securities, and will terminate
completely upon full payment of the amounts payable upon liquidation of the
Trust. See "Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes--Events of Default"
for a description of the events of default and enforcement rights of the
holders of Junior Subordinated Notes. The Preferred Securities Guarantee will
continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time any holder of Preferred Securities must repay to the Trust or Household
International, or their respective successors, any sums paid to them under the
Preferred Securities or the Preferred Securities Guarantee.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
  An event of default under a Preferred Securities Guarantee will occur upon
the failure of Household International to perform any of its payment or other
obligations thereunder.
 
  The holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities
relating to such Preferred Securities Guarantee have the right to direct the
time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in respect of Preferred Securities Guarantee or
to direct the exercise of any trust or power conferred upon the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee under such Preferred Securities Guarantee. If the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce the Preferred Securities Guarantee, any
holder of Preferred Securities may, after a period of 30 days has elapsed from
such holders written request to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to enforce such
Preferred Securities Guarantee, institute a legal proceeding directly against
Household International to enforce the Preferred Guarantee Trustee's rights
under such Preferred Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal
proceeding against the Trust, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or any other
person or entity.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
 
STATUS OF THE PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE
   
  Household International's obligations under the Preferred Securities
Guarantee to make the Guarantee Payments will constitute an unsecured
obligation of Household International and will rank (i) subordinate and junior
in right of payment to all other liabilities of Household International,
including the Junior Subordinated Notes, except those made pari passu or
subordinate by their terms, and (ii) pari passu with the most senior preferred
stock now or hereafter issued by Household International and with any guarantee
now or hereafter entered into by Household International in respect of any
preferred stock of any affiliate of Household International. The terms of the
Preferred Securities provide that each holder of Preferred Securities by
acceptance thereof agrees to the subordination provisions and other terms of
the Preferred Securities Guarantee. In addition, because Household
International is a holding company, its obligations under the Preferred
Securities Guarantee are effectively subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities of its subsidiaries.     
 
  The Preferred Securities Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and
not of collection (that is, the guaranteed party may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the guarantor to enforce its rights under the
guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against any other person
or entity). The Preferred Securities Guarantee will be deposited with the
Property Trustee to be held for the benefit of the holders of the Preferred
Securities. Except as otherwise noted herein, the Property Trustee has the
right to enforce the Preferred Securities Guarantee on behalf of the holders of
the Preferred Securities. The Preferred Securities Guarantee will not be
discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without
duplication of amounts theretofore paid by the Trust).
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
   
  The Preferred Guarantee Trustee, prior to the occurrence of a default with
respect to a Preferred Securities Guarantee, undertakes to perform only such
duties as are specifically set forth in such Preferred Securities Guarantee
and, after default, shall exercise the same degree of care as a prudent
individual would exercise in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to
such provisions, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee is under no obligation to
exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Preferred Securities Guarantee
at the request of any holder of Preferred Securities, unless offered reasonable
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred
thereby. The Preferred Guarantee Trustee also serves as Property Trustee.     
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
  The Preferred Securities Guarantee will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of Illinois.
 
                  DESCRIPTION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
 
  Set forth below is a description of the terms of the Junior Subordinated
Notes. The following description does not purport to be complete and is subject
to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Indenture (the "Base
Indenture"), dated as of          , 1995, among Household International, the
Trust and The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee (the "Debt Trustee"),
as supplemented by a First Supplemental Indenture, dated as of          , 1995
(the Base Indenture, as so supplemented, is hereinafter referred to as the
"Indenture"), the forms of which are filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The terms of the Junior
Subordinated Notes will include those stated in the Indenture and those made a
part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act. Certain
capitalized terms used herein are defined in the Indenture.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
 
  Under certain circumstances involving the dissolution of the Trust following
the occurrence of a Special Event, Junior Subordinated Notes may be distributed
to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust. See
"Description of the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption or
Distribution."
 
  If the Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to the holders of the Trust
Securities, Household International will use its best efforts to have the
Junior Subordinated Notes listed on the New York Stock Exchange or on such
other exchange as the Preferred Securities are then listed.
 
GENERAL
 
  The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued as unsecured junior subordinated
debt securities under the Indenture. The Junior Subordinated Notes will be
limited in aggregate principal amount to approximately $     million, such
amount being the sum of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of the
Preferred Securities and the capital contributed by Household International in
exchange for the Common Securities (the "Payment").
 
  The Junior Subordinated Notes are not subject to a sinking fund provision.
The entire principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes will mature and
become due and payable, together with any accrued and unpaid interest thereon,
including Additional Interest (as defined herein), if any, on          , 2025,
subject to the election of Household International to extend the scheduled
maturity date of the Junior Subordinated Notes to a date not later than
  , 2044, provided that Household International satisfies certain financial
covenants. See "--Option to Extend Maturity Date."
 
  If Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to holders of the Preferred
Securities in liquidation of such holders' interests in the Trust, such Junior
Subordinated Notes will initially be issued as a Global Security (as defined
below). As described herein, under certain limited circumstances, Junior
Subordinated Notes may be issued in certificated form in exchange for a Global
Security. See "--Book-Entry and Settlement." In the event Junior Subordinated
Notes are issued in certificated form, the Junior Subordinated Notes will be in
denominations of $25 and integral multiples thereof and may be transferred or
exchanged at the offices described below. Payments on Junior Subordinated Notes
issued as Global Securities will be made to the depositary for the Junior
Subordinated Notes. In the event Junior Subordinated Notes are issued in
certificated form, principal and interest will be payable, the transfer of the
Junior Subordinated Notes will be registrable and Junior Subordinated Notes
will be exchangeable for Junior Subordinated Notes of other denominations of a
like aggregate principal amount at the corporate trust office of the Debt
Trustee in New York, New York; provided, that payment of interest may be made
at the option of Household International by check mailed to the address of the
persons entitled thereto.
 
  The Indenture does not contain provisions that afford holders of Junior
Subordinated Notes protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction
involving Household International.
 
SUBORDINATION
   
  The Indenture provides that the Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated
and junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness of Household
International. No payment of principal of (including redemption payments, if
any), premium, if any, or interest on, the Junior Subordinated Notes may be
made if (a) any Senior Indebtedness is not paid when due and any applicable
grace period with respect to such default has ended with such default not being
cured or waived or ceasing to exist, or (b) the maturity of any Senior
Indebtedness has been accelerated because of a default. Upon any distribution
of assets of Household International to creditors upon any dissolution,
winding-up, liquidation or reorganization, whether voluntary or involuntary, or
in bankruptcy, insolvency, receivership or other proceedings, all principal of,
premium, if any, and interest due or to become due on, all Senior Indebtedness
must be paid in full before the holders of Junior Subordinated Notes are
entitled to receive or retain any payment. The rights of the holders of the
Junior Subordinated Notes will be subrogated to the rights of the holders of
Senior Indebtedness to receive     
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
 
   
payments or distributions applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until all
amounts owing on the Junior Subordinated Notes are paid in full.     
   
  The term "Senior Indebtedness" means, with respect to Household
International, (i) any payment in respect of (a) indebtedness of such obligor
for money borrowed (including any financial derivative, hedging or futures
contract or similar instrument) and (b) indebtedness evidenced by securities,
debentures, bonds, notes or other similar instruments issued by Household
International which, by their terms, are senior or senior subordinated debt
securities including, without limitation, all obligations under its indentures
with various trustees; (ii) all capital lease obligations; (iii) all
obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all
conditional sale obligations and all obligations of Household International
under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable
arising in the ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations for the
reimbursement on any letter of credit, banker's acceptance, security purchase
facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all obligations of the type
referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other persons the payment of
which Household International is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or
otherwise; and (vi) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i)
through (v) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset
of Household International (whether or not such obligation is assumed by
Household International), except for (1) any such indebtedness that is by its
terms subordinated to or pari passu with the Junior Subordinated Notes and (2)
any unsecured indebtedness between or among Household International or its
affiliates. Such Senior Indebtedness shall continue to be Senior Indebtedness
and be entitled to the benefits of the subordination provisions irrespective of
any amendment, modification or waiver of any term of such Senior Indebtedness.
       
  The Indenture does not limit the aggregate amount of Senior Indebtedness
which may be issued by Household International. As of March 31, 1995, Senior
Indebtedness of Household International aggregated approximately $2.8 billion.
In addition, because Household International is a holding company, its
obligations under the Junior Subordinated Notes will be effectively
subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of its subsidiaries. At
March 31, 1995, such subsidiaries had total liabilities of approximately $20.3
billion.     
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS
 
  If (i) there shall have occurred any event that would constitute an Event of
Default under the Indenture or (ii) Household International shall be in default
with respect to its payment of any obligations under the Preferred Securities
Guarantee, then (a) Household International shall not declare or pay any
dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or
make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, and (b)
Household International shall not make any payment of interest, principal or
premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued
by Household International which rank pari passu with or junior to the Junior
Subordinated Notes.
   
  If Household International shall have given notice of its election of an
Extension Period as provided in the Indenture and such period, or any extension
thereof, shall be continuing, then (a) Household International shall not
declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or
redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its
capital stock, and (b) Household International shall not make any payment of
interest, principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities (including guarantees) issued by Household International which
rank pari passu with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes.     
   
  For so long as the Trust Securities remain outstanding, Household
International will covenant (i) to directly or indirectly maintain 100%
ownership of the Common Securities of the Trust; provided, however, that any
permitted successor of Household International under the Indenture may succeed
to Household International's ownership of such Common Securities, and (ii) to
use its reasonable efforts to cause the Trust (a) to remain a statutory
business trust, except in connection with the distribution of Junior
Subordinated Notes to the holders of Trust Securities in liquidation of the
Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities of the Trust, or certain
mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration,
and (b) to otherwise continue to be classified as a grantor trust for United
States federal income tax purposes.     
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
 
OPTIONAL REDEMPTION
 
  Household International shall have the right to redeem the Junior
Subordinated Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, on or after
  , 2000, or at any time in certain circumstances upon the occurrence of a Tax
Event as described under "Description of the Preferred Securities--Special
Event Redemption or Distribution," upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
notice, at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be
redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest,
if any, to the redemption date. If a partial redemption of the Preferred
Securities resulting from a partial redemption of the Junior Subordinated Notes
would result in the delisting of the Preferred Securities, Household
International may only redeem the Junior Subordinated Notes in whole.
 
INTEREST
   
  Each Junior Subordinated Note shall bear interest at the rate of    % per
annum from the original date of issuance, payable quarterly in arrears on March
31, June 30, September 30 and December 31 of each year (each, an "Interest
Payment Date"), commencing             , to the person in whose name such
Junior Subordinated Note is registered, subject to certain exceptions, at the
close of business on the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment
Date. In the event the Junior Subordinated Notes shall not continue to remain
in book-entry only form, Household International shall have the right to select
such record dates which shall be not less than fifteen days prior to each
Interest Payment Date.     
 
  The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the basis
of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The amount of interest payable for
any period shorter than a full quarterly period will be computed on the basis
of the actual number of days elapsed per 30-day month. In the event that any
date on which interest is payable on the Junior Subordinated Notes is not a
Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such date will be made on
the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or
other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day
is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the
immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect
as if made on such date.
 
OPTION TO EXTEND MATURITY DATE
   
  The maturity date of the Junior Subordinated Notes is          , 2025 (the
"Scheduled Maturity Date"). Household International, however, may, before the
Scheduled Maturity Date, extend such maturity date no more than one time, for
up to an additional 19 years from the Scheduled Maturity Date, provided that
(a) Household International is not in bankruptcy or otherwise insolvent, (b)
Household International is not in default on the Junior Subordinated Notes, (c)
Household International has made timely payments on the Junior Subordinated
Notes for the immediately preceding six quarters without deferrals, (d) the
Trust is not in arrears on payments of distributions on the Preferred
Securities, and (e) the Junior Subordinated Notes are rated in one of the four
highest rating categories by either Standard & Poor's Corporation, Moody's
Investors Service, Inc., Fitch Investor Services, Inc., Duff & Phelps Credit
Rating Company or any other nationally recognized statistical rating
organization. Pursuant to the Declaration, the Regular Trustees are required to
give notice of Household International's election to extend the Scheduled
Maturity Date to the holders of the Preferred Securities.     
 
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD
 
  Household International shall have the right at any time, and from time to
time, during the term of the Junior Subordinated Notes to defer payments of
interest by extending the interest payment period for a period not exceeding 20
consecutive quarters, at the end of which Extension Period, Household
International shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (including any
Additional Interest) (together with interest thereon at the rate specified for
the Junior Subordinated Notes to the extent permitted by applicable law);
provided, that, during any such Extension Period, (a) Household International
shall not declare or pay any dividend or
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
 
   
make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of its capital stock, and (b)
Household International shall not make any payment of interest, principal or
premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities
(including guarantees) issued by Household International which rank pari passu
with or junior to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Prior to the termination of
any such Extension Period, Household International may further defer payments
of interest by extending the interest payment period, provided that such
Extension Period together with all such previous and further extensions thereof
may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters. Upon the termination of any Extension
Period and the payment of all amounts then due, Household International may
select a new Extension Period, as if no Extension Period had previously been
declared, subject to the above requirements. No interest during an Extension
Period, except at the end thereof, shall be due and payable. Household
International has no present intention of exercising its rights to defer
payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Junior
Subordinated Notes. If the Property Trustee shall be the sole holder of the
Junior Subordinated Notes, Household International shall give the Regular
Trustees and the Property Trustee notice of its selection of such Extension
Period one Business Day prior to the earlier of (i) the date distributions on
the Preferred Securities are payable or (ii) the date the Regular Trustees are
required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange or other applicable
self-regulatory organization or to holders of the Preferred Securities of the
record date or the date such distribution is payable, but in any event not less
than one Business Day prior to such record date. The Regular Trustees shall
give notice of Household International's selection of such Extension Period to
the holders of the Preferred Securities. If the Property Trustee shall not be
the sole holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes, Household International shall
give the holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes notice of its selection of
such Extension Period ten Business Days prior to the earlier of (i) the
Interest Payment Date or (ii) the date Household International is required to
give notice to the New York Stock Exchange or other applicable self-regulatory
organization or to holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes of the record or
payment date of such related interest payment.     
 
ADDITIONAL INTEREST
   
  If at any time the Trust shall be required to pay any taxes, duties,
assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other than withholding
taxes) imposed by the United States, or any other taxing authority, then, in
any such case, Household International will pay as additional interest
("Additional Interest") such additional amounts as shall be required so that
the net amounts received and retained by the Trust after paying such taxes,
duties, assessments or other governmental charges will be not less than the
amounts the Trust would have received had no such taxes, duties, assessments or
other governmental changes been imposed.     
 
INDENTURE EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
  In case any Indenture Event of Default shall occur and be continuing, the
Property Trustee, as the holder of the Junior Subordinated Notes, will have the
right to declare the principal of and the interest on the Junior Subordinated
Notes (including Additional Interest, if any) and any other amounts payable
under the Indenture to be forthwith due and payable and to enforce its other
rights as a creditor with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
  The Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described
events, which has occurred and is continuing, constitutes an "Event of Default"
with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes:
 
    (a) failure for 60 days to pay interest on the Junior Subordinated Notes,
  including any Additional Interest in respect thereof, when due; provided,
  however, that a valid extension of the interest payment period by Household
  International shall not constitute a default in the payment of interest for
  this purpose; or
     
    (b) failure to pay principal or premium, if any, on the Junior
  Subordinated Notes when due whether at maturity or upon earlier redemption;
  provided, however, that a valid extension of the maturity of the Junior
  Subordinated Notes shall not constitute a default for this purpose; or     
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
 
    (c) failure to observe or perform any other covenant (other than those
  specifically relating to another series of junior subordinated notes)
  contained in the Indenture for 90 days after written notice to Household
  International from the Debt Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in
  principal amount of the outstanding Junior Subordinated Notes; or
 
    (d) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or reorganization of
  Household International; or
 
    (e) the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination
  of the Trust, except in connection with the distribution of Junior
  Subordinated Notes to the holders of Preferred Securities in liquidation of
  the Trust and in connection with certain mergers, consolidations or
  amalgamation permitted by the Declaration.
 
  The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Notes have the right to direct the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debt Trustee. The
Debt Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate outstanding
principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes may declare the principal due
and payable immediately on default, but the holders of a majority in aggregate
outstanding principal amount may annul such declaration and waive the default
if the default has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured
installments of interest and principal due otherwise than by acceleration and
any applicable premium has been deposited with the Debt Trustee.
   
  The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Notes affected thereby may, on behalf of the holders of all
the Junior Subordinated Notes, waive any past default, except (i) a default in
the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest (unless such default
been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and
principal due otherwise than by acceleration and any applicable premium has
been deposited with the Debt Trustee) or (ii) a default in the covenant of
Household International not to declare or pay dividends on, or redeem, purchase
or acquire any of its capital stock during an Extension Period. An Indenture
Event of Default also constitutes a Declaration Event of Default. The holders
of Preferred Securities in certain circumstances have the right to direct the
Property Trustee to exercise its rights as the holder of the Junior
Subordinated Notes. See "Description of the Preferred Securities--Declaration
Events of Default" and "--Voting Rights."     
 
BOOK-ENTRY AND SETTLEMENT
 
  If distributed to holders of Preferred Securities in connection with the
voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or liquidation of the Trust as
a result of the occurrence of a Special Event, the Junior Subordinated Notes
will be issued in the form of one or more global certificates (each, a "Global
Security") registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee. Except
under the limited circumstances described below, Junior Subordinated Notes
represented by the Global Security will not be exchangeable for, and will not
otherwise be issuable as, Junior Subordinated Notes in definitive form. The
Global Securities described above may not be transferred except by the
depositary to a nominee of the depositary or by a nominee of the depositary to
the depositary or another nominee of the depositary or to a successor
depositary or its nominee.
 
  The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of securities
take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such laws may
impair the ability to transfer beneficial interests in such a Global Security.
 
  Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests in such a Global
Security will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of Junior
Subordinated Notes in definitive form and will not be considered the holders
(as defined in the Indenture) thereof for any purpose under the Indenture, and
no Global Security representing Junior Subordinated Notes shall be
exchangeable, except for another Global Security of like denomination and tenor
to be registered in the name of the depositary or its nominee or to a successor
depositary or its nominee. Accordingly, each beneficial owner must rely on the
procedures of the depositary
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
 
and, if such person is not a Participant, on the procedures of the Participant
through which such person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a Holder
under the Indenture.
 
  If Junior Subordinated Notes are distributed to holders of Preferred
Securities in liquidation of such holders' interests in the Trust, DTC will act
as securities depositary for the Junior Subordinated Notes. For a description
of DTC and the specific terms of the depository arrangements, see "Description
of the Preferred Securities--Book-Entry Only Issuance--The Depository Trust
Company." The description therein of DTC's book-entry system and DTC's
practices as they relate to purchases, transfers, notices and payments with
respect to the Preferred Securities apply in all material respects to any debt
obligations represented by one or more Global Securities held by DTC. Household
International may appoint a successor to DTC or any successor depositary in the
event DTC or such successor depositary is unable or unwilling to continue as
depositary.
 
  None of Household International, the Trust, the Debt Trustee, any paying
agent and any other agent of Household International or the Debt Trustee will
have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to
or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in a Global
Security for such Junior Subordinated Notes or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
  A Global Security shall be exchangeable for Junior Subordinated Notes
registered in the names of persons other than the depositary or its nominee
only if (i) the depositary notifies Household International that it is
unwilling or unable to continue as a depositary for such Global Security and no
successor depositary shall have been appointed, or if at any time the
depositary ceases to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act at
a time when the depositary is required to be so registered to act as such
depositary and no successor depositary shall have been appointed, (ii)
Household International in its sole discretion determines that such Global
Security shall be so exchangeable or (iii) there shall have occurred an Event
of Default with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Any Global Security
that is exchangeable pursuant to the preceding
sentence shall be exchangeable for Junior Subordinated Notes registered in such
names as the depositary shall direct. It is expected that such instructions
will be based upon directions received by the depositary from its Participants
with respect to ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security.
 
  In the event the Junior Subordinated Notes are not represented by one or more
Global Securities, certificates evidencing Junior Subordinated Notes may be
presented for registration of transfer (with the form of transfer endorsed
thereon duly executed) or exchange, at the office of the Note Registrar or at
the office of any transfer agent designated by Household International for such
purpose with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes, without service charge
and upon payment of any taxes and other governmental charges as described in
the Indenture. Such transfer or exchange will be effected upon the Note
Registrar or such transfer agent, as the case may be, being satisfied with the
documents of title and identity of the person making the request. Household
International has appointed the Debt Trustee as Note Registrar with respect to
the Junior Subordinated Notes. Household International may at any time rescind
the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location
through which any such transfer agent acts, except that Household International
will be required to maintain a transfer agent at the place of payment.
Household International may at any time designate additional transfer agents
with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes.
 
  In the event of any redemption in part, Household International shall not be
required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Junior Subordinated
Notes during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any
selection for redemption of Junior Subordinated Notes and ending at the close
of business on the earliest date on which the relevant notice of redemption is
deemed to have been given to all holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes and
(ii) register the transfer of or exchange any Junior Subordinated Notes so
selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of
any Junior Subordinated Notes being redeemed in part.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
 
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
 
  Payment of principal of and premium (if any) on the Junior Subordinated Notes
will be made only against surrender to the Paying Agent of the Junior
Subordinated Notes. Principal of and any premium and interest, if any, on
Junior Subordinated Notes will be payable, subject to any applicable laws and
regulations, at the office of such Paying Agent or Paying Agents as Household
International may designate from time to time, except that at the option of
Household International payment of any interest may be made by check mailed to
the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the
Note Register with respect to the Junior Subordinated Notes. Payment of
interest on Junior Subordinated Notes on any Interest Payment Date will be made
to the person in whose name the Junior Subordinated Notes (or predecessor
security) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for
such interest payment.
 
  Household International will act as Paying Agent with respect to the Junior
Subordinated Notes. Household International may at any time designate
additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying Agents or
approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts, except that
Household International will be required to maintain a Paying Agent at the
place of payment.
 
  All moneys paid by Household International to a Paying Agent for the payment
of the principal of or premium or interest, if any, on the Junior Subordinated
Notes which remain unclaimed at the end of two years after such principal,
premium, if any, or interest shall have become due and payable will be repaid
to Household International and the holder of such Junior Subordinated Notes
will thereafter look only to Household International for payment thereof.
 
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE
   
  The Indenture contains provisions permitting Household International and the
Debt Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Notes, to modify the Indenture or
any supplemental indenture affecting that series or the rights of the holders
of the Junior Subordinated Notes; provided, that no such modification may,
without the consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Note
affected thereby, (i) extend the fixed maturity of the Junior Subordinated
Notes, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the
time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable upon the
redemption thereof, without the consent of the holder of Junior Subordinated
Notes so affected or (ii) reduce the percentage of Junior Subordinated Notes,
the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental
indenture, without the consent of the holders of each Junior Subordinated Note
then outstanding and affected thereby.     
 
  In addition, Household International and the Debt Trustee may execute,
without the consent of holders of the Junior Subordinated Notes, any
supplemental indenture for certain other usual purposes including the creation
of any new series of junior subordinated notes.
 
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE
 
  The Indenture does not contain any covenant which restricts the Trust's or
Household International's ability to merge or consolidate with or into any
other corporation, sell or convey all or substantially all of its assets to any
person, firm or corporation or otherwise engage in restructuring transactions.
 
DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE
   
  Under the terms of the Indenture, Household International will be discharged
from any and all obligations in respect of the Junior Subordinated Notes
(except in each case for certain obligations to register the transfer or
exchange of Junior Subordinated Notes, replace stolen, lost or mutilated Junior
Subordinated Notes, maintain paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in
trust) if Household International deposits with the Debt Trustee, in trust,
moneys or government obligations, in an amount sufficient to pay all the
principal of, and interest on, the Junior Subordinated Notes on the dates such
payments are due in accordance with the terms of the Junior Subordinated Notes.
    
                                       31
<PAGE>
 
   
  For federal income tax purposes, any such defeasance of the Junior
Subordinated Notes will be treated as a taxable exchange of the Junior
Subordinated Notes for an issue of obligations of the trust or a direct
interest in the cash or government securities held in the trust. In that case,
holders of the Preferred Securities would recognize gain or loss as if the
trust obligations or the cash or government obligations deposited, as the case
may be, had actually been received by them in exchange for their Preferred
Securities. Such holders thereafter would be required to include in income a
share of the income, gain or loss of the trust. The amount so required to be
included in income could be a different amount than would be includable in the
absence of defeasance. Holders of the Preferred Securities should consult their
own tax advisors as to the specific consequences of defeasance.     
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
  The Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Notes will be governed by, and
construed in accordance with, the internal laws of the State of Illinois.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DEBT TRUSTEE
 
  The Debt Trustee, prior to default, undertakes to perform only such duties as
are specifically set forth in the Indenture and, after default, shall exercise
the same degree of care as a prudent individual would exercise in the conduct
of his or her own affairs. Subject to such provision, the Debt Trustee is under
no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Indenture at
the request of any holder of Junior Subordinated Notes, unless offered
reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which might be incurred thereby. The Debt Trustee is not required to expand or
risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of its duties if the Debt Trustee reasonably believes that
repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.
 
  Household International and certain of its affiliates maintain a deposit
account and a banking relationship with the Debt Trustee. The Debt Trustee
serves as trustee under other indentures pursuant to which debt securities of
an affiliate of Household International are outstanding.
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
  Household International will have the right at all times to assign any of its
rights or obligations under the Indenture to a direct or indirect wholly-owned
subsidiary of Household International; provided, that, in the event of any such
assignment, Household International will remain liable for all of their
respective obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the Indenture will be binding
upon and inure to the benefit of the parties thereto and their respective
successors and assigns. The Indenture provides that it may not otherwise be
assigned by the parties thereto.
 
  The Indenture will also provide that Household International will pay all
fees and expenses related to (i) the offering of the Trust Securities and the
Junior Subordinated Notes, (ii) the organization, maintenance and dissolution
of the Trust, (iii) the retention of the Household International Trustees and
(iv) the enforcement by the Property Trustee of the rights of holders of
Preferred Securities.
 
           EFFECT OF OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES
                     AND THE PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE
 
  As set forth in the Declaration, the sole purpose of the Trust is to issue
Trust Securities and invest the proceeds thereof in the Junior Subordinated
Notes.
 
  As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on the
Junior Subordinated Notes, such payments will be sufficient to cover
distributions and payments due on the Trust Securities
 
                                       32
<PAGE>
 
primarily because (i) the aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Notes will be equal to the sum of the aggregate stated liquidation amount of
the Trust Securities; (ii) the interest rate and interest and other payment
dates on the Junior Subordinated Notes will match the distribution rate and
distribution and other payment dates for the Preferred Securities; (iii)
Household International shall pay for all costs and expenses of the Trust; and
(iv) the Declaration provides that the Household International Trustees shall
not cause or permit the Trust to, among other things, engage in any activity
that is not consistent with the purposes of the Trust.
   
  Payments of distributions (to the extent funds therefor are available) and
other payments due on the Preferred Securities (to the extent funds therefor
are available) are guaranteed by Household International as and to the extent
set forth under "Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee." If
Household International does not make interest payments on the Junior
Subordinated Notes purchased by the Trust, it is expected that the Trust will
not have sufficient funds to pay distributions on the Preferred Securities. The
Preferred Securities Guarantee is a full and unconditional guarantee from the
time of its issuance, but does not apply to any payment of distributions unless
and until the Trust has sufficient funds for the payment of such distributions.
    
  If Household International fails to make interest or other payments on the
Junior Subordinated Notes when due (taking into account any Extension Period),
the Declaration provides a mechanism whereby the holders of the Preferred
Securities, using the procedures described in "Description of the Preferred
Securities--Voting Rights," may (i) appoint a Special Regular Trustee and (ii)
direct the Property Trustee to enforce its rights under the Junior Subordinated
Notes, including proceeding directly against Household International to enforce
the Junior Subordinated Notes. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its
rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes, a holder of Preferred Securities
may, after a period of 30 days has elapsed from such holder's written request
to the Property Trustee to enforce such rights, institute a legal proceeding
directly against Household International to enforce the Property Trustee's
rights under the Junior Subordinated Notes without first instituting any legal
proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other person or entity.
 
  If Household International fails to make payments under the Preferred
Securities Guarantee, the Preferred Securities Guarantee provides a mechanism
whereby the holders of the Preferred Securities may direct the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee to enforce its rights thereunder. If the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee fails to enforce the Preferred Securities Guarantee, any holder of
Preferred Securities may, after a period of 30 days has elapsed from such
holders written request to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to enforce the
Preferred Securities Guarantee, institute a legal proceeding directly against
Household International to enforce the Preferred Guarantee Trustee's rights
under the Preferred Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal
proceeding against the Trust, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or any other
person or entity.
   
  The above mechanisms and obligations, taken together, are equivalent to a
full and unconditional guarantee by Household International of payments due on
the Preferred Securities. See "Description of the Preferred Securities
Guarantee--General."     
 
                    CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
   
  The following is a summary of certain of the principal United States federal
income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and disposition of the
Preferred Securities to a holder that is a citizen or resident of the United
States, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized under
the laws of the United States or any state thereof or the District of Columbia
or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal
income taxation regardless of source (a "Holder"). This summary does not
address the United States federal income tax consequences to persons other than
Holders.     
 
  This summary is based on the United States federal income tax laws,
regulations and rulings and decisions now in effect, all of which are subject
to change, possibly on a retroactive basis. This summary does not address the
tax consequences applicable to investors that may be subject to special tax
rules such as banks,
 
                                       33
<PAGE>
 
   
thrifts, real estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies,
insurance companies, dealers in securities or currencies, tax-exempt investors
or persons that will hold the Preferred Securities as a position in a
"straddle," as part of a "synthetic security" or "hedge," as part of a
"conversion transaction" or other integrated investment or as other than a
capital asset. This summary also does not address the tax consequences to
persons that have a functional currency other than the U.S. dollar or the tax
consequences to shareholders, partners or beneficiaries of a Holder. Further,
it does not include any description of any alternative minimum tax consequences
or the tax laws of any state or local government or of any foreign government
that may be applicable to a Holder.     
 
CLASSIFICATION OF HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I
   
  Sidley & Austin, special counsel to Household International and the Trust, is
of the opinion that, under current law and assuming full compliance with the
terms of the Indenture and the Declaration (and certain other documents),
Household Capital Trust I will be classified as a "grantor trust" for federal
income tax purposes and will not be classified as an association taxable as a
corporation or a partnership. Each Holder will be treated as owning an
undivided beneficial interest in the Junior Subordinated Notes. Accordingly,
each Holder will be required to include in its gross income the original issue
discount ("OID") accrued with respect to its allocable share of Junior
Subordinated Notes. Investors should be aware that the opinion of Sidley &
Austin does not address any other issue and is not binding on the Internal
Revenue Service (the "Service") or the courts.     
 
ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT, PREMIUM AND MARKET DISCOUNT
   
  Because of the option that Household International has, under the terms of
the Junior Subordinated Notes, to defer payments of interest by extending
interest payment periods for up to 20 quarters, the Junior Subordinated Notes
will be treated as issued with OID in an amount equal to all of the stated
interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Notes. Holders must include the
OID attributable to the Junior Subordinated Notes in income on an economic
accrual basis before the receipt of cash attributable to the interest,
regardless of their method of tax accounting. The amount of OID that accrues in
any month will approximately equal the amount of the interest that accrues in
that month at the stated interest rate. In the event that the interest payment
period is extended, Holders will continue to accrue OID approximately equal to
the amount of the interest payment due at the end of the extended interest
payment period on an economic accrual basis over the length of the extended
interest period. Corporate Holders of Preferred Securities will not be entitled
to a dividends-received deduction with respect to any income earned with
respect to the Preferred Securities.     
   
  To the extent a Holder acquires its Preferred Securities at a price that is
greater or less than the adjusted issue price of such Holder's share of Junior
Subordinated Notes (which generally should approximate par plus accrued but
unpaid interest), the Holder will be deemed to have acquired its interest in
the Preferred Securities with acquisition premium or with market discount, as
the case may be. A Holder acquiring Preferred Securities at a premium will be
permitted to reduce the amount of OID required to be included in income to
reflect the acquisition premium. A Holder acquiring Preferred Securities at a
market discount will also include the amount of such discount in income in
accordance with the market discount rules described below.     
   
  A Holder acquiring Preferred Securities at a market discount generally will
be required to recognize ordinary income to the extent of accrued market
discount upon the retirement of the underlying Junior Subordinated Notes or, to
the extent of any gain, upon the disposition of the Preferred Securities. Such
market discount would accrue ratably, or, at the election of the Holder, under
a constant yield method over the remaining term of the Junior Subordinated
Notes. A Holder will also be required to defer the deduction of a portion of
the interest paid or accrued on indebtedness incurred to purchase or carry
Preferred Securities acquired with market discount. In lieu of the foregoing, a
Holder may elect to include market discount in     
 
                                       34
<PAGE>
 
   
income currently as it accrues on all market discount instruments acquired by
such Holder in the taxable year of the election or thereafter, in which case
the interest deferral rule will not apply. A Holder may elect, in lieu of
applying the market discount or premium rules described above, to account for
all income under the Preferred Securities as if it were OID.     
   
RECEIPT OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES UPON LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST     
   
  Under certain circumstances, as described under the caption "Description of
the Preferred Securities--Special Event Redemption or Distribution," Junior
Subordinated Notes may be distributed to Holders in exchange for the Preferred
Securities and in liquidation of the Trust. Such a distribution would be
treated as a non-taxable event to each Holder and each Holder would receive an
aggregate tax basis in the Junior Subordinated Notes equal to such Holder's
aggregate tax basis in its Preferred Securities. A Holder's holding period in
the Junior Subordinated Notes so received in liquidation of the Trust would
include the period for which the Preferred Securities were held by such Holder.
       
SALE OF PREFERRED SECURITIES     
   
  A Holder that sells Preferred Securities will recognize gain or loss equal to
the difference between its adjusted tax basis in the Preferred Securities and
the amount realized on the sale. A Holder's adjusted tax basis in the Preferred
Securities generally will be its initial purchase price increased by original
issue discount previously includible in such Holder's gross income to the date
of disposition (and the accrual of market discount, if any) and decreased by
payments received on the Preferred Securities. Subject to the market discount
rules described above, any such gain or loss generally will be capital gain or
loss.     
   
  The Preferred Securities may trade at a price that does not accurately
reflect the value of accrued but unpaid interest with respect to the underlying
Junior Subordinated Notes. A Holder disposing of its Preferred Securities
between record dates for payments of distributions thereon will be required to
include accrued but unpaid interest through the date of disposition in income
as ordinary income (i.e. OID), and to add such amount to its adjusted tax basis
in its Preferred Securities. To the extent the selling price is less than the
Holder's adjusted tax basis (which will include, in the form of OID, all
accrued but unpaid interest), a Holder will recognize a capital loss. Subject
to certain limited exceptions, capital losses cannot be applied to offset
ordinary income for United States federal income tax purposes.     
   
FOREIGN INVESTORS     
   
  Subject to the discussion of backup withholding below, interest (including
OID) with respect to the Preferred Securities paid to a nonresident alien
individual, foreign corporation, foreign partnership or foreign estate or trust
will be exempt from U.S. withholding tax, provided that the holder complies
with applicable certification requirements (and does not actually or
constructively own ten percent or more of the voting stock of the Company and
is not a controlled foreign corporation related to the Company or its
affiliates).     
 
INFORMATION REPORTING TO HOLDERS
   
  Subject to the qualifications discussed below, income on the Preferred
Securities will be reported to Holders on Form 1099, which forms should be
mailed to Holders of Preferred Securities by January 31 following each calendar
year.     
   
  The Trust will be obligated to report annually to Cede & Co., as Holder of
record of the Preferred Securities, the OID with respect to the Preferred
Securities that accrued during that year. The Trust currently intends to report
such information on Form 1099 prior to January 31 following each calendar year
even though the Trust is not legally required to report to record Holders until
April 15 following each calendar year. The Underwriters have indicated to the
Trust that, to the extent that they hold Preferred Securities as nominees for
beneficial Holders, they currently expect to report to such beneficial Holders
on Forms 1099 by     
 
                                       35
<PAGE>
 
   
January 31 following each calendar year. Under current law, Holders of
Preferred Securities who hold as nominees for beneficial Holders will not have
any obligation to report information regarding the beneficial Holders to the
Trust. The Trust, moreover, will not have any obligation to report to
beneficial Holders who are not also record Holders. Thus, beneficial Holders of
Preferred Securities who hold their Preferred Securities through the
Underwriters will receive Forms 1099 reflecting the income on their Preferred
Securities from such nominee Holders rather than the Trust.     
 
BACKUP WITHHOLDING
   
  Payments made on, and proceeds from the sale of, the Preferred Securities may
be subject to a "backup" withholding tax of 31% unless the Holder complies with
certain identification requirements. Any withheld amounts will be allowed as a
credit against the Holder's federal income tax, provided the required
information is provided to the Service.     
 
  THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX DISCUSSION SET FORTH ABOVE IS INCLUDED FOR GENERAL
INFORMATION ONLY AND MAY NOT BE APPLICABLE DEPENDING UPON A HOLDER'S PARTICULAR
SITUATION. HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX
CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE
PREFERRED SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL,
FOREIGN AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FEDERAL OR
OTHER TAX LAWS.
 
                                       36
<PAGE>
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in an underwriting agreement
(the "Underwriting Agreement"), the Trust has agreed to sell to each of the
Underwriters named below, and each of the Underwriters, for whom Merrill Lynch,
Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Smith Barney Inc. and Goldman, Sachs & Co.
are acting as representatives (the "Representatives"), has severally agreed to
purchase the number of Preferred Securities set forth opposite its name below.
In the Underwriting Agreement, the several Underwriters have agreed, subject to
the terms and conditions set forth therein, to purchase all the Preferred
Securities offered hereby if any of the Preferred Securities are purchased. In
the event of default by an Underwriter, the Underwriting Agreement provides
that, in certain circumstances, the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting
Underwriters may be increased or the Underwriting Agreement may be terminated.
 
<TABLE>       
<CAPTION>
                                                                      NUMBER OF
                                                                      PREFERRED
           UNDERWRITER                                               SECURITIES
           -----------                                               -----------
      <S>                                                            <C>
      Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
               Incorporated........................................
      Smith Barney Inc.............................................
      Goldman, Sachs & Co..........................................
                                                                     -----------
           Total...................................................    3,000,000
                                                                     ===========
</TABLE>    
 
  The Underwriters propose to offer the Preferred Securities in part directly
to the public at the initial public offering price, as set forth on the cover
page of this Prospectus Supplement, and in part to certain securities dealers
at such price less a concession of $.    per Preferred Security. The
Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not in
excess of $.    per Preferred Security to certain brokers and dealers. After
the Preferred Securities are released for sale to the public, the offering
price and other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the
Representatives.
 
  In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred Securities
will be used to purchase the Junior Subordinated Notes of Household
International, the Underwriting Agreement provides that Household International
will agree to pay as compensation ("Underwriters' Compensation") for the
Underwriters' arranging the investment therein of such proceeds, an amount in
New York Clearing House (next day) funds of $.    per Preferred Security (or
$      in the aggregate) for the accounts of the several Underwriters, provided
that such compensation for sales of 10,000 or more Preferred Securities to any
single purchaser will be $.    per Preferred Security. Therefore, to the extent
of such sales, the actual amount of Underwriter's Compensation will be less
than the aggregate amount specified in the preceding sentence.
 
  During a period of 30 days from the date of the Prospectus Supplement,
neither the Trust, nor Household International will, without the prior written
consent of the Underwriters, directly or indirectly, sell, offer to sell, grant
any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, any Preferred Securities,
any security
 
                                       37
<PAGE>
 
convertible into or exchangeable into or exercisable for Preferred Securities
or any equity securities substantially similar to the Preferred Securities
(except for any series of subordinated debt securities and the Preferred
Securities offered hereby).
 
  The Preferred Securities are expected to be approved for listing on the New
York Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance. Trading of the
Preferred Securities on the New York Stock Exchange is expected to commence
within a 30 day period after the initial delivery of the Preferred Securities.
The Representatives have advised the Trust that they intend to make a market in
the Preferred Securities prior to the commencement of trading on the New York
Stock Exchange. The Representatives will have no obligation to make a market in
the Preferred Securities, however, and may cease market making activities, if
commenced, at any time.
 
  Prior to this offering, there has been no public market for the Preferred
Securities. In order to meet one of the requirements for listing the Preferred
Securities on the New York Stock Exchange, the Underwriters will undertake to
sell lots of 100 or more Preferred Securities to a minimum of 400 beneficial
holders.
 
  Household International and the Trust have agreed to indemnify the
Underwriters against, or contribute to payments that the Underwriters may be
required to make in respect of, certain liabilities, including liabilities
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
  Certain of the Underwriters engage in transactions with, and, from time to
time, have performed services for, Household International and its subsidiaries
in the ordinary course of business.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
  Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Preferred
Securities will be passed upon on behalf of the Trust by Morris, Nichols, Arsht
and Tunnell, Wilmington, Delaware, special Delaware counsel to the Trust. The
validity of the Junior Subordinated Notes, the Preferred Securities Guarantee
and certain matters relating thereto will be passed upon on behalf of Household
International by John W. Blenke, Assistant General Counsel and Secretary of
Household International. Certain legal matters will be passed upon for the
Underwriters by McDermott, Will & Emery, Chicago, Illinois. Certain United
States federal income taxation matters will be passed upon for Household
International and the Trust by Sidley & Austin, Chicago, Illinois.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
  The financial statements and schedules of Household International and its
subsidiaries incorporated by reference in this Prospectus, to the extent and
for the periods indicated in its reports, have been audited by Arthur Andersen
LLP, independent public accountants, and are incorporated by reference herein
in reliance upon the authority of said firm as experts in giving said reports.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>
 
                                  DEFINITIONS
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
TERM                                                                     PAGE(S)
- ----                                                                     -------
<S>                                                                      <C>
Additional Interest.....................................................     28
Alexander Hamilton......................................................      8
Appointment Event.......................................................     17
Base Indenture..........................................................     24
Beneficial Owner........................................................     20
Business Day............................................................     13
Change in 1940 Act Law..................................................     14
Commission..............................................................      3
Common Securities.......................................................      1
Company.................................................................      1
DTC.....................................................................     19
Debt Trustee............................................................     24
Declaration.............................................................      9
Declaration Event of Default............................................     16
Direct Participants.....................................................     20
Dissolution Tax Opinion.................................................     14
distributions...........................................................  2, 12
Event of Default........................................................     28
Exchange Act............................................................      3
Extension Period........................................................  2, 12
Global Security.........................................................     29
Guarantee Payments......................................................     22
Holder..................................................................     33
HFC.....................................................................      8
Household Commercial....................................................      8
Household International.................................................      1
Household International Trustees........................................      9
Indenture...............................................................     24
Indenture Event of Default..............................................     16
Indirect Participants...................................................     20
Interest Payment Date...................................................     27
Investment Company Event................................................     14
Junior Subordinated Notes...............................................      1
Liquidation Distribution................................................     16
MasterCard..............................................................      8
New York Stock Exchange.................................................      1
1940 Act................................................................     14
No Recognition Opinion..................................................     14
OID.....................................................................     34
Participants............................................................     20
Payment.................................................................     25
Preferred Guarantee Trustee.............................................  9, 22
Preferred Securities....................................................      1
Preferred Securities Guarantee..........................................      2
Property Account........................................................      9
Property Trustee........................................................      9
Redemption Price........................................................      2
Redemption Tax Opinion..................................................     14
Registration Statement..................................................      3
Regular Trustees........................................................      9
Representatives.........................................................     37
Scheduled Maturity Date.................................................     27
Senior Indebtedness.....................................................     26
Special Event...........................................................     14
Special Regular Trustee.................................................      9
Sponsor.................................................................      9
Successor Securities....................................................     19
Super-Majority..........................................................     17
Tax Event...............................................................     14
Trust...................................................................      1
Trust Act...............................................................      9
Trust Indenture Act.....................................................      9
Trust Securities........................................................      1
Underwriters............................................................     37
Underwriters' Compensation..............................................  1, 37
Underwriting Agreement..................................................     37
VISA....................................................................      8
</TABLE>    
 
                                       39
<PAGE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   
 NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR IN-
CORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE
BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS
MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL,
INC., HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I OR THE UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCE CRE-
ATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF HOUSEHOLD
INTERNATIONAL, INC. OR HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I, SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. THIS
PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY STATE
IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON
MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO
WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.     
 
                                ---------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
                                  PROSPECTUS
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                                                                           PAGE
                                                                           ----
<S>                                                                        <C>
Available Information.....................................................   3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference...........................   3
Investment Considerations.................................................   5
Household International...................................................   8
Household Capital Trust I.................................................   9
Selected Financial Information............................................  10
Capitalization of Household International.................................  11
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges........................................  11
Accounting Treatment......................................................  11
Use of Proceeds...........................................................  11
Description of the Preferred Securities...................................  12
Description of the Preferred Securities Guarantee.........................  22
Description of the Junior Subordinated Notes..............................  24
Effect of Obligations Under the Junior Subordinated Notes and the
 Guarantee................................................................  32
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences...................................  33
Underwriting..............................................................  37
Legal Matters.............................................................  38
Experts...................................................................  38
Definitions...............................................................  39
</TABLE>    
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                   
                                3,000,000     
                             PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
                           HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I
 
                                % TRUST ORIGINATED
                        PREFERRED SECURITIES ("TOPRS")
                         GUARANTEED TO THE EXTENT SET
                                FORTH HEREIN BY
                         HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
 
                                ---------------
 
                                  PROSPECTUS
 
                                ---------------
 
                              MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
 
                               SMITH BARNEY INC.
 
                             GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
 
                                         , 1995
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
  Estimated Expenses:
 
<TABLE>       
      <S>                                                            <C>
      Printing and Engraving........................................ $75,000.00
      Fees of Trustees/Transfer Agents/Registrars...................  20,000.00
      Accountants' Fees.............................................  20,000.00
      Blue Sky Qualifications Fees..................................  15,000.00
      SEC Filing Fee*...............................................  25,862.25
      Rating Service Fees...........................................  23,000.00
      Stock Exchange Listing Fees...................................  50,000.00
      Legal Fees and Expenses.......................................  40,000.00
      Miscellaneous.................................................   6,137.75
                                                                     ----------
          Total..................................................... 275,000.00
                                                                     ==========
</TABLE>    
- --------
*Actual
 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
  The General Corporation Law of Delaware (Section 102) allows a corporation to
eliminate the personal liability of directors of a corporation to the
corporation or to any of its stockholders for monetary damage for a breach of
his/her fiduciary duty as a director, except in the case where the director
breached his/her duty of loyalty, failed to act in good faith, engaged in
intentional misconduct or knowingly violated a law, authorized the payment of a
dividend or approved a stock repurchase in violation of Delaware corporate law
or obtained an improper personal benefit. The Restated Certificate of
Incorporation, as amended, of Household International, Inc. (the "Company"),
contains a provision which eliminates directors' personal liability as set
forth above.
 
  The General Corporation Law of Delaware (Section 145) gives Delaware
corporations broad powers to indemnify their present and former directors and
officers and those of affiliated corporations against expenses incurred in the
defense of any lawsuit to which they are made parties by reason of being or
having been such directors or officers, subject to specified conditions and
exclusions; gives a director or officer who successfully defends an action the
right to be so indemnified; and authorizes the Company to buy directors' and
officers' liability insurance. Such indemnification is not exclusive of any
other right to which those indemnified may be entitled under any bylaw,
agreement, vote of stockholders or otherwise.
 
  The Company's Restated Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, provides for
indemnification to the fullest extent as expressly authorized by Section 145 of
the General Corporation Law of Delaware for directors, officers and employees
of the Company and also to persons who are serving at the request of the
Company as directors, officers or employees of other corporations (including
subsidiaries). This right of indemnification is not exclusive of any other
right which any person may acquire under any statute, bylaw, agreement,
contract, vote of stockholders or otherwise.
 
  The Company has purchased liability policies which indemnify its officers and
directors against loss arising from claims by reason of their legal liability
for acts as officers, subject to limitations and conditions as set forth in the
policies.
 
  The Declaration provides that no Household International Trustee, affiliate
of any Household International Trustee, or any officers, directors,
shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any
Household International Trustee, or any employee or agent of such Trust or its
affiliates (each an "Indemnified Person") shall be liable, responsible or
accountable in damages or otherwise to such Trust or any employee or agent of
the trust or its affiliates for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of
any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good
faith on behalf of such Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person
reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such
Indemnified Person by such Declaration or by law, except that an Indemnified
Person
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
 
shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such
Indemnified Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to
such acts or omission. The Declaration of Trust also provides that to the
fullest extent permitted by applicable law, Household International shall
indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person from and against any loss,
damage or claim incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of any act or
omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith on
behalf of such Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably
believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on such Indemnified
Person by such Declaration, except that no Indemnified Person shall be entitled
to be indemnified in respect of any loss, damage or claim incurred by such
Indemnified Person by reason of gross negligence or willful misconduct with
respect to such act or omissions. The Declaration of Trust further provides
that to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, expenses (including
legal fees) incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending any claim, demand,
action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by Household
International prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action,
suit or proceeding upon receipt by of an undertaking by or on behalf of the
Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the
Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified for the underlying cause
of action as authorized by such Declaration.
 
