FIRSTAR CORP /WI/
S-4, 1997-03-13
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>   1
 
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MARCH 12, 1997
                                                    REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
 
                                    FORM S-4
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
 
                              FIRSTAR CORPORATION
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<C>                                 <C>                                 <C>
            WISCONSIN                              6712
 (State or other jurisdiction of       (Primary Standard Industrial              (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)       Classification Code Number)             Identification No.)
</TABLE>
 
                            FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I
         (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its trust agreement)
 
<TABLE>
<C>                                 <C>                                 <C>
             DELAWARE                              6719
 (State or other jurisdiction of       (Primary Standard Industrial              (I.R.S. Employer
  incorporation or organization)       Classification Code Number)             Identification No.)
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
                           777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE
                           MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 53201
                                 (414) 765-4985
  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                   Registrants' principal executive offices)
                            ------------------------
 
                            HOWARD H. HOPWOOD, ESQ.
                           777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE
                           MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 53201
                                 (414) 765-4985
 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                             of agents for service)
                            ------------------------
 
                                   COPIES TO:
 
<TABLE>
<C>                                                   <C>
              MITCHELL KLEINMAN, ESQ.                                 VINCENT PISANO, ESQ.
                  BROWN & WOOD LLP                          SKADDEN ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM LLP
               ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER                                   919 THIRD AVENUE
              NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048                              NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
    Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
 
    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered in
connection with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box.
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
============================================================================================================
 
                                                                  PROPOSED MAXIMUM        PROPOSED MAXIMUM
 TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES          AMOUNT TO BE           OFFERING PRICE        AGGREGATE OFFERING
          TO BE REGISTERED                   REGISTERED             PER UNIT(1)               PRICE(1)
<S>                                     <C>                     <C>                     <C>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Series B Capital Securities of
Firstar Capital Trust I.............        $150,000,000                100%                $150,000,000
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Series B Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures of
Firstar Corporation(2)..............
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
First Series B Guarantee with
respect to Series B Capital
Securities(3)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total...............................        $150,000,000                100%              $150,000,000(4)
============================================================================================================
 
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------
 
 TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES         AMOUNT OF
          TO BE REGISTERED            REGISTRATION FEE(2)
- -----------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                        <C>
Series B Capital Securities of
Firstar Capital Trust I.............       $45,454.55
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Series B Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures of
Firstar Corporation(2)..............
- -----------------------------------------------------------
First Series B Guarantee with
respect to Series B Capital
Securities(3)
- -----------------------------------------------------------
Total...............................       $45,454.55
===========================================================
</TABLE>
 
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee.
 
(2) No separate consideration will be received for the Series B Junior
    Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of Firstar Corporation (the
    "Junior Subordinated Debentures") distributed upon any liquidation of
    Firstar Capital Trust I.
 
(3) No separate consideration will be received for the Firstar Corporation
    Series B Guarantee.
 
(4) Such amount represents the liquidation amount of the First Capital Trust I
    Series B Capital Securities to be exchanged hereunder and the principal
    amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed to holders
    of such Capital Securities upon any liquidation of Firstar Capital Trust I.
                            ------------------------
 
    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>   2
 
     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, DATED                , 1997
 
PROSPECTUS
 
                            FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I
                             OFFER TO EXCHANGE ITS
                       8.32% SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES
                (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $1,000 PER CAPITAL SECURITY)
          WHICH HAVE BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                       FOR ANY AND ALL OF ITS OUTSTANDING
                       8.32% SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
                (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $1,000 PER CAPITAL SECURITY)
              UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
 
                              FIRSTAR CORPORATION
       THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M.,
           NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON           , 1997, UNLESS EXTENDED.
                            ------------------------
 
    Firstar Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust created under the laws
of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby offers, upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus (as the same may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Prospectus") and in the
accompanying Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the "Exchange
Offer"), to exchange up to $150,000,000 aggregate Liquidation Amount of its
8.32% Series B Capital Securities (the "New Capital Securities") which have been
registered under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
pursuant to a Registration Statement (as defined herein) of which this
Prospectus constitutes a part, for a like Liquidation Amount of its outstanding
8.32% Series A Capital Securities (the "Old Capital Securities"), of which
$150,000,000 aggregate Liquidation Amount is outstanding. Pursuant to the
Exchange Offer, Firstar Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the
"Corporation"), is also offering to exchange (i) its guarantee of payments of
cash distributions and payments on liquidation of the Trust or redemption of the
Old Capital Securities (the "Old Guarantee") for a like guarantee in respect of
the New Capital Securities (the "New Guarantee") and (ii) all of its 8.32%
Series A Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due December 15,
2026 (the "Old Junior Subordinated Debentures") for a like aggregate principal
amount of its 8.32% Series B Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
due December 15, 2026 (the "New Junior Subordinated Debentures"), which New
Guarantee and New Junior Subordinated Debentures also have been registered under
the Securities Act. The Old Capital Securities, the Old Guarantee and the Old
Junior Subordinated Debentures are collectively referred to herein as the "Old
Securities" and the New Capital Securities, the New Guarantee and the New Junior
Subordinated Debentures are collectively referred to herein as the "New
Securities."
 
    The terms of the New Securities are identical in all material respects to
the respective terms of the Old Securities, except that (i) the New Securities
have been registered under the Securities Act and therefore generally will not
be subject to certain restrictions on transfer applicable to the Old Securities,
(ii) the New Capital Securities will not contain the $100,000 minimum
Liquidation Amount transfer restriction, (iii) the New Capital Securities will
not provide for any increase in the Distribution rate thereon, (iv) the New
Junior Subordinated Debentures will not contain the $100,000 minimum principal
amount transfer restriction and (v) the New Junior Subordinated Debentures will
not provide for any increase in the interest rate thereon. See "Description of
New Securities" and "Description of Old Securities." The New Capital Securities
are being offered for exchange in order to satisfy certain obligations of the
Corporation and the Trust under the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of
December 23, 1996 (the "Registration Rights Agreement") among the Corporation,
the Trust and the Initial Purchasers (as defined herein). In the event that the
Exchange Offer is consummated, any Old Capital Securities which remain
outstanding after consummation of the Exchange Offer and the New Capital
Securities issued in the Exchange Offer will vote together as a single class for
purposes of determining whether holders of the requisite percentage in
outstanding Liquidation Amount thereof have taken certain actions or exercised
certain rights under the Declaration.
                                               (Continued on the following page)
 
    This Prospectus and the Letter of Transmittal are first being mailed to all
holders of Old Capital Securities on          , 1997.
 
    SEE "RISK FACTORS" COMMENCING ON PAGE   FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION THAT SHOULD
BE CONSIDERED BY HOLDERS IN DECIDING WHETHER TO TENDER OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES IN
THE EXCHANGE OFFER.
 
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
         EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS
         THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
      COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
           ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                The date of this Prospectus is           , 1997.
<PAGE>   3
 
(Continued from the previous page)
 
     The New Capital Securities and the Old Capital Securities (collectively,
the "Capital Securities") represent beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust. The Corporation is the owner of all of the beneficial interests
represented by common securities of the Trust (the "Common Securities," and
together with the Capital Securities, the "Trust Securities"). The Chase
Manhattan Bank is the Property Trustee of the Trust. The Trust exists for the
sole purpose of issuing the Trust Securities and investing the proceeds thereof
in the Junior Subordinated Debentures (as defined herein). The Junior
Subordinated Debentures will mature on December 15, 2026 (the "Stated Maturity
Date"). The Capital Securities will have a preference over the Common Securities
under certain circumstances with respect to cash distributions and amounts
payable on liquidation, redemption or otherwise. See "Description of New
Securities -- Description of New Capital Securities -- Subordination of Common
Securities."
 
     As used herein, (i) the "Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of
December 23, 1996, as amended and supplemented from time to time, between the
Corporation and The Chase Manhattam Bank, as Debenture Trustee (the "Debenture
Trustee"), (ii) the "Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust relating to the Trust among the Corporation, as Sponsor, The Chase
Manhattan Bank as Property Trustee (the "Property Trustee"), Chase Manhattan
Bank Delaware, as Delaware Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), and the
Administrative Trustees named therein (collectively, with the Property Trustee
and Delaware Trustee, the "Issuer Trustees"). In addition, as the context may
require, unless otherwise expressly stated, (i) the term "Capital Securities"
includes the Old Capital Securities and the New Capital Securities, (ii) the
term "Trust Securities" includes the Capital Securities and the Common
Securities (iii) the term "Junior Subordinated Debentures" includes the Old
Junior Subordinated Debentures and the New Junior Subordinated Debentures and
(iv) the term "Guarantee" includes the Old Guarantee and the New Guarantee.
 
     Holders of the New Capital Securities will be entitled to receive
preferential cumulative cash distributions arising from the payment of interest
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, accruing from December 23, 1996, and
payable semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year,
commencing June 15, 1997, at the annual rate of 8.32% of the Liquidation Amount
of $1,000 per New Capital Security ("Distributions"). The Corporation will have
the right to defer payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at
any time and from time to time for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-
annual periods with respect to each deferral period (each, an "Extension
Period"), provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated
Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and the payment
of all amounts then due, the Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension
Period, subject to the requirements set forth in the Indenture. If and for so
long as interest payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures are so deferred,
Distributions on the Trust Securities will also be deferred and the Corporation
will not be permitted, subject to certain exceptions described herein, to
declare or pay any cash distributions with respect to the Corporation's capital
stock (which includes common and preferred stock) or to make any payment with
respect to debt securities of the Corporation that rank pari passu with or
junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. During an Extension Period,
interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures will continue to accrue (and the
amount of Distributions to which holders of the Trust Securities are entitled
will accumulate) at the rate of 8.32% per annum, compounded semi-annually, and
holders of Trust Securities will be required to accrue interest income for
United States federal income tax purposes. See "Description of New
Securities -- Description of New Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Option to
Extend Interest Payment Date" and "Certain Federal Income Tax
Considerations -- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
 
     Through the Guarantee, the guarantee agreement of the Corporation relating
to the Common Securities (the "Common Guarantee"), the Declaration, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture, taken together, the Corporation has
guaranteed or will guarantee, as the case may be, fully, irrevocably and
unconditionally, all of the Trust's obligations under the Trust Securities. See
"Relationship Among the New Capital Securities, the New Junior Subordinated
Debentures and the New Guarantee -- Full and Unconditional Guarantee." The Old
Guarantee and the Common Guarantee guarantees, and the New Guarantee will
guarantee, payments of Distributions and payments on liquidation or redemption
of the Trust Securities, but in each case only to the extent that the Trust
holds funds on hand legally available therefor and has failed to
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   4
 
(Continued from the previous page)
 
make such payments, as described herein. See "Description of New
Securities -- Description of New Guarantee." If the Corporation fails to make a
required payment on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Trust will not have
sufficient funds to make the related payments, including Distributions, on the
Trust Securities. The Guarantee and the Common Guarantee will not cover any such
payment when the Trust does not have sufficient funds on hand legally available
therefor. In such event, a holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Corporation to enforce its rights in respect of
such payment. See "Description of New Securities -- Description of New Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Enforcement of Certain Rights By Holders of New
Capital Securities." The obligations of the Corporation under the Guarantee, the
Common Guarantee and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness of the Corporation to the
extent and in the manner set forth in the Indenture and the Guarantees,
respectively (as defined in "Description of New Securities -- Description of New
Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination"). In addition, because the
Corporation is a holding company, the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the
Guarantee effectively will be subordinated to all existing and future
liabilities, including deposits of the Corporation's subsidiaries.
 
     The Trust Securities will be subject to mandatory redemption in a Like
Amount (as defined herein), (i) in whole but not in part, on the Stated Maturity
Date upon repayment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures at a redemption price
equal to the principal amount of, plus accrued interest on, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures (the "Maturity Redemption Price"), (ii) in whole but not
in part, at any time before December 23, 2006 (the "Initial Optional Prepayment
Date"), contemporaneously with the optional prepayment of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event
(as defined herein) at a redemption price equal to the Special Event Prepayment
Price (as defined below) (the "Special Event Redemption Price"), and (iii) in
whole or in part, on or after the Initial Optional Prepayment Date,
contemporaneously with the optional prepayment by the Corporation of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, at a redemption price equal to the Optional Prepayment
Price (as defined below) (the "Optional Redemption Price"). Any of the Maturity
Redemption Price, the Special Event Redemption Price and the Optional Redemption
Price may be referred to herein as the "Redemption Price." See "Description of
New Securities -- Description of New Capital Securities -- Redemption."
 
     Subject to the Corporation having received prior approval of the Board of
Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve") to do so if then
required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve,
the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be prepayable prior to the Stated
Maturity Date at the option of the Corporation (i) on or after the Initial
Optional Prepayment Date, in whole or in part, at a prepayment price (the
"Optional Prepayment Price") equal to 104.16% of the principal amount thereof on
the Initial Optional Prepayment Date, declining ratably on each December 23
thereafter to 100% on or after December 23, 2016, plus accrued interest thereon
to the date of prepayment, or (ii) at any time before the Initial Optional
Prepayment Date, in whole but not in part, upon the occurrence and continuation
of a Special Event, at a prepayment price (the "Special Event Prepayment Price")
equal to the greater of (a) 100% of the principal amount thereof or (b) the sum,
as determined by a Quotation Agent (as defined herein), of the present values of
the principal amount and premium payable as part of the Optional Prepayment
Price with respect to an optional redemption of such Junior Subordinated
Debentures on the Initial Optional Prepayment Date, together with scheduled
payments of interest from the prepayment date to the Initial Optional Prepayment
Date, in each case discounted to the prepayment date on a semi-annual basis
(assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted
Treasury Rate (as defined herein) plus, in either case, accrued and unpaid
interest thereon to the date of prepayment. Either of the Optional Prepayment
Price or the Special Event Prepayment Price may be referred to herein as the
"Prepayment Price." See "Description of New Securities -- Description of New
Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Optional Prepayment" and "-- Special Event
Prepayment."
 
     The Corporation, as the holder of the outstanding Common Securities, will
have the right at any time to terminate the Trust and cause a Like Amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the Trust
Securities in liquidation of the Trust, subject to (i) the Corporation having
received an
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   5
 
(Continued from the previous page)
 
opinion of counsel to the effect that such distribution will not be a taxable
event to holders of Capital Securities and (ii) the prior approval of the
Federal Reserve to do so if then required under applicable capital guidelines or
policies of the Federal Reserve. Unless the Junior Subordinated Debentures are
distributed to the holders of the Trust Securities, in the event of a
liquidation of the Trust as described herein, after satisfaction of liabilities
to creditors of the Trust as required by applicable law, the holders of the
Capital Securities generally will be entitled to receive a Liquidation Amount of
$1,000 per Capital Security plus accumulated Distributions thereon to the date
of payment. See "Description of New Securities -- Description of New Capital
Securities -- Liquidation of the Trust and Distribution of Junior Subordinated
Debentures," and "Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations -- Receipt of Junior
Subordinated Debentures or Cash upon Liquidation of the Trust."
                           -------------------------
 
     The Trust is making the Exchange Offer of the New Capital Securities in
reliance on the position of the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") as set forth in
certain interpretive letters addressed to third parties in other transactions.
However, neither the Corporation nor the Trust has sought its own interpretive
letter and there can be no assurance that the staff of the Division of
Corporation Finance of the Commission would make a similar determination with
respect to the Exchange Offer as it has in such interpretive letters to third
parties. Based on these interpretations by the staff of the Division of
Corporation Finance of the Commission, and subject to the two immediately
following sentences, the Corporation and the Trust believe that New Capital
Securities issued pursuant to this Exchange Offer in exchange for Old Capital
Securities may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by a
holder thereof (other than a holder who is a broker-dealer) without further
compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act, provided that such New Capital Securities are acquired in the
ordinary course of such holder's business and that such holder is not
participating, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate, in a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of
such New Capital Securities. However, any holder of Old Capital Securities who
is an "affiliate" of the Corporation or the Trust or who intends to participate
in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing New Capital Securities, or
any broker-dealer who purchased Old Capital Securities from the Trust for resale
pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("Rule 144A") or any other
available exemption under the Securities Act, (a) will not be able to rely on
the interpretations of the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the
Commission set forth in the above-mentioned interpretive letters, (b) will not
be permitted or entitled to tender such Old Capital Securities in the Exchange
Offer and (c) must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any sale or other transfer
of such Old Capital Securities (other than pursuant to the Exchange Offer)
unless such sale is made pursuant to an exemption from such requirements. In
addition, as described below, if any broker-dealer holds Old Capital Securities
acquired for its own account as a result of market-making or other trading
activities and exchanges such Old Capital Securities for New Capital Securities,
then such broker-dealer must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of
the Securities Act in connection with any resales of such New Capital
Securities.
 
     Each holder of Old Capital Securities who wishes to exchange Old Capital
Securities for New Capital Securities in the Exchange Offer will be required to
represent that (i) it is not an "affiliate" of the Corporation or the Trust,
(ii) any New Capital Securities to be received by it are being acquired in the
ordinary course of its business, (iii) it has no arrangement or understanding
with any person to participate in a distribution (within the meaning of the
Securities Act) of such New Capital Securities, and (iv) if such holder is not a
broker-dealer, such holder is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in,
a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of such New Capital
Securities. In addition, the Corporation and the Trust may require such holder,
as a condition to such holder's eligibility to participate in the Exchange
Offer, to furnish to the Corporation and the Trust (or an agent thereof) in
writing information as to the number of "beneficial owners" (within the meaning
of Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the
"Exchange Act")) on behalf of whom such holder holds the Capital Securities to
be exchanged in the Exchange Offer. Each broker-dealer that receives New Capital
Securities for its own account pursuant
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   6
 
(Continued from the previous page)
 
to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it acquired the Old Capital
Securities for its own account as the result of market-making activities or
other trading activities and must agree that it will deliver a prospectus
meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of
such New Capital Securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by so
acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus a broker-dealer will not be deemed
to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.
Based on the position taken by the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance
of the Commission in the interpretive letters referred to above, the Corporation
and the Trust believe that broker-dealers who acquired Old Capital Securities
for their own accounts, as a result of market-making activities or other trading
activities ("Participating Broker-Dealers"), may fulfill their prospectus
delivery requirements with respect to the New Capital Securities received upon
exchange of such Old Capital Securities (other than Old Capital Securities which
represent an unsold allotment from the original sale of the Old Capital
Securities) with a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act,
which may be the prospectus prepared for an exchange offer so long as it
contains a description of the plan of distribution with respect to the resale of
such New Capital Securities. Accordingly, this Prospectus, as it may be amended
or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Participating Broker-Dealer
during the period referred to below in connection with resales of New Capital
Securities received in exchange for Old Capital Securities where such Old
Capital Securities were acquired by such Participating Broker-Dealer for its own
account as a result of market-making or other trading activities. Subject to
certain provisions set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Corporation and the Trust have agreed that this Prospectus, as it may be amended
or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Participating Broker-Dealer
in connection with resales of such New Capital Securities for a period ending
90-days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein) (subject to extension
under certain limited circumstances described below) or, if earlier, when all
such New Capital Securities have been disposed of by such Participating
Broker-Dealer. See "Plan of Distribution." However, a Participating
Broker-Dealer who intends to use this Prospectus in connection with the resale
of New Capital Securities received in exchange for Old Capital Securities
pursuant to the Exchange Offer must notify the Corporation or the Trust, or
cause the Corporation or the Trust to be notified, on or prior to the Expiration
Date, that it is a Participating Broker-Dealer. Such notice may be given in the
space provided for that purpose in the Letter of Transmittal or may be delivered
to the Exchange Agent at one of the addresses set forth herein under "The
Exchange Offer -- Exchange Agent." Any Participating Broker-Dealer who is an
"affiliate" of the Corporation or the Trust may not rely on such interpretive
letters and must comply with the registration and prospectus delivery
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale transaction.
See "The Exchange Offer -- Resales of New Capital Securities."
 
     In that regard, each Participating Broker-Dealer who surrenders Old Capital
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be deemed to have agreed, by
execution of the Letter of Transmittal, that, upon receipt of notice from the
Corporation or the Trust of the occurrence of any event or the discovery of any
fact which makes any statement contained or incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which causes this Prospectus to
omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
contained or incorporated by reference herein, in light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading or of the occurrence of certain other
events specified in the Registration Rights Agreement, such Participating
Broker-Dealer will suspend the sale of New Capital Securities (or the New
Guarantee or the New Junior Subordinated Debentures, as applicable) pursuant to
this Prospectus until the Corporation or the Trust has amended or supplemented
this Prospectus to correct such misstatement or omission and has furnished
copies of the amended or supplemented Prospectus to such Participating
Broker-Dealer or the Corporation or the Trust has given notice that the sale of
the New Capital Securities (or the New Guarantee or the New Junior Subordinated
Debentures, as applicable) may be resumed, as the case may be. If the
Corporation or the Trust gives such notice to suspend the sale of the New
Capital Securities (or the New Guarantee or the New Junior Subordinated
Debentures, as applicable), it shall extend the 90-day period referred to above
during which Participating Broker-Dealers are entitled to use this Prospectus in
connection with the resale of New Capital Securities by the number of days
during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice to
and including the date when Participating Broker-Dealers shall have received
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   7
 
(Continued from the previous page)
 
copies of the amended or supplemented Prospectus necessary to permit resales of
the New Capital Securities or to and including the date on which the Corporation
or the Trust has given notice that the sale of New Capital Securities (or the
New Guarantee or the New Junior Subordinated Debentures, as applicable) may be
resumed, as the case may be.
 
     Prior to the Exchange Offer, there has been only a limited secondary market
and no public market for the Old Capital Securities. The New Capital Securities
will be a new issue of securities for which there currently is no market.
Although the Initial Purchasers have informed the Corporation and the Trust that
they each currently intend to make a market in the New Capital Securities, they
are not obligated to do so, and any such market making may be discontinued at
any time without notice. Accordingly, there can be no assurance as to the
development or liquidity of any market for the New Capital Securities. The
Corporation and the Trust currently do not intend to apply for listing of the
New Capital Securities on any securities exchange or for inclusion in the Nasdaq
Stock Market, the electronic securities market operated by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("Nasdaq").
 
     Any Old Capital Securities not tendered and accepted in the Exchange Offer
will remain outstanding and will be entitled to all the same rights and will be
subject to the same limitations applicable thereto under the Declaration (except
for those rights which terminate upon consummation of the Exchange Offer).
Following consummation of the Exchange Offer, the holders of Old Capital
Securities will continue to be subject to all of the existing restrictions upon
transfer thereof and neither the Corporation nor the Trust will have any further
obligation to such holders (other than under certain limited circumstances) to
provide for registration under the Securities Act of the Old Capital Securities
held by them. To the extent that Old Capital Securities are tendered and
accepted in the Exchange Offer, a holder's ability to sell untendered Old
Capital Securities could be adversely affected. See "Risk
Factors -- Consequences of a Failure to Exchange Old Capital Securities."
 
     THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CONTAIN IMPORTANT
INFORMATION. HOLDERS OF OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES ARE URGED TO READ THIS PROSPECTUS
AND THE RELATED LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL CAREFULLY BEFORE DECIDING WHETHER TO
TENDER THEIR OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER.
 
     Old Capital Securities may be tendered for exchange on or prior to 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on                , 1997 (such time on such date being
hereinafter called the "Expiration Date"), unless the Exchange Offer is extended
by the Corporation or the Trust (in which case the term "Expiration Date" shall
mean the latest date and time to which the Exchange Offer is extended). Tenders
of Old Capital Securities may be withdrawn at any time on or prior to the
Expiration Date. The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum
Liquidation Amount of Old Capital Securities being tendered for exchange.
However, the Exchange Offer is subject to certain events and conditions which
may be waived by the Corporation or the Trust and to the terms and provisions of
the Registration Rights Agreement. Old Capital Securities may be tendered in
whole or in part having an aggregate Liquidation Amount of not less than
$100,000 (100 Capital Securities) or any integral multiple of $1,000 Liquidation
Amount (one Capital Security) in excess thereof. The Corporation has agreed to
pay all expenses of the Exchange Offer. See "The Exchange Offer -- Fees and
Expenses." Holders of the Old Capital Securities whose Old Capital Securities
are accepted for exchange will not receive Distributions on such Old Capital
Securities and will be deemed to have waived the right to receive any
Distributions on such Old Capital Securities accumulated from and after December
23, 1996. Accordingly, holders of New Capital Securities as of the record date
for the payment of Distributions on June 15, 1997 will be entitled to receive
Distributions accumulated from and including December 23, 1996.
 
     Neither the Corporation nor the Trust will receive any cash proceeds from
the issuance of the New Capital Securities offered hereby. No dealer-manager is
being used in connection with this Exchange Offer. See "Use of Proceeds" and
"Plan of Distribution."
 
                           -------------------------
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   8
 
     NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THIS EXCHANGE
OFFER AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE
RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE CORPORATION OR THE TRUST. NEITHER
THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCE CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS
OF THE CORPORATION OR THE TRUST SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR A SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH
SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH
OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL
TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
                           -------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                PAGE
                                                                ----
<S>                                                             <C>
Available Information.......................................      7
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference.............      8
Summary.....................................................      9
Risk Factors................................................     15
Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges.........................     19
Use of Proceeds.............................................     20
Capitalization..............................................     21
Summary Financial Data......................................     22
Firstar Capital Trust I.....................................     23
Firstar Corporation.........................................     23
The Exchange Offer..........................................     24
Description of New Securities...............................     33
Description of Old Securities...............................     53
Relationship Among the New Capital Securities, the New
  Junior Subordinated Debentures and the New Guarantee......     53
Certain Federal Income Tax Considerations...................     55
ERISA Considerations........................................     58
Plan of Distribution........................................     59
Legal Matters...............................................     60
Experts.....................................................     60
</TABLE>
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Corporation is subject to the informational requirements of 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 Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 and
at the regional offices of the Commission located at 7 World Trade Center, 13th
Floor, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048 and Suite 1400, Citicorp Center,
14th Floor, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661. 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. Such information may also be accessed electronically by means of the
Commission's home page on the Internet (http://www.sec.gov.). In addition, such
reports, proxy statements and other information concerning the Corporation can
be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad
Street, New York, New York 10005.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   9
 
     No separate financial statements of the Trust have been included herein.
The Corporation and the Trust do not consider that such financial statements
would be material to holders of the New Capital Securities because the Trust is
a newly formed special purpose entity, has no operating history or independent
operations and is not engaged in and does not propose to engage in any activity
other than holding as trust assets the Junior Subordinated Debentures and
issuing the Trust Securities. See "Firstar Capital Trust I" and "Description of
New Securities." In addition, the Corporation does not expect that the Trust
will file reports under the Exchange Act with the Commission.
 
     This Prospectus constitutes a part of a registration statement on Form S-4
(the "Registration Statement") filed by the Corporation and the Trust with the
Commission under the Securities Act. This Prospectus does not contain all the
information set forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are
omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission, and
reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement and to the exhibits
relating thereto for further information with respect to the Corporation, the
Trust and the New Securities. Any statements contained herein concerning the
provisions of any document are not necessarily complete, and, in each instance,
reference is made to the copy of such document filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement or otherwise filed with the Commission. Each such
statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
     The following documents filed by the Corporation with the Commission are
incorporated into this Prospectus by reference:
 
          1. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995;
 
          2. Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31,
             1996, June 30, 1996 and September 30, 1996; and
 
          3. Current Report on Form 8-K dated December 17, 1996.
 
     All documents subsequently filed by the Corporation pursuant to Section
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to
the termination of the offering of the New Securities offered hereby shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part of
this Prospectus from the date of filing of such document. Any statement
contained herein or 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.
 
     As used herein, the terms "Prospectus" and "herein" mean this Prospectus
including the documents incorporated or deemed to be incorporated herein by
reference, as the same may be amended, supplemented or otherwise modified from
time to time. Statements contained in this Prospectus as to the contents of any
contract or other document referred to herein do not purport to be complete, and
where reference is made to the particular provisions of such contract or other
document, such provisions are qualified in all respects by reference to all of
the provisions of such contract or other document. The Corporation will provide
without charge to any person to whom this Prospectus is delivered, on the
written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all of the foregoing
documents incorporated by reference herein (other than exhibits not specifically
incorporated by reference into the texts of such documents). Requests for such
documents should be directed to: Firstar Corporation, 777 East Wisconsin Avenue,
Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   10
 
                                    SUMMARY
 
     The following is a summary of certain information contained elsewhere in
this Prospectus. Reference is made to, and this summary is qualified in its
entirety by, the more detailed information and financial statements, including
the notes thereto, contained elsewhere in this Prospectus.
 
                            FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I
 
     The Trust is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law pursuant
to (i) a Declaration executed by the Corporation, as Sponsor, The Chase
Manhattan Bank as Property Trustee, and Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware as
Delaware Trustee, and (ii) the filing of a certificate of trust with the
Delaware Secretary of State on December 17, 1996. The Trust's affairs are
conducted by the Issuer Trustees: the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee,
and the three individual Administrative Trustees who are employees or officers
of or affiliated with the Corporation. The Trust exists for the exclusive
purposes of (i) issuing and selling the Trust Securities, (ii) using the
proceeds from the sale of the Trust Securities to acquire the Junior
Subordinated Debentures issued by the Corporation, and (iii) engaging in only
those other activities necessary, advisable or incidental thereto (such as
registering the transfer of the Capital Securities). Accordingly, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be the sole assets of the Trust, and payments under
the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be the sole revenue of the Trust. All of
the Common Securities are owned by the Corporation.
 
                              FIRSTAR CORPORATION
 
     Firstar is a multibank holding company providing financial services at 250
branch locations primarily throughout the states of Wisconsin and Iowa and in
the Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan areas. At September 30, 1996,
Firstar had total assets of $19.9 billion and total stockholders' equity of $1.6
billion. Firstar's bank subsidiaries in Wisconsin had 122 locations and total
assets of $10.7 billion of which Firstar Bank Milwaukee, the largest commercial
bank in Wisconsin, had 61 locations and total assets of $6.5 billion. Firstar's
bank subsidiaries in Iowa (with 51 locations), Chicago (with 40 locations) and
Minneapolis-St. Paul (with 32 locations) had total assets of $3.1 billion, $2.8
billion and $3.1 billion, respectively, as of that date. Subsidiary asset totals
are net of intercompany balances. At September 30, 1996, Firstar's trust and
investment management subsidiaries held $20.8 billion of assets under active
management. All of Firstar's bank subsidiaries are owned by three sub-bank
holding companies which are direct subsidiaries of Firstar.
 
                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
THE EXCHANGE OFFER.........  Up to $150,000,000 aggregate Liquidation Amount of
                             New Capital Securities are being offered in
                             exchange for a like aggregate Liquidation Amount of
                             Old Capital Securities. Old Capital Securities may
                             be tendered for exchange in whole or in part in a
                             Liquidation Amount of $100,000 (100 Capital
                             Securities) or any integral multiple of $1,000 (one
                             Capital Security) in excess thereof. The
                             Corporation and the Trust are making the Exchange
                             Offer in order to satisfy their obligations under
                             the Registration Rights Agreement relating to the
                             Old Capital Securities. For a description of the
                             procedures for tendering Old Capital Securities,
                             see "The Exchange Offer -- Procedures for Tendering
                             Old Capital Securities."
 
EXPIRATION DATE............  5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
                                                 , 1997, unless the Exchange
                             Offer is extended by the Corporation or the Trust
                             (in which case the Expiration Date will be the
                             latest date and time to which the Exchange Offer is
                             extended). See "The Exchange Offer -- Terms of the
                             Exchange Offer."
                                        9
<PAGE>   11
 
CONDITIONS TO THE EXCHANGE
  OFFER....................  The Exchange Offer is subject to certain
                             conditions, which may be waived by the Corporation
                             and the Trust in their sole discretion. The
                             Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum
                             Liquidation Amount of Old Capital Securities being
                             tendered. See "The Exchange Offer -- Conditions to
                             the Exchange Offer."
 
OFFER......................  The Corporation and the Trust reserve the right in
                             their sole and absolute discretion, subject to
                             applicable law, at any time and from time to time,
                             to (i) delay the acceptance of the Old Capital
                             Securities for exchange, (ii) terminate the
                             Exchange Offer if certain specified conditions have
                             not been satisfied, (iii) extend the Expiration
                             Date of the Exchange Offer and retain all Old
                             Capital Securities tendered pursuant to the
                             Exchange Offer, subject, however, to the right of
                             holders of Old Capital Securities to withdraw their
                             tendered Old Capital Securities, or (iv) to waive
                             any condition or otherwise amend the terms of the
                             Exchange Offer in any respect. See "The Exchange
                             Offer -- Terms of the Exchange Offer."
 
WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS..........  Tenders of Old Capital Securities may be withdrawn
                             at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date by
                             delivering a written notice of such withdrawal to
                             the Exchange Agent in conformity with certain
                             procedures set forth below under "The Exchange
                             Offer -- Withdrawal Rights."
 
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING
  OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES...  Tendering holders of Old Capital Securities must
                             complete and sign a Letter of Transmittal in
                             accordance with the instructions contained therein
                             and forward the same by mail, facsimile or hand
                             delivery, together with any other required
                             documents, to the Exchange Agent, either with the
                             Old Capital Securities to be tendered or in
                             compliance with the specified procedures for
                             guaranteed delivery of Old Capital Securities.
                             Certain brokers, dealers, commercial banks, trust
                             companies and other nominees may also effect
                             tenders by book-entry transfer, including an
                             Agent's Message in lieu of a Letter of Transmittal.
                             Holders of Old Capital Securities registered in the
                             name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust
                             company or other nominee are urged to contact such
                             person promptly if they wish to tender Old Capital
                             Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. See "The
                             Exchange Offer -- Procedures for Tendering Old
                             Capital Securities."
 
                             Letters of Transmittal and certificates
                             representing Old Capital Securities should not be
                             sent to the Corporation or the Trust. Such
                             documents should only be sent to the Exchange
                             Agent.
 
RESALES OF NEW CAPITAL
  SECURITIES...............  The Corporation and the Trust are making the
                             Exchange Offer in reliance on the position of the
                             staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the
                             Commission as set forth in certain interpretive
                             letters addressed to third parties in other
                             transactions. However, neither the Corporation nor
                             the Trust has sought its own interpretive letter
                             and there can be no assurance that the staff of the
                             Division of Corporation Finance of the Commission
                             would make a similar determination with respect to
                                       10
<PAGE>   12
 
                             the Exchange Offer as it has in such interpretive
                             letters to third parties. Based on these
                             interpretations by the staff of the Division of
                             Corporation Finance of the Commission, and subject
                             to the two immediately following sentences, the
                             Corporation and the Trust believe that New Capital
                             Securities issued pursuant to this Exchange Offer
                             in exchange for Old Capital Securities may be
                             offered for resale, resold and otherwise
                             transferred by a holder thereof (other than a
                             holder who is a broker-dealer) without further
                             compliance with the registration and prospectus
                             delivery requirements of the Securities Act,
                             provided that such New Capital Securities are
                             acquired in the ordinary course of such holder's
                             business and that such holder is not participating,
                             and has no arrangement or understanding with any
                             person to participate, in a distribution (within
                             the meaning of the Securities Act) of such New
                             Capital Securities. However, any holder of Old
                             Capital Securities who is an "affiliate" of the
                             Corporation or the Trust or who intends to
                             participate in the Exchange Offer for the purpose
                             of distributing the New Capital Securities, or any
                             broker-dealer who purchased the Old Capital
                             Securities from the Trust for resale pursuant to
                             Rule 144A or any other available exemption under
                             the Securities Act, (a) will not be able to rely on
                             the interpretations of the staff of the Division of
                             Corporation Finance of the Commission set forth in
                             the above-mentioned interpretive letters, (b) will
                             not be permitted or entitled to tender such Old
                             Capital Securities in the Exchange Offer and (c)
                             must comply with the registration and prospectus
                             delivery requirements of the Securities Act in
                             connection with any sale or other transfer of such
                             Old Capital Securities unless such sale is made
                             pursuant to an exemption from such requirements. In
                             addition, as described below, if any broker-dealer
                             holds Old Capital Securities acquired for its own
                             account as a result of market-making or other
                             trading activities and exchanges such Old Capital
                             Securities for New Capital Securities, then such
                             broker-dealer must deliver a prospectus meeting the
                             requirements of the Securities Act in connection
                             with any resales of such New Capital Securities.
 
                             Each holder of Old Capital Securities who wishes to
                             exchange Old Capital Securities for New Capital
                             Securities in the Exchange Offer will be required
                             to represent in the Letter of Transmittal or by
                             transmission (i) it is not an "affiliate" of the
                             Corporation or the Trust, (ii) any New Capital
                             Securities to be received by it are being acquired
                             in the ordinary course of its business, (iii) it
                             has no arrangement or understanding with any person
                             to participate in a distribution (within the
                             meaning of the Securities Act) of such New Capital
                             Securities, and (iv) if such holder is not a
                             broker-dealer, such holder is not engaged in, and
                             does not intend to engage in, a distribution
                             (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of such
                             New Capital Securities. Each broker-dealer that
                             receives New Capital Securities for its own account
                             pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge
                             that it acquired the Old Capital Securities for its
                             own account as the result of market-making
                             activities or other trading activities and must
                             agree that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the
                             requirements of the Securities Act in connection
                             with any resale of such New Capital Securities. The
                             Letter of Transmittal states that, by so
                             acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a
                             broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it
                             is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
                                       11
<PAGE>   13
 
                             Securities Act. Based on the position taken by the
                             staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the
                             Commission in the interpretive letters referred to
                             above, the Corporation and the Trust believe that
                             Participating Broker-Dealers who acquired Old
                             Capital Securities for their own accounts as a
                             result of market-making activities or other trading
                             activities may fulfill their prospectus delivery
                             requirements with respect to the New Capital
                             Securities received upon exchange of such Old
                             Capital Securities (other than Old Capital
                             Securities which represent an unsold allotment from
                             the original sale of the Old Capital Securities)
                             with a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
                             Securities Act, which may be the prospectus
                             prepared for an exchange offer so long as it
                             contains a description of the plan of distribution
                             with respect to the resale of such New Capital
                             Securities. Accordingly, this Prospectus, as it may
                             be amended or supplemented from time to time, may
                             be used by a Participating Broker-Dealer in
                             connection with resales of New Capital Securities
                             received in exchange for Old Capital Securities
                             where such Old Capital Securities were acquired by
                             such Participating Broker-Dealer for its own
                             account as a result of market-making or other
                             trading activities. Subject to certain provisions
                             set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement and
                             to the limitations described below under "The
                             Exchange Offer -- Resales of New Capital
                             Securities," the Corporation and the Trust have
                             agreed that this Prospectus, as it may be amended
                             or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a
                             Participating Broker-Dealer in connection with
                             resales of such New Capital Securities for a period
                             ending 90-days after the Expiration Date (subject
                             to extension under certain limited circumstances)
                             or, if earlier, when all such New Capital
                             Securities have been disposed of by such
                             Participating Broker-Dealer. See "Plan of
                             Distribution." Any Participating Broker-Dealer who
                             is an "affiliate" of the Corporation or the Trust
                             may not rely on such interpretive letters and must
                             comply with the registration and prospectus
                             delivery requirements of the Securities Act in
                             connection with any resale transaction. See "The
                             Exchange Offer -- Resales of New Capital
                             Securities."
 
EXCHANGE AGENT.............  The exchange agent with respect to the Exchange
                             Offer is The Chase Manhattan Bank (the "Exchange
                             Agent"). The applicable addresses, and telephone
                             and facsimile numbers, of the Exchange Agent are
                             set forth in "The Exchange Offer -- Exchange Agent"
                             and in the Letter of Transmittal.
 
USE OF PROCEEDS............  Neither the Corporation nor the Trust will receive
                             any cash proceeds from the issuance of the New
                             Capital Securities offered hereby. See "Use of
                             Proceeds."
 
CERTAIN UNITED STATES
  FEDERAL INCOME TAX
  CONSIDERATIONS; ERISA
  CONSIDERATIONS...........  Holders of Old Capital Securities should review the
                             information set forth under "Certain Federal Income
                             Tax Considerations" and "ERISA Considerations"
                             prior to tendering Old Capital Securities in the
                             Exchange Offer.
                                       12
<PAGE>   14
 
                           THE NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
SECURITIES OFFERED.........  Up to $150,000,000 aggregate Liquidation Amount of
                             the New Capital Securities which have been
                             registered under the Securities Act (Liquidation
                             Amount $1,000 per New Capital Security). The New
                             Capital Securities will be issued, and the Old
                             Capital Securities were issued, under the
                             Declaration. The New Capital Securities and any Old
                             Capital Securities which remain outstanding after
                             consummation of the Exchange Offer will vote
                             together as a single class for purposes of
                             determining whether holders of the requisite
                             percentage in outstanding Liquidation Amount
                             thereof have taken certain actions or exercised
                             certain rights under the Declaration. See
                             "Description of New Securities -- Description of
                             New Capital Securities -- Voting Rights; Amendment
                             of the Declaration." The terms of the New Capital
                             Securities are identical in all material respects
                             to the terms of the Old Capital Securities, except
                             that the New Capital Securities have been
                             registered under the Securities Act and will not be
                             subject to the $100,000 minimum Liquidation Amount
                             transfer restriction and certain other transfer
                             restrictions applicable to the Old Capital
                             Securities and will not provide for any increase in
                             the Distribution rate thereon. See "The Exchange
                             Offer -- Purpose of the Exchange Offer,"
                             "Description of New Securities" and "Description of
                             Old Securities."
 
DISTRIBUTION DATES.........  June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing
                             June 15, 1997.
 
EXTENSION PERIODS..........  Distributions on the Capital Securities will be
                             deferred for the duration of any Extension Period
                             elected by the Corporation with respect to the
                             payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated
                             Debentures. No Extension Period will exceed 10
                             consecutive semi-annual periods or extend beyond
                             the Stated Maturity Date. See "Description of New
                             Securities -- Description of New Junior
                             Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Extend
                             Interest Payment Date" and "Certain United States
                             Federal Income Tax Considerations -- Interest
                             Income and Original Issue Discount."
 
RANKING....................  The New Capital Securities will rank pari passu,
                             and payments thereon will be made pro rata, with
                             the Old Capital Securities and the Common
                             Securities except as described under "Description
                             of New Securities -- Description of New Capital
                             Securities -- Subordination of Common Securities."
                             The New Junior Subordinated Debentures will rank
                             pari passu with the Old Junior Subordinated
                             Debentures, and all other junior subordinated
                             debentures issued by the Corporation (the "Other
                             Debentures") and sold to other trusts established
                             or to be established by the Corporation, in each
                             case similar to the Trust (the "Other Trusts"), and
                             will be unsecured and subordinate and junior in
                             right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness to the
                             extent and in the manner set forth in the
                             Indenture. See "Description of New Securities --
                             Description of New Junior Subordinated Debentures."
                             The New Guarantee will rank pari passuwith the Old
                             Guarantee, and all other guarantees issued by the
                             Corporation with respect to capital securities
                             issued or to be issued by Other Trusts (the "Other
                             Guarantees") and will constitute an unsecured
                             obligation of the Corporation and will rank
                             subordinate and junior in
                                       13
<PAGE>   15
 
                             right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness to the
                             extent and in the manner set forth in the Guarantee
                             Agreement. See "Description of New Securities --
                             Description of New Guarantee."
 
REDEMPTION.................  The Trust Securities are subject to mandatory
                             redemption in a Like Amount, (i) in whole but not
                             in part, on the Stated Maturity Date upon repayment
                             of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) in
                             whole but not in part, contemporaneously with the
                             optional prepayment of the Junior Subordinated
                             Debentures by the Corporation upon the occurrence
                             and continuation of a Special Event and (iii) in
                             whole or in part, at any time on or after the
                             Initial Optional Prepayment Date contemporaneously
                             with the optional prepayment by the Corporation of
                             the Junior Subordinated Debentures, in each case at
                             the applicable Redemption Price. See "Description
                             of New Securities -- Description of New Capital
                             Securities -- Redemption."
 
RATING.....................  The New Capital Securities are expected to be rated
                             "a2" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. and "BBB"
                             by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services.
 
ABSENCE OF MARKET FOR THE
  NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES...  The New Capital Securities will be a new issue of
                             securities for which there currently is no market.
                             Although Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                             Incorporated, and Salomon Brothers Inc, the initial
                             purchasers of the Old Capital Securities (the
                             "Initial Purchasers"), have informed the
                             Corporation and the Trust that they each currently
                             intend to make a market in the New Capital
                             Securities, they are not obligated to do so, and
                             any such market making may be discontinued at any
                             time without notice. Accordingly, there can be no
                             assurance as to the development or liquidity of any
                             market for the New Capital Securities. The Trust
                             and the Corporation do not intend to apply for
                             listing of the New Capital Securities on any
                             securities exchange or for inclusion in Nasdaq. See
                             "Plan of Distribution."
                                       14
<PAGE>   16
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     Prospective investors should consider carefully, in addition to the other
information contained in this Prospectus, the following factors in connection
with the Exchange Offer and the New Capital Securities offered hereby.
 
RANKING OF SUBORDINATED OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE GUARANTEE AND THE JUNIOR
SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The obligations of the Corporation under the Guarantee and under the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be unsecured and will rank subordinate and junior
in right of payment to all present and future Senior Indebtedness of the
Corporation to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Indenture and the
Guarantee, respectively. No payment may be made of the principal of, or premium,
if any, or interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, or in respect of any
redemption, retirement, purchase or other acquisition of any of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, at any time when (i) there shall have occurred and be
continuing a default in any payment in respect of any Senior Indebtedness, or
there has been an acceleration of the maturity thereof because of a default or
(ii) in the event of the acceleration of the maturity of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures until payment has been made on all Allocable Amounts of Senior
Indebtedness. At September 30, 1996, the aggregate principal amount of
outstanding Senior Indebtedness of the Corporation was approximately $178.3
million. Because the Corporation is a bank holding company, the right of the
Corporation to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon
such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise (and thus the
ability of holders of the Capital Securities to benefit indirectly from such
distribution) is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary,
except to the extent that the Corporation may itself be recognized as a creditor
of that subsidiary. At September 30, 1996, the subsidiaries of the Corporation
had total liabilities (excluding liabilities owed to the Corporation) of
approximately $17.9 billion, including deposits. In addition, the bank
subsidiaries of the Corporation (the "Banks") are subject to certain
restrictions imposed by federal law on any extensions of credit to, and certain
other transactions with, the Corporation and certain other affiliates, and on
investments in stock or other securities thereof. Such restrictions prevent the
Corporation and such other affiliates from borrowing from the Banks unless the
loans are secured by various types of collateral. Further, such secured loans,
other transactions and investments by any of the Banks are generally limited in
amount as to the Corporation and as to each of such other affiliates to 10% of
such Bank's capital and surplus and as to the Corporation and all of such other
affiliates to an aggregate of 20% of such Bank's capital and surplus. In
addition, payment of dividends to the Corporation by the Banks is subject to
ongoing review by banking regulators and is subject to various statutory
limitations and in certain circumstances requires approval by banking regulatory
authorities. None of the Indenture, the Guarantee, the Common Guarantee or the
Declaration places any limitation on the amount of secured or unsecured debt,
including Senior Indebtedness, that may be incurred by the Corporation or any of
its subsidiaries. See "Description of New Securities -- Description of New
Guarantee -- Status of New Guarantee" and "Description of New Securities --
Description of New Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination."
 
     The ability of the Trust to pay amounts due on the Capital Securities is
dependent upon the Corporation making payments on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures as and when required.
 
OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD; TAX CONSIDERATIONS
 
     So long as no Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Corporation will have the right under the Indenture to defer
payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time or from
time to time for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with
respect to each Extension Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend
beyond the Stated Maturity Date. Upon any such deferral, semi-annual
Distributions on the Capital Securities by the Trust will be deferred (and the
amount of Distributions to which holders of the Capital Securities are entitled
will accumulate additional Distributions thereon at the rate of 8.32% per annum,
compounded semi-annually) from the relevant payment date for such Distributions
during any such Extension Period.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   17
 
     The Corporation may extend any existing Extension Period, provided that
such extension does not cause such Extension Period to exceed 10 consecutive
semi-annual periods or to extend beyond the Stated Maturity Date. Upon the
expiration of any Extension Period and the payment of all interest then accrued
and unpaid on the Junior Subordinated Debentures (together with interest thereon
at the annual rate of 8.32%, compounded semi-annually, to the extent permitted
by applicable law), the Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension Period,
subject to the above requirements. There is no limitation on the number of times
that the Corporation may elect to begin an Extension Period. See "Description of
New Securities -- Description of New Capital Securities -- Distributions" and
"-- Description of New Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Extend
Interest Payment Period."
 
     The Corporation has no current plan to exercise its right to defer payments
of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. However, should the
Corporation exercise its right to defer payments of interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, each holder of Capital Securities will be required to
accrue income (as original issue discount ("OID")) in respect of the deferred
stated interest allocable to its Capital Securities for United States federal
income tax purposes, which will be allocated but not distributed to holders of
Capital Securities. As a result, during an Extension Period, each holder of
Capital Securities will recognize income for United States federal income tax
purposes in advance of the receipt of cash and will not receive the cash related
to such income from the Trust if the holder disposes of the Capital Securities
prior to the record date for the payment of Distributions thereafter. See
"Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations -- Interest Income and
Original Issue Discount" and "-- Sales of Capital Securities."
 
     Should the Corporation elect to exercise its right to defer payments of
interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the market price of the Capital
Securities is likely to be affected. A holder that disposes of its Capital
Securities during an Extension Period, therefore, might not receive the same
return on its investment as a holder that continues to hold its Capital
Securities. In addition, the mere existence of the Corporation's right to defer
payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures may cause the market
price of the Capital Securities to be more volatile than the market prices of
other securities that are not subject to such deferrals.
 
TAX EVENT REDEMPTION; POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES AFFECTING THE CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event (as defined under
"Description of New Securities -- Description of New Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Special Event Prepayment"), the Corporation will have the right to
prepay the Junior Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in part) at the
Special Event Prepayment Price within 90 days following the occurrence of such
Tax Event and therefore cause a mandatory redemption of the Trust Securities at
the Special Event Redemption Price. The exercise of such right is subject to the
Corporation having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so if
then required under applicable guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.
See "Description of New Securities -- Description of New Capital Securities --
Redemption."
 
     On February 6, 1997, as part of President Clinton's Fiscal 1998 Budget
Proposal, the United States Treasury Department proposed legislation that would,
among other things, deny an issuer a deduction for United States federal income
tax purposes for the payment of interest on instruments with characteristics
similar to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. If the proposed legislation were
enacted in its current form, it is not expected to apply to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures since the proposed effective date for this provision is
the date of first committee action. There can be no assurances, however, that
the proposed legislation, if enacted, or similar legislation enacted after the
date hereof would not adversely affect the tax treatment of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, resulting in a Tax Event. The occurrence of a Tax Event
may result in the redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debentures for cash, in
which event the holders of the Capital Securities would receive cash in
redemption of their Capital Securities. See "Description of New Securities --
Description of New Capital Securities -- Redemption" and "-- Description of New
Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Special Event Prepayment." See also "Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Proposed Tax Legislation."
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   18
 
POSSIBLE ADVERSE EFFECT ON MARKET PRICES
 
     There can be no assurance as to the market prices for New Capital
Securities or New Junior Subordinated Debentures distributed to the holders of
New Capital Securities if a termination of the Trust were to occur. Accordingly,
the New Capital Securities or the New Junior Subordinated Debentures may trade
at a discount from the price that the investor paid to purchase the New Capital
Securities. Because holders of Capital Securities may receive Junior
Subordinated Debentures in liquidation of the Trust and because Distributions
are otherwise limited to payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
prospective purchasers of New Capital Securities are also making an investment
decision with regard to the New Junior Subordinated Debentures and should
carefully review all the information regarding the New Junior Subordinated
Debentures contained herein. See "Description of New Securities -- Description
of New Junior Subordinated Debentures."
 
RIGHTS UNDER THE GUARANTEE
 
     The Chase Manhattan Bank will act as Guarantee Trustee and will hold the
Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Capital Securities. The Chase
Manhattan Bank will also act as Property Trustee and as Debenture Trustee under
the Indenture. Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware will act as Delaware Trustee under
the Declaration. The Guarantee will guarantee to the holders of the Capital
Securities the following payments, to the extent not paid by the Trust: (i) any
accumulated and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on the Capital
Securities, to the extent that the Trust has funds on hand legally available
therefor; (ii) the applicable Redemption Price with respect to any Capital
Securities called for redemption, to the extent that the Trust has funds on hand
legally available therefor; and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
termination, winding up or liquidation of the Trust (unless the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of the Capital Securities),
the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount and all accumulated
and unpaid Distributions to the date of payment, to the extent that the Trust
has funds on hand legally available therefor on such date and (b) the amount of
assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to holders of the
Capital Securities on such date. The holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount
of the Capital Securities will have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee
Trustee in respect of the Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee. Any holder of the Capital Securities may
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Corporation to enforce its
rights under the Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against
the Trust, the Guarantee Trustee or any other person or entity. If the
Corporation defaults on its obligation to pay amounts payable under the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Trust will not have sufficient funds for the
payment of Distributions or amounts payable on redemption of the Capital
Securities or otherwise, and, in such event, holders of the Capital Securities
will not be able to rely upon the Guarantee for payment of such amounts.
Instead, in the event a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Corporation to
pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures on the payment date on which such payment is due and payable, then a
holder of Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against
the Corporation for enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on such Junior Subordinated Debentures having a
principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities of
such holder (a "Direct Action"). Notwithstanding any payments made to a holder
of Capital Securities by the Corporation in connection with a Direct Action, the
Corporation shall remain obligated to pay the principal of and premium, if any,
and interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, and the Corporation shall be
subrogated to the rights of the holder of such Capital Securities with respect
to payments on the Capital Securities to the extent of any payments made by the
Corporation to such holder in any Direct Action. Except as described herein,
holders of Capital Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other
remedy available to the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or to
assert directly any other rights in respect of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures. See "Description of New Securities -- Description of New Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Capital
Securities," "--Description of New Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Debenture
Events of Default" and Description of New Securities "-- Description of New
Guarantee." The Declaration provides that each holder of Capital Securities by
acceptance thereof agrees to the provisions of the Indenture.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   19
 
LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS
 
     Holders of Capital Securities generally will have voting rights relating
only to the modification of the terms of the Capital Securities, the termination
or liquidation of the Trust, and the exercise of the Trust's rights as holder of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Holders of Capital Securities will not be
entitled to vote to appoint, remove or replace, or to increase or decrease the
number of, the Issuer Trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively in
the holder of the Common Securities, except as described under "Description of
New Securities -- Description of New Capital Securities -- Voting Rights;
Amendment of the Declaration" and "-- Removal of Issuer Trustees."
 
CONSEQUENCES OF A FAILURE TO EXCHANGE OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     The Old Capital Securities have not been registered under the Securities
Act or any state securities laws and therefore may not be offered, sold or
otherwise transferred except in compliance with the registration requirements of
the Securities Act and any other applicable securities laws, or pursuant to an
exemption therefrom or in a transaction not subject thereto, and in each case in
compliance with certain other conditions and restrictions. Old Capital
Securities which remain outstanding after consummation of the Exchange Offer
will continue to bear a legend reflecting such restrictions on transfer. In
addition, upon consummation of the Exchange Offer, holders of Old Capital
Securities which remain outstanding will not be entitled to any rights to have
such Old Capital Securities registered under the Securities Act or to any
similar rights under the Registration Rights Agreement (subject to certain
limited exceptions). The Corporation and the Trust do not intend to register
under the Securities Act any Old Capital Securities which remain outstanding
after consummation of the Exchange Offer (subject to such limited exceptions, if
applicable). To the extent that Old Capital Securities are tendered and accepted
in the Exchange Offer, a holder's ability to sell untendered Old Capital
Securities could be adversely affected.
 
     The New Capital Securities and any Old Capital Securities which remain
outstanding after consummation of the Exchange Offer will vote together as a
single class for purposes of determining whether holders of the requisite
percentage in outstanding Liquidation Amount thereof have taken certain actions
or exercised certain rights under the Declaration. See "Description of New
Securities -- Description of New Capital Securities -- Voting Rights; Amendment
of the Declaration."
 
     The Old Capital Securities provide, among other things, that, if a
registration statement relating to the Exchange Offer has not been filed by May
16, 1997 and declared effective by May 25, 1997, the Distribution rate borne by
the Old Capital Securities, currently 8.32% per annum commencing on June 14,
1997 will increase by 0.25% per annum until the Exchange Offer is consummated.
Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer, holders of Old Capital Securities will
not be entitled to any increase in the Distribution rate thereon or any further
registration rights under the Registration Rights Agreement, except under
limited circumstances. See "Description of Old Capital Securities."
 
ABSENCE OF PUBLIC MARKET
 
     The Old Capital Securities were issued to, and the Corporation believes the
Old Capital Securities are currently owned by, a relatively small number of
beneficial owners. The Old Capital Securities have not been registered under the
Securities Act and will be subject to restrictions on transferability if they
are not exchanged for the New Capital Securities. Although the New Capital
Securities generally may be resold or otherwise transferred by the holders (who
are not affiliates of the Corporation or the Trust) without compliance with the
registration requirements under the Securities Act, they will constitute a new
issue of securities with no established trading market. Old Capital Securities
may be transferred by the holders thereof only in blocks having a Liquidation
Amount of not less than $100,000 (100 Old Capital Securities). New Capital
Securities may be transferred by the holders thereof in blocks having a
Liquidation Amount of $1,000 (one New Capital Security) or integral multiples
thereof. The Corporation and the Trust have been advised by the Initial
Purchasers that the Initial Purchasers presently intend to make a market in the
New Capital Securities. However, the Initial Purchasers are not obligated to do
so and any market-making activity with respect to the New Capital Securities may
be discontinued at any time without notice. In addition, such
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   20
 
market-making activity will be subject to the limits imposed by the Securities
Act and the Exchange Act and may be limited during the Exchange Offer.
Accordingly, no assurance can be given that an active public or other market
will develop for the New Capital Securities or the Old Capital Securities or as
to the liquidity of or the trading market for the New Capital Securities or the
Old Capital Securities. If an active public market does not develop, the market
price and liquidity of the New Capital Securities may be adversely affected.
 
     If a public trading market develops for the New Capital Securities, future
trading prices will depend on many factors, including, among other things,
prevailing interest rates, the Corporation's results and the market for similar
securities. Depending on prevailing interest rates, the market for similar
securities and other factors, including the financial condition of the
Corporation, the New Capital Securities may trade at a discount.
 
     Notwithstanding the registration of the New Capital Securities in the
Exchange Offer, holders who are "affiliates" (as defined under Rule 405 of the
Securities Act) of the Corporation or the Trust may publicly offer for sale or
resell the New Capital Securities only in compliance with the provisions of Rule
144 under the Securities Act.
 
     Each broker-dealer that receives New Capital Securities for its own account
in exchange for Old Capital Securities, where such Old Capital Securities were
acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other
trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in
connection with any resale of such New Capital Securities. See "Plan of
Distribution."
 
EXCHANGE OFFER PROCEDURES
 
     Issuance of the New Capital Securities in exchange for Old Capital
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be made only after a timely
receipt by the Trust of such Old Capital Securities, a properly completed and
duly executed Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents. Therefore,
holders of the Old Capital Securities desiring to tender such Old Capital
Securities in exchange for New Capital Securities should allow sufficient time
to ensure timely delivery. Neither the Corporation nor the Trust is under any
duty to give notification of defects or irregularities with respect to the
tenders of Old Capital Securities for exchange.
 
                      RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
     The following table sets forth the ratios of earnings to fixed charges of
the Corporation for the respective periods indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                     NINE MONTHS
                                                        ENDED           YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                    SEPTEMBER 30,   --------------------------------
                                                        1996        1995   1994   1993          1992
                                                    -------------   ----   ----   ----          ----
<S>                                                 <C>             <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges:
  Excluding interest on deposits..................      3.00        2.84   4.06   6.22   5.53   3.63
  Including interest on deposits..................      1.56        1.55   1.78   1.88   1.60   1.35
</TABLE>
 
     For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges, earnings
represent net income (loss) before extraordinary items and cumulative effect of
changes in accounting principles plus applicable income taxes and fixed charges.
Fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits, include gross interest expense
(other than on deposits) and the proportion deemed representative of the
interest factor of rent expense, net of income from subleases. Fixed charges,
including gross interest on deposits, include all interest expense and the
proportion deemed representative of the interest factor of rent expense, net of
income from subleases.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   21
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Neither the Corporation nor the Trust will receive any cash proceeds from
the issuance of the New Capital Securities. In consideration for issuing the New
Capital Securities in exchange for the Old Capital Securities as described in
this Prospectus, the Trust will receive Old Capital Securities in like
Liquidation Amount. The Old Capital Securities surrendered in exchange for the
New Capital Securities will be retired and cancelled.
 
     The proceeds to the Trust (without giving effect to expenses of the
offering payable by the Corporation) from the offering of the Old Capital
Securities was $150,000,000. All of the proceeds from the sale of Old Capital
Securities was invested by the Trust in the Junior Subordinated Debentures. The
net proceeds from the sale of the Old Junior Subordinated Debentures are being
used to effect open market purchases of outstanding shares of common stock of
the corporation from time to time. The precise amount and timing of the
application of such net proceeds used for such corporate purposes will depend on
prevailing market prices for the common stock. Pending such application by the
Corporation, such net proceeds may be temporarily invested in short-term
interest bearing securities.
 
     The Capital Securities will be eligible to qualify as Tier 1 capital under
the capital guidelines of the Federal Reserve.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   22
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
     The following table sets forth the actual unaudited capitalization of the
Corporation at September 30, 1996, as adjusted to give effect to the
consummation of the offering of Capital Securities and the application of the
estimated net proceeds from the sale of the Capital Securities. See "Use of
Proceeds." The table should be read in conjunction with the Corporation's
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto included in the documents
incorporated by reference herein. See "Incorporation of Certain Documents by
Reference."
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               AT SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                                                              ------------------------
                                                                ACTUAL     AS ADJUSTED
                                                                ------     -----------
                                                                   (IN THOUSANDS)
<S>                                                           <C>          <C>
Long-Term Debt..............................................  $  601,720   $  601,720
Corporation obligated, mandatorily redeemable preferred
  securities of subsidiary trust holding solely subordinated
  debentures of the Corporation(1)..........................         -0-      150,000
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY
Preferred Stock.............................................      11,424       11,424
Common Stock at $1.25 par value.............................      94,266       90,566
Capital surplus.............................................     139,696      139,696
Retained earnings...........................................   1,393,020    1,248,720
Treasury Stock..............................................      (2,320)      (2,320)
Restricted Stock............................................          (8)          (8)
Net unrealized gain (loss) on securities....................       8,738        8,738
                                                              ----------   ----------
Total stockholders' equity                                     1,644,816    1,496,816
                                                              ----------   ----------
     Total                                                    $2,246,536   $2,248,536
                                                              ==========   ==========
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
(1) Reflects the Capital Securities. The Trust is a subsidiary of the
    Corporation and will hold the Junior Subordinated Debentures as its sole
    asset.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   23
 
                             SUMMARY FINANCIAL DATA
 
     The summary below should be read in connection with the financial
information included in the Corporation's 1995 Annual Report on Form 10-K and
the Corporation's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September
30, 1996. Interim unaudited data for the nine months ended September 30, 1996
and 1995 reflect, in the opinion of management of the Corporation, all
adjustments (consisting only of normal recurring adjustments) necessary for a
fair presentation of such data. Results for the nine months ended September 30,
1996 are not necessarily indicative of results which may be expected for any
other interim period or for the year as a whole.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                               SEPTEMBER 30                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31
                                            -------------------   ----------------------------------------------------
                                              1996       1995       1995       1994       1993       1992       1991
                                              ----       ----       ----       ----       ----       ----       ----
                                                (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
BALANCE SHEET AT PERIOD END
  (MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
Total Assets..............................  $ 19,915   $ 18,784   $ 19,168   $ 17,994   $ 16,412   $ 15,561   $ 14,549
Securities................................     4,281      4,262      4,475      3,974      3,360      3,279      3,347
Loans.....................................    13,216     12,676     12,632     11,906     10,825      9,816      8,997
Earning assets............................    17,709     17,071     17,233     16,293     14,551     13,617     12,812
Deposits..................................    14,825     13,813     14,312     13,409     13,133     12,756     11,989
Short-term borrowed funds.................     2,550      2,446      2,303      2,196      1,178        900      1,004
Other debt................................       602        727        734        574        486        426        209
Stockholders' equity......................     1,645      1,515      1,525      1,513      1,359      1,237      1,070
EARNINGS AND DIVIDENDS
  (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
Net interest revenue......................   558,542    538,738    725,947    698,838    659,939    626,371    555,209
Provision for loan losses.................    28,963     28,901     36,756     23,891     29,090     50,733     55,221
Other operating revenue...................   324,629    285,884    392,197    370,619    392,918    347,936    311,641
Other operating expense...................   584,464    558,255    734,122    706,185    689,274    655,444    595,505
Net income................................   176,553    157,144    228,913    226,673    227,938    185,999    154,415
PER COMMON SHARE:
  Net income..............................      2.39       2.05       3.00       2.98       2.99       2.50       2.11
  Dividends...............................      1.10       0.98       1.32       1.16       1.00       0.80      0.705
  Stockholders' equity....................     21.72      20.00      20.61      19.45      17.78      15.83      14.16
Average common shares (000's).............    73,642     76,085     75,716     75,195     74,131     71,992     70,832
PERFORMANCE RATIOS(1)
Return on average assets..................      1.24%      1.16%      1.26%      1.37%      1.49%      1.29%      1.12%
Return on average common equity...........     15.35      13.86      15.11      15.96      17.81      16.65      15.71
Equity to assets..........................      8.26       8.06       7.95       8.41       8.28       7.94       7.35
Tangible equity to assets.................      7.24       7.46       7.36       7.76       7.61       7.18       6.49
Total risk-based capital..................     12.00      12.93      12.45      13.18      13.17      13.10      11.74
Loan loss reserve as a percentage of total
  loans...................................      1.62       1.58       1.55       1.60       1.75       1.87       1.81
Nonperforming loans as a percentage of
  loans...................................      0.63       0.65       0.72       0.58       0.63       0.76       0.99
Nonperforming assets as a percentage of
  loans and other real estate.............      0.70       0.72       0.77       0.69       0.81       1.17       1.50
Net loan charge-offs as a percentage of
  average loans...........................      0.25       0.22       0.27       0.25       0.25       0.40       0.43
Net interest margin.......................      4.49       4.53       4.55       4.89       5.04       5.11       4.84
Fee revenue as a percentage of average
  assets..................................      2.27       2.15       2.18       2.26       2.56       2.39       2.22
Efficiency ratio..........................     57.92(2)   62.56(2)   61.43(2)   61.75(2)   63.53      65.13      66.02
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(3)
Excluding interest on deposits............      3.00x      2.71x      2.84x      4.06x      6.22x      5.53x      3.63x
Including interest on deposits............      1.56       1.50       1.55       1.78       1.88       1.60       1.35
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
(1) Ratios for the nine month periods ended September 30 have been annualized.
 
(2) The efficiency ratio is operating expenses as a percent of net interest
    revenue on a fully taxable equivalent basis and other operating revenue
    excluding securities gains or losses. The calculation excludes restructuring
    charges in 1996 and 1995, and the check-kiting loss in 1994.
 
(3) For purposes of computing these ratios, earnings represent income before
    income taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed charges, excluding interest on
    deposits, include interest (other than deposits), whether expensed or
    capitalized and that portion of rental expense deemed representative of the
    interest factor. Fixed charges, including interest on deposits, include all
    interest, whether expensed or capitalized, and that portion of rental
    expense deemed representative of the interest factor.
 
(4) The Corporation has completed a number of acquisitions during the periods
    presented which affects the comparability of information presented for
    various periods. See the Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
    year ended December 31, 1995 and Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the
    quarters ended March 31, June 30 and September 30, 1996 incorporated by
    reference herein.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   24
 
                                   THE TRUST
 
     The Trust is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law pursuant
to (i) a declaration of trust, dated as of December 17, 1996, executed by the
Corporation, as Sponsor, the Delaware Trustee and the Administrative Trustees
named therein (the "Initial Declaration"), and (ii) the filing of a certificate
of trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on December 17,
1996. The Initial Declaration will be replaced by an amended and restated
declaration of trust executed on or prior to the Issue Date by the Corporation,
as Sponsor, and the Issuer Trustees (as defined herein) (the "Declaration"). The
Trust exists for the exclusive purposes of (i) issuing and selling the Trust
Securities, which represent undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust, (ii) investing the gross proceeds from the sale of the Trust Securities
in the Junior Subordinated Debentures and (iii) engaging in only those other
activities necessary, advisable or incidental thereto. Accordingly, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be the sole assets of the Trust and payments under
the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be the sole revenues of the Trust. All
of the Common Securities will be owned directly by the Corporation. The Common
Securities will rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro rata,
with the Capital Securities, except that upon the occurrence and during the
continuance of an Event of Default, the rights of the Corporation as holder of
the Common Securities to payments in respect of Distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption or otherwise will be subordinated and rank junior to the
rights of the holders of the Capital Securities. See "Description of New Capital
Securities -- Subordination of Common Securities." The Corporation has acquired
Common Securities in a Liquidation Amount equal to at least 3% of the total
capital of the Trust. The Trust has a term of 31 years, but may terminate
earlier as provided in the Declaration. The Trust's business and affairs are
conducted by trustees (the "Issuer Trustees") appointed by the Corporation as
the direct holder of the Common Securities. The Issuer Trustees are The Chase
Manhattan Bank as Property Trustee (the "Property Trustee"), Chase Manhattan
Bank Delaware as Delaware Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), and three individual
trustees (the "Administrative Trustees"). The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Property
Trustee, will act as sole indenture trustee under the Declaration. The Chase
Manhattan Bank will also act as indenture trustee under the Guarantee and the
Indenture. See "Description of the Guarantee" and "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures." The holder of the Common Securities or, if an Event of
Default under the Declaration has occurred and is continuing, the holders of a
majority in Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities, will be entitled to
appoint, remove or replace the Property Trustee and/or the Delaware Trustee. In
no event will the holders of the Capital Securities have the right to vote to
appoint, remove or replace the Administrative Trustees; such voting rights will
be vested exclusively in the holder of the Common Securities. The duties and
obligations of each Issuer Trustee are governed by the Declaration. The
Corporation will pay directly all fees, expenses, debts and obligations (other
than the Trust Securities) related to the Trust and the offering of the Capital
Securities, including all ongoing costs, expenses and liabilities of the Trust.
The principal executive office of the Trust is Firstar Capital Trust I, c/o
Firstar Corporation, 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
Attention: Chief Financial Officer.
 
                              FIRSTAR CORPORATION
 
     Firstar is a multibank holding company providing financial services at 250
branch locations primarily throughout the states of Wisconsin and Iowa and in
the Chicago and Minneapolis-St. Paul metropolitan areas. At September 30, 1996,
Firstar had total assets of $19.9 billion and total stockholders' equity of $1.6
billion. Firstar's bank subsidiaries in Wisconsin had 122 locations and total
assets of $10.7 billion of which Firstar Bank Milwaukee, the largest commercial
bank in Wisconsin, had 61 locations and total assets of $6.5 billion. Firstar's
bank subsidiaries in Iowa (with 51 locations), Chicago (with 40 locations) and
Minneapolis-St. Paul (with 32 locations) had total assets of $3.1 billion, $2.8
billion and $3.1 billion, respectively, as of that date. Subsidiary asset totals
are net of intercompany balances. At September 30, 1996, Firstar's trust and
investment management subsidiaries held $20.8 billion of assets under active
management. All of Firstar's bank subsidiaries are owned by three sub-bank
holding companies which are direct subsidiaries of Firstar.
 
     Firstar's subsidiaries offer a wide range of financial services to
businesses, individuals and governmental entities including accepting deposits,
making secured and unsecured business and personal loans, issuing and servicing
credit cards, engaging in correspondent banking services, providing trust and
investment management
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   25
 
services, and conducting international banking services for its local customers
consisting of foreign trade financing, issuance and confirmation of letters of
credit, funds collection and foreign exchange transactions. Firstar's
subsidiaries also provide retail brokerage, mortgage banking, insurance, and
corporate computer and operations services.
 
     Firstar is incorporated in the state of Wisconsin and its principal
executive offices are located at 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin
53201 (Telephone (414) 765-4321).
 
                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
PURPOSE OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
     In connection with the sale of the Old Capital Securities, the Corporation
and the Trust entered into the Registration Rights Agreement with the Initial
Purchasers, pursuant to which the Corporation and the Trust agreed to file and
to use their reasonable efforts to cause to become effective with the Commission
a registration statement with respect to the exchange of the Old Capital
Securities for the New Capital Securities. A copy of the Registration Rights
Agreement has been filed as an Exhibit to the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus is a part.
 
     The Exchange Offer is being made to satisfy the contractual obligations of
the Corporation and the Trust under the Registration Rights Agreement. The form
and terms of the New Capital Securities are the same as the form and terms of
the Old Capital Securities except that the New Capital Securities have been
registered under the Securities Act and will not be subject to the $100,000
minimum Liquidation Amount transfer restriction and certain other transfer
restrictions applicable to the Old Capital Securities and will not provide for
any increase in the Distribution rate thereon. In that regard, the Old Capital
Securities provide, among other things, that, if a registration statement
relating to the Exchange Offer has not been filed by May 16, 1997 and declared
effective by June 15, 1997, the Distribution rate borne by the Old Capital
Securities, currently 8.32%, commencing on June 16, 1997 will increase by 0.25%
per annum until the Exchange Offer is consummated. Upon consummation of the
Exchange Offer, holders of Old Capital Securities will not be entitled to any
increase in the Distribution rate thereon or any further registration rights
under the Registration Rights Agreement, except under limited circumstances. See
"Risk Factors -- Consequences of a Failure to Exchange Old Capital Securities"
and "Description of Old Capital Securities."
 
     The Exchange Offer is not being made to, nor will the Trust accept tenders
for exchange from, holders of Old Capital Securities in any jurisdiction in
which the Exchange Offer or the acceptance thereof would not be in compliance
with the securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdiction.
 
     Unless the context requires otherwise, the term "holder" with respect to
the Exchange Offer means any person in whose name the Old Capital Securities are
registered on the books of the Trust or any other person who has obtained a
properly completed bond power from such holder, or any participant in the
Depository Trust Company ("DTC") system whose name appears on a security
position listing as the holder of such Old Capital Securities and who desires to
deliver such Old Capital Securities by book-entry transfer at DTC.
 
     Pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the Corporation will exchange promptly
after the Expiration Date, the Old Guarantee for the New Guarantee and the Old
Junior Subordinated Debentures, in an amount corresponding to the Old Capital
Securities accepted for exchange, for a like aggregate principal amount of the
New Junior Subordinated Debentures. The New Guarantee and New Junior
Subordinated Debentures have been registered under the Securities Act.
 
TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
     The Trust hereby offers, upon the terms and subject to the conditions set
forth in this Prospectus and in the accompanying Letter of Transmittal, to
exchange up to $150,000,000 aggregate Liquidation Amount of New Capital
Securities for a like aggregate Liquidation Amount of Old Capital Securities
properly tendered on or prior to the Expiration Date and not properly withdrawn
in accordance with the procedures described below. The Trust will issue,
promptly after the Expiration Date, an aggregate Liquidation Amount of up to
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   26
 
$150,000,000 of New Capital Securities in exchange for a like principal amount
of outstanding Old Capital Securities tendered and accepted in connection with
the Exchange Offer. Holders may tender their Old Capital Securities in whole or
in part in a Liquidation Amount of not less than $100,000 (100 Capital
Securities) or any integral multiple of $1,000 Liquidation Amount (one Capital
Security) in excess thereof.
 
     The Exchange Offer is not conditioned upon any minimum Liquidation Amount
of Old Capital Securities being tendered. As of the date of this Prospectus,
$150,000,000 aggregate Liquidation Amount of Old Capital Securities is
outstanding.
 
     Holders of Old Capital Securities do not have any appraisal or dissenters'
rights in connection with the Exchange Offer. Old Capital Securities which are
not tendered for or are tendered but not accepted in connection with the
Exchange Offer will remain outstanding and be entitled to the benefits of the
Declaration, but will not be entitled to any further registration rights under
the Registration Rights Agreement, except under limited circumstances. See "Risk
Factors -- Consequences of a Failure to Exchange Old Capital Securities" and
"Description of Old Securities."
 
     If any tendered Old Capital Securities are not accepted for exchange
because of an invalid tender, the occurrence of certain other events set forth
herein or otherwise, certificates for any such unaccepted Old Capital Securities
will be returned, without expense, to the tendering holder thereof promptly
after the Expiration Date.
 
     Holders who tender Old Capital Securities in connection with the Exchange
Offer will not be required to pay brokerage commissions or fees or, subject to
the instructions in the Letter of Transmittal, transfer taxes with respect to
the exchange of Old Capital Securities in connection with the Exchange Offer.
The Corporation will pay all charges and expenses, other than certain applicable
taxes described below, in connection with the Exchange Offer. See "-- Fees and
Expenses."
 
     NEITHER THE CORPORATION, THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF THE CORPORATION NOR ANY
ISSUER TRUSTEE OF THE TRUST MAKES ANY RECOMMENDATION TO HOLDERS OF OLD CAPITAL
SECURITIES AS TO WHETHER TO TENDER OR REFRAIN FROM TENDERING ALL OR ANY PORTION
OF THEIR OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER. IN ADDITION, NO
ONE HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO MAKE ANY SUCH RECOMMENDATION. HOLDERS OF OLD CAPITAL
SECURITIES MUST MAKE THEIR OWN DECISION WHETHER TO TENDER PURSUANT TO THE
EXCHANGE OFFER AND, IF SO, THE AGGREGATE AMOUNT OF OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES TO
TENDER BASED ON SUCH HOLDERS OWN FINANCIAL POSITION AND REQUIREMENTS.
 
     The term "Expiration Date" means 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on
                    , 1997 unless the Exchange Offer is extended by the
Corporation or the Trust (in which case the term "Expiration Date" shall mean
the latest date and time to which the Exchange Offer is extended).
 
     The Corporation and the Trust expressly reserve the right in their sole and
absolute discretion, subject to applicable law, at any time and from time to
time, (i) to delay the acceptance of the Old Capital Securities for exchange,
(ii) to terminate the Exchange Offer (whether or not any Old Capital Securities
have theretofore been accepted for exchange) if the Trust determines, in its
sole and absolute discretion, that any of the events or conditions referred to
under "-- Conditions to the Exchange Offer" have occurred or exist or have not
been satisfied, (iii) to extend the Expiration Date of the Exchange Offer and
retain all Old Capital Securities tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer,
subject, however, to the right of holders of Old Capital Securities to withdraw
their tendered Old Capital Securities as described under "-- Withdrawal Rights,"
and (iv) to waive any condition or otherwise amend the terms of the Exchange
Offer in any respect. If the Exchange Offer is amended in a manner determined by
the Corporation and the Trust to constitute a material change, or if the
Corporation and the Trust waive a material condition of the Exchange Offer, the
Corporation and the Trust will promptly disclose such amendment by means of a
prospectus supplement that will be distributed to the holders of the Old Capital
Securities, and the Corporation and the Trust will extend the Exchange Offer to
the extent required by Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange Act.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   27
 
     Any such delay in acceptance, extension, termination or amendment will be
followed promptly by oral (promptly confirmed in writing) or written notice
thereof to the Exchange Agent and by making a public announcement thereof, and
such announcement in the case of an extension will be made no later than 9:00
a.m., New York City time, on the next business day after the previously
scheduled Expiration Date. Without limiting the manner in which the Corporation
and the Trust may choose to make any public announcement and subject to
applicable law, the Corporation and the Trust shall have no obligation to
publish, advertise or otherwise communicate any such public announcement other
than by issuing a release to an appropriate news agency.
 
