GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
S-3, 1995-07-14
ELECTRONIC & OTHER ELECTRICAL EQUIPMENT (NO COMPUTER EQUIP)
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<PAGE>   1
 
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 14, 1995
                                                         FILE NOS. 33-
                                                                             -01
================================================================================
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
 
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
 
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                             <C>
    GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL SERVICES, INC.                 GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
           (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT                       (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT
          AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)                    AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
 
                    DELAWARE                                        NEW YORK
            (STATE OF INCORPORATION)                        (STATE OF INCORPORATION)
 
                   06-1109503                                      14-0689340
      (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)            (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
 
              260 LONG RIDGE ROAD                             3135 EASTON TURNPIKE
          STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06927                     FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT 06431
                 (203) 357-4000                                  (203) 373-2459
       (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND               (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND
   TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF       TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
   REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)       REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
 
                BRUCE C. BENNETT                           BENJAMIN W. HEINEMAN, JR.
           ASSOCIATE GENERAL COUNSEL,                    SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, GENERAL
   TREASURY OPERATION AND ASSISTANT SECRETARY                COUNSEL AND SECRETARY
              260 LONG RIDGE ROAD                             3135 EASTON TURNPIKE
          STAMFORD, CONNECTICUT 06927                     FAIRFIELD, CONNECTICUT 06431
                 (203) 357-4000                                  (203) 373-2492
  (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE          (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND
        NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF              TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
               AGENT FOR SERVICE)                            OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
 
     From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement
as determined by market conditions.
 
     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box.  / /
 
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, please check the following box.  /X/
 
     If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.   / /
 
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering.   / /
 
     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box.   /X/
                            ------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION> 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
===================================================================================================
                                                            PROPOSED
                                                             MAXIMUM
TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF                                      AGGREGATE              AMOUNT OF
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED                             OFFERING PRICE(1)      REGISTRATION FEE
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                        <C>                     <C>
Guaranteed Subordinated Debt Securities..............      $300 million            $103,449
Guarantees of the Subordinated Debt Securities.......           (2)                  None
===================================================================================================
</TABLE>
 
(1) Or, if any Guaranteed Subordinated Debt Securities are issued (i) with an
    initial offering price denominated in a foreign currency or a unit of two or
    more currencies, such amount as shall result in an aggregate initial
    offering price equivalent to $300 million or (ii) at an original issue
    discount, such greater amount as shall result in an aggregate initial
    offering price of $300 million. Estimated solely for the purpose of
    determining the registration fee.
(2) Pursuant to Rule 457(n), no registration fee is attributable to the
    Guarantees registered hereby.
                            ------------------------
 
     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
 
     A REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH
     THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION BUT HAS NOT YET BECOME EFFECTIVE.
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. 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 JULY 14, 1995
PROSPECTUS
 
                                  $300,000,000
 
                    GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL SERVICES, INC.
 
            % GUARANTEED SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE                  ,
                            ------------------------
 
                        GUARANTEED ON A SENIOR BASIS BY
 
                            GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
                            ------------------------
     Interest on the Notes is payable semi-annually on             and
            of each year, commencing             , 1996. The Notes are not
redeemable prior to maturity.
 
     The Notes will be represented by one or more Global Notes (collectively,
the "Global Note") registered in the name of the nominee of the Depository (as
defined herein). Beneficial interests in the Global Note will be shown on, and
transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by the
Depository (in respect of its participants) and by its participants. See
"Description of Notes -- Global Note, Delivery and Form." Except as described
herein, Notes in definitive form will not be issued. Settlement for the Notes
will be made in immediately available funds. The Notes will trade in the
Depository's Same-Day Funds Settlement System until maturity, and secondary
market trading activity in the Notes will therefore settle in immediately
available funds. See "Description of Notes -- Same-Day Settlement."
                            ------------------------
   Application will be made to list the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange.
                            ------------------------
THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
    EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
       COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
         ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
            TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                            ------------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                              PRICE TO        UNDERWRITING       PROCEEDS TO
                                             PUBLIC(1)        DISCOUNT(2)         COMPANY(3)
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                              <C>              <C>                <C>
Per Guaranteed Subordinated Note.........        %                 %                  %
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total....................................        $                 $                  $
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from             , 1995.
(2) The Company and the Guarantor have agreed to indemnify the several
     Underwriters against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities
     under the Securities Act of 1933.
(3) Before deduction of expenses payable by the Company, estimated at $130,000.
                            ------------------------
     The Notes are offered severally by the Underwriters, as specified herein,
subject to receipt and acceptance by them and subject to their right to reject
any order in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of the Global Note
will be made to The Depository Trust Company on or about             , 1995.
 
                              MERRILL, LYNCH & CO.
                            ------------------------
               The date of this Prospectus is             , 1995.
<PAGE>   3
 
     IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS THAT STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF
THE NOTES AT LEVELS ABOVE THOSE WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE
OPEN MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED ON THE NEW YORK STOCK EXCHANGE,
IN THE OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET, OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED,
MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
     No dealer, salesperson or any other person 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 the offer
contained in this Prospectus and, if given or made, such information or
representations must not be relied upon as having been authorized by General
Electric Capital Services, Inc. (herein together with its consolidated
subsidiaries called "GE Capital Services", the "Company" or the "Corporation"
unless the context otherwise requires), by General Electric Company (the
"Guarantor") or by any agent, underwriter or dealer. Neither the delivery of
this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall, under any circumstances,
create any implication that there has been no change in the affairs of the
Company or of the Guarantor since the date as of which information is given in
this Prospectus. This Prospectus does not constitute an offer or solicitation by
anyone in any state in which such offer or solicitation is not authorized or in
which the person making such offer or solicitation is not qualified to do so or
to any person to whom it is unlawful to make such offer or solicitation.
                            ------------------------
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company and the Guarantor are each subject to the informational
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") and in
accordance therewith each files reports and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports and other
information can be inspected and copied at the public reference facilities
maintained by the Commission, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, as
well as the Regional Offices of the Commission at 500 West Madison Street,
Chicago, Illinois 60661 and 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048 and
copies can be obtained from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549 at prescribed rates. Reports and
other information concerning the Company can also be inspected at the offices of
the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005. Reports
and other information concerning the Guarantor can also be inspected at the
offices of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York
10005 and at the offices of the Boston Stock Exchange, 1 Boston Place, Boston,
Massachusetts 02108, on each of which certain of the Guarantor's securities are
listed.
 
FOR FLORIDA RESIDENTS
 
     National Broadcasting Company, Inc., an affiliate of the Company, from time
to time sends accredited news media personnel and related equipment to cover
news stories in Cuba as conditions warrant. The equipment remains within the
effective control of such personnel while in Cuba and is returned to the United
States within one year.
 
     GE Information Services ("GEIS"), an affiliate of the Company, provides
electronic mail services to the Vatican in Vatican City and to the Vatican's
Apostolic Nuncios around the world, including the Nuncio located in Havana,
Cuba. GEIS has delivered software related to the system to the Vatican, which
has in turn distributed the software to its various Nuncios. Messages between
the Nuncios and the Vatican are carried by common carriers over GEIS' global
computer and telecommunications network.
 
     This information is accurate as of the date hereof. Current information
concerning business dealings involving the Company or any of its affiliates with
the government of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba may be
obtained from the Division of Securities and Investor Protection of the Florida
Department of Banking and Finance, The Capitol, Tallahassee, Florida,
32399-0350, telephone number (904) 488-9805.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   4
 
FOR NORTH CAROLINA RESIDENTS
 
     These securities have not been approved or disapproved by the Commissioner
of Insurance for the State of North Carolina, nor has the Commissioner of
Insurance ruled upon the accuracy or the adequacy of this document.
                            ------------------------
 
                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
     There is hereby incorporated in this Prospectus by reference the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1994 and the
Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended April 1, 1995
heretofore filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act, to which
reference is hereby made.
 
     There is hereby also incorporated in this Prospectus by reference the
Guarantor's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
1994 and the Guarantor's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
March 31, 1995 heretofore filed with the Commission pursuant to the 1934 Act, to
which reference is hereby made.
 
     All documents filed by the Company and the Guarantor pursuant to Section
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the 1934 Act after the date of this Prospectus and
prior to the termination of the offering of the Notes offered by any
accompanying Prospectus Supplement shall be deemed to be incorporated in this
Prospectus by reference and to be a part hereof from the date of the filing of
such documents.
 
     The Company hereby undertakes to provide without charge to each person,
including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this Prospectus has been
delivered, on the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all
of the documents in respect of the Company referred to above which have been or
may be incorporated in this Prospectus by reference, other than exhibits to such
documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference into
such documents. Requests for such copies should be directed to General Electric
Capital Services, Inc., 260 Long Ridge Road, Stamford, Connecticut 06927,
Attention: Associate General Counsel, Treasury Operation, telephone no. (203)
357-4000.
 
     The Guarantor hereby undertakes to provide without charge to each person,
including any beneficial owner, to whom a copy of this Prospectus has been
delivered, on the written or oral request of such person, a copy of any or all
of the documents in respect of the Guarantor referred to above which have been
or may be incorporated in this Prospectus by reference, other than exhibits to
such documents, unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated by reference
into such documents. Requests for such copies should be directed to General
Electric Company, 3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut 06431, Attention:
Investor Relations, telephone no. (203) 373-2816.
                            ------------------------
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL SERVICES, INC.
 
     General Electric Capital Services, Inc. was incorporated in 1984 in the
State of Delaware. Until February 1993, the name of the Corporation was General
Electric Financial Services, Inc. All outstanding common stock of GE Capital
Services is owned by the Guarantor. The business of GE Capital Services consists
of ownership of two principal subsidiaries which, together with their
subsidiaries and affiliates, constitute the Guarantor's principal financial
services businesses. GE Capital Services is the sole owner of the common stock
of General Electric Capital Corporation ("GE Capital") and, indirectly through a
wholly-owned subsidiary, is the sole owner of the common stock of Employers
Reinsurance Corporation ("ERC").
 
     In November 1994, the Corporation and the Guarantor elected to terminate
the operations of Kidder, Peabody Group Inc. ("Kidder, Peabody") by initiating
an orderly liquidation of its assets and liabilities. As part of the liquidation
plan, the Corporation received securities of Paine Webber Group Inc. in exchange
for certain broker-dealer assets and operations. Principal activities that were
discontinued include securities underwriting, sales and trading of equity and
fixed income securities, financial futures activities, advisory services for
mergers and acquisitions and other corporate finance matters, research services
and asset management. Kidder, Peabody has been classified as a discontinued
operation in the financial statements and
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   5
 
supplementary data incorporated by reference in this Prospectus. GE Capital
Services' principal executive offices are located at 260 Long Ridge Road,
Stamford, Connecticut 06927 (telephone number (203) 357-4000).
 
GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL CORPORATION
 
     GE Capital was incorporated in 1943 in the State of New York, under the
provisions of the New York Banking Law relating to investment companies, as
successor to General Electric Contracts Corporation, formed in 1932. Until
November 1987, GE Capital's name was General Electric Credit Corporation. The
business of GE Capital originally related principally to financing the
distribution and sale of consumer and other products of the Guarantor.
Currently, however, the type and brand of products financed and the financial
services offered are significantly more diversified. Very little of the
financing provided by GE Capital involves products that are manufactured by the
Guarantor.
 
     GE Capital operates in four finance industry segments and in a specialty
insurance industry segment. GE Capital's financing activities include a full
range of leasing, lending, equipment management services and annuities. GE
Capital's specialty insurance activities include providing private mortgage
insurance, financial guaranty insurance, principally on municipal bonds and
structured finance issues, and creditor insurance covering international
customer loan repayments. GE Capital is an equity investor in a retail
organization and certain other service and financial services organizations. GE
Capital's operations are subject to a variety of regulations in their respective
jurisdictions.
 
     Services of GE Capital are offered primarily in the United States of
America, Canada, Europe and the Pacific basin. GE Capital's principal executive
offices are located at 260 Long Ridge Road, Stamford, Connecticut 06927. At
December 31, 1994, the Company employed approximately 32,000 persons.
 
EMPLOYERS REINSURANCE CORPORATION
 
     ERC, together with its subsidiaries, writes all lines of reinsurance other
than title and annuities. ERC reinsures property and casualty risks written by
more than 1,000 U.S. and non-U.S. insurers, and also writes certain specialty
lines of insurance on a direct basis, principally excess workers' compensation
for self-insurers, errors and omissions coverage for insurance and real estate
agents and brokers, excess indemnity for self-insurers of medical benefits, and
libel and allied torts. ERC and certain U.S. subsidiaries are licensed in all of
the United States, the District of Columbia and certain provinces of Canada and
write property and casualty reinsurance on a direct basis and through brokers.
Other U.S. subsidiaries write excess and surplus lines insurance, and provide
reinsurance brokerage services. Subsidiaries in Denmark and the United Kingdom
write property and casualty and life reinsurance, principally in Europe, the
Pacific basin and the Middle East.
 
     In December 1994, certain life and property and casualty affiliates of GE
Capital were transferred to ERC. These affiliates had been managed by ERC since
1986. ERC has also executed agreements to purchase certain assets comprising the
major part of the reinsurance business of Aachener Ruckversicherungs-
Gesellschaft Aktiengesellschaft ("Aachen Re") and to purchase a majority of the
outstanding shares of Frankona Ruckversicherung-Aktiengesellschaft ("Frankona
Re"). Aachen Re and Frankona Re have their head offices in Germany and provide
reinsurance services worldwide. Both transactions are subject to the receipt of
various regulatory approvals and other conditions and are expected to be
completed in the third quarter of 1995.
 
     Insurance and reinsurance operations are subject to regulation by various
insurance regulatory agencies. ERC and its subsidiaries conduct business through
16 domestic offices and 12 foreign offices. The principal offices of ERC are
located at 5200 Metcalf Avenue, Overland Park, Kansas 66201. At December 31,
1994, ERC employed approximately 1,250 persons.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   6
 
CONSOLIDATED RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
  ----------------------------------------        THREE MONTHS
  1990     1991     1992     1993     1994     ENDED APRIL 1, 1995
  ----     ----     ----     ----     ----     -------------------
  <S>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
  1.32     1.35     1.46     1.63     1.65             1.53
</TABLE>
 
     For purposes of computing the consolidated ratio of earnings to combined
fixed charges, earnings consist of net earnings adjusted for the provision for
income taxes, minority interest and fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of
interest and discount on all indebtedness and one-third of annual rentals, which
the Company believes is a reasonable approximation of the interest factor of
such rentals.
 
                                 THE GUARANTOR
 
     The Guarantor is one of the largest and most diversified industrial
corporations in the world. From the time of its incorporation in 1892, it has
engaged in developing, manufacturing and marketing a wide variety of products
for the generation, transmission, distribution, control and utilization of
electricity. Over the years, development and application of related and new
technologies have broadened considerably the scope of the activities of the
Guarantor and its affiliates. The Guarantor's products include, but are not
limited to, lamps and other lighting products; major appliances for the home;
industrial automation products and components; motors; electrical distribution
and control equipment; locomotives; power generation and delivery products;
nuclear reactors; nuclear power support services and fuel assemblies; commercial
and military aircraft jet engines; materials, including engineered plastics,
silicones and cutting materials; and a wide variety of high technology products,
including products used in medical diagnostic applications.
 
     The Guarantor also offers a broad variety of services including product
support services; electrical product supply houses; electrical apparatus
installation, engineering, repair and rebuilding services; and computer-related
information services. Through GE Capital Services and its two principal
subsidiaries, the Guarantor engages in a broad spectrum of financial services
including consumer financing, commercial and industrial financing, real estate
financing, asset management and leasing, annuity and mutual fund sales,
specialty insurance and reinsurance. Other services offered include U.S.
satellite communications furnished by GE Americom. Another wholly owned
subsidiary, National Broadcasting Company, Inc. ("NBC"), is engaged principally
in furnishing network television services, in operating television stations and
in providing cable, programming and distribution services in the United States,
Europe and Latin America. The Guarantor also licenses patents and provides
technical know-how related to products it developed, but such activities are not
material to the Guarantor.
 
     As described above, in November 1994, the Guarantor and the Corporation
elected to terminate the operations of Kidder, Peabody by initiating an orderly
liquidation of its assets and liabilities. See "The Company -- General Electric
Capital Services, Inc." The Guarantor's Aerospace business segment, its
subsidiary GE Government Services, Inc., and a component of the Guarantor that
operated Knolls Atomic Power Laboratory under contract with the U.S. Department
of Energy (together, "GE Aerospace") were transferred on April 2, 1993, to a new
company controlled by the shareholders of Martin Marietta Corporation. The
businesses transferred provided high-technology products and services such as
automated test systems, electronics, avionic systems, computer software,
armament systems, military vehicle equipment, missile system components,
simulation systems, spacecraft, communication systems, radar, sonar and systems
integration, and a variety of specialized services for government customers.
Kidder, Peabody and GE Aerospace have been classified as discontinued operations
in the financial statements of the Guarantor.
 
     The Guarantor has substantial export sales from the United States. In
addition, the Guarantor has majority and minority or other joint venture
interests in a number of non-U.S companies engaged primarily in manufacturing
and distributing products and providing nonfinancial services similar to those
sold within the United States. GE Capital Services' financial services
operations outside of the United States have expanded considerably over the past
several years.
 
     The Guarantor was incorporated in the State of New York in 1892. Its
executive offices are located at 3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut
06431, telephone number (203) 373-2459.
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   7
 
RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
     In the following presentation, "The Guarantor except GE Capital Services"
refers to all companies (except GE Capital Services and its consolidated
affiliates) in which the Guarantor directly or indirectly has a majority
ownership or otherwise controls. "The Guarantor and Consolidated Affiliates"
refers to all of the aforementioned companies plus GE Capital Services and its
consolidated affiliates.
 
  The Guarantor except GE Capital Services
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
      RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
            YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- -----------------------------------------------     THREE MONTHS ENDED
1990       1991      1992      1993       1994        MARCH 31, 1995
- -----     ------     -----     -----     ------     ------------------
<S>       <C>        <C>       <C>       <C>        <C>
4.73x      4.84x     5.61x     6.98x     12.01x            9.59x
</TABLE>
 
     In the above calculations, earnings for all periods consist of earnings
from continuing operations before income taxes, minority interest and cumulative
effects of changes in accounting principles of the Guarantor and its
consolidated affiliates. To determine the ratio, such consolidated earnings are
adjusted to remove undistributed earnings of GE Capital Services and its
consolidated affiliates after income taxes for each year. Earnings are also
adjusted to add amounts charged to consolidated expenses of the Guarantor and
its consolidated affiliates (except GE Capital Services and its consolidated
affiliates) during the period for interest and other financial charges and an
amount representative of the interest factor in rentals (for this purpose, the
interest factor is assumed to be one-third of rental expense). Fixed charges
consist of all interest and financial charges, including capitalized interest,
and one-third of rental expense for companies included in the consolidated
group, except GE Capital Services and its consolidated affiliates.
 
     The Guarantor and Consolidated Affiliates
 
     The Guarantor and consolidated affiliates ratios are presented below in
accordance with requirements of the Commission.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
- ---------------------------------------------     THREE MONTHS ENDED
1990      1991      1992      1993      1994        MARCH 31, 1995
- -----     -----     -----     -----     -----     ------------------
<S>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
1.98x     2.01x     2.23x     2.40x     2.64x            2.20x
</TABLE>
 
     These ratios are calculated substantially on the same basis as "The
Guarantor except GE Capital Services" set forth above, the principal difference
being that earnings before taxes, minority interest and cumulative effects of
changes in accounting principles, as well as fixed charges, include pre-tax
earnings and fixed charges of GE Capital Services and its consolidated
affiliates.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     The net proceeds from the sale of the Notes will be added to the general
funds of the Company and will be available for financing its operations.
Additional short-term and long-term financing, as required, will be undertaken
at such times, and through such means, as may be appropriate.
 
                              DESCRIPTION OF NOTES
 
GENERAL
 
     The Notes are to be issued under an Indenture to be dated as of
            , 1995 (the "Indenture"), among the Company, the Guarantor and The
Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), as Trustee (the "Trustee"), are
limited to $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount, and will mature on
              ,      . The Notes will bear interest from             , 1995,
payable semi-annually on             and             of each year, commencing
            , 1996, to the persons in whose names the Notes are registered at
the close of business on the preceding             and             ,
respectively. The interest rate per annum will be      %. The Indenture does not
limit the amount of Notes or other unsecured, subordinated debt that may be
issued thereunder or limit the amount of other debt, secured or unsecured,
whether junior or senior to, or
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   8
 
pari passu with, the Notes that may be issued by the Company. Notes may be
issued under the Indenture in one or more series.
 
     The statements under this heading are subject to the detailed provisions of
the Indenture, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus is a part. Wherever particular provisions of
the Indenture or terms defined therein are referred to, such provisions or
definitions are incorporated by reference as a part of the statements made and
the statements are qualified in their entirety by such reference.
 
     The Notes will be unsecured and will be subordinated in right of payment to
all Superior Indebtedness (as defined below) of the Company as set forth in the
Indenture.
 
     No service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of the Notes,
but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or
other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
 
GLOBAL NOTE, DELIVERY AND FORM
 
     The Notes will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered Global
Notes that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust
Company, New York, New York (the "Depository") and registered in the name of the
Depository's nominee. The Depository currently limits the maximum denomination
of any single Global Note to $200,000,000. Therefore, for purposes of this
Prospectus, "Global Note" refers to the Global Note or Global Notes representing
the entire issue of Notes offered hereby.
 
     Except as set forth below, the Global Note may be transferred, in whole and
not in part, only to another nominee of the Depository or to a successor of the
Depository or its nominee.
 
     The Depository has advised as follows: it is a limited-purpose trust
company which was created to hold securities for its participating organizations
(the "Participants") and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of
securities transactions in such securities between Participants through
electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its Participants. Participants
include securities brokers and dealers (including the Underwriters), banks and
trust companies, clearing corporations and certain other organizations. Access
to the Depository's system is also available to others such as banks, brokers,
dealers and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial
relationship with a Participant, either directly or indirectly ("indirect
participants"). Persons who are not Participants may beneficially own securities
held by the Depository only through Participants or indirect participants.
 
     The Depository advises that pursuant to procedures established by it (i)
upon issuance of the Global Note by the Company, the Depository will credit the
accounts of Participants designated by the Underwriters with the principal
amount of the Notes purchased by the Underwriters, and (ii) ownership of
beneficial interests in the Global Note will be shown on, and the transfer of
that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained by the
Depository (with respect to Participants), by the Participants (with respect to
indirect participants and certain beneficial owners) and by the indirect
participants (with respect to all other beneficial owners). The laws of some
states require that certain persons take physical delivery in definitive form of
securities which they own. Consequently, the ability to transfer beneficial
interests in the Global Note is limited to such extent.
 
     So long as a nominee of the Depository is the registered owner of the
Global Note, such nominee for all purposes will be considered the sole owner or
holder of the Notes under the Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of
beneficial interests in the Global Note will not be entitled to have Notes
registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical
delivery of Notes in definitive form, and will not be considered the owners or
holders thereof under the Indenture.
 
     Neither the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee, any paying agent nor any
registrar of the Notes will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect
of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests in the Global Note, or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   9
 
     Principal and interest payments on the Notes registered in the name of the
Depository's nominee will be made in immediately available funds to the
Depository's nominee as the registered owner of the Global Note. Under the terms
of the Indenture, the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee will treat the
persons in whose names the Notes are registered as the owners of such Notes for
the purpose of receiving payment of principal and interest on such Notes and for
all other purposes whatsoever. Therefore, neither the Company, the Guarantor,
the Trustee nor any paying agent has any direct responsibility or liability for
the payment of principal or interest on the Notes to owners of beneficial
interests in the Global Note. The Depository has advised the Company, the
Guarantor and the Trustee that its current practice is, upon receipt of any
payment of principal or interest, to immediately credit the accounts of the
Participants with such payment in amounts proportionate to their respective
holdings in principal amount of beneficial interests in the Global Note as shown
in the records of the Depository. The Depository's current practice is to credit
such accounts, as to interest, in next-day funds and, as to principal, in
same-day funds. Payments by Participants and indirect participants to owners of
beneficial interests in the Global Note will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held
for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name", and
will be the responsibility of the Participants or indirect participants.
 
     If the Depository is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as
depository and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90
days, the Company will issue Notes in definitive form in exchange for the Global
Note. In addition, the Company may at any time determine not to have the Notes
represented by a Global Note and, in such event, will issue Notes in definitive
form in exchange for the Global Note. In either instance, an owner of a
beneficial interest in the Global Note will be entitled to have Notes equal in
principal amount to such beneficial interest registered in its name and will be
entitled to physical delivery of such Notes in definitive form. Notes so issued
in definitive form will be issued in denominations of $1,000 and integral
multiples thereof and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons.
 
SAME-DAY SETTLEMENT
 
     Settlement for the Notes will be made by the Underwriters in immediately
available funds.
 
     Secondary trading in long-term notes and debentures of corporate issuers is
generally settled in clearing-house or next-day funds. In contrast, the Notes
will trade in the Depository's Same-Day Funds Settlement System until maturity,
and secondary market trading activity in the Notes will therefore be required by
the Depository to settle in immediately available funds. No assurance can be
given as to the effect, if any, of settlement in immediately available funds on
trading activity in the Notes.
 
SUBORDINATION
 
     The Notes are subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the
manner set forth in the Indenture, to all indebtedness for borrowed money of the
Company, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, which is not by its
terms subordinate to other indebtedness of the Company (the "Superior
Indebtedness"). At June 30, 1995, the aggregate Superior Indebtedness of the
Company, consisting solely of short-term indebtedness, was approximately $2.786
billion. At such date all indebtedness for borrowed money of the Company
constituted Superior Indebtedness. In the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy
proceedings, and any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar
proceedings in connection therewith, relative to the Company or its property,
and, except as otherwise provided in the Indenture, in the event of any
proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the
Company, whether or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, all
principal, premium, if any, and interest on the Superior Indebtedness will be
paid in full before any payment is made by the Company on the Notes. In the
event that pursuant to the terms of the Indenture any Note of any series is
declared due and payable because of the occurrence of an Event of Default, as
provided in the Indenture, and the previous sentence is not applicable, the
holders of the Notes of such series shall be entitled to payment from the
Company only after the Superior Indebtedness outstanding at the time such Note
so becomes due and payable because of such Event of Default shall first have
been paid in full or such payment shall have been provided for. (Section 12.01.)
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   10
 
     In addition, the consolidated indebtedness of the Company includes
approximately $99.421 billion aggregate principal amount of indebtedness for
borrowed money of the subsidiaries of the Company to unaffiliated third parties
at June 30, 1995 (the "Subsidiary Indebtedness"). Although the Notes are not
expressly subordinated in right of payment to the Subsidiary Indebtedness, the
Subsidiary Indebtedness is structurally superior in right of payment to the
Notes.
 