  Pursuant to agreements which the Company and the Trust may enter into with
underwriters or agents (forms of which are or will be filed as exhibits to this
Registration Statement) officers and directors of the Company and the Trustees
of the Trust may be entitled to indemnification by such underwriters or agents
against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, arising from information appearing in the Registration
Statement or any Prospectus or Prospectus Supplement which has been furnished
to the Company by such underwriters or agents.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS.
 
<TABLE>       
     <S>     <C>
      1      Form of Underwriting Agreement for Preferred Securities.
      4(a)   Form of Indenture between Household International, Inc. and The First
              National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee.
      4(b)   Form of Supplemental Indenture between Household International, Inc. and
              The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee.
      4(c)   Declaration of Trust of Household Capital Trust I.
      4(d)   Form of Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust.
      4(e)   Forms of Preferred Security (included in Exhibit 4(d) above).
      4(f)   Form of Junior Subordinated Notes (included in Exhibit 4(b) above).
      4(g)   Form of Guarantee with respect to Preferred Securities.
      4(h)   Certificate of Trust
      5(a)*  Opinion and Consent of Mr. John W. Blenke, Assistant General Counsel and
              Secretary of Household International, Inc.
      5(b)*  Opinion and Consent of Morris, Nichols, Arsht and Tunnell.
      8*     Tax opinion of Sidley & Austin.
     12      Statement on the Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and to
              Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Stock Dividends (incorporated herein
              by reference from Exhibit 12 to the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
              fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 and from Exhibit 12 to the Quarterly
              Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1995 of Household
              International, Inc. (File No. 1-8198)).
     23(a)   Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP, Certified Public Accountants.
     23(b)*  Consent of Mr. John W. Blenke, Assistant General Counsel and Secretary of
              Household International, Inc. is contained in his opinion (Exhibit 5(a)).
     23(c)*  Consent of Sidley & Austin is contained in their opinion (Exhibit 8).
     23(d)*  Consent of Morris, Nichols, Arsht and Tunnell is contained in their
              opinion (Exhibit 5(b)).
     24(a)   Powers of Attorney with respect to Household International officers and
              directors (previously filed).
     24(b)   Powers of Attorney with respect to Household Capital Trust I trustees
              (included in Exhibit 4(c) filed herewith.
     25(a)   Statement of eligibility and qualification of Wilmington Trust Company.
     25(b)   Statement of eligibility and qualification of The First National Bank of
              Chicago.
</TABLE>    
- --------
*To be filed by amendment.
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
  The undersigned Registrants hereby undertake:
 
    (1) That for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
  Act of 1933, each filing of the Registrant's annual report pursuant to
  section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that
  is incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement shall be deemed
  to be a new registration statement relating to the Securities offered
  herein, and the offering of such Securities at that time shall be deemed to
  be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
    (2) That for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
  Act of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as
  part of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and
  contained in a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule
  424(b)(1) or (4) under the Securities Act of 1933 shall be deemed to be
  part of this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared
  effective.
 
    (3) That for purposes of determining any liability under the Securities
  Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
  prospectus shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to
  the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
  time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
  Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
Registrants pursuant to the provisions set forth or described in Item 15 of
this Registration Statement, or otherwise, the Registrants have 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 a Registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director, officer or controlling person in the successful defense
of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against a Registrant by such
director, officer or controlling person, in connection with the Securities
registered hereby, such 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-3
<PAGE>
 
                                   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 AMENDMENT NO. 1 TO
THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE
UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF PROSPECT HEIGHTS, AND
STATE OF ILLINOIS, ON THE 26TH DAY OF MAY, 1995.     
 
                                          Household International, Inc.
                                                              
                                                           *     
                                          By: _________________________________
                                                     William F. Aldinger
                                                President and Chief Executive
                                                           Officer
   
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES
INDICATED AND ON THE 26TH DAY OF MAY, 1995.     
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                 SIGNATURE                                     TITLE
                 ---------                                     -----
 
 
<S>                                         <C>
                     *                      President, Chief Executive Officer, and
___________________________________________   Director (as Principal Executive Officer)
           (William F. Aldinger)
 
                     *                      Chairman of the Board and Director
___________________________________________
             (Donald C. Clark)
 
                     *                      Director
___________________________________________
            (Robert J. Darnall)
 
                     *                      Director
___________________________________________
             (Gary G. Dillon)
 
                     *                      Director
___________________________________________
            (John A. Edwardson)
 
                     *                      Director
___________________________________________
           (Mary Johnston Evans)
 
                     *                      Director
___________________________________________
         (Cyrus F. Freidheim, Jr.)
 
                     *                      Director
___________________________________________
              (Louis E. Levy)
 
                     *                      Director
___________________________________________
             (George A. Lorch)
 
</TABLE>    
 
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                 SIGNATURE                                     TITLE
                 ---------                                     -----
<S>                                         <C>
                     *                      Director
___________________________________________
             (John D. Nichols)
 
                     *                      Director
___________________________________________
            (James B. Pitblado)
 
                     *                      Director
___________________________________________
             (S. Jay Stewart)
 
                     *                      Director
___________________________________________
         (Louis W. Sullivan, M.D.)
 
                     *                      Director
___________________________________________
            (Raymond C. Tower)
 
                     *                      Senior Vice President-Chief Financial
___________________________________________   Officer (as Principal Accounting and
           (David A. Schoenholz)              Financial Officer)
</TABLE>    
 
          /s/ John W. Blenke
   
*By: ___________________________     
             
          John W. Blenke     
            
         Attorney-in-fact     
 
  The Registrant reasonably believes that the security rating to be assigned to
the Securities registered hereunder will make the Securities "investment grade
securities" pursuant to Transaction Requirement B.2 of Form S-3.
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES
   
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL
TRUST I 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 AMENDMENT
NO. 1 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY
THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY AUTHORIZED, IN THE CITY OF PROSPECT HEIGHTS,
STATE OF ILLINOIS, ON THIS 26TH DAY OF MAY, 1995.     
 
                                          Household Capital Trust I
                                                             
                                                          *     
                                          By: _________________________________
                                            Name: Edgar Ancona
                                            Title: Trustee
                                                             
                                                          *     
                                          By: _________________________________
                                            Name: B. B. Moss, Jr.
                                            Title: Trustee
           
        /s/ John W. Blenke     
   
*By: ___________________________     
             
          John W. Blenke     
            
         Attorney-in-fact     
 
  The Registrant reasonably believes that the security rating to be assigned to
the Securities registered hereunder will make the Securities "investment grade
securities" pursuant to Transaction Requirement B.2 of Form S-3.
 
                                      II-6

<PAGE>
 
                       ___________ Preferred Securities

                           HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I
                              (a Delaware Trust)

             ____% Trust Originated Preferred Securities ("TOPrS")
            (Liquidation Amount of $25 Per Preferred Security)/sm//


                            UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                            ----------------------

                                                             _______, 1995


MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
  Incorporated
Smith Barney Inc.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
 as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
  Incorporated
Merrill Lynch World Headquarters
North Tower
World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281

Dear Sirs:

     Household Capital Trust I (the "Trust"), a statutory business trust
organized under the Business Trust Act (the "Delaware Act") of the State of
Delaware (Chapter 38, Title 12, of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. (S)(S) 3801 et
seq.), and Household International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"
and, together with the Trust, the "Offerors") confirm their agreement (the
"Agreement") with you and each of the other Underwriters named in Schedule A
hereto (collectively, the "Underwriters", which term shall also include any
underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10 hereof), for whom
you are acting as representatives (in such capacity, you shall hereinafter be
referred to as the "Representatives"), with respect to the sale by the Trust and
the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the
respective numbers of ____% Trust Originated Preferred Securities (liquidation
amount of $25 per preferred security) of the Trust ("Preferred Securities") set
forth in said Schedule A except as may otherwise be provided in the Pricing
Agreement, as hereinafter defined.  The Preferred Securities will be guaranteed
by the Company with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation,
redemption and otherwise (the "Preferred Securities Guarantee") pursuant to the
Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement (the

- ----------------
/sm// "Trust Originated Preferred Securities" and "TOPrS" are service marks of
      Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.
<PAGE>
 
"Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement"), dated as of ______, 1995, between
the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"),
and entitled to the benefits of certain backup undertakings described in the
Prospectus with respect to the Company's agreement pursuant to the Supplemental
Indenture (as defined herein) to pay all expenses relating to administration of
the Trust.  The Preferred Securities and the related Preferred Securities
Guarantees are referred to herein as the "Securities".

     Prior to the purchase and public offering of the Preferred Securities by
the several Underwriters, the Offerors and the Representatives, acting on behalf
of the several Underwriters, shall enter into an agreement substantially in the
form of Exhibit A hereto (the "Pricing Agreement").  The Pricing Agreement may
take the form of an exchange of any standard form of written telecommunication
between the Offerors and the Representatives and shall specify such applicable
information as is indicated in Exhibit A hereto.  The offering of the Preferred
Securities will be governed by this Agreement, as supplemented by the Pricing
Agreement.  From and after the date of the execution and delivery of the Pricing
Agreement, this Agreement shall be deemed to incorporate the Pricing Agreement.

     The Offerors have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-______) and a related
preliminary prospectus for the registration under the Securities Act of 1933
(the "1933 Act") of (i) the Preferred Securities, (ii) the Preferred Securities
Guarantee, and (iii) the Junior Subordinated Notes (as defined below) to be
issued and sold to the Trust by the Company, have filed such amendments thereto,
if any, and such amended preliminary prospectuses as may have been required to
the date hereof, and will file such additional amendments thereto and such
amended prospectuses as may hereafter be required.  Such registration statement
(as amended) and the prospectus constituting a part thereof (including, in each
case, all documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act and the information,
if any, deemed to be part thereof pursuant to Rule 430A(b) of the rules and
regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations")),
as from time to time amended or supplemented pursuant to the 1933 Act, the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "1934 Act"), or otherwise, are
hereinafter referred to as the "Registration Statement" and the "Prospectus",
respectively, except that, if any revised prospectus shall be provided to the
Underwriters by the Offerors for use in connection with the offering of the
Preferred Securities which differs from the Prospectus on file at the Commission
at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective (whether or not such
revised prospectus is required to be filed by the Offerors pursuant to Rule
424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations), the term "Prospectus" shall refer to such
revised prospectus from and after the time it is first provided to the
Underwriters for such use.  All references in this Agreement to financial
statements and schedules and other information that is "contained," "included"
or "stated" in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus (and all other
references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such
financial statements and schedules and other information that are or are deemed
to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus,
as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to amendments or
supplements to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus shall be

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
deemed to mean and include the filing of any document under the 1934 Act that is
or is deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus, as the case may be.

     The Offerors understand that the Underwriters propose to make a public
offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after
the Pricing Agreement has been executed and delivered.  The entire proceeds from
the sale of the Securities will be combined with the entire proceeds from the
sale by the Trust to the Company of its common securities (the "Common
Securities"), as guaranteed by the Company, to the extent set forth in the
Prospectus, with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation and
redemption (the "Common Securities Guarantee" and together with the Preferred
Securities Guarantee, the "Guarantees") pursuant to the Common Securities
Guarantee Agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee Agreement" and, together
with the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, the "Guarantee Agreements"),
dated as of _________, 1995, between the Company and Guarantee Trustee, as
Trustee, and will be used by the Trust to purchase the $________ of ___% Junior
Subordinated Deferable Interest Notes (the "Junior Subordinated Notes") issued
by the Company.  The Preferred Securities and the Common Securities will be
issued pursuant to the amended and restated declaration of trust of the Trust,
dated as of ________, 1995 (the "Declaration"), among the Company, as Sponsor,
______________ and _____________ (the "Regular Trustees") and Wilmington Trust
Company, a Delaware banking corporation, as property trustee (the "Property
Trustee" and, together with the Regular Trustees, the "Trustees"), and the
holders from time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust.  The Junior Subordinated Notes will be issued pursuant to an indenture,
dated as of _______, 1995 (the "Base Indenture"), between the Company and The
First National Bank of Chicago as trustee (the "Debt Trustee"), and a supplement
to the Base Indenture, dated as of _________, 1995 (the "Supplemental
Indenture," and together with the Base Indenture and any other amendments or
supplements thereto, the "Indenture"), between the Company and the Debt Trustee.

     SECTION 1.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.  (a)  The Offerors jointly and
severally represent and warrant to each Underwriter as of the date hereof and as
of the date of the Pricing Agreement (such latter date being hereinafter
referred to as the "Representation Date") as follows:

          (i)  At the time the Registration Statement becomes effective and at
     the Representation Date, the Registration Statement will comply in all
     material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
     Regulations and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "1939 Act") and the
     rule and regulations of the Commission under the 1939 Act (the "1939 Act
     Regulations"), and will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact
     or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary
     to make the statements therein not misleading.  The Prospectus, at the
     Representation Date (unless the term "Prospectus" refers to a prospectus
     that has been provided to the Underwriters by the Trust for use in
     connection with the offering of the Securities and that differs from the
     Prospectus on file at the Commission at the time the Registration

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     Statement becomes effective, in which case, at the time it is first
     provided to the Underwriters for such use) and at Closing Time referred to
     in Section 2 hereof, will not include an untrue statement of a material
     fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
     statement therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and
     warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions
     from the Registration Statement or Prospectus made in reliance upon and in
     conformity with information furnished to the Offerors in writing by any
     Underwriters through the Representatives expressly for use in the
     Registration Statement or Prospectus.

          (ii)  The documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
     reference in the Registration Statement or Prospectus, at the time they
     were or hereafter are filed with the Commission complied and will comply in
     all material respects with the requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules
     and regulations of the Commission under the 1934 Act (the "1934 Act
     Regulations"), and, when read together with the other information in the
     Prospectus, at the time the Registration Statement and any amendments
     thereto become effective and at the Closing Time, will not contain an
     untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein,
     in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
     misleading.

          (iii)  To the best of the Company's knowledge, Arthur Andersen LLP,
     the accountants who certified the financial statements and supporting
     schedules included in the Registration Statement, are independent public
     accountants as required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.

          (iv)  The financial statements included in the Registration Statement
     and the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company and
     its consolidated subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of
     their operations for the periods specified; except as otherwise stated in
     the Registration Statement, said financial statements have been prepared in
     conformity with generally accepted accounting principles applied on a
     consistent basis; and the supporting schedules included in the Registration
     Statement present fairly the information required to be stated therein.

          (v)  Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
     the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated
     therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change in the condition,
     financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, financial position or business
     affairs of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise,
     or the Trust, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business,
     and (B) there have been no transactions entered into by the Trust or by the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
     of business, which are material with respect to the Trust or the Company
     and its subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise.

          (vi)  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing
     as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware
     with corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties
     and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus, to enter into
     and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement,
     the Declaration, the Indenture and each of the Guarantees and to purchase,
     own, and hold the Common Securities issued by the Trust; and the Company is
     duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good
     standing in each jurisdiction in which the character or location of its
     properties or the nature or the conduct of its business requires such
     qualification, except for any failures to be so qualified or in good
     standing which, taken as a whole, are not material to the Company and its
     subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.

          (vii)  Each subsidiary of the Company which is a significant
     subsidiary (a "Subsidiary") as defined in Rule 405 of the 1933 Act
     Regulations has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
     corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
     incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate
     its properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus
     and is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is
     in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the character or location of
     its properties or the nature or the conduct of its business requires such
     qualification, except for any failures to be so qualified or in good
     standing which, taken as a whole, are not material to the Company and its
     subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; all of the issued and
     outstanding capital stock of each such Subsidiary has been duly authorized
     and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable; and the capital stock
     of each such Subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through
     subsidiaries, is owned free and clear of any security interest, mortgage,
     pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.

          (viii)  The authorized, issued and outstanding capital stock of the
     Company is as set forth in the Prospectus under "Capitalization of
     Household International" (except for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant
     to reservations, agreements, employee benefit plans or the exercise of
     convertible securities referred to in the Prospectus); and all of the
     issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have been
     duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-assessable.

          (ix)  The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing and in
     good standing as a business trust under the Delaware Act with the power and
     authority to own property and to conduct its business as described in the
     Registration Statement and Prospectus and to enter into and perform its
     obligations under this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Preferred

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     Securities, the Common Securities and the Declaration; the Trust is duly
     qualified to transact business as a foreign company and is in good standing
     in any other jurisdiction in which such qualification is necessary, except
     to the extent that the failure to so qualify or be in good standing would
     not have a material adverse effect on the Trust; the Trust is not a party
     to or otherwise bound by any agreement other than those described in the
     Prospectus; the Trust is and will be classified for United States federal
     income tax purposes as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable as
     a corporation; and the Trust is and will be treated as a consolidated
     subsidiary of the Company pursuant to generally accepted accounting
     principles.

          (x)  The Common Securities have been duly authorized by the
     Declaration and, when issued and delivered by the Trust to the Company
     against payment therefor as described in the Registration Statement and
     Prospectus, will be validly issued and (subject to the terms of the
     Declaration) fully paid and non-assessable undivided beneficial interests
     in the assets of the Trust and will conform to all statements relating
     thereto contained in the Prospectus; the issuance of the Common Securities
     is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights: and at the Closing
     Time all of the issued and outstanding Common Securities of the Trust will
     be directly owned by the Company free and clear of any security interest,
     mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.

          (xi)  This Agreement has been, and, at Closing Time, the Pricing
     Agreement will have been, duly authorized, executed and delivered by each
     of the Offerors.

          (xii)  The Declaration has been duly authorized by the Company and, at
     the Closing Time, will have been duly executed and delivered by the Company
     and the Trustees, and assuming due authorization, execution and delivery of
     the Declaration by the Property Trustee, the Declaration will, at the
     Closing Time, be a valid and binding obligation of the Company and the
     Regular Trustees, enforceable against the Company and the Regular Trustees
     in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof
     may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or
     other similar laws affecting creditors rights generally or by general
     principles of equity (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a
     proceeding at law or in equity) (the "Bankruptcy Exceptions") and will
     conform to all statements relating thereto in the Prospectus; and at the
     Closing Time, the Declaration will have been duly qualified under the 1939
     Act.

          (xiii)  Each of the Guarantee Agreements has been duly authorized by
     the Company and, when validly executed and delivered by the Company, and,
     in the case of the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, assuming due
     authorization, execution and delivery of the Preferred Securities Guarantee
     by the Guarantee Trustee, will constitute a

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
     valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the
     Company in accordance with its terms except to the extent that enforcement
     thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions, and each of the
     Guarantees and the Guarantee Agreements will conform to all statements
     relating thereto contained in the Prospectus; and the Preferred Securities
     Guarantee Agreement, at the Closing Time, will have been duly qualified
     under the 1939 Act.

          (xiv)  The Preferred Securities have been duly authorized by the
     Declaration and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement
     against payment of the consideration set forth in the Pricing Agreement,
     will be validly issued and (subject to the terms of the Declaration) fully
     paid and non-assessable undivided beneficial interests in the Trust, will
     be entitled to the benefits of the Declaration and will conform to all
     statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus; the issuance of
     the Preferred Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar
     rights; and (subject to the terms of the Declaration) holders of Preferred
     Securities will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability
     under Delaware law as extended to stockholders of private corporations for
     profit.

          (xv)  The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Company and, when
     validly executed and delivered by the Company, will constitute a valid and
     binding agreement of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
     accordance with its terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may
     be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions; the Indenture will conform to all
     statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus; and at the Closing
     Time, the Indenture will have been duly qualified under the 1939 Act.

          (xvi)  The Junior Subordinated Notes  have been duly authorized by the
     Company and, at the Closing Time, will have been duly executed by the
     Company and, when authenticated in the manner provided for in the Indenture
     and delivered against payment therefor as described in the Prospectus, will
     constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable
     against the Company in accordance with their terms except to the extent
     that enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions, will
     be in the form contemplated by, and entitled to the benefits of, the
     Indenture and will conform to all statements relating thereto in the
     Prospectus.

          (xvii)  The Company's obligations under the Guarantees are subordinate
     and junior in right of payment to all liabilities of the Company and are
     pari passu with the preferred stock issued by the Company.

          (xviii)  The Junior Subordinated Notes are subordinated and junior in
     right of payment to all "senior indebtedness" (as defined in the
     Supplemental Indenture) of the Company.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
          (xix)  Each of the Regular Trustees of the Trust is an employee of the
     Company and has been duly authorized by the Company to execute and deliver
     the Declaration; the Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by
     the Regular Trustees and is a valid and binding obligation of each Regular
     Trustee, enforceable against such Regular Trustee in accordance with its
     terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the
     Bankruptcy Exceptions.

          (xx)  None of the Offerors is an "investment company" or a company
     "controlled" by an "investment company" within the meaning of the
     Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").

          (xxi)  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the
     Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the Preferred Securities, the Common
     Securities, the Indenture, the Junior Subordinated Notes , the Guarantee
     Agreements and the Guarantees and the consummation of the transactions
     contemplated herein and therein and compliance by the Offerors with their
     respective obligations hereunder and thereunder have been duly authorized
     by all necessary action (corporate or otherwise) on the part of the
     Offerors and do not and will not result in any violation of the charter or
     by-laws of the Company or any Subsidiary, or the Declaration or Certificate
     of Trust and do not and will not conflict with, or result in a breach of
     any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, or result
     in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any
     property or assets of the Trust, the Company or any Subsidiary under (A)
     any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other
     agreement or instrument to which the Trust, the Company or any Subsidiary
     is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of its properties
     may be subject (except for conflicts, breaches or defaults which would not,
     individually or in the aggregate, be materially adverse to the Trust or the
     Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, or materially
     adverse to the transactions contemplated by this Agreement), or (B) any
     existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any
     government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, or
     any regulatory body or administrative agency or other governmental body
     having jurisdiction over the Trust, the Company, or any Subsidiary or any
     of their respective properties.

          (xxii)  Except as disclosed in the Prospectus, there is no action,
     suit or proceeding before or by any government, governmental
     instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, now pending or, to the
     knowledge of the Trust or the Company, threatened, against or affecting the
     Trust, the Company or any of its subsidiaries that is required to be
     disclosed in the Prospectus, other than actions, suits or proceedings which
     are not reasonably expected, individually or in the aggregate, to have a
     material effect on the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Trust or
     the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, or on the

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
     earnings, financial position or business affairs of the Trust or the
     Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; and there are no
     contracts or documents of the Company, any of its subsidiaries or the Trust
     that are required to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement by
     the 1933 Act or by the 1933 Act Regulations that have not been so filed.

          (xxiii)  No authorization, approval, consent or order of any court or
     governmental authority or agency is necessary in connection with the
     issuance and sale of the Common Securities or the offering of the Preferred
     Securities, the Junior Subordinated Notes  or the Guarantees hereunder,
     except such as may be required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act
     Regulations or state securities laws and the qualification of the
     Declaration, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement and the Indenture
     under the 1939 Act.

          (xxiv)  The Company and the Subsidiaries and the Trust possess
     adequate certificates, authorities or permits issued by the appropriate
     state, federal or foreign regulatory agencies or bodies to conduct the
     business now operated by them, and neither the Company nor any of the
     Subsidiaries nor the Trust has received any notice of proceedings relating
     to the revocation or modification of any such certificate, authority or
     permit which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an unfavorable
     decision, ruling or finding would materially and adversely affect the
     condition, financial or otherwise, or the earnings or business affairs of
     the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise or of the
     Trust.

          (xxv)  Each of the Offerors is in compliance with all provisions of
     Section 1 of the Laws of Florida, Chapter 92-198, An Act Relating to
     Disclosure of Doing Business With Cuba.

     SECTION 2.  SALE AND DELIVERY TO UNDERWRITERS; CLOSING.
                 ------------------------------------------ 

     (a)  On the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained
and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Trust agrees to
sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each Underwriter,
severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Trust, at the price per
security set forth in the Pricing Agreement, the number of Preferred Securities
set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter (except as
otherwise provided in the Pricing Agreement), plus any additional number of
Preferred Securities that such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase
pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.

     The purchase price per security to be paid by the several Underwriters for
the Preferred Securities shall be an amount equal to the initial public offering
price.  The initial public offering price per Preferred Security shall be a
fixed price to be determined by agreement between the Representatives and the
Offerors.  The initial public offering price and the purchase price, when so
determined, shall be set forth in the Pricing Agreement.  In the event that such
prices have not been agreed upon and

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
the Pricing Agreement has not been executed and delivered by all parties thereto
by the close of business on the fourth business day following the date of this
Agreement, this Agreement shall terminate forthwith, without liability of any
party to any other party, unless otherwise agreed to by the Offerors and the
Representatives.  As compensation to the Underwriters for their commitments
hereunder and in view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred
Securities will be used to purchase the Junior Subordinated Notes of the
Company, the Company hereby agrees to pay at Closing Time (as defined below) to
the Representatives, for the accounts of the several Underwriters, a commission
per Preferred Security determined by agreement between the Representatives and
the Company for the Preferred Securities to be delivered by the Trust hereunder
at Closing Time.  The commission, when so determined, shall be set forth in the
Pricing Agreement.

     (b)  Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of certificates for,
the Preferred Securities shall be made at the office of McDermott Will & Emery,
or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the
Trust, at 10:00 A.M. New York time on the fifth business day (unless postponed
in accordance with the provisions of Section 10) after execution of the Pricing
Agreement, or such other time not later than ten business days after such date
as shall be agreed upon by Representatives, the Trust and the Company (such time
and date of payment and delivery being herein called "Closing Time").  Payment
shall be made to the Trust by certified or official bank check or checks drawn
in Clearing House funds or similar next day funds payable to the order of the
Trust to an account designated by the Trust, against delivery to the
Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of certificates
for the Preferred Securities to be purchased by them.  Certificates for the
Preferred Securities shall be in such denominations and registered in such names
as the Representatives may request in writing at least two business days before
the Closing Time.  It is understood that each Underwriter has authorized the
Representatives, for its account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make
payment of the purchase price for, the Preferred Securities which it has agreed
to purchase.  The Representatives, individually and not as Representatives of
the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to) make payment of the
purchase price for the Preferred Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter
whose check has not been received by the Closing Time, but such payment shall
not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

     The certificate(s) for the Preferred Securities will be made available for
examination and packaging by the Representatives not later than 10:00 A.M. on
the last business day prior to the Closing Time.

     At the Closing Time, the Company will pay, or cause to be paid, the
commission payable at such time to the Underwriters under Section 2 hereof by
certified or official bank check or checks payable to Merrill Lynch, Pierce,
Fenner & Smith Incorporated in Clearing House funds or other similar next day
funds.

          SECTION 3.  COVENANTS OF THE OFFERORS.  Each of the Offerors jointly
and severally covenant with each Underwriter as follows:

                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
          (a)  The Offerors will notify the Representatives promptly, and
     confirm the notice in writing, (i) of the effectiveness of the Registration
     Statement and any amendment thereto (including any post-effective
     amendment), (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii)
     of any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration
     Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for
     additional information, and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any
     stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or
     the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose.  The Offerors will make
     every reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if
     any stop order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest
     possible moment.

          (b)  The Offerors will give the Representatives notice of their
     intention to file or prepare (i) any amendment to the Registration
     Statement (including any post-effective amendment), (ii) any amendment or
     supplement to the Prospectus (including any revised prospectus which the
     Offerors propose for use by the Underwriters in connection with the
     offering of the Preferred Securities which differs from the prospectus on
     file at the Commission at the time the Registration Statement becomes
     effective, whether or not such revised prospectus is required to be filed
     pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations), or (iii) any document
     that would as a result thereof be incorporated by reference in the
     Prospectus whether pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or otherwise,
     will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such amendment,
     supplement or other document within a reasonable amount of time prior to
     such proposed filing or use, as the case may be, and will not file any such
     amendment, supplement or other document or use any such prospectus to which
     the Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall reasonably
     object.  Subject to the foregoing, the Offerors will file the Prospectus
     pursuant to Rule 424(b) and Rule 430A under the Act not later than the
     Commission's close of business on the second business day following the
     execution and delivery of this Agreement.

          (c)  The Offerors will deliver to the Representatives as many signed
     copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of each
     amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or incorporated by
     reference therein and documents  incorporated or deemed to be incorporated
     by reference therein) as the Representatives may reasonably request and
     will also deliver to the Representatives a conformed copy of the
     Registration Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto
     (without exhibits) for each of the Underwriters.

          (d)  The Offerors will furnish to each Underwriter, from time to time
     during the period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the
     1933 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or
     supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request for the

                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
     purposes contemplated by the 1933 Act or the respective applicable rules
     and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

          (e) If at any time when the Prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to
     be delivered in connection with sales of the Preferred Securities, any
     event shall occur as a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of
     counsel for the Underwriters or counsel to the Company and the Trust, to
     amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make the Prospectus not
     misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is to
     be delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary at any such time,
     to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus
     in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act
     Regulation, the Offerors will promptly prepare and file with the Commission
     subject to paragraph (b) above such amendment or supplement as may be
     necessary to correct such untrue statement or omission or to make the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements; and
     the Offerors will furnish to the Underwriters a reasonable number of copies
     of such amendment or supplement.

          (f)  The Offerors will endeavor, in cooperation with the Underwriters,
     to qualify the Preferred Securities (and the Preferred Securities
     Guarantee) and the Junior Subordinated Notes for offering and sale under
     the applicable securities laws of such states and the other jurisdictions
     of the United States as the Representatives may designate; provided,
     however, that none of the Offerors shall be obligated to qualify as a
     foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified.

          (g)  The Trust will make generally available to its security holders
     as soon as practicable but not later than 45 days after the close of the
     period covered thereby, an earnings statement of the Company (in form
     complying with the provisions of Rule 158 of the 1933 Act Regulations)
     covering a twelve-month period beginning not later than the first day of
     the Trust's fiscal quarter next following the "effective date" (as defined
     in said Rule 158) of the Registration Statement.

          (h)  The Offerors will use best efforts to effect the listing of the
     Preferred Securities (including the Preferred Securities Guarantee with
     respect thereto) on the New York Stock Exchange; if the Preferred
     Securities are exchanged for Junior Subordinated Notes, the Company will
     use its best efforts to effect the listing of the Junior Subordinated Notes
     on the exchange on which the Preferred Securities were then listed.

          (i)  During a period of 30 days from the date of the Pricing
     Agreement, neither the Trust nor the Company will, without the
     Representatives' prior written consent, directly or indirectly, sell, offer
     to sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, any
     Preferred Securities, any security convertible into or exchangeable into or
     exercisable for Preferred Securities or the Junior Subordinated Notes or
     any debt

                                     -12-
<PAGE>
 
     securities substantially similar to the Junior Subordinated Notes or equity
     securities substantially similar to the Preferred Securities (except for
     the Junior Subordinated Notes and the Preferred Securities issued pursuant
     to this Agreement).

     SECTION 4.  PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.  The Company will pay all expenses
incident to the performance of each Offerors' obligations under this Agreement,
including but not limited to, (i) the printing and filing of the Registration
Statement as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the
preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Preferred
Securities to the Underwriters, (iii) the fees and disbursements of the
Company's and the Trust's counsel and accountants, (iv) the qualification of the
Preferred Securities, the Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Junior
Subordinated Notes under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of
Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection with the
preparation of any blue sky survey, (v) the printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of copies of the Registration Statement as originally filed and of
each amendment thereto, of each preliminary prospectus, and of the Prospectus
and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of copies of any blue sky survey, (vii) the fee of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., if applicable, (viii) the fees and
expenses of the Debt Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Debt Trustee in connection with the Indenture and the Junior
Subordinated Notes, (ix) the fees and expenses of the Property Trustee, and the
Guarantee Trustee, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the
Property Trustee in connection with the Declaration and the Certificate of
Trust; (x) any fees payable in connection with the rating of the Preferred
Securities and Junior Subordinated Notes; (xi) the fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the listing of the Preferred Securities (and the related
Preferred Securities Guarantee) and, if applicable, the Junior Subordinated
Notes on the New York Stock Exchange, and (xii) the cost and charges of any
transfer agent or registrar and (xiii) the cost of qualifying the Preferred
Securities with The Depository Trust Company.

     If this Agreement is terminated by the Representatives in accordance with
the provisions of Section 5 or Section 9 hereof, the Company shall reimburse the
Underwriters for all of their reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

     SECTION 5.  CONDITIONS OF UNDERWRITERS' OBLIGATIONS.  The obligations of
the Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the representations
and warranties of the Offerors herein contained, to the performance by the
Offerors of their obligations hereunder, and to the following further
conditions:

          (a)  The Registration Statement shall have become effective not later
     than 5:30 P.M. on the date hereof, or with the consent of the
     Representatives, at a later time and date, not later, however, than 5:30
     P.M. on the first business day following the date hereof, or at such later
     time and date as may be approved by the Representatives; and at Closing
     Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration

                                     -13-
<PAGE>
 
     Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor
     initiated or threatened by the Commission.  The Prospectus shall have been
     filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable
     time period prescribed for such filing by the 1933 Regulations and in
     accordance with Section 3(b) and prior to Closing Time the Offerors shall
     have provided evidence satisfactory to the Representatives of such timely
     filing.

          (b)  At Closing Time the Representatives shall have received:

               (1)  The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of John W.
     Blenke, Assistant General Counsel and Secretary of the Company, in form and
     substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, to the effect that:

                    (i)  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
          existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
          of Delaware.

                    (ii)  The Company has corporate power and authority to own,
          lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
          described in the Registration Statement and to enter into and perform
          its obligations under this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement, except
          where the failure to have such power and authority would not be
          material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
          enterprise.

                    (iii)  To the best of his knowledge and information, the
          Company is duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact
          business and is in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such
          qualification is required, except where the failure to so qualify or
          be in good standing would not be material to the Company and its
          subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.

                    (iv)  Each Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and is
          validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of
          the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has corporate power and
          authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
          business as described in the Registration Statement and, to the best
          of his knowledge and information, is duly qualified as a foreign
          corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each
          jurisdiction in which the character or location of its properties or
          the nature or conduct of its business requires such qualification,
          except where the failure to have such power and authority or to so
          qualify or be in good standing would not be material to the Company
          and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise; all of

                                     -14-
<PAGE>
 
          the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Subsidiary has been
          duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-assessable
          and, to the best of his knowledge and information, the capital stock
          of each such Subsidiary owned by the Company, directly or through
          subsidiaries, is owned free and clear of any perfected security
          interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.

                    (v)  The Company has an authorized capitalization as set
          forth in the Prospectus and all outstanding shares of its common and
          preferred stock have been duly and validly authorized and issued and
          are fully paid and nonassessable.

                    (vi)  This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement have each
          been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

                    (vii)  The Registration Statement is effective under the
          1933 Act and, and to the best of his knowledge and information, no
          stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
          has been issued under the 1933 Act or proceeding therefor initiated or
          threatened by the Commission.

                    (viii)  At the time the Registration Statement became
          effective and at the Representation Date, the Registration Statement
          (other than the financial statements and supporting schedules and
          other financial or statistical data included therein, as to which no
          opinion need be rendered) complied as to form in all material respects
          with the requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.

                    (ix)  To the best of his knowledge and information, there
          are no contracts, indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes,
          leases or other instruments required to be described or referred to in
          the Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto other
          than those described or referred to therein or filed or incorporated
          by reference as exhibits thereto.

                    (x)  No authorization, approval, consent or order of any
          court or governmental authority or agency is required in connection
          with the offering, issuance or sale of the Preferred Securities, the
          Preferred Securities Guarantee and the Junior Subordinated Notes to
          the Underwriters, except (a) such as may be required under the 1933
          Act and the 1933 Act Regulations, and (b) the qualification of the
          Declaration, the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement and the
          Indenture under the 1939 Act; and, to the best of his knowledge and
          information, the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement
          and the Pricing Agreement and the consummation of the transactions
          contemplated herein and therein and compliance by the Company and the
          Trust

                                     -15-
<PAGE>
 
          with their obligations hereunder and thereunder will not conflict with
          or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the creation
          or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or
          assets of the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or the Trust pursuant
          to, any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or
          other instrument to which the Company or any of the Subsidiaries or
          the Trust is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to
          which any of the property or assets of the Company or any of the
          Subsidiaries or the Trust is subject (except for conflicts, breaches
          and defaults which would not, individually or in the aggregate, be
          materially adverse to the Company and its subsidiaries taken as a
          whole or the Trust or materially adverse to the transactions
          contemplated by this Agreement), nor will such action result in any
          violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation or By-
          laws of the Company, or any applicable law, administrative regulation
          or administrative or court decree.

                    (xi)  Each document filed pursuant to the 1934 Act (other
          than the financial statements and supporting schedules and other
          financial or statistical data included therein, as to which no opinion
          need be rendered) and incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by
          reference in the Prospectus complied when so filed as to form in all
          material respects with the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.

                    (xii)  To the best of his knowledge and information and
          other than as disclosed in the Registration Statement, there are no
          legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any
          of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company
          or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which individually or in the
          aggregate is material, and, to the best of his knowledge, no such
          proceedings are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities
          or threatened by others.

                    (xiii)  The Declaration has been duly qualified under the
          1939 Act.

                    (xiv)  Each of the Guarantee Agreements has been duly
          authorized, executed and delivered by the Company; the Preferred
          Securities Guarantee Agreement, assuming it is duly authorized,
          executed and delivered by the Guarantee Trustee, constitutes a valid
          and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company
          in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement
          thereof may be limited by Bankruptcy Exceptions; and the Preferred
          Securities Guarantee Agreement has been duly qualified under the 1939
          Act.

                                     -16-
<PAGE>
 
                    (xv)  The Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by
          the Company and, assuming due authorization, execution, and delivery
          thereof by the Debt Trustee, is a valid and binding obligation of the
          Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
          except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the
          Bankruptcy Exceptions; the Indenture has been duly qualified under the
          1939 Act; and the Indenture conforms to the description thereof in the
          Prospectus.

                    (xvi)  The Junior Subordinated Notes have been duly
          authorized and executed by the Company and, when authenticated by the
          Trustee in the manner provided in the Indenture and delivered against
          payment therefor, will constitute valid and binding obligations of the
          Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
          terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by
          the Bankruptcy Exception; and the Junior Subordinated Notes conform to
          the description thereof in the Prospectus.

                    (xvii)  Neither the Company nor the Trust is an "investment
          company" or a company "controlled" by an "investment company" within
          the meaning of the 1940 Act.

               (2)  The favorable opinion of Morris, Nichols, Arsht and Tunnell,
     Special Delaware counsel to the Offerors, in form and substance
     satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, to the effect that:

                    (i)  The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing
          in good standing as a business trust under the Delaware Act; all
          filings required under the laws of the State of Delaware with respect
          to the formation and valid existence of the Trust as a business trust
          have been made; the Trust has all necessary power and authority to own
          property and to conduct its business as described in the Registration
          Statement and the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its
          obligations under this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Preferred
          Securities and the Common Securities; the Trust is duly qualified and
          in good standing as a foreign company in any other jurisdiction in
          which such qualification is necessary, except to the extent that the
          failure to so qualify or be in good standing would not have a material
          adverse effect on the Trust; and the Trust is not a party to or
          otherwise bound by any agreement other than those described in the
          Prospectus.

                    (ii)  The Declaration has been duly authorized, executed and
          delivered by the Company and the Trustees and is a valid and binding
          obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
          accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be
          limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions.

                                     -17-
<PAGE>
 
               (iii)  The Common Securities have been duly authorized by the
          Declaration and are validly issued and (subject to the terms of the
          Declaration) fully paid and non-assessable beneficial interests in the
          assets of the Trust, and the issuance of the Common Securities is not
          subject to preemptive or other similar rights.

               (iv)  The Preferred Securities have been duly authorized by
          the Declaration and are validly issued and (subject to the terms of
          the Declaration), when delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters
          pursuant to this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and
          non-assessable beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust; the
          holders of the Preferred Securities will (subject to the terms of the
          Declaration) be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability
          under Delaware law as is extended to stockholders of private
          corporations for profit; and the issuance of the Preferred Securities
          is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights.

               (v)  The Common Securities, the Preferred Securities and the
          Declaration conform in all material respects to all statements
          relating thereto contained in the Prospectus.

               (vi)  All of the issued and outstanding Common Securities of
          the Trust are directly owned by the Company free and clear of any
          security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or
          equitable right.

               (vii)  This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement have been
          duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Trust.

               (viii)  The execution, delivery and performance of this
          Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the Preferred
          Securities and the Common Securities; the consummation of the
          transactions contemplated herein and therein; and the compliance by
          the Trust with its obligations hereunder and thereunder do not and
          will not result in any violation of the Declaration or Certificate of
          Trust, and do not and will not conflict with, or result in, a breach
          of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under,
          or result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
          encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Trust under (A) any
          contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or any
          other agreement or instrument known to such counsel to which the Trust
          is a party or by which it may be bound or to which any of its
          properties may be subject (except for such conflicts, breaches or
          defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not have a
          material adverse effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), or

                                     -18-
<PAGE>
 
          business affairs of the Trust, (B) any existing applicable law, rule
          or regulation (other than the securities or blue sky laws of the
          various states, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) or
          (C) any judgment, order or decree of any government, governmental
          instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, or any regulatory body
          or administrative agency or other governmental body having
          jurisdiction over the Trust or any of its properties.

               (3)  The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of
     ___________________, counsel of Wilmington Trust Company, as Property
     Trustee under the Declaration, and Guarantee Trustee under the Preferred
     Securities Guarantee Agreement, in form and substance satisfactory to
     counsel for the Underwriters, to the effect that:

                    (i)  Wilmington Trust Company is a Delaware banking
          corporation with trust powers, duly organized, validly existing and in
          good standing under the laws of the State of Delaware with all
          necessary power and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out
          and perform its obligations under the terms of the Declaration and the
          Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement.

                    (ii)  The execution, delivery and performance by the
          Property Trustee of the Declaration and the execution, delivery and
          performance by the Guarantee Trustee of the Preferred Securities
          Guarantee Agreement have been duly authorized by all necessary
          corporate action on the part of the Property Trustee and the Guarantee
          Trustee, respectively.  The Declaration and the Guarantee Agreements
          have been duly executed and delivered by the Property Trustee and the
          Guarantee Trustee, respectively, and constitutes the legal, valid and
          binding obligations of the Property Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee,
          respectively, enforceable against the Property Trustee and the
          Guarantee Trustee, respectively, in accordance with their terms,
          except as enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy
          Exceptions.

                    (iii)  The execution, delivery and performance of the
          Declaration and the Guarantee Agreements by the Property Trustee and
          the Guarantee Trustee, respectively, does not conflict with or
          constitute a breach of the Articles of Organization or Bylaws of the
          Property Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee, respectively.

                    (iv)  No consent, approval or authorization of, or
          registration with or notice to, any Delaware or federal

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
 
          banking authority is required for the execution, delivery or
          performance by the Property Trustee and the Guarantee Trustee of the
          Declaration and the Guarantee Agreements.

               (4)  The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of
     McDermott, Will & Emery, counsel for the Underwriters, in form and
     substance satisfactory to the Underwriters with respect to the legal
     existence of the Company, the Preferred Securities, the Indenture, the
     Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement, this Agreement, the Pricing
     Agreement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related
     matters as the Representatives may require.

               In giving its opinion, McDermott Will & Emery may rely as to
     certain matters of Delaware law upon the opinion of Morris, Nichols, Arsht
     and Tunnell, counsel for the Offerors, which shall be delivered in
     accordance with Section 5(b)(1) hereto.

               (5)  The favorable opinion of Sidley & Austin, special tax
     counsel to the Company and the Trust, as to certain Federal tax matters set
     forth in the Prospectus under "United States Income Taxation", in form and
     substance satisfactory to the Representatives.

               (6)  In giving their opinions required by subsections (b) (1) and
     (b)(4), respectively, of this Section, Mr. Blenke and McDermott, Will &
     Emery shall each additionally state that nothing has come to their
     attention that has caused them to believe that the Registration Statement
     (except for financial statements and schedules and other financial or
     statistical data included or incorporated by reference, therein, as to
     which counsel need make no statement), at the time it became effective or
     at the Representation Date, contained an untrue statement of a material
     fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the
     Prospectus (except for financial statements and schedules and other
     financial or statistical data included or incorporated by reference
     therein, as to which counsel need make no statement), at the Representation
     Date or at Closing Time, included an untrue statement of a material fact or
     omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
     therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
     misleading.

               (7)  At Closing Time, there shall not have been, since the date
     hereof or since the respective dates as of which information is given in
     the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, any material adverse change
     in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings or business
     affairs of the Trust or the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
     enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, and
     the Representatives shall have received a certificate of a Vice President
     of the Company and of the chief financial or chief

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
 
     accounting officer of the Company and a certificate of the Trustee of the
     Trust, and dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (i) there has been
     no such material adverse change, (ii) the representations and warranties in
     Section 1 hereof are true and correct with the same force and effect as
     though expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (iii) the Trust and the
     Company have complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on
     its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (iv)
     no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
     has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been initiated or
     threatened by the Commission.

               (8)  At Closing Time, the Representatives shall have received
     from Arthur Andersen LLP, a letter dated such date, in form and substance
     satisfactory to the Representatives.

               (9)  At Closing Time, counsel for the Underwriters shall have
     been furnished with such documents and opinions as they may require for the
     purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and sale of the
     Preferred Securities as herein contemplated and related proceedings, or in
     order to evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties,
     or the fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all
     proceedings taken by the Offerors, in connection with the issuance and sale
     of the Preferred Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in
     form and substance to the Representatives and McDermott, Will & Emery,
     counsel for the Underwriters.

               (10)  At Closing Time, there shall not have occurred any decrease
     in the ratings of any of the debt securities of the Company or of the
     Preferred Securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
     organization" (as defined for purposes of Rule 436(g) under the Act).

               (11)  At Closing Time, the Preferred Securities shall have been
     approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange upon notice of
     issuance.

               If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been
     fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled, this Agreement may be
     terminated by the Representatives by notice to the Offerors at any time at
     or prior to Closing Time, and such termination shall be without liability
     of any party to any other party except as provided in Section 4 hereof.

     SECTION 6.  INDEMNIFICATION

     (a)  The Offerors agree to jointly and severally indemnify and hold
harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act as follows:

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
 
          (i)  against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
     untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
     (or any amendment thereto), including the information deemed to be part of
     the Registration Statement pursuant to Rule 430A(b) of the 1933 Act
     Regulations, if applicable, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom
     of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or
     alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any preliminary
     prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) or
     the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in
     order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
     under which they were made, not misleading;

          (ii)  against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
     settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
     governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim
     whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
     alleged untrue statement or omission, if such settlement is effected with
     the written consent of the Company; and

          (iii)  against any and all expense whatsoever as incurred (including,
     subject to Section 6(c) hereof, the fees and disbursements of counsel
     chosen by the Representatives) reasonably incurred, in investigating,
     preparing or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or
     proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or
     any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, to
     the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Trust or the
Company by any Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any preliminary prospectus
or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); and provided,
further, that this indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary
prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any underwriter from whom the
person asserting any such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses
purchased Securities, or any person controlling such Underwriter, if the
Offerors sustain the burden that a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or
supplemented if the Company or the Trust shall have furnished any such
amendments or supplements thereto), but excluding documents incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference, was not sent or given by or on behalf of
such Underwriter to such person, if such is required by law, at or prior to the
written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person and if the
Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented, but excluding documents incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein)

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
 
would have corrected the defect giving rise to such loss, liability, claim,
damage or expense, it being understood that this proviso shall have no
application if such defect shall have been corrected in a document which is
incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus.

     (b)  The Company agrees to indemnify the Trust against all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense whatsoever, as due from the Trust under Section 6(a)
hereunder.

     (c)  Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Offerors, their directors, trustees, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Offerors
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act against any and all loss,
liability, claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in
subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue
statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any preliminary prospectus
or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and
in conformity with written information furnished to the Offerors by such
Underwriter through the Representatives expressly for use in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (d)  Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably
practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in
respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an
indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability
which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity agreement.  An
indemnifying party may participate at its own expense in the defense of any such
action.  In no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and
expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate
from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one
action or separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction
arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances.

     SECTION 7.  CONTRIBUTION.  In order to provide for just and equitable
contribution in circumstances in which the indemnity agreement provided for in
Section 6 hereof is for any reason held to be unenforceable by the indemnified
parties although applicable in accordance with its terms, the Offerors and the
Underwriters shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims,
damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by said indemnity agreement
incurred by the Offerors and one or more of the Underwriters, as incurred, in
such proportions that the Underwriters are responsible for that portion
represented by the percentage that the underwriting compensation paid by the
Company appearing on the cover page of the Prospectus bears to the initial
public offering price appearing thereon and the Offerors are responsible for the
balance; provided, however, that no person guilty of fraudulent
misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be
entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation.  For purposes of this Section, each person, if any, who
controls an Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act shall
have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of
the Company and each officer of the Company who signed the

                                      -23-
<PAGE>
 
Registration Statement, each trustee of the Trust and each person, if any, who
controls an Offeror within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act shall have
the same rights to contribution as the Offerors.