ACCEPTANCE FOR EXCHANGE AND ISSUANCE OF NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     Upon the terms and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, the
Trust will exchange, and will issue to the Exchange Agent, New Capital
Securities for Old Capital Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn
promptly after the Expiration Date.
 
     In all cases, delivery of New Capital Securities in exchange for Old
Capital Securities tendered and accepted for exchange pursuant to the Exchange
Offer will be made only after timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of (i) Old
Capital Securities or a book-entry confirmation of a book-entry transfer of Old
Capital Securities into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC, (ii) the Letter of
Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with
any required signature guarantees or (in case of a book-entry transfer) an
Agent's Message in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal, and (iii) any other
documents required by the Letter of Transmittal.
 
     The term "book-entry confirmation" means a timely confirmation of a
book-entry transfer of Old Capital Securities into the Exchange Agent's account
at DTC. The term "Agent's Message" means a message, transmitted by DTC to and
received by the Exchange Agent and forming a part of book-entry confirmation,
which states that DTC has received an express acknowledgment from the tendering
participant, which acknowledgment states that such participant has received and
agrees to be bound by the Letter of Transmittal and that the Trust and the
Corporation may enforce such Letter of Transmittal against such participant.
 
     Subject to the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer, the Trust will
be deemed to have accepted for exchange, and thereby exchanged, Old Capital
Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn as, if and when the Trust gives
oral (promptly confirmed in writing) or written notice to the Exchange Agent of
the Trust's acceptance of such Old Capital Securities for exchange pursuant to
the Exchange Offer. The Exchange Agent will act as agent for the Trust for the
purpose of receiving tenders of Old Capital Securities, Letters of Transmittal
and related documents, and as agent for tendering holders for the purpose of
receiving Old Capital Securities, Letters of Transmittal and related documents
and transmitting New Capital Securities to validly tendering holders. Such
exchange will be made promptly after the Expiration Date. If for any reason
whatsoever, acceptance for exchange or the exchange of any Old Capital
Securities tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer is delayed (whether before or
after the Trust's acceptance for exchange of Old Capital Securities) or the
Trust extends the Exchange Offer or is unable to accept for exchange or exchange
Old Capital Securities tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer, then, without
prejudice to the Trust's rights set forth herein, the Exchange Agent may,
nevertheless, on behalf of the Trust and subject to Rule 14e-1(c) under the
Exchange Act, retain tendered Old Capital Securities and such Old Capital
Securities may not be withdrawn except to the extent tendering holders are
entitled to withdrawal rights as described under "-- Withdrawal Rights."
 
     Pursuant to the Letter of Transmittal or Agent's Message in lieu thereof, a
holder of Old Capital Securities will warrant and agree in the Letter of
Transmittal that it has full power and authority to tender, exchange, sell,
assign and transfer Old Capital Securities, that the Trust will acquire good,
marketable and unencumbered title to the tendered Old Capital Securities, free
and clear of all liens, restrictions, charges and encumbrances, and the Old
Capital Securities tendered for exchange are not subject to any adverse claims
or proxies. The holder also will warrant and agree that it will, upon request,
execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Trust or the Exchange
Agent to be necessary or desirable to complete the
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   28
 
exchange, sale, assignment, and transfer of the Old Capital Securities tendered
pursuant to the Exchange Offer.
 
PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     VALID TENDER. Except as set forth below, in order for Old Capital
Securities to be validly tendered pursuant to the Exchange Offer, a properly
completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), with
any required signature guarantees or (in the case of a book-entry transfer) an
Agent's Message in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal and any other required
documents, must be received by the Exchange Agent at one of its addresses set
forth under "-- Exchange Agent," and either (i) tendered Old Capital Securities
must be received by the Exchange Agent, or (ii) such Old Capital Securities must
be tendered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry transfer set forth below
and a book-entry confirmation, including an Agent's Message if the tendering
holder has not delivered a Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the
Exchange Agent, in each case on or prior to the Expiration Date, or (iii) the
guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below must be complied with.
 
     If less than all of the Old Capital Securities are tendered, a tendering
holder should fill in the amount of Old Capital Securities being tendered in the
appropriate box on the Letter of Transmittal or so indicate in an Agent's
Message in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal. The entire amount of Old Capital
Securities delivered to the Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered
unless otherwise indicated.
 
     THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES, THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL
OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE OPTION AND SOLE RISK OF THE TENDERING HOLDER,
AND DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE
AGENT. IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, REGISTERED MAIL, RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED,
PROPERLY INSURED, OR AN OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE IS RECOMMENDED. IN ALL CASES,
SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.
 
     BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER. The Exchange Agent will establish an account with
respect to the Old Capital Securities at DTC for purposes of the Exchange Offer
within two business days after the date of this Prospectus. Any financial
institution that is a participant in DTC's book-entry transfer facility system
may make a book-entry delivery of the Old Capital Securities by causing DTC to
transfer such Old Capital Securities into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC in
accordance with DTC's procedures for transfers. However, although delivery of
Old Capital Securities may be effected through book-entry transfer into the
Exchange Agent's account at DTC, the Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile
thereof), properly completed and duly executed, with any required signature
guarantees, or an Agent's Message in lieu of the Letter of Transmittal, and any
other required documents, must in any case be delivered to and received by the
Exchange Agent at its address set forth under "-- Exchange Agent" on or prior to
the Expiration Date, or the guaranteed delivery procedures set forth below must
be complied with.
 
     DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO DTC IN ACCORDANCE WITH DTC'S PROCEDURES DOES NOT
CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.
 
     SIGNATURE GUARANTEES. Certificates for the Old Capital Securities need not
be endorsed and signature guarantees on the Letter of Transmittal are
unnecessary unless (a) a certificate for the Old Capital Securities is
registered in a name other than that of the person surrendering the certificate
or (b) such holder completes the box entitled "Special Issuance Instructions" or
"Special Delivery Instructions" in the Letter of Transmittal. In the case of (a)
or (b) above, such certificates for Old Capital Securities must be duly endorsed
or accompanied by a properly executed bond power, with the endorsement or
signature on the bond power and on the Letter of Transmittal guaranteed by a
firm or other entity identified in Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act as an
"eligible guarantor institution," including (as such terms are defined therein):
(i) a bank; (ii) a broker, dealer, municipal securities broker or dealer or
government securities broker or dealer; (iii) a credit union; (iv) a national
securities exchange, registered securities association or clearing agency; or
(v) a savings association that is a participant in a Securities Transfer
Association (an "Eligible Institution"), unless surrendered on behalf of such
Eligible Institution. See Instruction 1 to the Letter of Transmittal.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   29
 
     GUARANTEED DELIVERY. If a holder desires to tender Old Capital Securities
pursuant to the Exchange Offer and the certificates for such Old Capital
Securities are not immediately available or time will not permit all required
documents to reach the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date, or the
procedure for book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely basis, such
Old Capital Securities may nevertheless be tendered, provided that all of the
following guaranteed delivery procedures are complied with:
 
          (a) such tenders are made by or through an Eligible Institution;
 
          (b) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed
     Delivery, substantially in the form accompanying the Letter of Transmittal,
     is received by the Exchange Agent, as provided below, on or prior to the
     Expiration Date; and
 
          (c) the certificates (or a book-entry confirmation) representing all
     tendered Old Capital Securities, in proper form for transfer, together with
     a properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile
     thereof or Agent's Message in lieu thereof), with any required signature
     guarantees and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal,
     are received by the Exchange Agent within three New York Stock Exchange
     trading days after the date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed
     Delivery.
 
     The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand, or transmitted
by facsimile or mailed to the Exchange Agent and must include a guarantee by an
Eligible Institution in the form set forth in such notice.
 
     Notwithstanding any other provision hereof, the delivery of New Capital
Securities in exchange for Old Capital Securities tendered and accepted for
exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will in all cases be made only after
timely receipt by the Exchange Agent of Old Capital Securities, or of a
book-entry confirmation with respect to such Old Capital Securities, and a
properly completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof
or Agent's Message in lieu thereof), together with any required signature
guarantees and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal.
Accordingly, the delivery of New Capital Securities might not be made to all
tendering holders at the same time, and will depend upon when Old Capital
Securities, book-entry confirmations with respect to Old Capital Securities and
other required documents are received by the Exchange Agent.
 
     The Trust's acceptance for exchange of Old Capital Securities tendered
pursuant to any of the procedures described above will constitute a binding
agreement between the tendering holder and the Trust upon the terms and subject
to the conditions of the Exchange Offer.
 
     DETERMINATION OF VALIDITY. All questions as to the form of documents,
validity, eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for exchange of
any tendered Old Capital Securities will be determined by the Corporation and
the Trust, in their sole discretion, whose determination shall be final and
binding on all parties. The Corporation and the Trust reserve the absolute
right, in their sole and absolute discretion, to reject any and all tenders
determined by them not to be in proper form or the acceptance of which, or
exchange for, may, in the opinion of counsel to the Corporation and the Trust,
be unlawful. The Corporation and the Trust also reserve the absolute right,
subject to applicable law, to waive any of the conditions of the Exchange Offer
as set forth under "-- Conditions to the Exchange Offer" or any condition or
irregularity in any tender of Old Capital Securities of any particular holder
whether or not similar conditions or irregularities are waived in the case of
other holders.
 
     The interpretation by the Corporation and the Trust of the terms and
conditions of the Exchange Offer (including the Letter of Transmittal and the
instructions thereto) will be final and binding. No tender of Old Capital
Securities will be deemed to have been validly made until all irregularities
with respect to such tender have been cured or waived. Neither the Corporation,
the Trust, any affiliates or assigns of the Corporation or the Trust, the
Exchange Agent nor any other person shall be under any duty to give any
notification of any irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure
to give any such notification.
 
     If any Letter of Transmittal, endorsement, bond power, power of attorney,
or any other document required by the Letter of Transmittal is signed by a
trustee, executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact,
 
                                       28
<PAGE>   30
 
officer of a corporation or other person acting in a fiduciary or representative
capacity, such person should so indicate when signing, and unless waived by the
Corporation and the Trust, proper evidence satisfactory to the Corporation and
the Trust, in their sole discretion, of such person's authority to so act must
be submitted.
 
     A beneficial owner of Old Capital Securities that are held by or registered
in the name of a broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee
or custodian is urged to contact such entity promptly if such beneficial holder
wishes to participate in the Exchange Offer.
 
RESALES OF NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     The Trust is making the Exchange Offer for the New Capital Securities in
reliance on the position of the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of
the Commission as set forth in certain interpretive letters addressed to third
parties in other transactions. However, neither the Corporation nor the Trust
sought its own interpretive letter and there can be no assurance that the staff
of the Division of Corporation Finance of the Commission would make a similar
determination with respect to the Exchange Offer as it has in such interpretive
letters to third parties. Based on these interpretations by the staff of the
Division of Corporation Finance of the Commission, and subject to the two
immediately following sentences, the Corporation and the Trust believe that New
Capital Securities issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for Old
Capital Securities may be offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred
by a holder thereof (other than a holder who is a broker-dealer) without further
compliance with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the
Securities Act, provided that such New Capital Securities are acquired in the
ordinary course of such holder's business and that such holder is not
participating, and has no arrangement or understanding with any person to
participate, in a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of
such New Capital Securities. However, any holder of Old Capital Securities who
is an "affiliate" of the Corporation or the Trust or who intends to participate
in the Exchange Offer for the purpose of distributing New Capital Securities, or
any broker-dealer who purchased Old Capital Securities from the Trust for resale
pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption under the Securities Act,
(a) will not be able to rely on the interpretations of the staff of the Division
of Corporation Finance of the Commission set forth in the above-mentioned
interpretive letters, (b) will not be permitted or entitled to tender such Old
Capital Securities in the Exchange Offer and (c) must comply with the
registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in
connection with any sale or other transfer of such Old Capital Securities unless
such sale is made pursuant to an exemption from such requirements. In addition,
as described below, if any broker-dealer holds Old Capital Securities acquired
for its own account as a result of market-making or other trading activities and
exchanges such Old Capital Securities for New Capital Securities, then such
broker-dealer must deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the
Securities Act in connection with any resales of such New Capital Securities.
 
     Each holder of Old Capital Securities who wishes to exchange Old Capital
Securities for New Capital Securities in the Exchange Offer will be required to
represent that (i) it is not an "affiliate" of the Corporation or the Trust,
(ii) any New Capital Securities to be received by it are being acquired in the
ordinary course of its business, (iii) it has no arrangement or understanding
with any person to participate in a distribution (within the meaning of the
Securities Act) of such New Capital Securities, and (iv) if such holder is not a
broker-dealer, such holder is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in,
a distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of such New Capital
Securities. In addition, the Corporation and the Trust may require such holder,
as a condition to such holder's eligibility to participate in the Exchange
Offer, to furnish to the Corporation and the Trust (or an agent thereof) in
writing information as to the number of "beneficial owners" (within the meaning
of Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange Act) on behalf of whom such holder holds the
Old Capital Securities to be exchanged in the Exchange Offer. Each broker-dealer
that receives New Capital Securities for its own account pursuant to the
Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it acquired the Old Capital Securities for
its own account as the result of market-making activities or other trading
activities and must agree that it will deliver a prospectus meeting the
requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any resale of such New
Capital Securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging
and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that
it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. Based on the
position taken by the staff of the Division of Corporation Finance of the
Commission in the interpretive letters referred to above, the
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   31
 
Corporation and the Trust believe that Participating Broker-Dealers who acquired
Old Capital Securities for their own accounts as a result of market-making
activities or other trading activities may fulfill their prospectus delivery
requirements with respect to the New Capital Securities received upon exchange
of such Old Capital Securities (other than Old Capital Securities which
represent an unsold allotment from the original sale of the Old Capital
Securities) with a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act,
which may be the prospectus prepared for an exchange offer so long as it
contains a description of the plan of distribution with respect to the resale of
such New Capital Securities. Accordingly, this Prospectus, as it may be amended
or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Participating Broker-Dealer
during the period referred to below in connection with resales of New Capital
Securities received in exchange for Old Capital Securities where such Old
Capital Securities were acquired by such Participating Broker-Dealer for its own
account as a result of market-making or other trading activities. Subject to
certain provisions set forth in the Registration Rights Agreement, the
Corporation and the Trust have agreed that this Prospectus, as it may be amended
or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Participating Broker-Dealer
in connection with resales of such New Capital Securities for a period ending
90-days after the Expiration Date (subject to extension under certain limited
circumstances described below) or, if earlier, when all such New Capital
Securities have been disposed of by such Participating Broker-Dealer. See "Plan
of Distribution." However, a Participating Broker-Dealer who intends to use this
Prospectus in connection with the resale of New Capital Securities received in
exchange for Old Capital Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer must notify
the Corporation or the Trust, or cause the Corporation or the Trust to be
notified, on or prior to the Expiration Date, that it is a Participating
Broker-Dealer. Such notice may be given in the space provided for that purpose
in the Letter of Transmittal or may be delivered to the Exchange Agent at one of
the addresses set forth herein under "-- Exchange Agent." Any Participating
Broker-Dealer who is an "affiliate" of the Corporation or the Trust may not rely
on such interpretive letters and must comply with the registration and
prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
resale transaction.
 
     In that regard, each Participating Broker-Dealer who surrenders Old Capital
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer will be deemed to have agreed, by
execution of the Letter of Transmittal or delivery of an Agent's Message in lieu
thereof, that, upon receipt of notice from the Corporation or the Trust of the
occurrence of any event or the discovery of any fact which makes any statement
contained or incorporated by reference in this Prospectus untrue in any material
respect or which causes this Prospectus to omit to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements contained or incorporated by reference
herein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading
or of the occurrence of certain other events specified in the Registration
Rights Agreement, such Participating Broker-Dealer will suspend the sale of New
Capital Securities (or the New Guarantee or the New Junior Subordinated
Debentures, as applicable) pursuant to this Prospectus until the Corporation or
the Trust has amended or supplemented this Prospectus to correct such
misstatement or omission and has furnished copies of the amended or supplemented
Prospectus to such Participating Broker-Dealer or the Corporation or the Trust
has given notice that the sale of the New Capital Securities (or the New
Guarantee or the New Junior Subordinated Debentures, as applicable) may be
resumed, as the case may be. If the Corporation or the Trust gives such notice
to suspend the sale of the New Capital Securities (or the New Guarantee or the
New Junior Subordinated Debentures, as applicable), it shall extend the 90-day
period referred to above during which Participating Broker-Dealers are entitled
to use this Prospectus in connection with the resale of New Capital Securities
by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the
giving of such notice to and including the date when Participating
Broker-Dealers shall have received copies of the amended or supplemented
Prospectus necessary to permit resales of the New Capital Securities or to and
including the date on which the Corporation or the Trust has given notice that
the sale of New Capital Securities (or the New Guarantee or the New Junior
Subordinated Debentures, as applicable) may be resumed, as the case may be.
 
WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS
 
     Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders of Old Capital Securities may
be withdrawn at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   32
 
     In order for a withdrawal to be effective, a written, telegraphic, telex or
facsimile transmission of such notice of withdrawal must be timely received by
the Exchange Agent at one of its addresses set forth under "-- Exchange Agent"
on or prior to the Expiration Date. Any such notice of withdrawal must specify
the name of the person who tendered the Old Capital Securities to be withdrawn,
the aggregate principal amount of Old Capital Securities to be withdrawn, and
(if certificates for such Old Capital Securities have been tendered) the name of
the registered holder of the Old Capital Securities as set forth on the Old
Capital Securities, if different from that of the person who tendered such Old
Capital Securities. If Old Capital Securities have been delivered or otherwise
identified to the Exchange Agent, then prior to the physical release of such Old
Capital Securities, the tendering holder must submit the serial numbers shown on
the particular Old Capital Securities to be withdrawn and the signature on the
notice of withdrawal must be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution, except in
the case of Old Capital Securities tendered for the account of an Eligible
Institution. If Old Capital Securities have been tendered pursuant to the
procedures for book-entry transfer set forth in "-- Procedures for Tendering Old
Capital Securities," the notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number
of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawal of Old Capital
Securities, in which case a notice of withdrawal will be effective if delivered
to the Exchange Agent by written, telegraphic, telex or facsimile transmission.
Withdrawals of tenders of Old Capital Securities may not be rescinded. Old
Capital Securities properly withdrawn will not be deemed validly tendered for
purposes of the Exchange Offer, but may be retendered at any subsequent time on
or prior to the Expiration Date by following any of the procedures described
above under "-- Procedures for Tendering Old Capital Securities."
 
     All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time of
receipt) of such withdrawal notices will be determined by the Trust, in its sole
discretion, whose determination shall be final and binding on all parties.
Neither the Corporation, the Trust, any affiliates or assigns of the Corporation
or the Trust, the Exchange Agent nor any other person shall be under any duty to
give any notification of any irregularities in any notice of withdrawal or incur
any liability for failure to give any such notification. Any Old Capital
Securities which have been tendered but which are withdrawn will be returned to
the holder thereof promptly after withdrawal.
 
DISTRIBUTIONS ON NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     Holders of Old Capital Securities whose Old Capital Securities are accepted
for exchange will not receive Distributions on such Old Capital Securities and
will be deemed to have waived the right to receive any Distributions on such Old
Capital Securities accumulated from and including December 23, 1996.
Accordingly, holders of New Capital Securities as of the record date for the
payment of Distributions on June 15, 1997 will be entitled to receive
Distributions accumulated from and including December 23, 1996.
 
CONDITIONS TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER
 
     Notwithstanding any other provisions of the Exchange Offer, or any
extension of the Exchange Offer, the Corporation and the Trust will not be
required to accept for exchange, or to exchange, any Old Capital Securities for
any New Capital Securities, and, as described below, may terminate the Exchange
Offer (whether or not any Old Capital Securities have theretofore been accepted
for exchange) or may waive any conditions to or amend the Exchange Offer, if any
of the following conditions have occurred or exists or have not been satisfied:
 
          (a) there shall occur a change in the current interpretation by the
     staff of the Commission which permits the New Capital Securities issued
     pursuant to the Exchange Offer in exchange for Old Capital Securities to be
     offered for resale, resold and otherwise transferred by holders thereof
     (other than broker-dealers and any such holder which is an "affiliate" of
     the Corporation or the Trust within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
     Securities Act) without compliance with the registration and prospectus
     delivery provisions of the Securities Act provided that such New Capital
     Securities are acquired in the ordinary course of such holders' business
     and such holders have no arrangement or understanding with any person to
     participate in the distribution of such New Capital Securities; or
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   33
 
          (b) any law, statute, rule or regulation shall have been adopted or
     enacted which, in the judgment of the Corporation or the Trust, would
     reasonably be expected to impair its ability to proceed with the Exchange
     Offer; or
 
          (c) a stop order shall have been issued by the Commission or any state
     securities authority suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
     Statement or proceedings shall have been initiated or, to the knowledge of
     the Corporation or the Trust, threatened for that purpose or any
     governmental approval has not been obtained, which approval the Corporation
     or the Trust shall, in its sole discretion, deem necessary for the
     consummation of the Exchange Offer as contemplated hereby.
 
     If the Corporation or the Trust determines in its sole and absolute
discretion that any of the foregoing events or conditions has occurred or exists
or has not been satisfied, it may, subject to applicable law, terminate the
Exchange Offer (whether or not any Old Capital Securities have theretofore been
accepted for exchange) or may waive any such condition or otherwise amend the
terms of the Exchange Offer in any respect. If such waiver or amendment
constitutes a material change to the Exchange Offer, the Corporation or the
Trust will promptly disclose such waiver or amendment by means of a prospectus
supplement that will be distributed to the registered holders of the Old Capital
Securities and will extend the Exchange Offer to the extent required by Rule
14e-1 under the Exchange Act.
 
EXCHANGE AGENT
 
     The Chase Manhattan Bank has been appointed as Exchange Agent for the
Exchange Offer. Delivery of the Letters of Transmittal and any other required
documents, questions, requests for assistance, and requests for additional
copies of this Prospectus or of the Letter of Transmittal should be directed to
the Exchange Agent by registered or certified mail or by hand or overnight
delivery as follows:
 
         By Registered or Certified Mail or Hand or Overnight Delivery:
                            The Chase Manhattan Bank
                                55 Water Street
                            Room 234, North Building
                           New York, New York, 10041
                           Attention: Carlos Esteves
 
                             Confirm By Telephone:
                         Carlos Esteves: (212) 638-0828
 
                            Facsimile Transmissions:
                          (ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS ONLY)
                Carlos Esteves: (212) 638-7375 or (212) 344-9367
 
    Delivery to other than the above addresses or facsimile numbers will not
                          constitute a valid delivery.
 
FEES AND EXPENSES
 
     The Corporation has agreed to pay the Exchange Agent reasonable and
customary fees for its services and will reimburse it for its reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith. The Corporation will also pay
brokerage houses and other custodians, nominees and fiduciaries the reasonable
out-of-pocket expenses incurred by them in forwarding copies of this Prospectus
and related documents to the beneficial owners of Old Capital Securities, and in
handling or tendering for their customers.
 
     Holders who tender their Old Capital Securities for exchange will not be
obligated to pay any transfer taxes in connection therewith. If, however, New
Capital Securities are to be delivered to, or are to be issued in the name of,
any person other than the registered holder of the Old Capital Securities
tendered, or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason other than the exchange
of Old Capital Securities in connection with the Exchange Offer, then the amount
of any such transfer taxes (whether imposed on the registered holder or any
other persons) will be payable by the tendering holder. If satisfactory evidence
of payment of such taxes or
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   34
 
exemption therefrom is not submitted with the Letter of Transmittal, the amount
of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.
 
     Neither the Corporation nor the Trust will make any payment to brokers,
dealers or other nominees soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer.
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF NEW SECURITIES
 
DESCRIPTION OF NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     Pursuant to the terms of the Declaration, the Trust has issued the Old
Capital Securities and the Common Securities and will issue the New Capital
Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer. The New Capital Securities will
represent preferred beneficial interests in the Trust and the holders of the New
Capital Securities and the Old Capital Securities will be entitled to a
preference over the Common Securities in certain circumstances with respect to
Distributions and amounts payable on redemption of the Trust Securities or
liquidation of the Trust. See "-- Subordination of Common Securities." The
Declaration has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
(the "Trust Indenture Act"). This summary of certain provisions of the New
Capital Securities and the Declaration does not purport to be complete and is
subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by reference to, all the provisions
of the Declaration and the Trust Indenture Act. Certain capitalized terms used
herein are defined in the Declaration.
 
     GENERAL. The Capital Securities, in certain circumstances, with respect to
the Common Securities (including the Old Capital Securities and the New Capital
Securities) are limited to $150,000,000 aggregate Liquidation Amount at any one
time outstanding. The Capital Securities will rank pari passu, and payments will
be made thereon pro rata, with the Old Capital Securities and the Common
Securities except as described under "-- Subordination of Common Securities."
Legal title to the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be held by the Property
Trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Capital Securities and
the related Common Securities. The New Guarantee will be a guarantee on a
subordinated basis but will not guarantee payment of Distributions or amounts
payable on redemption of the New Capital Securities or on liquidation of the
Trust when the Trust does not have funds on hand legally available for such
payments. See "-- Description of New Guarantee."
 
     DISTRIBUTIONS. Distributions on the New Capital Securities will be
cumulative, will accumulate from December 23, 1996 and will be payable
semi-annually in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing
June 15, 1997, at the annual rate of 8.32% of the Liquidation Amount to the
holders of the New Capital Securities on the relevant record dates. The record
dates will be the first day of the month in which the relevant Distribution Date
(as defined below) falls. The amount of Distributions payable for any period
will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the
event that any date on which Distributions are payable on the New Capital
Securities is not a Business Day (as defined below), 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 to any such delay), in
each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date (each date on
which Distributions are payable in accordance with the foregoing, a
"Distribution Date"). A "Business Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday
or a Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York or
Milwaukee, Wisconsin are authorized or required by law or executive order to
remain closed.
 
     So long as no Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Corporation will have the right under the Indenture to defer the
payment of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time or from
time to time for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with
respect to each Extension Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend
beyond the Stated Maturity Date. Upon any such election, semi-annual
Distributions on the Capital Securities will be deferred by the Trust during any
such Extension Period. Distributions to which holders of the Capital Securities
are entitled during any such Extension Period will accumulate additional
Distributions thereon at the rate per annum of 8.32% thereof, compounded
semi-annually from the relevant Distribution Date, but not exceeding the
interest rate
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   35
 
then accruing on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. The term "Distributions,"
as used herein, shall include any such additional Distributions.
 
     During any Extension Period, the Corporation may further extend such
Extension Period, provided that such extension does not cause such Extension
Period to exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods or to extend beyond the
Stated Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and the
payment of all amounts then due, and subject to the foregoing limitations, the
Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension Period. The Corporation must give
the Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Debenture Trustee
notice of its election of any Extension Period or any extension thereof at least
five Business Days prior to the earlier of (i) the date the Distributions on the
Capital Securities would have been payable except for the election to begin such
Extension Period or (ii) the date the Administrative Trustees are required to
give notice to any securities exchange or to holders of the Capital Securities
of the record date or the date such Distributions are payable but in any event
not less than five Business Days prior to such record date. There is no
limitation on the number of times that the Corporation may elect to begin an
Extension Period. See "-- Description of New Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Option to Extend Interest Payment Period" and "Certain United
States Federal Income Tax Considerations -- Interest Income and Original Issue
Discount."
 
     During any Extension Period, the Corporation may not (i) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Corporation's capital stock
(which includes common and preferred stock) or (ii) make any payment of
principal of or premium, if any, or interest on or repay, repurchase or redeem
any debt securities of the Corporation (including Other Debentures) that rank
pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by
the Corporation of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Corporation
(including Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior
in right of payment to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (other than (a)
dividends or distributions in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to
subscribe for or purchase shares of, common stock of the Corporation, (b) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a
stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the
future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c)
payments under the Guarantee, (d) as a result of a reclassification of the
Corporation's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class, or
series of the Corporation's capital stock for another class or series of the
Corporation's capital stock, (e) the purchase of fractional interests in shares
of the Corporation's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange
provisions of such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged,
and (f) purchases of common stock related to the issuance of common stock or
rights under any of the Corporation's benefit plans for its directors, officers
or employees or any of the Corporation's dividend reinvestment plans).
 
     Although the Corporation may in the future exercise its option to defer
payments of interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Corporation has
no such current intention.
 
     The revenue of the Trust available for distribution to holders of the
Capital Securities will be limited to payments under the New Junior Subordinated
Debentures in which the Trust will invest the proceeds from the issuance and
sale of the Trust Securities. See "-- Description of New Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- General." If the Corporation does not make interest payments on
the New Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee will not have funds
available to pay Distributions on the New Capital Securities. The payment of
Distributions (if and to the extent the Trust has funds on hand legally
available for the payment of such Distributions) will be guaranteed by the
Corporation on a limited basis as set forth herein under "-- Description of New
Guarantee."
 
     REDEMPTION. Upon the repayment on the Stated Maturity Date or prepayment
prior to the Stated Maturity Date of the Junior Subordinated Debentures (other
than following a distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debentures to holders
of Capital Securities), the proceeds from such repayment or prepayment shall be
applied by the Property Trustee to redeem a Like Amount (as defined below) of
the Trust Securities, upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' notice of a
date of redemption (the "Redemption Date"), at the applicable Redemption Price,
which shall be equal to (i) in the case of the repayment of the Junior
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   36
 
Subordinated Debentures on the Stated Maturity Date, the Maturity Redemption
Price (equal to the principal of, and accrued and unpaid interest on, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures), (ii) in the case of the optional prepayment of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures before the Initial Optional Prepayment Date upon
the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event, the Special Event Redemption
Price (equal to the Special Event Prepayment Price in respect of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures) and (iii) in the case of the optional prepayment of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures other than as contemplated in clause (ii) above,
the Optional Redemption Price (equal to the Optional Prepayment Price in respect
of the Junior Subordinated Debentures). See "-- Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures--Optional Prepayment" and "-- Special Event Prepayment."
 
     "Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of the Trust
Securities, Trust Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal
amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures to be paid in accordance with their
terms and (ii) with respect to a distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures
upon the liquidation of the Trust, Junior Subordinated Debentures having a
principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the
holder to whom such Junior Subordinated Debentures are distributed.
 
     The Corporation will have the option to prepay the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, (i) in whole or in part, on or after the Initial Optional Prepayment
Date, at the applicable Optional Prepayment Price and (ii) in whole but not in
part, at any time before the Initial Optional Prepayment Date, upon the
occurrence of a Special Event, at the Special Event Prepayment Price, in each
case subject to receipt of prior approval by the Federal Reserve if then
required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.
 
     LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST AND DISTRIBUTION OF NEW JUNIOR SUBORDINATED
DEBENTURES. The Corporation will have the right at any time to terminate the
Trust and cause the New Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the
holders of the Trust Securities in liquidation of the Trust. Such right is
subject to (i) the Corporation having received an opinion of counsel to the
effect that such distribution will not be a taxable event to holders of New
Capital Securities and (ii) the prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then
required under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve.
 
     The Trust shall automatically terminate upon the first to occur of: (i)
certain events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation or
the Trust; (ii) the distribution of a Like Amount of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures to the holders of the Trust Securities, if the Corporation, as
Sponsor, has given written direction to the Property Trustee to terminate the
Trust (which direction is optional and, except as described above, wholly within
the discretion of the Corporation, as Sponsor); (iii) redemption of all of the
Trust Securities as described under "-- Redemption" above; (iv) expiration of
the term of the Trust; and (v) the entry of an order for the dissolution of the
Trust by a court of competent jurisdiction.
 
     If a termination occurs as described in clause (i), (ii), (iv) or (v) of
the preceding paragraph, the Trust shall be liquidated by the Administrative
Trustees as expeditiously as the Administrative Trustees determine to be
possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the
Trust as provided by applicable law, to the holders of the Trust Securities a
Like Amount of the New Junior Subordinated Debentures, in which event such
holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust legally
available for distribution to holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to the
aggregate of the Liquidation Amount plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions
thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the "Liquidation
Distribution"). If the Liquidation Distribution can be paid only in part because
the Trust has insufficient assets on hand legally available to pay in full the
aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the
Trust on the Capital Securities and the Common Securities shall be paid on a pro
rata basis, except that if a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Capital Securities shall have a priority over the Common
Securities. See "-- Subordination of Common Securities." If an early termination
occurs as described in clause (v) above, the Junior Subordinated Debentures will
be subject to optional prepayment, in whole but not in part, on or after the
Initial Optional Prepayment Date.
 
     If the Corporation elects not to prepay the Junior Subordinated Debentures
prior to maturity in accordance with their terms and either elects not to or is
unable to liquidate the Trust and distribute the Junior
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   37
 
Subordinated Debentures to holders of the Trust Securities, the Trust Securities
will remain outstanding until the repayment of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures on the Stated Maturity Date.
 
     After the liquidation date is fixed for any distribution of Junior
Subordinated Debentures to holders of the Trust Securities, (i) the Trust
Securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii) each registered
global certificate, if any, representing Trust Securities and held by DTC or its
nominee will be exchanged for registered global certificate representing the
Junior Subordinated Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution and (iii)
any certificates representing Trust Securities not held by DTC or its nominee
will be deemed to represent New Junior Subordinated Debentures having a
principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of such Trust Securities, and
bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accumulated and
unpaid Distributions on such Trust Securities until such certificates are
presented to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for cancellation,
whereupon the Corporation will issue to such holder, and the Debenture Trustee
will authenticate, a certificate representing such Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
 
     There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the New Capital
Securities or the New Junior Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in
exchange for the Trust Securities if a termination and liquidation of the Trust
were to occur. Accordingly, the New Capital Securities that an investor may
purchase, or the New Junior Subordinated Debentures that the investor may
receive on termination and liquidation of the Trust, may trade at a discount to
the price that the investor paid to purchase the New Capital Securities.
 
     REDEMPTION PROCEDURES. If applicable, Trust Securities shall be redeemed at
the applicable Redemption Price with the proceeds from the contemporaneous
repayment or prepayment of the New Junior Subordinated Debentures. Any
redemption of Trust Securities shall be made and the applicable Redemption Price
shall be payable on the Redemption Date only to the extent that the Trust has
funds legally available for the payment of such applicable Redemption Price. See
also "-- Subordination of Common Securities."
 
     If the Trust gives a notice of redemption in respect of the Capital
Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date, to
the extent funds are legally available, with respect to the Capital Securities
held by DTC or its nominees, the Property Trustee will pay or cause the Paying
Agent to pay the Redemption Price to DTC. See "-- Form, Denomination, Book-Entry
Procedures and Transfer." With respect to the Capital Securities held in
certificated form, the Property Trustee, to the extent funds are legally
available, will give irrevocable instructions and authority to the paying agent
and will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent for the Capital Securities
funds sufficient to pay or cause the paying agent to pay the applicable
Redemption Price to the holders thereof upon surrender of their certificates
evidencing the Capital Securities. See "-- Payment and Paying Agency."
Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the
holders of such Capital Securities on the relevant record dates for the related
Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds
deposited with the Property Trustee to pay the Redemption Price for the New
Capital Securities called for redemption, then all rights of the holders of such
New Capital Securities will cease, except the right of the holders of the New
Capital Securities to receive the applicable Redemption Price, but without
interest on such Redemption Price, and the New Capital Securities will cease to
be outstanding. In the event that any Redemption Date of New Capital Securities
is not a Business Day, then the applicable Redemption Price payable on such date
will be paid on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any
interest or other payment in respect of any such delay). In the event that
payment of the applicable Redemption Price is improperly withheld or refused and
not paid either by the Trust or by the Corporation pursuant to the New Guarantee
as described under "-- Description of New Guarantee," (i) Distributions on
Capital Securities will continue to accumulate on the Redemption Price at the
then applicable rate, from the Redemption Date originally established by the
Trust to the date such applicable Redemption Price is actually paid, and (ii)
the actual payment date will be the Redemption Date for purposes of calculating
the applicable Redemption Price.
 
     Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States
federal securities law and the regulations of the Federal Reserve), the
Corporation or its subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time purchase
outstanding Capital Securities by tender, in the open market or by private
agreement.
 
     Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days prior to the Redemption Date to each holder of Trust Securities at its
registered address. Unless the Corporation defaults
 
                                       36
<PAGE>   38
 
in payment of the applicable Prepayment Price on, or in the repayment of, the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, on and after the Redemption Date Distributions
will cease to accrue on the Trust Securities called for redemption.
 
     SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES. Payment of Distributions on, and the
Redemption Price of, the Capital Securities and Common Securities, as
applicable, shall be made pro rata based on the Liquidation Amount of the
Capital Securities and Common Securities; provided, however, that if on any
Distribution Date or Redemption Date a Debenture Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, no payment of any Distribution on, or applicable
Redemption Price of, any of the Common Securities, and no other payment on
account of the redemption, liquidation or other acquisition of the Common
Securities, shall be made unless payment in full in cash of all accumulated and
unpaid Distributions on all of the outstanding Capital Securities for all
Distribution periods terminating on or prior thereto or in the case of Capital
Securities called for redemption on a Redemption Date on or prior thereto, the
full amount of the Redemption Price therefor, shall have been made or provided
for, and all funds available to the Property Trustee shall first be applied to
the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or Redemption Price of, the
Capital Securities then due and payable.
 
     In the case of any Event of Default, the Corporation as holder of the
Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any right to act with respect to
such Event of Default until the effect of such Event of Default shall have been
cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until any such Event of Default has been
so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property Trustee shall act solely
on behalf of the holders of the Capital Securities and not on behalf of the
Corporation as holder of the Common Securities, and only the holders of the
Capital Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee to act on
their behalf.
 
     EVENTS OF DEFAULT; NOTICE. The occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default
(see "Description of New Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Debenture Events of
Default") constitutes an "Event of Default" under the Declaration.
 
     Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit
notice of such Event of Default to the holders of the Capital Securities, the
Administrative Trustees and the Corporation, as Sponsor, unless such Event of
Default shall have been cured or waived. The Corporation, as Sponsor, and the
Administrative Trustees are required to file annually with the Property Trustee
a certificate as to whether or not they are in compliance with all the
conditions and covenants applicable to them under the Declaration.
 
     If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Capital
Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities as described under
"-- Liquidation of the Trust and Distribution of New Junior Subordinated
Debentures" and "-- Subordination of Common Securities."
 
     REMOVAL OF ISSUER TRUSTEES. Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, any Issuer Trustee may be removed at any time by the
holder of the Common Securities. If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be removed
at such time by the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the
outstanding Capital Securities. In no event will the holders of the Capital
Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the
Administrative Trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the
Corporation as the holder of the Common Securities. No resignation or removal of
an Issuer Trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee shall be effective
until the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with
the provisions of the Declaration.
 
     MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF ISSUER TRUSTEES. Any Person into which the
Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any Administrative Trustee that is not
a natural person may be merged or converted or with which it may be
consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger, conversion or
consolidation to which such Issuer Trustee shall be a party, or any Person
succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of such
Issuer Trustee, shall be the successor of such Issuer Trustee under the
Declaration, provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible.
 
                                       37
<PAGE>   39
 
     MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF THE TRUST. The
Trust may not merge or convert with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an
entirety or substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other Person,
except as described below. The Trust may, at the request of the Corporation, as
Sponsor, with the consent of the Administrative Trustees but without the consent
of the holders of the Capital Securities, merge or convert with or into,
consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to a trust
organized as such under the laws of any State; provided, that (i) such successor
entity either (a) expressly assumes all of the obligations of the Trust with
respect to the Capital Securities or (b) substitutes for the Capital Securities
other securities having substantially the same terms as the Capital Securities
(the "Successor Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same
as the Capital Securities rank in priority with respect to distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Corporation
expressly appoints a trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers
and duties as the Property Trustee with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, (iii) the 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 Capital Securities are
then listed or quoted, if any, (iv) such merger, conversion, consolidation,
amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the
Capital Securities (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any
nationally recognized statistical rating organization, (v) such merger,
conversion, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the
holders of the Capital Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any
material respect (other than any dilution of such holders' interests in the new
entity), (vi) such successor entity has a purpose identical to that of the
Trust, (vii) prior to such merger, conversion, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Corporation has received an
opinion from independent counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters to the
effect that (a) such merger, conversion, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights,
preferences and privileges of the holders of the Capital Securities (including
any Successor Securities) in any material respect (other than any dilution of
such holders' interests in the new entity), and (b) following such merger,
conversion, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or
lease, neither the Trust nor such successor entity will be required to register
as an investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended
(the "Investment Company Act"), and (viii) the Corporation or any permitted
successor or assignee owns all of the common securities of such successor entity
and guarantees the obligations of such successor entity under the Successor
Securities at least to the extent provided by the 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 or
convert with or into, or be replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any
other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate, amalgamate, merge or
convert with or into, or replace it if such consolidation, amalgamation, merger,
conversion, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the Trust or
the successor entity not to be classified as a grantor trust for United States
federal income tax purposes In addition, the Property Trustee will be required
pursuant to the Indenture to exchange, as a part of the Exchange Offer, the
Junior Subordinated Debentures for the Exchange Debentures, which will have
terms identical to the Junior Subordinated Debentures except for the transfer
restrictions under the Securities Act, the $100,000 minimum aggregate principal
amount transfer restrictions and the provision for an increase in the interest
rate thereon under certain circumstances. See "Exchange Offer; Registration
Rights."
 
     VOTING RIGHTS; AMENDMENT OF THE DECLARATION. Except as provided below and
under "-- Mergers, Consolidations, Amalgamations or Replacements of the Trust"
and "-- Description of New Guarantee -- Amendments and Assignment" and as
otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the holders of the New Capital
Securities will have no voting rights.
 
     The Declaration may be amended from time to time by the Corporation, the
Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees, without the consent of the
holders of the Trust Securities (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement
any provisions in the Declaration that may be inconsistent with any other
provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions
arising under the Declaration, which shall not be inconsistent with the other
provisions of the Declaration, or (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to any
 
                                       38
<PAGE>   40
 
provisions of the Declaration to such extent as shall be necessary to ensure
that the Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax purposes
as a grantor trust at all times that any Trust Securities are outstanding or to
ensure that the Trust will not be required to register as an "investment
company" under the Investment Company Act; provided, however, that in the case
of clause (i), such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect
the interests of the holders of the Trust Securities. Any amendments of the
Declaration pursuant to the foregoing shall become effective when notice thereof
is given to the holders of the Trust Securities. The Declaration may be amended
by the Issuer Trustees and the Corporation (i) with the consent of holders
representing a majority (based upon Liquidation Amount) of the outstanding Trust
Securities, and (ii) upon receipt by the Issuer Trustees of an opinion of
counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any power granted
to the Issuer Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not affect the
Trust's status as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax purposes
or the Trust's exemption from status as an "investment company" under the
Investment Company Act, provided that, without the consent of each holder of
Trust Securities, the Declaration may not be amended to (i) change the amount or
timing of any Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise adversely affect
the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect of the Trust
Securities as of a specified date or (ii) restrict the right of a holder of
Trust Securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or
after such date; it being understood that the New Capital Securities and any Old
Capital Securities which remain outstanding after consummation of the Exchange
Offer will vote together as a single class for purposes of determining whether
holders of the requisite percentage in outstanding Liquidation Amount thereof
have taken certain actions or exercised certain rights under the Declaration.
 
     So long as any Junior Subordinated Debentures are held by the Property
Trustee, the Issuer Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or
executing any trust or power conferred on such Debenture Trustee with respect to
the Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) waive certain past defaults under the
Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a declaration of
acceleration of the maturity of the principal of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the
Indenture or the Junior Subordinated Debentures, where such consent shall be
required, without, in each case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of
a majority in Liquidation Amount of all outstanding Capital Securities;
provided, however, that where a consent under the Indenture would require the
consent of each holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures affected thereby, no
such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without the prior approval
of each holder of the Capital Securities. The Issuer Trustees shall not revoke
any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of the
Capital Securities except by subsequent vote of such holders. The Property
Trustee shall notify each holder of Capital Securities of any notice of default
with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. In addition to obtaining the
foregoing approvals of such holders of the Capital Securities, prior to taking
any of the foregoing actions, the Issuer Trustees shall obtain an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be
classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal
income tax purposes on account of such action.
 
     Any required approval of holders of New Capital Securities may be given at
a meeting of such holders convened for such purpose or pursuant to written
consent. The Property Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at which
holders of New Capital Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon
which action by written consent of such holders is to be taken, to be given to
each holder of record of New Capital Securities in the manner set forth in the
Declaration.
 
     No vote or consent of the holders of Capital Securities will be required
for the Trust to redeem and cancel the Capital Securities in accordance with the
Declaration.
 
     Notwithstanding that holders of the Capital Securities are entitled to vote
or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Capital
Securities that are owned by the Corporation, the Issuer Trustees or any
affiliate of the Corporation or any Issuer Trustees, shall, for purposes of such
vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
 
     FORM, DENOMINATION, BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES AND TRANSFER. The New Capital
Securities may be be represented by one or more New Capital Securities in
registered, global form (collectively, the "Global
 
                                       39
<PAGE>   41
 
Capital Securities"). The Global Capital Securities will be deposited upon
issuance with the Property Trustee as custodian for DTC, in New York, New York,
and registered in the name of DTC or its nominee, in each case for credit to an
account of a direct or indirect participant in DTC as described below.
 
     Except as set forth below, the Global Capital Securities may be
transferred, in whole and not in part, only to another nominee of DTC or to a
successor of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Global Capital
Securities may not be exchanged for Capital Securities in certificated form
except in the limited circumstances described below.
 
     DTC has advised the Trust and the Corporation that DTC is a limited purpose
trust company created to hold securities for its participating organizations
(collectively, the "Participants") and to facilitate the clearance and
settlement of transactions in those securities between Participants through
electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. The Participants
include securities brokers and dealers (including the Initial Purchasers),
banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations.
Access to DTC's system is also available to other entities such as banks,
brokers, dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly (collectively,
the "Indirect Participants"). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially
own securities held by or on behalf of DTC only through the Participants or the
Indirect Participants. The ownership interest and transfer of ownership interest
of each actual purchaser of each security held by or on behalf of DTC are
recorded on the records of the Participants and Indirect Participants.
 
     DTC has also advised the Trust and the Corporation that, pursuant to
procedures established by it, (i) upon deposit of the Global Capital Securities,
DTC will credit the accounts of Participants with portions of the Liquidation
Amount of the Global Capital Securities and (ii) ownership of such interests in
the Global Capital Securities will be shown on, and the transfer of ownership
thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by DTC (with respect
to the Participants) or by the Participants and the Indirect Participants (with
respect to other owners of beneficial interests in the Global Capital
Securities).
 
     Except as described below, owners of beneficial interests in the Global
Capital Securities will not have Capital Securities registered in their name,
will not receive physical delivery of Capital Securities in certificated form
and will not be considered the registered owners or holders thereof under the
Declaration for any purpose.
 
     Payments in respect of the Global Capital Security registered in the name
of DTC or its nominee will be payable by the Property Trustee to DTC in its
capacity as the registered holder under the Declaration. Under the terms of the
Declaration, the Property Trustee will treat the persons in whose names the
Capital Securities, including the Global Capital Securities, are registered as
the owners thereof for the purpose of receiving such payments and for any and
all other purposes whatsoever. Consequently, neither the Property Trustee nor
any agent thereof has or will have any responsibility or liability for (i) any
aspect of DTC's records or any Participant's or Indirect Participant's records
relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in the Global
Capital Securities, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any of DTC's
records or any Participant's or Indirect Participant's records relating to the
beneficial interests in the Global Capital Securities or (ii) any other matter
relating to the actions and practices of DTC or any of its Participants or
Indirect Participants. DTC has advised the Trust and the Corporation that its
current practice, upon receipt of any payment in respect of securities such as
the Capital Securities, is to credit the accounts of the relevant Participants
with the payment on the payment date, in amounts proportionate to their
respective holdings in Liquidation Amount of beneficial interests in the
relevant security as shown on the records of DTC unless DTC has reason to
believe it will not receive payment on such payment date. Payments by the
Participants and the Indirect Participants to the beneficial owners of New
Capital Securities will be governed by standing instructions and customary
practices and will be the responsibility of the Participants or the Indirect
Participants and will not be the responsibility of DTC, the Property Trustee,
the Trust or the Corporation. Neither the Trust nor the Corporation or the
Property Trustee will be liable for any delay by DTC or any of its Participants
in identifying the beneficial owners of the New Capital Securities, and the
Trust, the Corporation and the Property Trustee may conclusively rely on and
will be protected in relying on instructions from DTC or its nominee for all
purposes.
 
                                       40
<PAGE>   42
 
     Beneficial interests in the Global Capital Securities will trade in DTC's
Same-Day Funds Settlement System and secondary market trading activity in such
interests will therefore settle in immediately available funds, subject in all
cases to the rules and procedures of DTC and its participants.
 
     DTC has advised the Trust and the Corporation that it will take any action
permitted to be taken by a holder of Capital Securities only at the direction of
one or more Participants to whose account with DTC interests in the Global
Capital Securities are credited and only in respect of such portion of the
Liquidation Amount of the Capital Securities as to which such Participant or
Participants has or have given such direction. However, if there is an Event of
Default under the Declaration, DTC reserves the right to exchange the Global
Capital Securities for Capital Securities in certificated form and to distribute
such Capital Securities to its Participants.
 
     The information in this section concerning DTC and its book-entry system
has been obtained from sources that the Trust and the Corporation believe to be
reliable, but neither the Trust nor the Corporation takes responsibility for the
accuracy thereof.
 
     A Global Capital Security is exchangeable for New Capital Securities in
registered certificated form if (i) DTC (x) notifies the Trust that it is
unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the Global Capital Security
and the Trust thereupon fails to appoint a successor Depositary within 90-days
or (y) has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act,
(ii) the Corporation in its sole discretion elects to cause the issuance of the
New Capital Securities in certificated form or (iii) there shall have occurred
and be continuing an Event of Default or any event which after notice or lapse
of time or both would be an Event of Default under the Declaration. In addition,
beneficial interests in a Global Capital Security may be exchanged for
certificated New Capital Securities upon request but only upon at least 20-days'
prior written notice given to the Property Trustee by or on behalf of DTC in
accordance with customary procedures. In all cases, certificated New Capital
Securities delivered in exchange for any Global Capital Security or beneficial
interests therein will be registered in the names, and issued in any approved
denominations, requested by or on behalf of the Depositary (in accordance with
its customary procedures), unless the Property Trustee determines otherwise in
compliance with applicable law.
 
     PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENCY. Payments in respect of the New Capital
Securities held in global form shall be made to the Depositary, which shall
credit the relevant accounts at the Depositary on the applicable Distribution
Dates or in respect of the New Capital Securities that are not held by the
Depositary, such payments shall be made by check mailed to the address of the
holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the register. The paying
agent (the "Paying Agent") shall initially be the Property Trustee and any
co-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee and acceptable to the
Administrative Trustees and the Corporation. The Property Trustee has initially
appointed Firstar Trust Company as paying agent. The Paying Agent shall be
permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days written notice to the Property
Trustee and the Corporation. In the event that the Property Trustee shall no
longer be the Paying Agent, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a
successor (which shall be a bank or trust company acceptable to the
Administrative Trustees and the Corporation) to act as Paying Agent.
 
     REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT. The Property Trustee will act as registrar
and transfer agent for the New Capital Securities. The Property Trustee has
initially appointed Firstar Trust Company as co-registrar.
 
     Registration of transfers of the New Capital Securities will be effected
without charge by or on behalf of the Trust, but upon payment of any tax or
other governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with any transfer
or exchange. The Trust will not be required to register or cause to be
registered the transfer of the New Capital Securities after they have been
called for redemption.
 
     INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE. 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 Trust Securities unless it is offered reasonable
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be incurred
thereby. If no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and the Property
Trustee is required to decide between alternative causes of action, construe
ambiguous provisions in the Declaration or is unsure of the application of any
provision of the Declaration, and the matter is not one on which holders of the
Capital Securities or the
 
                                       41
<PAGE>   43
 
Common Securities are entitled under the Declaration to vote, then the Property
Trustee shall take such action as is directed by the Corporation and if not so
directed, shall take such action as it deems advisable and in the best interests
of the holders of the Trust Securities and will have no liability except for its
own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct.
 
     MISCELLANEOUS. The Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to
conduct the affairs of and to operate the Trust in such a way that the Trust
will not be deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under
the Investment Company Act or classified as an association taxable as a
corporation for United States federal income tax purposes and so that the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Corporation for
United States federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Corporation
and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action, not
inconsistent with applicable law, the certificate of trust of the Trust or the
Declaration, that the Corporation and the Administrative Trustees determine in
their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as long as such
action does not materially adversely affect the interests of the holders of the
Trust Securities.
 
     Holders of the Trust Securities have no preemptive or similar rights.
 
     The Trust may not borrow money, issue debt, execute mortgages or pledge any
of its assets.
 
DESCRIPTION OF NEW JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Old Junior Subordinated Debentures were issued, and the New Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be issued, as separate series under the Indenture.
The Indenture has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. This summary of
certain terms and provisions of the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the
Indenture does not purport to be complete, and where reference is made to
particular provisions of the Indenture, such provisions, including the
definitions of certain terms, some of which are not otherwise defined herein,
are qualified in their entirety by reference to all of the provisions of the
Indenture and those terms made a part of the Indenture by the Trust Indenture
Act.
 
     GENERAL. Concurrently with the issuance of the Capital Securities, the
Trust invested the proceeds thereof, together with the consideration paid by the
Corporation for the Common Securities, in Old Junior Subordinated Debentures
issued by the Corporation. Pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the Corporation will
exchange the Old Junior Subordinated Debentures, in an amount corresponding to
the Old Capital Securities accepted for exchange, for a like aggregate principal
amount of the New Junior Subordinated Debentures promptly after the Expiration
Date.
 
     The New Junior Subordinated Debentures will bear interest at the annual
rate of 8.32% of the principal amount thereof, payable semi-annually in arrears
on June 15 and December 15 of each year (each, an "Interest Payment Date"),
commencing June 15, 1997, to the person in whose name each New Junior
Subordinated Debenture is registered, subject to certain exceptions, at the
close of business on the first day of the month in which the relevant payment
date falls. It is anticipated that, until the liquidation, if any, of the Trust,
each Junior Subordinated Debenture will be held in the name of the Property
Trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the Trust Securities. The
amount of interest payable for any period will 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 the New Junior Subordinated Debentures is not a Business
Day, then payment of the interest 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), in each case with the same force and effect as if
made such date. Accrued interest that is not paid on the applicable Interest
Payment Date will bear additional interest on the amount thereof (to the extent
permitted by law) at the rate per annum of 8.32% thereof, compounded semi-
annually. The term "interest", as used herein, shall include semi-annual
interest payments, interest on semi-annual interest payments not paid on the
applicable Interest Payment Date and Additional Sums (as defined below), as
applicable.
 
     The New Junior Subordinated Debentures will mature on December 15, 2026
(the "Stated Maturity Date"). The New Junior Subordinated Debentures will rank
pari passu with the Old Junior Subordinated Debentures and with all Other
Debentures and will be unsecured and subordinate and junior in right of
 
                                       42
<PAGE>   44
 
payment to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Indenture to all Senior
Indebtedness. See "-- Subordination." The Corporation is a non-operating holding
company and almost all of the operating assets of the Corporation and its
consolidated subsidiaries are owned by such subsidiaries. The Corporation relies
primarily on dividends from such subsidiaries to meet its obligations. The
Corporation is a legal entity separate and distinct from its banking and
non-banking affiliates. The principal sources of the Corporation's income are
dividends, interest and fees from its banking and non-banking affiliates. The
bank subsidiaries of the Corporation (the "Banks") are subject to certain
restrictions imposed by federal law on any extensions of credit to, and certain
other transactions with, the Corporation and certain other affiliates, and on
investments in stock or other securities thereof. Such restrictions prevent the
Corporation and such other affiliates from borrowing from the Banks unless the
loans are secured by various types of collateral. Further, such secured loans,
other transactions and investments by any of the Banks are generally limited in
amount as to the Corporation and as to each of such other affiliates to 10% of
such Bank's capital and surplus and as to the Corporation and all of such other
affiliates to an aggregate of 20% of such Bank's capital and surplus. In
addition, payment of dividends to the Corporation by the Banks is subject to
ongoing review by banking regulators and is subject to various statutory
limitations and in certain circumstances requires approval by banking regulatory
authorities. Because the Corporation is a holding company, the right of the
Corporation to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon
such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the
prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent the
Corporation may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary.
Accordingly, the New Junior Subordinated Debentures will be effectively
subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Corporation's
subsidiaries, and holders of New Junior Subordinated Debentures should look only
to the assets of the Corporation for payments on the New Junior Subordinated
Debentures. The Indenture does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other
secured or unsecured debt of the Corporation, including Senior Indebtedness. See
"-- Subordination."
 
     FORM, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER. If the Junior Subordinated Debentures are
distributed to holders of the Trust Securities, such Junior Subordinated
Debentures may be represented by one or more global certificates registered in
the name of Cede & Co. as the nominee of DTC. The depositary arrangements for
such New Junior Subordinated Debentures are expected to be substantially similar
to those in effect for the New Capital Securities. For a description of DTC and
the terms of the depositary arrangements relating to payments, transfers, voting
rights, prepayments and other notices and other matters, see "-- Description of
New Capital Securities -- Form, Denomination, Book-Entry Procedures and
Transfer."
 
     PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS. Payment of principal of and premium, if any and
any interest on New Junior Subordinated Debentures will be made at the office of
the Debenture Trustee in The City of New York or at the office of such Paying
Agent or Paying Agents as the Corporation may designate from time to time,
except that at the option of the Corporation payment of any interest may be made
except in the case of New Junior Subordinated Debentures in global form, (i) by
check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall
appear in the register for New Junior Subordinated Debentures or (ii) by
transfer to an account maintained by the Person entitled thereto as specified in
such register, provided that proper transfer instructions have been received by
the relevant Record Date. The Corporation has initially designated Firstar Trust
Company as co-Paying Agent. Payment of any interest on any New Junior
Subordinated Debenture will be made to the Person in whose name such New Junior
Subordinated Debenture is registered at the close of business on the Record Date
for such interest, except in the case of defaulted interest. The Corporation may
at any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any
Paying Agent; however the Corporation will at all times be required to maintain
a Paying Agent in each Place of Payment for the New Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
 
     Any moneys deposited with the Debenture Trustee or any Paying Agent, or
then held by the Corporation in trust, for the payment of the principal of and
premium, if any or interest on any New Junior Subordinated Debenture and
remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal and premium, if any or
interest has become due and payable shall, at the request of the Corporation, be
repaid to the Corporation and the holder of such New Junior Subordinated
Debenture shall thereafter look, as a general unsecured creditor, only to the
Corporation for payment thereof.
 
                                       43
<PAGE>   45
 
     OPTION TO EXTEND INTEREST PAYMENT DATE. So long as no Debenture Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, the Corporation will have the right
under the Indenture at any time during the term of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures to defer the payment of interest at any time or from time to time for
a period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with respect to each
Extension Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated
Maturity Date. At the end of such Extension Period, the Corporation must pay all
interest then accrued and unpaid (together with interest thereon at the annual
rate of 8.32%, compounded semi-annually, to the extent permitted by applicable
law). During an Extension Period, interest will continue to accrue and holders
of Junior Subordinated Debentures (and holders of the Trust Securities while
Trust Securities are outstanding) will be required to accrue interest income for
United States federal income tax purposes prior to the receipt of cash
attributable to such income. See "Certain United States Federal Income Tax
Considerations -- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
 
     During any Extension Period, the Corporation may not (i) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Corporation's capital stock
(which includes common and preferred stock) or (ii) make any payment of
principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities of the Corporation (including any Other Debentures) that rank
pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by
the Corporation of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Corporation
(including any Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or
junior in right of payment to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (other than (a)
dividends or distributions in shares of or options, warrants or rights to
subscribe for or purchase shares of, common stock of the Corporation, (b) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a
stockholders' rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the
future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c)
payments under the Guarantee, (d) as a result of, and only to the extent
required in order to avoid the issuance of fractional shares of capital stock
following a reclassification of the Corporation's capital stock or the exchange
or conversion of one class or series of the Corporation's capital stock for
another class or series of the Corporation's capital stock, (e) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Corporation's capital stock pursuant to
the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security
being converted or exchanged, and (f) purchases of common stock related to the
issuance of common stock or rights under any of the Corporation's benefit plans
for its directors, officers or employees or any of the Corporation's dividend
reinvestment plans).
 
     Prior to the termination of any Extension Period, the Corporation may
further extend such Extension Period, provided that such extension does not
cause such Extension Period to exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods or to
extend beyond the Stated Maturity Date. Upon the termination of any such
Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due on any Interest Payment
Date, the Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension Period, subject to the
above requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension
Period, except at the end thereof. The Corporation must give the Property
Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and the Debenture Trustee notice of its
election of any Extension Period (or an extension thereof) at least five
Business Days prior to the earlier of (i) the date the Distributions on the
Trust Securities would have been payable except for the election to begin or
extend such Extension Period or (ii) the date the Administrative Trustees are
required to give notice to any securities exchange or to holders of New Capital
Securities of the record date or the date such Distributions are payable, but in
any event not less than five Business Days prior to such record date. The
Debenture Trustee shall give notice of the Corporation's election to begin or
extend a new Extension Period to the holders of the Capital Securities. There is
no limitation on the number of times that the Corporation may elect to begin an
Extension Period.
 
     OPTIONAL PREPAYMENT. The New Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
prepayable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Corporation on or after
the Initial Optional Prepayment Date, subject to the Corporation having received
prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve, at a prepayment price (the
"Optional Prepayment Price") equal to the percentage of the outstanding
principal amount of the New Junior Subordinated Debentures specified below,
 
                                       44
<PAGE>   46
 
plus, in each case, accrued interest thereon to the date of prepayment if
redeemed during the 12-month period beginning December 23 of the years indicated
below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
YEAR                                                       PERCENTAGE
- ----                                                       ----------
<S>                                                         <C>
2006......................................................   104.160
2007......................................................   103.744
2008......................................................   103.328
2009......................................................   102.912
2010......................................................   102.496
2011......................................................   102.080
2012......................................................   101.664
2013......................................................   101.248
2014......................................................   100.832
2015......................................................   100.416
2016 and thereafter.......................................   100.000
</TABLE>
 
     SPECIAL EVENT PREPAYMENT. If a Special Event shall occur and be continuing,
the Corporation may, at any time prior to the Initial Optional Prepayment Date,
within 90 days after the occurrence of the Special Event, at its option and
subject to receipt of prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required
under applicable capital guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve, prepay
the Junior Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in part) at a prepayment
price (the "Special Event Prepayment Price") equal to the greater of (i) 100% of
the principal amount of such Junior Subordinated Debentures or (ii) the sum, as
determined by a Quotation Agent, of the present values of the principal amount
and premium payable as part of the Optional Prepayment Price with respect to an
optional redemption of such Junior Subordinated Debentures on Initial Optional
Prepayment Date, together with scheduled payments of interest from the
prepayment date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of
twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus, in either case,
accrued and unpaid interest thereon to the date of prepayment.
 
     A "Special Event" means a Tax Event or a Regulatory Capital Event (as
defined below), as the case may be.
 
     A "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Corporation and the Trust of an
opinion of a nationally recognized tax counsel experienced in such matters to
the effect that, as a result of 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 as a result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial
decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or
change is effective or such pronouncement or decision is announced on or after
the Issue Date, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is,
or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States
federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Corporation on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such opinion
will not be, deductible by the Corporation, in whole or in part, for United
States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the Trust is, or will be within 90
days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis amount of
other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
 
     A "Regulatory Capital Event" means that the Corporation shall have received
an opinion of independent bank regulatory counsel experienced in such matters 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 rules, guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve or
(b) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting
or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
such pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the Issue Date, the
Capital Securities do not constitute, or within 90 days of the date of such
opinion, will not constitute, Tier 1 Capital (or its then equivalent); provided,
however, that a Regulatory Capital Event shall not occur by reason of the use of
the proceeds of the Junior Subordinated Debentures by the Corporation
contemplated herein.
 
                                       45
<PAGE>   47
 
     "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any prepayment date, the
rate per annum equal to (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the
average for the immediately prior week, appearing in the most recently published
statistical release designated "H.15(519)" or any successor publication which is
published weekly by the Federal Reserve and which established yields on actively
traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the
caption "Treasury Constant Maturities," for the maturity date corresponding to
the Initial Optional Prepayment Date (if no maturity date is within three months
before or after the Initial Optional Prepayment Date, yields for the two
published maturities most closely corresponding to the Initial Optional
Prepayment Date shall be interpolated and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be
interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding
to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not
published during the week preceding the calculation date or does not contain
such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent yield to
maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable
Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the
Comparable Treasury Price for such prepayment date plus, in either case (A)
1.35% if such prepayment date occurs on or prior to December 31, 1997 and (B)
 .50% in all other cases.
 
     "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity date corresponding to the
Initial Optional Prepayment Date that would be utilized at the time of selection
and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new issues of
corporate debt securities with a maturity date corresponding to the Initial
Optional Prepayment Date. If no United States Treasury security has a maturity
date which is within three months before or after the Initial Optional
Prepayment Date, the two most closely corresponding United States Treasury
securities shall be used as the Comparable Treasury Issue, and the calculation
of the Adjusted Treasury Rate pursuant to clause (ii) of the definition thereof
shall be interpolated or extrapolated on a straight-line basis, rounding to the
nearest month.
 
     "Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury Dealer appointed by the
Corporation. "Reference Treasury Dealer" means: (i) Merrill Lynch Government
Securities, Inc. and its respective successors; provided, however, that if the
foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New
York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Corporation shall substitute
therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer, and (ii) any other Primary Treasury
Dealer selected by the Corporation.
 
     "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any prepayment date, (i)
the average of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) on the third
Business Day preceding such prepayment date, as set forth in the daily
statistical release (or any successor release) published by the Federal Reserve
Bank of New York and designated "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S.
Government Securities" or (ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not
published or does not contain such prices on such Business Day, (A) the average
of five Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such prepayment date, after
excluding the highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or
(B) if the Debenture Trustee obtains fewer than three such Reference Treasury
Dealer Quotations, the average of all such Quotations.
 
     "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any prepayment date, the average, as determined by
the Debenture Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury
Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in
writing to the Debenture Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such prepayment date.
 
     "Additional Sums" means such additional amounts as may be necessary in
order that the amount of Distributions then due and payable by the Trust on the
outstanding Capital Securities and Common Securities shall not be reduced as a
result of any additional taxes, duties or other governmental charges to which
the Trust has become subject as a result of a Tax Event.
 
     Notice of any prepayment will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Junior Subordinated
Debentures to be prepaid at its registered address. Unless the Corporation
defaults in payment of the prepayment price, on and after the prepayment date
interest ceases to accrue on such Junior Subordinated Debentures called for
prepayment.
 
                                       46
<PAGE>   48
 
     If the Trust is required to pay any additional taxes, duties or other
governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Corporation will pay as
additional amounts on the Junior Subordinated Debentures the Additional Sums.
 
     RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS. The Corporation will also covenant that
it will not, (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem,
purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the
Corporation's capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock) or (ii)
make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay or
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation (including Other
Debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect
to any guarantee by the Corporation of any securities of any subsidiary of the
Corporation (including Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu or
junior in right of payment to the Junior Subordinated Debentures (other than (a)
dividends or distributions in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to
subscribe for or purchase shares of, common stock of the Corporation, (b) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a
stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the
future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c)
payments under the Guarantee, (d) as a direct result of, and only to the extent
required in order to avoid the issuance of a fractional share of capital stock
following a reclassification of the Corporation's capital stock or the exchange
or conversion of one class or series of the Corporation's capital stock for
another class or series of the Corporation's capital stock, (e) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Corporation's capital stock pursuant to
the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the security
being converted or exchanged, and (f) purchases of common stock related to the
issuance of common stock or rights under any of the Corporation's benefit plans
for its directors, officers or employees or any of the Corporation's dividend
reinvestment plans) if at such time (1) a Debenture Event of Default occurs, (2)
there shall have occurred any event of which the Corporation has actual
knowledge that (a) with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or both,
would be a Debenture Event of Default and (b) in respect of which the
Corporation shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure, (3) the Corporation
shall be in default with respect to its payment of any obligation under the
Guarantee or (4) the Corporation shall have given notice of its election of an
Extension Period, or any extension thereof, as provided in the Indenture and
shall not have rescinded such notice, and such Extension Period, or any
extension thereof shall have commenced.
 
     The Corporation will also covenant (i) to maintain 100 percent ownership of
the Common Securities; provided, however, that any permitted successor of the
Corporation under the Indenture may succeed to the Corporation's ownership of
the Common Securities, (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 Debentures 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 continue not to be classified as an
association taxable as a corporation or a partnership for United States federal
income tax purposes and (iii) to use its reasonable efforts to cause each holder
of Trust Securities to be treated as owning an undivided beneficial interest in
the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
     MODIFICATION OF INDENTURE. From time to time the Corporation and the
Debenture Trustee may, without the consent of the holders of Junior Subordinated
Debentures, amend, waive or supplement the Indenture for specified purposes,
including, among other things, curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies
(provided that any such action does not materially adversely affect the interest
of the holders of Junior Subordinated Debentures) and qualifying, or maintaining
the qualification of, the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The Indenture
contains provisions permitting the Corporation and the Debenture Trustee, with
the consent of the holders of a majority in principal amount of Junior
Subordinated Debentures, to modify the Indenture in a manner affecting the
rights of the holders of Junior Subordinated Debentures; provided, that no such
modification may, without the consent of the holders of each outstanding Junior
Subordinated Debenture so affected, (i) change the Stated Maturity, or reduce
the principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or reduce the rate or
extend the time of payment of interest thereon or (ii) reduce the percentage
 
                                       47
<PAGE>   49
 
of principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures, the holders of which are
required to consent to any such modification of the Indenture.
 
     DEBENTURE EVENTS OF DEFAULT. The Indenture provides that any one or more of
the following described events with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures constitutes a "Debenture Event of Default" (whatever the reason for
such Debenture Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary or involuntary
or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order
of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or
governmental body):
 
          (i) failure for 30-days to pay any interest on the Junior Subordinated
     Debentures or any Other Debentures when due (subject to the deferral of any
     due date in the case of an Extension Period); or
 
          (ii) failure to pay any principal or premium, if any, on the Junior
     Subordinated Debentures or any Other Debentures when due whether at
     maturity, upon redemption, by declaration of acceleration of maturity or
     otherwise; or
 
          (iii) failure to observe or perform in any material respect certain
     other covenants contained in the Indenture for 90-days after written notice
     to the Corporation from the Debenture Trustee or the holders of at least
     25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of Junior Subordinated
     Debentures; or
 
          (iv) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
     Corporation.
 
     The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture
Trustee. The Debenture Trustee or the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate
outstanding principal amount of the Junior Subordinated Debentures may declare
the principal due and payable immediately upon a Debenture Event of Default. The
holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures may annul such declaration and waive the default if the
default (other than the non-payment of the principal of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures which has become due solely by such acceleration) has been cured and
a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and principal due
otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the Debenture Trustee.
 
     The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures affected thereby may, on behalf of the holders of
all the Junior Subordinated Debentures, waive any past default, except a default
in the payment of principal or premium, if any or interest (unless such default
has been cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest
and premium, if any and principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been
deposited with the Debenture Trustee or a default in respect of a covenant or
provision which under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the
consent of the holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Debenture.
 
     ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES. If a
Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing and such event
shall be attributable to the failure of the Corporation to pay interest or
premium, if any on or principal of the New Junior Subordinated Debentures on the
due date, a holder of New Capital Securities may institute a Direct Action. The
Corporation may not amend the Indenture to remove the foregoing right to bring a
Direct Action without the prior written consent of the holders of all of the New
Capital Securities. If the right to bring a Direct Action is removed following
the Exchange Offer, the Trust may become subject to the reporting obligations
under the Exchange Act. Notwithstanding any payments made to a holder of New
Capital Securities by the Corporation in connection with a Direct Action, the
Corporation shall remain obligated to pay the principal of or premium, if any or
interest on the New Junior Subordinated Debentures, and the Corporation shall be
subrogated to the rights of the holder of such New Capital Securities with
respect to payments on the New Capital Securities to the extent of any payments
made by the Corporation to such holder in any Direct Action.
 
     The holders of the New Capital Securities will not be able to exercise
directly any remedies, other than those set forth in the preceding paragraph,
available to the holders of the New Junior Subordinated Debentures. See "--
Description of New Capital Securities -- Events of Default; Notice."
 
                                       48
<PAGE>   50
 
     CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS. The Indenture
provides that the Corporation shall not consolidate with or merge into any other
Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or
substantially as an entirety to any Person, and no Person shall consolidate with
or merge into the Corporation or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Corporation,
unless: (i) in case the Corporation consolidates with or merges into another
Person or conveys or transfers its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any Person, the successor Person is organized under the laws of the
United States or any State or the District of Columbia, and such successor
Person expressly assumes the Corporation's obligations on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures; (ii) immediately after giving effect thereto, no
Debenture Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of time or
both, would become a Debenture Event of Default, shall have occurred and be
continuing; and (iii) certain other conditions as prescribed in the Indenture
are met.
 
     The general provisions of the Indenture do not afford holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other
transaction involving the Corporation that may adversely affect holders of the
New Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
     SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE. The Indenture provides that when, among other
things, all New Junior Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the
Debenture Trustee for cancellation (i) have become due and payable or (ii) will
become due and payable at maturity within one year, and the Corporation deposits
or causes to be deposited with the Debenture Trustee funds, in trust, for the
purpose and in an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness
on the New Junior Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the
Debenture Trustee for cancellation, for the principal and premium, if any and
interest to the date of the deposit or to the Stated Maturity Date, as the case
may be, then the Indenture will cease to be of further effect (except as to the
Corporation's obligations to pay all other sums due pursuant to the Indenture
and to provide the officers' certificates and opinions of counsel described
therein), and the Corporation will be deemed to have satisfied and discharged
the Indenture.
 
     SUBORDINATION. In the Indenture, the Corporation has covenanted and agreed
that any Junior Subordinated Debentures will be subordinate and junior in right
of payment to all Senior Indebtedness to the extent provided in the Indenture.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets to creditors upon any liquidation,
dissolution, winding up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit of
creditors, marshalling of assets or any bankruptcy, insolvency, debt
restructuring or similar proceedings in connection with any insolvency or
bankruptcy proceeding of the Corporation, the holders of Senior Indebtedness
will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all Allocable Amounts (as
defined below) in respect of such Senior Indebtedness before the holders of
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be entitled to receive or retain any payment
in respect thereof.
 
     In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the holders of all Senior Indebtedness outstanding at the time of
such acceleration will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all
Allocable Amounts in respect of such Senior Indebtedness before the holders of
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be entitled to receive or retain any payment
in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
     No payments on account of principal or premium, if any or interest, if any,
in respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures may be made if there shall have
occurred and be continuing a default in any payment with respect to Senior
Indebtedness, or an event of default with respect to any Senior Indebtedness
resulting in the acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if any judicial
proceeding shall be pending with respect to any such default.
 
     "Allocable Amounts," when used with respect to any Senior Indebtedness,
means all amounts due or to become due on such Senior Indebtedness less, if
applicable, any amount which would have been paid to, and retained by, the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness (whether as a result of the receipt of
payments by the holders of such Senior Indebtedness from the Corporation or any
other obligor thereon or from any holders of, or trustee in respect of, other
indebtedness that is subordinate and junior in right of payment to such Senior
Indebtedness pursuant to any provision of such indebtedness for the payment over
of amounts received on account of such indebtedness to the holders of such
Senior Indebtedness or otherwise) but for the fact that such Senior Indebtedness
is subordinate or junior in right of payment to (or subject to a requirement
that
 
                                       49
<PAGE>   51
 
amounts received on such Senior Indebtedness be paid over to obligees on) trade
accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business.
 
     "Indebtedness" shall mean (i) any obligation of, or any obligation
guaranteed by, the Corporation for the repayment of borrowed money, whether or
not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other written instruments and any
deferred obligation for the payment of the purchase price of property or assets
acquired other than in the ordinary course of business and (ii) all indebtedness
of the Corporation for claims in respect of derivative products such as interest
and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts and similar
arrangements, whether outstanding on the date of execution of the Indenture or
thereafter created, assumed or incurred. For purposes of this definition "claim"
shall have the meaning assigned in Section 101(5) of the Bankruptcy Code of
1978, as amended and in effect on the date of the execution of the Indenture.
 
     "Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Junior Subordinated Debentures"
shall mean Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of execution of the
Indenture or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, which specifically by its
terms ranks equally with and not prior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures in
the right of payment upon the happening of the dissolution or winding-up or
liquidation or reorganization of the Corporation. The securing of any
Indebtedness, otherwise constituting Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, shall not be deemed to prevent such Indebtedness
from constituting Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
 
     "Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures" shall
mean any Indebtedness, whether outstanding on the date of execution of the
Indenture or thereafter created, assumed or incurred, which specifically by its
terms ranks junior to and not equally with or prior to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures (and any other Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Junior
Subordinated Debentures) in right of payment upon the happening of the
dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of the Corporation.
The securing of any Indebtedness, otherwise constituting Indebtedness Ranking
Junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures, shall not be deemed to prevent
such Indebtedness from constituting Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures.
 
     "Senior Indebtedness" shall mean all Indebtedness, whether outstanding on
the date of execution of the Indenture or thereafter created, assumed or
incurred, except Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Junior Subordinated Debentures,
and any deferrals, renewals or extensions of such Senior Indebtedness.
 
     The Corporation is a non-operating holding company and almost all of the
operating assets of the Corporation are owned by the Corporation's subsidiaries.
The Corporation relies primarily on dividends from such subsidiaries to meet its
obligations for payment of principal and interest on its outstanding debt
obligations and corporate expenses. The Corporation is a legal entity separate
and distinct from its banking and non-banking affiliates. The principal sources
of the Corporation's income are dividends, interest and fees from its banking
and non-banking affiliates. The Banks are subject to certain restrictions
imposed by federal law on any extensions of credit to, and certain other
transactions with, the Corporation and certain other affiliates, and on
investments in stock or other securities thereof. Such restrictions prevent the
Corporation and such other affiliates from borrowing from the Banks unless the
loans are secured by various types of collateral. Further, such secured loans,
other transactions and investments by any of the Banks are generally limited in
amount as to the Corporation and as to each of such other affiliates to 10% of
such Bank's capital and surplus and as to the Corporation and all of such other
affiliates to an aggregate of 20% of such Bank's capital and surplus. In
addition, payment of dividends to the Corporation by the subsidiary banks is
subject to ongoing review by banking regulators and is subject to various
statutory limitations and in certain circumstances requires approval by banking
regulatory authorities. Accordingly, the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be
effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the
Corporation's subsidiaries. Holders of Junior Subordinated Debentures should
look only to the assets of the Corporation for payments of interest and
principal and premium, if any.
 
     The Indenture places no limitation on the amount of additional Senior
Indebtedness that may be incurred by the Corporation. The Corporation expects
from time to time to incur additional indebtedness constituting Senior
Indebtedness.
 
                                       50
<PAGE>   52
 
     GOVERNING LAW. The Indenture and the New Junior Subordinated Debentures
will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of
New York.
 
     INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DEBENTURE TRUSTEE. Following the Exchange Offer
and the qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act, the
Debenture Trustee shall have and be subject to all the duties and
responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust
Indenture Act. Subject to such provisions, the Debenture 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 Debentures, unless offered
reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which might be incurred thereby. The Debenture Trustee is not required to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of its duties if the Debenture Trustee reasonably believes that
repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.
 