GUARANTEE
 
     The Guarantor will unconditionally and irrevocably guarantee the payment of
the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Notes as the
same shall become due and payable after any applicable grace period, whether at
maturity or upon redemption, declaration or otherwise. (Section 13.01.)
 
     The rights of the holders of the Notes under the Guarantee rank equally
with the rights of all unsecured and unsubordinated creditors of the Guarantor,
and the rights of holders of the Notes to receive and retain any payments made
to them by the Guarantor under the Guarantee will not be impaired, or otherwise
in any way affected, by the subordination provisions of the Notes. (Section
13.01.)
 
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE
 
     The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company, the Guarantor and
the Trustee thereunder, with the consent of the holders of not less than 66 2/3%
in aggregate principal amount of the Notes of each series affected by such
supplemental indenture issued thereunder at the time outstanding, to execute
supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or
eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or any supplemental indenture
or modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of Notes of each such
series, provided that no such supplemental indenture shall, among other things
(i) extend the fixed maturity of any Notes or reduce the principal amount
thereof (including in the case of a discounted Note the amount payable upon
acceleration of the maturity thereof), reduce the redemption premium thereon or
reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, without the
consent of the holder of each Note so affected, (ii) reduce the aforesaid
percentage of such Notes of any series, the consent of the holders of which is
required for any supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holder of
each such Note so affected or (iii) modify or affect in any manner adverse to
the holders of the Notes the terms and conditions of the Guarantee, without the
consent of the holder of each Note so affected. (Section 10.02.)
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     An Event of Default with respect to any series of Notes is defined in the
Indenture as being: default in payment of any principal or premium, if any, on
any Note of such series; default for 30 days in payment of any interest on any
Note of such series; default in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund
payment or analogous obligation on the Notes of such series; default for 60 days
after notice in performance of any other covenant in respect of the Notes of
such series in the Indenture; a default, as defined, with respect to any other
series of Notes outstanding under the Indenture or as defined in any other
indenture or instrument evidencing or under which the Company has outstanding
any indebtedness for borrowed money, as a result of which such other series or
such other indebtedness of the Company shall have been accelerated and such
acceleration shall not have been annulled within 10 days after written notice
thereof (provided, that under the Indenture the resulting Event of Default with
respect to such series may be remedied, cured or waived by the remedying, curing
or waiving of such other default under such other series or such other
indebtedness); or certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization in
respect of the Company or the Guarantor. (Section 6.01.) The Indenture requires
the Company and the Guarantor to file with the Trustee annually a written
statement as to the presence or absence of certain defaults under the terms
thereof. (Section 4.05.) No Event of Default with respect to a particular series
of Notes under the Indenture necessarily constitutes an Event of Default with
respect to any other series of Notes issued thereunder.
 
     The Indenture provides that if an Event of Default with respect to any
series of Notes shall have occurred and be continuing, either the Trustee
thereunder or the holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   11
 
outstanding Notes of such series may declare the principal, or in the case of
discounted Notes, such portion thereof as may be described in any Prospectus
Supplement accompanying this Prospectus, of all such Notes to be due and payable
immediately, but under certain conditions such declaration may be annulled by
the holders of a majority in principal amount of such Notes then outstanding.
The Indenture provides that past defaults with respect to a particular series of
Notes (except, unless theretofore cured, a default in payment of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the Notes of such series, or the
payment of any sinking fund instalment or analogous obligation on the Notes of
such series) may be waived on behalf of the holders of all Notes of such series
by the holders of a majority in principal amount of such Notes then outstanding.
(Sections 6.01 and 6.07.)
 
     The Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights or
powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the
holders of Notes of any series issued thereunder unless such holders shall have
offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. (Section 7.01.) The Indenture
provides that the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Notes of any
series issued thereunder 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 thereunder, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the
Trustee, with respect to the Notes of such series, provided that the Trustee may
decline to follow any such direction if it determines that the proceedings so
directed would be illegal or involve it in any personal liability. (Section
6.07.)
 
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
 
     The Trustee extends credit facilities to the Company and the Guarantor and
the Company and the Guarantor maintain bank accounts and have other customary
banking relationships with the Trustee, all in the ordinary course of business.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   12
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement
relating to the Notes, the Company has agreed to sell to the Underwriters named
below (the "Underwriters"), and each of the Underwriters has severally agreed to
purchase the respective principal amount of Notes set forth opposite its name
below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                          PRINCIPAL
                                                                            AMOUNT
            UNDERWRITERS                                                   OF NOTES
        <S>                                                              <C>
        Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                     Incorporated......................................  $
 
                                                                         ------------
        Total..........................................................  $300,000,000
                                                                          ===========
</TABLE>
 
     The Company and the Guarantor have been advised by the Underwriters that
the Underwriters propose initially to offer the Notes to the public at the
public offering price set forth on the cover of this Prospectus and to certain
dealers at such public offering price less a concession not in excess of 0.  %
of the principal amount of the Notes. The Underwriters may allow, and such
dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of 0.  % of the principal amount
of the Notes to certain other dealers. After the initial public offering of the
Notes, the public offering price and concession and discount to dealers may be
changed by the Underwriters.
 
     Under the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the
Underwriters are committed to take and pay for all the Notes, if any are taken.
 
     The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market.
The Company and the Guarantor have been advised by the Underwriters that they
intend to make a market in the Notes, but are not obligated to do so and may
discontinue such market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be
given, however, as to whether a trading market in the Notes will develop or as
to the liquidity of any trading market for the Notes. Application will be made
to list the Notes on the New York Stock Exchange.
 
     The Company and the Guarantor have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters
against certain liabilities, including certain liabilities under the Securities
Act of 1933.
 
                                 LEGAL OPINIONS
 
     The legality of the Notes will be passed upon for the Company by Burton J.
Kloster, Jr., Senior Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary of the
Company or by Bruce C. Bennett, Associate General
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   13
 
Counsel, Treasury Operation and Assistant Secretary of the Company. The legality
of the Guarantee will be passed upon for the Guarantor by Robert E. Healing,
Corporate Counsel of the Guarantor. The legality of the Notes and the Guarantee
will be passed upon for the Underwriters by Davis Polk & Wardwell, 450 Lexington
Avenue, New York, New York 10017. Messrs. Kloster, Bennett and Healing, together
with members of their families, own, have options to purchase and have other
interests in shares of common stock of the Guarantor.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The financial statements and schedules of General Electric Capital
Services, Inc. and consolidated affiliates as of December 31, 1994 and 1993, and
for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1994,
appearing in General Electric Capital Services, Inc. Annual Report on Form 10-K
for the year ended December 31, 1994, incorporated by reference herein, have
been incorporated herein in reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP,
independent certified public accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and
upon the authority of said firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The
report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP covering the December 31, 1994 financial
statements refers to a change in 1993 in the method of accounting for
investments in certain securities.
 
     The financial statements and schedule of General Electric Company and
consolidated affiliates as of December 31, 1994 and 1993, and for each of the
years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1994, appearing in General
Electric Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1994, incorporated by reference herein, have been incorporated herein in
reliance upon the report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants, incorporated by reference herein, and upon the authority of said
firm as experts in accounting and auditing. The report of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
covering the December 31, 1994 financial statements refers to a change in 1993
in the methods of accounting for postemployment benefits and for investments in
certain securities.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   14
 
====================================================== 
 
  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 THE OFFER MADE
BY THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS
MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY, THE GUARANTOR
OR THE UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE
HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE AN IMPLICATION
THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY OR THE GUARANTOR
SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR
SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT
AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT
QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR
SOLICITATION.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        PAGE
                                        ----
<S>                                     <C>
Available Information.................    2
Documents Incorporated by Reference...    3
The Company...........................    3
The Guarantor.........................    5
Use of Proceeds.......................    6
Description of Notes..................    6
Underwriting..........................   11
Legal Opinions........................   11
Experts...............................   12
</TABLE>
 
====================================================== 
 
====================================================== 
 
                                  $300,000,000
 
                                GENERAL ELECTRIC
                             CAPITAL SERVICES, INC.
 
                               % GUARANTEED SUBORDINATED
                                   NOTES DUE
                                            ,
 
                                 GUARANTEED ON
                               A SENIOR BASIS BY
 
                            GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                   PROSPECTUS
                            ------------------------
                                           , 1995
 
====================================================== 
<PAGE>   15
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14.  OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
     The expenses in connection with the issuance and distribution of the
securities being registered, other than underwriting compensation, are:
 
<TABLE>
    <S>                                                                         <C>
    Filing Fee for Registration Statement.....................................  $103,449
    Accounting Fees and Expenses..............................................    25,000
    Trustees' Fees and Expenses (including counsel fees)......................       250
    Blue Sky Filing and Counsel Fees..........................................    20,000
    Printing and Engraving Fees...............................................    10,000
    Miscellaneous.............................................................     1,301
                                                                                --------
              Total...........................................................  $130,000
                                                                                ========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
* Estimated, and subject to future contingencies.
 
ITEM 15.  INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
(A) THE COMPANY
 
     Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware
provides that in certain circumstances a corporation may indemnify directors and
officers against the reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments,
fines and amounts paid in settlement, actually and reasonably incurred by them
in connection with any action, suit or proceeding by reason of being or having
been directors or officers, if such person shall have acted in good faith and in
a manner he reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
the corporation, except that if such action, suit or proceeding shall be in the
right of the corporation, indemnification shall be provided only against
reasonable expenses (including attorneys' fees) and no such indemnification
shall be provided as to any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall
have been judged to have been liable to the corporation, unless and to the
extent that the Court of Chancery of the State of Delaware or any other court in
which the suit was brought shall determine upon application that, in view of all
of the circumstances of the case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled
to indemnity. A corporation shall be required to indemnify against reasonable
expenses (including attorneys' fees) any director or officer who successfully
defends any such actions. The foregoing statements are subject to the detailed
provisions of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of
Delaware.
 
     The By-Laws of the Company provide that each person who at any time is or
shall have been a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company, or is or
shall have been serving at the request of the Company as a director, officer,
employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise, and his heirs, executors and administrators, shall be
indemnified by the Company in accordance with and to the full extent permitted
by the General Corporation Law of Delaware.
 
     Reference is made to Article VI of the Underwriting Agreement filed as
Exhibit 1 hereto for a description of the indemnification arrangements in
connection with any underwritten offering of the securities registered hereby.
 
     The directors of the Company are insured under officers and directors
liability insurance policies purchased by the Guarantor. The directors, officers
and employees of the Company are also insured against fiduciary liabilities
under the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974.
 
(B)  THE GUARANTOR
 
Article XI of the Guarantor's By-Laws, as amended, provides as follows;
 
     A.  The Company shall, to the fullest extent permitted by applicable law as
the same exists or may hereafter be in effect, indemnify any person who is or
was or has agreed to become a director or officer of the
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   16
 
Company and who is or was made or threatened to be made a party to or is
involved in any threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding,
whether civil, criminal, administrative or investigative, including an action by
or in the right of the Company to procure a judgment in its favor and an action
by or in the right of any other corporation of any type or kind, domestic or
foreign, or any partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or
other enterprise, which such person is serving, has served or has agreed to
serve in any capacity at the request of the Company, by reason of the fact that
he or she is or was or has agreed to become a director of officer of the
Company, or is or was serving or has agreed to serve such other corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust, employee benefit plan or other enterprise in
any capacity, against judgments, fines, amounts paid or to be paid in
settlement, taxes or penalties, and costs, charges and expenses, including
attorney's fees incurred in connection with such action or proceeding or any
appeal therein; provided, however, that no indemnification shall be provided to
any such person if a judgment or other final adjudication adverse to the
director or officer establishes that (i) his or her acts were committed in bad
faith or were the result of active and deliberate dishonesty and, in either
case, were material to the cause of action so adjudicated, or (ii) he or she
personally gained in fact a financial profit or other advantage to which he or
she was not legally entitled. The benefits of this Paragraph A shall extend to
the heirs and legal representative of any person entitled to indemnification
under this paragraph.
 
     B.  The Company may, to the extent authorized from time to time by the
Board of Directors, or by a committee comprised of members of the Board or
members of management as the Board may designate for such purpose, provide
indemnification to employees or agents of the Company who are not officers or
directors of the Company with such scope and effect as determined by the Board,
or such committee.
 
     C.  The Company may indemnify any person to whom the Company is permitted
by applicable law to provide indemnification or the advancement of expenses,
whether pursuant to rights granted pursuant to, or provided by, the New York
Business Corporation Law or other rights created by (i) a resolution of
shareholders, (ii) a resolution of directors, or (iii) an agreement providing
for such indemnification, it being expressly intended that these By-laws
authorize the creation of other rights in any such manner. The right to be
indemnified and to the reimbursement or advancement of expenses incurred in
defending a proceeding in advance of its final disposition authorized by this
Paragraph C shall not be exclusive of any other right which any person may have
or hereafter acquire under any statute, provision of the Certificate of
Incorporation, By-laws, agreement, vote of shareholders or disinterested
directors or otherwise.
 
     D. The right to indemnification conferred by Paragraph A shall, and any
indemnification extended under Paragraph B or Paragraph C may, be retroactive to
events occurring prior to the adoption of this Article XI, to the fullest extent
permitted by applicable law.
 
     E. This Article XI may be amended, modified or repealed either by action of
the Board of Directors of the Company or by the vote of the shareholders.
 
     A director or officer of a corporation organized under the New York
Business Corporation Law is entitled, under specified circumstances, to
indemnification by the corporation against reasonable expenses, including
attorney's fees, incurred by him in connection with the defense of a civil or
criminal proceeding to which he has been made, or has been threatened to be
made, a party by reason of the fact that he was such director or officer. In
certain circumstances, indemnity is provided against judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement. Specific court approval is required in some cases.
The foregoing statement is subject to the detailed provisions of Sections 715,
717 and 721-726 of the New York Business Corporation Law.
 
     The directors and officers of the Guarantor are insured under officers and
directors' liability insurance policies purchased by the Guarantor and, in at
least one instance, by an individual director on behalf of herself.
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   17
 
ITEM 16.  EXHIBITS.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                       DESCRIPTION
- ------   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>      <C>
 1       Form of Underwriting Agreement.
 4(a)    Form of Indenture dated as of             , 1995 among the Company, the Guarantor
         and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), as Trustee.
 4(b)    Form of Note (including form of Guarantee).
*5(a)    Opinion and consent of Bruce C. Bennett, Associate General Counsel, Treasury
         Operation and Assistant Secretary of the Company.
*5(b)    Opinion and consent of Robert E. Healing, Corporate Counsel of the Guarantor.
12(a)    Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges of the Company.
  (b)    Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges of the Guarantor.
23       Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick (contained in Part II of this Registration Statement).
         Consents of Bruce C. Bennett and Robert E. Healing are included in their respective
         opinions referred to in Exhibit 5 above.
24(a)    Power of Attorney in respect of the Company.
  (b)    Power of Attorney in respect of the Guarantor.
25       Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of
         1939 of The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), in respect of the Indenture
         filed as Exhibit 4(a).
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
* To be filed subsequently.
 
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.
 
     The undersigned registrants hereby undertake: (1) To file, during any
period in which offers or sales are being made, a post-effective amendment to
this registration statement (i) to include any prospectus required by Section
10(a)(3) of the Securities Act of 1933; (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any
facts or events arising after the effective date of the registration statement
(or the most recent post-effective amendment thereof) which, individually or in
the aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in
the registration statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any deviation
from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range may be
reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
424(b) (sec.230.424(b) of this chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in
volume and price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate
offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
effective registration statement; and (iii) to include any material information
with respect to the plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
registration statement or any material change to such information in the
registration statement; provided, however, that clauses (i) and (ii) do not
apply if the registration statement is on Form S-3 or Form S-8 and the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in the registration statement; (2) That, for the
purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each such
post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof; (3)
To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any of the
securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering; (4) That, for purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the annual report of either of the
registrants pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the registration
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   18
 
statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time
shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the
registrants pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or
otherwise, the registrants have been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
either or both of the registrants of expenses incurred or paid by a director,
officer or controlling person of either or both of the registrants 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 or registrants in question will, unless in the
opinion of its or their counsel the matter has been settled by controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   19
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, General
Electric Capital Services, Inc. certifies that is has reasonable grounds to
believe that it meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has
duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the City of Stamford, State of
Connecticut, on June 29, 1995.
 
                                          GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL SERVICES,
                                          INC.
 
                                          By       /s/ JAMES A. PARKE
                                            ------------------------------------
                                                      (JAMES A. PARKE)
                                               SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE
 
     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 date indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 SIGNATURE                                  TITLE                           DATE
                -----------                                ------                          -------
<S>                                                 <C>                                <C>
 
                     *                              Chairman of the Board,             June 29, 1995
- -------------------------------------------           President and Chief
              (GARY C. WENDT)                         Executive Officer
                                                     (Principal Executive
                                                     Officer)
                                  
          /s/ JAMES A. PARKE                        Senior Vice President,             June 29, 1995
- -------------------------------------------          Finance (Principal  
             (JAMES A. PARKE)                        Financial Officer)  
 
                     *                              Vice President and                 June 29, 1995
- -------------------------------------------          Controller (Principal
              (JOAN C. AMBLE)                        Accounting Officer)

                     *                              Senior Vice President,             June 29, 1995
- -------------------------------------------          Corporate Treasury
            (JEFFREY S. WERNER)                      and Global Funding
                                                     Operation
                                                 
                     *                              Director                           June 29, 1095
- -------------------------------------------
               (KAJ AHLMANN)
 
                     *                              Director                           June 29, 1995
- -------------------------------------------
           (NIGEL D.T. ANDREWS)
 
                     *                              Director                           June 29, 1995
- -------------------------------------------
              (JAMES R. BUNT)
 
                     *                              Director                           June 29, 1995
- -------------------------------------------
           (DENNIS D. DAMMERMAN)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>   20
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                 SIGNATURE                            TITLE                      DATE
- -------------------------------------------  -----------------------   ------------------------
<S>                                          <C>                       <C>
 
                     *                       Director
- -------------------------------------------
              (PAOLO FRESCO)
 
                     *                       Director
- -------------------------------------------
              (DALE F. FREY)
                     *                       Director
- -------------------------------------------
        (BENJAMIN W. HEINEMAN, JR.)
 
                     *                       Director
- -------------------------------------------
             (HUGH J. MURPHY)
 
                     *                       Director
- -------------------------------------------
             (DENIS J. NAYDEN)
 
                                                              June 29, 1995
 
                     *                       Director
- -------------------------------------------
             (MICHAEL A. NEAL)
 
                                             Director
- -------------------------------------------
             (JOHN M. SAMUELS)
 
                     *                       Director
- -------------------------------------------
            (EDWARD D. STEWART)
 
                                             Director
- -------------------------------------------
           (JOHN F. WELCH, JR.)
 
*By        /s/ JAMES A. PARKE                Attorney-in-fact
- -------------------------------------------
              (JAMES A. PARKE)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>   21
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, General
Electric Company certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it
meets all of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Fairfield, State of Connecticut, on June 23,
1995.
 
                                          GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
 
                                          By:      /s/  PHILIP D. AMEEN
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                           (NAME)
                                                          (TITLE)
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                SIGNATURE                                  TITLE
- ------------------------------------------    -------------------------------
 
<S>                                           <C>                                <C>
                        *                     Chairman of the Board
- ------------------------------------------    (Principal Executive Officer
           (JOHN F. WELCH, JR.)               and Director)
 
                        *                     Senior Vice
- ------------------------------------------    President -- Finance (Principal
          (DENNIS D. DAMMERMAN)               Financial Officer and Director)
          
                   
        /s/  PHILIP D. AMEEN                  Vice President and Comptroller
- ------------------------------------------    (Principal Accounting Officer)
            (PHILIP D. AMEEN)
 
                                              Director
- ------------------------------------------
        (H. BREWSTER ATWATER, JR.)
 
                        *                     Director
- ------------------------------------------
           (D. WAYNE CALLOWAY)
 
                        *                     Director
- ------------------------------------------
           (SILAS S. CATHCART)
 
                                              Director
- ------------------------------------------
          (LAWRENCE E. FOURAKER)
 
                        *                     Director
- ------------------------------------------
              (PAOLO FRESCO)
 
                        *                     Director
- ------------------------------------------
          (CLAUDIO X. GONZALEZ)
 
                        *                     Director
- ------------------------------------------
            (ROBERT E. MERCER)
 
                        *                     Director
- ------------------------------------------
         (GERTRUDE G. MICHELSON)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-7
<PAGE>   22
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                SIGNATURE                                  TITLE
- ------------------------------------------    -------------------------------
 
<S>                                           <C>                                <C>
                        *                     Director
- ------------------------------------------
            (ROGER S. PENSKE)
 
                        *                     Director
- ------------------------------------------
         (BARBARA SCOTT PREISKEL)
 
                        *                     Director
- ------------------------------------------
           (FRANK H.T. RHODES)
 
                        *                     Director
- ------------------------------------------
            (ANDREW C. SIGLER)
 
                                              Director
- ------------------------------------------
         (DOUGLAS A. WARNER III)
 
A majority of the Board of Directors.
 
By:        /s/  PHILIP D. AMEEN
- ------------------------------------------
                  (NAME)
            (ATTORNEY-IN-FACT)
</TABLE>
 
Dated: June 23, 1995
 
                                      II-8
<PAGE>   23
 
              CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANTS
 
To the Board of Directors
General Electric Capital Services, Inc.
 
     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the joint Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of General Electric Capital Services, Inc. and General
Electric Company of our report dated February 10, 1995 relating to the statement
of financial position of General Electric Capital Services, Inc. and
consolidated affiliates as of December 31, 1994 and 1993 and the related
statements of current and retained earnings and cash flows and related schedules
for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1994, which
report appears in the December 31, 1994 Annual Report on Form 10-K of General
Electric Capital Services, Inc. Our report refers to a change in 1993 in the
method of accounting for investments in certain securities.
 
     We consent to the incorporation by reference in the joint Registration
Statement on Form S-3 of General Electric Capital Services, Inc. and General
Electric Company of our report dated February 10, 1995 relating to the statement
of financial position of General Electric Company and consolidated affiliates as
of December 31, 1994 and 1993 and the related statements of earnings and cash
flows for each of the years in the three-year period ended December 31, 1994,
and the related schedule, which report appears in the December 31, 1994 Annual
Report on Form 10-K of General Electric Company. Our report refers to a change
in 1993 in the methods of accounting for post employment benefits and for
investments in certain securities.
 
     We also consent to the reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" in
the Registration Statement.
 
                                          KPMG PEAT MARWICK LLP
 
Stamford, Connecticut
July  , 1995
                            ------------------------
 
                              CONSENTS OF COUNSEL
 
     The consents of Bruce C. Bennett, Associate General Counsel, Treasury
Operation and Assistant Secretary of the Company and of Robert E. Healing,
Corporate Counsel of the Guarantor to the reference to each under Legal Opinions
in the Prospectus, and to the use of their respective opinions as Exhibits to
the Registration Statement, are included in said opinions.
 
                                      II-9
<PAGE>   24
 
                                    EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                                       DESCRIPTION
- ------   ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>      <C>
 1       Form of Underwriting Agreement.
 4(a)    Form of Indenture dated as of             , 1995 among the Company, the Guarantor
         and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), as Trustee.
 4(b)    Form of Note (including form of Guarantee).
*5(a)    Opinion and consent of Bruce C. Bennett, Associate General Counsel, Treasury
         Operation and Assistant Secretary of the Company.
*5(b)    Opinion and consent of Robert E. Healing, Corporate Counsel of the Guarantor.
12(a)    Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges of the Company.
  (b)    Computation of ratio of earnings to fixed charges of the Guarantor.
23       Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick (contained in Part II of this Registration Statement).
         Consents of Bruce C. Bennett and Robert E. Healing are included in their respective
         opinions referred to in Exhibit 5 above.
24(a)    Power of Attorney in respect of the Company.
  (b)    Power of Attorney in respect of the Guarantor.
25       Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility and Qualification under the Trust Indenture Act of
         1939 of The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), in respect of the Indenture
         filed as Exhibit 4(a).
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
* To be filed subsequently.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 1



                                                              New York, New York



To the Representative(s) named in
     Schedule I hereto of the Under-
     writers named in Schedule II hereto

Dear Sirs:

                 General Electric Capital Services, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (hereinafter referred to as the Company), proposes to issue its
Notes described in Schedule I hereto (hereinafter referred to as the Notes) to
be issued pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture relating thereto listed
in Schedule I hereto (hereinafter referred to as the Note Indenture), between
the Company, General Electric Company, a New York corporation (hereinafter
referred to as the Guarantor) and the Trustee named in Schedule I hereto
(hereinafter referred to as the Note Trustee), and the Guarantor proposes to
guarantee the due and punctual payment by the Company of principal and interest
and all other moneys payable on the Notes, in accordance with the terms of the
guarantee (hereinafter referred to as the Guarantee) endorsed on each Note.
The Notes and the Guarantee are sometimes herein collectively called the
"Securities".  The Company and the Guarantor have filed with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (hereinafter referred to as the Commission), and there has
become effective, a registration statement (the file number of which is set
forth in Schedule I hereto), including a prospectus, relating to the
Securities.  The registration statement as amended to the date of this
Agreement is hereinafter referred to as the Registration Statement, and the
prospectus as amended to the date of this Agreement is hereinafter referred to
as the Prospectus (including in each case documents incorporated by reference).

                                       I.

                 The Company hereby agrees to sell to the several Underwriters
named in Schedule II hereto, and the Underwriters, upon the basis of the
representations and warranties herein contained, but subject to the conditions
hereinafter stated, agree to purchase from the Company, severally and not
jointly, the principal amounts of Notes, guaranteed as aforesaid by the
Guarantor, set forth opposite

<PAGE>   2

their names in Schedule II hereto, plus accrued interest, if any, from the date
set forth in Schedule I hereto to the date of payment and delivery.

                                      II.

                 The Company is advised by you that the Underwriters propose to
make a public offering of their respective portions of the Securities as soon
after this Agreement is entered into as in your judgment is advisable (unless
the timing of the offering is otherwise described in Schedule I hereto).  The
terms of the public offering of the Notes are as specified in Schedule I
hereto.

                                      III.

                 Payment for the Notes, guaranteed as aforesaid by the
Guarantor, shall be made by wire transfer in immediately available funds
(unless payment in other form or funds is specified in Schedule I hereto) to
the account of the Company specified by the Company to the Underwriters the
business day prior to the time of closing, on the date and at the time
specified in Schedule I hereto, upon delivery to you for the respective
accounts of the several Underwriters of the Notes, guaranteed as aforesaid by
the Guarantor, registered in such names and in such denominations as you shall
request in writing not less than two full business days prior to the date of
delivery.  The time and date of such payment and delivery are herein referred
to as the Closing Date.

