SUN MICROSYSTEMS INC
S-3/A, 1999-07-14
ELECTRONIC COMPUTERS
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<PAGE>   1


     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON JULY 14, 1999



                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-81101

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

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------


                                AMENDMENT NO. 1


                                       TO


                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------

                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

<TABLE>
<S>                                                    <C>
                       DELAWARE                                              94-2805249
           (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                                (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
            INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                              IDENTIFICATION NO.)
</TABLE>

                              901 SAN ANTONIO ROAD
                          PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94303
                                 (650) 960-1300
         (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING
            AREA CODE, OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)

                                SCOTT G. MCNEALY
                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
                              901 SAN ANTONIO ROAD
                          PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94303
                                 (650) 960-1300
           (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
                   INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

                                   COPIES TO:
                               JOHN A. FORE, ESQ.
           WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI, PROFESSIONAL CORPORATION
                               650 PAGE MILL ROAD
                          PALO ALTO, CALIFORNIA 94304
                                 (650) 493-9300

        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
   From time to time after the effective date of this Registration Statement.

    If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box.  [ ]

    If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box.  [X]

    If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.  [ ]
- ---------------

    If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, please 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.  [ ]


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


    THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SEC, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY
DETERMINE.

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- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>   2


THE INFORMATION IN THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT COMPLETE AND MAY BE CHANGED. WE MAY
NOT SELL THE SECURITIES UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION IS EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS IS NOT AN OFFER
TO SELL THESE SECURITIES AND IS NOT SOLICITING AN OFFER TO BUY THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE WHERE THE OFFER OR SALE IS NOT PERMITTED.



                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED JULY 14, 1999


PROSPECTUS

                                 $4,000,000,000

                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

                      BY THIS PROSPECTUS, WE MAY OFFER --

                                  COMMON STOCK
                                PREFERRED STOCK
                                DEBT SECURITIES

     SEE "RISK FACTORS" ON PAGE 5 FOR INFORMATION YOU SHOULD CONSIDER BEFORE
BUYING THE SECURITIES.

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

     We will provide specific terms of these securities in supplements to this
prospectus. You should read this prospectus and any supplement carefully before
you invest.

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

     This prospectus may not be used to offer and sell securities unless
accompanied by a prospectus supplement.

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

     NEITHER THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION NOR ANY STATE SECURITIES
COMMISSION HAS APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED OF THESE SECURITIES OR DETERMINED IF THIS
PROSPECTUS IS TRUTHFUL OR COMPLETE. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


                     This prospectus is dated July   , 1999

<PAGE>   3

                                    SUMMARY

     This prospectus is part of a registration statement that we filed with the
SEC utilizing a "shelf" registration process. Under this shelf process, we may,
from time to time, sell in one or more offerings up to a total dollar amount of
$4,000,000,000 of any combination of the following securities:

     - shares of our common stock,

     - shares of our preferred stock, and

     - our debt securities.

     This prospectus provides you with a general description of the securities
we may offer. Each time we sell securities, we will provide a prospectus
supplement that will contain specific information about the terms of that
offering, including the specific amounts, prices and terms of the securities
offered. The prospectus supplement may also add, update or change information
contained in this prospectus. You should read both this prospectus and any
prospectus supplement together with additional information described below under
the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

     We were originally incorporated in California in February 1982. In
September 1986, we were reincorporated in Delaware. Our principal executive
offices are located at 901 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, California 94303. Our
telephone number is (650) 960-1300.

COMMON STOCK

     We may issue shares of common stock. Common stockholders are entitled to
receive dividends declared by the Board of Directors, subject to rights of
preferred stock holders. Currently, we do not pay a dividend. Each holder of
common stock is entitled to one vote per share. The holders of common stock have
no preemptive rights.

PREFERRED STOCK

     We may issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock under our
certificate of incorporation, without further stockholder action, in one or more
series. We will determine the dividend, voting, and conversion rights, and other
provisions at the time of sale.

DEBT SECURITIES

     We may offer unsecured general obligations in the form of either senior or
subordinated debt. The senior debt securities and the subordinated debt
securities are together referred to in this prospectus as the "debt securities".
The senior debt securities will have the same rank as all of our other
unsecured, unsubordinated debt. The subordinated debt securities will be
entitled to payment only after payment on our senior debt. Senior debt generally
includes all indebtedness for money borrowed by us, except indebtedness that is
stated to be not senior to, or to have the same rank as, or is expressly junior
to the subordinated debt securities.


     The senior and subordinated debt will be issued under separate indentures
between us and The Bank of New York, as trustee. We have summarized the general
features of the debt from the indentures. We encourage you to read the
indentures which are exhibits to our Registration Statement No. (333-81101) and
our annual report on Form 10-K, and quarterly reports on Form 10-Q, in each
case, as amended. Instructions on how you can get copies of these documents are
provided below under the heading "Where You Can Find More Information."

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<PAGE>   4

GENERAL INDENTURE PROVISIONS THAT APPLY TO SENIOR AND SUBORDINATED DEBT

     - Neither indenture limits the amount of debt that we may issue or provides
       holders any protection should there be a highly leveraged transaction
       involving our company.

     - The indentures generally allow us to merge or to consolidate with another
       U.S. company or convey, transfer or lease our properties and assets
       substantially as an entirety to another U.S. company, so long as the
       successor assumes our obligations under the indentures and immediately
       after giving effect to the transaction we are not in default under the
       indentures. If these events occur, the other company will be required to
       assume our responsibilities on the debt, and we will be released from all
       liabilities and obligations, except in the case of a lease.

     - The indentures provide that holders of a majority of the total principal
       amount of the debt outstanding in any series may vote to change our
       obligations or your rights concerning the debt. But to change the payment
       of principal, interest, or adversely effect the right to convert or
       certain other matters, every holder in that series must consent.

     - We may discharge the indentures and defease restrictive covenants by
       depositing sufficient funds with the trustee to pay the obligations when
       due, as long as we are not in default under the indentures at that time.
       All amounts due to you on the debt would be paid by the trustee from the
       deposited funds.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     The following are the events of default under the indentures:

     - Principal not paid when due,

     - Sinking fund payment not made when due,

     - Failure to pay interest for 30 days,

     - Covenants not performed for 90 days after notice,

     - Bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, and

     - Any other event of default in the indenture.

REMEDY

     Upon an event of default, other than a bankruptcy, insolvency or
reorganization, the trustee or holders of 25% of the principal amount
outstanding in a series may declare principal immediately payable. However, the
holders of a majority in principal amount may rescind this action.

GENERAL INDENTURE PROVISIONS THAT APPLY ONLY TO SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES

     The indenture relating to the senior debt securities contains covenants
restricting our ability to incur secured debt and our ability to sell or
transfer our property to a lender or investor, which then, either directly or
indirectly, leases the property back to us.

GENERAL INDENTURE PROVISIONS THAT APPLY ONLY TO SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

     The subordinated debt securities will be subordinated to all senior debt.
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                      WHERE YOU CAN FIND MORE INFORMATION

     We file annual, quarterly and special reports, proxy statements and other
information with the SEC. You may read and copy materials that we have filed
with the SEC, including the registration statement, at the following SEC
reference rooms:

<TABLE>
<S>                        <C>                       <C>
 450 Fifth Street, N.W.      7 World Trade Center     500 West Madison Street
        Room 1024                 Suite 1300                Suite 1400
  Washington, DC 20549     New York, New York 10048   Chicago, Illinois 60661
</TABLE>

     Our common stock is quoted on the Nasdaq National Market under the symbol
"SUNW," and our SEC filings can also be read at the following Nasdaq address:

                               Nasdaq Operations
                              1735 K Street, N.W.
                             Washington, D.C. 20006

     The SEC allows us to "incorporate by reference" the information we filed
with them, which means that we can disclose important information by referring
you to those documents. The information incorporated by reference is an
important part of this prospectus, and information that we file later with the
SEC will automatically update and supersede this information. We incorporate by
reference the documents listed below:

     - Our Annual Report on Form 10-K for our fiscal year ended June 30, 1998,
       filed with the SEC on September 25, 1998, which we amended by filing an
       amendment on Form 10-K/A with the SEC on June 15, 1999.

     - Our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the:

       - quarter ended September 27, 1998, filed with the SEC on November 10,
         1998;

       - quarter ended December 27, 1998, filed with the SEC on February 9,
         1999, which we amended by filing an amendment on Form 10-Q/A with the
         SEC on June 15, 1999; and


       - quarter ended March 28, 1999, filed with the SEC on May 5, 1999.


     - The description of our common stock contained in our registration
       statement on Form 8-A, filed with the SEC on October 24, 1986, including
       any amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating that
       description.

     - The description of our share purchase rights contained in our
       registration statement on Form 8-A filed with the SEC on May 22, 1999,
       and any amendments or reports filed for purpose of updating that
       description.

     In addition to the documents listed above, we also incorporate by reference
any future filings we make with the SEC under Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)
of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, until we have sold all of the offered
securities to which this prospectus relates or the offering is otherwise
terminated.