DESCRIPTION OF NEW GUARANTEE
 
     The Old Guarantee was executed and delivered by the Corporation
concurrently with the issuance by the Trust of the Old Capital Securities for
the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Old Capital Securities.
Promptly after the Expiration Date, the Old Guarantee will be exchanged by the
Corporation for the New Guarantee for the benefit of the holders from time to
time of the New Capital Securities. The Guarantee Agreement has been qualified
under the Trust Indenture Act. This summary of certain provisions of the
Guarantee Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and
qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the
Guarantee Agreement, including the definitions therein of certain terms, and the
Trust Indenture Act. The Guarantee Trustee will hold the New Guarantee for the
benefit of the holders of the New Capital Securities.
 
     GENERAL. The Corporation will irrevocably agree to pay in full on a
subordinated basis, to the extent set forth herein, the Guarantee Payments (as
defined below) to the holders of the New Capital Securities, as and when due,
regardless of any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the Trust may
have or assert other than the defense of payment. The following payments with
respect to the New Capital Securities, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of
the Trust (the "Guarantee Payments"), will be subject to the New Guarantee: (i)
any accumulated and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on New Capital
Securities, to the extent the Trust has funds on hand legally available
therefor, (ii) the Redemption Price with respect to any New Capital Securities
called for redemption, to the extent that the Trust has funds on hand legally
available therefor, or (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary termination and
liquidation of the Trust, the lesser of (a) the Liquidation Distribution and (b)
the amount of assets of the Trust remaining available for distribution to
holders of New Capital Securities. The Corporation's obligation to make a
Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by
the Corporation to the holders of the New Capital Securities or by causing the
Trust to pay such amounts to such holders.
 
     The New Guarantee will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to
all Senior Indebtedness to the extent provided therein. See "-- Status of New
Guarantee". Because the Corporation is a holding company, the right of the
Corporation to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon
such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the
prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the
Corporation may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary.
Accordingly, the Corporation's obligations under the New Guarantee will be
effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the
Corporation's subsidiaries, including deposits, and claimants should look only
to the assets of the Corporation for payments thereunder. See "-- Description of
New Junior Subordinated Debentures -- General." The New Guarantee does not limit
the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the
Corporation, including Senior Indebtedness, whether under the Indenture, any
other indenture that the Corporation may enter into in the future or otherwise.
 
     The Corporation will, through the New Guarantee, the Declaration, the New
Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture, taken together, fully,
irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee all of the Trust's obligations under
the New Capital Securities. No single document standing alone or operating in
conjunction with fewer than all of the other documents constitutes such
guarantee. It is only the combined
 
                                       51
<PAGE>   53
 
operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a full,
irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the Trust's obligations under the New
Capital Securities. See "Relationship Among the New Capital Securities, the New
Junior Subordinated Debentures and the New Guarantee."
 
     STATUS OF NEW GUARANTEE. The New Guarantee will constitute an unsecured
obligation of the Corporation and will rank subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all Senior Indebtedness in the same manner as New Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
 
     The New Guarantee will rank pari passu with the Old Guarantee and with all
Other Guarantees (if any) issued by the Corporation after the Issue Date with
respect to capital securities (if any) issued by Other Trusts. The New Guarantee
will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of collection (i.e., the
guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Corporation to enforce its rights under the New Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity). The New
Guarantee will be held for the benefit of the holders of the New Capital
Securities. The New Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment of the
Guarantee Payments in full to the extent not paid by the Trust or upon
distribution to the holders of the New Capital Securities of the New Junior
Subordinated Debentures. The Guarantee does not place a limitation on the amount
of additional Senior Indebtedness that may be incurred by the Corporation. The
Corporation expects from time to time to incur additional indebtedness
constituting Senior Indebtedness.
 
     AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT. Except with respect to any changes that do not
materially adversely affect the rights of holders of the New Capital Securities
(in which case no consent will be required), the New Guarantee may not be
amended without the prior approval of the holders of a majority of the
Liquidation Amount of such outstanding New Capital Securities. The manner of
obtaining any such approval will be as set forth under "-- Description of New
Capital Securities -- Voting Rights; Amendment of the Declaration." All
guarantees and agreements contained in the Guarantee Agreement shall bind the
successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and representatives of the Corporation
and shall inure to the benefit of the holders of the New Capital Securities then
outstanding.
 
     EVENTS OF DEFAULT. An event of default under the New Guarantee will occur
upon the failure of the Corporation to perform any of its payment or other
obligations thereunder. The holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the
New Capital Securities will have the right to direct the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee
in respect of the New Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the New Guarantee.
 
     Any holder of the New Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the New Guarantee
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Trust, the Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity.
 
     The Corporation, as guarantor, will be required to file annually with the
New Guarantee Trustee a certificate as to whether or not the Corporation is in
compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to it under the New
Guarantee.
 
     TERMINATION OF THE NEW GUARANTEE. The New Guarantee will terminate and be
of no further force and effect upon full payment of the applicable Redemption
Price of the New Capital Securities, upon full payment of the Liquidation Amount
payable upon liquidation of the Trust or upon distribution of New Junior
Subordinated Debentures to the holders of the New Capital Securities. The New
Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time any holder of the New Capital Securities must restore payment
of any sums paid under the New Capital Securities or the New Guarantee.
 
     INFORMATION CONCERNING THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE. The Guarantee Trustee is
under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the New
Guarantee at the request of any holder of the New Capital Securities, unless
offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which
might be incurred thereby. The Guarantee Trustee is not required to expend or
risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of its duties if it reasonably believes that repayment or adequate
or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.
 
                                       52
<PAGE>   54
 
     The Corporation or its affiliates maintain certain accounts and other
banking relationships with the Guarantee Trustee and its affiliates in the
ordinary course of business.
 
     GOVERNING LAW. The New Guarantee will be governed by and construed in
accordance with the internal laws of the State of New York.
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF OLD SECURITIES
 
     The terms of the Old Securities are identical in all materials respects to
the New Securities, except that (i) the Old Securities have not been registered
under the Securities Act, and thus are subject to certain transfer restrictions
and are entitled to certain rights under the applicable Registration Rights
Agreement (which rights will terminate upon consummation of the Exchange Offer,
except under limited circumstances), (ii) the New Capital Securities will not
contain the $100,000 minimum Liquidation Amount transfer restriction and certain
other restrictions on transfer applicable to Old Capital Securities, (iii) the
New Capital Securities will not provide for any increase in the Distribution
rate thereon, (iv) the New Junior Subordinated Debentures will not contain the
$100,000 minimum principal amount transfer restriction and (v) the New Junior
Subordinated Debentures will not provide for any increase in the interest rate
thereon. The Old Securities provide that, in the event that a registration
statement relating to the Exchange Offer has not been filed by May 16, 1997 and
been declared effective by June 14, 1997, or, in certain limited circumstances,
in the event a shelf registration statement (the "Shelf Registration Statement")
with respect to the resale of the Old Capital Securities is not declared
effective by June 14, 1997, then interest will accumulate (in addition to the
stated interest rate on the Old Junior Subordinated Debentures) at the rate of
0.25% per annum on the principal amount of the Old Junior Subordinated
Debentures and Distributions will accrue (in addition to the stated Distribution
rate on the Old Capital Securities) at the rate of 0.25% per annum on the
Liquidation Amount of the Old Capital Securities, for the period from the
occurrence of such event until such time as such required Exchange Offer is
consummated or any required Shelf Registration Statement is effective. The New
Securities are not, and upon consummation of the Exchange Offer the Old
Securities will not be, entitled to any such additional interest or
Distributions. Accordingly, holders of Old Capital Securities should review the
information set forth under "Risk Factors -- Certain Consequences of a Failure
to Exchange Old Capital Securities" and "Description of New Securities."
 
               RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES, THE
            NEW JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES AND THE NEW GUARANTEE
 
FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE
 
     Payments of Distributions and other amounts due on the New Capital
Securities (to the extent the Trust has funds on hand legally available for the
payment of such Distributions) will be irrevocably guaranteed by the Corporation
as and to the extent set forth under "Description of New Securities --
Description of New Guarantee." Taken together, the Corporation's obligations
under the New Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture, the Declaration and
the New Guarantee will provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and
unconditional guarantee of payments of Distributions and other amounts due on
the New Capital Securities. No single document standing alone or operating in
conjunction with fewer than all of the other documents constitutes such
guarantee. It is only the combined operation of these documents that has the
effect of providing a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the
Trust's obligations under the New Capital Securities. If and to the extent that
the Corporation does not make the required payments on the New Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Trust will not have sufficient funds to make the
related payments, including Distributions, on the New Capital Securities. The
New Guarantee will not cover any such payment when the Trust does not have
sufficient funds on hand legally available therefor. In such event, the remedy
of a holder of New Capital Securities is to institute a Direct Action. The
obligations of the Corporation under the New Guarantee will be subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness.
 
                                       53
<PAGE>   55
 
SUFFICIENCY OF PAYMENTS
 
     As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on the
New Junior Subordinated Debentures, such payments will be sufficient to cover
Distributions and other payments due on the New Capital Securities, primarily
because: (i) the aggregate principal amount or Prepayment Price of the New
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be equal to the sum of the Liquidation
Amount or Redemption Price, as applicable, of the New Capital Securities and
related Common Securities, (ii) the interest rate and interest and other payment
dates on the New Junior Subordinated Debentures will match the Distribution rate
and Distribution and other payment dates for the Trust Securities; (iii) the
Corporation shall pay for all and any costs, expenses and liabilities of the
Trust except the Trust's obligations to holders of Trust Securities under such
Trust Securities; and (iv) the Declaration provides that the Trust is not
authorized to engage in any activity that is not consistent with the limited
purposes thereof.
 
ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     A holder of any New Capital Security may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the New Guarantee
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee Trustee, the
Trust or any other person or entity.
 
     A default or event of default under any Senior Indebtedness would not
constitute a default or Event of Default under the Declaration. However, in the
event of payment defaults under, or acceleration of, Senior Indebtedness, the
subordination provisions of the Indenture provide that no payments may be made
in respect of the New Junior Subordinated Debentures until such Senior
Indebtedness has been paid in full or any payment default thereunder has been
cured or waived. Failure to make required payments on Junior Subordinated
Debentures would constitute an Event of Default under the Declaration.
 
LIMITED PURPOSE OF THE TRUST
 
     The New Capital Securities will represent preferred beneficial interests in
the Trust, and the Trust exists for the sole purpose of issuing and selling the
Trust Securities, using the proceeds from the sale of the Trust Securities to
acquire the Junior Subordinated Debentures and engaging in only those other
activities necessary, advisable or incidental thereto.
 
RIGHTS UPON TERMINATION
 
     Unless the Junior Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of the
Trust Securities, upon any voluntary or involuntary termination and liquidation
of the Trust, the holders of the Trust Securities will be entitled to receive,
out of assets held by the Trust, the Liquidation Distribution in cash. See
"Description of New Securities -- Description of New Capital Securities --
Liquidation of the Trust and Distribution of New Junior Subordinated
Debentures." Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the
Corporation, the Property Trustee, as holder of the New Junior Subordinated
Debentures, would be a subordinated creditor of the Corporation, subordinated in
right of payment to all Senior Indebtedness as set forth in the Indenture, but
entitled to receive payment in full of principal (and premium, if any) and
interest, before any stockholders of the Corporation receive payments or
distributions. Since the Corporation will be the guarantor under the New
Guarantee and will agree to pay for all costs, expenses and liabilities of the
Trust (other than the Trust's obligations to the holders of its Trust
Securities), the positions of a holder of New Capital Securities and a holder of
New Junior Subordinated Debentures relative to stockholders of the Corporation
in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy of the Corporation are expected to be
substantially the same.
 
                                       54
<PAGE>   56
 
            CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
 
GENERAL
 
     In the opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, counsel to the Corporation and the
Trust ("Tax Counsel"), the following is a summary of certain of the material
United States federal income tax consequences of the purchase, ownership and
disposition of Capital Securities held as capital assets by a holder. This
summary only addresses the tax consequences to a holder that acquired the Old
Capital Securities upon initial issuance at their original offering price. It
does not deal with special classes of holders such as banks, thrifts, real
estate investment trusts, regulated investment companies, insurance companies,
dealers in securities or currencies, tax-exempt investors, or persons that will
hold the Capital 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 stockholders, partners or
beneficiaries of a holder of Capital Securities. 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 the Capital Securities. This summary is based on the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), Treasury regulations thereunder,
and the administrative and judicial interpretations thereof, as of the date
hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly on a retroactive basis.
 
EXCHANGE OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     The exchange of Old Capital Securities for New Capital Securities will not
be a taxable event to holders for United States federal income tax purposes. The
exchange of Old Capital Securities for New Capital Securities pursuant to the
Exchange Offer will not be treated as an "exchange" for United States federal
income tax purposes because the New Capital Securities should not be considered
to differ materially in kind or extent from the Old Capital Securities and
because the exchange will occur by operation of the terms of the Old Capital
Securities. If, however, the exchange of the Old Capital Securities for the New
Capital Securities were treated as an exchange for United States federal income
tax purposes, such exchange would constitute a recapitalization for federal
income tax purposes. Accordingly, the New Capital Securities will have the same
issue price as the Old Capital Securities, and a holder will have the same
adjusted tax basis and holding period in the New Capital Securities as the
holder had in the Old Capital Securities immediately before the exchange.
 
CLASSIFICATION OF THE JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     In connection with the issuance of the Old Junior Subordinated Debentures,
Tax Counsel has rendered its opinion generally to the effect that, under then
current law and assuming full compliance with the terms of the Indenture (and
certain other documents), and based on certain facts and assumptions contained
in such opinion, the Old Junior Subordinated Debentures will be classified for
United States federal income tax purposes as indebtedness of the Corporation. An
opinion of Tax Counsel, however, is not binding on the Internal Revenue Service
(the "IRS") or the courts. Prospective investors should note that no rulings
have been or are expected to be sought from the IRS with respect to any of these
issues and no assurance can be given that the IRS will not take contrary
positions. Moreover, no assurance can be given that any of the opinions
expressed herein will not be challenged by the IRS or, if challenged, that such
a challenge would not be successful.
 
CLASSIFICATION OF THE TRUST
 
     In connection with the issuance of the Old Capital Securities, Tax Counsel
has rendered its opinion generally to the effect that, under then current law
and assuming full compliance with the terms of the Declaration and the Indenture
(and certain other documents), and based on certain facts and assumptions
contained in such opinion, the Trust will be classified for United States
federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust and not as an association taxable
as a corporation. Accordingly, for United States federal income tax purposes,
each holder of Capital Securities generally will be considered the owner of an
undivided interest
 
                                       55
<PAGE>   57
 
in the Junior Subordinated Debentures, and each holder will be required to
include in its gross income any interest (or OID accrued) with respect to its
allocable share of those Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
INTEREST INCOME AND ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
 
     Under recently issued Treasury regulations (the "Regulations") applicable
to debt instruments issued on or after August 13, 1996, a "remote" contingency
that stated interest will not be timely paid will be ignored in determining
whether a debt instrument is issued with OID. The Corporation believes that the
likelihood of its exercising its option to defer payments of interest is
"remote" since exercising that option would prevent the Corporation from
declaring dividends on any class of its equity securities. Accordingly, the
Corporation intends to take the position, based on the advice of Tax Counsel,
that the Junior Subordinated Debentures will not be considered to be issued with
OID and, accordingly, stated interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures
generally will be taxable to a holder as ordinary income at the time it is paid
or accrued in accordance with such holder's method of accounting.
 
     Under the Regulations, if the Corporation were to exercise its option to
defer payments of interest, the Junior Subordinated Debentures would at that
time be treated as issued with OID, and all stated interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures would thereafter be treated as OID as long as the Junior
Subordinated Debentures remain outstanding. In such event, all of a holder's
taxable interest income with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures would
thereafter be accounted for on an economic accrual basis regardless of such
holder's method of tax accounting, and actual distributions of stated interest
would not be reported as taxable income. Consequently, a holder of Capital
Securities would be required to include in gross income OID even though the
Corporation would not make actual cash payments during an Extension Period.
Moreover, under the Regulations, if the option to defer the payment of interest
was determined not to be "remote", the Junior Subordinated Debentures would be
treated as having been originally issued with OID. In such event, all of a
holder's taxable interest income with respect to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures would be accounted for on an economic accrual basis regardless of
such holder's method of tax accounting, and actual distributions of stated
interest would not be reported as taxable income.
 
     The Regulations have not yet been addressed in any rulings or other
interpretations by the IRS, and it is possible that the IRS could take a
position contrary to Tax Counsel's interpretation herein.
 
     Because income on the Capital Securities will constitute interest or OID,
corporate holders of the Capital Securities will not be entitled to a
dividends-received deduction with respect to any income recognized with respect
to the Capital Securities.
 
RECEIPT OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES OR CASH UPON LIQUIDATION OF THE TRUST
 
     The Corporation will have the right at any time to liquidate the Trust and
cause the Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of the
Trust Securities. Under current law, such a distribution, for United States
federal income tax purposes, would be treated as a nontaxable event to each
holder, and each holder would receive an aggregate tax basis in the Junior
Subordinated Debentures equal to such holder's aggregate tax basis in its
Capital Securities. A holder's holding period in the Junior Subordinated
Debentures so received in liquidation of the Trust would include the period
during which the Capital Securities were held by such holder. If, however, the
Trust is characterized for United States federal income tax purposes as an
association taxable as a corporation at the time of its dissolution, the
distribution of the Junior Subordinated Debentures may constitute a taxable
event to holders of Capital Securities and a holder's holding period in Junior
Subordinated Debentures would begin on the date such Junior Subordinated
Debentures were received.
 
     Under certain circumstances described herein (see "Description of New
Securities -- Description of New Capital Securities"), the Junior Subordinated
Debentures may be redeemed for cash and the proceeds of such redemption
distributed to holders in redemption of their Capital Securities. Under current
law, such a redemption would, for United States federal income tax purposes,
constitute a taxable disposition of the redeemed Capital Securities, and a
holder could recognize gain or loss as if it sold such redeemed Capital
Securities for cash. See "-- Sales of Capital Securities."
 
                                       56
<PAGE>   58
 
SALES OF CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     A holder that sells Capital Securities (including a redemption of the
Capital Securities either on the Stated Maturity Date or upon an optional
redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debentures by the Corporation) will
recognize gain or loss equal to the difference between its adjusted tax basis in
the Capital Securities and the amount realized on the sale of such Capital
Securities (other than with respect to accrued and unpaid interest which has not
yet been included in income, which will be treated as ordinary income). A
holder's adjusted tax basis in the Capital Securities generally will be its
initial purchase price increased by OID (if any) previously includible in such
holder's gross income to the date of disposition and decreased by payments (if
any) received on the Capital Securities in respect of OID. Such gain or loss
generally will be a capital gain or loss and generally will be a long-term
capital gain or loss if the Capital Securities have been held for more than one
year.
 
     The Capital 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 Debentures. A holder who uses the accrual method of
accounting for tax purposes (and a cash method holder, if the Junior
Subordinated Debentures are deemed to have been issued with OID) who disposes of
such holder's Capital Securities between record dates for payments of
distributions thereon will be required to include accrued but unpaid interest on
the Junior Subordinated Debentures through the date of disposition in income as
ordinary income (i.e., interest or, possibly, OID), and to add such amount to
his adjusted tax basis in his pro rata share of the underlying Junior
Subordinated Debentures deemed disposed of. To the extent the selling price is
less than the holder's adjusted tax basis (which will include 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.
 
PROPOSED TAX LEGISLATION
 
     On February 6, 1997, as part of President Clinton's Fiscal 1998 Budget
Proposal, the United States Treasury Department proposed legislation that would,
among other things, deny an issuer a deduction for United States federal income
tax purposes for the payment of interest on instruments with characteristics
similar to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. If the proposed legislation were
enacted in its current form, it is not expected to apply to the Junior
Subordinated Debentures since the proposed effective date for this provision is
the date of first committee action. There can be no assurances, however, that
the proposed legislation, if enacted, or similar legislation enacted after the
date hereof would not adversely affect the tax treatment of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures, resulting in a Tax Event. The occurrence of a Tax Event
may result in the redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debentures for cash, in
which event the holders of the Capital Securities would receive cash in
redemption of their Capital Securities. The occurrence of a Tax Event may result
in the redemption of the Junior Subordinated Debentures for cash, in which event
the holders of the Capital Securities would receive cash in redemption of their
Capital Securities. See "Description of New Securities -- Description of New
Capital Securities -- Redemption" and "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Special Event Prepayment."
 
UNITED STATES ALIEN HOLDERS
 
     For purposes of this discussion, a "United States Alien Holder" is any
corporation, individual, partnership, estate or trust that is not a U.S. Holder
for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
     A "U.S. Holder" is a holder of Capital Securities who or which is a citizen
or individual resident (or is treated as a citizen or individual resident) of
the United States for federal income tax purposes, a corporation or partnership
created or organized (or treated as created or organized for federal income tax
purposes) in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision
thereof, or a trust or estate the income of which is includible in its gross
income for federal income tax purposes without regard to its source.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, for taxable years beginning after December 31,
1996 (or for the immediately preceding taxable year, if the trustee of a trust
so elects), a trust is a U.S. Holder for federal income tax purposes if, and
only if, (i) a court within the United States is able to exercise primary
supervision over the
 
                                       57
<PAGE>   59
 
administration of the trust and (ii) one or more United States trustees have the
authority to control all substantial decisions of the trust.)
 
     Under present United States federal income tax laws: (i) payments by the
Trust or any of its paying agents to any holder of a Capital Security who or
which is a United States Alien Holder will not be subject to United States
federal withholding tax; provided that, (a) the beneficial owner of the Capital
Security does not actually or constructively own 10 percent or more of the total
combined voting power of all classes of stock of the Corporation entitled to
vote, (b) the beneficial owner of the Capital Security is not a controlled
foreign corporation that is related to the Corporation through stock ownership,
and (c) either (A) the beneficial owner of the Capital Security certifies to the
Trust or its agent, under penalties of perjury, that it is not a United States
holder and provides its name and address or (B) a securities clearing
organization, bank or other financial institution that holds customers'
securities in the ordinary course of its trade or business (a "Financial
Institution"), and holds the Capital Security in such capacity, certifies to the
Trust or its agent, under penalties of perjury, that such statement has been
received from the beneficial owner by it or by a Financial Institution between
it and the beneficial owner and furnishes the Trust or its agent with a copy
thereof; and (ii) a United States Alien Holder of a Capital Security will not be
subject to United States federal withholding tax on any gain realized upon the
sale or other disposition of a Capital Security.
 
     As discussed above, changes in legislation affecting the United States
federal income tax treatment of the Junior Subordinated Debentures are possible,
and could adversely affect the ability of the Corporation to deduct the interest
payable on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Moreover, any such legislation
could, as the Proposed Legislation would have, adversely affect United States
Alien Holders by characterizing income derived from the Junior Subordinated
Debentures as dividends, generally subject to a 30% income tax (on a withholding
basis) when paid to a United States Alien Holder, rather than as interest which,
as discussed above, is generally exempt from income tax in the hands of a United
States Alien Holder.
 
     A United States Alien Holder that holds Capital Securities in connection
with the active conduct of a United States trade or business will be subject to
income tax on all income and gains recognized with respect to its proportionate
share of the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
INFORMATION REPORTING TO HOLDERS
 
     Generally, income on the Capital Securities will be reported to holders on
Forms 1099, which forms should be mailed to holders of Capital Securities by
January 31 following each calendar year.
 
BACKUP WITHHOLDING
 
     Payments made on, and proceeds from the sale of, the Capital Securities may
be subject to a "backup" withholding tax of 31 percent unless the holder
complies with certain identification requirements. Any withheld amounts will be
allowed as a credit against the holder's United States federal income tax,
provided the required information is provided to the IRS.
 
     THE UNITED STATES 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
CAPITAL SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN
AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN UNITED STATES FEDERAL
OR OTHER TAX LAWS.
 
                              ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
 
     The Corporation, the obligor with respect to the New Junior Subordinated
Debentures held by the Trust, and its affiliates and the Property Trustee may be
considered a "party in interest" (within the meaning of the Employee Retirement
Income Security Act of 1974, as amended ("ERISA")) or a "disqualified person"
 
                                       58
<PAGE>   60
 
(within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code) with respect to many employee
benefit plans ("Plans") that are subject to ERISA. Any purchaser proposing to
acquire New Capital Securities with assets of any Plan should consult with its
counsel. The purchase and/or holding of New Capital Securities by a Plan that is
subject to the fiduciary responsibility provisions of ERISA or the prohibited
transaction provisions of Section 4975 of the Code (including individual
retirement arrangements and other plans described in Section 4975(e)(1) of the
Code) and with respect to which the Corporation, the Property Trustee or any
affiliate is a service provider (or otherwise is a party in interest or a
disqualified person) may constitute or result in a prohibited transaction under
ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code, unless such New Capital Securities are
acquired pursuant to and in accordance with an applicable exemption, such as
Prohibited Transaction Class Exemption ("PTCE") 84-14 (an exemption for certain
transactions determined by an independent qualified professional asset manager),
PTCE 91-38 (an exemption for certain transactions involving bank collective
investment funds), PTCE 90-1 (an exemption for certain transactions involving
insurance company pooled separate accounts), PTCE 95-60 (an exemption for
transactions involving certain insurance company general accounts) or PTCE 95-23
(an exemption for certain transactions determined by an in-house asset manager).
In addition, as described below, a Plan fiduciary considering the acquisition of
New Capital Securities should be aware that the assets of the Trust may be
considered "plan assets" for ERISA purposes. Therefore, a Plan fiduciary should
consider whether the acquisition of Capital Securities could result in a
delegation of fiduciary authority to the Property Trustee, and, if so, whether
such a delegation of authority is permissible under the Plan's governing
instrument or any investment management agreement with the Plan. In making such
determination, a Plan fiduciary should note that the Property Trustee is a U.S.
bank qualified to be an investment manager (within the meaning of section 3(38)
of ERISA) to which such a delegation of authority generally would be permissible
under ERISA. Further, prior to an Event of Default with respect to the New
Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee will have only limited
custodial and ministerial authority with respect to Trust assets.
 
     Under the U.S. Department of Labor regulations defining "plan assets" for
ERISA purposes (the "Plan Assets Regulations"), the assets of the Trust will be
considered plan assets of Plans owning New Capital Securities unless the
aggregate investment in New Capital Securities by "benefit plan investors" is
not deemed "significant" or the New Capital Securities qualify as "publicly
offered securities" as defined in such Regulations. For this purpose, equity
participation by benefit plan investors will not be considered "significant" on
any date only if, immediately after the most recent acquisition of Capital
Securities, the aggregate interest in the New Capital Securities held by benefit
plan investors will be less than 25% of the value of the New Capital Securities.
Although it is possible that the equity participation by benefit plan investors
in New Capital Securities on any date will not be "significant" for purposes of
the Plan Assets Regulations, such result cannot be assured.
 
     The New Capital Securities may qualify as "publicly offered securities"
under the Plan Assets Regulations if at the time of the Exchange Offer they are
also "widely held" and "freely transferable." Under the Regulations, a class of
securities is "widely held" only if it is a class of securities that is owned by
100 or more investors independent of the issuer and of one another. Although it
is possible that at the time of the Exchange Offer the New Capital Securities
will be "widely held," such result cannot be assured. Whether a security is
"freely transferable" for purposes of the Regulations is a factual question to
be determined on the basis of all relevant facts and circumstances. If at the
time of the Exchange Offer the New Capital Securities qualify as "publicly
offered securities," the assets of the Trust should not be "plan assets" with
respect to Plans acquiring New Capital Securities. If at the time of the
Exchange Offer the New Capital Securities do not qualify as "publicly offered
securities," the "plan asset" considerations discussed in the preceding
paragraphs could be applicable in connection with the investment by Plans in the
New Capital Securities.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     Each broker-dealer that receives New Capital Securities for its own account
in connection with the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a
prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Capital Securities. This
Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used
by Participating Broker-Dealers during the period referred to below in
connection with resales of New Capital
 
                                       59
<PAGE>   61
 
Securities received in exchange for Old Capital Securities if such Old Capital
Securities were acquired by such Participating Broker-Dealers for their own
accounts as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities.
The Corporation and the Trust have agreed that this Prospectus, as it may be
amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a Participating
Broker-Dealer in connection with resales of such New Capital Securities for a
period ending 90 days after the Expiration Date (subject to extension under
certain limited circumstances described herein) or, if earlier, when all such
New Capital Securities have been disposed of by such Participating
Broker-Dealer. However, a Participating Broker-Dealer who intends to use this
Prospectus in connection with the resale of New Capital Securities received in
exchange for Old Capital Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer must notify
the Corporation or the Trust, or cause the Corporation or the Trust to be
notified, on or prior to the Expiration Date, that it is a Participating
Broker-Dealer. Such notice may be given in the space provided for that purpose
in the Letter of Transmittal or may be delivered to the Exchange Agent at one of
the addresses set forth herein under "The Exchange Offer -- Exchange Agent." See
"The Exchange Offer -- Resales of New Capital Securities."
 
     The Corporation or the Trust will not receive any cash proceeds from the
issuance of the New Capital Securities offered hereby. New Capital Securities
received by broker-dealers for their own accounts in connection with the
Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the
over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of
options on the New Capital Securities or a combination of such methods of
resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to
such prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. Any such resale may be
made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive
compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such
broker-dealer and/or the purchasers of any such New Capital Securities.
 
     Any broker-dealer that resells New Capital Securities that were received by
it for its own account in connection with the Exchange Offer and any broker or
dealer that participates in a distribution of such New Capital Securities may be
deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act, and any
profit on any such resale of New Capital Securities and any commissions or
concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting
compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that by
acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus a
broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the
meaning of the Securities Act.
 
                           VALIDITY OF NEW SECURITIES
 
     The validity of the New Guarantee and the New Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be passed upon for the Corporation by Brown & Wood LLP, New
York, New York. Certain matters relating to United States federal income tax
considerations will be passed upon for the Corporation by Brown & Wood LLP, New
York, New York. Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the
New Capital Securities will be passed upon on behalf of the Trust by Richards,
Layton & Finger, P.A. special Delaware counsel to the Trust.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The consolidated financial statements of the Corporation appearing in the
Corporation's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1995, incorporated by reference herein, have been incorporated by reference
herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent
certified public accountants, and upon the authority of said firm as experts in
accounting and auditing.
 
                                       60
<PAGE>   62
 
                                    PART II
 
                   INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 20. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS
 
     Pursuant to the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law, directors and officers
of Firstar are entitled to mandatory indemnification from Firstar against
certain liabilities and expenses (i) to the extent such officers or directors
are successful in the defense of a proceeding; and (ii) in proceedings in which
the director or officer is not successful in defense thereof, unless it is
determined that the director or officer breached or failed to perform his or her
duties to Firstar and such breach or failure constituted: (a) a willful failure
to deal fairly with Firstar or its shareholders in connection with a matter in
which the director or officer had a material conflict of interest; (b) a
violation of the criminal law unless the director or officer had reasonable
cause to believe his or her conduct was lawful or had no reasonable cause to
believe his or her conduct was unlawful; (c) a transaction from which the
director or officer derived an improper personal profit; or (d) willful
misconduct. It should be noted that the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law
specifically states that it is the public policy of Wisconsin to require or
permit indemnification in connection with a proceeding involving securities
regulation, as described therein, to the extent required or permitted as
described above. Additionally, under the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law,
directors of Firstar are not subject to personal liability to Firstar, its
shareholders or any person asserting rights on behalf thereof for certain
breaches or failure to perform any duty resulting solely from their status as
directors except in circumstances paralleling those in subparagraphs (a) through
(d) outlined above.
 
     Firstar's By-Laws contain similar indemnification provisions as to
directors and officers of Firstar. In addition, Firstar has entered into
individual indemnity agreements with all of its current directors. The indemnity
agreements are virtually identical in all substantive respects to Firstar's
By-Laws.
 
     Expenses for the defense of any action for which indemnification may be
available may be advanced by Firstar under certain circumstances.
 
     Firstar maintains a liability insurance policy for officers and directors
which extends to, among other things, liability arising under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended.
 
     In addition, Firstar's Pension Plan and Thrift and Sharing Plan provide for
indemnification of members of the plan committees and directors of Firstar as
follows:
 
     The Company shall indemnify each member of the Plan Committee and the Board
and hold each of them harmless from the consequences of his acts or conduct in
his official capacity, if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably
believed to be solely in the best interests of the Participants and their
Beneficiaries, and with respect to any criminal action or proceeding had no
reasonable cause to believe his conduct was unlawful. Such indemnification shall
cover any and all attorneys' fees and expenses, judgments, fines and amounts
paid in settlement, but only to the extent such amounts are not paid to such
person(s) under the Company's fiduciary insurance policy and to the extent that
such amounts are actually and reasonably incurred by such person(s).
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   63
 
ITEM 21. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
- -------
<C>       <S>
  4.1     Indenture of Firstar Corporation relating to the Junior
          Subordinated Debentures
  4.2     Form of Certificate of New Junior Subordinated Debenture
          (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1)
  4.3     Certificate of Trust of Firstar Capital Trust I
  4.4     Declaration of Trust of Firstar Capital Trust I
  4.5     Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust for Firstar
          Capital Trust I
  4.6     Form of New Capital Security Certificate for Firstar Capital
          Trust I (included as Exhibit A-1 to Exhibit 4.5)
  4.7     Form of New Guarantee of Firstar Corporation relating to the
          New Capital Securities
  4.8     Registration Rights Agreement
  5.1     Opinion and consent of Brown & Wood LLP to Firstar
          Corporation as to legality of the New Junior Subordinated
          Debentures and the New Guarantee to be issued by Firstar
          Corporation*
  5.2     Opinion of Richards, Layton and Finger, P.A., special
          Delaware counsel, as to legality of the New Capital
          Securities to be issued by Firstar Capital Trust I*
  8       Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, special tax counsel, as to
          certain federal income tax matters*
 12       Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges
 23.1     Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
 23.2     Consent of Brown & Wood LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)*
 23.3     Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (included in
          Exhibit 5.2)*
 24       Power of Attorney of certain officers and directors of
          Firstar Corporation
 25.1     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Chase Manhattan
          Bank to act as trustee under the Indenture
 25.2     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Chase Manhattan
          Bank to act as trustee under the Amended and Restated
          Declaration of Trust of Firstar Capital Trust I
 25.3     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Chase Manhattan
          Bank to act as Trustee under the New Guarantee for the
          benefit of the holders of New Capital Securities of Firstar
          Capital Trust I
 99.1     Form of Letter of Transmittal
 99.2     Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
 99.3     Form of Exchange Agent Agreement*
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
* To be filed by amendment.
 
ITEM 22. UNDERTAKINGS
 
     (a) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
Registrant's annual report pursuant to section 13(a) or section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
     (b) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the Registrant pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the
Registrant has been advised that, in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange
Commission, such indemnification is against the public policy as expressed in
the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for
indemnification against liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of
expenses
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   64
 
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant
in the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.
 
     (c) The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
          (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act
     of 1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part
     of this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in
     a form of prospectus filed by the Registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
     (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
     registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
          (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
     Act of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of
     prospectus shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to
     the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
     time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   65
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirement of the Securities Act of 1933, Firstar
Corporation certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets
all of the requirements for filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the Undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Milwaukee, State of Wisconsin, on March 12,
1997.
 
                                          FIRSTAR CORPORATION
 
                                          By:    /s/ ROGER L. FITZSIMONDS
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                    Roger L. Fitzsimonds
                                                 Chairman of the Board 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 and on the dates indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              SIGNATURES                                   TITLE                          DATE
              ----------                                   -----                          ----
<S>                                      <C>                                         <C>
 
       /s/ ROGER L. FITZSIMONDS*         Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive      March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------------  Officer and Director (principal executive
         Roger L. Fitzsimonds            officer)
 
          /s/ JOHN A. BECKER*            President and Director                      March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
            John A. Becker
 
        /s/ JEFFREY B. WEEDEN*           Senior Vice President -- Finance            March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------------  Treasurer (principal accounting and
           Jeffrey B. Weeden             financial officer)
 
        /s/ MICHAEL E. BATTEN*           Director                                    March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
           Michael E. Batten
 
                                         Director
- ---------------------------------------
          Robert C. Buchanan
 
      /s/ GEORGE M. CHESTER, JR.*        Director                                    March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
        George M. Chester, Jr.
 
                                         Director
- ---------------------------------------
           Roger H. Derusha
 
         /s/ JAMES L. FORBES*            Director                                    March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
            James L. Forbes
 
          /s/ HOLMES FOSTER*             Director                                    March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
             Holmes Foster
 
         /s/ JERRY M. HEIGEL*            Director                                    March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
            Jerry M. Heigel
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   66
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              SIGNATURES                                   TITLE                          DATE
              ----------                                   -----                          ----
<C>                                      <S>                                         <C>
            /s/ JOE HLADKY*              Director                                    March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
              Joe Hladky
 
         /s/ C. PAUL JOHNSON*            Director
- ---------------------------------------
            C. Paul Johnson
 
          /s/ JAMES H. KEYES*            Director                                    March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
            James H. Keyes
 
         /s/ SHELDON B. LUBAR*           Director                                    March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
           Sheldon B. Lubar
 
     /s/ DANIEL F. MCKEITHAN, JR.*       Director                                    March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
       Daniel F. McKeithan, Jr.
 
                                         Director
- ---------------------------------------
           George W. Mead II
 
          /s/ GUY A. OSBORN*             Director                                    March 12, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
             Guy A. Osborn
 
                                         Director
- ---------------------------------------
            Judith D. Pyle
 
                                         Director
- ---------------------------------------
        Clifford V. Smith, Jr.
 
                                         Director
- ---------------------------------------
           William W. Wirtz
</TABLE>
 
                                          By:      /s/ WILLIAM J. SCHULZ
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                      Attorney-in-Fact
- -------------------------
* Pursuant to authority granted by power of attorney filed with the Registration
Statement
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>   67
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Firstar Capital
Trust I certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
the requirements for filing on Form S-4 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, in the City of Milwaukee, and State of Wisconsin, on the 12th day of
March, 1997.
 
                                          FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I
 
                                          By:      /s/ HOWARD H. HOPWOOD
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                     Howard H. Hopwood,
                                                 as Administrative Trustee
 
                                          By:      /s/ WILLIAM J. SCHULZ
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                     William J. Schulz,
                                                 as Administrative Trustee
 
                                          By:      /s/ JEFFREY B. WEEDEN
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                     Jeffrey B. Weeden,
                                                 as Administrative Trustee
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>   68
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT NO.                           DESCRIPTION                           PAGE
- -----------                           -----------                           ----
<C>           <S>                                                           <C>
    4.1       Indenture of Firstar Corporation relating to the Junior
              Subordinated Debentures.....................................
    4.2       Form of Certificate of New Junior Subordinated Debenture
              (included as Exhibit A to Exhibit 4.1)......................
    4.3       Certificate of Trust of Firstar Capital Trust I.............
    4.4       Declaration of Trust of Firstar Capital Trust I.............
    4.5       Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust for Firstar
              Capital Trust I.............................................
    4.6       Form of New Capital Security Certificate for Firstar Capital
              Trust I (included as Exhibit A-1 to Exhibit 4.5)............
    4.7       Form of New Guarantee of Firstar Corporation relating to the
              New Capital Securities......................................
    4.8       Registration Rights Agreement...............................
    5.1       Opinion and consent of Brown & Wood LLP to Firstar
              Corporation as to legality of the New Junior Subordinated
              Debentures and the New Guarantee to be issued by Firstar
              Corporation*................................................
    5.2       Opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware
              counsel, as to legality of the New Capital Securities to be
              issued by Firstar Capital Trust I*..........................
    8         Opinion of Brown & Wood LLP, special tax counsel, as to
              certain federal income tax matters*.........................
   12         Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges...........
   23.1       Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP............................
   23.2       Consent of Brown & Wood LLP (included in Exhibit 5.1)*......
   23.3       Consent of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A. (included in
              Exhibit 5.2)*...............................................
   24         Power of Attorney of certain officers and directors of
              Firstar Corporation.........................................
   25.1       Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Chase Manhattan
              Bank to act as trustee under the Indenture..................
   25.2       Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Chase Manhattan
              Bank to act as trustee under the Amended and Restated
              Declaration of Trust of Firstar Capital Trust I.............
   25.3       Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of The Chase Manhattan
              Bank under the New Guarantee for the benefit of the holders
              of New Capital Securities of Firstar Capital Trust I........
   99.1       Form of Letter of Transmittal...............................
   99.2       Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.......................
   99.3       Form of Exchange Agent Agreement*...........................
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------
* To be filed by amendment.
 
                                      II-7

<PAGE>   1
                                                              EXHIBIT 4.1




                              FIRSTAR CORPORATION

                         ______________________________




                         ______________________________


                                   INDENTURE

                          DATED AS OF DECEMBER 23, 1996
                         ______________________________



                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK


                                   AS TRUSTEE


                         ______________________________


               JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES
        ______________________________________________________________




                                                                     

<PAGE>   2
TIE-SHEET

  of provisions of Trust Indenture Act of 1939 with Indenture dated as of
December 23, 1996 between Firstar Corporation and Chase Manhattan Bank, as
Trustee: 

                                                                     
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
ACT SECTION                                                    INDENTURE SECTION
<S>                                                            <C>
310(a)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.09
   (a)(2)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.09
310(a)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  N/A
   (a)(4) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  N/A
310(a)(5) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.10, 6.11
310(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  N/A
310(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.13
311(a) and (b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  N/A
311(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .4.01, 4.02(a)
312(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.02
312(b) and (c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.04
313(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.04
313(b)(1) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.04
313(b)(2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.04
313(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.04
313(d)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.04
314(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4.03
314(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  N/A
314(c)(1) and (2) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.07
314(c)(3) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  N/A
314(d)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  N/A
314(e)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.07
314(f)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  N/A
315(a)(c) and (d) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.01
315(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.08
315(e)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.09
316(a)(1)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.07
316(a)(2)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  N/A
316(a) last sentence  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2.09
316(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 9.02
317(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 5.05
317(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6.05
318(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13.08
</TABLE>

- ---------------
  THIS TIE-SHEET IS NOT PART OF THE INDENTURE AS EXECUTED.
<PAGE>   3

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS*


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
  <S>                                                                       <C>  

                                   ARTICLE I

                                   DEFINITIONS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1

                                                                                 
                                                                                 
  SECTION 1.01.  Definitions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
  Additional Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1         
  Adjusted Treasury Rate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2         
  Affiliate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2         
  Allocable Amounts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2         
  Authenticating Agent  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3         
  Bankruptcy Law  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3         
  Board of Directors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3         
  Board Resolution  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3         
  Business Day  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3         
  Capital Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3         
  Capital Securities Guarantee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3         
  Commission  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4         
  Common Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4         
  Common Securities Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4         
  Common Stock  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4         
  Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4         
  Company Request . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4         
  Comparable Treasury Issue . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4         
  Comparable Treasury Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5         
  Compounded Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5         
  Custodian . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5         
  Declaration . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5         
  Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5         
  Deferred Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5         
  Definitive Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5         
  Depositary  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5         
  Dissolution Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
  Event of Default  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6          
  Exchange Act  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6          
  Exchange Offer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6          
  Extended Interest Payment Period  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6          
  Federal Reserve . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6          
  Firstar Capital Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6          
  Global Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6          
  Indebtedness for Money Borrowed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6          
  Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6          
</TABLE>

- -------------
     *   THIS TABLE OF CONTENTS SHALL NOT, FOR ANY PURPOSE, BE DEEMED TO BE A
         PART OF THE INDENTURE.
 
                                      i
<PAGE>   4


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  <S>                                                                                   <C>
  Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7          
  Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7          
  Initial Optional Redemption Date  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7          
  Interest Payment Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7          
  Issue Date  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7          
  Liquidated Damages  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7          
  Maturity Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7          
  Mortgage  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7          
  Non Book-Entry Capital Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7          
  Officers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7          
  Officers' Certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7          
  Opinion of Counsel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8          
  Optional Redemption Price . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8          
  Other Debentures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8          
  Other Guarantees  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8          
  outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8          
  Person  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8          
  Predecessor Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9          
  Principal Office of the Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9          
  Purchase Agreement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9          
  Property Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9          
  Quotation Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9          
  Redemption Price  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9          
  Reference Treasury Dealer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9          
  Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9          
  Registration Rights Agreement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9          
  Regulatory Capital Event  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9          
  Responsible Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10          
  Restricted Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10          
  Rule 144A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10          
  Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10          
  Securities Act  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10          
  Securityholder  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10          
  holder of Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10          
  Security Register . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10          
  Senior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11          
  Series A Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11          
  Series B Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11          
  Special Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11          
  Special Event Redemption Price  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11          
  Subsidiary  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11          
  Tax Event . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12          
  Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12          
  Trust Indenture Act of 1939 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12          
  Trust Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12          
  U.S. Government Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   12          

                                   ARTICLE II
 
                                   SECURITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   13
</TABLE>

                                      ii
<PAGE>   5


                                                      
<TABLE>
  <S>                                                                                <C>
  SECTION 2.01.  Forms Generally  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13    
  SECTION 2.02.  Execution and Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 13    
  SECTION 2.03.  Form and Payment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14    
  SECTION 2.04.  Legends. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14    
  SECTION 2.05.  Global Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14    
  SECTION 2.06   Interest   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16    
  SECTION 2.07.  Transfer and Exchange  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17    
  SECTION 2.08.  Replacement Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19    
  SECTION 2.09.  [Intentionally Omitted]  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 19    
  SECTION 2.10.  Temporary Securities.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20    
  SECTION 2.11.  Cancellation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20    
  SECTION 2.12.  Defaulted Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 21    
  SECTION 2.13.  CUSIP Numbers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22    

                                  ARTICLE III

          PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22

  SECTION 3.01.  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
  SECTION 3.02.  Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
  SECTION 3.03.  Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office . . . . . . . . . . 23
  SECTION 3.04.  Provision as to Paying Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 23
  SECTION 3.05.  Certificate to Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24
  SECTION 3.06.  Compliance with Consolidation Provisions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
  SECTION 3.07.  Limitation on Dividends  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 25
  SECTION 3.08.  Covenants as to Firstar Capital Trust  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
  SECTION 3.09.  Payment of Expenses  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
  SECTION 3.10.  Payment Upon Resignation or Removal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27

                                   ARTICLE IV

                   SECURITYHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE
                          COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27                 
  SECTION 4.01.  Securityholders' Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
  SECTION 4.02.  Preservation and Disclosure of Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
  SECTION 4.03.  Reports by Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
  SECTION 4.04.  Reports by the Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

                                   ARTICLE V

                  REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
                             ON EVENT OF DEFAULT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31

  SECTION 5.01.  Events of Default  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
  SECTION 5.02.  Payment of Securities on Default; Suit Therefor  . . . . . . . . . . . 34
  SECTION 5.03.  Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
</TABLE>                                                  
                                     iii
<PAGE>   6


<TABLE>
  <S>                                                                                 <C>
  SECTION 5.04.  Proceedings by Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   36                       
  SECTION 5.05.  Proceedings by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   37                       
  SECTION 5.06.  Remedies Cumulative and Continuing . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   38                       
  SECTION 5.07.  Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by                                            
                 Majority of Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   38                       
  SECTION 5.08.  Notice of Defaults   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   39                       
  SECTION 5.09.  Undertaking to Pay Costs   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   39                       
                                                                                     
                                   ARTICLE VI                                        
                                                                                     
           CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   40
                                                                                     
  SECTION 6.01.  Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee   . . . . . . . . . . . . .   40
  SECTION 6.02.  Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.    . . . . . . . . . . . . .   41
  SECTION 6.03.  No Responsibility for Recitals, etc.   . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   43
  SECTION 6.04.  Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents,                       
                 Transfer Agents or Registrar May Own Securities  . . . . . . . . .   43
  SECTION 6.05.  Moneys to be Held in Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   44
  SECTION 6.06.  Compensation and Expenses of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   44
  SECTION 6.07.  Officers' Certificate as Evidence  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   45
  SECTION 6.08.  Conflicting Interest of Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   45
  SECTION 6.09.  Eligibility of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   45
  SECTION 6.10.  Resignation or Removal of Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   46
  SECTION 6.11.  Acceptance by Successor Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   47
  SECTION 6.12.  Succession by Merger, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   48
  SECTION 6.13.  Limitation on Rights of Trustee as a Creditor  . . . . . . . . . .   49
  SECTION 6.14.  Authenticating Agents  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   49
                                                                                                                                 
                                  ARTICLE VII                                        
                                                                                     
           CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   50
                                                                                     
                                                                                     
  SECTION 7.01.  Action by Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   50
  SECTION 7.02.  Proof of Execution by Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   51
  SECTION 7.03.  Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   51
  SECTION 7.04.  Securities Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding . . . . . . . .   52
  SECTION 7.05.  Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound . . . . . . . . . . .   52
                                                                                     
                                  ARTICLE VIII                                       
                                                                                     
           SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   53   
                                                                                     
  SECTION 8.01.  Purposes of Meetings   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   53
  SECTION 8.02.  Call of Meetings by Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   53
  SECTION 8.03.  Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders . . . . . . . . . .   54
  SECTION 8.04.  Qualifications for Voting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   54
</TABLE>
                                      iv
<PAGE>   7


<TABLE>
  <S>                                                                                    <C>
  SECTION 8.05.  Regulations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   54
  SECTION 8.06.  Voting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   56
                                   ARTICLE IX

              AMENDMENTS  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   56

  SECTION 9.01.  Without Consent of Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   56
  SECTION 9.02.  With Consent of Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   58
  SECTION 9.03.  Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; 
                 Effect of Supplemental Indentures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   59
  SECTION 9.04.  Notation on Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   60
  SECTION 9.05.  Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental 
                 Indenture to be Furnished Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   60

                                   ARTICLE X

              CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE . . . . . . . . . . . .   60

  SECTION 10.01. Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms  . . . . . . . . . . .   60
  SECTION 10.02. Successor Corporation to be Substituted for Company  . . . . . . . . .   61
  SECTION 10.03. Opinion of Counsel to be Given Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   62

                                   ARTICLE XI

              SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   62

  SECTION 11.01. Discharge of Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   62
  SECTION 11.02. Deposited Moneys and U.S. Government Obligations 
                 to be Held in Trust by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   63
  SECTION 11.03. Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   63
  SECTION 11.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   63
  SECTION 11.05. Defeasance Upon Deposit of Moneys or 
                 U.S. Government Obligations. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   64

                                  ARTICLE XII

             IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
             OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   65

  SECTION 12.01. Indenture and Securities Solely 
                 Corporate Obligations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   65

                                  ARTICLE XIII

             MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   66

  SECTION 13.01. Successors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   66
</TABLE>

                                      v
<PAGE>   8


<TABLE>
  <S>                                                                               <C>
  SECTION 13.02. Official Acts by Successor Corporation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
  SECTION 13.03. Surrender of Company Powers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
  SECTION 13.04. Addresses for Notices, etc.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66
  SECTION 13.05. Governing Law  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 67
  SECTION 13.06. Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . . . . . . . . . 67
  SECTION 13.07. Business Days  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
  SECTION 13.08. Trust Indenture Act to Control . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
  SECTION 13.09. Table of Contents, Headings, etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
  SECTION 13.10. Execution in Counterparts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
  SECTION 13.11. Separability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
  SECTION 13.12. Assignment . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 68
  SECTION 13.13. Acknowledgement of Rights  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

                                  ARTICLE XIV

      REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES -- MANDATORY AND
             OPTIONAL SINKING FUND  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69

  SECTION 14.01. Special Event Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 69
  SECTION 14.02. Optional Redemption by Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 70
  SECTION 14.03. No Sinking Fund  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 71
  SECTION 14.04. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Securities  . . . . . . . . . . 71
  SECTION 14.05. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption  . . . . . . . . . . . 72

                                   ARTICLE XV

      SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73

  SECTION 15.01. Agreement to Subordinate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
  SECTION 15.02. Default on Senior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 73
  SECTION 15.03. Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 74
  SECTION 15.04. Subrogation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 75
  SECTION 15.05. Trustee to Effectuate Subordination  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
  SECTION 15.06. Notice by the Company  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 76
  SECTION 15.07. Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness  . . . . . . 78
  SECTION 15.08. Subordination May Not Be Impaired  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 78

                                  ARTICLE XVI

         EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
  SECTION 16.01. Extension of Interest Payment Period . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 79
  SECTION 16.02. Notice of Extension  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 80

EXHIBIT A . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .A-1

Testimonium
</TABLE>

                                      vi
<PAGE>   9


Signatures
Acknowledgements

                                     vii
<PAGE>   10


                 THIS INDENTURE, dated as of December 23, 1996, between Firstar
Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (hereinafter sometimes called the
"Company"), and The Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York banking corporation, as
trustee (hereinafter sometimes called the "Trustee"),

                             W I T N E S S E T H :

                 In consideration of the premises, and the purchase of the
Securities by the holders thereof, the Company covenants and agrees with the
Trustee for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders from
time to time of the Securities, as follows:


                                   ARTICLE I

                                  DEFINITIONS

                 SECTION 1.01.    Definitions.

                 The terms defined in this Section 1.01 (except as herein
otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) for all
purposes of this Indenture shall have the respective meanings specified in this
Section 1.01.  All other terms used in this Indenture which are defined in the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), or which
are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act, shall (except as herein
otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise requires) have the
meanings assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said
Securities Act as in force at the date of this Indenture as originally
executed.  The following terms have the meanings given to them in the
Declaration:  (i) Clearing Agency; (ii) Delaware Trustee; (iii) Property
Trustee; (iv) Administrative Trustees; (v) Direct Action; (vi) Purchase
Agreement; (vii) Distributions; (viii) Series A Capital Securities; and (ix)
Series B Capital Securities.  All accounting terms used herein and not
expressly defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance
with generally accepted accounting principles and the term "generally accepted
accounting principles" means such accounting principles as are generally
accepted at the time of any computation.  The words "herein", "hereof" and
"hereunder" and other words of similar import refer to this Indenture as a
whole and not to any particular Article, Section or other subdivision.
Headings are used for convenience of reference only and do not affect
interpretation.  The singular includes the plural and vice versa.

                 "Additional Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.06(c).

                 "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any 
<PAGE>   11


redemption date, the rate per annum equal to (i) the yield, under the heading
which represents the average for the immediately prior week, appearing in the
most recently published statistical release designated "H.15 (519)" or any
successor publication which is published weekly by the Federal Reserve and
which establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities
adjusted to constant maturity under the caption "Treasury Constant Maturities,"
for the maturity corresponding to the Initial Optional Redemption Date (if no
maturity is within three months before or after the Initial Optional Redemption
Date, yields for the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the
Initial Optional Redemption Date shall be interpolated, and the Adjusted
Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a
straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release (or
any successor release) is not published during the week preceding the
calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to
the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue,
assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage
of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such
redemption date plus, in each case, (a) 1.35% if such redemption date occurs on
or prior to December 31, 1997, and (b) .50% in all other cases.

                 "Affiliate" means, with respect to a specified Person, (a) any
Person directly or indirectly owning, controlling or holding the power to vote
10% or more of the outstanding voting securities or other ownership interests
of the specified Person, (b) any Person 10% or more of whose outstanding voting
securities or other ownership interests are directly or indirectly owned,
controlled or held with power to vote by the specified Person, (c) any Person
directly or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common control with
the specified Person, (d) a partnership in which the specified Person is a
general partner, (e) any officer or director of the specified Person, and (f)
if the specified Person is an individual, any entity of which the specified
Person is an officer, director or general partner.

                 "Allocable Amounts," when used with respect to any Senior
Indebtedness, means all amounts due or to become due on such Senior
Indebtedness less, if applicable, any amount which would have been paid to, and
retained by, the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (whether as a result of
the receipt of payments by the holders of such Senior Indebtedness from the
Company or any other obligor thereon or from any holders of, or trustee in
respect of, other indebtedness that is subordinate and junior in right of
payment to such Senior Indebtedness pursuant to any provision of such
indebtedness for the payment over of amounts received on account of such
indebtedness to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or otherwise) but for
the fact that

                                       2
<PAGE>   12

such Senior Indebtedness is subordinate or junior in right of payment to (or
subject to a requirement that amounts received on such Senior Indebtedness be
paid over to obligees on) trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising
in the ordinary course of business.

                 "Authenticating Agent" shall mean any agent or agents of the
Trustee which at the time shall be appointed and acting pursuant to Section
6.14.

                 "Bankruptcy Law" shall mean Title 11, U.S. Code, or any
similar federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

                 "Board of Directors" shall mean either the Board of Directors
of the Company or any duly authorized committee of that board.

                 "Board Resolution" shall mean 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 and to be in full force and effect on the
date of such certification, and delivered to the Trustee.

                 "Business Day" shall mean, with respect to any series of
Securities, any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on which banking
institutions in The City of New York or Milwaukee, Wisconsin are authorized or
required by law or executive order to close.

                 "Capital Securities" shall mean undivided beneficial interests
in the assets of Firstar Capital Trust which rank pari passu with the Common
Securities issued by Firstar Capital Trust; provided, however, that if an Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing, no payments in respect of
Distributions on, or payments upon liquidation, redemption or otherwise with
respect to, the Common Securities shall be made until the holders of the
Capital Securities shall be paid in full the Distributions and the liquidation,
redemption and other payments to which they are entitled.  References to
"Capital Securities" shall include collectively any Series A Capital Securities
and Series B Capital Securities.

                 "Capital Securities Guarantee" shall mean any guarantee that
the Company may enter into with The Chase Manhattan Bank or other Persons that
operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Capital
Securities of Firstar Capital Trust and shall include a Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee and a Series B Capital Securities Guarantee with respect
to the Series A Capital Securities and the Series B Capital Securities,
respectively.

                                       3
<PAGE>   13

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

                 "Common Securities" shall mean undivided beneficial interests
in the assets of Firstar Capital Trust which rank pari passu with Capital
Securities issued by Firstar Capital Trust; provided, however, that if an Event
of Default has occurred and is continuing, no payments in respect of
Distributions on, or payments upon liquidation, redemption or otherwise with
respect to, the Common Securities shall be made until the holders of the
Capital Securities shall be paid in full the Distributions and the liquidation,
redemption and other payments to which they are entitled.

                 "Common Securities Guarantee" shall mean any guarantee that
the Company may enter into with any Person or Persons that operates directly or
indirectly for the benefit of holders of Common Securities of Firstar Capital
Trust.

                 "Common Stock" shall mean the Common Stock, par value $1.25
per share, of the Company or any other class of stock resulting from changes or
reclassifications of such Common Stock consisting solely of changes in par
value, or from par value to no par value, or from no par value to par value.

                 "Company" shall mean Firstar Corporation, a Wisconsin
corporation, and, subject to the provisions of Article X, shall include its
successors and assigns.

                 "Company Request" or "Company Order" shall mean a written
request or order signed in the name of the Company by the Chairman, the Chief
Executive Officer, the President, a Vice Chairman, a Vice President, the
Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company, and
delivered to the Trustee.

                 "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury
security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a maturity date
corresponding to the Initial Optional Redemption Date that would be utilized,
at the time of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice,
in pricing new issues of corporate debt securities with a maturity date
corresponding to the Initial Optional Redemption Date.  If no United States
Treasury security has a maturity date which is within three months before or
after the Initial Optional Redemption Date, the two most closely corresponding
United States Treasury securities shall be used as the Comparable Treasury
Issue, and the Adjusted Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated

                                       4
<PAGE>   14


on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month.

                 "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any
redemption date pursuant to Section 14.01, (i) the average of the bid and asked
prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a
percentage of its principal amount) on the third Business Day preceding such
redemption date, as set forth in the daily statistical release (or any
successor release) published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York and
designated "Composite 3:30 p.m. Quotations for U.S. Government Securities" or
(ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published or does not
contain such prices on such Business Day, (A) the average of five Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations for such redemption date, after excluding the
highest and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the
Trustee obtains fewer than three such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the
average of all such Quotations.

                 "Compounded Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 16.01.

                 "Custodian" shall mean any receiver, trustee, assignee,
liquidator, or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

                 "Declaration" means the Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust of Firstar Capital Trust, dated as of the Issue Date.

                 "Default" means any event, act or condition that with notice
or lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

                 "Deferred Interest" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 16.01.

                 "Definitive Securities" shall mean those securities issued in
fully registered certificated form not otherwise in global form.

                 "Depositary" shall mean, with respect to Securities of any
series, for which the Company shall determine that such Securities will be
issued as a Global Security, The Depository Trust Company, New York, New York,
another clearing agency, or any successor registered as a clearing agency under
the Exchange Act or other applicable statute or regulation, which, in each
case, shall be designated by the Company pursuant to Section 2.05(d).

                 "Dissolution Event" means the liquidation of the Trust
pursuant to the Declaration, and the distribution of the Securities held by the
Property Trustee to the holders of the Trust

                                       5
<PAGE>   15


Securities issued by the Trust pro rata in accordance with the Declaration.

                 "Event of Default" shall mean any event specified in Section
5.01, continued for the period of time, if any, and after the giving of the
notice, if any, therein designated.

                 "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
as amended.

                 "Exchange Offer" means the offer that may be made pursuant to
the Registration Rights Agreement (i) by the Company to exchange Series B
Securities for Series A Securities and to exchange a Series B Capital
Securities Guarantee for a Series A Capital Securities Guarantee and (ii) by
Firstar Capital Trust to exchange Series B Capital Securities for Series A
Capital Securities.

                 "Extended Interest Payment Period" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 16.01.

                 "Federal Reserve" shall mean the Board of Governors of the
Federal Reserve System.

                 "Firstar Capital Trust" shall mean Firstar Capital Trust I, a
Delaware business trust created for the purpose of issuing its undivided
beneficial interests in connection with the issuance of Securities under this
Indenture.

                 "Global Security" means, with respect to the Securities, a
Security executed by the Company and delivered by the Trustee to the Depositary
or pursuant to the Depositary's instruction, all in accordance with the
Indenture, which shall be registered in the name of the Depositary or its
nominee.

                 "Indebtedness for Money Borrowed" shall mean (i) any
obligation of, or any obligation guaranteed by, the Company for the repayment
of borrowed money, whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or
other written instruments and any deferred obligation for the payment of the
purchase price of property or assets acquired other than in the ordinary course
of business, and (ii) all indebtedness of the Company for claims in respect of
derivative products such as interest and foreign exchange rate contracts,
commodity contracts and similar arrangements, whether outstanding on the date
of execution of the Indenture or thereafter created, assumed or incurred.  For
purposes of this definition, "claim" shall have the meaning assigned in Section
101(5) of the Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as amended and in effect on the date of
the execution of this Indenture.

                 "Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Securities" shall 

                                       6
<PAGE>   16


mean any Indebtedness for Money Borrowed, whether outstanding on the date of
execution of this Indenture or hereafter created, assumed or incurred, which
specifically by its terms ranks junior to and not equally with or prior to the
Securities (and any other Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Securities)
in right of payment upon the happening of any dissolution or winding up or
liquidation or reorganization of the Company.  The securing of any Indebtedness
for Money Borrowed of the Company, otherwise constituting Indebtedness Ranking
Junior to the Securities, shall not be deemed to prevent such Indebtedness for
Money Borrowed from constituting Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Securities.

                 "Indebtedness Ranking on a Parity with the Securities" shall
mean Indebtedness for Money Borrowed, whether outstanding on the date of
execution of this Indenture or hereafter created, assumed or incurred, which
specifically by its terms ranks equally with and not prior to the Securities in
the right of payment upon the happening of any dissolution or winding up or
liquidation or reorganization of the Company.  The securing of any Indebtedness
for Money Borrowed of the Company, otherwise constituting Indebtedness Ranking
on a Parity with the Securities, shall not be deemed to prevent such
Indebtedness for Money Borrowed from constituting Indebtedness Ranking on a
Parity with the Securities.

                 "Indenture" shall mean this instrument as originally executed
or, if amended as herein provided, as so amended.

                 "Initial Optional Redemption Date" means December 23, 2006.

                 "Interest Payment Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2.06.

                 "Issue Date" means December 23, 1996.

                 "Liquidated Damages" shall have the meaning set forth in the
Registration Rights Agreement.

                 "Maturity Date" shall mean December 15, 2026.

                 "Mortgage" shall mean and include any mortgage, pledge, lien,
security interest, conditional sale or other title retention agreement or other
similar encumbrance.

                 "Non Book-Entry Capital Securities" shall have the meaning set
forth in Section 2.05.

                 "Officers" shall mean any of the Chairman, a Vice Chairman,
the Chief Executive Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Comptroller,
the Group Director, the Secretary or

                                       7
<PAGE>   17


an Assistant Secretary of the Company.

  "Officers' Certificate" shall mean a certificate signed by two Officers and
delivered to the Trustee.

                 "Opinion of Counsel" shall mean a written opinion of counsel,
who may be an employee of the Company, and who shall be acceptable to the
Trustee.

                 "Optional Redemption Price" shall have the meaning set forth
in Section 14.02.

                 "Other Debentures" means all junior subordinated debentures
issued by the Company from time to time and sold to trusts to be established by
the Company (if any), in each case similar to the Trust.

                 "Other Guarantees" means all guarantees issued by the Company
with respect to capital securities (if any) and issued to other trusts
established by the Company (if any), in each case similar to the Trust.

                 The term "outstanding" when used with reference to Securities,
shall, subject to the provisions of Section 7.04, mean, as of any particular
time, all Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent under this Indenture, except

                 (a)      Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or
                          the Authenticating Agent or delivered to the Trustee
                          for cancellation;

                 (b)      Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or
                          redemption of which moneys in the necessary amount
                          shall have been deposited in trust with the Trustee
                          or with any paying agent (other than the Company) or
                          shall have been set aside and segregated in trust by
                          the Company (if the Company shall act as its own
                          paying agent); provided that, if such Securities, or
                          portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to
                          maturity thereof, notice of such redemption shall
                          have been given as in Article XIV provided or
                          provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been
                          made for giving such notice; and

                 (c)      Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which
                          other Securities shall have been authenticated and
                          delivered pursuant to the terms of Section 2.08
                          unless proof satisfactory to the Company and the
                          Trustee is presented that any such Securities are
                          held by bona fide holders in due course.


                                       8
<PAGE>   18


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

                 "Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every
previous Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt and as that
evidenced by such particular Security; and, for the purposes of this
definition, any Security authenticated and delivered under Section 2.08 in lieu
of a lost, destroyed or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the same
debt as the lost, destroyed or stolen Security.

                 "Principal Office of the Trustee", or other similar term,
shall mean the office of the Trustee, at which at any particular time its
corporate trust business shall be principally administered.

                 "Purchase Agreement" shall mean the Purchase Agreement dated
December 17, 1996 among the Company, Firstar Capital Trust and the initial
purchasers named therein.

                 "Property Trustee" shall have the same meaning as set forth in
the Declaration.

                 "Quotation Agent" means the Reference Treasury Dealer
appointed by the Company.

                 "Redemption Price" means the Special Event Redemption Price or
the Optional Redemption Price, as the context requires.

                 "Reference Treasury Dealer" means (i) Merrill Lynch Government
Securities, Inc. and its successors; provided, however, that if the foregoing
shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City
(a "Primary Treasury Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefor another
Primary Treasury Dealer, and (ii) any other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by
the Trustee after consultation with the Company.

                 "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to
each Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date pursuant to Section
14.01, the average, as determined by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices
for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of
its principal amount) quoted in writing to the Trustee by such Reference
Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. New York City time on the third Business Day
preceding such redemption date.

                                       9
<PAGE>   19


                 "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights
Agreement, dated as of the Issue Date, by and among the Company, the Trust and
the Initial Purchasers named therein as such agreement may be amended, modified
or supplemented from time to time.

                 "Regulatory Capital Event" means that the Company shall have
received an opinion of independent bank regulatory counsel experienced in such
matters 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 rules, guidelines or policies of the
Federal Reserve or (b) any official administrative pronouncement or judicial
decision interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or
change is effective or such pronouncement or decision is announced on or after
the Issue Date, the Capital Securities do not constitute, or within 90 days of
the date thereof, will not constitute, Tier I Capital (or its then equivalent);
provided, however, that a Regulatory Capital Event shall not occur by reason of
the use of the proceeds of the Securities in the manner contemplated by the
Offering Memorandum dated December 17, 1996 relating to the Capital Securities.

                 "Responsible Officer", when used with respect to the Trustee,
shall mean the chairman or any vice chairman of the board of directors, the
chairman or any vice chairman of the executive committee of the board of
directors, the chairman of the trust committee, the president, any vice
president, the cashier, any assistant cashier, the secretary, any assistant
secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or senior trust officer, any
trust officer or assistant trust officer, the controller or any assistant
controller or any other officer or assistant 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 officer to whom such matter is referred because of his knowledge of
and familiarity with the particular subject.

                 "Restricted Security" shall mean Securities that bear or are
required to bear the Securities Act legends set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

                 "Rule 144A" means Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such
Rule may be amended from time to time, or under any similar rule or regulation
hereafter adopted by the Commission.

                 "Securities" means, collectively, the Series A Securities and 
the Series B Securities.

                 "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.

                                       10
<PAGE>   20


                 "Securityholder", "holder of Securities", or other similar
terms, shall mean any person in whose name at the time a particular Security is
registered on the register kept by the Company or the Trustee for that purpose
in accordance with the terms hereof.

                 "Security Register" shall mean (i) prior to a Dissolution
Event, the list of holders provided to the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.01,
and (ii) following a Dissolution Event, any security register maintained by a
security registrar for the Securities appointed by the Company following the
execution of a supplemental indenture providing for transfer procedures as
provided for in Section 2.07(a).

                 "Senior Indebtedness" shall mean all Indebtedness for Money
Borrowed, whether outstanding on the date of execution of this Indenture or
thereafter created, assumed or incurred, except Indebtedness Ranking on a
Parity with the Securities or Indebtedness Ranking Junior to the Securities,
and any deferrals, renewals or extensions of such Senior Indebtedness.

                 "Series A Securities" means the Company's 8.32% Series A
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due December 15, 2026, as
authenticated and issued under this Indenture.

                 "Series B Securities" means the Company's Series B 8.32%
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures due December 15, 2026, as
authenticated and issued under this Indenture.

                 "Special Event" means a Tax Event or a Regulatory Capital
Event, as the case may be.

                 "Special Event Redemption Price" shall mean, with respect to
any redemption of the Securities pursuant to Section 14.01 hereof, an amount in
cash equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount to be redeemed or
(ii) the sum, as determined by a Quotation Agent, of the present values of the
principal amount and premium payable with respect to an optional redemption
pursuant to Section 14.02 on the Initial Optional Redemption Date, together
with scheduled payments of interest on the Securities from the redemption date
to and including the Initial Optional Redemption Date, discounted to the
redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of
twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus, in each case, any
accrued and unpaid interest thereon, including Compounded Interest and
Additional Interest, if any, to the date of such redemption.

                                       11
<PAGE>   21


                 "Subsidiary" shall mean with respect to any Person, (i) any
corporation at least a majority of whose outstanding voting stock is owned,
directly or indirectly, by such Person or by one or more of its Subsidiaries,
or by such Person and one or more of its Subsidiaries, (ii) any general
partnership, joint venture or similar entity, at least a majority of whose
outstanding partnership or similar interests shall at the time be owned by such
Person, or by one or more of its Subsidiaries, or by such Person and one or
more of its Subsidiaries and (iii) any limited partnership of which such Person
or any of its Subsidiaries is a general partner.  For the purposes of this
definition, "voting stock" means shares, interests, participations or other
equivalents in the equity interest (however designated) in such Person having
ordinary voting power for the election of a majority of the directors (or the
equivalent) of such Person, other than shares, interests, participations or
other equivalents having such power only by reason of the occurrence of a
contingency.

                 "Tax Event" shall mean the receipt by Firstar Capital Trust
and the Company of an opinion of a nationally recognized tax counsel
experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of 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 as a result of any official
administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such
laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which
pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the Issue Date, there is
more than an insubstantial risk that (i) Firstar Capital Trust is, or will be
within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to  United States Federal
income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Securities, (ii)
interest payable by the Company on the Securities is not, or within 90 days of
the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or
in part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) Firstar
Capital Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion,
subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other
governmental charges.

                 "Trustee" shall mean the Person identified as "Trustee" in the
first paragraph hereof, and, subject to the provisions of Article VI hereof,
shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee hereunder.  The term
"Trustee" as used with respect to a particular series of the Securities shall
mean the trustee with respect to that series.

                 "Trust Indenture Act of 1939" shall mean the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939 as in force at the date of execution of this Indenture, except as
provided in Section 9.03.

                                       12
<PAGE>   22


                 "Trust Securities" shall mean the Capital Securities and the
Common Securities, collectively.

                 "U.S. Government Obligations" shall mean securities that are
(i) direct obligations of the United States of America for the payment of which
its full faith and credit is pledged or (ii) obligations of a Person controlled
or supervised by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United
States of America the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full
faith and credit obligation by the United States of America, which, in either
case under clauses (i) or (ii) are not callable or redeemable at the option of
the issuer thereof, and shall also include a depository receipt issued by a
bank or trust company as custodian with respect to any such U.S. Government
Obligation or a specific payment of interest on or principal of any such U.S.
Government Obligation held by such custodian for the account of the holder of a
depository receipt, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is
not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of
such depository receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of
the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of interest on or
principal of the U.S. Government Obligation evidenced by such depository
receipt.


                                   ARTICLE II

                                   SECURITIES

                 SECTION 2.01.    Forms Generally.

                 The Securities and the Trustee's certificate of authentication
shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A, the terms of which are
incorporated in and made a part of this Indenture.  The Securities may have
notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule,
agreements to which the Company is subject or usage.  Each Security shall be
dated the date of its authentication.  The Securities shall be issued in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.

                 SECTION 2.02.    Execution and Authentication.

                 Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by
manual or facsimile signature in the manner set forth in Exhibit A.  If an
Officer whose signature is on a Security no longer holds that office at the
time the Security is authenticated, the Security shall nevertheless be valid.

                 A Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the
manual signature of an authorized officer of the Trustee.  The signature of the
Trustee shall be conclusive evidence that

                                       13
<PAGE>   23


the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.  The form of
Trustee's certificate of authentication to be borne by the Securities shall be
substantially as set forth in Exhibit A hereto.

                 The Trustee shall, upon a Company Order, authenticate for
original issue up to, and the aggregate principal amount of Securities
outstanding at any time may not exceed the sum of $154,640,000 aggregate
principal amount of the Securities, except as provided in Sections 2.07, 2.08,
2.10 and 14.05.  The series of Securities to be initially issued hereunder
shall be the Series A Securities.

                 SECTION 2.03.    Form and Payment.

                 Except as provided in Section 2.05, the Securities shall be
issued in fully registered certificated form without interest coupons.
Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities issued in
certificated form will be payable, the transfer of such Securities will be
registrable and such Securities will be exchangeable for Securities bearing
identical terms and provisions at the office or agency of the Company
maintained for such purpose under Section 3.02; provided, however, that payment
of interest with respect to the Securities may be made at the option of the
Company (i) by check mailed to the holder at such address as shall appear in
the Security Register or (ii) by transfer to an account maintained by the
Person entitled thereto, provided that proper transfer instructions have been
received in writing by the relevant record date.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, so long as the holder of any Securities is the Property Trustee, the
payment of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest (including
Compounded Interest and Additional Interest, if any) on such Securities held by
the Property Trustee will be made at such place and to such account as may be
designated by the Property Trustee.

                 SECTION 2.04.    Legends.

                 (a)      Except as permitted by subsection (b) of this Section
2.04 or as otherwise determined by the Company in accordance with applicable
law, each Security shall bear the applicable legends relating to restrictions
on transfer pursuant to the securities laws in substantially the form set forth
on Exhibit A hereto.

                 (b)      The Company shall issue and the Trustee shall
authenticate Series B Securities in exchange for Series A Securities accepted
for exchange in the Exchange Offer, which Series B Securities shall not bear
the legends required by subsection (a) above, in each case unless the holder of
such Series A Securities is either (A) a broker-dealer who purchased such
Series A Securi-

                                       14
<PAGE>   24


ties directly from the Company for resale pursuant to Rule 144A or any other
available exemption under the Securities Act, (B) a Person participating in the
distribution of the Series A Securities or (C) a Person who is an affiliate (as
defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act) of the Company.

                 SECTION 2.05.    Global Security.

                 (a)  In connection with a Dissolution Event,

                          (i)     if any Capital Securities are held in
         book-entry form, the related Definitive Securities shall be presented
         to the Trustee (if an arrangement with the Depositary has been
         maintained) by the Property Trustee in exchange for one or more Global
         Securities (as may be required pursuant to Section 2.07) in an
         aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of
         all outstanding Securities, to be registered in the name of the
         Depositary, or its nominee, and delivered by the Trustee to the
         Depositary for crediting to the accounts of its participants pursuant
         to the instructions of the Administrative Trustees; the Company upon
         any such presentation shall execute one or more Global Securities in
         such aggregate principal amount and deliver the same to the Trustee
         for authentication and delivery in accordance with this Indenture; and
         payments on the Securities issued as a Global Security will be made to
         the Depositary; and

                          (ii)    if any Capital Securities are held in
         certificated form, the related Definitive Securities may be presented
         to the Trustee by the Property Trustee and any Capital Security
         certificate which represents Capital Securities other than Capital
         Securities in book-entry form ("Non Book-Entry Capital Securities")
         will be deemed to represent beneficial interests in Securities
         presented to the Trustee by the Property Trustee having an aggregate
         principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Non
         Book-Entry Capital Securities until such Capital Security certificates
         are presented to the Security Registrar for transfer or reissuance, at
         which time such Capital Security certificates will be cancelled and a
         Security, registered in the name of the holder of the Capital Security
         certificate or the transferee of the holder of such Capital Security
         certificate, as the case may be, with an aggregate principal amount
         equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Security
         certificate cancelled, will be executed by the Company and delivered
         to the Trustee for authentication and delivery in accordance with the
         Indenture.  Upon the issuance of such Securities, Securities with an
         equivalent aggregate principal amount that were presented by the
         Property Trustee to the Trustee will be deemed to

                                       15
<PAGE>   25


     have been cancelled.

                 (b)      The Global Securities shall represent the aggregate
amount of outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon; provided,
that the aggregate amount of outstanding Securities represented thereby may
from time to time be reduced or increased, as appropriate, to reflect exchanges
and redemptions.  Any endorsement of a Global Security to reflect the amount of
any increase or decrease in the amount of outstanding Securities represented
thereby shall be made by the Trustee, in accordance with instructions given by
the Company as required by this Section 2.05.

                 (c)      The Global Securities may be transferred, in whole
but not in part, only to the Depositary, another nominee of the Depositary, or
to a successor Depositary selected or approved by the Company or to a nominee
of such successor Depositary.

                 (d)      If at any time the Depositary notifies the Company
that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary or the Depositary has
ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a
successor Depositary 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, the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon written notice from the
Company, will authenticate and make available for delivery the Definitive
Securities, in authorized denominations, and in an aggregate principal amount
equal to the principal amount of the Global Security in exchange for such
Global Security.  If there is an Event of Default, the Depositary shall have
the right to exchange the Global Securities for Definitive Securities.  In
addition, the Company may at any time determine that the Securities shall no
longer be represented by a Global Security.  In the event of such an Event of
Default or such a determination, the Company shall execute, and subject to
Section 2.07, the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers' Certificate evidencing
such determination by the Company, will authenticate and make available for
delivery the Definitive Securities, in authorized denominations, and in an
aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Global Security
in exchange for such Global Security.  Upon the exchange of the Global Security
for such Definitive Securities, in authorized denominations, the Global
Security shall be cancelled by the Trustee.  Such Definitive Securities issued
in exchange for the Global Security shall be registered in such names and in
such authorized denominations as the Depositary, pursuant to instructions from
its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee.
The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Securities to the Depositary for
delivery to the Persons in whose names such Definitive Securities are so
registered.