                                      IV.

                 The several obligations of the Underwriters hereunder are
subject to the following conditions:

                 (a)      to be satisfied by the Company:

                 (1)      No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
         Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for such
         purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission, and
         there shall have been no material adverse change in the condition of
         the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set
         forth in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and you shall
         have received on the Closing Date a certificate, dated the Closing
         Date and signed by an executive officer of the Company, to the
         foregoing effect.  The officer making such certificate may rely upon
         the best of his knowledge as to proceedings pending or threatened.





                                       2

<PAGE>   3

                 (2)      You shall have received on and as of the Closing Date
         an opinion of either the Senior Vice President, General Counsel and
         Secretary of the Company or the Associate General Counsel and
         Assistant Secretary of the Company, dated the Closing Date, to the
         effect that (i) the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
         existing under the laws of the State of New York; (ii) the Company is
         duly qualified to transact business and is in good standing in the
         jurisdictions in which the conduct of its business or the ownership of
         its property requires such qualification; (iii) the Note Indenture has
         been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company, is a
         valid and binding agreement of the Company and has been qualified
         under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended; (iv) the Notes have
         been duly authorized and, when executed and authenticated in
         accordance with the provisions of the Note Indenture and delivered to
         and paid for by the Underwriters, will be valid and binding
         obligations of the Company and will be entitled to the benefits of the
         Note Indenture; (v) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed
         and delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of
         the Company, except as rights to indemnity and contribution hereunder
         may be limited under applicable law; (vi) neither the execution and
         delivery of this Agreement nor the issuance and sale of the Notes by
         the Company as provided herein will contravene the Organization
         Certificate or by-laws of the Company or result in any violation of
         any of the terms or provisions of any law, rule or regulation (other
         than with respect to applicable state securities or Blue Sky laws, as
         to which such counsel need not express any opinion) or of any
         indenture, mortgage or other agreement or instrument known to such
         counsel by which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is bound;
         (vii) the statements contained in the Prospectus under the caption
         "Description of Notes" fairly present the matters referred to therein;
         (viii) each document incorporated by reference in the Prospectus which
         was filed pursuant to the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
         (the "Exchange Act") (except for the financial statements and
         schedules and other financial and statistical material included
         therein or omitted therefrom, as to which such counsel need not
         express any opinion) complied when so filed as to form in all material
         respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and
         regulations thereunder; (ix) the Registration Statement and the
         Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto (except for the
         financial statements and schedules and other financial





                                       3

<PAGE>   4

         and statistical material included therein or omitted therefrom and
         except for supplements relating only to securities other than the
         Securities, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply
         as to form in all material respects with the Act and the rules and
         regulations of the Commission thereunder; and (x) such counsel
         believes that (except for the financial statements and schedules and
         other financial and statistical material included therein or omitted
         therefrom, as to which such counsel need not express any belief) each
         part of the Registration Statement at the time such part became
         effective did not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or
         omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the
         Prospectus as of the date of the prospectus supplement relating to the
         Securities did not, and the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented)
         does not, contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
         state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
         therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made
         not misleading.

                 (b)      to be satisfied by the Guarantor:

                 (1)      No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
         Registration Statement shall be in effect, and no proceedings for such
         purpose shall be pending before or threatened by the Commission, and
         there shall have been no material adverse change (not in the ordinary
         course of business) in the condition of the Guarantor and its
         subsidiaries, taken as a whole, from that set forth in the
         Registration Statement and the Prospectus; and you shall have received
         on the Closing Date a certificate of the Guarantor, dated the Closing
         Date and signed by an officer of the Guarantor, to the foregoing
         effect.  The officer making such certificate may rely upon the best of
         his knowledge as to proceedings pending or threatened.

                 (2)      You shall have received on and as of the Closing Date
         an opinion of the Corporate Counsel of the Guarantor, dated  the
         Closing Date, to the effect that (i) the Guarantor has been duly 
         incorporated, is validly existing and in good standing under the laws 
         of the State of New York; (ii) the Note Indenture has been duly 
         authorized, executed and delivered by the Guarantor, is a valid and 
         binding agreement of the Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with is
         terms





                                       4
<PAGE>   5

         (subject to applicable equitable principles and except as may be
         limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar
         laws affecting creditors' rights generally) and the Note Indenture has
         been qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended;
         (iii) the Guarantee has been duly authorized and, when executed and
         endorsed on the Notes in accordance with the provisions of the Note
         Indenture, will be a valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor,
         enforceable in accordance with its terms (subject to applicable
         equitable principles and except as may be limited by bankruptcy,
         insolvency, reorganization or other similar laws affecting creditors'
         rights generally); (iv) this Agreement has been duly authorized,
         executed and delivered by the Guarantor and is a valid and binding
         agreement of the Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms
         (subject to applicable equitable principles and except as rights to
         indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited under applicable
         law and except as may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency,
         reorganization or other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
         generally); (v) neither the execution and delivery of this Agreement
         nor the execution and delivery of the Guarantee by the Guarantor as
         provided herein will contravene the Restated Certificate of
         Incorporation, as amended, or by-laws, as amended, of the Guarantor or
         result in any violation of any of the terms or provisions of any law,
         rule or regulation (other than with respect to applicable state
         securities or Blue Sky laws, as to which such counsel need not express
         any opinion) or of any indenture, mortgage or other agreement or
         instrument known to such counsel by which the Guarantor or any of its
         subsidiaries is bound; (vi) such counsel believes that each document
         incorporated by reference in the Prospectus which was filed by the
         Guarantor pursuant to the Exchange Act (except for the financial
         statements and schedules and other financial statistical data
         contained, referred to or incorporated by reference therein or omitted
         therefrom, as to which, in each case, such counsel need not express
         any opinion) complied when so filed as to form in all material
         respects with the Exchange Act and the applicable rules and
         regulations of the Commission thereunder; (vii) such counsel believes
         that the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any supplements
         and amendments thereto as of their respective effective or issue dates
         (except for (a) the financial statements and schedules and other
         financial and statistical data contained, referred to or incorporated
         by reference therein or omitted therefrom,





                                       5
<PAGE>   6

         (b) the statements contained in the Prospectus under the captions
         "Description of Notes" and "Plan of Distribution", and (c) supplements
         and amendments relating only to securities other than the Securities,
         as to which, in each case, such counsel need express no opinion)
         insofar as they related to the Guarantor and the Guarantee complied as
         to form in all material respects with the Act and the applicable rules
         and regulations of the Commission thereunder; and (viii) such counsel
         believes that (except for (a) the financial statements and schedule and
         other financial and statistical data contained, referred to or
         incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom, (b) the
         statements contained in the Prospectus under the captions "Description
         of Notes" and "Plan of Distribution", and (c) supplements and
         amendments relating only to securities other than the Securities, as to
         which, in each case, such counsel need not express any belief) each
         part of the Registration Statement that relates to the Guarantor or the
         Guarantee, at the time such part became effective, did not contain an
         untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
         required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
         therein not misleading, and the Prospectus, as of the date of the
         prospectus supplement relating to the Securities, did not, and the
         Prospectus (as amended or supplemented, other than as to supplements
         relating only to securities other than the Securities) does not contain
         any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
         fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of
         the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

                 In rendering such opinion, such counsel (1) may rely as to
matters of fact, to the extent such counsel deems proper, on certificates of
responsible officers and public officials and (2) may state that such counsel
expresses no opinion as to laws, rules, regulations, consents, approvals,
authorizations or orders other than those of the State of New York and the
federal law of the United States of America, provided that no opinion need be
expressed on or in respect to the New York securities laws.

                 (c)      You shall have received on and as of the Closing Date
an opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell, counsel for the Underwriters, dated the
Closing Date, covering the matters in clauses (iii), (iv), (v), (vii), (ix) and
(x) of paragraph (a)(2) above and the matters in clauses (ii), (iii), (iv),
(vii) and (viii) of paragraph (b)(2) above.





                                       6
<PAGE>   7

                 In rendering the opinion referred to in paragraph (a)(2)
above, such counsel may state that with respect to (ix) and (x) of paragraph
(a)(2) above, such counsel's opinion and belief is based upon his participation
in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any
amendments and supplements thereto (including documents incorporated by
reference therein) and review and discussion of the contents thereof, but is
without independent check or verification except as stated therein.  In
rendering the opinion referred to in paragraph (b)(2) above, such counsel may
state that with respect to (vi), (vii) and (viii) thereof, such counsel's
belief is based upon review and discussion of the contents of the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto
(including documents incorporated by reference) by him or members of his staff
who report to him or with certain officials of the Guarantor, but are without
independent check or verification except as stated therein.  In rendering the
opinions referred to in paragraph (c) above, such counsel may state that with
respect to (ix) and (x) of paragraph (a)(2) above and (vii) and (viii) of
paragraph (b)(2) above, such counsel's opinion and belief is based upon their
participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus and any amendments and supplements thereto (other than documents
incorporated by reference) and upon their review and discussion of the contents
thereof (including documents incorporated by reference), but is without
independent check or verification except as stated therein.

                 (d)      You shall have received on the Closing Date, a letter
dated the Closing Date in form and substance satisfactory to you, from KPMG
Peat Marwick LLP, independent public accountants, containing statements and
information of the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters"
to underwriters concerning the financial statements and certain financial
information with respect to each of the Company and the Guarantor contained in
or incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus.

                                       V.

                 (a)      In further consideration of the agreements of the
Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants as follows:

                 (1)      To furnish to each of you without charge two copies
         of the Registration Statement (including exhibits and documents
         incorporated by reference), and to each other Underwriter a copy of
         the Registration





                                       7
<PAGE>   8

         Statement (without exhibits but including documents incorporated by
         reference), and, during the period mentioned in paragraph (c) below,
         as many copies of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
         thereto prepared pursuant to paragraph (c) below as you may reasonably
         request.  The terms "supplement" and "amendment" or "amend" as used in
         this Agreement include all documents subsequently filed by the Company
         or the Guarantor pursuant to the Exchange Act which are deemed to be
         incorporated by reference in the Prospectus from the date of filing
         such documents in accordance with Form S-3.

                 (2)      To prepare and file (or mail for filing) with the
         Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, as promptly as
         practicable after the execution of this Agreement, a prospectus
         supplement setting forth such information as is necessary so that the
         Prospectus, when delivered to a purchaser of the Securities, will
         comply with law and, before amending the Registration Statement or
         supplementing the Prospectus with respect to the Securities, to
         furnish you a copy of each such proposed amendment or supplement.

                 (3)      If, during such period after the first date of the
         public offering of the Securities as in the opinion of your counsel a
         prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection with sales
         by an Underwriter or dealer, any event shall occur as a result of
         which it is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order
         to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when
         the Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if it
         is necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with law,
         forthwith to prepare and furnish, at its own expense, to the
         Underwriters and to the dealers (whose names and addresses you shall
         furnish to the Company) to which Securities may have been sold by you
         on behalf of the Underwriters and to any other dealers upon request,
         either amendments or supplements to the Prospectus so that the
         statements in the Prospectus as so amended or supplemented will not,
         in the light of the circumstances when the Prospectus is delivered to
         a purchaser, be misleading or so that the Prospectus will comply with
         law.

                 (4)      To endeavor to qualify the Securities for offer and
         sale under the securities or Blue Sky laws of such jurisdictions as
         you shall reasonably request and to pay all expenses (including fees
         and disbursements of counsel) in connection with such qualification
         and





                                       8
<PAGE>   9

         in connection with the determination of the eligibility of the
         Securities for investment under the laws of such jurisdictions as you
         may designate; provided that the Company shall not be required to
         qualify to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not now
         qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general or
         unlimited service of process in any jurisdiction where it is not now
         subject or to qualify the Securities for offer and sale in any
         jurisdiction (notified to the Representative prior to the execution of
         the Underwriting Agreement) in which the Company is unable or
         unwilling to comply with disclosure or reporting requirements imposed
         by such jurisdiction.

                 (5)      To make generally available to its security holders
         as soon as practicable an earnings statement (which need not be
         audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning after the date of
         this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of
         the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

                 (b)      In further consideration of the agreements of the
Underwriters herein contained, the Guarantor covenants to make generally
available to its security holders as soon as practicable an earnings statement
(which need not be audited) covering a twelve-month period beginning after the
date of this Agreement which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of
the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.

                                      VI.

                 The Company represents and warrants to each Underwriter that
(i) each document filed by the Company pursuant to the Exchange Act which is
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus complied when so filed in all
material respects with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, and each document, if any, hereafter filed and so incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus will comply when so filed with the Exchange Act,
rules and regulations; (ii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
comply, and the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (and any amendments
and supplements thereto, other than supplements relating only to securities
other than the Securities) will on the Closing Date comply, in all material
respects with the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the
Commission thereunder; (iii) each preliminary prospectus, if any, filed
pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act complied when so filed in all material
respects with the Act and the applicable rules and


                                       9
<PAGE>   10

regulations thereunder; and (iv) each part of the Registration Statement at the
time such part became effective did not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Prospectus as
of the date of the prospectus supplement relating to the Notes did not, and the
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented, other than as to supplements relating
only to securities other than the Securities) on the Closing Date will not,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
under which they were made, not misleading; except that these representations
and warranties do no apply to statements or omissions in the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus (x) that relate to the
Guarantor or the Guarantee or (y) based upon information furnished to the
Company in writing by any Underwriter expressly for use therein.

                 The Guarantor represents and warrants to each Underwriter that
(i) each document filed by the Guarantor pursuant to the Exchange Act which is
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus complied when so filed in all
material respects with the Exchange Act and the rules and regulations
thereunder, and each document, if any, hereafter filed and so incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus will comply when so filed with the Exchange Act,
rules and regulations; and (ii) each part of the Registration Statement at the
time such part became effective did not contain an untrue statement of a
material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and the Prospectus as
of the date of the prospectus supplement relating to the Notes did not, and the
Prospectus (as amended or supplemented, other than as to supplements relating
only to securities other than the Securities) on the Closing Date will not,
contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material
fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading, except that these
representations and warranties apply to statements or omissions in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus only insofar as they relate to the
Guarantor or the Guarantee.

                 The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act, or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities caused by any
untrue





                                       10

<PAGE>   11

statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (if used
within the period set forth in paragraph (c) of Article V hereof and as amended
or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission (x) that relates to the Guarantor or the
Guarantee or (y) based upon information furnished in writing to the Company by
any Underwriter expressly for use therein; provided, however, that the
foregoing indemnity agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus or any
Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the
person asserting any losses, claims, damages or liabilities otherwise covered
by this paragraph purchased Securities, or to the benefit of any person
controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended and
supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements
thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such Underwriter to such
person if required by law so to have been delivered, at or prior to the written
confirmation of the sale of Securities to such person, and if the Prospectus
(as so amended or supplemented, would have cured the defect giving rise to such
loss, claim, damage or liability.

                 The Guarantor agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act, or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, from and
against any and all losses, claims, damages and liabilities caused by any
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in
the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (if
used within the period set forth in paragraph (c) of Article V hereof and as
amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, but only insofar as such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities are caused by any such untrue statement or omission or
alleged untrue statement or omission that relates to the Guarantor or the
Guarantee, provided, however, that the foregoing indemnity with respect to any
preliminary prospectus or any Prospectus shall not inure to the benefit of any
Underwriter from whom the person asserting any losses, claims, damages or





                                       11
<PAGE>   12

liabilities otherwise covered by this paragraph purchased Securities, or to the
benefit of any person controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the Prospectus
(as then amended and supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any
amendments or supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of
such Underwriter to such person if required by law so to have been delivered,
at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of Securities to such
person, and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have cured
the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage or liability.

                 Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to
indemnify and hold harmless the Company and the Guarantor, and each person, if
any, who controls the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, within the
meaning of Section 15 of the Act, or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the
same extent as the foregoing indemnities from the Company and the Guarantor to
each Underwriter, but only with reference to information relating to such
Underwriter furnished in writing by such Underwriter expressly for use in the
Registration Statement, the Prospectus or any preliminary prospectus.

                 In case any proceeding (including any governmental
investigation) shall be instituted involving any person in respect of which
indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the three preceding paragraphs,
such person (the "indemnified party") shall promptly notify the person against
whom such indemnity may be sought (the "indemnifying party") in writing and the
indemnifying party, upon request of the indemnified party, shall retain counsel
reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified
party, and any others the indemnifying party may designate in such proceeding
and shall pay the reasonable fees and expenses of such counsel related to such
proceeding.  In any such proceeding, any indemnified party shall have the right
to retain its own counsel, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be
at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the indemnifying party and
the indemnified party shall have mutually agreed to the retention of such
counsel of (ii) the named parties to any proceeding (including any impleaded
parties) include both the indemnifying party and the indemnified party and
representation of both parties by the same counsel would be inappropriate due
to actual or potential differing interests between them.  It is understood that
the indemnifying party shall not, in connection with any proceeding or related
proceedings in the same jurisdiction, be liable for the reasonable fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm (in addition to local counsel) for all
such indemnified





                                       12
<PAGE>   13

parties and that all such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are
incurred.  Such firm shall be designated in writing by the Manager in the case
of parties indemnified pursuant to the second preceding paragraph and by the
Company in the case of parties indemnified pursuant to the first preceding
paragraph.  The indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of
any proceeding effected without its written consent but if settled with such
consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying
party agrees to indemnify the indemnified party from and against any loss or
liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

                 If the indemnification provided for in this Article VI is
unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages
or liabilities referred to therein, then each indemnifying party, in lieu of
indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages
or liabilities (i) if the indemnifying party is the Company or the Guarantor,
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Company or the Guarantor on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other from the offering of the Securities, (ii) if the indemnifying party is an
Underwriter, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative fault
of such Underwriter on the one hand and the Company and/or the Guarantor on the
other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities, or (iii) if the allocation
provided by clause (i) or clause (ii) above, as the case may be, is not
permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above or the relative
fault referred to in clauses (ii) above, as the case may be, but also such
relative fault (in cases covered by clause (i)) or such relative benefits (in
cases covered by clause (ii)) as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company or the Guarantor
on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other shall be deemed to be in the
same proportion as the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting
expenses) received by the Company bear to the total underwriting discounts and
commissions received by the Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the
Prospectus.  The relative fault of the Company or the Guarantor on the one hand
and of the Underwriters on the other shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact
relates to information





                                       13
<PAGE>   14

supplied by the Company or the Guarantor or statements made or furnished by the
Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information
and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission.

                 The Company, the Guarantor and the Underwriters agree that it
would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Article VI
were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated
as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does
not take account of the equitable considerations provided for, in the
respective cases, in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) of the immediately preceding
paragraph.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of
the losses, claims, damages and liabilities referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such
indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any such action
or claim.  Notwithstanding the provisions of this Article VI, no Underwriter
shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the
total price at which the Securities underwritten by such Underwriter and
distributed to the public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any
damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.   No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section
11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not
guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters' obligations to
contribute pursuant to this Article VI are several, in proportion to the
respective amounts of Notes purchased by each of such Underwriters, and not
joint.

                 The indemnity and contribution agreements contained in this
Article VI and the representations and warranties of the Company and the
Guarantor in this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect
regardless of (i) any termination of this Agreement, (ii) any investigation
made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling any
Underwriter or by or on behalf of the Company or the Guarantor or their
respective directors or officers or any person controlling either the Company
or the Guarantor and (iii) acceptance of and payment for the Securities.





                                       14
<PAGE>   15

                                      VII.

                 Unless otherwise provided in Schedule I hereto, this Agreement
shall be subject to termination in the discretion of a majority in interest of
the Underwriters at any time prior to the Closing Date, by notice given to the
Company, if (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange
shall have been suspended or materially limited; (ii) a general moratorium on
commercial banking activities in the State of New York or the United States
shall have been declared by Federal authorities; or (iii) there shall have
occurred any material outbreak, or material escalation, of hostilities or other
national or international calamity or crisis, of such magnitude and severity in
its effect on the financial markets of the United States, in the reasonable
judgment of a majority in interest of the Underwriters, as to prevent or
materially impair the marketing, or enforcement of contracts for sale, of the
Securities.

                                     VIII.

                 If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters, or
any of them, because of any failure or refusal on the part of the Company or
the Guarantor to comply with the terms or to fulfill any of the conditions of
this Agreement, or if for any reason the Company or the Guarantor shall be
unable to perform their respective obligations under this Agreement, the
Company will reimburse the Underwriters or such Underwriters as have so
terminated this Agreement with respect to themselves, severally, for all
out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and disbursements of their counsel)
reasonably incurred by such Underwriters in connection with the Securities.

                 This Agreement may be signed in any number of counterparts,
each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the signatures
thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.





                                       15
<PAGE>   16

                 THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


                                           Very truly yours,


                                           GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL
                                           SERVICES, INC.



                                           By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:



                                           GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY



                                           By:
                                               -------------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:



Accepted, as of the date set
forth in Schedule I hereto.


                                   ,
- -----------------------------------
acting severally
on behalf of the Underwriters named
in Schedule II hereto.


By:
    -------------------------------
    Name:
    Title:





                                       16
<PAGE>   17

                 THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


                                           Very truly yours,


                                           GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL
                                           SERVICES, INC.



                                           By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:



                                           GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY



                                           By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:



Accepted, as of the date set
forth in Schedule I hereto.


                                   ,
- -----------------------------------
acting severally
on behalf of the Underwriters named
in Schedule II hereto.


By:
    -------------------------------
    Name:
    Title:





                                       17
<PAGE>   18

                 THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.


                                           Very truly yours,


                                           GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL
                                           SERVICES, INC.



                                           By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:



                                           GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY



                                           By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Name:
                                               Title:



Accepted, as of the date set
forth in Schedule I hereto.


                                   ,
- -----------------------------------
acting severally
on behalf of the Underwriters named
in Schedule II hereto.


By:
    -------------------------------
    Name:
    Title:





                                       18
<PAGE>   19
                                   SCHEDULE I


Underwriting Agreement dated as of ______________________

Registration Statement No._____________________________

Representative(s) and address(es):




Title of Securities:  __% Guaranteed Subordinated Notes due
                                    ________________________

Principal Amount of Notes:  $300,000,000

Title of Note Indenture:  Indenture dated as of ______________ among General
                          Electric Capital Services, Inc., General Electric
                          Company, as Guarantor, and Chase Manhattan Bank,
                          National Association, as Trustee

Note Trustee:  Chase Manhattan Bank, National Association

Transfer Agent and Registrar:  Chase Manhattan Bank,
                               National Association

Certain Terms of the Securities:

         Maturity:____________________

         Interest Rate:______________

         Interest Payment Dates:  ____________ and _____________ of each year,
                                  commencing _______________________

         Redemption Provisions:   The Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity

         Repayment Provisions:    The Notes are not repayable at the option of
                                  the Holder

The Securities are to be represented by one or more Global Notes issued to the
nominee of The Depository Trust Company unless otherwise indicated in this
Schedule I.





<PAGE>   20

Purchase Price:  ____% of the principal amount of the Securities, plus accrued
interest, if any, on the Securities from _____________ ______.

The Securities are to be offered to the public at the Initial Public Offering
Price specified below, and to dealers at prices which represent concessions not
in excess of the Dealer Concession set forth below, and any Underwriter may
allow and such dealers may reallow concessions not in excess of the Reallowance
Concession set forth below.

Initial Public Offering Price:  _____% of the principal amount of the
Securities, plus accrued interest, if any, on the Securities from ___________.

Dealer Concession:  ___% of the principal
                    amount of the Securities.

Reallowance Concession:  ___% of the principal
                         amount of the Securities.

Applicability of Article VII:

         If Article VII does not constitute a part
         of this Agreement, place an "X" in the box
         which follows:
                                      / /

Payment (if other than by wire transfer in immediately
  available funds):

Closing:  ______________ at 10:00 a.m., New York City time, at the
     offices of Davis Polk & Wardwell, 450 Lexington Avenue, New York, New 10017





                                       2

<PAGE>   21

                 The foregoing terms set forth on this Schedule I are hereby
confirmed.


                                           GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL
                                           SERVICES, INC.



                                           By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Title:




                                           GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY


                                           By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Title:



                                                                              ,
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           acting severally on behalf of the
                                           Underwriters named in Schedule II
                                           hereto.


                                           By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Title:





                                       3

<PAGE>   22

     The foregoing terms set forth on this Schedule I are hereby confirmed.


                                           GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL
                                           SERVICES, INC.



                                           By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Title:




                                           GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY


                                           By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Title:



                                                                              ,
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           acting severally on behalf of the
                                           Underwriters named in Schedule II
                                           hereto.


                                           By:
                                               --------------------------------
                                               Title:





                                       4
<PAGE>   23

                                  SCHEDULE II



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                   Principal Amount of
Underwriter                                        Notes to be Purchased
- -----------                                        ---------------------
<S>                                                <C>





Total                                              $
                                                    ==============
</TABLE>






<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 4(a)




                    GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL SERVICES, INC.,

                                     Issuer



                           GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY,

                                   Guarantor



                                      and



                 THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                    Trustee





                                   INDENTURE


                           Dated as of _____ __, 1995


                    GUARANTEED SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES





<PAGE>   2

                                REFERENCE SHEET*

                 Reference is made to the following provisions of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, which establish certain duties and
responsibilities of the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee which may not be
set forth in this Indenture:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 Section            Subject                                     Section            Subject
 -------            -------                                     -------            -------
 <S>                <C>                                         <C>                <C>
 310(b)             Disqualification of the Trustee for         315(b)             Notice of default from the Trustee to
                    conflicting interest                                           Securityholders
 311                Preferential collection of claims of the    315(c)             Duties of the Trustee in case of default
                    Trustee as creditor of the Company and
                    the Guarantor

 312(a)             Periodic filing of information by the       315(d)             Provisions relating to responsibility of
                    Company and the Guarantor with Trustee                         the Trustee

 312(b)             Access of Securityholders to information    315(e)             Assessment of costs against litigating
                                                                                   Securityholders in certain circumstances
 313(a)             Annual report of the Trustee to             316(a)             Directions and waivers by Securityholders
                    Securityholders                                                in certain circumstances

 313(b)             Additional reports of the Trustee to        316(b)             Prohibition of impairment of right of
                    Securityholders                                                Securityholders to payment
 314(a)             Reports by the Company, and the             316(c)             Right of the Company to set record date
                    Guarantor, including annual compliance                         for certain purposes
                    certificate

 314(c)             Evidence of compliance with conditions      317(a)             Special powers of the Trustee
                    precedent

 315(a)             Duties of the Trustee prior to default      318(a)             Provisions of Trust Indenture Act of 1939
                                                                                   to control in case of conflict
</TABLE>





__________________________________

     * This reference sheet is not part of the Indenture.