     You may request a copy of these filings, at no cost, by writing us at the
following address or telephoning us at (650) 960-1300 between 8:00 a.m. and 5:00
p.m., California local time:

                         Investor Relations Department
                             Sun Microsystems, Inc.
                              901 San Antonio Road
                          Palo Alto, California 94303

     You should rely only on the information incorporated by reference or
provided in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement. We have not authorized
anyone else to provide
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<PAGE>   6

you with different information. We are not making an offer of these securities
in any state where the offer is not permitted. You should not assume the
information in this prospectus or any prospectus supplement is accurate as of
any date other than the date on the front of those documents.
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<PAGE>   7

                                  RISK FACTORS

     You should consider carefully the specific risks set forth under the
caption "Risk Factors" in the prospectus supplement before making an investment
decision.


IF WE ARE UNABLE TO COMPETE EFFECTIVELY WITH EXISTING OR NEW COMPETITORS, OUR
RESULTING LOSS OF COMPETITIVE POSITION COULD RESULT IN PRICE REDUCTIONS, FEWER
CUSTOMER ORDERS, REDUCED REVENUES, REDUCED MARGINS, REDUCED LEVELS OF
PROFITABILITY AND LOSS OF MARKET SHARE.



     We compete in the hardware and software products and services markets.
These markets are intensely competitive. If we fail to compete successfully in
these markets, the demand for our products would decrease. Any reduction in
demand could lead to a decrease in the prices of our products, fewer customer
orders, reduced revenues, reduced margins, reduced levels of profitability and
loss of market share. These competitive pressures could seriously harm our
business and operating results.


     Our competitors are some of the largest, most successful companies in the
world. They include HP, IBM, Compaq and EMC. Our future competitive performance
depends on a number of factors, including our ability to:

     - continually develop and introduce new products and services with better
       prices and performance than offered by our competitors;


     - offer a wide range of products and solutions from small single-processor
       systems to large complex enterprise-level systems;


     - offer solutions to customers that operate effectively within a computing
       environment that includes hardware and software from multiple vendors;

     - offer products that are reliable and that ensure the security of data and
       information;

     - create products for which third party software vendors will develop a
       wide range of applications; and

     - offer high quality products and services.

     We also compete with systems manufacturers and resellers of systems based
on microprocessors from Intel and Windows NT operating system software from
Microsoft. These competitors include Dell, HP and Compaq, in addition to Intel
and Microsoft. This competition creates increased pressure, including pricing
pressure, on our workstation and lower-end server product lines. We expect this
competitive pressure to intensify considerably during our fiscal year 2000 with
the anticipated releases of new software products from Microsoft and new
microprocessors from Intel.


     The computer systems that we sell are made up of many products and
components, including workstations, servers, storage products, microprocessors,
the Solaris(TM) operating system and other software products. In addition, we
sell some of these components separately and as add-ons to installed systems. If
we are unable to offer products and services that compete successfully with the
products and services offered by our competitors or that meet the complex needs
of our customers, our business and operating results could be seriously harmed.
In addition, if in responding to competitive pressures, we are forced to lower
the prices of our products and services and we are unable to reduce our
component costs or improve operating efficiencies, our business and operating
results would be seriously harmed.



     Over the last two years, we have invested significantly in our storage
products business with a view to increasing the sales of these products both on
a stand-alone basis to customers using the systems of our competitors and as
part of the systems that we sell.


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<PAGE>   8


The intelligent storage products business is intensely competitive. EMC is
currently the leader in this market. To the extent we are unable to penetrate
this market and compete effectively, our business and operating results could be
seriously harmed. In addition, we will be making significant investments over
the next few years to develop, market and sell software products under our
recent alliance with AOL and have agreed to significant minimum revenue
commitments. These alliance products are targeted at the e-commerce market and
are strategic to our ability to successfully compete in this market. If we are
unable to successfully compete in this market, our business and operating
results could be seriously harmed.



THE PRODUCTS WE MAKE ARE VERY COMPLEX AND IF WE ARE UNABLE TO RAPIDLY AND
SUCCESSFULLY DEVELOP AND INTRODUCE NEW PRODUCTS, WE WILL NOT BE ABLE TO SATISFY
CUSTOMER DEMAND.



     We operate in a highly competitive, quickly changing environment, and our
future success depends on our ability to develop and introduce new products that
our customers choose to buy. If we are unable to develop new products, our
business and operating results would be seriously harmed. We must quickly
develop, introduce and deliver in quantity new complex systems, software and
hardware products and components including our Ultra SPARC(TM) microprocessors,
the Solaris operating system, our intelligent storage products and other
software products, such as those products under development or to be developed
under our recent alliance with AOL. The development process for these
complicated products is very uncertain. It requires high levels of innovation
from both our product designers and our suppliers of the components used in our
products. The development process is also lengthy and costly. If we fail to
accurately anticipate our customers' needs and technological trends or are
otherwise unable to complete the development of a product on a timely basis, we
will be unable to introduce new products into the market on a timely basis, if
at all, and our business and operating results would be adversely affected. In
addition, the successful development of software products under our alliance
with AOL depends on many factors, including our ability to work effectively
within the alliance on complex product development and any encumbrances that may
arise from time to time that may prevent us from developing, marketing or
selling these alliance software products. If we are unable to successfully
develop or market or sell the alliance software products, our business and
operating results could be seriously harmed.


     The manufacture and introduction of our new hardware and software products
is also a complicated process. Once we have developed a new product we face the
following challenges in the manufacturing process:

     - We must be able to manufacture new products in high enough volumes so
       that we can have an adequate supply of new products to meet customer
       demand;

     - We must be able to manufacture the new products at acceptable costs. This
       requires us to be able to accurately forecast customer demand so that we
       can procure the appropriate components at optimal costs. Forecasting
       demand requires us to predict order volumes, the correct mixes of our
       software and hardware products and the correct configurations of these
       products;


     - We must manage new product introductions so that we can minimize the
       impact of customers delaying purchases of existing products in
       anticipation of the new product


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       release. We must also try to reduce the levels of older product and
       component inventories to minimize inventory write-offs; and


     - We may also decide to adjust prices of our existing products during this
       process in order to try to increase customer demand for these products.
       If we are introducing new products at the same time or shortly after the
       price adjustment, this will complicate our ability to anticipate customer
       demand for our new products.

If we were unable to timely develop, manufacture and introduce new products in
sufficient quantity to meet customer demand at acceptable costs or if we were
unable to correctly anticipate customer demand for our new products, our
business and operating results could be significantly harmed.


OUR RELIANCE ON SINGLE SOURCE SUPPLIERS COULD DELAY PRODUCT SHIPMENTS AND
INCREASE OUR COSTS.


     We depend on many suppliers for the necessary parts and components to
manufacture our products. There are a number of vendors producing the parts and
components that we need. However, there are some components that can only be
purchased from a single vendor due to price, quality or technology reasons. For
example, we depend on Sony for various monitors and on Texas Instruments for our
SPARC microprocessors. If we were unable to purchase the necessary parts and
components from a particular vendor and we had to find a new supplier for such
parts and components, our new and existing product shipments could be delayed,
severely affecting our business and operating results.


OUR FUTURE OPERATING RESULTS DEPEND ON OUR ABILITY TO PURCHASE A SUFFICIENT
AMOUNT OF COMPONENTS TO MEET THE DEMANDS OF OUR CUSTOMERS.



     We depend heavily on our suppliers to timely design, manufacture and
deliver the necessary components for our products. While many of the components
we purchase are standard, we do purchase some components, specifically color
monitors and custom memory integrated circuits such as SRAMS and VRAMS, that
require long lead times to manufacture and deliver. Long lead times make it
difficult for us to plan component inventory levels in order to meet the
customer demand for our products. In addition, in the past, we have experienced
shortages in certain of our components (specifically DRAMS and SRAMS). If a
component delivery from a supplier is delayed, if we experience a shortage in
one or more components or if we are unable to provide for adequate levels of
component inventory our new and existing product shipments could be delayed and
our business and operating results could suffer.



SINCE WE ORDER OUR COMPONENTS (AND IN SOME CASES COMMIT TO PURCHASE) FROM
SUPPLIERS IN ADVANCE OF RECEIPT OF CUSTOMER ORDERS FOR OUR PRODUCTS WHICH
INCLUDE THESE COMPONENTS, WE FACE A SUBSTANTIAL INVENTORY RISK.


     As part of our component inventory planning, we frequently pay certain
suppliers well in advance of receipt of customer orders. For example, we often
enter into noncancelable purchase commitments with vendors early in the
manufacturing process of our microprocessors to make sure we have enough of
these components for our new products to meet customer demand. Because the
design and manufacturing process for these components is very complicated it is
possible that we could experience a design or manufacturing flaw that could
delay or even prevent the production of the components for which we have
previously committed to pay. We also face the risk of ordering too many
components, or conversely, not enough components, since the orders are based on
the forecasts of customer orders rather than actual orders. If we cannot change
or be released from the noncancelable purchase commitments, we could incur
significant costs from the

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<PAGE>   10

purchase of unusable components, due to a delay in the production of the
components or as a result of inaccurately predicting component orders in advance
of customer orders. Our business and operating results could be seriously harmed
as a result of these increased costs.