     SECTION 8.  REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY.
All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement and
the Pricing Agreement, or contained in certificates of officers or Trustees of
the Offerors submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force
and effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any
Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Offerors and shall
survive delivery of the Preferred Securities to the Underwriters.

     SECTION 9.  TERMINATION OF AGREEMENT.

          (a)  The Representatives may term terminate this Agreement, by notice
to the Offerors, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i) if there has been,
since the date of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement, any material adverse change
in the condition financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or
business prospects or the Trust or the Company and its subsidiaries considered
as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business,
(ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets
in the United States or elsewhere or any outbreak of hostilities or escalation
thereof or other calamity or crisis the effect of which is such as to make it,
in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable to market the Preferred
Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Preferred Securities,
(iii) if trading in the Preferred Securities has been suspended by the
Commission, or if trading generally on the New York Stock Exchange has been
suspended, limited or restricted or minimum or maximum prices for trading have
been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities have been required, by
said exchange or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority,
or if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal, New York or
Delaware authorities or (iv) if there has been any decrease in the ratings of
any of the debt securities of the Company or of the Preferred Securities by any
"nationally recognized statistical rating organization" (as defined for purposes
of Rule 436(g) under the Act).

          (b)  If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section, such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as
provided in Section 4 hereof.

     SECTION 10.  DEFAULT BY ONE OR MORE OF THE UNDERWRITERS.  If one or more of
the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time to purchase the Preferred Securities
that it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement and the Pricing
Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the Representatives shall have the
right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the
non-defaulting Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not
less than all, of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon
and upon the terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not
have completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

                                      -24-
<PAGE>
 
          (a)  if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the
     Preferred Securities, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be
     obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof
     in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder
     bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or

          (b)  if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the
     Preferred Securities, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on
     the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

     No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

     In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of
this Agreement, either the Representatives or the Offerors shall have the right
to postpone Closing Time for a period not exceeding seven days in order to
effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in
any other documents or arrangements.

     SECTION 11.  NOTICES.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication.  Notices to the
Underwriters shall be directed to the Representatives at Merrill Lynch World
Headquarters, North Tower, World Financial Center, New York, New York 10281-
1201, attention of _______________, Managing Director; notices to the Trust, and
the Company shall be directed to them at 2700 Sanders Road, Prospect Heights,
Illinois 60070, attention:  Secretary.

     SECTION 12.  PARTIES.  This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement shall each
inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Trust, the
Company and their respective successors.  Nothing expressed or mentioned in this
Agreement or the Pricing Agreement is intended or shall be construed to give any
person, firm or corporation, other than the Underwriters and the Trust and the
Company and their respective successors and the controlling persons and
officers, directors and trustees referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs
and legal representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under
or in respect of this Agreement or the Pricing Agreement or any provision herein
or therein contained.  This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement and all
conditions and provisions hereof and thereof are intended to be for the sole and
exclusive benefit of the Underwriters and the Trust and the Company and their
respective successors, and said controlling persons and officers, directors and
trustees and their heirs and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no
other person, firm or corporation.  No purchaser of Securities from any
Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.

     SECTION 13.  GOVERNING LAW AND TIME.  This Agreement and the Pricing
Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the
State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in said
State.  Except as otherwise set forth herein, specified times of day refer to
New York City time.

                                      -25-
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 14.  COUNTERPARTS.  This Agreement may be executed by any one or
more of the parties hereto in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts shall together
constitute one and the same instrument.

          If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Trust a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
between the Underwriters and the Trust and the Company in accordance with its
terms.

                              Very truly yours,

                              HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.



                              By:___________________________
                                 Title:



                              HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I


                              By:____________________________
                                 Title:  Trustee

                              By:____________________________
                                 Title:  Trustee

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:

MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated
SMITH BARNEY INC.
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

By:  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                 Incorporated


By:____________________________
      Authorized Signatory

For themselves and as Representatives of the other
Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.

                                      -26-
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE A

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

                                                       NUMBER OF
      NAME OF UNDERWRITER                              SECURITIES
      -------------------                              ----------
<S>                                                    <C> 
Merrill, Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
             Incorporated..........................

Smith Barney Inc...................................

Goldman, Sachs & Co................................    _________

          Total....................................    =========
</TABLE> 
                                      -27-
<PAGE>
 
                        ___________ Preferred Securities

                           HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I
                               (a Delaware Trust)

             ____% Trust Originated Preferred Securities ("TOPrS")
           (Liquidation Amount of $25 Per Preferred Securities)/sm/


                               PRICING AGREEMENT
                               -----------------

                                                                   _______, 1995

MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated
Smith Barney Inc.
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
 as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Merrill Lynch & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated
Merrill Lynch World Headquarters
North Tower
World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281

Dear Sirs:

          Reference is made to the Underwriting Agreement, dated ________, 1995
(the "Underwriting Agreement"), relating to the purchase by the several
Underwriters named in Schedule A thereto, for whom you are acting as
representatives (the "Representatives"), of the above ___% Trust Originated
Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities"), of HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I,
a Delaware business trust (the "Trust").

          Pursuant to Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement, the Trust and
Household International, Inc. (the "Company"), a Delaware Corporation, agree
with each Underwriter as follows:

          1.  The initial public offering price per security for the Preferred
     Securities, determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be __________.

          2.  The purchase price per security for the Preferred Securities to be
     paid by the several Underwriters shall be $_________, being an amount equal
     to the initial public offering price set forth above.

- ----------
/sm/  "Trust Originated Preferred Securities" and "TOPrS" are service marks of
      Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc.

<PAGE>
 
          3.  The compensation per Preferred Securities to be paid by the
     Company to the several Underwriters in respect of their commitments
     hereunder shall be _______; provided, however, that the compensation per
     Preferred Securities for sales of 10,000 or more Preferred Securities to a
     single purchaser shall be ________.

          If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to the Trust a counterpart hereof, whereupon
this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement
between the Underwriters and the Trust and the Company in accordance with its
terms.

                              Very truly yours,

                              HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                              By:___________________________
                                 Title:


                              HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I


                              By:___________________________
                                 Title:  Trustee

                              By:___________________________
                                 Title:  Trustee

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
as of the date first above written:

MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated


SMITH BARNEY INC.
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

By:  Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                 Incorporated

By:____________________________
       Authorized Signatory

For themselves and as Representatives of the other
Underwriters named in the Underwriting Agreement.

                                      -2-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 4(a)


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




                         HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                                      AND


                      THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                                  AS TRUSTEE.



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



                                   INDENTURE


                           Dated as of May 15, 1995



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



       Providing for issuance of Subordinated Debt Securities in Series

     

================================================================================
<PAGE>
 
     Tie of certain provisions of Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended with
Indenture, dated as of May 15, 1995, between Household International, Inc. and
The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee*
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                  SECTION OF
SECTION OF ACT                                    INDENTURE
- --------------                                    ----------
<S>                                              <C> 
310 (a)(1) ...................................... 8.08
    (a)(2) ...................................... 8.08
                                                     Not
    (a)(3) ...................................... Applicable
                                                     Not
    (a)(4) ...................................... Applicable
    (b) ......................................... 8.08, 8.10

311 (a) ......................................... 8.09
    (b) ......................................... 8.09
 
312 (a) ......................................... 9.01
                                                  9.02(a)
    (b) ......................................... 9.02(b)
    (c) ......................................... 9.02(b)

313 (a) ......................................... 9.03(a)
    (b) ......................................... 9.03(a)
    (c) ......................................... 9.03(a)
                                                  9.03(b)
    (d) ......................................... 9.03(c)

314 (a) ......................................... 3.07
                                                     Not
    (b) ......................................... Applicable
    (c)(1) ...................................... 1.02
    (c)(2) ...................................... 1.02
                                                     Not
    (c)(3) ...................................... Applicable
                                                     Not
    (d) ......................................... Applicable
    (e) ......................................... 1.02

315 (a) ......................................... 8.01(a)
                                                  8.01(c)
    (b) ......................................... 8.02
                                                  9.03(a)
    (c) ......................................... 8.01(b)
    (d) ......................................... 8.01(c)
    (d)(1) ...................................... 8.01(c)(1)
    (d)(2) ...................................... 8.01(c)(2)
    (d)(3) ...................................... 8.01(c)(3)
</TABLE> 
- ----------------
*  This tie of provisions does not constitute a part of the Indenture and is
   for convenience of reference only.
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 SECTION OF
SECTION OF ACT                                   INDENTURE
- --------------                                   ----------
<S>                                              <C>
 
315 (e).........................................  7.14
 
316 (a).........................................  1.01
    (a)(1)(A) ................................... 7.02
                                                  7.12
    (a)(1)(B) ................................... 7.13
                                                     Not
    (a)(2) ...................................... Applicable
    (b) ......................................... 7.08

317 (a)(1)....................................... 7.03
    (a)(2) ...................................... 7.04
    (b) ......................................... 3.03

318 (a) ......................................... 1.07
</TABLE> 
<PAGE>
 
                         HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.

                      Indenture dated as of May 15, 1995

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

                              TABLE OF CONTENTS**

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

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                  Page
<S>                                                             <C> 
Parties ....................................................        1

Recitals ...................................................        1


                                   ARTICLE I

            DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION
 
SECTION 1.01   Definitions
               Act..........................................        2
               Affiliate; Control...........................        2
               Authenticating Agent.........................        2
               Authorized Newspaper.........................        2
               Board of Directors...........................        2
               Board Resolution.............................        2
               Business Day.................................        2
               Commission; SEC..............................        2
               Company......................................        3
               Company Request; Company Order;
                 Company Consent.............................       3
               Corporate Trust Office........................       3
               Depository....................................       3
               Depository Note...............................       3
               Event of Default..............................       3
               Holder........................................       3
               Indenture.....................................       3
               Independent...................................       3
               Interest......................................       4
               Interest Payment Date.........................       4
               Maturity......................................       4
               Notes.........................................       4
</TABLE>

**This Table of Contents does not constitute a part of the Indenture and is for
  convenience of reference only.

                                       i
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<S>                                                             <C> 
               Note Register; Note Registrar................        4
               Officers' Certificate........................        4
               Opinion of Counsel...........................        4
               Original Issue Discount Note.................        4
               Outstanding..................................        4
               Paying Agent.................................        5
               Person.......................................        6
               Predecessor Notes............................        6
               Redemption Date..............................        6
               Redemption Price.............................        6
               Regular Record Date..........................        6
               Responsible Officer..........................        6
               Senior Indebtedness..........................        6
               Special Record Date..........................        7
               Stated Maturity..............................        7
               Subsidiary...................................        7
               Trustee......................................        7
               Trust Indenture Act; TIA.....................        7
               Voting Stock.................................        7
 
Section 1.02   Compliance Certificates and Opinions.........        7
Section 1.03   Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.......        8
Section 1.04   Acts of Holders..............................        9
Section 1.05   Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company........       10
Section 1.06   Notices to Holders; Waiver...................       10
Section 1.07   Conflict with Trust Indenture Act............       11
Section 1.08   Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.....       11
Section 1.09   Successors and Assigns.......................       11
Section 1.10   Separability Clause..........................       11
Section 1.11   Benefits of Indenture........................       11
Section 1.12   Governing Law................................       11
Section 1.13   Payment on Business Day......................       12
Section 1.14   Incorporation by Reference of Trust
                 Indenture Act..............................       12
 
                                  ARTICLE II

                  ISSUE, EXECUTION AND REGISTRATION OF NOTES
 
 
Section 2.01   Issuance of Notes in Series..................       12
Section 2.02   Form, Authentication and Delivery
                 of Notes...................................       14
Section 2.03   Execution of Notes...........................       16
Section 2.04   Temporary Notes..............................       16
Section 2.05   Exchange and Transfers of Notes..............       17
</TABLE>

                                      ii
<PAGE>

<TABLE> 
<S>                                                             <C> 
Section 2.06   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
                 Notes......................................       18
Section 2.07   Payment of Interest; Interest Rights
                 Preserved..................................       19
Section 2.08   Persons Deemed Owners........................       20
Section 2.09   Cancellation of Notes........................       20
Section 2.10   Appointment of Authenticating Agent..........       21
Section 2.11   Notes Issuable in the Form of a
                 Depository Note............................       21
 
                                  ARTICLE III

                                   COVENANTS
 
 
Section 3.01   Payment of Principal, Premium and
                 Interest...................................       23
Section 3.02   Maintenance of Office or Agency..............       23
Section 3.03   Money for Note Payments to be Held in
                 Trust......................................       23
Section 3.04   Payment of Taxes and Other Claims............       24
Section 3.05   Statement as to Compliance...................       25
Section 3.06   Corporate Existence..........................       25
Section 3.07   Filing of Reports............................       25
 
                                  ARTICLE IV

                        REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS


Section 4.01   Optional Repayment of Notes .................       25
Section 4.02   Repayment Procedure for Notes ...............       26


                                   ARTICLE V

                      REDEMPTION OF NOTES; SINKING FUNDS
 
Section 5.01   Applicability of Redemption Provisions.......       26
Section 5.02   Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee........       26
Section 5.03   Selection by Trustee of Notes to be
                 Redeemed...................................       26
Section 5.04   Notice of Redemption.........................       27
Section 5.05   Deposit of Redemption Price..................       28
Section 5.06   Notes Payable on Redemption Date.............       28
Section 5.07   Notes Redeemed in Part.......................       28
Section 5.08   Sinking Funds................................       28
</TABLE>

                                      iii
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>             <C>                                            <C>
Section 5.09    Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments
                  with Notes.................................  29
Section 5.10    Redemption of Notes for Sinking Fund.........  29
 
                                  ARTICLE VI

                          SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
 
 
Section 6.01    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture......  30
Section 6.02    Application of Trust Money...................  31
Section 6.03    Satisfaction, Discharge, and Defeasance
                  of Notes of any Series.....................  31
Section 6.04    Subordination not Effective..................  33
 
                                  ARTICLE VII

                                    REMEDIES
 
 
Section 7.01    Events of Default............................  33
Section 7.02    Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and
                  Annulment..................................  35
Section 7.03    Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for
                  Enforcement by Trustee.....................  36
Section 7.04    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.............  37
Section 7.05    Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession
                  of Notes...................................  37
Section 7.06    Application of Money Collected...............  38
Section 7.07    Limitation on Suits..........................  38
Section 7.08    Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive
                  Principal, Premium and Interest............  39
Section 7.09    Restoration of Rights and Remedies...........  39
Section 7.10    Rights and Remedies Cumulative...............  39
Section 7.11    Delay or Omission Not Waiver.................  39
Section 7.12    Control by Holders...........................  40
Section 7.13    Waiver of Past Defaults......................  40
Section 7.14    Undertaking for Costs........................  40
Section 7.15    Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws.............  41
 
                                 ARTICLE VIII

                                  THE TRUSTEE
 
 
Section 8.01    Certain Duties and Responsibilities..........  41
Section 8.02    Notice of Defaults...........................  42
 
</TABLE>

                                       iv
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>

<S>             <C>                                            <C>
Section 8.03    Certain Rights of Trustee....................  43
Section 8.04    Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance
                  of Notes...................................  44
Section 8.05    May Hold Notes...............................  44
Section 8.06    Money Held in Trust..........................  44
Section 8.07    Compensation and Reimbursement...............  44
Section 8.08    Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility;
                  Disqualification; Conflicting Interests....  45
Section 8.09    Preferential Collection of Claims Against
                  Company....................................  45
Section 8.10    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of
                  Successor..................................  45
Section 8.11    Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.......  47
Section 8.12    Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or
                  Succession to Business.....................  47
 
                                   ARTICLE IX

               HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
 
 
Section 9.01    Company to Furnish Trustee Names and
                  Addresses of Holders.......................  47
Section 9.02    Preservation of Information; Communications
                  to Holders.................................  48
Section 9.03    Reports by Trustee...........................  48
 
                                   ARTICLE X

              CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE


Section 10.01   Company May Consolidate, etc. only on
                  Certain Terms .............................  49
Section 10.02   Successor Corporation Substituted ...........  49


                                   ARTICLE XI

                             SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE
 
 
Section 11.01    Supplemental Indentures Without Consent
                   of Holders................................  50
Section 11.02    Supplemental Indentures With Consent of
                   Holders...................................  51
Section 11.03    Execution of Supplemental Indentures........  52
Section 11.04    Effect of Supplemental Indentures...........  52

</TABLE>

                                       v
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>

<S>             <C>                                            <C>
Section 11.05   Conformity with Trust Indenture Act..........  52
Section 11.06   Reference in Notes to Supplemental
                  Indentures.................................  52
 
                                  ARTICLE XII

                                 SUBORDINATION


Section 12.01   Subordination of Notes ......................  52


                                  ARTICLE XIII

Section 13.01   Assignment...................................  53
</TABLE> 

                                       vi
<PAGE>
 
     THIS INDENTURE, dated as of the 15th day of May, 1995, between Household
International, Inc., a corporation duly organized and validly existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware (hereinafter sometimes called the "Company"),
having its principal office at 2700 Sanders Road, Prospect Heights, IL  60070,
and The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking association
(hereinafter called the "Trustee").

                                  WITNESSETH:

     WHEREAS, the Company deems it necessary from time to time to borrow money
for its corporate purposes and to issue its debt securities therefor, and to
that end has duly authorized and directed the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for one or more series of its unsecured junior subordinated
debentures, subordinated notes, subordinated debt securities or other evidences
of subordinated indebtedness (hereinafter called "Notes"), issuable as in this
Indenture provided; and

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

                   NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

     For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of Notes to be
issued hereunder by Holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for
the equal and proportionate benefit of all Holders, as follows:


                                   ARTICLE I

                        DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
                             OF GENERAL APPLICATION


     SECTION 1.01.  For all purposes of this Indenture, except as otherwise
expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires:

          (1) the terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to
     them in this Article, and include the plural as well as the singular;

          (2) 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;

          (3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
     meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting
     principles, and
<PAGE>
 
          (4) all other terms used herein which are defined in the TIA, either
     directly or by reference therein, has the meanings assigned to them
     therein.

     "Act" when used with respect to any Holder has the meaning specified in
Section 1.04.

     "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" means any Person authorized by the Trustee to act on
behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Notes.

     "Authorized Newspaper" when used in connection with the name of a
particular city, means a newspaper, printed in an official language of the
country of publication, of general circulation and customarily published in such
city on each Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or
holidays.  Whenever successive weekly publications in an Authorized Newspaper
are required hereunder they may be made (unless otherwise expressly provided
herein) on the same or different days of the week and in the same or in
different Authorized Newspapers.

     "Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Company,
any duly authorized committee of that board, or any officer of the Company duly
authorized by the board of directors of the Company or a duly authorized
committee of that board.

     "Board Resolution" means an instrument delivered to the Trustee by the
Company which is a copy of a resolution certified by the Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary of the Company to have been duly adopted by the Board of
Directors, or action taken by any officer of the Company duly authorized by the
Board of Directors as certified to by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary,
which resolution or action is to be in full force and effect on the date of such
certification.

     "Business Day" means any day on which federal or state banking institutions
in either Chicago, Illinois or New York, New York are authorized or obligated by
law, executive order or regulation to close.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     "Commission" or "SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as from
time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or
if at any time after the execution of this instrument such Commission is not
existing and performing the duties now assigned to it under the Trust Indenture
Act, then the body performing such duties on such date.

     "Company" means the Person named as the Company in the first paragraph of
this Indenture until a successor entity shall have become such pursuant to the
applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter Company shall mean such
successor entity.

     "Company Request", "Company Order" and "Company Consent" means,
respectively, a written request, order or consent signed in the name of the
Company by its President, a Vice President, or its Treasurer and by an Assistant
Treasurer, Controller, an Assistant Controller, Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

     "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal corporate trust office of the
Trustee at which, at any particular time, its corporate trust business shall be
administered, which office at the date hereof is located at One First National
Plaza, Suite 0126, Chicago, Illinois  60670-0126, Attention:  Corporate Trust
Services Division, except that for purposes of Section 3.02, such term shall
mean the office or agency of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, the City
of New York, which office at the date hereof is located at 14 Wall Street,
Eighth Floor, New York, New York  10005.

     "Depository" shall mean, with respect to Notes of any series for which the
Company shall determine that such Notes will be issued as a Depository Note, The
Depository Trust Company, New York, New York, another clearing agency or any
successor registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, or other
applicable statute or regulation, which, in each case, shall be designated by
the Company pursuant to either Section 2.01 or 2.11.

     "Depository Note" shall mean, with respect to any series of Notes, a Note
executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee to the
Depository or pursuant to the Depository's instruction, all in accordance with
this Indenture and pursuant to a Company Order, which (i) shall be registered as
to principal and interest in the name of the Depository or its nominee and (ii)
shall represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Notes of such series.

     "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 7.01.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Note is registered in the Note
Register.

     "Indenture" means this Indenture dated as of May 15, 1995 and, unless the
context otherwise indicates, all Board Resolutions or indentures supplementing
and amending this Indenture.

     "Independent" when used with respect to any specified Person means such a
Person who (1) is in fact independent, (2) does not have any material direct or
indirect financial interest in the Company or in any other obligor upon the
Notes or in any Affiliate of the Company or of such other obligor, and (3) is
not connected with the Company or such other obligor or any Affiliate of the
Company or of such other obligor, as an officer, employee, promoter,
underwriter, trustee, partner, director or person performing similar functions.
Whenever it is herein provided that any Independent Person's opinion or
certificate shall be furnished to the Trustee, such Person shall be appointed by
a Company Order, and such opinion or certificate shall state that the signer has
read this definition and that the signer is Independent within the meaning
hereof.

     "Interest", when used with respect to an Original Issue Discount Note which
by its terms bears interest only after Maturity, means interest payable after
Maturity.

     "Interest Payment Date" means the Stated Maturity of interest on Notes of a
particular series.

     "Maturity" when used with respect to Notes of a particular series means the
date on which the principal or any installment of principal of such Notes
becomes due and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated
Maturity or by declaration of acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise.

     "Notes" means all unsecured junior subordinated debt securities issued
under this Indenture, regardless of series.

     "Note Register" and "Note Registrar" have the respective meanings specified
in Section 2.05.

     "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the President, a Vice
President or the Treasurer, and by an Assistant Treasurer, the Controller, an
Assistant Controller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company,
and delivered to the Trustee.  Wherever this Indenture requires that an
Officers' Certificate be signed also by an accountant or other expert, such
accountant or other expert (except as otherwise expressly provided in this
Indenture) may be in the employ of the Company.

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may be counsel
for the Company or other counsel reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee.

     "Original Issue Discount Note" means any Note which 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 7.02.

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

          (i) Notes theretofore canceled by the Trustee, or delivered to the
     Trustee or any agent of the Trustee for cancellation;

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

          (iii) Notes which have been paid pursuant to Section 2.06 or in
     exchange for or in lieu of which other Notes have been authenticated and
     delivered pursuant to this Indenture other than any such Notes in respect
     of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory
     to it that such Notes are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such
     Notes are valid obligations of the Company; and

          (iv) any such Notes which have been defeased pursuant to Section 6.03.

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of Notes Outstanding have given any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, or for any other
purpose, (i) Notes owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes or
any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor shall be disregarded and
deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee
shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Notes which the Trustee knows to be
so owned shall be so disregarded, and Notes so owned which have been pledged in
good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so to act with respect to such
Notes and that the pledgee is not the Company or any other obligor upon the
Notes or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor, and (ii) the
principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Note that shall be deemed to be
Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that
would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration
of acceleration pursuant to Section 7.02.

     "Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the
principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Notes on behalf of the
Company.

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

     "Predecessor Notes" of any particular Note means every previous Note
evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such
particular Note; and, for purposes of this definition, any Note authenticated
and delivered under Section 2.06 in exchange for or in lieu of a mutilated,
destroyed, lost, or stolen Note shall be deemed to be evidence the same debt as
the mutilated, destroyed, lost, or stolen Note.

     "Redemption Date" when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed means
the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this Indenture, any
indenture supplemental hereto, or Board Resolution as provided in Section 2.01
of this Indenture.

     "Redemption Price" when used with respect to any Note to be redeemed means
the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this Indenture, any
indenture supplemental hereto, or Board Resolution as provided in Section 2.01
of this Indenture.

     "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date
means, with respect to Notes of any series, the date specified as the Regular
Record Date therefor in the relevant supplemental indenture or Board Resolution
authorizing such series of Notes.

     "Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Trustee means an
officer of the Trustee assigned to the Corporate Trust Office, including any
vice president or assistant vice president, any trust officer or assistant trust
officer, or any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions
similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and also
means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of and
familiarity with the particular subject.

     "Senior Indebtedness" means with respect to the Company, (i) any payment in
respect of (a) indebtedness of such obligor for money borrowed (including any
financial derivative, hedging or futures contract or similar instrument) and (b)
indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures, bonds,  notes or other similar
instruments issued by the Company which, by their terms, are senior or senior
subordinated debt securities including, without limitation, all obligations
under its indentures with various trustees; (ii) all capital lease obligations;
(iii) all obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of
property, all conditional sale obligations and all obligations of the Company
under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable
arising in the ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations for the
reimbursement on any letter of credit, banker's acceptance, security purchase
facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all obligations of the type referred
to in clauses (i) through (v) above of other persons the payment of which the
Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or otherwise; and (vi)
all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (i) through (v) above of
other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the Company
(whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), except for (1) any
such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or pari passu with the
Notes and (2) any unsecured indebtedness between or among the Company or its
affiliates.

     "Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest (as defined
in Section 2.07) means a date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 2.07.

     "Stated Maturity" when used with respect to any Note or any installment of
principal thereof or any installment of interest thereon means the date
specified in such Note as the fixed date on which the principal of such Note or
such installment of principal or interest is due and payable.

     "Subsidiary" of the Company means any corporation at least a majority of
the shares of the Voting Stock (or the equivalent thereof, in the case of
corporations organized outside the United States of America) of which shall at
the time be owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or more
Subsidiaries or by the Company and one or more Subsidiaries.

     "Trustee" means the Person named as the Trustee in the first paragraph of
this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such pursuant to the
applicable provisions of this

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
Indenture, and thereafter Trustee shall mean such successor Trustee.

     "Trust Indenture Act" or "TIA", means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
it may be amended from time to time.

     "Voting Stock", as applied to the stock of any corporation, means stock of
any class or classes (however designated) having ordinary voting power for the
election of a majority of the directors of such corporation, other than stock
having such power only by reason of the happening of a contingency.

     SECTION 1.02.  Upon any application or request by the Company to the
Trustee to take any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company
shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that all
conditions precedent, if any, 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, if any, have been
complied with, except that in the case of any such application or request as to
which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any provision
of this Indenture relating to such particular application or request, no
additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

     Every certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a condition or
covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include

          (1) a statement that each individual signing such certificate or
     opinion has read such covenant or condition and the definitions herein
     relating thereto;

          (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the examination or
     investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in such
     certificate or opinion are based;

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

          (4) a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such individual,
     such condition or covenant has been complied with.

     SECTION 1.03.  In any case where several matters are required to be
certified by, or covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not
necessary that all such matters be certified by,

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
or covered by the opinion of, only one such Person, or that they be so certified
or covered by only one document, but one such Person may certify or give an
opinion with respect to some matters and one or more other such Person as to
other matters, and any such Person may certify or give an opinion as to such
matters in one or several documents.

     Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based,
insofar as it related to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, counsel, unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations
with respect to the matters upon which his certificate or opinion is based are
erroneous.  Any such certificate or Opinion of Counsel may be based, in so far
as it relates to factual matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, any officer or officers of the Company stating that the
information with respect to such counsel knows, or in the exercise of reasonable
care should know, that the certificate or opinion or representations with
respect to such matters are erroneous.

     Where any Person is required to make, give or execute two or more
applications, requests, consents, certificates, statements, opinions or other
instruments under this Indenture, they may, but need not, be consolidated and
form one instrument.

     SECTION 1.04.  (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken
by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by an 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, and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company.
Such instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing
such instrument or instruments.  Proof of execution of any such instrument or of
a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this
Indenture and (subject to Section 8.01) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and
the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section 1.04.

     (b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument
or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by
the certificate of any notary public or other officer authorized by law to take
acknowledgements of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such
instrument or writing acknowledged to him the execution thereof.  Where such
execution is by an officer of a corporation, bank, savings

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
association or a member of a partnership, on behalf of such corporation or
partnership, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient
proof of his authority.  The fact and date of the execution of any such
instrument or writing, or the authority of the person executing the same, may
also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient, and the
Trustee may in any instance require proof with respect to any of the matters
referred to in this Section 1.04.

     (c) The ownership of Notes shall be proved by the Note Register.

     (d) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action by the Holder of any Note shall bind the Holder of every Note
issued upon the registration of transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in
lieu thereof, in respect of anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee
or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such action is
made upon such Note.

     (e) In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal amount of
Outstanding Notes of any series have given any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver under this Indenture, the principal amount
of an Original Issue Discount Note that may be counted in making such
determination and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall
be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that would be due and payable
pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Note upon a declaration of
acceleration pursuant to Section 7.02 at the time the taking of such action by
the Holders of such requisite principal amount of Outstanding Notes is evidenced
to the Trustee, as provided in Subsection (a) of this Section.

     SECTION 1.05.  Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or Act of Holders or other document provided or permitted by
this Indenture to be made upon, given or furnished to, or filed with,

          (1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient
     for every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing
     to or with the Trustee at its principal Corporate Trust Office, or

          (2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient
     for every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if
     in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company
     addressed to it at the address of its principal office specified in the
     first

                                       10
<PAGE>
 
     paragraph of this instrument or at any other address previously furnished
     in writing to the Trustee by the Company.

     SECTION 1.06.  Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any
event, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein
expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to
each Holder affected by such event, at his address as it appears in the Note
Register, not later than the latest date, and not earlier than the earliest
date, prescribed for the giving of such notice.  In any case where notice to
Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any
defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the
sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders and any notice which is
mailed in the manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been
duly given.  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 regular mail service or by reason of
any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail, then such
notification as shall be made that is satisfactory to the Trustee shall
constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

     In case, by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized
Newspaper, or by reason of any other cause, it shall be impossible to make
publication of any notice in an Authorized Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers as
required by this Indenture, then such method of publication or notification as
shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute a sufficient
publication of such notice.

     SECTION 1.07.  If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with
another provision hereof which is required to be included in this Indenture by
any of the provisions of TIA, such required provision shall control.

     SECTION 1.08.  The Article headings herein and the Table of Contents are
for convenience only and shall not affect the construction hereof.

     SECTION 1.09.  All covenants and agreements in this Indenture by the
Company shall bind its successors and assigns, whether so expressed or not.

                                       11
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 1.10.  In case any provision in this Indenture or in the Notes
shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in any way be affected or
impaired thereby.

     SECTION 1.11.  Nothing in this Indenture or in the Notes, expressed or
implied, shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their
successors hereunder and the Holders, any benefit or any legal or equitable
right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

     SECTION 1.12.  This Indenture and each Note issued hereunder shall be
construed in accordance with and governed by the laws of the State of Illinois.

     SECTION 1.13.  In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date
or Stated Maturity of any Note shall not be a Business Day, then
(notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture) payment of interest or
principal (and premium, if any), as the case may be, 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 Interest Payment Date or Redemption Date, or at the
Stated Maturity, provided that no interest shall accrue for the period from and
after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date, or Stated Maturity, as the
case may be.

     SECTION 1.14.  Whenever this Indenture refers to a section of the TIA, that
section, as in effect on any particular date, is incorporated by reference in
and made a part of this Indenture.  If the numerical designation of a section of
the TIA is changed subsequent to the date of this Indenture as a result of an
amendment to the TIA, then the reference in this Indenture to such section shall
be deemed to refer to the numerical designation of such section as amended.

     The following TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

          "indenture securities" means the Notes.

          "indenture security holder" means a Holder.

          "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture.

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

          "obligor" on the indenture securities means the Company or any other
     obligor on the Notes.

                                       12
<PAGE>
 
     All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA,
defined by TIA reference to another statute or defined by SEC rule have the
meanings assigned to them by the TIA or such statute or rule.

 
                                   ARTICLE II

                   ISSUE, EXECUTION AND REGISTRATION OF NOTES


     SECTION 2.01.  At the option of the Company, the Notes issued hereunder,
which are unlimited in aggregate principal amount except as may be otherwise
provided in respect of the Notes of a particular series, may be issued in one or
more series.  The Notes of each series may be issued as established in
compliance with the provisions of this Indenture by a Board Resolution and set
forth in an Officers' Certificate, or in one or more supplemental indentures
approved by the Board of Directors.  Such Board Resolution and Officer's
Certificate or supplemental indenture shall set forth:

          (1) the title of the Notes of the series (which shall distinguish the
     Notes of the series from all other Notes);

          (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Notes of that
     series that may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except
     for Notes authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or
     in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Notes of that series);

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

          (4) the rate or rates at which the Notes of the series shall bear
     interest or the manner of calculation of such rate or rates, if any;

          (5) the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the
     Interest Payment Dates on which such interest will be payable or the manner
     of determination of such Interest Payment Dates and the record date for the
     determination of holders to whom interest is payable on any such Interest
     Payment Dates;

          (6) the right, if any, to extend the interest payment periods and the
     duration of such extension;

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

                                       13
<PAGE>
 
     of the series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the
     Company;

          (8) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or purchase Notes
     of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions
     (including payments made in cash in participation of future sinking fund
     obligations) or at the option of a holder thereof and the period or periods
     within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms and conditions
     upon which, Debt Securities of the series shall be redeemed or purchased,
     in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

          (9) the subordination terms of the Notes of the series;

          (10) the form of the Notes of the series including the form of the
     Certificate of Authentication for such series;

          (11) the denominations in which the Notes of the series shall be
     issuable;

          (12) any and all other terms with respect to such series (which terms
     shall not be inconsistent with the terms of this Indenture) including any
     terms which  may be required by or advisable under United States laws or
     regulations or advisable in connection with the marketing of Notes of that
     series; and

          (13) whether the Notes are issuable as a Depository Note and, in such
     case, the identity for the Depositary for such series.

     All Notes of any one series shall be substantially identical except as to
denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant to such
Board Resolution and (subject to Section 2.02) set forth in such Officers'
Certificate or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

     If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken pursuant
to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action shall be
certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and
delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Officers'
Certificate setting forth the terms of the series.

     SECTION 2.02.  The Notes of any series and the Trustee's certificate of
authentication to be borne by such Notes shall be substantially of the form as
set forth in one or more indentures supplemental hereto or as provided in a
Board Resolution and as set forth in an Officers' Certificate, and may have such
letters, numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such

                                       14
<PAGE>
 
legends or endorsements printed, lithographed or engraved thereon as the Company
may deem appropriate and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock
exchange on which Notes of that series may be listed, or to conform to usage.

     From time to time the Company may execute and deliver to the Trustee, and
the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver to or upon a Company Order,
Notes of any series duly established pursuant to Section 2.01, upon receipt by
the Trustee of:

     (a) (i) the Board Resolution authorizing the execution and requesting the
authentication and delivery of the Notes applied for in the principal amount
therein specified, designating the series of such Notes and specifying the
officer or officers of the Company to whom or upon whose order such Notes shall
be delivered; and  which, as permitted by Section 2.01, establishes the terms of
such series of Notes and which, if applicable, authorizes the execution of an
indenture supplemental hereto creating such series of Notes or, (ii) an
Officer's Certificate with respect to the foregoing if such officer delivering
such certificate has been provided with such authority and a Board Resolution
evidencing such authorization;

     (b) an Officers' Certificate pursuant to Section 2.01 or if the Notes of
such series are to be issued pursuant to a supplemental indenture, a
supplemental indenture duly executed on behalf of the Company, in form
satisfactory to the Trustee, creating such series of Notes;

     (c) an Officers' Certificate pursuant to Section 1.02; and

     (d) an Opinion of Counsel pursuant to Section 1.02 substantially to the
effect that:

          (i) the form and terms of such Notes have been established in
     conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

          (ii) all conditions precedent to the authentication and delivery of
     such Notes have been complied with and that such Notes, when authenticated
     and delivered by the Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and
     subject to any conditions specified in such Opinion of Counsel, will
     constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company,
     enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to bankruptcy,
     insolvency, reorganization, and other laws of general applicability
     relating to or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and to
     general equity principles;

                                       15
<PAGE>
 
          (iii) all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and
     delivery by the Company of such Notes have been complied with;

          (iv) the Company is not in default in any of its obligations under
     this Indenture, and the issuance of such Notes will not result in any such
     default;

     and (if applicable)

          (v) the supplemental indenture is a legal, valid, and binding
     obligation of the Company, complies with and is authorized by the
     applicable provisions of the Indenture, and its execution and delivery has
     been duly authorized by the Company.

     If all Notes of a series are not to be originally issued at one time, it
shall not be necessary to deliver the documents described in this Section 2.20
at or prior to the time of authentication of each Note of such series if such
documents are delivered at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance
of the first Note of such series to be issued.

     SECTION 2.03.  The Notes shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its
President or one of its Vice Presidents under its corporate seal reproduced
thereon and attested by its Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries.  The
signature of any of such officers on the Notes may be manual or facsimile.

     Notes bearing the manual or facsimile signatures of individuals who were at
any time the proper officers of the Company shall bind the Company,
notwithstanding that such individuals or any of them have ceased to hold such
offices prior to the authentication and delivery of such Notes or did not hold
such offices at the date of such Notes.

     All Notes shall be dated the date of their authentication.

     No Note shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be valid
or obligatory for any purpose, unless there appears on such Note a certificate
of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein executed by
manual signature, and such certificate upon any Note shall be conclusive
evidence, and the only evidence, that such Note has been duly authenticated and
delivered hereunder.

     SECTION 2.04.  Pending the preparation of definitive Notes of any series,
the Company may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate
and deliver, or cause to be delivered, temporary Notes of such series which are
printed, lithographed,

                                       16
<PAGE>
 
typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise produced, in any denomination,
substantially of the tenor of the definitive Notes in lieu of which they are
issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other
variations as the officers executing such Notes may determine, as evidenced by
their signing of such Notes.

     If temporary Notes of any series are issued, the Company will cause
definitive Notes of such series to be prepared without unreasonable delay.
After the preparation of definitive Notes, the temporary Notes shall be
exchangeable for definitive Notes upon surrender of the temporary Notes at the
office or agency of the Company without charge to the Holder.  Upon surrender
for cancellation of any one or more temporary Notes of any series the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, or cause to be
delivered, in exchange therefor a like principal amount of definitive Notes of
such series, of authorized denominations.  Until so exchanged the temporary
Notes shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under this
Indenture as the definitive Notes.

     SECTION 2.05.  The Company shall cause to be kept at the principal
Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee a Note Register in which, subject to such
reasonable regulations as the Company may prescribe, the Company shall, subject
to Section 2.11, provide for the registration of Notes and for registrations of
transfer of Notes.  The Trustee is hereby appointed Note Registrar for the
purpose of registering Notes and registering transfers of Notes as herein
provided.

     Subject to the provisions of Section 2.11, upon surrender for registration
of transfer of any Note at any office or agency of the Company maintained for
that purpose, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more
new Notes of the same series containing identical terms and provisions, of any
authorized denominations and for a like aggregate principal amount.

     Subject to the provisions of Section 2.11, at the option of the Holder,
Notes may be exchanged for other Notes of the same series containing identical
terms and provisions, of any authorized denominations and for a like aggregate
principal amount, upon surrender of the Notes to be exchanged at any such office
or agency.  Whenever any Notes are so surrendered for exchange, the Company
shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Notes which
the Holder making the exchange is entitled to receive.

     All Notes issued upon any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes
shall be the valid obligations of the Company, evidencing

                                       17
<PAGE>
 
the same debt, and entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture, as the
Notes surrendered upon such registration of transfer or exchange.

     Every Note presented or surrendered for registration of transfer or
exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed,
or be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to
the Company and the Note Registrar duly executed by the Holder thereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing.

     No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Notes, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to
cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with any registration of transfer or exchange of Notes, other than exchanges
pursuant to Section 2.04, Section 5.07 or Section 11.06 not involving any
registration of transfer.

     The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or
exchange any Note of any series during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of
Notes of such series selected for redemption under Section 5.04 and ending at
the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (ii) to register the
transfer of or exchange any Note so selected for redemption in whole or in part.

     SECTION 2.06.  A mutilated Note may be surrendered to the Company or the
Trustee and thereupon the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a new Note of the same series and
of like tenor and principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously
outstanding.

     If there be delivered to the Company and to the Trustee

          (i) evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft
     of any Note of any series, and

          (ii) such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save
     each of them harmless,

then, in the absence of notice to the Company or the Trustee that such Note has
been acquired by a bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its
request the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in lieu of any such
destroyed, lost or stolen Note, a new Note of such series and of like tenor and
principal amount, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
     In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Note has become or is
about to become due and payable, the Company in its discretion may, instead of
issuing a new Note, pay such Note.

     Upon the issuance of any new Note under this Section 2.06, the Company may
require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses (including
the fees and expenses of the Trustee) connected therewith.

     Every new Note issued pursuant to this Section 2.06 in lieu of any
destroyed, lost or stolen Note shall constitute an original additional
contractual obligation of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or
stolen Note shall be at any time enforceable by anyone, and shall be entitled to
all the benefits of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all
other Notes of the same series containing identical terms and provisions duly
issued hereunder.

     The provisions of this Section 2.06 are exclusive and shall preclude (to
the extent lawful) all other rights and remedies with respect to the replacement
or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Notes.

     SECTION 2.07.  Interest on any Note which is payable, and is punctually
paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall be paid to the
Person in whose name such Note (or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered
at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for such interest; provided,
however, interest payable at Maturity may be paid to the same Person to whom
principal of the Notes is payable if so stated in the Note.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, however, interest that is payable on Notes registered in the name of
the company at the close of business on any Regular Record Date may be withheld
at the option of the Company; provided, however, the Notes are continuously held
by the Company through the relevant Interest Payment Date. Interest on any Note
which is payable, but is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any
Interest Payment Date (herein called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease
to be payable to the Holder on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of
having been such Holder; and such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company,
at its election in each case, as provided in Clause (1) or Clause (2) below:

          (1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to
     the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor
     Notes) are registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date for
     the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in the
     following manner.  The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of

                                       19
<PAGE>
 
     the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Note and the
     date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall
     deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount
     proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make
     arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date
     of the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for
     the benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this
     Clause (1) provided.  Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date
     for the payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15
     nor less than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not
     less than 10 days after the receipt by the Trustee of the Notice of the
     proposed payment.  The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such
     Special Record Date and, in the name and at the expense of the Company,
     shall cause notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and
     the Special Record Date therefor to be mailed, first class postage prepaid,
     to each Holder at his address as it appears in the Note Register, not less
     than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date.  The Trustee shall, upon a
     Company Request and in the name and at the expense of the Company, cause a
     similar notice to be published at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in
     New York City but such publication shall not be a condition precedent to
     the establishment of such Special Record Date.  Notice of the proposed
     payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor
     having been mailed as aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to
     the Persons in whose names the Notes (or their respective Predecessor
     Notes) are registered on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be
     payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

          (2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any
     other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
     securities exchange on which the Notes may be listed, and upon such notice
     as may be required by such exchange, if, after notice given by the Company
     to the Trustee of the proposed payment pursuant to this Clause (2), such
     payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

     Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section 2.07, each Note
delivered under this Indenture upon registration of transfer of or in exchange
for or in lieu of any other Note shall carry the rights to interest accrued and
unpaid, and to accrue, which were carried by such other Note.

     SECTION 2.08.  The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the
Trustee may treat the Person in whose name any Note is registered in the Note
Register as the owner of such Note for

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
the purpose of receiving payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and
(subject to Section 2.07) interest on such Note and for all other purposes
whatsoever, whether or not such Note be overdue, and neither the Company, the
Trustee nor any such agent shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

     SECTION 2.09.  All Notes surrendered for payment, redemption, registration
of transfer or exchange or for credit against any present or future sinking or
purchase fund payment provided in respect of any series of Notes shall, if
surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee
and shall be promptly canceled by it.  The Company may at any time deliver to
the Trustee for cancellation any Notes previously authenticated and delivered
hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and all
Notes so delivered shall be promptly canceled by the Trustee.  No Notes shall be
authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Notes canceled as provided in
this Section 2.09, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture.  All
canceled Notes held by the Trustee shall be destroyed by the Trustee, unless
otherwise prohibited by law, and the Trustee shall deliver to the Company a
certificate of such destruction.

     SECTION 2.10.  The Trustee shall, if requested in writing so to do by the
Company, promptly appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents of the Trustee who
shall have authority to authenticate Notes of any series in the name and on
behalf of the Trustee.  Such appointment by the Trustee shall be evidenced by a
certificate executed by a Responsible Officer of the Trustee delivered to the
Company prior to the effectiveness of such appointment designating such agent or
agents and stating that all appropriate corporate action has been taken by the
Trustee in connection with such appointment.

     Any such Authenticating Agent shall be an agent acceptable to the Company
and shall at all times be a corporation which is organized and doing business
under the laws of the United States or of any State, is authorized under such
laws to act as authenticating agent, has a combined capital and surplus of at
least $5,000,000, and is subject to supervision or examination by federal or
state authority.

     Any Authenticating Agent may at any time resign by giving written notice of
resignation to the Trustee and to the Company.  The Trustee may at any time, and
upon written request of the Company to the Trustee shall, terminate the agency
of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to such
Authenticating Agent and to the Company.

     Any such Authenticating Agent shall have the rights and immunities of the
Trustee set forth in Sections 2.08, 8.03, 8.04

                                       21
<PAGE>
 
and 8.05 to the same extent and as fully to all intents and purposes as though
such authenticating agent had been expressly named in place of the Trustee.

     SECTION 2.11.  (a) If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 2.01
that the Notes of a particular series are to be issued as a Depository Note,
then the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with
Sections 2.02 and 2.03 and the Company Order delivered to the Trustee
thereunder, authenticate and deliver, a Depository Note which (i) shall
represent, and shall be denominated in an amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of, all of the Outstanding Notes of such series, (ii) shall be
registered in the name of the Depository or its nominee, (iii) shall be
delivered by the Trustee to the Depository or pursuant to the Depository's
instruction and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the following effect:
"Except as otherwise provided in Section 2.11 of the Indenture, this Note may be
transferred, in whole but not in part, only to another nominee of the Depository
or to a successor Depository or to a nominee of such successor Depository."

     (b) Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.11 or of Section
2.05, the Depository Note of a series may be transferred, in whole but not in
part and in the manner provided in Section 2.05, only to another nominee of the
Depository for such series, or to a successor Depository for such series
selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee of such successor
Depository.

     (c) If at any time the Depository for a series of Notes notifies the
Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such series
or if at any time the Depository for such series shall no longer be registered
or in good standing under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, or
other applicable statute or regulation and a successor Depository for such
series is not appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives
such notice or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, this Section
2.11 shall no longer be applicable to the Notes of such series and the Company
will execute, and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver, Notes of such
series in definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized
denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal
amount of the Depository Note of such series then Outstanding in exchange for
such Depository Note.  In addition, the Company may at any time determine that
the Notes of any series shall no longer be represented by a Depository Note and
that the provisions of this Section 2.11 shall no longer apply to the Notes of
such series.  In such event the Company will execute and the Trustee, upon
receipt of an Officers' Certificate evidencing such determination by the
Company, will authenticate and

                                       22
<PAGE>
 
deliver Notes of such series in definitive registered form without coupons, in
authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of the Depository Note of such series in exchange for such
Depository Note.  Upon the exchange of the Depository Note for such Notes in
definitive registered form without coupons, in authorized denominations, the
Depository Note shall be canceled by the Trustee.  Such Notes in definitive
registered form issued in exchange for the Depository Note pursuant to this
Section 2.11(c) shall be registered in such names and in such authorized
denominations as the Depository, pursuant to instructions from its direct or
indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee.


                                  ARTICLE III

                                   COVENANTS


     SECTION 3.01.  The Company will duly and punctually pay the principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest on the Notes in accordance with the terms of
the Notes and this Indenture.

     SECTION 3.02.  The Company will maintain an office or agency at each place
at which the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any of the Notes
is payable, where Notes may be presented or surrendered for payment, where Notes
may be surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices
and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Notes and this Indenture
may be served.  The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of
the location, and of any change in the location, of each such office or agency.
If at any time the Company shall fail to maintain any such office or agency or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations,
surrenders, notices and demands may be made or served at the principal Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee its
agent to receive all such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

     SECTION 3.03.  If the Company shall at any time act as its own Paying
Agent, it will, on or before each due date of the principal of (and premium, if
any) or interest on, any of the Notes, segregate and hold in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal
(and premium, if any) or interest so becoming due until such sums shall be paid
to such Persons or otherwise disposed of as herein provided and will promptly
notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

     If the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents, it will, on or before
each due date of the principal of (and premium, if

                                       23
<PAGE>
 
any) or interest on, any of the Notes, deposit with a Paying Agent a sum
sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest so becoming
due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to
such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying Agent is the
Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure
so to act.