                                       16
<PAGE>   26


                 SECTION 2.06     Interest.

                 (a)      Each Security will bear interest at the rate of
8.32% per annum (the "Coupon Rate") from the most recent date to which interest
has been paid or duly provided for or, if no interest has been paid or duly
provided for, from the Issue Date, until the principal thereof becomes due and
payable, and at the Coupon Rate on any overdue principal (and premium, if any)
and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
applicable law) on any overdue installment of interest, compounded
semi-annually, payable (subject to the provisions of Article XVI) semi-annually
in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each year (each, an "Interest Payment
Date") commencing on June 15, 1997, to the Person in whose name such Security
or any predecessor Security is registered, at the close of business on the
regular record date for such interest installment, which shall be the first day
of the month in which the relevant Interest Payment Date falls.

                 (b)      Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year consisting of twelve 30-day months and, for any period of less than a full
calendar month, the number of days lapsed in such month.  In the event that any
Interest Payment Date falls on a day that 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), with the same force and effect as if made on such date.

                 (c)      During such time as the Property Trustee is the
holder of any Securities, the Company shall pay any additional amounts on the
Securities as may be necessary in order that the amount of Distributions then
due and payable by the Firstar Capital Trust on the outstanding Securities
shall not be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties and other
governmental charges to which the Firstar Capital Trust has become subject as a
result of a Tax Event ("Additional Interest").

                                       17
<PAGE>   27


                 SECTION 2.07.    Transfer and Exchange.

                 (a)  Transfer Restrictions.  The Series A Securities, and
those Series B Securities with respect to which any Person described in Section
2.04(b)(A), (B) or (C) is the beneficial owner, may not be transferred except
in compliance with the legend contained in Exhibit A unless otherwise
determined by the Company in accordance with applicable law.  Upon any
distribution of the Securities following a Dissolution Event, the Company and
the Trustee shall enter into a supplemental indenture pursuant to Section 9.01
to provide for the transfer restrictions and procedures with respect to the
Securities substantially similar to those contained in the Declaration to the
extent applicable in the circumstances existing at such time.

                 (b)  General Provisions Relating to Transfers and Exchanges.
Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security at the office or
agency of the Company maintained for the purpose pursuant to Section 3.02, the
Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in the
name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities of
the same series, of any authorized denominations and of a like aggregate
principal amount.

                 At the option of the holder, Securities of any series may be
exchanged for other Securities of the same series, of any authorized
denominations and of a like aggregate principal amount, upon surrender of the
Securities to be exchanged at such office or agency.  Whenever any Securities
are so surrendered for exchange, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the holder making the
exchange is entitled to receive.

                 Every Security 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 Security registrar duly executed, by the
holder thereof or his attorney duly authorized in writing.

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

                 No service charge shall be made to a holder for any
registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require

                                       18
<PAGE>   28


payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax or similar governmental
charge payable in connection therewith.

                 The Company shall not be required to (i) issue, register the
transfer of or exchange Securities during a period beginning at the opening of
business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption or any
notice of selection of Securities for redemption under Article XIV hereof and
ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing; or (ii) register
the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or
in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

                 (c)  Exchange of Series A Securities for Series B Securities.
The Series A Securities may be exchanged for Series B Securities pursuant to
the terms of the Exchange Offer.  The Trustee shall make the exchange as
follows:

                 The Company shall present the Trustee with an Officers'
Certificate certifying the following:

                 (A)      upon issuance of the Series B Securities, the
                          transactions contemplated by the Exchange Offer have
                          been consummated; and

                 (B)      the principal amount of Series A Securities properly
                          tendered in the Exchange Offer that are represented
                          by a Global Security and the principal amount of
                          Series A Securities properly tendered in the Exchange
                          Offer that are represented by Definitive Securities,
                          the name of each holder of such Definitive
                          Securities, the principal amount properly tendered in
                          the Exchange Offer by each such holder and the name
                          and address to which Definitive Securities for Series
                          B Securities shall be registered and sent for each
                          such holder.

                 The Trustee, upon receipt of (i) such Officers' Certificate,
(ii) an Opinion of Counsel (x) to the effect that the Series B Securities have
been registered under Section 5 of the Securities Act and the Indenture has
been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and (y) with respect to the
matters set forth in Section 3(p) of the Registration Rights Agreement and
(iii) a Company Order, shall authenticate (A) a Global Security for Series B
Securities in aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate principal
amount of Series A Securities represented by a Global Security indicated in
such Officers' Certificate as having been properly tendered and (B) Definitive
Securities representing Series B Securities registered in the names of, and in
the principal amounts indicated in, such Officers' Certificate.

                                       19
<PAGE>   29


                 If the principal amount of the Global Security for the Series
B Securities is less than the principal amount of the Global Security for the
Series A Securities, the Trustee shall make an endorsement on such Global
Security for Series A Securities indicating a reduction in the principal amount
represented thereby.

                 The Trustee shall deliver such Definitive Securities for
Series B Securities to the holders thereof as indicated in such Officers'
Certificate.

                 SECTION 2.08.    Replacement Securities.

                 If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, or
the Company and the Trustee receive evidence to their satisfaction of the
destruction, loss or theft of any Security, the Company shall issue and the
Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the Trustee's requirements
for replacements of Securities are met.  An indemnity bond must be supplied by
the holder that is sufficient in the judgment of the Trustee and the Company to
protect the Company, the Trustee, any agent thereof or any authenticating agent
from any loss that any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced.  The
Company or the Trustee may charge for its expenses in replacing a Security.

                 Every replacement Security is an obligation of the Company and
shall be entitled to all of the benefits of this Indenture equally and
proportionately with all other Securities duly issued hereunder.

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

                 SECTION 2.09.    [Intentionally Omitted]

                 SECTION 2.10.    Temporary Securities.

                 Pending the preparation of definitive Securities, the Company
may execute, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall authenticate and make
available for delivery, temporary Securities that are printed, lithographed,
typewritten, mimeographed or otherwise reproduced, in any authorized
denomination, substantially of the tenor of the definitive Securities in lieu
of which they are issued and with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers executing such Securities
may determine, as conclusively evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

                                       20
<PAGE>   30


                 If temporary Securities are issued, the Company shall cause
definitive Securities to be prepared without unreasonable delay.  The
definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved, or provided
by any combination thereof, or in any other manner permitted by the rules and
regulations of any applicable securities exchange, all as determined by the
officers executing such definitive Securities.  After the preparation of
definitive Securities, the temporary Securities shall be exchangeable for
definitive Securities upon surrender of the temporary Securities at the office
or agency maintained by the Company for such purpose pursuant to Section 3.02
hereof, without charge to the Holder.  Upon surrender for cancellation of any
one or more temporary Securities, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and make available for delivery, in exchange therefor the
same aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of authorized
denominations.  Until so exchanged, the temporary Securities shall in all
respects be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as definitive
Securities.

                 SECTION 2.11.    Cancellation.

                 The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee
for cancellation.  The Trustee and no one else shall cancel all Securities
surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment, replacement or
cancellation and shall retain or dispose of cancelled Securities in accordance
with its normal practices (subject to the record retention requirement of the
Exchange Act) unless the Company directs them to be returned to it.  The
Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities that have been
redeemed or paid or that have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

                 SECTION 2.12.    Defaulted Interest.

                 Any interest on any Security that 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 shall be paid by the Company, at its election, as
provided in clause (a) or clause (b) below:

                 (a)  The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest on
         Securities to the Persons in whose names such Securities (or their
         respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of
         business on a special record date for the payment of such Defaulted
         Interest, which shall be fixed in the following manner: the Company
         shall notify the Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted
         Interest proposed to be paid on each such Security and the date of the
         proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall

                                       21
<PAGE>   31


deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount
proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of
the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this clause
provided.  Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a special record date for the
payment of such Defaulted Interest which shall not be 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 Securityholder at
his or her address as it appears in the Security Register, not less than 10
days prior to such special record date.  Notice of the proposed payment of such
Defaulted Interest and the special record date therefor having been mailed as
aforesaid, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names
such Securities (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered on
such special record date and shall be no longer payable pursuant to the
following clause (b).

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

                 SECTION 2.13.    CUSIP Numbers.

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

                                       22
<PAGE>   32



                                  ARTICLE III

                      PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

                 SECTION 3.01.    Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

                 The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the
holders of the Securities that it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be
paid the principal of and premium, if any, and interest on the Securities at
the place, at the respective times and in the manner provided herein.  Except
as provided in Section 2.03, each installment of interest on the Securities may
be paid by mailing checks for such interest payable to the order of the holder
of Security entitled thereto as they appear in the Security Register.  The
Company further covenants to pay any and all amounts including, without
limitation, Liquidated Damages, if any, on the dates and in the manner required
under the Registration Rights Agreement.

                 SECTION 3.02.    Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.

                 So long as any of the Securities remain outstanding, the
Company will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an
office or agency where the Securities may be presented for payment, an office
or agency where the Securities may be presented for registration of transfer
and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and an office or agency where
notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities or of
this Indenture may be served.  The Company will give to the Trustee written
notice of the location of any such office or agency and of any change of
location thereof.  Until otherwise designated from time to time by the Company
in a notice to the Trustee, any such office or agency for all of the above
purposes shall be the Principal Office of the Trustee.  In case the Company
shall fail to maintain any such office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan,
The City of New York, or shall fail to give such notice of the location or of
any change in the location thereof, presentations and demands may be made and
notices may be served at the Principal Office of the Trustee.

                 In addition to any such office or agency, the Company may from
time to time designate one or more offices or agencies outside the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, where the Securities may be presented for
payment, registration of transfer and for exchange in the manner provided in
this Indenture, and the Company may from time to time rescind such designation,
as the Company may deem desirable or expedient; provided, however, that no such
designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its
obligation to maintain any such office or agency in the Borough of Manhattan,
The City of New York, for

                                       23
<PAGE>   33


the purposes above mentioned.  The Company will give to the Trustee prompt
written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.

        SECTION 3.03.  Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's
                       Office.

        The Company, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the 
office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 6.10, a
Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder.

        SECTION 3.04.  Provision as to Paying Agent.

        (a)   If the Company shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee
              with respect to the Securities, it will cause such paying agent to
              execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in which such
              agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provision of
              this Section 3.04,
                      
              (1)      that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for
                       the payment of the principal of and premium, if any, or
                       interest on the Securities (whether such sums have been
                       paid to it by the Company or by any other obligor on the
                       Securities of such series) in trust for the benefit of
                       the holders of the Securities;
                            
              (2)      that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by
                       the Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities)
                       to make any payment of the principal of and premium or
                       interest on the Securities when the same shall be due and
                       payable; and
                            
              (3)      that it will at any time during the continuance of any
                       such failure, upon the written request of the Trustee,
                       forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by
                       it as such paying agent.
                      
         (b)  If the Company shall act as its own paying agent, it will, on or
              before each due date of the principal of and premium, if any, or
              interest on the Securities, set aside, segregate and hold in trust
              for the benefit of the holders of the Securities a sum sufficient
              to pay such principal, premium or interest so becoming due and
              will notify the Trustee of any failure to take such action and of
              any failure by the Company (or by any other obli-
                      

                                       24
<PAGE>   34


                          gor under the Securities) to make any payment of the
                          principal of and premium, if any, or interest on the
                          Securities when the same shall become due and payable.

                 (c)      Anything in this Section 3.04 to the contrary
                          notwithstanding, the Company may, at any time, for
                          the purpose of obtaining a satisfaction and discharge
                          with respect to the Securities hereunder, or for any
                          other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee
                          all sums held in trust for any such series by the
                          Trustee or any paying agent hereunder, as required by
                          this Section 3.04, such sums to be held by the
                          Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.

                 (d)      Anything in this Section 3.04 to the contrary
                          notwithstanding, the agreement to hold sums in trust
                          as provided in this Section 3.04 is subject to
                          Sections 11.03 and 11.04.

                 SECTION 3.05.    Certificate to Trustee.

                 The Company will deliver to the Trustee on or before 120 days
after the end of each fiscal year in each year, commencing with the first
fiscal year ending after the date hereof, so long as Securities are outstanding
hereunder, an Officers' Certificate, one of the signers of which shall be the
principal executive, principal financial or principal accounting officer of the
Company stating that in the course of the performance by the signers of their
duties as officers of the Company they would normally have knowledge of any
default by the Company in the performance of any covenants contained herein,
stating whether or not they have knowledge of any such default and, if so,
specifying each such default of which the signers have knowledge and the nature
thereof.

                 SECTION 3.06.    Compliance with Consolidation Provisions.

                 The Company will not, while any of the Securities remain
outstanding, consolidate with, or merge into, or merge into itself, or sell or
convey all or substantially all of its property to any other Person unless the
provisions of Article X hereof are complied with.

                 SECTION 3.07.    Limitation on Dividends.

                 The Company will not (i) declare or pay any dividends or
distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of the Company's capital

                                       25
<PAGE>   35


stock (which includes common and preferred stock) or (ii) make any payment of
principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay or repurchase or redeem any
debt securities of the Company (including any Other Debentures) that rank pari
passu with or junior in right of payment to the Securities or (iii) make any
guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the Company of any
securities of any Subsidiary of the Company (including Other Guarantees) if
such guarantee ranks pari passu or junior in right of payment to the Securities
(other than (a) dividends or distributions in shares of, or options, warrants
or rights to subscribe for or purchase shares of, Common Stock of the Company;
(b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a
stockholder's rights plan, or the issuance of stock under any such plan in the
future, or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto;
(c) payments under the Capital Securities Guarantee; (d) as a direct result of,
and only to the extent required in order to avoid the issuance of fractional
shares of capital stock following a reclassi- fication of the Company's capital
stock or the exchange or the conversion of one class or series of the Company's
capital stock for another class or series of the Company's capital stock; (e)
the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock or the
security being converted or exchanged; and (f) purchases of Common Stock
related to the issuance of Common Stock or rights under any of the Company's
benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees or any of the Company's
dividend reinvestment plans) if at such time (i) an Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, (ii) there shall have occurred any event of which
the Company has actual knowledge that (a) is, or with the giving of notice or
the lapse of time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default and (b) in
respect of which the Company shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure,
(iii) if the Securities are held by the Property Trustee, the Company shall be
in default with respect to its payment obligations under the Capital Securities
Guarantee or (iv) the Company shall have given notice of its election of the
exercise of its right to extend the interest payment period pursuant to Section
16.01 and any such extension shall be continuing.

                                       26
<PAGE>   36


                 SECTION 3.08.    Covenants as to Firstar Capital Trust.

                 In the event Securities are issued to Firstar Capital Trust or
a trustee of such trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by
Firstar Capital Trust, for so long as such Trust Securities remain outstanding,
the Company will (i) maintain 100% direct ownership of the Common Securities of
Firstar Capital Trust; provided, however, that any successor of the Company,
permitted pursuant to Article X, may succeed to the Company's ownership of such
Common Securities, (ii) use its reasonable efforts to cause Firstar Capital
Trust (a) to remain a business trust, except in connection with a distribution
of Securities, the redemption of all of the Trust Securities of Firstar Capital
Trust or certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by
the Declaration of Firstar Capital Trust, and (b) to otherwise continue to be
treated as a grantor trust and not an association taxable as a corporation for
United States federal income tax purposes and (iii) to use its reasonable
efforts to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as owning an
individual beneficial interest in the Securities.

                 SECTION 3.09.    Payment of Expenses.

                 In connection with the offering, sale and issuance of the
Securities to the Firstar Capital Trust and in connection with the sale of the
Trust Securities by the Firstar Capital Trust, the Company, in its capacity as
borrower with respect to the Securities, shall:

                 (a)      pay all costs and expenses relating to the offering,
sale and issuance of the Securities, including commissions to the initial
purchasers payable pursuant to the Purchase Agreement, fees and expenses in
connection with any exchange offer or other action to be taken pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement and compensation of the Trustee in accordance
with the provisions of Section 6.06;

                 (b)      pay all costs and expenses of the Firstar Capital
Trust (including, but not limited to, costs and expenses relating to the
organization of the Firstar Capital Trust, the offering, sale and issuance of
the Trust Securities (including commissions to the initial purchasers 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
Firstar Capital 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), duplicating, travel and telephone and other
telecommunications

                                       27
<PAGE>   37


expenses and costs and expenses incurred in connection with the acquisition,
financing, and disposition of assets of the Firstar Capital Trust;

                 (c)      be primarily and fully liable for any indemnification
obligations arising with respect to the Declaration;

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

                 (e)      pay all other fees, expenses, debts and obligations
(other than payments of principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Trust
Securities) related to Firstar Capital Trust.

                 SECTION 3.10.    Payment Upon Resignation or Removal.

                 Upon termination of this Indenture or the removal or
resignation of the Trustee, unless otherwise stated, the Company shall pay to
the Trustee all amounts accrued and owing to the date of such termination,
removal or resignation.  Upon termination of the Declaration or the removal or
resignation of the Delaware Trustee or the Property Trustee, as the case may
be, pursuant to Section 5.7 of the Declaration, the Company shall pay to the
Delaware Trustee or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, all amounts
accrued and owing to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.


                                   ARTICLE IV

                   SECURITYHOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY THE
                            COMPANY AND THE TRUSTEE

                 SECTION 4.01.    Securityholders' Lists.

                 The Company covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause
to be furnished to the Trustee:

                 (a)      on a semi-annual basis on each regular record date
                          for the Securities, a list, in such form as the
                          Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
                          addresses of the Securityholders as of such record
                          date; and

                 (b)      at such other times as the Trustee may request in
                          writing, within 30 days after the receipt by the 
                          Company, of any such request, a list of similar
                          form and content as of  a date not more than 15

                                       28
<PAGE>   38


                     days prior to the time such list is furnished,

                 except that, no such lists need be furnished so long as the
                 Trustee is in possession thereof by reason of its acting as
                 Security registrar.

                 SECTION 4.02.    Preservation and Disclosure of Lists.

                 (a)      The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as
                          is reasonably practicable, all information as to the
                          names and addresses of the holders of the Securities
                          (1) contained in the most recent list furnished to it
                          as provided in Section 4.01 or (2) received by it in
                          the capacity of Securities registrar (if so acting)
                          hereunder.  The Trustee may destroy any list
                          furnished to it as provided in Section 4.01 upon
                          receipt of a new list so furnished.

                 (b)      In case three or more holders of Securities
                          (hereinafter referred to as "applicants") apply in
                          writing to the Trustee and furnish to the Trustee
                          reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a
                          Security for a period of at least six months
                          preceding the date of such application, and such
                          application states that the applicants desire to
                          communicate with other holders of Securities or with
                          holders of all Securities with respect to their
                          rights under this Indenture and is accompanied by a
                          copy of the form of proxy or other communication
                          which such applicants propose to transmit, then the
                          Trustee shall within 5 Business Days after the
                          receipt of such application, at its election, either:

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

                 (2)      inform such applicants as to the approximate number
                          of holders of all Securities, whose names and
                          addresses appear in the information preserved at the
                          time by the Trustee in accordance with the provisions
                          of subsection (a) of this Section 4.02, and as to the
                          approximate cost of mailing to such Securityholders
                          the form of proxy or other commu- nication, if any,
                          specified in such application.

                                  If the Trustee shall elect not to afford such
           applicants access to such information, the Trustee

                                       29
<PAGE>   39

                          shall, upon the written request of such applicants,
                          mail to each Securityholder whose name and address
                          appear in the information preserved at the time by the
                          Trustee in accordance with the provisions of
                          subsection (a) of this Section 4.02 a copy of the form
                          of proxy or other communication which is specified in
                          such request with reasonable promptness after a tender
                          to the Trustee of the material to be mailed and of
                          payment, or provision for the payment, of the
                          reasonable expenses of mailing, unless within five
                          days after such tender, the Trustee shall mail to such
                          applicants and file with the Commission, together with
                          a copy of the material to be mailed, a written
                          statement to the effect that, in the opinion of the
                          Trustee, such mailing would be contrary to the best
                          interests of the holders of Securities of such series
                          or all Securities, as the case may be, or would be in
                          violation of applicable law.  Such written statement
                          shall specify the basis of such opinion.  If the
                          Commission, after opportunity for a hearing upon the
                          objections specified in the written statement so
                          filed, shall enter an order refusing to sustain any of
                          such objections or if, after the entry of an order
                          sustaining one or more of such objections, the
                          Commission shall find, after notice and opportunity
                          for hearing, that all the objections so sustained have
                          been met and shall enter an order so declaring, the
                          Trustee shall mail copies of such material to all such
                          Securityholders with reasonable promptness after the
                          entry of such order and the renewal of such tender;
                          otherwise the Trustee shall be relieved of any
                          obligation or duty to such applicants respecting their
                          application.

                 (c)      Each and every holder of Securities, by receiving and
                          holding the same, agrees with the Company and the
                          Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
                          any paying agent shall be held accountable by reason
                          of the disclosure of any such information as to the
                          names and addresses of the holders of Securities in
                          accordance with the provisions of subsection (b) of
                          this Section 4.02, regardless of the source from
                          which such information was derived, and that the
                          Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of
                          mailing any material pursuant to a request made under
                          said subsection (b).

                                       30
<PAGE>   40

                 SECTION 4.03.    Reports by Company.

                 (a)      The Company covenants and agrees to file with the
                          Trustee, within 15 days after the date on which the
                          Company is required to file the same with the
                          Commission, copies of the annual reports and of the
                          information, documents and other reports (or copies
                          of such portions of any of the foregoing as said
                          Commission may from time to time by rules and
                          regulations prescribe) which the Company may be
                          required to file with the Commission pursuant to
                          Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act; or,
                          if the Company is not required to file information,
                          documents or reports pursuant to either of such
                          sections, then to file with the Trustee and the
                          Commission, in accordance with rules and regulations
                          prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such
                          of the supplementary and periodic information,
                          documents and reports which may be required pursuant
                          to Section 13 of the Exchange Act in respect of a
                          security listed and registered on a national
                          securities exchange as may be prescribed from time to
                          time in such rules and regulations.

                 (b)      The Company covenants and agrees to file with the
                          Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with the
                          rules and regulations prescribed from time to time by
                          said Commission, such additional information,
                          documents and reports with respect to compliance by
                          the Company with the conditions and covenants
                          provided for in this Indenture as may be required
                          from time to time by such rules and regulations.

                 (c)      The Company covenants and agrees to transmit by mail
                          to all holders of Securities, as the names and
                          addresses of such holders appear upon the Security
                          Register, within 30 days after the filing thereof
                          with the Trustee, such summaries of any information,
                          documents and reports required to be filed by the
                          Company pursuant to subsections (a) and (b) of this
                          Section 4.03 as may be required by rules and
                          regulations prescribed from time to time by the
                          Commission.

                 (d)      Delivery of such reports, information and documents
                          to the Trustee is for informational purposes only and
                          the Trustee's receipt of such shall not constitute
                          constructive notice of any information contained
                          therein or determinable from information

                                       31
<PAGE>   41

                          
                          contained therein, including the Company's 
                          compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as 
                          to which the Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively 
                          on Officers' Certificates).

                 (e)      So long as is required for an offer or sale of the
                          Securities to qualify for an exemption under Rule
                          144A under the Securities Act, the Company shall,
                          upon request, provide the information required by
                          clause (d)(4) thereunder to each Holder and to each
                          beneficial owner and prospective purchaser of
                          Securities identified by any holder of Restricted
                          Securities, unless such information is furnished to
                          the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                          Exchange Act.

                 SECTION 4.04.    Reports by the Trustee.

                 (a)      The Trustee shall transmit to Securityholders such
                          reports concerning the Trustee and its actions under
                          this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the
                          Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner
                          provided pursuant thereto.  If required by Section
                          313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall,
                          within sixty days after each November 15 following
                          the date of this Indenture, commencing November 15,
                          1997, deliver to Securityholders a brief report,
                          dated as of such November 15, which complies with the
                          provisions of such Section 313(a).

                 (b)      A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such
                          transmission to Securityholders, be filed by the
                          Trustee with each stock exchange, if any, upon which
                          the Securities are listed, with the Commission and
                          with the Company.  The Company will promptly notify
                          the Trustee when the Securities are listed on any
                          stock exchange.

                                       32
<PAGE>   42


                                   ARTICLE V

                  REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
                              ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

                 SECTION 5.01.    Events of Default.

                 One or more of the following events of default shall
constitute an Event of Default hereunder (whatever the reason for such Event of
Default and whether it shall be voluntary or be effected by operation of law or
pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or
regulation of any administrative or governmental body):

                 (a)      default in the payment of any interest upon any
                          Security or any Other Debentures when it becomes due
                          and payable, and continuance of such default for a
                          period of 30 days; provided, however, that a valid
                          extension of an interest payment period by the
                          Company in accordance with the terms hereof shall not
                          constitute a default in the payment of interest for
                          this purpose; or

                 (b)      default in the payment of all or any part of the
                          principal of (or premium, if any, on) any Security or
                          any Other Debentures as and when the same shall
                          become due and payable either at maturity, upon
                          redemption, by declaration or otherwise; or

                 (c)      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 specifically dealt with), and continuance of
                          such default or breach for a period of 90 days after
                          there has been given, by registered or certified
                          mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company
                          and the Trustee by the holders of at least 25% in
                          aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
                          Securities a written notice specifying such default
                          or breach and re- quiring it to be remedied and
                          stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default"
                          hereunder; or

                 (d)      a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall
                          enter a decree or order for relief in respect of the
                          Company in an involuntary case under any applicable
                          bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or
                          hereafter in effect, or appointing a 


                                       33
<PAGE>   43


                          receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian, trustee, 
                          sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or 
                          for any substantial part of its property, or 
                          ordering the winding-up or liquidation of its 
                          affairs and such decree or order shall remain 
                          unstayed and in effect for a period of 90 
                          consecutive days; or

                 (e)      the Company shall commence a voluntary case under any
                          applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar
                          law now or hereafter in effect, shall consent to the
                          entry of an order for relief in an involuntary case
                          under any such law, or shall consent to the
                          appointment of or taking possession by a receiver,
                          liquidator, assignee, trustee, custodian,
                          sequestrator (or other similar official) of the
                          Company or of any substantial part of
                          its property, or shall make any general assignment 
                          for the benefit of creditors, or shall fail generally
                          to pay its debts as they become due.

                 If an Event of Default with respect to Securities at the time
outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or
the holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities then outstanding may declare the principal amount of all Securities
to be due and payable immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and
to the Trustee if given by the holders of the outstanding Securities), and upon
any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable.

                 The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the
condition that if, at any time after the principal of the Securities shall have
been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or decree for the
payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as hereinafter
provided, (i) the Company shall pay or shall deposit with the Trustee a sum
sufficient to pay (A) all matured installments of interest upon all the
Securities and the principal of and premium, if any, on any and all Securities
which shall have become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon
such principal and premium, if any, and, to the extent that payment of such
interest is enforceable under applicable law, on overdue installments of
interest, at the same rate as the rate of interest specified in the Securities
to the date of such payment or deposit) and (B) such amount as shall be
sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor
Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other expenses
and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each
predecessor Trustee except as a result of negligence or bad faith, and (ii) any
and all Events of Default under the Indenture, other than the non-payment

                                       34
<PAGE>   44


of the principal of the Securities which shall have become due solely by such
declaration of acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise
remedied as provided herein, then, in every such case, the holders of a
majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities then outstanding, by
written notice to the Company and to the Trustee, may rescind and annul such
declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or rescission and
annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default or shall
impair any right consequent thereon.

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

                 SECTION 5.02.    Payment of Securities on Default; Suit
Therefor.

                 The Company covenants that (a) in case default shall be made
in the payment of any installment of interest upon any of the Securities as and
when the same shall become due and payable, and such default shall have
continued for a period of 30 days, or (b) in case default shall be made in the
payment of the principal of or premium, if any, on any of the Securities as and
when the same shall have become due and payable, whether at maturity of the
Securities or upon redemption or by declaration or otherwise, then, upon demand
of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee, for the benefit of the
holders of the Securities, the whole amount that then shall have become due and
payable on all such Securities for principal and premium, if any, or interest,
or both, as the case may be, with interest upon the overdue principal and
premium, if any, and (to the extent that payment of such interest is
enforceable under applicable law and, if the Securities are held by Firstar
Capital Trust or a trustee of such trust, without duplication of any other
amounts paid by Firstar Capital Trust or a trustee in respect thereof) upon the
overdue installments of interest at the rate borne by the Securities; and, in
addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs
and expenses of collection, including a reasonable compensation to the Trustee,
its agents, attorneys and counsel, and any expenses or liabilities incurred by
the Trustee hereunder other than through its negligence or bad faith.

                 In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts
upon such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as

                                       35
<PAGE>   45


trustee of an express trust, shall be entitled and empowered to institute any
actions or proceedings at law or in equity for the collection of the sums so
due and unpaid, and may prosecute any such action or proceeding to judgment or
final decree, and may enforce any such judgment or final decree against the
Company or any other obligor on the Securities and collect in the manner
provided by law out of the property of the Company or any other obligor on the
Securities wherever situated the moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable.

                 In case there shall be pending proceedings for the bankruptcy
or for the reorganization of the Company or any other obligor on the Securities
under Title 11, United States Code, or any other applicable law, or in case a
receiver or trustee shall have been appointed for the property of the Company
or such other obligor, or in the case of any other similar judicial proceedings
relative to the Company or other obligor upon the Securities, or to the
creditors or property of the Company or such other obligor, the Trustee,
irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and
payable as therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of
whether the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 5.02, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such
proceedings or otherwise, to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole
amount of principal and interest owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities
and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and
other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the
claims of the Trustee (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the
Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys
and counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities incurred,
and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee, except as a
result of negligence or bad faith) and of the Securityholders allowed in such
judicial proceedings relative to the Company or any other obligor on the
Securities, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other
obligor, unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to vote on behalf
of the holders of the Securities in any election of a trustee or a standby
trustee in arrangement, reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or
insolvency proceedings or person performing similar functions in comparable
proceedings, and to collect and receive any moneys or other property payable or
deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute the same after the deduction
of its charges and expenses; and any receiver, assignee or trustee in
bankruptcy or reorganization is hereby authorized by each of the
Securityholders 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
Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as shall be sufficient to
cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee, each predecessor

                                       36
<PAGE>   46


Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and all other
expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and
each predecessor Trustee except as a result of negligence or bad faith.

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

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

                 In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any
proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to
which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all
the holders of the Securities, and it shall not be necessary to make any
holders of the Securities parties to any such proceedings.

                 SECTION 5.03.    Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee.

                 Any moneys collected by the Trustee shall be applied in the
order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution
of such moneys, upon presentation of the Securities in respect of which moneys
have been collected, and stamping thereon the payment, if only partially paid,
and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

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

                 Second:  To the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company if and to the extent required by Article XV;

                 Third:  To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon
Securities for principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the
Securities, in respect of which or for the

                                       37
<PAGE>   47


benefit of which money has been collected, ratably, without preference of
priority of any kind, according to the amounts due on such Securities for
principal (and premium, if any) and interest, respectively; and

                 Fourth:  To the Company.

                 SECTION 5.04.    Proceedings by Securityholders.

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

                 Notwithstanding any other provisions in this Indenture,
however, the right of any holder of any Security to receive payment of the
principal of (premium, if any) and interest on such Security, on or after the
same shall have become due and payable, or to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment, shall not be impaired or affected without the
consent of such holder and by accepting a Security hereunder it is expressly
understood, intended and covenanted by the taker and holder of every Security
with every other such taker and holder and the Trustee, that no one or more
holders of Securities shall have any right in any manner whatsoever by virtue
or by availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or
prejudice the rights of the holders of any other Securities, or to obtain or

                                       38
<PAGE>   48


seek to obtain priority over or preference to any other such holder, or to
enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the manner herein provided
and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all holders of Securities.
For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this Section, each and
every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to such relief as can be
given either at law or in equity.

                 The Company and the Trustee acknowledge that pursuant to the
Declaration, the holders of Capital Securities are entitled, in the
circumstances and subject to the limitations set forth therein, to commence a
Direct Action with respect to any Event of Default under this Indenture and the
Securities.

                 SECTION 5.05.    Proceedings by Trustee.

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

                 SECTION 5.06.    Remedies Cumulative and Continuing.

                 Except as provided in the last paragraph of Section 2.08, all
powers and remedies given by this Article V to the Trustee or to the
Securityholders shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and
not exclusive of any other powers and remedies available to the Trustee or the
holders of the Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise, to enforce the
performance or observance of the covenants and agreements contained in this
Indenture or otherwise established with respect to the Securities, and no delay
or omission of the Trustee or of any holder of any of the Securities to
exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of Default occurring and
continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or power, or shall be
construed to be a waiver of any such default or an acquiescence therein; and,
subject to the provisions of Section 5.04, every power and remedy given by this
Article V or by law to the Trustee or to the Securityholders may be exercised
from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or
by the Securityholders.

                 SECTION 5.07.    Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of 
                                  Defaults by Majority of Securityholders.
                 

                                       39

<PAGE>   49



                 The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities at the time outstanding shall have the right to direct the time,
method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee; provided,
however, that (subject to the provisions of Section 6.01) the Trustee shall
have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the Trustee shall
determine that the action so directed would be unjustly prejudicial to the
holders not taking part in such direction or if the Trustee being advised by
counsel determines that the action or proceeding so directed may not lawfully
be taken or if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or trustees,
executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or
Responsible Officers shall determine that the action or proceedings so directed
would involve the Trustee in personal liability.  Prior to any declaration
accelerating the maturity of the Securities, the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding may on
behalf of the holders of all of the Securities waive any past default or Event
of Default and its consequences except a default (a) in the payment of
principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities or (b) in
respect of covenants or provisions hereof which cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of the holder of each Security affected; provided, however,
that if the Securities are held by the Property Trustee, such waiver or
modification to such waiver shall not be effective until the holders of a
majority in aggregate liquidation amount of Trust Securities shall have
consented to such waiver or modification to such waiver; provided further, that
if the consent of the holder of each outstanding Security is required, such
waiver shall not be effective until each holder of the Trust Securities shall
have consented to such waiver.  Upon any such waiver, the default covered
thereby shall be deemed to be cured for all purposes of this Indenture and the
Company, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities shall be restored to
their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no such waiver
shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right consequent
thereon.  Whenever any default or Event of Default hereunder shall have been
waived as permitted by this Section 5.07, said default or Event of Default
shall for all purposes of the Securities and this Indenture be deemed to have
been cured and to be not continuing.

                                       40
<PAGE>   50


                 SECTION 5.08.  Notice of Defaults.

                 The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the occurrence of a
default with respect to the Securities mail to all Securityholders, as the
names and addresses of such holders appear upon the Security register, notice
of all defaults known to the Trustee, unless such defaults shall have been
cured before the giving of such notice (the term "defaults" for the purpose of
this Section 5.08 being hereby defined to be the events specified in clauses
(a), (b), (c), (d) and (e) of Section 5.01, not including periods of grace, if
any, provided for therein, and irrespective of the giving of written notice
specified in clause (c) of Section 5.01); and provided that, except in the case
of default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest
on any of the Securities, 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 determines that the withholding of such notice is in the interests of the
Securityholders; and provided further, that in the case of any default of the
character specified in Section 5.01(c) no such notice to Securityholders shall
be given until at least 60 days after the occurrence thereof but shall be given
within 90 days after such occurrence.

                 SECTION 5.09.  Undertaking to Pay Costs.

                 All parties to this Indenture agree, and each holder of any
Security by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed, that any
court may in its discretion require, in any suit for the enforcement of any
right or remedy under this Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for
any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, the filing by any party litigant
in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and that such
court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable
attorneys' fees and expenses, against any party litigant in such suit, having
due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such
party litigant; but the provisions of this Section 5.09 shall not apply to any
suit instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder,
or group of Securityholders, holding in the aggregate more than 10% in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities outstanding, or to any suit
instituted by any Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the
principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Security against the
Company on or after the same shall have become due and payable.

                                       41
<PAGE>   51
                                   ARTICLE VI

                             CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

          SECTION 6.01.   Duties and Responsibilities of Trustee.

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

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

          (a)  prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default and after the
               curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have
               occurred

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

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

                                       42

<PAGE>   52

              ture;

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

          (c)  the Trustee shall not be liable with respect to any action taken
               or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, in accordance with
               the direction of the Securityholders pursuant to Section 5.07,
               relating to the time, method and place of conducting any
               proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising
               any trust or power conferred upon the Trustee, under this
               Indenture.

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

          SECTION 6.02.   Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc.

          Except as otherwise provided in Section 6.01:

          (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, consent,
               order, bond, note, 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, direction, order or demand of the Company mentioned
               herein may be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate
               (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically
               prescribed); and any Board Resolution may be evidenced to the
               Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary or an
               Assistant Secretary of the Company;

          (c)  the Trustee may consult with counsel of its selection and any
               advice or Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete
               authorization and protection in respect of any action taken or
               suffered omitted by

                                       43

<PAGE>   53

               it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or
               Opinion of Counsel;

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

          (e)  the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or omitted
               by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or within
               the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this
               Indenture; nothing contained herein shall, however, relieve the
               Trustee of the obligation, upon the occurrence of an Event of
               Default (that has not been cured or waived), to exercise such of
               the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and to use
               the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent
               man would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct
               of his own affairs;

          (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, consent,
               order, approval, bond, debenture, coupon or other paper or
               document, unless requested in writing to do so by the holders of
               a majority in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding
               Securities; provided, however, that if the payment within a
               reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or
               liabilities likely to be incurred by it in the making of such
               investigation is, in the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably
               assured to the Trustee by the security afforded to it by the
               terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require reasonable
               indemnity against such expense or liability as a condition to so
               proceeding; and

          (g)  the Trustee may execute any of the trusts or powers hereunder or
               perform any duties hereunder either directly or by or through
               agents (including any Authenticating Agent) or attorneys, and the
               Trustee shall not be responsible for any misconduct or negligence
               on the part of any such agent 


                                       44

<PAGE>   54

               or attorney appointed by it with due care.

          SECTION 6.03.   No Responsibility for Recitals, etc.

          The recitals contained herein and in the Securities (except in the
certificate of authentication of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent) shall
be taken as the statements of the Company and the Trustee and the Authenticating
Agent assume no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee and
the Authenticating Agent make no representations as to the validity or
sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities.  The Trustee and the
Authenticating Agent shall not be accountable for the use or application by the
Company of any Securities or the proceeds of any Securities authenticated and
delivered by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent in conformity with the
provisions of this Indenture.  The Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge
of any default or Event of Default under Section 5.01(a) or (b) relating to
Other Debentures unless (i) a Responsible Officer of the Trustee assigned to its
Principal Office shall have actual knowledge thereof or (ii) the Company, any
Securityholder or the holder of any Other Debenture shall have given the Trustee
written notice thereof in accordance with Section 13.04.

          SECTION 6.04.   Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agents, Transfer
                          Agents or Registrar May Own Securities.
 
          The Trustee or any Authenticating Agent or any paying agent or any
transfer agent or any Security registrar, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it
would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, paying agent, transfer
agent or Security registrar.

          SECTION 6.05.   Moneys to be Held in Trust.

          Subject to the provisions of Section 11.04, all moneys received by the
Trustee or any paying agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be
held in trust for the purpose for which they were received, but need not be
segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.  The Trustee
and any paying agent shall be under no liability for interest on any money
received by it hereunder except as otherwise agreed in writing with the Company.
So long as no Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, all
interest allowed on any such moneys shall be paid from time to time upon the
written order of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board of Directors,
the President or a Vice President or the Treasurer or an Assistant Treasurer of
the Company.

                                       45
<PAGE>   55

          SECTION 6.06.   Compensation and Expenses of Trustee.

          The Company, as borrower, covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee
from time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, such compensation as
shall be agreed to in writing between the Company and the Trustee (which shall
not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the compensation of a
trustee of an express trust), and the Company will pay or reimburse the Trustee
upon its request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances
incurred or made by the Trustee in accordance with any of the provisions of this
Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its counsel and of all persons not regularly in its employ)
except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may arise from its
negligence or bad faith. The Company also covenants to indemnify each of the
Trustee or any predecessor Trustee (and its officers, agents, directors and
employees) for, and to hold it harmless against, any and all loss, damage,
claim, liability or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on the
income of the Trustee) incurred without negligence or bad faith on the part of
the Trustee and 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 of liability in the premises.  The obligations of the
Company under this Section 6.06 to compensate and indemnify the Trustee and to
pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances shall
constitute additional indebtedness hereunder.  Such additional indebtedness
shall be secured by a lien prior to that of the Securities upon all property and
funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held in trust for
the benefit of the holders of particular Securities.

          Without prejudice to any other rights available to the Trustee under
applicable law, when the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in
connection with an Event of Default specified in Section 5.01(d) or Section
5.01(e), the expenses (including the reasonable charges and expenses of its
counsel) and the compensation for the services are intended to constitute
expenses of administration under any applicable federal or state bankruptcy,
insolvency or other similar law.

          The provisions of this Section shall survive the termination of this
Indenture.

                                       46
<PAGE>   56

          SECTION 6.07.   Officers' Certificate as Evidence.

          Except as otherwise provided in Sections 6.01 and 6.02, whenever in
the administration of the provisions of this Indenture the Trustee shall deem it
necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established prior to taking or
omitting any action hereunder, such matter (unless other evidence in respect
thereof is herein specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of negligence or
bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be conclusively proved and
established by an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee, and such
certificate, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the
Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by
it under the provisions of this Indenture upon the faith thereof.

          SECTION 6.08.   Conflicting Interest of Trustee.

          If the Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting interest" within
the meaning of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee and the
Company shall in all respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of
the Trust Indenture Act, subject to the penultimate paragraph thereof.

          SECTION 6.09.   Eligibility of Trustee.

          The Trustee hereunder shall at all times 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 other
Person permitted to act as trustee by the Commission 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 aforesaid supervising or examining
authority, then for the purposes of this Section 6.09 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.

          The Company may not, nor may any Person directly or indirectly
controlling, controlled by, or under common control with the Company, serve as
Trustee.

          In case at any time the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 6.09, the Trustee shall resign
immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in Section 6.10.

                                       47

<PAGE>   57

          SECTION 6.10.   Resignation or Removal of Trustee.

          (a)   The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may
               at any time resign by giving written notice of such resignation
               to the Company and by mailing notice thereof to the holders of
               the Securities at their addresses as they shall appear on the
               Security register. Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the
               Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees by
               written instrument, in duplicate, one copy of which instrument
               shall be delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the
               successor trustee.  If no successor trustee shall have been so
               appointed and have accepted appointment within 60 days after the
               mailing of such notice of resignation to the Securityholders, the
               resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
               jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any
               Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security for
               at least six months may, subject to the provisions of Section
               5.09, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated,
               petition any such court for the appointment of a successor
               trustee. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as
               it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a successor trustee.

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

               (1)  the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of
                    Section 6.08 after written request therefor by the Company
                    or by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of
                    a Security or Securities for at least six months, or
      
               (2)  the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with
                    the provisions of Section 6.09 and shall fail to resign
                    after written request therefor by the Company or by any such
                    Securityholder, 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

                                       48

<PAGE>   58

                    purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,

               then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee and
               appoint a successor trustee by written instrument, in duplicate,
               one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to the Trustee so
               removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to the
               provisions of Section 5.09, any Securityholder who has been a
               bona fide holder of a Security for at least six months may, on
               behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any
               court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee
               and the appointment of a successor trustee.  Such court may
               thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and
               prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.

          (c)  The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
               Securities at the time outstanding may at any time remove the
               Trustee and nominate a successor trustee, which shall be deemed
               appointed as successor trustee unless within 10 days after such
               nomination the Company objects thereto or if no successor trustee
               shall have been so appointed and shall have accepted appointment
               within 30 days after such removal, in which case the Trustee so
               removed or any Securityholder, upon the terms and conditions and
               otherwise as in subsection (a) of this Section 6.10 provided, may
               petition any court of competent jurisdiction for an appointment
               of a successor trustee.

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

          SECTION 6.11.   Acceptance by Successor Trustee.

          Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 6.10 shall
execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to its predecessor trustee
an instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, 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, duties and obligations of its predecessor
hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as trustee herein; but,
nevertheless, on the written

                                       49

<PAGE>   59

request of the Company or of the successor trustee, the trustee ceasing to act
shall, upon payment of any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of
Section 6.06, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor
trustee all the rights and powers of the trustee so ceasing to act and shall
duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor trustee all property and
money held by such retiring trustee thereunder.  Upon request of any such
successor trustee, the Company shall execute any and all instruments in writing
for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming to such successor trustee
all such rights and powers.  Any trustee ceasing to act shall, nevertheless,
retain a lien upon all property or funds held or collected by such trustee to
secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of Section 6.06.

          No successor trustee shall accept appointment as provided in this
Section 6.11 unless at the time of such acceptance such successor trustee shall
be qualified under the provisions of Section 6.08 and eligible under the
provisions of Section 6.09.

          Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee as provided in
this Section 6.11, the Company shall mail notice of the succession of such
trustee hereunder to the holders of Securities at their addresses as they shall
appear on the Security register.  If the Company fails to mail such notice
within 10 days after the acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee, the
successor trustee shall cause such notice to be mailed at the expense of the
Company.

          SECTION 6.12.   Succession by Merger, etc.

          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 without
the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of
the parties hereto.

          In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to the
trusts created by this Indenture any Securities shall have been authenticated
but not delivered, any such successor to the Trustee may adopt the certificate
of authentication of any predecessor trustee, and deliver such Securities so
authenticated; and in case at that time any of the Securities shall not have
been authenticated, any successor to the Trustee may authenticate such
Securities either in the name of any predecessor hereunder or in the name of the
successor trustee; and in all such cases such certificates shall have the full
force which the 

                                       50


<PAGE>   60

Securities or this Indenture elsewhere provides that the certificate of the
Trustee shall have; provided, however, that the right to adopt the certificate
of authentication of any predecessor Trustee or authenticate Securities in the
name of any predecessor Trustee shall apply only to its successor or successors
by merger, conversion or consolidation.

          SECTION 6.13.   Limitation on Rights of Trustee as a Creditor.

          The Trustee shall comply with Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture
Act, excluding any creditor relationship described in Section 311(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act.  A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be
subject to Section 311(a) of the Trust Indenture Act to the extent included
therein.

          SECTION 6.14.   Authenticating Agents.

          There may be one or more Authenticating Agents appointed by the
Trustee upon the request of the Company with power to act on its behalf and
subject to its direction in the authentication and delivery of Securities issued
upon exchange or transfer thereof as fully to all intents and purposes as though
any such Authenticating Agent had been expressly authorized to authenticate and
deliver Securities; provided, that the Trustee shall have no liability to the
Company for any acts or omissions of the Authenticating Agent with respect to
the authentication and delivery of Securities.  Any such Authenticating Agent
shall at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws
of the United States or of any state or territory thereof or of the District of
Columbia authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating Agent, having a
combined capital and surplus of at least $5,000,000 and being 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 the requirements of such authority, then for the
purposes of this Section 6.14 the combined capital and surplus of such
corporation shall be deemed to be its com- bined capital and surplus as set
forth in its most recent report of condition so published.  If at any time an
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with
the effect herein specified in this Section.

          Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, consolidation or conversion to which any Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all of
the corporate trust business of any Authenticating Agent, shall be the successor
of such Authenticating Agent hereunder, if such

                                       51

<PAGE>   61

successor corporation is otherwise eligible under this Section 6.14 without the
execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the parties
hereto or such Authenticating Agent.

          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 terminate the agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice
of termination to such Authenticating Agent and to the Company.  Upon receiving
such a notice of resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time
any Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible under this Section 6.14, the
Trustee may, and upon the request of the Company shall, promptly appoint a
successor Authenticating Agent eligible under this Section 6.14, shall give
written notice of such appointment to the Company and shall mail notice of such
appointment to all Securityholders as the names and addresses of such holders
appear on the Security Register.  Any successor Authenticating Agent upon
acceptance of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights,
powers, duties and responsibilities of its predecessor hereunder, with like
effect as if originally named as Authenticating Agent herein.

          The Company, as borrower, agrees to pay to any Authenticating Agent
from time to time reasonable compensation for its services.  Any Authenticating
Agent shall have no responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as
such in accordance with the directions of the Trustee.

                                  ARTICLE VII

                         CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

          SECTION 7.01.   Action by Securityholders.

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

                                       52


<PAGE>   62

          If the Company shall solicit from the Securityholders any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action, the
Company may, at its option, as evidenced by an Officers' Certificate, fix in
advance a record date for the determination of Securityholders entitled to give
such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action or to revoke any such action, but the Company shall have no obligation to
do so.  If such a record date is fixed, such request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action or revocation may be given
before or after the record date, but only the Securityholders of record at the
close of business on the record date shall be deemed to be Securityholders for
the purposes of determining whether Securityholders of the requisite proportion
of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or consented to such
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be computed as of
the record date; provided, however, that no such authorization, agreement or
consent by such Securityholders on the record date shall be deemed effective
unless it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture
not later than six months after the record date.

          SECTION 7.02.   Proof of Execution by Securityholders.

          Subject to the provisions of Section 6.01, 6.02 and 8.05, proof of the
execution of any instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy shall be
sufficient if made in accordance with such reasonable rules and regulations as
may be prescribed by the Trustee or in such manner as shall be satisfactory to
the Trustee.  The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security
Register or by a certificate of the Security registrar.  The Trustee may require
such additional proof of any matter referred to in this Section as it shall deem
necessary.

          The record of any Securityholders' meeting shall be proved in the
manner provided in Section 8.06.

                                       53

<PAGE>   63

          SECTION 7.03.   Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners.

          Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of any Security,
the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any paying agent, any
transfer agent and any Security registrar may deem the person in whose name such
Security shall be registered upon the Security Register to be, and may treat him
as, the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not such Security shall be
overdue) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of the principal
of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 2.06) interest on such Security
and for all other purposes; and neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any
Authenticating Agent nor any paying agent nor any transfer agent nor any
Security registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.  All such
payments so made to any holder for the time being or upon his order shall be
valid, and, to the extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and
discharge the liability for moneys payable upon any such Security.

          SECTION 7.04.   Securities Owned by Company Deemed Not Outstanding.

          In determining whether the holders of the requisite aggregate
principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, consent or
waiver under this Indenture, Securities which are owned by the Company or any
other obligor on the Securities or by any person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the
Company or any other obligor on the Securities shall be disregarded and deemed
not to be outstanding for the purpose of any such determination; provided that
for the purposes of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in
relying on any such direction, consent or waiver, only Securities which the
Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.  Securities so
owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as outstanding for
the purposes of this Section 7.04 if the pledgee shall establish to the
satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right to vote such Securities and that
the pledgee is not the Company or any such other obligor or person directly or
indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with the Company or any such other obligor.  In the case of a dispute as
to such right, any decision by the Trustee taken upon the advice of counsel
shall be full protection to the Trustee.

          SECTION 7.05.   Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound.

          At any time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as
provided in Section 7.01, of the taking of any

                                       54


<PAGE>   64

action by the holders of the percentage in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any
holder of a Security (or any Security issued in whole or in part in exchange or
substitution therefor), subject to Section 7.01, the serial number of which is
shown by the evidence to be included in the Securities the holders of which have
consented to such action may, by filing written notice with the Trustee at its
principal office and upon proof of holding as provided in Section 7.02, revoke
such action so far as concerns such Security (or so far as concerns the
principal amount represented by any exchanged or substituted Security).  Except
as aforesaid any such action taken by the holder of any Security shall be
conclusive and binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners
of such Security, and of any Security issued in exchange or substitution
therefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made
upon such Security or any Security issued in exchange or substitution therefor.


                                  ARTICLE VIII

                           SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS

          SECTION 8.01.   Purposes of Meetings.

          A meeting of Securityholders may be called at any time and from time
to time pursuant to the provisions of this Article VIII for any of the following
purposes:

          (a)  to give any notice to the Company or to the Trustee, or to give
               any directions to the Trustee, or to consent to the waiving of
               any default hereunder and its consequences, or to take any other
               action authorized to be taken by Securityholders pursuant to any
               of the provisions of Article V;

          (b)  to remove the Trustee and nominate a successor trustee pursuant
               to the provisions of Article VI;

          (c)  to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures
               supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02;
               or

          (d)  to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf
               of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of
               such Securities under any other provision of this Indenture or
               under applicable law.

          SECTION 8.02.   Call of Meetings by Trustee.

                                       55


<PAGE>   65

          The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Securityholders to take
any action specified in Section 8.01, to be held at such time and at such place
in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, as the Trustee shall
determine. Notice of every meeting of the Securityholders, setting forth the
time and the place of such meeting and in general terms the action proposed to
be taken at such meeting, shall be mailed to holders of Securities at their
addresses as they shall appear on the Securities Register.  Such notice shall be
mailed not less than 20 nor more than 180 days prior to the date fixed for the
meeting.

          SECTION 8.03.   Call of Meetings by Company or Securityholders.

          In case at any time the Company pursuant to a resolution of the Board
of Directors, or the holders of at least 10% in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities then outstanding, shall have requested the Trustee to call a
meeting of Securityholders, by written request setting forth in reasonable
detail the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, and the Trustee shall not
have mailed the notice of such meeting within 20 days after receipt of such
request, then the Company or such Securityholders may determine the time and the
place in said Borough of Manhattan for such meeting and may call such meeting to
take any action authorized in Section 8.01, by mailing notice thereof as
provided in Section 8.02.

          SECTION 8.04.   Qualifications for Voting.

          To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Securityholders a person
shall (a) be a holder of one or more Securities or (b) a person appointed by an
instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more Securities.  The only
persons who shall be entitled to be present or to speak at any meeting of
Securityholders shall be the persons entitled to vote at such meeting and their
counsel and any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel and any
representatives of the Company and its counsel.

          SECTION 8.05.   Regulations.

          Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee
may make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of
Securityholders, in regard to proof of the holding of Securities and of the
appointment of proxies, and in regard to the appointment and duties of
inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of proxies, certificates and
other evidence of the right to vote, and such other matters concerning the
conduct of the meeting as it shall think fit.

                                       56

<PAGE>   66

          The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary
chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the
Company or by Securityholders as provided in Section 8.03, in which case the
Company or the Securityholders calling the meeting, as the case may be, shall in
like manner appoint a temporary chairman.  A permanent chairman and a permanent
secretary of the meeting shall be elected by majority vote of the meeting.

          Subject to the provisions of Section 8.04, at any meeting each holder
of Securities or proxy therefor shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000
principal amount of Securities held or represented by him; provided, however,
that no vote shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security
challenged as not outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not
outstanding.  The chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote other than
by virtue of Securities held by him or instruments in writing as aforesaid duly
designating him as the person to vote on behalf of other Securityholders. Any
meeting of Securityholders duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section
8.02 or 8.03 may be adjourned from time to time by a majority of those present,
whether or not constituting a quorum, and the meeting may be held as so
adjourned without further notice.

          The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Securities shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of Holders of
Securities; provided, however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting
with respect to a consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization,
direction or other action which may be given by the holders of not less than a
specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding Securities, the
Persons holding or representing such specified percentage in principal amount of
the outstanding Securities will constitute a quorum.  In the absence of a quorum
within 30 minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall,
if convened at the request of holders of Securities, be dissolved.  In any other
case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days as
determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such
meeting.  In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such
adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days
as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such
adjourned meeting.  Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be
given as provided in Section 8.02, except that such notice need be given only
once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled
to be reconvened.  Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state
expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the

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<PAGE>   67

outstanding Securities which shall constitute a quorum.

          Except as limited by the first proviso to the first paragraph of
Section 9.02, any resolution presented to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly
reconvened at which a quorum is present as aforesaid may be adopted by the
affirmative vote of the holders of a majority in principal amount of the
outstanding Securities; provided, however, that, except as limited by the first
proviso to the first paragraph of Section 9.02, any resolution with respect to
any consent, waiver, request, demand, notice, authorization, direction or other
action which this Indenture expressly provides may be given by the holders of
not less than a specified percentage in principal amount of the outstanding
Securities may be adopted at a meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened
and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid only by the affirmative vote of
the holders of not less than such specified percentage in principal amount of
the outstanding Securities.

          Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of
Securities duly held in accordance with this Section shall be binding on all the
Holders of Securities whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

          SECTION 8.06.   Voting.

          The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of holders of
Securities shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the
signatures of such holders or of their representatives by proxy and the serial
number or numbers of the Securities held or represented by them.  The permanent
chairman of the meeting shall appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count
all votes cast at the meeting for or against any resolution and who shall make
and file with the secretary of the meeting their verified written reports in
triplicate of all votes cast at the meeting.  A record in duplicate of the
proceedings of each meeting of Securityholders shall be prepared by the
secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original
reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and
affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a
copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was mailed as
provided in Section 8.02.  The record shall show the serial numbers of the
Securities voting in favor of or against any resolution.  The record shall be
signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of
the meeting and one of the duplicates shall be delivered to the Company and the
other to the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached
thereto the ballots voted at the meeting.  The holders of the Series A Capital
Securities and the Series B Capital Securities shall vote for all purposes as a
single class.

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<PAGE>   68

          Any record so signed and verified shall be conclusive evidence of the
matters therein stated.


                                   ARTICLE IX

                                   AMENDMENTS

          SECTION 9.01.   Without Consent of Securityholders.

          The Company and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time
amend the Indenture, without the consent of the Securityholders, for one or more
of the following purposes:

          (a)  to evidence the succession of another corporation to the
               Company, or successive successions, and the assumption by the
               successor corporation of the covenants, agreements and
               obligations of the Company pursuant to Article X hereof;

          (b)  to add to the covenants of the Company such further covenants,
               restrictions or conditions for the protection of the
               Securityholders as the Board of Directors and the Trustee shall
               consider to be for the protection of the Securityholders, and to
               make the occurrence, or the occurrence and continuance, of a
               default in any of such additional covenants, restrictions or
               conditions a default or an Event of Default permitting the
               enforcement of all or any of the remedies provided in this
               Indenture as herein set forth; provided, however, that in respect
               of any such additional covenant, restriction or condition such
               amendment may provide for a particular period of grace after
               default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed
               in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate
               enforcement upon such default or may limit the remedies available
               to the Trustee upon such default;

          (c)  to provide for the issuance under this Indenture of Securities
               in coupon form (including Securities registrable as to principal
               only) and to provide for exchangeability of such Securities with
               the Securities issued hereunder in fully registered form and to
               make all appropriate changes for such purpose;

          (d)  to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision
               contained herein or in any supple-

                                       59

<PAGE>   69

               mental indenture which may be defective or inconsistent with any
               other provision contained herein or in any supplemental
               indenture, or to make such other provisions in regard to matters
               or questions arising under this Indenture; provided that any such
               action shall not materially adversely affect the interests of the
               holders of the Securities;

          (e)  to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
               hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the Securities;

          (f)  to make provision for transfer procedures, certification,
               book-entry provisions, the form of restricted securities legends,
               if any, to be placed on Securities, minimum denominations and all
               other matters required pursuant to Section 2.07 or otherwise
               necessary, desirable or appropriate in connection with the
               issuance of Securities to holders of Capital Securities in the
               event of a distribution of Securities by Firstar Capital Trust
               following a Dissolution Event;

          (g)  to qualify or maintain qualification of this Indenture under the
               Trust Indenture Act; or

          (h)  to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of
               any Securityholder in any material respect.

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

          Any amendment to the Indenture authorized by the provisions of this
Section 9.01 may be executed by the Company and the Trustee without the consent
of the holders of any of the Securities at the time outstanding, notwithstanding
any of the provisions of Section 9.02.

                                       60


<PAGE>   70

          SECTION 9.02.   With Consent of Securityholders.

          With the consent (evidenced as provided in Section 7.01) of the
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the
time outstanding, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the
Trustee may from time to time and at any time amend the Indenture for the
purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any
of the provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of
the holders of the Securities; provided, however, that no such amendment shall
without the consent of the holders of each Security then outstanding and
affected thereby (i) extend the Maturity Date of any Security, or reduce the
rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon (except as contemplated
by Article XVI), or reduce the principal amount thereof, or reduce any amount
payable on redemption thereof, or make the principal thereof or any interest or
premium thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in the
Securities, or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder to institute
suit for payment thereof, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities
the holders of which are required to consent to any such amendment to the
Indenture, provided, however, that if the Securities are held by Firstar Capital
Trust, such amendment shall not be effective until the holders of a majority in
liquidation amount of Trust Securities shall have consented to such amendment;
provided, further, that if the consent of the holder of each outstanding
Security is required, such amendment shall not be effective until each holder of
the Trust Securities shall have consented to such amendment.

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

          Promptly after the execution by the Company and the Trustee of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the Trustee
shall transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid, a notice, prepared by the
Company, setting forth in general terms the substance of such supplemental
indenture, to the Securityholders as their names and addresses appear upon the
Security Register.  Any failure of the Trustee to mail such notice, or any
defect therein, shall not, however, in any way

                                       61

<PAGE>   71

impair or affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

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

          SECTION 9.03.   Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect of
                          Supplemental Indentures.

          Any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the provisions of this
Article IX shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act.  Upon the execution of any
supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Article IX, this
Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance
therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties
and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Company and the holders
of Securities shall thereafter be determined, exercised and enforced hereunder
subject in all respects to such modifications and amendments and all the terms
and conditions of any such supplemental indenture shall be and be deemed to be
part of the terms and conditions of this Indenture for any and all purposes.

          SECTION 9.04.   Notation on Securities.

          Securities authenticated and delivered after the execution of any
supplemental indenture affecting such series pursuant to the provisions of this
Article IX may bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee as to any matter
provided for in such supplemental indenture.  If the Company or the Trustee
shall so determine, new Securities so modified as to conform, in the opinion of
the Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture
contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared and executed by the
Company, authenticated by the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent and delivered
in exchange for the Securities then outstanding.

          SECTION 9.05.   Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to be
                          Furnished Trustee.

          The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01 and 6.02, may
receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive
evidence that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant hereto complies with
the requirements of this Article IX.

          The Trustee may receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence
that any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article is authorized
or permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this Article and that it is
proper for


                                       62
<PAGE>   72

the Trustee under the provisions of this Article to join in the execution
thereof.


                                   ARTICLE X

               CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, CONVEYANCE AND LEASE

          SECTION 10.01.  Company May Consolidate, etc., on Certain Terms.

          Nothing contained in this Indenture or in any of the Securities shall
prevent any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any other Person
(whether or not affiliated with the Company, as the case may be), or successive
consolidations or mergers in which the Company, or its successor or successors,
as the case may be, shall be a party or parties, or shall prevent any sale,
conveyance, transfer or lease of the property of the Company, or its successor
or successors, as the case may be, as an entirety, or substantially as an
entirety, to any other Person (whether or not affiliated with the Company, or
its successor or successors, as the case may be) authorized to acquire and
operate the same; provided, that (a) the Company is the surviving Person, or the
Person formed by or surviving any such consolidation or merger (if other than
the Company) or to which such sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of property is
made is a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States or
any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and (b) upon any such
consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease, the due and punctual
payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities
according to their tenor and the due and punctual performance and obser- vance
of all the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be kept or performed by
the Company shall be expressly assumed, by supplemental indenture (which shall
conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act, as then in effect)
satisfactory in form to the Trustee executed and delivered to the Trustee by the
Person formed by such consolidation, or into which the Company, shall have been
merged, or by the Person which shall have acquired such property, as the case
may be, (c) after giving effect to such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance,
transfer or lease, no Default or Event of Default shall have occurred and be
continuing and (d) such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or
lease does not cause the Securities to be downgraded by a nationally recognized
statistical rating organization.

          SECTION 10.02.  Successor Corporation to be Substituted for Company.

          In case of any such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer and
upon the assumption by the successor corporation,

                                       63
<PAGE>   73

by supplemental indenture, executed and delivered to the Trustee and
satisfactory in form to the Trustee, of the due and punctual payment of the
principal of and premium, if any, and interest on all of the Securities and the
due and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and
conditions of this Indenture to be performed or observed by the Company, such
successor Person shall succeed to and be substituted for the Company, with the
same effect as if it had been named herein as the party of the first part, and
the Company thereupon shall be relieved of any further liability or obligation
hereunder or upon the Securities.  Such successor Person thereupon may cause to
be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of Firstar
Corporation, any or all of the Securities issuable hereunder which theretofore
shall not have been signed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee or the
Authenticating Agent; and, upon the order of such successor Person instead of
the Company and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this
Indenture prescribed, the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent shall authenticate
and deliver any Securities which previously shall have been signed and delivered
by the officers of the Company to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for
authentication, and any Securities which such successor Person thereafter shall
cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent for
that purpose.  All the Securities so issued shall in all respects have the same
legal rank and benefit under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or
thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all
of such Indentures had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

          SECTION 10.03.  Opinion of Counsel to be Given Trustee.

          The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 6.01 and 6.02, may
receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any consolidation,
merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease, and any assumption, permitted or
required by the terms of this Article X complies with the provisions of this
Article X.

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<PAGE>   74

                                   ARTICLE XI

                    SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

          SECTION 11.01.  Discharge of Indenture.

          When (a) the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all
Securities theretofore authenticated (other than any Securities which shall have
been destroyed, lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as
provided in Section 2.08) and not theretofore cancelled, or (b) all the
Securities not theretofore cancelled or delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become
due and payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one
year under arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
redemption, and the Company shall deposit with the Trustee, in trust, funds
sufficient to pay on the Maturity Date or upon redemption all of the Securities
(other than any Securities which shall have been destroyed, lost or stolen and
which shall have been replaced as provided in Section 2.08) not theretofore
cancelled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, including principal and
premium, if any, and interest due or to become due to the Maturity Date or
redemption date, as the case may be, but excluding, however, the amount of any
moneys for the payment of principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the
Securities (1) theretofore repaid to the Company in accordance with the
provisions of Section 11.04, or (2) paid to any State or to the District of
Columbia pursuant to its unclaimed property or similar laws, and if in either
case the Company shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable
hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further
effect except for the provisions of Sections 2.02, 2.07, 2.08, 3.01, 3.02, 3.04,
6.06, 6.10 and 11.04 hereof, which shall survive until such Securities shall
mature and be paid.  Thereafter, Sections 6.06, 6.10 and 11.04 shall survive,
and the Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by any Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the
Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction of and
discharging this Indenture, the Company, however, hereby agreeing to reimburse
the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly
incurred by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the Securities.

          SECTION 11.02.  Deposited Moneys and U.S. Government Obligations to be
                          Held in Trust by Trustee.

          Subject to the provisions of Section 11.04, all moneys

                                        65
<PAGE>   75

and U.S. Government Obligations deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Sections
11.01 or 11.05 shall be held in trust and applied by it to the payment, either
directly or through any paying agent (including the Company if acting as its own
paying agent), to the holders of the particular Securities for the payment of
which such moneys or U.S. Government Obligations have been deposited with the
Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal, premium, if
any, and interest.

          The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee
or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations
deposited pursuant to Section 11.05 or the principal and interest received in
respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for
the account of the holders of outstanding Securities.

          SECTION 11.03.  Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held.

          Upon the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture all moneys then
held by any paying agent of the Securities (other than the Trustee) shall, upon
written demand of the Company, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee, and
thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with
respect to such moneys.

          SECTION 11.04.  Return of Unclaimed Moneys.

          Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or any paying agent
for payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on Securities
and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the holders of Securities for two
years after the date upon which the principal of or premium, if any, or interest
on such Securities, as the case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall
be repaid to the Company by the Trustee or such paying agent on Company Request;
and the holder of any of the Securities shall thereafter look only to the
Company for any payment which such holder may be entitled to collect and all
liability of the Trustee or such paying agent with respect to such moneys shall
thereupon cease.

          SECTION 11.05.  Defeasance Upon Deposit of Moneys or U.S. Government
                          Obligations.

          The Company shall be deemed to have been Discharged (as defined below)
from its obligations with respect to the Securities on the 91st day after the
conditions set forth below have been satisfied:

          (1)  The Company shall have deposited or caused to be deposited
               irrevocably with the Trustee or the Defeasance Agent (as defined
               below) as trust funds

                                       66
<PAGE>   76

               in trust, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated
               solely to, the benefit of the holders of the Securities (i) money
               in an amount, or (ii) U.S. Government Obligations which through
               the payment of interest and principal in respect thereof in
               accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day
               before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (iii)
               a combination of (i) and (ii), sufficient, in the opinion (with
               respect to (ii) and (iii)) of a nationally recognized firm of
               independent public accountants expressed in a written
               certification thereof delivered to the Trustee and the Defeasance
               Agent, if any, to pay and discharge each installment of principal
               of and interest and premium, if any, on the outstanding
               Securities on the dates such installments of principal, interest
               or premium are due;

          (2)  if the Securities are then listed on any national securities
               exchange, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee and the
               Defeasance Agent, if any, an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
               that the exercise of the option under this Section 11.05 would
               not cause such Securities to be delisted from such exchange;

          (3)  no Default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities
               shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such
               deposit; and

          (4)  the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee and the
               Defeasance Agent, if any, an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
               that holders of the Securities will not recognize income, gain or
               loss for United States federal income tax purposes as a result of
               the exercise of the option under this Section 11.05 and will be
               subject to United States federal income tax on the same amount
               and in the same manner and at the same times as would have been
               the case if such option had not been exercised, and such opinion
               shall be based on a statute so providing or be accompanied by a
               private letter ruling to that effect received from the United
               States Internal Revenue Service or a revenue ruling pertaining to
               a comparable form of transaction to that effect published by the
               United States Internal Revenue Service.
    
          "Discharged" means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and
discharged the entire indebtedness represented by,


                                       67
<PAGE>   77

and obligations under, the Securities and to have satisfied all the obligations
under this Indenture relating to the Securities (and the Trustee, at the expense
of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), except
(A) the rights of holders of Securities to receive, from the trust fund
described in clause (1) above, payment of the principal of and the interest and
premium, if any, on the Securities when such payments are due; (B) the Company's
obligations with respect to the Securities under Sections 2.02, 2.07, 2.08,
3.02, 3.04, 6.10 and 11.04; and (C) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and
immunities of the Trustee hereunder.

          "Defeasance Agent" means another financial institution which is
eligible to act as Trustee hereunder and which assumes all of the obligations of
the Trustee necessary to enable the Trustee to act under this Article.  In the
event such a Defeasance Agent is appointed pursuant to this Section, the
following conditions shall apply:

          (1)  The Trustee shall have approval rights over the document
               appointing such Defeasance Agent and the document setting forth
               such Defeasance Agent's rights and responsibilities;

          (2)  The Defeasance Agent shall provide verification to the Trustee
               acknowledging receipt of sufficient money and/or U. S. Government
               Obligations to meet the applicable conditions set forth in this
               Section 11.05.


                                  ARTICLE XII

                    IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
                             OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

          SECTION 12.01.  Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations.

          No recourse for the payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or
interest on any Security, or for any claim based thereon or otherwise in respect
thereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of
the Company in this Indenture, or in any Security, or because of the creation of
any indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator,
stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the
Company or of any successor Person to the Company, either directly or through
the Company or any successor Person to the Company, whether by virtue of any
constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or
penalty or otherwise; it being expressly

                                       68
<PAGE>   78

understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a
condition of, and as a consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and
the issue of the Securities.


                                  ARTICLE XIII

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS


          SECTION 13.01.  Successors.

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

          SECTION 13.02.  Official Acts by Successor Corporation.

          Any act or proceeding by any provision of this Indenture authorized or
required to be done or performed by any board, committee or officer of the
Company shall and may be done and performed with like force and effect by the
like board, committee or officer of any corporation that shall at the time be
the lawful sole successor of the Company.

          SECTION 13.03.  Surrender of Company Powers.

          The Company by instrument in writing executed by authority of 2/3
(two-thirds) of its Board of Directors and delivered to the Trustee may
surrender any of the powers reserved to the Company, and thereupon such power so
surrendered shall terminate both as to the Company, as the case may be, and as
to any successor Person.

          SECTION 13.04.  Addresses for Notices, etc.

          Any notice or demand which by any provision of this Indenture is
required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee or by the holders of
Securities on the Company may be given or served by being deposited postage
prepaid by registered or certified mail in a post office letter box addressed
(until another address is filed by the Company with the Trustee for the purpose)
to the Company, 777 East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53201,
Attention: Howard Hopwood.  Any notice, direction, request or demand by any
Securityholder to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently
given or made, for all purposes, if given or made in writing at the office of
the Trustee, 450 W. 33rd Street, New York, NY 10001, Attention:  Corporate
Trustee Administration Department (unless another address is provided by the
Trustee to the Company for the purpose).


                                       69
<PAGE>   79

          Any notice or communication to a Holder shall be mailed by first class
mail to his or her address shown on the register kept by the Registrar.  Failure
to mail a notice or communication to a Holder or any defect in it shall not
affect its sufficiency with respect to other Holders.

          SECTION 13.05.  Governing Law.

          This Indenture and each Security shall be deemed to be a contract made
under the laws of the State of New York, and for all purposes shall be governed
by and construed in accordance with the laws of said State, without regard to
conflicts of laws principles thereof.

          SECTION 13.06.  Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.

          Upon any application or demand by the Company to the Trustee to take
any action under any of the provisions of this Indenture, the Company shall
furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate stating that in the opinion of
the signers 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 have been complied with.

          Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and
delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant
provided for in this Indenture (except pursuant to Section 3.05) shall include
(1) a statement that the person making such certificate or opinion has read such
covenant or condition; (2) a brief statement as to the nature and scope of the
examination or investigation upon which the statements or opinions contained in
such certificate or opinion are based; (3) a statement that, in the opinion of
such person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to
enable him to express an informed opinion as to whether or not such covenant or
condition has been complied with; and (4) a statement as to whether or not, in
the opinion of such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

          SECTION 13.07.  Business Days.

          In any case where the date of payment of principal of or premium, if
any, or interest on the Securities will not be a Business Day, the payment of
such principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities need not be
made on such date but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day, with the
same force and effect as if made on the date of payment and no interest shall
accrue for the period from and after such date.


                                       70
<PAGE>   80

          SECTION 13.08.  Trust Indenture Act to Control.

          If and to the extent that any provision of this Indenture limits,
qualifies or conflicts with the duties imposed by Sections 310 to 317,
inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, such imposed duties shall
control.

          SECTION 13.09. Table of Contents, Headings, etc.

          The table of contents and the titles and headings of the articles and
sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only,
are not to be considered a part hereof, and shall in no way modify or restrict
any of the terms or provisions hereof.

          SECTION 13.10.  Execution in Counterparts.

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

          SECTION 13.11.  Separability.

          In case any one or more of the provisions contained in this Indenture
or in the Securities 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 Indenture or of the Securities,
but this Indenture and the Securities shall be construed as if such invalid or
illegal or unenforceable provision had never been contained herein or therein.

          SECTION 13.12.  Assignment.

          The Company will have the right at all times to assign any of its
respective rights or obligations under this Indenture to a direct or indirect
wholly owned Subsidiary of the Company, provided that, in the event of any such
assignment, the Company will remain primarily liable for all its 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.

          SECTION 13.13.  Acknowledgement of Rights.

          The Company acknowledges that, with respect to any Securities held by
Firstar Capital Trust or a trustee of such trust, if the Property Trustee of
such Trust fails to enforce its rights under this Indenture as the holder of the
Securities held


                                       71
<PAGE>   81

as the assets of Firstar Capital Trust any holder of Capital Securities may
institute legal proceedings directly against the Company to enforce such
Property Trustee's rights under this Indenture without first instituting any
legal proceedings against such Property Trustee or any other person or entity.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, if an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay
principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities when due, the
Company acknowledges that a holder of Capital Securities may directly institute
a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on the Securities having a principal amount equal
to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such holder on
or after the respective due date specified in the Securities.


                                  ARTICLE XIV

                   REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES -- MANDATORY AND
                             OPTIONAL SINKING FUND

          SECTION 14.01.  Special Event Redemption.

          If a Special Event has occurred and is continuing then,
notwithstanding Section 14.02(a) but subject to Section 14.02(c), the Company
shall have the right at any time prior to the Initial Optional Redemption Date,
upon (i) not less than 45 days written notice to the Trustee, which notice shall
be accompanied by an Officers' Certificate certifying that a Special Event
entitling the Company to redeem the Securities pursuant to this Section, has
occurred and (ii) not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days written notice to
the Securityholders, to redeem the Securities, in whole (but not in part),
within 90 days following the occurrence of such Special Event at the Special
Event Redemption Price.  Following a Special Event, the Company shall take such
action as is necessary to promptly determine the Special Event Redemption Price,
including without limitation the appointment by the Company of a Quotation
Agent.  The Special Event Redemption Price shall be paid prior to 12:00 noon,
New York time, on the date of such redemption or such earlier time as the
Company determines, provided that the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an
amount sufficient to pay the Special Event Redemption Price by 10:00 a.m., New
York time, on the date such Special Event Prepayment Price is to be paid.  The
Company shall provide the Trustee with written notice of the Special Event
Redemption Price promptly after the calculation thereof, which notice shall
include any calculation made by the Quotation Agent in connection with the
determination of the Special Event Redemption Price.

          SECTION 14.02.  Optional Redemption by Company.


                                       72
<PAGE>   82

          (a)      Subject to the provisions of this Article XIV, the Company
shall have the right to redeem the Securities, in whole or in part, from time to
time, on or after Initial Optional Redemption Date at the optional redemption
prices set forth below (expressed as percentages of principal) plus accrued and
unpaid interest thereon (including Additional Interest and Compounded Interest,
if any) to the applicable date of redemption (the "Optional Redemption Price"):
if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning December 23 of the years
indicated below.


       Year                                                  Percentage
      
       2006                                                   104.160%
       2007                                                   103.744%
       2008                                                   103.328%
       2009                                                   102.912%
       2010                                                   102.496%
       2011                                                   102.080%
       2012                                                   101.664%
       2013                                                   101.248%
       2014                                                   100.832%
       2015                                                   100.416%
       2016 and thereafter                                    100.000%
      
          If the Securities are only partially redeemed pursuant to this Section
14.02, the Securities 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
Securities are registered as a Global Security, the Depositary shall determine,
in accordance with its procedures, the principal amount of such Securities held
for the account of its participants to be redeemed.  The Optional 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, provided that the
Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount sufficient to pay the Optional
Redemption Price by 10:00 a.m., New York time, on the date such Optional
Redemption Price is to be paid.

          (b)      Notwithstanding the first sentence of Section 14.02, upon the
entry of an order for dissolution of the Firstar Capital Trust by a court of
competent jurisdiction, the Securities thereafter will be subject to optional
redemption, in whole only, but not in part, on or after January 15, 2007, at the
optional redemption prices set forth in Section 14.02 and otherwise in
accordance with this Article XIV.

          (c)      Any redemption of Securities pursuant to Section 14.01 or
Section 14.02 shall be subject to the receipt by the Company of any required
regulatory approval.


                                       73
<PAGE>   83

          SECTION 14.03.   No Sinking Fund.

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

          SECTION 14.04.   Notice of Redemption; Selection of Securities.

          In case the Company shall desire to exercise the right to redeem all,
or, as the case may be, any part of the Securities in accordance with their
terms, it shall fix a date for redemption and shall mail a notice of such
redemption at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for
redemption to the holders of Securities so to be redeemed as a whole or in part
at their last addresses as the same appear on the Security Register.  Such
mailing shall be by first class mail.  The notice if mailed in the manner herein
provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not
the holder receives such notice.  In any case, failure to give such notice by
mail or any defect in the notice to the holder of any Security designated for
redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the
proceedings for the redemption of any other Security.