<PAGE>   3

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS*


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section                                                                   Page
<S>                                                                        <C>
                                  ARTICLE ONE

                                  DEFINITIONS

Section 1.01.    Definitions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 Board of Directors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 Designated Officers . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 Dollars . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 Event of Default  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 Funding Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 Guarantor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 interest  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 Officers' Certificate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 Opinion of Counsel  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 Original Issue Discount Security  . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 Outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 Overdue Rate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 Principal office of the Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Responsible Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Security" or "Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Securityholder", "Holder of Securities  . . . . . . . .   5
                 Securities Issuance Committee . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Subsidiary  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Superior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Trust Indenture Act of 1939 . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6


                                  ARTICLE TWO

                            DESCRIPTION, EXECUTION,
                    REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

Section 2.01.    Forms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
Section 2.02.    Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series  . . . . . . . . .   7
Section 2.03.    Authentication  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9

</TABLE>


__________________________________

     * This table of contents shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to be a
part of the Indenture.


<PAGE>   4

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section
- -------
                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Section 2.04.    Date and Denomination of Securities . . . . . . . . . .    12
Section 2.05.    Execution of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    13
Section 2.06.    Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Securities . .    13
Section 2.07.    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities . . . .    15
Section 2.08.    Temporary Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    16
Section 2.09.    Cancellation of Securities Paid, etc. . . . . . . . . .    17
Section 2.10.    Computation of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    17


                                 ARTICLE THREE

                    REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES; SINKING FUNDS

Section 3.01.    Applicability of Article  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    17
Section 3.02.    Notice of Redemption; Selection of Securities . . . . .    18
Section 3.03.    Payment of Securities Called for Redemption . . . . . .    19
Section 3.04.    Satisfaction of Mandatory Sinking Fund
                 Payments with Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    20
Section 3.05.    Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund . . . . . . .    20


                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                      PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

Section 4.01.    Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest  . . . . . .    22
Section 4.02.    Offices for Notices and Payments, etc.  . . . . . . . .    23
Section 4.03.    Appointments to Fill Vacancies in Trustee's Office  . .    23
Section 4.04.    Provisions as to Paying Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . .    23
Section 4.05.    Statement as to Compliance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    25
</TABLE>





<PAGE>   5

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section
- -------
                                                                          Page
                                                                          ----
<S>                                                                        <C>
                                  ARTICLE FIVE

                              SECURITYHOLDER LISTS
                           AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

Section 5.01.    Securityholder Lists  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   25
Section 5.02.    Delivery of Reports by the Trustee  . . . . . . . . . .   25


                                  ARTICLE SIX

                          REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND
                      SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

Section 6.01.    Events of Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   26
Section 6.02.    Payment of Securities on Default; Suit Therefor . . . .   30
Section 6.03.    Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee  . . . . . .   32
Section 6.04.    Proceedings by Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . .   33
Section 6.05.    Proceedings by Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   34
Section 6.06.    Remedies Cumulative and Continuing  . . . . . . . . . .   34
Section 6.07.    Direction of Proceedings and Waiver
                 of Defaults by Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . .   35


                                 ARTICLE SEVEN

                             CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

Section 7.01.    Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. . . . . . . . . .   35
Section 7.02.    Responsibility for Recitals, etc. . . . . . . . . . . .   37
Section 7.03.    Ownership of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   37
Section 7.04.    Moneys to be Held in Trust  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   37
Section 7.05.    Compensation and Expenses of Trustee  . . . . . . . . .   38
Section 7.06.    Officers' Certificate as Evidence . . . . . . . . . . .   38
Section 7.07.    Eligibility of Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   39
Section 7.08.    Resignation or Removal of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . .   39
Section 7.09.    Acceptance by Successor Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . .   41
Section 7.10.    Succession by Merger, etc . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   42

</TABLE>




<PAGE>   6
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section
- -------
                                                                          Page
                                                                          ----
<S>                                                                        <C>
                                 ARTICLE EIGHT

                         CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

Section 8.01.    Action by Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   42
Section 8.02.    Proof of Execution by
                 Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   43
Section 8.03.    Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners  . . . . . . . . . . . .   43
Section 8.04.    Company-Owned Securities Disregarded  . . . . . . . . .   43
Section 8.05.    Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound  . . . . .   44


                                  ARTICLE NINE

                           SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS

Section 9.01.    Purposes of Meetings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   45
Section 9.02.    Call of Meetings by Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   45
Section 9.03.    Call of Meetings by the Company,
                 the Guarantor or Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . .   45
Section 9.04.    Qualifications for Voting . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   46
Section 9.05.    Regulations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   46
Section 9.06.    Voting  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   47
Section 9.07.    No Delay of Rights by Meeting . . . . . . . . . . . . .   48


                                  ARTICLE TEN

                            SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

Section 10.01.   Supplemental Indentures without
                 Consent of Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   48
Section 10.02.   Supplemental Indentures with
                 Consent of Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   50
Section 10.03.   Compliance with Trust Indenture
                 Act; Effect of Supplemental Indentures  . . . . . . . .   51
Section 10.04.   Notation on Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   51
Section 10.05.   Evidence of Compliance of
                 Supplemental Indenture to be
                 Furnished Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   52

</TABLE>




<PAGE>   7
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Section
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                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN

                   CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

Section 11.01.   Company or Guarantor May Not
                 Consolidate, etc., Except Under
                 Certain Conditions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   52
Section 11.02.   Successor Corporation to be Substituted . . . . . . . .   53
Section 11.03.   Documents to be Given Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . .   53


                                 ARTICLE TWELVE

                                 SUBORDINATION

Section 12.01.   Subordination in Right of Payment
                 to All Superior Indebtedness  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   53
Section 12.02.   Trustee May Rely on Certificate of
                 Liquidating Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   55
Section 12.03.   Company Obligation to Pay Unconditional . . . . . . . .   56
Section 12.04.   Notice to Trustee of Effectuation
                 of Subordination  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   56
Section 12.05.   Superior Indebtedness Held by Trustee . . . . . . . . .   57
Section 12.06.   Status of Payments Under Guarantee  . . . . . . . . . .   58


                                ARTICLE THIRTEEN

                          GUARANTEE OF DEBT SECURITIES

Section 13.01.   Unconditional Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   58
Section 13.02.   Execution of Guarantee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   59
Section 13.03.   Form of Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   60


                                ARTICLE FOURTEEN

                    SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

Section 14.01.   Discharge of Indenture  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   63
Section 14.02.   Deposited Moneys to be Held in
                 Trust by Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   63
Section 14.03.   Paying Agent to Repay Moneys Held . . . . . . . . . . .   64
Section 14.04.   Return of Unclaimed Moneys  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   64

</TABLE>




<PAGE>   8
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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                                ARTICLE FIFTEEN

                    IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
                             OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

Section 15.01.   Indenture and Securities Solely
                 Corporate Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   64


                                ARTICLE SIXTEEN

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

Section 16.01.   Provisions Binding on Company's and
                 Guarantor's Successors  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   65
Section 16.02.   Official Acts by Successor Corporation  . . . . . . . .   65
Section 16.03.   Addresses for Notices, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   65
Section 16.04.   NEW YORK CONTRACT . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   65
Section 16.05.   Legal Holidays  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   66
Section 16.06.   Table of Contents, Headings, etc. . . . . . . . . . . .   66
Section 16.07.   Execution in Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   66
Section 16.08.   Separability  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   66
Section 16.09.   Benefits  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   66

EXHIBIT A        Form of Guaranteed Subordinated Note




</TABLE>

<PAGE>   9


             THIS INDENTURE, dated as of _____ _, 1995 among General Electric
Capital Services, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Delaware (the "Company"), General Electric Company, a
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York
(the "Guarantor") and The Chase Manhattan Bank, National Association, a
corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of New York
(the "Trustee").


                             W I T N E S S E T H :


             WHEREAS, the Company has duly authorized the issuance from time to
time of its unsecured subordinated bonds, debentures, notes and other evidences
of indebtedness guaranteed by the Guarantor to be issued in one or more series
up to such principal amount or amounts and denominated in United States dollars
or foreign currency or units or composites of two or more thereof as may from
time to time be authorized in accordance with the terms of this Indenture and
to provide, among other things, for the authentication, delivery and
administration thereof, the Company has duly authorized the execution and
delivery of this Indenture;

             WHEREAS, the Guarantor desires to make the Guarantee (as
hereinafter defined) as provided herein and has duly authorized the execution
and delivery of this Indenture;

             WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture,
when duly executed and delivered by the parties hereto, a valid agreement of
the Company according to its terms, have been done and performed, and the
execution and delivery by the Company of this Indenture have in all respects
been duly authorized; and

             WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make this Indenture,
when duly executed and delivered by the parties hereto, a valid agreement of
the Guarantor according to its terms, have been done and performed, and the
execution and delivery by the Guarantor of this Indenture have in all respects
been duly authorized;





                                       1
<PAGE>   10

             NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

             For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Securities by the holders thereof, it is mutually covenanted and agreed, for
the equal and proportionate benefit of all holders of the Securities or of
series thereof, as follows:

                                  ARTICLE ONE

                                  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, or which are by reference therein defined in the Securities Act of
1933, as amended (except as herein otherwise expressly provided or unless the
context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in
said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act as in force at the date of
this Indenture as originally executed. 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.

             "Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company
or the Guarantor, as the case may be, or any committee of either such Board or
specified officers of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, to
which the powers of such Board have been lawfully delegated.

             "Company" means General Electric Capital Services, Inc., a
Delaware corporation, until any successor corporation shall have become such
pursuant to the provisions of Article Eleven, and  thereafter "Company" shall
mean such successor, except as otherwise provided in Section 11.03.

             "Designated Officers" means such officers of the Company as are
authorized pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors to issue
Securities, to the extent authorized by such resolution and applicable law.

  "Dollars" and "$" mean the lawful currency of the United States of America.

             "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 6.01.





                                       2
<PAGE>   11

             "Funding Committee" means such committee of the Board of Directors
of the Guarantor as is authorized by the Board of Directors of the Guarantor to
issue securities, including the Guarantee.

             "Guarantee" means any guarantee of the Guarantor endorsed on a
Security authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture and shall
include the guarantee set forth in Section 13.01.

             "Guarantor" means General Electric Company, a New York
corporation, until any successor corporation shall have become such pursuant to
the provisions of Article Eleven, and thereafter "Guarantor" shall mean such
successor, except as otherwise provided in Section 11.03.

             "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed or as it
may be amended or supplemented from time to time as herein provided, and shall
include the form and terms of particular series of Securities established as
contemplated hereunder.

             "interest" when used with respect to a non-interest bearing
Security, means interest payable after the principal thereof has become due and
payable whether at maturity, by declaration of acceleration, by call for
redemption, pursuant to a sinking fund, or otherwise.

             "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by, in the case
of the Company, the President, the Chairman or any Vice Chairman of the Board
or any Vice President and by the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer, the
Controller or the Secretary or any Assistant Secretary of the Company and, in
the case of the Guarantor, the Chairman or any Vice Chairman of the Board or
any Vice President and by the Treasurer, Comptroller, Secretary or any
Associate or Attesting Secretary of the Guarantor and delivered to the Trustee.
Each such certificate shall comply with Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, to the extent applicable.

             "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing signed by legal
counsel, who may be an employee of or of counsel to the Company or the
Guarantor, as the case may be, or may be other counsel satisfactory to the
Trustee.  Each such opinion shall comply with Section 314(c) of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, to the extent applicable.

             "Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security which
provides for an amount less than the principal





                                       3
<PAGE>   12

amount thereof to be due and payable upon a declaration  of acceleration of
the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01.

             "Outstanding", when used with reference to Securities, shall,
except as otherwise required by the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and subject to
the provisions of Section 8.04, mean, as of any particular time, all Securities
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture, except

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

             (b)     Securities, 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 are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof, notice
    of such redemption shall have been mailed as in Article Three provided, or
    provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for mailing such
    notice; and

             (c)     Securities in lieu of or in substitution for which other
    Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered, or which shall have
    been paid, pursuant to the terms of Section 2.07, unless proof satisfactory
    to the Trustee is presented that any such Securities are held by persons in
    whose hands any of such Securities is a valid, binding and legal obligation
    of the Company.

In determining whether the holders of the requisite principal amount of
Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand, authorization,
direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the principal amount of an
original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to be outstanding for
such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof that would be due
and payable as of the date of such determination upon a declaration of
acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01.

             "Overdue Rate" with respect to each series of Securities means the
rate designated as such in the resolution or certificate of the Board of
Directors, the Securities Issuance Committee or the Designated Officers of the
Company or the supplemental indenture, as the case may be, relating to such
series as contemplated by Section 2.02.





                                       4


<PAGE>   13
             "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, which office at the date
hereof is located at 4 MetroTech Plaza, Brooklyn, New York 11245.

             "Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Trustee means
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
president, any executive vice president, any senior vice president, any vice
president, any second vice president, any assistant vice president, the cashier,
any assistant cashier, the secretary, any assistant secretary, the treasurer,
any assistant treasurer, any senior trust officer, any trust officer, any
assistant trust officer, or any other officer or assistant officer of the
Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the
persons who at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any
corporate trust matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity
with the particular subject.

             "Security" or "Securities" means any debt security or securities of
the Company, as the case may be, issued, authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture.

             "Securityholder", "Holder of Securities", or other similar terms,
means any person in whose name at the time a particular Security is registered
on the books of the Company kept for that purpose in accordance with the terms
hereof.

             "Securities Issuance Committee" means such committee of the Board
of Directors as is authorized pursuant to a resolution of the Board of Directors
to issue Securities, to the extent authorized by such resolution and applicable
law.

             "Subsidiary" means any corporation of which the Company directly or
indirectly owns or controls at the time at least a majority of the outstanding
stock having under ordinary circumstances (not dependent upon the happening of a
contingency) voting power to elect a majority of the board of directors of such
corporation.

             "Superior Indebtedness" means all indebtedness for borrowed money
of the Company, whether outstanding on the date of this Indenture or incurred
after the date of this Indenture, which is not by its terms subordinate and
junior to other indebtedness of the Company.

             "Trustee" means the corporation or association named as trustee in
this Indenture and, subject to the provisions of

                                        5


<PAGE>   14



Article Seven hereof, shall also include its successors and assigns as Trustee
hereunder. If pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture there shall be at any
time more than one Trustee hereunder, the term "Trustee" as used with respect to
Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to Securities of
that series.

             "Trust Indenture Act of 1939" means the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended, as it was in force at the date of execution of this Indenture,
except as provided in Section 10.03.

                                   ARTICLE TWO

                             DESCRIPTION, EXECUTION,
                     REGISTRATION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

             Section 2.01. Forms. (a) The Securities of each series shall be in
substantially the form of Exhibit A to this Indenture or in substantially such
other form as shall be established by or pursuant to a resolution of the Board
of Directors of the Company or, to the extent authorized by a resolution of the
Board of Directors, by or pursuant to a resolution of the Securities Issuance
Committee or by or pursuant to a certificate of the Designated Officers of the
Company or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such
appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are
required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have such legends or
endorsements placed thereon as the officers executing the same may approve
(execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of such approval) and as are not
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, or as may be required to
comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant thereto or with
any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Securities of such
series may be listed, or to conform to usage.

             The Guarantee to be endorsed on the Securities of each series shall
be in substantially the form set forth in Section 13.03, with such appropriate
insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required to
conform the provisions thereof with terms of the Securities upon which the
Guarantee will be endorsed, or as are required or permitted by this Indenture,
and may have such legends or endorsements placed thereon as the officers
executing the same may approve (execution thereof to be conclusive evidence of
such approval) and as are not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Indenture, or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or
regulation made pursuant thereto or

                                        6


<PAGE>   15



with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which the Securities of
such series may be listed or to conform to usage. 

The Trustee's Certificate of Authentication on all Securities shall be in
substantially the following form:
        
             "This is one of the Securities of the series designated therein 
    described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                               THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                                 NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                   ____________________________________,
                                                             as Trustee

                                   By _________________________________
                                                    Authorized Officer"

             (b) The resolutions adopted or certificates issued by the Board of
Directors, Securities Issuance Committee or the Designated Officers or the
record of any action taken pursuant to such resolutions or certificates,
establishing the form and terms of the Securities of any series pursuant to
Sections 2.01 and 2.02, respectively, of this Indenture, may provide for
issuance of the Securities in global form. If Securities of a series are so
authorized to be issued in global form, any such global Security may provide
that it shall represent the aggregate amount of Securities from time to time
endorsed thereon and may also provide that the aggregate amount of outstanding
Securities represented thereby may from time to time be reduced. Any endorsement
of a Security in global form to reflect any decrease in the amount or changes in
the rights of holders of Securities represented thereby shall be made in such
manner and by such person or persons as shall be specified therein.

             Section 2.02. Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series. The aggregate
principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated and delivered under
this Indenture is unlimited.

             The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be
established in or pursuant to a resolution or certificate of the Board of
Directors, the Securities Issuance Committee or the Designated Officers of the
Company, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to
the issuance of Securities of any series,

                                        7


<PAGE>   16



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

             (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities
of the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture
(except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer
of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant
to Section 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 3.03 or 10.04);

             (3) the date or dates on which the principal and premium, if any,
of the Securities of the series is payable;

             (4) the rate or rates, or the method of determination thereof, at
which the Securities of the series shall bear interest, if any, the date or
dates from which such interest shall accrue, the interest payment dates on which
such interest shall be payable and, if other than as set forth in Section 2.04,
the record dates for the determination of holders to whom interest is payable;

             (5)  the place or places where the principal of, and premium, if 
    any, and any interest on Securities of the series shall be payable;

             (6) the price or prices at which, the period or periods within
    which and the terms and conditions upon which Securities of the series may
    be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company, pursuant to
    any sinking fund or otherwise;

             (7) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or
    repay Securities of the series pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous
    provisions or at the option of a holder thereof and the price or prices at
    which and the period or periods within which and the terms and conditions
    upon which Securities of the series shall be redeemed, purchased or repaid,
    in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

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

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

                                                                  8


<PAGE>   17



    acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 6.01;

             (10)  any Events of Default with respect to the Securities of the 
    series, if not set forth herein;

             (11)  if other than the rate of interest stated in the title of 
    the Securities of the series, the applicable Overdue Rate;

             (12) in the case of any series of non-interest bearing Securities,
    the "stated intervals" for purposes of Section 312(a) of the Trust Indenture
    Act of 1939;

             (13) the currency or currencies in which payments on the Securities
    are payable, which may include United States or any foreign currency and any
    unit of two or more currencies; and

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

             All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical
except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant
to such resolution or certificate of the Board of Directors, the Securities
Issuance Committee or the Designated Officers of the Company or in any such
indenture supplemental hereto.

             Section 2.03. Authentication. At any time and from time to time
after the execution and delivery of this Indenture, the Company may deliver
Securities of any series executed by the Company and having endorsed thereon the
Guarantee executed by the Guarantor to the Trustee for authentication. Except as
otherwise provided in this Article Two, the Trustee shall thereupon
authenticate, and deliver said Securities to or upon the written order of the
Company, signed by its President, its Chairman or any Vice Chairman of the Board
or one of its Vice Presidents and by its Treasurer or its Controller. In
authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities
under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be
entitled to receive and (subject to the requirements of Section 315 of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939) shall be fully protected in relying upon:

             (1) a copy of any resolution or resolutions and certificate or
certificates of the Board of Directors, the Securities Issuance Committee or the
Designated Officers of the Company and the Board of Directors or

                                        9


<PAGE>   18



    Funding Committee of the Guarantor relating thereto and, if applicable, an
    appropriate record of any action taken pursuant to such resolution, in each
    case certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company or
    by the Secretary or Associate Secretary or an Attesting Secretary of the
    Guarantor, as the case may be;

             (2)  an executed supplemental indenture, if any, relating thereto;

             (3) Officers' Certificates of the Company and the Guarantor
    prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 314(c) of the Trust
    Indenture Act of 1939 which shall also state to the best knowledge of the
    signers of such Certificate that no Event of Default with respect to any
    series of Securities shall have occurred and be continuing with respect to
    the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be;

             (4) an Opinion of Counsel or Opinions of Counsel for the Company
    prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 314(c) of the Trust
    Indenture Act of 1939 which shall also state:

                     (a) that the form of such Securities has been established
             by or pursuant to a resolution or certificate of the Board of
             Directors, the Securities Issuance Committee or the Designated
             Officers of the Company or by a supplemental indenture as permitted
             by Section 2.01 in conformity with the provisions of this
             Indenture;

                     (b) that the terms of such Securities have been established
             by or pursuant to a resolution or certificate of the Board of
             Directors, the Securities Issuance Committee or the Designated
             Officers of the Company or by a supplemental indenture as permitted
             by Section 2.02 in conformity with the provisions of this
             Indenture;

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

                                       10


<PAGE>   19




                     (d) that the Company has the corporate power to issue such
             Securities, and has duly taken all necessary corporate action with
             respect to such issuance;

                     (e) that the issuance of such Securities will not
             contravene the Certificate of Incorporation or By-laws of the
             Company or result in any violation of any of the terms or
             provisions of any law or regulation or of any indenture, mortgage
             or other agreement known to such Counsel by which the Company or
             any of its Subsidiaries is bound; and

                     (f) that all laws and requirements in respect of the
             execution and delivery by the Company of such Securities and the
             related supplemental indenture, if any, have been complied with by
             the Company and that authentication and delivery of such Securities
             and the execution and delivery of the related supplemental
             indenture, if any, by the Trustee will not violate the terms of
             this Indenture; and

             (5) an Opinion of Counsel or Opinions of Counsel for the Guarantor
    prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 314(c) of the Trust
    Indenture Act of 1939 which shall also state:

                     (a) that the Guarantee endorsed on such Securities, when
             such Securities have been authenticated and delivered by the
             Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the
             Guarantor, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject to
             bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws of general
             applicability relating to or affecting the enforcement of
             creditors' rights and to general equity principles; and

                     (b) that all laws and requirements in respect of the
             execution by the Guarantor of the Guarantee on such Securities, and
             the related supplemental indenture, if any, have been complied with
             by the Guarantor.

             The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate and
deliver any Securities under this Section if the Trustee, being advised by
counsel, determines that such action 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

                                       11


<PAGE>   20



and/or vice presidents shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee
to personal liability to existing Securityholders.

             Section 2.04. Date and Denomination of Securities. The Securities
of each series shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in such
denominations as shall be specified as contemplated by Section 2.02. In the
absence of any such specification with respect to the Securities of any series,
the Securities of such series shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and
any multiple of $1,000. Securities of each series shall be numbered, lettered or
otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plan as the
officers of the Company executing the same may determine with the approval of
the Trustee.

             Every Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

             The person in whose name any Security of a particular series is
registered at the close of business on any record date (as hereinafter defined)
with respect to any interest payment date for such series shall be entitled to
receive the interest payable on such interest payment date notwithstanding the
cancellation of such Security upon any registration of transfer or exchange
subsequent to the record date and prior to such interest payment date; provided,
however, that if and to the extent that the Company shall default in the payment
of the interest due on such interest payment date, such defaulted interest shall
be paid to the persons in whose names Outstanding Securities of such series are
registered on a subsequent record date established by notice given by mail by or
on behalf of the Company to the holders of such Securities not less than 15 days
preceding such subsequent record date, such record date to be not less than five
days preceding the date of payment of such defaulted interest. Except as
otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 for Securities of a
particulars series, the term "record date" as used in this Section with respect
to any regular interest payment date, shall mean the last day of the calendar
month preceding such interest payment date if such interest payment date is the
fifteenth day of the calendar month, and shall mean the fifteenth day of the
calendar month preceding such interest payment date if such interest payment
date is the first day of a calendar month, whether or not such day shall be a
day on which banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or
required by law or executive order to close or remain closed.

             Interest on the Securities may at the option of the Company be paid
by check mailed to the persons entitled

                                       12


<PAGE>   21



thereto at their respective addresses as such appear on the registry books of
the Company or by wire transfer payable to an account specified by such persons.

             Section 2.05. Execution of Securities. The Securities shall be
signed in the name and on behalf of the Company by the manual or facsimile
signature of its President or its Chairman of the Board and its Treasurer or its
Secretary, under its corporate seal (which may be printed, engraved or otherwise
reproduced thereon, by facsimile or otherwise). Only such Securities as shall
bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially in the form herein
recited, executed by the Trustee, shall be entitled to the benefits of this
Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose. Such certificate by the
Trustee upon any Security executed by the Company shall be conclusive evidence
that the Security so authenticated has been duly authenticated and delivered
hereunder and that the holder is entitled to the benefits of this Indenture.

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

             Reference is made to Article Thirteen concerning the execution and
delivery of the Guarantee.

             Section 2.06. Exchange and Registration of Transfer of Securities.
Securities of any series may be exchanged for a like aggregate principal amount
of Securities of the same series of other authorized denominations. Securities
to be exchanged shall be surrendered, at the option of the holders thereof,
either at the office or agency designated and maintained by the Company for such
purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in accordance with
the provisions of Section 4.02 or at any of such other offices or agencies as
may be designated and maintained by the Company for such purpose in accordance
with the provisions of Section 4.02, and the Company shall execute and register
and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor the Security
or securities which the Securityholder making the exchange shall be entitled to
receive, having endorsed thereon

                                       13


<PAGE>   22



a Guarantee duly executed by the Guarantor. Each person designated by the
Company pursuant to the provisions of Section 4.02 as a person authorized to
register and register transfer of the securities is sometimes herein referred to
as a "Security registrar".

             The Company shall keep, at each such office or agency, a register
for each series of Securities issued hereunder (the registers of all Security
registrars being herein sometimes collectively referred to as the "Security
register" or the "registry books of the Company") in which, subject to such
reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall register
securities and shall register the transfer of Securities as in this Article Two
provided. The Security register shall be in written form or in any other form
capable of being converted into written form within a reasonable time. At all
reasonable times the Security register shall be open for inspection by the
Trustee and any security registrar other than the Trustee. Upon due presentment
for registration of transfer of any Security of any series at any designated
office or agency, the Company shall execute and register and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or transferees a new
Security or Securities of the same series for an equal aggregate principal
amount, having endorsed thereon a Guarantee duly executed by the Guarantor.
Registration or registration of transfer of any Security by any Security
registrar in the registry books of the Company maintained by such Security
registrar, and delivery of such Security, duly authenticated, shall be deemed to
complete the registration or registration of transfer of such Security.