DELAYS IN PRODUCT DEVELOPMENT OR CUSTOMER ACCEPTANCE AND IMPLEMENTATION OF NEW
PRODUCTS AND TECHNOLOGIES COULD SERIOUSLY HARM OUR BUSINESS.


     Delays in product development and customer acceptance and implementation of
new products could seriously harm our business. Delays in the development and
introduction of our products may occur for various reasons including the
following:

     - Delays in software development could delay shipments of related new
       hardware products. Generally, the computer systems we sell to customers
       incorporate hardware and software products that we sell, such as the
       UltraSPARC microprocessor, the Solaris operating system and intelligent
       storage products. Any delay in the development of the software and
       hardware included in our systems, could delay our shipment of these
       systems.

     - If customers decided to delay the adoption and implementation of new
       releases of our Solaris operating system this could also delay customer
       acceptance of new hardware products tied to that release. Adopting a new
       release of an operating system requires a great deal of time and money
       for a customer to convert its systems to the new release. The customer
       must also work with software vendors who port their software applications
       to the new operating system and make sure these applications will run on
       the new operating system. As a result, customers may decide to delay
       their adoption of a new release of an operating system because of the
       cost of a new system and the effort involved to implement it. Also,
       customers may wait to implement new systems until after January 1, 2000
       so that there is less likelihood of Year 2000 computer problems.


IF WE ARE UNABLE TO CONTINUE GENERATING SUBSTANTIAL REVENUES FROM INTERNATIONAL
SALES OUR BUSINESS COULD BE SUBSTANTIALLY HARMED.



     Currently, approximately half of our revenues come from international
sales. Our ability to sell our products internationally is subject to the
following risks:


     - general economic and political conditions in each country could adversely
       affect demand for our products and services in these markets, as recently
       occurred in certain Asian and Latin American markets.


     - currency exchange rate fluctuations could result in lower demand for our
       products as well as currency translation losses.


     - changes to and compliance with a variety of foreign laws and regulations
       may increase our cost of doing business in these jurisdictions.


     - trade protection measures and import and export licensing requirements
       subject us to additional regulation, may prevent us from shipping
       products to a particular market and increase our operating costs.


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<PAGE>   11


WE EXPECT OUR QUARTERLY REVENUES AND OPERATING RESULTS TO FLUCTUATE FOR A NUMBER
OF REASONS.


     Future operating results will continue to be subject to quarterly
fluctuations based on a wide variety of factors including:


     - Seasonality. Our operating results usually fluctuate downward in the
       first and third quarters of each fiscal year due to customer buying
       patterns for hardware and software products and services.


     - Increases in Operating Expenses. Our operating expenses will continue to
       increase as we continue to expand our operations. Our operating results
       could suffer if our revenues do not increase at least as fast as our
       expenses.


     - Acquisitions/Alliances. If, in the future, we acquire technologies,
       products or businesses, or we form alliances with companies requiring
       technology investments or revenue commitments (such as our recent
       alliance with AOL), we will face a number of risks to our business. The
       risks we may encounter include those associated with integrating or
       co-managing operations, personnel, and technologies acquired or licensed,
       and the potential for unknown liabilities of the acquired or combined
       business. Also, we will include amortization expense of acquired
       intangible assets in our financial statements for several years following
       these acquisitions. Our business and operating results on a quarterly
       basis could be harmed if our acquisition or alliance activities are not
       successful.



     - Significant Customers. Only one of our customers accounted for more than
       10% of our revenues in fiscal 1998. Sales to this customer accounted for
       approximately 14% of our fiscal 1998 revenues. Our business could suffer
       if this customer or another significant customer terminated its business
       relationship with us or significantly reduced the amount of business it
       did with us.



OUR FAILURE OR THE FAILURE OF OUR BUSINESS PARTNERS AND CUSTOMERS TO BE YEAR
2000 COMPLIANT COULD HARM OUR BUSINESS.


     - We cannot be sure that we will be able to successfully modify on a timely
       basis our products, services and systems to comply with Year 2000
       requirements. Our business could suffer if we fail to make our products
       and services Year 2000 compliant in time.

     - We cannot be sure that our current products do not contain undetected
       errors or defects associated with Year 2000 functions that may result in
       material costs to us.

     - Our expenses may increase if we need to upgrade or perform other
       remediation on products that our customers are using that are not Year
       2000 compliant. However, we do not believe we are legally responsible,
       other than as provided in our limited warranties, for the costs incurred
       by our customers to become Year 2000 compliant.


     - We are in the process of developing contingency plans to deal with
       potential Year 2000 problems that we are aware of at this time. We hope
       that these contingency plans will be completed during the first quarter
       of our fiscal year 2000. If these plans are not timely completed or if
       they are not successful or if new Year 2000 problems not covered by our
       contingency plans emerge, our business and operating results may be
       seriously harmed.


     - Our business may suffer if customers become dissatisfied with our
       products and services as a result of Year 2000 issues.


     - Our business could be harmed if customers delay purchasing our products
       during the first half of our fiscal year 2000 because of year 2000
       concerns, or if our


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<PAGE>   12


       customers are unable to conduct their business or are prevented from
       placing orders or paying us because of their own year 2000 problem.



     - Our business could suffer if any of our suppliers or the suppliers of
       others with whom we do business with cannot timely provide us with
       products, components, services or systems that meet the Year 2000
       requirements. A reasonably likely worst case scenario would be if one of
       our major vendors experienced a material disruption in business, which
       caused us to experience a material disruption in our business.


     - If either our internal systems or the internal systems, products or
       services of one or more of our major vendors (including banks, energy
       suppliers and transportation providers) fail to achieve Year 2000
       compliance, our business could be harmed.


     - A significant amount of litigation may arise out of Year 2000 compliance
       issues and we cannot be sure about the extent to which we may be affected
       by any of this litigation. Even though we do not believe that we are
       legally responsible for our customer's Year 2000 compliance obligations,
       it is unclear whether different governments or governmental agencies may
       decide to allocate liability relating to Year 2000 compliance to us
       without regard to specific warranties or warranty disclaimers. Our
       business could suffer in any given quarter if any liability is allocated
       to us.



     - We do not know how customer spending patterns may be affected by Year
       2000 issues. We believe, however, that customers will focus on preparing
       their businesses for the Year 2000 and that their capital budgets will be
       spent in large part on remediation efforts, potentially delaying the
       purchase and implementation of new systems, and thereby creating less
       demand for our products and services.


     A significant disruption of our financial management and control systems or
a lengthy interruption in our operations caused by a Year 2000 related issue
could result in a material adverse impact on our operating results and financial
condition. In addition, it is possible that a supplier's failure to ensure Year
2000 capability or our customer's concerns about Year 2000 readiness of our
products would have a material adverse effect on our results of operations.


OUR ACQUISITION AND ALLIANCE ACTIVITIES COULD DISRUPT OUR ONGOING BUSINESS.


     We intend to continue to make investments in companies, products and
technologies, either through acquisitions or investment alliances. For example,
we have purchased several companies in the past and formed alliances, including
our recent alliance with AOL. Acquisitions and alliance activities often involve
risks, including:

     - we may experience difficulty in assimilating the acquired operations and
       employees;

     - we may experience difficulty in managing product co-development
       activities with our alliance partners.

     - we may be unable to retain the key employees of the acquired operation;

     - the acquisition or investment may disrupt our ongoing business;

     - we may not be able to incorporate successfully the acquired technology
       and operations into our business and maintain uniform standards,
       controls, policies and procedures; and

     - we may lack the experience to enter into new markets, products or
       technologies.

     Some of these factors are beyond our control. Failure to manage these
alliance activities effectively and to integrate acquisitions would affect our
operating results or financial condition.

                                       10
<PAGE>   13


WE DEPEND ON KEY EMPLOYEES AND FACE COMPETITION IN HIRING AND RETAINING
QUALIFIED EMPLOYEES.


     Our employees are vital to our success, and our key management, engineering
and other employees are difficult to replace. We generally do not have
employment contracts with our key employees. Further, we do not maintain key
person life insurance on any of our employees. The expansion of high technology
companies in Silicon Valley and Colorado, as well as many other cities, has
increased demand and competition for qualified personnel. We may not be able to
attract, assimilate or retain additional highly qualified employees in the
future. These factors could harm our business.

                                       11
<PAGE>   14

                                USE OF PROCEEDS

     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable prospectus supplement, we
anticipate that any net proceeds from the sale of securities offered by this
prospectus will be used to fund expansion of our business, including for:

     - additional working capital,

     - capital expenditures,

     - acquisitions of products, technologies and businesses, and

     - general corporate purposes.

     When we offer a particular series of securities offered by this prospectus,
the prospectus supplement relating to that offering will set forth the intended
use of the net proceeds received from that offering. Pending the application of
the net proceeds, we expect to invest the proceeds from the sale of offered
securities in interest-bearing securities.