          Each such notice of redemption shall specify the CUSIP number of the
Securities to be redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the redemption price
at which the Securities are to be redeemed (or the method by which such
redemption price is to be calculated), the place or places of payment, that
payment will be made upon presentation and surrender of the Securities, that
interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in
said notice, and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions
thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue.  If less than all the Securities
are to be redeemed the notice of redemption shall specify the numbers of the
Securities to be redeemed.  In case any Security is to be redeemed in part only,
the notice of redemption shall state the portion of the principal amount thereof
to be redeemed and shall state that on and after the date fixed for redemption,
upon surrender of such Security, a new Security or Securities in principal
amount equal to the unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

          By 10:00 a.m. New York time on the redemption date specified in the
notice of redemption given as provided in this Section, the Company will deposit
with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents an amount of money sufficient
to redeem on the redemption date all the Securities so called for redemption at
the appropriate Redemption Price, together with accrued interest to the date
fixed for redemption.



                                       74
<PAGE>   84

                 The Company will give the Trustee notice not less than 45 days
prior to the redemption date as to the aggregate principal amount of Securities
to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select, in such manner as in its sole
discretion it shall deem appropriate and fair, the Securities or portions
thereof (in integral multiples of $1,000, except as otherwise set forth in the
applicable form of Security) to be redeemed.

                 SECTION 14.05.   Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.

                 If notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section
14.04, the Securities or portions of Securities with respect to which such
notice has been given shall become due and payable on the date and at the place
or places stated in such notice at the applicable Redemption Price, together
with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption (subject to the rights
of holders of Securities on the close of business on a regular record date in
respect of an Interest Payment Date occurring on or prior to the redemption
date), and on and after said date (unless the Company shall default in the
payment of such Securities at the Redemption Price, together with interest
accrued to said date) interest on the Securities or portions of Securities so
called for redemption shall cease to accrue.  On presentation and surrender of
such Securities at a place of payment specified in said notice, the said
Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the
Company at the applicable Redemption Price, together with interest accrued
thereon to the date fixed for redemption (subject to the rights of holders of
Securities on the close of business on a regular record date in respect of an
Interest Payment Date occurring on or prior to the redemption date).

                 Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the
Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and make available for
delivery to the holder thereof, at the expense of the Company, a new Security
or Securities of authorized denominations, in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.


                                       75
<PAGE>   85

                                   ARTICLE XV

                          SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

                 SECTION 15.01.   Agreement to Subordinate.

                 The Company covenants and agrees, and each holder of
Securities issued hereunder likewise covenants and agrees, that the Securities
shall be issued subject to the provisions of this Article XV; and each holder
of a Security, 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 Securities 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 Allocable Amounts with respect to
Senior Indebtedness, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or
thereafter incurred.

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

                 SECTION 15.02.   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, or in the event that the maturity of any Senior
Indebtedness 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
Securities.

                 In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of the
Securities, then 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 Securities until the holders of all Senior Indebtedness outstanding at the
time of such acceleration shall receive payment in full of all Allocable
Amounts due in respect of such Senior Indebtedness (including any amounts due
upon acceleration).

                 In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment
shall be received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the
preceding paragraphs of this Section 15.02, such payment shall be held in trust
for the benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of
Senior Indebtedness


                                       76
<PAGE>   86

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 the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or
representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing, within 90 days of
such payment of the Allocable Amounts then due and owing on such Senior
Indebtedness and only the Allocable Amounts specified in such notice to the
Trustee shall be paid to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

                 SECTION 15.03.   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 Allocable
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 on account of the principal (and
premium, if any) or interest on the Securities; 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 Securityholders or the Trustee would
be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the provisions of this
Article XV, 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 Securityholders or by the Trustee under the Indenture
if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of
the Company (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the respective Allocable
Amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by the
Company) 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, to the extent necessary to pay all Allocable Amounts in respect of 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 Securityholders
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 before all Allocable Amounts in respect of Senior Indebtedness is
paid in


                                       77
<PAGE>   87

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 of 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 remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all Allocable
Amounts in respect of such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance
with its terms, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution
to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.

                 For purposes of this Article XV, 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 XV with respect to the Securities to the payment of Senior Indebtedness
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 Person or the liquidation or
dissolution of the Company following the sale, conveyance, transfer or lease of
its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another Person
upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article X of this Indenture shall
not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization for the
purposes of this Section 15.03 if such other Person shall, as a part of such
consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance, transfer or lease, comply with the
conditions stated in Article X of this Indenture.


                                      78

<PAGE>   88

                 SECTION 15.04.   Subrogation.

                 Subject to the payment in full of all Allocable Amounts in
respect of Senior Indebtedness, the rights of the Securityholders 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, as
the case may be, applicable to such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of
(and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities 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 Securityholders or the Trustee would be entitled except for the
provisions of this Article XV, and no payment over pursuant to the provisions
of this Article XV to or for the benefit of the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness by Securityholders or the Trustee, shall, as between the Company,
its creditors other than holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the
holders of the Securities, 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 XV are and are intended solely for the purposes of defining the
relative rights of the holders of the Securities, on the one hand, and the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness on the other hand.

                 Nothing contained in this Article XV or elsewhere in this
Indenture or in the Securities 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 Securities, the obligation of the Company,
which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the holders of the Securities
the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on the Securities 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
Securities and creditors of the Company, as the case may be, other than the
holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, nor shall
anything herein or therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Security
from exercising all remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon default
under the Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article XV of
the holders of such Senior Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or
securities of the Company, as the case may be, received upon the exercise of
any such remedy.

                 SECTION 15.05.   Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.

                 Each Securityholder by such Securityholder's acceptance
thereof authorizes and directs the Trustee on such Securityholder's behalf to
take such action as may be necessary


                                       79
<PAGE>   89

or appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article XV and
appoints the Trustee such Securityholder's attorney-in-fact for any and all
such purposes.

                 SECTION 15.06.   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
Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV.  Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Article XV or any other provision of this 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 Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Article XV, unless
and until a Responsible Officer of the Trustee assigned to its Principal Office
shall have received written notice thereof 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
Article VI of this 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 15.06 at least two Business
Days prior to the date (i) 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 Security), or (ii) moneys
and/or U.S.  Government Obligations are deposited in trust pursuant to Article
XI then, anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee
shall have full power and authority to receive such money and U.S. Government
Obligations 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 Article VI of this
Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively 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 or representative on behalf of such
holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior
Indebtedness or a trustee or representative 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 any payment or distribution pursuant
to this Article XV, 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


                                       80
<PAGE>   90

payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such
Person under this Article XV, 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.

                 Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company
referred to in this Article XV, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall be
entitled to rely upon any order or decree entered by any court of competent
jurisdiction in which such insolvency, bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation,
reorganization, dissolution, winding up or similar case or proceeding is
pending, or a certificate of the trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee,
custodian, receiver, assignee for the benefit of creditors, agent or other
person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the Trustee or to the
Securityholders, for the purpose of ascertaining the persons entitled to
participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness
and other 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 XV.

                 SECTION 15.07.   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 XV 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, the
Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and
obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article XV, and no implied
covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of 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 Senior Indebtedness and,
subject to the provisions of Article VI of this Indenture, the Trustee shall
not be liable to any holder of Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or
deliver to Securityholders, the Company or any other Person money or assets to
which any holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this
Article XV or otherwise.

                 Nothing in this Article XV shall apply to claims of, or
payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 6.06.


                                       81
<PAGE>   91

                 SECTION 15.08.   Subordination May Not Be Impaired.

                 No right of any present or future holder of any Senior
Indebtedness to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in
any way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of
the 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 may, at any time and from time to
time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Securityholders,
without incurring responsibility to the Securityholders and without impairing
or releasing the subordination provided in this Article XV or the obligations
hereunder of the holders of the Securities to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness, do any one or more of 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.


                                       82
<PAGE>   92

                                  ARTICLE XVI

                      EXTENSION OF INTEREST PAYMENT PERIOD

                 SECTION 16.01.   Extension of Interest Payment Period.

                 So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,
the Company shall have the right, at any time and from time to time during the
term of the Securities, to defer payments of interest by extending the interest
payment period of such Securities for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive
semi-annual periods, including the first such semi-annual period during such
extension period (the "Extended Interest Payment Period"), during which
Extended Interest Payment Period no interest shall be due and payable; provided
that no Extended Interest Payment Period shall end on a date other than an
Interest Payment Date or extend beyond the Maturity Date.  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 16.01, will bear interest thereon at the Coupon Rate compounded
semi-annually for each semi-annual period 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
Securities, including any Additional Interest and Compounded Interest
(together, "Deferred Interest") that shall be payable to the holders of the
Securities in whose names the Securities are registered in the Security
Register on the first record date preceding the end of the Extended Interest
Payment Period.  Before the termination of any Extended Interest Payment
Period, the Company may further defer payments of interest by further extending
such period, provided that such period, together with all such previous and
further extensions within such Extended Interest Payment Period, shall not
exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods, including the first such semi-annual
period during such Extended Interest Payment Period, or extend beyond the
Maturity Date.  Upon the termination of any Extended Interest Payment Period
and the payment of all Deferred Interest then due, the Company may commence 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, but the Company may prepay at any time all
or any portion of the interest accrued during an Extended Interest Payment
Period.

                 SECTION 16.02.   Notice of Extension.

                 (a)  If the Property Trustee is the only registered holder of
the Securities at the time the Company selects an Extended Interest Payment
Period, the Company shall give written

                                       83


<PAGE>   93

notice to the Administrative Trustees, the Property Trustee and the Trustee of
its selection of such Extended Interest Payment Period five Business Days
before the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which Distributions on
the Trust Securities issued by Firstar Capital Trust are payable, or (ii) the
date Firstar Capital Trust is required to give notice of the record date, or
the date such Distributions are payable, to any national securities exchange or
to holders of the Capital Securities issued by Firstar Capital Trust, but in
any event at least five Business Days before such record date.

                 (b)  If the Property Trustee is not the only holder of the
Securities at the time the Company selects an Extended Interest Payment Period,
the Company shall give the holders of the Securities and the Trustee written
notice of its selection of such Extended Interest Payment Period at least 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 any national securities exchange.

                 (c)  The semi-annual period in which any notice is given
pursuant to paragraphs (a) or (b) of this Section 16.02 shall be counted as one
of the 10 semi-annual periods permitted in the maximum Extended Interest
Payment Period permitted under Section 16.01.


                                       84

<PAGE>   94

                 The Chase Manhattan Bank hereby accepts the trusts in this
Indenture declared and provided, upon the terms and conditions hereinabove set
forth.

                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this
Indenture to be duly executed by their respective officers thereunto duly
authorized, as of the day and year first above written.


                                              FIRSTAR CORPORATION


                                              By _______________________________
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:




                                              THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                              as Trustee


                                              By ____________________________
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:

<PAGE>   95


                                   EXHIBIT A

                           (FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY)


                 [IF THE SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY, INSERT:   - THIS
SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE HEREINAFTER
REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE OF A
DEPOSITARY.  THIS SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR SECURITIES REGISTERED IN THE
NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE DEPOSITARY OR ITS NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED
CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY
(OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE DEPOSITARY TO A
NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY TO THE DEPOSITARY
OR ANOTHER NOMINEE OF THE DEPOSITARY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED
CIRCUMSTANCES.

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

                 THIS SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT
OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY
OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW.  NEITHER THIS SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR
PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED,
ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR
UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

                 THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO
OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE DATE (THE "RESALE
RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE") WHICH IS THREE YEARS AFTER THE LATER OF THE
ORIGINAL ISSUANCE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE COMPANY OR ANY
"AFFILIATE" OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR
OF THIS SECURITY) ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION
STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) SO
LONG AS THIS SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A
"QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A) THAT PURCHASES FOR
ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL


                                      A-1

<PAGE>   96

BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON
RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR
OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE
MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE
ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES
AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY
DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER
AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE SECURITIES
ACT, SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE COMPANY PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR
TRANSFER (i) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN
OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO THE
COMPANY, AND (ii) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E), TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF
TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND
DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEREE TO THE COMPANY.  SUCH HOLDER FURTHER AGREES THAT IT
WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE
SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.

                                      A-2




<PAGE>   97

No.                                             CUSIP No.  ______________


                              FIRSTAR CORPORATION

8.32% SERIES __ JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURE
                      DUE DECEMBER 15, 2026

                 Firstar Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company",
which term includes any successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter
referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to ______________ or
registered assigns, the principal sum of _____________ Dollars on December 15,
2026 (the "Maturity Date"), unless previously redeemed, and to pay interest on
the outstanding principal amount hereof from December 23, 1996, 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, semi-annually (subject to
deferral as set forth herein) in arrears on June 15 and December 15 of each
year, commencing June 15, 1997 at the rate of 8.32% per annum until the
principal hereof shall have become due and payable, and at the same rate per
annum 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 semi-annually.  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 and, for any period less than a full calendar month, the number of days
elapsed in such month.  In the event that any date on which the principal of
(or premium, if any) or interest on this Security is payable is not a Business
Day, then the payment 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), with the same force and effect as if made on such
date.  Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, in certain limited
circumstances the Company will be required to pay Liquidated Damages (as
defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) with respect to this Security.

                 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 Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities, 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 first day of the month in which the relevant interest
payment date falls.  Any such interest installment not punctually paid or duly
provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the holders on such regular
record date and may be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one
or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a
special record

                                      A-3


<PAGE>   98

date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such defaulted interest,
notice whereof shall be given to the holders of Securities not less than 10
days prior to such special 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 Securities 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 interest on this
Security 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 that 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 (i) check mailed to the holder at such address as shall appear in
the Security Register or (ii) by transfer to an account maintained by the
Person entitled thereto, provided that proper written transfer instructions
have been received by the relevant record date.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
so long as the Holder of this Security is the Property Trustee, the payment of
the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be
made at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Property
Trustee.

                 The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent
provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the
prior payment in full of all Allocable Amounts in respect of Senior
Indebtedness, and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the
Indenture with respect thereto.  Each holder of this Security, 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 Security shall not be entitled to any benefit under the
Indenture hereinafter referred to, or 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.

                                      A-4

<PAGE>   99

                 The provisions of this Security are continued on the reverse
side hereof and such 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.

                                                   FIRSTAR CORPORATION

                                                By: ____________________________
                                                Name:
                                                Title


Attest:

By: _______________________
Name:
Title:



                    (FORM OF CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION)

                         CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

Dated ______________

THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
as Trustee


By____________________
  Authorized Officer

                                      A-5


<PAGE>   100

                         (FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY)

                 This Security is one of the Securities of the Company (herein
sometimes referred to as the "Securities"), specified in the Indenture, all
issued or to be issued under and pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of December
23, 1996 (the "Indenture"), duly executed and delivered between the Company and
The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (the "Trustee"), to which Indenture
reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of
rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the
Company and the holders of the Securities.

                 Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Special Event, the
Company shall have the right at any time, within 90 days following the
occurrence of a Special Event, prior to December 23, 2006 (the "Initial
Optional Redemption Date"), to redeem this Security in whole (but not in part)
at the Special Event Redemption Price.  "Special Event Redemption Price" shall
mean, with respect to any redemption of the Securities following a Special
Event, an amount in cash equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal
amount to be redeemed or (ii) the sum, as determined by a Quotation Agent, of
the present values of the principal amount and premium payable with respect to
an Optional Redemption (as defined below) on the Initial Optional Redemption
Date, together with scheduled payments of interest on the Securities from the
redemption date to and including the Initial Optional Redemption Date,
discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day
year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus,
in each case, any accrued and unpaid interest thereon, including Compounded
Interest and Additional Interest, if any, to the date of such redemption.

                 In addition, the Company shall have the right to redeem this
Security, in whole or in part, at any time on or after the Initial Optional
Redemption Date (an "Optional Redemption"), at the Optional Redemption Price as
set forth below (expressed as percentages of principal to be redeemed) plus
accrued and unpaid interest thereon (including Additional Interest and
Compounded Interest, if any) to the applicable date of redemption:  if redeemed
during the 12-month period beginning December 23 of the years indicated below.

            Year                                           Percentage

            2006                                            104.160%
            2007                                            103.744%
            2008                                            103.328%
            2009                                            102.912%
            2010                                            102.496%
            2011                                            102.080%

                                      A-6

<PAGE>   101

            2012                                            101.664%
            2013                                            101.248%
            2014                                            100.832%
            2015                                            100.416%
            2016 and thereafter                             100.000%

                 The Optional Redemption Price or the Special Event Redemption
Price, as the case requires, 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, provided, that the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount
sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price by 10:00 a.m., New York City
time, on the date such Redemption Price is to be paid.  Any redemption pursuant
to this paragraph will be made upon not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days
notice.  If the Securities are only partially redeemed by the Company pursuant
to an Optional Redemption, the Securities 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 Securities are registered as a Global Security, the
Depositary shall determine in accordance with its procedures the principal
amount of such Securities held for the account of its participants to be
redeemed.

                 In the event of redemption of this Security in part only, a
new Security or Securities for the unredeemed portion hereof will be issued in
the name of the holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.

                 Notwithstanding the foregoing, any redemption of Securities by
the Company shall be subject to the receipt by the Company of any required
regulatory approval.

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

                 The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and
the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities 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 modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the
Securities; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall,
without the consent of each holder of Securities then outstanding and affected
thereby, (i) extend the Maturity Date of any Securities, or reduce the
principal amount thereof, or reduce any amount payable on redemption thereof,
or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of

                                      A-7



<PAGE>   102

interest thereon (subject to Article XVI of the Indenture), or make the
principal of, or interest or premium on, the Securities payable in any coin or
currency other than U.S. dollars, or impair or affect the right of any holder of
Securities to institute suit for the payment thereof, or (ii) reduce the
aforesaid percentage of Securities, the holders of which are required to consent
to any such supplemental indenture.  The Indenture also contains provisions
permitting the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities at the time outstanding, on behalf of all of the holders of the
Securities, to waive any past default in the performance of any of the covenants
contained in the Indenture, or established pursuant to the Indenture, and its
consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of or premium, if
any, or interest on any of the Securities or a default in respect of any
covenant or provision under which the Indenture cannot be modified or amended
without the consent of each holder of Securities then outstanding.  Any such
consent or waiver by the holder of this Security (unless revoked as provided in
the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all
future holders and owners of this Security and of any Security 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 Security.

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

                 The Company shall have the right, at any time and from time to
time during the term of the Securities, to defer payments of interest by
extending the interest payment period of such Securities for a period not
exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods, including the first such
semi-annual period during such extension period, and not to extend beyond the
Maturity Date of the Securities (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 Securities 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 defer payments of interest by further extending such
Extended Interest Payment Period, provided that such Extended Interest Payment
Period, together with all such previous and further extensions within such
Extended Interest Payment Period, shall not exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual
periods, including the first semi-annual period during such Extended Interest
Payment Period, shall not end on any date other than an Interest

                                      A-8

<PAGE>   103

Payment Date or extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Securities.  Upon the
termination of any such Extended Interest Payment Period and the payment of all
accrued and unpaid interest and any additional amounts then due, the Company
may commence a new Extended Interest Payment Period, subject to the foregoing
requirements.

                 The Company has agreed that it will not (i) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock (which
includes common and preferred stock) or (ii) make any payment of principal,
interest or premium, if any, on or repay or repurchase or redeem any debt
securities of the Company that rank pari passu with or junior in right of
payment to the Securities or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to
any guarantee by the Company of any securities or any Subsidiary of the Company
(including Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu or junior in
right of payment to the Securities (other than (a) dividends or distributions
in shares of, or options, warrants or rights to subscribe for or purchase
shares of, Common Stock of the Company; (b) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with the implementation of a stockholder's rights plan, or the
issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the redemption or
repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto; (c) payments under the Capital
Securities Guarantee; (d) as a direct result of, and only to the extent
required in order to avoid the issuance of fractional shares of capital stock
following a reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or
the conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for
another class or series of the Company's capital stock; (e) the purchase of
fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the
exchange or conversion of such capital stock or the security being exchanged or
converted and (f) purchases of Common Stock related to the issuance of Common
Stock or rights under any of the Company's benefit plans for its directors,
officers or employees or any of the Company's dividend reinvestment plans) if
at such time (i) an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
(ii) there shall have occurred any event of which the Company has actual
knowledge that (a) is, or with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or
both, would be, an Event of Default and (b) in respect of which the Company
shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure, (iii) if such Securities are
held by Firstar Capital Trust, the Company shall be in default with respect to
its payment obligations under the Capital Securities Guarantee or (iv) the
Company shall have given notice of its election of the exercise of its right to
extend the interest payment period and any such extension shall be continuing.

                 The Securities are issuable only in registered form

                                      A-9


<PAGE>   104

without coupons in denominations of $1,000.00 and any integral multiple
thereof.  As provided in the Indenture and subject to the transfer restrictions
limitations as may be contained herein and therein from time to time, this
Security is transferable by the holder hereof on the Security Register of the
Company, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of the Company in the City and State of New York accompanied
by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Security registrar duly executed by the holder hereof or his
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities
of 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
Security, the Company, the Trustee, any authenticating agent, any paying agent,
any transfer agent and the registrar may deem and treat the holder hereof as
the absolute owner hereof (whether or not this Security shall be overdue and
notwithstanding any notice of ownership or writing hereon made by anyone other
than the Security Registrar) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on
account of the principal hereof and premium, if any, and (subject to the
Indenture) interest due hereon and for all other purposes, and neither the
Company nor the Trustee nor any authenticating agent nor any paying agent nor
any transfer agent nor any registrar shall be affected by any notice to the
contrary.

                 No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of
or premium, if any, or interest on this Security, 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
Person, 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.

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

                 THE INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD
TO CONFLICT OF LAW PROVISIONS THEREOF.

                                      A-10




<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.3

                              CERTIFICATE OF TRUST

                                       OF

                            FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I


         This Certificate of Trust is being executed as of December 17, 1996
for the purposes of organizing a business trust pursuant to the Delaware
Business Trust Act, 12 Del. C. Section Section  3801 et seq. (the "Act").

         The undersigned hereby certifies as follows:

         1.      Name.  The name of the business trust is "Firstar Capital
                 Trust I" (the "Trust").

         2.      Delaware Trustee.  The name and business address of the
Delaware resident trustee of the Trust meeting the requirements of Section 3807
of the Act are as follows:

                 Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware
                 1201 Market Street
                 Wilmington, Delaware 19001

         3.      Effective.  This Certificate of Trust shall be effective
immediately upon filing in the Office of the Secretary of State of the State of
Delaware.

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned, being the sole trustee of the
Trust, has duly executed this Certificate of Trust as of the day and year first
above written.


                         Chase Manhattan Bank Delaware
                         not in its individual capacity
                         but solely as Delaware Trustee


                         By: ____________________________
                             Name:
                             Title:




<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.4

                              DECLARATION OF TRUST
                                       OF
                            FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I



         DECLARATION OF TRUST, dated as of December 17, 1996, between Firstar
Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation, as depositor (the "Depositor"), and Chase
Manhattan Bank Delaware, trustee (the "Trustee").  The Depositor and the
Trustee hereby agree as follows:

         1.      The trust created hereby shall be known as Firstar Capital
Trust I (the "Trust"), in which name the Trustee, or the Depositor to the
extent provided herein, may contract, and sue and be sued.

         2.      The Depositor hereby assigns, transfers, conveys and sets over
to the Trust the sum of ten dollars ($10).  Such amount shall constitute the
initial trust estate.  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. Section  3801 et seq. (the "Business Trust Act"), and
that this document constitutes the governing instrument of the Trust.  The
Trustee is hereby authorized and directed to execute and file a certificate of
trust with the Delaware Secretary of State in accordance with the provisions of
the Business Trust Act.

         3.      The Depositor and the Trustee will enter into an amended and
restated Declaration of Trust, satisfactory to each such party and having
substantially the terms described in the offering circular (as referred to
below), to provide for the contemplated operation of the Trust created hereby
and the issuance of the Capital Securities and Common Securities referred to
therein.  Prior to the execution and delivery of such amended and restated
Declaration of Trust, the Trustee shall not have any duty or obligation
hereunder or with respect to 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.

         4.      The Depositor, as the sponsor of the Trust is hereby
authorized, (i) to prepare and distribute one or more offering circulars on
behalf of the Trust, including any necessary or desirable amendments thereto
(including any exhibits contained therein or forming a part thereof), relating
to the Capital Securities of the Trust and certain other securities; (ii) to
file with the Private Offering, Resales and Trading through Automatic Linkages
(PORTAL) Market ("PORTAL") and execute on behalf of the Trust a listing
application or applications and all other applications, statements,
certificates, agreements and other instruments as shall be necessary or
desirable to cause the Capital Securities to be listed on PORTAL; (iii) to file
and
<PAGE>   2

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 the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem
necessary or desirable to register the Capital Securities under, or obtain for
the Capital Securities an exemption from, the securities or "Blue Sky" laws;
(iv) to execute on behalf of the Trust such underwriting or purchase agreements
with one or more underwriters, purchasers or agents relating to the offering of
the Capital Securities as the Depositor, on behalf of the Trust, may deem
necessary or desirable; and (v) to execute on behalf of the Trust any and all
documents, papers and instruments as may be desirable in connection with any of
the foregoing.  If any filing referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above
is required by law or by the rules and regulations of any applicable
governmental agency, self-regulatory organization or other person or
organization to be executed on behalf of the Trust by a Trustee, the Depositor
and any trustee of the Trust appointed pursuant to Section 6 hereof are hereby
authorized to join any such filing and to execute on behalf of the Trust any
and all of the foregoing.

         5.      This Declaration of Trust may be executed in one or more
counterparts.

         6.      The Trustee shall initially be the only trustee of the Trust.
Thereafter, the Depositor may increase or decrease (but not below one) the
number of trustees of the Trust by executing a written instrument fixing such
number; provided, however, that so long as it is required by the Business Trust
Act, one trustee of the Trust shall be either a natural person who is a
resident of the State of Delaware or an entity other than a natural person that
has its principal place of business in the State of Delaware and that, in
either case, otherwise meets the requirements of applicable Delaware law.
Subject to the foregoing, the Depositor is entitled to appoint or remove
without cause any trustee at any time.  The Trustee may resign upon thirty
days' prior written notice to the Depositor.

         7.      This Declaration of Trust shall be governed by, and construed
in accordance with, the laws of the State of Delaware (without regard to
conflict of laws principles).


                                      2
<PAGE>   3

         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.


                                       FIRSTAR CORPORATION                    
                                       Depositor                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                       By: ____________________________       
                                           Name:                              
                                           Title:                             
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                       CHASE MANHATTAN BANK DELAWARE          
                                        not in its individual capacity        
                                        but solely as Delaware Trustee        
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                       By: ____________________________       
                                           Name:                              
                                           Title:                             





                                      3

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.5


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


                        AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION

                                    OF TRUST


                            Firstar Capital Trust I


                         Dated as of December __, 1996



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

<PAGE>   2

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                   ARTICLE I
                         INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----
SECTION 1.1  Definitions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2

                                   ARTICLE II
                              TRUST INDENTURE ACT

SECTION 2.1  Trust Indenture Act; Application . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9 

SECTION 2.2  Lists of Holders of Securities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10 
SECTION 2.3  Reports by the Property Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10 
SECTION 2.4  Periodic Reports to Property Trustee   . . . . . . . . . . .  11 
SECTION 2.5  Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent . . . . . .  11 
SECTION 2.6  Events of Default; Waiver  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  11 
SECTION 2.7  Event of Default; Notice   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  13

                                ARTICLE III
                                ORGANIZATION

SECTION 3.1  Name   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14 
SECTION 3.2  Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14 
SECTION 3.3  Purpose  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14 
SECTION 3.4  Authority  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14 
SECTION 3.5  Title to Property of the Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15 
SECTION 3.6  Powers and Duties of the Administrative Trustees . . . . . .  15 
SECTION 3.7  Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the Trustees . . . .  18 
SECTION 3.8  Powers and Duties of the Property Trustee  . . . . . . . . .  19
SECTION 3.9  Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the 
             Property Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  22 
SECTION 3.10 Certain Rights of Property Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . .  24 
SECTION 3.11 Delaware Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26 
SECTION 3.12 Execution of Documents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  26 
SECTION 3.13 Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities . . .  27 
SECTION 3.14 Duration of Trust  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27 
SECTION 3.15 Mergers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27

                                 ARTICLE IV
                                  SPONSOR

SECTION 4.1  Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities  . . . . . . . . . .  29 
SECTION 4.2  Responsibilities of the Sponsor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  29 
SECTION 4.3  Right to Proceed . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  30





                                     i

<PAGE>   3

                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----
                                   ARTICLE V
                                    TRUSTEES

SECTION 5.1  Number of Trustees: Appointment of Co-Trustee  . . . . . . . . 30
SECTION 5.2  Delaware Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
SECTION 5.3  Property Trustee; Eligibility  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 31
SECTION 5.4  Certain Qualifications of Administrative Trustees and 
             Delaware Trustee Generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
SECTION 5.5  Administrative Trustees  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 32
SECTION 5.6  Delaware Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 33
SECTION 5.7  Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees . . . . . . . 33
SECTION 5.8  Vacancies among Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
SECTION 5.9  Effect of Vacancies  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
SECTION 5.10 Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 35
SECTION 5.11 Delegation of Power  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 36
Section 5.12 Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business. . 36

                                 ARTICLE VI
                               DISTRIBUTIONS

SECTION 6.1  Distributions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 37

                                ARTICLE VII
                           ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES

SECTION 7.1  General Provisions Regarding Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . 37 
SECTION 7.2  Execution and Authentication   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 38
SECTION 7.3  Form and Dating  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 39
SECTION 7.4  Registrar, Paying Agent and Exchange Agent . . . . . . . . . . 41
SECTION 7.5  Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 41
SECTION 7.6  Replacement Securities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
SECTION 7.7  Outstanding Capital Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
SECTION 7.8  Capital Securities in Treasury . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42
SECTION 7.9  Temporary Securities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 43
SECTION 7.10 Cancellation   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

                                ARTICLE VIII
                            TERMINATION OF TRUST

SECTION 8.1  Termination of Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44

                                 ARTICLE IX
                           TRANSFER OF INTERESTS

SECTION 9.1  Transfer of Securities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 45




                                       ii
<PAGE>   4

                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----

SECTION 9.2  Transfer Procedures and Restrictions . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46
SECTION 9.3  Deemed Security Holders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55
SECTION 9.4  Book Entry Interests   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 55 
SECTION 9.5  Notices to Clearing Agency   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56
SECTION 9.6  Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency . . . . . . . . . . . 56

                                 ARTICLE X
                         LIMITATION OF LIABILITY OF
                 HOLDERS OF SECURITIES, TRUSTEES OR OTHERS

SECTION 10.1 Liability  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 56 
SECTION 10.2 Exculpation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 
SECTION 10.3 Fiduciary Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 57 
SECTION 10.4 Indemnification  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 58 
SECTION 10.5 Outside Businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 61

                                 ARTICLE XI
                                 ACCOUNTING

SECTION 11.1 Fiscal Year  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 
SECTION 11.2 Certain Accounting Matters . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 62 
SECTION 11.3 Banking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63 
SECTION 11.4 Withholding  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 63

                                ARTICLE XII
                          AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS

SECTION 12.1 Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 64
SECTION 12.2 Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action by Written 
             Consent  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 66

                                ARTICLE XIII
                    REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE
                            AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE

SECTION 13.1 Representations and Warranties of Property Trustee  . . . . .  68
SECTION 13.2 Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trustee  . . . . .  68

                                ARTICLE XIV
                            REGISTRATION RIGHTS

SECTION 14.1 Registration Rights Agreement; Liquidated Damages . . . . . .  69

                                 ARTICLE XV
                               MISCELLANEOUS


                                     iii

<PAGE>   5

                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----

  SECTION 15.1 Notices  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   71
  SECTION 15.2 Governing Law  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   73
  SECTION 15.3 Intention of the Parties . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   73
  SECTION 15.4 Headings   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   73
  SECTION 15.5 Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   73
  SECTION 15.6 Partial Enforceability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   73
  SECTION 15.7 Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   73
  ANNEX I      TERMS OF SECURITIES  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  I-1
  EXHIBIT A-1  FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE . . . . . . . . . . . A1-1
  EXHIBIT A-2  FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE  . . . . . . . . . . . A2-1
  EXHIBIT B    SPECIMEN OF DEBENTURE  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  B-1
  EXHIBIT C    PURCHASE AGREEMENT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  C-1





                                       iv
<PAGE>   6
                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                              DECLARATION OF TRUST
                                       OF
                            FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I

                               December __, 1996


     AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST ("Declaration") dated and
effective as of December __, 1996, by the Trustees (as defined herein), the
Sponsor (as defined herein) 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 Firstar Capital Trust I
(the "Trust"), a trust formed under the Delaware Business Trust Act pursuant to
a Declaration of Trust dated as of December __, 1996 (the "Original
Declaration"), and a Certificate of Trust filed with the Secretary of State of
the State of Delaware on December 17, 1996, 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 Debentures of
the Debenture Issuer (each as hereinafter defined);

     WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no interests in the Trust have been issued;

     WHEREAS, all of the Trustees and the Sponsor, by this Declaration, amend
and restate each and every term and provision of the Original Declaration; and

     NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties hereto to continue
the Trust as a business trust under the Business Trust Act and that this
Declaration constitute 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.

<PAGE>   7

                                   ARTICLE I
                         INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS

SECTION 1.1   Definitions.

     Unless the context otherwise requires:

     (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 as modified, supplemented or amended from time to time;

     (d)   all references in this Declaration to Articles and Sections and
Annexes and Exhibits are to Articles and Sections of and Annexes 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.

     "Administrative Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.1.

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

     "Agent" means any Paying Agent, Registrar or Exchange Agent.

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

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

                                       2

<PAGE>   8

     "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday or a day on
which banking institutions in the City of New York or Wilmington, Delaware are
authorized or required by law or executive order to close.

     "Business Trust Act" means Chapter 38 of Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12
Del. Code Section 3801 et seq., as it may be amended from time to time, or any
successor legislation.

     "Capital 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).

     "Capital Securities" means, collectively, the Series A Capital Securities
and the Series B Capital Securities.

     "Capital Securities Guarantee" means, collectively, the Series A Capital
Securities Guarantee and the Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.

     "Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a "Clearing Agency"
pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act that is acting as depositary for the
Capital 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 Capital 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.

     "Closing Time" means the "Closing Time" under the Purchase Agreement.

     "Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to
time, or any successor legislation.

     "Commission" means the United States Securities and Exchange Commission as
from time to time constituted, or if any time after the execution of this
Declaration such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now
assigned to it under applicable Federal securities laws, then the body
performing such duties at such time.

                                       3


<PAGE>   9

     "Common Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1(a).

     "Common Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement dated as of
December [  ], 1996 of the Sponsor in respect of the Common Securities.

     "Company Indemnified Person" means (a) any Administrative Trustee; (b) any
Affiliate of any Administrative Trustee; (c) any officers, directors,
shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives or agents of any
Administrative Trustee; or (d) any officer, employee or agent of the Trust or
its Affiliates.

     "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Property Trustee at which
the corporate trust business of the Property Trustee shall, at any particular
time, be principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this
Agreement is located at 101 Barclay Street, 21 West, New York, New York 10286.

     "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.

     "Debenture Issuer" means Firstar, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation, or any
successor entity resulting from any consolidation, amalgamation, merger or other
business combination, in its capacity as issuer of the Debentures under the
Indenture.

     "Debenture Trustee" means Chase Manhattan Bank, a New York banking
corporation, as trustee under the Indenture until a successor is appointed
thereunder, and thereafter means such successor trustee.

     "Debentures" means, collectively, the Series A Debentures and the Series B
Debentures.

     "Default" means an event, act or condition that with notice of lapse of
time, or both, would constitute an Event of Default.

     "Definitive Capital Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
7.3(c).

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

     "Direct Action" shall have the meaning set forth in 

                                       4

<PAGE>   10

Section 3.8(e).

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

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

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

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

     "Exchange Agent" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4.

     "Exchange Offer" means the offer that may be made pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement (i) by the Trust to exchange Series B Capital
Securities for Series A Capital Securities and (ii) by the Debenture Issuer to
exchange Series B Debentures for Series A Debentures and the Series B Capital
Securities Guarantee for the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee.

     "Federal Reserve Board" means the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve
System.

     "Fiduciary Indemnified Person" has the meaning set forth in Section
10.4(b).

     "Global Capital Securities" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).

     "Global Capital Security" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.3(a).

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

     "Indemnified Person" means a Company Indemnified Person or a Fiduciary
Indemnified Person.

     "Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of December [  ], 1996, among the
Debenture Issuer and Chase Manhattan Bank, as amended from time to time.

     "Investment Company" means an investment company as 

                                       5
<PAGE>   11

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).

     "Majority in liquidation amount" means, with respect to the Trust
Securities, except as provided in the terms of the Capital Securities or by the
Trust Indenture Act, Holder(s) of outstanding Trust Securities voting together
as a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital
Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a
class, who are the record owners of more than 50% of the aggregate liquidation
amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption,
liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon
which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of
the relevant class.

     "Ministerial Action" has the meaning set forth in Annex I hereto.

     "Offering Memorandum" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(b).

     "Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a certificate
signed by the Chairman, a Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive Officer, the
President, a Vice President, the Comptroller, the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary, or the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of such Person.  Any
Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a condition or
covenant provided for in this Declaration shall include:

     (a)   a statement that each officer signing the Certificate has read the
covenant or condition and the definitions 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

                                       6
<PAGE>   12


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

     "Opinion of Counsel" shall mean a written opinion of counsel, who may be an
employee of the Sponsor, and who shall be acceptable to the Property Trustee.

     "Paying Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 7.4.

     "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.

     "Property Trustee" has the meaning set forth in Section 5.3(a).

     "Property Trustee Account" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.8(c).

     "Purchase Agreement" means the Purchase Agreement for the initial offering
and sale of Capital Securities in the form of Exhibit C.

     "QIBs" shall mean qualified institutional buyers as defined in Rule 144A.

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

     "Registrar" has the meaning set forth in Section 7.4.

     "Registration Rights Agreement" means the Registration Rights Agreement
dated as of December [  ], 1996, by and among the Trust, the Debenture Issuer
and the Initial Purchaser[s] named therein, as amended from time to time.

     "Registration Statement" has the meaning set forth in the Registration
Rights Agreement.

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


                                       7
<PAGE>   13

     "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Property Trustee, any
officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Property Trustee, including any
vice-president, any assistant vice-president, any assistant secretary, the
treasurer, any assistant treasurer or other officer of the Corporate Trust
Office 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.

                       CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

     "Restricted Definitive Capital Securities" has the meaning set forth in
Section 7.3(c).

     "Restricted Capital Security" means a Capital Security required by Section
9.2 to contain a Restricted Securities Legend.

     "Restricted Securities Legend" has the meaning set forth in Section 9.2.

     "Rule 3a-5" means Rule 3a-5 under the Investment Company Act, or any
successor rule or regulation.

     "Rule 144" means Rule 144 under the Securities Act, as such rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the Commission.

     "Rule 144A" means Rule 144A under the Securities Act, as such rule may be
amended from time to time, or any similar rule or regulation hereafter adopted
by the Commission.

     "Securities" or "Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the
Capital Securities.

     "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to
time, or any successor legislation.

     "Securities Guarantees" means the Common Securities Guarantee and the
Capital Securities Guarantee.

     "Series A Capital Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1(a).

     "Series B Capital Securities" has the meaning specified in Section 7.1(a).

     "Series A Capital Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement dated
as of December [  ], 1996 of Sponsor in 

                                       8
<PAGE>   14

respect of the Series A Capital Securities.

     "Series B Capital Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement to be
entered in connection with the Exchange Offer by the Sponsor in respect of the
Series B Capital Securities.

     "Series A Debentures" means the Series A __% Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures due January 15, 2027 of the Debenture Issuer issued pursuant
to the Indenture.

     "Series B Debentures" means the Series B __% Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures due January 15, 2027 of the Debenture Issuer issued pursuant
to the Indenture.

     "Special Event" has the meaning set forth in Annex I hereto.

     "Sponsor" means Firstar, Inc., a Wisconsin corporation, or any successor
entity resulting from any merger, consolidation, amalgamation or other business
combination, in its capacity as sponsor of the Trust.

     "Super Majority" has the meaning set forth in Section 2.6(a)(ii).

     "10% in liquidation amount" means, with respect to the Trust Securities,
except as provided in the terms of the Capital Securities or by the Trust
Indenture Act, Holder(s) of outstanding Trust Securities voting together as a
single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding Capital
Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting separately as a
class, who are the record owners of 10% or more of the aggregate liquidation
amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption,
liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date upon
which the voting percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of
the relevant class.

     "Treasury Regulations" means the 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 provi-

                                       9
<PAGE>   15

sions 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 from
time to time, or any successor legislation.

   "Unrestricted Global Capital Security" has the meaning set forth in Section
9.2(b).


                                   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 Section Section  310
to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act, such imposed duties shall
control.

     (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.

                                     10

<PAGE>   16

SECTION 2.2     Lists of Holders of Securities.

     (a)        Each of the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of
the Trust shall provide the Property Trustee, unless the Property Trustee is
Registrar for the Securities (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 ("List of
Holders") as of such record date, provided that neither the Sponsor nor the
Administrative 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 and the
Administrative 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 the 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.

     (b)        The Property Trustee shall comply with its obligations under
Section Section  311(a), 311(b) and 312(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.3      Reports by the Property Trustee.

     Within 60 days after December 15 of each year, commencing December 15,
1997, the Property Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Capital
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 Property Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of
Section  313(d) of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.4      Periodic Reports to Property Trustee.

     Each of the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust
shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents, reports and information as
are 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.


                                       11
<PAGE>   17


SECTION 2.5     Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent.

     Each of the Sponsor and the Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust
shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of compliance with any
conditions precedent provided for in this Declaration that 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) of
the Trust Indenture Act 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 Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital
Securities, waive any past Event of Default in respect of the Capital Securities
and its consequences, provided that, if the underlying Event of Default under
the Indenture:

          (i)   is not waivable under the Indenture, the Event of Default under
     the Declaration shall also not be waivable; or

          (ii)  requires the consent or vote of greater than a majority in
     aggregate principal amount of the holders of the Debentures (a "Super
     Majority") to be waived under the Indenture, the Event of Default under the
     Declaration may only be waived by the vote of the Holders of at least the
     proportion in aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities that
     the relevant Super Majority represents of the aggregate principal amount of
     the Debentures outstanding.

The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(a) shall be in lieu of Section
316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the
Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and the
Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.  Upon such waiver, any 
such default shall cease to exist, and any Event of Default with respect to 
the Capital 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 an Event of Default with respect to the Capital
Securities or impair any right consequent thereon.  Any waiver by the Holders
of the Capital Securities of an Event of Default with respect to the Capital
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 for all purposes of this 


                                       12
<PAGE>   18


Declaration without any further act, vote, or consent of the Holders of 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 underlying Event of
Default under the Indenture:

               (i)   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 in this Section
          2.6(b), the Event of Default under the Declaration shall also not be
          waivable; or

               (ii)  requires the consent or vote of a Super Majority to be
          waived, except where the Holders of the Common Securities are deemed
          to have waived such Event of Default under the Declaration as provided
          below in this Section 2.6(b), the Event of Default under the
          Declaration may only be waived by the vote of the Holders of at least
          the proportion in aggregate liquidation amount of the Common
          Securities that the relevant Super Majority represents of the
          aggregate principal amount of the Debentures outstanding;

provided further, 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 and its consequences if all Events of Default with respect to
the Capital 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 Capital Securities and only the Holders of the Capital
Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee in accordance
with the terms of the Securities.  The foregoing provisions of this Section
2.6(b) shall be in lieu of Section Section  316(a)(1)(A) and 316(a)(1)(B) of
the Trust Indenture Act and such Section Section  316(a)(1)(A) and 316(a)(1)(B)
of the Trust Indenture Act are hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration
and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.  Subject to the
foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(b), 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, 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 Inden-


                                       13
<PAGE>   19

ture by the Property Trustee, at the direction of the Holders of the Capital
Securities, constitutes a waiver of the corresponding Event of Default under
this Declaration.  The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(c) shall be in
lieu of Section  316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Section
316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this
Declaration and the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.
        
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 all defaults with respect to the Securities actually known to a
Responsible Officer of 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 Debentures, the Property Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible Officer of the Property
Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such notice is in the
interests of the Holders.

          (b)       The Property Trustee shall not be deemed to have knowledge 
of any default except:

          (i)       a default under Sections 5.01(a) and 5.01(b) of the 
     Indenture; or
  
          (ii)      any default as to which the Property Trustee shall have 
     received written notice or of which a Responsible Officer of the Property 
     Trustee charged with the administration of the Declaration shall have 
     actual knowledge.

     (c)        Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of
Default actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall
transmit notice of such Event of Default to the holders of the Capital
Securities, the Administrative Trustees and the Sponsor, unless such Event of
Default shall have been cured or waived.  The Sponsor and the Administrative
Trustees shall file annually with the Property Trustee a certification as to
whether or not they are in compliance with all the conditions and covenants
applicable to them under this Declaration.

                                       14
<PAGE>   20
        

                                  ARTICLE III
                                  ORGANIZATION

SECTION 3.1      Name.

     The Trust is named "Firstar Capital Trust I" as such name may be modified
from time to time by the Administrative 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 Administrative Trustees.

SECTION 3.2      Office.

     The address of the principal office of the Trust is c/o Firstar, Inc., 777
East Wisconsin Avenue, Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53202.  On ten Business Days written
notice to the Holders of Securities, the Administrative 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, (b) use the proceeds from the sale of the Securities to acquire the
Debentures, and (c) except as otherwise limited herein, to engage in only those
other activities necessary, advisable or incidental thereto.  The Trust shall
not borrow money, issue debt or reinvest proceeds derived from investments,
mortgage or pledge any of its assets, or otherwise undertake (or permit to be
undertaken) any activity that would cause the Trust not to be classified for
United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust.

SECTION 3.4      Authority.

     Subject to the limitations provided in this Declaration and to the specific
duties of the Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees shall have exclusive
and complete authority to carry out the purposes of the Trust. An action taken
by the Administrative 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 on behalf of the Trust 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.


                                       15
<PAGE>   21

SECTION 3.5      Title to Property of the Trust.

     Except as provided in Section 3.8 with respect to the Debentures and the
Property Trustee 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 to 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 Administrative Trustees.

     The Administrative Trustees shall have the exclusive power, duty and
authority to cause the Trust to engage in the following activities:

     (a)         to issue and sell the Securities in accordance with this
Declaration; provided, however, that except, in the case of (i) and (ii), as
contemplated in Section 7.1(a), (i) the Trust may issue no more than one series
of Capital Securities and no more than one series of Common Securities, (ii)
there shall be no interests in the Trust other than the Securities, and (iii)
the issuance of Securities shall be limited to a simultaneous issuance of both
Capital Securities and Common Securities at any Closing Time,

     (b)        in connection with the issue and sale of the Capital Securities
and the consummation of the Exchange Offer, at the direction of the Sponsor, to:

          (i)   prepare and execute, if necessary, an offering memorandum
     (the "Offering Memorandum") in preliminary and final form prepared by the
     Sponsor, in relation to the offering and sale of Series A Capital
     Securities to qualified institutional buyers in reliance on Rule 144A under
     the Securities Act and to institutional "accredited investors" (as defined
     in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the Securities Act), and to
     execute and file with the Commission, at such time as determined by the
     Sponsor, any Registration Statement, including any amendments thereto, as
     contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement;

          (ii)   execute and file any documents prepared by the Sponsor, or
     take any acts as determined by the Sponsor to be necessary in order to
     qualify or register all or part of the Capital Securities in any State in
     which the Sponsor has determined to qualify or register such Capital
     Securities for sale;

          (iii)  at the direction of the Sponsor, execute and 

                                       16
<PAGE>   22

          file an application, prepared by the Sponsor, to the New York Stock
          Exchange or any other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq Stock
          Market's National Market for listing or quotation of the Capital
          Securities;

                 (iv)    to execute and deliver letters, documents, or
         instruments with DTC and other Clearing Agencies relating to the
         Capital Securities;

                 (v)     if required, execute and file with the Commission a
         registration statement on Form 8-A, including any amendments thereto,
         prepared by the Sponsor, relating to the registration of the Capital
         Securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act; and

                 (vi)    execute and enter into the Purchase Agreement and
         the Registration Rights Agreement providing for the sale of the
         Capital Securities;

                 (c)     to acquire the Series A Debentures with the
proceeds of the sale of the Series A Capital Securities and the Common
Securities and to exchange the Series A Debentures for a like principal amount
of Series B Debentures, pursuant to the Exchange Offer; provided, however, that
the Administrative Trustees shall cause legal title to the Debentures to be
held of record in the name of the Property Trustee for the benefit of the
Holders;

                 (d)     to give the Sponsor and the Property Trustee prompt
written notice of the occurrence of 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 and with respect to, for the purposes of Section 316(c) of the Trust
Indenture Act, Distributions, voting rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to
issue relevant notices to the Holders of Capital Securities and Holders of
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 Administrative 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 Section 3.8(e), the
Property Trustee has the exclusive power to bring such Legal Action;

                 (h)     to employ or otherwise engage employees and 


                                     17

<PAGE>   23


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 required by Section
314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act to the Property Trustee, which certificate
may be executed by any Administrative Trustee;

                 (k)     to incur expenses that 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 Exchange Agent for the Securities or to appoint a Paying Agent
for the Securities as provided in Section 7.4 except for such time as such
power to appoint a Paying Agent is vested in the Property Trustee;

                 (m)     to give prompt written notice to the Property
Trustee and to Holders of any notice received from the Debenture Issuer of its
election to defer payments of interest on the Debentures by extending the
interest payment period under the Indenture;

                 (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 that 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 Capital 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, that the Administrative 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 classified for United



                                       18
<PAGE>   24

         States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust; and

                 (iii)   cooperating with the Debenture Issuer to ensure
         that the Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Debenture
         Issuer for United States federal income tax purposes.

                 (q)     to take all action necessary to consummate the
Exchange Offer or otherwise cause the Capital Securities to be registered
pursuant to an effective registration statement in accordance with the
provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement.

                 (r)     to take all action necessary to cause all
applicable tax returns and tax information reports that are required to be
filed with respect to the Trust to be duly prepared and filed by the
Administrative Trustees, on behalf of the Trust.

                 The Administrative Trustees must exercise the powers set forth
in this Section 3.6 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and
functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3, and the Administrative Trustees
shall not take any action that is inconsistent with the purposes and functions
of the Trust set forth in Section 3.3.

                 Subject to this Section 3.6, the Administrative Trustees shall
have none of the powers or the authority of the Property Trustee set forth in
Section 3.8.

                 Any expenses incurred by the Administrative Trustees pursuant
to this Section 3.6 shall be reimbursed by the Debenture Issuer.

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 not, engage in any activity other than as required or authorized
by this Declaration.  The Trust shall not:

     (i)        invest any proceeds received by the Trust from holding the
Debentures, but shall distribute all such proceeds to Holders 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

                                       19
<PAGE>   25

     purpose;

          (iv)   make any loans or incur any indebtedness other than loans
     represented by the Debentures;

          (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)  other than as provided in this Declaration or Annex I, (A)
     direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding with respect
     to any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercising any trust
     or power conferred upon the Debenture Trustee with respect to the
     Debentures, (B) waive any past default that is waivable under the
     Indenture, (C) exercise any right to rescind or annul any declaration that
     the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable, or (D)
     consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture or
     the Debentures where such consent shall be required unless the Trust shall
     have received an opinion of a nationally recognized independent tax counsel
     experienced in such matters 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 not be classified as a grantor trust.

SECTION 3.8     Powers and Duties of the Property Trustee.

     (a)        The legal title to the Debentures shall be owned by and held of
record in the name of the Property Trustee in trust for the benefit of the
Holders.  The right, title and interest of the Property Trustee to the
Debentures shall vest automatically in each Person who may hereafter be
appointed as Property Trustee in accordance with Section 5.7.  Such vesting and
cessation of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents with
regard to the Debentures have been executed and delivered.

     (b)        The Property Trustee shall not transfer its right, title and
interest in the Debentures to the Administrative Trustees or to the Delaware
Trustee (if the Property Trustee does not also act as Delaware Trustee).

     (c)        The Property Trustee shall:

                                     20

<PAGE>   26

          (i)        establish and maintain a segregated non-interest bearing
     trust account (the "Property Trustee Account") in the name of and under the
     exclusive control of the Property Trustee on behalf of the Holders and,
     upon the receipt of payments of funds made in respect of the Debentures
     held by the Property Trustee, deposit such funds into the Property Trustee
     Account and make payments to the Holders of the Capital Securities and
     Holders of the Common Securities from the Property Trustee Account in
     accordance with Section 6.1.  Funds in the Property Trustee Account shall
     be held uninvested until disbursed in accordance with this Declaration.
     The Property Trustee Account shall be an account that is maintained with a
     banking institution the rating on whose long-term unsecured indebtedness is
     at least equal to the rating assigned to the Capital 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 Common Securities to the
     extent the Debentures are redeemed or mature; and

          (iii)      upon written notice of distribution issued by the
     Administrative Trustees in accordance with the terms of the Securities,
     engage in such ministerial activities as shall be necessary or appropriate
     to effect the distribution of the Debentures to Holders of Securities upon
     the occurrence of certain events.

          (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)        Subject to Section 3.9(a), the Property Trustee shall take
any Legal Action which arises out of or in connection with an Event of Default
of which a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee has actual knowledge or
the Property Trustee's duties and obligations under this Declaration or the
Trust Indenture Act and if such Property Trustee shall have failed to take such
Legal Action, the Holders of the Capital Securities may take such Legal Action,
to the same extent as if such Holders of Capital Securities held an aggregate
principal amount of Debentures equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of such
Capital Securities, without first proceeding against the Property Trustee or the
Trust; provided however, that if an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer
to pay the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures on the
date such 

                                     21

<PAGE>   27
principal, premium, if any, or interest is otherwise payable (or in the case of
redemption, on the redemption date), then a Holder of Capital Securities may
directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the
principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures having a
principal amount equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities of such Holder (a "Direct Action") on or after the respective due
date specified in the Debentures.  In connection with such Direct Action, the
rights of the Holders of the Common Securities will be subrogated to the rights
of such Holder of Capital Securities to the extent of any payment made by the
Debenture Issuer to such Holder of Capital Securities in such Direct Action.
Except as provided in the preceding sentences, the Holders of Capital Securities
will not be able to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders
of the Debentures.
        
          (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 pursuant to the terms of the
     Securities; or

          (ii)   a Successor Property Trustee has been appointed and has
     accepted that appointment in accordance with Section 5.7.

          (g)    The Property Trustee shall have the legal power to exercise all
of the rights, powers and privileges of a holder of Debentures under the
Indenture and, if an Event of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of
the Property Trustee occurs and is continuing, the Property Trustee shall, for
the benefit of Holders, enforce its rights as holder of the Debentures subject
to the rights of the Holders pursuant to the terms of such Securities.

          (h)    The Property Trustee shall be authorized to undertake any
actions set forth in Section  317(a) of the Trust Indenture Act.

          (i)    For such time as the Property Trustee is the Paying Agent, the
Property Trustee may authorize one or more Persons to act as additional Paying
Agents and to pay Distributions, redemption payments or liquidation payments on
behalf of the Trust with respect to all securities and any such Paying Agent
shall comply with Section 317(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.  Any such
additional Paying Agent may be removed by the Property Trustee at any time the
Property Trustee remains as Paying Agent and a successor Paying Agent or
additional Paying Agents may be (but 

                                     22


<PAGE>   28

are not required to be) appointed at any time by the Property Trustee.

          (j)  Subject to this Section 3.8, the Property Trustee shall
have none of the duties, liabilities, powers or the authority of the
Administrative Trustees set forth in Section 3.6.

          The Property Trustee must exercise the powers set forth in this
Section 3.8 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and functions of
the Trust set out in Section 3.3, and the Property Trustee shall not take any
action that 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 Trust 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 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)
of which a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee has actual knowledge, 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 an 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 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 in the Securities, and no implied
          covenants or obligations shall be read into this Declaration against
          the Property Trustee; and

                                     23

<PAGE>   29


                 (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 expressed
          therein, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the Property
          Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this Declaration;
          provided, however, that 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 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;

          (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
     grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds or liability is not
     reasonably assured to it under the terms of this Declaration or indemnity
     reasonably satisfactory to the Property Trustee against such risk or
     liability is not reasonably assured to it;

          (v)    the Property Trustee's sole duty with respect to the
     custody, safe keeping and physical preservation of the Debentures and the
     Property Trustee Account shall be to deal with such property in a similar
     manner as the Property Trustee deals with similar property for its own
     account, subject to the protections and limitations on liability afforded
     to the Property Trustee under this Declaration and the Trust Indenture Act;

          (vi)   the Property Trustee shall have no duty or lia-

                                     24


<PAGE>   30

 
        bility for or with respect to the value, genuineness, existence or
        sufficiency of the Debentures or the payment of any taxes or
        assessments levied thereon or in connection therewith;

           (vii)  the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any interest on
        any money received by it except as it may otherwise agree in writing
        with the Sponsor.  Money held by the Property Trustee need not be
        segregated from other funds held by it except in relation to the
        Property Trustee Account maintained by the Property Trustee pursuant to
        Section 3.8(c)(i) and except to the extent otherwise required by law;
        and

           (viii) the Property Trustee shall not be responsible for monitoring
        the compliance by the Administrative Trustees or the Sponsor with their
        respective duties under this Declaration, nor shall the Property Trustee
        be liable for any default or misconduct of the Administrative Trustees
        or the Sponsor.

SECTION 3.10       Certain Rights of Property Trustee.

             (a)   Subject to the provisions of Section 3.9:

             (i)   the Property Trustee may conclusively 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 Sponsor or the Administrative
        Trustees contemplated by this Declaration may be sufficiently evidenced
        by 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, request and
        conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of
        such request, shall be promptly delivered by the Sponsor or the
        Administrative Trustees;

             (iv)  the Property Trustee shall have no duty to see to any
        recording, filing or registration of any instrument 

                                     25

<PAGE>   31


        (including any financing or continuation statement or any filing under
        tax or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or registration
        thereof;

             (v)    the Property Trustee may consult with counsel or other
        experts of its selection and the advice or opinion of such counsel and
        experts with respect to legal matters or advice within the scope of such
        experts' area of expertise 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 security and indemnity, reasonably
        satisfactory to the Property Trustee, against the costs, expenses
        (including reasonable attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of
        the Property Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) 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
        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, custodians, nominees 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;

                                     26

<PAGE>   32

             (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 which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same
        proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities as would be entitled
        to direct the Property Trustee under the terms of the Securities in
        respect of such remedy, right or action, (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 conclusively relying on or
        acting in or accordance with such instructions;

             (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;
        and

             (xii) the Property Trustee shall not be liable for any action
        taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in good faith, without
        negligence, and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the
        discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Declaration.

             (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.

                                     27

<PAGE>   33


     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
Administrative Trustees or 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 Section 3807 of
the Business Trust Act.

SECTION 3.12  Execution of Documents.

     Unless otherwise determined by the Administrative Trustees, and except as
otherwise required by the Business Trust Act, a majority of the Administrative
Trustees or, if there are only two, any Administrative Trustee or, if there is
only one, such Administrative Trustee is authorized to execute on behalf of the
Trust any documents that the Administrative Trustees have the power and
authority to execute pursuant to Section 3.6; provided that, the registration
statement referred to in Section 3.6(b)(i), including any amendments thereto,
shall be signed by all of the Administrative Trustees.


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.

SECTION 3.14  Duration of Trust.

     The Trust, unless terminated pursuant to the provisions of Article VIII
hereof, shall have existence up to January 15, 2028.

SECTION 3.15  Mergers.

     (a)      The Trust may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate,
or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any Person, except as described in Section
3.15(b) and (c).

     (b)      The Trust may, at the request of the Sponsor, with the consent
of the Administrative Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of the
Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the Holders, the Delaware
Trustee or the 

                                     28

<PAGE>   34

Property Trustee, merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be replaced
by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or
substantially as an entirety to, 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 Securities; or

               (B)  substitutes for the Securities other securities having
          substantially the same terms as the Securities (the "Successor
          Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the
          Securities rank with respect to Distributions and payments upon
          liquidation, redemption and otherwise;

          (ii)  the Sponsor expressly appoints a trustee of the Successor
     Entity that possesses the same powers and duties as the Property Trustee as
     the Holder of the Debentures;

          (iii) the Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor
     Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national
     securities exchange or with another organization on which the Capital
     Securities are then listed or quoted;

          (iv)  such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
     conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the Capital Securities
     (including any Successor Securities) to be downgraded by any nationally
     recognized statistical rating organization;

          (v)   such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
     conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely affect the rights,
     preferences and privileges of the Holders (including any Successor
     Securities) in any material respect (other than with respect to any
     dilution of such Holders' interests in the new entity);

          (vi)  such Successor Entity has a purpose identical to that of
     the Trust;

          (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
     replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, the Sponsor has received an
     opinion of an independent counsel to the Trust experienced in such matters
     to the effect that:

                (A)  such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,

                                     29

<PAGE>   35


                 replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely
                 affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders
                 (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,
                 replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Trust
                 nor the Successor Entity will be required to register as an
                 Investment Company; and

                 (viii) the Sponsor or any permitted successor or assignee owns
         all of the common securities of such Successor Entity and guarantees
         the obligations of such Successor Entity under the Successor
         Securities at least to the extent provided by the Capital Securities
         Guarantee and the Common Securities Guarantee.

                 (c)    Notwithstanding Section 3.15(b), the Trust shall not,
except with the consent of Holders of 100% in liquidation amount of the
Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be replaced by, or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets as an entirety or
substantially as an entirety to, any other entity or permit any other entity to
consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such
consolidation, amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease
would cause the Trust or the Successor Entity not to be classified as a grantor
trust for United States federal income tax purposes.


                                   ARTICLE IV
                                    SPONSOR

SECTION 4.1   Sponsor's Purchase of Common Securities.

              At the Closing Time, the Sponsor will purchase all of the Common
Securities then issued by the Trust, in an amount at least equal to 3% of the
capital of the Trust, at the same time as the Series A Capital Securities are
issued and sold.  In addition, upon any later Date of Delivery (as defined in
the Purchase Agreement) the Sponsor will purchase such additional number of
Common Securities as provided in the Common Stock Subscription Agreement dated
as of December [ ], 1996 between the Sponsor and the Trust.

                                     30


<PAGE>   36


SECTION 4.2  Responsibilities of the Sponsor.

     In connection with the issue and sale of the Capital Securities, the
Sponsor shall have the exclusive right and responsibility to engage in the
following activities:

     (a)     to prepare the Offering Memorandum and to prepare for filing by the
Trust with the Commission any Registration Statement, including any amendments
thereto as contemplated by the Registration Rights Agreement;

     (b)     to determine the States in which to take appropriate action to
qualify or register for sale all or part of the Capital Securities and to do 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)     if deemed necessary or advisable by the Sponsor, 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 or quotation
of the Capital 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 Capital
Securities under Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act, including any amendments
thereto; and

     (e)     to negotiate the terms of the Purchase Agreement and the
Registration Rights Agreement providing for the sale of the Capital Securities.

SECTION 4.3  Right to Proceed.

     The Sponsor acknowledges the rights of the Holders of Capital Securities,
in the event that a failure of the Trust to pay Distributions on the Capital
Securities is attributable to the failure of the Company to pay interest or
principal on the Debentures, to institute a proceeding directly against the
Debenture Issuer for enforcement of its payment obligations on the Debentures.

                                     31


<PAGE>   37


                                   ARTICLE V
                                    TRUSTEES

SECTION 5.1  Number of Trustees: Appointment of Co-Trustee.

     The number of Trustees initially shall be five (5), and:

     (a)     at any time before the issuance of any Securities, the Sponsor may,
by written instrument, increase or decrease the number of Trustees; and

     (b)     after the issuance of any Securities, 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;

provided, however, that, the number of Trustees shall in no event be less than
two (2); provided further that (1) one Trustee, in the case of a natural person,
shall be a person who is a resident of the State of Delaware or that, if not a
natural person, is an entity which has its principal place of business in the
State of Delaware (the "Delaware Trustee"); (2) there shall be at least one
Trustee who is an employee or officer of, or is affiliated with the Sponsor (an
"Administrative Trustee"); and (3) one Trustee shall be the Property Trustee for
so long as this Declaration is required to qualify as an indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act, and such Trustee may also serve as Delaware Trustee if it
meets the applicable requirements.  Notwithstanding the above, unless an Event
of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at any time or times, for the
purpose of meeting the legal requirements of the Trust Indenture Act or of any
jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust's property may at the time be
located, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common
Securities acting as a class at a meeting of the Holders of the Common
Securities, and the Administrative Trustees shall have power to appoint one or
more persons either to act as a co-trustee, jointly with the Property Trustee,
of all or any part of the Trust's property, or to act as separate trustee of any
such property, in either case with such powers as may be provided in the
instrument of appointment, and to vest in such person or persons in such
capacity any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable,
subject to the provisions of this Declaration.  In case an Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone shall have power to make
any such appointment of a co-trustee.
        
                                     32

<PAGE>   38


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 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 (the "Property Trustee")
which shall act as Property Trustee which shall:

      (i)    not be an Affiliate of the Sponsor; and

      (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 as set forth in its most recent report of condition so published.

       (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 forth in Section 5.7(c).

                                     33

<PAGE>   39


     (c)     If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire any "conflicting
interest" within the meaning of Section 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 Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall in all
respects comply with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
Act.

     (d)     The Capital 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.

     (e)     The initial Property Trustee shall be:

             Chase Manhattan Bank

             New York, New York 10286
             Attention:  Corporate Trust Trustee
                         Administration

SECTION 5.4  Certain Qualifications of Administrative Trustees and Delaware
             Trustee Generally.

     Each Administrative 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 that shall act through one or more
Authorized Officers.

SECTION 5.5  Administrative Trustees.

     The initial Administrative Trustees shall be:




     (a)     Except as expressly set forth in this Declaration and except if
a meeting of the Administrative Trustees is called with respect to any matter
over which the Administrative Trustees have power to act, any power of the
Administrative Trustees may be exercised by, or with the consent of, any one
such Administrative Trustee.

     (b)     Unless otherwise determined by the Administrative Trustees, and
except as otherwise required by the Business Trust Act or applicable law, any
Administrative Trustee is authorized to execute on behalf of the Trust any
documents which the Administrative Trustees have the power and authority to
cause the Trust to execute pursuant to Section 3.6, provided, that, the 

                                     34

<PAGE>   40

registration statement referred to in Section 3.6, including any amendments
thereto, shall be signed by all of the Administrative Trustees; and
        
     (c)      An Administrative 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 purposes of signing any documents which the Administrative
Trustees have power and authority to cause the Trust to execute pursuant to
Section 3.6.

SECTION 5.6   Delaware Trustee.

          The initial Delaware Trustee shall be:

          Chase Manhattan Bank (Delaware)
          1201 Market Street
          Wilmington, Delaware 19001

SECTION 5.7   Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Trustees.

        (a)   Subject to Section 5.7(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;

        (ii)  unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing
     after the issuance of any Securities, 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

        (iii) if an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing after
     the issuance of the Securities, with respect to the Property Trustee or the
     Delaware Trustee, by vote of Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of
     the Capital Securities voting as a class at a meeting of Holders of the
     Capital Securities.

        (b)  (i) The Trustee that acts as Property Trustee shall not be 
removed in accordance with Section 5.7(a) until a Successor Property
Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written
instrument executed by such Successor Property Trustee and delivered to the
Administrative Trustees and the Sponsor; and

        (ii)  the Trustee that acts as Delaware Trustee shall not be removed in
     accordance with this Section 5.7(a) until 

                                     35

<PAGE>   41


          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 Administrative 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.  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:

                     (A)  until 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)  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.

               (d)   The Holders of the Common Securities shall use their best
efforts to promptly appoint a Successor Delaware Trustee or Successor Property
Trustee, as the case may be, if the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee
delivers an instrument of resignation in accordance with this Section 5.7.

               (e)   If no Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware
Trustee shall have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this
Section 5.7 within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of resignation or
removal, the Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee resigning or being removed, as
applicable, may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of
a Successor Property Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee. Such court may
thereupon, after prescribing such no-

                                     36

<PAGE>   42

tice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe, appoint a Successor Property
Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be.
        
     (f)        No Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be liable for the
acts or omissions to act of any Successor Property Trustee or successor Delaware
Trustee, as the case may be.

SECTION 5.8     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 vacancy by the Administrative Trustees or, if
there are more than two, a majority of the Administrative Trustees shall be
conclusive evidence of the existence of such vacancy.  The vacancy shall be
filled with a Trustee appointed in accordance with Section 5.7.

SECTION 5.9     Effect of Vacancies.

     The death, resignation, retirement, removal, bankruptcy, dissolution,
liquidation, incompetence or incapacity to perform the duties of a Trustee shall
not operate to annul the Trust.  Whenever a vacancy in the number of
Administrative Trustees shall occur, until such vacancy is filled by the
appointment of an Administrative Trustee in accordance with Section 5.7, the
Administrative Trustees in office, regardless of their number, shall have all
the powers granted to the Administrative Trustees and shall discharge all the
duties imposed upon the Administrative Trustees by this Declaration.


                                     37


<PAGE>   43
SECTION 5.10  Meetings.

   If there is more than one Administrative Trustee, meetings of the
Administrative Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of any
Administrative Trustee.  Regular meetings of the Administrative Trustees may be
held at a time and place fixed by resolution of the Administrative Trustees.
Notice of any in-person meetings of the Administrative Trustees 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 such meeting.
Notice of any telephonic meetings of the Administrative 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 an Administrative Trustee at a meeting shall
constitute a waiver of notice of such meeting except where an Administrative
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 Administrative Trustees may be taken at a meeting by vote of
a majority of the Administrative Trustees present (whether in person or by
telephone) and eligible to vote with respect to such matter, provided that a
Quorum is present, or without a meeting by the unanimous written consent of the
Administrative Trustees.  In the event there is only one Administrative
Trustee, any and all action of such Administrative Trustee shall be evidenced
by a written consent of such Administrative Trustee.

SECTION 5.11  Delegation of Power.

   (a)  Any Administrative 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

   (b)  the Administrative 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 Administrative Trustees or otherwise as the Administrative
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.



                                     38

<PAGE>   44



Section 5.12  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

  Any corporation into which the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee or
any Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person, as the case may be,
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
Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, shall be a party,
or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust
business of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be,
shall be the successor of the Property Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the
case may be, hereunder, provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified
and eligible under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper
or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.

                                   ARTICLE VI.
                                 DISTRIBUTIONS

SECTION 6.1  Distributions.

   Holders shall receive Distributions in accordance with the applicable terms
of the relevant Holder's Securities.  If and to the extent that the Debenture
Issuer makes a payment of interest (including Compounded Interest (as defined
in the Indenture) and Additional Interest (as defined in the Indenture)),
premium and/or principal on the Debentures held by the Property Trustee or
Liquidated Damages (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) or any
other payments pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement with respect to
the Debentures 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 (a
"Distribution") of the Payment Amount to Holders.



                                     39
<PAGE>   45


                                  ARTICLE VII.
                             ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES

SECTION 7.1   General Provisions Regarding Securities.

   (a)  The Administrative Trustees shall on behalf of the Trust issue one class
of capital securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I (the "Series A
Capital 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 Annex I (the "Common Securities").  The Administrative Trustees shall
on behalf of the Trust issue one class of capital securities representing
undivided beneficial interests in the Trust having such terms as set forth in
Annex I (the "Series B Capital Securities") in exchange for Series A Capital
Securities accepted for exchange in the Exchange Offer, which Series B Capital
Securities shall not bear the legends required by Section 9.2(i) unless the
Holder of such Series A Capital Securities is either (A) a broker-dealer who
purchased such Series A Capital Securities directly from the Trust for resale
pursuant to Rule 144A or any other available exemption under the Securities
Act, (B) a Person participating in the distribution of the Series A Capital
Securities or (C) a Person who is an affiliate (as defined in Rule 144A) of the
Trust.  The Trust shall issue no securities or other interests in the assets of
the Trust other than the Securities.

   (b)  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.

   (c)  Upon issuance of the Securities as provided in this Declaration, the
Securities so issued shall be deemed to be validly issued, fully paid and
non-assessable.

   (d)  Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder or a Capital 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.

SECTION 7.2  Execution and Authentication.

   (a).  The Securities shall be signed on behalf of the Trust by an
Administrative Trustee.  In case any Administrative Trustee of the Trust who
shall have signed any of the Securities shall cease to be such Administrative
Trustee before the Securi-





                                  40
<PAGE>   46

ties so signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such Securities nevertheless
may be delivered as though the person who signed such Securities had not ceased
to be such Administrative Trustee; and any Securities may be signed on behalf
of the Trust by such persons who, at the actual date of execution of such
Security, shall be the Administrative Trustees of the Trust, although at the
date of the execution and delivery of the Declaration any such person was not
such a Administrative Trustee.

   (b)   One Administrative Trustee shall sign the Capital Securities for the
Trust by manual or facsimile signature.  Unless otherwise determined by the
Trust, such signature shall, in the case of Common Securities, be a manual
signature.

   A Capital Security shall not be valid until authenticated by the manual
signature of an authorized signatory of the Property Trustee.  The signature
shall be conclusive evidence that the Capital Security has been authenticated
under this Declaration.

   Upon a written order of the Trust signed by one Administrative Trustee, the
Property Trustee shall authenticate the Capital Securities for original issue.
The aggregate number of Capital Securities outstanding at any time shall not
exceed the number set forth in the Terms in Annex I hereto except as provided
in Section 7.6.

   The Property Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent acceptable to the
Trust to authenticate Capital Securities.  An authenticating agent may
authenticate Capital Securities whenever the Property Trustee may do so.  Each
reference in this Declaration to authentication by the Property Trustee
includes authentication by such agent.  An authenticating agent has the same
rights as the Property Trustee to deal with the Sponsor or an Affiliate.

SECTION 7.3  Form and Dating.

   The Capital Securities and the Property Trustee's certificate of
authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1 and the Common
Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2, each of which is
hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Declaration.
Certificates representing the Securities may be printed, lithographed or
engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is reasonably acceptable to
the Administrative Trustees, as evidenced by their execution thereof.  The
Securities may have letters, CUSIP or other numbers, notations or other marks
of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements required by
law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Trust is subject, if





                                     41
<PAGE>   47

any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a
form acceptable to the Trust).  The Trust at the direction of the Sponsor shall
furnish any such legend not contained in Exhibit A-1 to the Property Trustee in
writing.  Each Capital Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
The terms and provisions of the Securities set forth in Annex I and the forms
of Securities set forth in Exhibits A-1 and A-2 are part of the terms of this
Declaration and to the extent applicable, the Property Trustee and the Sponsor,
by their execution and delivery of this Declaration, expressly agree to such
terms and provisions and to be bound thereby.

   (a)  Global Securities.  Securities offered and sold to QIBs in reliance on
Rule 144A, as provided in the Purchase Agreement, shall be issued in the form
of one or more, permanent global Securities in definitive, fully registered
form without distribution coupons with the global legend and Restricted
Securities Legend set forth in Exhibit A-1 hereto (a "Global Capital
Security"), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Capital
Securities represented thereby with the Property Trustee, at its New York
office, as custodian for the Clearing Agency, and registered in the name of the
Clearing Agency or a nominee of the Clearing Agency, duly executed by the Trust
and authenticated by the Property Trustee as hereinafter provided.  The number
of Capital Securities represented by the Global Capital Security may from time
to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the
Property Trustee and the Clearing Agency or its nominee as hereinafter
provided.

   (b)  Book-Entry Provisions.  This Section 7.3(b) shall apply only to the
Global Capital Security and such other Capital Securities in global form as may
be authorized by the Trust to be deposited with or on behalf of the Clearing
Agency.

   The Trust shall execute and the Property Trustee shall, in accordance with
this Section 7.3, authenticate and make available for delivery initially one or
more Global Capital Securities that (i) shall be registered in the name of Cede
& Co. or other nominee of such Clearing Agency and (ii) shall be delivered by
the Trustee to such Clearing Agency or pursuant to such Clearing Agency's
written instructions or held by the Property Trustee as custodian for the
Clearing Agency.

   Members of, or participants in, the Clearing Agency ("Participants") shall
have no rights under this Declaration with respect to any Global Capital
Security held on their behalf by the Clearing Agency or by the Property Trustee
as the custodian of the Clearing Agency or under such Global Capital Security,
and the Clearing Agency may be treated by the Trust, the Property Trustee and
any agent of the Trust or the Property Trustee as the





                                     42
<PAGE>   48

absolute owner of such Global Capital Security for all purposes whatsoever.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing herein shall prevent the Trust, the
Property Trustee or any agent of the Trust or the Property Trustee from giving
effect to any written certification, proxy or other authorization furnished by
the Clearing Agency or impair, as between the Clearing Agency and its
Participants, the operation of customary practices of such Clearing Agency
governing the exercise of the rights of a holder of a beneficial interest in
any Global Capital Security.

   (c)  Definitive Capital Securities.  Except as provided in Section 7.9,
owners of beneficial interests in a Global Capital Security will not be
entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Capital Securities
("Definitive Capital Securities").  Purchasers of Securities who are
"accredited investors" (as defined in Rule 501(a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) under the
Securities Act) will receive Capital Securities in the form of individual
certificates in definitive, fully registered form without distribution coupons
and with the Restricted Securities Legend set forth in Exhibit A-1 hereto
("Restricted Definitive Capital Securities"); provided, however, that upon
transfer of such Restricted Definitive Capital Securities to a QIB, such
Restricted Definitive Capital Securities will, unless the Global Capital
Security has previously been exchanged, be exchanged for an interest in a
Global Capital Security pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.2.  Restricted
Definitive Capital Securities will bear the Restricted Securities Legend set
forth on Exhibit A-1 unless removed in accordance with this Section 7.3 or
Section 9.2.




                                     43
<PAGE>   49

SECTION 7.4  Registrar, Paying Agent and Exchange Agent.

   The Trust shall maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York,
(i) an office or agency where Capital Securities may be presented for
registration of transfer ("Registrar"), (ii) an office or agency where Capital
Securities may be presented for payment ("Paying Agent") and (iii) an office or
agency where Securities may be presented for exchange ("Exchange Agent").  The
Registrar shall keep a register of the Capital Securities and of their
transfer.  The Trust may appoint the Registrar, the Paying Agent and the
Exchange Agent and may appoint one or more co-registrars, one or more
additional paying agents and one or more additional exchange agents in such
other locations as it shall determine.  The term "Registrar" includes any
additional registrar, "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent and
the term "Exchange Agent" includes any additional exchange agent.  The Trust
may change any Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or Exchange Agent without
prior notice to any Holder.  The Paying Agent shall be permitted to resign as
Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Administrative Trustees.  The
Trust shall notify the Property Trustee of the name and address of any Agent
not a party to this Declaration.  If the Trust fails to appoint or maintain
another entity as Registrar, Paying Agent or Exchange Agent, the Property
Trustee shall act as such.  The Trust or any of its Affiliates may act as
Paying Agent, Registrar, or Exchange Agent.  The Trust shall act as Paying
Agent, Registrar, co-registrar, and Exchange Agent for the Common Securities.

   The Trust initially appoints the Property Trustee as Registrar, Paying
Agent, and Exchange Agent for the Capital Securities.

SECTION 7.5  Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

   The Trust shall require each Paying Agent other than the Property Trustee to
agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold in trust for the benefit of
Holders or the Property Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the
payment of liquidation amounts or Distributions on the Securities, and will
notify the Property Trustee if there are insufficient funds for such purpose.
While any such insufficiency continues, the Property Trustee may require a
Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Property Trustee.  The Trust at
any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Property
Trustee and to account for any money disbursed by it.  Upon payment over to the
Property Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other than the Trust or an Affiliate of
the Trust) shall have no further liability for the money.  If the Trust or the
Sponsor or





                                     44
<PAGE>   50

an Affiliate of the Trust or the Sponsor acts as Paying Agent, it shall
segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of the Holders all
money held by it as Paying Agent.