             The Company will at all times designate one person (who may be the
Company and who need not be a security registrar) to act as repository of a
master list of names and addresses of the holders of the Securities. The Company
shall act as such repository unless and until some other person is, by written
notice from the Company to the Trustee and each Security registrar, designated
by the Company to act as such. The Company shall cause each Security registrar
to furnish to such repository, on a current basis, such information as to all
registrations of transfer and exchanges effected by such registrar, as may be
necessary to enable such repository to maintain such master list on as current a
basis as is practicable.

             No person shall at any time be designated as or act as a Security
registrar unless such person is at such time empowered under applicable law to
act as such and duly registered to act as such under and to the extent required
by applicable law and regulations.

                                       14


<PAGE>   23




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

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

             The Company shall not be required to exchange or register a
transfer of (a) any Securities of any series for the period of 15 days next
preceding the selection of Securities of that series to be redeemed and
thereafter until the day of the mailing of a notice of redemption of Securities
of that series selected for redemption, or (b) any Securities selected, called
or being called for redemption in whole or in part except, in the case of any
Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not so to be redeemed.

             Section 2.07. Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen Securities. In
case any temporary or definitive Security shall become mutilated or be
destroyed, lost or stolen, the Company in the case of a mutilated Security
shall, and in the case of a lost, stolen or destroyed Security may in its
discretion, execute and, upon the written request or authorization of any
officer of the Company, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, a new
Security of the same series, bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding
and having endorsed thereon a Guarantee duly executed by the Guarantor, in
exchange and substitution for the mutilated Security, or in lieu of and in
substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen. In every case the
applicant for a substituted Security shall furnish to the Company, the Guarantor
and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save
each of them harmless, and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the
applicant shall also furnish to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee
evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of such
Security and of the ownership thereof.

             Upon the issuance of any substituted Security, the Company may
require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax or other governmental
charge that may be imposed in relation thereto and any other expenses connected
therewith. In case any Security which has matured or is about to mature shall
become mutilated or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the

                                       15


<PAGE>   24



Company may, instead of issuing a substituted Security, pay or authorize the
payment of the same (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated
Security) if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to the Company, the
Guarantor and the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be required by them
to save each of them harmless and, in case of destruction, loss or theft,
evidence satisfactory to the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee of the
destruction, loss or theft of such Security and the ownership thereof.

             Every substituted Security issued pursuant to the provisions of
this Section 2.07 by virtue of the fact that any Security is destroyed, lost or
stolen shall constitute an additional contractual obligation of the Company and
the Guarantor as herein provided, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen
Security shall be found at any time, and shall be entitled to all the benefits
of this Indenture equally and proportionately with any and all other Securities
of the same series duly issued hereunder. All Securities shall be held and owned
upon the express condition that the foregoing provisions are exclusive with
respect to the replacement or payment of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen
Securities and shall preclude (to the extent lawful) any and all other rights or
remedies with respect to the replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or
other securities without their surrender.

             Section 2.08. Temporary Securities. Pending the preparation of
definitive Securities of any series the Company may execute and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver temporary securities (printed, lithographed or
typewritten), each having endorsed thereon a temporary Guarantee duly executed
by the Guarantor. Temporary Securities shall be issuable in any authorized
denomination and substantially in the form of the definitive Securities in lieu
of which they are issued, but with such omissions, insertions and variations as
may be appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the
Company. A temporary Guarantee shall be substantially in the form of the
definitive Guarantee in lieu of which it is issued, but with such omissions,
insertions and variations as may be appropriate for a temporary Guarantee, all
as may be determined by the Guarantor. Every such temporary Security shall be
authenticated by the Trustee upon the same conditions and in substantially the
same manner, and with the same effect, as the definitive Securities in lieu of
which they are issued. Without unreasonable delay the Company will execute and
deliver to the Trustee definitive Securities of such series and thereupon any or
all temporary Securities of such series may be surrendered in exchange therefor,
at the option of the holders thereof, either at the office or agency to be
designated and maintained by the

                                       16


<PAGE>   25



Company for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, in
accordance with the provisions of Section 4.02 or at any of such other offices
or agencies as may be designated and maintained by the company for such purpose
in accordance with the provisions of Section 4.02, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities an equal
aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same series, having
endorsed thereon a Guarantee duly executed by the Guarantor. Such exchange shall
be made by the Company at its own expense and without any charge therefor. Until
so exchanged, the temporary securities of any series and the temporary Guarantee
endorsed thereon shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits under
this Indenture as definitive Securities of the same series and the Guarantee
endorsed thereon authenticated and delivered hereunder.

             Section 2.09. Cancellation of Securities Paid, etc. All Securities
surrendered for the purpose of payment, redemption, repayment, exchange or
registration of transfer or for credit against any sinking fund shall, if
surrendered to the Company, any Security registrar, any paying agent or any
other agent of the Company or of the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee and
promptly canceled by it, or, if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be promptly
canceled by it, and no Securities shall be issued in lieu thereof except as
expressly permitted by any of the provisions of this Indenture. The Trustee may
dispose of canceled Securities in accordance with its standard procedures and
deliver a certificate of such disposition to the Company and the Guarantor or,
at the written request of the Company, shall deliver canceled Securities to the
Company with a copy thereof to the Guarantor. If the Company or the Guarantor
shall acquire any of the Securities, however, such acquisition shall not operate
as a redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such
securities unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation.

             Section 2.10. Computation of Interest. Except as otherwise
specified as contemplated by Section 2.02 for Securities of any series, interest
on the Securities of each series shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day
year of twelve 30-day months.

                                  ARTICLE THREE

                     REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES; SINKING FUNDS

             Section 3.01. Applicability of Article. The provisions of this
Article shall be applicable, as the case

                                       17


<PAGE>   26



may be, (i) to the Securities of any series which are redeemable before their
maturity and (ii) to any sinking fund for the retirement of Securities of any
series, in either case except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section
2.02 for Securities of such series.

             The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the
terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking
fund payment", and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by
the terms of Securities of any series is herein referred to as an "optional
sinking fund payment".

             Section 3.02. Notice of Redemption; Selection of Securities. In
case the Company shall desire to exercise any right to redeem all, or, as the
case may be, any part of, the Securities of any series in accordance with their
terms, it shall fix a date for redemption and shall mail or cause to be mailed 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 of such series so to be
redeemed as a whole or in part at their last addresses as the same appear on the
registry books of the Company and to the Trustee, except as the resolution or
certificate adopted or issued by the Board of Directors, the Securities Issuance
Committee or the Designated Officers or the provisions of an indenture
supplemental hereto, to establish the terms of any series of Securities may
otherwise provide. 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 of a series designated for redemption as a whole or in part shall not
affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other Security
of such series.

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

                                       18


<PAGE>   27



on and after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Security, a
new Security or Securities of that series in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

             Prior to the redemption date specified in the notice of redemption
given as provided in this Section 3.02, the Company will deposit with the
Trustee or with one or more paying agents (or if the Company is acting as its
own paying agent will segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 4.05)
an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the
Securities or portions thereof so called for redemption, together with accrued
interest to the date fixed for redemption. If less than all the Securities of a
series are to be redeemed the Company will give the Trustee notice not less than
60 days prior to the redemption date as to the aggregate principal amount of
Securities of such series to be redeemed and the Trustee shall select or cause
to be selected by lot, the Securities of that series or portions thereof to be
redeemed. Securities of a series may be redeemed in part only in multiples of
the smallest authorized denomination of that series.

             Section 3.03. Payment of Securities Called for Redemption. If
notice of redemption has been given as provided in Section 3.02 or Section 3.05,
the Securities or portions of Securities of the series 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 any interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on and
after said date (unless the Company (and the Guarantor) shall default in the
payment of such Securities or portions of such Securities, together with any
interest accrued to said date) any interest on the Securities of such series or
portions of Securities of such series so called for redemption shall cease to
accrue. On presentation and surrender of such Securities at a place of payment
in said notice specified, the said Securities or the specified portions thereof
shall be paid and redeemed by the Company at the applicable redemption price,
together with any interest accrued thereon to the date fixed for redemption;
provided, however, that any installment of interest becoming due on or prior to
the date fixed for redemption shall be payable to holders of such Securities
registered as such on the relevant record date according to their terms.

             Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the
Company shall execute a new Security or Securities and the Guarantor shall
execute the Guarantee endorsed thereon and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver to the holder

                                       19


<PAGE>   28



thereof, at the expense of the Company, such new Security or Securities of the
same series, of authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount equal
to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

             Section 3.04. Satisfaction of Mandatory Sinking Fund Payments with
Securities. In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking fund
payment with respect to any Securities of a series in cash, the Company may at
its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Securities of that series theretofore
purchased or otherwise acquired by the Company, or (b) receive credit for the
principal amount of Securities of that series which have been redeemed either at
the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through
the application of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the
terms of such Securities; provided that such Securities have not been previously
so credited. Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by
the Trustee at the redemption price specified in such Securities for redemption
through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such mandatory sinking
fund payment shall be reduced accordingly.

             Section 3.05. Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund. Not less
than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any series of
securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee a certificate signed by the
Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the Company specifying the amount of the
next ensuing sinking fund payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that
series, the portion thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash
(which cash may be deposited with the Trustee or with one or more paying agents,
or if the Company is acting as its own paying agent segregated and held in trust
as provided in Section 4.05) and the portion thereof, if any, which is to be
satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities of that series pursuant to
Section 3.04 (which Securities, if not theretofore delivered, will accompany
such certificate, such certificate to set forth the basis for such credit and to
state that such Securities have not been previously so credited) and whether the
Company intends to exercise its right to make a permitted optional sinking fund
payment with respect to such series. Such certificate shall also state that no
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing with respect to such series.
Such certificate shall be irrevocable and upon its delivery the Company shall be
obligated to make the cash payment or payments therein referred to, if any, on
or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date. In the case of the
failure of the Company to deliver such certificate (or to deliver the securities
specified in this paragraph), the sinking fund payment due on the next

                                       20


<PAGE>   29



succeeding sinking fund payment date for that series shall be paid entirely in
cash and shall be sufficient to redeem the principal amount of such Securities
subject to a mandatory sinking fund payment without the option to deliver or
credit Securities as provided in Section 3.04 and without the right to make any
optional sinking fund payment, if any, with respect to such series.

             Any sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional) made
in cash plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in
cash which shall equal or exceed $100,000 (or a lesser sum if the Company shall
so request or determine) with respect to the Securities of any particular series
shall be applied by the Trustee (or by the Company if the Company is acting as
its own paying agent) on the sinking fund payment date on which such payment is
made (or, if such payment is made before a sinking fund payment date, on the
next sinking fund payment date following the date of such payment) to the
redemption of such Securities at the redemption price specified in such
Securities for operation of the sinking fund together with accrued interest, if
any, to the date fixed for redemption. Any sinking fund moneys not so applied or
allocated by the Trustee (or by the Company if the Company is acting as its own
paying agent) to the redemption of Securities shall be added to the next cash
sinking fund payment received by the Trustee (or if the Company is acting as its
own paying agent, segregated and held in trust as provided in Section 4.05) for
such series and, together with such payment (or such amount so segregated) ,
shall be applied in accordance with the provisions of this Section 3.05. Any and
all sinking fund moneys with respect to the Securities of any particular series
held by the Trustee (or if the Company is acting as its own paying agent,
segregated and held in trust as provided in Section 4.05) on the last sinking
fund payment date with respect to Securities of such series and not held for the
payment or redemption of particular Securities of such series shall be applied
by the Trustee (or by the Company if the Company is acting as its own paying
agent), together with other moneys, if necessary, to be deposited (or
segregated) sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the principal of the
Securities of that series at maturity.

             The Trustee shall select or cause to be selected the Securities to
be redeemed upon such sinking fund payment date in the manner specified in the
last paragraph of Section 3.02 and the Company shall cause notice of the
redemption thereof to be given in the manner provided in Section 3.02 except
that the notice of redemption shall also state that the Securities are being
redeemed by operation of the sinking fund. Such notice having been duly given,
the redemption of such

                                       21


<PAGE>   30



Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Section
3.03.

             On or before each sinking fund payment date, the Company shall pay
to the Trustee in cash (or if the Company is acting as its own paying agent will
segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 4.05) a sum equal to any
interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption of Securities or portions
thereof to be redeemed on such sinking fund payment date pursuant to this
Section.

             Neither the Trustee nor the Company shall redeem any Securities of
a series with sinking fund moneys or mail any notice of redemption of such
Securities by operation of the sinking fund for such series during the
continuance of a default in payment of interest, if any, on such Securities or
of any Event of Default (other than an Event of Default occurring as a
consequence of this paragraph) with respect to such Securities, except that if
the notice of redemption of any such Securities shall theretofore have been
mailed in accordance with the provisions hereof, the Trustee (or the Company if
the Company is acting as its own paying agent) shall redeem such Securities if
cash sufficient for that purpose shall be deposited with the Trustee (or
segregated by the Company) for that purpose in accordance with the terms of this
Article. Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking fund for such series at
the time when any such default or Event of Default shall occur and any moneys
thereafter paid into such sinking fund shall, during the continuance of such
default or Event of Default, be held as security for the payment of such
Securities; provided, however, that in case such default or Event of Default
shall have been cured or waived as provided herein, such moneys shall thereafter
be applied on the next sinking fund payment date for such Securities on which
such moneys may be applied pursuant to the provisions of this Section.

                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                       PARTICULAR COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY

             Section 4.01. Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest. The
Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that
it will duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, premium,
if any, and interest, if any, on each of the Securities of that series at the
places, at the respective times and in the manner provided in such Securities.

                                       22


<PAGE>   31



             Section 4.02. Offices for Notices and Payments, etc. As long as any
of the Securities of a series remain outstanding, the Company will designate and
maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency
where the Securities of that series may be presented for payment, an office or
agency where the Securities of that series 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 or the Guarantor in respect of
the Securities of that series, the Guarantee endorsed thereon or this Indenture
may be served. In addition to such office or offices or agency or agencies, the
Company may from time to time designate and maintain one or more additional
offices or agencies within or outside the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New
York, where the Securities of that series may be presented for registration of
transfer or for exchange, and the Company may from time to time rescind such
designation, as it may deem desirable or expedient. The Company will give to the
Trustee written notice of the location of each such office or agency and of any
change of location thereof. 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.

             The Company hereby initially designates the office of the Company
located at 570 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10022 as the office or
agency of the Company in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where
the Securities of each series may be presented for payment, for registration of
transfer and for exchange as in this Indenture provided and where notices and
demands to or upon the Company or the Guarantor in respect of the Securities of
each series, the Guarantee or this Indenture may be served. The Company is also
designated as repository pursuant to Section 2.06 for the master list of the
names and addresses of the holders of the Securities of each series.

             Section 4.03. 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 7.08, a successor
trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to each
series of Securities hereunder.

             Section 4.04. Provisions as to Paying Agent. (a) If the Company
shall appoint a paying agent other than the Trustee with respect to the
Securities of any series, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver
to the Trustee

                                       23


<PAGE>   32



an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the 
provisions of this Section 4.04,

             (1) that it will hold all sums held by it as such agent for the
    payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the
    Securities of such series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the
    Company or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series or by the
    Guarantor or by any other obligor on the Guarantee) in trust for the benefit
    of the holders of the Securities of such series;

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

             (3) that at any time during the continuance of any failure by the
    Company (or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) or the
    Guarantor (or by any other obligor on the Guarantee) specified in the
    preceding paragraph (2), such paying agent will, upon the written request of
    the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in trust by it.

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

             (c) Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding
the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, may, at any time, for the
purpose of obtaining the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, or for
any other reason, pay or cause to be paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust
by it, or any paying agent thereunder, as required by this Section, such sums to
be held by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.

                                       24


<PAGE>   33



             (d) Anything in this Section 4.04 to the contrary notwithstanding,
the agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section 4.04 is subject
to Sections 14.03 and 14.04.

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

             Section 4.05. Statement as to Compliance. The Company and the
Guarantor will deliver to the Trustee on or before June 1 in each year
(beginning with the first June 1 which is not less than 60 days following the
first date of issuance of any series of securities under this Indenture) a
certificate complying with Section 314(a)(4) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

                                  ARTICLE FIVE

                              SECURITYHOLDER LISTS
                           AND REPORTS BY THE TRUSTEE

             Section 5.01. Securityholder Lists. Each of the Company and the
Guarantor covenants and agrees that it will furnish or cause to be furnished to
the Trustee with respect to the Securities of each series, (i) semiannually, not
more than 15 days after each June 1 and December 1 and (ii) at such other times
as the Trustee may request in writing, within 30 days after receipt by the
Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, of any such request, a list in
such form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of
the holders of Securities of such series as of a date not more than 15 days
prior to the time such information is furnished; provided, however, that if and
so long as the Trustee shall be designated by the Company to act as repository
in accordance with the provisions of Section 2.06, such list shall not be
required to be furnished.

             Section 5.02. Delivery of Reports by the Trustee. The reports to be
transmitted by the Trustee pursuant to the requirements of Section 313 of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 shall be required to be transmitted on or before the
first May

                                       25


<PAGE>   34



15 which is not less than sixty days following the first date of issuance of any
series of Securities under this Indenture, and on or before May 15 in every year
thereafter, so long as any Securities are outstanding hereunder, each such
report to be dated as of the preceding March 15.

                                   ARTICLE SIX

                           REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND
                       SECURITYHOLDERS ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

             Section 6.01. Events of Default. "Event of Default" whenever used
herein with respect to Securities of any series means any one of the following
events and such other events as may be established with respect to the
Securities of such series as contemplated by Section 2.02 hereof, continued for
the period of time, if any, and after the giving of notice, if any, designated
in this Indenture or as may be established with respect to such Securities as
contemplated by Section 2.02 hereof, as the case may be, unless it is either
inapplicable or is specifically deleted or modified in the applicable resolution
or certificate of the Board of Directors, the Securities Issuance Committee or
the Designated Officers of the Company or in the supplemental indenture under
which such series of Securities is issued, as the case may be, as contemplated
by Section 2.02:

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

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

             (c) default in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund
    payment or analogous obligation as and when the same shall become due and
    payable by the terms of the Securities of such series; or

             (d) failure on the part of the Company or the Guarantor, as the
    case may be, duly to observe or perform any other of the covenants or
    agreements on the part of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be,
    in respect of the securities of such series contained in this Indenture
    (other than a covenant or agreement in respect of the Securities of such
    series a default in

                                       26


<PAGE>   35



    whose observance or performance is elsewhere in this Section specifically
    dealt with) continued for a period of 60 days after the date on which
    written notice of such failure, requiring the Company or the Guarantor, as
    the case may be, to remedy the same, shall have been given to the Company
    and the Guarantor by the Trustee by registered mail, or to the Company, the
    Guarantor and the Trustee by the holders of at least twenty-five percent in
    aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time
    Outstanding; or

             (e) an event of default with respect to any other series of
    Securities issued or hereafter issued pursuant to this Indenture or as
    defined in any indenture or instrument evidencing or under which the Company
    has at the date of this Indenture or shall hereafter have outstanding any
    indebtedness for borrowed money shall happen and be continuing and such
    other series of Securities or such indebtedness, as the case may be, shall
    have been accelerated so that the same shall be or become due and payable
    prior to the date on which the same would otherwise have become due and
    payable, and such acceleration shall not be rescinded or annulled within ten
    days after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Company and
    the Guarantor by the Trustee or to the Company, the Guarantor and the
    Trustee by the holders of at least twenty-five percent in aggregate
    principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time outstanding;
    provided, however, that if such event of default with respect to such other
    series of Securities or under such indenture or instrument, as the case may
    be, shall be remedied or cured by the Company, or waived by the holders of
    such other series of Securities or of such indebtedness, as the case may be,
    then the Event of Default hereunder by reason thereof shall be deemed
    likewise to have been thereupon remedied, cured or waived without further
    action upon the part of either the Trustee or any of the Securityholders of
    such series; and provided further that, subject to the requirements of
    Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee shall not be
    charged with knowledge of any such event of default or any remedy, cure or
    waiver thereof or any such acceleration unless written notice thereof shall
    have been given to the Trustee by the Company or the Guarantor, by a holder
    or an agent of a holder of any Securities of such other series or of any
    such indebtedness, as the case may be, or by the trustee then acting under
    this Indenture with respect to such other series of Securities or under any
    indenture or other instrument, as the case may be, under which such event of

                                       27


<PAGE>   36



    default shall have occurred, or by the holders of at least twenty-five
    percent in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series at
    the time Outstanding; or

             (f) a decree or order by a court having jurisdiction in the
    premises shall have been entered adjudging the Company or the Guarantor, as
    the case may be, a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a
    petition seeking reorganization of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case
    may be, under the Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other similar applicable
    Federal or State law, and such decree or order shall have continued
    undischarged and unstayed for a period of 60 days; or a decree or order of a
    court having jurisdiction in the premises for the appointment of a receiver
    or liquidator or trustee or assignee (or other similar official) in
    bankruptcy or insolvency of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may
    be, or of all or substantially all of the property of the Company or the
    Guarantor, as the case may be, or for the winding up or liquidation of the
    affairs of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall have been
    entered, and such decree or order shall have continued undischarged and
    unstayed for a period of 60 days; or

             (g) the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall
    institute proceedings to be adjudicated a voluntary bankrupt, or shall
    consent to the filing of a bankruptcy proceeding against it, or shall file a
    petition or answer or consent seeking reorganization under the Federal
    Bankruptcy Code or any other similar applicable Federal or State law, or
    shall consent to the filing of any such petition, or shall consent to the
    appointment of a receiver or liquidator or trustee or assignee (or other
    similar official) in bankruptcy or insolvency of it or of its property, or
    shall make an assignment for the benefit of creditors, or shall admit in
    writing its inability to pay its debts generally as they become due; or

             (h) any other Event of Default provided in the applicable
    resolution or certificate of the Board of Directors, the Securities Issuance
    Committee or the Designated Officers of the Company or in the supplemental
    indenture under which such series of Securities is issued, as the case may
    be, as contemplated by Section 2.02.

             If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of any series at 
the time Outstanding occurs and is continuing,

                                       28


<PAGE>   37



then and in each and every such case, unless the principal of all of the
Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either the
Trustee or the holders of not less than twenty-five percent in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding hereunder, by
notice in writing to the Company and the Guarantor (and to the Trustee if given
by Securityholders of such series), may declare the principal amount (or, if the
Securities of such series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion
of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all
the Securities of such series to be due and payable immediately, and upon any
such declaration the same shall become and shall be immediately due and payable,
anything in this Indenture or in the Securities of such series contained to the
contrary notwithstanding. This provision, however, is subject to the condition
that if, at any time after the principal amount (or, if the Securities of such
series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal
amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of the Securities of any
series shall have been so declared due and payable, and before any judgment or
decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have been obtained or entered as
hereinafter provided, the Company or the Guarantor shall pay or shall deposit
with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest,
if any, upon all of the Securities of such series and the principal of, and
premium, if any, on any and all Securities of such series which shall have
become due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest on overdue installments
of interest (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
applicable law) and on such principal at the Overdue Rate applicable to such
series, to the date of such payment or deposit) and all amounts payable to the
Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.05, and any and all defaults
under this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities, other than the
nonpayment of principal of and accrued interest on Securities of such series
which shall have become due solely by acceleration, shall have been remedied or
cured or waived or provision shall have been made therefor to the satisfaction
of the Trustee, then and in every such case the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series then Outstanding, by
written notice to the Company, the Guarantor and to the Trustee, may waive all
defaults with respect to such series and 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

                                       29


<PAGE>   38



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 Guarantor and the Trustee shall be
restored respectively to their several positions and rights hereunder, and all
rights, remedies and powers of the Company, the Guarantor and the Trustee shall
continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.

             Section 6.02. Payment of Securities on Default; Suit Therefor. The
Company covenants that (a) in case default shall be made in the payment of any
instalment of interest upon any Security of any series as and when the same
shall become due and payable, and such default shall have continued for a period
of 30 days, (b) in case default shall be made in payment of the principal of, or
premium, if any, on any Security of any series as and when the same shall become
due and payable, whether at maturity of the Securities of that series or upon
redemption or by declaration, repayment or otherwise or (c) in case of default
in the making or satisfaction of any sinking fund payment or analogous
obligation when the same becomes due by the terms of the Securities of any
series -- then, upon demand of the Trustee, the Company will pay to the Trustee,
for the benefit of the holder of any such Security (or holders of any series of
Securities in the case of clause (c) above) the whole amount that then shall
have become due and payable on any such Security (or securities of any such
series in the case of clause (c) above) for principal, premium, if any, and
interest, if any, with interest upon the overdue principal and premium, if any,
and (to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable
law) upon the overdue installments of interest, if any, at the Overdue Rate
applicable to any such Security (or Securities of any such series in the case of
clause (c) above); and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be
sufficient to cover costs and expenses of collection, and any further amounts
payable to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.05.

             In case the Company shall fail forthwith to pay such amounts upon
such demand, the Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust,
shall be entitled and empowered to institute any actions or proceedings at law
or in equity for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may prosecute
any such action or proceedings to judgment or final decree, and may enforce any
such judgment or final decree against the Company, or any other obligor upon
such Securities, or the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Guarantee, and
collect in the manner provided by law out of the property of the Company or any
other obligor on such

                                       30


<PAGE>   39



Securities, or the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Guarantee, 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 of
any series, or the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Guarantee, under the
Federal Bankruptcy Code or any other similar applicable Federal or State law, or
in case a receiver or trustee (or other similar official) shall have been
appointed for the property of the Company, or such other obligor upon such
Securities, or the Guarantor or such other obligor upon the Guarantee, or in the
case of any other similar judicial proceedings relative to the Company, or other
obligor on the Securities of any series, or the Guarantor or any other obligor
upon the Guarantee, or to the creditors or property of the Company or such other
obligor upon such Securities, or the Guarantor or such other obligor upon the
Guarantee, the Trustee, irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities
of any series shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by
declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made
any demand pursuant to the provisions of this Section 6.02, 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 (or, if the Securities
of any series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the
principal amount as may be due and payable with respect to such series pursuant
to a declaration in accordance with Section 6.01), premium, if any, and
interest, if any, owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities of any series
and, in case of any judicial proceedings, to file such proofs of claim and other
papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims
of the Trustee and of the Securityholders of any series allowed in such judicial
proceedings relative to the Company, or any other obligor on the Securities of
any series, or the Guarantor or any other obligor upon the Guarantee, its or
their creditors, or its or their property, and to collect and receive any moneys
or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute
the same after the deduction of costs and expenses of collection, and any
further amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Section
7.05 and incurred by it up to the date of such distribution; and any receiver,
assignee or trustee (or other similar official) 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 costs and
expenses of collection and any further

                                       31


<PAGE>   40



amounts payable to the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.05 and
incurred by it up to the date of such distribution.