                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     The ratio of earnings to fixed charges for each of the periods indicated is
as follows:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                   NINE MONTHS ENDED
                                               FISCAL YEAR ENDED JUNE 30,        ---------------------
                                          ------------------------------------   MARCH 29,   MARCH 29,
                                          1994   1995    1996    1997    1998      1998        1999
                                          ----   -----   -----   -----   -----   ---------   ---------
<S>                                       <C>    <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>     <C>         <C>
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges......   5.6x   11.3x   15.1x   21.4x   16.6x    14.7x       17.6x
</TABLE>

     These computations include us and our consolidated subsidiaries. For these
ratios, "earnings" represents income before taxes plus fixed charges. Fixed
charges consists of (1) interest expense discount and expense, (2) capitalized
interest and (3) an interest factor attributable to rentals.

                       DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES

     The debt securities will either be our senior debt securities or our
subordinated debt securities. The debt securities will be issued under one or
more separate indentures between us and The Bank of New York, as trustee. Senior
debt securities will be issued under a senior indenture and subordinated debt
securities will be issued under a subordinated indenture. Together, the senior
indenture and subordinated indenture are called indentures. The prospectus,
together with its prospectus supplement, will describe all the material terms of
a particular series of debt securities.

     The following is a summary of the most important provisions and definitions
of the indentures. For additional information, you should look at the applicable
indenture that is filed as an exhibit to the registration statement which
includes this prospectus. In this description of the debt securities, the words
"Sun", "we", "us" or "our" refer only to Sun Microsystems, Inc. and not to any
of our subsidiaries.

GENERAL

     Debt securities may be issued in separate series without limitation as to
aggregate principal amount. We may specify a maximum aggregate principal amount
for the debt securities of any series. We are not limited as to the amount of
debt securities we may issue under the indentures.

                                       12
<PAGE>   15

     The prospectus supplement will set forth:

     - whether the debt securities are senior or subordinated,

     - the offering price,

     - the title,

     - any limit on the aggregate principal amount,

     - the person who shall be entitled to receive interest, if other than the
       record holder on the record date,

     - the date the principal will be payable,

     - the interest rate, if any, the date interest will accrue, the interest
       payment dates and the regular record dates,

     - the place where payments shall be made,

     - any mandatory or optional redemption provisions,

     - if applicable, the method for determining how principal, premium, if any,
       or interest will be calculated by reference to an index or formula,

     - if other than U.S. currency, the currency or currency units in which
       principal, premium, if any, or interest will be payable and whether we or
       the holder may elect payment to be made in a different currency,

     - the portion of the principal amount that will be payable upon
       acceleration of stated maturity, if other than the entire principal
       amount,

     - if the principal amount payable at stated maturity will not be
       determinable as of any date prior to stated maturity, the amount which
       will be deemed to be the principal amount,

     - any defeasance provisions if different from those described below under
       "Satisfaction and Discharge -- Defeasance,"

     - any conversion or exchange provisions,

     - whether the debt securities will be issuable in the form of a global
       security,

     - any subordination provisions if different from those described below
       under "Subordinated Debt Securities,"

     - any deletions of, or changes or additions to, the events of default or
       covenants, and

     - any other specific terms of such debt securities.

     Unless otherwise specified in the prospectus supplement:

     - the debt securities will be registered debt securities; and

     - registered debt securities denominated in U.S. dollars will be issued in
       denominations of $1,000 or an integral multiple of $1,000.

     Debt securities may be sold at a substantial discount below their stated
principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which at time of
issuance is below market rates.

EXCHANGE AND TRANSFER

     Debt securities may be transferred or exchanged at the office of the
security registrar or at the office of any transfer agent designated by us. We
will not impose a service charge for any transfer or exchange, but we may
require holders to pay any tax or other governmental charges associated with any
transfer or exchange.

                                       13
<PAGE>   16

     In the event of any potential redemption of debt securities of any series,
we will not be required to:

     - issue, register the transfer of, or exchange, any debt security of that
       series during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days
       before the day of mailing of a notice of redemption and ending at the
       close of business on the day of the mailing, or

     - register the transfer of or exchange any debt security of that series
       selected for redemption, in whole or in part, except the unredeemed
       portion being redeemed in part.

     We have initially appointed the trustee as the security registrar. Any
transfer agent, in addition to the security registrar, initially designated by
us will be named in the prospectus supplement. We may designate additional
transfer agents or change transfer agents or change the office of the transfer
agent. However, we will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each place
of payment for the debt securities of each series.

GLOBAL SECURITIES

     The debt securities of any series may be represented, in whole or in part,
by one or more global securities. Each global security will:

     - be registered in the name of a depositary that we will identify in a
       prospectus supplement,

     - be deposited with the depositary or nominee or custodian, and

     - bear any required legends.

     No global security may be exchanged in whole or in part for debt securities
registered in the name of any person other than the depositary or any nominee
unless:

     - the depositary has notified us that it is unwilling or unable to continue
       as depositary or has ceased to be qualified to act as depositary,

     - an event of default is continuing, or

     - any other circumstances described in a prospectus supplement.

     As long as the depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of a
global security, the depositary or nominee will be considered the sole owner and
holder of the debt securities represented by the global security for all
purposes under the indentures. Except in the above limited circumstances, owners
of beneficial interests in a global security will not be:

     - entitled to have the debt securities registered in their names,

     - entitled to physical delivery of certificated debt securities, and

     - considered to be holders of those debt securities under the indenture.

     Payments on a global security will be made to the depositary or its nominee
as the holder of the global security. Some jurisdictions have laws that require
that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities
in definitive form. These laws may impair the ability to transfer beneficial
interests in a global security.

     Institutions that have accounts with the depositary or its nominee are
referred to as "participants." Ownership of beneficial interests in a global
security will be limited to participants and to persons that may hold beneficial
interests through participants. The depositary will credit, on its book-entry
registration and transfer system, the respective

                                       14
<PAGE>   17

principal amounts of debt securities represented by the global security to the
accounts of its participants.

     Ownership of beneficial interests in a global security will be shown on and
effected through records maintained by the depositary, with respect to
participants' interests, or any participant, with respect to interests of
persons held by participants on their behalf.

     Payments, transfers and exchanges relating to beneficial interests in a
global security will be subject to policies and procedures of the depositary.
The depositary's policies and procedures may change from time to time. Neither
we nor the trustee will have any responsibility or liability for the
depositary's or any participant's records with respect to beneficial interests
in a global security.

PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS

     The provisions of this paragraph will apply to the debt securities unless
otherwise indicated in the prospectus supplement. Payment of interest on a debt
security on any interest payment date will be made to the person in whose name
the debt security is registered at the close of business on the regular record
date. Payment on debt securities of a particular series will be payable at the
office of a paying agent or paying agents designated by us. However, at our
option, we may pay interest by mailing a check to the record holder. The
corporate trust office will be designated as our sole paying agent.

     We may also name any other paying agents in the prospectus supplement. We
may designate additional paying agents, change paying agents or change the
office of any paying agent. However, we will be required to maintain a paying
agent in each place of payment for the debt securities of a particular series.

     All moneys paid by us to a paying agent for payment on any debt security
which remain unclaimed for a period ending the earlier of:

     - 10 business days prior to the date the money would be turned over to the
       state, or

     - at the end of two years after such payment was due

will be repaid to us. Thereafter, the holder may look only to Sun for such
payment.

CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS

     We may not consolidate with or merge into any other person, in a
transaction in which we are not the surviving corporation, or convey, transfer
or lease our properties and assets substantially as an entirety to, any person,
unless:


     - the successor, if any, is a U.S. corporation, limited liability company,
       partnership, trust or other business entity,


     - the successor assumes our obligations on the debt securities and under
       the indentures,

     - immediately after giving effect to the transaction, no default or event
       of default shall have occurred and be continuing, and

     - certain other conditions are met.

EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     Each indenture defines an event of default with respect to any series of
debt securities as one or more of the following events:

          (1) failure to pay principal of or any premium on any debt security of
     that series when due,

                                       15
<PAGE>   18

          (2) failure to pay any interest on any debt security of that series
     for 30 days when due,

          (3) failure to deposit any sinking fund payment when due,

          (4) failure to perform any other covenant in the indenture continued
     for 90 days after being given the notice required in the indenture,

          (5) our bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization, and

          (6) any other event of default specified in the prospectus supplement.

     An event of default of one series of debt securities is not necessarily an
event of default for any other series of debt securities.

     If an event of default, other than an event of default described in clause
(5) above, occurs and continues, either the trustee or the holders of at least
25% in aggregate principal amount of the outstanding securities of that series
may declare the principal amount of the debt securities of that series to be due
and payable immediately. If an event of default described in clause (5) above
occurs, the principal amount of all the debt securities of that series, will
automatically become immediately due and payable. Any payment by us on the
subordinated debt securities following any acceleration will be subject to the
subordination provisions described below under "Subordinated Debt Securities."

     After acceleration the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the outstanding securities of that series may, under certain circumstances,
rescind and annul such acceleration if all events of default, other than the
non-payment of accelerated principal, or other specified amount, have been cured
or waived.

     Other than the duty to act with the required care during an event of
default, the trustee will not be obligated to exercise any of its rights or
powers at the request of the holders unless the holders offer the trustee
reasonable indemnity. Generally, the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding debt securities of any series will 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.