     The Company will cause each Paying Agent other than the Trustee to execute
and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such Paying Agent shall agree
with the Trustee, subject to the provisions of this Section 3.03, that such
Paying Agent will

          (1) hold all sums held by it for the payment of principal of (and
     premium, if any) or interest on Notes in trust for the benefit of the
     Persons entitled thereto until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or
     otherwise disposed of as herein provided;

          (2) give the Trustee notice of any default by the Company (or any
     other obligor upon the Notes) in the making of any such payment of
     principal (and premium, if any) or interest; and

          (3) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the
     written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so
     held in trust by such Paying Agent.

     The Company may at any time, for the purpose of obtaining the satisfaction
and discharge of this Indenture or for any other purpose, pay, or by Company
Order direct any Paying Agent to pay, to the Trustee all sums held in trust by
the Company or such Paying Agent, such sums to be held by the Trustee upon the
same trusts as those upon which such sums were held by the Company or such
Paying Agent; and, upon such payment by any Paying Agent to the Trustee, such
Paying Agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to such
money.

     Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by
the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any)
or interest on any Note and remaining unclaimed for three years after such
principal (and premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be
paid to the Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall
be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Note shall thereafter, as
an unsecured creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all
liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money,
and all liability of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease;
provided,

                                       24
<PAGE>
 
however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make
any such repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published
once, in an Authorized Newspaper in New York City, notice that such money
remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be
less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of
such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

     SECTION 3.04.  The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or
discharged, before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments
and governmental charges levied or imposed upon it or upon its income, profits
or property, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and supplied which,
if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon its property; provided, however, that
the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to be paid or
discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim whose amount, applicability
or validity is being contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings.

     SECTION 3.05.  The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days
after the end of each fiscal year, an Officers' Certificate (which need not
comply with Section 1.02) stating, as to each signer thereof, whether or not to
the best of his knowledge, the Company is in default in the performance of any
of its obligations under this Indenture, and, if there is a default in the
fulfillment of any such obligation, specifying each such default known to him
and the nature and status thereof.

     SECTION 3.06.  Subject to Article X, the Company will do or cause to be
done all things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its
corporate existence, rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required to preserve or cause to be
preserved any right or franchise if the Company shall determine that the
preservation thereof is no longer desirable in the conduct of the business of
the Company and that the loss thereof is not disadvantageous in any material
respect to the Holders.

     SECTION 3.07.  The Company shall file with the Trustee within 15 days after
it files them with the SEC 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 SEC may by rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company is required
to file with the SEC pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934.  The Company shall also comply with the provisions of TIA Section
314(a).

                                       25
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE IV

                         REPAYMENT AT OPTION OF HOLDERS


     SECTION 4.01.  If the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture, as the
case may be, with respect to the Notes of any particular series so provides,
such Notes shall be subject to repayment at the option of the Holder prior to
their Stated Maturity, on such terms as set forth in the Board Resolution or
supplemental indenture pertaining to such Notes, upon the receipt by the company
of the form entitled, "Option to Elect Repayment" as specified in Section 4.02
(as provided for in such Board Resolution or supplemental indenture).

     SECTION 4.02.  To be repaid at the option of the Holder, Notes must be
received, with the form entitled "Option to Elect Repayment" on the reverse of
the Notes duly completed, by the Trustee at its offices in New York, New York
(or at such other place of which the Company shall from time to time notify the
Holders of the Notes) within the periods specified by the terms of the Notes.
Effective exercise of the repayment option by the Holder shall be irrevocable.
Upon such completion and receipt of such form, Notes for which the option has
been exercised become due and payable on the repayment date at the repayment
price plus accrued interest (if any), except that interest, the Stated Maturity
of which is on or prior to such repayment date, shall be payable to the Holders
of such Notes of record on the relevant Record Date according to their terms and
the provisions of Section 2.07.  From and after such repayment date (unless the
Company shall default in the payment of the repayment price) such Notes shall
cease to bear interest.


                                   ARTICLE V

                       REDEMPTION OF NOTES; SINKING FUNDS


     SECTION 5.01.  Notes of any series which are redeemable before their
Stated Maturity at the option of the Company or otherwise shall be redeemable in
accordance with their terms and in accordance with the following provisions of
this Article V.

     SECTION 5.02.  The election of the Company to redeem Notes of any series
shall be evidenced by a Board Resolution or, if an officer of the Company has
been duly authorized with respect to the redemption of Notes, a certificate from
such officer to the Trustee authorizing such actions as are necessary or
appropriate to effect the redemption and a Board Resolution evidencing such
officer's

                                       26
<PAGE>
 
authority.  In case of any redemption at the option of the Company of less than
all of the Notes of any series the Company shall, at least 45 days prior to the
Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice shall be
satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee by Company Order of such
Redemption Date and of the principal amount of Notes to be redeemed.

     SECTION 5.03.  If less than all the Notes of any series are to be redeemed,
and unless otherwise provided with respect to the Notes of any particular
series, the particular Notes to be redeemed shall be selected by the Trustee
from the Outstanding Notes of such series not previously called for redemption,
by lot or by such other method as the Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate
and which may provide for the selection for redemption of portions of the
principal of Notes, provided, however, that except with respect to Notes being
redeemed pursuant to the operation of a sinking fund, no such partial redemption
shall reduce the portion of the principal amount of a Note of such series not
redeemed to less than the minimum denomination for a Note of that series. The
portions of the principal of Notes so selected for partial redemption shall be
equal to the smallest authorized denomination of the Notes of such series or an
integral multiple thereof.

     The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the Notes
selected for redemption and, in the case of any Note 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 Notes shall relate, in the case of
any Note redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the
principal of such Note which has been or is to be redeemed.

     SECTION 5.04.  Notice of redemption shall be given not less than 30 nor
more than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date, to each Holder of Notes to be
redeemed, at his address appearing in the Note Register.

     All notices of redemption shall state:

          (1) the series designation of the Notes to be redeemed,

          (2) the Redemption Date,

          (3) the Redemption Price,

          (4) if less than all Outstanding Notes of such series are to be
     redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of

                                       27
<PAGE>
 
     partial redemption, the respective principal amounts) of the Notes of such
     Holder to be redeemed,

          (5) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due
     and payable upon each such Note, and that, if applicable, interest thereof
     shall cease to accrue from and after said date,

          (6) the place where such Notes are to be surrendered for payment of
     the Redemption Price, which shall be the office or agency of the Company at
     any place at which the principal of such Notes is payable, and

          (7) if Notes are to be redeemed pursuant to any sinking or purchase
     fund established for any series of Notes, that the redemption is being made
     for the purposes of such sinking or purchase fund.

     Notice of redemption of Notes to be redeemed at the option of the Company
shall be given by the Company or, at the Company's request, by the Trustee in
the name and at the expense of the Company.

     SECTION 5.05.  On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall
deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as
its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 3.03)
an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption Price plus accrued interest
of all the Notes which are to be redeemed on that date.

     SECTION 5.06.  Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the
Notes so to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at
the Redemption Price therein specified and from and after such date (unless the
Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price) such Notes shall
cease to bear interest.  Upon surrender of such Notes for redemption in
accordance with such notice, such Notes shall be paid by the Company at the
Redemption Price.  Interest, the Stated Maturity of which is on or prior to the
Redemption Date, shall be payable to the Holders of such Notes of record on the
relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the provisions of Section
2.07.

     If any Note called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender
thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid,
bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate borne by the Note.

     SECTION 5.07.  Any Note which is to be redeemed only in part shall be
surrendered to the Trustee or Paying Agent (with, if the

                                       28
<PAGE>
 
Company or the Trustee so requires, due endorsement by, or a written instrument
of transfer in form satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee duly executed
by, the Holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing) and the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to such
Holder, without service charge, a new Note or Notes of the same series, of any
authorized denominations as requested by such Holder in aggregate principal
amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of
the Note so surrendered.

     SECTION 5.08.  The provisions of this Article V shall be applicable to any
sinking fund for the retirement of Notes of any series except as otherwise
specified in such Notes.

     The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of
Notes 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
Notes of any series is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund payment".
If provided for the by the terms of Notes of any series, the cash amount of any
sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 5.09.
Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Notes of any
series as provided for by the terms of Notes of such series.

     SECTION 5.09.  The Company (1) may deliver to the Trustee for cancellation
Outstanding Notes of a series (other than any previously called for redemption),
(2) may credit Notes previously delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
pursuant to Section 2.09 and (3) may apply as a credit Notes of a series
containing identical terms and provisions which have been redeemed either at the
election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Notes or through the
application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of
such Notes, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any mandatory
sinking fund payment with respect to the Notes of such series required to be
made pursuant to the terms of such Notes as provided for by the terms of such
Notes; provided that such Notes shall not have been previously so credited. The
face value of such Notes shall be received and credited for such purpose by the
Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Notes for redemption through
operation of the mandatory sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking
fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

     SECTION 5.10.  Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment
date for Notes of any series, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory
sinking fund payment and optional sinking fund payment, if any, for that series
of Notes pursuant to the terms thereof, the portion thereof, if any, which is to
be

                                       29
<PAGE>
 
satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be
satisfied by delivering and crediting Notes of that series pursuant to Section
5.09 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Notes to be so delivered if not
theretofore delivered.  Not less than 30 days before each such sinking fund
payment date the Company shall cause to be selected the Notes to be redeemed
upon such sinking fund payment in the manner specified in Section 5.03 and shall
cause notice of the redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the
expense of the Company in the manner provided in Section 5.04.  The Company
shall deposit the amount of cash, if any, required for such sinking fund payment
with the Trustee in the manner provided in Section 5.05.  Such notice having
been duly given, the redemption of such Notes shall be made upon the terms and
in the manner stated in Sections 5.06 and 5.07.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                           SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE


     SECTION 6.01.  This Indenture shall cease to be of further effect (except
as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of Notes if
herein or in any supplemental indenture expressly provided for), and the
Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper
instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

          (1) either

               (A) all Notes theretofore authenticated and delivered (other than
          (i) Notes which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have
          been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.06, and (ii) Notes for
          whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or
          segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to
          the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section
          3.03) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

               (B) all such Notes not heretofore delivered to the Trustee for
          cancellation

                    (i) have become due and payable, or

                    (ii) will become due and payable at their Stated Maturity
               within one year, or

                    (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under
               arrangements satisfactory to the

                                       30
<PAGE>
 
               Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the Trustee in
               the name, and at the expense, of the Company,

          and the Company, in the case of (B)(i), (ii) or (iii) above, has
          deposited or caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in
          trust for the purpose an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the
          entire indebtedness on such Notes not theretofore delivered to the
          Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium, if any) and
          interest to the date of such deposit (in the case of Notes which have
          become due and payable), or to their Stated Maturity or Redemption
          Date, as the case may be;

          (2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable
     hereunder by the Company; and

          (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
     and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that all conditions precedent herein
     provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture
     have been complied with.

Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 8.07, the obligations of
the Trustee to any authenticating agent under Section 2.10 and, if money shall
have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of clause (i) of
this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 6.02 and the last
paragraph of Section 3.03 shall survive.

     SECTION 6.02.  Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section
3.03, all money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 6.01 shall be
held in trust and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Notes
and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent
(including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may
determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if
any) and interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the
Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the
extent required by law.

     SECTION 6.03.  Unless this Section 6.03 shall be deemed inapplicable to a
series of Notes pursuant to the Board Resolution or supplemental indenture
creating such series, the Company shall be deemed to have paid and discharged
the entire indebtedness on all the Outstanding Notes of any such series and the
Trustee, at the demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute
proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of such
indebtedness, when

                                       31
<PAGE>
 
          (1) either

               (A) with respect to all Outstanding Notes of such series,

                    (i) the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited with
               the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of
               discharging such indebtedness an amount sufficient to pay and
               discharge the entire indebtedness on all Outstanding Notes of
               such series for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to
               the Stated Maturity or any Redemption Date as contemplated by the
               penultimate paragraph of this Section 6.03, as the case may be;
               or

                    (ii) the Company has deposited or caused to be deposited
               with the Trustee as obligations in trust for the purpose of
               discharging such indebtedness such amount of direct obligations
               of, or obligations the principal of and interest on which are
               full guaranteed by, the United States of America and which are
               not callable at the option of the issuer thereof as will,
               together with the income to accrue thereon without consideration
               of any reinvestment thereof, be sufficient to pay and discharge
               the entire indebtedness on all Outstanding Notes of such series
               for principal (and premium, if any) and interest to the Stated
               Maturity or any Redemption Date as contemplated by the
               penultimate paragraph of this Section 6.03, as the case may be;
               or

               (B) the Company has properly fulfilled such other means of
          satisfaction and discharge as is specified in the Board Resolution or
          supplemental indenture applicable to the Notes of such series; and

          (2) the Company has paid or caused to be paid all other sums payable
     with respect to the Outstanding Notes of such series; and

          (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee a certificate of a firm
     of independent public accountants certifying as to the sufficiency of the
     amounts deposited pursuant to subsections (A)(i) or (ii) of this Section
     for payment of the principal (and premium, if any) and interest on the
     dates such payments are due, an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of
     Counsel, each such certificate and Opinion stating that all conditions
     precedent herein provided for relating to the satisfaction and discharge of
     the entire

                                       32
<PAGE>
 
     indebtedness on all Outstanding Notes of any such series have been complied
     with.

     Any deposits with the Trustee referred to in Section 6.03(1)(A) above shall
be irrevocable and shall be made under the terms of an escrow trust agreement in
form and substance satisfactory to the Trustee.  If any Outstanding Notes of
such series are to be redeemed prior to their Stated Maturity, whether pursuant
to any optional redemption provisions or in accordance with any mandatory
sinking fund requirement, the Company shall make such arrangements as are
satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption by the
Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the Company.

     Upon the satisfaction of the conditions set forth in this Section 6.03 with
respect to all the Outstanding Notes of any series, the terms and conditions of
such series, including the terms and conditions with respect thereto set forth
in this Indenture, shall no longer be binding upon, or applicable to, the
Company, other than the provisions of Sections 2.06, 2.07 and 3.02 and other
than the right of Holders of Notes of such series to receive, from the trust
fund described in this Section, payment of the principal of and the interest on
such Notes when such payments are due and other than the rights, powers, duties
and immunities of the Trustee hereunder (including the obligations of the
Company to the Trustee under Section 8.07).

     SECTION 6.04.  The provisions for subordination of the Notes set forth in
Article XII are hereby expressly made subject to the provisions for defeasance
in this Article VI and anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding, upon the
effectiveness of such defeasance with respect to the Outstanding Notes, such
Notes shall thereupon cease to be so subordinated.


                                  ARTICLE VII

                                    REMEDIES

     SECTION 7.01.  "Event of Default", wherever used herein with respect to
Notes of any series, means any one of the following events (whatever the reason
for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary or be
effected by operation of law pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any
court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental
body):

                                       33
<PAGE>
 
          (1) default in the payment (whether or not payment is prohibited under
     Article XII) of any interest upon any Note of that series when it becomes
     due and payable, and continuance of such default for a period of 60 days;
     or

          (2) default in the payment (whether or not payment is prohibited under
     Article XII) of the principal of (or premium, if any,) on any Note of that
     series at its Maturity; or

          (3) default in the deposit under Section 5.10 of any installment of
     any sinking fund or similar payment with respect to Notes of that series
     when and as payable by the terms of the Board Resolution or supplemental
     indenture establishing such series, and continuance of such default for a
     period of 30 days; or

          (4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty
     of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a
     default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section
     7.01 specifically dealt with or which has expressly been included in the
     Indenture solely for the benefit of Notes of a series other than that
     series to which the default relates), and continuance of such default or
     breach for the period of time and after the notice specified below;

          (5) the entry of a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in
     the premises adjudging the Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as
     properly filed a petition seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment
     or composition of or in respect of the Company under the Federal Bankruptcy
     Code, or any other applicable federal or state law, or appointing a
     receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other similar
     official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or
     ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance
     of any such decree or order unstayed and in effect for a period of 60
     consecutive days; or

          (6) the institution by the Company of proceedings to be adjudicated a
     bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the institution of
     bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or the filing by it of a
     petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization or relief under the
     Federal Bankruptcy Code, or any other applicable federal or state law, or
     the consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the appointment
     of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator (or other
     similar official) of the Company or of any substantial part of its
     property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of
     creditors, or the admission

                                       34
<PAGE>
 
     by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become
     due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company in furtherance of any
     such action.

     A default with respect to any series of Notes under clause (4) is not an
Event of Default until the Trustee notifies the Company, or the Holders of at
least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Notes of that series notify the
Company and the Trustee of the default and the Company does not cure the default
within 90 days after receipt of the notice.  The notice must specify the
default, demand that it be remedied and state that the notice is a "Notice of
Default".

     SECTION 7.02.  If an Event of Default occurs with respect to Notes of any
series at the time Outstanding and is continuing, then and in every such case
the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Notes of that series may declare the principal of all the Notes of
that series (or, if the Notes of that series are Original Issue Discount Notes,
such portion of the principal amount thereof as may be specified in the terms of
such Notes) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the
Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any such declaration
such principal shall become immediately due and payable.

     At any time after such a declaration of acceleration has been made and
before a judgment or decree for payment of the money due has been obtained by
the Trustee as hereinafter in this Article VII provided, the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Notes then Outstanding of that series, by
written notice to the Company and the Trustee, may rescind and annual such
declaration and its consequences if

          (1) the Company has paid or deposited with the Trustee a sum
     sufficient to pay

               (A) all overdue installments of interest, if any, on all Notes of
          that series,

               (B) the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Notes of that
          series which have become due otherwise than by such declaration of
          acceleration and interest thereon at the rate or the respective rates
          borne by the Notes of that series,

               (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful,
          interest upon overdue installments of interest, if any, at the rate or
          the respective rates borne by the Notes of that series or at a rate
          otherwise specified therein, and

                                       35
<PAGE>
 
               (D) all sums paid or advanced by the Trustee hereunder and the
          reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
          Trustee, its agents and counsel;

     and

          (2) all Events of Default, other than the non-payment of the principal
     of Notes of that series which have become due solely by such acceleration,
     have been cured or waived as provided in Section 7.13.

No such rescission shall affect any subsequent default or impair any right
consequent thereon.

     SECTION 7.03.  The Company covenants that if

          (1) any Event of Default occurs from Company's failure to pay any
     installment of interest on any Notes when such interest becomes due and
     payable and such default continues for a period of 30 days, or

          (2) any Event of Default occurs from Company's failure to pay (i) the
     principal of (or premium, if any) or, (ii) any sinking fund installment
     when due and payable on any Notes at the Maturity thereof,

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25%
in principal amount of such Outstanding Notes, pay to it, for the benefit of the
Holders of such Notes, the whole amount then due and payable on such Notes for
principal (and premium, if any) and interest, with interest upon the overdue
principal (and premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest
shall be legally enforceable, upon overdue installments of interest, at the rate
or respective rates borne by such Notes or at the rate or respective rates
specified therein; and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be
sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the
reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee,
its agents and counsel.

     If the Company fails to pay such amount forthwith upon such demand, the
Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a
judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may
prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same
against the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes and collect the moneys
adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of the
property of the Company or any other obligor upon the Notes, wherever situated.

                                       36
<PAGE>
 
     If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may in its
discretion proceed to protect and enforce its rights and the rights of the
Holders by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most
effectual to protect and enforce any such rights, whether for the specific
enforcement of any covenant or agreement in this Indenture or in aid of the
exercise of any power granted herein, or to enforce any other proper remedy.

     SECTION 7.04.  In case of the pendency of any receivership, insolvency,
liquidation, bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or
other judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the
Notes or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their
creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Notes 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 on the Company
for the payment of overdue principal or interest) shall be entitled and
empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or otherwise,

          (i) to file and prove a claim for the whole amount of principal (and
     premium, if any) and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Notes and
     to file such other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in
     order to have the claims of the Trustee (including any claim for the
     reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
     Trustee, its agents and counsel) and of the Holders allowed in such
     judicial proceeding, and

          (ii) to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or
     deliverable on any such claims and to distribute the same; and any
     receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or other similar
     official) is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the
     Trustee, and in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of
     such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due
     to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances
     of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the
     Trustee under Section 8.07.

     Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan of
reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the Notes or
the rights of any Holder, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the
claim of any Holder in any such proceeding.

     SECTION 7.05.  All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the
Notes may be prosecuted and enforced by the

                                       37
<PAGE>
 
Trustee without the possession of any of the Notes or the production thereof in
any proceeding relating thereto, and any such proceeding instituted by the
Trustee shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any
recovery of judgment shall, after provision for the payment of the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents
and counsel, be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the Notes in respect
of which such judgment has been recovered.

     SECTION 7.06.  Any money collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article
VII shall be applied in the following order, at the date or dates fixed by the
Trustee and, in case of the distribution of such money on account of principal
(or premium, if any) or interest, upon presentation of the Notes, and the
notation thereon of the payment if only partially paid and upon surrender
thereof if fully paid:

          FIRST:  To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section
     8.07;

          SECOND:  To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the
     Notes for principal (and premium, if any) and interest, in respect of which
     or for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without
     preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and
     payable on such Notes for principal (and premium, if any) and interest,
     respectively; and

          THIRD:  To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or any
     other Person lawfully entitled thereto.

     SECTION 7.07.  No Holder of any Note of any series shall have any right to
institute any proceeding, judicial or otherwise, with respect to this Indenture,
or for the appointment of a receiver or trustee, or for any other remedy
hereunder, unless

          (1) such Holder has previously given written notice to the Trustee of
     a continuing Event of Default with respect to the Notes of that series;

          (2) the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
     Outstanding Notes of that series shall have made written request to the
     Trustee to institute proceedings in respect of such Event of Default in its
     own name as Trustee hereunder;

          (3) such Holder or Holders have offered to the Trustee reasonable
     indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred in
     compliance with such request;

                                       38
<PAGE>
 
          (4) the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request
     and offer of indemnity has failed to institute any such proceeding; and

          (5) no direction inconsistent with such written request has been given
     to the Trustee during such 60 day period by the Holders of a majority in
     principal amount of the Outstanding Notes of such series;

it being understood and intended that no one or more Holders shall have any
right in any manner whatever by virtue of, or by availing of, any provision of
this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other Holders,
or to obtain or to seek to obtain priority or preference over any other Holders
or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein
provided and for the equal and ratable benefit of all the Holders.

     SECTION 7.08.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the
Holder of any Note shall have the right which is absolute and unconditional to
receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to
Section 2.07) interest on such Note on the respective Stated Maturities
expressed in such Note (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date)
and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment, and such right
shall not be impaired without the consent of such Holder.

     SECTION 7.09.  If the Trustee or any Holder has instituted any proceeding
to enforce any right or remedy under this Indenture and such proceeding has been
discontinued or abandoned for any reason, or has been determined adversely to
the Trustee or to such Holder, then and in every such case the Company, the
Trustee and the Holders shall, subject to any determination in such proceeding,
be restored severally and respectively to their former positions hereunder, and
thereafter all rights and remedies of the Trustee and the Holders shall continue
as though no such proceeding had been instituted.

     SECTION 7.10.  No right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the
Trustee or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or
remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be
cumulative and in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or
now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or otherwise.  The assertion or
employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the
concurrent assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

     SECTION 7.11.  No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder to
exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair any
such right or remedy or constitute a

                                       39
<PAGE>
 
waiver of any such Event of Default or an acquiescence therein.  Every right and
remedy given by this Article VII or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders may
be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the
Trustee or by the Holders, as the case may be.

     SECTION 7.12.  The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Notes 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, provided that

          (1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or
     with this Indenture, and

          (2) the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee
     which is not inconsistent with such direction.

     SECTION 7.13.  The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Notes of any series affected by an Event of Default may on behalf of
the Holders of such series of Notes waive any past default hereunder and its
consequences, except a default

          (1) in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or
     interest on any Note of such series which cannot be waived without the
     consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Note affected, or

          (2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Section
     11.02 cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of
     each Outstanding Note affected.

     Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose
of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
default or impair any right consequent thereon.

     SECTION 7.14.  All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any
Note 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, suffered, or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant
in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such
court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable
attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due regard to
the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such party litigant;
but the provisions of this Section 7.14 shall not apply to any suit

                                       40
<PAGE>
 
instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Holder, or group of
Holders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of any
series of the Outstanding Notes, or to any suit instituted by any Holder for the
enforcement of the payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest
on any Note on or after the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such Note
for such interest (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption
Date).

     SECTION 7.15.  The Company covenants (to the extent that it may lawfully do
so) that it will not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner
whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law
wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the
covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent
that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of
any such law, and covenants that it will not hinder, delay or impede the
execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but will suffer and permit
the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.



                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                  THE TRUSTEE


     SECTION 8.01.  (a) Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

          (1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties
     as are specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants
     or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

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

     (b) In case an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee
shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and
use the same degree of

                                       41
<PAGE>
 
care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under
the circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

     (c) 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

          (1) this Subsection (c) shall not be construed to limit the effect of
     Subsection (a) of this Section 8.01;

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

          (3) 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 of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes
     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; and

          (4) no provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend
     or risk its own funds or otherwise incur any financial liability in the
     performance of any of its duties hereunder, or in the exercise of any of
     its rights or powers.

     (d) Whether or not therein expressly so provided, every provision of this
Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording
protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section
8.01.

     SECTION 8.02.  Within 90 days after the occurrence of any default
hereunder, the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names and
addresses appear in the Note Register, notice of such default hereunder known to
the Trustee, unless such default shall have been cured or waived; provided,
however, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal
of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Note or in the payment of any sinking
or purchase fund installment, 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 and/or Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good
faith determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the
Holders; and provided, further, that in the case of any default of the character
specified in Section 7.01(4) no such notice to Holders shall be given until at
least 60 days after the occurrence thereof.  For the purpose of this Section
8.02 the term

                                       42
<PAGE>
 
"default" means any event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both
would become, an Event of Default.

     SECTION 8.03.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 8.01:

          (a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or
     refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement,
     instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
     bond, debenture 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 or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be
     sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order and any
     resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently evidenced by a
     Board Resolution;

          (c) whenever in the administration of this Indenture the Trustee shall
     deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking,
     suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Trustee (unless other
     evidence be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad
     faith on its part, rely upon an Officers' Certificate;

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

          (e) the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of the
     rights or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request or direction
     of any of the Holders pursuant to this Indenture, unless such Holders shall
     have offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the
     costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in compliance
     with such request or direction;

          (f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation into the
     facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate, statement,
     instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order,
     bond, debenture or other paper or document, but the Trustee, in its
     discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such facts
     or matters as it may see fit, and, if the Trustee shall determine to make
     such further inquiry or investigation, it shall be entitled to examine the
     books, records and premises of the Company, personally or by agent or
     attorney;

                                       43
<PAGE>
 
          (g) the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
     perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through agents or
     attorneys and the Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or
     negligence on the part of any agent or attorney appointed with due care by
     it hereunder; and

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

     SECTION 8.04.  The recitals contained herein and in the Notes, except the
certificate of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Company,
and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for their correctness.  The Trustee
makes no representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or
of the Notes.  The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application
by the Company of Notes or the proceeds thereof.

     SECTION 8.05.  The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Note
Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Notes and, subject to Sections 8.08
and 8.09 may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would have
if it were not Trustee, Paying Agent, Note Registrar or such other agent.

     SECTION 8.06.  Money held by the Trustee in trust hereunder need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.  The Trustee
shall be under no liability for interest on any money received by it hereunder
except as otherwise agreed with the Company.

     SECTION 8.07.  The Company agrees

          (1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation
     for all services rendered by it hereunder (which compensation shall not be
     limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee
     of an express trust);

          (2) except as otherwise expressly provided herein, to reimburse the
     Trustee upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and
     advances incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any provision
     of this Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses
     and disbursements of its agents and counsel), except any such expense,
     disbursement or advance as may be attributable to its negligence or bad
     faith; and

                                       44
<PAGE>
 
          (3) to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any
     loss, cost, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith
     on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
     administration of this trust, including the costs and expenses of defending
     itself against any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or
     performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.

     The obligations of the Company under this Section shall not be subordinated
to the payment of Senior Indebtedness pursuant to Article XII.

     As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under
this Section 8.07 the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Notes upon all
property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held
in trust for the payment of principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on
particular Notes.

     SECTION 8.08.  (a) This Indenture shall always have a Trustee with respect
to the Notes of each series which satisfies the requirements of TIA Section
310(a)(1).  The Trustee shall always have a combined capital and surplus of at
least $5,000,000 as set forth in its most recent annual report of condition.

     (b)  The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 310(b), it being understood that
for the purposes of this Indenture, with respect to Notes of any series, the
provisions of TIA Section 310(b) with respect to conflicting interests relating
to "other securities" shall be interpreted to include Notes of each other series
and with respect to "other indentures" shall include the provisions of this
Indenture relating to the Notes of such other series.

     SECTION 8.09.  The Trustee is subject to TIA Section 311(a), excluding any
creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b).  A Trustee who has resigned
or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated.

     SECTION 8.10.  (a) No registration or removal of the Trustee and no
appointment of a successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become
effective until the acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee under
Section 8.11.

     (b) The Trustee may resign at any time by giving written notice thereof to
the Company.  If an instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee shall not
have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such
notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

                                       45
<PAGE>
 
     (c) The Trustee may be removed at any time by Act of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes, delivered to the Trustee
and to the Company.

     (d) If at any time:

          (1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 8.08(b) after
     written request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a
     bona fide Holder for at least six months, or

          (2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 8.08(a) and
     shall fail to resign after written request therefor  by the Company or by
     any such Holder, or

          (3) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting or shall be adjudged
     a bankrupt or insolvent or a receiver of the Trustee or of its property
     shall be appointed or any public officer shall take charge or control of
     the Trustee or of its property or affairs for the purpose of
     rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the
Trustee, or (ii) subject to Section 7.14, any Holder who has been a bona fide
Holder 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.

     (e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting,
or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, the Company,
by a Board Resolution, shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.  If, within
one year after such resignation, removal or incapability, or the occurrence of
such vacancy, a successor Trustee shall be appointed by Act of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes delivered to the Company
and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so appointed shall, forthwith
upon its acceptance of such appointment, become the successor Trustee and
supersede the successor Trustee appointed by the Company.  If no successor
Trustee shall have been so appointed by the Company or the Holders and accepted
appointment in the manner hereinafter provided, any Holder who has been a bona
fide Holder for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others
similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Trustee.

     (f) The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of
the Trustee and each appointment of a successor Trustee to the Holders as their
names and addresses appear in the Note

                                       46
<PAGE>
 
Register.  Each notice shall include the name of the successor Trustee and the
address of its principal Corporate Trust Office.

     SECTION 8.11.  Every successor Trustee appointed hereunder shall execute,
acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an instrument
accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the
retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without any
further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights,
powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on request of the
Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of
its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor
Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee, and shall
duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and
money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder, subject nevertheless to its lien,
if any, provided for in Section 8.07.  Upon request of any such successor
Trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments for more fully and
certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor Trustee all such rights,
powers and trusts.

     No successor Trustee shall accept its appointment unless at the time of
such acceptance such successor Trustee shall be qualified and eligible under
this Article VIII.

     SECTION 8.12.  Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a
party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of the
corporate trust business of the Trustee,shall be the successor of the Trustee
hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible
under this Article VIII, without the execution or filing of any paper or any
further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.  In case any Notes shall
have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any
successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee
may adopt such authentication and deliver the Notes so authenticated with the
same effect as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Notes.


                                   ARTICLE IX

               HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY


     SECTION 9.01.  The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or
cause to be furnished to the Trustee, between May 1 and May 15 and between
November 1 and November 15 in each 12 months'

                                       47
<PAGE>
 
period beginning with November 1, 1995, and at such other times as the Trustee
may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the Company of any such
request, a list in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names
and addresses of the Holders as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the
time such information is furnished.  so long as the Trustee is the Note
Registrar no such list need be furnished.

     SECTION 9.02.  (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is
reasonably practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most
recent list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 9.01 and the names
and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Note
Registrar.  The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 9.01 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

     (b) Holders of Notes may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with
other Holders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Notes.
The Company, the Trustee, the Note Registrar, and anyone else shall have the
protection of TIA Section 312(c).

     SECTION 9.03.  (a) The term "reporting date", as used in this Section 9.03,
means May 15.  Within 60 days after the reporting date in each year, the Trustee
shall transmit by mail to all Holders, as there names and addresses appear in
the Note Register, a brief report dated as of such reporting date that complies
with TIA Section 313(a).  The Trustee shall also comply with TIA Section 313(b).

     (b)  Reports pursuant to this Section 9.03 shall be transmitted by mail:

          (1)  to all Holders of Notes, as the names and addresses of such
     Holders appear in the Note Register;

          (2) to such Holders of Notes as have, within the 2 years preceding
     such transmission, filed their names and addresses with the Trustee for
     that purpose; and except in the case of reports pursuant to TIA Section
     313(b), to all Holders of Notes whose names and addresses have been
     furnished to or received by the Trustee pursuant to Section 9.01.

     (c)  a copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to
Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which the Notes
are listed, and also with the Commission.  The Company will notify the Trustee
when the Notes are listed on any stock exchange.

                                       48
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE X

              CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE


          SECTION 10.01.  The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into
any other corporation or convey, transfer, sell or lease its properties and
assets as, or substantially as, an entirety to any Person, unless:

          (1) the corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the
     Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance, transfer,
     sale or lease the properties and assets of the Company as, or substantially
     as, an entirety shall be a corporation organized and existing under the
     laws of the United States of America or any State or the District of
     Columbia, and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto,
     executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee,
     the due and punctual payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and
     interest on all the Notes and the performance of every covenant of this
     Indenture on the part of the Company to be performed or observed;

          (2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, no Event of
     Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time, or both, would
     become an Event of Default, shall have happened and be continuing; and

          (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
     and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such consolidation, merger,
     conveyance or transfer and such supplemental indenture comply with this
     Section 10.01 and that all conditions precedent herein provided for
     relating to such transaction have been complied with.

     SECTION 10.02.  Upon any consolidation or merger, or any conveyance,
transfer, sale or lease of the properties and assets of the Company as, or
substantially as, an entirety in accordance with Section 10.01, the successor
corporation formed by such consolidation or into which the Company is merged or
to which such conveyance, transfer, sale or lease is made shall succeed to, and
be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under
this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor corporation had been
named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case of a lease, the
predecessor corporation shall be relieved of all obligations and covenants under
this Indenture and the Notes.

                                       49
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE XI

                            SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

          SECTION 11.01.  Without the consent of any Holder, the Company and the
Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter into one or more
indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, for any of
the following purposes:

          (1) to create a new series of Notes;

          (2) to evidence the succession of another entity to the Company, and
     the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein
     and in the Notes contained;

          (3) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the
     Holders of all or any series of Notes (and if such covenants are to be for
     the benefit of less than all series of Notes, stating that such covenants
     are expressly being included solely for the benefit of such series) or to
     surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

          (4) to add any additional Events of Default with respect to all or any
     series of Notes;

          (5) to cure any ambiguity, defect, or inconsistency or to correct or
     supplement any provision contained hereunder or in any supplemental
     indenture or in any Notes issued hereunder;

          (6) to provide for uncertificated Notes in addition to certificated
     Notes;

          (7)  to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to
     such extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the issuance of
     Notes in bearer form, registrable or not registrable as to principal, and
     with or without interest coupons;

          (8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
     hereunder by a successor Trustee with respect to the Notes 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 8.11; or

          (9) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of
     any Holder of Notes which are Outstanding.

                                       50
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 11.02.  Subject to the provisions of Section 7.12 and Section 7.13,
with the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount
of the Outstanding Notes of each series which are affected, evidenced by Act of
said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the Company, when
authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into an indenture or
indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to or
changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this Indenture or
of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the
Holders of the Notes of such series thereof under this Indenture; provided,
however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the
Holder of each Outstanding Note affected thereby,

          (1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment
     of interest on, any Note, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the
     interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or
     reduce the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Note that would
     be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity
     thereof, or change the coin or currency in which any Note or the interest
     thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for the
     enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof
     (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or

          (2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Notes
     of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such
     supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose Holders is required for any
     waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of this Indenture or certain
     defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided for in this Indenture,
     or

          (3) modify any of the provisions of this Section 11.02 or Section
     7.13, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain
     other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the
     consent of the Holder of each Note affected thereby provided, however, that
     this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any Holder with
     respect to changes in the references to "the Trustee" and concomitant
     changes in this Section and Section 3.08, or the deletion of this proviso,
     in accordance with the requirements of Sections 8.11 and 11.01(8).

     It shall not be necessary for any Act of Holders under this Section 11.02
to approve the particular form of any proposed supplemental indenture, but it
shall be sufficient if such Act shall approve the substance thereof.

                                       51
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 11.03.  In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created
by, any supplemental indenture permitted by this ARTICLE XI or the modification
thereby of the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled
to receive, and (subject to Section 8.01) shall be fully protected in relying
upon, an Opinion of Counsel, stating that the execution of such supplemental
indenture is authorized or permitted by this Indenture and that such
supplemental indenture is a valid and binding obligation of the Company in
accordance with its terms.  The Trustee may, but shall not be obligated to,
enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the Trustee's own
rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

     SECTION 11.04.  Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture under this
Article XI, this Indenture shall be modified in accordance therewith, and such
supplemental indenture shall form a part of this Indenture for all purposes; and
every Holder of Notes theretofore or thereafter authenticated and delivered
hereunder shall be bound thereby.

     SECTION 11.05.  Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this
Article XI shall conform to the requirements of the TIA as then in effect.

     SECTION 11.06.  Notes authenticated and delivered after the execution of
any applicable supplemental indenture pursuant to this Article XI may, and shall
if required by the Trustee, bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as
to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture.  If the Company shall
so determine, new Notes so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee
and the Board of Directors, to any such supplemental indenture may be prepared
and executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee in
exchange for Outstanding Notes.


                                  ARTICLE XII

                                 SUBORDINATION


     SECTION 12.01.  The payment by the Company of the principal of, premium, if
any, and interest on any series of Notes issued hereunder shall be subordinated
to the extent set forth in an indenture supplemental hereto relating to such
Notes.

                                       52
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE XIII

                                   ASSIGNMENT



     SECTION 13.01. The Company will have the right at all times to assign any
of its rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect 
wholly-owned Subsidiary that, in the event of any such assignment, the Company
will remain liable for all such obligations. Subject to the foregoing, the
Indenture is binding upon and inures to the benefit of the parties thereto and
their respective successors and assigns. This Indenture may not otherwise be
assigned by the parties thereto.

                                       53
<PAGE>
 
                                  TESTIMONIUM


     This Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall
together constitute but one and the same instrument.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture to be
duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed and
attested, all as of the day and year first above written.


                                 HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                                 By_____________________________
                                             Treasurer

ATTEST:


- ------------------------------
     Assistant Secretary

                                                               (CORPORATE SEAL)



                                 THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                                   as Trustee


                                 By_____________________________
                                          Vice President

ATTEST:


- ------------------------------
     Assistant Secretary

                                                               (CORPORATE SEAL)

                                       54

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 4(b)

     FIRST SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of May  , 1995 (the "First
Supplemental Indenture"), between Household International, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (the "Company"), and The First National Bank of Chicago, a national
banking association, as trustee (the "Trustee") under the Indenture dated as of
May 15, 1995 between the Company, and the Trustee (the "Indenture").

     WHEREAS, the Company executed and delivered the Indenture to the Trustee to
provide for the future issuance of the Company's unsecured junior subordinated
debt securities, to be issued from time to time in one or more series as might
be determined by the Company under the Indenture, in an unlimited aggregate
principal amount which may be authenticated and delivered as provided in the
Indenture;

     WHEREAS, pursuant to the terms of the Indenture, the Company desires to
provide for the establishment of a new series of its debt securities to be known
as its ______% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Notes due 2025 (the
"Notes"), the form and substance of such Notes and the terms, provisions and
conditions thereof to be set forth as provided in the Indenture and this First
Supplemental Indenture;

     WHEREAS, Household Capital Trust I, a Delaware statutory business trust
(the "Trust"), has offered to the public $[ ] aggregate liquidation amount of
its __% Trust Originated Preferred Securities (the "Preferred Securities") and
has issued to the Company, as sponsor, its ____% Trust Originated Common
Securities (the "Common Securities", and together with the Preferred Securities,
the "Trust Securities"), representing undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust and proposes to invest the proceeds from such offering in 
$[   ] aggregate principal amount of the Notes; and

     WHEREAS, the Company has requested that the Trustee execute and deliver
this First Supplemental Indenture, and all requirements necessary to make this
First Supplemental Indenture a valid instrument, in accordance with its terms,
and to make the Notes, when executed by the Company and authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee, the valid obligations of the Company, have been
performed, and the execution and delivery of this First Supplemental Indenture
has been duly authorized in all respects:

     NOW THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase and acceptance of the Notes
by the holders thereof, and for the purpose of setting forth, as provided in the
Indenture, the form and substance of the Notes and the terms, provisions and
conditions thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the Trustee as
follows:

                                       1

<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE I
 
                                  DEFINITIONS


     SECTION 1.1 Definition of Terms.
                 ------------------- 

     Unless the context otherwise requires:

     (a)  a term defined in the Indenture has the same meaning when used in this
          First Supplemental Indenture;

     (b)  a term defined anywhere in this First Supplemental Indenture has the
          same meaning throughout;

     (c)  the singular includes the plural and vice versa;

     (d)  a reference to a Section or Article is to a Section or Article of this
          First Supplemental Indenture;

     (e)  headings are for convenience of reference only and do not affect
          interpretation;

     (f)  the following terms have the meanings given to them in the
          Declaration: (i) Clearing Agency; (ii) Delaware Trustee; (iii)
          Dissolution Tax Opinion; (iv) No Recognition Opinion; (v) Pricing
          Agreement; (vi) Property Trustee; (vii) Preferred Security
          Certificate; (viii) Redemption Tax Opinion; (ix) Regular Trustees;
          (x) Special Event; (xi) Tax Event; and (xii) Underwriting Agreement;
          and

     (g)  the following terms have the meanings given to them in this Section
          l.l(g):

     "Additional Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(c).

     "Compounded Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

     "Coupon Rate" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).

     "Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of
Household Capital Trust I, a Delaware business trust, dated as of May ____,
1995.

     "Deferred Interest" has the meaning set forth in Section 4.1.

     "Dissolution Event" means that as a result of the occurrence and
continuation of a Special Event, the Trust is to be dissolved in accordance with
the Declaration and the Notes held by the

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
Trustee are to be distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities issued by
the Trust pro rata in accordance with the Declaration.

     "Extended Interest Payment Period" has the meaning set forth in Section
4.1.

     "Extended Maturity Date" means, if the Company elects to extend the
Maturity Date in accordance with Section 2.2(b), the date selected by the
Company which is after the Scheduled Maturity Date but before 2044.

     "Interest Payment Date" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.5(a).

     "Maturity Date" means the date on which the Notes mature and on which the
principal (and premium, if any) shall be due and payable together with all
accrued and unpaid interest thereon.

     "Ministerial Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

     "90 Day Period" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.1.

     "Non Book Entry Preferred Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section
2.4(b).

     "Redemption Price" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.2(a).

     "Scheduled Maturity Date" means ____________ __, 2025.


                                  ARTICLE II
                        GENERAL TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF
                                   THE NOTES


    SECTION 2.1 Designation and Principal Amount.
                -------------------------------- 

    There is hereby authorized a series of debt securities designated the
"___% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Notes due 2025", limited in
aggregate principal amount to $[ million], which amount shall be as set forth in
any written order of the Company for the authentication and delivery of Notes
pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Indenture.


    SECTION 2.2 Maturity.
                -------- 

    (a)  The Maturity Date will be either:

         (i)  the Scheduled Maturity Date; or

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
         (ii)  if the Company elects to extend the Maturity Date beyond the
               Scheduled Maturity Date in accordance with Section 2.2(b), the
               Extended Maturity Date.

     (b)  the Company may at any time before the day which is 90 days before the
          Scheduled Maturity Date, elect to extend the Maturity Date only once
          to the Extended Maturity Date provided that the following conditions
          in this Section 2.2(b) are satisfied both at the date the Company
          gives notice in accordance with Section 2.2(c) of its election to
          extend the Maturity Date and at the Scheduled Maturity Date:

          (i)  the Company is not in bankruptcy or otherwise insolvent;

          (ii) the Company is not in default on the Trust Securities;

         (iii) the Company has made timely payments on the Notes for the
               immediately preceding six quarters months without deferrals;

          (iv) the Trust is not in arrears on payments of Distributions on the
               Trust Securities issued by it; and

          (v)  the Notes are rated investment grade or the equivalent by
               Standard & Poor's Corporation, Moody's Investors Service, Inc.,
               Fitch Investor Services, Duff & Phelps Credit Rating Company or
               any other nationally recognized statistical rating organization;
               and

     (c)  if the Company elects to extend the Maturity Date in accordance with
          Section 2.2(b), the Company shall give notice to registered Holders of
          the Notes, the Property Trustee and the Trust of the extension of the
          Maturity Date and the Extended Maturity Date at least 90 days before
          the Scheduled Maturity Date.

     SECTION 2.3 Form and Payment.
                 ---------------- 

          Except as provided in Section 2.4, the Notes shall be issued in fully
registered certificated form without interest coupons. Principal and interest on
the Notes issued in certificated form will be payable, the transfer of such
Notes will be registrable and such Notes will be exchangeable for Notes bearing
identical terms and provisions at the office or agency of the Trustee; provided,
however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by
check mailed to the registered Holder

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
at such address as shall appear in the Note Register.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, so long as the registered Holder of any Notes is the Property
Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on
such Notes held by the Property Trustee will be made at such place and to such
account as may be designated by the Property Trustee.

     SECTION 2.4 Depository Note.
                 --------------- 

     In connection with a Dissolution Event;

     (a)  the Notes in certificated form may be presented to the Trustee by the
          Property Trustee in exchange for a Depository Note in an aggregate
          principal amount equal to all Outstanding Notes, to be registered in
          the name of the Depository, or its nominee, and delivered by the
          Trustee to the Depository for crediting to the accounts of its
          participants pursuant to the instructions of the Regular Trustees. The
          Company upon any such presentation shall execute a Depository Note in
          such aggregate principal amount and deliver the same to the Trustee
          for authentication and delivery in accordance with the Indenture and
          this First Supplemental Indenture. Payments on the Notes issued as a
          Depository Note will be made to the Depository; and

     (b)  if any Preferred Securities are held in non book-entry certificated
          form, the Notes in certificated form may be presented to the Trustee
          by the Property Trustee and any Preferred Security Certificate which
          represents Preferred Securities other than Preferred Securities held
          by the Clearing Agency or its nominee ("Non Book-Entry Preferred
          Securities") will be deemed to represent beneficial interests in Notes
          presented to the Trustee by the Property Trustee having an aggregate
          principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Non
          Book-Entry Preferred Securities until such Preferred Security
          Certificates are presented to the Security Registrar for transfer or
          reissuance at which time such Preferred Security Certificates will be
          cancelled and a Note registered in the name of the holder of the
          Preferred Security Certificate or the transferee of the holder of such
          Preferred Security Certificate as the case may be, with an aggregate
          principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the
          Preferred Security Certificate cancelled will be executed by the
          Company and delivered to the Trustee for authentication and delivery
          in accordance with the Indenture and this First Supplemental
          Indenture. On issue of such Notes, Notes with an equivalent aggregate
          principal amount that were presented by the Property Trustee to the
          Trustee will be deemed to have been cancelled.

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 2.5 Interest.
                 -------- 

     (a)  Each Note will bear interest at the rate of ___%  per annum (the
          "Coupon Rate") from the original date of issuance until the principal
          thereof becomes due and payable, and on any overdue principal and (to
          the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
          applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the Coupon
          Rate, compounded quarterly and payable (subject to the provisions of
          Article IV) quarterly in arrears on March 31, June 30, September 30
          and December 31 of each year (each, an "Interest Payment Date",
          commencing on __, 1995), to the person in whose name such Note or any
          predecessor Note is registered, at the close of business on the
          regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be the
          close of business on the Business Day next preceding that Interest
          Payment Date. If pursuant to the provisions of Section 2.11(c) of the
          Indenture the Notes are no longer represented by a Depository Note,
          the Company may select a regular record date for such interest
          installment which shall be any date at least fifteen days before an
          Interest Payment Date.

     (b)  The amount of interest payable for any period will be computed on the
          basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. Except as provided in
          the following sentence, the amount of interest payable for any period
          shorter than a full quarterly period for which interest in computed,
          will be computed on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in
          such a 30-day month. In the event that any date on which interest is
          payable on the Notes is not a Business Day, then payment of interest
          payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day which is
          a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect
          of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next
          succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the
          immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force
          and effect as if made on such date.