SECTION 7.6  Replacement Securities.

   If a Holder claims that a Security owned by it has been lost, destroyed or
wrongfully taken or if such Security is mutilated and is surrendered to the
Trust or in the case of the Capital Securities to the Property Trustee, the
Trust shall issue and the Property Trustee shall authenticate a replacement
Security if the Property Trustee's and the Trust's requirements, as the case
may be, are met.  An indemnity bond must be provided by the Holder which, in
the judgment of the Property Trustee, is sufficient to protect the Trustees,
the Sponsor or any authenticating agent from any loss which any of them may
suffer if a Security is replaced.  The Trust may charge such Holder for its
expenses in replacing a Security.

   Every replacement Security is an additional beneficial interest in the
Trust.

SECTION 7.7  Outstanding Capital Securities.

   The Capital Securities outstanding at any time are all the Capital
Securities authenticated by the Property Trustee except for those cancelled by
it, those delivered to it for cancellation, and those described in this Section
as not outstanding.

   If a Capital Security is replaced, paid or purchased pursuant to Section 7.6
hereof, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Property Trustee receives proof
satisfactory to it that the replaced, paid or purchased Capital Security is
held by a bona fide purchaser.

   If Capital Securities are considered paid in accordance with the terms of
this Declaration, they cease to be outstanding and Distributions on them shall
cease to accumulate.

   A Capital Security does not cease to be outstanding because one of the
Trust, the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor holds the Security.

SECTION 7.8  Capital Securities in Treasury.

   In determining whether the Holders of the required amount of Securities have
concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Capital Securities owned by the
Trust, the Sponsor or an Affiliate of the Sponsor, as the case may be, shall be
disre-



                                     45
<PAGE>   51

garded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that for the purposes of
determining whether the Property Trustee shall be fully protected in relying on
any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which the Property
Trustee actually knows are so owned shall be so disregarded.

SECTION 7.9  Temporary Securities.

   (a)  Until Definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Trust may
prepare and, in the case of the Capital Securities, the Property Trustee shall
authenticate temporary Securities.  Temporary Securities shall be substantially
in the form of Definitive Securities but may have variations that the Trust
considers appropriate for temporary Securities.  Without unreasonable delay,
the Trust shall prepare and, in the case of the Capital Securities, the
Property Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Securities in exchange for
temporary Securities.

   (b)  A Global Capital Security deposited with the Clearing Agency or with the
Property Trustee as custodian for the Clearing Agency pursuant to Section 7.3
shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of
certificated Capital Securities only if such transfer complies with Section 9.2
and (i) the Clearing Agency notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable
to continue as Clearing Agency for such Global Capital Security or if at any
time such Clearing Agency ceases to be a "clearing agency" registered under the
Exchange Act and a clearing agency is not appointed by the Sponsor within 90
days of such notice, (ii) a Default or an Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing or (iii) the Trust at its sole discretion elects to cause the
issuance of certificated Capital Securities.

   (c)  Any Global Capital Security that is transferable to the beneficial
owners thereof in the form of certificated Capital Securities pursuant to this
Section 7.9 shall be surrendered by the Clearing Agency to the Property Trustee
located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, to be so
transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the
Property Trustee shall authenticate and make available for delivery, upon such
transfer of each portion of such Global Capital Security, an equal aggregate
liquidation amount of Securities of authorized denominations in the form of
certificated Capital Securities.  Any portion of a Global Capital Security
transferred pursuant to this Section shall be registered in such names as the
Clearing Agency shall direct.  Any Capital Security in the form of certificated
Capital Securities delivered in exchange for an interest in the Restricted
Global Capital Security shall, except as otherwise provided by Sections 7.3 and
9.1, bear the Restricted Securities Legend set forth in Exhibit A-1 hereto.




                                     46


<PAGE>   52

   (d)  Subject to the provisions of Section 7.9(c), the Holder of a Global
Capital Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any person,
including Participants and persons that may hold interests through
Participants, to take any action which such Holder is entitled to take under
this Declaration or the Securities.

   (e)  In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section
7.9(b), the Trust will promptly make available to the Property Trustee a
reasonable supply of certificated Capital Securities in fully registered form
without distribution coupons.

SECTION 7.10  Cancellation.

   The Trust at any time may deliver Capital Securities to the Property Trustee
for cancellation.  The Registrar, Paying Agent and Exchange Agent shall forward
to the Property Trustee any Capital Securities surrendered to them for
registration of transfer, redemption, exchange or payment.  The Property
Trustee shall promptly cancel all Capital Securities, surrendered for
registration of transfer, redemption, exchange, payment, replacement or
cancellation and shall dispose of cancelled Capital Securities as the Trust
directs, provided that the Property Trustee shall not be obligated to destroy
Capital Securities.  The Trust may not issue new Capital Securities to replace
Capital Securities that it has paid or that have been delivered to the Property
Trustee for cancellation or that any holder has exchanged.

SECTION 7.11  CUSIP Numbers.

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




                                     47
<PAGE>   53

                                  ARTICLE VIII.
                              TERMINATION OF TRUST

SECTION 8.1  Termination of Trust.

   (a)    The Trust shall automatically terminate:

   (i)    upon the bankruptcy of the Sponsor;

   (ii)   upon the filing of a certificate of dissolution or liquidation or its
  equivalent with respect to the Sponsor; or the revocation of the Sponsor's
  charter and the expiration of 90 days after the date of revocation without a
  reinstatement thereof;

   (iii)  following the distribution of a Like Amount of the Debentures to the
Holders, provided that, the Property Trustee has received written notice from
the Sponsor directing the Property Trustee to terminate the Trust (which
direction is optional, and except as otherwise expressly provided below, within
the discretion of the Sponsor) and provided, further, that such direction and
such distribution is conditioned on (i) the receipt by the Sponsor or the
Trust, as the case requires, of any required regulatory approval, (ii) the
Administrative Trustees' receipt of an opinion of an independent tax counsel
experienced in such matters (a "No Recognition Opinion"), which opinion may
rely on published rulings of the Internal Revenue Service, to the effect that
the Holders 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 Debentures;

   (iv)  upon the entry of a decree of judicial dissolution of the Trust by a
court of competent jurisdiction;

   (v)   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;

   (vi)  upon the repayment of the Debentures or at such time as no Debentures
are outstanding; or

   (vii) the expiration of the term of the Trust provided in Section 3.14.

   (b)  As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of an event referred to
in Section 8.1(a), the Administrative




                                     48
<PAGE>   54

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 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, Capital Securities may only be transferred,
in whole or in part, in accordance with the terms and conditions set forth in
this Declaration.  Any transfer or purported transfer of any security not made
in accordance with this Declaration shall be null and void.

   (c)  The Sponsor may not transfer the Common Securities.

   (d)  The Administrative Trustees shall provide for the registration of
Securities and of the transfer of Securities, which will be effected without
charge but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Administrative
Trustees may require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charges that
may be imposed in relation to it.  Upon surrender for registration of transfer
of any Securities, the Administrative Trustees shall cause one or more new
Securities to be issued in the name of the designated transferee or
transferees.  Every Security surrendered for registration of transfer shall be
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Administrative Trustees duly executed by the Holder or such Holder's attorney
duly authorized in writing.  Each Security surrendered for registration of
transfer shall be canceled by the Administrative Trustees.  A transferee of a
Security shall be entitled to the rights and subject to the obligations of a
Holder hereunder upon the receipt by such transferee of a Security.  By
acceptance of a Security, each transferee shall be deemed to have agreed to be
bound by this Declaration.

SECTION 9.2  Transfer Procedures and Restrictions

   (a)  General.  Except as otherwise provided in Sec-





                                  49

<PAGE>   55

tion 9.2(b), if Capital Securities are issued upon the transfer, exchange or
replacement of Capital Securities bearing the Restricted Securities Legend set
forth in Exhibit A-1 hereto, or if a request is made to remove such Restricted
Securities Legend on Capital Securities, the Capital Securities so issued shall
bear the Restricted Securities Legend, or the Restricted Securities Legend
shall not be removed, as the case may be, unless there is delivered to the
Trust and the Property Trustee such satisfactory evidence, which shall include
an Opinion of Counsel licensed to practice law in the State of New York, as may
be reasonably required by the Sponsor and the Property Trustee, that neither
the legend nor the restrictions on transfer set forth therein are required to
ensure that transfers thereof are made pursuant to an exception from the
registration requirements of the Securities Act or, with respect to Restricted
Securities, that such Securities are not "restricted" within the meaning of
Rule 144.  Upon provision of such satisfactory evidence, the Property Trustee,
at the written direction of the Trust, shall authenticate and deliver Capital
Securities that do not bear the legend.

   (b)  Transfers After Effectiveness of a Registration Statement.  After the
effectiveness of a Registration Statement with respect to any Capital
Securities, all requirements pertaining to legends on such Capital Securities
will cease to apply, and beneficial interests in a Capital Security in global
form without legends will be available to transferees of such Capital
Securities, upon exchange of the transferring holder's Restricted Definitive
Capital Security or directions to transfer such Holder's beneficial interest in
the Global Capital Security.  No such transfer or exchange of a Restricted
Definitive Capital Security or of an interest in the Global Capital Security
shall be effective unless the transferor delivers to the Trust a certificate in
a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as the "Form of
Assignment" in Exhibit A-1.  Except as otherwise provided in Section 9.2(m),
after the effectiveness of a Registration Statement, the Trust shall issue and
the Property Trustee, upon a written order of the Trust signed by one
Administrative Trustee, shall authenticate a Capital Security in global form
without the Restricted Securities Legend (the "Unrestricted Global Capital
Security") to deposit with the Clearing Agency to evidence transfers of
beneficial interests from the (i) Global Capital Security and (ii) Restricted
Definitive Capital Securities.

   (c)  Transfer and Exchange of Definitive Capital Securities.  When Definitive
Capital Securities are presented to the Registrar or co-Registrar

   (x)  to register the transfer of such Definitive Capital Securities; or





                                     50
<PAGE>   56

   (y)  to exchange such Definitive Capital Securities which became mutilated,
  destroyed, defaced, stolen or lost, for an equal number of Definitive Capital
  Securities,

the Registrar or co-registrar shall register the transfer or make the exchange
as requested if its reasonable requirements for such transaction are met;
provided, however, that the Definitive Capital Securities surrendered for
transfer or exchange:

   (i)  shall be duly endorsed or accompanied by a written instrument of
  transfer in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trust and the Registrar or
  co-registrar, duly executed by the Holder thereof or his attorney duly
  authorized in writing; and

   (ii)  in the case of Definitive Capital Securities that are Restricted
Definitive Capital Securities:

     (A)  if such Restricted Capital Securities are being delivered to the
   Registrar by a Holder for registration in the name of such Holder, without
   transfer, a certification from such Holder to that effect; or

     (B)  if such Restricted Capital Securities are being transferred:  (i) a
   certification from the transferor in a form substantially similar to that
   attached hereto as the "Form of Assignment" in Exhibit A-1, and (ii) if the
   Trust or Registrar so requests, evidence reasonably satisfactory to them as
   to the compliance with the restrictions set forth in the Restricted
   Securities Legend.

   (d)  Restrictions on Transfer of a Definitive Capital Security for a
Beneficial Interest in a Global Capital Security.  A Definitive Capital
Security may not be exchanged for a beneficial interest in a Global Capital
Security except upon satisfaction of the requirements set forth below.  Upon
receipt by the Property Trustee of a Definitive Capital Security, duly endorsed
or accompanied by appropriate instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to
the Property Trustee, together with:

   (i)   if such Definitive Capital Security is a Restricted Capital Security,
  certification (in a form substantially similar to that attached hereto as the
  "Form of Assignment" in Exhibit A-1); and

   (ii)  whether or not such Definitive Capital Security is a Restricted
  Capital Security, written instructions directing the Property Trustee to
  make, or to direct the




                                     51
<PAGE>   57

  Clearing Agency to make, an adjustment on its books and records with respect
  to the appropriate Global Capital Security to reflect an increase in the
  number of the Capital Securities represented by such Global Capital Security,

then the Property Trustee shall cancel such Definitive Capital Security and
cause, or direct the Clearing Agency to cause, the aggregate number of Capital
Securities represented by the appropriate Global Capital Security to be
increased accordingly.  If no Global Capital Securities are then outstanding,
the Trust shall issue and the Property Trustee shall authenticate, upon written
order of any Administrative Trustee, an appropriate number of Capital
Securities in global form.

   (e)  Transfer and Exchange of Global Capital Securities.  Subject to Section
9.02(f), the transfer and exchange of Global Capital Securities or beneficial
interests therein shall be effected through the Clearing Agency, in accordance
with this Declaration (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth
herein, if any) and the procedures of the Clearing Agency therefor.

   (f)  Transfer of a Beneficial Interest in a Global Capital Security for a
Definitive Capital Security.

   (i)  Any person having a beneficial interest in a Global Capital Security may
  upon request, but only upon 20 days prior notice to the Property Trustee, and
  if accompanied by the information specified below, exchange such beneficial
  interest for a Definitive Capital Security representing the same number of
  Capital Securities.  Upon receipt by the Property Trustee from the Clearing
  Agency or its nominee on behalf of any Person having a beneficial interest in
  a Global Capital Security of written instructions or such other form of
  instructions as is customary for the Clearing Agency or the person designated
  by the Clearing Agency as having such a beneficial interest in a Restricted
  Capital Security and a certification from the transferor (in a form
  substantially similar to that attached hereto as the "Form of Assignment" in
  Exhibit A-1), which may be submitted by facsimile, then the Property Trustee
  will cause the aggregate number of Capital Securities represented by Global
  Capital Securities to be reduced on its books and records and, following such
  reduction, the Trust will execute and the Property Trustee will authenticate
  and make available for delivery to the transferee a Definitive Capital
  Security.

   (ii) Definitive Capital Securities issued in exchange for a beneficial
  interest in a Global Capital Security pursuant to this Section 9.2(f) shall
  be registered in such




                                     52
<PAGE>   58

  names and in such authorized denominations as the Clearing Agency, pursuant
  to instructions from its Participants or indirect participants or otherwise,
  shall instruct the Property Trustee in writing.  The Property Trustee shall
  deliver such Capital Securities to the persons in whose names such Capital
  Securities are so registered in accordance with such instructions of the
  Clearing Agency.

   (g)  Restrictions on Transfer and Exchange of Global Capital Securities.
Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Declaration (other than the
provisions set forth in subsection (h) of this Section 9.2), a Global Capital
Security may not be transferred as a whole except by the Clearing Agency to a
nominee of the Clearing Agency or another nominee of the Clearing Agency or by
the Clearing Agency or any such nominee to a successor Clearing Agency or a
nominee of such successor Clearing Agency.

   (h)  Authentication of Definitive Capital Securities.  If at any time:

   (i)  there occurs a Default or an Event of Default which is continuing, or

   (ii) the Trust, in its sole discretion, notifies the Property Trustee in
  writing that it elects to cause the issuance of Definitive Capital Securities
  under this Declaration, 

then the Trust will execute, and the Property Trustee, upon receipt of a
written order of the Trust signed by one Administrative Trustee
requesting the authentication and delivery of Definitive Capital Securities to
the Persons designated by the Trust, will authenticate and make available for
delivery Definitive Capital Securities, equal in number to the number of
Capital Securities represented by the Global Capital Securities, in exchange
for such Global Capital Securities.

   (i)  Legend.

   (i)  Except as permitted by the following paragraph (ii), each Capital
  Security certificate evidencing the Global Capital Securities and the
  Definitive Capital Securities (and all Capital Securities issued in exchange
  therefor or substitution thereof) shall bear a legend (the "Restricted
  Securities Legend") in substantially the following form:

        THE CAPITAL SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN REGISTERED 
        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR 
        ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY




                                     53
<PAGE>   59

         OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW.  NEITHER THIS CAPITAL SECURITY NOR
         ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD,
         ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN
         THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT
         FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

         THE HOLDER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF AGREES TO 
         OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS CAPITAL SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE
         DATE (THE "RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE") WHICH IS THREE YEARS
         AFTER THE LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE
         ON WHICH THE CORPORATION OR ANY "AFFILIATE" OF THE CORPORATION WAS THE
         OWNER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS CAPITAL
         SECURITY) ONLY (A) TO THE CORPORATION, (B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION
         STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
         (C) SO LONG AS THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR RESALE PURSUANT
         TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON IT
         REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED
         IN RULE 144A) THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF
         A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE
         TRANSFER IS BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO
         OFFERS   AND SALES TO NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED
         STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT,
         (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF
         SUBPARAGRAPH (A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES
         ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR
         FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR
         INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN
         CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT,
         OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION
         REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE
         TRUST AND THE CORPORATION PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER
         (i) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN
         OPINION OF COUNSEL,




                                     54
<PAGE>   60

         CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM,
         AND (ii) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E), TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF
         TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY
         IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEREE TO THE TRUST.  SUCH
         HOLDER FURTHER AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS
         CAPITAL SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT
         OF THIS LEGEND.

   (ii)  Upon any sale or transfer of a Restricted Capital Security (including
  any Restricted Capital Security represented by a Global Capital Security)
  pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act or
  pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act after such registration
  statement ceases to be effective:

         (A)  in the case of any Restricted Capital Security that is a 
      Definitive Capital Security, the Registrar shall permit the Holder 
      thereof to exchange such Restricted Capital Security for a Definitive 
      Capital Security that does not bear the Restricted Securities Legend and 
      rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Restricted Capital 
      Security; and

         (B)  in the case of any Restricted Capital Security that is 
      represented by a Global Capital Security, the Registrar shall permit the 
      Holder of such Global Capital Security to exchange such Global Capital 
      Security for another Global Capital Security that does not bear the 
      Restricted Securities Legend.

   (j)   Cancellation or Adjustment of Global Capital Security.  At such time
as all beneficial interests in a Global Capital Security have either been
exchanged for Definitive Capital Securities to the extent permitted by this
Declaration or redeemed, repurchased or canceled in accordance with the terms
of this Declaration, such Global Capital Security shall be returned to the
Clearing Agency for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Property
Trustee.  At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in
a Global Capital Security is exchanged for Definitive Capital Securities,
Capital Securities represented by such Global Capital Security shall be reduced
and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Property
Trustee (if it is then the custodian for such Global Capital Security) with
respect to such Global Capital Security, by the Property Trustee or the
Securities Custodian, to reflect such reduction.




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<PAGE>   61

   (k)   Obligations with Respect to Transfers and Exchanges of Capital
Securities.
         
   (i)   To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Trust shall
  execute and the Property Trustee shall authenticate Definitive Capital
  Securities and Global Capital Securities at the Registrar's or co-Registrar's
  request in accordance with the terms of this Declaration.

   (ii)  Registrations of transfers or exchanges will be effected without 
  charge, but only upon payment (with such indemnity as the Trust or the
  Sponsor may require) in respect of any tax or other governmental charge that
  may be imposed in relation to it.

   (iii) The Registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to register the
  transfer of or exchange of (a) Capital Securities during a period beginning
  at the opening of business 15 days before the day of mailing of a notice of
  redemption or any notice of selection of Capital Securities for redemption
  and ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing; or (b) any
  Capital Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except the
  unredeemed portion of any Capital Security being redeemed in part.

   (iv)  Prior to the due presentation for registrations of transfer of any
  Capital Security, the Trust, the Property Trustee, the Paying Agent, the
  Registrar or any co-registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a
  Capital Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Capital Security
  for the purpose of receiving Distributions on such Capital Security and for
  all other purposes whatsoever, and none of the Trust, the Property Trustee,
  the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar shall be affected by
  notice to the contrary.

   (v)   All Capital Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to
  the terms of this Declaration shall evidence the same security and shall be
  entitled to the same benefits under this Declaration as the Capital
  Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

   (l)   No Obligation of the Property Trustee.

   (i)   The Property Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any
  beneficial owner of a Global Capital Security, a Participant in the Clearing
  Agency or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the
  Clearing Agency or its nominee or of any Participant thereof, with respect to
  any ownership interest in the Capital




                                     56
<PAGE>   62

  Securities or with respect to the delivery to any Participant, beneficial
  owner or other Person (other than the Clearing Agency) of any notice
  (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or
  with respect to such Capital Securities.  All notices and communications to
  be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the
  Capital Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the
  registered Holders (which shall be the Clearing Agency or its nominee in the
  case of a Global Capital Security).  The rights of beneficial owners in any
  Global Capital Security shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency
  subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Clearing Agency.  The
  Property Trustee may conclusively rely and shall be fully protected in
  relying upon information furnished by the Clearing Agency or any agent
  thereof with respect to its Participants and any beneficial owners.

   (ii)  The Property Trustee and Registrar shall have no obligation or duty to
  monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on
  transfer imposed under this Declaration or under applicable law with respect
  to any transfer of any interest in any Capital Security (including any
  transfers between or among Clearing Agency Participants or beneficial owners
  in any Global Capital Security) other than to require delivery of such
  certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required
  by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this
  Declaration, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as
  to form with the express requirements hereof.

   (m)   Exchange of Series A Capital Securities for Series B Capital
Securities.  The Series A Capital Securities may be exchanged for Series B
Securities pursuant to the terms of the Exchange Offer.  The Trustee shall make
the exchange as follows:

   The Sponsor shall present the Property Trustee with an Officers' Certificate
certifying the following:

     (A)  upon issuance of the Series B Capital Securities, the transactions
          contemplated by the Exchange Offer have been consummated; and

     (B)  the number of Series A Capital Securities properly tendered in the
          Exchange Offer that are represented by a Global Capital Security and
          the number of Series A Capital Securities properly tendered in the
          Ex-




                                     57
<PAGE>   63

          change Offer that are represented by Definitive Capital Securities,
          the name of each Holder of such Definitive Capital Securities, the
          liquidation amount of Capital Securities properly tendered in the
          Exchange Offer by each such Holder and the name and address to which
          Definitive Capital Securities for Series B Capital Securities shall
          be registered and sent for each such Holder.

   The Property Trustee, upon receipt of (i) such Officers' Certificate, (ii)
an Opinion of Counsel (x) to the effect that the Series B Capital Securities
have been registered under Section 5 of the Securities Act and the Indenture
has been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and (y) with respect to the
matters set forth in Section 3(p) of the Registration Rights Agreement and
(iii) a Company Order, shall authenticate (A) a Global Capital Security for
Series B Capital Securities in aggregate liquidation amount equal to the
aggregate liquidation amount of Series A Capital Securities represented by a
Global Capital Security indicated in such Officers' Certificate as having been
properly tendered and (B) Definitive Capital Securities representing Series B
Capital Securities registered in the names of, and in the liquidation amounts
indicated in such Officers' Certificate.

   If, upon consummation of the Exchange Offer, less than all the outstanding
Series A Capital Securities shall have been properly tendered and not
withdrawn, the Property Trustee shall make an endorsement on the Global Capital
Security for Series A Capital Securities indicating the reduction in the number
and aggregate liquidation amount represented thereby as a result of the
Exchange Offer.

   The Trust shall deliver such Definitive Capital Securities for Series B
Capital Securities to the Holders thereof as indicated in such Officers'
Certificate.

   (n)   Minimum Transfers.  Series A Capital Securities may only be
transferred in minimum blocks of $100,000 aggregate liquidation amount until
such Series A Capital Securities are registered pursuant to an effective
registration statement filed under the Securities Act.

SECTION 9.3  Deemed Security Holders.

   The Trustees may treat the Person in whose name any Security shall be
registered on the books and records of the Trust as the sole owner of such
Security for purposes of receiv-




                                     58
<PAGE>   64

ing 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
Security on the part of any Person, whether or not the Trust shall have actual
or other notice thereof.

SECTION 9.4  Book Entry Interests.

   Global Capital Securities shall initially be registered on the books and
records of the Trust in the name of Cede & Co., the nominee of the Clearing
Agency, and no Capital Security Beneficial Owner will receive a definitive
Capital Security Certificate representing such Capital Security Beneficial
Owner's interests in such Global Capital Securities, except as provided in
Section 9.2.  Unless and until definitive, fully registered Capital Securities
certificates have been issued to the Capital Security Beneficial Owners
pursuant to Section 9.2:

   (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 Capital Securities and receiving approvals, votes
  or consents hereunder) as the Holder of the Capital Securities and the sole
  holder of the Global Certificates and shall have no obligation to the Capital
  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 Capital Security Beneficial Owners shall be exercised
  only through the Clearing Agency and shall be limited to those established by
  law and agreements between such Capital Security Beneficial Owners and the
  Clearing Agency and/or the Clearing Agency Participants and receive and
  transmit payments of Distributions on the Global Certificates to such
  Clearing Agency Participants. DTC will make book entry transfers among the
  Clearing Agency Participants.

SECTION 9.5  Notices to Clearing Agency.

   Whenever a notice or other communication to the Capital Security Holders is
required under this Declaration, the Trustees shall give all such notices and
communications specified herein to be given to the Holders of Global Capital
Securities to the 

                                     59

<PAGE>   65


Clearing Agency, and shall have no notice obligations to the Capital
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 Capital Securities, the Administrative Trustees
may, in their sole discretion, appoint a successor Clearing Agency with respect
to such Capital Securities.


                                   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

        (ii) be required to pay to the Trust or to any Holder of Securities any
  deficit upon dissolution of the Trust or otherwise.

   (b)  The Sponsor 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)  Pursuant to Section  3803(a) of the Business Trust Act, the Holders of
the Capital 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.



                                     60
<PAGE>   66

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 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.

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 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 the 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 herein:

   (i)  whenever a conflict of interest exists or arises between any Covered
  Persons; or

   (ii)  whenever this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated herein or
  therein provides that an Indemnified Person shall act in a manner that is, or
  provides terms that




                                     61
<PAGE>   67

  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 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.





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<PAGE>   68

SECTION 10.4  Indemnification.

   (a) (i)  The Debenture Issuer shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted
  by law, any Company Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened
  to be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or
  proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative (other
  than an action by or in the right of the Trust) by reason of the fact that he
  is or was a Company Indemnified Person against expenses (including attorneys'
  fees and expenses), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually
  and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action, suit or
  proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed
  to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the Trust, and, with respect
  to any criminal action or proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his
  conduct was unlawful.  The termination of any action, suit or proceeding by
  judgment, order, settlement, conviction, or upon a plea of nolo contendere or
  its equivalent, shall not, of itself, create a presumption that the Company
  Indemnified Person did not act in good faith and in a manner which he
  reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of the
  Trust, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had reasonable
  cause to believe that his conduct was unlawful.

   (ii)  The Debenture Issuer shall indemnify, to the full extent permitted by
  law, any Company Indemnified Person who was or is a party or is threatened to
  be made a party to any threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or
  in the right of the Trust to procure a judgment in its favor by reason of the
  fact that he is or was a Company Indemnified Person against expenses
  (including attorneys' fees and expenses) actually and reasonably incurred by
  him in connection with the defense or settlement of such action or suit if he
  acted in good faith and in a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not
  opposed to the best interests of the Trust and except that no such
  indemnification shall be made in respect of any claim, issue or matter as to
  which such Company Indemnified Person shall have been adjudged to be liable
  to the Trust unless and only to the extent that the Court of Chancery of
  Delaware or the court in which such action or suit was brought shall
  determine upon application that, despite the adjudication of liability but in
  view of all the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and
  reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which such Court of
  Chancery or such other court shall deem proper.






                                     63
<PAGE>   69

   (iii) To the extent that a Company Indemnified Person shall be successful on
  the merits or otherwise (including dismissal of an action without prejudice
  or the settlement of an action without admission of liability) in defense of
  any action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this
  Section 10.4(a), or in defense of any claim, issue or matter therein, he
  shall be indemnified, to the full extent permitted by law, against expenses
  (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in
  connection therewith.

   (iv)  Any indemnification under paragraphs (i) and (ii) of this Section
  10.4(a) (unless ordered by a court) shall be made by the Debenture Issuer
  only as authorized in the specific case upon a determination that
  indemnification of the Company Indemnified Person is proper in the
  circumstances because he has met the applicable standard of conduct set forth
  in paragraphs (i) and (ii).  Such determination shall be made (1) by the
  Administrative Trustees by a majority vote of a quorum consisting of such
  Administrative Trustees who were not parties to such action, suit or
  proceeding, (2) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if obtainable,
  if a quorum of disinterested Administrative Trustees so directs, by
  independent legal counsel in a written opinion, or (3) by the Common Security
  Holder of the Trust.

   (v)   Expenses (including attorneys' fees and expenses) incurred by a Company
  Indemnified Person in defending a civil, criminal, administrative or
  investigative action, suit or proceeding referred to in paragraphs (i) and
  (ii) of this Section 10.4(a) shall be paid by the Debenture Issuer in advance
  of the final disposition of such action, suit or proceeding upon receipt of
  an undertaking by or on behalf of such Company Indemnified Person to repay
  such amount if it shall ultimately be determined that he is not entitled to
  be indemnified by the Debenture Issuer as authorized in this Section 10.4(a).
  Notwithstanding the foregoing, no advance shall be made by the Debenture
  Issuer if a determination is reasonably and promptly made (i) by the
  Administrative Trustees by a majority vote of a quorum of disinterested
  Administrative Trustees, (ii) if such a quorum is not obtainable, or, even if
  obtainable, if a quorum of disinterested Administrative Trustees so directs,
  by independent legal counsel in a written opinion or (iii) the Common
  Security Holder of the Trust, that, based upon the facts known to the
  Administrative Trustees, counsel or the Common Security Holder at the time
  such determination is made, such Company Indemnified Person acted in bad
  faith or in a manner that such person did not believe to be in or not opposed
  to





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<PAGE>   70

the best interests of the Trust, or, with respect to any criminal proceeding,
that such Company Indemnified Person believed or had reasonable cause to believe
his conduct was unlawful.  In no event shall any advance be made in instances
where the Administrative Trustees, independent legal counsel or Common Security
Holder reasonably determine that such person deliberately breached his duty to
the Trust or its Common or Capital Security Holders.

     (vi)  The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or
granted pursuant to, the other paragraphs of this Section 10.4(a) shall not be
deemed exclusive of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification and
advancement of expenses may be entitled under any agreement, vote of
stockholders or disinterested directors of the Debenture Issuer or Capital
Security Holders of the Trust or otherwise, both as to action in his official
capacity and as to action in another capacity while holding such office.  All
rights to indemnification under this Section 10.4(a) shall be deemed to be
provided by a contract between the Debenture Issuer and each Company Indemnified
Person who serves in such capacity at any time while this Section 10.4(a) is in
effect.  Any repeal or modification of this Section 10.4(a) shall not affect any
rights or obligations then existing.

     (vii)  The Debenture Issuer or the Trust may purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a Company Indemnified Person
against any liability asserted against him and incurred by him in any such
capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether or not the Debenture
Issuer would have the power to indemnify him against such liability under the
provisions of this Section 10.4(a).

     (viii) For purposes of this Section 10.4(a), references to "the Trust"
shall include, in addition to the resulting or surviving entity, any constituent
entity (including any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation
or merger, so that any person who is or was a director, trustee, officer or
employee of such constituent entity, or is or was serving at the request of such
constituent entity as a director, trustee, officer, employee or agent of another
entity, shall stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section
10.4(a) with respect to the resulting or surviving entity as he would have with
respect to such constituent entity if its separate existence had continued.

     (ix)  The indemnification and advancement of expenses provided by, or
granted pursuant to, this Section 10.4(a)





                                     65
<PAGE>   71

  shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue as to
  a person who has ceased to be a Company Indemnified Person and shall inure to
  the benefit of the heirs, executors and administrators of such a person.

   (b)  The Debenture Issuer agrees to indemnify the (i) Property Trustee, (ii)
the Delaware Trustee, (iii) any Affiliate of the Property Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee, and (iv) any officers, directors, shareholders, members,
partners, employees, representatives, custodians, nominees or agents of the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (each of the Persons in (i) through
(iv) being referred to as a "Fiduciary Indemnified Person") for, and to hold
each Fiduciary Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss,
liability, damage, claim or expense including taxes (other than taxes based on
the income of such Fiduciary Indemnified Person) incurred without negligence or
bad faith on its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and
expenses (including reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself
against or investigating any claim or liability in connection with the exercise
or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.  The obligation to
indemnify as set forth in this Section 10.4(b) shall survive the satisfaction
and discharge of this Declaration.

SECTION 10.5  Outside Businesses.

   Any Covered Person, the Sponsor, 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 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 Delaware Trustee, 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 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 depositary 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.





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                                 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 Administrative
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 of the Trust by a firm of independent certified public
accountants selected by the Administrative Trustees.

   (b)  The Administrative Trustees shall cause to be prepared and delivered to
each of the Holders, 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 Administrative Trustees shall cause to be duly prepared and
delivered to each of the Holders, any annual United States federal income tax
information statement, required by the Code, containing such 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 Administrative Trustees shall endeavor to
deliver all such information statements within 30 days after the end of each
Fiscal Year of the Trust.

   (d)  The Administrative 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 Administrative Trustees on behalf of the Trust with any state or local
taxing authority.






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<PAGE>   73

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 Debentures held by the Property Trustee shall be made directly
to the Property Trustee Account and no other funds of the Trust shall be
deposited in the Property Trustee Account.  The sole signatories for such
accounts shall be designated by the Administrative Trustees; provided, however,
that the Property Trustee shall designate the signatories for the Property
Trustee Account.

SECTION 11.4  Withholding.

   The Trust and the Administrative 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 Administrative Trustees 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 Trust 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 required to be withheld was
not withheld from actual Distributions made, the Trust may reduce subsequent
Distributions by the amount of such withholding.


                                  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 only be amended by a written
instrument approved and executed by:

        (i)  the Administrative Trustees (or if there are more than two 
   Administrative Trustees a majority of the





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<PAGE>   74

   Administrative Trustees);

   (ii)  if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or
  immunities of the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee; and

   (iii) if the amendment affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations or
  immunities of the Delaware Trustee, the Delaware Trustee.

   (b)  No amendment shall be made, and any such purported amendment shall be
void and ineffective:

   (i)  unless, in the case of any proposed amendment, the Property Trustee
  shall have first received an Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust and
  the Sponsor that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms
  of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities);

   (ii)  unless, in the case of any proposed amendment which affects the rights,
  powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Property Trustee, the
  Property Trustee shall have first received:

     (A)  an Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust and the Sponsor that
   such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this
   Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and

     (B)  an opinion of counsel (who may be counsel to the Sponsor or the
   Trust) that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of
   this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities),

  provided, however, that the Property Trustee shall not be required to sign any
such amendment, and

   (iii)  to the extent the result of such amendment would be to:

     (A)  cause the Trust to fail to continue to be classified for purposes of
          United States federal income taxation as a grantor trust;

     (B)  reduce or otherwise adversely affect the powers of the Property
          Trustee in contravention of the Trust Indenture Act; or

     (C)  cause the Trust to be deemed to be an Investment Company required to
          be registered under the





                                     69
<PAGE>   75

   Investment Company Act;

   (c)  At such time after the Trust has issued any Securities that remain
outstanding, any amendment that 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;

   (d)  Section 9.1(c) and this Section 12.1 shall not be amended without the
consent of all of the Holders of the Securities;

   (e)  Article Four shall not be amended without the consent of the Holders of
a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities and;

   (f)  The rights of the holders of the Common Securities under Article Five 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; and

   (g)  Notwithstanding Section 12.1(c), this Declaration may be amended without
the consent of the Holders of the Securities to:

   (i)  cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision in this
  Declaration that may be inconsistent with any other provision of this
  Declaration or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or
  questions arising under this Declaration which shall not be inconsistent with
  the other provisions of the Declaration; and

   (ii)  to modify, eliminate or add to any provisions of the Declaration to 
  such  extent as shall be necessary to ensure that the Trust will be
  classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust
  at all times that any Securities are outstanding or to ensure that the Trust
  will not be required to register as an Investment Company under the
  Investment Company Act.




                                     70
<PAGE>   76

provided, however, that in the case of clause (i), such action shall not
adversely affect in any material respect the interests of the Holders, and any
amendments of this Declaration shall become effective when notice thereof is
given to the Holders.

SECTION 12.2  Meetings of the Holders; Action by Written Consent.

   (a)  Meetings of the Holders of any class of Securities may be called at any
time by the Administrative 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 Capital
Securities are listed or admitted for trading.  The Administrative Trustees
shall call a meeting of the Holders of such class 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 Administrative Trustees one
or more notice 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 calling a meeting shall specify in
writing the Security Certificates held by the Holders exercising the right to
call a meeting and only those Securities 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 thereat at least seven days and not more
  than 60 days before the date of such meeting.  Whenever a vote, consent or
  approval of the Holders is permitted or required under this Declaration or
  the rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital Securities are listed or
  admitted for trading, such vote, consent or approval may be given at a
  meeting of the Holders.  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 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 entitled to vote who have not consented in writing.  The
  Administrative





                                     71
<PAGE>   77

  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 Administrative Trustees;

   (ii)  each Holder may authorize any Person to act for it by proxy on all
  matters in which a Holder 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 herein, 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 were stockholders of a
  Delaware corporation;

   (iii) each meeting of the Holders shall be conducted by the Administrative
  Trustees or by such other Person that the Administrative Trustees may
  designate; and

   (iv)  unless the Business Trust Act, this Declaration, the terms of the
  Securities, the Trust Indenture Act or the listing rules of any stock
  exchange on which the Capital Securities are then listed or trading,
  otherwise provides, the Administrative Trustees, in their sole discretion,
  shall establish all other provisions relating to meetings of Holders,
  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.


                                 ARTICL XIII.
                      REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE
                              AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE

SECTION 13.1  Representations and Warranties of Property Trustee.

   The Trustee that 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





                                     72
<PAGE>   78

of the Successor Property Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as Property
Trustee that:

   (a)  The Property Trustee is a New York banking corporation with trust powers
and authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its
obligations under the terms of, this 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 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);

   (c)  The execution, delivery and performance of this Declaration by the
Property Trustee does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the charter
or by-laws of the Property Trustee; and

   (d)  No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice
to, any New York State or federal banking authority is required for the
execution, delivery or performance by the Property Trustee of this Declaration.

SECTION 13.2  Representations and Warranties of Delaware Trustee.

   The Trustee that acts as initial Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to
the Trust and to the Sponsor at the date of this Declaration, and each
Successor Delaware Trustee represents and warrants to the Trust and the Sponsor
at the time of the Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of its appointment
as Delaware Trustee that:

   (a)  The Delaware Trustee is duly organized, validly existing and in good
standing under the laws of the State of Delaware, with trust power and
authority to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations
under the terms of, this Declaration;

   (b)  The execution, delivery and performance by the Delaware Trustee of this
Declaration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on the
part of the Delaware Trust-




                                     73
<PAGE>   79

ee.  This Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Delaware
Trustee and 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);

   (c)  No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or notice
to, any federal banking authority is required for the execution, delivery or
performance by the Delaware Trustee of this Declaration; and

   (d)  The Delaware Trustee is 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.





                                     74
<PAGE>   80

                                  ARTICLE XIV
                              REGISTRATION RIGHTS

SECTION 14.1  Registration Rights Agreement; Liquidated Damages.

   The Holders of the Capital Securities, the Debentures and the Capital
Securities Guarantee (collectively, the "Registrable Securities") are entitled
to the benefits of a Registration Rights Agreement.  Pursuant to the
Registration Rights Agreement, the Sponsor and the Trust have agreed for the
benefit of the Holders of Registrable Securities that (i) they will, at the
Sponsor's cost, within 150 days after December [  ], 1996 (the "Issue Date"),
file a registration statement (the "Exchange Registration Statement") relating
an Exchange Offer pursuant to which each issuer of such respective Registrable
Securities would issue amounts of such Registrable Securities as are accepted
in the Exchange Offer which shall be identical in all respects to those
exchanged, except they will have been registered under the Securities Act and
will no longer be subject to transfer restrictions under the Securities Act or
the $100,000 minimum aggregate principal or liquidation amount transfer
restriction and, if required pursuant to the terms of the Registration Rights
Agreement, file a shelf registration statement (the "Shelf Registration
Statement") with the Commission with respect to resales of the Registrable
Securities, (ii) they will use their best efforts to cause such Exchange
Registration Statement and/or Shelf Registration Statement, as the case
requires, to be declared effective by the Commission within 180 days after the
Issue Date and (iii) they will use their best efforts to maintain the Shelf
Registration Statement, if any, continuously effective under the Securities Act
until the third anniversary of the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration
Statement or such earlier date as is provided in the Registration Rights
Agreement (the "Effectiveness Period").  All references herein to such
Registrable Securities shall be deemed to include, as the context may require,
the Registrable Securities into which such Securities have been exchanged
pursuant to the Exchange Registration ("Exchange Securities") and all reference
to numbers or amounts of such Securities shall be deemed to include, as the
context may require, such Exchanged Securities.

   If (i) (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor a Shelf
  Registration Statement is filed with the Commission on or prior to the 150th
  day after the Issue Date, (B) the Sponsor shall have determined in good faith
  that there is a reasonable likelihood that, or a material uncertainty exists
  as to whether, consummation of the Exchange Offer would result in a material
  adverse tax conse-





                                     75
<PAGE>   81

  quence to the Sponsor or (C) notwithstanding that the Debenture Issuer and
  the Trust have consummated or will consummate an Exchange Offer, the
  Debenture Issuer and the Trust are required to file a Shelf Registration
  Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not filed on or prior to
  the date required by the Registration Rights Agreement, then commencing on
  the day after the applicable required filing date, additional Distributions 
  shall accumulate on the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities at a 
  rate of 0.25% per annum; or

   (ii)  (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor a Shelf
  Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission on or prior to
  the 30th day after the applicable required filing date or (B) notwithstanding
  that the Debenture Issuer and the Trust have consummated or will consummate
  an Exchange Offer, the Debenture Issuer and the Trust are required to file a
  Shelf Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not
  declared effective by the Commission on or prior to the 30th day after the
  date such Shelf Registration Statement was required to be file, then,
  commencing on the 31st day after the applicable required filing date,
  additional Distributions shall accumulate on the liquidation amount of the
  Capital Securities at a rate of 0.25% per annum; or

   (iii) (A) the Trust has not exchanged Exchange Capital Securities for all
  Capital Securities or the Debenture Issuer has not exchanged Exchange
  Guarantees or Exchange Subordinated Debentures for all Guarantees or
  Subordinated Debentures validly tendered, in accordance with the terms of the
  Exchange Offer on or prior to the 30th day after the date on which the
  Exchange Offer Registration Statement was declared effective or (B) if
  applicable, the Shelf Registration Statement has been declared effective and
  such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective at any time prior to
  the third anniversary of the Issue Date (other than after such time as all
  Capital Securities have been disposed of thereunder or otherwise cease to be
  Registrable Securities), additional Distributions shall accumulate on the
  liquidation amount of the Capital Securities at a rate of 0.25% per annum
  commencing on (x) the 31st day after such effective date, in the case of (A)
  above, or (y) the day such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be
  effective in the case of (B) above;

provided, however, that the additional Distributions rate on the liquidation
amount of the Capital Securities may not exceed in the aggregate 0.25% per
annum; provided, further, however, that (1) upon the filing of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement





                                     76
<PAGE>   82

or a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of clause (i) above), (2) upon
the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf
Registration Statement (in the case of clause (ii) above), or (3) upon the
exchange of Exchange Capital Securities, Exchange Guarantees and Exchange
Subordinated Debentures for all Capital Securities, Guarantees and Subordinated
Debentures tendered (in the case of clause (iii)(A) above), or upon the
effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement which had ceased to remain
effective (in the case of clause (iii)(B) above), additional Distributions on
the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities as a result of such clause (or
the relevant subclause thereof), as the case may be, shall cease to accumulate.

   Any amounts of additional Distributions due pursuant to clauses (i), (ii) or
(iii) above will be payable in cash on January 15 and July 15 of each year to
the Holders on the first day of the month in which the relevant Distribution
date falls.


                                   ARTICLE XV
                                 MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 15.1  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 first class mail, as follows:

   (a)  if given to the Trust, in care of the Administrative Trustees at the
Trust's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as the Trust may
give notice of to the Holders):

                     Firstar Capital Trust I
                     777 East Wisconsin Avenue
                     Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53202

                     Attention:  ______________, Administrative 
                                 Trustee

   (b)  if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the mailing address set forth below
(or such other address as Delaware Trustee may give notice of to the Holders):

                     Chase Manhattan Bank (Delaware)
                     1201 Market Street
                     Wilmington, Delaware 19001
                     Attention: Corporate Trust Department






                                     77
<PAGE>   83

   (c)  if given to the Property Trustee, at the Property Trustee's mailing
address set forth below (or such other address as the Property Trustee may give
notice of to the Holders):

                     Chase Manhattan Bank

                     New York, New York 10283

                     Attention:  Corporate Trust
                                 Trustee Administration

   (d)  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):

                     Firstar, Inc.
                     777 East Wisconsin Avenue
                     Milwaukee, Wisconsin  53202

                     Attention:  Howard H. Hopwood, General Counsel

   (e)  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 15.2  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.

SECTION 15.3  Intention of the Parties.

   It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust be classified for
United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust.  The provisions
of this Declaration shall be interpreted to further this intention of the
parties.

SECTION 15.4  Headings.






                                     78
<PAGE>   84

   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 15.5  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 15.6  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 15.7  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.





                                     79
<PAGE>   85

   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has caused these presents to be executed
as of the day and year first above written.


                                        __________________________________
                                        ____________, as Administrative Trustee


                                        __________________________________
                                        ____________, as Administrative Trustee


                                        __________________________________
                                        ____________, as Administrative Trustee


                                        CHASE MANHATTAN BANK (DELAWARE),
                                        as Delaware Trustee


                                        By:_______________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                        CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                        as Property Trustee


                                        By:_______________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                        FIRSTAR, INC.
                                        as Sponsor


                                        By:_______________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:
<PAGE>   86





                                    ANNEX I


                                    TERMS OF
                   [  ]% SERIES A/SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES
                            [  ]% COMMON SECURITIES


                 Pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Amended and Restated
Declaration of Trust, dated as of December __, 1996 (as amended from time to
time, the "Declaration"), the designation, rights, privileges, restrictions,
preferences and other terms and provisions of the 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
Offering Memorandum referred to below in Section 2(c) of this Annex I):

                 1.       Designation and Number.

                 (a)      Capital Securities.  ________ Series A Capital
Securities of the Trust and _______ Series B Capital Securities of the Trust,
each series with an aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the assets of
the Trust of __________________ dollars ($___________), and each with a
liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000 per
security, are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as "[
]% Series A Capital Securities" and "[  ]% Series B Capital Securities",
respectively (collectively, the "Capital Securities").  The certificates
evidencing the Capital Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit
A-1 to the Declaration, 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 Capital 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 _______________________________________ dollars ($____________) and a
liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of $1,000 per
security, are hereby designated for the purposes of identification only as "[
]% Common Securities" (the "Common Securities").  The certificates evidencing
the Common Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2 to the
Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or deletions therefrom as
may be required by ordinary usage, custom or practice.


                                     I-1
<PAGE>   87



                 2.       Distributions.

                 (a)      Distributions payable on each Security will be fixed
at a rate per annum of [  ]% (the "Coupon Rate") of the liquidation amount of
$1,000 per Security (the "Liquidation Amount"), such rate being the rate of
interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Property Trustee.
Distributions in arrears for more than one semi-annual period will bear
additional distributions thereon compounded semi-annually at the Coupon Rate
(to the extent permitted by applicable law).  Pursuant to the Registration
Rights Agreement, in certain limited circumstances the Debenture Issuer will be
required to pay Liquidated Damages (as defined in the Registration Rights
Agreement) with respect to the Debentures.  The term "Distributions", as used
herein, includes distributions of any such interest and Liquidated Damages
payable unless otherwise stated.  A Distribution is payable only to the extent
that payments are made in respect of the Debentures held by the Property
Trustee and to the extent the Property Trustee has funds on hand legally
available therefor.

                 (b)      Distributions on the Securities will be cumulative,
will accumulate from the most recent date to which Distributions have been paid
or, if no Distributions have been paid, from December __, 1996, and will be
payable semi-annually in arrears on January 15 and July 15 of each year,
commencing on July 15, 1997 (each, a "Distribution Date"), except as otherwise
described below.  Distributions will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year
consisting of twelve 30-day months and for any period less than a full calendar
month on the basis of the actual number of days elapsed in such month.  As long
as no Event of Default has occurred and is continuing under the Indenture, the
Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to defer payments of
interest by extending the interest payment period at any time and from time to
time on the Debentures for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual
periods, including the first such semi-annual period during such period (each
an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Period no interest shall be due
and payable on the Debentures, provided that no Extension Period shall extend
beyond the Maturity Date of the Debentures.  As a consequence of such deferral,
Distributions will also be deferred.  Despite such deferral, Distributions will
continue to accumulate with additional Distributions thereon (to the extent
permitted by applicable law but not at a rate greater than the rate at which
interest is then accruing on the Debentures) at the Coupon Rate compounded
semi-annually during any such Extension Period.  Prior to the termination of
any such Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further defer payments of
interest by further extending such Extension Period; provided that such
Extension Period, together with all such previous and further

                                     I-2
<PAGE>   88


extensions within such Extension Period, may not exceed 10 consecutive
semi-annual periods, including the first semi-annual period during such
Extension Period, or extend beyond the Maturity Date of the Debentures.  Upon
the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then
due, the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the
above requirements.

                 (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
first day of the month in which the relevant Distribution Date occurs, which
Distribution Dates correspond to the interest payment dates on the Debentures.
Subject to any applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the
Declaration, each such payment in respect of the Capital Securities will be
made as described under the heading "Description of the Capital Securities --
Form, Denomination, Book-Entry Procedures and Transfer" in the Offering
Memorandum dated December [  ], 1996, of the Debenture Issuer and the Trust
relating to the Securities and the Debentures.  The relevant record dates for
the Common Securities shall be the same as the record dates for the Capital
Securities.  Distributions payable on any Securities that are not punctually
paid on any Distribution Date, as a result of the Debenture Issuer having
failed to make a payment under the Debentures, will cease to be payable to the
Holder 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), 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.





                                       I-3
<PAGE>   89


                 3.       Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution.

                 In the event of any termination of the Trust or the Sponsor
otherwise gives notice of its election to liquidate the Trust pursuant to
Section 8.1(a)(iii) of the Declaration, the Trust shall be liquidated by the
Administrative Trustees as expeditiously as the Administrative Trustees
determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, to the Holders a Like
Amount (as defined below) of the Debentures, unless such distribution is
determined by the Property Trustee not to be practicable, in which event such
Holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Trust legally
available for distribution to Holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to
creditors of the Trust as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to the
aggregate of the liquidation amount of $1,000 per Security plus accumulated and
unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the
"Liquidation Distribution").

                 "Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of the
Securities, Securities having a Liquidation Amount equal to the principal
amount of Debentures to be paid in accordance with their terms and (ii) with
respect to a distribution of Debentures upon the liquidation of the Trust,
Debentures having a principal amount equal to the Liquidation Amount of the
Securities of the Holder to whom such Debentures are distributed.

                 If, upon any such liquidation, the Liquidation Distribution
can be paid only in part because the Trust has insufficient assets on hand
legally 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 Debentures in whole or in
part, at maturity or upon early redemption (either at the option of the
Debenture Issuer or pursuant to a Special Event, as described below), the
proceeds from such repayment shall be simultaneously applied by the Property
Trustee (subject to the Property Trustee having received notice no later than
45 days prior to such repayment) to redeem a Like Amount of the Securities at a
redemption price equal to (i) in the case of the repayment of the Debentures at
maturity, the Maturity Redemption Price (as defined below), (ii) in the case of
the optional redemption of the Debentures upon the occurrence and continuation
of a Special Event, the Special Event Redemption Price (as defined below) and
(iii) in the case of the optional redemption





                                      I-4
<PAGE>   90

of the Debentures other than as a result of the occurrence and continuance of a
Special Event, the Optional Redemption Price (as defined below).  The Maturity
Redemption Price, the Special Event Redemption Price and the Optional
Redemption Price are referred to collectively as the "Redemption Price".
Holders will be given not less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice of such
redemption.

                 (b)  (i)  The "Maturity Redemption Price", with respect to a
redemption of Securities, shall mean an amount equal to the principal of and
accrued and unpaid interest on the Debentures as of the maturity date thereof.

                 (ii)  In the case of an optional redemption, if fewer than all
the outstanding Securities are to be so redeemed, the Capital Securities will
be redeemed Pro Rata and the Capital Securities to be redeemed will be
determined as described in Section 4(f)(ii) below.  Upon the entry of an order
for the dissolution of the Trust by a court of competent jurisdiction, the
Debentures thereafter will be subject to optional repayment, in whole, but not
in part, on or after January 15, 2007 (the "Initial Optional Redemption Date").

                 The Debenture Issuer shall have the right (subject to the
conditions in the Indenture) to elect to redeem the Debentures in whole or in
part at any time on or after the Initial Optional Redemption Date, upon not
less than 30 days and not more than 60 days notice, at the Optional Redemption
Price and, simultaneous with such redemption, to cause a Like Amount of the
Securities to be redeemed by the Trust at the Optional Redemption Price on a
Pro Rata basis.  "Optional Redemption Price" shall mean a price equal to the
percentage of the liquidation amount of Securities to be redeemed plus
accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon, if any, to the date of such
redemption if redeemed during the 12-month period beginning January 15 of the
years indicated below:

       Year                                         Percentage
       ----                                         ----------
       2007                                                   %
       2008                                                   %
       2009                                                   %
       2010                                                   %
       2011                                                   %
       2012                                                   %
       2013                                                   %
       2014                                                   %
       2015                                                   %
       2016                                                   %
       2017 and thereafter                                 100%




                                     I-5
<PAGE>   91



                 (c)      If at any time a Tax Event or a Regulatory Capital
Event (each as defined below, and each a "Special Event") occurs, the Debenture
Issuer shall have the right (subject to the conditions set forth in the
Indenture) at any time prior to the Initial Optional Redemption Date, upon not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days notice, to redeem the Debentures in whole,
but not in part, within the 90 days following the occurrence of such Special
Event (the "90 Day Period"), and, simultaneous with such redemption, to cause a
Like Amount of the Securities to be redeemed by the Trust at the Special Event
Redemption Price on a Pro Rata basis.

                 "Tax Event" shall occur upon receipt by the Administrative
Trustee of an opinion of a nationally tax counsel (a "Tax Event Opinion")
experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of 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 as a result of any official
administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such
laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which
pronouncement or decision is announced on or after November 20, 1996, there is
more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or will be within 90
days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax
with respect to income received or accrued on the Debentures, (ii) interest
payable by the Debenture Issuer on the Debentures is not, or within 90 days of
the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Debenture Issuer, in
whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the
Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to
more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental
charges.

                 "Regulatory Capital Event" shall occur at any time, following
the date (the "Election Date") on which the Debenture Issuer shall effectively
elect to treat the Capital Securities as Tier 1 Capital (or its equivalent),
that the Debenture Issuer shall have received an opinion of independent bank
regulatory counsel experienced in such matters 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 rules,
guidelines or policies of the Federal Reserve Board or (b) any official
administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such
laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or such
pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the Election Date, the
Capital Securities do not constitute, or within 90 days of the date thereof,
will not constitute, Tier I Capital (or its then equivalent).





                                     I-6
<PAGE>   92


                 "Special Event Redemption Price" shall mean, with respect to a
redemption of Securities, a price equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the
principal of a Like Amount of Debentures to be redeemed or (ii) the sum, as
determined by a Quotation Agent (as defined in the Indenture), of the present
values of the principal amount and premium payable with respect to an optional
redemption of a Like Amount of the Debentures on the Initial Optional
Redemption Date, together with scheduled payments of interest on the Debentures
from the redemption date to and including the Initial Optional Redemption Date,
discounted to the redemption date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day
year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate (as
defined in the Indenture), plus, in each case, accumulated and unpaid
Distributions thereon, if any, to the date of such redemption.

                 (d)  On and from the date fixed by the Administrative Trustees
for any distribution of Debentures and liquidation of the Trust:  (i) the
Securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii) the Clearing Agency
or its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee), as the Holder
of the Capital Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or
certificates representing the Debentures to be delivered upon such distribution
and any certificates representing Securities not held by the Clearing Agency or
its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) will be deemed to
represent beneficial interests in a Like Amount of Debentures until such
certificates are presented to the Debenture Issuer or its agent for transfer or
reissue.

                 (e)      The Trust may not redeem fewer than all the
outstanding Securities unless all accumulated and unpaid Distributions have
been paid on all Securities for all semi-annual Distribution periods
terminating on or before the date of redemption.

                 (f)      The procedure with respect to redemptions or
distributions of Debentures shall be as follows:

                 (i)  Notice of any redemption of, or notice of distribution of
         Debentures in exchange for, the Securities (a "Redemption/Distribution
         Notice") will be given by the Trust by mail to each Holder 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
         Debentures.  For purposes of the calculation of the date of redemption
         or exchange and the dates on which notices are given pursuant to this
         Section 4(f)(i), a Redemption/ Dis-





                                     I-7
<PAGE>   93


         tribution Notice shall be deemed to be given on the day such notice is
         first mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders.  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 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 from each Holder of Capital Securities, it being
         understood that, in respect of Capital Securities registered in the
         name of and held of record by the Clearing Agency or its nominee (or
         any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) or any nominee, the
         distribution of the proceeds of such redemption will be made to the
         Clearing Agency and disbursed by such Clearing Agency in accordance
         with the procedures applied by such agency or nominee.

                 (iii)  If Securities are to be redeemed and the Trust gives a
         Redemption/Distribution Notice, (which notice will be irrevocable),
         then (A) with respect to Capital Securities issued in book-entry form,
         by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the redemption date, provided
         that the Debenture Issuer has paid the Property Trustee a sufficient
         amount of cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity
         of the Debentures by 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the maturity
         date or the date of redemption, as the case requires, the Property
         Trustee will deposit irrevocably with the Clearing Agency or its
         nominee (or successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) funds sufficient
         to pay the applicable Redemption Price with respect to such Capital
         Securities and will give the Clearing Agency irrevocable instructions
         and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the relevant Clearing
         Agency Participants, and (B) with respect to Capital Securities issued
         in certificated form and Common Securities, provided that the
         Debenture Issuer has paid the Property Trustee a sufficient amount of
         cash in connection with the related redemption or maturity of the
         Debentures, the Property Trustee will pay the relevant Redemption
         Price to the Holders 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 business on the date of such deposit, or on the
         redemption date, as applicable, Distributions will cease to accumulate
         on the





                                       I-8
<PAGE>   94


         Securities so called for redemption and all rights of Holders 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, and such Securities shall cease to be
         outstanding.

                 (iv)  Payment of accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the
         Redemption Date of the Securities will be subject to the rights of
         Holders of Securities on the close of business on a regular record
         date in respect of a Distribution Date occurring on or prior to such
         Redemption Date.

                 Neither the Administrative Trustees nor the Trust shall be
required to register or cause to be registered the transfer of (i) any
Securities beginning on the opening of business 15 days before the day of
mailing of a notice of redemption or any notice of selection of Securities for
redemption or (ii) any Securities selected for redemption except the unredeemed
portion of any Security being redeemed.  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), with
the same force and effect as if made on such date fixed for redemption.  If
payment of the Redemption Price in respect of any 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 accumulate 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.

                 (v)  Redemption/Distribution Notices shall be sent by the
         Property Trustee on behalf of the Trust to (A) in respect of the
         Capital Securities, the Clearing Agency or its nominee (or any
         successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) if the Global Certificates
         have been issued or, if Definitive Capital Security Certificates have
         been issued, to the Holder thereof, and (B) in respect of the Common
         Securities to the Holder thereof.

                 (vi)  Subject to the foregoing and applicable law (including,
         without limitation, United States federal securities laws and banking
         laws), provided the acquiror 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 Capital Securities by tender, in the open market or by
         private agreement.


                                     I-9
<PAGE>   95


                 5.       Voting Rights - Capital Securities.

                 (a)      Except as provided under Sections 5(b) and 7 and as
otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the Capital
Securities will have no voting rights.

                 (b)      So long as any Debentures are held by the Property
Trustee, the Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or
executing any trust or power conferred on such Debenture Trustee with respect
to the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under Section
5.07 of the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a
declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the principal of the Debentures
or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture
or the Debentures, where such consent shall be required, without, in each case,
obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of a majority in liquidation amount
of all outstanding Capital Securities; provided, however, that where a consent
under the Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Debentures
affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee
without the prior approval of each Holder of the Capital Securities.  The
Trustees shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a
vote of the Holders of the Capital Securities except by subsequent vote of such
Holders.  The Property Trustee shall notify each Holder of Capital Securities
of any notice of default with respect to the Debentures.  In addition to 
obtaining the foregoing approvals of such Holders of the Capital Securities, 
prior to taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees shall obtain an
opinion of counsel experienced in such  matters to the effect that the Trust
will not be classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United
States federal income tax purposes on account of such action.

                 If an Event of Default under the Declaration has occurred and
is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture
Issuer to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures on
the due date (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a
Holder of Capital Securities may directly institute a proceeding for
enforcement of payment to such Holder of the principal of or premium, if any,
or interest on a Like Amount of Debentures (a "Direct Action") on or after the
respective due date specified in the Debentures.  In connection with such
Direct Action, the rights of the Common Securities Holder will be subrogated to
the rights of such Holder of Capital Securities to the extent of any payment
made by the Debenture Issuer to such Holder of Capital Securities in such
Direct Action.  Except as provided in the 


                                     I-10
<PAGE>   96


second preceding sentence, the Holders of Capital Securities will not be able 
to exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of the 
Debentures.

                 Any approval or direction of Holders of Capital Securities may
be given at a separate meeting of Holders of Capital Securities convened for
such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of Securities in the Trust or
pursuant to written consent.  The Property Trustees will cause a notice of any
meeting at which Holders of Capital 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 Capital 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 Capital Securities
will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Capital Securities or to
distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of
the Securities.

                 Notwithstanding that Holders of Capital Securities are
entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any
of the Capital Securities that are owned by the Sponsor or any Affiliate of 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.


                                     I-11
<PAGE>   97


                 6.       Voting Rights - Common Securities.

                 (a)      Except as provided under Sections 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)      Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have
occurred and be continuing, any Trustee may be removed at any time by the
holder of the Common Securities.  If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be removed
at such time by the holders of a majority in liquidation amount of the
outstanding Capital Securities.  In no event will the holders of the Capital
Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the
Administrative Trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the
Sponsor as the holder of the Common Securities.  No resignation or removal of a
Trustee and no appointment of a successor trustee shall be effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with the
provisions of the Declaration.

                 (c)      So long as any Debentures are held by the Property
Trustee, the Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or
executing any trust or power conferred on such Debenture Trustee with respect
to the Debentures, (ii) waive any past default that is waivable under Section
5.07 of the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a
declaration of acceleration of the maturity of the principal of the Debentures
or (iv) consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the Indenture
or the Debentures, where such consent shall be required, without, in each case,
obtaining the prior approval of the Holders of a majority in liquidation amount
of all outstanding Common Securities; provided, however, that where a consent
under the Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Debentures
affected thereby, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee
without the prior approval of each Holder of the Common Securities.  The
Trustees shall not revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a
vote of the Holders of the Common Securities except by subsequent vote of such
Holders.  The Property Trustee shall notify each Holder of Common Securities of
any notice of default with respect to the Debentures.  In addition to obtaining
the foregoing approvals of such Holders of the Common Securities, prior to
taking any of the foregoing actions, the Trustees shall obtain an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that the Trust will not be
classified as an association taxable as a corporation for United States federal
income tax purposes on account of such action.





                                     I-12
<PAGE>   98

                 If an Event of Default under the Declaration has occurred and
is continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture
Issuer to pay principal of or premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures on
the due date (or in the case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a
Holder of Common Securities may institute a Direct Action for enforcement of
payment to such Holder of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on a
Like Amount of Debentures on or after the respective due date specified in the
Debentures.  In connection with Direct Action, the rights of the Common
Securities Holder will be subordinated to the rights of such Holder of Capital
Securities to the extent of any payment made by the Debenture Issuer to such
Holder of Common Securities in such Direct Action.  Except as provided in the
second preceding sentence, the Holders of Common Securities will not be able to
exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of the Debentures.

                 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 Administrative 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.

                 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 Debentures in accordance with the Declaration and the terms of
the Securities.


                                     I-13
<PAGE>   99


                 7.       Amendments to Declaration and Indenture.

                 In addition to the requirements set out in Section 12.1 of the
Declaration, the Declaration may be amended from time to time by the Sponsor,
the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees, without the consent of
the Holders of the Securities (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or supplement
any provisions in the Declaration that may be inconsistent with any other
provisions, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under the Declaration which shall not be inconsistent with
the other provisions of the Declaration, or (ii) to modify, eliminate or add to
any provisions of the Declaration to such extent as shall be necessary to
ensure that the Trust will be classified for United States federal income tax
purposes as a grantor trust at all times that any Securities are outstanding or
to ensure that the Trust will not be required to register as an "Investment
Company" under the Investment Company Act; provided, however, that in the case
of clause (i), such action shall not adversely affect in any material respect
the interests of any Holder of Securities, and any amendments of the
Declaration shall become effective when notice thereof is given to the holders
of the Securities.  The Declaration may be amended by the Trustees and the
Sponsor with (i) the consent of Holders representing a majority in liquidation
amount of all outstanding Securities, and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an
Opinion of Counsel to the effect that such amendment or the exercise of any
power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such amendment will not affect
the Trust's status as a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes or the Trust's exemption from status as an Investment Company under
the Investment Company Act, provided that, without the consent of each Holder
of Trust Securities, the Declaration may not be amended to (i) change the
amount or timing of any Distribution on the Trust Securities or otherwise
adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect
of the Trust Securities as of a specified date or (ii) restrict the right of a
holder of Trust Securities to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment on or after such date.

                 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 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 Declaration has occurred and is continuing, in which case any funds
available to make such payment shall be paid first to each 


                                     I-14
<PAGE>   100


Holder of the Capital Securities pro rata according to the aggregate
liquidation amount of Capital Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to
the aggregate liquidation amount of all Capital Securities outstanding, and only
after satisfaction of all amounts owed to the Holders of the Capital 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 Capital Securities rank pari passu with the Common
Securities and payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with the Common
Securities, except that, if an Event of Default under the Declaration occurs
and is continuing, no payments in respect of Distributions on, or payments upon
liquidation, redemption or otherwise with respect to, the Common Securities 
shall be made until the Holders of the Capital Securities shall be paid in 
full the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution and other 
payments to which they are entitled at such time.

                 10.      Acceptance of Securities Guarantee and Indenture.

                 Each Holder of Capital Securities and Common Securities, by
the acceptance thereof, agrees to the provisions of the Capital Securities
Guarantee and the Common Securities Guarantee, respectively, including the
subordination provisions therein and to the provisions of the Indenture.


                 11.      No Preemptive Rights.

                 The Holders of the Securities shall have no preemptive rights
to subscribe for any additional securities.

                 12.      Miscellaneous.

                 These terms constitute a part of the Declaration.

                 The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the
Capital Securities Guarantee or the Common Securities Guarantee (as may be
appropriate), the Indenture (including any supplemental indenture) to a Holder
without charge on written request to the Sponsor at its principal place of
business.





                                     I-15
<PAGE>   101

                                  EXHIBIT A-1

                      FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE

                           [FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY]

                 [IF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY IS A GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY, INSERT:
THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS A GLOBAL CAPITAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE
DECLARATION HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF THE
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (THE "CLEARING AGENCY") OR A NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING
AGENCY.  THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS EXCHANGEABLE FOR CAPITAL SECURITIES
REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A PERSON OTHER THAN THE CLEARING AGENCY OR ITS
NOMINEE ONLY IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE DECLARATION AND NO
TRANSFER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY (OTHER THAN A TRANSFER OF THIS CAPITAL
SECURITY AS A WHOLE BY THE CLEARING AGENCY TO A NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY
OR BY A NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY TO THE CLEARING AGENCY OR ANOTHER
NOMINEE OF THE CLEARING AGENCY) MAY BE REGISTERED EXCEPT IN LIMITED
CIRCUMSTANCES.]

                 UNLESS THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED
REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY (55 WATER STREET, NEW YORK, NEW
YORK) TO THE TRUST OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR
PAYMENT, AND ANY CAPITAL 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.]

                 THE CAPITAL SECURITIES REPRESENTED HEREBY HAVE NOT BEEN
REGISTERED UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT")
OR ANY STATE SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW.  NEITHER
THIS CAPITAL SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE
REOFFERED, SOLD, ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE
DISPOSED OF IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS
EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

                 THE HOLDER OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF
AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS CAPITAL SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE
DATE (THE "RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE") WHICH IS THREE YEARS AFTER THE
LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE
COMPANY OR ANY "AFFILIATE" OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS CAPITAL
SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY) ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY,
(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) SO LONG 

                                     A1-1
<PAGE>   102


AS THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED
INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED  IN RULE 144A) THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN
ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A  QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS
GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS  BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO
OFFERS AND SALES TO  NON-U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES
WITHIN THE MEANING OF REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN
INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A)(1),
(2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE 501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS
CAPITAL SECURITY FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN
INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW
TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF
THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE
REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE
TRUST AND THE COMPANY PRIOR TO ANY SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (i) PURSUANT TO
CLAUSE (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL,
CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (ii)
PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E), TO REQUIRE THAT A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM
APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY
THE TRANSFEREE TO THE TRUST.  SUCH HOLDER FURTHER AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO
EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS CAPITAL SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY
TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.





                                     A1-2
<PAGE>   103

Certificate Number                                  Number of Capital Securities

                                                            CUSIP NO. __________


                 Certificate Evidencing Capital Securities

                                       of

                            Firstar Capital Trust I


                       [  ]% Series __ Capital Securities
                (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security)

                 Firstar Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust formed
under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that
______________ (the "Holder") is the registered owner of __________ securities
of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
Trust designated the [  ]% Series __ Capital Securities (liquidation amount
$1,000 per Capital Security) (the "Capital Securities").  The Capital
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 Capital
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 December __, 1996, as the same may be amended from time to time
(the "Declaration"), including the designation of the terms of the Capital
Securities as set forth in Annex I to the Declaration.  Capitalized terms used
but not defined herein shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration.
The Sponsor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Capital 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 and to the benefits of
the Capital Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein.

                 By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States
federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Capital
Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures.





                                        A1-3                         
<PAGE>   104

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this ____ day of
__________, ____.

                    
                                           FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I


                                           By:________________________________
                                              Name:
                                              Administrative Trustee


                 PROPERTY TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

   This is one of the Capital Securities referred to in the within-mentioned
Declaration.

Dated:  __________________________, _______

                                                       CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                                       as Property Trustee


                                                       By: ____________________
                                                           Authorized Signatory





                                     A1-4
<PAGE>   105

                         [FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]

                 Distributions payable on each Capital Security will be fixed
at a rate per annum of [  ]% (the "Coupon Rate") of the liquidation amount of
$1,000 per Capital Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on
the Debentures to be held by the Property Trustee.  Distributions in arrears
for more than one semi-annual period will bear interest thereon compounded
semi-annually at the Coupon Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law).
Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, in certain limited circumstances
the Debenture Issuer will be required to pay Liquidated Damages (as defined in
the Registration Rights Agreement) with respect to the Debentures.  The term
"Distributions", as used herein, includes such cash distributions and any such
interest and such Liquidated Damages payable unless otherwise stated.  A
Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of
the Debentures held by the Property Trustee and to the extent the Property
Trustee has funds on hand legally available therefor.

                 Distributions on the Capital Securities will be cumulative,
will accumulate from the most recent date to which Distributions have been paid
or, if any Distributions have been paid, from December __, 1996 and will be
payable semi-annually in arrears, on January 15 and July 15 of each year,
commencing on July 15, 1997, except as otherwise described below.
Distributions will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of
twelve 30-day months and, for any period less than a full calendar month, the
number of days elapsed in such month.  As long as no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing under the Indenture, the Debenture Issuer has the
right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest by extending the
interest payment period at any time and from time to time on the Debentures for
a period not exceeding 10 consecutive calendar semi-annual periods, including
the first such semi-annual period during such extension period (each an
"Extension Period"), provided that no Extension Period shall extend beyond the
Maturity Date of the Debentures.  As a consequence of such deferral,
Distributions will also be deferred.  Despite such deferral, semi-annual
Distributions will continue to accumulate with interest thereon (to the extent
permitted by applicable law, but not at a rate exceeding the rate of interest
then accruing on the Debentures) at the Coupon Rate compounded semi-annually
during any such Extension Period.  Prior to the termination of any such
Extension Period, the Debenture Issuer may further defer payments of interest
by further extending such Extension Period; provided that such Extension
Period, together with all such previous and further extensions within such
Extension Period, may not exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods, including
the first semi- annual period during such Extension Period, or extend beyond
the Maturity Date of the 

                                     A1-5
<PAGE>   106


Debentures.  Payments of accumulated 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 Debenture Issuer may
commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements.

                 Subject to the prior obtaining of any regulatory approval then
required and to certain other conditions set forth in the Declaration and the
Indenture, the Property Trustee may, at the direction of the Sponsor, at any
time liquidate the Trust and cause the Debentures to be distributed to the
holders of the Securities in liquidation of the Trust or, simultaneous with any
redemption of the Debentures, cause a Like Amount of the Securities to be
redeemed by the Trust.

                 The Capital Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the
Declaration.







                                        A1-6                         
<PAGE>   107

                             _____________________


                                   ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Capital Security
Certificate to:
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
        (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)


________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
                     (Insert address and zip code of assignee)
                                                  


and irrevocably appoints                                         
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________________________________ agent to transfer
this Capital 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 Capital Security
Certificate)

Signature Guarantee*:     ___________________________________





- ---------------
*        Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
         that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit
         union meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements
         include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents
         Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee
         program" as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in
         substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities and
         Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


                                        A1-7                         
<PAGE>   108

[Include the following if the Capital Security bears a Restricted Capital
Securities Legend --

In connection with any transfer of any of the Capital Securities evidenced by
this certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Capital Securities are
being:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

(1)     [ ]      exchanged for the undersigned's own account without transfer;
                 or

(2)     [ ]      transferred pursuant to and in compliance with Rule
                 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(3)     [ ]      transferred pursuant to and in compliance with
                 Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(4)     [ ]      to an institutional "accredited investor" within the
                 meaning of subparagraph (a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of
                 Rule 501 under the Securities Act of 1933 that is
                 acquiring the Capital Securities for its own account,
                 or for the account of such an institutional
                 "accredited investor," for investment purposes and
                 not with a view to, or for offer or sale in
                 connection with, any distribution in violation of the
                 Securities Act of 1933; or

(5)     [ ]      transferred pursuant to another available exemption
                 from the registration requirements of the Securities
                 Act of 1933; or

(6)     [ ]      transferred pursuant to an effective registration
                 statement.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Exchange Agent will refuse to register
any of the Capital Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any
person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box
(3), (4) or (5) is checked, the Exchange Agent may require, prior to
registering any such transfer of the Capital Securities such legal opinions,
certifications and other information as the Trust has reasonably requested to
confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a
transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act
of 1933, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act; provided,
further, that (i) if box 2 is checked, the transferee must also certify that it
is a qualified institutional buyer as 


                                     A1-8
<PAGE>   109


defined in Rule 144A or (ii) if box (4) is checked, the transferee must also 
provide to the Exchange Agent a Transferee Letter of Representation in the 
form attached to the Offering Memorandum of the Trust dated December [ ], 1996;
provided, further, that after the date that a  Registration Statement has been 
filed and so long as such Registration Statement continues to be effective, 
the Exchange Agent may only permit transfers for which box (5) has been checked.


                                        ________________________________________
                                                        Signature



                                     A1-9
<PAGE>   110

                                  EXHIBIT A-2

                      FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE

                 THIS COMMON SECURITY HAS NOT BEEN REGISTERED UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AS AMENDED (THE "SECURITIES ACT") OR ANY STATE
SECURITIES LAWS OR ANY OTHER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAW.  NEITHER THIS COMMON
SECURITY NOR ANY INTEREST OR PARTICIPATION HEREIN MAY BE REOFFERED, SOLD,
ASSIGNED, TRANSFERRED, PLEDGED, ENCUMBERED OR OTHERWISE DISPOSED OF IN THE
ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR UNLESS SUCH TRANSACTION IS EXEMPT FROM, OR NOT
SUBJECT TO, REGISTRATION.

                 THE HOLDER OF THIS COMMON SECURITY BY ITS ACCEPTANCE HEREOF
AGREES TO OFFER, SELL OR OTHERWISE TRANSFER THIS COMMON SECURITY, PRIOR TO THE
DATE (THE "RESALE RESTRICTION TERMINATION DATE") WHICH IS THREE YEARS AFTER THE
LATER OF THE ORIGINAL ISSUANCE DATE HEREOF AND THE LAST DATE ON WHICH THE
COMPANY OR ANY "AFFILIATE" OF THE COMPANY WAS THE OWNER OF THIS CAPITAL
SECURITY (OR ANY PREDECESSOR OF THIS CAPITAL SECURITY) ONLY (A) TO THE COMPANY,
(B) PURSUANT TO A REGISTRATION STATEMENT WHICH HAS BEEN DECLARED EFFECTIVE
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (C) SO LONG AS THIS COMMON SECURITY IS ELIGIBLE FOR
RESALE PURSUANT TO RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT ("RULE 144A"), TO A
PERSON IT REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED
IN RULE 144A) THAT PURCHASES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF A
QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER TO WHOM NOTICE IS GIVEN THAT THE TRANSFER IS
BEING MADE IN RELIANCE ON RULE 144A, (D) PURSUANT TO OFFERS AND SALES TO NON-
U.S. PERSONS THAT OCCUR OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES WITHIN THE MEANING OF
REGULATION S UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (E) TO AN INSTITUTIONAL "ACCREDITED
INVESTOR" WITHIN THE MEANING OF SUBPARAGRAPH (A)(1), (2), (3) OR (7) OF RULE
501 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT THAT IS ACQUIRING THIS COMMON SECURITY FOR ITS OWN
ACCOUNT, OR FOR THE ACCOUNT OF SUCH AN INSTITUTIONAL ACCREDITED INVESTOR, FOR
INVESTMENT PURPOSES AND NOT WITH A VIEW TO, OR FOR OFFER OR SALE IN CONNECTION
WITH, ANY DISTRIBUTION IN VIOLATION OF THE SECURITIES ACT, OR (F) PURSUANT TO
ANY OTHER AVAILABLE EXEMPTION FROM THE REGISTRATION REQUIREMENTS UNDER THE
SECURITIES ACT, SUBJECT TO THE RIGHT OF THE TRUST AND THE COMPANY PRIOR TO ANY
SUCH OFFER, SALE OR TRANSFER (i) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (D), (E) OR (F) TO REQUIRE
THE DELIVERY OF AN OPINION OF COUNSEL, CERTIFICATIONS AND/OR OTHER INFORMATION
SATISFACTORY TO EACH OF THEM, AND (ii) PURSUANT TO CLAUSE (E), TO REQUIRE THAT
A CERTIFICATE OF TRANSFER IN THE FORM APPEARING ON THE REVERSE OF THIS COMMON
SECURITY IS COMPLETED AND DELIVERED BY THE TRANSFEREE TO THE TRUST.  SUCH
HOLDER FURTHER AGREES THAT IT WILL DELIVER TO EACH PERSON TO WHOM THIS COMMON
SECURITY IS TRANSFERRED A NOTICE SUBSTANTIALLY TO THE EFFECT OF THIS LEGEND.