     A holder will have the right to begin a proceeding under the indentures, or
for the appointment of a receiver or a trustee, or for any other remedy under
the indentures only if:

          (1) the holder has previously given to the trustee written notice of a
     continuing event of default with respect to the debt securities of that
     series,

          (2) the holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the
     outstanding debt securities of that series have made a written request and
     have offered reasonable indemnity to the trustee to begin the proceeding,

          (3) the trustee has not started the proceeding within 60 days after
     the request, and

          (4) the trustee has not received direction inconsistent with the
     original request from the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
     amount of the outstanding debt securities of that series within 60 days
     after the original request.

     Holders may, however, sue to enforce the payment of principal, premium or
interest on or after the due date without following the procedures listed in (1)
through (4) above.

                                       16
<PAGE>   19

     We will furnish the trustee an annual statement by our officers as to
whether or not we are in default in the performance of the indenture and, if so,
specifying all known defaults.

MODIFICATION AND WAIVER

     We and the trustee may make modifications and amendments to the indentures
with the consent of the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the outstanding securities of each series affected by the modification or
amendment.

     However, neither we nor the trustee may make any modification or amendment
without the consent of the holder of each outstanding security of that series
affected by the modification or amendment if such modification or amendment
would:

     - change the stated maturity of any debt security,

     - reduce the principal, premium, if any, or interest on any debt security,

     - reduce the principal of an original issue discount security or any other
       debt security payable on acceleration of maturity,

     - change the place of payment or the currency in which any debt security is
       payable,

     - impair the right to sue for any payment after the stated maturity or
       redemption date,

     - if subordinated debt securities, modify the subordination provisions in a
       materially adverse manner to the holders,

     - adversely affect the right to convert any debt security, or

     - change the provisions in the indenture that relate to modifying or
       amending the indenture.

SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE; DEFEASANCE

     We may be discharged from our obligations on the debt securities of any
series that have matured or will mature or be redeemed within one year if we
deposit with the trustee enough cash to pay all the principal, interest and any
premium due to the stated maturity date or redemption date of the debt
securities.

     Each indenture contains a provision that permits us to elect:

     - to be discharged from all of our obligations, subject to limited
       exceptions, with respect to any series of debt securities then
       outstanding; and/or

     - to be released from our obligations under the following covenants and
       from the consequences of an event of default resulting from a breach of
       these covenants:

          (1) the limitations on sale and leaseback transactions under the
     senior indenture,

          (2) the limitations on secured debt under the senior indenture,

          (3) the subordination provisions under the subordinated indenture, and

          (4) covenants as to payment of taxes and maintenance of properties.

     To make either of the above elections, we must deposit in trust with the
trustee enough money to pay in full the principal, interest and premium on the
debt securities. This amount may be made in cash and/or U.S. government
obligations. As a condition to either of the above elections, we must deliver to
the trustee an opinion of counsel that the holders of the debt securities will
not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result
of the action.

                                       17
<PAGE>   20

     If we elect to be discharged from all of our obligations as outlined above
in the first bullet point in this section, the holders of the debt securities of
the series will not be entitled to the benefits of the indenture, except for
registration of transfer and exchange of debt securities and replacement of
lost, stolen or mutilated debt securities.

NOTICES

     Notices to holders will be given by mail to the addresses of the holders in
the security register.

GOVERNING LAW

     The indentures and the debt securities will be governed by, and construed
under, the law of the State of New York, without regard to conflicts of laws
principles.

REGARDING THE TRUSTEE

     The indentures limit the right of the trustee, should it become a creditor
of Sun, to obtain payment of claims or secure its claims.

     The trustee is permitted to engage in certain other transactions. However,
if the trustee acquires any conflicting interest, and there is a default under
the debt securities of any series for which they are trustee, the trustee must
eliminate the conflict or resign.

SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES


     The senior debt securities will be unsecured and will rank equally with all
of our other unsecured and non-subordinated senior debt. With respect to the
limitations in the indenture on liens and sale and lease-back transactions
described below, none of our consolidated assets is currently subjected to the
restrictions of such limitations, either because such assets are not principal
properties of Sun or any restricted subsidiary or are within the exceptions
contained in such covenants, or because none of our subsidiaries is currently a
restricted subsidiary.


Covenants in the Senior Indenture


     Limitations on Liens. Neither we nor any restricted subsidiary will issue,
incur, create, assume or guarantee any secured debt without securing the senior
debt securities equally and ratably with or prior to that secured debt unless
the total amount of all secured debt that the senior debt securities are not
secured equally and ratably with, would not exceed the greater of $300 million
or 10% of our consolidated net tangible assets.


     Limitations on Sale and Lease-back Transactions. Subject to the last
paragraph of this Section, neither we nor any restricted subsidiary will enter
into any lease longer than three years covering any of our principal property or
any restricted subsidiary that is sold to any other person in connection with
that lease unless either:

          (1) we or any restricted subsidiary would be entitled to incur
     indebtedness secured by a mortgage on the principal property involved in
     such transaction at least equal in amount to the attributable debt with
     respect to the lease, without equally and ratably securing the senior debt
     securities, pursuant to "Limitation on Liens" described above, or

          (2) an amount equal to the greater of the following amounts is applied
     within 180 days to the retirement of our or any restricted subsidiary's
     long-term debt or the purchase or development of comparable property:

     - the net proceeds from the sale; and

     - the attributable debt with respect to the sale and leaseback transaction.

                                       18
<PAGE>   21


     However, either we or our restricted subsidiaries would be able to enter
into a sale and lease back transaction without being required to apply the net
proceeds from this sale and lease back transaction as required by (2) above if
the sum of the following amounts would not exceed the greater of $300 million or
10% of our consolidated net tangible assets:


     - the total amount of the sale and leaseback transactions, and

     - the total amount of secured debt.

     Absence of Certain Covenants. The prospectus supplement will specify any
additional restrictive covenants applicable to the senior debt securities. The
senior indenture does not contain provisions permitting the holders of senior
debt securities to require us to repurchase or redeem the senior debt securities
in the event of a takeover, recapitalization or similar restructuring, highly
leveraged transaction, or downgrading of our debt ratings.

Definitions

     "attributable debt" with regard to a sale and leaseback transaction means
the lesser of:

          (1) the fair market value of such property as determined in good faith
     by our board of directors, or

          (2) discounted present value of all net rentals under the lease.

     "consolidated net tangible assets" means total assets, less reserves, after
deducting:

     - total current liabilities, excluding:

     - notes and loans payable,

     - current maturities of long-term debt,

     - current maturities of capital leases, and

     - certain intangible assets to the extent included in total assets.

     "mortgage" means a mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien, charge or
other encumbrance.

     "Nonrecourse obligation" means indebtedness substantially related to:

     - acquisition of assets not previously owned by us or any restricted
       subsidiary, or

     - the financing of any project involving the development of either our or
       any of our restricted subsidiary's property in which the only recourse is
       to the proceeds or the project financed with the proceeds of the
       transaction.

     "principal property" means the land, improvements, buildings and fixtures
owned by us or a restricted subsidiary located in the United States that
constitutes our principal corporate office, any manufacturing plant or any
manufacturing facility and has a book value in excess of .75% of our
consolidated net tangible assets as of the determination date. Principal
property does not include any property that our board of directors has
determined not to be of material importance to the business conducted by us and
our subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

     "restricted subsidiary" means any subsidiary that owns any principal
property. "Restricted subsidiary" does not include:

     - any subsidiary primarily engaged in financing receivables or in the
       finance business, or

                                       19
<PAGE>   22

     - any of our less than 80% owned subsidiaries if the common stock of the
       subsidiary is traded on any national securities exchange or quoted on the
       Nasdaq National Market or over the counter.

     "secured debt" means any of our debt or any debt of a restricted subsidiary
for borrowed money secured by a mortgage on any principal property or any stock
or indebtedness of a restricted subsidiary. Secured debt does not include:

     - mortgages on property existing at the time of acquisition of the property
       by us or any subsidiary,

     - mortgages on property, shares of stock or indebtedness or other assets of
       a corporation existing at the time it becomes a restricted subsidiary,

     - mortgages on property, shares of stock or indebtedness or other assets
       existing at the time of acquisition by us or a restricted subsidiary
       (including leases), or mortgages to secure payment of all or any part of
       the purchase price, or to secure any debt within 270 days after the
       acquisition thereof, or in the case of property, the completion of
       construction, improvement or commencement of substantial commercial
       operation of the property,

     - mortgages to secure indebtedness owing to us or to a restricted
       subsidiary,

     - mortgages existing at the date of the senior indenture,

     - mortgages on property existing at the time the person is merged or
       consolidated with us or a restricted subsidiary,

     - mortgages on property at the time of a sale or lease of the properties of
       a person as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to us or a
       restricted subsidiary,

     - mortgages incurred to finance the acquisition or construction of property
       secured by mortgages in favor of the United States or a political
       subdivision of the United States,

     - mortgages incurred in connection with asset acquisition or a project
       financed with a non-recourse obligation, or

     - mortgages constituting any extension, renewal or replacement of any
       mortgage listed above to the extent the mortgage is not increased.

SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

     The indebtedness evidenced by the subordinated debt securities is
subordinated to the extent provided in the subordinated indenture to the prior
payment in full of all senior debt, including any senior debt securities.