     (c)  If at any time while the Property Trustee is the Holder of any Notes,
          the Trust or the Property Trustee is required to pay any taxes,
          duties, assessments or governmental charges of whatever nature (other
          than withholding taxes) imposed by the United States, or any other
          taxing authority, then, in any case, the Company will pay as
          additional interest ("Additional Interest") on the Notes held by the
          Property Trustee, such additional amounts as shall be required so that
          the net amounts received and retained by the Trust and the Property
          Trustee after paying such taxes, duties

                                       6

<PAGE>
 
          assessments or other governmental charges will be equal to the amounts
          the Trust and the property Trustee would have received had no such
          taxes, duties, assessments or other government charges been imposed.


                                  ARTICLE III
                            REDEMPTION OF THE NOTES


     SECTION 3.1 Special Event Redemption.
                 ------------------------ 

     If a Tax Event has occurred and is continuing and:

     (a)  the Company has received a Redemption Tax Opinion; or

     (b)  after receiving a Dissolution Tax Opinion, the Regular Trustees shall
          have been informed by tax counsel rendering the Dissolution Tax
          Opinion that a No Recognition Opinion cannot be delivered to the
          Trust,

     then, notwithstanding Section 3.2(a) but subject to Section 3.2(b), the
Company shall have the right upon not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days
notice to the registered Holders of the Notes to redeem the Notes in whole or in
part for cash within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax Event (the "90
Day Period"), provided that, if at the time there is available to the Company
the opportunity to eliminate within the 90 Day Period, the Tax Event by taking
some ministerial action ("Ministerial Action"), such as filing a form or making
an election, or pursuing some other similar reasonable measure which has no
adverse effect on the Company, the Trust or the Holders of the Trust Securities
issued by the Trust, the Company shall pursue such Ministerial Action in lieu of
redemption; and provided, further, that the Company shall have no right to
redeem the Notes while the Trust is pursuing any Ministerial Action pursuant to
its obligations under the Declaration.

     SECTION 3.2 Optional Redemption by Company.
                 ------------------------------ 

     (a)  Subject to the provisions of Article III of the Indenture and to
          Section 3.2(b) hereof, the Company shall have the right to redeem the
          Notes, in whole or in part, from time to time, on or after __, 2000,
          at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount to be
          redeemed plus any accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of
          such redemption (the "Redemption Price"). Any redemption pursuant to
          this paragraph will be made upon not less than 30 nor more than 60
          days' notice to the registered Holder of the Notes, at the Redemption
          Price. If the Notes are only partially redeemed pursuant to this
          Section 3.2, the Notes will be redeemed pro rata or by

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
          lot or by any other method utilized by the Trustee; provided, that if
          at the time of redemption, the Notes are registered as a Depository
          Note, the Depository shall determine by lot the principal amount of
          such Notes held by each Holder to be redeemed.

     (b)  If a partial redemption of the Notes would result in the delisting of
          the Preferred Securities issued by the Trust from any national
          securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred
          Securities are then listed, the Company shall not be permitted to
          effect such partial redemption and may only redeem the Notes in whole.

     SECTION 3.3 No Sinking Fund.
                 --------------- 

     The Notes are not entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund.


                                  ARTICLE IV
                     EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD


     SECTION 4.1 Extension of Interest Payment Period.
                 ------------------------------------

     The Company shall have the right, at any time during the term of the Notes,
from time to time to defer the payment of interest by extending the interest
payment period of such Notes for up to 20 consecutive quarters (the "Extended
Interest Payment Period"). To the extent permitted by applicable law, interest,
the payment of which has been deferred because of the extension of the interest
payment period pursuant to this Section 4.1, will bear interest thereon at the
Coupon Rate, compounded quarterly, for each quarter of the Extended Interest
Payment Period ("Compounded Interest"). At the end of the Extended Interest
Payment Period the Company shall pay all interest accrued and unpaid on the
Notes including any Additional Interest and Compounded Interest ("Deferred
Interest") which shall be payable to the Holders of the Notes in whose names the
Notes are registered in the Note Register on the first record date after the end
of the Extended Interest Payment Period. Before the termination of any Extended
Interest Payment Period, the Company may further extend such period, provided
that such period together with all such further extensions thereof shall not
exceed 20 consecutive quarters. Upon the termination of any Extended Interest
Payment Period and upon the payment of all Deferred Interest then due, the
Company may select a new Extended Interest Payment Period, subject to the
foregoing requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extended
Interest Payment Period, except at the end thereof.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 4.2 Notice of Extension.
                 ------------------- 

     (a)  If the Property Trustee is the only registered Holder of the Notes at
          the time the Company selects an Extended Interest Payment Period, the
          Company shall give written notice to both the Regular Trustees and the
          Property Trustee of its selection of such Extended Interest Payment
          Period one Business Day before the earlier of (i) the next succeeding
          date on which Distributions on the Trust Securities issued by the
          Trust are payable, or (ii) the date the Trust is required to give
          notice of the record date or the date such Distributions are payable
          to the New York Stock Exchange or other applicable self-regulatory
          organization or to holders of the Preferred Securities issued by the
          Trust, but in any event at least one Business Day before such record
          date.

     (b)  If the Property Trustee is not the only Holder of the Notes at the
          time the Company selects an Extended Interest Payment Period, the
          Company shall give the Holders of the Notes written notice of its
          selection of such Extended Interest Payment Period 10 Business Days
          before the earlier of (i) the next succeeding Interest Payment Date,
          or (ii) the date the Company is required to give notice of the record
          or payment date of such interest payment to the New York Stock
          Exchange or other applicable self-regulatory organization or to
          Holders of the Notes, but in any event at least two Business Days
          before such record date.

     (c)  The quarter in which any notice is given pursuant to paragraphs (a) or
          (b) of this Section 4.2 shall be counted as one of the 20 quarters
          permitted in the maximum Extended Interest Payment Period permitted
          under Section 4.1.


                                   ARTICLE V
                            EXPENSES AND GUARANTEE

                                        
     SECTION 5.1 Payment of Expenses.
                 ------------------- 

     In connection with the offering, sale and issuance of the Notes to the
Property Trustee in connection with the sale of the Trust Securities by the
Trust, the Company shall:

     (a)  pay for all costs and expenses relating to the offering, sale and
          issuance of the Note, including commissions to the underwriters
          payable pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement and the Pricing
          Agreement and compensation of

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
          the Trustee under the Indenture in accordance with the provisions of
          Section 8.07 of the Indenture;

     (b)  pay for all costs and expenses of the Trust (including, but not
          limited to, costs and expenses relating to the organization of the
          Trust, the offering, sale and issuance of the Trust Securities
          (including commissions to the underwriters in connection therewith),
          the fees and expenses of the Property Trustee and the Delaware
          Trustee, the costs and expenses relating to the operation of the
          Trust, including without limitation, costs and expenses of
          accountants, attorneys, statistical or bookkeeping services, expenses
          for printing and engraving and computing or accounting equipment,
          paying agent(s), registrar(s), transfer agent(s), travel expenses and
          costs and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition,
          financing, and disposition of Trust assets); and

     (c)  pay any and all taxes (other than United States withholding taxes
          attributable to the Trust or its assets) and all liabilities, costs
          and expenses with respect to such taxes of the Trust.


                                   ARTICLE VI
                                 SUBORDINATION


     SECTION 6.1 Agreement to Subordinate.
                 ------------------------ 

     The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Notes issued hereunder
by such Holder's acceptance thereof likewise covenants and agrees, that all
Notes shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article VI; and each
Holder of a Note, whether upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment
thereof, accepts and agrees to be bound by such provisions.

     The payment by the Company of the principal of, (premium, if any) and
interest on all Notes issued hereunder shall, to the extent and in the manner
hereinafter set forth, be subordinated and junior in right of payment to the
prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether
outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter incurred.

     No provision of this Article VI shall prevent the occurrence of any default
or Event of Default hereunder.

                                      10
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 6.2 Default on Senior Indebtedness.
                 ------------------------------ 

     In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company in
the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any
Senior Indebtedness of the Company, or in the event that the maturity of any
Senior Indebtedness of the Company, has been accelerated because of a default,
then, in either case, no payment shall be made by the Company with respect to
the principal (including redemption payments) of, or premium, if any, or
interest on the Notes including payment with respect to any obligation due under
the Preferred Securities Guarantee.

     In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be
received by the Trustee or any Holder when such payment is prohibited by the
preceding paragraph of this Section 6.2, such payment shall be held in trust for
the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or
trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness
may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the
extent that the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or
representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee within 90 days of such payment
of the amounts then due and owing on such Senior Indebtedness and only the
amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the holders of
such Senior Indebtedness.

     SECTION 6.3 Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.
                 ------------------------------------ 

     Upon any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company
of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to creditors
upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the
Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness
of the Company, shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in
money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company,
as the case may be, on account of the principal (and premium, if any) or
interest on the Notes; and upon any such dissolution or winding-up or
liquidation or reorganization any payment by the Company, or distribution of
assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or
securities, to which the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee would be entitled
to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this Article VI, shall
be paid by the Company, or by any receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating
trustee, agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, or by the
Holders of the Notes or by the Trustee under this Indenture if received by them
or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, (pro rata
to the holders of the respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness, as calculated
by the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or
trustees

                                      11
<PAGE>
 
under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior
Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, to
the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in money or
money's worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to
or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness before any payment or
distribution is made to the Holders of Notes or to the Trustee.

     In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the
Trustee or the Holders of the Notes before all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company is paid in full, or provision is made for such payment in money in
accordance with its terms, such payment or distribution shall be held in trust
for the benefit of and shall be paid over or delivered to the holders such
Senior Indebtedness or their representative or representatives, or to the
trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments
evidencing such Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective
interests may appear, as calculated by the Company, for application to the
payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, remaining
unpaid to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full in
accordance with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or
distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

     For purposes of this Article VI, the words "cash, property or securities"
shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as reorganized or
readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation provided for
by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which is
subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article VI with respect to
the Notes to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company that may at
the time be outstanding, provided that (i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed
by the new corporation, if any, resulting from any such reorganization or
readjustment, and (ii) the rights of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are
not, without the consent of such holders, altered by such reorganization or
readjustment. The consolidation of the Company with, or the merger of the
Company into, another corporation or the liquidation or dissolution of the
Company following the conveyance or transfer of its property as an entirety, or
substantially as an entirety, to another corporation upon the terms and
conditions provided for in Article X of the Indenture shall not be deemed a
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the purposes of this
Section 6.3 if such other corporation shall, as a part of such consolidation,
merger, conveyance or transfer, comply with the conditions stated in Article X
of the Indenture. Nothing in Section 6.2 or in this Section 6.3 shall apply to
claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 8.07 of the
Indenture.

                                      12
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 6.4 Subordination.
                 ------------- 

     Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company,
the rights of the Holders of the Notes shall be subrogated to the rights of the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of
cash, property or securities of the Company applicable to such Senior
Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the
Notes shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such subrogation, no
payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness of any
cash, property or securities to which the Holders of the Notes or the Trustee
would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article VI, and no payment
over pursuant to the provisions of this Article VI, to or for the benefit of the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Holders of the Notes or the Trustee,
shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior
Indebtedness of the Company, and the Holders of the Notes, be deemed to be a
payment by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness. It is
understood that the provisions of this Article VI are and are intended solely
for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Notes, on
the one hand, and the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company on the other
hand.

     Nothing contained in this Article VI or elsewhere in this Indenture or in
the Notes is intended to or shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors
other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the Holders of
the Notes the obligation of the Company which is absolute and unconditional, to
pay to the Holders of the Notes the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on the Notes as and when the same shall become due and payable in
accordance with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative
rights of the Holders of the Notes and creditors of the Company other than the
holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, nor shall anything herein or
therein prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Note from exercising all
remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default under the Indenture,
subject to the rights, if any, under this Article VI of the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company
received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

     Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to in
this Article VI, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 8.01 of the
Indenture, and the Holders of the Notes, shall be entitled to rely upon any
order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending,
or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee,
agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the
Trustee or to the Holders of the Notes, for the purposes of ascertaining the
Persons entitled to

                                      13
<PAGE>
 
participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the
Company the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or
distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article VI.

     SECTION 6.5 Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.
                 ----------------------------------- 

     Each Holder of Notes by such Holder's acceptance thereof authorizes and
directs the Trustee on such Holder's behalf to take such action as may be
necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this
Article VI and appoints the Trustee such Holder's attorney-in-fact for any and
all such purposes.

     SECTION 6.6 Notice by the Company.
                 --------------------- 

     The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer of
the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making of
any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Notes pursuant to
the provisions of this Article VI.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Article VI or any other provision of the Indenture and this First Supplemental
Indenture, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of
any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of monies to or by the
Trustee in respect of the Notes pursuant to the provisions of this Article VI,
unless and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee shall have received
written notice thereof at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee from the
Company or a holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee
therefor; and before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee,
subject to the provisions of Section 8.01 of the Indenture, shall be entitled in
all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the
Trustee shall not have received the notice provided for in this Section 6.6 at
least two Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any
money may become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the
payment of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Note), then,
anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall
have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the
purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any notice
to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior to
such date.

     The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 8.01 of the Indenture,
shall be entitled to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person
representing himself to be a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company (or a
trustee on behalf of such holder) to establish that such notice has been given
by a holder of such Senior indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such
holder or holders. In the event that the Trustee determines in good faith that
further evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder
of such Senior Indebtedness to participate in

                                      14
<PAGE>
 
any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article VI, the Trustee may request
such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as
to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to
which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and
any other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article VI,
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.

     SECTION 6.7 Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.
                 ----------------------------------------------------- 

     The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the rights
set forth in this Article VI in respect of any Senior Indebtedness at any time
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.

     With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the
Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and
obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article VI, and no implied
covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness
shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee. The Trustee shall not be
deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and,
subject to the provisions of Section 8.01 of the Indenture, the Trustee shall
not be liable to any holder of such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or
deliver to Holders of Notes, the Company, or any other Person money or assets to
which any holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this
Article VI or otherwise.

     SECTION 6.8 Subordination May Not Be Impaired.
                 --------------------------------- 

     No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness of the
Company 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
Company, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or
by any noncompliance by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of
this Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may
have or otherwise be charged with.

     Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph, the
holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, at any time and from time to
time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the
Notes, without incurring responsibility to the Holders of the Notes and without
impairing or releasing the subordination provided in this Article VI or the
obligations hereunder of the Holders of the Notes to the

                                      15
<PAGE>
 
holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any one or more the following: (i)
change the manner, place or terms of payment or extend the time of payment of,
or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness, or otherwise amend or supplement in
any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any instrument evidencing the same or any
agreement under which such Senior Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell,
exchange, release or otherwise deal with any property pledged, mortgaged or
otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness; (iii) release any Person liable in
any manner for the collection of such Senior Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or
refrain from exercising any rights against the Company, and any other Person.


                                  ARTICLE VII
                                   COVENANTS


     SECTION 7.1 Listing on Exchanges.
                 -------------------- 

     If the Notes are to be issued as a Depository Note in connection with the
distribution of the Notes to the holders of the Preferred Securities issued by
the Trust upon a Dissolution Event, the Company will use its best efforts to
list such Notes on the New York Stock Exchange or on such other exchange as the
Preferred Securities are then listed.

     SECTION 7.2 Limitation on Dividends; Transactions with Affiliates.
                 ----------------------------------------------------- 

     (a) If (i) there shall have occurred any event that would constitute an
Event of Default or (ii) the Company shall be in default with respect to its
payment of any obligations under the Preferred Securities Guarantee or Common
Securities Guarantee relating to the Trust, then (a) the Company shall not
declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or
redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its
capital stock, and (b) the Company shall not make any payment of interest,
principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities issued by the Company which rank pari passu with or junior to the
Notes.

     (b) If the Company shall have given notice of its election to defer
payments of interest on the Notes by extending the interest payment period as
provided in Article IV of this First Supplemental Indenture and such period, or
any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then (i) the Company shall not
declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or
redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of its
capital stock, and (ii) the Company shall not make any payment of interest,
principal or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
securities issued by the Company which rank pari passu with or junior to the
Notes.

                                      16
<PAGE>
 
     SECTION 7.3 Covenants as to the Trust.
                 ------------------------- 

     For so long as such Trust Securities remain outstanding, the Company will
(i) maintain 100% direct or indirect ownership of the Common Securities of the
Trust; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the Company under the
Indenture may succeed to the Company's ownership of the Common Securities, (ii)
use its reasonable efforts to cause the Trust (a) to remain a statutory business
trust, except in connection with the distribution of Notes to the holders of
Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust, the redemption of all of the Trust
Securities of the Trust, or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations,
each as permitted by the Declaration of the Trust, and (b) to otherwise continue
to be classified as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes.

                                 ARTICLE VIII
                                 FORM OF NOTE


     SECTION 8.1 Form of Note.
                 ------------ 

     The Notes, and the Trustee's Certificate of Authentication to be
endorsed thereon are to be substantially in the following forms:

                            (FORM OF FACE OF NOTE)
                                        
     [IF THE NOTE IS TO BE A Depository Note, INSERT - This Note is a Depository
Note within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and is
registered in the name of a Depository or a nominee of a Depository. This Note
is exchangeable for Notes registered in the name of a person other than the
Depository or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described in the
Indenture, and no transfer of this Note (other than a transfer of this Note as a
whole by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the
Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository) may be
registered except in limited circumstances.

     Unless this Note is presented by an authorized representative of The
Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the issuer or
its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Note issued
is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an
authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment hereon
is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co.,
has an interest herein.]

                                      17
<PAGE>
 
     No.                                      $
     CUSIP No.

                         HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                        
     ___ % JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST NOTE DUE 2025

     Household International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company",
which term includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to or registered
assigns, the principal sum of Dollars on ___________, 2025 (or on such later
date before __________, 2044 if the Company elects to extend the maturity date
as further described herein), and to pay interest on said principal sum from
_________, 1995 or from the most recent interest payment date (each such date,
an "Interest Payment Date") to which interest has been paid or duly provided
for, quarterly (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on March 31,
June 30, September 31 and December 31 of each year commencing __________, 1995
at the rate of ___% per annum until the principal hereof shall have become due
and payable, and on any overdue principal and premium, if any, and (without
duplication and to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest at the same rate per
annum, compounded quarterly. The amount of interest payable on any Interest
Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months. In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this Note is
not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be made
on the next succeeding day which is a Business Day (and without any interest or
other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day
is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the
immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect
as if made on such date. The interest installment so payable, and punctually
paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the
Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this Note (or one or more
Predecessor Notes, as defined in said Indenture) is registered at the close of
business on the regular record date for such interest installment [which shall
be the close of business on the business day next preceding such Interest
Payment Date]. [IF PURSUANT TO THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 2.11(c) OF THE
INDENTURE THE NOTES ARE NO LONGER REPRESENTED BY A Depository Note -- which
shall be the close of business on the business day next preceding such Interest
Payment Date.] Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly
provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered Holders on
such regular record date, and may be paid to the person in whose name this Note
(or one or more Predecessor Notes) is registered at the close of business on a
special record date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted
interest, notice whereof shall be given to the registered Holders of this series
of Notes not less than 10 days prior to such special

                                       18
<PAGE>
 
record date, or may be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the Notes
may be listed, and upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as
more fully provided in the Indenture. The principal of (and premium, if any) and
the interest on this Note shall be payable at the office or agency of the
Trustee maintained for that purpose in any coin or currency of the United States
of America which at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public
and private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at
the option of the Company by check mailed to the registered Holder at such
address as shall appear in the Note Register. Notwithstanding the foregoing, so
long as the Holder of this Note is the Property Trustee, the payment of the
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Note will be made at
such place and to such account as may be designated by the Property Trustee.

     The indebtedness evidenced by this Note is, to the extent provided in the
Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the prior payment in
full of all Senior Indebtedness, and this Note is issued subject to the
provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto. Each Holder of this Note, by
accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b)
authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take such action as
may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination
so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and
all such purposes. Each Holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof, hereby
waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination provisions contained
herein and in the Indenture by each holder of Senior Indebtedness, whether now
outstanding or hereafter incurred, and waives reliance by each such Holder upon
said provisions.

     This Note shall not be entitled to any benefit under the Indenture
hereinafter referred to, be valid or become obligatory for any purpose until the
Certificate of Authentication hereon shall have been signed by or on behalf of
the Trustee.

     Unless the Certificate of Authentication hereon has been executed by the
Trustee referred to on the reverse side hereof, this Note shall not be entitled
to any benefit under the Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.

                                      19
<PAGE>
 
     The provisions of this Note are continued on the reverse side hereof and
such continued provisions shall for all purposes have the same effect as though
fully set forth at this place.

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

          Dated
                ---------------


            HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.



          By
             -----------------------------------------------------------------

          Attest:

          By
             -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                         Secretary
 


                    (FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION)
                                        
                         CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION
                                        
     This is one of the Notes of the series of Notes described in the
within-mentioned Indenture.

     THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
 


     --------------------------          --------------------------
     as Trustee                    or    as Authentication Agent

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

                                       20
<PAGE>
 
                           (FORM OF REVERSE OF NOTE)
                                        
     This Note is one of a duly authorized series of Notes of the Company
(herein sometimes referred to as the "Notes"), specified in the Indenture, all
issued or to be issued in one or more series under and pursuant to an Indenture
dated as of May 16, 1995 duly executed and delivered between the Company and The
First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking association, as Trustee (the
"Trustee"), as supplemented by the First Supplemental Indenture dated as of
___________, 1995 between the Company and the Trustee (the Indenture as so
supplemented, the "Indenture"), to which Indenture and all indentures
supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of the rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the
Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Notes. By the terms of the
Indenture, the Notes are issuable in series which may vary as to amount, date of
maturity, rate of interest and in other respects as in the Indenture provided.
This series of Notes is limited in aggregate principal amount as specified in
said First Supplemental Indenture.

     Because of the occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event, in certain
circumstances this Note will become due and payable at the principal amount
together with any interest accrued thereon (the "Redemption Price"). The
Redemption Price shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon, New York time, on the date
of such redemption or at such earlier time as the Company determines. The
Company shall have the right to redeem this Note at the option of the Company,
without premium or penalty, in whole or in part at any time on or after
__________, 2000 (an "Optional Redemption"), at a redemption price equal to 100%
of the principal amount plus any accrued but unpaid interest, to the date of
such redemption (the "Redemption Price"). Any redemption pursuant to this
paragraph will be made upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice, at
the Redemption Price. If the Notes are only partially redeemed by the Company
pursuant to an Optional Redemption, the Notes will be redeemed pro rata or by
lot or by any other method utilized by the Trustee; provided that if, at the
time of redemption, the Notes are registered as a Depository Note, the
Depository shall determine by lot the principal amount of such Notes held by
each Holder to be redeemed.

     In the event of redemption of this Note in part only, a new Note or
Notes of this series for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in the
name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

     In case an Event of Default, as defined in the Indenture, shall have
occurred and be continuing, the principal of all of the Notes may be declared,
and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the manner, with the
effect and subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

                                      21
<PAGE>
 
     The Indenture 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 the Notes of each series affected at the time
outstanding, as defined in the Indenture, to execute supplemental indentures for
the purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating
any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Notes; provided,
however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend the fixed maturity
of any Notes of any series, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce
the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any
premium payable upon the redemption thereof, without the consent of the Holder
of each Note so affected or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Notes, the
Holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental indenture,
without the consent of the Holders of each Note then outstanding and affected
thereby. The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of any series at the time
outstanding affected thereby, on behalf of all of the Holders of the Notes of
such series, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the
covenants contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture
with respect to such series, and its consequences, except a default in the
payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Notes
of such series. Any such consent or waiver by the registered Holder of this Note
(unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding
upon such Holder and upon all future Holders and owners of this Note and of any
Note issued in exchange herefor or in place hereof (whether by registration of
transfer or otherwise), irrespective of whether or not any notation of such
consent or waiver is made upon this Note.

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

     The Company shall have the right at any time during the term of the
Notes from time to time to extend the interest payment period of such Notes to
up to 20 consecutive quarters (an "Extended Interest Payment Period"), at the
end of which period the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid
(together with interest thereon at the rate specified for the Notes to the
extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law).
Before the termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period, the Company
may further extend such Extended Interest Payment Period, provided that such
Extended Interest Payment Period together with all such further extensions
thereof shall not exceed 20 consecutive quarters. At the termination of any such
Extended

                                      22
<PAGE>
 
Interest Payment Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest
and any additional amounts then due, the Company may select a new Extended
Interest Payment Period.

     As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
therein set forth, this Note is transferable by the registered Holder hereof on
the Note Register of the Company, upon surrender of this Note for registration
of transfer at the office or agency of the Company in ____________________
accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form
satisfactory to the Company or the Trustee duly executed by the registered
Holder hereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or
more new Notes of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal
amount and series will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees. No
service charge will be made for any such transfer, but the Company may require
payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge
payable in relation thereto.

     Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Note,
the Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Note Registrar may deem and
treat the registered Holder hereof as the absolute owner hereof (whether or not
this Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notice of ownership or
writing hereon made by anyone other than the Note Registrar) for the purpose of
receiving payment of or on account of the principal hereof and premium, if any,
and interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the Company nor
the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Note Registrar shall be affected by any
notice to the contrary.

     No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the
interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon, or otherwise in respect
hereof, or based on or in respect of the Indenture, against any incorporator,
stockholder, officer or director, past, present or future, as such, of the
Company or of any predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any
constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or
penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as
part of the consideration for the issuance hereof, expressly waived and
released.

     The notes of this series are issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof.  This
Depository Note is exchangeable for Notes in definitive form only under certain
limited circumstances set forth in the Indenture. Notes of this series so issued
are issuable only in registered form without coupons in denominations of $25 and
any integral multiple thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to
certain limitations herein and therein set forth, Notes of this series so issued
are exchangeable for a like aggregate

                                      23
<PAGE>
 
principal amount of Notes of this series of a different authorized denomination,
as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

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


                                  ARTICLE IX
             ADDITIONAL EVENT OF DEFAULT; MODIFICATION AND WAIVER


     SECTION 9.1 Additional Event of Default.
                 --------------------------- 

     "Event of Default", wherever used in the Indenture or this First
Supplemental Indenture with respect to the Notes, in addition to the Events of
Default set forth in Section 7.01 of the Indenture shall include the following
event :

     (1)  the Trust shall have voluntarily or involuntarily dissolved, wound-up
          its business or otherwise terminated its existence except in
          connection with (i) the distribution of Notes to Holders of Trust
          Securities in liquidation of their interests in the Trust, (ii) the
          redemption of all of the outstanding Trust Securities of the Trust or
          (iii) certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as
          permitted by the Declaration of the Trust.

     SECTION 9.2 MODIFICATION AND WAIVER.
                 ----------------------- 

     The convenant set forth in Section 7.2 of this First Supplemental Indenture
shall not be modified or waived without the consent of the Holders of each Note
affected thereby.


                                   ARTICLE X
                            ORIGINAL ISSUE OF NOTES


     SECTION 10.1 Original Issue of Notes.
                  ----------------------- 

     Notes in the aggregate principal amount of $_________________ may,
upon execution of this First Supplemental Indenture, be executed by the Company
and delivered to the Trustee for authentication, and the Trustee shall thereupon
authenticate and deliver said Notes to or upon the written order of the Company,
signed by its Chairman, its President, or any Vice President and its Treasurer
or an Assistant Treasurer, without any further action by the Company.

                                      24
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE XI
                                 MISCELLANEOUS


     SECTION 11.1 Ratification of Indenture.
                  ------------------------- 

     The Indenture, as supplemented by this First Supplemental Indenture, is in
all respects ratified and confirmed, and this First Supplemental Indenture shall
be deemed part of the Indenture in the manner and to the extent herein and
therein provided.

     SECTION 11.2 Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals.
                  ------------------------------------

     The recitals herein contained are made by the Company and not by the
Trustee, and the Trustee assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof.
The Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this
First Supplemental Indenture.

     SECTION 11.3 Governing Law.
                  ------------- 

     This First Supplemental Indenture and each Note shall be deemed to be a
contract made under the internal laws of the State of Illinois, and for all
purposes shall be construed in accordance with the laws of said State.

     SECTION 11.4 Separability.
                  ------------ 

     In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this First
Supplemental Indenture or in the Notes shall for any reason be held to be
invalid, illegal or unenforceable in any respect, such invalidity, illegality or
unenforceability shall not affect any other provisions of this First
Supplemental Indenture or of the Notes, but First Supplemental Indenture and the
Notes shall be construed as if such invalid or illegal or unenforceable
provision had never been contained herein or therein.

     SECTION 11.5 Counterparts.
                  ------------ 

     This First Supplemental 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.

                                      25
<PAGE>
 
          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this First
Supplemental Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals
to be hereunto affixed and attested, on the date or dates indicated in the
acknowledgments and as of the day and year first above written.



                                 HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.




                                 By
                                    -------------------------------------------


Attest:


  ---------------------------
  Secretary


                                 THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                                 as Trustee


 
 
                                 By
                                    -------------------------------------------

Attest:


- ---------------------
Secretary

                                      26
<PAGE>


 
STATE OF           )
COUNTY OF          ) ss.:

     On the day of        , 1995, before me personally came to be known, who,
being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he is the
         of [
              ], one of the corporations described in and which executed the
above instrument; that he knows the corporate seal of said corporation; that the
seal affixed to the said instrument is such corporation seal; that it was so
affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation, and that he
signed his name thereto by like authority.


                                                  
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                  NOTARY PUBLIC

     [seal]                                       Commission expires


     STATE OF         )
     COUNTY OF        ) SS.:

     On the      day of       , 1995, before me personally came          to be 
known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he is the 
of [            ], one of the corporations described in and which executed 
the above instrument; that he knows the corporate seal of said corporation; that
the seal affixed to the said instrument is such corporation seal; that it was so
affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said corporation, and that he
signed his name thereto by like authority.


                                                  
                                                  -----------------------------
                                                  NOTARY PUBLIC

     [seal]                                       Commission expires


                                      27

<PAGE>

                                                                    Exhibit 4(c)
 
     DECLARATION OF TRUST, dated as of May 16, 1995, between Household
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation, as Sponsor, and Edgar Ancona, B. B.
Moss, Jr., and Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation, not in
their individual capacities but solely as Trustees.  The Sponsor and the
Trustees hereby agree as follows:

     1.  The trust created hereby shall be known as "Household Capital Trust I",
in which name the Trustees, or the Sponsor to the extent provided herein, may
conduct the business of the Trust, make and execute contracts, and sue and be
sued.

     2.  The Sponsor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over to the
Trustees the sum of $10.  The Trustees hereby acknowledge receipt of such amount
in trust from the Sponsor, which amount shall constitute the initial trust
estate.  The Trustees hereby declare that they will hold the trust estate in
trust for the Sponsor.  It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust
created hereby constitute a business trust under Chapter 38 of title 12 of the
Delaware code, 12 Del. C. (S)3801 et seq. (the "Business Trust Act"), and that
this document constitute the governing instrument of the Trust.  The Trustees
are hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a certificate of trust
with the Delaware Secretary of State substantially in the form attached hereto
or in such other form as the Trustees may approve.

     3.  The Sponsor and the Trustees will enter into an amended and restated
Declaration of Trust, satisfactory to each such party and substantially in the
form included as Exhibit 4(d) to the 1933 Act Registration Statement referred to
below, or in such other form as the Trustees may approve, to provide for the
contemplated operation of the Trust created hereby and the issuance of the
Preferred Securities and Common Securities referred to therein.  Prior to the
execution and delivery of such amended and restated Declaration of Trust, the
Trustees shall not have any duty or obligation hereunder or with respect of the
trust estate, except as otherwise required by applicable law or as may be
necessary to obtain prior to such execution and delivery any licenses, consents
or approvals required by applicable law or otherwise.  However, notwithstanding
the foregoing, all Trustees may take all actions deemed proper as are necessary
to effect the transactions contemplated herein.

     4.  The Sponsor and the Trustees hereby authorize and direct the Sponsor,
as the sponsor of the Trust, (i) to file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") and execute, in each case on behalf of the Trust,
(a) the Registration Statement on Form S-3 (the "1933 Act Registration
Statement") including pre-effective or post-effective amendments to such
Registration Statement, relating to the registration under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended, of the Preferred Securities of the Trust and (b) a
Registration Statement on Form 8-A (the "1934
<PAGE>
 
Act Registration Statement") (including all pre-effective and post-effective
amendments thereto) relating to the registration of the Preferred Securities of
the Trust under Section 12(b) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended; (ii) to file with the New York Stock Exchange and execute on behalf of
the Trust a listing application and all other applications, statements,
certificates, agreements and other instruments as shall be necessary or
desirable to cause the Preferred Securities to be listed on the New York Stock
Exchange; and (iii) to file and execute on behalf of the Trust such
applications, reports, surety bonds, irrevocable consents, appointments of
attorney for service of process and other papers and documents as shall be
necessary or desirable to register the Preferred Securities under the securities
or "Blue Sky" laws of such jurisdictions as the Sponsor, on behalf of the Trust,
may deem necessary or desirable.  The Trustees further hereby ratify and approve
all actions having previously been taken with respect to the foregoing.  In the
event that any filing referred to in clauses (i)-(iii) above is required by the
rules and regulations of the Commission, the New York Stock Exchange or state
securities or blue sky laws, to be executed on behalf of the Trust by the
Trustees, Edgar Ancona and B.B. Moss, Jr., in their capacities as Trustees of
the Trust, are hereby authorized and directed to join in any such filing and to
execute on behalf of the Trust any and all of the foregoing, it being understood
that Wilmington Trust Company in its capacity as Trustee of the Trust, shall not
be required to join in any such filing or execute on behalf of the Trust any
such document unless required by the rules and regulations of the Commission,
the New York Stock Exchange or state securities or blue sky laws.  In connection
with all of the foregoing, the Sponsor and each Trustee (other than Wilmington
Trust Company), solely in its capacity as Trustee of the Trust, hereby
constitutes and appoints John W. Blenke and Patrick D. Schwartz, and each of
them, as his, her or its, as the case may be, true and lawful attorneys-in-fact,
and agents, with full power of substitution and resubstitution, for the Sponsor
or such Trustee or in the Sponsor's or such Trustee's name, place and stead, in
any and all capacities, to sign any and all amendments (including post-effective
amendments) to the 1933 Act Registration Statement and the 1934 Act Registration
Statement and to file the same, with all exhibits thereto, and 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 in connection therewith, as fully
to all intents and purposes as the Sponsor or such Trustee might or could do in
person, hereby ratifying and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and
agents or any of them, or their or his or her substitute or substitutes, shall
do or cause to be done by virtue hereof.

     5.  This Declaration of Trust may be executed in one or more counterparts.
<PAGE>
 
     6.  The number of Trustees initially shall be three (3) and thereafter the
number of Trustees shall be such number as shall be fixed from time to time by a
written instrument signed by the Sponsor which may increase or decrease the
number of Trustees; provided, however, that the number of Trustees shall in no
event be less than three (3); and provided, further that to the extent required
by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee shall either be a natural person who is a
resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an entity which
has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware.  Subject to the
foregoing, the Sponsor is entitled to appoint or remove without cause any
Trustee at any time.  The Trustees may resign upon thirty days prior notice to
the Sponsor.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Declaration of
Trust to be duly executed as of the day and year first above written.


                                       HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                                       as Sponsor


                                       By:    /s/  John W. Blenke
                                          ------------------------------------
                                            Name:  John W. Blenke
                                            Title: Secretary


                                       WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
                                       not in its individual capacity but solely
                                       as Trustee


                                       By:    /s/  Emmett R. Harmon
                                          -------------------------------------
                                            Name:  Emmett R. Harmon
                                            Title: Vice President

<PAGE>

 
                                         /s/  Edgar Ancona
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       Edgar Ancona
                                       not in his individual capacity but solely
                                       as Trustee



                                         /s/  B. B. Moss, Jr.
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                       not in his individual capacity but solely
                                       as Trustee


u:\law\pds\mips\trustdec.


<PAGE>
 
                                                                    Exhibit 4(d)



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



                             AMENDED AND RESTATED
                                  DECLARATION
                                   OF TRUST

                           HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I
                          Dated as of May      , 1995



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

<PAGE>
 
                        TABLE OF CONTENTS
                        -----------------
<TABLE>
<S>  <C>           <C>                                          <C>
DECLARATION OF TRUST...........................................  1

ARTICLE I      INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS..................  1

     SECTION 1.1   Definitions.................................  1

ARTICLE II     TRUST INDENTURE ACT.............................  7

     SECTION 2.1   Trust Indenture Act; Application............  7
     SECTION 2.2   Lists of Holders of Securities..............  8
     SECTION 2.3   Reports by the Property Trustee.............  8
     SECTION 2.4   Periodic Reports to Property Trustee........  8
     SECTION 2.5   Evidence of Compliance with Conditions 
                     Precedent.................................  9
     SECTION 2.6   Events of Default; Waiver...................  9
     SECTION 2.7   Event of Default; Notice.................... 10

ARTICLE III    ORGANIZATION.................................... 11

     SECTION 3.1   Name........................................ 11
     SECTION 3.2   Office...................................... 11
     SECTION 3.3   Purpose..................................... 11
     SECTION 3.4   Authority................................... 12
     SECTION 3.5   Title to Property of the Trust.............. 12
     SECTION 3.6   Powers and Duties of the Regular
                     Trustees.................................. 12
     SECTION 3.7   Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and
                     the Trustees.............................. 15
     SECTION 3.8   Powers and Duties of the Property
                     Trustee................................... 16
     SECTION 3.9   Certain Duties and Responsibilities of
                     the Property Trustee...................... 18
     SECTION 3.10  Certain Rights of Property Trustee.......... 20
     SECTION 3.11  Delaware Trustee............................ 22
     SECTION 3.12  Execution of Documents...................... 23
     SECTION 3.13  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance
                     of Securities............................. 23
     SECTION 3.14  Duration of Trust........................... 23
     SECTION 3.15  Mergers..................................... 23

 ARTICLE IV    SPONSOR......................................... 25

     SECTION 4.1   Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities..... 25
     SECTION 4.2   Responsibilities of the Sponsor............. 25

ARTICLE V      TRUSTEES........................................ 26

     SECTION 5.1   Number of Trustees.......................... 26
     SECTION 5.2   Delaware Trustee............................ 27
     SECTION 5.3   Property Trustee; Eligibility............... 27
 </TABLE>

<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>  <C>           <C>                                          <C>
     SECTION 5.4   Qualifications of Regular Trustees and
                     Delaware Trustee Generally................ 28
     SECTION 5.5   Initial Trustees............................ 28
     SECTION 5.6   Appointment, Removal and Resignation of
                     Trustees.................................. 28
     SECTION 5.7   Vacancies Among Trustees.................... 30
     SECTION 5.8   Effect of Vacancies......................... 31
     SECTION 5.9   Meetings.................................... 31
     SECTION 5.10  Delegation of Power......................... 31
 
ARTICLE VI     DISTRIBUTIONS................................... 32
 
     SECTION 6.1   Distributions............................... 32
 
ARTICLE VII    ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES.......................... 32
 
     SECTION 7.1   General Provisions Regarding
                     Securities................................ 32
 
ARTICLE VIII   TERMINATION OF TRUST............................ 33
 
     SECTION 8.1   Termination of Trust........................ 33
 
ARTICLE IX     TRANSFER OF INTERESTS........................... 34
 
     SECTION 9.1   Transfer of Securities...................... 34
     SECTION 9.2   Transfer of Certificates.................... 35
     SECTION 9.3   Deemed Security Holders..................... 35
     SECTION 9.4   Book Entry Interests........................ 36
     SECTION 9.5   Notices to Clearing Agency.................. 37
     SECTION 9.6   Appointment of Successor Clearing
                     Agency.................................... 37
     SECTION 9.7   Definitive Preferred Security
                     Certificates.............................. 37
     SECTION 9.8   Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
                     Certificates.............................. 38
 
ARTICLE X      LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF HOLDERS OF
                 SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS................ 38
 
     SECTION 10.1  Liability................................... 38
     SECTION 10.2  Exculpation................................. 39
     SECTION 10.3  Fiduciary Duty.............................. 39
     SECTION 10.4  Indemnification............................. 41
     SECTION 10.5  Outside Businesses.......................... 41
 
ARTICLE XI     ACCOUNTING...................................... 42
 
     SECTION 11.1  Fiscal Year................................. 42
     SECTION 11.2  Certain Accounting Matters.................. 42
     SECTION 11.3  Banking..................................... 43
     SECTION 11.4  Withholding................................. 43
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<S>  <C>           <C>                                          <C>
ARTICLE XII    AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS......................... 44

     SECTION 12.1  Amendments.................................. 44
     SECTION 12.2  Meetings of the Holders of Securities;
                     Action by Written Consent................. 45
 
ARTICLE XIII   REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE............. 47
 
     SECTION 13.1  Representations and Warranties of
                     Property Trustee.......................... 47

ARTICLE XIV    MISCELLANEOUS................................... 48
 
     SECTION 14.1  Notices..................................... 48
     SECTION 14.2  Governing Law............................... 49
     SECTION 14.3  Intention of the Parties.................... 49
     SECTION 14.4  Headings.................................... 50
     SECTION 14.5  Successors and Assigns...................... 50
     SECTION 14.6  Partial Enforceability...................... 50
     SECTION 14.7  Counterparts................................ 50
</TABLE>
<PAGE>
 
                            CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section of
Trust Indenture Act                                       Section of
of 1939, as amended                                       Declaration
- -------------------                     
<S>                                                       <C> 
310(a)...................................................    5.3(a)
310(b)...................................................    5.3(c)
310(c)...................................................    Inapplicable
311(a)...................................................    2.2(b)
311(b)...................................................    2.2(b)
311(c)...................................................    Inapplicable
312(a)...................................................    2.2(a)
312(b)...................................................    2.2(b)
313......................................................    2.3
314(a)...................................................    2.4
314(b)...................................................    Inapplicable
314(c)...................................................    2.5
314(d)...................................................    Inapplicable
314(f)...................................................    Inapplicable
315(a)...................................................    3.9(b)
315(b)...................................................    2.8
315(c)...................................................    3.9(a)
315(d)...................................................    3.9(a)
316(a)...................................................    Exhibit At 2.6
316(c)...................................................    3.6(e)
</TABLE> 

* This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Declaration and
shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.
<PAGE>
 
                             AMENDED AND RESTATED
                             DECLARATION OF TRUST
                                      OF
                           HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I
                                 MAY __, 1995

AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST ("Declaration") dated and effective as
of May  __, 1995 by the undersigned trustees (together with all other Persons
from time to time duly appointed and serving as trustees in accordance with the
provisions of this Declaration, the "Trustees"), Household International, Inc.,
a Delaware corporation, as trust sponsor (the "Sponsor"), and by the holders,
from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the Trust to be issued
pursuant to this Declaration;

WHEREAS, the Trustees and the Sponsor established a trust (the "Trust") under
the Delaware Business Trust Act pursuant to a Declaration of Trust, dated May
16, 1995 (the "Original Declaration") and a Certificate of Trust filed with the
Secretary of State of Delaware on May 16, 1995, for the sole purpose of issuing
and selling certain securities representing undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust and investing the proceeds thereof in certain Junior
Subordinated Debt Securities of the Sponsor;

NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to continue the
Trust as a statutory business trust under the Business Trust Act and that this
Declaration constitutes the governing instrument of such business trust, the
Trustees declare that all assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust
for the benefit of the holders, from time to time, of the securities
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust issued
hereunder, subject to the provisions of this Declaration.


                                   ARTICLE I

                         INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1    Definitions.
               ----------- 

     (a)  Capitalized terms used in this Declaration but not defined in the
          preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in this
          Section 1.1;

     (b)  a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has the same meaning
          throughout;

     (c)  all references to "the Declaration" or "this Declaration" are to this
          Declaration of Trust as modified, supplemented or amended from time to
          time;
 
                                       1
<PAGE>
 
     (d)  all references in this Declaration to Articles and Sections and
          Exhibits are to Articles and Sections of and Exhibits to this
          Declaration unless otherwise specified;

     (e)  a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
          used in this Declaration unless otherwise defined in this Declaration
          or unless the context otherwise requires; and

     (f)  a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.

"Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.

"Appointment Event" means an event defined in the terms of the Preferred
Securities as set forth in Exhibit A which entitles the Holders of a Majority in
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities to appoint a Special Regular
Trustee.

"Authorized Officer" of a Person means any Person that is authorized to bind
such Person.

"Book Entry Interest" means a beneficial interest in a Global Certificate,
ownership and transfers of  which shall be maintained and made through book
entries  by a Clearing Agency as described in Section 9.4.

"Business Day" means any day other than a day on which banking institutions in
New York, New York are authorized or required by law to close.

"Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del.
C. (S)(S) 3801 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time.

"Certificate" means a Common Security Certificate or a Preferred Security
Certificate.

"Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "Clearing Agency"
pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act that is acting as depository for the
Preferred Securities and in whose name or in the name of a nominee of that
organization, shall be registered a Global Certificate and which shall undertake
to effect book entry transfers and pledges of the Preferred Securities.

"Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank, other financial
institution or other Person for whom from time to time the Clearing Agency
effects book entry transfers and pledges of securities deposited with the
Clearing Agency.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
"Closing Date" means June ___, 1995.

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

"Commission" has the meaning specified in Section 3.6.

"Common Security" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1.

"Common Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement to be dated as of
June___, 1995 of the Sponsor in respect of the Common Securities.

"Common Security Certificate's means a definitive certificate in fully
registered form representing a Common Security substantially in the form of
Annex II to Exhibit A.

"Covered Person" means:  (a)  any officer, director, shareholder, partner,
member, representative, employee or agent of (i) the Trust; or (ii) the Trust's
Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of Securities.

"Debt Issuer" means Household International, Inc., a Delaware corporation.

"Debt Trustee" means The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking
association, as trustee under the Indenture until a successor is appointed
thereunder and thereafter means such successor trustee.

"Delaware Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.2.

"Definitive Preferred Security Certificates" has the meaning set forth in
Section 9.4.

"Direction" by a Person means a written direction signed (a) if the Person is a
natural person, by that Person; or (b) in any other case, in the name of such
Person by one or more Authorized Officers of that Person.

"Distribution" means a distribution payable to Holders of Securities in
accordance with Section 6.1.

"DTC" means the Depository Trust Company, the initial Clearing Agency.

"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time
to time or any successor legislation.

"Event of Default" in respect of the Securities means an Event of Default (as
defined in the Indenture) has occurred and is continuing in respect of the
Notes.

                                       3
<PAGE>
  
"Global Certificate" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.4.

"Holder" means a Person in whose name a Certificate representing a Security is
registered, such Person being a beneficial owner within the meaning of the
Business Trust Act.

"Indemnified Person" means any Trustee, any Affiliate of any Trustee, or any
officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives
or agents of any Trustee, or any employee or agent of the Trust or its
Affiliates.

"Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of May 15, 1995 among the Debt Issuer,
and The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking association, as
trustee and the indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the Notes are
to be issued.

"Investment Company" means an investment company as defined in the Investment
Company Act.

"Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
from time to time or any successor legislation.

"Legal Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(g).
 
"Ministerial Action" has the meaning set forth in the terms of the Securities as
set forth in Exhibit A.

"Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities" means, except as provided in
the terms of the Preferred Securities, Holder(s) of Securities voting together
as a single class or, as the context may require, Holder(s) of Preferred
Securities or Common Securities voting separately as a class, who vote
Securities of a relevant class and the aggregate liquidation amount (including
the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or maturity,
plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting
percentages are determined) of the Securities voted by such Holders represents
more than 50% of the above stated liquidation amount of all Securities of such
class.

"Notes" means the series of junior subordinated debt securities to be issued by
the Debt Issuer under the Indenture to the Property Trustee, a specimen
certificate for such series of Notes being Exhibit B.

"Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate signed
by two Authorized Officers of such Person. Any Officers' Certificate delivered
with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this
Declaration shall include:
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
     (a)  a statement that each officer signing the Certificate has read the
          covenant or condition and the definition relating thereto;

     (b)  a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
          investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Certificate;

     (c)  a statement that each such officer has made such examination or
          investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable
          such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such
          covenant or condition has been complied with; and

     (d)  a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such
          condition or covenant has been complied with.

"Paying Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 3.8(h).

"Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation, estate,
partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited liability
company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any agency or
political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.

"Preferred Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement to be dated as of
June ___, 1995 of the Sponsor in respect of the Preferred Securities.

"Preferred Security" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1.

"Preferred Security Beneficial Owner" means, with respect to a Book Entry
Interest, a Person who is the beneficial owner of such Book Entry Interest, as
reflected on the books of the Clearing Agency, or on the books of a Person
maintaining an account with such Clearing Agency (directly as a Clearing Agency
Participant or as an indirect participant, in each case in accordance with the
rules of such Clearing Agency).

"Preferred Security Certificate" means a certificate representing a Preferred
Security substantially in the form of Annex I to Exhibit A.

"Pricing Agreement" means the pricing agreement between the Trust, the Debt
Issuer, and the underwriters designated by the Regular Trustees with respect to
the offer and sale of the Preferred Securities.

"Property Trustee" means the Trustee meeting the eligibility requirements set
forth in Section 5.3.
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
  
"Property Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(c).