                                     A2-1
<PAGE>   111


Certificate Number                                  Number of Common Securities


                    Certificate Evidencing Common Securities

                                       of

                            Firstar Capital Trust I


                            [  ]% Common Securities
                (liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security)


                 Firstar Capital Trust I, a statutory business trust formed
under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby certifies that
Firstar, Inc. (the "Holder") is the registered owner of __________ common
securities of the Trust representing undivided beneficial interests in the
assets of the Trust designated the [  ]% Common Securities (liquidation amount
$1,000 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 December __,
1996, 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
Annex I to the Declaration.  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein
shall have the meaning given them in the Declaration.  The Sponsor will provide
a copy of the Declaration, the Common Securities Guarantee and the Indenture
(including any supplemental indenture) to a Holder without charge upon written
request to the Sponsor at its principal place of business.

                 Upon receipt of this certificate, the Sponsor is bound by the
Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder and to the benefits of
the Common Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein.

                 By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United States
federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness and the Common
Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial ownership in the Debentures.





                                        A2-2                         
<PAGE>   112

  IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate this ___ day of
____________, ____.


                                             FIRSTR CAPITAL TRUST I


                                             By:________________________________
                                                Name:
                                                Administrative Trustee





                         A2-3                         
<PAGE>   113

                         [FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY]

                 Distributions payable on each Common Security will be fixed at
a rate per annum of __% (the "Coupon Rate") of the liquidation amount of $1,000
per Common Security, such rate being the rate of interest payable on the
Debentures to be held by the Property Trustee.  Distributions in arrears for
more than one semi-annual period will bear interest thereon compounded
semi-annually at the Coupon Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law).
Pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, in certain limited circumstances
the Debenture Issuer will be required to pay Liquidated Damages (as defined in
the Registration Rights Agreement) with respect to the Debentures.  The term
"Distributions", as used herein, includes such cash distributions and any such
interest and such Liquidated Damages payable unless otherwise stated.  A
Distribution is payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of
the Debentures held by the Property Trustee and to the extent the Property
Trustee has funds available therefor.

                 Distributions on the Common Securities will be cumulative,
will accrue from the most recent date to which Distributions have been paid or,
if no Distributions have been paid, from December [  ], 1996 and will be
payable semi-annually in arrears, on January 15 and July 15 of each year,
commencing on July 15, 1997, except as otherwise described below.
Distributions will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of
twelve 30-day months and, for any period less than a full calendar month, the
number of days elapsed in such month.  As long as no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing under the Indenture, the Debenture Issuer has the
right under the Indenture to defer payments of interest by extending the
interest payment period at any time and from time to time on the Debentures for
a period not exceeding 10 consecutive calendar semi-annual periods, including
the first such semi-annual period during such extension period (each an
"Extension Period"), provided that no Extension Period shall extend beyond the
Maturity Date of the Debentures.  As a consequence of such deferral,
Distributions will also be deferred.  Despite such deferral, Distributions will
continue to accumulate with interest thereon (to the extent permitted by
applicable law, but not at a rate exceeding the rate of interest then accruing
on the Debentures) at the Coupon Rate compounded semi-annually during any such
Extension Period.  Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the
Debenture Issuer may further defer payments of interest by further extending
such Extension Period; provided that such Extension Period, together with all
such previous and further extensions within such Extension Period, may not
exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods, including the first semi-annual
period during such Extension Period, or extend beyond the Maturity Date of the
Debentures.  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 


                                     A2-4
<PAGE>   114


termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, 
the Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above 
requirements.

                 Subject to the Sponsor obtaining any regulatory prior approval
then required and to certain other conditions set forth in the Declaration and
the Indenture, the Property Trustee may, at the direction of the Sponsor, at
any time liquidate the Trust and cause the Debentures to be distributed to the
holders to the Securities in liquidation of the Trust or, simultaneous with any
redemption of the Debentures, cause a Like Amount of the Securities to be
redeemed by the Trust.

                 The Common Securities shall be redeemable as provided in the
Declaration.





                                     A2-5
<PAGE>   115

                             _____________________


                                   ASSIGNMENT

FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Common Security
Certificate to:
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
    (Insert assignee's social security or tax identification number)

_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
_______________________________________________________________________________
              (Insert address and zip code of assignee)


and irrevocably appoints _______________________________________________________
________________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________ 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)

Signature Guarantee*:     ___________________________________





- ---------------
*        Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor institution"
         that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan association or credit
         union meeting the requirements of the Registrar, which requirements
         include membership or participation in the Securities Transfer Agents
         Medallion Program ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee
         program" as may be determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in
         substitution for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities and
         Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


                                     A2-6
<PAGE>   116

[Include the following if the Common Security bears a Restricted Common
Securities Legend --

In connection with any transfer of any of the Common Securities evidenced by
this certificate, the undersigned confirms that such Common Securities are
being:

CHECK ONE BOX BELOW

(1)     [ ]      exchanged for the undersigned's own account without transfer;
                 or

(2)     [ ]      transferred pursuant to and in compliance with Rule
                 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(3)     [ ]      transferred pursuant to and in compliance with
                 Regulation S under the Securities Act of 1933; or

(4)     [ ]      to an institutional "accredited investor" within the
                 meaning of subparagraph (a)(1), (2), (3) or (7) of
                 Rule 501 under the Securities Act that is acquiring
                 the Preferred Security for its own account, or for
                 the account of such an institutional "accredited
                 investor," for investment purposes and not with a
                 view to, or for offer or sale in con- nection with,
                 any distribution in violation of the Securities Act;
                 or

(5)     [ ]      transferred pursuant to another available exemption
                 from the registration requirements of the Securities
                 Act of 1933; or

(6)     [ ]      transferred pursuant to an effective Registration
                 Statement.

Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Exchange Agent will refuse to register
any of the Common Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any
person other than the registered Holder thereof; provided, however, that if box
(3), (4) or (5) is checked, the Exchange Agent may require, prior to
registering any such transfer of the Preferred Securities such legal opinions,
certifications and other information as the Trust has reasonably requested to
confirm that such transfer is being made pursuant to an exemption from, or in a
transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act
of 1933, such as the exemption  provided by Rule 144 under such Act; provided,
further, that (i) if box 2 is checked, the transferee must also certify that it
is a qualified institutional buyer as defined in 

                                     A2-7

<PAGE>   117


Rule 144A or (ii) if box 4 is checked, the transferee must also provide a 
Transferee Representation Letter in the form attached to the Offering 
Memorandum of the Trust, dated December [  ], 1996, after the date that a 
Registration Statement has been filed and so long as such Registration 
Statement continues to be effective, the Exchange Agent may only permit 
transfers for which box (5) has been checked.


                                   __________________________________
                                                Signature





                                        A2-8

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 4.7




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

                SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

                              Firstar Corporation

                         Dated as of ___________, 1997

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

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                                         Page
<S>              <C>                                                                                     <C>
                                                           ARTICLE I
                                                DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION   . . . . . . . . . . .     5

SECTION 1.1      Definitions and Interpretation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     5

                                                          ARTICLE II
                                                      TRUST INDENTURE ACT  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     9

SECTION 2.1      Trust Indenture Act; Application  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     9
SECTION 2.2      Lists of Holders of Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     9
SECTION 2.3      Reports by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    10
SECTION 2.4      Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    10
SECTION 2.5      Evidence of ComPliance with Conditions Precedent  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    10
SECTION 2.6      Events of Default; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    11
SECTION 2.7      Event of Default; Notice  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    11
SECTION 2.8      Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    11

                                                          ARTICLE III
                                                 POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
                                             CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE  . . . . . . . . . .  . 12

SECTION 3.1      Powers and Duties of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . .    12
SECTION 3.2      Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    14
SECTION 3.3.     Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Series B Capital Securities Guarantee . .    16

                                                          ARTICLE IV
                                             CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE  . . . . . . . . . .    17

SECTION 4.1      Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    17
SECTION 4.2      Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee  . . . .    17

                                                           ARTICLE V
                                                           GUARANTEE . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    19
SECTION 5.1      Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    19
SECTION 5.2      Waiver of Notice and Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    19
SECTION 5.3      Obligations Not Affected. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    19
SECTION 5.4      Rights of Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    20
                                                                                                            
</TABLE>

                                       2
<PAGE>   3
<TABLE>
<S>              <C>                                                                                      <C>
SECTION 5.5      Guarantee of Payment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   21
SECTION 5.6      Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   21
SECTION 5.7      Independent Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   21

                                                          ARTICLE VI
                                           LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION . . . . . . . . . .   21

SECTION 6.1      Limitation of Transactions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   21
SECTION 6.2      Ranking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   22

                                                          ARTICLE VII
                                                          TERMINATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   23

SECTION 7.1      Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   23

                                                         ARTICLE VIII
                                                        INDEMNIFICATION  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   23

SECTION 8.1      Exculpation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   23
SECTION 8.2      Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   24

                                                          ARTICLE IX
                                                         MISCELLANEOUS . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   24

SECTION 9.1      Successors and Assigns  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   24
SECTION 9.2      Amendments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   24
SECTION 9.3      Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   25
SECTION 9.4      Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   26
SECTION 9.5      Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   26
</TABLE>



                                       3
<PAGE>   4

                SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT

                 This GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee"), dated as of ___________, 1997, is executed and delivered by 
Firstar Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Guarantor"), and The Chase
Manhattan Bank, a New York banking corporation, as trustee (the "Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as defined
herein) from time to time of the Series B Capital Securities (as defined
herein) of Firstar 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 December 23, 1996, among the trustees of
the Issuer, 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 150,000 capital securities, having an aggregate
liquidation amount of $150,000,000, such capital securities being designated
the 8.32% Series B Capital Securities (the "Series B Capital Securities") in
connection with the consummation of the Exchange Offer (as defined in the
Declaration).

                 WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to exchange the Series A
Capital Securities (as defined in the Declaration) for the Series B Capital
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree, to
the extent set forth in this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, to pay to
the Holders of the Series B Capital Securities the Guarantee Payments (as
defined below).  The Guarantor agrees to make certain other payments on the
terms and conditions set forth herein.

                 WHEREAS, the Guarantor has executed and delivered a guarantee
agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee") for the benefit of the holders of
the Common Securities (as defined herein), the terms of which provide that if
an Event of Default (as defined in the Declaration) 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 extent
and in the manner set forth in the Common Securities Guarantee, to the rights
of holders of Series A Capital Securities and the Series B Capital Securities
to receive Guarantee Payments under the Series A Capital Securities Guarantee
and this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, as the case may be.

                 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each
Holder of Series B Capital Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby
acknowledges shall benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers
this Series B Capital Securities





                                       4
<PAGE>   5
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders.

                                   ARTICLE I
                         DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

         SECTION 1.1      Definitions and Interpretation

                 In this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, unless the
context otherwise requires:

                 (a)      Capitalized terms used in this Series B Capital
                          Securities Guarantee but not defined in the preamble
                          above have the respective meanings assigned to them
                          in this Section 1.1;

                 (b)      Terms defined in the Declaration as at the date of
                          execution of this Series B Capital Securities
                          Guarantee have the same meaning when used in this
                          Series B Capital Securities Guarantee unless
                          otherwise defined in this Series B Capital Securities
                          Guarantee;

                 (c)      a term defined anywhere in this Series B Capital
                          Securities Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;

                 (d)      all references to "the Series B Capital Securities
                          Guarantee" or "this Series B Capital Securities
                          Guarantee" are to this Series B Capital Securities
                          Guarantee as modified, supplemented or amended from
                          time to time;

                 (e)      all references in this Series B Capital Securities
                          Guarantee to Articles and Sections are to Articles
                          and Sections of this Series B Capital Securities
                          Guarantee, unless otherwise specified;

                 (f)      a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the
                          same meaning when used in this Series B Capital
                          Securities Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in
                          this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee or unless
                          the context otherwise requires; and

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

                 "Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in Rule
405 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, or any successor rule
thereunder.

                 "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or a



                                       5
<PAGE>   6
Sunday, or a day on which banking institutions in The City of New York or
Milwaukee, Wisconsin are authorized or required by law or executive order to
close.

                 "Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means The Chase
Manhattan Bank, a New York banking corporation, until a Successor Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such
appointment pursuant to the terms of this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee
and thereafter means each such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.

                 "Common Securities" means the securities representing common
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.

                 "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be
principally administered, which office at the date of execution of this
Agreement is located at 450 W. 33rd Street, New York, New York 10001.

                 "Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of
Series B Capital Securities.

                 "Debentures" means the series of subordinated debt securities
of the Guarantor designated the 8.32% Series B Junior Subordinated Deferrable
Interest Debentures due December 15, 2026 held by the Property Trustee (as
defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.

                 "Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of
its payment or other obligations under this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee.

                 "Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or
distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Series B Capital
Securities, to the extent not paid or made by the Issuer: (i) any accumulated
and unpaid Distributions (as-defined in the Declaration) that are required to
be paid on such Series B Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer has funds
on hand legally available therefor at such time, (ii) the redemption price,
including all accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of redemption
(the "Redemption Price") to the extent the Issuer has funds on hand legally
available therefor at such time, with respect to any Series B Capital
Securities called for redemption by the Issuer, and (iii) upon a voluntary or
involuntary termination and liquidation of the Issuer (other than in connection
with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for Series B
Capital Securities as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the
aggregate of the liquidation





                                       6
<PAGE>   7

amount and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on the Series B Capital
Securities to the date of payment, to the extent the Issuer has funds on hand
legally available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of the Issuer
remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of the Issuer.
If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, no Guarantee Payments
under the Common Securities Guarantee with respect to the Common Securities or
any guarantee payment under any Other Common Securities Guarantees shall be
made until the Holders of Series B Capital Securities shall be paid in full the
Guarantee Payments to which they are entitled under this Series B Capital
Securities Guarantee.

                 "Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and
records of the Issuer, of any Series B Capital Securities; provided, however,
that, in determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Series
B Capital Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver
hereunder, "Holder" shall not include the Guarantor or any Affiliate of the
Guarantor.

                 "Indemnified Person" means the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee, any Affiliate of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, or any
officers, directors, shareholders, members, partners, employees,
representatives, nominees, custodians or agents of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee.

                 "Indenture" means the Indenture dated as of December 23, 1996,
among the Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as
trustee, pursuant to which the Debentures are to be issued to the Property
Trustee of the Issuer.

                 "Majority in liquidation amount of the Series B Capital
Securities" means, except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by
Holder(s) of Series B Capital Securities, voting separately as a class, of more
than 50% of the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that
would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accumulated and
unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting percentages are
determined) of all Series B Capital Securities.

                 "Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any person, a
certificate signed by the Chairman, a Vice Chairman, the Chief Executive
Officer, the President, a Vice President, the Comptroller, the Group Director,
Asset/Liability Management, the Clerk or an Assistant Clerk, the Secretary or
an Assistant Secretary of the Guarantor.  Any Officers' Certificate delivered
with respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee shall include:





                                       7
<PAGE>   8


                 (a)      a statement that each officer signing the Officers'
         Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definitions
         relating thereto;

                 (b)      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

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

                 "Other Common Securities Guarantees" shall have the same
meaning as "Other Guarantees" as defined in the Common Securities Guarantee.

                 "Other Debentures" means all junior subordinated debentures
issued by the Guarantor from time to time and sold to trusts established by the
Guarantor, in each case similar to the Issuer.

                 "Other Guarantees" means all guarantees to be issued by the
Guarantor with respect to capital securities similar to the Series B Capital
Securities issued by other trusts established by the Guarantor, in each case
similar to the Issuer.

                 "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.

                 "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of
the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, including any vice president, any
assistant vice president, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant
treasurer or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Capital
Securities 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 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee" means a
successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to
act as Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee





                                       8
<PAGE>   9

under Section 4.1.

                 "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
as amended.

                 "Trust Securities" means the Common Securities and the Series
A Capital Securities and Series B Capital Securities, collectively.

                                   ARTICLE II
                              TRUST INDENTURE ACT

SECTION 2.1      Trust Indenture Act; Application

                 (a)      This Series B Capital Securities Guarantee is subject
to the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of
this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable,
be governed by such provisions; and

                 (b)      if and to the extent that any provision of this
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee limits, qualifies or conflicts with the
duties imposed by Section 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act,
such imposed duties shall control.

SECTION 2.2      Lists of Holders of Securities

                 (a)      The Guarantor shall provide the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee (unless the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is otherwise
the registrar of the Capital Securities) with a list, in such form as the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
addresses of the Holders of the Series B Capital Securities ("List of Holders")
as of such date, (i) within one Business Day after June 1 and December 1 of
each year, 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 Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee 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 Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee by the Guarantor.  The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may destroy
any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a new List of Holders.

                 (b)      The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall comply
with its obligations under Sections 311(a), 311(b) and Section 312(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.3      Reports by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee





                                       9
<PAGE>   10
                 Trustee

                 Within 60 days after December 15 of each year, commencing
December 15, 1997, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall provide to
the Holders of the Series B Capital 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 Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of section 313(d) of
the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.4      Periodic Reports to Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee

                 The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities
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.  Delivery of such reports, information
and documents to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee is for informational
purposes only and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's receipt of such
shall not constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein
or determinable from information contained therein, including the Guarantor's
compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee is entitled to rely exclusively on officers'
Certificates).

SECTION 2.5      Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent

                 The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee such evidence of compliance with any conditions precedent, if
any, provided for in this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee that 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
14(c)(1) may be given in the form of an Officers' Certificate.

SECTION 2.6      Events of Default; Waiver

                 The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Series B
Capital Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Series
B Capital 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 Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, but no such waiver shall
extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any
right consequent thereon.





                                       10
<PAGE>   11


SECTION 2.7      Event of Default; Notice

                 (a)      The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall,
within 90 days after the occurrence of a default with respect to this Capital
Securities Guarantee, mail by first class postage prepaid, to all Holders of
the Series B Capital Securities, notices of all defaults actually known to a
Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, unless such
defaults have been cured before the giving of such notice, provided, that,
except in the case of default in the payment of any Guarantee Payment, the
Capital Securities 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 Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of
such notice is in the interests of the holders of the Series B Capital
Securities.

                 (b)      The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
deemed to have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee shall have received written notice, or a Responsible Officer
of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of
the Declaration shall have obtained actual knowledge, of such Event of Default.

SECTION 2.8      Conflicting Interests

                 The Declaration shall be deemed to be specifically described
in this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee 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
                      CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

SECTION 3.1      Powers and Duties of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee

                 (a)      This Series B Capital Securities Guarantee shall be
held by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders
of the Series B Capital Securities, and the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall not transfer this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee to any
Person except a Holder of Series B Capital Securities exercising his or her
rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee.  The right, title and interest of the Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall





                                       11
<PAGE>   12

automatically vest in any Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, and
such vesting and succession of title shall be effective whether or not
conveyancing documents have been executed and delivered pursuant to the
appointment of such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.

                 (b)      If an Event of Default actually known to a
Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has occurred
and is continuing, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the
Series B Capital Securities.

                 (c)      The Capital Securities 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 Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, and
no implied covenants shall be read into this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee against the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee.  In case an Event
of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or waived pursuant to Section
2.6) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall exercise such
of the rights and powers vested in it by this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof,
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 Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee shall be construed to relieve the Capital Securities 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 Capital
                 Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be determined solely by the
                 express provisions of this Series B Capital Securities
                 Guarantee, and the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
                 not be liable except for the performance of such duties and
                 obligations as are specifically set forth in this Series B
                 Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants or
                 obligations shall be read into this Series B Capital Securities
                 Guarantee against the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; and





                                       12
<PAGE>   13
                          (B)     in the absence of bad faith on the part of the
                 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Securities
                 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
                 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and conforming to the
                 requirements of this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee; but
                 in the case of any such certificates or opinions that by any
                 provision hereof are specifically required to be furnished to
                 the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, the Capital
                 Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be under a duty to examine
                 the same to determine whether or not they conform to the
                 requirements of this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee;

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

                 (iii) the Capital Securities 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 a
         Majority in liquidation amount of the Series B Capital Securities
         relating to the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding
         for any remedy available to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee,
         or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Capital Securities
         Guarantee Trustee under this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee;
         and

                 (iv) no provision of this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee
         shall require the Capital Securities 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 the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
         have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment of such funds
         or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the terms of this
         Series B Capital Securities Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably
         satisfactory to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, against such
         risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

SECTION 3.2      Certain Rights of Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee

                 (a)      Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:





                                       13
<PAGE>   14

                 (i)      The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may
         conclusively 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 Series B Capital Securities Guarantee may be sufficiently
         evidenced by an Officers' Certificate.

                 (iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Series B Capital
         Securities Guarantee, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
         deem it desirable that a matter be proved or established before
         taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Capital
         Securities Guarantee Trustee (unless other evidence is herein
         specifically prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part,
         request and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate which,
         upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered by the
         Guarantor.

                 (iv)     The Capital Securities 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 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may consult
         with counsel of its selection, and the 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 Capital
         Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek
         instructions concerning the administration of this Series B Capital
         Securities Guarantee from any court of competent jurisdiction.

                 (vi)     The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be
         under no obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in
         it by this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee at the request or
         direction of any Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the
         Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity,
         reasonably satisfactory to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee,
         against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees and





                                       14
<PAGE>   15

         expenses and the expenses of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's
         agents, nominees or custodians) 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 Capital Securities
         Guarantee Trustee; provided that, nothing contained in this Section
         3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Capital Securities Guarantee
         Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation
         to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Series B Capital
         Securities Guarantee.

                 (vii) The Capital Securities 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, order, bond, debenture, note,
         other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the
         Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such
         further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may
         see fit.

                 (viii) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may execute
         any of the trusts or powers hereunder or perform any duties hereunder
         either directly or by or through agents, nominees, custodians or
         attorneys, and the Capital Securities 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 Capital Securities Guarantee
         Trustee or its agents hereunder shall bind the Holders of the Series B
         Capital Securities, and the signature of the Capital Securities
         Guarantee Trustee or its agents alone shall be sufficient and effective
         to perform any such action.  No third party shall be required to
         inquire as to the authority of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
         to so act or as to its compliance with any of the terms and provisions
         of this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, both of which shall be
         conclusively evidenced by the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's or
         its agent's taking such action.

                 (x) Whenever in the administration of this Series B Capital
         Securities Guarantee the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
         deem it desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing
         any remedy or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Capital
         Securities Guarantee Trustee (i) may request instructions from the
         Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Series B Capital
         Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such





                                       15
<PAGE>   16

         remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions are
         received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on or
         acting in accordance with such instructions.

                 (xi) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
         liable for any action taken, suffered, or omitted to be taken by it in
         good faith, without negligence, and reasonably believed by it to be
         authorized or within the discretion or rights or powers conferred upon
         it by this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.

                 (b) No provision of this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee
shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Capital Securities
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 Capital Securities 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 Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.

SECTION 3.3.     Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Series B Capital
                 Securities Guarantee

                 The recitals contained in this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their
correctness.  The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee makes no representation
as to the validity or sufficiency of this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee.

                                   ARTICLE IV
                      CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

SECTION 4.1      Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility

                 (a) There shall at all times be a Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee which shall:

                 (i) not be an Affiliate of the Guarantor; and

                 (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



                                       16
<PAGE>   17

         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 Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
shall cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with
the effect set out in Section 4.2(c).

                 (c) If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has or shall
acquire any "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section 310(b) of the
Trust Indenture Act, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and 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 Capital Securities
                 Guarantee Trustee

                 (a) Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the
Guarantor except during an Event of Default.

                 (b) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall not be
removed in accordance with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
written instrument executed by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee
Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.

                 (c) The Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall hold office
until a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall have been
appointed or until its removal or resignation.  The Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent
accounting) by an instrument in writing executed by the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not
take effect until a Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee has been
appointed and has accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed
by such Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the
Guarantor and the resigning Capital Securities Guarantee



                                       17
<PAGE>   18
Trustee.

                 (d) If no Successor Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall
have been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2
within 60 days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the
Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition
any court of competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee.  Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such
notice, if any, as it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee.

                 (e) No Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee shall be liable
for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Capital securities Guarantee
Trustee.

                 (f) Upon termination of this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee or removal or resignation of the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
pursuant to this Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Trustee all amounts due to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee
accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.

                                   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 that the Issuer may have or assert.  The
Guarantor's obligation to make 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
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee 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 Series B Capital Securities Guarantee



                                       18
<PAGE>   19

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 Series B Capital
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 Series B Capital
Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation
under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Series B Capital 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 Debentures 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 Series B
Capital 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, 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
Series B Capital Securities;

                 (f)      the settlement or compromise of any obligation
guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred;

                 (g)      the consummation of the Exchange Offer; or

                 (h)      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
with respect to the Guarantee Payments shall be absolute and unconditional
under any and all circumstances .

                 There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to,
or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to


                                       19
<PAGE>   20

the happening of any of the foregoing.

SECTION 5.4      Rights of Holders

                 (a)      The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of
the Series B Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee in respect of this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Capital
Securities Guarantee Trustee under this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.

                 (b)      If the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee fails to
enforce this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, any Holder of Series B
Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Guarantor to enforce the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's rights under
this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal
proceeding against the Issuer, the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee or any
other person or entity.  The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require
that any action be brought first against the Issuer or any other person or
entity before proceeding directly against the Guarantor.

SECTION 5.5      Guarantee of Payment

                 This Series B Capital Securities Guarantee 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 Series B Capital Securities against the Issuer in respect of any
amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Series B Capital
Securities Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except
to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce
or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any
indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of
payment under this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of
any such payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Series B Capital
Securities Guarantee.  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 t n the Holders.

SECTION 5.7      Independent Obligations

                 The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations


                                       20
<PAGE>   21

hereunder are independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the
Series B Capital Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as
principal and as debtor hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the
terms of this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the
occurrence of any event referred to in subsections (a) through (h), inclusive,
of Section 5.3 hereof.

                                   ARTICLE VI
                   LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION

SECTION 6.1      Limitation of Transactions

                 So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, the
Guarantor shall not (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any
of the Guarantor's capital stock (which includes common and preferred stock) or
(ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay or
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Guarantor (including any Other
Debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior in right of payment to the
Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee
by the Guarantor of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Guarantor
(including Other Guarantees) if such guarantee ranks pari passu or junior in
right of payment to the Debentures (other than (a) dividends or distributions
in shares of, or options, warrants, rights to subscribe for or purchase shares
of, common stock of the Guarantor, (b) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with the implementation of a stockholder's rights plan, or the
issuance of stock under any such plan in the future, or the redemption or
repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c) payments under the Capital
Securities Guarantee, (d) as a result of a reclassification of the Guarantor's
capital stock or the exchange or the conversion of one class or series of the
Guarantor's capital stock for another class or series of the Guarantor's
capital stock, (e) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Guarantor's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of
such capital stock or the security being converted or exchanged, and (f)
purchases of common stock related to the issuance of common stock or rights
under any of the Guarantor's benefit plans for its directors, officers or
employees or any of the Guarantor's dividend reinvestment plans) if at such
time (i) there shall have occurred any event of which the Guarantor has actual
knowledge that (a) is, or with the giving of notice or the lapse of time, or
both, would be an Event of Default and (b) in respect of which the Guarantor
shall not have taken reasonable steps to cure, (ii) if such Debentures are held
by the Property Trustee, the Guarantor shall be in default with respect to its
payment of any obligations under this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee or




                                       21
<PAGE>   22

(iii) the Guarantor shall have given notice of its election of the exercise of
its right to extend the interest payment period pursuant to Section 16.01 of
the Indenture and any such extension shall be continuing.

SECTION 6.2      Ranking

                 This Series B Capital Securities Guarantee will constitute an
unsecured obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior
in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Indenture), to
the same extent and in the same manner that the Debentures are subordinated to
Senior Indebtedness pursuant to the Indenture (except as indicated below), it
being understood that the terms of Article XV of the Indenture shall apply to
the obligations of the Guarantor under this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee as if (x) such Article XV were set forth herein in full and (y) such
obligations were substituted for the term "Securities" appearing in such
Article XV, except that with respect to Section 15.03 of the Indenture only,
the term "Senior Indebtedness" shall mean all liabilities of the Guarantor,
whether or not for money borrowed (other than obligations in respect of Other
Guarantees), (ii) pari passu with the most senior preferred or preference stock
now or hereafter issued by the Guarantor and with any Other Guarantee (as
defined herein) and any Other Common Securities Guarantee and any guarantee now
or hereafter entered into by the Guarantor in respect of any preferred or
preference stock of any Affiliate of the Guarantor, and (iii) senior to the
Guarantor's common stock.

                                  ARTICLE VII
                                  TERMINATION

SECTION 7.1      Termination

                 This Series B Capital Securities Guarantee shall terminate (i)
upon full payment of the Redemption Price (as defined in the Declaration) of
all Series B Capital Securities, or (ii) upon liquidation of the Issuer, the
full payment of the amounts payable in accordance with the Declaration or the
distribution of the Debentures to the Holders of all of the Series B Capital
Securities.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee will continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may
be, if at any time any Holder of Series B Capital Securities must restore
payment of any sums paid under the Series B Capital Securities or under this
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 8.1      Exculpation



                                       22

<PAGE>   23


                 (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
Series B Capital Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified
Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on
such Indemnified Person by this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee 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,
liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and
amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Series B Capital
Securities might properly be paid.


                                       23
<PAGE>   24


SECTION 8.2      Indemnification

                 The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for,
and to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss,
liability, damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on
its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration
of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including
reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself against, or
investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or
performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.  The obligation to
indemnify as set forth in this Section 8.2 shall survive the termination of
this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee.

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                 Miscellaneous

SECTION 9.1      Successors and Assigns

                 All guarantees and agreements contained in this Series B
Capital Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers,
trustees and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of
the Holders of the Series B Capital Securities then outstanding.

SECTION 9.2      Amendments

                 Except with respect to any changes that do not materially
adversely affect the rights of Holders (in which case no consent of Holders
will be required), this Series B Capital Securities Guarantee may only be
amended with the prior approval of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation
amount of the Securities (including the stated amount that would be paid on
redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to
the date upon which the voting percentages are determined).  The provisions of
Section 12.2 of the Declaration with respect to meetings of Holders of the
Securities apply to the giving of such approval.

SECTION 9.3      Notices

                 All notices provided for in this Series B Capital Securities
Guarantee shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and
shall be delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows:

                 (a)      If given to the Issuer, in care of the Administrative
Trustee at the Issuer's mailing address set forth below (or such other address
as the Issuer may give notice of to



                                       24
<PAGE>   25
the Holders of the Common Securities):


                                  Firstar Capital Trust I
                                  c/o Firstar Corporation
                                  777 East Wisconsin Avenue
                                  Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
                                  Attention:  Chief Financial Officer
                                  Telecopy:   (414) 287-3122

                 (b)      If given to the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee,
at the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below
(or such other address as the Capital Securities Guarantee Trustee may give
notice of to the Holders of the Series B Capital Securities):

                                  The Bank of New York
                                  101 Barclay Street, 21 West
                                  New York, New York 10286
                                  Attention: Corporate Trust Trustee
                                             Administration
                                  Telecopy:  (212) 815-5915

                 (c)      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 Series B Capital Securities):

                                  Firstar Corporation
                                  777 East Wisconsin Avenue
                                  Milwaukee, Wisconsin 53201
                                  Attention:  Chief Financial Officer
                                  Telecopy:   (414) 287-3122

                 (d)      If given to any Holder of Series B Capital
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 Series B Capital Securities Guarantee is solely for the
benefit of the Holders of the Series B Capital Securities and, subject to
Section 3.1(a), is not separately transferable from the Series B Capital
Securities.



                                       25
<PAGE>   26

SECTION 9.5      Governing Law

                 THIS SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED
BY, AND CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF
NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

                 THIS SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of
the day and year first above written.

                                           FIRSTAR CORPORATION, as
                                           Guarantor

                                           By:_____________________________
                                              Name:
                                              Title:

                                           THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, as Capital
                                           Securities Guarantee Trustee

                                           By:_____________________________
                                              Name:
                                              Title:


                                       26

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4.8




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





                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT



                            Dated December 23, 1996



                                     among




                              FIRSTAR CORPORATION

                            FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I


                                      and



                     MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                                  INCORPORATED
                              SALOMON BROTHERS INC

                             as Initial Purchasers

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




                         REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT


                 THIS REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT (the "Agreement") is made
and entered into as of December 23, 1996 among FIRSTAR CORPORATION, a Wisconsin
corporation (the "Company"), FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I, a business trust formed
under the laws of the state of Delaware (the "Trust"), and MERRILL LYNCH,
PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED ("Merrill Lynch") and SALOMON BROTHERS INC
(together with Merrill Lynch, the "Initial Purchasers").

                 This Agreement is made pursuant to the Purchase Agreement
dated December 23, 1996 (the "Purchase Agreement"), among the Company, as
issuer of the Series A 8.32% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures
due 2026 (the "Subordinated Debentures"), the Trust and the Initial Purchasers,
which provides for among other things, the sale by the Trust to the Initial
Purchasers of 150,000 of the Trust's Series A 8.32% Capital Securities,
liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital Security  (the "Capital Securities") the
proceeds of which will be used by the Trust to purchase Subordinated
Debentures.  The Capital Securities, together with the Subordinated Debentures
and the Company's guarantee of the Capital Securities (the "Capital Securities
Guarantee") are collectively referred to as the "Securities".  In order to
induce the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company
and the Trust have agreed to provide to the Initial Purchasers and their direct
and indirect transferees the registration rights set forth in this Agreement.
The execution and delivery of this Agreement is a condition to the closing
under the Purchase Agreement.

                 In consideration of the foregoing, the parties hereto agree as
follows:

                 1.       Definitions.  As used in this Agreement, the
following capitalized defined terms shall have the following meanings:
                          

         "Advice" shall have the meaning set forth in the last paragraph of
Section 3 hereof.

         "Applicable Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(t)
hereof.

         "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday, a Sunday, or a day
on which banking institutions in the City of New York or in Milwaukee,
Wisconsin are authorized or required by law or executive order to close.



                                      2

<PAGE>   3

         "Closing Time" shall mean the Closing Time as defined in the Purchase
Agreement.

         "Company" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement and also includes the Company's successors and permitted assigns.

         "Declaration" or "Declaration of Trust" shall mean the Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust, dated as of December 23, 1996, by the trustees
named therein and the Company as sponsor.

         "Depositary" shall mean The Depository Trust Company, or any other
depositary appointed by the Trust; provided, however, that such depositary must
have an address in the Borough of Manhattan, in The City of New York.

         "Effectiveness Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(b) hereof.

         "Exchange Act" shall mean the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended from time to time.

         "Exchange Offer" shall mean the offer by the Company and the Trust to
the Holders to exchange all of the Registrable Securities (other than Private
Exchange Securities) for a like principal amount of Exchange Securities
pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

         "Exchange Offer Registration" shall mean a registration under the
Securities Act effected pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof.

         "Exchange Offer Registration Statement" shall mean an exchange offer
registration statement on Form S-4 (or, if applicable, on another appropriate
form), and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement, in
each case including the Prospectus contained therein, all exhibits thereto and
all material incorporated by reference therein.

         "Exchange Period" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)
hereof.

         "Exchange Securities" shall mean (i) with respect to the Subordinated
Debentures, the Series B 8.32% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures due December 15, 2026 (the "Exchange Debentures") containing terms
identical to the Subordinated Debentures (except that they will not contain
terms with respect to the transfer restrictions under the Securities Act, will
not require transfers thereof to be in minimum blocks of $100,000 principal
amount and will not provide for any increase in the interest rate thereon),
(ii) with respect to the Capital




                                      3
<PAGE>   4

Securities, the Trust's Series B 8.32% Capital Securities, liquidation amount
$1,000 per Capital Security (the "Exchange Capital Securities") which will have
terms identical to the Capital Securities (except they will not contain terms
with respect to transfer restrictions under the Securities Act, will not
require minimum transfers thereof to be in blocks of $100,000 liquidation
amount and will not provide for any increase in the Distribution rate thereon)
and (iii) with respect to the Capital Securities Guarantee, the Company's
guarantee (the "Exchange Capital Securities Guarantee") of the Exchange Capital
Securities which will have terms identical to the Capital Securities Guarantee.

         "Holder" shall mean the Initial Purchasers, for so long as they own
any Registrable Securities, and each of its respective successors, assigns and
direct and indirect transferees who become registered owners of Registrable
Securities under the Indenture or Declaration of Trust.

         "Indenture" shall mean the Indenture relating to the Subordinated
Debentures and the Exchange Debentures dated as of December  23, 1996 among the
Company, as issuer, and Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee, as the same may be
amended from time to time in accordance with the terms thereof.

         "Initial Purchasers" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
to this Agreement.

         "Inspectors" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n) hereof.

         "Issue Date" shall mean the date of original issuance of the
Securities.

         "Liquidated Damages" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(e)
hereof.

         "Majority Holders" shall mean the Holders of a majority of the
aggregate liquidation amount of outstanding Capital Securities.

         "Participating Broker-Dealer" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 3(t) hereof.

         "Person" shall mean an individual, partnership, corporation, trust or
unincorporated organization, limited liability Company, or a government or
agency or political subdivision thereof.

         "Private Exchange" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2(a)
hereof.

         "Private Exchange Securities" shall have the meaning set



                                      4

<PAGE>   5


forth in Section 2(a) hereof.

         "Prospectus" shall mean the prospectus included in a Registration
Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any such prospectus as
amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement, including a prospectus
supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the
Registrable Securities covered by a Shelf Registration Statement, and by all
other amendments and supplements to a prospectus, including post-effective
amendments, and in each case including all material incorporated by reference
therein.

         "Purchase Agreement" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble
to this Agreement.

         "Records" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(n) hereof.

         "Registration Default" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(e) hereof.

         "Registrable Securities" shall mean the Securities and, if issued, the
Private Exchange Securities; provided, however, that Securities or Private
Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall cease to be Registrable
Securities when (i) a Registration Statement with respect to such Securities or
Private Exchange Securities for the exchange or resale thereof, as the case may
be, shall have been declared effective under the Securities Act and such
Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall have been
disposed of pursuant to such Registration Statement, (ii) such Securities or
Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, shall have been sold to the
public pursuant to Rule 144(k) (or any similar provision then in force, but not
Rule 144A) under the Securities Act, (iii) such Securities or Private Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, shall have ceased to be outstanding or (iv)
with respect to the Securities, such Securities have been exchanged for
Exchange Securities upon consummation of the Exchange Offer and are thereafter
freely tradeable by the holder thereof (other than an affiliate of the
Company).

         "Registration Expenses" shall mean any and all expenses incident to
performance of or compliance by the Company with this Agreement, including
without limitation:  (i) all SEC or National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. (the "NASD") registration and filing fees, including, if applicable, the
fees and expenses of any "qualified independent underwriter" (and its counsel)
that is required to be retained by any Holder of Registrable Securities in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD, (ii) all fees and
expenses incurred in connection with compliance with state securities or blue
sky laws (including reasonable fees and



                                      5

<PAGE>   6


disbursements of counsel for any underwriters or Holders in connection with
blue sky qualification of any of the Exchange Securities or Registrable
Securities) and compliance with the rules of the NASD, (iii) all expenses of
any Persons in preparing or assisting in preparing, word processing, printing
and distributing any Registration Statement, any Prospectus and any amendments
or supplements thereto, and in preparing or assisting in preparing, printing
and distributing any underwriting agreements, securities sales agreements and
other documents relating to the performance of and compliance with this
Agreement, (iv) all rating agency fees, (v) the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Company and of the independent certified public accountants of
the Company, including the expenses of any "cold comfort" letters required by
or incident to such performance and compliance, (vi) the fees and expenses of
the Trustee, and any exchange agent or custodian, (vii) all fees and expenses
incurred in connection with the listing, if any, of any of the Registrable
Securities on any securities exchange or exchanges, and (viii) the reasonable
fees and expenses of any special experts retained by the Company in connection
with any Registration Statement.

         "Registration Statement" shall mean any registration statement of the
Company and the Trust which covers any of the Exchange Securities or
Registrable Securities pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, and all
amendments and supplements to any such Registration Statement, including
post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus contained
therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference
therein.

         "Rule 144(k) Period" shall mean the period of three years (or such
shorter period as may hereafter be referred to in Rule 144(k) under the
Securities Act (or similar successor rule)) commencing on the Issue Date.

         "SEC" shall mean the Securities and Exchange Commission.

         "Securities" shall have the meaning set forth in the preamble to this
Agreement.

         "Securities Act" shall mean the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
from time to time.

         "Shelf Registration" shall mean a registration effected pursuant to
Section 2(b) hereof.

         "Shelf Registration Event" shall have the meaning set forth in Section
2(b) hereof.

         "Shelf Registration Event Date" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 2(b) hereof.


                                      6


<PAGE>   7


         "Shelf Registration Statement" shall mean a "shelf" registration
statement of the Company and the Trust pursuant to the provisions of Section
2(b) hereof which covers all of the Registrable Securities or all of the
Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, on an appropriate form under
Rule 415 under the Securities Act, or any similar rule that may be adopted by
the SEC, and all amendments and supplements to such registration statement,
including post-effective amendments, in each case including the Prospectus
contained therein, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by
reference therein.

         "TIA" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 3(l) hereof.

         "Trustees" shall mean any and all trustees with respect to (i) the
Capital Securities under the Declaration, (ii) the Subordinated Debentures
under the Indenture and (iii) the Capital Securities Guarantee.

                 2.   Registration Under the Securities Act.

                 (a)  Exchange Offer.  To the extent not prohibited by any
applicable law or applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the
Company and the Trust shall, for the benefit of the Holders, at the Company's
cost, use its best efforts to (i) cause to be filed with the SEC within 150
days after the Issue Date an Exchange Offer Registration Statement on an
appropriate form under the Securities Act covering the Exchange Offer, (ii)
cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to be declared effective under
the Securities Act by the SEC not later than the date which is 180 days after
the Issue Date, and (iii) keep such Exchange Offer Registration Statement
effective for not less than 30 calendar days (or longer if required by
applicable law) after the date notice of the Exchange Offer is mailed to the
Holders.  Upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement,
the Company and the Trust shall promptly commence the Exchange Offer, it being
the objective of such Exchange Offer to enable each Holder eligible and
electing to exchange Registrable Securities for a like principal amount of
Exchange Debentures or a like liquidation amount of Exchange Capital
Securities, together with the Exchange Guarantee, as applicable (assuming that
such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405
under the Securities Act and is not a broker-dealer tendering Registrable
Securities acquired directly from the Company for its own account, acquires the
Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no
arrangements or understandings with any Person to participate in the Exchange
Offer for the purpose of distributing the Exchange Securities) to transfer such
Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or
restrictions under the Securities Act and under state securities or blue sky
laws.



                                      7

<PAGE>   8


               In connection with the Exchange Offer, the Company and the
Trust shall:

         (i)   mail to each Holder a copy of the Prospectus forming part of the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of
transmittal and related documents;

         (ii)  keep the Exchange Offer open for acceptance for a period of not
less than 30 days after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders (or
longer if required by applicable law) (such period referred to herein as the
"Exchange Period");


         (iii)  utilize the services of the Depositary for the Exchange Offer;

          (iv)  permit Holders to withdraw tendered Securities at any time
prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last Business Day of the
Exchange Period, by sending to the institution specified in the notice, a
telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of
such Holder, the principal amount of Securities delivered for exchange, and a
statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Securities
exchanged;

         (v)  notify each Holder that any Security not tendered by such Holder
in the Exchange Offer will remain outstanding and continue to accrue interest
or accumulate distributions, as the case may be, but will not retain any rights
under this Agreement (except in the case of the Initial Purchasers and
Participating Broker-Dealers as provided herein); and

         (vi)  otherwise comply in all respects with all applicable laws
relating to the Exchange Offer.

                 If any Initial Purchaser determines upon advice of its outside
counsel that it is not eligible to participate in the Exchange Offer with
respect to the exchange of Securities constituting any portion of an unsold
allotment in the initial distribution, as soon as practicable upon receipt by
the Company and the Trust of a written request from such Initial Purchaser, the
Company and the Trust, as applicable, shall issue and deliver to such Initial
Purchaser in exchange (the "Private Exchange") for the Securities held by such
Initial Purchaser, a like liquidation amount of Capital Securities of the
Trust, together with the Exchange Guarantee, or a like principal amount of the
Subordinated Debentures of the Company, as applicable, that are identical
(except that such securities may bear a customary legend with respect to
restrictions on transfer pursuant to the Securities



                                      8

<PAGE>   9


Act) to the Exchange Securities (the "Private Exchange Securities") and which
are issued pursuant to the Indenture, the Declaration or the Guarantee (which
provides that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to the transfer
restrictions set forth in the Indenture or the Declaration, as applicable, and
that the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the
Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that
neither the Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities nor the
Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a separate class on any
matter).  The Private Exchange Securities shall be of the same series as the 
Exchange Securities and the Company and the Trust will seek to cause the CUSIP 
Service Bureau to issue the same CUSIP Numbers for the Private Exchange 
Securities as for the Exchange Securities issued pursuant to the Exchange Offer.

                 As soon as practicable after the close of the Exchange Offer
and, if applicable, the Private Exchange, the Company and the Trust, as the
case requires, shall:

         (i)  accept for exchange all Securities or portions thereof tendered
and not validly withdrawn pursuant to the Exchange Offer or the Private
Exchange;

         (ii)  deliver, or cause to be delivered, to the applicable Trustee for
cancellation all Securities or portions thereof so accepted for exchange by the
Company; and

         (iii)  issue, and cause the applicable Trustee under the Indenture,
the Declaration or the Guarantee, as applicable, to promptly authenticate and
deliver to each Holder, new Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities,
as applicable, equal in principal amount to the principal amount of the
Subordinated Debentures or equal in liquidation amount to the liquidation
amount to the Capital Securities (together with the guarantee thereof) as are
surrendered by such Holder.

                 Distributions on each Exchange Capital Security and interest
on each Exchange Debenture and Private Exchange Security issued pursuant to the
Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchange will accrue from the last
date on which a Distribution or interest was paid on the Capital Security or
the Subordinated Debenture surrendered in exchange therefore or, if no
Distribution or interest has been paid on such Capital Security or Subordinated
Debenture, from the Issue Date.  To the extent not prohibited by any law or
applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC, the Company and the Trust
shall use their best efforts to complete the Exchange Offer as provided above,
and shall comply with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act, the
Exchange Act and other applicable laws in connection with the Exchange Offer.
The Exchange Offer shall not be subject to any

                                      9

<PAGE>   10


conditions, other than that the Exchange Offer does not violate applicable law
or any applicable interpretation of the staff of the SEC.  Each Holder of
Registrable Securities who wishes to exchange such Registrable Securities for
Exchange Securities in the Exchange Offer will be required to make certain
customary representations in connection therewith, including, in the case of
any Holder of Capital Securities, representations that (i) it is not an
affiliate of the Trust or the Company, (ii) the Exchange Securities to be
received by it were acquired in the ordinary course of its business and (iii)
at the time of the Exchange Offer, it has no arrangement with any person to
participate in the distribution (within the meaning of the Securities Act) of
the Exchange Capital Securities.  The Company and the Trust shall inform the
Initial Purchasers, after consultation with the Trustee, of the names and
addresses of the Holders to whom the Exchange Offer is made, and the Initial
Purchasers shall have the right to contact such Holders and otherwise
facilitate the tender of Registrable Securities in the Exchange Offer.

                 Upon consummation of the Exchange Offer in accordance with
this Section 2(a), the provisions of this Agreement shall continue to apply,
mutatis mutandis, solely with respect to  Registrable Securities that are
Private Exchange Securities and Exchange Securities held by Participating
Broker-Dealers, and the Company and the Trust shall have no further obligation
to register the Registrable Securities (other than Private Exchange Securities)
pursuant to Section 2(b) of this Agreement.

                 (b)  Shelf Registration.  In the event that (i) the Company,
the Trust or the Majority Holders reasonably determine, after conferring with
counsel (which may be in-house counsel), that the Exchange Offer Registration
provided in Section 2(a) above is not available because of any change in law or
in currently prevailing interpretations of the staff of the SEC, (ii) the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement is not declared effective within 180 days
of the Issue Date or (iii) upon the request of any Initial Purchaser with
respect to any Registrable Securities held by it, if such Initial Purchaser is
not permitted, in the reasonable opinion of [Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom LLP], pursuant to applicable law or applicable interpretations of the
staff of the SEC, to participate in the Exchange Offer and thereby receive
securities that are freely tradeable without restriction under the Securities
Act and applicable blue sky or state securities laws (any of the events
specified in (i)-(iii) being a "Shelf Registration Event" and the date of
occurrence thereof, the "Shelf Registration Event Date"), the Company and the
Trust shall, at their cost, use their best efforts to cause to be filed as
promptly as practicable after such Shelf Registration Event Date, as the case
may be, and, in any event, within 45 days after such Shelf Registration Event
Date (which shall be no earlier than 75 days after the Closing Time), a Shelf
Registration

                                     10

<PAGE>   11


Statement providing for the sale by the Holders of all of the Registrable
Securities, and shall use its best efforts to have such Shelf Registration
Statement declared effective by the SEC as soon as practicable.  No Holder of
Registrable Securities shall be entitled to include any of its Registrable
Securities in any Shelf Registration pursuant to this Agreement unless and
until such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all of the provisions of
this Agreement applicable to such Holder and furnishes to the Company and the
Trust in writing, within 15 days after receipt of a request therefor, such
information as the Company and the Trust may, after conferring with counsel
with regard to information relating to Holders that would be required by the
SEC to be included in such Shelf Registration Statement or Prospectus included
therein, reasonably request for inclusion in any Shelf Registration Statement
or Prospectus included therein.  Each Holder as to which any Shelf Registration
is being effected agrees to furnish to the Company and the Trust all
information with respect to such Holder necessary to make the information
previously furnished to the Company by such Holder not materially misleading.

                 The Company and the Trust agree to use their best efforts to
keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective for the Rule
144(k) Period (subject to extension pursuant to the last paragraph of Section 3
hereof) or for such shorter period which will terminate when all of the
Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement have been
sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement or cease to be outstanding
(the "Effectiveness Period").  The Company and the Trust shall not permit any
securities other than Registrable Securities to be included in the Shelf
Registration.  The Company and the Trust will, in the event a Shelf
Registration Statement is declared effective, provide to each Holder a
reasonable number of copies of the Prospectus which is a part of the Shelf
Registration Statement, notify each such Holder when the Shelf Registration has
become effective and use its best efforts to take certain other actions as are
required to permit certain unrestricted resales of the Registrable Securities.
The Company and the Trust further agree, if necessary, to supplement or amend
the Shelf Registration Statement, if required by the rules, regulations or
instructions applicable to the registration form used by the Company for such
Shelf Registration Statement or by the Securities Act or by any other rules and
regulations thereunder for shelf registrations, and the Company and the Trust
agree to furnish to the Holders of Registrable Securities copies of any such
supplement or amendment promptly after its being used or filed with the SEC.

                 (c)  Expenses.  The Company shall pay all Registration
Expenses in connection with the registration pursuant to Section 2(a) or 2(b)
hereof and will reimburse the Initial Purchasers for the reasonable fees and
disbursements of [Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP], counsel for the
Initial Purchasers, incurred in connection with the Exchange Offer and, if
applicable, the Private Exchange Offer, and either [Skadden, Arps, Slate,



                                     11

<PAGE>   12
[Meagher & Flom LLP], counsel for the initial purchasers, incurred in connection
with the Exchange Offer and, if applicable, the Private Exchange Offer, and
either Skadden, Arps, Slate Meagher & Flom LLP] or any one other counsel
designated in writing by the Majority Holders to act as counsel for the Holders
of the Registrable Securities in connection with a Shelf Registration
Statement, which other counsel shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Company. 
Except as provided herein, each Holder shall pay all expenses of its counsel,
underwriting discounts and commissions and transfer taxes, if any, relating to
the sale or disposition of such Holder's Registrable Securities pursuant to the
Shelf Registration Statement.
        
                 (d)  Effective Registration Statement.  An Exchange Offer
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof or a Shelf
Registration Statement pursuant to Section 2(b) hereof will not be deemed to
have become effective unless it has been declared effective by the SEC;
provided, however, that if, after it has been declared effective, the offering
of Registrable Securities pursuant to a Shelf Registration Statement is
interfered with by any stop order, injunction or other order or requirement of
the SEC or any other governmental agency or court, such Registration Statement
will be deemed not to have been effective during the period of such
interference, until the offering of Registrable Securities pursuant to such
Registration Statement may legally resume.  The Company and the Trust will be
deemed not to have used their best efforts to cause the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement, as the case may be,
to become, or to remain, effective during the requisite period if either of
them voluntarily take any action that would result in any such Registration
Statement not being declared effective or in the Holders of Registrable
Securities covered thereby not being able to exchange or offer and sell such
Registrable Securities during that period unless such action is required by
applicable law.

                 (e)  Liquidated Damages.  In the event that (i) (A) neither
the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor a Shelf Registration Statement is
filed with the SEC on or prior to the 150th day after the Issue Date or (B)
notwithstanding that the Company and the Trust have consummated or will
consummate an Exchange Offer, the Company and the Trust are required to file a
Shelf Registration Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not filed
on or prior to the date required by Section 2(b) hereof, then commencing on the
day after the applicable required filing date, additional interest shall accrue
on the principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures, and additional
Distributions shall accumulate on the liquidation amount of the Capital
Securities, each at a rate of 0.25% per annum; or

         (ii)    (A) neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement

                                     12

<PAGE>   13


nor a Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC on or prior
to the 30th day after the applicable required filing date or (B)
notwithstanding that the Company and the Trust have consummated an Exchange
Offer, the Company and the Trust are required to file a Shelf Registration
Statement and such Shelf Registration Statement is not declared effective by
the SEC on or prior to the 30th day after the date such Shelf Registration
Statement was required to be filed, then, commencing on the 31st day after the
applicable required filing date, additional interest shall accrue on the
principal amount of the Subordinated Debentures, and additional distributions
shall accumulate on the liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, each at a
rate of 0.25% per annum; or

         (iii) (A) the Trust has not exchanged Exchange Capital Securities for
all Capital Securities or the Company has not exchanged Exchange Guarantees or
Exchange Subordinated Debentures for all Guarantees or Subordinated Debentures
validly tendered, in accordance with the terms of the Exchange Offer on or
prior to the 30th day after the date on which the Exchange Offer Registration
Statement was declared effective or (B) if applicable, the Shelf Registration
Statement has been declared effective and such Shelf Registration Statement
ceases to be effective at any time prior to the expiration of the Rule 144(k)
Period (other than after such time as all Capital Securities have been disposed
of thereunder or otherwise cease to be Registrable Securities), then additional
interest shall accrue on the principal amount of Subordinated Debentures, and
additional distributions shall accumulate on the liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities, each at a rate of 0.25% per annum commencing on (x) the
31st day after such effective date, in the case of (A) above, or (y) the day
such Shelf Registration Statement ceases to be effective in the case of (B)
above;

provided, however, that neither the additional interest rate on the
Subordinated Debentures, nor the additional distribution rate on the
liquidation amount of the Capital Securities, may exceed in the aggregate 0.25%
per annum; provided, further, however, that (1) upon the filing of the Exchange
Offer Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of
clause (i) above), (2) upon the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement or a Shelf Registration Statement (in the case of clause
(ii) above), or (3) upon the exchange of Exchange Capital Securities, Exchange
Guarantees and Exchange Subordinated Debentures for all Capital Securities,
Guarantees and Subordinated Debentures tendered (in the case of clause (iii)(A)
above), or upon the effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement which had
ceased to remain effective (in the case of clause (iii)(B) above), additional
interest on the Subordinated Debentures, and additional distributions on the
liquidation amount of the Capital



                                     13

<PAGE>   14


Securities as a result of such clause (or the relevant subclause thereof), as
the case may be, shall cease to accrue or accumulate, as the case may be.

         Any amounts of additional interest and additional Distributions due
pursuant to Section 2(e)(i), (ii) or (iii) above ("Liquidated Damages") will be
payable in cash on the next succeeding June 15 or December 15, as the case may
be, to holders on the relevant record dates for the payment of interest and
Distributions pursuant to the Indenture and the Declaration, respectively.

                 (f)  Specific Enforcement.  Without limiting the remedies
available to the Holders, the Company and the Trust acknowledge that any
failure by the Company or the Trust to comply with its obligations under
Section 2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof may result in material irreparable injury
to the Holders for which there is no adequate remedy at law, that it would not
be possible to measure damages for such injuries precisely and that, in the
event of any such failure, any Holder may obtain such relief as may be required
to specifically enforce the Company's and the Trust's obligations under Section
2(a) and Section 2(b) hereof.

                 3.       Registration Procedures.  In connection with the
obligations of the Company and the Trust with respect to the Registration
Statements pursuant to Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof, the Company and the Trust
shall use their best efforts to:

                 (a)  prepare and file with the SEC a Registration Statement or
         Registration Statements as prescribed by Sections 2(a) and 2(b) hereof
         within the relevant time period specified in Section 2 hereof on the
         appropriate form under the Securities Act, which form (i) shall be
         selected by the Company and the Trust, (ii) shall, in the case of a
         Shelf Registration, be available for the sale of the Registrable
         Securities by the selling Holders thereof and (iii) shall comply as to
         form in all material respects with the requirements of the applicable
         form and include all financial statements required by the SEC to be
         filed therewith; and use its best efforts to cause such Registration
         Statement to become effective and remain effective in accordance with
         Section 2 hereof provided, however, that if (1) such filing is 
         pursuant to Section 2(b), or (2) a Prospectus contained in an 
         Exchange Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) 
         is required to be delivered under the Securities Act by any 
         Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks to sell Exchange Securities, 
         before filing any Registration Statement or Prospectus or any 
         amendments or supplements thereto, the Company and the Trust shall 
         furnish to and afford the Holders of the Registrable Securities and 
         each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, covered by 
         such Registra-



                                     14

<PAGE>   15


         tion Statement, their counsel and the managing underwriters, if any, a
         reasonable opportunity to review copies of all such documents
         (including copies of any documents to be incorporated by reference
         therein and all exhibits thereto) proposed to be filed.  The Company
         and the Trust shall not file any Registration Statement or Prospectus
         or any amendments or supplements thereto in respect of which the
         Holders must be afforded an opportunity to review prior to the filing
         of such document if the Majority Holders or such Participating
         Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, their counsel or the managing
         underwriters, if any, shall reasonably object;

                 (b)  prepare and file with the SEC such amendments and
         post-effective amendments to each Registration Statement as may be
         necessary to keep such Registration Statement effective for the
         Effectiveness Period or the Applicable Period, as the case may be; and
         cause each Prospectus to be supplemented, if so determined by the
         Company or the Trust or requested by the SEC, by any required
         prospectus supplement and as so supplemented to be filed pursuant to
         Rule 424 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities
         Act, and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act, the
         Exchange Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder
         applicable to it with respect to the disposition of all securities
         covered by each Registration Statement during the Effectiveness Period
         or the Applicable Period, as the case may be, in accordance with the
         intended method or methods of distribution by the selling Holders
         thereof described in this Agreement (including sales by any
         Participating Broker-Dealer);

                 (c)  in the case of a Shelf Registration, (i) notify each
         Holder of Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration
         Statement, at least three Business Days prior to filing, that a Shelf
         Registration Statement with respect to the Registrable Securities is
         being filed and advising such Holder that the distribution of
         Registrable Securities will be made in accordance with the method
         selected by the Majority Holders; and (ii) furnish to each Holder of
         Registrable Securities included in the Shelf Registration State- ment
         and to each underwriter of an underwritten offering of Registrable
         Securities, if any, without charge, as many copies of each Prospectus,
         including each preliminary Prospectus, and any amendment or supplement
         thereto and such other documents as such Holder or underwriter may
         reasonably request, in order to facilitate the public sale or other
         disposition of the Registrable Securities; and (iii) consent to the
         use of the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each
         of the selling Holders of Registrable Securities included in the
         Shelf Registration Statement in



                                     15

<PAGE>   16


         connection with the offering and sale of the Registrable Securities
         covered by the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto;

                 (d)  in the case of a Shelf Registration, use its best efforts
         to register or qualify the Registrable Securities under all applicable
         state securities or "blue sky" laws of such jurisdictions by the time
         the applicable Registration Statement is declared effective by the SEC
         as any Holder of Registrable Securities covered by a Registration
         Statement and each underwriter of an underwritten offering of
         Registrable Securities shall reasonably request in writing in advance
         of such date of effectiveness, and do any and all other acts and
         things which may be reasonably necessary or advisable to enable such
         Holder and underwriter to consummate the disposition in each such
         jurisdiction of such Registrable Securities owned by such Holder;
         provided, however, that the Company and the Trust shall not be
         required to (i) qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in
         securities in any jurisdiction where it would not otherwise be
         required to qualify but for this Section 3(d), (ii) file any general
         consent to service of process in any jurisdiction where it would not
         otherwise be subject to such service of process or (iii) subject
         itself to taxation in any such jurisdiction if it is not then so
         subject;

                 (e)  in the case of (1) a Shelf Registration or (2)
         Participating Broker-Dealers from whom the Company or the Trust has
         received prior written notice that they will be utilizing the
         Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement as
         provided in Section 3(t) hereof, are seeking to sell Exchange
         Securities and are required to deliver Prospectuses, notify each
         Holder of Registrable Securities, or such Participating
         Broker-Dealers, as the case may be, their counsel and the managing
         underwriters, if any, promptly and promptly confirm such notice in
         writing (i) when a Registration Statement has become effective and
         when any post- effective amendments and supplements thereto become
         effective, (ii) of any request by the SEC or any state securities
         authority for amendments and supplements to a Registration Statement
         or Prospectus or for additional information after the Registration
         Statement has become effective, (iii) of the issuance by the SEC or
         any state securities authority of any stop order suspending the
         effectiveness of a Registration Statement or the qualification of the
         Registrable Securities or the Exchange Securities to be offered or
         sold by any Participating Broker-Dealer in any jurisdiction described
         in paragraph 3(d) hereof or the initiation of any proceedings for that
         purpose, (iv) in the case of a Shelf Registration, if, between the
         effective date of a Registration Statement and the closing of any sale
         of



                                     16

<PAGE>   17


         Registrable Securities covered thereby, the representations and
         warranties of the Company and the Trust contained in any purchase
         agreement, securities sales agreement or other similar agreement, if
         any cease to be true and correct in all material respects, and (v) of
         the happening of any event or the failure of any event to occur or the
         discovery of any facts or otherwise, during the Effectiveness Period
         which makes any statement made in such Registration Statement or the
         related Prospectus untrue in any material respect or which causes such
         Registration Statement or Prospectus to omit to state a material fact
         necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, and (vi) the
         Company and the Trust's reasonable determination that a post-effective
         amendment to the Registration Statement would be appropriate;

                 (f)  make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal of
         any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement at
         the earliest possible moment;

                 (g)  in the case of a Shelf Registration, furnish to each
         Holder of Registrable Securities included within the coverage of such
         Shelf Registration Statement, without charge, at least one conformed
         copy of each Registration Statement relating to such Shelf
         Registration and any post-effective amendment thereto (without
         documents incorporated therein by reference or exhibits thereto,
         unless requested);

                 (h)  in the case of a Shelf Registration, cooperate with the
         selling Holders of Registrable Securities to facilitate the timely
         preparation and delivery of certificates representing Registrable
         Securities to be sold and not bearing any restrictive legends and in
         such denominations (consistent with the provisions of the Indenture
         and the Declaration) and registered in such names as the selling
         Holders or the underwriters may reasonably request at least two
         Business Days prior to the closing of any sale of Registrable
         Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement;

                 (i)  in the case of a Shelf Registration or an Exchange Offer
         Registration, upon the occurrence of any circumstance contemplated by
         Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) or 3(e)(vi) hereof, use its best
         efforts to prepare a supplement or post-effective amendment to a
         Registration Statement or the related Prospectus or any document
         incorporated therein by reference or file any other required document
         so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of the Registrable
         Securities, such Prospectus will not contain any untrue statement of a
         material fact or omit to state a material fact



                                     17

<PAGE>   18


         necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
         circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and to
         notify each Holder to suspend use of the Prospectus as promptly as
         practicable after the occurrence of such an event, and each Holder
         hereby agrees to suspend use of the Prospectus until the Company has
         amended or supplemented the Prospectus to correct such misstatement or
         omission;

                 (j)  in the case of a Shelf Registration, a reasonable time
         prior to the filing of any document which is to be incorporated by
         reference into a Registration Statement or a Prospectus after the
         initial filing of a Registration Statement, provide a reasonable
         number of copies of such document to the Holders; and make such of the
         representatives of the Company and the Trust as shall be reasonably
         requested by the Holders of Registrable Securities or the Initial
         Purchasers on behalf of such Holders available for discussion of such
         document;

                 (k)  obtain a CUSIP number for all Exchange Capital Securities
         and the Capital Securities (and if the Trust has made a distribution
         of the Subordinated Debentures to the Holders of the Capital
         Securities, the Subordinated Debentures or the Exchange Subordinated
         Debentures) as the case may be, not later than the effective date of a
         Registration Statement, and provide the Trustee with printed
         certificates for the Exchange Securities or the Registrable
         Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with
         the Depositary;

                 (l)  cause the Indenture, the Declaration, the Guarantee and
         the Exchange Guarantee to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act
         of 1939 (the "TIA") in connection with the registration of the
         Exchange Securities or Registrable Securities, as the case may be, and
         effect such changes to such documents as may be required for them to
         be so qualified in accordance with the terms of the TIA and execute,
         and use its best efforts to cause the relevant trustee to execute, all
         documents as may be required to effect such changes, and all other
         forms and documents required to be filed with the SEC to enable such
         documents to be so qualified in a timely manner;

                 (m)  in the case of a Shelf Registration, enter into such
         agreements (including underwriting agreements) as are customary in
         underwritten offerings and take all such other appropriate actions as
         are reasonably requested in order to expedite or facilitate the
         registration or the disposition of such Registrable Securities, and in
         such connection, whether or not an underwriting agreement is entered
         into and whether or not the registration is an underwritten
         registration, if


                                     18

<PAGE>   19


         requested by (x) any Initial Purchaser, in the case where an Initial
         Purchaser holds Securities acquired by it as part of its initial
         distribution and (y) other Holders of Securities covered thereby:  (i)
         make such representations and warranties to Holders of such
         Registrable Securities and the underwriters (if any), with respect to
         the business of the Trust, the Company and its subsidiaries as then
         conducted and the Registration Statement, Prospectus and documents, if
         any, incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein,
         in each case, as are customarily made by issuers to underwriters in
         underwritten offerings, and confirm the same if and when requested;
         (ii) obtain opinions of counsel to the Company and the Trust and
         updates thereof (which may be in the form of a reliance letter) in
         form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing
         underwriters (if any) and the Holders of a majority in principal
         amount of the Registrable Securities being sold, addressed to each
         selling Holder and the underwriters (if any) covering the matters
         customarily covered in opinions requested in underwritten offerings
         and such other matters as may be reasonably requested by such
         underwriters (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by
         such opinion may be subject to customary qualifications and
         exceptions); (iii) obtain "cold comfort" letters and updates thereof
         in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the managing
         underwriters from the independent certified public accountants of the
         Company and the Trust (and, if necessary, any other independent
         certified public accountants of any subsidiary of the Company and the
         Trust or of any business acquired by the Company and the Trust for
         which financial statements and financial data are, or are required to
         be, included in the Registration Statement), addressed to each of the
         underwriters, such letters to be in customary form and covering
         matters of the type customarily covered in "cold comfort" letters in
         connection with underwritten offerings and such other matters as
         reasonably requested by such underwriters in accordance with Statement
         on Auditing Standards No. 72; and (iv) if an underwriting agreement is
         entered into, the same shall contain indemnification provisions and
         procedures no less favorable than those set forth in Section 4 hereof
         (or such other provisions and procedures acceptable to Holders of a
         majority in aggregate principal amount of Registrable Securities
         covered by such Registration Statement and the managing underwriters
         or agents) with respect to all parties to be indemnified pursuant to
         said Section (including, without limitation, such underwriters and
         selling Holders).  The above shall be done at each closing under such
         underwriting agreement, or as and to the extent required thereunder;

                 (n)  if (1) a Shelf Registration is filed pursuant to Section
         2(b) or (2) a Prospectus contained in an Exchange



                                     19

<PAGE>   20




Offer Registration Statement filed pursuant to Section 2(a) is required to be
delivered under the Securities Act by any Participating Broker-Dealer who seeks
to sell Exchange Securities during the Applicable Period, make reasonably
available for inspection by any selling Holder of such Registrable Securities
being sold, or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, any
underwriter participating in any such disposition of Registrable Securities, if
any, and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such selling
Holder or each such Participating Broker-Dealer, as the case may be, or
underwriter (collectively, the "Inspectors"), at the offices where normally
kept, during reasonable business hours, all financial and other records,
pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Trust, the Company and its
subsidiaries (collectively, the "Records") as shall be reasonably necessary to
enable them to exercise any applicable due diligence responsibilities, and
cause the officers, directors and employees of the Trust, the Company and its
subsidiaries to supply all relevant information in each case reasonably
requested by any such Inspector in connection with such Registration Statement
provided, however, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering
shall be coordinated on behalf of the Purchasers by you and on behalf of the
other parties, by one counsel designated by you and on behalf of such other
parties as described in Section 2(c) hereof.  Records which the Company and the
Trust determine, in good faith, to be confidential and any records which it
notifies the Inspectors are confidential shall not be disclosed by the
Inspectors unless (i) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or
correct a material misstatement or omission in such Registration Statement,
(ii) the release of such Records is ordered pursuant to a subpoena or other
order from a court of competent jurisdiction or is necessary in connection with
any action, suit or proceeding or (iii) the information in such Records has
been made generally available to the public.  Each selling Holder of such
Registrable Securities and each such Participating Broker-Dealer will be
required to agree in writing that information obtained by it as a result of
such inspections shall be deemed confidential and shall not be used by it as
the basis for any market transactions in the securities of the Trust or the
Company unless and until such is made generally available to the public.  Each
selling Holder of such Registrable Securities and each such Participating
Broker-Dealer will be required to further agree in writing that it will, upon
learning that disclosure of such Records is sought in a court of competent
jurisdiction, give notice to the Company and allow the Company at its expense
to undertake appropriate action to prevent disclosure of the Records deemed
confidential;



                                     20

<PAGE>   21


                 (o)  comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the
         SEC so long as any provision of this Agreement shall be applicable and
         make generally available to its securityholders earning statements
         satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and
         Rule 158 thereunder (or any similar rule promulgated under the
         Securities Act) no later than 45 days after the end of any 12-month
         period (or 90 days after the end of any 12-month period if such period
         is a fiscal year) (i) commencing at the end of any fiscal quarter in
         which Registrable Securities are sold to underwriters in a firm
         commitment or best efforts underwritten offering and (ii) if not sold
         to underwriters in such an offering, commencing on the first day of
         the first fiscal quarter of the Company after the effective date of a
         Registration Statement, which statements shall cover said 12-month
         periods;

                 (p)  upon consummation of an Exchange Offer or a Private
         Exchange, if requested by a Trustee, obtain an opinion of counsel to
         the Company addressed to the Trustee for the benefit of all Holders of
         Registrable Securities participating in the Exchange Offer or the
         Private Exchange, as the case may be, and which includes an opinion
         that (i) the Company and the Trust, as the case requires, has duly
         authorized, executed and delivered the Exchange Securities and Private
         Exchange Securities, and (ii) each of the Exchange Securities or the
         Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, constitute a legal,
         valid and binding obligation of the Company or the Trust, as the case
         requires, enforceable against the Company or the Trust, as the case
         requires, in accordance with its respective terms (in each case, with
         customary exceptions);

                 (q)  if an Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be
         consummated, upon delivery of the Registrable Securities by Holders to
         the Company or the Trust, as applicable (or to such other Person as
         directed by the Company or the Trust, respectively), in exchange for
         the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the
         case may be, the Company or the Trust, as applicable, shall mark, or
         cause to be marked, on such Registrable Securities delivered by such
         Holders that such Registrable Securities are being cancelled in
         exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange
         Securities, as the case may be; in no event shall such Registrable
         Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied;

                 (r)  cooperate with each seller of Registrable Securities
         covered by any Registration Statement and each underwriter, if any,
         participating in the disposition of such Registrable Securities and
         their respective counsel in


                                     21


<PAGE>   22




         connection with any filings required to be made with the NASD;

                 (s)  use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary to
         effect the registration of the Registrable Securities covered by a
         Registration Statement contemplated hereby;

                 (t)  (A)  in the case of the Exchange Offer Registration
         Statement (i) include in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a
         section entitled "Plan of Distribution," which section shall be
         reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers or another
         representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, and which shall
         contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by
         the staff of the SEC with respect to the potential "underwriter"
         status of any broker-dealer (a "Participating Broker-Dealer") that
         holds Registrable Securities acquired for its own account as a result
         of market-making activities or other trading activities and that will
         be the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Exchange
         Act) of Exchange Securities to be received by such brokerdealer in
         the Exchange Offer, whether such positions or policies have been
         publicly disseminated by the staff of the SEC or such positions or
         policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers or such
         other representative, represent the prevailing views of the staff of
         the SEC, including a statement that any such broker-dealer who
         receives Exchange Securities for Registrable Securities pursuant to
         the Exchange Offer may be deemed a statutory underwriter and must
         deliver a prospectus meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in
         connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities, (ii) furnish
         to each Participating Broker-Dealer who has delivered to the Company
         the notice referred to in Section 3(e), without charge, as many copies
         of each Prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration
         Statement, including any preliminary prospectus, and any amendment or
         supplement thereto, as such Participating Broker-Dealer may reasonably
         request (each of the Company and the Trust hereby consents to the use
         of the Prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration
         Statement or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Person subject
         to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act,
         including all Participating Broker-Dealers, in connection with the
         sale or transfer of the Exchange Securities covered by the Prospectus
         or any amendment or supplement thereto), (iii) use its best efforts to
         keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend
         and supplement the Prospectus contained therein in order to
         permit such Prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all Persons 
         subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act



                                     22

<PAGE>   23


    for such period of time as such Persons must comply with such
    requirements under the Securities Act and applicable rules and regulations
    in order to resell the Exchange Securities; provided, however, that such
    period shall not be required to exceed 90 days (or such longer period if
    extended pursuant to the last sentence of Section 3 hereof) (the
    "Applicable Period"), and (iv) include in the transmittal letter or similar
    documentation to be executed by an exchange offeree in order to participate
    in the Exchange Offer (x) the following provision:

         "If the exchange offeree is a broker-dealer holding Registrable
         Securities acquired for its own account as a result of market-making
         activities or other trading activities, it will deliver a prospectus
         meeting the requirements of the Securities Act in connection with any
         resale of Exchange Securities received in respect of such Registrable
         Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer";

and (y) a statement to the effect that by a broker-dealer making the
acknowledgment described in clause (x) and by delivering a Prospectus in
connection with the exchange of Registrable Securities, the broker-dealer will
not be deemed to admit that it is an underwriter within the meaning of the
Securities Act; and

         (B)      in the case of any Exchange Offer Registration
    Statement, the Company and the Trust agree to deliver to the Initial
    Purchasers or to another representative of the Participating
    Broker-Dealers, if requested by any such Initial Purchasers or such
    other representative of the Participating Broker-Dealers, on behalf of
    the Participating Broker-Dealers upon  consummation of the Exchange
    Offer (i) an opinion of counsel in form and substance reasonably
    satisfactory to the Initial Purchasers or such other representative of
    the Participating Broker-Dealers, covering the matters customarily
    covered in opinions requested in connection with Exchange Offer
    Registration Statements and such other matters as may be reasonably
    requested (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such
    opinion may be subject to customary qualifications and exceptions),
    (ii) an officers' certificate containing certifications 
    substantially similar to those set forth in Section 5(g) of the Purchase
    Agreement and such additional certifications as are customarily delivered 
    in a public offering of debt securities and (iii) as well as upon the
    effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a comfort
    letter, in each case, in customary form if permitted by Statement on
    Auditing Standards No. 72.


                                     23


<PAGE>   24


                 The Company or the Trust may require each seller of
Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected to
furnish to the Company or the Trust, as applicable, such information regarding
such seller as may be required by the staff of the SEC to be included in a
Registration Statement.  The Company or the Trust may exclude from such
registration the Registrable Securities of any seller who unreasonably fails to
furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.
The Company shall have no obligation to register under the Securities Act the
Registrable Securities of a seller who so fails to furnish such information.

                 In the case of (1) a Shelf Registration Statement or (2)
Participating Broker-Dealers who have notified the Company and the Trust that
they will be utilizing the Prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer
Registration Statement as provided in Section 3(t) hereof, are seeking to sell
Exchange Securities and are required to deliver Prospectuses each Holder agrees
that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company or the Trust of the happening
of any event of the kind described in Section 3(e)(ii), 3(e)(iii), 3(e)(v) or
3(e)(vi) hereof, such Holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of
Registrable Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement until such Holder's
receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended Prospectus contemplated by
Section 3(i) hereof or until it is advised in writing (the "Advice") by the
Company and the Trust that the use of the applicable Prospectus may be resumed,
and, if so directed by the Company and the Trust, such Holder will deliver to
the Company or the Trust (at the Company's or the Trust's expense, as the case
requires) all copies in such Holder's possession, other than permanent file
copies then in such Holder's possession, of the Prospectus covering such
Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities, as the case may be, current at
the time of receipt of such notice.  If the Company or the Trust shall give any
such notice to suspend the disposition of Registrable Securities or Exchange
Securities, as the case may be, pursuant to a Registration Statement, the
Company and the Trust shall use their best efforts to file and have declared
effective (if an amendment) as soon as practicable an amendment or supplement
to the Registration Statement and shall extend the period during which such
Registration Statement shall be maintained effective pursuant to this Agreement
by the number of days in the period from and including the date of the giving
of such notice to and including the date when the Company and the Trust shall
have made available to the Holders (x) copies of the supplemented or amended
Prospectus necessary to resume such dispositions or (y) the Advice.

                 4.       Indemnification and Contribution.  (a) In connection
with any Registration Statement, the Company and the Trust shall, jointly and
severally, indemnify and hold harmless each Initial Purchaser, each Holder,
each underwriter who

                                     24


<PAGE>   25


participates in an offering of the Registrable Securities, each Participating
Broker-Dealer, each Person, if any, who controls any of such parties within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act
and each of their respective directors, officers, employees and agents, as
follows:

                 (i)  from and against any and all loss, liability, claim,
         damage and expense whatsoever, joint or several, as incurred, arising
         out of any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material
         fact contained in any Registration Statement (or any amendment
         thereto), covering Registrable Securities or Exchange Securities,
         including all documents incorporated therein by reference, 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 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)  from and against any and all loss, liability, claim,
         damage and expense whatsoever, joint or several, as incurred, to the
         extent of the aggregate amount paid in settlement of any litigation,
         or any investigation or proceeding by any court or 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 prior
         written consent of the Company; and

                 (iii)  from and against any and all expenses whatsoever, as
         incurred (including reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
         chosen by such Holder, such Participating Broker-Dealer, or any
         underwriter (except to the extent otherwise expressly provided in
         Section 4(c) hereof)), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing
         or defending against any litigation, or any investigation or
         proceeding by any court or governmental agency or body, commenced or
         threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue
         statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or
         omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under
         subparagraph (i) or (ii) of this Section 4(b);

provided, however, that (i) this indemnity does not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of an untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished in writing to the
Company or the Trust by


                                     25
<PAGE>   26


such Holder, such Participating Broker-Dealer or any underwriter with respect
to such Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer or any underwriter, as the
case may be, expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto) or any Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) and (ii)
the Company and the Trust shall not be liable to any such Holder, Participating
Broker-Dealer, any underwriter or controlling person, with respect to any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission in
any preliminary Prospectus to the extent that any such loss, liability, claim,
damage or expense of any Holder, Participating Broker-Dealer, any underwriter
or controlling person results from the fact that such Holder, any underwriter
or Participating Broker-Dealer sold Securities to a person to whom there was
not sent or given, at or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy
of the final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented if the Company had
previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder, underwriter or
Participating Broker-Dealer and the loss, liability, claim, damage or expense
of such Holder, underwriter, Participating Broker-Dealer or controlling person
results from an untrue statement or omission of a material fact contained in
the preliminary Prospectus which was corrected in the final Prospectus.  Any
amounts advanced by the Company or the Trust to an indemnified party pursuant
to this Section 4 as a result of such losses shall be returned to the Company
or the Trust if it shall be finally determined by such a court in a judgment
not subject to appeal or final review that such indemnified party was not
entitled to indemnification by the Company or the Trust.