     Upon any distribution of our assets upon any dissolution, winding up,
liquidation or reorganization, payments on the subordinated debt securities will
be subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all senior
debt.


     As a result of these subordination provisions, in the event of our
bankruptcy, dissolution or reorganization, holders of senior debt may receive
more, ratably, and holders of the subordinated debt securities may receive less,
ratably, than our other creditors.


     In the event of any acceleration of the subordinated debt securities
because of an event of default, holders of any senior debt would be entitled to
payment in full in cash of all senior debt before the holders of subordinated
debt securities are entitled to receive any payment or distribution.

     We are required to promptly notify holders of senior debt if payment of the
subordinated debt securities is accelerated because of an event of default.

                                       20
<PAGE>   23

     We may also not make payment on the subordinated debt securities if:

     - a default in the payment of senior debt occurs and is continuing, or

     - any other default occurs and is continuing with respect to designated
       senior debt that permits holders or their representatives of designated
       senior debt to accelerate its maturity, and the trustee receives a
       payment blockage notice from us or some other person permitted to give
       the notice under the subordinated indenture.

     We may and shall resume payments on, and may purchase or redeem or make a
sinking fund or defeasance payment on, the subordinated debt securities:

     - in case of a payment default, when the default is cured or waived or
       ceases to exist, and

     - in case of a nonpayment default, the earlier of when the default is cured
       or waived or ceases to exist or 179 days after the receipt of the payment
       blockage notice if the maturity of the designated senior debt has not
       been accelerated.

     No new payment blockage period may start unless 365 days have elapsed from
the effectiveness of the prior payment blockage notice.

     No nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of
delivery of any payment blockage notice to the trustee shall be the basis for a
subsequent payment blockage notice.

     The subordination provisions will not prevent the occurrence of any event
of default under the subordinated indenture.

     If the trustee or any holder receives any payment that should not have been
made to them in contravention of subordination provisions before all senior debt
is paid in full, then such payment will be held in trust for the holders of
senior debt.

     Senior debt securities will constitute senior debt under the subordinated
indenture.

Definitions

     "designated senior debt" means certain existing senior debt and any of our
other senior debt that expressly provides that it is "designated senior debt."

     "senior debt" means principal, premium and interest, including bankruptcy
interest, and fees on the following:

          (1) our indebtedness evidenced by credit or loan agreement, note,
     bond, debenture or other written obligation;

          (2) our obligations for money borrowed;

          (3) our obligations evidenced by a note in an acquisition of any
     businesses, properties or assets;

          (4) capitalized leases;

          (5) leases for facilities, equipment or related assets for financing
     purposes, as determined by Sun;

          (6) certain types of off-balance sheet real estate leases;

          (7) interest rate and currency agreements;

          (8) letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities;

          (9) obligations issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of
     property or services, excluding trade accounts payable in the ordinary
     course of business;

                                       21
<PAGE>   24

          (10) obligations of the type listed in 1 through 9 above of another
     person and all dividends of another person, which we have either assumed or
     guaranteed or are liable or which is secured by a lien on our property; and

          (11) any renewals or extensions listed in 1 through 10 above.

     However, senior debt shall not include:

     - subordinated debt securities, or

     - indebtedness if the terms of the indebtedness expressly provides that it
       is not superior in right of payment to the subordinated debt securities.

     "subsidiary" means:

     - any corporation of which more than 66 2/3% is owned by us or by one or
       more or our other subsidiaries, and

     - any partnership of which more than 66 2/3% of the equity capital or
       profit interest is owned by us or by one or more of our other
       subsidiaries.

                                       22
<PAGE>   25

                         DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK

PREFERRED STOCK

     The following description of preferred stock and the description of the
terms of a particular series of preferred stock that will be set forth in the
related prospectus supplement are not complete. These descriptions are qualified
in their entirety by reference to the certificate of designations relating to
that series. The rights, preferences, privileges and restrictions of the
preferred stock of each series will be fixed by the certificate of designations
relating to that series. The prospectus supplement also will contain a
description of certain United States federal income tax consequences relating to
the purchase and ownership of the series of preferred stock that is described in
the prospectus supplement.

     As of June 18, 1999, there were no shares of preferred stock outstanding.
The Board of Directors has the authority, without further action by the
stockholders, to issue up to 10,000,000 shares of preferred stock in one or more
series and to fix the following terms of the preferred stock:

     - designations, powers, preferences, privileges,

     - relative participating, optional or special rights, and

     - the qualifications, limitations or restrictions, including dividend
       rights, conversion rights, voting rights, terms of redemption and
       liquidation preferences.

Any or all of these rights may be greater than the rights of the common stock.

     In May 1989, we paid a dividend of one share purchase right for each share
of our outstanding common stock. Each right entitles the holder to purchase from
us one one-thousandth of a share of Series A Participating Preferred Stock at a
purchase price of $150.00. The number of rights, the shares of Series A
Participating Preferred Stock that may be purchased under one right and the
purchase price may be adjusted to prevent dilution. We are authorized to issue
up to 3,000,000 shares of our Series A Participating Preferred Stock under our
certificate of incorporation. No shares of Series A Participating Preferred
Stock are outstanding.

     The Board of Directors, without stockholder approval, can issue preferred
stock with voting, conversion or other rights that could negatively affect the
voting power and other rights of the holders of common stock. Preferred stock
could thus be issued quickly with terms calculated to delay or prevent a change
in control of Sun or make it more difficult to remove our management.
Additionally, the issuance of preferred stock may have the effect of decreasing
the market price of the common stock.

     The prospectus supplement will specify:

     - the maximum number of shares,

     - the designation of the shares,

     - the annual dividend rate, if any, whether the dividend rate is fixed or
       variable, the date dividends will accrue, the dividend payment dates, and
       whether dividends will be cumulative,

     - the price and the terms and conditions for redemption, if any, including
       redemption at our option or at the option of the holders, including the
       time period for redemption, and any accumulated dividends or premiums,

     - the liquidation preference, if any, and any accumulated dividends upon
       the liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Sun's affairs,

                                       23
<PAGE>   26

     - any sinking fund or similar provision, and, if so, the terms and
       provisions relating to the purpose and operation of the fund,

     - the terms and conditions, if any, for conversion or exchange of shares of
       any other class or classes of our capital stock or any series of any
       other class or classes, or of any other series of the same class, or any
       other securities or assets, including the price or the rate of conversion
       or exchange and the method, if any, of adjustment,

     - the voting rights, and

     - any or all other preferences and relative, participating, optional or
       other special rights, privileges or qualifications, limitations or
       restrictions.

     Preferred stock will be fully paid and nonassessable upon issuance. The
preferred stock or any series of preferred stock may be represented, in whole or
in part, by one or more global certificates, which will have an aggregate
principal amount equal to that of the preferred stock represented by the global
certificate.

     Each global certificate will:

     - be registered in the name of a depositary or a nominee of the depositary
       identified in the prospectus supplement,

     - be deposited with such depositary or nominee or a custodian for the
       depositary, and

     - bear a legend regarding the restrictions on exchanges and registration of
       transfer and any other matters as may be provided for under the
       certificate of designation.

                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     We may sell the securities separately or together:

     - through one or more underwriters or dealers in a public offering and sale
       by them,

     - directly to investors, or

     - through agents.


     We may distribute the securities from time to time in one or more
transactions at a fixed price or prices. These prices may be changed from time
to time and may be set:


     - at market prices prevailing at the times of sale,

     - at prices related to such prevailing market prices, or

     - at negotiated prices.

     We will describe the method of distribution of the securities in the
prospectus supplement.

     Underwriters, dealers or agents may receive compensation in the form of
discounts, concessions or commissions from us or our purchasers (as their agents
in connection with the sale of securities). These underwriters, dealers or
agents may be considered to be underwriters under the Securities Act. As a
result, discounts, commissions, or profits on resale received by the
underwriters, dealers or agents may be treated as underwriting discounts and
commissions. The prospectus supplement will identify any such underwriter,
dealer or agent, and describe any compensation received by them from us. Any
initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions allowed or
reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.

     Underwriters, dealers and agents may be entitled to indemnification by us
against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities
Act, or to contribution with

                                       24
<PAGE>   27

respect to payments made by the underwriters, dealers or agents, under
agreements between us and the underwriters, dealers and agents.

     We may grant underwriters who participate in the distribution of securities
an option to purchase additional securities to cover over-allotments, if any, in
connection with the distribution.

     All preferred stock and debt securities will be new issues of securities
with no established trading market. Underwriters involved in the public offering
and sale of preferred stock and debt securities may make a market in the
preferred stock and debt securities. However, they are not obligated to make a
market and may discontinue market making activity at any time. Therefore, we
cannot give any assurances to you as to the liquidity of the trading market for
any preferred stock or debt securities.

     Underwriters or agents and their associates may be customers of, engage in
transactions with or perform services for us in the ordinary course of business.

                                 LEGAL MATTERS

     The validity of the issuance of our securities offered by this prospectus
will be passed upon for Sun by Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional
Corporation, Palo Alto, California.