             Nothing herein contained shall be deemed 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 any
of the Securities of any series 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 the Securities of any series, may be enforced by the Trustee without
the possession of any of the Securities of such series or the production thereof
in 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 respect of which such action was
taken. In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any proceedings in
which a declaratory judgment of a court may be sought as to the interpretation
or construction 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 to which such proceedings relate, and it shall not be necessary to
make any holders of such Securities parties to any such proceedings.

             Section 6.03. Application of Moneys Collected by Trustee. Any
moneys collected by the Trustee pursuant to this Article shall be applied in the
order following, at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee for the distribution
of such moneys, upon presentation of the several Securities in respect of which
moneys have been collected, and the notation thereon of the payment, if only
partially paid, and upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

             FIRST:  To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee pursuant to 
    the provisions of Section 7.05;

             SECOND: In case the principal of the Outstanding Securities in
    respect of which such moneys have been collected shall not have become due
    (at maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, repayment or otherwise) and
    be unpaid, to the payment of interest, if any, on such Securities, in the
    order of the maturity of the installments of such interest, with interest
    (to the

                                       32


<PAGE>   41



    extent that such interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon the
    overdue installments of interest at the Overdue Rate applicable to such
    Securities, such payments to be made ratably to the persons entitled
    thereto;

             THIRD: In case the principal of the Outstanding Securities in
    respect of which such moneys have been collected shall have become due (at
    maturity, upon redemption, by declaration, repayment or otherwise), to the
    payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid upon such Securities for
    principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, with interest on the
    overdue principal, and premium, if any, and (to the extent that such
    interest has been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of
    interest, if any, at the Overdue Rate applicable to such Securities; and in
    case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amounts so
    due and unpaid upon such Securities, then to the payment of such principal,
    premium, if any, and interest, if any, without preference or priority of
    principal, and premium, if any, over interest, if any, or of interest, if
    any, over principal, and premium, if any, or of any instalment of interest,
    if any, over any other instalment of interest, if any, or of any such
    Security over any other such Security, ratably to the aggregate of such
    principal, premium, if any, and accrued and unpaid interest, if any; and

             FOURTH: To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company or
    the Guarantor, to the extent such moneys were provided thereby, their
    respective successors or assigns, or to whosoever may be lawfully entitled
    to receive the same, or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.

             Section 6.04. Proceedings by Securityholders. No holder of any
Security of any series 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 other similar official), or for any
other remedy hereunder, unless such holder previously shall have given to the
Trustee written notice of default with respect to Securities of such series and
of the continuance thereof, as hereinbefore provided, and unless also the
holders of not less than twenty-five percent in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities of such series 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

                                       33


<PAGE>   42



the costs, expenses and liabilities to be incurred therein or thereby, and the
Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of such notice, request and offer of
indemnity, shall have neglected or refused to institute any such action, suit or
proceeding, it being understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by
the taker and holder of every Security with every other taker and holder and the
Trustee, that no one or more holders of Securities of such series shall have any
right in any manner whatever by virtue of or by availing of any provision of
this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the rights of any other holder of
Securities of such series, 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 of such series.

             Section 6.05. Proceedings by Trustee. In case of an Event of
Default hereunder the Trustee may in its discretion proceed to protect and
enforce the rights vested in it by this Indenture by such appropriate judicial
proceedings as the Trustee shall deem most effectual to protect and enforce any
of such rights, either by suit in equity or by action at law or by 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 6.06. Remedies Cumulative and Continuing. All powers and
remedies given by this Article Six to the Trustee or to the Securityholders of
any series shall, to the extent permitted by law, be deemed cumulative and not
exclusive of any thereof or of any other powers and remedies available to the
Trustee or the holders of such Securities, by judicial proceedings or otherwise,
to enforce the performance or observance of the covenants and agreements
contained in this Indenture, and no delay or omission of the Trustee or of any
holder of any such Securities to exercise any right or power accruing upon any
default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or
power, or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such default or an
acquiescence therein; and, subject to the provisions of Section 6.04, every
power and remedy given by this Article Six or by law to the Trustee or to the
Securityholders of any series may be exercised from time to time, and as often
as shall be deemed expedient, by the Trustee or by the Securityholders of such
series.

                                       34


<PAGE>   43



             Section 6.07. Direction of Proceedings and Waiver of Defaults by
Securityholders. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of any series 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, with
respect to the Securities of such series; provided, however, that (subject to
the requirements of Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939) the Trustee
shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction 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
proceeding so directed could involve the Trustee in personal liability. The
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such
series at the time Outstanding may on behalf of the holders of all of the
Securities of such series waive any past default or Event of Default with
respect to such series and its consequences except a default in the payment of
interest, if any, on, or the principal of or premium, if any, on any Security of
such series, or in the payment of any sinking fund instalment or analogous
obligation with respect to Securities of such series. Upon any such waiver the
Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the holders of the Securities of that
series shall be restored to their former positions and rights hereunder,
respectively; but no such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default
or Event of Default or impair any right consequent thereon. Whenever any default
or Event of Default hereunder shall have been waived as permitted by this
Section 6.07, said default or Event of Default shall for all purposes of the
Securities of such series and this Indenture be deemed to have been cured and to
be not continuing.

                                  ARTICLE SEVEN

                             CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

             Section 7.01. Reliance on Documents, Opinions, etc. Subject to the
requirements of Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:

             (a) the Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or
    refraining from acting upon any resolution, certificate, statement,
    instrument, opinion, report, notice, request, direction, consent, order, or
    other paper or document believed by it to be genuine and to

                                       35


<PAGE>   44



    have been signed or presented by the proper party or parties;

             (b) any request, direction, order or demand of the Company or the
    Guarantor mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers'
    Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically
    prescribed); and any resolution or certificate of the Board of Directors,
    the Securities Issuance Committee or the Designated Officers of the Company
    or the Board of Directors or Funding Committee of the Guarantor may be
    evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the Secretary, an
    Assistant Secretary or an Attesting Secretary of the Company or the
    Secretary, an Associate Secretary or Attesting Secretary of the Guarantor,
    as the case may be;

             (c) the Trustee may consult with counsel and any written advice of
    counsel, including but not limited to an Opinion of Counsel, shall be full
    and complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, 
    omitted or suffered to be taken by it hereunder in good faith and in 
    accordance with such written advice 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 might be incurred therein or thereby;

             (e) the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken, omitted
    or suffered 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;

             (f) the Trustee shall not be bound to make any inquiry or
    investigation into the facts or matters stated in any resolution,
    certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report, notice, request,
    direction, consent, order, bond, note or other paper or document unless
    requested in writing so to do by the holders of a majority in aggregate
    principal amount of the Securities of any series affected then outstanding;
    provided, however, that if the payment within a reasonable time to the
    Trustee of the costs and 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

                                       36


<PAGE>   45



    conferred upon it by the terms of this Indenture, the Trustee may require
    reasonable indemnity against such costs, expenses or liabilities as a
    condition to so proceeding; and the reasonable expense of such investigation
    shall be paid by the Company or, if paid by the Trustee, shall be repaid by
    the Company upon demand; and

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

             Section 7.02. Responsibility for Recitals, etc. The recitals
contained herein and in the Securities (except in the Trustee's certificates of
authentication) and the Guarantee endorsed thereon shall be taken as the
statements of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, and the Trustee
assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same. The Trustee makes no
representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture, the
Securities or the Guarantee, provided that the Trustee shall not be relieved of
its duty to authenticate Securities only as authorized by this Indenture. The
Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or application by the Company of
any of the Securities or of the proceeds thereof.

             Section 7.03. Ownership of Securities. The Trustee and any agent of
the Company or of the Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may
become the owner or pledgee of Securities with the same rights it would have if
it were not Trustee or such agent.

             Section 7.04. Moneys to be Held in Trust. Subject to the provisions
of Sections 14.03 and 14.04 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee or any
paying agent shall, until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust
for the purposes for which they were received, but need not be segregated from
other funds except to the extent required by law. Neither the Trustee nor any
paying agent shall be under any liability for interest on any moneys received by
it hereunder except such as it may agree with the Company or the Guarantor, as
the case may be, to pay thereon. 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 or the Guarantor,
to the extent such moneys were provided thereby, signed by its President,
Chairman or any Vice Chairman of the Board, or any Vice President, Treasurer or
Comptroller.

                                       37


<PAGE>   46




             Section 7.05. Compensation and Expenses of Trustee. The Company
covenants and agrees to pay the Trustee from time to time, and the Trustee shall
be entitled to, reasonable compensation (which shall not be limited by any
provision of law in regard to the compensation of a trustee of an express trust)
and, except as otherwise expressly provided, 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. If any property other than cash shall at any time
be subject to the lien of this Indenture, the Trustee, if and to the extent
authorized by a receivership or bankruptcy court of competent jurisdiction or by
the supplemental instrument subjecting such property to such lien, shall be
entitled to make advances for the purpose of preserving such property or of
discharging tax liens or other prior liens or encumbrances thereon. The Company
also covenants to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against,
any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on the
part of the Trustee, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or
administration of this trust and its duties hereunder, including the costs and
expenses of defending itself against any claim of liability in the premises. The
obligations of the Company under this Section 7.05 to compensate the Trustee, to
pay or reimburse the Trustee for expenses, disbursements and advances and to
indemnify the Trustee shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and
shall survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture. 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.

             Section 7.06. Officers' Certificate as Evidence. Subject to the
requirements of Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, 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,
omitting or suffering any action to be taken hereunder, such matter (unless
other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed) may, in the
absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be deemed to be
conclusively 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

                                       38

<PAGE>   47
any action taken, omitted or suffered by it under the provisions of this
Indenture upon the faith thereof.

             Section 7.07. Eligibility of Trustee. The Trustee hereunder shall
at all times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States or any state, which (a) is authorized under such laws to exercise
corporate trust powers, (b) is subject to supervision or examination by Federal
or State authority, (c) shall have at all times a combined capital and surplus
of not less than ten million dollars and (d) is eligible under the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. 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 7.07, the combined capital and surplus of such corporation at any time
shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most
recent report of condition so published. In case at any time the Trustee shall
cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this Section 7.07, the
Trustee shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in
Section 7.08.

             Section 7.08. Resignation or Removal of Trustee. (a) The Trustee,
or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may at any time resign with
respect to any one or more or all series of Securities by giving written notice
of resignation to the Company and the Guarantor and by mailing notice thereof to
the holders of the applicable series of Securities at their addresses as they
shall appear on the registry books of the Company. Upon receiving such notice of
resignation, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees
with respect to the applicable series by written instrument, in duplicate,
executed by order of the Board of Directors of the Company, 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 with
respect to any series and have accepted appointment within 60 days after the
giving of such notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any
court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or
any Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security or Securities
of the applicable series for at least six months may, subject to the
requirements of Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, 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.


                                       39
<PAGE>   48


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

             (1) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
    provisions of Section 7.07 with respect to any series of Securities and
    shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any
    such Securityholder, or

             (2) the Trustee shall become incapable of acting with respect to
    any series of Securities, or shall be adjudged a bankrupt or insolvent, or a
    receiver of the Trustee or of its property shall be appointed, or any public
    officer shall take charge or control of the Trustee or of its property or
    affairs for the purpose of rehabilitation, conservation or liquidation,
    then, in any such case, the Company may remove the Trustee with respect to
    such series and appoint a successor trustee with respect to such series by
    written instrument, in duplicate, executed by order of the Board of
    Directors of the Company, one copy of which instrument shall be delivered to
    the Trustee so removed and one copy to the successor trustee, or, subject to
    the requirements of Section 315(e) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, any
    Securityholder who has been a bona fide holder of a Security of such series
    for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly
    situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of
    the Trustee and the appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such
    series. Such court may thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem
    proper and prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee
    with respect to such series.

             (c) The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities of one or more series (each series voting as a class) or all series
at the time Outstanding may at any time remove the Trustee with respect to the
applicable series or all series, as the case may be, and appoint with respect to
the applicable series or all series, as the case may be, a successor trustee by
written notice of such action to the Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee and the
successor trustee.

             (d) Any resignation or removal of the Trustee with respect to any
series and any appointment of a successor trustee with respect to such series
pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 7.08 shall become effective
upon acceptance of appointment by the successor trustee as provided in Section
7.09.


                                       40
<PAGE>   49


             Section 7.09. Acceptance by Successor Trustee. Any successor
trustee appointed as provided in Section 7.08 shall execute, acknowledge and
deliver to the Company, the Guarantor and to its predecessor trustee an
instrument accepting such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation
or removal of the predecessor trustee with respect to any or all applicable
series 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 with respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with
like effect as if originally named as trustee herein; but, nevertheless, on the
written request of the Company, the Guarantor or of the successor trustee, the
trustee ceasing to act shall, upon payment (or due provision therefor) of any
amounts then due it pursuant to the provisions of section 7.05, execute and
deliver an instrument transferring to such successor trustee all the rights and
powers with respect to such series of the trustee so ceasing to act. Upon
request of any such successor trustee, the Company and the Guarantor shall
execute any and all instruments in writing in order more fully and certainly to
vest in and confirm 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 7.05.

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

             No successor trustee with respect to a series of Securities shall
accept appointment as provided in this Section 7.09 unless at the time of such
acceptance such


                                       41
<PAGE>   50


successor trustee shall, with respect to such series, be qualified under the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and eligible under the
provisions of Section 7.07.

             Upon acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee with respect
to any series as provided in Section 7.09, the Company shall mail notice of the
succession of such trustee hereunder to the holders of Securities of such series
at their addresses as they shall appear on the registry books of the Company. If
the Company fails to mail such notice within ten 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 7.10. 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 the corporate
trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor to the Trustee hereunder,
provided such corporation shall be qualified under the requirements of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 and eligible under the provisions of Section 7.07, without
the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of
the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary notwithstanding.

             In case at the time such successor to the Trustee shall succeed to
the trust created by this Indenture with respect to one or more series of
Securities, any of such Securities shall have been authenticated but not
delivered, any such successor to the Trustee by merger, conversion or
consolidation may adopt the certificate of authentication of any predecessor
trustee, and deliver such Security so authenticated; and in case at that time
any of such Securities shall not have been authenticated, any successor to the
Trustee may authenticate such Securities either in the name of such successor to
the Trustee or, if such successor to the Trustee is a successor by merger,
conversion or consolidation, the name of any predecessor hereunder; and in all
such cases such certificate shall have the full force which it is anywhere in
such Securities or in this Indenture provided that the certificate of the
Trustee shall have.

                                  ARTICLE EIGHT

                         CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

             Section 8.01. Action by Securityholders. Whenever in this Indenture
it is provided that the holders of a


                                       42
<PAGE>   51


specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or
all series 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 Nine, or (c) by a combination of such instrument or instruments and any
such record of such a meeting of such Securityholders.

             Section 8.02. Proof of Execution by Securityholders. Subject to the
requirements of Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Sections 7.01
and 9.05, 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 registry books of the Company or by a certificate of the person
designated by the Company to act as repository in accordance with the provisions
of Section 2.06.

             The record of any Securityholders' meeting shall be proved in the
manner provided in Section 9.06.

             Section 8.03. Who Are Deemed Absolute Owners. The Company, the
Guarantor, the Trustee and any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or of the
Trustee may deem the person in whose name a Security shall be registered upon
the books of the Company to be, and may treat him as, the absolute owner of such
Security (whether or not such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any
notation of ownership or other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving
payment of or on account of the principal of, premium, if any, and interest, if
any, on such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Company, the
Guarantor nor the Trustee nor any agent of the Company, the Guarantor or the
Trustee 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 8.04. Company-Owned Securities Disregarded. In determining
whether the holders of the requisite aggregate principal amount of Securities
have concurred in any demand,


                                       43
<PAGE>   52



request, notice, direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Securities
which are owned by the Company or any other obligor on the Securities with
respect to which such determination is being made, or by the Guarantor or any
other obligor on the Guarantee, 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, with respect to which such
determination is being made, or the Guarantor or any other obligor on the
Guarantee, shall be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding for the
purposes of any such determination; provided, that for the purposes of
determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such
demand, request, notice, direction, consent or waiver only Securities which the
Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Securities so owned which
have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding for the purposes
of this Section 8.04 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
a person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or
indirect common control with the Company or the Guarantor 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 8.05. Revocation of Consents; Future Holders Bound. At any
time prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in
Section 8.01, of the taking of any action by the holders of the percentage in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case
may be, specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any holder
of a Security 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 8.02, revoke such action so far as concerns such 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 of such
Security, and any Security issued upon the registration of transfer thereof,
irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made upon such
Security or any Security issued in exchange or substitution therefor.


                                       44
<PAGE>   53

                                  ARTICLE NINE

                            SECURITYHOLDERS' MEETINGS

             Section 9.01. Purposes of Meetings. A meeting of holders of
Securities of any or all series may be called at any time and from time to time
pursuant to the provisions of this Article Nine for any of the following
purposes:

             (1) to give any notice to the Company, the Guarantor 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 Six;

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

             (3) to consent to the execution of an indenture or indentures 
    supplemental hereto pursuant to the provisions of Section 10.02; or

             (4) to take any other action authorized to be taken by or on behalf
    of the holders of any specified aggregate principal amount of the Securities
    of any or all series, as the case may be, under any other provision of this
    Indenture or under applicable law.

             Section 9.02. Call of Meetings by Trustee. The Trustee may at any
time call a meeting of holders of Securities of any or all series to take any
action specified in Section 9.01, 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 holders of Securities of any or all series,
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 of each series affected at their addresses as they shall appear on
the registry books of the Company. Such notice shall be mailed not less than 20
nor more than 90 days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

             Section 9.03. Call of Meetings by the Company, the Guarantor or
Securityholders. In case at any time the Company or the Guarantor, pursuant to a
resolution of its Board of Directors, or the holders of at least ten percent in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities then Outstanding of any series that
may be affected by the action proposed to be taken at the meeting, shall have
requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the holders of Securities of all
series that may be


                                       45
<PAGE>   54


so affected, 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, the Guarantor or such Securityholders, in the amount specified above,
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 9.01,
by mailing notice thereof as provided in Section 9.02.

             Section 9.04. 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 with respect to which such meeting is being held or (b) be a person
appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy by a holder of one or more such
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, any representatives of the Trustee and its counsel
and any representatives of the Company and its counsel and any representatives
of the Guarantor and its counsel.

             Section 9.05. 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.

             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, the Guarantor or by Securityholders as provided in Section 9.03, in
which case the Company, the Guarantor 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 with respect to which such meeting is being held or proxy
shall be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 (or if Securities of such series
are denominated in a currency other than Dollars or are denominated in units or
composites of two or more currencies, the equivalent thereof in the relevant
currency or unit or composite currency, based upon the average of the mean of
the


                                       46
<PAGE>   55


buying and selling spot rates for the relevant currency or unit or composite
currency against the Dollar, quoted by three banks who are members of the New
York Clearing House Association chosen by the Company, in effect at 11:00 A.M.
(New York time) in The City of New York (the "Average Exchange Rate") on the
fifteenth Business Day preceding the date of such meeting (which average shall
be set forth by the Company in a written notice delivered to the Trustee and
upon which notice the Trustee may conclusively rely)) principal amount (in the
case of Original Issue Discount Securities, such principal amount to be
determined as provided in the definition of "Outstanding" in Section 1.01) of
such Securities held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote
shall be cast or counted at any meeting in respect of any such 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 such Securities held by him or instruments in writing as aforesaid
duly designating him as the person to vote on behalf of other such
Securityholders. Any meeting of holders of Securities with respect to which a
meeting was duly called pursuant to the provisions of Section 9.02 or 9.03 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.

             Section 9.06. Voting. The vote upon any resolution submitted to any
meeting of holders of Securities with respect to which such meeting is being
held shall be by written ballots on which shall be subscribed the signatures of
such holders of Securities or of their representatives by proxy and the
principal amount (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, such
principal amount to be determined as provided in the definition of "Outstanding"
in Section 1.01) and number or numbers of such 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 duplicate 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 9.02. The record shall show the
principal amount of the Securities (in the case of Original Issue Discount
securities, such principal amount to be determined as provided in the definition
of "Outstanding" in


                                       47
<PAGE>   56


Section 1.01) 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.

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

             Section 9.07. No Delay of Rights by Meeting. Nothing in this
Article Nine shall be deemed or construed to authorize or permit, by reason of
any call of a meeting of Securityholders of any or all series or any rights
expressly or impliedly conferred hereunder to make such call, any hindrance or
delay in the exercise of any right or rights conferred upon or reserved to the
Trustee or to the Securityholders of any or all such series under any of the
provisions of this Indenture or of the Securities.

                                   ARTICLE TEN

                             SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

             Section 10.01. Supplemental Indentures without Consent of
Securityholders. The Company and the Guarantor, when authorized by resolution of
their respective Boards of Directors or, in the case of the Company, by
resolution of the Securities Issuance Committee or certificate of the Designated
Officers or, in the case of the Guarantor, by resolution of the Funding
Committee, and the Trustee may from time to time and at any time enter into an
indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for one or more of the following
purposes:

             (a) to evidence the succession of another corporation to the
    Company or to the Guarantor, or successive successions, and the assumption
    by the successor corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of
    the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be pursuant to Article Eleven
    hereof;

             (b) to add to the covenants of the Company or of the Guarantor such
    further covenants, restrictions or conditions for the protection of the
    holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be
    for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such
    covenants are expressly being included for the benefit of such series) as
    the Board of Directors, the Securities Issuance Committee or the Designated
    Officers of the Company or the Board of


                                       48
<PAGE>   57


    Directors of the Guarantor, as the case may be, and the Trustee shall
    consider to be for the protection of the holders of such Securities or as
    may be required by Section 4.03 or Section 11.02, 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 several remedies
    provided in this Indenture as herein set forth; provided, however, that in
    respect of any such additional covenant, restriction or condition such
    supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace after
    default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed in the case
    of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate enforcement upon such
    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 of the
    same series issued hereunder in fully registered form with a Guarantee
    endorsed thereon and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose;

             (d)  to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as 
    permitted by Sections 2.01 and 2.02;

             (e) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision
    contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may be defective or
    inconsistent with any other provision contained herein or in any
    supplemental indenture, or to make such other provisions in regard to
    matters or questions arising under this Indenture which shall not adversely
    affect the interests of the holders of any Securities; and

             (f) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
    hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one or
    more series or to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture
    as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the
    trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, pursuant to the requirements of
    Section 7.09.

             The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Company and the
Guarantor in the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any
further appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained
and to accept the conveyance, transfer and assignment of any property
thereunder, but the Trustee shall not be obligated

             
                                       49
<PAGE>   58


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 supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of this
Section 10.01 may be executed by the Company, the Guarantor 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 10.02.

             Section 10.02. Supplemental Indentures with Consent of
Securityholders. With the consent (evidenced as provided in Sections 8.01 and
8.02) of the holders of not less than 66-2/3% in aggregate principal amount of
the Securities of each series (each series voting as a class) affected by such
supplemental indenture at the time Outstanding, the Company and the Guarantor,
when authorized by resolution of their respective Boards of Directors, or, in
the case of the Company, by resolution of the Securities Issuance Committee or
by certificate of the Designated Officers, or, in the case of the Guarantor, by
resolution of the Funding Committee, and the Trustee may from time to time and
at any time enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the
purpose of adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any
of the provisions of this Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of
modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Securities of each such
series; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) extend
the fixed maturity of any Security, or reduce the rate or extend the time of
payment of interest, if any, thereon, or reduce the principal amount or premium,
if any, thereon, or make the principal thereof or premium, if any, or interest,
if any, thereon payable in any coin or currency other than that provided in any
Security, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount
Security that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity
thereof pursuant to Section 6.01 or adversely affect the right of repayment, if
any, at the option of the holder without the consent of the holder of each
Security so affected, (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities of any
series, the holders of which are required to consent to any such supplemental
indenture, without the consent of the holder of each Security so affected or
(iii) modify or affect in any manner adverse to Securityholders the terms and
conditions of the Guarantee. A supplemental indenture which changes or
eliminates any covenant or other provision of this Indenture which has expressly
been included solely for the benefit of one or more particular series of
Securities, or which modifies the rights of the holders of Securities of such
series with respect to such covenant or other provision, shall be deemed


                                       50
<PAGE>   59


not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the holders of Securities of 
any other series.

             Upon the request of the Company and the Guarantor, accompanied by
copies of the resolutions of their respective Boards of Directors, or, in the
case of the Company, by resolution of the Securities Issuance Committee or by
certificate of the Designated Officers, or, in the case of the Guarantor, by
resolution of the Funding Committee, authorizing the execution and delivery of
any such supplemental indenture, and upon the filing with the Trustee of
evidence of the consent of Securityholders as aforesaid, the Trustee shall join
with the Company and the Guarantor in the execution of such supplemental
indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's own rights,
duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the
Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such
supplemental indenture.

             It shall not be necessary for the consent of the Securityholders
under this Section 10.02 to approve the particular form of any proposed
supplemental indenture, but it shall be sufficient if such consent shall approve
the substance thereof.

             Section 10.03. Compliance with Trust Indenture Act; Effect of
Supplemental Indentures. Any supplemental indenture executed pursuant to the
provisions of this Article Ten shall comply with the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as then in effect. Upon the execution of any supplemental indenture
pursuant to the provisions of this Article Ten, this Indenture shall be deemed
to be modified and amended in accordance therewith and the respective rights,
limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities under this Indenture
of the Trustee, the Company, the Guarantor 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 10.04. Notation on Securities. Securities authenticated and
delivered after the execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the
provisions of this Article Ten may bear a notation in form approved by the
Trustee as to any matter provided for in such supplemental indenture. If the
Company, the Guarantor or the Trustee shall so determine, new Securities of any
series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the Trustee and the Board of
Directors of the Company or the Guarantor, to any modification


                                       51
<PAGE>   60


of this Indenture contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared
and executed by the Company, the Guarantee endorsed thereon may be executed by
the Guarantor, and such Securities may be authenticated by the Trustee and
delivered in exchange for the Securities of such series then outstanding.

             Section 10.05. Evidence of Compliance of Supplemental Indenture to
be Furnished Trustee. The Trustee, subject to the requirements of Section 315 of
the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and Section 7.01, 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 Ten.

                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN

                    CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

             Section 11.01. Company or Guarantor May Not Consolidate, etc.,
Except Under Certain Conditions. Each of the Company and the Guarantor covenants
that it will not merge or consolidate with any other corporation or sell,
convey, transfer or otherwise dispose of all or substantially all of its assets
to any corporation, unless (i) either the Company or the Guarantor, as the case
may be, shall be the continuing corporation, or the successor corporation (if
other than the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be) shall, by
supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and delivered to
the Trustee by such corporation, expressly assume, in the case of the Company,
the due and punctual payment of the principal of and, premium, if any, and
interest, if any, on all the Securities, according to their tenor, and the due
and punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions
of this Indenture to be performed by the Company, and, in the case of the
Guarantor, the due and punctual performance of the Guarantee and the due and
punctual performance and observance of all of the covenants and conditions of
this Indenture to be performed by the Guarantor, and (ii) the Company, the
Guarantor or such successor corporation, as the case may be, shall not,
immediately after such merger or consolidation, or such sale, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition, be in default in the performance of any such
covenant or condition. In the event of any such sale, conveyance (other than by
way of lease), transfer or other disposition, the predecessor company may be
dissolved, wound up and liquidated at any time thereafter.