"Quorum" means a majority of the Regular Trustees or if there are only two
Regular Trustees, both of them.

"Regular Trustee" means any Trustee other than the Property Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee.

"Related Party" means, with respect to the Sponsor, any direct or indirect
wholly owned subsidiary of the Sponsor or any other Person which owns, directly
or indirectly, 100% of the outstanding voting securities of the Sponsor.

"Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Property Trustee, the chairman
of the board of directors, the president, any vice-president, any assistant
vice-president, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any
assistant treasurer, any trust officer or assistant trust officer or any other
officer of the Property Trustee customarily performing functions similar to
those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with
respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other officer to whom such
matter; is referred because of that officer's knowledge of and familiarity with
the particular subject.

"Rule 3a-7" means Rule 3a-7 under the Investment Company Act.

"Securities" means the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities.

"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
 
"Securities Guarantees" means the Common Securities Guarantee and the Preferred
Security Guarantee.

"66-2/3% in liquidation amount of the Securities" means, except as provided in
the terms of the Preferred Securities, Holder(s) of Securities voting together
as a single class or, as the context may require,  Holder(s) of Preferred
Securities or Common Securities, voting separately as a class, who vote
Securities of a relevant class and the aggregate liquidation amount (including
the stated amount that would be paid on redemption, liquidation or maturity,
plus accrued and unpaid Distributions, to the date upon which the voting
percentages are determined) of the Securities voted by such  Holders represents
66-2/3% of the above-stated liquidation amount of all Securities of such class.

"Special Event" has the meaning set forth in  the terms of the Securities.

"Special Regular Trustee" means a Regular Trustee appointed by the Holders of a
Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities in accordance  with
Section 5.6(a)(ii)(B).
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
"Sponsor" means Household International, Inc., a Delaware corporation or any
successor entity in a merger, in its capacity as sponsor of the Trust.

"Successor Entity" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(b).

"Successor Property Trustee" means a successor Trustee possessing the
qualifications to act as Property Trustee under Section 5.3(a).

"Successor Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.15(b).

"Super Majority" means where consent under the Indenture would require the
consent of greater than a majority of the holders in principal amount of Notes
affected thereby.

"10% in liquidation amount of the Securities" means, except as provided in the
terms of the Preferred Securities, Holder(s) of Securities voting together as a
single class or, as the context may require, Holder(s) of Preferred Securities
or Common Securities, voting separately as a class, who vote Securities of a
relevant class and the liquidation amount (including the stated amount that
would be paid on redemption, liquidation or maturity, plus accrued and unpaid
Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of
the Securities voted by such Holders represents 10% of the above stated
liquidation amount of all Securities of such class.

"Treasury Regulations" means income tax  regulations including temporary and
proposed regulations, promulgated under the Code by the United States Treasury,
as such regulations may be amended from time to time (including corresponding
provisions of succeeding regulations).

"Trustee" or "Trustees" means each Person who has signed this Declaration as a
trustee, so long as such Person shall continue in office in accordance with the
terms hereof, and all other Persons who may from time to time be duly appointed,
qualified and serving as Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and
references herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such  Person or
Persons solely in their capacity as trustees hereunder.

"Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.

"Underwriting Agreement" means the Underwriting Agreement for the offering and
sale of Preferred Securities in the form of Exhibit C.
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
  
                                  ARTICLE II
                              TRUST INDENTURE ACT

SECTION 2.1   Trust Indenture Act; Application.
              -------------------------------- 
 
     (a)  This Declaration is subject to the provisions of the Trust Indenture
          Act that are required to be part of this Declaration and shall, to the
          extent applicable, be governed by such provisions;

     (b)  the Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee which is a trustee for
          the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act;

     (c)  if and to the extent that any provision of this Declaration limits,
          qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by (S)(S) 310 to 317,
          inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall
          control; and

     (d)  the application of the Trust Indenture Act to this Declaration shall
          not affect the nature of the Securities as equity securities
          representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
          Trust.

SECTION 2.2    Lists of Holders of Securities.
               ------------------------------ 

     (a)  Each of the Sponsor, the Debt Issuer and the Regular Trustees on
          behalf of the Trust shall provide the Property Trustee (i) within 14
          days after each record date for payment of Distributions a list, in
          such form as the Property Trustee may reasonably require, of the names
          and addresses of the Holders of the Securities ("List of Holders") as
          of such record date, provided that none of the Sponsor, the Debt
          Issuer or the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall be
          obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time the List of
          Holders does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given to
          the Property Trustee by the Sponsor, the Debt Issuer and the Regular
          Trustees on behalf of the Trust, and (ii) at any other time, within 30
          days of receipt by the Trust of a written request for a List of
          Holders as of a date no more than 14 days before such List of Holders
          is given to the Property Trustee. The Property Trustee shall preserve,
          in as current a form as is reasonably practicable, all information
          contained in Lists of Holders given to it or which it receives in its
          capacity as Paying Agent (if acting in such capacity) provided that
          the Property Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given
          to it on receipt of a new List of Holders; and (b) the Property
          Trustee shall comply with its obligations under (S)(S) 311(a), 311(b)
          and (S) 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 2.3    Reports by the Property Trustee.
               ------------------------------- 
 
Within 60 days after May 15 of each year, the Property Trustee shall provide to
the Holders of the Preferred Securities such reports as are required by (S) 313
of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided by
(S) 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Property Trustee shall also comply with
the requirements of (S) 313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.4    Periodic Reports to Property Trustee.
               ------------------------------------ 

Each of the Sponsor, the Debt Issuer and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the
Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and
information as required by (S) 314 (if any) and the compliance certificate
required by (S) 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at
the times required by (S)314 of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.5    Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.
               ------------------------------------------------ 

Each of the Sponsor, the Debt Issuer and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the
Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Declaration which relate to
any of the matters set forth in (S) 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any
certificate or opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to (S)
314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.

SECTION 2.6    Events of Default; Waiver.
               ------------------------- 

     (a)  The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred
          Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the
          Preferred Securities, waive any past Event of Default in respect of
          the Preferred Securities and its consequences provided that if the
          Event of Default arises out of an Event of Default under the
          Indenture:

          (i)  which is not waivable under the Indenture, the Event of Default
               under the Declaration shall also not be waivable; or

          (ii) which requires the consent or vote of all or a Super Majority of
               the holders of the Notes to be waived under the Indenture, the
               Event of Default under the Declaration may only be waived by the
               vote of all of the Holders of the Preferred Securities or such
               proportion thereof in liquidation amount as represents the
               relevant Super Majority of the aggregate principal amount of
               Notes outstanding.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
          Upon such waiver, any such default shall cease to exist, and any Event
          of Default with respect to the Preferred Securities arising therefrom
          shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this
          Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or
          other default or Event of Default with respect to the Preferred
          Securities or impair any right consequent thereon. Any waiver by the
          Holders of the Preferred Securities of an Event of Default with
          respect to the Preferred Securities shall also be deemed to constitute
          a waiver by the Holders of the Common Securities of any such Event of
          Default with respect to the Common Securities.

     (b)  The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common
          Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Common
          Securities, waive any past Event of Default with respect to the Common
          Securities and its consequences, provided that, if the Event of
          Default arises out of an Event of Default under the Indenture:

          (i)  which is not waivable under the Indenture, except where the
               Holders of the Common Securities are deemed to have waived such
               Event of Default under the Declaration as provided below, the
               Event of Default under the Declaration is not waivable; or

          (ii) which requires the consent or vote of all or a Super Majority of
               the holders of the Notes to be waived under the Indenture, the
               Event of Default under the Declaration may only be waived by the
               vote of all of the Holders of the Preferred Securities or such
               proportion thereof in liquidation amount as represents the
               relevant Super Majority of the aggregate principal amount of the
               Notes outstanding,

          provided that, each Holder of Common Securities will be deemed to have
          waived any such Event of Default and all Events of Default with
          respect to the Common Securities until all Events of Default with
          respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured, waived or
          otherwise eliminated and until such Events of Default have been so
          cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee will be
          deemed to be acting solely on behalf of the Holders of the Preferred
          Securities and only the Holders of the Preferred Securities will have
          the right to direct the Property Trustee in accordance with the terms
          of the Securities. Subject to the foregoing proviso, upon such waiver,
          any such default shall cease to exist and any Event of Default with
          respect to the Common Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to
          have been cured, for every purpose of this Declaration,
 
                                      10
<PAGE>
 
          but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or
          Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities or impair any
          right consequent thereon.

     (c)  A waiver of an event of default under the Indenture by the Property
          Trustee at the direction of the Holders of the Preferred Securities,
          constitutes a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default under this
          Declaration.

SECTION 2.7    Event of Default; Notice
               ------------------------

     (a)  The Property Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of an
          Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, to
          the Holders of the Securities, notices of all defaults with respect to
          the Securities known to the Property Trustee, unless such defaults
          have been cured before the giving of such notice (the term "defaults"
          for the purposes of this Section 2.7(a) being hereby defined to be an
          Event of Default as defined in the Indenture, not including any
          periods of grace provided for therein and irrespective of the giving
          of any notice provided therein); provided, that, except for a default
          in the payment of principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any
          of the Notes or in the payment of any sinking fund installment
          established for the Notes, the Property 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 and/or
          Responsible Officers, of the Property Trustee in good faith determine
          that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders
          of the Securities.

     (b)  The Property Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge of any
          default except:

          (i)  a default under Sections 6.01(a)(1) and 6.01(a)(2) of the
               Indenture; or

          (ii) any default as to which the Property Trustee shall have received
               written notice or a Responsible Officer charged with the
               administration of the Declaration shall have obtained written
               notice of.
 
                                      11
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE III

                                 ORGANIZATION

SECTION 3.1    Name.
               ---- 

The Trust created hereby shall be known as "Household Capital Trust I", as such
name may be modified from time to time by the Regular Trustees following written
notice to the Holders of Securities. The Trust's activities may be conducted
under the name of the Trust or any other name deemed advisable by the Regular
Trustees.

SECTION 3.2    Office.
               ------ 

The address of the principal office of the Trust is c/o Household International,
Inc., 2700 Sanders Road, Prospect Heights, Illinois  60070. On ten Business Days
written notice to the Holders of Securities, the Regular Trustees may designate
another principal office.

SECTION 3.3    Purpose.
               ------- 

The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a) to issue and sell
Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to acquire the Notes, and (b)
except as otherwise limited herein, to enter into such agreements and engage in
only those other activities necessary, or incidental thereto. The Trust shall
not borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from investments,
pledge any of its assets, or otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken)
any activity that would cause the Trust to be classified for United States
federal income tax purposes as other than grantor trust.

SECTION 3.4    Authority.
               --------- 

Subject to the limitations provided in this Declaration and to the specific
duties of the Property Trustee, the Regular Trustees shall have exclusive and
complete authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust. An action taken by
the Regular Trustees in accordance with their powers shall constitute the act of
and serve to bind the Trust and an action taken by the Property Trustee in
accordance with its powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the
Trust. In dealing with the Trustees acting on behalf of the Trust, no person
shall be required to inquire into the authority of the Trustees to bind the
Trust. Persons dealing with the Trust are entitled to rely conclusively on the
power and authority of the Trustees as set forth in this Declaration.

                                      12
<PAGE>
  
SECTION 3.5    Title to Property of the Trust.
               ------------------------------ 

Except as provided in Section 3.8 with respect to the Notes and the Property
Account or as otherwise provided in this Declaration, legal title to all assets
of the Trust shall be vested in the Trust. The Holders shall not have legal
title of any part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an undivided
beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust.

SECTION 3.6    Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees.
               ----------------------------------------- 

The Regular Trustees shall have the exclusive power and authority and duty to
cause the Trust to engage in the following activities:

     (a)  to issue and sell the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities
          in accordance with this Declaration; provided, however, that the Trust
          may issue no more than one series of Preferred Securities and no more
          than one series of Common Securities, and, provided further, there
          shall be no interests in the Trust other than the Securities and the
          issuance of Securities shall be limited to a one time, simultaneous
          issuance of both Preferred Securities and Common Securities on the
          Closing Date;

     (b)  in connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, at
          the direction of the Sponsor, to:
 
          (i)  execute and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
               "Commission") the registration statement on Form S-3 prepared by
               the Sponsor in relation to the Preferred Securities, including
               any amendments thereto prepared by the Sponsor;

          (ii) execute and file any documents prepared by the Sponsor, or take
               any acts as determined by the Sponsor as necessary in order to
               qualify or register all or part of the Preferred Securities in
               any State in which the Sponsor has determined to qualify or
               register such Preferred Securities for sale;

         (iii) execute and file an application prepared by the Sponsor to the
               New York Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange or
               the NASDAQ National Market for listing upon notice of issuance of
               any Preferred Securities;

          (iv) execute and file with the Commission a registration statement on
               Form 8-A prepared by the Sponsor relating to the registration of
               the Preferred

                                      13
<PAGE>
 
          Securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any
          amendments thereto prepared by the Sponsor; and

          (v)  execute and enter into the Underwriting Agreement and Pricing
               Agreement providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities;

     (c)  to acquire the Notes with the proceeds of the sale of the Preferred
          Securities and the Common Securities; provided, however, that the
          Regular Trustees shall cause legal title to the Notes to be held of
          record in the name of the Property Trustee for the benefit of the
          Holders of the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities;

     (d)  to give the Debt Issuer, the Sponsor and the Property Trustee prompt
          written notice of the occurrence of a Special Event provided, that the
          Regular Trustees shall consult with the Debt Issuer, the Sponsor and
          the Property Trustee before taking or refraining from taking any
          Ministerial Action in relation to a Special Event;

     (e)  to establish a record date with respect to all actions to be taken
          hereunder that require a record date be established, including for the
          purposes of (S)316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act and with respect to
          Distributions, voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue
          relevant notices to the Holders of Preferred Securities and Common
          Securities as to such actions and applicable record dates;

     (f)  to take all actions and perform such duties as may be required of the
          Regular Trustees pursuant to the terms of the Securities;

     (g)  to bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise, arbitrate, resort to
          legal action, or otherwise adjust claims or demands of or against the
          Trust ("Legal Action"), unless pursuant to 3.8(e), the Property
          Trustee has the exclusive power to bring such Legal Action;

     (h)  to employ or otherwise engage employees and agents (who may be
          designated as officers with titles) and managers, contractors,
          advisors, and consultants and pay reasonable compensation for such
          services;

     (i)  to cause the Trust to comply with the Trust's obligations under the
          Trust Indenture Act;

     (j)  to give the certificate to the Property Trustee required by
          (S)314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act which certificate may be
          executed by any Regular Trustee;

                                      14
<PAGE>
 
     (k)  incur expenses which are necessary or incidental to carry out any of
          the purposes of the Trust;

     (l)  to act as, or appoint another Person to act as, registrar and transfer
          agent for the Securities;

     (m)  to give prompt written notice to the Holders of the Securities of any
          notice received from the Debt Issuer of its election (i) to defer
          payments of interest on the Notes by extending the interest payment
          period under the Indenture or,(ii) to extend the scheduled maturity
          date on the Notes;

     (n)  to execute all documents or instruments, perform all duties and
          powers, and do all things for and on behalf of the Trust in all
          matters necessary or incidental to the foregoing;

     (o)  to take all action which may be necessary or appropriate for the
          preservation and the continuation of the Trust's valid existence,
          rights, franchises and privileges as a statutory business trust under
          the laws of the State of Delaware and of each other jurisdiction in
          which such existence is necessary to protect the limited liability of
          the Holders of the Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the
          purposes for which the Trust was created;

     (p)  to take any action, not inconsistent with this Declaration or with
          applicable law, which the Regular Trustees determine in their
          discretion to be necessary or desirable in carrying out the activities
          of the Trust as set out in this Section 3.6 including, but not limited
          to:

          (i)  causing the Trust not to be deemed to be an Investment Company
               required to be registered under the Investment Company Act;

          (ii) causing the Trust to be characterized for United States federal
               income tax purposes as other than a grantor trust; and

         (iii) cooperating with the Debt Issuer to ensure that the Notes will be
               treated as indebtedness of the Debt Issuer for United States
               federal income tax purposes, provided that such action does not
               adversely affect the interests of Holders; and

     (q)  to take all action necessary to cause all applicable tax returns and
          tax information reports that are required to

                                      15
<PAGE>
 
          be filed with respect to the Trust to be duly prepared and filed by
          the Regular Trustees, on behalf of the Trust.

The Regular Trustees must exercise the powers set forth in this Section 3.6 in a
manner which is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out
in Section 3.3 and the Regular Trustees shall not take any action which is
inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set forth in Section
3.3. Subject to this Section 3.6, the Regular Trustees shall have none of the
powers or the authority of the Property Trustee set forth in Section 3.8.

SECTION 3.7 Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees.
            ---------------------------------------------------- 

     (a)  The Trust shall not, and the Trustees (including the Property Trustee)
          shall cause the Trust not to, engage in any activity other than as
          required or authorized by this Declaration. In particular, the Trust
          shall not and the Trustees (including the Property Trustee) shall not:

          (i)  invest any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the Notes
               but shall distribute all such proceeds to Holders of Securities
               pursuant to the terms of this Declaration and of the Securities;

          (ii) acquire any assets other than as expressly provided herein;

         (iii) possess Trust property for other than a Trust purpose;

          (iv) make any loans or incur any indebtedness other than loans
               represented by the Notes;

          (v)  possess any power or otherwise act in such a way as to vary the
               Trust assets or the terms of the Securities in any way
               whatsoever;

          (vi) issue any securities or other evidences of beneficial ownership
               of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust other than the
               Securities; or

         (vii) (A)  direct the time, method and place of exercising any trust or
               power conferred upon the Debt Trustee with respect to the Notes,
               (B) waive any past default that is waivable under Section 5.13 of
               the Indenture, (C) exercise any right to rescind or anul any
               declaration that the principal of all the Notes shall be due and
               payable or (D) consent to any amendment, modification or
               termination of the Indenture or the Notes, where

                                      16
<PAGE>
 
               such consent shall be required, unless the Trust shall have
               received an opinion of counsel to the effect that such
               modification will not cause more than an insubstantial risk that
               for United States federal income tax purposes the Trust will be
               characterized as other than a grantor trust.

SECTION 3.8    Powers and Duties of the Property Trustee.
               ----------------------------------------- 

     (a)  The legal title to the Notes shall be owned by and held of record in
          the name of the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the
          Holders of the Securities. The right, title and interest of the
          Property Trustee to the Notes shall vest automatically in each Person
          who may hereafter be appointed as Property Trustee as set forth in
          Section 5.6. Such vesting and cessation of title shall be effective
          whether or not conveyancing documents have been executed and
          delivered.

     (b)  The Property Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and interest
          in the Notes to the Regular Trustees or to the Delaware Trustee (if
          the Property Trustee does not also act as Delaware Trustee).

     (c)  The Property Trustee shall:

          (i)  establish and maintain a segregated non-interest bearing bank
               account (the "Property Account") in the name of and under the
               exclusive control of the Property Trustee on behalf of the
               Holders of the Securities and, upon the receipt of payments of
               funds made in respect of the Notes held by the Property Trustee,
               deposit such funds into the Property Account and make payments to
               the Holders of the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities
               from the Property Account in accordance with Section 6.1. Funds
               in the Property Account shall be held uninvested until disbursed
               in accordance with this Declaration. The Property Account shall
               be an account which is maintained with a banking institution the
               rating on whose long term unsecured indebtedness is at least
               equal to the rating assigned to the Preferred Securities by a
               "nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as that
               term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the
               Securities Act;

          (ii) engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or
               appropriate to effect the redemption of the Preferred Securities
               and the Common Securities to the extent the Notes are redeemed or
               mature; and

                                      17
<PAGE>
 
        (iii)  upon notice of distribution issued by the Regular Trustees in
               accordance with the terms of the Preferred Securities and the
               Common Securities, engage in such ministerial activities as shall
               be necessary or appropriate to effect the distribution of the
               Notes to Holders of Securities upon the occurrence of certain
               special events (as may be defined in the terms of the Securities)
               arising from a change in law or a change in legal interpretation
               or other specified circumstances pursuant to the terms of the
               Securities;

     (d)  the Property Trustee shall take all actions and perform such duties as
          may be specifically required of the Property Trustee pursuant to the
          terms of the Securities;

     (e)  the Property Trustee shall take any Legal Action which arises out of
          or in connection with an Event of Default or the Property Trustee's
          duties and obligations under this Declaration or the Trust Indenture
          Act;

     (f)  the Property Trustee shall not resign as a Trustee unless either:

          (i)  the Trust has been completely liquidated and the proceeds of the
               liquidation distributed to the Holders of Securities pursuant to
               the terms of the Securities; or

          (ii) a Successor Property Trustee has been appointed and accepted that
               appointment in accordance with Section 5.6;

     (g)  the Property Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all of the
          rights, powers and privileges of a holder of Notes under the Indenture
          and, if an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Property
          Trustee shall, for the benefit of Holders of the Securities, enforce
          its rights as holder of the Notes subject to the rights of the Holders
          pursuant to the terms of such Securities;

     (h)  the Property Trustee may authorize one or more Persons (each, a
          "Paying Agent") to pay Distributions, redemption payments or
          liquidation payments on behalf of the Trust with respect to the
          Preferred Securities and any such Paying Agent shall comply with (S)
          317(b) of the Trust Indenture Act. Any Paying Agent may be removed by
          the Property Trustee at any time and a successor Paying Agent or
          additional Paying Agents may be appointed at any time by the Property
          Trustee; and

                                      18
<PAGE>
 
     (i)  subject to this Section 3.8, the Property Trustee shall have none of
          the powers or the authority of the Regular Trustees set forth in
          Section 3.6.

The Property Trustee must exercise the powers set forth in this Section 3.8 in a
manner which is consistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set
forth in Section 3.3 and the Property Trustee shall not take any action which is
inconsistent with the purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section
3.3.

SECTION 3.9    Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the Property Trustee
               -----------------------------------------------------------

     (a)  The Property Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of Default
          and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred,
          shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set
          forth in this Declaration and in the terms of the Securities, and no
          implied covenants shall be read into this Declaration against the
          Property Trustee. In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has
          not been cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6), the Property
          Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by
          this Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in their
          exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the
          circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs;

     (b)  no provision of this Declaration shall be construed to relieve the
          Property Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own
          negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

          (i)  prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the
               curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have
               occurred:

               (A)  the duties and obligations of the Property Trustee shall be
                    determined solely by the express provisions of this
                    Declaration and in the terms of the Securities, and the
                    Property Trustee shall not be liable except for the
                    performance of such duties and obligations as are
                    specifically set forth in this Declaration, and no implied
                    covenants or obligations shall be read into this Declaration
                    against the Property Trustee; and

               (B)  in the absence of bad faith on the  part of the Property
                    Trustee, the Property Trustee may conclusively rely, as to
                    the truth of the statements and the correctness of the
                    opinions

                                      19
<PAGE>
 
                    expressed therein, upon any certificates or opinions
                    furnished to the Property Trustee and conforming to the
                    requirements of this Declaration; but in the case of any
                    such certificates or opinions that by any provision hereof
                    are specifically required to be furnished to the Property
                    Trustee, the Property Trustee shall be under a duty to
                    examine the same to determine whether or not they conform to
                    the requirements of this Declaration;

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

         (iii) the Property 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 of not less than a
               Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities at the time
               outstanding relating to the time, method and place of conducting
               any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee,
               or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property
               Trustee under this Declaration; and

          (iv) no provision of this Declaration shall require the Property
               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 it
               shall have reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of
               such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the
               terms of this Declaration or adequate indemnity against such risk
               or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

SECTION 3.10   Certain Rights of Property Trustee.
               ----------------------------------- 

     (a)  Subject to the provisions of Section 3.9:

          (i)  the Property Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in
               acting or refraining from acting upon any resolution,
               certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice,
               request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other
               evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document

                                      20
<PAGE>
 
               believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed, sent or
               presented by the proper party or parties;

          (ii) any direction or act of the Sponsor or the Regular Trustees
               contemplated by this Declaration shall be sufficiently evidenced
               by a Direction or an Officers' Certificate;

         (iii) whenever in the administration of this Declaration, the Property
               Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be proved or
               established before taking, suffering or omitting any action
               hereunder, the Property Trustee (unless other evidence is herein
               specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its
               part and, if the Trust is excluded from the definition of an
               Investment Company solely by means of Rule 3a-7, subject to the
               requirements of Rule 3a-7, request and rely upon an Officers'
               Certificate which, upon receipt of such request, shall be
               promptly delivered by the Sponsor or the Regular Trustees;

          (iv) the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any recording,
               filing or registration of any instrument (or  any rerecording,
               refiling or registration thereof);

          (v)  the Property Trustee may consult with counsel and the written
               advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal matters
               shall be full and complete authorization and protection in
               respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder
               in good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion. Such
               counsel may be counsel to the Sponsor or any of its Affiliates,
               and may include any of its employees. The Property Trustee shall
               have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
               administration of this Declaration from any court of competent
               jurisdiction;

          (vi) the Property Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any
               of the rights or powers vested in it by this Declaration at the
               request or direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have
               provided to the Property Trustee adequate security and indemnity
               which would satisfy a reasonable person in the position of the
               Property Trustee, against the costs, expenses(including
               attorneys' fees and expenses) and liabilities that might be
               incurred by it in complying with such request or direction,
               including such reasonable advances as

                                      21
<PAGE>
 
               may be requested by the Property Trustee provided, that, nothing
               contained in this Section 3.10 (a) (vi) shall be taken to relieve
               the Property Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default,
               of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it
               by this Declaration;

         (vii) the Property Trustee shall not be bound to make any investigation
               into the facts or matters stated in any resolution, certificate,
               statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
               direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence
               of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the Property
               Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further inquiry or
               investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit;

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

          (ix) any action taken by the Property Trustee or its agents hereunder
               shall bind the Trust and the Holders of the Securities and the
               signature of the Property Trustee or its agents alone shall be
               sufficient and effective to perform any such action; and no third
               party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the
               Property Trustee to so act, or as to its compliance with any of
               the terms and provisions of this Declaration, both of which shall
               be conclusively evidenced by the Property Trustee's or its
               agent's taking such action;

          (x)  whenever in the administration of this Declaration the Property
               Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive instructions with
               respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking any other
               action hereunder the Property Trustee (i) may request
               instructions from the Holders of the Securities, (ii) may refrain
               from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other action
               until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be
               protected in acting in accordance with such instructions; and

                                      22
<PAGE>
 
          (xi) except as otherwise expressly provided by this Declaration, the
               Property Trustee shall not be under any obligation to take any
               action that is discretionary under the provisions of this
               Declaration except upon the Direction of the Sponsor or the
               Regular Trustees as the case may be.

     (b) No provision of this Declaration shall be deemed to impose any duty or
obligation on the Property Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any
right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction
in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Property Trustee shall be
unqualified or incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any
such act or acts or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation. No
permissive power or authority available to the Property Trustee shall be
construed to be a duty.

SECTION 3.11   Delaware Trustee
               ----------------

     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration other than Section
5.2, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to exercise any powers, nor
shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the duties and responsibilities of the
Regular Trustees and the Property Trustee described in this Declaration. Except
as set forth in Section 5.2, the Delaware Trustee shall be a Trustee for the
sole and limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of (S) 3807 of the
Business Trust Act.

SECTION 3.12   Execution of Documents
               ----------------------

Unless otherwise determined by the Regular Trustees and except as otherwise
required by the Business Trust Act, a majority of, or if there are only two,
both of the Regular Trustees are authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust
any documents which the Regular Trustees have the power and authority to execute
pursuant to Section 3.6, provided that any listing application prepared by the
Sponsor referred to in Section 3.6(b)(iii) may be executed by any Regular
Trustee.

SECTION 3.13   Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.
               -------------------------------------------------------

The recitals contained in this Declaration and the Securities shall be taken as
the statements of the Sponsor and the Trustees do not assume any responsibility
for their correctness. The Trustees make no representations as to the value or
condition of the property of the Trust or any part thereof. The Trustees make no
representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Declaration or the
Securities.

                                      23
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 3.14   Duration of Trust.
               ----------------- 

The Trust, unless terminated pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII hereof,
shall have existence for 55 years from the Closing Date.

SECTION 3.15   Mergers.
               ------- 

     (a)  The Trust may not consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be
          replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
          substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other body, except
          as described in Section 3.15 (b) and (c).

     (b)  The Trust may, with the consent of a majority of the Regular Trustees
          and without the consent of the Holders of the Securities, consolidate,
          amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by a trust organized as
          such under the laws of any state; provided, that:

          (i)  such successor entity (the "Successor Entity") either:

               (A)  expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust under
                    the Preferred Securities; or

               (B)  substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities
                    having substantially the same terms as the Preferred
                    Securities (the "Successor Securities") so long as the
                    Successor Securities rank the same as the Preferred
                    Securities rank with respect to priority of Distributions
                    and payments upon liquidation, redemption and maturity;

          (ii) the Debt Issuer expressly acknowledges a trustee of the Successor
               Entity which possesses the same powers and duties as the Property
               Trustee as the Holder of the Notes;

         (iii) the Preferred Securities or any Successor Securities are listed,
               or any Successor Securities will be listed upon notification of
               issuance, on any national securities exchange or other
               organization on which the Preferred Securities are then listed;

          (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not
               cause the Preferred Securities (including any Successor
               Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally recognized
               statistical rating organization;

                                      24
<PAGE>
 
          (v)  such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does not
               adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the
               Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor
               Securities) in any material respect (other than with respect to
               any dilution of the Holders' interest in the new entity);

          (vi) such successor entity has a purpose identical to that of the
               Trust;

         (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement,
               the Sponsor has received an opinion of a nationally recognized
               independent counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters to
               the effect that:

               (A)  such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or replacement does
                    not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges
                    of the Holders of the Preferred Securities (including any
                    Successor Securities) in any material respect (other than
                    with respect to any dilution of the Holders' interest in the
                    new entity); and

               (B)  following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation or
                    replacement, neither the Trust nor the Successor Entity will
                    be required to register as an Investment Company; and

        (viii) the Sponsor guarantees the obligations of such Successor Entity
               under the Successor Securities at least to the extent provided by
               the Preferred Securities Guarantee; and

     (c)  notwithstanding Section 3.15(b), the Trust shall not consolidate,
          amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by any other entity or
          permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or
          into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger or
          replacement would cause the Trust or Successor Entity for United
          States federal income tax purposes to be classified as other than a
          grantor trust, except with the consent of Holders of 100% in
          liquidation amount of the Securities.

                                      25
<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE IV

                                    SPONSOR

SECTION 4.1    Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities.
               --------------------------------------- 

On the Closing Date the Sponsor will purchase all the Common Securities issued
by the Trust, at the same time as the Preferred Securities are sold, in an
amount equal to 3% of the capital of the Trust.

SECTION 4.2    Responsibilities of the Sponsor.
               ------------------------------- 

In connection with the issue and sale of the Preferred Securities, the Sponsor
shall have the exclusive right and responsibility to engage in the following
activities:

     (a)  to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a registration
          statement on Form S-3 in relation to the Preferred Securities,
          including any amendments thereto;

     (b)  to determine the states in which to take appropriate action to qualify
          or register for sale all or part of the Preferred Securities and to
          take any and all such acts, other than actions which must be taken by
          the Trust, and advise the Trust of actions it must take, and prepare
          for execution and filing any documents to be executed and filed by the
          Trust, as the Sponsor deems necessary or advisable in order to comply
          with the applicable laws of any such states;

     (c)  to prepare for filing by the Trust an application to the New York
          Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq
          National Market for listing upon notice of issuance of any Preferred
          Securities;

     (d)  to prepare for filing by the Trust with the Commission a registration
          statement on Form 8-A relating to the registration of the Preferred
          Securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any
          amendments thereto; and

     (e)  to negotiate the terms of the Underwriting Agreement and Pricing
          Agreement providing for the sale of the Preferred Securities.

                                      26
<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE V

                                   TRUSTEES

SECTION 5.1    Number of Trustees.
               ------------------ 

     The number of Trustees shall initially be three (3), and:

     (a)  at any time before the issuance of any Securities, the Sponsor may, by
          written instrument, increase the number of Trustees; and

     (b)  after the issuance of any Securities:

          (i)  and except as provided in Section 5.1 (b)(ii)and 5.6 (a) (ii) (B)
               with respect to the Special Regular Trustee, the number of
               Trustees may be increased or decreased by vote of the Holders of
               a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting
               as a class at a meeting of the Holders of the Common Securities;
               and

          (ii) the number of Trustees shall be increased automatically by one
               (1) if an Appointment Event has occurred and is continuing and
               the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred
               Securities appoint a Special Regular Trustee in accordance with
               Section 5.6,

provided that in any case, the number of Trustees shall be at least three (3) so
long as the Trustee that acts as the Property Trustee also acts as the Delaware
Trustee pursuant to Section 5.2.  In the event the Property Trustee is not also
acting as the Delaware Trustee, the number of Trustees shall be at least five
(5).

SECTION 5.2    Delaware Trustee.
               ---------------- 

If required by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee")
shall be:

     (a)  a natural person who is a resident of the State of Delaware; or

     (b)  if not a natural person, an entity which has its principal place of
          business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the requirements
          of applicable law,

     provided that if the Property Trustee has its principal place of business
     in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the

                                      27
<PAGE>
 
     requirements of applicable law, then the Property Trustee shall also be the
     Delaware Trustee and Section 3.11 shall have no application.

SECTION 5.3    Property Trustee; Eligibility.
               ----------------------------- 

     (a)  There shall at all times be one Trustee (which may be the Delaware
          Trustee) which shall act as Property Trustee which shall:

          (i)  not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor;

          (ii) be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of
               the United States of America or any state or territory thereof or
               of the District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted
               by the Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the
               Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise
               corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of
               at least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to
               supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or
               District of Columbia authority.  If such corporation publishes
               reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
               requirements of the supervising or examining authority referred
               to above, then for the purposes of this Section 5.3 (a) (ii), the
               combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed
               to be its combined capital and surplus asset forth in its most
               recent report of condition so published; and

        (iii)  if the Trust is excluded from the definition of an Investment
               Company solely by means of Rule 3a-7 and to the extent Rule 3a-7
               requires a trustee having certain qualifications to hold title to
               the "eligible assets" of the Trust, the Property Trustee shall
               possess those qualifications.

     (b)  If at any time the Property Trustee shall cease to be eligible to so
          act under Section 5.3(a), the Property Trustee shall immediately
          resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 5.6(c).

     (c)  If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
          interest" within the meaning of (S) 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act,
          the Property Trustee and the Holder of the Common Securities (as if it
          were the obligor referred to in (S) 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act)
          shall in all respects comply with the provisions of (S) 310(b) of the
          Trust Indenture Act.

                                      28
<PAGE>
 
     (d) The Preferred Securities Guarantee shall be deemed to be specifically
described in this Declaration for purposes of clause (i) of the first provision
contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 5.4    Qualifications of Regular Trustees and Delaware  
               ------------------------------------------------     
               Trustee Generally.
               ----------------- 

Each Regular Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (unless the Property Trustee also
acts as Delaware Trustee) shall be either a natural person who is at least 21
years of age or a legal entity which shall act through one or more Authorized
Officers.

SECTION 5.5    Initial Trustees.
               ---------------- 

The initial Regular Trustees shall be:

Edgar Ancona
2700 Sanders Road
Prospect Heights, Illinois  60070

and

B. B. Moss, Jr.
2700 Sanders Road
Prospect Heights, Illinois  60070

The initial Delaware Trustee and the initial Property Trustee shall be:

Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware banking corporation.
Rodney Square North
1100 North Market Street
Wilmington, Delaware  19890


SECTION 5.6    Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees.
               -------------------------------------------------

     (a)  Subject to Section 5.6(b) Trustees may be appointed or removed without
          cause at any time:

          (i)  until the issuance of any Securities, by written instrument
               executed by the Sponsor; and

          (ii) after the issuance of any Securities;

               (A)  other than in respect to a Special Regular Trustee, by vote
                    of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
                    Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of the
                    Holders of the Common Securities; and

                                      29
<PAGE>
 
               (B)  if an Appointment Event has occurred and is continuing, one
                    (1) additional Regular Trustee (the "Special Regular
                    Trustee") may be appointed by vote of the Holders of a
                    Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities,
                    voting as a class at a meeting of the Holders of the
                    Preferred Securities and such Special Regular Trustee may
                    only be removed (otherwise than by the operation of Section
                    5.6(c)), by vote of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation
                    amount of the Preferred Securities voting as a class at a
                    meeting of the Holders of the Preferred Securities.

     (b)  (i)  The Trustee that acts as Property Trustee shall not be removed in
               accordance with Section 5.6(a) until Successor Property Trustee
               has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written
               instrument executed by such Successor Property Trustee and
               delivered to the Regular Trustees and the Sponsor; and

         (ii) the Trustee that acts as Delaware Trustee shall not  be removed in
               accordance with this Section 5.6(a) until a successor Trustee
               possessing the qualifications to act as Delaware Trustee under
               Sections 5.2 and 5.4 (a "Successor Delaware Trustee") has been
               appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument
               executed by such Successor Delaware Trustee and delivered to the
               Regular Trustees and the Sponsor.

     (c)  A Trustee appointed to office shall hold office until his successor
          shall have been appointed or until his death, removal or resignation,
          provided that a Special Regular Trustee shall only hold office while
          an Appointment Event is continuing and shall cease to hold office
          immediately after the Appointment Event pursuant to which the Special
          Regular Trustee was appointed and all other Appointment Events cease
          to be continuing. Any Trustee may resign from office (without need for
          prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing signed by
          the Trustee and delivered to the Sponsor and the Trust, which
          resignation shall take effect upon such delivery or upon such later
          date as is specified therein; provided, however, that:

          (i)  no such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Property
               Trustee shall be effective until:

                                      30
<PAGE>
 
               (A)  a Successor Property Trustee has been appointed and has
                    accepted such appointment by instrument executed by such
                    Successor Property Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the
                    Sponsor and the resigning Property Trustee; or

               (B)  if the Trust is excluded from the definition of an
                    Investment Company solely by reason of Rule 3a-7, until the
                    assets of the Trust have been completely liquidated and the
                    proceeds thereof distributed to the holders of the
                    Securities; and

          (ii) no such resignation of the Trustee that acts as the Delaware
               Trustee shall be effective until a Successor Delaware Trustee has
               been appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument
               executed by such Successor Delaware Trustee and delivered to the
               Trust, the Sponsor and the resigning Delaware Trustee; and

         (iii) no such resignation of a Special Regular Trustee shall be
               effective until the 60th day following delivery of the instrument
               of resignation of the Special Regular Trustee to the Sponsor and
               the Trust or such later date specified in such instrument during
               which period the Holders of the Preferred Securities shall have
               the right to appoint a successor Special Trustee as provided in
               this Section 5.6.

     (d)  If no Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee shall
          have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this
          Section 5.6 within 60 days after delivery to the Sponsor and the Trust
          of an instrument of resignation, the resigning Property Trustee or
          Delaware Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
          appointment of a Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware
          Trustee. Such court may thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may
          deem proper and prescribe, appoint a Successor Property Trustee or
          Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be.

SECTION 5.7    Vacancies Among Trustees.
               ------------------------ 

     If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the number of
Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 5.1, or if the number of Trustees is
increased pursuant to Section 5.1, a vacancy shall occur. A resolution
certifying the existence of such

                                      31
<PAGE>
 
vacancy by a majority of the Regular Trustees shall be conclusive evidence of
the existence of such vacancy. The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee
appointed in accordance with Section 5.6.

SECTION 5.8    Effect of Vacancies.
               ------------------- 

     The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, dissolution,
liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee, or
any one of them, shall not operate to annul the Trust. Whenever a vacancy in the
number of Regular Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the
appointment of a Regular Trustee in accordance with Section 5.6, the Regular
Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all the powers
granted to the Regular Trustees and shall discharge all the duties imposed upon
the Regular Trustees by this Declaration.

SECTION 5.9    Meetings.
               -------- 

     Meetings of the Regular Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the
call of any Regular Trustee. Regular meetings of the Regular Trustees may be
held at a time and place fixed by resolution of the Regular Trustees. Notice of
any in-person meetings of the Regular Trustees shall be hand delivered or
otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard copy by
overnight courier) not less than 48 hours before such meeting. Notice of any
telephonic meetings of the Regular Trustees or any committee thereof shall be
hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a
hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before a meeting. Notices
shall contain a brief statement of the time, place and anticipated purposes of
the meeting. The presence (whether in person or by telephone) of a Regular
Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except
where a Regular Trustee attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting
to the transaction of any activity on the ground that the meeting has not been
lawfully called or convened. Unless provided otherwise in this Declaration, any
action of the Regular Trustees may be taken at a meeting by vote of a majority
of the Regular Trustees present (whether in person or by telephone) and eligible
vote with respect to such matter, provided that a quorum is present, or without
a meeting by the unanimous written consent of the Regular Trustees.

SECTION 5.10   Delegation of Power.
               ------------------- 

     (a)  Any Regular Trustee may, by power of attorney consistent with
          applicable law, delegate to any other natural person over the age of
          21 his or her power for the purpose of executing any documents
          contemplated in Section 3.6 including any registration statement or
          amendment thereto filed with the Commission or making any other
          governmental filing; and

                                      32
<PAGE>
 
     (b)  the Regular Trustees shall have power to delegate from time to time to
          such of their number or to officers of the Trust the doing of such
          things and the execution of such instruments either in the name of the
          Trust or the names of the Regular Trustees or otherwise as the Regular
          Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent such delegation is not
          prohibited by applicable law or contrary to the provisions of the
          Trust, as set forth herein.


                                  ARTICLE VI

                                 DISTRIBUTIONS

SECTION 6.1    Distributions.
               ------------- 

Holders shall receive Distributions in accordance with the applicable terms of
the relevant Holder's Securities. Distributions shall be made on the Preferred
Securities and the Common Securities in accordance with the preferences set
forth in their respective terms. If and to the extent that the Debt Issuer makes
a payment of interest (including Compounded Interest (as defined in the
Indenture)), premium and principal on the Notes held by the Property Trustee
(the amount of any such payment being a "Payment Amount"), the Property Trustee
shall and is directed, to the extent funds are available for that purpose, to
make a Distribution of the Payment Amount to Holders.


                                  ARTICLE VII

                            ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES

SECTION 7.1    General Provisions Regarding Securities.
               ----------------------------------------

     (a)  The Regular Trustees shall, on behalf of the Trust, issue one class of
          preferred securities representing undivided beneficial interests in
          the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Exhibit
          A and incorporated herein by reference (the "Preferred Securities"),
          and one class of common securities representing undivided beneficial
          interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as are set
          forth in Exhibit A and incorporated herein by reference (the "Common
          Securities"). The Trust shall have no securities or other interests in
          the assets of the Trust other than the Preferred Securities and the
          Common Securities.

     (b)  The Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by the Regular
          Trustees (or if there are more than two Regular Trustees by any two of
          the Regular Trustees).

                                      33
<PAGE>
 
          Such signatures may be the manual or facsimile signatures of the
          present or any future Regular Trustee. Typographical and other minor
          errors or defects in any such reproduction of any such signature shall
          not affect the validity of any Certificate. In case any Regular
          Trustee of the Trust who shall have signed any of the Certificates
          shall cease to be such Regular Trustee before the Certificate so
          signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such Certificate nevertheless
          may be delivered as though the person who signed such Certificate had
          not ceased to be such Regular Trustee; and any Certificate may be
          signed on behalf of the Trust by such persons who shall at the actual
          date of execution of such Security, shall be the Regular Trustees of
          the Trust, although at the date of the execution and delivery of the
          Declaration any such person was not such a Regular Trustee.
          Certificates shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be
          produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the
          Regular Trustees, as evidenced by their execution thereof, and may
          have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification or
          designation and such legends or endorsements as the Regular Trustees
          may deem appropriate, or as may be required to comply with any law or
          with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Securities
          may be listed, or to conform to usage.

     (c)  The consideration received by the Trust for the issuance of the
          Securities shall constitute a contribution to the capital of the Trust
          and shall not constitute a loan to the Trust.

     (d)  Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration, the
          Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid
          and nonassessable.

     (e)  Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder or a Preferred
          Security Beneficial Owner in accordance with the terms of this
          Declaration, shall be deemed to have expressly assented and agreed to
          the terms of, and shall be bound by this Declaration.


                                 ARTICLE VIII

                             TERMINATION OF TRUST

SECTION 8.1    Termination of Trust.
               -------------------- 

     (a)  The Trust shall terminate:

          (i)  upon the bankruptcy of the Holder of the Common Securities, the
               Sponsor or the Debt Issuer;

                                      34
<PAGE>
 
          (ii) upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution or its equivalent
               with respect to the Holder of the Common Securities, the Sponsor
               or the Debt Issuer, the filing of a certificate of cancellation
               with respect to the Trust or the revocation of the Holder of the
               Common Securities, the Sponsor's or the Debt Issuer's charter and
               the expiration of 90 days after the date of revocation without a
               reinstatement thereof;

         (iii) upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Holder
               of the Common Securities, the Sponsor, the Debt Issuer or the
               Trust;

          (iv) when all of the Securities shall have been called for redemption
               and the amounts necessary for redemption thereof shall have been
               paid to the Holders in accordance with the terms of the
               Securities;

          (v)  upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event pursuant
               to which the Trust shall have been dissolved in accordance with
               the terms of the Securities and all of the Notes endorsed thereon
               shall have been distributed to the Holders of Securities in
               exchange for all of the Securities; or

          (vi) before the issuance of any Securities, with the consent of all of
               the Regular Trustees and the Sponsor.

     (b)  As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred to
          in Section 8.1 (a), the Trustees shall file a certificate of
          cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware.

     (c)  The provisions of Section 3.9 and Article X shall survive the
          termination of the Trust.


                                  ARTICLE IX

                             TRANSFER OF INTERESTS

SECTION 9.1    Transfer of Securities.
               ---------------------- 

     (a)  Securities may only be transferred, in whole or in part, in accordance
          with the terms and conditions set forth in this Declaration and in the
          terms of the Securities. Any

                                      35
<PAGE>
 
          transfer or purported transfer of any Security not made in accordance
          with this Declaration shall be null and void.

     (b)  Subject to this Article IX, Preferred Securities shall be freely
          transferable.

     (c)  Subject to this Article IX, the Sponsor and any Related Party may only
          transfer Common Securities to the Sponsor or a Related Party of the
          Sponsor, provided, that, any such transfer is subject to the condition
          precedent that the transferor obtain the written opinion of nationally
          recognized independent counsel experienced in such matters that such
          transfer would not cause more than an insubstantial risk that:

          (i)  the Trust would be classified for United States federal income
               tax purposes as an association taxable as a corporation or a
               partnership and each Holder of Securities would not be treated as
               owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Notes; and

          (ii) the Trust would be an Investment Company, or would be controlled
               by an Investment Company.

SECTION 9.2    Transfer of Certificates.
               ------------------------ 

The Regular Trustees shall provide for the registration of Certificates and of
transfers of Certificates, which will be effected without charge but only upon
payment (with such indemnity as the Regular Trustees may require) in respect of
any tax or other government charges which may be imposed in relation to it. Upon
surrender for registration of transfer of any Certificate, the Regular Trustees
shall cause one or more new Certificates to be issued in the name of the
designated transferee or transferees. Every Certificate surrendered for
registration of transfer shall be accompanied by a written instrument of
transfer in form satisfactory to the Regular Trustees duly executed by the
Holder or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing. Each Certificate
surrendered for registration of transfer shall be canceled by the Regular
Trustees. A transferee of a Certificate shall be entitled to the rights and
subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder upon the receipt by such
transferee of a Certificate. By acceptance of a Certificate, each transferee
shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this Declaration and the documents
incorporated by reference herein.

SECTION 9.3    Deemed Security Holders.
               ----------------------- 

The Trustees may treat the Person in whose name any Certificate shall be
registered on the books and records of the Trust as the sole holder of such
Certificate and of the Securities represented

                                      36
<PAGE>
 
by such Certificate for purposes of receiving Distributions and for all other
purposes whatsoever and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any
equitable or other claim to or interest in such Certificate or in the Securities
represented by such Certificate on the part of any Person, whether or not the
Trustees shall have actual or other notice thereof.

SECTION 9.4    Book Entry Interests.
               -------------------- 

Unless otherwise specified in the terms of the Preferred Securities, the
Preferred Securities Certificates, on original issuance, will be issued in the
form of one or more, fully registered, global Preferred Security Certificates
(each a "Global Certificate"), to be delivered to DTC, the initial Clearing
Agency, by, or on behalf of, the Trust. Such Global Certificates shall initially
be registered on the books and records of the Trust in the name of Cede & Co.,
the nominee of DTC, and no Preferred Security Beneficial Owner will receive a
definitive Preferred Security Certificate representing such Preferred Security
Beneficial Owner's interests in such Global Certificates, except as provided in
Section 9.7. Unless and until definitive, fully registered Preferred Security
Certificates (the "Definitive Preferred Security Certificates") have been issued
to the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 9.7:

     (a)  the provisions of this Section 9.4 shall be in full force and effect;

     (b)  the Trust and the Trustees shall be entitled to deal with the Clearing
          Agency for all purposes of this Declaration (including the payment of
          Distributions on the Global Certificates and receiving approvals,
          votes or consents hereunder) as the Holder of the Preferred Securities
          and the sole holder of the Global Certificates and shall have no
          obligation to the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners;

     (c)  to the extent that the provisions of this Section 9.4 conflict with
          any other provisions of this Declaration, the provisions of this
          Section 9.4 shall control; and

     (d)  the rights of the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners shall be
          exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited to
          those established by law and agreements between such Preferred
          Security Beneficial Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing
          Agency Participants. DTC will make book entry transfers among the
          Clearing Agency Participants and receive and transmit payments of
          Distributions on the Global Certificates to such Clearing Agency
          Participants.