                                    EXPERTS

     Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, have audited our consolidated
financial statements incorporated by reference and schedule included in our
Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended on Form 10-K/A, for the year ended June
30, 1998, as set forth in their report, which is incorporated by reference in
this prospectus. Our consolidated financial statements and schedule are
incorporated by reference in reliance on Ernst & Young LLP's report, given on
their authority as experts in accounting and auditing.

                                       25
<PAGE>   28

                                    PART II

                   INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN THE PROSPECTUS

ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION

     The aggregate estimated expenses to be paid by the Registrant in connection
with this offering (other than the underwriting discounts and commissions) are
as follows:

<TABLE>
<S>                                                           <C>
SEC registration fee........................................  $1,137,031
Trustee's fees and expenses.................................      75,000
Accounting fees and expenses................................     225,000
Legal fees and expenses.....................................     500,000
Printing and engraving......................................     300,000
Blue sky fees and expenses..................................      10,000
Transfer agent fees and expenses............................      10,000
Rating agencies' fees.......................................   1,345,000
Miscellaneous...............................................     197,969
                                                              ----------
     Total..................................................  $3,800,000
                                                              ==========
</TABLE>

ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, as
amended, provides that under certain circumstances a corporation may indemnify
any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
threatened, pending or completed action, suit or proceeding whether civil,
criminal, administrative or investigative, by reason of the fact that he or she
is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the Company or is or was
serving at its request in such capacity in another corporation or business
association, against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and
amounts paid in settlement actually and reasonably incurred by him or her in
connection with such action, suit or proceeding if he or she acted in good faith
and in a manner he or she reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the
best interests of the Company and, with respect to any criminal action or
proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.

     Section 11 of the Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Registrant
provides in effect that, subject to certain limited exceptions, the Registrant
shall indemnify its directors and officers to the extent authorized or permitted
by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. The directors and
officers of the Registrant are insured under policies of insurance maintained by
the Company, subject to the limits of the policies, against certain losses
arising from any claims made against them by reason of being or having been such
directors or officers. In addition, the Company has entered into contracts with
certain of its directors providing for indemnification of such persons by the
Registrant to the full extent authorized or permitted by law, subject to certain
limited exceptions.

     The form(s) of proposed underwriting agreement(s) to be filed as (an)
Exhibit(s) hereto or incorporated by reference herein may include provisions
regarding the indemnification of officers and directors of the Registrant by the
several underwriters.

                                      II-1
<PAGE>   29

ITEM 16. EXHIBITS

     The following exhibits are filed herewith or incorporated by reference
herein:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  EXHIBIT
  NUMBER                          EXHIBIT TITLE
  -------                         -------------
  <S>      <C>
   1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
   3.1(1)  Restated Certificate of Incorporation as amended February
           12, 1998.
   3.2(1)  Bylaws as amended February 11, 1998.
   3.3(2)  Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of
           Incorporation filed March 17, 1999.
   3.4(3)  Amended Certificate of Designations filed March 17, 1999.
   4.1     Form of Senior Indenture.
   4.2     Form of Subordinated Indenture.
   4.3     Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.
   4.4     Form of Senior Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.1).
   4.5     Form of Subordinated Debt Security (included in Exhibit
           4.2).
   4.6(4)  Second Amended and Restated Shares Rights Agreement dated
           February 11, 1998.
   4.7(3)  Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Shares Rights
           Agreement dated April 14, 1999.
   5.1     Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional
           Corporation.
  12.1**   Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
  23.1     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
  23.2     Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional
           Corporation (included in Exhibit 5.1).
  24.1**   Power of Attorney of certain directors and officers of Sun
           Microsystems, Inc. (see page II-4 of initial filing of this
           Form S-3).
  25.1     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Senior
           Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
  25.2     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for
           Subordinated Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of
           1939.
</TABLE>


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

 *  To be filed by a report on Form 8-K pursuant to Section 601 of Regulation
    S-K.



**  Previously filed.


(1) Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
    the quarter ended March 29, 1998.

(2) Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
    the Quarter ended March 28, 1999.

(3) Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
    8-A/A, Amendment No. 7, filed on April 15, 1999.

(4) Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
    8-A, Amendment No. 6, filed on February 13, 1998.

                                      II-2
<PAGE>   30

ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS

     1. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes:

          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this registration statement:

             (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
        Securities Act of 1933 (the "Act");

             (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 SEC pursuant to Rule 424(b) 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 the undertakings set forth in clauses (i) and (ii) above
shall not apply if the information required to be included in a post-effective
amendment by these clauses is contained in periodic reports filed by the
registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") that are incorporated by reference in this
registration statement.

          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Act,
     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.

     2. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes, that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Act, each filing of the registrant's annual
report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a
new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.

     3. Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Act may be
permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the registrant
pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or otherwise, the
registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the SEC such indemnification
is against public policy as expressed in the Act and is, therefore,
unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against such
liabilities (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the registrant in the
successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such
director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of

                                      II-3
<PAGE>   31

its counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a
court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by
it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the
final adjudication of such issue.

     4. The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:

             (a) For purposes of determining any liability under the Act, the
        information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of this
        registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
        form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
        (4) or 497(h) under the Act shall be deemed to be part of this
        registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.

             (b) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Act,
        each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus shall
        be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the securities
        offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that time shall
        be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.

                                      II-4
<PAGE>   32

                                   SIGNATURES


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the Registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to this
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of Palo Alto, State of California, on July 13,
1999.


                                          SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

                                          By:     /s/ MICHAEL E. LEHMAN
                                             -----------------------------------
                                                      Michael E. Lehman
                                             Vice President, Corporate Resources
                                                 and Chief Financial Officer


     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
to this Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated:



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              NAME                             TITLE                    DATE
              ----                             -----                    ----
<S>                               <C>                               <C>
               *                      Chairman of the Board of      July 13, 1999
- --------------------------------   Directors and Chief Executive
        Scott G. McNealy            Officer (Principal Executive
                                              Officer)

     /s/ MICHAEL E. LEHMAN               Vice President and         July 13, 1999
- --------------------------------      Chief Financial Officer
       Michael E. Lehman           (Principal Financial Officer)

               *                   Vice President and Controller    July 13, 1999
- --------------------------------   (Principal Accounting Officer)
        Michael L. Popov

               *                              Director              July 13, 1999
- --------------------------------
       James L. Barksdale

               *                              Director              July 13, 1999
- --------------------------------
         L. John Doerr

               *                              Director              July 13, 1999
- --------------------------------
        Judith L. Estrin

                                              Director              July -, 1999
- --------------------------------
        Robert L. Fisher

               *                              Director              July 13, 1999
- --------------------------------
         Robert L. Long

               *                              Director              July 13, 1999
- --------------------------------
       M. Kenneth Oshman
</TABLE>


                                      II-5
<PAGE>   33


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              NAME                             TITLE                    DATE
              ----                             -----                    ----
<S>                               <C>                               <C>
               *                              Director              July 13, 1999
- --------------------------------
       A. Michael Spence

    By /s/ MICHAEL E. LEHMAN
- --------------------------------
       Michael E. Lehman
        Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>


                                      II-6
<PAGE>   34

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
EXHIBIT
NUMBER                          EXHIBIT TITLE
- -------                         -------------
<S>      <C>
 1.1*    Form of Underwriting Agreement.
 3.1(1)  Restated Certificate of Incorporation as amended February
         12, 1998.
 3.2(1)  Bylaws as amended February 11, 1998.
 3.3(2)  Certificate of Amendment of the Restated Certificate of
         Incorporation filed March 17, 1999.
 3.4(3)  Amended Certificate of Designations filed March 17, 1999.
 4.1     Form of Senior Indenture.
 4.2     Form of Subordinated Indenture.
 4.3     Form of Preferred Stock Certificate.
 4.4     Form of Senior Debt Security (included in Exhibit 4.1).
 4.5     Form of Subordinated Debt Security (included in Exhibit
         4.2).
 4.6(4)  Second Amended and Restated Shares Rights Agreement dated
         February 11, 1998.
 4.7(3)  Amendment to Second Amended and Restated Shares Rights
         Agreement dated April 14, 1999.
 5.1     Opinion of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional
         Corporation.
12.1**   Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.
23.1     Consent of Ernst & Young LLP, Independent Auditors.
23.2     Consent of Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati, Professional
         Corporation (included in Exhibit 5.1).
24.1**   Power of Attorney of certain directors and officers of Sun
         Microsystems, Inc. (see page II-4 of initial filing of this
         Form S-3).
25.1     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for Senior
         Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.
25.2     Form T-1 Statement of Eligibility of Trustee for
         Subordinated Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of
         1939.
</TABLE>


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

 *  To be filed by a report on Form 8-K pursuant to Section 601 of Regulation
    S-K.



**  Previously filed.


(1) Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
    the quarter ended March 29, 1998.

(2) Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for
    the Quarter ended March 28, 1999.

(3) Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
    8-A/A, Amendment No. 7, filed on April 15, 1999.

(4) Incorporated by reference to Registrant's Registration Statement on Form
    8-A, Amendment No. 6, filed on February 13, 1998.

<PAGE>   1


                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1
================================================================================





















                             Sun Microsystems, Inc.