                                       52
<PAGE>   61



             Section 11.02. Successor Corporation to be Substituted. In case of
any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance (other than by way of lease),
transfer or other disposition, and upon any such assumption by the successor
corporation, such successor corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for
the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, with the same effect as if it
had been named herein as the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, and
the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, shall be relieved of any
further obligation under this Indenture and under the Securities and, in the
case of the Guarantor, under the Guarantee. Such successor corporation thereupon
may cause to be signed, and may issue either in its own name or in the name of
the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, any or all of the Securities
or the Guarantee issuable hereunder which theretofore shall not have been signed
by the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, and delivered to the
Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor corporation, instead of the
Company, as the case may be, and subject to all the terms, conditions and
limitations in this Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and
shall deliver any Securities which previously shall have been signed and
delivered by the officers of the Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be,
to the Trustee for authentication, and any Securities or the Guarantee, as the
case may be, which such successor corporation thereafter shall cause to be
signed and delivered to the Trustee for that purpose. All the Securities or the
Guarantee so issued shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit
under this Indenture as the Securities or the Guarantee, as the case may be,
theretofore or thereafter issued in accordance with the terms of this Indenture
as though all of such Securities or the Guarantee, as the case may be, had been
issued at the date of the execution hereof.

             Section 11.03. Documents to be Given Trustee. The Trustee, subject
to the requirements of Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and
Section 7.01, may receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as
conclusive evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, conveyance,
transfer or other disposition, and any such assumption, comply with the
provisions of this Article Eleven.

                                 ARTICLE TWELVE

                                  SUBORDINATION

             Section 12.01. Subordination in Right of Payment to All Superior
Indebtedness. Anything in the Securities or the Indenture to the contrary
notwithstanding, the indebtedness

                                       53
<PAGE>   62


evidenced by the Securities shall be subordinate and junior in right of payment,
to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, to all Superior
Indebtedness. As used herein, "subordinate and junior" shall mean the following:
that (i) in the event of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings, and any
receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in
connection therewith, relative to the Company or its creditors or its property,
and in the event of any proceedings for voluntary liquidation, dissolution or
other winding up of the Company, whether or not involving insolvency or
bankruptcy proceedings, then all principal, premium, if any, and interest on all
Superior Indebtedness shall first be paid in full, or such payment be provided
for, before any payment on account of principal, premium, if any, or interest,
if any, is made by the Company upon the indebtedness evidenced by the
Securities, and in any such proceedings any payment or distribution of assets of
the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash or property or securities,
which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the Securities (except for the
provisions of this Article Twelve) shall be paid or delivered directly to the
holders of such Superior Indebtedness, or their representative or
representatives or to the trustee or trustees under any indenture pursuant to
which any instruments evidencing any such Superior Indebtedness may have been
issued, pro rata, as their respective interests may appear, for application in
payment thereof, unless and until such Superior Indebtedness shall have been
paid and satisfied in full (after giving effect to any concurrent payment or
distributions, or provisions therefor, to the holders of such Superior
Indebtedness) or such payment and satisfaction shall have been provided for;
provided, however, that in the event that payment or delivery of such cash,
property or securities to the holders of the Securities is authorized by an
order or decree made by a court of competent jurisdiction in a reorganization
proceeding under any applicable law and giving effect to the provisions
hereinbefore set forth for the subordination of the Securities to the Superior
Indebtedness, no payment or delivery of such cash, property or securities shall
be made to the holders of Superior Indebtedness; provided, further, that no such
delivery shall be made to the holders of Superior Indebtedness of securities
which are issued by the Company, as reorganized, or by the corporation
succeeding to the Company or acquiring its property and assets, pursuant to a
plan of reorganization or upon the dissolution or liquidation of the Company,
and which are subordinate and junior to the payment of all Superior Indebtedness
(or securities substituted therefor) then outstanding; and provided, further,
that the provisions of this clause (i) shall not apply to a liquidation,
dissolution, or other winding up made in connection with a merger,
consolidation, sale, lease, transfer or other disposal not

                                       54


<PAGE>   63



prohibited by Section 11.01 of this Indenture; and (ii) in the event that
pursuant to Article Six of this Indenture any Security of any series is declared
due and payable because of the occurrence of an Event of Default (under
circumstances when the provisions of the foregoing clause (i) shall not be
applicable), the holders of the Securities of such series shall be entitled to
payment from the Company only after there shall first have been payment in full
on the Superior Indebtedness outstanding at the time such Security so becomes
due and payable because of such Event of Default, or such payment shall have
been provided for.

             In the event that, notwithstanding the provisions of this Article
Twelve, the Trustee or any holders of Securities shall receive any payment or
distribution on the Securities that because of this Article Twelve should not
have been made to them, then such payment shall be held in trust for the benefit
of, and shall be paid over and delivered to, the holders of the Superior
Indebtedness or their representative or representatives or to the trustee or
trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing any
such Superior Indebtedness may have been issued, pro rata as their respective
interests may appear, for application to the pro rata payment of all Superior
Indebtedness remaining unpaid until all such Superior Indebtedness shall have
been paid in full, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution
to the holders of such Superior Indebtedness.

             No present or future holder of Superior Indebtedness shall be
prejudiced in his right to enforce the subordination of the Securities by any
act or failure to act on the part of the Company. Each holder of Securities by
his acceptance thereof authorizes the Trustee in his behalf to take such action
as may be necessary or appropriate to effectuate the subordination as provided
in this Article Twelve and appoints the Trustee his attorney-in-fact for any and
all such purposes.

             Nothing in this Section 12.01 shall apply to claims of, or payments
to, the Trustee under or pursuant to the provisions of Section 7.05.

             Section 12.02. Trustee May Rely on Certificate of Liquidating
Agent. The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any
dissolution, winding up, liquidation or reorganization of the Company within the
meaning of this Article Twelve, and shall also give prompt written notice to the
Trustee of any event which pursuant to Section 12.01 would prevent payment by
the Company on account of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on
the Securities. Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the


                                       55
<PAGE>   64


Company referred to in this Article Twelve, the Trustee, subject to the
requirements of Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, shall be
entitled to rely upon a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy,
liquidating trustee, agent or other person making such payment or distribution,
delivered to the Trustee or to the holders of Securities, for the purpose of
ascertaining the persons entitled to participate in such distribution, the
holders of the Superior 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 Twelve.

             Section 12.03. Company Obligation to Pay Unconditional. The
provisions of this Article Twelve are solely for the purpose of defining the
relative rights of the holders of Superior Indebtedness on the one hand, and the
holders of the Securities on the other hand, and nothing contained in this
Article Twelve or elsewhere in this Indenture, or in the Securities, shall
impair, as between the Company and the holder of any Security, the obligation of
the Company, which is unconditional and absolute, to pay to the holder thereof
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on the Securities in accordance
with their terms and the terms of this Indenture, nor shall anything herein or
therein prevent the Trustee or the holder of any Security from exercising all
remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law or hereunder or thereunder upon
the occurrence of an Event of Default, subject to the rights, if any, under this
Article Twelve of holders of Superior Indebtedness to receive cash, property or
securities of the Company otherwise payable or deliverable to the holders of the
Securities.

             Section 12.04. Notice to Trustee of Effectuation of Subordination.
Notwithstanding any of the provisions of this Article Twelve or any other
provision of this Indenture, neither the Trustee nor any paying agent (if the
Company is not acting as its own paying agent) shall at any time be charged with
knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of any
payment of moneys to or by the Trustee or any such paying agent, unless and
until the Trustee or such paying agent, as the case may be, shall have received
written notice thereof from the Company or from one or more holders of Superior
Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor or representative thereof; and, prior
to the receipt of any such written notice, any paying agent and the Trustee,
subject to the requirements of Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
shall be entitled in all respects to assume that no such facts exist; provided,
however, that, if three business days prior to the date upon which by the terms
hereof any such moneys may become payable for any purpose


                                       56
<PAGE>   65


including, without limitation, the payment of the principal of or premium, if
any, or interest on any Security, the Trustee or any paying agent, as the case
may be, shall not have received with respect to such moneys the notice provided
for in this Section 12.04, then, anything herein contained to the contrary
notwithstanding, the Trustee or such paying agent shall have full power and
authority to receive such moneys and to apply the same to the purpose for which
they are received, and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary,
which may be received by it on or after such date.

             The Trustee shall not have any fiduciary duty to any holder of
Superior Indebtedness, and shall not be liable to any such holder if it shall
pay over or distribute to the holders of Securities or the Company or any other
person, money or assets to which any holder of Superior Indebtedness shall be
entitled pursuant to this Article Twelve or otherwise.

             The Trustee shall, subject to the provisions of Section 7.01 and
Section 315 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, be entitled to rely on the
delivery to it of a written notice by a person representing himself to be a
holder of Superior Indebtedness (or a trustee or representative on behalf of
such holder) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of
Superior Indebtedness or a trustee or representative on behalf of such holder.
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 Superior
Indebtedness to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to the
provisions of this Article Twelve, the Trustee may request such person to
furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount
of Superior Indebtedness held or represented by such person, the extent to which
such person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any
other facts pertinent to the rights of such person pursuant to the provisions of
this Article Twelve, and if such evidence is not furnished the Trustee may defer
any payment to such person pending judicial determination as to the right of
such person to receive such payment.

             Section 12.05. Superior Indebtedness Held by Trustee. The Trustee
shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article Twelve in respect
of any Superior Indebtedness which may be at any time held by it to the same
extent as any other holder of Superior Indebtedness and, subject to the
requirements of Section 311 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, nothing in this
Indenture shall be construed to deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such
holder.


                                       57
<PAGE>   66



             Section 12.06. Status of Payments Under Guarantee. Notwithstanding
anything in this Article Twelve or elsewhere in this Indenture or in any of the
Securities to the contrary, no payment made by or on behalf of the Guarantor
pursuant to the Guarantee (including, without limitation, any such payment made
to or through the Trustee) shall be in any way subject to the provisions of this
Article Twelve and no holder of any Superior Indebtedness shall have any rights
with respect to any such payment arising out of the provisions of this Article
Twelve.

                                ARTICLE THIRTEEN

                          GUARANTEE OF DEBT SECURITIES

             Section 13.01. Unconditional Guarantee. The Guarantor hereby
unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to each holder of a Security
authenticated and delivered by the Trustee the payment of the principal of and,
premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Security as the same shall become
due and payable after any applicable grace period, whether at maturity or upon
redemption, declaration or otherwise. The Guarantor agrees that as between the
Guarantor and the holders of the Securities or the Trustee, any payment made on
the Securities or to the Trustee by the Company or out of its assets which,
pursuant to Article Twelve, is required to be paid over to the holders of the
Superior Indebtedness, shall not constitute a payment on the Securities or to
the Trustee but, instead, shall be treated for all purposes of the Guarantee as
though such payment had not been made by the Company or out of its assets. Until
the holders of the Securities or the Trustee have received, from the Company or
out of its assets, or from the Guarantor, moneys which such holders or the
Trustee are entitled to retain for their own account, equal in the aggregate to
the unpaid principal amount (including premium, if any) on the Securities plus
all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, the Guarantor will remain liable on the
Guarantee.

             The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be
unconditional, irrespective of the validity, legality or enforceability of such
Security or this Indenture, the absence of any action to enforce the same, the
waiver or consent with respect to any provisions thereof or hereof, the recovery
of any judgment against the Company or any action to enforce the same or any
other circumstance which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable
discharge or defense of a guarantor. The Guarantor hereby waives diligence,
presentment, demand of payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of
merger or bankruptcy of the


                                       58
<PAGE>   67



Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, protest or
notice with respect to such Security or the indebtedness evidenced thereby and
all demands whatsoever and covenants that the Guarantee will not be discharged
except by complete performance of the obligations contained in the Guarantee.

             The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of a holder of a
Security against the Company in respect of any amounts paid by the Guarantor
pursuant to the provisions of the Guarantee or this Indenture; provided that the
Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce or receive any payment arising out
of, or based upon, such right of subrogation until all amounts due on or to
become due on or in respect of all Securities of the series of which such
Security is a part shall have been paid in full or duly provided for.

             The Guarantee constitutes a guarantee of payment and is unsecured
and ranks equally and ratably with all other unsecured and unsubordinated
obligations of the Guarantor.

             Section 13.02. Execution of Guarantee. To evidence its guarantee
specified in Section 13.01 to the Securityholders of any series, the Guarantor
hereby agrees to execute the Guarantee, in substantially the form set forth in
Section 13.03 (except as otherwise permitted in Section 2.01(a)), to be endorsed
on each Security of such series authenticated and delivered by the Trustee. Such
Guarantee shall be executed on behalf of the Guarantor by its Chairman of the
Board, any Vice Chairman or any Vice President and by its Treasurer, Comptroller
or Secretary under its corporate seal (which may be printed, engraved or
otherwise reproduced thereon, by facsimile or otherwise) which may but need not
be attested, prior to the authentication of the Security on which it is
endorsed, and the delivery of such Security by the Trustee, after the
authentication thereof hereunder, shall constitute due delivery of such
Guarantee on behalf of the Guarantor. Such signatures may be the manual or
facsimile signatures of such officers and may be imprinted or otherwise
reproduced on the Guarantee. In case any officer of the Guarantor who shall have
signed the Guarantee shall cease to be such officer before the Security on which
such Guarantee is endorsed shall have been authenticated and delivered by the
Trustee or disposed of by the Company, such Security nevertheless may be
authenticated and delivered or disposed of as though the person who signed such
Guarantee had not ceased to be such officer, and any Guarantee may be signed on
behalf of the Guarantor by such persons as, at the actual date of the execution
of such Guarantee, shall be the proper officers of the Guarantor, although at
the date of such Security or of the


                                       59
<PAGE>   68


execution of this Indenture any such person was not such an officer.

             A Guarantee shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose
with respect to a Security of any series until the Trustee's Certificate of
Authentication on such Security shall have been signed by the Trustee.

             Section 13.03.   Form of Guarantee.

                                    GUARANTEE

             FOR VALUE RECEIVED, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, a New York
corporation (the "Guarantor", which term includes any successor corporation
under the Indenture referred to in the Note upon which this Guarantee is
endorsed), hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the holder of
the Note upon which this Guarantee is endorsed the payment of the principal of,
and premium, if any, and any interest on said Note as the same shall become due
and payable after any applicable grace period, whether at maturity or upon
redemption, declaration or otherwise.

             The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be
unconditional, irrespective of the validity, legality or enforceability of the
Note upon which this Guarantee is endorsed or the Indenture, the absence of any
action to enforce the same, the waiver or consent by the holder of said Note
with respect to any provisions thereof or hereof, the recovery of any judgment
against the Company or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance
which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a
guarantor. The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of
payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of
the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company,
protest or notice with respect to said Note or the indebtedness evidenced
thereby and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee will not be
discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in this
Guarantee.

             The Guarantor agrees that, as between the Guarantor and the holder
of the Note upon which this Guarantee is endorsed, any payment made on said Note
by the Company or out of its assets which, pursuant to the subordination
provisions of said Note or of the Indenture, is required to be paid over to the
holders of Superior Indebtedness, shall be treated for all purposes of this
Guarantee as though such payment had not


                                       60
<PAGE>   69



been made by the Company or out of its assets. Until the holder of said Note has
received, from the Company or out of its assets, or from the Guarantor, moneys
which such holder is entitled to retain for its own account, equal in the
aggregate to the unpaid principal amount of (including premium, if any, on) said
Note plus all accrued and unpaid interest thereon, the Guarantor will remain
liable on this Guarantee.

             The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the holder of
the Note upon which this Guarantee is endorsed against the Company in respect of
any amounts paid by the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee
or the Indenture; provided that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to
enforce or receive any payment arising out of, or based upon, such right of
subrogation until all amounts due on or to become due on or in respect of all
the Notes of the series of which the Note upon which this guarantee is endorsed
is a part shall have been paid in full or duly provided for.

             This Guarantee constitutes a guarantee of payment and is unsecured
and ranks equally and ratably with all other unsecured and unsubordinated
obligations of the Guarantor.

             The Guarantor hereby certifies and warrants that all acts,
conditions and things required to be done and performed and to have happened
precedent to the creation and issuance of this Guarantee, and to constitute the
same the legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor enforceable in
accordance with its terms, have been done and performed and have happened in
compliance with all applicable laws.

             This Guarantee is dated the date of the Note upon which it is
endorsed.

             No recourse for the payment on this Guarantee, or for any claim
based hereon or otherwise in respect hereof, and no recourse under or upon any
obligation, covenant or agreement of the Guarantor in the Indenture or any
indenture supplemental thereto or in any Guarantee, 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
Guarantor or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the
Guarantor or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution,
statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or
otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of the
consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.


                                       61
<PAGE>   70


             All capitalized terms used in this Guarantee but not defined herein
which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in
the Indenture.

             This Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose
until the certificate of authentication on the Note upon which this Guarantee is
endorsed shall have been executed by the Trustee under the Indenture by the
manual signature of one of its authorized officers.

             IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be
duly executed and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed.

                                                     GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

                                                     By______________________

                                                     By______________________


[SEAL]


                                       62
<PAGE>   71


                                ARTICLE FOURTEEN

                     SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE

             Section 14.01. Discharge of Indenture. When (a) there shall have
been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation all Securities theretofore
authenticated (other than any Securities which shall have been destroyed, lost
or stolen or in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall have
been authenticated and delivered, or which shall have been paid, pursuant to the
provisions of Section 2.07) and not theretofore canceled or (b) all Securities
not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation shall have
become due and payable and there shall be deposited with the Trustee, in trust,
funds sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all of the Securities
(other than any (i) Securities which shall have been mutilated, destroyed, lost
or stolen and in lieu of or in substitution for which other Securities shall
have been authenticated and delivered, or which shall have been paid, pursuant
to the provisions of Section 2.07 or (ii) Securities for whose payment money has
theretofore been deposited in trust and thereafter repaid as provided in Section
14.04) not theretofore canceled or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,
including principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any, due or to become due
to such date of maturity or date fixed for redemption, as the case may be, and
if in either case there shall be paid all other sums payable hereunder by the
Company, then this Indenture shall cease to be of further effect, and the
Trustee, on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers' Certificate of the
Company and an opinion of Counsel for the Company 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 14.02. Deposited Moneys to be Held in Trust by Trustee. All
moneys deposited with the Trustee pursuant to the provisions of Section 14.01
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 payment or redemption of
which such moneys have been deposited with the Trustee, of all sums due and to
become due thereon for principal, premium, if any, and interest, if any.


                                       63
<PAGE>   72


             Section 14.03. 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 demand of the
Company or the Guarantor, as the case may be, be repaid to the Company (to the
extent such money shall have been deposited by the Company) or to the Guarantor
(to the extent such money shall have been deposited by the Guarantor) or paid to
the Trustee, and thereupon such paying agent shall be released from all further
liability with respect to such moneys.

             Section 14.04. Return of Unclaimed Moneys. Any moneys deposited
with or paid to the Trustee or a paying agent by the Company or the Guarantor
for payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on
Securities of any series and not applied but remaining unclaimed by the holders
of Securities of that series for two years after the date upon which the
principal of, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on such Securities, as the
case may be, shall have become due and payable, shall be repaid to the Company
or the Guarantor, as the case may be, by the Trustee or such paying agent on
written demand and thereupon all liability of the Trustee or such paying agent
with respect to such money shall cease; and the holder of any such Securities
shall thereafter look only to the Company for any payment which such holder may
be entitled to collect.

                                 ARTICLE FIFTEEN

                    IMMUNITY OF INCORPORATORS, STOCKHOLDERS,
                             OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS

             Section 15.01. Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate
Obligations. No recourse for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any,
or interest, if any, 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 or the Guarantor in this Indenture or in
any supplemental indenture, or in any Security or the Guarantee, 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 the Guarantor or of any successor corporation, either
directly or through the Company, the Guarantor or any successor corporation,
whether by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law, or by the
enforcement of any assessment or penalty or otherwise; it being expressly
understood that all such liability is hereby expressly waived and released as a
condition of, and as a


                                       64
<PAGE>   73


consideration for, the execution of this Indenture and the issue of the 
Securities and the Guarantee.

                                 ARTICLE SIXTEEN

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

             Section 16.01. Provisions Binding on Company's and Guarantor's
Successors. All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements by the
Company or the Guarantor in this Indenture contained shall bind their respective
successors and assigns whether so expressed or not.

             Section 16.02. 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 or the Guarantor
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 or of the Guarantor.

             Section 16.03. 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 or on the
Guarantor may be given or served by being deposited postage prepaid by first
class mail in a post office letter box addressed (until another address is filed
by the Company or the Guarantor with the Trustee) to, in the case of the
Company, General Electric Capital Services, Inc., Attention: Senior Vice
President, Corporate Treasury and Global Funding Operation, 260 Long Ridge Road,
Stamford, Connecticut 06927, with a copy to the Guarantor, to the attention of
its Treasurer, and, in the case of the Guarantor, to General Electric Company,
Attention: Treasurer, 3135 Easton Turnpike, Fairfield, Connecticut 06431. 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 principal office of the Trustee,
addressed to the attention of its Corporate Trustee Administration Department.

             Section 16.04. NEW YORK CONTRACT. THIS INDENTURE, EACH SECURITY AND
THE GUARANTEE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE
OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS
OF SAID STATE.


                                       65
<PAGE>   74


             Section 16.05. Legal Holidays. In any case where the date of
maturity of interest, if any, on or principal of, or premium, if any, on the
Securities or the date fixed for redemption or repayment of any Security will be
in The City of New York, New York, a Saturday, a Sunday, a legal holiday or a
day on which banking institutions are authorized or required by law or executive
order to close or remain closed, then patent of such interest, if any, on or
principal of or premium, if any, on the Securities need not be made on such date
but may be made on the next succeeding day not in such city, a Saturday, a
Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on which banking institutions are authorized or
required by law or executive order to close or remain closed, with the same
force and effect as if made on the date of maturity or a date fixed for
redemption or repayment, and no interest shall accrue for the period from and
after such date.

             Section 16.06. 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 16.07. 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 16.08. Separability. In case any provision in this
Indenture or in the Securities shall be invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the
validity, legality and enforceability of the remaining provisions shall not in
any way be affected or impaired thereby.

             Section 16.09. Benefits. Nothing in this Indenture or in the
Securities, expressed or implied, shall give to any person, other than the
parties hereto and their successors hereunder, and the holders of the
Securities, any benefit or any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under
this Indenture.


                                       66
<PAGE>   75


             IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Indenture
to be duly executed and their respective corporate seals to be hereunto affixed
and attested, all as of ______ __, 1995.

                                       GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL SERVICES, INC.

                                       By______________________________________
                                         Title:

[CORPORATE SEAL]

Attest:

By___________________________
  Title:  Assistant Secretary

                                       GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

                                       By______________________________________
                                         Title:

[CORPORATE SEAL]

Attest:

By_______________________
  Title:

                                       THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,
                                         NATIONAL ASSOCIATION

                                       By______________________________________
                                         Title:

[CORPORATE SEAL]

Attest:

By_______________________
  Title:


                                       67
<PAGE>   76


STATE OF CONNECTICUT  )
                      : ss:
COUNTY OF FAIRFIELD   )

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

[NOTARIAL SEAL]


                                                    __________________________
                                                            Notary Public

                                       68
<PAGE>   77


STATE OF CONNECTICUT  )
                      : ss:
COUNTY OF FAIRFIELD   )

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

[NOTARIAL SEAL]


                                                    __________________________
                                                            Notary Public



                                       69
<PAGE>   78



STATE OF NEW YORK    )
                     : ss:
COUNTY OF NEW YORK   )

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

[NOTARIAL SEAL]


                                                    __________________________
                                                           Notary Public


                                       70

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 4(b)

No.____                                                         CUSIP__________

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE 
DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY ("DTC") TO THE ISSUER OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF 
TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE 
NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED 
REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC (AND ANY PAYMENT 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 SINCE THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN.

                    GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL SERVICES, INC.

            ____% GUARANTEED SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE _______ __, ____

$________

        GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL SERVICES, INC., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), for value received, hereby promises to pay to Cede & Co. or
registered assigns at the office or agency of the Company in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, the principal sum of ________ MILLION U.S.
DOLLARS ($________) on _______ __, ____, in such coin or currency of the United
States of America as at the time of payment shall be legal tender for the
payment of public and private debts, and to pay interest (computed on the basis
of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months) on said principal sum at said office
or agency, in like coin or currency, at the rate per annum specified in the
title of this Note from _______ __, ____ semi-annually on _______ __ and _______
__ of each year, commencing _______ __, 1996 until payment of said principal sum
has been made or duly provided for.  The interest so payable on each _______ __
and _______ __ will, subject to certain exceptions provided in the Indenture
referred to below, be paid to the person in whose name this Note is registered
at the close of business on each _______ __ and _______ __, respectively.

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

        This Note is one of a duly authorized series of notes of the Company
designated as the ____% Guaranteed Subordinated Note due _______ __, ____ of the
Company (hereinafter called the "Notes"), limited (except as otherwise provided
in the Indenture referred to below) in aggregate principal amount to $________.
The Notes are one of an indefinite number of series of notes of the Company
(hereinafter collectively called the "Securities" and each a "Security") issued
or issuable under and pursuant to an Indenture dated as of _______ __, ____ (the
"Indenture"), among

<PAGE>   2
                                                                               2


the Company, General Electric Company (the "Guarantor") and The Chase
Manhattan Bank (National Association), as Trustee (hereinafter called the
"Trustee"), to which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto
reference is hereby made for a description of the rights, limitations of
rights, obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the
Company, the Guarantor and the holders of the Securities.  The separate series
of Securities may be issued in various aggregate principal amounts, may mature
at different times, may bear interest (if any) at different rates, may be
subject to different redemption provisions (if any), may be subject to
different sinking, purchase or analogous funds (if any), may be subject to
different covenants and Events of Default and may otherwise vary as in the
Indenture provided.

        In case an Event of Default with respect to the Notes, as defined in
the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal hereof 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 indebtedness evidenced by this Note is, to the extent and the manner
provided in the Indenture, subordinate and junior in right of payment to the
prior payment in full of all Superior Indebtedness of the Company. Each holder
of this Note, by accepting the same, agrees to and shall be bound by such
provisions of the Indenture.