                                      37
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 9.5    Notices to Clearing Agency.
               -------------------------- 

Whenever a notice or other communication to the Preferred Security Holders is
required under this Declaration, unless and until Definitive Preferred Security
Certificates shall have been issued to the Preferred Security Beneficial Owners
pursuant to Section 9.7, the Regular Trustees shall give all such notices and
communications specified herein to be given to the Preferred Security Holders to
the Clearing Agency, and shall have no notice obligations to the Preferred
Security Beneficial Owners.

SECTION 9.6    Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency.
               ---------------------------------------- 

If any Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its services as securities
depositary with respect to the Preferred Securities, the Regular Trustees may,
in their sole discretion, appoint a successor Clearing Agency with respect to
such Preferred Securities.

SECTION 9.7    Definitive Preferred Security Certificates.
               ------------------------------------------ 

     If:

     (a)  a Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its services as securities
          depositary with respect to the Preferred Securities and a successor
          Clearing Agency is not appointed within 90 days after such
          discontinuance pursuant to Section 9.6; or

     (b)  the Regular Trustees elect after consultation with the Sponsor to
          terminate the book entry system through the Clearing Agency with
          respect to the Preferred Securities, then:

     (c)  Definitive Preferred Security Certificates shall be prepared by the
          Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust with respect to such Preferred
          Securities; and

     (d)  upon surrender of the Global Certificates by the Clearing Agency,
          accompanied by registration instructions, the Regular Trustees shall
          cause Definitive Certificates to be delivered to Preferred Security
          Beneficial Owners in accordance with the instructions of the Clearing
          Agency. Neither the Trustees nor the Trust shall be liable for any
          delay in delivery of such instructions and each of them may
          conclusively rely on and shall be protected in relying on, such
          instructions. The Definitive Preferred Security Certificates shall be
          printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other
          manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Regular Trustees, as
          evidenced by their execution thereof, and may have such letters,
          numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such
          legends or endorsements as the

                                      38
<PAGE>
 
          Regular Trustees may deem appropriate, or as may be required to comply
          with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or
          with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which Preferred
          Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.

SECTION 9.8    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Certificates.
               --------------------------------------------------

     If:

     (a)  any mutilated Certificates should be surrendered to the Regular
          Trustees, or if the Regular Trustees shall receive evidence to their
          satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Certificate; and

     (b)  there shall be delivered to the Regular Trustees such security or
          indemnity as may be required by them to keep each of them harmless,

     then in the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been
     acquired by a bona fide purchaser, any two Regular Trustees on behalf of
     the Trust shall execute and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such
     mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate, a new Certificate of like
     denomination. In connection with the issuance of any new Certificate under
     this Section 9.8, the Regular Trustees may require the payment of a sum
     sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be
     imposed in connection therewith. Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant
     to this Section shall constitute conclusive evidence of an ownership
     interest in the relevant Securities, as if originally is sued, whether or
     not the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time.


                                   ARTICLE X

                          LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
                   HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS

SECTION 10.1   Liability.
               --------- 

     (a)  Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration, the Securities
          Guarantees and the terms of the Securities, the Sponsor shall not be:

          (i)  personally liable for the return of any portion of the capital
               contributions (or any return thereon)

               of the Holders of the Securities which shall be made solely from
               assets of the Trust; and

                                      39
<PAGE>
 
          (ii) required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder of Securities any
               deficit upon dissolution of the Trust or otherwise.

     (b)  Pursuant to Section 3803(a) of the Business Trust Act, the Holder of
          the Common Securities shall be liable for all of the debts and
          obligations of the Trust (other than with respect to the Securities)
          to the extent not satisfied out of the Trust's assets.

     (c)  The Holders of the Preferred Securities shall be entitled to the same
          limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private
          corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law of
          the State of Delaware.

SECTION 10.2   Exculpation.
               ----------- 

     (a)  No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in
          damages or otherwise to the Trust or any Covered Person for any loss,
          damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or
          omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith on behalf of the
          Trust and in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to
          be within the scope of the authority conferred on such Indemnified
          Person by this Declaration or by law, except that an Indemnified
          Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim incurred by
          reason of such Indemnified Person's gross negligence (or, in the case
          of the Property Trustee, pursuant to Section 3.9, negligence) or
          willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.

     (b)  An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good
          faith upon the records of the Trust and upon such information,
          opinions, reports or statements presented to the Trust by any Person
          as to matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within
          such other Person's professional or expert competence and who has been
          selected with reasonable care by or on behalf of the Trust, including
          information, opinions, reports or statements as to the value and
          amount of the assets, liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts
          pertinent to the existence and amount of assets from which
          Distributions to Holders of Securities might properly be paid.

                                      40
<PAGE>
 
 SECTION 10.3    Fiduciary Duty.
                 -------------- 

     (a)  To the extent that, at law or in equity, an Indemnified Person has
          duties (including fiduciary duties) and liabilities relating thereto
          to the Trust or to any other Covered Person, an Indemnified Person
          acting under this Declaration, subject to any duties or obligations
          imposed on the Property Trustee under Rule 3a-7, shall not be liable
          to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for its good faith
          reliance on the provisions of this Declaration. The provisions of this
          Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and
          liabilities of an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in
          equity (other than duties imposed on the Property Trustee under the
          Trust Indenture Act), are agreed by the parties hereto to replace such
          other duties and liabilities of such Indemnified Person.

     (b)  Unless otherwise expressly provided here in:

          (i)  whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between an
               Indemnified Person and any Covered Persons; or

          (ii) whenever this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated
               herein or therein provide that an Indemnified Person shall act in
               a manner that is, or provides terms that are, fair and reasonable
               to the Trust or any Holder of Securities,

     the Indemnified Person shall resolve such conflict of interest, take such
     action or provide such terms, considering in each case the relative
     interest of each party (including its own interest) to such conflict,
     agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and burdens relating
     to such interests, any customary or accepted industry practices, and any
     applicable generally accepted accounting practices or principles. In the
     absence of bad faith by the Indemnified Person, the resolution, action or
     term so made, taken or provided by the Indemnified Person shall not
     constitute a breach of this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated
     herein or of any duty or obligation of the Indemnified Person at law or in
     equity or otherwise.

     (c)  Whenever in this Declaration an Indemnified Person is permitted or
          required to make a decision:

          (i)  in its "discretion" or under a grant of similar authority, the
               Indemnified Person shall be entitled to consider such interests
               and factors as it desires, including its own interests, and shall
               have no duty or obligation to give any

                                      41
<PAGE>
 
               consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust
               or any other Person; or

          (ii) in its "good faith" or under another express standard,

     the Indemnified Person shall act under such express standard and shall not
     be subject to any other or different standard imposed by this Declaration
     or by applicable law.

SECTION 10.4   Indemnification.
               --------------- 

     (a)  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Sponsor shall
          indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person from and against
          any loss, damage or claim incurred by such Indemnified Person by
          reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified
          Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such
          Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of
          authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration,
          except that no Indemnified Person shall be entitled to be indemnified
          in respect of any loss, damage or claim incurred by such Indemnified
          Person by reason of gross negligence (or, in the case of the Property
          Trustee, pursuant to Section 3.9, negligence) or willful misconduct
          with respect to such acts or omissions.

     (b)  To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, expenses (including
          legal fees) incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending any claim,
          demand, action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be
          advanced by the Sponsor prior to the final disposition of such claim,
          demand, action, suit or proceeding upon receipt by the Sponsor of an
          undertaking by or on behalf of the Indemnified Person to repay such
          amount if it shall be determined that the Indemnified Person is not
          entitled to be indemnified as authorized in Section 10.4(a).

SECTION 10.5   Outside Businesses.
               ------------------ 

Any Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Debt Issuer, the Delaware Trustee and the
Property Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in other business ventures
of any nature or description, independently or with others, similar or
dissimilar to the business of the Trust, and the Trust and the Holders of
Securities shall have no rights by virtue of this Declaration in and to such
independent ventures or the income or profits derived therefrom and the pursuit
of any such venture, even if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall
not be deemed wrongful or improper. No Covered Person, the Sponsor, the Debt
Issuer, the Delaware Trustee,

                                      42
<PAGE>
 
or the Property Trustee shall be obligated to present any particular investment
or other opportunity to the Trust  even if such opportunity is of a character
that, if presented to the Trust, could be taken by the Trust, and any Covered
Person, the Sponsor, the Debt Issuer, the Delaware Trustee and the Property
Trustee shall have the right to take for its own account (individually or as a
partner or fiduciary) or to recommend to others any such particular investment
or other opportunity. Any Covered Person, the Delaware Trustee and the Property
Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or other transaction with
the Sponsor or any Affiliate of the Sponsor, or may act as depository for,
trustee or agent for, or act on any committee or body of holders of, securities
or other obligations of the Sponsor or its Affiliates.


                                  ARTICLE XI

                                  ACCOUNTING


SECTION 11.1   Fiscal Year.
               ----------- 

The fiscal year ("Fiscal Year") of the Trust shall be the calendar year, or such
other year as is required by the Code.

SECTION 11.2   Certain Accounting Matters.
               -------------------------- 

     (a)  At all times during the existence of the Trust, the Regular Trustees
          shall keep, or cause to be kept, full books of account, records and
          supporting documents, which shall reflect in reasonable detail, each
          transaction of the Trust. The books of account shall be maintained on
          the accrual method of accounting, in accordance with generally
          accepted accounting principles, consistently applied. The Trust shall
          use the accrual method of accounting for United States federal income
          tax purposes. The books of account and the records of the Trust shall
          be examined by and reported upon as of the end of each Fiscal Year by
          a firm of independent certified public accountants selected by the
          Regular Trustees.

     (b)  The Regular Trustees shall cause to be prepared and delivered to each
          of the Holders of Securities, within 90 days after the end of each
          Fiscal Year of the Trust, annual financial statements of the Trust,
          including a balance sheet of the Trust as of the end of such Fiscal
          Year, and the related statements of income or loss.

     (c)  The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and delivered to
          each of the Holders of Securities, any annual United States federal
          income tax information statement, required by the Code, containing
          such

                                      43
<PAGE>
 
          information with regard to the Securities held by each Holder as is
          required by the Code and the Treasury Regulations. Notwithstanding any
          right under the Code to deliver any such statement at a later date,
          the Regular Trustees shall endeavor to deliver all such statements
          within 30 days after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust.

          (d) The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and filed
          with the appropriate taxing authority, an annual United States federal
          income tax return, on a Form 1041 or such other form required by
          United States federal income tax law, and any other annual income tax
          returns required to be filed by the Regular Trustees on behalf of the
          Trust with any state or local taxing authority.

SECTION 11.3   Banking.
               ------- 

The Trust shall maintain one or more bank accounts in the name and for the sole
benefit of the Trust; provided, however, that all payments of funds in respect
of the Notes held by the Property Trustee shall be made directly to the Property
Account and no other funds of the Trust shall be deposited in the Property
Account. The sole signatories for such accounts shall be designated by the
Regular Trustees; provided, however, that the Property Trustee shall designate
the sole signatories for the Property Account.

SECTION 11.4   Withholding.
               ----------- 

The Trust and the Trustees shall comply with all withholding requirements under
United States federal, state and local law. The Trust shall request, and the
Holders shall provide to the Trust, such forms or certificates as are necessary
to establish an exemption from withholding with respect to each Holder, and any
representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by the Trust to
assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling, its withholding
obligations. The Holder shall file required forms with applicable jurisdictions
and, unless an exemption from withholding is properly established by a Holder,
shall remit amounts withheld with respect to the Holder to applicable
jurisdictions. To the extent that the Holder is required to withhold and pay
over any amounts to any authority with respect to distributions or allocations
to any Holder, the amount withheld shall be deemed to be a distribution in the
amount of the withholding to the Holder. In the event of any claimed over
withholding, Holders shall be limited to an action against the applicable
jurisdiction. If the amount withheld was not withheld from actual Distributions
made, the Trust may reduce subsequent Distributions by the amount of such
withholding.

                                      44
<PAGE>
 
                                  ARTICLE XII

                            AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS

SECTION 12.1   Amendments.
               ---------- 

     (a)  Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration or by any applicable
          terms of the Securities, this Declaration may be amended by, and only
          by, a written instrument approved and executed by the Regular Trustees
          (or, if there are more than two Regular Trustees a majority of the
          Regular Trustees); provided, however, that:

          (i)  no amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment
               shall be void and ineffective, to the extent the result thereof
               would be to:

               (A)  cause the Trust to be characterized for purposes of United
                    States federal income taxation as other than a grantor
                    trust;

               (B)  reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the
                    Property Trustee; or

               (C)  cause the Trust to be deemed to be an Investment Company
                    which is required to be registered under the Investment
                    Company Act;

          (ii) at such time after the Trust has issued any Securities which
               remain outstanding, any amendment which would adversely affect
               the rights, privileges or preferences of any Holder of Securities
               may be effected only with such additional requirements as may be
               set forth in the terms of such Securities;

         (iii) Section 9.1(c) and this Section 12.1 shall not be amended without
               the consent of all of the Holders of the Securities;

          (iv) Article IV shall not be amended without the consent of the
               Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common
               Securities; and

          (v)  the rights of the holders of the Common Securities under Article
               V to increase or decrease the number of, and appoint and remove
               Trustees shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders
               of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities.

                                      45
<PAGE>
 
     (b)  Notwithstanding Section 12.1(a)(ii), this Declaration may be amended
          without the consent of the Holders of the Securities to:

          (i)  cure any ambiguity;

          (ii) correct or supplement any provision in this Declaration that may
               be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of this
               Declaration;

         (iii) to add to the covenants, restrictions or obligations of the
               Sponsor; and

          (iv) to conform to any change in Rule 3a-7 or written change in
               interpretation or application of Rule 3a-7 by any legislative
               body, court, government agency or regulatory authority which
               amendment does not have a material adverse effect on the right,
               preferences or privileges of the Holders.

SECTION 12.2   Meetings of the Holders of Securities;
               --------------------------------------
               Action by Written Consent.
               ------------------------- 

     (a)  Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at
          any time by the Regular Trustees (or as provided in the terms of the
          Securities) to consider and act on any matter on which Holders of such
          class of Securities are entitled to act under the terms of this
          Declaration, the terms of the Securities or the rules of any stock
          exchange on which the Preferred Securities are listed or admitted for
          trading. The Regular Trustees shall call a meeting of such class of
          Holders, if directed to do so by the Holders of at least 10% in
          liquidation amount of such class of Securities. Such direction shall
          be given by delivering to the Regular Trustees one or more calls in a
          writing stating that the signing Holders of Securities wish to call a
          meeting and indicating the general or specific purpose for which the
          meeting is to be called. Any Holders of Securities calling a meeting
          shall specify in writing the Security Certificates held by the Holders
          of Securities exercising the right to call a meeting and only those
          specified shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the
          required percentage set forth in the second sentence of this paragraph
          has been met.

     (b)  Except to the extent otherwise provided in the terms of the
          Securities, the following provisions shall apply to meetings of
          Holders of Securities:

          (i)  notice of any such meeting shall be given to all the Holders of
               Securities having a right to vote

                                      46
<PAGE>
 
               thereat at least 7 days and not more than 60 days before the date
               of such meeting. Whenever a vote, consent or approval of the
               Holders of Securities is permitted or required under this
               Declaration or the rules of any stock exchange on which the
               Preferred Securities are listed or admitted for trading, such
               vote, consent or approval may be given at a meeting of the
               Holders of Securities. Any action that may be taken at a meeting
               of the Holders of Securities may be taken without a meeting if a
               consent in writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by
               the Holders of Securities owning not less than the minimum amount
               of Securities in liquidation amount that would be necessary to
               authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Holders
               of Securities having a right to vote thereon were present and
               voting. Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting
               shall be given to the Holders of Securities entitled to vote who
               have not consented in writing. The Regular Trustees may specify
               that any written ballot submitted to the Security Holder for the
               purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned
               to the Trust within the time specified by the Regular Trustees;

          (ii) each Holder of a Security may authorize any Person to act for it
               by proxy on all matters in which a Holder of Securities is
               entitled to participate, including waiving notice of any meeting,
               or voting or participating at a meeting. No proxy shall be valid
               after the expiration of 11 months from the date thereof unless
               otherwise provided in the proxy. Every proxy shall be revocable
               at the pleasure of the Holder of Securities executing it. Except
               as otherwise provided here in, all matters relating to the
               giving, voting or validity of proxies shall be governed by the
               General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware relating to
               proxies, and judicial interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust
               were a Delaware corporation and the Holders of the Securities
               were stockholders of a Delaware corporation;

         (iii) each meeting of the Holders of the Securities shall be conducted
               by the Regular Trustees or by such other Person that the Regular
               Trustees may designate; and

          (iv) unless the Business Trust Act, this Declaration, the terms of the
               Securities or the listing rules of any stock exchange on which
               the Preferred

                                      47
<PAGE>
 
               Securities are then listed or trading otherwise provides, the
               Regular Trustees, in their sole discretion, shall establish all
               other provisions relating to meetings of Holders of Securities,
               including notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting at
               which any matter is to be voted on by any Holders of Securities,
               waiver of any such notice, action by consent without a meeting,
               the establishment of a record date, quorum requirements, voting
               in person or by proxy or any other matter with respect to the
               exercise of any such right to vote.


                                 ARTICLE XIII

                      REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE

SECTION 13.1   Representations and Warranties of Property
               ------------------------------------------
               Trustee.
               --------

The Trustee which acts as initial Property Trustee represents and warrants to
the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each Successor
Property Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor at the
time of the Successor Property Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as
Property Trustee that:

     (a)  The Property Trustee is a national banking association with trust
          powers, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under
          the laws of the United States, with trust power and authority to
          execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations
          under the terms of, the Declaration.

     (b)  The execution, delivery and performance by the Property Trustee of the
          Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
          on the part of the Property Trustee. The Declaration has been duly
          executed and delivered by the Property Trustee, and it constitutes a
          legal, valid and binding obligation of the Property Trustee,
          enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to
          applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and
          other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to
          general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
          (regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered
          in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                                      48
<PAGE>
 
     (c)  The execution, delivery and performance of the Declaration by the
          Property Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the
          Articles of Organization or By-laws of the Property Trustee.

     (d)  No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
          notice to, any state or federal banking authority is required for the
          execution, delivery or performance by the Property Trustee, of the
          Declaration.

     (e)  The Property Trustee, pursuant to the Declaration, shall hold legal
          title and a valid ownership interest in the Notes under the law of its
          place of incorporation and Delaware law.

     (f)  If the Property Trustee does not also act as the Delaware Trustee, the
          Delaware Trustee under Delaware law is a natural person who is a
          resident of the State of Delaware.

     (g)  The Delaware Trustee has been authorized to perform its obligations
          under the Certificate of Trust and the Declaration. The Declaration
          under Delaware law constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation
          of the Delaware Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its
          terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium,
          insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
          generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of
          the court (regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is
          considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).


                                  ARTICLE XIV

                                 MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 14.1   Notices.
               ------- 

All notices provided for in this Declaration shall be in writing, duly signed by
the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by
registered or certified mail, as follows:

                                      49
<PAGE>
 
     (a)  if given to the Trust, in care of the Regular Trustees at the Trust's
          mailing address set forth below (or such
          other address as the Trust may give notice of to the Holders of the
          Securities):

          Household Capital Trust I
          2700 Sanders Road
          Prospect Heights, Illinois  60070
          Attention: Treasurer

     (b)  if given to the Property Trustee, at the mailing address set forth
          below (or such other address as the Property Trustee may give notice
          of to the Holders of the Securities):
 
          Wilmington Trust Company
          Rodney Square North
          1100 North Market Street
          Wilmington, Delaware  19890

          Attention: Corporate Trust Administration

     (c)  if given to the Holder of the Common Securities, at the mailing
          address of the Sponsor set forth below (or such other address as the
          Holder of the Common Securities may give notice to the Trust):

          Household International, Inc.
          2700 Sanders Road
          Prospect Heights, Illinois  60070

          Attention: Treasurer

     (d)  if given to any other Holder, at the address set forth on the books
          and records of the Trust.

All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in person,
telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail, postage
prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or cannot
be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given, such
notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of
such refusal or inability to deliver.

SECTION 14.2   Governing Law.
               ------------- 

This Declaration and the rights of the parties hereunder shall be governed by
and interpreted in accordance with the laws of the State of Delaware and all
rights and remedies shall be governed by such laws without regard to principles
of conflict of laws.

                                      50
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 14.3   Intention of the Parties.
               ------------------------ 

It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust not be characterized
for United States federal income tax purposes as an association taxable as a
corporation or a partnership but rather, the Trust be characterized as a grantor
trust or otherwise in a manner that each Holder of Securities be treated as
owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Notes. The provisions of this
Declaration shall be interpreted to further this intention of the parties.

SECTION 14.4   Headings.
               -------- 

Headings contained in this Declaration are inserted for convenience of reference
only and do not affect the interpretation of this Declaration or any provision
hereof.


SECTION 14.5   Successors and Assigns
               ----------------------

Whenever in this Declaration any of the parties hereto is named or referred to,
the successors and assigns of such party shall be deemed to be included, and all
covenants and agreements in this Declaration by the Sponsor and the Trustees
shall bind and inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns,
whether so expressed.

SECTION 14.6   Partial Enforceability.
               ---------------------- 

If any provision of this Declaration, or the application of such provision to
any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid, the remainder of this
Declaration, or the application of such provision to persons or circumstances
other than those to which it is held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.

SECTION 14.7   Counterparts.
               ------------ 

This Declaration may contain more than one counterpart of the signature page and
this Declaration may be executed by the affixing of the signature of each of the
Trustees to one of such counterpart signature pages. All of such counterpart
signature pages shall be read as though one, and they shall have the same force
and effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature page.

                                      51
<PAGE>
 


IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused these presents to be executed as
of the day and year first above written.



Edgar Ancona,
as Trustee



B. B. Moss, Jr.,
as Trustee



Wilmington Trust Company,
as Trustee and as Property Trustee



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



Household International, Inc.,
as Sponsor



By:
   -----------------------------------
     Name:  John W. Blenke
     Title: Secretary



                                      52
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT A

                                   TERMS OF

                  __ % TRUST ORIGINATED PREFERRED SECURITIES

                    __% TRUST ORIGINATED COMMON SECURITIES
                                        
                                        
Pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust, dated
as of May ____, 1995 (as amended from time to time, the "Declaration"), the
designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and
provisions of the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities are set out
below (each capitalized term used but not defined herein has the meaning set
forth in the Declaration or, if not defined in such Declaration, as defined in
the Prospectus referred to below):

1. Designation and Number.
   ---------------------- 

     (a)  Preferred Securities. Preferred Securities of the Trust with an
          aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust
          of $[ million ($ )] and a liquidation amount with respect to the
          assets of the Trust of $25 per Preferred Security, are hereby
          designated for the purposes of identification only as " ____% Trust
          Originated Preferred Securities" (the "Preferred Securities"). The
          Preferred Security Certificates evidencing the Preferred Securities
          shall be substantially in the form attached hereto as Annex I, with
          such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be
          required by ordinary usage, custom or practice or to conform to the
          rules of any stock exchange on which the Preferred Securities are
          listed.

     (b)  Common Securities. Common Securities of the Trust with an aggregate
          liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $[
          million ($ )] and a liquidation amount with respect to the assets of
          the Trust of $25 per Common Security, are hereby designated for the
          purposes of identification only as "___ % Trust Originated Common
          Securities" (the "Common Securities"). The Common Security
          Certificates evidencing the Common Securities shall be substantially
          in the form attached hereto as

                                       1
<PAGE>
 
          Annex II, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions
          therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice.

     2. Distributions.
        ------------- 

     (a)  Distributions payable on each Security will be fixed at a rate per
          annum of [*. ]% (the "Coupon Rate") of the stated liquidation amount
          of $25 per Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on
          the Notes to be held by the Property Trustee. Distributions in arrears
          for more than one quarter will bear interest thereon, compounded
          quarterly at the Coupon Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable
          law). The term "Distributions" as used herein includes such cash
          distributions and any such interest payable unless otherwise stated. A
          Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in
          respect of the Notes held by the Property Trustee. The amount of
          Distributions payable for any period will be computed for any full
          quarterly Distribution period on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
          30-day months, and for any period shorter than a full quarterly
          Distribution period for which Distributions are computed,
          Distributions will be computed on the basis of the actual number of
          days elapsed in such a 30-day month.

     (b)  Distributions on the Securities will be cumulative, will accrue from
          _____________, 1995 and will be payable quarterly in arrears, on March
          31, June 30, September 30, and December 31 of each year, commencing on
          ___________, 1995, except as otherwise described below. The Debt
          Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest
          by extending the interest payment period from time to time on the
          Notes for a period not exceeding 20 consecutive quarters (each, an
          "Extension Period") and, as a consequence of such extension,
          Distributions will also be deferred. Despite such deferral, quarterly
          Distributions will continue to accrue with interest thereon (to the
          extent permitted by applicable law) at the Coupon Rate during any such
          Extension Period. Prior to the termination of any such Extension
          Period, the Debt Issuer may further extend such Extension Period;
          provided that such Extension Period together with all such previous
          and further extensions thereof may not exceed 20 consecutive quarters.
          Payments of accrued Distributions will be payable to Holders as they
          appear on the books and records of the Trust on the first record date
          after the end of the Extension Period. Upon the termination of any
          Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the Debt
          Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above
          requirements.

                                       2
<PAGE>
 
     (c)  Distributions on the Securities will be payable to the Holders thereof
          as they appear on the books and records of the Trust on the relevant
          record dates. While the Preferred Securities remain in book-entry only
          form, the relevant record dates shall be one Business Day prior to the
          relevant payment dates which payment dates correspond to the interest
          payment dates on the Notes. Subject to any applicable laws and
          regulations and the provisions of the Declaration, each such payment
          in respect of the Preferred Securities will be made as described under
          the heading "Description of the Preferred Securities -- Book-Entry
          Only Issuance - The Depository Trust Company" in the Prospectus dated
          __________, 1995  (the "Prospectus"), included in the Registration
          Statement on Form S-3 of the Sponsor, the Debt Issuer and the Trust.
          The relevant record dates for the Common Securities, and if the
          Preferred Securities shall not continue to remain in book-entry only
          form, the relevant record dates for the Preferred Securities, shall
          conform to the rules of any securities exchange on which the
          securities are listed and, if none, shall be selected by the Regular
          Trustees, which dates shall be at least one Business Day but less than
          60 Business Days before the relevant payment dates which payment dates
          correspond to the interest payment dates on the Notes. Distributions
          payable on any Securities that are not punctually paid on any
          Distribution payment date as a result of the Debt Issuer or the
          Sponsor having failed to make a payment under the Notes, will cease to
          be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are registered
          on the relevant record date, and such defaulted Distribution will
          instead be payable to the Person in whose name such Securities are
          registered on the special record date or other specified date
          determined in accordance with the Indenture. If any date on which
          Distributions are payable on the Securities is not a Business Day,
          then payment of the Distribution payable on such date will be made on
          the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any
          interest or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that,
          if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such
          payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in
          each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date.

     (d)  In the event that there is any money or other property held by or for
          the Trust that is not accounted for hereunder, such property shall be
          distributed Pro Rata (as defined herein) among the Holders of the
          Securities.

                                       3
<PAGE>
 
     3.   Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution.
          ----------------------------------------- 

     In the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, winding-up or
termination of the Trust, the Holders of the Securities on the date of the
dissolution, winding-up or termination as the case may be, will be entitled to
receive out of the assets of the Trust available for distribution to Holders of
Securities after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors, an amount equal to
the aggregate of the stated liquidation amount of $25 per Security plus accrued
and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the
"Liquidation Distribution"), unless, in connection with such dissolution,
winding-up or termination, Notes in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
aggregate stated liquidation amount of such Securities, with an interest rate
equal to the Coupon Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an
amount equal to the accrued and unpaid Distributions on, such Securities, shall
be distributed on a Pro Rata basis to the Holders of the Securities in exchange
for such Securities.

     If, upon any such dissolution, the Liquidation Distribution can be paid
only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets available to pay in full
the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the
Trust on the Securities shall be paid on a Pro Rata basis.

     4. Redemption and Distribution.
        --------------------------- 

     (a)  Upon the repayment of the Notes in whole or in part, whether at
          maturity or upon redemption, the proceeds from such repayment or
          payment shall be simultaneously applied to redeem Securities having an
          aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount
          of the Notes so repaid or redeemed at a redemption price of $25 per
          Security plus an amount equal to accrued and unpaid Distributions
          thereon at the date of the redemption, payable in cash (the
          "Redemption Price"). Holders will be given not less than 30 nor more
          than 60 days notice of such redemption.

     (b)  If fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be so redeemed,
          the Common Securities and the Preferred Securities will be redeemed
          Pro Rata and the Preferred Securities to be redeemed will be as
          described in Paragraph 4(f)(ii) below.

     (c)  If, at any time, a Tax Event or an Investment Company Event (each as
          defined below, and each a "Special Event") shall occur and be
          continuing, the Regular Trustees shall dissolve the Trust and, after
          satisfaction of creditors, cause Notes held by the Property Trustee,
          having an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate stated

                                       4
<PAGE>
 
          liquidation amount of, with an interest rate identical to the Coupon
          Rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid
          Distributions on and having the same record date for payment as the
          Securities to be distributed to the Holders of the Securities in
          liquidation of such Holders' interests in the Trust on a Pro Rata
          basis, within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special Event
          (the "90 Day Period"), provided, however, that in the case of the
          occurrence of a Tax Event, as a condition of such dissolution and
          distribution, the Regular Trustees shall have received an opinion of a
          nationally recognized independent tax counsel experienced in such
          matters (a "No Recognition Opinion"), which opinion may rely on
          published revenue rulings of the Internal Revenue Service, to the
          effect that the Holders of the Securities will not recognize any gain
          or loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of
          the dissolution of the Trust and the distribution of Notes and
          provided, further, that, if at the time there is available to the
          Trust the opportunity to eliminate, within the 90 Day Period, the
          Special Event by taking some ministerial action, such as filing a form
          or making an election, or pursuing some other similar reasonable
          measure that has no adverse effect on the Trust, the Debt Issuer, the
          Sponsor or the Holders of the Securities ("Ministerial Action"), the
          Trust will pursue such Ministerial Action in lieu of dissolution.

          If, in the case of the occurrence of a Tax Event (i) the Debt Issuer
          has received an opinion (a "Redemption Tax Opinion") of a nationally
          recognized independent tax counsel experienced in such matters that,
          as a result of a Tax Event, there is more than an insubstantial risk
          that the Debt Issuer would be precluded from deducting the interest on
          the Notes for United States federal income tax purposes even if the
          Notes were distributed to the Holders of Securities in liquidation of
          such Holders' interests in the Trust as described in this paragraph
          4(c), or (ii) the Regular Trustees shall have been informed by such
          tax counsel that a No Recognition Opinion cannot be delivered to the
          Trust, the Debt Issuer shall have the right at any time, upon not less
          than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, to redeem the Notes in whole or
          in part for cash within 90 days following the occurrence of such Tax
          Event, and following such redemption, Securities with an aggregate
          liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the
          Notes so redeemed shall be redeemed by the Trust at the Redemption
          Price on a Pro Rata basis; provided, however, that, if at the time
          there is available to the Trust the opportunity to eliminate, within
          such 90 day period, the Tax Event by taking some Ministerial Action,
          the Trust or

                                       5
<PAGE>
 
          the Debt Issuer will pursue such Ministerial Action in lieu of
          redemption.

          "Tax Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have received an
          opinion of a nationally recognized independent tax counsel experienced
          in such matters (a "Dissolution Tax Opinion") to the effect that on or
          after the date of the Prospectus Supplement, as a result of (a) any
          amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective change)
          in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or
          any political subdivision or taxing authority therefore or therein, or
          (b) any amendment to, or change in, an interpretation or application
          of any such laws or regulations by any legislative body, court,
          governmental agency or regulatory authority, which amendment or change
          is enacted, promulgated, issued or announced or which interpretation
          or pronouncement is issued or announced or which action is taken, in
          each case on or after the date of the Prospectus Supplement, there is
          more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is or will be
          within 90 days of the date thereof, subject to United States federal
          income tax with respect to interest accrued or received on the Notes,
          (ii) the Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date thereof,
          subject to more than a de minimis amount of taxes, duties or other
          governmental charges, or (iii) interest payable by the Debt Issuer to
          the Trust on the Notes is not, or within 90 days of the date thereof
          will not be, deductible, in whole or in part, by the Debt Issuer for
          United States federal income tax purposes.

          "Investment Company Event" means that the Regular Trustees shall have
          received an opinion of a nationally recognized independent counsel
          experienced in practice under the Investment Company Act that, as a
          result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation or a written
          change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by any
          legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority
          (a "Change in 1940 Act Law"), the Trust is or will be considered an
          Investment Company which is required to be registered under the
          Investment Company Act, which Change in 1940 Act Law becomes effective
          on or after the date of the Prospectus Supplement.

          On and from the date fixed by the Regular Trustees for any
          distribution of Notes and dissolution of the Trust: (i) the Securities
          will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii) The Depository Trust
          Company (the "Depository") or its nominee (or any successor Clearing
          Agency or its nominee), as the record Holder of the

                                       6
<PAGE>
 
          Preferred Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or
          certificates representing the Notes and the Note Guarantee to be
          delivered upon such distribution and any certificates representing
          Securities, except for certificates representing Preferred Securities
          held by the Depository or its nominee (or any successor Clearing
          Agency or its nominee), will be deemed to represent beneficial
          interests in the Notes having an aggregate principal amount equal to
          the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest rate
          identical to the Coupon Rate of, and accrued and unpaid interest equal
          co accrued and unpaid Distributions on such Securities until such
          certificates are presented to the Debt Issuer or its agent for
          transfer or reissue.

     (d)  The Trust may not redeem fewer than all the outstanding Securities
          unless all accrued and unpaid Distributions have been paid on all
          Securities for all quarterly Distribution periods terminating on or
          before the date of redemption.

     (e)  If the Notes are distributed to holders of the Securities, pursuant to
          the terms of the Indenture, the Debt Issuer will use its best efforts
          to have the Notes listed on the New York Stock Exchange or on such
          other exchange as the Preferred Securities were listed immediately
          prior to the distribution of the Notes.

     (f)  "Redemption or Distribution Procedures."

          (i)  Notice of any redemption of, or notice of distribution of Notes
               in exchange for the Securities (a "Redemption/Distribution
               Notice") will be given by the Trust by mail to each Holder of
               Securities to be redeemed or exchanged not fewer than 30 nor more
               than 60 days before the date fixed for redemption or exchange
               thereof which, in the case of a redemption, will be the date
               fixed for redemption of the Notes. For purposes of the
               calculation of the date of redemption or exchange and the dates
               on which notices are given pursuant to this paragraph 4(f)(i), a
               Redemption/ Distribution Notice shall be deemed to be given on
               the day such notice is first mailed by first-class mail, postage
               prepaid, to Holders of Securities. Each Redemption/Distribution
               Notice shall be addressed to the Holders of Securities at the
               address of each such Holder appearing in the books and records of
               the Trust. No defect in the Redemption/Distribution Notice or in
               the mailing of either thereof with

                                       7
<PAGE>
 
               respect to any Holder shall affect the validity of the redemption
               or exchange proceedings with respect to any other Holder.

          (ii) In the event that fewer than all the outstanding Securities are
               to be redeemed, the Securities to be redeemed shall be redeemed
               Pro Rata and, in the event Preferred Securities are held in book-
               entry only form by the Depository or its nominee (or any
               successor Clearing Agency or its nominee), the Depository will
               reduce Pro Rata the amount of the interest of each Clearing
               Agency Participant in the Preferred Securities to be redeemed;
               provided that if, as a result of such Pro Rata redemption,
               Clearing Agency Participants would hold fractional interests in
               the Preferred Securities, the Depository will adjust the amount
               of the interest of each Clearing Agency Participant to be
               redeemed to avoid such fractional interests.

         (iii) If Securities are to be redeemed and the Trust gives a
               Redemption/Distribution Notice which notice may only be issued if
               the Notes are redeemed as set out in this paragraph 4 (which
               notice will be irrevocable) then (A) while the Preferred
               Securities are in book entry only form, with respect to the
               Preferred Securities, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the
               redemption date, provided that the Debt Issuer has paid the
               Property Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in connection with
               the related redemption or maturity of the Notes, the Property
               Trustee will deposit irrevocably with the Depository (or
               successor Clearing Agency) funds sufficient to pay the applicable
               Redemption Price with respect to the Preferred Securities and
               will give the Depository irrevocable instructions and authority
               to pay the Redemption Price to the Holders of the Preferred
               Securities, and (B) if the Preferred Securities are issued in
               definitive form, with respect to the Preferred Securities, and
               with respect to the Common Securities, provided that the Debt
               Issuer has paid the Property Trustee a sufficient amount of cash
               in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the
               Notes, the Property Trustee will pay the relevant Redemption
               Price to the Holders of such Securities by check mailed to the
               address of the relevant Holder appearing on the books and records
               of the Trust on the redemption date. If a Redemption/Distribution
               Notice shall have been given and funds deposited as required, if
               applicable, then immediately prior to the close of

                                       8
<PAGE>
 
               business on the date of such deposit, or on the redemption date,
               as applicable, Distributions will cease to accrue on the
               Securities so called for redemption and all rights of Holders of
               such Securities so called for redemption will cease, except the
               right of the Holders of such Securities to receive the Redemption
               Price, but without interest on such Redemption Price. Neither the
               Regular Trustees nor the Trust shall be required to register or
               cause to be registered the transfer of any Securities which have
               been so called for redemption. If any date fixed for redemption
               of Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the
               Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next
               succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest
               or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if
               such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment
               will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each
               case with the same force and effect as if made on such date fixed
               for redemption. If payment of the Redemption Price in respect of
               Securities is improperly withheld or refused and not paid either
               by the Property Trustee or by the Sponsor as guarantor pursuant
               to the relevant Securities Guarantee, Distributions on such
               Securities will continue to accrue, from the original redemption
               date to the actual date of payment, in which case the actual
               payment date will be considered the date fixed for redemption for
               purposes of calculating the Redemption Price.

          (iv) Redemption/Distribution Notices shall be sent by the Regular
               Trustees on behalf of the Trust to (A) in respect of the
               Preferred Securities, the Depository or its nominee (or any
               successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) if the Global
               Certificates have been issued or if Definitive Preferred Security
               Certificates have been issued, to the Holder thereof, and (B) in
               respect of the Common Securities to the Holder thereof.

          (v)  Subject to the foregoing and applicable law (including, without
               limitation, United States federal securities laws), provided the
               acquirer is not the Holder of the Common Securities or the
               obligor under the Indenture, the Sponsor or any of its
               subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase
               outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the open market or
               by private agreement.

                                       9
<PAGE>
 
     5. Voting Rights - Preferred Securities.
        ------------------------------------ 

     (a) Except as provided under paragraph 5(b) and as otherwise required by
law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Preferred Securities will have no
voting rights.

     (b) If (i) the Trust fails to make Distributions in full on the Preferred
Securities for six consecutive quarterly Distribution periods (other than during
an Extension Period), or (ii) an Event of Default occurs and is continuing (each
of (i) and (ii) being an "Appointment Event"), then the Holders of the Preferred
Securities, acting as a single class, will be entitled by the vote of a Majority
in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities to appoint a Special Regular
Trustee in accordance with Section 5.6(a)(ii)(B) of the Declaration. Any Holder
of Preferred Securities (other than the Sponsor, or any entity directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with the Sponsor) will be entitled to nominate any person to be
appointed as Special Regular Trustee. For purposes of determining whether the
Trust has failed to make Distributions in full for six consecutive quarterly
Distribution periods, Distributions shall be deemed to remain in arrears,
notwithstanding any payments in respect thereof, until full cumulative
Distributions have been or contemporaneously are paid with respect to all
quarterly Distribution periods terminating on or prior to the date of payment of
such cumulative Distributions.

     Not later than 30 days after such right to appoint a Special Regular
Trustee arises, the Regular Trustees will convene a meeting for the purpose of
appointing a Special Regular Trustee. If the Regular Trustees fail to convene
such meeting within such 30-day period, the Holders of 10% in liquidation amount
of the Preferred Securities will be entitled to convene such meeting in
accordance with Section 12.2 of the Declaration. The record date for such
meeting will be the close of business on the Business Day which is one Business
Day before the day on which notice of the meeting is sent to Holders. The
provisions of the Declaration relating to the convening and conduct of the
meetings of the Holders will apply with respect to any such meeting.

     A Special Regular Trustee may be removed without cause at any time by vote
of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities
at a meeting of the Holders of the Preferred Securities in accordance with
Section 5.6(a)(ii)(B) of the Declaration.

     The Holders of 10% in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities will
be entitled to convene such a meeting in accordance with Section 12.2 of the
Declaration. The record date for such meeting will be the close of business on
the Business Day which is one Business Day before the day on which the notice of
meeting is sent to Holders. Notwithstanding the appointment of a Special

                                      10
<PAGE>
 
Regular Trustee, the Debt Issuer shall retain all rights under the Indenture,
including the right to extend the interest payment period on the Notes.

     Subject to the requirements of the second to last sentence of this
paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities, voting separately as a class may direct the time, method, and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee,
or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property Trustee under the
Declaration, including (i) directing the time, method, place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Note Trustee, or executing any trust
or power conferred on the Note Trustee with respect to the Notes, (ii) waive any
past default and its consequences that is waivable under Section 7.13 of the
Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the
principal of all the Notes shall be due and payable, or (iv) consent to any
amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the Notes, where such
consent shall be required, provided, however, that where a Super Majority of the
holders of the Notes is required, the Property Trustee may only give such
consent at the direction of the Holders of at least the proportion in
liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities which the relevant Super Majority
represents of the aggregate principal amount of the Notes. The Property Trustee
shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities. Other than with respect to directing the
time, method and place of conducting any remedy available to the Property
Trustee or the Note Trustee as set forth above, the Property Trustee shall not
take any action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities under this paragraph unless the Property Trustee has
obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for the purposes of United
States federal income tax the Trust will not be classified as an association
taxable as a corporation or a partnership and that each Holder of the Securities
will be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Notes on
account of such action. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights
under the Declaration, any Holder of Preferred Securities may, after a period of
30 days has elapsed from such holder's written request to the Property Trustee
to enforce such rights, institute a legal proceeding directly against any Person
to enforce the Property Trustee's rights under the Declaration, without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any other Person.

     Any approval or direction of Holders of Preferred Securities may be given
at a separate meeting of Holders of Preferred Securities convened for such
purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or
pursuant to written consent. The Regular Trustees will cause a notice of any
meeting at which Holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote, or of any
matter upon which action by written consent of such Holders is to

                                      11
<PAGE>
 
be taken, to be mailed to each Holder of record of Preferred Securities. Each
such notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such meeting
or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a description of any
resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting on which such Holders are
entitled to vote or of such matter upon which written consent is sought and
(iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or consents.

     No vote or consent of the Holders of the Preferred Securities will be
required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Preferred Securities or to
distribute the Notes in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the
Securities.

     Notwithstanding that Holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote
or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred
Securities that are owned by the Sponsor, or by any entity directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with the Sponsor shall not be entitled to vote or consent and shall, for
purposes of such vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.

     6. Voting Rights - Common Securities.
        --------------------------------- 

     (a)  Except as provided under paragraph 6(b), 6(c) and 7 as otherwise
          required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Common
          Securities will have no voting rights.

     (b)  The Holders of the Common Securities are entitled, in accordance with
          Article V of the Declaration, to vote to appoint, remove or replace
          any Trustee or to increase or decrease the number of Trustees, subject
          to the exclusive right of the Holders of the Preferred Securities to
          appoint, remove or replace a Special Regular Trustee.

     (c)  Subject to Section 2.6 of this Declaration and only after the Event of
          Default with respect to the Preferred Securities have been cured,
          waived, or otherwise eliminated, and subject to the requirements of
          the second to last sentence of this paragraph, the Holders of a
          Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities, voting
          separately as a class may direct the time, method, and place of
          conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Property
          Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property
          Trustee under the Declaration, including (i) directing the time,
          method, place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to
          the Note Trustee, or executing any trust or power conferred on the
          Note Trustee with respect to the Notes, (ii) waive any past default
          and its consequences that is waivable under Section 7.13 of the
          Indenture,

                                      12
<PAGE>
 
          (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration that the
          principal of all the Notes shall be due and payable, or (iv) consent
          to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or the
          Notes, where such consent shall be required, provided, however, that
          where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of
          greater than a majority of the Holders in principal amount of Notes
          affected thereby (a "Super Majority"),the Property Trustee may only
          give such consent at the direction of the Holders of at least the
          proportion in liquidation amount of the Common Securities which the
          relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount
          of the Notes outstanding. The Property Trustee shall not revoke any
          action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of
          the Preferred Securities. Other than with respect to directing the
          time, method and place of conducting any remedy available to the
          Property Trustee or the Note Trustee as set forth above, the Property
          Trustee shall not take any action in accordance with the directions of
          the Holders of the Common Securities under this paragraph unless the
          Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect
          that for the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust
          will not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation or a
          partnership and that each Holder of the Securities will be treated as
          owning an undivided beneficial interest in the Notes on account of
          such action. If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its rights under
          the Declaration, any Holder of Common Securities may, after a period
          of 30 days has elapsed from such holder's written request to the
          Property Trustee to enforce such rights, institute a legal proceeding
          directly against any Person to enforce the Property Trustee's rights
          under the Declaration, without first instituting a legal proceeding
          against the Property Trustee or any other Person.

     Any approval or direction of Holders of Common Securities may be given at a
separate meeting of Holders of Common Securities convened for such purpose, at a
meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written
consent. The Regular Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which
Holders of Common Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which
action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be mailed to each
Holder of record of Common Securities. Each such notice will include a statement
setting forth (i) the date of such meeting or the date by which such action is
to be taken, (ii) a description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such
meeting on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon which
written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the delivery of proxies or
consents.
 
                                      13
<PAGE>
 
     No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities will be required
for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities or to distribute the Notes
in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of the Securities.


     7. Amendments to Declaration and Indenture.
        --------------------------------------- 

     (a)  If any proposed amendment to the Declaration provides for, or the
          Regular Trustees otherwise propose to effect, (i) any action that
          would adversely affect the powers, preferences or special rights of
          the Securities, whether by way of amendment to the Declaration or
          otherwise, or (ii) the dissolution, winding-up or termination of the
          Trust, other than as described in Section 8.1 of the Declaration, then
          the Holders of outstanding Securities as a class, will be entitled to
          vote on such amendment or proposal (but not on any other amendment or
          proposal) and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except
          with the approval of the Holders of at least 66-2/3% in liquidation
          amount of the Securities, voting together as a single class provided,
          however, that the rights Holders of Preferred Securities under Article
          V of the Declaration to appoint, remove or replace a Special Regular
          Trustee shall not amended without the consent of each Holder of
          Preferred Securities, provided, however, if any amendment or proposal
          referred to in clause (i) above would adversely affect only the
          Preferred Securities or the Common Securities, only the affected class
          will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal and such
          amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the approval
          of 66 2/3% in liquidation amount of such class of securities.

     (b)  In the event the consent of the Property Trustee as the holder of the
          Notes is required under the Indenture with respect to any amendment,
          modification or termination on the Indenture or the Notes, the
          Property Trustee shall request the direction of the Holders of the
          Securities with respect to such amendment, modification or termination
          and shall vote with respect to such amendment, modification or
          termination as directed by a Majority in liquidation amount of the
          Securities voting together as a single class; provided, however, that
          where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of the
          holders of greater than a majority in aggregate principal amount of
          the Notes (a "Super Majority"), the Property Trustee may only give
          such consent at the direction of the Holders of at least the
          proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities which the relevant
          Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of the
          Notes outstanding provided, further, that

                                      14
<PAGE>
 
          the Property Trustee shall not take any action in accordance with the
          directions of the Holders of the Securities under this paragraph 7(b)
          unless the Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to
          the effect that for the purposes of United States federal income tax
          the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust.

     8. Pro Rata.
        -------- 

     A reference in these terms of the Securities to any payment, distribution
or treatment as being "Pro Rata" shall mean pro rata to each Holder of
Securities according to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Securities held
by the relevant Holder in relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of all
Securities outstanding unless, in relation to a payment, an Event of Default
under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, in which case any funds
available to make such payment shall be paid first to each Holder of the
Preferred Securities pro rata according to the aggregate liquidation amount of
Preferred Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the aggregate
liquidation amount of all Preferred Securities outstanding, and only after
satisfaction of all amounts owed to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, to
each Holder of Common Securities pro rata according to the aggregate liquidation
amount of Common Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to the
aggregate liquidation amount of all Common Securities outstanding.