                 (b)  Each Holder agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company, the Trust, any underwriter and the
other selling Holders and each of their respective directors, officers
(including each officer of the Company and the Trust who signed the
Registration Statement), employees and agents and each Person, if any, who
controls the Company, the Trust, any underwriter or any other selling Holder
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the
Exchange Act, from and against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and
expense whatsoever described in the indemnity contained in Section 4(a) hereof,
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 Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
to the Company or the Trust by such selling Holder with respect to such Holder
expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto), or
any such Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto); provided,
however, that, in the case of Shelf Registration Statement, no such Holder
shall be liable for any claims hereunder in excess of the amount of net
proceeds received by such Holder from the sale of Registrable 




                                     26
<PAGE>   27

Securities pursuant to such Shelf Registration Statement.

                 (c)  Each indemnified party shall give prompt notice to each
indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in respect of which
indemnity may be sought hereunder, enclosing a copy of all papers properly
served on such indemnified party, but failure to so notify an indemnifying
party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability which it may
have under this Section 4, except to the extent that it is materially
prejudiced by such failure.  An indemnifying party may participate at its own
expense in the defense of such action.  If an indemnifying party so elects
within a reasonable time after receipt of such notice, an indemnifying party,
severally or jointly with any other indemnifying parties receiving such notice,
may assume the defense of such action with counsel chosen by it and reasonably
acceptable to the indemnified parties defendant in such action, provided,
however, that if (i) representation of such indemnified party by the same
counsel would present a conflict of interest or (ii) the actual or potential
defendants in, or targets of, any such action include both the indemnified
party and the indemnifying party and any such indemnified party reasonably
determines that there may be legal defenses available to such indemnified party
which are different from or in addition to those available to such indemnifying
party, then in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) of this Section 4(c) such
indemnifying party and counsel for each indemnifying party or parties shall not
be entitled to assume such defense.  If an indemnifying party is not entitled
to assume the defense of such action as a result of the proviso to the
preceding sentence, counsel for such indemnifying party and counsel for each
indemnified party or parties shall be entitled to conduct the defense of such
indemnified party or parties.  If an indemnifying party assumes the defense of
such action, in accordance with and as permitted by the provisions of this
paragraph, such indemnifying parties shall not be liable for any fees and
expenses of counsel for the indemnified parties incurred thereafter in
connection with such action.  In no event shall the indemnifying parties be
liable for the fees and expenses of more than one counsel (in addition to local
counsel), separate from its 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.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent
of the indemnified parties, settle or compromise or consent to the entry of any
judgment with respect to any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by
any governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
whatsoever in respect of which indemnification or contribution could be sought
under this Section 4 (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or
potential parties thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i)
includes an unconditional written release in form and substance satisfactory to



                                     27


<PAGE>   28

the indemnified parties of each indemnified party from all liability arising 
out of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not 
include a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure 
to act by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

                 (d)  Notwithstanding the last sentence of Section 4(c), if at
any time an indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to
reimburse the indemnified party for reasonable fees and expenses of counsel
pursuant to Section 4(a)(iii) above, such indemnifying party agrees that it
shall be liable for any settlement effected without its written consent if (i)
such settlement is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such
indemnifying party of the aforesaid request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall
have received notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to
such settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not
have reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to
the date of such settlement; provided that an indemnifying party shall not be
liable for any such settlement effected without its consent if such
indemnifying party (1) reimburses such indemnified party in accordance with
such request to the extent it considers reasonable and (2) provides written
notice to the indemnified party substantiating the unpaid balance as
unreasonable, in each case prior to the date of such settlement.

                 (e)  In order to provide for just and equitable contribution
in circumstances under which any of the indemnity provisions set forth in this
Section 4 is for any reason held to be unavailable to the indemnified parties
although applicable in accordance with its terms, the Company, the Trust, and
the Holders shall contribute to the aggregate losses, liabilities, claims,
damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by such indemnity agreement
incurred by the Company, the Trust, and the Holders, as incurred; provided 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 that
was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  As between the Company,
the Trust, and the Holders, such parties shall contribute to such aggregate
losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses of the nature contemplated by
such indemnity agreement in such proportion as shall be appropriate to reflect
the relative fault of the Company and Trust, on the one hand, and the Holders,
on the other hand, with respect to the statements or omissions which resulted
in such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense, or action in respect
thereof, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative
fault of the Company and the Trust, on the one hand, and of the Holders, on the
other hand, shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to 



                                     28

<PAGE>   29

information supplied by the Company or the Trust, on the one hand, or by or on  
behalf of the Holders, on the other, and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.  The Company, the Trust and the Holders of the
Registrable Securities agree that it would not be just and equitable if
contribution pursuant to this Section 4 were to be determined by pro rata
allocation or by any other method of allocation that does not take into account
the relevant equitable considerations.  For purposes of this Section 4, each
affiliate of a Holder, and each director, officer, employee, agent and Person,
if any, who controls a Holder or such affiliate within the meaning of Section
15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same
rights to contribution as such Holder, and each director of each of the Company
or the Trust, each officer of each of the Company or the Trust who signed the
Registration Statement, and each Person, if any, who controls each of the
Company and the Trust within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or
Section 20 of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as
each of the Company or the Trust.

                 5.       Participation in Underwritten Registrations.  No
Holder may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such
Holder (a) agrees to sell such Holder's Registrable Securities on the basis
provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the Persons entitled
hereunder to approve such arrangements and (b) completes and executes all
reasonable questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting
agreements, lock-up letters and other documents reasonably required under the
terms of such underwriting arrangements.

                 6.       Selection of Underwriters.  The Holders of
Registrable Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement who desire
to do so may sell the securities covered by such Shelf Registration in an
underwritten offering.  In any such underwritten offering, the underwriter or
underwriters and manager or managers that will administer the offering will be
selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Registrable Securities included in such offering; provided, however, that such
underwriters and managers must be reasonably satisfactory to the Company and
the Trust.


                                     29
<PAGE>   30


                 7.       Miscellaneous.

                 (a)  Rule 144 and Rule 144A.  For so long as the Company or
the Trust is subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15 of the
Exchange Act and any Registrable Securities remain outstanding, the Company and
the Trust, as the case may be, will their its best efforts to file the reports
required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and Section 13(a) or 15(d)
of the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations adopted by the SEC
thereunder, that if it ceases to be so required to file such reports, it will,
upon the request of any Holder of Registrable Securities (a) make publicly
available such information as is necessary to permit sales of their securities
pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, (b) deliver such information to 
a prospective purchaser as is necessary to permit sales of their securities 
pursuant to Rule 144A under the Securities Act and it will take such further 
action as any Holder of Registrable Securities may reasonably request, and (c) 
take such further action that is reasonable in the circumstances, in each case,
to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell its 
Registrable Securities without registration under the Securities Act within 
the limitation of the exemptions provided by (i) Rule 144 under the Securities 
Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, (ii) Rule 144A under the 
Securities Act, as such rule may be amended from time to time, or (iii) any 
similar rules or regulations hereafter adopted by the SEC.  Upon the request 
of any Holder of Registrable Securities, the Company and the Trusts will 
deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with 
such requirements.

                 (b)  No Inconsistent Agreements.  The Company or the Trust has
not entered into nor will the Company or the Trust on or after the date of this
Agreement enter into any agreement which is inconsistent with the rights
granted to the Holders of Registrable Securities in this Agreement or otherwise
conflicts with the provisions hereof.  The rights granted to the Holders
hereunder do not in any way conflict with and are not inconsistent with the
rights granted to the holders of the Company's or the Trust's other issued and
outstanding securities under any such agreements.

                 (c)  Amendments and Waivers.  The provisions of this
Agreement, including the provisions of this sentence, may not be amended,
modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the
provisions hereof may not be given unless the Company and the Trust has
obtained the written consent of Holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Registrable Securities affected by such
amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or departure; provided no
amendment, modification or supplement or waiver or consent to the departure
with respect to the provisions of Section 4 hereof shall 


                                     30
<PAGE>   31


be effective as against any Holder of Registrable Securities unless
consented to in writing by such Holder of Registrable Securities. 
Notwithstanding the foregoing sentence, (i) this Agreement may be amended,
without the consent of any Holder of Registrable Securities, by written
agreement signed by the Company, the Trust and Merrill Lynch, to cure any
ambiguity, correct or supplement any provision of this Agreement that may be
inconsistent with any other provision of this Agreement or to make any other
provisions with respect to matters or questions arising under this Agreement
which shall not be inconsistent with other provisions of this Agreement, (ii)
this Agreement may be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers and
consents to departures from the provisions hereof may be given, by written
agreement signed by the Company, the Trust and Merrill Lynch to the extent that
any such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consent is, in their
reasonable judgment, necessary or appropriate to comply with applicable law 
(including any interpretation of the Staff of the SEC) or any change therein 
and (iii) to the extent any provision of this Agreement relates to the Initial 
Purchasers, such provision may be amended, modified or supplemented, and 
waivers or consents to departures from such provisions may be given, by written
agreement signed by Merrill Lynch, the Company and the Trust.

                 (d)  Notices.  All notices and other communications provided
for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery,
registered first-class mail, telex, telecopier, or any courier guaranteeing
overnight delivery (i) if to a Holder, at the most current address given by
such Holder to the Company or the Trust by means of a notice given in
accordance with the provisions of this Section 7(d), which address initially
is, with respect to the Initial Purchasers, the address set forth in the
Purchase Agreement; and (ii) if to the Company or the Trust, initially at the
Company's address set forth in the Purchase Agreement and thereafter at such
other address, notice of which is given in accordance with the provisions of
this Section 7(d).

                 All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have
been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five
Business Days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed;
when answered back, if telexed; when receipt is acknowledged, if telecopied;
and on the next Business Day, if timely delivered to an air courier
guaranteeing overnight delivery.

                 Copies of all such notices, demands, or other communications
shall be concurrently delivered by the Person giving the same to the Trustee,
at the address specified in the Indenture.

                 (e)  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement shall inure to
the benefit of and be binding upon the successors, 


                                     31
<PAGE>   32


assigns and transferees of the Initial Purchasers, including, without
limitation and without the need for an express assignment, subsequent Holders;
provided, however, that nothing herein shall be deemed to permit any
assignment, transfer or other disposition of Registrable Securities in
violation of the terms of the Purchase Agreement or the Indenture.  If any
transferee of any Holder shall acquire Registrable Securities, in any manner,
whether by operation of law or otherwise, such Registrable Securities shall be
held subject to all of the terms of this Agreement, and by taking and holding
such Registrable Securities, such Person shall be conclusively deemed to have
agreed to be bound by and to perform all of the terms and provisions of this
Agreement and such Person shall be entitled to receive the benefits hereof.

                 (f)  Third Party Beneficiary.  Each of the Initial Purchasers
shall be a third party beneficiary of the agreements made hereunder between the
Company and the Trust, on the one hand, and the Holders, on the other hand, and
shall have the right to enforce such agreements directly to the extent it deems
such enforcement necessary or advisable to protect its rights or the rights of 
Holders hereunder.

                 (g)  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in any
number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each
of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which
taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

                 (h)  Headings.  The headings in this Agreement are for
convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the
meaning hereof.

                 (i)  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE DEEMED TO HAVE
BEEN MADE IN THE STATE OF NEW YORK.  THE VALIDITY AND INTERPRETATION OF THIS
AGREEMENT, AND THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS SET FORTH HEREIN, SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT
GIVING EFFECT TO ANY PROVISIONS RELATING TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS.  EACH OF THE
PARTIES HERETO AGREES TO SUBMIT TO THE JURISDICTION OF THE COURTS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK IN ANY ACTION OR PROCEEDING ARISING OUT OF OR RELATING TO THIS
AGREEMENT.

                 (j)  Severability.  In the event that any one or more of the
provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is
held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and
enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the
remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired
thereby.

                 (k)  Securities Held by the Company, the Trust or its


                                     32
<PAGE>   33


Affiliates.  Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified
percentage of Registrable Securities is required hereunder, Registrable
Securities held by the Company, the Trust or its affiliates (as such term is
defined in Rule 405 under the Securities Act) shall not be counted in
determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such
required percentage.

                                     33


<PAGE>   34
     
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Agreement as of the date
first written above.
         
                                        FIRSTAR CORPORATION


                                        By:______________________________
                                             Name:
                                             Title:
                                         


                                        FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I


           
                                        By:_____________________________
                                             Name: 
                                             Title:


                                        By:_____________________________
                                             Name:
                                             Title:

                                                                               

<PAGE>   35



Confirmed and accepted as of
     the date first above
     written:

MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
               INCORPORATED
SALOMON BROTHERS INC

By:  MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                    INCORPORATED,
     as Representative of the
     Several Initial Purchasers



By: _______________________________________
         Name:
         Title:



                                     35


<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 12
 
                              FIRSTAR CORPORATION
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                             NINE MONTHS ENDED
                               SEPTEMBER 30                     YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31
                            -------------------   ----------------------------------------------------
                              1996       1995       1995       1994       1993       1992       1991
                              ----       ----       ----       ----       ----       ----       ----
                                                      (THOUSANDS OF DOLLARS)
<S>                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
EXCLUDING INTEREST ON
  DEPOSITS
Earnings
  Net income before
    taxes.................  $269,744   $237,466   $347,266   $339,381   $334,493   $268,130   $216,123
  Interest on debt........   129,302    132,956    177,133     98,937     52,257     47,882     71,452
  Portion of rents
    representative of
    interest factor.......     7,370      8,514     11,352     11,935     11,883     11,290     10,729
                            --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
    Total.................   404,395    376,098    535,751    450,253    398,633    327,302    298,304
Fixed charges
  Interest on debt........  $129,302   $132,956   $177,133   $ 98,937   $ 52,257   $ 47,882   $ 71,452
  Portion of rents
    representative of
    interest factor.......     7,370      8,514     11,352     11,935     11,883     11,290     10,729
                            --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
    Total.................   134,651    138,632    188,485    110,872     64,140     59,172     82,181
Ratio of earnings to fixed
  charges.................      3.00x      2.71x      2.84x      4.06x      6.22x      5.53x      3.63x
INCLUDING INTEREST ON
  DEPOSITS
Earnings
  Net income before
    taxes.................  $269,744   $237,466   $347,266   $339,381   $334,493   $268,130   $216,123
  Interest on debt........   129,302    132,956    177,133     98,937     52,257     47,882     71,452
  Interest on deposits....   346,729    329,081    444,706    321,969    315,858    389,989    539,301
  Portion of rents
    representative of
    interest factor.......     7,370      8,514     11,352     11,935     11,883     11,290     10,729
                            --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
    Total.................   753,145    708,017    980,457    772,222    714,491    717,291    837,605
Fixed charges
  Interest on debt........  $129,302   $132,956   $177,133   $ 98,937   $ 52,257   $ 47,882   $ 71,452
  Interest on deposits....   346,729    329,081    444,706    321,969    315,858    389,989    539,301
  Portion of rents
    representative of
    interest factor.......     7,370      8,514     11,352     11,935     11,883     11,290     10,729
                            --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------   --------
    Total.................   483,401    470,551    633,191    432,841    379,998    449,161    621,482
Ratio of earnings to fixed
  charges.................      1.56x      1.50x      1.55x      1.78x      1.88x      1.60x      1.35x
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1
 
                        CONSENT OF KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
 
The Board of Directors
  Firstar Corporation
 
     We consent to incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on
Form S-4 of Firstar Corporation of our report dated January 23, 1996, relating
to the consolidated balance sheets of Firstar Corporation and subsidiaries as of
December 31, 1995 and 1994, and the related consolidated statements of income,
stockholders' equity and cash flows for each of the years in the three-year
period ended December 31, 1995, which report appears in the December 31, 1995
annual report on Form 10-K of Firstar Corporation and to the reference to our
firm under the heading "Experts" in the Registration Statement.
 
                                          KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
 
Milwaukee, Wisconsin
March 12, 1997

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 24
 
                               POWER OF ATTORNEY
 
     KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that the undersigned, an officer and/or
director of FIRSTAR CORPORATION, does hereby constitute and appoint Roger L.
Fitzsimonds, John A. Becker, Howard H. Hopwood, William J. Schulz and Jeffrey B.
Weeden, and each of them severally, his or her true and lawful attorney and
agent at any time and from time to time to do any and all acts and things and
execute, in his or her name (whether on behalf of Firstar Corporation, or as an
officer or director of Firstar Corporation, or otherwise) any and all
instruments which said attorney and agent may deem necessary or advisable in
order to enable Firstar Corporation, or otherwise) any and all instruments which
said attorney and agent may deem necessary or advisable in order to enable
Firstar Corporation to comply with Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and any
requirements of the Securities and Exchange Commission in respect thereof, in
connection with a Registration Statement and any and all amendments (including
post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statement relating to the
guarantee of certain Trust Preferred Securities issued by Firstar Capital Trust
I, a statutory business trust, which guarantee was authorized at a meeting of
the Board of Directors of Firstar Corporation held on December 17, 1996,
including specifically but without limitation thereto, power and authority to
sign his or her name (whether on behalf of Firstar Corporation, or as an officer
or director of Firstar Corporation or by attesting the seal of Firstar
Corporation, or otherwise) to such Registration Statement and to such amendments
(including post-effective amendments) to the Registration Statement to be filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission or any of the exhibits, financial
statements and schedules, or the Prospectuses, filed therewith, and to file the
same with the Securities and Exchange Commission; and the undersigned does
hereby ratify and confirm all that said attorneys and agents, and each of them,
shall do or cause to be done by virtue hereof. Any one of said attorneys and
agents shall have, and may exercise, all the powers hereby conferred.
 
     IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned has signed his or her name hereto on
the date indicated below.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              SIGNATURES                                  TITLE                          DATE
              ----------                                  -----                          ----
<C>                                      <S>                                       <C>
 
       /s/ ROGER L. FITZSIMONDS          Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive    January 16, 1997
- ---------------------------------------  Officer and Director (principal
         Roger L. Fitzsimonds            executive officer)
 
          /s/ JOHN A. BECKER             President and Director                    February 14, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
            John A. Becker
 
         /s/ JEFFREY B. WEEDEN           Senior Vice President-Finance Treasurer   January 16, 1997
- ---------------------------------------  (principal accounting and financial
           Jeffrey B. Weeden             officer)
 
         /s/ MICHAEL E. BATTEN           Director                                  January 16, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
           Michael E. Batten
 
                                         Director
- ---------------------------------------
          Robert C. Buchanan
 
      /s/ GEORGE M. CHESTER, JR.         Director                                  January 16, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
        George M. Chester, Jr.
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   2
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              SIGNATURES                                  TITLE                          DATE
              ----------                                  -----                          ----
<C>                                      <S>                                       <C>
                                         Director
- ---------------------------------------
           Roger H. Derusha
 
          /s/ JAMES L. FORBES            Director                                  January 16, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
            James L. Forbes
 
           /s/ HOLMES FOSTER             Director                                  January 16, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
             Holmes Foster
 
          /s/ JERRY M. HEIGEL            Director                                  January 16, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
            Jerry M. Heigel
 
            /s/ JOE HLADKY               Director                                  January 16, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
              Joe Hladky
 
          /s/ C. PAUL JOHNSON            Director                                  January 16, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
            C. Paul Johnson
 
          /s/ JAMES H. KEYES             Director                                  January 16, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
            James H. Keyes
 
         /s/ SHELDON B. LUBAR            Director                                  January 16, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
           Sheldon B. Lubar
 
     /s/ DANIEL F. MCKEITHAN, JR.        Director                                  January 16, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
       Daniel F. McKeithan, Jr.
 
                                         Director
- ---------------------------------------
           George W. Mead II
 
           /s/ GUY A. OSBORN             Director                                  January 16, 1997
- ---------------------------------------
             Guy A. Osborn
 
                                         Director
- ---------------------------------------
            Judith D. Pyle
 
                                         Director
- ---------------------------------------
        Clifford V. Smith, Jr.
 
                                         Director
- ---------------------------------------
           William W. Wirtz
</TABLE>
 
                                          By:      /s/ WILLIAM J. SCHULZ
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                      Attorney-in-Fact
<PAGE>   3
to come
<PAGE>   4
to come

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 25.1

      ___________________________________________________________________

                       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 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)


         NEW YORK                                           13-4994650
         (State of incorporation                      (I.R.S. employer
         if not a national bank)                   identification No.)

         270 PARK AVENUE
         NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                      10017
         (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)


                               William H. McDavid
                                General Counsel
                                270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                              Tel:  (212) 270-2611
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                 _____________________________________________
                              FIRSTAR CORPORATION
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)


         DELAWARE                                           39-0711710
         (State or other jurisdiction of              (I.R.S. employer
         incorporation or organization)            identification No.)

         777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE
         MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN                                    53201
         (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)



          SERIES B JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES
                      (Title of the indenture securities)

<PAGE>   2
                                    GENERAL


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.

          New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York
          12110.

          Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.,
          20551

          Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty Street,
          New York, N.Y.

          Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.

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

          Yes.


Item 2.  Affiliations with the Obligor.

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

         None.

<PAGE>   3
                                    - 2 -

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 as now in
effect, including the  Organization Certificate and the Certificates of
Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September
9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement  No. 333-06249, which
is incorporated by reference).

          2.  A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence
Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration
Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference.  On July 14, 1996,
in connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank
(National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed
The Chase Manhattan Bank).

          3.  None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being
contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

          4.  A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

          5.  Not applicable.

          6.  The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act
(see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No.
33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in connection
with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed The Chase
Manhattan Bank).

          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.

                                   SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the
Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in
the City of New York and State of New York, on the 6TH day of MARCH, 1997.

                                          THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK


                                          By________________________________
                                            Patricia Morabito
                                            Vice President
<PAGE>   4
                                     - 3 -


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 as now in
effect, including the  Organization Certificate and the Certificates of
Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September
9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement  No. 333-06249, which
is incorporated by reference).

          2.  A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence
Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration
Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference.  On July 14, 1996,
in connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank
(National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed
The Chase Manhattan Bank).

          3.  None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being
contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

          4.  A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

          5.  Not applicable.

          6.  The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act
(see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No.
33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in connection
with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed The Chase
Manhattan Bank).

          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.

                                   SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the
Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in
the City of New York and State of New York, on the 6TH day of MARCH, 1997.

                                       THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK


                                       By /s/Patricia Morabito 
                                          ---------------------------------
                                             Patricia Morabito
                                             Vice President



<PAGE>   1
                                                                  EXHIBIT 25.2


                       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 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)



         NEW YORK                                           13-4994650
         (State of incorporation                      (I.R.S. employer
         if not a national bank)                   identification No.)

         270 PARK AVENUE
         NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                      10017
         (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)


                               William H. McDavid
                                General Counsel
                                270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                              Tel:  (212) 270-2611
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                 _____________________________________________
                            FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)


         DELAWARE                                          APPLIED FOR
         (State or other jurisdiction of              (I.R.S. employer
         incorporation or organization)            identification No.)

         777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE
         MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN                                    53201
         (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)



                          SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES
                      (Title of the indenture securities)
<PAGE>   2
                                    GENERAL


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.

               New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York
               12110.

               Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington,
               D.C., 20551

               Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty
               Street, New York, N.Y.

               Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.


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

               Yes.

Item 2.  Affiliations with the Obligor.

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

         None.



<PAGE>   3
                                     - 2 -



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 as now in
effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of
Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September
9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement  No. 333-06249, which
is incorporated by reference).

          2.  A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence
Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration
Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference.  On July 14, 1996,
in connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank
(National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed
The Chase Manhattan Bank).

          3.  None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being
contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

          4.  A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

          5.  Not applicable.

          6.  The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act
(see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No.
33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in connection
with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed The Chase
Manhattan Bank).

          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.

                                   SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the
Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in
the City of New York and State of New York, on the 6TH day of MARCH, 1997.


                                      THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK




                                      By________________________________
                                        Patricia Morabito
                                        Vice President
<PAGE>   4

                                     - 3 -



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 as now in
effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of
Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September
9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement  No. 333-06249, which
is incorporated by reference).

          2.  A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence
Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration
Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference.  On July 14, 1996,
in connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank
(National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed
The Chase Manhattan Bank).

          3.  None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being
contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

          4.  A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

          5.  Not applicable.

          6.  The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act
(see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No.
33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in connection
with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed The Chase
Manhattan Bank).

          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.

                                   SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the
Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in
the City of New York and State of New York, on the 6TH day of MARCH, 1997.



                                          THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK




                                          By /s/Patricia Morabito 
                                             -------------------------------
                                                Patricia Morabito
                                                Vice President

<PAGE>   5

                             Exhibit 7 to Form T-1


                                Bank Call Notice

                             RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
                      CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

                            The Chase Manhattan Bank
                  of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
                     and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
                    a member of the Federal Reserve System,

                 at the close of business December 31, 1996, in
        accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
        District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                        DOLLAR AMOUNTS
                              ASSETS                                      IN MILLIONS

<S>                                                                       <C>
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:                        
      Noninterest-bearing balances and
      currency and coin ................................................   $ 11,509
      Interest-bearing balances ........................................      8,457
Securities:  ...........................................................
Held to maturity securities.............................................      3,128
Available for sale securities...........................................     40,534
Federal Funds sold and securities purchased under
      agreements to resell in domestic offices of the
      bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries,
      and in IBF's:
      Federal funds sold ...............................................      9,222
      Securities purchased under agreements to resell ..................        422
Loans and lease financing receivables:
      Loans and leases, net of unearned income        $133,935         
      Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses          2,789
      Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve .........       16
      Loans and leases, net of unearned income,       --------
      allowance, and reserve ...........................................    131,130
Trading Assets .........................................................     49,876
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized
      leases)...........................................................      2,877
Other real estate owned ................................................        290
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
      associated companies..............................................        124
Customer's liability to this bank on acceptances
      outstanding ......................................................      2,313
Intangible assets ......................................................      1,316
Other assets ...........................................................     11,231
                                                                           --------
TOTAL ASSETS ...........................................................   $272,429
                                                                           ======== 
</TABLE>


                                     - 4 -
<PAGE>   6

                                  LIABILITIES


<TABLE>
<S>                                                                    <C>       <C>
Deposits
      In domestic offices .....................................................  $ 87,006
      Noninterest-bearing ...........................................  $ 35,783
      Interest-bearing .................................... .........    51,223
                                                                       --------
      In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries,
      and IBF's................................................................    73,206
      Noninterest-bearing ...........................................  $  4,347
      Interest-bearing ..............................................    68,859

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agree-
ments to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and
      of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's
      Federal funds purchased .................................................    14,980
      Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ..........................    10,125
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury ......................................     1,867
Trading liabilities ...........................................................    34,783
Other Borrowed money:
      With a remaining maturity of one year or less ...........................    14,639 
      With a remaining maturity of more than one year .........................       425
Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized
      leases ..................................................................        40
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding                            2,267
Subordinated notes and debentures .............................................     5,471
Other liabilities .............................................................    11,343

TOTAL LIABILITIES .............................................................   256,152
                                                                                 --------

Limited-Life Preferred stock and related surplus                                      550


                                 EQUITY CAPITAL


Common stock ..................................................................     1,251
Surplus .......................................................................    10,243
Undivided profits and capital reserves ........................................     4,526
Net unrealized holding gains (Losses)
on available-for-sale securities ..............................................      (309)
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ...........................        16

TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL ..........................................................    15,727
                                                                                 --------
 TOTAL LIABILITIES, LIMITED-LIFE PREFERRED
     STOCK AND EQUITY CAPITAL .................................................  $272,429
                                                                                 ========
</TABLE>

I, Joseph L. Sclafani, S.V.P. & Controller of the above-named
bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has
been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued
by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true
to the best of my knowledge and belief.

                               JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness
of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been
examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and
belief has been prepared in conformance with the in-
structions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory
authority and is true and correct.

                               WALTER V. SHIPLEY       )
                               EDWARD D. MILLER        )DIRECTORS
                               THOMAS G. LABRECQUE     )


<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 25.3

      ___________________________________________________________________

                       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 CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)



         NEW YORK                                           13-4994650
         (State of incorporation                      (I.R.S. employer
         if not a national bank)                   identification No.)

         270 PARK AVENUE
         NEW YORK, NEW YORK                                      10017
         (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)


                               William H. McDavid
                                General Counsel
                                270 Park Avenue
                            New York, New York 10017
                              Tel:  (212) 270-2611
           (Name, address and telephone number of agent for service)
                 _____________________________________________
                              FIRSTAR CORPORATION
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)


         DELAWARE                                           39-0711710
         (State or other jurisdiction of              (I.R.S. employer
         incorporation or organization)            identification No.)

         777 EAST WISCONSIN AVENUE
         MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN                                    53201
         (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)

                           _________________________

                     SERIES B CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE
                           (FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I)
                      (Title of the indenture securities)
      ___________________________________________________________________


<PAGE>   2
                                    GENERAL


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.

             New York State Banking Department, State House, Albany, New York
             12110.

             Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington, D.C.,
             20551

             Federal Reserve Bank of New York, District No. 2, 33 Liberty
             Street, New York, N.Y.

             Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., 20429.


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

             Yes.


Item 2.  Affiliations with the Obligor.

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

         None.

<PAGE>   3
                                     - 2 -


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 as now in
effect, including the Organization Certificate and the Certificates of
Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September
9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement  No. 333-06249, which
is incorporated by reference).

          2.  A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence
Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration
Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference.  On July 14, 1996,
in connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank
(National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed
The Chase Manhattan Bank).

          3.  None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being
contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

          4.  A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

          5.  Not applicable.

          6.  The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act
(see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No.
33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in connection
with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed The Chase
Manhattan Bank).

          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.

                                   SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the
Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in
the City of New York and State of New York, on the 6TH day of MARCH, 1997.


                                     THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK


                                     By_______________________________
                                        Patricia Morabito
                                        Vice President
<PAGE>   4

                                     - 3 -


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 as now in
effect, including the  Organization Certificate and the Certificates of
Amendment dated February 17, 1969, August 31, 1977, December 31, 1980, September
9, 1982, February 28, 1985, December 2, 1991 and July 10, 1996 (see Exhibit 1 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement  No. 333-06249, which
is incorporated by reference).

          2.  A copy of the Certificate of Authority of the Trustee to Commence
Business (see Exhibit 2 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration
Statement No. 33-50010, which is incorporated by reference.  On July 14, 1996,
in connection with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank
(National Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed
The Chase Manhattan Bank).

          3.  None, authorization to exercise corporate trust powers being
contained in the documents identified above as Exhibits 1 and 2.

          4.  A copy of the existing By-Laws of the Trustee (see Exhibit 4 to
Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No. 333-06249, which is
incorporated by reference).

          5.  Not applicable.

          6.  The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act
(see Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed in connection with Registration Statement No.
33-50010, which is incorporated by reference. On July 14, 1996, in connection
with the merger of Chemical Bank and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association), Chemical Bank, the surviving corporation, was renamed The Chase
Manhattan Bank).

          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.

                                   SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 the
Trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank, a corporation organized and existing under
the laws of the State of New York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in
the City of New York and State of New York, on the 6TH day of MARCH, 1997.


                                      THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK


                                      By /s/Patricia Morabito 
                                         -------------------------------
                                            Patricia Morabito
                                            Vice President

<PAGE>   5

                             Exhibit 7 to Form T-1


                                Bank Call Notice

                             RESERVE DISTRICT NO. 2
                      CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION OF

                            The Chase Manhattan Bank
                  of 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017
                     and Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
                    a member of the Federal Reserve System,

                 at the close of business December 31, 1996, in
        accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
        District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       DOLLAR AMOUNTS
                              ASSETS                                    IN MILLIONS
<S>                                                                      <C>                
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
      Noninterest-bearing balances and
      currency and coin ................................................ $ 11,509
      Interest-bearing balances ........................................    8,457
Securities:  ...........................................................
Held to maturity securities.............................................    3,128
Available for sale securities...........................................   40,534
Federal Funds sold and securities purchased under
      agreements to resell in domestic offices of the
      bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries,
      and in IBF's:
      Federal funds sold ...............................................    9,222
      Securities purchased under agreements to resell ..................      422
Loans and lease financing receivables:
      Loans and leases, net of unearned income  $133,935
      Less: Allowance for loan and lease losses    2,789
      Less: Allocated transfer risk reserve ....      16
                                                -------- 
      Loans and leases, net of unearned income,
      allowance, and reserve ...........................................  131,130
Trading Assets .........................................................   49,876
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized
      leases)...........................................................    2,877
Other real estate owned ................................................      290
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and
      associated companies..............................................      124
Customer's liability to this bank on acceptances
      outstanding ......................................................    2,313
Intangible assets ......................................................    1,316
Other assets ...........................................................   11,231
                                                                         --------
TOTAL ASSETS ........................................................... $272,429
                                                                         ========
</TABLE>


                                     - 4 -

<PAGE>   6
                                  LIABILITIES


<TABLE>
<S>                                                            <C>               <C>
Deposits
      In domestic offices .....................................................  $87,006
      Noninterest-bearing .....................................$35,783
      Interest-bearing ........................................ 51,223
                                                               -------
      In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries,
      and IBF's................................................................   73,206
      Noninterest-bearing .....................................$ 4,347
      Interest-bearing .......................................  68,859

Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agree-
ments to repurchase in domestic offices of the bank and
      of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and in IBF's
      Federal funds purchased .................................................   14,980
      Securities sold under agreements to repurchase ..........................   10,125
Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury ......................................    1,867
Trading liabilities ...........................................................   34,783
Other Borrowed money:
      With a remaining maturity of one year or less ...........................   14,639 
      With a remaining maturity of more than one year .........................      425
Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized
      leases ..................................................................       40
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding.......................    2,267
Subordinated notes and debentures .............................................    5,471
Other liabilities .............................................................   11,343

TOTAL LIABILITIES .............................................................  256,152
                                                                                --------

Limited-Life Preferred stock and related surplus                                     550


                                 EQUITY CAPITAL


Common stock ..................................................................    1,251
Surplus .......................................................................   10,243
Undivided profits and capital reserves ........................................    4,526
Net unrealized holding gains (Losses)
on available-for-sale securities ..............................................     (309)
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ...........................       16

TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL ..........................................................   15,727
                                                                                --------
TOTAL LIABILITIES, LIMITED-LIFE PREFERRED
     STOCK AND EQUITY CAPITAL ................................................. $272,429
                                                                                ========
</TABLE>

I, Joseph L. Sclafani, S.V.P. & Controller of the above-named
bank, do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has
been prepared in conformance with the instructions issued
by the appropriate Federal regulatory authority and is true
to the best of my knowledge and belief.

                               JOSEPH L. SCLAFANI

We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness
of this Report of Condition and declare that it has been
examined by us, and to the best of our knowledge and
belief has been prepared in conformance with the in-
structions issued by the appropriate Federal regulatory
authority and is true and correct.

                               WALTER V. SHIPLEY       )
                               EDWARD D. MILLER        )DIRECTORS
                               THOMAS G. LABRECQUE     )

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1




                             LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                            FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I

                             Offer to Exchange its
                       8.32% Series B Capital Securities
                (Liquidation Amount $1,000 per Capital Security)
          which have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933
                       for any and all of its outstanding
                       8.32% Series A Capital Securities
                (Liquidation Amount $1,000 per Capital Security)

                           Pursuant to the Prospectus
                            dated February __, 1997
                                _______________

       THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M.,
     NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON ________ , 1997, UNLESS THE OFFER IS EXTENDED.
                                                  
                                                  

                 THE EXCHANGE AGENT FOR THE EXCHANGE OFFER IS:

                            THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK


<TABLE>
<S><C>
By Registered or Certified Mail:                         By Hand or Overnight Delivery:
                                                             
  The Chase Manhattan Bank                                   The Chase Manhattan Bank

  New York, New York 10286                                   New York, New York 10286 
Attention:  Reorganization Department                  Attention:  Reorganization Department
        George Johnson                                             George Johnson
</TABLE>

                             Confirm by Telephone:
                                 (212)815-4997

                            Facsimile Transmissions:
                          (ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS ONLY)
                                 (212)571-3080


  DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH
ABOVE OR TRANSMISSION OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL VIA FACSIMILE TO A NUMBER
OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID DELIVERY.

  THE INSTRUCTIONS CONTAINED HEREIN SHOULD BE READ CAREFULLY BEFORE THIS LETTER
OF TRANSMITTAL IS COMPLETED.

  Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the same meaning
given them in the Prospectus (as defined below).

  This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed by holders of Old Capital
Securities (as defined below) either if Old Capital Securities are to be
forwarded herewith or if tenders of Old Capital Securities are to be made by
book-entry transfer to an account maintained by The Bank of New York (the
"Exchange Agent") at The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") pursuant to the
procedures set forth in "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old
Capital Securities" in the Prospectus.

  Holders of Old Capital Securities whose certificates (the "Certificates") for
such Old Capital Securities are not immediately available or who cannot deliver
their Certificates and all other required documents to the Exchange Agent on or
prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Prospectus) or who cannot
complete the procedures for book-entry transfer on a timely basis, must tender
their Old Capital Securities according to the guaranteed delivery procedures
set forth in "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old Capital
Securities" in the Prospectus.

<PAGE>   2


          DELIVERY OF DOCUMENTS TO DTC DOES NOT CONSTITUTE DELIVERY TO THE
EXCHANGE AGENT.

                    NOTE:  SIGNATURES MUST BE PROVIDED BELOW
              PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

ALL TENDERING HOLDERS COMPLETE THIS BOX:

<TABLE>
<S><C>
                                           DESCRIPTION OF OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES TENDERED

If blank, please print name and                 Old Capital Securities tendered
address of registered holder.                (Attach additional list if necessary)

                                      Certificate     Aggregate Principal       Principal Amount of Old
                                       Number(s)*    Amount of Old Capital     Capital Securities Tendered
                                                          Securities               (if less than all)**                     








                                        TOTAL
                                        AMOUNT
                                       TENDERED:

</TABLE>

*    Need not be completed by book-entry holders.

**   Old Capital Securities may be tendered in whole or in part in denominations
     of $100,000 and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof, provided
     that if any Old Capital Securities are tendered for exchange in part, the
     untendered principal amount thereof must be $100,000 or any integral
     multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.  All Old Capital Securities held
     shall be deemed tendered unless a lesser number is specified in this
     column.





                                       2
<PAGE>   3


           (BOXES BELOW TO BE CHECKED BY ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS ONLY)

[ ] CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES ARE BEING DELIVERED BY
    BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER MADE TO THE ACCOUNT MAINTAINED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT
    WITH DTC AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

    Name of Tendering Institution_______________________________________________

    DTC Account Number__________________________________________________________

    Transaction Code Number_____________________________________________________

[ ] CHECK HERE AND ENCLOSE A PHOTOCOPY OF THE NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY IF
    TENDERED OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO A NOTICE OF
    GUARANTEED DELIVERY PREVIOUSLY SENT TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT AND COMPLETE THE
    FOLLOWING:

    Name of Registered Holder(s)_______________________________________________

    Window Ticket Number (if any)______________________________________________

    Date of Execution of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery_________________________

    Name of Institution which Guaranteed Delivery______________________________

         If Guaranteed Delivered is to be made By Book-Entry Transfer:

             Name of Tendering Institution______________________________________

             DTC Account Number_________________________________________________

             Transaction Code Number____________________________________________


[ ] CHECK HERE IF TENDERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER AND NON-EXCHANGED OLD CAPITAL
    SECURITIES ARE TO BE RETURNED BY CREDITING THE DTC ACCOUNT NUMBER SET FORTH
    ABOVE.

[ ] CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER WHO ACQUIRED THE OLD CAPITAL
    SECURITIES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT AS A RESULT OF MARKET MAKING OR OTHER
    TRADING ACTIVITIES (A "PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER") AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10
    ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR
    SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

    Name:_______________________________________________________________________

    Address:____________________________________________________________________

            ____________________________________________________________________





                                       3
<PAGE>   4

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         The undersigned hereby tenders to Firstar Capital Trust I, a trust
formed under the laws of Delaware (the "Trust") and Firstar Corporation, a
Wisconsin corporation, (the "Corporation"), the above described aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Trust's 8.32% Series A Capital Securities (the "Old
Capital Securities") in exchange for a like aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
Trust's 8.32% Series B Capital Securities (the "New Capital Securities") which
have been registered under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act"),
upon the terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Prospectus dated
February __, 1997, (as the same may be amended or supplemented from time to
time, the "Prospectus"), receipt of which is acknowledged, and in this Letter
of Transmittal (which, together with the Prospectus, constitute the "Exchange
Offer").

         Subject to and effective upon the acceptance for exchange of all or
any portion of the Old Capital Securities tendered herewith in accordance with
the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer (including, if the Exchange
Offer is extended or amended, the terms and conditions of any such extension or
amendment), the undersigned hereby sells, assigns and transfers to or upon the
order of the Trust all right, title and interest in and to such Old Capital
Securities as are being tendered herewith.  The undersigned hereby irrevocably
constitutes and appoints the Exchange Agent as its agent and attorney-in-fact
(with full knowledge that the Exchange Agent is also acting as agent of the
Corporation and the Trust in connection with the Exchange Offer) with respect
to the tendered Old Capital Securities, with full power of substitution (such
power of attorney being deemed to be an irrevocable power coupled with an
interest), subject only to the right of withdrawal described in the Prospectus,
to (i) deliver Certificates for Old Capital Securities to the Corporation or
the Trust together with all accompanying evidences of transfer and authenticity
to, or upon the order of, the Trust, upon receipt by the Exchange Agent, as the
undersigned's agent, of the New Capital Securities to be issued in exchange for
such Old Capital Securities, (ii) present Certificates for such Old Capital
Securities for transfer, and to transfer the Old Capital Securities on the
books of the Trust, and (iii) receive for the account of the Trust all benefits
and otherwise exercise all rights of beneficial ownership of such Old Capital
Securities, all in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Exchange
Offer.

         THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY REPRESENTS AND WARRANTS THAT THE UNDERSIGNED
HAS FULL POWER AND AUTHORITY TO TENDER, EXCHANGE, SELL, ASSIGN AND TRANSFER THE
OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES TENDERED HEREBY AND THAT, WHEN THE SAME ARE ACCEPTED FOR
EXCHANGE, THE TRUST WILL ACQUIRE GOOD, MARKETABLE AND UNENCUMBERED TITLE
THERETO, FREE AND CLEAR OF ALL LIENS, RESTRICTIONS, CHARGES AND ENCUMBRANCES,
AND THAT THE OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES TENDERED HEREBY ARE NOT SUBJECT TO ANY
ADVERSE CLAIMS OR PROXIES.  THE UNDERSIGNED WILL, UPON REQUEST, EXECUTE AND
DELIVER ANY ADDITIONAL DOCUMENTS DEEMED BY THE CORPORATION, THE TRUST OR THE
EXCHANGE AGENT TO BE NECESSARY OR DESIRABLE TO COMPLETE THE EXCHANGE,
ASSIGNMENT AND TRANSFER OF THE OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES TENDERED HEREBY, AND THE
UNDERSIGNED WILL COMPLY WITH ITS OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS
AGREEMENT.  THE UNDERSIGNED HAS READ AND AGREES TO ALL OF THE TERMS OF THE
EXCHANGE OFFER.

         The name(s) and address(es) of the registered holder(s) of the Old
Capital Securities tendered hereby should be printed above, if they are not
already set forth above, as they appear on the Certificates representing such
Old Capital Securities.  The Certificate number(s) and the Old Capital
Securities that the undersigned wishes to tender should be indicated in the
appropriate boxes above.

         If any tendered Old Capital Securities are not exchanged pursuant to
the Exchange Offer for any reason, or if Certificates are submitted for more
Old Capital Securities than are tendered or accepted for exchange, Certificates
for such nonexchanged or nontendered Old Capital Securities will be returned
(or, in the case of Old Capital Securities tendered by book-entry transfer,
such Old Capital Securities will be credited to an account maintained at DTC),
without expense to the tendering holder, promptly following the expiration or
termination of the Exchange Offer.

         The undersigned understands that tenders of Old Capital Securities
pursuant to any one of the procedures described in "The Exchange
Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old Capital Securities" in the Prospectus and
in the instruction will, upon the Corporation's and the Trust's acceptance for
exchange of such tendered Old Capital Securities, constitute a binding
agreement between the undersigned, the Corporation and the Trust upon the terms
and subject to the conditions of the Exchange Offer.  The undersigned
recognizes that, under certain circumstances set forth in the Prospectus, the
Corporation and the Trust may not be required to accept for exchange any of the
Old Capital Securities tendered hereby.

         Unless otherwise indicated herein in the box entitled "Special
Issuance Instructions" below, the undersigned hereby directs that the New
Capital Securities be issued in the name(s) of the undersigned or, in the case
of a book-entry transfer of Old Capital Securities, that such New Capital
Securities be credited to the account indicated above maintained at DTC.  If
applicable, substitute Certificates representing Old Capital Securities not
exchanged or not accepted for exchange will be issued to the undersigned or, in
the case of a book-entry transfer of Old Capital Securities, will be credited
to the account indicated above maintained at DTC.  Similarly, unless otherwise
indicated under "Special Delivery Instructions," please deliver New Capital
Securities to the undersigned at the address shown





                                       4
<PAGE>   5


below the undersigned's signature.

         BY TENDERING OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES AND EXECUTING THIS LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL, THE UNDERSIGNED HEREBY REPRESENTS AND AGREES THAT (I) THE
UNDERSIGNED IS NOT AN "AFFILIATE" OF THE CORPORATION OR THE TRUST, (II) ANY NEW
CAPITAL SECURITIES TO BE RECEIVED BY THE UNDERSIGNED ARE BEING ACQUIRED IN THE
ORDINARY COURSE OF ITS BUSINESS,  (III) THE UNDERSIGNED HAS NO ARRANGEMENT OR
UNDERSTANDING WITH ANY PERSON TO PARTICIPATE IN THE DISTRIBUTION (WITHIN THE
MEANING OF THE SECURITIES ACT) OF NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES TO BE RECEIVED IN THE
EXCHANGE OFFER, AND (IV) IF THE UNDERSIGNED IS NOT A BROKER-DEALER, THE
UNDERSIGNED IS NOT ENGAGED IN, AND DOES NOT INTEND TO ENGAGE IN, A DISTRIBUTION
(WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE SECURITIES ACT) OF SUCH NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES.  BY
TENDERING OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER AND EXECUTING
THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, A HOLDER OF OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES WHICH IS A
BROKER-DEALER REPRESENTS AND AGREES, CONSISTENT WITH CERTAIN INTERPRETIVE
LETTERS ISSUED BY THE STAFF OF THE DIVISION OF CORPORATION FINANCE OF THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION TO THIRD PARTIES, THAT (A) SUCH OLD CAPITAL
SECURITIES HELD BY THE BROKER-DEALER ARE HELD ONLY AS A NOMINEE, OR (B) SUCH
OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES WERE ACQUIRED BY SUCH BROKER-DEALER FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT
AS A RESULT OF MARKET-MAKING ACTIVITIES OR OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES AND IT WILL
DELIVER THE PROSPECTUS (AS AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME) MEETING
THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT IN CONNECTION WITH ANY RESALE OF SUCH
NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES (PROVIDED THAT, BY SO ACKNOWLEDGING AND BY DELIVERING A
PROSPECTUS, SUCH BROKER-DEALER WILL NOT BE DEEMED TO ADMIT THAT IT IS AN
"UNDERWRITER" WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE SECURITIES ACT).

         THE CORPORATION AND THE TRUST HAVE AGREED THAT, SUBJECT TO THE
PROVISIONS OF THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, THE PROSPECTUS, AS IT MAY BE
AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED FROM TIME TO TIME, MAY BE USED BY A PARTICIPATING
BROKER-DEALER (AS DEFINED BELOW) IN CONNECTION WITH RESALES OF NEW CAPITAL
SECURITIES RECEIVED IN EXCHANGE FOR OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES, WHERE SUCH OLD
CAPITAL SECURITIES WERE ACQUIRED BY SUCH PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER FOR ITS
OWN ACCOUNT AS A RESULT OF MARKET-MAKING ACTIVITIES OR OTHER TRADING
ACTIVITIES, FOR A PERIOD ENDING 90 DAYS AFTER THE EXPIRATION DATE (SUBJECT TO
EXTENSION UNDER CERTAIN LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE PROSPECTUS) OR,
IF EARLIER, WHEN ALL SUCH NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES HAVE BEEN DISPOSED OF BY SUCH
PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER.  IN THAT REGARD, EACH BROKER-DEALER WHO ACQUIRED
OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES FOR ITS OWN ACCOUNT AND AS A RESULT OF MARKET-MAKING OR
OTHER TRADING ACTIVITIES (A "PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER"), BY TENDERING SUCH
OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES AND EXECUTING THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, AGREES THAT,
UPON RECEIPT OF NOTICE FROM THE CORPORATION OR THE TRUST OF THE OCCURRENCE OF
ANY EVENT OR THE DISCOVERY OF ANY FACT WHICH MAKES ANY STATEMENT CONTAINED OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE THEREIN, IN LIGHT OF THE CIRCUMSTANCES UNDER WHICH
THEY WERE MADE, NOT MISLEADING OR OF THE OCCURRENCE OF CERTAIN OTHER EVENTS
SPECIFIED IN THE REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT, SUCH PARTICIPATING
BROKER-DEALER WILL SUSPEND THE SALE OF NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES PURSUANT TO THE
PROSPECTUS UNTIL THE CORPORATION AND THE TRUST HAVE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED THE
PROSPECTUS TO CORRECT SUCH MISSTATEMENT OR OMISSION AND HAS FURNISHED COPIES OF
THE AMENDED OR SUPPLEMENTED PROSPECTUS TO THE PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER OR
THE CORPORATION OR THE TRUST HAS GIVEN NOTICE THAT THE SALE OF THE NEW CAPITAL
SECURITIES MAY BE RESUMED, AS THE CASE MAY BE.  IF THE CORPORATION OR THE TRUST
GIVES SUCH NOTICE TO SUSPEND THE SALE OF THE NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES, IT SHALL
EXTEND THE 90-DAY PERIOD REFERRED TO ABOVE DURING WHICH PARTICIPATING
BROKER-DEALERS ARE ENTITLED TO USE THE PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE RESALE
OF NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES BY THE NUMBER OF DAYS DURING THE PERIOD FROM AND
INCLUDING THE DATE OF THE GIVING OF SUCH NOTICE TO AND INCLUDING THE DATE WHEN
PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALERS SHALL HAVE RECEIVED COPIES OF THE SUPPLEMENTED OR
AMENDED PROSPECTUS NECESSARY TO PERMIT RESALES OF THE NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES OR
TO AND INCLUDING THE DATE ON WHICH THE CORPORATION OR THE TRUST HAS GIVEN
NOTICE THAT THE SALE OF NEW CAPITAL SECURITIES MAY BE RESUMED, AS THE CASE MAY
BE.

         As a result, a Participating Broker-Dealer who intends to use the
Prospectus in connection with resales of New Capital Securities received in
exchange for Old Capital Securities pursuant to the Exchange Offer must notify
the Corporation and the Trust, or cause the Corporation and the Trust to be
notified, on or prior to the Expiration Date, that it is a Participating
Broker-Dealer.  Such notice may be given in the space provided above or may be
delivered to the Exchange Agent at the address set forth in the Prospectus
under "The Exchange Offer--Exchange Agent."

         Holders of Old Capital Securities whose Old Capital Securities are
accepted for exchange will not receive Distributions on such Old Capital
Securities and the undersigned waives the right to receive any Distribution on
such Old Capital Securities accumulated from and after December 23, 1996.
Accordingly, holders of New Capital Securities as of the record date for the
payment of Distributions on June 15, 1997 will be entitled to Distributions
accumulated from and after December 23, 1996.

         All authority herein conferred or agreed to be conferred in this
Letter of Transmittal shall survive the death or incapacity of the undersigned
and any obligation of the undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the
heirs, executors, administrators, personal representatives, trustees in
bankruptcy, legal representatives, successors and assigns of the undersigned.
Except as stated in the Prospectus, this tender is irrevocable.




                                       5
<PAGE>   6

                              HOLDER(S) SIGN HERE
                         (See Instructions 2, 5 and 6)
                  (Please Complete Substitute Form W-9 Below)
     (Note:  Signature(s) must be guaranteed if required by Instruction 2)

     Must be signed by registered holder(s) exactly as name(s) appear(s) on
Certificates(s) for the Old Capital Securities hereby tendered or on a security
position listing, or by any person(s) authorized to become the registered
holder(s) by endorsements and documents transmitted herewith (including such
opinions of counsel, certificates and other information as may be required by
the Trust or the Trustee for the Old Capital Securities to comply with the
restrictions on transfer applicable to the Old Capital Securities).  If
ssignature is by an attorney-in-fact, executor, administrator, trustee,
guardian, officer of a corporation or another acting in a fiduciary capacity or
representative capacity, please set forth the signer's full title.  See
Instruction 5.




                          (SIGNATURE(S) OF HOLDER(S))

  Date___________________, 1997

  Name(s)
                                 (PLEASE PRINT)

 Area Code(s) and Telephone Number

                           (TAX IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL SECURITY NUMBER(S))
                            _________________________________________________

                           GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
                           (See Instructions 2 and 5)

  Authorized Signature

  Name
                                 (PLEASE PRINT)

  Date___________________, 1997

  Capacity or Title

  Name of Firm

  Address
                                         (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)

  Area Code and Telephone Number_______________________________________________




                                       6
<PAGE>   7
<TABLE>
<S><C>
SPECIAL ISSUANCE INSTRUCTIONS                                         SPECIAL DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS
(See Instructions 1, 5, and 6)                                        (See Instructions 1, 5, and 6)
                                                                     
To be completed ONLY if New Capital Securities are to be issued       To be completed ONLY if New Capital Securities
in the name of someone other than the registered holder of the        are to be sent to someone other than the registered
Old Capital Securities whose name(s) appear(s) above.                 holder of the Old Capital Securities whose name(s)
                                                                      appear(s) above, or to the registered holder(s) at an
                                                                      address other than that shown above.

Issue:                                                                Mail:

/ / New Capital Securities to:                                        / / New Capital Securities to:
/ / Old Capital Securities not tendered to:                           / / Old Capital Securities not tendered to:

Name:___________________________________________                      Name:___________________________________________
               (PLEASE PRINT)                                                        (PLEASE PRINT)

Address:________________________________________                      Address:________________________________________

________________________________________________                      ________________________________________________

________________________________________________                      ________________________________________________
               (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)                                                    (INCLUDE ZIP CODE)

________________________________________________                      ________________________________________________
(TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL SECURITY NO.)                      (TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION OR SOCIAL SECURITY NO.)
</TABLE>

                                       7
<PAGE>   8

                                  INSTRUCTIONS

         FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

         1.    DELIVERY OF LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND CERTIFICATES; GUARANTEED
DELIVERY PROCEDURES.  This Letter of Transmittal is to be completed either
if (a) tenders are to be made pursuant to the procedures for tender by
book-entry transfer set forth in "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering
Old Capital Securities" in the Prospectus or (b) Certificates are to be
forwarded herewith. Timely confirmation of a book-entry transfer of such Old
Capital Securities into the Exchange Agent's account at DTC, or Certificates as
well as this Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly completed
and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees, and any other
documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the
Exchange Agent at its addresses set forth herein on or prior to the Expiration
Date.  Old Capital Securities may be tendered in whole or in part in the
principal amount of $100,000 (100 Capital Securities) and integral multiples of
$1,000 in excess thereof, provided that, if any Old Capital Securities are
tended for exchange in part, the untendered principal amount thereof must be
$100,000 (100 Capital Securities) or any integral multiple of excess thereof.

     Holders who wish to tender their Old Capital Securities and (i) who cannot
complete the procedures for delivery by book-entry transfer on a timely basis,
may tender their Old Capital Securities by properly completing and duly
executing a Notice of Guaranteed Delivery pursuant to the guaranteed delivery
procedures set forth in "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old
Capital Securities" in the Prospectus or (ii) who cannot deliver their Old
Capital Securities, this Letter of Transmittal and all other required documents
to the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date or (iii) whose Old
Capital Securities are not immediately available.  Pursuant to such procedures:
(a) such tender must be made by or through an Eligible Institution (as defined
below); (b) a properly completed and duly executed Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery, substantially in the form made available by the Corporation, must be
received by the Exchange Agent on or prior to the Expiration Date; and (c) the
Certificates (or a book-entry confirmation (as defined in the Prospectus)
representing tendered Old Capital Securities, in proper form for transfer,
together with a Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), properly completed
and duly executed, with any required signature guarantees and any other
documents required by this Letter of Transmittal, must be received by the
Exchange Agent within three New York Stock Exchange, Inc. trading days after the
date of execution of such Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, all as provided in "The
Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old Capital Securities" in the
Prospectus.

         The Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by hand or
transmitted by facsimile or mail to the Exchange Agent, and must include a
guarantee by an Eligible Institution in the form set forth in such Notice.  For
Old Capital Securities to be properly tendered pursuant to the guaranteed
delivery procedure, the Exchange Agent must receive a Notice of Guaranteed
Delivery on or prior to the Expiration Date.  As used herein and in the
Prospectus, "Eligible Institution" means a firm or other entity identified in
Rule 17Ad-15 under the Exchange Act as "an eligible guarantor institution,"
including (as such terms are defined therein) (i) a bank; (ii) a broker,
dealer, municipal securities broker or dealer or government securities broker
or dealer; (iii) a credit union; (iv) a national securities exchange,
registered securities association or clearing agency; or (v) a savings
association that is a participant in a Securities Transfer Association.

THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF CERTIFICATES, THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND ALL
OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS IS AT THE OPTION AND SOLE RISK OF THE TENDERING HOLDER
AND THE DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY RECEIVED BY THE
EXCHANGE AGENT.  IF DELIVERY IS BY MAIL, REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT
REQUESTED, PROPERLY INSURED, OR OVERNIGHT DELIVERY SERVICE IS RECOMMENDED.  IN
ALL CASES, SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ENSURE TIMELY DELIVERY.

     Neither the Corporation nor the Trust will accept any alternative,
conditional or contingent tenders.  Each tendering holder, by execution of a
Letter of Transmittal (or facsimile thereof), waives any right to receive any
notice of the acceptance of such tender.

     2.    GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES.  No signature guarantee on this Letter of
Transmittal is required if:

         (i) this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered holder
(which term, for purposes of this document, shall include any participant in
DTC whose name appears on a security position listing as the owner of the Old
Capital Securities) of Old Capital Securities tendered herewith, unless such
holder(s) has completed either the box entitled "Special Issuance Instructions"
or the box entitled "Special Delivery Instructions" above, or

     (ii) such Old Capital Securities are tendered for the account of a firm
that is an Eligible Institution.

     In all other cases, an Eligible Institution must guarantee the signature(s)
on this Letter of Transmittal.  See Instruction 5.





                                       8
<PAGE>   9


         3.    INADEQUATE SPACE.  If the space provided in the box captioned
"Description of Old Capital Securities" is inadequate, the Certificate
number(s) and/or the principal amount of Old Capital Securities and any other
required information should be listed on a separate signed schedule which is
attached to this Letter of Transmittal.

         4.    PARTIAL TENDERS AND WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS.  Tenders of Old Capital
Securities will be accepted only in the principal amount of $100,000 (100
Capital Securities) and integral multiples of $1,000 in excess thereof,
provided that if any Old Capital Securities are tendered for exchange in part,
the untendered principal amount thereof must be $100,000 (100 Capital
securities) or any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess thereof.  If less than
all the Old Capital Securities evidenced by any Certificate submitted are to be
tendered, fill in the principal amount of Old Capital Securities which are to
be tendered in the box entitled "Principal Amount of Old Capital Securities
Tendered."  In such case, new Certificate(s) for the remainder of the Old
Capital Securities that were evidenced by your Old Certificate(s) will only be
sent to the holder of the Old Capital Security, promptly after the Expiration
Date.  All Old Capital Securities represented by Certificates delivered to the
Exchange Agent will be deemed to have been tendered unless otherwise indicated.

         Except as otherwise provided herein, tenders of Old Capital Securities
may be withdrawn at any time on or prior to the Expiration Date.  In order for
a withdrawal to be effective on or prior to that time, a written, telegraphic,
telex or facsimile transmission of such notice of withdrawal must be timely
received by the Exchange Agent at one of its addresses set forth above or in
the Prospectus on or prior to the Expiration Date.  Any such notice of
withdrawal must specify the name of the person who tendered the Old Capital
Securities to be withdrawn, the aggregate principal amount of Old Capital
Securities to be withdrawn, and (if Certificates for Old Capital Securities
have been tendered) the name of the registered holder of the Old Capital
Securities as set forth on the Certificate for the Old Capital Securities, if
different from that of the person who tendered such Old Capital Securities.  If
Certificates for the Old Capital Securities have been delivered or otherwise
identified to the Exchange Agent, then prior to the physical release of such
Certificates for the Old Capital Securities, the tendering holder must submit
the serial numbers shown on the particular Certificates for the Old Capital
Securities to be withdrawn and the signature on the notice of withdrawal must
be guaranteed by an Eligible Institution, except in the case of Old Capital
Securities tendered for the account of an Eligible Institution.  If Old Capital
Securities have been tendered pursuant to the procedures for book-entry
transfer set forth in "The Exchange Offer--Procedures fore Tendering Old
Capital Securities," the notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number
of the account at DTC to be credited with the withdrawal of Old Capital
Securities, in which case a notice of withdrawal will be effective if delivered
to the Exchange Agent by written, telegraphic, telex or facsimile transmission.
Withdrawals of tenders of Old Capital Securities may not be rescinded.  Old
Capital Securities properly withdrawn will not be deemed validly tendered for
purposes of the Exchange Offer, but may be retendered at any subsequent time on
or prior to the Expiration Date by following any of the procedures described in
the Prospectus under "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old Capital
Securities."

         All questions as to the validity, form and eligibility (including time
of receipt) of such withdrawal notices will be determined by the Corporation
and the Trust, in their sole discretion, whose determination shall be final and
binding on all parties.  Neither the Corporation, the Trust, any affiliates or
assigns of the Corporation and the Trust, the Exchange Agent nor any other
person shall be under any duty to give any notification of any irregularities
in any notice of withdrawal or incur any liability for failure to give any such
notification.  Any Old Capital Securities which have been tendered but which
are withdrawn will be returned to the holder thereof without cost to such
holder promptly after withdrawal.

         5.    SIGNATURES ON LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, ASSIGNMENTS AND
ENDORSEMENTS.  If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered
holder(s) of the Old Capital Securities tendered hereby, the signature(s) must
correspond exactly with the name(s) as written on the face of the
Certificate(s) without alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.

         If any of the Old Capital Securities tendered hereby are owned of
record by two or more joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of
Transmittal.

         If any tendered Old Capital Securities are registered in different
name(s) on several Certificates, it will be necessary to complete, sign and
submit as many separate Letters of Transmittal (or facsimiles thereof) as there
are different registrations of Certificates.

         If this Letter of Transmittal or any Certificates or bond powers are
signed by trustees, executors, administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact,
officers of corporations or others acting in a fiduciary or representative
capacity, such persons should so indicate when signing and must submit proper
evidence satisfactory to the Corporation and the Trust, in their sole
discretion, of such persons' authority to so act.

         When this Letter of Transmittal is signed by the registered owner(s)
of the Old Capital Securities listed and transmitted hereby, no endorsement(s)
of Certificate(s) or separate bond power(s) are required unless New Capital
Securities are to be issued in the name of a person other than the registered
holder(s).  Signature(s) on such Certificate(s) or bond power(s) must be
guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

         If this Letter of Transmittal is signed by a person other than the
registered owner(s) of the Old Capital Securities 


                                       9
<PAGE>   10

listed, the Certificates must be endorsed or accompanied by appropriate bond
powers, signed exactly as the name or names of the registered owner(s) appear(s)
on the Certificates, and also must be accompanied by such opinions of counsel,
certifications and other information as the Corporation, the Trust or the
Trustee for the Old Capital Securities may require in accordance with the
restrictions on transfer applicable to the Old Capital Securities.  Signatures
on such Certificates or bond powers must be guaranteed by an Eligible
Institution.

         6.    SPECIAL ISSUANCE AND DELIVERY INSTRUCTIONS.  If New Capital
Securities are to be issued in the name of a person other than the signer of
this Letter of Transmittal, or if New Capital Securities are to be sent to
someone other than the signer of this Letter of Transmittal or to an address
other than that shown above, the appropriate boxes on this Letter of
Transmittal should be completed.  Certificates for Old Capital Securities not
exchanged will be returned by mail or, if tendered by book-entry transfer, by
crediting the account indicated above maintained at DTC.  See Instruction 4.

         7.    IRREGULARITIES.  The Corporation and the Trust will determine,
in their sole discretion, all questions as to the form of documents, validity,
eligibility (including time of receipt) and acceptance for exchange of any
tender of Old Capital Securities which determination shall be final and binding
on all parties.  The Corporation and the Trust reserve the absolute right, in
their sole and absolute discretion, to reject any and all tenders determined by
either of them not to be in proper form or the acceptance of which, or exchange
for, may, in the view of counsel to the Corporation and the Trust, be unlawful.
The Corporation and the Trust also reserve the absolute right, subject to
applicable law, to waive any of the conditions of the Exchange Offer set forth
in the Prospectus under "The Exchange Offer--Certain Conditions to the Exchange
Offer" or any conditions or irregularity in any tender of Old Capital
Securities of any particular holder whether or not similar conditions or
irregularities are waived in the case of other holders.  The Corporation's and
the Trust's interpretation of the terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer
(including this Letter of Transmittal and the instructions hereto) will be
final and binding.  No tender of Old Capital Securities will be deemed to have
been validly made until all irregularities with respect to such tender have
been cured or waived.  Neither the Corporation, the Trust, any affiliates or
assigns of the Corporation, the Trust, the Exchange Agent, or any other person
shall be under any duty to give notification of any irregularities in tenders
or incur any liability for failure to give such notification.

         8.    QUESTIONS, REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE AND ADDITIONAL COPIES.
Questions and requests for assistance may be directed to the Exchange Agent at
its address and telephone number set forth on the front of this Letter of
Transmittal.  Additional copies of the Prospectus, this Letter of Transmittal
and the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be obtained from the Exchange Agent
or from your broker, dealer, commercial bank, trust company or other nominee.

         9.    31% BACKUP WITHHOLDING; SUBSTITUTE FORM W-9.  Under U.S. Federal
income tax law, a holder whose tendered Old Capital Securities are accepted for
exchange is required to provide the Exchange Agent with such holder's correct
taxpayer identification number ("TIN") on Substitute Form W-9 below.  If the
Exchange Agent is not provided with the correct TIN, the Internal Revenue
Service (the "IRS") may subject the holder or other payee to a $50 penalty.  In
addition, payments to such holders or other payees with respect to Old Capital
Securities exchanged pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be subject to 31%
backup withholding.

         The box in Part 2 of the Substitute Form W-9 may be checked if the
tendering holder has not been issued a TIN and has applied for a TIN or intends
to apply for a TIN in the near future.  If the box in Part 2 is checked, the
holder or other payee must also complete the Certificate of Awaiting Taxpayer
Identification Number below in order to avoid backup withholding.
Notwithstanding that the box in Part 2 is checked and the Certificate of
Awaiting Taxpayer Identification Number is completed, the Exchange Agent will
withhold 31% of all payments made prior to the time a properly certified TIN is
provided to the Exchange Agent.  The Exchange Agent will retain such amounts
withheld during the 60 day period following the date of the Substitute Form
W-9.  If the holder furnishes the Exchange Agent with its TIN within 60 days
after the date of the Substitute Form W-9, the amounts retained during the 60
day period will be remitted to the holder and no further amounts shall be
retained or withheld from payments made to the holder thereafter.  If, however,
the holder has not provided the Exchange Agent with its TIN within such 60 day
period, amounts withheld will be remitted to the IRS as backup withholding.  In
addition, 31% of all payments made thereafter will be withheld and remitted to
the IRS until a correct TIN is provided.

         The holder is required to give the Exchange Agent the TIN (e.g.,
social security number or employer identification number) of the registered
owner of the Old Capital Securities or of the last transferee appearing on the
transfers attached to, or endorsed on, the Old Capital Securities.  If the Old
Capital Securities are registered in more than one name or are not in the name
of the actual owner, consult the enclosed "Guidelines for Certification of
Taxpayer Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9" for additional guidance
on which number to report.

         Certain holders (including, among others, corporations, financial
institutions and certain foreign persons) may not be subject to these backup
withholding and reporting requirements.  Such holders should nevertheless
complete the attached Substitute Form W-9 below, and write "exempt" on the face
thereof, to avoid possible erroneous backup withholding.  A foreign person may
qualify as an exempt recipient by submitting a properly completed IRS Form W-8,
signed under penalties of perjury, attesting to that holder's exempt status.
Please consult the enclosed "Guidelines for Certification of Taxpayer
Identification Number on Substitute Form W-9" for additional guidance on which
holders are exempt from 

                                       10
<PAGE>   11


backup withholding.

         Backup withholding is not an additional U.S. Federal income tax.
Rather, the U.S. Federal income tax liability of a person subject to backup
withholding will be reduced by the amount of tax withheld.  If withholding
results in an overpayment of taxes, a refund may be obtained.

         10.    LOST, DESTROYED OR STOLEN CERTIFICATES.  If any Certificate(s)
representing Old Capital Securities have been lost, destroyed or stolen, the
holder should promptly notify the Exchange Agent.  The holder will then be
instructed as to the steps that must be taken in order to replace the
Certificate(s).  This Letter of Transmittal and related documents cannot be
processed until the procedures for replacing lost, destroyed or stolen
Certificate(s) have been followed.

         11.    SECURITY TRANSFER TAXES.  Holders who tender their Old Capital
Securities for exchange will not be obligated to pay any transfer taxes in
connection therewith.  If, however, New Capital Securities are to be delivered
to, or are to be issued in the name of, any person other than the registered
holder of the Old Capital Securities tendered, or if a transfer tax is imposed
for any reason other than the exchange of Old Capital Securities in connection
with the Exchange Offer, then the amount of any such transfer tax (whether
imposed on the registered holder or any other persons) will be payable by the
tendering holder.  If satisfactory evidence of payment of such taxes or
exemption therefrom is not submitted with the Letter of Transmittal, the amount
of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to such tendering holder.

         IMPORTANT:  THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL (OR FACSIMILE THEREOF) AND ALL
OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE AGENT ON OR PRIOR TO
THE EXPIRATION DATE.





                                       11
<PAGE>   12

                             TO BE COMPLETED BY ALL
                           TENDERING SECURITYHOLDERS
                              (SEE INSTRUCTION 9)

                     PAYER'S NAME:  FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I

<TABLE>
<S><C>
SUBSTITUTE          Part 1 - PLEASE PROVIDE  YOUR                TIN__________________________ 
 Form W-9           TIN IN THE  BOX  AT RIGHT  AND                  Social Security Number or
                    CERTIFY  BY SIGNING AND DATING BELOW         Employer Identification Number
                     

Department of the Treasury                                             Part 2
Internal Revenue Service                                                  Awaiting TIN [ ]

                                        CERTIFICATION - UNDER THE PENALTIES  OF PERJURY, I CERTIFY THAT (1)  the number shown on
                                        this form is my correct taxpayer  identification number (or I am waiting for a number to be
                                        issued to me),  (2) I am not subject to  backup  withholding either  because  (i)  I am
                                        exempt  from  backup withholding,  (ii) I  have not  been notified  by  the Internal
                                        Revenue Service ("IRS") that I  am subject to backup withholding as a  result of a failure
                                        to  report all  interest or dividends,  or (iii)  the IRS  has notified me that  I am no
                                        longer subject to backup withholding, and (3) any other information provided on this form is
                                        true and correct.

Payer's Request for Taxpayer            SIGNATURE_________________________________________________
Identification Number (TIN)             DATE_______________________________________________________
  and Certification
  
         
                                        You  must  cross out  item (iii)  in  Part (2)  above  if you  have been notified by the IRS
                                        that you  are subject to backup withholding  because of underreporting interest or dividends
                                        on  your tax return and you have not  been notified by the IRS  that you are no  longer
                                        subject to backup withholding.
</TABLE>

NOTE:    FAILURE TO COMPLETE AND RETURN THIS FORM MAY IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES
         RESULT IN BACKUP WITHHOLDING OF 31% OF ANY AMOUNTS PAID TO YOU
         PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER.  PLEASE REVIEW THE ENCLOSED GUIDELINES
         FOR CERTIFICATION OF TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER ON SUBSTITUTE FORM
         W-9 FOR ADDITIONAL DETAILS.


             CERTIFICATE OF AWAITING TAXPAYER IDENTIFICATION NUMBER

       I certify under penalties of perjury that  a taxpayer identification
  number has not been issued to me, and either  (1) I have mailed  or delivered
  an application  to receive a taxpayer  identification number to the
  appropriate Internal  Revenue Service Center or  Social Security
  Administration Office  or (2) I intend to mail or deliver  an application in
  the near  future.  I understand that if  I do not provide a  taxpayer
  identification number by the time of payment, 31% of  all payments made to me
  on account of the New Capital Securities  shall be retained until  I provide
  a taxpayer  identification number to the  Exchange Agent and that, if I do
  not provide my taxpayer identification number within 60 days, such retained
  amounts shall be remitted to the  Internal Revenue Service as backup
  withholding and 31% of  all reportable payments made to me thereafter  will
  be withheld  and remitted to  the Internal Revenue  Service until I  provide
  a taxpayer identification number.

Signature______________________________     Date_______________________________





                                       12

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.2


                         NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY

                                 FOR TENDER OF

                       8.32% SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
                (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $1,000 PER CAPITAL SECURITY)

                                       OF

                            FIRSTAR CAPITAL TRUST I
               UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED BY FIRSTAR CORPORATION

    This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery, or one substantially equivalent to this
form, must be used to accept the Exchange Offer (as defined below) if (i) the
procedures for delivery by book-entry transfer cannot be completed on a timely
basis (ii) certificates for the Trust's (as defined below) 8.32% Series A
Capital Securities (the "Old Capital Securities") are not immediately available
or (iii) Old Capital Securities, the Letter of Transmittal and all other
required documents cannot be delivered to The Bank of New York (the "Exchange
Agent") on or prior to the Expiration Date (as defined in the Prospectus
referred to below).  This Notice of Guaranteed Delivery may be delivered by
hand, overnight courier or mail, or transmitted by facsimile transmission, to
the Exchange Agent.  See "The Exchange Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old
Capital Securities" in the Prospectus.

                 The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
<TABLE>
<S><C>
By Registered or Certified Mail:                            By Hand or Overnight Delivery:

     The Bank of New York                                       The Bank of New York
     101 Barclay Street, 7E                                       101 Barclay Street
    New York, New York 10286                                   New York, New York 10286 
Attention:  Reorganization Department                    Attention:  Reorganization Department
           George Johnson                                             George Johnson
</TABLE>

                             Confirm by Telephone:
                                 (212)815-4997

                            Facsimile Transmissions:
                          (ELIGIBLE INSTITUTIONS ONLY)
                                 (212)571-3080

    DELIVERY OF THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY TO AN ADDRESS OTHER THAN AS
SET FORTH ABOVE OR TRANSMISSION OF THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY VIA A
FACSIMILE TO A NUMBER OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT CONSTITUTE A VALID
DELIVERY.

    THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY IS NOT TO BE USED TO GUARANTEE
SIGNATURES. IF A SIGNATURE ON A LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL IS REQUIRED TO BE
GUARANTEED BY AN "ELIGIBLE INSTITUTION" UNDER THE INSTRUCTIONS THERETO, SUCH
SIGNATURE GUARANTEE MUST APPEAR IN THE APPLICABLE SPACE PROVIDED IN THE
SIGNATURE BOX ON THE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL.

LADIES AND GENTLEMEN:

    The undersigned hereby tenders to Firstar Capital Trust I, a trust formed
under the laws of Delaware (the "Trust"), upon the terms and subject to the
conditions set forth in the Prospectus dated February __, 1996 (as the same may
be amended or supplemented from time to time, the "Prospectus"), and the
related Letter of Transmittal (which together constitute the "Exchange Offer"),
receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, the aggregate principal amount of Old
Capital Securities set forth below pursuant to the guaranteed delivery
procedures set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "The Exchange
Offer--Procedures for Tendering Old Capital Securities."

<TABLE>
<S><C>
 Aggregate Principal Amount                              Name(s) of Registered Holder(s):
   Tendered:_______________________________              _________________________________________________
   Certificate No(s). (if available):______              Address(es):
 __________________________________________              _________________________________________________
 __________________________________________              _________________________________________________

If Old Capital Securities will be tendered by
book-entry transfer, provide the following               Area Code and Telephone Number(s):_______________
information:                                             _________________________________________________
                                                         Signature(s):____________________________________
DTC Account Number:________________________              _________________________________________________
Date:______________________________________
</TABLE>

                  


              THE GUARANTEE ON THE REVERSE SIDE MUST BE COMPLETED





<PAGE>   2

                                   GUARANTEE

                    (NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)

     The undersigned, a firm or other entity identified in Rule 17Ad-15 under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, as an "eligible guarantor
institution," including (as such terms are defined therein): (a) bank; (b) (i) a
broker, dealer, municipal securities broker, municipal securities dealer,
government securities broker, government securities dealer; (c)(i) a credit
union; (d)(i) a national securities exchange, registered securities association
or clearing agency; or (ii)(e) a savings association that is a participant in a
Securities Transfer Association recognized program (each of the foregoing being
referred to as an "Eligible Institution"), hereby guarantees to deliver to the
Exchange Agent, at one of its addresses set forth above, either the Old Capital
Securities tendered hereby in proper form for transfer, or confirmation of the
book-entry transfer of such Old Capital Securities to the Exchange Agent's
account at The Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), pursuant to the procedures for
book-entry transfer set forth in the Prospectus, in either case together with
one or more properly completed and duly executed Letter(s) of Transmittal (or
facsimile thereof) and any other required documents within three business days
after the date of execution of this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.

     The undersigned acknowledges that it must deliver the Letter(s) of
Transmittal and the Old Capital Securities tendered hereby to the Exchange Agent
within the time period set forth above and that failure to do so could result in
a financial loss to the undersigned.





<PAGE>   3

Name of Firm: _________________________________          (Authorized Signature)
Address:      _________________________________
_______________________________________________
                                     (Zip Code)
Area Code and
Telephone Number:______________________________




                                            Title:____________________________

                                            Name:_____________________________
                                                    (Please type or print)
                                            Date:_____________________________





NOTE:  DO NOT SEND OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES WITH THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED
DELIVERY.  ACTUAL SURRENDER OF OLD CAPITAL SECURITIES MUST BE MADE PURSUANT TO,
AND BE ACCOMPANIED BY, A PROPERLY COMPLETED AND DULY EXECUTED LETTER OF
TRANSMITTAL AND ANY OTHER REQUIRED DOCUMENTS.



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