        The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company, the Guarantor
and the Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than 66 2/3% in
aggregate principal amount of each series of the Securities at the time
outstanding (as defined in the Indenture) to be affected (each series voting as
a class), evidenced as in the Indenture provided, to execute supplemental
indentures adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating
any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or
modifying in any manner the rights of the holders of the Securities of all such
series; provided, however, that no such supplemental indenture shall, among
other things, (i) extend the fixed maturity of any Security, or reduce the
principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of
interest thereon, or reduce any premium payable on redemption, or make the
principal thereof, or premium, if any, or interest thereon payable in any coin
or currency other than that hereinabove provided, without the consent of the
holder of each Security so affected, (ii) reduce the aforesaid percentage of
Securities the holders of which are required to consent to any such
supplemental indenture, without the consent of the holders of each Security so
affected, or (iii) modify or affect in any manner adverse to the holders of the
terms of the Guarantee.  It is also provided in the Indenture that, prior to
any declaration accelerating the maturity of any series of Securities, the
holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount outstanding (as defined in
the Indenture) of the Securities of such series may on behalf of the holders of
all the Securities of such series waive any past default or Event of Default
under the Indenture with respect to such series and its consequences except a
default in the payment of interest on or the principal of, or premium, if any,
on any of the Securities of such series, or in the payment of any sinking fund
installment or analogous obligation with respect to Securities of such series. 
Any such consent or waiver by the holder of this Note (unless revoked as
provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and binding upon such holder and
upon all future holders and owners of this Note and any Notes which may be
issued in exchange or substitution


<PAGE>   3
                                                                               3

herefor, irrespective of whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this
Note or such other Notes.

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

        The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.  At the option of the
holders thereof, either at the office or agency to be designated and maintained
by the Company for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New
York, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture or at any of such other
offices or agencies as may be designated and maintained by the Company for such
purpose pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture, and in the manner and
subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, but without the payment
of any service charge, except for any tax or other governmental charges imposed
in connection therewith, Notes may be exchanged for an equal aggregate
principal amount of Notes of other authorized denominations.

        The Notes are not redeemable prior to maturity.

        Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of this Note, at the
option of the holder hereof, either at the office or agency to be designated
and maintained by the Company for such purpose in the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York, pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture or at any such
other offices or agencies as may be designated and maintained by the Company
for such purpose pursuant to the provisions of the Indenture, a new Note or
Notes of authorized denominations for an equal aggregate principal amount will
be issued to the transferee in exchange herefor, having endorsed thereon a
Guarantee duly executed by the Guarantor, subject to the limitations provided
in the Indenture, without charge except for any tax or other governmental
charge imposed in connection therewith.

        The Company, the Guarantor, the Trustee, and any agent of the Company,
the Guarantor or of the Trustee may deem and treat the registered holder hereof
as the absolute owner of this Note (whether or not this Note shall be overdue
and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or other writing hereon), for the
purpose of receiving payment hereof, or on account hereof, and for all other
purposes, and none of the Company, the Guarantor nor the Trustee nor any agent
of the Company, the Guarantor or of the Trustee shall be affected by any notice
to the contrary. All such payments made to or upon the order of such registered
holder shall, to the extent of the sum or sums paid, satisfy and discharge
liability for moneys payable on this Note.

        No recourse for the payment of the principal of or interest on this
Note, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in respect hereof, and no
recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of the Company or
the Guarantor in the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto or in any
Note, 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 the Guarantor or of any successor
corporation, either directly 
        

<PAGE>   4
                                                                            4

or through the Company or the Guarantor or any successor corporation, whether 
by virtue of any constitution, statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of 
any assessment or penalty or otherwise, all such liability being, by the 
acceptance hereof and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, 
expressly waived and released.

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

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

Dated:__________________, 1995


                                        GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL
                                          SERVICES, INC.


                                        By:
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           Chairman of the Board, President
                                           and Chief Executive Officer


                                        By:
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           Senior Vice President - Corporate
                                           Treasury and Global Funding
                                           Operation


                         CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

        This is one of the Notes described in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                        THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
                                         (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION),
                                            as Trustee

                                        
                                        By:
                                           -----------------------------------
                                           Authorized Signatory
<PAGE>   5

                                   GUARANTEE

        FOR VALUE RECEIVED, GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY, a New York corporation 
(the "Guarantor", which term includes any successor corporation under the 
Indenture referred to in the Note upon which this Guarantee is endorsed), 
hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees to the holder of the Note 
upon which this Guarantee is endorsed the payment of the principal of, and 
premium, if any, and any interest on said Note as the same shall become due and 
payable after any applicable grace period, whether at maturity or upon 
redemption, declaration or otherwise.

        The Guarantor hereby agrees that its obligations hereunder shall be 
unconditional, irrespective of the validity, legality or enforceability of the 
Note upon which this Guarantee is endorsed or the Indenture, the absence of any 
action to enforce the same, the waiver or consent by the holder of said Note 
with respect to any provisions thereof or hereof, the recovery of any judgment 
against the Company or any action to enforce the same or any other circumstance 
which might otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a 
guarantor. The Guarantor hereby waives diligence, presentment, demand of 
payment, filing of claims with a court in the event of merger or bankruptcy of 
the Company, any right to require a proceeding first against the Company, 
protest or notice with respect to said Note or the indebtedness evidenced 
thereby and all demands whatsoever and covenants that this Guarantee will not 
be discharged except by complete performance of the obligations contained in 
this Guarantee.

        The Guarantor agrees that, as between the Guarantor and the holder of 
the Note upon which this Guarantee is endorsed, any payment made on said Note 
by the Company or out of its assets which, pursuant to the subordination 
provisions of said Note or of the Indenture, is required to be paid over to the 
holders of Superior Indebtedness, shall be treated for all purposes of this 
Guarantee as though such payment had not been made by the Company or out of its 
assets. Until the holder of said Note has received, from the Company or out of 
its assets, or from the Guarantor, moneys which such holder is entitled to 
retain for its own account, equal in the aggregate to the unpaid principal 
amount of (including premium, if any, on) said Note plus all accrued and unpaid 
interest thereon, the Guarantor will remain liable on this Guarantee.

        The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the holder of the 
Note upon which this Guarantee is endorsed against the Company in respect of 
any amounts paid by the Guarantor pursuant to the provisions of this Guarantee 
or the Indenture; provided that the Guarantor shall not be entitled to enforce 
or receive any payment arising out of, or based upon, such right of subrogation 
until all amounts due on or to become due on or in respect of all Notes of the 
series of which the Note upon which this guarantee is endorsed is a part shall 
have been paid in full or duly provided for.

        This Guarantee constitutes a guarantee of payment and is unsecured and 
ranks equally and ratably with all other unsecured and unsubordinated 
obligations of the Guarantor.

<PAGE>   6
                                                                               2
        The Guarantor hereby certifies and warrants that all acts, conditions
and things required to be done and performed and to have happened precedent to
the creation and issuance of this Guarantee, and to constitute the same the
legal, valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor enforceable in accordance
with it terms, have been done and performed and have happened in compliance
with all applicable laws.

        This Guarantee is dated the date of the Note upon which it is endorsed.

        No recourse for the payment on this Guarantee, or for any claim based
hereon or otherwise in respect hereof, and no recourse under or upon any
obligation, covenant or agreement of the Guarantor in the Indenture or any
indenture supplemental thereto or in any Guarantee, or because of the creation
of an indebtedness represented thereby, shall be had against any incorporator,
stockholder, officer or director, as such, past, present or future, of the
Guarantor or of any successor corporation, either directly or through the
Guarantor or any successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution,
statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or
otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of
the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

        All capitalized terms used in this Guarantee but not defined herein
which are defined in the Indenture shall have the meanings assigned to them in
the Indenture.

        This Guarantee shall not be valid or obligatory for any purpose until
the certificate of authentication on the Note upon which this Guarantee is
endorsed shall have been executed by the Trustee under the Indenture by the
manual signature of one of its authorized offices.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Guarantor has caused this Guarantee to be duly
executed and its corporate seal to be hereunto affixed.

                                        GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY

                                        
                                        By:
                                           ------------------------------


                                        By:
                                           ------------------------------

[SEAL]



<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 12(A)
 
                    GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL SERVICES, INC.
                          AND CONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES
 
               COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                        ------------------------------------------   THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                         1990     1991     1992     1993     1994      APRIL 1, 1995
                                        ------   ------   ------   ------   ------   ------------------
                                                         (DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN MILLIONS)
<S>                                     <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
Earnings from continuing operations...  $1,125   $1,215   $1,331   $1,567   $2,085         $  559
Provision for income taxes............     319      317      404      642      864            267
Minority interest.....................      46       33       40      134      139             27
Cumulative effect to January 1, 1991,
  of accounting change for
  postretirement benefits other than
  pensions............................      --        6       --       --       --             --
                                        ------   ------   ------   ------   ------        -------
Earnings before income taxes, minority
  interest and accounting change......   1,490    1,571    1,775    2,343    3,088            853
                                        ------   ------   ------   ------   ------        -------
Fixed charges:
  Interest............................   4,497    4,413    3,780    3,585    4,598          1,561
  One-third of rentals................      33       36       92      138      156             37
                                        ------   ------   ------   ------   ------        -------
Total fixed charges...................   4,530    4,449    3,872    3,723    4,754          1,598
                                        ------   ------   ------   ------   ------        -------
Less interest capitalized, net of
  amortization........................      19        7        6        4        9              3
                                        ------   ------   ------   ------   ------        -------
Earnings before income taxes, minority
  interest and accounting change, plus
  fixed charges.......................  $6,001   $6,013   $5,641   $6,062   $7,833         $2,448
                                        ======   ======   ======   ======   ======   ==============
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges....    1.32     1.35     1.46     1.63     1.65           1.53
                                        ======   ======   ======   ======   ======   ==============
</TABLE>

<PAGE>   1
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 12(B)
 
                            GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
 
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                         THREE MONTHS
                                                   YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                  ENDED
                                       -----------------------------------------------    MARCH 31,
                                        1990      1991      1992      1993      1994         1995
                                       -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   ------------
                                                           (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
<S>                                    <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY EXCEPT
  GE CAPITAL SERVICES
"Earnings"(a)........................  $ 5,256   $ 5,329   $ 5,582   $ 5,511   $ 7,828      $1,827
Less: Equity in undistributed
      earnings of GE Capital
      Services(b)....................     (775)     (871)     (831)     (957)   (1,181)       (366)
Plus: Interest and other financial
      charges included in expense....      962       893       768       525       410         126
      One-third of rental
  expense(c).........................      207       225       228       212       171          43
                                       -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   ------------
Adjusted "earnings"..................  $ 5,650   $ 5,576   $ 5,747   $ 5,291   $ 7,228      $1,630
                                       =======   =======   =======   =======   =======   ===========
Fixed Charges:
  Interest and other financial
     charges.........................  $   962   $   893   $   768   $   525   $   410      $  126
  Interest capitalized...............       26        33        29        21        21           1
  One-third of rental expense(c).....      207       225       228       212       171          43
                                       -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   ------------
  Total fixed charges................  $ 1,195   $ 1,151   $ 1,025   $   758   $   602      $  170
                                       =======   =======   =======   =======   =======   ===========
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges...     4.73      4.84      5.61      6.98     12.01        9.59
                                       =======   =======   =======   =======   =======   ===========
GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY AND
  CONSOLIDATED AFFILIATES
"Earnings"(a)........................  $ 5,621   $ 5,679   $ 6,026   $ 6,287   $ 8,831      $2,121
Plus: Interest and other financial
      charges included in expense....    5,397     5,270     4,512     4,096     4,994       1,678
      One-third of rental
  expense(c).........................      240       261       320       349       327          80
                                       -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   ------------
Adjusted "earnings"..................  $11,258   $11,210   $10,858   $10,732   $14,152      $3,879
                                       =======   =======   =======   =======   =======   ===========
Fixed Charges:
  Interest and other financial
     charges.........................  $ 5,397   $ 5,270   $ 4,512   $ 4,096   $ 4,994      $1,678
  Interest capitalized...............       46        41        35        26        30           4
  One-third of rental expense(c).....      240       261       320       349       327          80
                                       -------   -------   -------   -------   -------   ------------
  Total fixed charges................  $ 5,683   $ 5,572   $ 4,867   $ 4,471   $ 5,351      $1,762
                                       =======   =======   =======   =======   =======   ===========
  Ratio of earnings to fixed
     charges.........................     1.98      2.01      2.23      2.40      2.64        2.20
                                       =======   =======   =======   =======   =======   ===========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(a) Earnings for all years consist of earnings from continuing operations before
    income taxes and minority interest. For 1991 and 1993, earnings are before
    cumulative effects of changes in accounting principle.
 
(b) Earnings for all years consist of earnings from continuing operations after
    income taxes. For 1991, earnings are from continuing operations before
    cumulative effect of change in accounting principle.
 
(c) Considered to be representative of interest factor in rental expense.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                EXHIBIT 24(a)

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned, being 
directors and/or officers of General Electric Capital Services, Inc., a 
Delaware corporation (the "Corporation"), hereby constitutes and appoints Gary 
C. Wendt, James A. Parke, Jeffrey S. Werner and Burton J. Kloster, Jr., and 
each of them, his or her true and lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full 
power of substitution and resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her 
name, place and stead in any and all capacities, to execute in the name of each 
such person and to file on behalf of the Corporation (i) a Registration 
Statement on Form S-3 under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 
"Securities Act"), with respect to $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 
the Corporation's Guaranteed Subordinated Debt Securities and (ii) any and all 
amendments and post-effective amendments to such Registration Statement as such 
person or persons executing the same pursuant to this Power of Attorney may
approve.

        This Power of Attorney may be signed in any number of counterparts, 
each of which shall constitute an original and all of which, taken together, 
shall constitute one Power of Attorney.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has hereunto set his or her 
hand this 29th day of June, 1995.


GARY C. WENDT                               JAMES A. PARKE
- ----------------------------------          -----------------------------------
Gary C. Wendt                               James A. Parke
Chairman of the Board, President            Senior Vice President, Finance
  and Chief Executive Officer                 (Principal Financial Officer)
  (Principal Executive Officer)


JEFFREY S. WERNER                           JOAN C. AMBLE
- ----------------------------------          -----------------------------------
Jeffrey S. Werner                           Joan C. Amble
Senior Vice President - Corporate           Vice President and Controller
  Treasury and Global Funding                 (Principal Accounting Officer)
  Operation


KAJ AHLMANN                                 NIGEL D.T. ANDREWS
- ----------------------------------          -----------------------------------
Kaj Ahlmann                                 Nigel D.T. Andrews
Director                                    Director

<PAGE>   2
JAMES R. BUNT                         DENNIS D. DAMMERMAN          
- ---------------------------           ---------------------------  
James R. Bunt                         Dennis D. Dammerman          
Director                              Director                     
                                                                   

PAOLO FRESCO                          DALE F. FREY                 
- ---------------------------           ---------------------------  
Paolo Fresco                          Dale F. Frey                 
Director                              Director                     
                                                                   

BENJAMIN W. HEINEMAN, JR.             BURTON J. KLOSTER, JR.       
- ---------------------------           ---------------------------  
Benjamin W. Heineman, Jr.             Burton J. Kloster, Jr.       
Director                              Director                     
                                                                   

HUGH J. MURPHY                        MICHAEL A. NEAL              
- ---------------------------           ---------------------------  
Hugh J. Murphy                        Michael A. Neal              
Director                              Director                     
                                                                   

                                      EDWARD D. STEWART            
- ---------------------------           ---------------------------  
John M. Samuels                       Edward D. Stewart            
Director                              Director                     



- ---------------------------
John F. Welch, Jr.
Director





<PAGE>   1

                                                                  EXHIBIT 24(b)

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY

        KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS, that each of the undersigned, being 
directors and/or officers of General Electric Company, a New York corporation 
(the "Company"), hereby constitutes and appoints Benjamin W. Heineman, Jr., 
Dennis D. Dammerman, and Philip D. Ameen and each of them, his or her true and 
lawful attorney-in-fact and agent, with full power of substitution and 
resubstitution, for him or her and in his or her name, place and stead in any 
and all capacities, to sign one or more Registration Statements under the 
Securities Act of 1933, as amended on Form S-3 or such other form as such 
attorneys-in-fact may deem necessary or desirable, any amendments thereto, and 
all post-effective amendments and supplements to such registration statement or 
statements, all for use in connection with the registration for offering and 
sale (a) of up to $300 million (or the equivalent thereof in foreign or 
composite currencies) in aggregate principal amount of the Guaranteed 
Subordinated Debt Securities (the "Securities") of General Electric Capital 
Services, Inc., a wholly-owned direct subsidiary of the Company; and (b) of the 
guaranty of the Company guaranteeing the payment of all principal of, premium, 
if any, and interest on the Securities, and to file the same with all exhibits 
thereto and other documents in connection therewith with the Securities and 
Exchange Commission, granting unto said attorneys'-in-fact and agents, and each 
of them, full power and authority to do and perform each and every act and 
thing requisite and necessary to be done so that such Registration Statement 
or Registration Statements shall comply with the Securities and Exchange Act of 
1933, as amended, and the applicable Rules and Regulations of the Securities 
and Exchange Commission adopted or issued pursuant thereto, as fully and to all 
intents and purposes as he or she might or could do in person, hereby ratifying 
and confirming all that said attorneys-in-fact and agents, or any of them or 
their or his substitute or resubstitute, may lawfully do or cause to be done by 
virtue hereof.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, each of the undersigned has hereunto set his or her 
hand this 23rd day of June, 1995.


JOHN F. WELCH, JR.                           DENNIS D. DAMMERMAN
- ----------------------------------           ----------------------------------
John F. Welch, Jr.                           Dennis D. Dammerman
Chairman of the Board and                    Director and Senior Vice
Chief Executive Officer                      President - Finance
                                             (Principal Financial Officer)

                       PHILIP D. AMEEN
                       ----------------------------------
                       Philip D. Ameen
                       Vice President and Comptroller
                       (Principal Accounting Officer)

<PAGE>   2

                                             GERTRUDE G. MICHELSON
- ----------------------------------           ----------------------------------
H. Brewster Atwater, Jr.                     Gertrude G. Michelson
Director                                     Director


D. WAYNE CALLOWAY                            ROGER S. PENSKE
- ----------------------------------           ----------------------------------
D. Wayne Calloway                            Roger S. Penske
Director                                     Director


SILAS S. CATHCART                            BARBARA S. PREISKEL
- ----------------------------------           ----------------------------------
Silas S. Cathcart                            Barbara S. Preiskel
Director                                     Director


                                             FRANK H. T. RHODES
- ----------------------------------           ----------------------------------
Lawrence E. Fouraker                         Frank H. T. Rhodes
Director                                     Director


PAOLO FRESCO                                 ANDREW C. SIGLER
- ----------------------------------           ----------------------------------
Paolo Fresco                                 Andrew C. Sigler
Director                                     Director


CLAUDIO X. GONZALEZ                          
- ----------------------------------           ----------------------------------
Claudio X. Gonzalez                          Douglas A. Warner III
Director                                     Director


ROBERT E. MERCER
- ----------------------------------
Robert E. Mercer
Director


                      A MAJORITY OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS


<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 25



                                        Securities Act of 1933 File No.
                                                                       --------
                                        (If application to determine eligibility
                                        of trustee for delayed offering pursuant
                                        to  Section 305 (b)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                       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
                             (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

                                   13-2633612
                    (I.R.S. Employer Identification Number)

                  1 CHASE MANHATTAN PLAZA, NEW YORK, NEW YORK
                   (Address of  principal executive offices)

                                     10081
                                   (Zip Code)

                                    --------

  GENERAL ELECTRIC CAPITAL SERVICES INC.          GENERAL ELECTRIC COMPANY
  (Exact name of obligor as specified       (Exact name of obligor as specified 
             in its charter)                           in its charter)

               DELAWARE                                  NEW YORK
(State or other jurisdiction of                 (State or other jurisdiction of 
  incorporation or organization                   incorporation or organization)

             06-1109503                                 14-0689340
(I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)        (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)

      260  LONG RIDGE ROAD                           3135 EASTON TURNPIKE
          STAMFORD, CT                                  FAIRFIELD, CT
             06927                                        06431
 (Address and telephone number of              (Address and telephone number of 
  Registrant's principal executive             Registrant's principal executive
              offices)                                    offices)

                                    --------

                        GUARANTEED SUBORDINATED NOTES
                       GUARANTEES OF SUBORDINATED NOTES
                     (Title of the indenture securities)
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2


ITEM 1.  GENERAL INFORMATION.

                 Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

         (a)     Name and address of each examining or supervising  authority
                 to which it is subject.

                          Comptroller of the Currency, Washington, D.C.

                          Board of  Governors of The Federal Reserve System,
                          Washington, D. C.

         (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.

                 The Trustee is not the obligor, nor is the Trustee directly
                 or indirectly controlling, controlled by, or under common
                 control with the obligor.

                 (See Note on Page 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 .  (See Exhibit T-1 (Item 12) , Registration No.
                 33-59209.)
         *2. --  Copies of the respective authorizations of The Chase Manhattan
                 Bank (National Association) and The Chase Bank of New York
                 (National Association) to commence business and a copy  of
                 approval of merger of said corporations, all of which
                 documents are still in effect.  (See Exhibit T-1 (Item 12),
                 Registration No. 2-67437.)
         *3. --  Copies of authorizations of The Chase Manhattan Bank
                 (National Association) to exercise corporate trust powers,
                 both of which documents are still in effect.  (See Exhibit
                 T-1 (Item 12), Registration No. 2-67437).
         *4. --  A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.  (See Exhibit
                 T-1 (Item 12(a)), Registration No. 33-28806.)
         *5. --  A copy of each indenture referred to in Item 4, if the obligor
                 is in default. (Not applicable).
         *6. --  The  consents of United States institutional trustees required
                 by Section 321(b) of the Act.
                 (See Exhibit T-1, (Item 12), Registration No. 22-19019.)
          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.


___________________

         *The Exhibits thus designated are incorporated  herein by reference.
Following the description of such Exhibits is  a reference to the copy of the
Exhibit heretofore filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, to  which
there have been no amendments or changes.
                             ___________________
                                       1.
<PAGE>   3



                                      NOTE

          Inasmuch as this Form T-1 is filed prior to the ascertainment by the
trustee of all facts on which to base a responsive answer to Item 2 the answer
to said Item is based on incomplete information.

          Item 2 may, however, be considered as correct unless amended by an
amendment to this Form  T-1.



                                   SIGNATURE

          Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the
trustee, The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association), a corporation
organized and existing under  the laws of the United States of America, has
duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned, thereunto duly authorized , all in the City of New York, and the
State of New York, on the 13th day of July, 1995.




                                                   THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK
                                                   (NATIONAL ASSOCIATION)




                                                    By: /s/ MARY LEWICKI
                                                        ---------------------
                                                        Mary Lewicki
                                                        Second Vice President





                               _________________
                                       2
<PAGE>   4
                                                              EXHIBIT 7
REPORT OF CONDITION
Consolidating domestic and foreign subsidiaries of the
                                                  THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, N.A.
of New York in the State of New York, at the close of business on March 31,
1995, published in response to call made by Comptroller of the Currency, under
title 12, United States Code, Section 161.

CHARTER NUMBER 2370                                         COMPTROLLER OF THE
                                                 CURRENCY NORTHEASTERN DISTRICT 
STATEMENT OF RESOURCES AND LIABILITIES
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                          THOUSANDS
                                                 ASSETS                                                  OF DOLLARS
<S>                                                                                  <C>              <C>
 Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
     Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin                                                $  4,264,000
     Interest-bearing balances                                                                            6,755,000
 Held to maturity securities                                                                              1,571,000
 Available-for-sale securities                                                                            4,687,000
 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 IBFs:
     Federal funds sold                                                                                   2,502,000
     Securities purchased under agreements to resell                                                         35,000
 Loans and lease financing receivable:
     Loans and leases, net of unearned income                                          $ 52,831,000
     LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses                                            1,078,000
     LESS:  Allocated transfer risk reserve
                                                                                       ------------
                                                                                                  0
                                                                                       ------------
 Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve                                        51,753,000
 Assets held in trading accounts                                                                         17,278,000
 Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)                                                 1,785,000
 Other real estate owned                                                                                    441,000
 Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies                                         46,000
 Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding                                             1,077,000
 Intangible assets                                                                                          809,000
 Other assets                                                                                             6,346,000
                                                                                                        -----------
 TOTAL ASSETS                                                                                           $99,349,000
                                                                                                        ===========
     LIABILITIES
 Deposits:
     In domestic offices                                                                              $  28,080,000
       Noninterest-bearing                                                           $  10,224,000
       Interest-bearing
                                                                                               ---
                                                                                        17,856,000
                                                                                        ----------
     In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs                                       35,906,000
       Noninterest-bearing                                                              $2,695,000
       Interest-bearing                                                                        ---
                                                                                        33,211,000
                                                                                        ----------
 Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements to repurchase in
     domestic offices of the bank and of its Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and
     in IBFs:
     Federal funds purchased                                                                              2,086,000
     Securities sold under agreements to repurchase                                                         158,000
 Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury                                                                   194,000
 Trading liabilities                                                                                     13,545,000
 Other borrowed money:
 With original maturity of one year or less                                                               2,122,000
 With original maturity of more than one year                                                               429,000
 Mortgage indebtedness and obligations under capitalized leases                                              40,000
 Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding                                                 1,081,000
 Subordinated notes and debentures                                                                        2,360,000
 Other liabilities                                                                                        6,300,000
                                                                                                         ----------
 TOTAL LIABILITIES                                                                                       92,301,000
                                                                                                         ----------
 Limited-life preferred stock and related surplus                                                                 0

       EQUITY CAPITAL
 Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus                                                                    0
 Common stock                                                                                               917,000
 Surplus                                                                                                  4,666,000
 Undivided profits and capital reserves                                                                   1,552,000
 Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities                                    (98,000)
 Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments                                                         11,000
                                                                                                       ------------
 TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL                                                                                     7,048,000
                                                                                                       ------------
 TOTAL LIABILITIES, LIMITED-LIFE PREFERRED STOCK,
       AND EQUITY CAPITAL                                                                              $ 99,349,000
                                                                                                       ============
</TABLE>

I, Lester J. Stephens, Jr., Senior Vice President and Controller of the above 
named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition is true and correct 
to the best of my knowledge and belief.


                                              (Signed) Lester J. Stephens, Jr.


We the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this statement of 
resources and liabilities.  We declare that it has been examined by us, and to 
the best of our knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the
instructions and is true and correct.

(Signed) Thomas G. Labrecque
(Signed) Arthur F. Ryan                     Directors
(Signed) Richard J. Boyle



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