     9. Ranking.
        ------- 

     The Preferred Securities rank pari pasu and payment thereon shall be made
Pro Rata with the Common Securities except that where an Event of Default occurs
and is continuing under the Indenture in respect of the Notes held by the
Property Trustee, the rights of Holders of the Common Securities to payment in
respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise
are subordinated to the rights to payment of the Holders of the Preferred
Securities.

     10. Listing.
         ------- 

     The Regular Trustees shall use their best efforts to cause the Preferred
Securities to be listed for quotation on the New York Stock Exchange.

     11. Acceptance of Securities Guarantee and Indenture.
         ------------------------------------------------ 

     Each Holder of Preferred Securities and Common Securities, by the
acceptance thereof, agrees to the provisions of the Preferred
Securities Guarantee and the Common Securities Guarantee, respectively,
including the subordination provisions therein and to the provisions of the
Indenture.

                                      15
<PAGE>
 
     12. No Preemptive Rights.
         -------------------- 

     The Holders of the Securities shall have no preemptive rights to subscribe
for any additional Securities.

     13. Miscellaneous.
         ------------- 

     These terms constitute a part of the Declaration.

     The Regular Trustees will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Preferred
Securities Guarantee and the Indenture to a Holder without charge on written
request to the Trust at its principal place of business.

                                      16
<PAGE>
 
                                    Annex I
                                        
     [IF THE PREFERRED SECURITY IS TO BE A GLOBAL CERTIFICATE INSERT - This
Preferred Security is a Global Certificate within the meaning of the Declaration
hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of The Depository Trust
Company (the "Depository") or a nominee of the Depository. This Preferred
Security is exchangeable for Preferred Securities registered in the name of a
person other than the Depository or its nominee only in the limited
circumstances described in the Declaration and no transfer of this Preferred
Security (other than a transfer of this Preferred Security as a whole by the
Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to
the Depository or another nominee of the Depository) may be registered except in
limited circumstances.

          Unless this Preferred Security is presented by an authorized
representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York) to
the Trust or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and
any Preferred Security issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such
other name as requested by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust
Company and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR
OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the
registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.]

Certificate Number                              Number of Preferred Securities

     CUSIP NO.

                  Certificate Evidencing Preferred Securities

                                      of

                           HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I

                             Preferred Securities.
                                        
                (Liquidation Amount $25 per Preferred Security)

     Household Capital Trust I, a business trust formed under the laws of the
State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that _____________ (the
"Holder") is the registered owner of preferred securities of the Trust
representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust
designated the __________ Trust Originated Preferred Securities (liquidation
amount $25 per Preferred Security) (the "Preferred Securities"). The Preferred
Securities are transferable on the books and records of the Trust, in person or
by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of this certificate duly endorsed
and in proper form for transfer. The designation, rights, privileges,
restrictions, preferences and

                                      A-1
<PAGE>
 
other terms and provisions of the Preferred Securities represented hereby are
issued and shall in all respects be subject to the provisions of the Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of ___________, 1995, as the
same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration") including the
designation of the terms of the Preferred Securities as set forth in Exhibit A
to the Declaration. Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the
meaning given them in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of
the Preferred Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Trust
will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Preferred Securities Guarantee and
the Indenture to a Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at
its principal place of business.

     Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration
and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

     By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat the Notes as indebtedness and the
Preferred Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Notes.

                                      A-2
<PAGE>


 

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this 

day of        , 199_.


                                    [    ]
                                    as Trustee

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


                                    [    ]
                                         as Trustee


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



                                      A-3
<PAGE>
 
                                   ASSIGNMENT
                                        
     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfer this Preferred
Security Certificate to:

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

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

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

- -------------------------------------------------------- (Insert assignee's
social security of tax identification number)



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

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

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

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

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoint)



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

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

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

- -------------------------- agent to transfer this Preferred Security 
Certificate on the books of the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act
for him or her.


Date: 
     -------------------------------------------

Signature:
          --------------------------------------   
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Preferred Security
Certificate)

                                      A-4
<PAGE>
 
                                   Annex II

Certificate Number                                Number of Common Securities

                   Certificate Evidencing Common Securities

                                      of


                           HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I
                                        
                               Common Securities
                 (Liquidation Amount $25 per Common Security)

Household Capital Trust I, a business trust formed under the laws of the State
of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that ________________ (the "Holder")
is the registered owner of common securities of the Trust representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust designated the _______________
Trust Originated Common Securities (liquidation amount $25 per Common Security)
(the "Common Securities"). The Common Securities are transferable on the books
and records of the Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon
surrender of this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer. The
designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and
provisions of the Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in
all respects be subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of __________, 1995, as the same may
be amended from time to time (the "Declaration") including the designation of
the terms of the Common Securities as set forth in Exhibit A to the Declaration.
Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them
in the Declaration. The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Common
Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein. The Trust will provide a
copy of the Declaration, the Common Securities Guarantee and the Indenture to a
Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its principal place
of business.

Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by the Declaration and is
entitled to the benefits thereunder.

By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat the Notes as indebtedness and the
Common Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Notes.


                                      A-5
<PAGE>
 




          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this 
day of         , 199_.


[ ]
as Trustee


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


                                 [      ]
                                 as Trustee


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




                                      A-6
<PAGE>
 

                                  ASSIGNMENT
                                        
     FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfer this Common
Security Certificate to:

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

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

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Insert assignee's social security of tax identification number)




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

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

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

- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Insert address and zip code of assignee) and irrevocably appoint)



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

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

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

- ------------ agent to transfer this Common Security Certificate on the books of
the Trust. The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.



Date:
     -------------------------------------------

Signature:
          -------------------------------------- 
(Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common Security
Certificate)


                                      A-7
<PAGE>


 
                                   EXHIBIT B

                               SPECIMEN OF NOTE












<PAGE>
 


                                   EXHIBIT C

                            UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT













<PAGE>
 
                                                                 Exhibit 4(g)



                                                                                

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



                   PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT


                         Household International, Inc.

                       Dated as of _______________, 1995



                   ----------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                             CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*


<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

Section of Trust Indenture                    Section of
Act of 1939, as amended                       Guarantee Agreement
- --------------------------                    -------------------
<S>                                           <C>  
310(a)................................        4.1(a)
310(b)................................        4.1(c)
310(c)................................        Inapplicable
311(a)................................        2.2(b)
311(b)................................        2.2(b)
311(c)................................        Inapplicable
312(a)................................        2.2(a)
312(b)................................        2.2(b)
313   ................................        2.3
314(a)................................        2.4
314(b)................................        Inapplicable
314(c)................................        2.5
314(d)................................        Inapplicable
314(f)................................        Inapplicable
315(a)................................        3.1(b)
315(b)................................        2.7
315(c)................................        3.1(a)
315(d)................................        3.1(a)
316(a)................................        5.4(a), 2.6
</TABLE>
__________________

*    This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the Declaration and
     shall not affect the interpretation of any of its terms or provisions.

<PAGE>
 
                    PREFERRED SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT



          This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT ("Guarantee Agreement"), dated as of
__________, 1995, is executed and delivered by Household International, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor"), and  Wilmington Trust Company, a
Delaware banking corporation, as trustee (the "Preferred Guarantee Trustee"),
for the benefit of the Holders (as defined herein) from time to time of the
Preferred Securities (as defined herein) of Household Capital Trust I, a
Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").

          WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust (the
"Declaration"), dated as of __________, 1995, among the trustees of the Issuer
named therein, the Guarantor as Sponsor and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the Issuer is
issuing on the date hereof $__________ aggregate stated liquidation amount of
Preferred Securities designated the ____% Trust Originated Preferred Securities
(the "Preferred Securities");

          WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Preferred
Securities, the Guarantor desires to irrevocably and unconditionally to agree,
to the extent set forth in this Guarantee Agreement, to pay to the Holders of
the Preferred Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein) and to make
certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth herein;

          WHEREAS, the Guarantor is also executing and delivering a guarantee
agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee Agreement") in substantially
identical terms to this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the holders of
the Common Securities (as defined herein) except that if an Event of Default (as
defined in the Indenture (as defined herein)), has occurred and is continuing,
the rights of holders of the Common Securities to receive Guarantee Payments
under the Common Securities Guarantee are subordinated to the rights of Holders
of Preferred Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under this Guarantee
Agreement.

          NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each Holder of
Preferred Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall benefit
the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Guarantee Agreement for
the benefit of the Holders.
<PAGE>
 
                                   ARTICLE I

                         DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION


SECTION 1.1    DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION.
               ------------------------------ 

     In this Guarantee Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires:

     (a)  Capitalized terms used in this Guarantee Agreement but not defined in
          the preamble above have the respective meanings assigned to them in
          this Section 1.1;

     (b)  a term defined anywhere in this Guarantee Agreement has the same
          meaning throughout;

     (c)  all references to "the Guarantee Agreement" or "this Guarantee
          Agreement" are to this Guarantee Agreement as modified, supplemented
          or amended from time to time;

     (d)  all references in this Guarantee Agreement to Articles and Sections
          are to Articles and Sections of this Guarantee Agreement unless
          otherwise specified;

     (e)  a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the same meaning when
          used in this Guarantee Agreement unless otherwise defined in this
          Guarantee Agreement or unless the context otherwise requires; and

     (f)  a reference to the singular includes the plural and vice versa.

     "Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule 405 of the
Securities Act of 1933 as amended or any successor rule thereunder.

     "Common Securities" means the securities representing common undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.

     "Covered Person" means any Holder of Preferred Securities.

     "Distributions" means a distribution payable to holders of the Preferred
Securities or the Common Securities in accordance with Section 6.1 of the
Declaration.

     "Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of its payment
or other obligations under this Guarantee Agreement.

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
     "Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or distributions, without
duplication, with respect to the Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid or
made by the Issuer:  (i) any accrued and unpaid Distributions which are required
to be paid on such Preferred Securities to the extent the Issuer shall have
funds available therefore, (ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and
unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price") to the
extent the Issuer has funds available therefor, with respect to any Preferred
Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, and (iii) upon a voluntary or
involuntary dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in
connection with the distribution of Notes to the Holders in exchange for
Preferred Securities as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the
aggregate of the liquidation amount and all accrued and unpaid Distributions on
the Preferred Securities to the date of payment, and (b) the amount of assets of
the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the
Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").  If an Event of Default
under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the rights of Holders of the
Common Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under the Common Securities
Guarantee Agreement are subordinated to the rights of Holders of Preferred
Securities to receive Guarantee Payments.

     "Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and records of
the Issuer, of any Preferred Securities; provided, however, that in determining
whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Preferred Securities have
given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, "Holder" shall not
include the Guarantor or any entity directly or indirectly controlling or
controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Guarantor.

     "Indemnified Person" means the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, any Affiliate
of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors, shareholders,
members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee.

     "Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of May 15, 1995 among Household
International, Inc., a Delaware corporation (as "Debt Issuer") and The First
National Bank of Chicago, a national banking association, as trustee and any
indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which certain subordinated debt
securities of the Debt Issuer are to be issued to the Property Trustee of the
Issuer.

     "Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities" means, except
as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, Holder(s) of Preferred Securities voting
separately as a class, who vote Preferred Securities and the aggregate
liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on
redemption,

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon
which the voting percentages are determined) of the Preferred Securities voted
by such Holders represents more than 50% of the above stated liquidation amount
of all Preferred Securities.

     "Notes" means a series of debt securities issued by the Debt Issuer
pursuant to the Indenture to be known as ____% Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Notes due 2025.

     "Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person.  Any Officers' Certificate
delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for
in this Guarantee Agreement shall include:

     (a)  a statement that each officer signing the Certificate has read the
          covenant or condition and the definition relating thereto;

     (b)  a brief statement of the nature and scope of the examination or
          investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering the Certificate;

     (c)  a statement that each such officer has made such examination or
          investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is necessary to enable
          such officer to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such
          covenant or condition has been complied with; and

     (d)  a statement as to whether, in the opinion of each such officer, such
          condition or covenant has been complied with.

     "Person" means a legal person, including any individual, corporation,
estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock company, limited
liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or government or any
agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.

     "Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means Wilmington Trust Company, a Delaware
banking corporation, until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the terms of this
Guarantee Agreement and thereafter means each such Successor Preferred Guarantee
Trustee.

     "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee, the chairman of the board of directors, the president, any vice-
president, any assistant vice-president, the secretary, any assistant secretary,
the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, any trust officer or assistant trust
officer or any

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
other officer of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee customarily performing
functions similar to those performed by any of the above designated officers and
also means, with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other
officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.

     "Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee" means a successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Preferred Guarantee
Trustee under Section 4.1.

     "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended.


                                   ARTICLE II

                              TRUST INDENTURE ACT


SECTION 2.1    TRUST INDENTURE ACT; APPLICATION.
               -------------------------------- 

     (a) This Guarantee Agreement is subject to the provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act that are required to be a part of this Guarantee Agreement and
shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such provisions.

     (b) If and to the extent that any provision of this Guarantee Agreement
limits, qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317,
inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall control.

SECTION 2.2    LISTS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES.
               ------------------------------ 

     (a) To the extent the Preferred Securities Trustee shall not also be acting
as Property Trustee at the time action is called for under (i) or (ii) below,
the Guarantor shall provide the Preferred Securities Trustee (i) within 14 days
after January 1 and June 30 of each year, a list, in such form as the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities ("List of Holders") as of such date,
provided that the Guarantor shall not be obligated to provide such List of
Holders at any time the List of Holders does not differ from the most recent
List of Holders given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor, and
(ii) at any other time, within 30 days of receipt by the Guarantor of a written
request for a List of Holders as of a date no more than 14 days before such List
of Holders is given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.  The Preferred Guarantee
Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a
new List of Holders.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     (b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Section 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.3    REPORTS BY THE PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
               ------------------------------------------ 

     Within 60 days after May 15 of each year, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
shall provide to the Holders of the Preferred Securities such reports as are
required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in
the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.  The Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of
the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.4    PERIODIC REPORTS TO PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
               ----------------------------------------------- 

     The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such
documents, reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any) and the
compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in the
form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.5    EVIDENCE OF COMPLIANCE WITH CONDITIONS PRECEDENT.
               ------------------------------------------------ 

     The Guarantor shall provide to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee such
evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in
this Guarantee Agreement which relate to any of the matters set forth in Section
314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.  Any certificate or opinion required to be
given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form of an
Officer's Certificate.

SECTION 2.6    EVENT OF DEFAULT; WAIVER.
               ------------------------ 

     The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Preferred Securities
may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Preferred Securities, waive
any past Event of Default and its consequences.  Upon such waiver, any such
Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default arising
therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose of this
Guarantee Agreement, but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other
default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 2.7    EVENT OF DEFAULT; NOTICE.
               ------------------------ 

     (a) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class postage
prepaid, to the Holders of the Preferred Securities, notices of all Events of
Default known to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been
cured before the giving of such notice, provided that, the Preferred Guarantee
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
and/or Responsible Officers, of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in good faith
determine that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders
of the Preferred Securities.

     (b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge
of any Event of Default except any Event of Default as to which the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice or a Responsible Officer
charged with the administration of the Declaration shall have obtained written
notice of.

SECTION 2.8    CONFLICTING INTERESTS.
               --------------------- 

     The Declaration shall be deemed to be specifically described in this
Guarantee Agreement for the purposes of clause (i) of the first proviso
contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.


                                  ARTICLE III

                          POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
                          PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE


SECTION 3.1    POWERS AND DUTIES OF THE PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
               ---------------------------------------------------- 

     (a) This Guarantee Agreement shall be held by the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred Securities and the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Guarantee Agreement to any
Person except a Holder of Preferred Securities exercising his or her rights
pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee on
acceptance by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee of its appointment to
act as Preferred Guarantee Trustee.  The right, title and interest of the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall automatically vest in any Successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee and such vesting and

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have
been executed and delivered.

     (b) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Guarantee Agreement for the benefit of the
Holders of the Preferred Securities.

     (c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence of any Event of
Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may have occurred,
shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in
this Guarantee Agreement, and no implied covenants shall be read into this
Guarantee Agreement against the Preferred Guarantee Trustee.  In case an Event
of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section
2.6), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and
powers vested in it by this Guarantee Agreement, and use the same degree of care
and skill in their exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the
circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs;

     (d) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be construed to relieve
the Preferred Guarantee Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its
own negligent failure to act, or its own willful misconduct, except that:

     (i)  prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and after the curing
          or waiving of all such Events of Default that may have occurred:

          (A)  the duties and obligations of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee
               shall be determined solely by the express provisions of this
               Guarantee Agreement, and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall
               not be liable except for the performance of such duties and
               obligations as are specifically set forth in this Guarantee
               Agreement, and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read
               into this Guarantee Agreement against the Preferred Guarantee
               Trustee; and

          (B)  in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Preferred
               Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may
               conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and the
               correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any
               certificates or opinions furnished to the Preferred Guarantee
               Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Guarantee
               Agreement; but in the case of any such certificates or opinions
               that by any provision

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
               hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Preferred
               Guarantee Trustee, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under
               a duty to examine the same to determine whether or not they
               conform to the requirements of the Declaration;

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

   (iii)  the Preferred Guarantee 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 of not less than a
          Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities at the time
          outstanding relating to the time, method and place of conducting any
          proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred Trustee, or
          exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Preferred Guarantee
          Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement; and

    (iv)  no provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall require the Preferred
          Guarantee 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 it shall have
          reasonable ground for believing that the repayment of such funds or
          liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this
          Guarantee Agreement or adequate indemnity against such risk or
          liability is not reasonably assured to it.

SECTION 3.2    CERTAIN RIGHTS OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE.
               --------------------------------------------- 

     (a) Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:

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

    (ii)  any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by this Guarantee
          Agreement shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate;

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
   (iii)  whenever in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement, the
          Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable that a matter be
          proved or established before taking, suffering or omitting any action
          hereunder, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is
          herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on
          its part and request and rely upon an Officers' Certificate which,
          upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the
          Guarantor;

    (iv)  the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
          recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any
          rerecording, refiling or registration thereof);

     (v)  the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may consult with counsel and the
          written advice or opinion of such counsel with respect to legal
          matters shall be full and complete authorization and protection in
          respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it hereunder in
          good faith and in accordance with such advice or opinion.  Such
          counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its Affiliates, and
          may include any of its employees.  The Preferred Guarantee Trustee
          shall have the right at any time to seek instructions concerning the
          administration of this Guarantee Agreement from any court of competent
          jurisdiction;

    (vi)  the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be under no obligation to
          exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by this Guarantee
          Agreement at the request or direction of any Holder, unless such
          Holder shall have provided to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee adequate
          security and indemnity which would satisfy a reasonable person in the
          position of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, against the costs,
          expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) and liabilities that
          might be incurred by it in complying with such request or direction,
          including such reasonable advances as may be requested by the
          Preferred Guarantee Trustee provided, that, nothing contained in this
          Section 3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Preferred Guarantee
          Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation
          to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Guarantee
          Agreement;

   (vii)  the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to make any
          investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
          certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
          direction, consent,

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
          order, bond, debenture, note, other evidence of indebtedness or other
          paper or document, but the Preferred Guarantee Trustee, in its
          discretion, may make such further inquiry or investigation into such
          facts or matters as it may see fit;

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

    (ix)  any action taken by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or its agents
          hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Preferred Securities and the
          signature of the Preferred Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall
          be sufficient and effective to perform any such action; and no third
          party shall be required to inquire as to the authority of the
          Preferred Guarantee Trustee to so act, or as to its compliance with
          any of the terms and provisions of this Guarantee Agreement, both of
          which shall be conclusively evidenced by the Preferred Guarantee
          Trustee's or its agent's taking such action; and

     (x)  whenever in the administration of this Guarantee Agreement the
          Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall deem it desirable to receive
          instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or right or taking
          any other action hereunder the Preferred Guarantee Trustee (i) may
          request instructions from the Holders of the Preferred Securities,
          (ii) may refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such
          other action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be
          protected in acting in accordance with such instructions; and

     (b) No provision of this Guarantee Agreement shall be deemed to impose any
duty or obligation on the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to perform any act or acts
or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation conferred or imposed on it, in
any jurisdiction in which it shall be illegal, or in which the Preferred
Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or incompetent in accordance with
applicable law, to perform any such act or acts or to exercise any such right,
power, duty or obligation.  No permissive power or authority available to the
Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 3.3    NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF GUARANTEE.
               ----------------------------------------------------- 

     The recitals contained in this Guarantee shall be taken as the statements
of the Guarantor and the Preferred Guarantee Trustee does not assume any
responsibility for their correctness.  The Preferred Guarantee Trustee makes no
representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Guarantee Agreement.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                          PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE


SECTION 4.1    PREFERRED GUARANTEE TRUSTEE; ELIGIBILITY.
               ---------------------------------------- 

     (a) There shall at all times be a Preferred Guarantee Trustee which shall:

     (i)  not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor;

    (ii)  be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
          United States of America or any state or territory thereof or of the
          District of Columbia, or a corporation or Person permitted by the
          Securities and Exchange Commission to act as an institutional trustee
          under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise
          corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at
          least 50 million U.S. dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to
          supervision or examination by federal, state, territorial or District
          of Columbia authority.  If such corporation publishes reports of
          condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of
          the supervising or examining authority referred to above, then for the
          purposes of this Section 4.1(a)(ii), 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.

     (b) If at any time the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall cease to be
eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall
immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).

     (c) If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee has or shall acquire any
"conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust
Indenture Act, the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
Guarantor shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 4.2    APPOINTMENT, REMOVAL AND RESIGNATION OF PREFERRED GUARANTEE
               -----------------------------------------------------------
               TRUSTEE.
               ------- 

     (a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Preferred Guarantee Trustee may be
appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor.

     (b) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in accordance with
this Section 4.2 until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed by
such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.

     (c) The Preferred Guarantee Trustee appointed to office shall hold office
until a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed or until
its removal or resignation.  The Preferred Guarantee Trustee may resign from
office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in
writing executed by the Preferred Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor Preferred
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
instrument in writing executed by such Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee and
delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning Preferred Guarantee Trustee.

     (d) If no Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee shall have been appointed
and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within 60 days after
delivery to the Guarantor of an instrument of resignation, the resigning
Preferred Guarantee Trustee may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
appointment of a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.  Such court may
thereupon after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe,
appoint a Successor Preferred Guarantee Trustee.


                                   ARTICLE V

                                   GUARANTEE


SECTION 5.1    GUARANTEE.
               --------- 

     The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in full to the
Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts theretofore paid
by the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of any defense, right of set-off or
counterclaim which the Issuer may have or assert.  The Guarantor's obligation to
make

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts
by the Guarantor to the Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to
the Holders.

SECTION 5.2    WAIVER OF NOTICE AND DEMAND.
               --------------------------- 

     The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this Guarantee
Agreement and of any liability to which it applies or may apply, presentment,
demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first against the Issuer
or any other Person before proceeding against the Guarantor, protest, notice of
nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of redemption and all other notices and
demands.

SECTION 5.3    OBLIGATIONS NOT AFFECTED.
               ------------------------ 

     The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the Guarantor under
this Guarantee Agreement shall in no way be affected or impaired by reason of
the happening from time to time of any of the following:

     (a)  the release or waiver, by operation of law or otherwise, of the
          performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or implied
          agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Preferred
          Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer;

     (b)  the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer of all or any
          portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation
          Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the
          Preferred Securities or the extension of time for the performance of
          any other obligation under, arising out of, or in connection with, the
          Preferred Securities (other than an extension of time for payment of
          Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution or other sum
          payable that results from the extension of any interest payment period
          on the Notes or any extension of the maturity date of the Notes
          permitted by the Indenture);

     (c)  any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on the part of the
          Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege, power or
          remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Preferred
          Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting
          indulgence or extension of any kind;

     (d)  the voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution, sale of any
          collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy, assignment for the
          benefit of creditors,

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
          reorganization, arrangement, composition or readjustment of debt of,
          or other similar proceedings affecting, the Issuer or any of the
          assets of the Issuer;

     (e)  any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in the Preferred
          Securities;

     (f)  the settlement or compromise of any obligation guaranteed hereby or
          hereby incurred; or

     (g)  any other circumstance whatsoever that might otherwise constitute a
          legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor, it being the
          intent of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor
          hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all
          circumstances.

There shall be no obligation on the Holders or any other Person to give notice
to, or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of
the foregoing.

SECTION 5.4    RIGHTS OF HOLDERS.
               ----------------- 

     (a) The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Preferred
Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any
proceeding for any remedy available to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee in
respect of this Guarantee Agreement or exercising any trust or power conferred
upon Preferred Guarantee Trustee under this Guarantee Agreement.

     (b) If the Preferred Guarantee Trustee fails to enforce this Guarantee
Agreement, any Holder of Preferred Securities may, after a period of 30 days has
elapsed from such Holder's written request to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee to
enforce this Guarantee Agreement, institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Guarantor to enforce its rights under this Guarantee Agreement, without
first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Preferred Guarantee
Trustee or any other Person.

SECTION 5.5    GUARANTEE OF PAYMENT.
               -------------------- 

     This Guarantee Agreement creates a guarantee of payment and not of
collection.

SECTION 5.6    SUBROGATION.
               ----------- 

     The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all (if any) rights of the Holders of
Preferred Securities against the Issuer in respect of any amounts paid to such
Holders by the Guarantor under this Guarantee Agreement; provided, however, that
the Guarantor shall

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
 
not (except to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled
to enforce or exercise any rights which it may acquire by way of subrogation or
any indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of
payment under this Guarantee Agreement, if, at the time of any such payment, any
amounts are due and unpaid under this Guarantee Agreement.  If any amount shall
be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the preceding sentence, the Guarantor
agrees to hold such amount in trust for the Holders and to pay over such amount
to the Holders.

SECTION 5.7    INDEPENDENT OBLIGATIONS.
               ----------------------- 

     The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are independent
of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Preferred Securities and
that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor hereunder to make
Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Guarantee Agreement
notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a)
through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.


                                   ARTICLE VI

                   LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION


SECTION 6.1    LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS.
               -------------------------- 

     So long as any Preferred Securities remain outstanding, if there shall have
occurred and is continuing any event that would constitute an Event of Default
or an Event of Default under the Declaration, then (a) the Guarantor shall not
declare or pay any dividends on, or purchase, acquire or make a distribution or
liquidation payment with respect to any of its capital stock, and (b) the
Guarantor shall not make any payment of interest, principal or premium, if any,
on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities issued by the Guarantor
which rank pari passu with or junior to the Notes.

SECTION 6.2    RANKING.
               ------- 

     This Guarantee Agreement will constitute an unsecured obligation of the
Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right of payment to all
other liabilities of the Guarantor, including the Notes, except those made pari
passu or subordinate by their terms, (ii) pari passu with the most senior
preferred or preference stock now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor and with
any guarantee now or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any
preferred or preference stock of

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
 
any Affiliate of the Guarantor and (iii) senior to the Guarantor's common stock.


                                  ARTICLE VII

                                  TERMINATION


SECTION 7.1    TERMINATION.
               ----------- 

     This Guarantee Agreement shall terminate upon full payment of the
Redemption Price of all of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities upon
the distribution of the Notes to the Holder's of all of the Preferred Securities
or upon full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration
upon liquidation of the Issuer.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Guarantee
Agreement will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time any Holder of Preferred Securities must restore payment of
any sums paid under the Preferred Securities or under this Preferred Securities
Guarantee.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                                INDEMNIFICATION


SECTION 8.1    EXCULPATION.
               ----------- 

     (a) No indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or accountable in
damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for any loss, damage
or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed or omitted by such
Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this Guarantee Agreement and
in a manner such Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope
of the authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Guarantee
Agreement or by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any
such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's
negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.

     (b) An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in good faith
upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information, opinions, reports
or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to matters the
Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other Person's
professional or expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care
by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information, opinions, reports or
statements as to the value and amount of the assets,

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
 
liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and
amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Preferred Securities
might properly be paid.

SECTION 8.2    INDEMNIFICATION.
               --------------- 

     (a) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, the Guarantor shall
indemnify and hold harmless each Indemnified Person from and against any loss,
damage or claim incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason of any act or
omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith in
accordance with this Guarantee Agreement and in a manner such Indemnified Person
reasonably believed to be within the scope of authority conferred on such
Indemnified Person by this in accordance with this Guarantee Agreement, except
that no Indemnified Person shall be entitled to be indemnified in respect of any
loss, damage or claim incurred by such Indemnified Person by reason or
negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.

     (b) To the fullest extent permitted by applicable law, expenses (including
legal fees) incurred by an Indemnified Person in defending any claim, demand,
action, suit or proceeding shall, from time to time, be advanced by the
Guarantor prior to the final disposition of such claim, demand, action, suit or
proceeding upon receipt by the Guarantor of an undertaking by or on behalf of
the Indemnified Person to repay such amount if it shall be determined that the
Indemnified Person is not entitled to be indemnified as authorized in Section
8.2(a).


                                   ARTICLE IX

                                 MISCELLANEOUS


SECTION 9.1    SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.
               ---------------------- 

     All guarantees and agreements contained in this Guarantee Agreement shall
bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the
Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the Holders of the Preferred
Securities then outstanding.

SECTION 9.2    AMENDMENTS.
               ---------- 

     Except with respect to any changes which do not adversely affect the rights
of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders will be required), this
Guarantee Agreement may only be amended with the prior approval of the Holders
of at least 66-2/3% in liquidation amount of all the outstanding Preferred
Securities.  The provisions of Section 12.2 of the Declaration with respect to

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
 
meetings of Holders of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities apply to
the giving of such approval.

SECTION 9.3    NOTICES.
               ------- 

     All notices provided for in this Guarantee Agreement shall be in writing,
duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be delivered, telecopied
or mailed by registered or certified mail, as follows:

     (a)  if given to the Preferred Guarantee Trustee at the Preferred Guarantee
          Trustee's mailing address set forth below(or such other address as the
          Preferred Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the
          Preferred Securities):

          Wilmington Trust Company
          Rodney Square North
          1100 North Market Street
          Wilmington, DE  19890

          Attn:  Corporate Trust Administration

     (b)  if given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing address set
          forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice of
          to the Holders of the Preferred Securities):

          Household International, Inc.
          2700 Sanders Road
          Prospect Heights, IL  60070

          Attn:  Treasurer

     (c)  if given to any holder of Preferred Securities, at the address set
          forth on the books and records of the Issuer.

     All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when received in
person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class mail,
postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused delivery or
cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice was given,
such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date
of such refusal or inability to deliver.

SECTION 9.4    BENEFIT.
               ------- 

     This Guarantee Agreement is solely for the benefit of the Holders of the
Preferred Securities and subject to Section 3.1(a) is not separately
transferable from the Preferred Securities.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 9.5   GOVERNING LAW.
              ------------- 

     THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED
IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF ILLINOIS.

     THIS GUARANTEE AGREEMENT is executed as of the day and year first above
written.

                              HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.


                              By:___________________________
                                 Name:
                                 Title:


                              WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY,
                              not in its individual capacity but
                              solely as Preferred Guarantee Trustee


                              By:___________________________
                                 Name:
                                 Title:

                                      -20-

<PAGE>
                                                                    Exhibit 4(h)
 
                             CERTIFICATE OF TRUST
                                      OF
                           HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I
                           -------------------------


     This Certificate of Trust of Household Capital Trust I (the "Trust"), dated
May 16, 1995, is being duly executed and filed by the undersigned, as trustees,
to form a business trust under the Delaware Business Trust Act (12 Del.C.
(S)3801 et seq.).

     1.  Name.  The name of the business trust formed hereby is Household
Capital Trust I.

     2.  Delaware Trustee.  The name and business address of the trustee of the
Trust with a principal place of business in the State of Delaware is Wilmington
Trust Company, Rodney Square North, 1100 North Market Street, Wilmington, DE
19890, Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration.

     3.  Counterparts.  This Certificate may be executed in one or more
counterparts.

     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole trustees of the Trust,
have executed this Certificate of Trust as of the date first above written.

 
                                       WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
                                       as Trustee

                                               /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
                                       By:_________________________________
                                            Name:  Emmett R. Harmon
                                            Title: Vice President
<PAGE>


 
                                         /s/  Edgar Ancona
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       Edgar Ancona, as trustee



                                         /s/  B. B. Moss, Jr.
                                       ----------------------------------------
                                       B. B. Moss, Jr., as trustee


u:\law\pds\mips\certtst2.cer

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   Exhibit 23(a)

                   CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
                   -----------------------------------------

Household International, Inc.:

As independent public accountants, we hereby consent to the incorporation by
reference in this registration statement on Form S-3 relating to the offering of
up to $75,000,000 of Household Capital Trust I Trust Preferred Securities,
Household International, Inc. Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Notes and
Household International, Inc. Guarantees of Trust Preferred Securities, to be
filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission on or about May 26, 1995, of
our report dated February 3, 1995, included in Household International's
Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994, and to all references to our
Firm included in this registration statement.


/s/ Arthur Andersen LLP

    Chicago, Illinois,
    May 26, 1995


<PAGE>
 
                                                       Registration No. 33-59385
================================================================================

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                   FORM T-1

        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) ___

                           WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)


        Delaware                                          51-0055023
(State of incorporation)                   (I.R.S. employer identification no.)

                              Rodney Square North
                           1100 North Market Street
                          Wilmington, Delaware  19890
                   (Address of principal executive offices)

                              Cynthia L. Corliss
                       Vice President and Trust Counsel
                           Wilmington Trust Company
                              Rodney Square North
                          Wilmington, Delaware  19890
                                (302) 651-8516
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)


                         HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
                           HOUSEHOLD CAPITAL TRUST I

              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                                        36-3121988
        Delaware                                        Applied for
(State of incorporation)                   (I.R.S. employer identification no.)


            2700 Sanders Road
       Prospect Heights, Illinois                          60070
(Address of principal executive offices)                 (Zip Code)


            Trust Preferred Securities of Household Capital Trust I
   Guarantees of Trust Preferred Securities by Household International, Inc.

                      (Title of the indenture securities)
===============================================================================

<PAGE>
 

ITEM 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.

          Federal Deposit Insurance Co.  State Bank Commissioner
          Five Penn Center               Dover, Delaware
          Suite #2901
          Philadelphia, PA

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

          The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

ITEM 2.   AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.

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

          Based upon an examination of the books and records of the trustee and
          upon information furnished by the obligor, the obligor is not an
          affiliate of the trustee.

ITEM 3.   LIST OF EXHIBITS.

          List below all exhibits filed as part of this Statement of
      Eligibility and Qualification.

      A.  Charter of Wilmington Trust Company, which includes the certificate
          of authority of Wilmington Trust Company to commence business and the
          authorization of Wilmington Trust Company to exercise corporate trust
          powers.  Said Charter is incorporated herein by reference to
          Registration No. 22-21841/Pre-Effective Amendment No. 3 to Form T-1
          filed by Wilmington Trust Company in May, 1992, with respect to
          Subordinated Notes due 2002 of Supermarkets General Holdings
          Corporation.
      B.  By-Laws of Wilmington Trust Company.  Said By-Laws are incorporated
          herein by reference to Registration No. 22-21841/Pre-Effective
          Amendment No. 3 to Form T-1 filed by Wilmington Trust Company in May,
          1992, with respect to Subordinated Notes due 2002 of Supermarket
          Generals Holdings Corporation.
      C.  Consent of Wilmington Trust Company required by Section 321(b) of
          Trust Indenture Act.
      D.  Copy of most recent Report of Condition of Wilmington Trust Company.

      Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the
trustee, Wilmington Trust Company, a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of Delaware, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed
on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of
Wilmington and State of Delaware on the 25th day of May, 1995.

                                     WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY

[SEAL]
 
Attest:/s/ Donald G. MacKelcan       By: /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
       -----------------------          ---------------------
       Assistant Secretary              Name: Emmett R. Harmon
                                        Title:  Vice President


                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                                                      EXHIBIT C



                            SECTION 321(B) CONSENT


      Pursuant to Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, Wilmington
Trust Company hereby consents that reports of examinations by Federal, State,
Territorial or District authorities may be furnished by such authorities to the
Securities Exchange Commission upon requests therefor.



                                    WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY


Dated: May 25, 1995                 By: /s/ Emmett R. Harmon
                                        -----------------------
                                        Name: Emmett R. Harmon
                                        Title: Vice President
<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT "D"


                                    NOTICE


          This form is intended to assist state nonmember banks and savings
          banks with state publication requirements.  It has not been approved
          by any state banking authorities.  Refer to your appropriate state
          banking authorities for your state publication requirements.


R E P O R T  O F  C O N D I T I O N
 
Consolidating domestic subsidiaries of the
 
        WILMINGTON TRUST COMPANY            of  WILMINGTON
- ------------------------------------------      ----------
              Name of Bank                         City
 
in the State of DELAWARE, at the close of business on March 31, 1995.
                --------

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 

ASSETS
                                                                           Thousands of dollars 
<S>                                                                        <C>                 
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:                                            
     Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coins.................               224,132
     Interest-bearing balances...........................................                     0
Held-to-maturity securities..............................................               866,133
Available-for-sale securities............................................               242,355
Federal funds sold.......................................................                 5,000
Securities purchased under agreements to resell..........................               198,831
Loans and lease financing receivables:                                                         
     Loans and leases, net of unearned income............. 3,207,574                           
     LESS:  Allowance for loan and lease losses...............45,956                           
     LESS:  Allocated transfer risk reserve......................0
     Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve....             3,161,618
Assets held in trading accounts..........................................                     0
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases).................                69,039
Other real estate owned..................................................                14,430
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies......                 2,481
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding.............                     0 
Intangible assets........................................................                 4,917
Other assets.............................................................                94,393
Total assets.............................................................             4,883,329 
                                                                         
</TABLE>

                                                          CONTINUED ON NEXT PAGE
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
LIABILITIES
<S>                                                                                   <C>
 
Deposits:
In domestic offices.................................................................  3,075,750
     Noninterest-bearing....................595,708
     Interest-bearing.....................2,480,042
Federal funds purchased.............................................................    243,700
Securities sold under agreements to repurchase......................................    230,426
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury............................................     27,650
Trading liabilities.................................................................          0
Other borrowed money:...............................................................    ///////
     With original maturity of one year or less.....................................    820,000
     With original maturity of more than one year...................................          0
Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases......................      1,887
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding............................          0
Subordinated notes and debentures...................................................          0
Other liabilities...................................................................     86,776
Total liabilities...................................................................  4,486,189
Limited-life preferred stock and related surplus....................................          0
 
 
 
EQUITY CAPITAL
 
Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus.......................................          0
Common Stock........................................................................        500
Surplus.............................................................................     62,118
Undivided profits and capital reserves..............................................    334,615
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities..............        (93)
Total equity capital................................................................    397,140
Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock, and equity capital.................  4,883,329
</TABLE>


<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
<S>                                                       <C> 
We, the undersigned directors, attest to                  I,    David R. Gibson
the correctness of this statement of                         ---------------------
resources and liabilities.  We declare                               Name
that it has been examined by us, and                         
to the best of our knowledge and belief                      Senior Vice President
has been prepared in conformance with                        ---------------------           
the instructions and is true and correct.                           Title

 
/s/ Richard R. Collins    ]                               of the above-named bank
- ------------------------                                  do hereby declare that
                          ]                               this Report of Condition
/s/ Carolyn S. Burger     ] Directors                     is true and correct to
- ------------------------                                  the best of my knowledge
                          ]                               and belief.
/s/ Thomas P. Sweeney     ]                               
- ------------------------                                  
 
                                                          /s/  David R. Gibson   
                                                          ------------------------
                                                                 Signature       


                                                                  04/27/95
                                                          ------------------------

</TABLE>
                                         
                                       2

<PAGE>
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM T-1
                                    --------

                            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 FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

A National Banking Association                                 36-0899825
                                                            (I.R.S. employer
                                                          identification number)

One First National Plaza, Chicago, Illinois                    60670-0126
(Address of principal executive offices)                       (Zip Code)

                       The First National Bank of Chicago
                      One First National Plaza, Suite 0286
                         Chicago, Illinois  60670-0286
             Attn:  Lynn A. Goldstein, Law Department (312)732-6919
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)


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

                         HOUSEHOLD INTERNATIONAL, INC.
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

        Delaware                                               36-3121988
(State or other jurisdiction of                             (I.R.S. employer
 incorporation of organization)                           identification number)

 2700 Sanders Road                                               60070
 Prospect Heights, Illinois                                    (Zip Code)
 (Address of Principal
  Executive Offices)  

                      JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
                        (Title of Indenture Securities)
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 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.

             Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D. C.; Federal Deposit
             Insurance Corporation, Washington, D. C., The Board of Governors of
             the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D. C. .

         (B) WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

             The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

ITEM 2.  AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.  IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF
         THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH AFFILIATION.

             No such affiliation exists with the trustee.

ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS.  LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS A PART OF
         THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.

         1. A copy of the articles of association of the trustee now in
            effect.*

         2. A copy of the certificates of authority of the trustee to
            commence business.*

         3. A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise corporate
            trust powers.*

         4. A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*

         5. Not Applicable.

         6. The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.

         7. A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee published
            pursuant to law or the requirements of its supervising or examining
            authority.

         8. Not Applicable

         9. Not Applicable

* EXHIBITS 1,2,3 AND 4 ARE HEREIN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE TO EXHIBITS BEARING
IDENTICAL NUMBERS IN ITEM 12  OF THE FORM T-1 OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
CHICAGO, FILED AS EXHIBIT 26 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 OF THE
CIT GROUP HOLDINGS, INC., FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON
FEBRUARY 16, 1993 (REGISTRATION NO. 33-58418).
<PAGE>
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, the
trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking association
organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, has duly
caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago and State of
Illinois, on the 25th day of May, 1995.

                                   THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
 


                                       /s/ STEVEN M. WAGNER
                                   BY:_________________________________________
                                   STEVEN M. WAGNER
                                   VICE PRESIDENT AND SENIOR COUNSEL
                                   CORPORATE TRUST SERVICES DIVISION
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT 6


                      THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
                          BY SECTION 321(B) OF THE ACT



                                 May 25, 1995



Securities and Exchange Commission,
Washington, D.C.  20549

Gentlemen:

In connection with the qualification of an indenture and supplemental indenture
between Household International, Inc. and The First National Bank of Chicago,
the undersigned, in accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended, hereby consents that the reports of examinations of the
undersigned, made by Federal or State Authorities authorized to make such
examinations, may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and
Exchange Commission upon its request therefore.

                                   Very truly yours,
 
                                   THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO


                                        /s/ Steven M. Wagner
                                   By: ______________________________________
                                   Steven M. Wagner
                                   Vice President and Senior Counsel
                                   Corporate Trust Services Division
<PAGE>
 
                                   EXHIBIT 7



A copy of the latest report of conditions of the trustee published pursuant to
law or the requirements of its supervising or examining authority.
<PAGE>

Legal Title of Bank:      The First National Bank of Chicago   
                          Call Date: 3/31/95  ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                  One First National Plaza, Suite 0460      Page RC-1
City, State  Zip:         Chicago, IL  60670-0460
FDIC Certificate No.:     0/3/6/1/8
                          ---------

CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION FOR INSURED COMMERCIAL
AND STATE-CHARTERED SAVINGS BANKS FOR MARCH 31, 1995

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding of the last business day of the
quarter.

SCHEDULE RC--BALANCE SHEET

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                      
                                                                                                            C400
                                                                           DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN            ------------  (lesser
                                                                               THOUSANDS         RCFD   BIL MIL THOU   than)
                                                                           ------------------    ----   ------------  --------
<S>  <C>                                                                   <C>                   <C>    <C>           <C> 
 ASSETS
 1.   Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule  
      RC-A):
      a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1)..........                          0081    2,948,128      1.a.
      b. Interest-bearing balances(2)...................................                          0071    8,482,108      1.b.
 2.   Securities
      a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A)......                          1754      167,911      2.a.
      b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)...                          1773      540,011      2.b.
 3.   Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to 
      resell in domestic offices of the bank and its Edge and Agreement 
      subsidiaries, and in IBFs:
      a. Federal Funds sold.............................................                          0276    2,508,883      3.a.
      b. Securities purchased under agreements to resell................                          0277    1,422,695      3.b.
 4.   Loans and lease financing receivables:
      a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule RC-C)..    RCFD 2122 16,238,310                         4.a.
      b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses......................    RCFD 3123    358,207                         4.b.  
      c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve..........................    RCFD 3128       0                            4.c.
      d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and
         reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)...........................                          2125   15,880,103      4.d.
 5.   Assets held in trading accounts...................................                          3545   13,257,798      5.
 6.   Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)..........                          2145      516,827      6.
 7.  Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M).......................                          2150       13,166      7.
 8.  Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies 
     (from Schedule RC-M)...............................................                          2130       10,363      8.
 9.  Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding.......                          2155      463,961      9.
10.  Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M).............................                          2143      119,715     10.
11.  Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)..................................                          2160    1,346,941     11.
12.  Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)...........................                          2170   47,678,610     12.
</TABLE>
- ------------------

(1)  Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2)  Includes time certificates of deposit not held in trading accounts.
 
 
<PAGE>
<TABLE> 
<S>                                   <C>                                              <C>   
Legal Title of Bank:                  The First National Bank of Chicago               Call Date:   3/31/95 ST-BK: 17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                              One First National Plaza, Suite 0460                                                 Page RC-2
City, State  Zip:                     Chicago, IL  60670-0460
FDIC Certificate No.:                 0/3/6/1/8
                                      ---------

</TABLE> 
SCHEDULE RC-CONTINUED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
                                                                 THOUSANDS                        BIL MIL THOU
                                                             ------------------                   ------------
<S>                                                          <C>                   <C>           <C>             <C>        
LIABILITIES
13. Deposits:
 a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C
    from Schedule RC-E, part 1)..........................                            RCON 2200      14,675,401    13.a.
    (1) Noninterest-bearing(1)...........................    RCON 6631  5,498,690                                 13.a.(1)
    (2) Interest-bearing.................................    RCON 6636  9,176,711                                 13.a.(2)
  b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries,
     and IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)..............                            RCFN 2200      11,809,645    13.b.
     (1) Noninterest bearing.............................    RCFN 6631    304,669                                 13.b.(1)
     (2) Interest-bearing................................    RCFN 6636 11,504,976                                 13.b.(2)
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under
    agreements to repurchase in domestic offices of the
    bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and
    in IBFs:
    a. Federal funds purchased...........................                            RCFD 0278       2,072,830    14.a.
    b. Securities sold under agreements to repurchase....                            RCFD 0279       1,484,164    14.b.
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury..........                            RCON 2840         103,138    15.a.
    b. Trading Liabilities...............................                            RCFD 3548       9,101,186    15.b.
16. Other borrowed money:
    a. With original maturity of one year or less........                            RCFD 2332       2,307,860    16.a.
    b. With original maturity of more than one year......                            RCFD 2333         506,476    16.b.   
17. Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under 
    capitalized leases...................................                            RCFD 2910         278,108    17.
18. Bank's liability on acceptance executed and
    outstanding..........................................                            RCFD 2920         463,961    18.
19. Subordinated notes and debentures....................                            RCFD 3200       1,225,000    19.
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)...............                            RCFD 2930         699,375    20.
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20).......                            RCFD 2948      44,727,144    21.
22. Limited-Life preferred stock and related surplus.....                            RCFD 3282           0        22.
EQUITY CAPITAL
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus........                            RCFD 3838           0        23.
24. Common stock.........................................                            RCFD 3230         200,858    24.
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred
    stock)...............................................                            RCFD 3839       2,304,657    25.
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves............                            RCFD 3632         447,916    26.a.
    b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on
       available-for-sale  securities....................                            RCFD 8434          (2,165)   26.b.
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments..                            RCFD 3284             200    27.
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)....                            RCFD 3210       2,951,466    28.
29. Total liabilities, limited-life preferred stock,
    and equity capital (sum of items 21, 22, and 28).....                            RCFD 3300      47,678,610    29.
</TABLE>
<TABLE> 
<S>                                                                                           <C>                 <C>  
Memorandum
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.
1.   Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best
     describes the most comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by
     independent external                                                                                Number
                                                                                              -------------------
     auditors as of any date during 1993......................................................| RCFD 6724    N/A |   M.1.
                                                                                              -------------------
</TABLE> 
<TABLE> 
<S>                                                                     <C> 
1 = Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance               4 =  Directors' examination of the bank performed
    with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified                by other external auditors (may be required by state 
    public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank                chartering authority)
2 = Independent audit of the bank's parent holding                      5 =  Review of the bank's financial statements by
    company conducted in accordance with generally                           external auditors
    accepted auditing standards by a certified public accounting        6 =  Compilation of the bank's financial statements by
    firm which submits a report on the consolidated holding                  external auditors
    company (but not on the bank separately)                            7 =  Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
3 = Directors' examination of the bank conducted in                     8 =  No external audit work
    accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
    by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by
    state chartering authority)
- -------------------
</TABLE> 
(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and
    savings deposits.


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