                                       TO

                              The Bank of New York


                                   as Trustee


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


                                    Indenture

                       Dated as of _________________, 1999


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




                             Senior Debt Securities










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



<PAGE>   2

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   PAGE
                                                                                                                   ----
<S>                                                                                                                  <C>
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY...............................................................................................1

ARTICLE ONE - DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION.................................................1
     SECTION 101.        Definitions..................................................................................1
         Act .........................................................................................................2
         Affiliate....................................................................................................2
         Attributable Debt............................................................................................2
         Authenticating Agent.........................................................................................2
         Board of Directors...........................................................................................2
         Board Resolution.............................................................................................2
         Business Day.................................................................................................2
         Commission...................................................................................................3
         Common Stock.................................................................................................3
         Company......................................................................................................3
         Company Request..............................................................................................3
         Company Order................................................................................................3
         Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.............................................................................3
         Corporate Trust Office.......................................................................................3
         Corporation..................................................................................................3
         Covenant Defeasance..........................................................................................3
         Defaulted Interest...........................................................................................3
         Defeasance...................................................................................................4
         Depositary...................................................................................................4
         Event of Default.............................................................................................4
         Exchange Act.................................................................................................4
         Expiration Date..............................................................................................4
         Global Security..............................................................................................4
         Holder.......................................................................................................4
         Indenture....................................................................................................4
         Interest.....................................................................................................4
         Interest Payment Date........................................................................................5
         Investment Company Act.......................................................................................5
         Maturity.....................................................................................................5
         Nonrecourse Obligation.......................................................................................5
         Notice of Default............................................................................................5
         Officers' Certificate........................................................................................5
         Opinion of Counsel...........................................................................................5
         Original Issue Discount Security.............................................................................5
         Outstanding..................................................................................................5
         Paying Agent.................................................................................................6
         Person.......................................................................................................6
         Place of Payment.............................................................................................6
</TABLE>





                                       -i-

<PAGE>   3


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (CONTINUED)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   PAGE
                                                                                                                   ----
<S>                                                                                                                  <C>
         Predecessor Security.........................................................................................7
         Principal Property...........................................................................................7
         Record Date..................................................................................................7
         Redemption Date..............................................................................................7
         Redemption Price.............................................................................................7
         Regular Record Date..........................................................................................7
         Restricted Subsidiary........................................................................................7
         Sale and Leaseback Transaction...............................................................................7
         Securities...................................................................................................7
         Securities Act...............................................................................................7
         Security Register............................................................................................8
         Security Registrar...........................................................................................8
         Special Record Date..........................................................................................8
         Stated Maturity..............................................................................................8
         Subsidiary...................................................................................................8
         Trust Indenture Act..........................................................................................8
         Trustee......................................................................................................8
         U.S. Government Obligation...................................................................................8
         Vice President...............................................................................................8
     SECTION 102.        Compliance Certificates and Opinions.........................................................8
     SECTION 103.        Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.......................................................9
     SECTION 104.        Acts of Holders; Record Dates................................................................9
     SECTION 105.        Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.......................................................11
     SECTION 106.        Notice to Holders; Waiver...................................................................12
     SECTION 107.        Conflict with Trust Indenture Act...........................................................12
     SECTION 108.        Effect of Headings and Table of Contents....................................................12
     SECTION 109.        Successors and Assigns......................................................................13
     SECTION 110.        Separability Clause.........................................................................13
     SECTION 111.        Benefits of Indenture.......................................................................13
     SECTION 112.        Governing Law...............................................................................13
     SECTION 113.        Legal Holidays..............................................................................13
     SECTION 114.        Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations.......................................13
     SECTION 115.        Indenture May Be Executed in Counterparts...................................................14

ARTICLE TWO  SECURITY FORMS..........................................................................................14
     SECTION 201.        Forms Generally.............................................................................14
     SECTION 202.        Form of Face of Security....................................................................15
     SECTION 203.        Form of Reverse of Security.................................................................16
     SECTION 204.        Form of Legend for Global Securities........................................................21
     SECTION 205.        Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.............................................21
     SECTION 206.        Form of Conversion Notice...................................................................22
</TABLE>





                                      -ii-

<PAGE>   4


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (CONTINUED)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   PAGE
                                                                                                                   ----
<S>                                                                                                                  <C>
ARTICLE THREE  THE SECURITIES........................................................................................23
     SECTION 301.        Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series........................................................23
     SECTION 302.        Denominations...............................................................................26
     SECTION 303.        Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating..............................................26
     SECTION 304.        Temporary Securities........................................................................27
     SECTION 305.        Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange.........................................28
     SECTION 306.        Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities............................................29
     SECTION 307.        Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved..............................................30
     SECTION 308.        Persons Deemed Owners.......................................................................31
     SECTION 309.        Cancellation................................................................................31
     SECTION 310.        Computation of Interest.....................................................................32
     SECTION 311.        CUSIP Numbers...............................................................................32

ARTICLE FOUR  SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE.............................................................................32
     SECTION 401.        Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.....................................................32
     SECTION 402.        Application of Trust Money..................................................................33

ARTICLE FIVE  REMEDIES...............................................................................................34
     SECTION 501.        Events of Default...........................................................................34
     SECTION 502.        Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment..........................................35
     SECTION 503.        Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.............................36
     SECTION 504.        Trustee May File Proofs of Claim............................................................37
     SECTION 505.        Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.................................37
     SECTION 506.        Application of Money Collected..............................................................38
     SECTION 507.        Limitation on Suits.........................................................................38
     SECTION 508.        Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and
                           Interest and to Convert...................................................................39
     SECTION 509.        Restoration of Rights and Remedies..........................................................39
     SECTION 510.        Rights and Remedies Cumulative..............................................................39
     SECTION 511.        Delay or Omission Not Waiver................................................................39
     SECTION 512.        Control by Holders..........................................................................39
     SECTION 513.        Waiver of Past Defaults.....................................................................40
     SECTION 514.        Undertaking for Costs.......................................................................40
     SECTION 515.        Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.....................................................40

ARTICLE SIX  THE TRUSTEE.............................................................................................41
     SECTION 601.        Certain Duties and Responsibilities.........................................................41
     SECTION 602.        Notice of Defaults..........................................................................41
     SECTION 603.        Certain Rights of Trustee...................................................................41
     SECTION 604.        Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities......................................42
</TABLE>





                                      -iii-

<PAGE>   5

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (CONTINUED)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   PAGE
                                                                                                                   ----
<S>                                                                                                                  <C>
     SECTION 605.        May Hold Securities and Act as Trustee Under Other Indentures...............................42
     SECTION 606.        Money Held in Trust.........................................................................43
     SECTION 607.        Compensation and Reimbursement..............................................................43
     SECTION 608.        Conflicting Interests.......................................................................44
     SECTION 609.        Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.....................................................44
     SECTION 610.        Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor...........................................44
     SECTION 611.        Acceptance of Appointment by Successor......................................................45
     SECTION 612.        Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.................................46
     SECTION 613.        Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company...........................................47
     SECTION 614.        Appointment of Authenticating Agent.........................................................47

ARTICLE SEVEN   HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY....................................................48
     SECTION 701.        Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders...................................48
     SECTION 702.        Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders......................................49
     SECTION 703.        Reports by Trustee..........................................................................49
     SECTION 704.        Reports by Company..........................................................................49

ARTICLE EIGHT  CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER
                           OR LEASE..................................................................................50
     SECTION 801.        Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms........................................50
     SECTION 802.        Successor Substituted.......................................................................51

ARTICLE NINE  SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES................................................................................51
     SECTION 901.        Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders..........................................51
     SECTION 902.        Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.............................................52
     SECTION 903.        Execution of Supplemental Indentures........................................................53
     SECTION 904.        Effect of Supplemental Indentures...........................................................54
     SECTION 905.        Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.........................................................54
     SECTION 906.        Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures..........................................54

ARTICLE TEN  COVENANTS...............................................................................................54
     SECTION 1001.       Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest..................................................54
     SECTION 1002.       Maintenance of Office or Agency.............................................................54
     SECTION 1003.       Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust...........................................55
     SECTION 1004.       Statement by Officers as to Default.........................................................56
     SECTION 1005.       Existence...................................................................................56
     SECTION 1006.       Maintenance of Properties...................................................................56
     SECTION 1007.       Payment of Taxes and Other Claims...........................................................56
     SECTION 1008.       Limitation on Liens.........................................................................57
     SECTION 1009.       Limitations on Sale and Leaseback Transactions..............................................58
</TABLE>





                                      -iv-

<PAGE>   6

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (CONTINUED)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   PAGE
                                                                                                                   ----
<S>                                                                                                                  <C>
     SECTION 1010.       Waiver of Certain Covenants.................................................................59
     SECTION 1011.       Calculation of Original Issue Discount......................................................59

ARTICLE ELEVEN  REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES.............................................................................60
     SECTION 1101.       Applicability of Article....................................................................60
     SECTION 1102.       Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.......................................................60
     SECTION 1103.       Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed...........................................60
     SECTION 1104.       Notice of Redemption........................................................................61
     SECTION 1105.       Deposit of Redemption Price.................................................................62
     SECTION 1106.       Securities Payable on Redemption Date.......................................................62
     SECTION 1107.       Securities Redeemed in Part.................................................................63

ARTICLE TWELVE  SINKING FUNDS........................................................................................63
     SECTION 1201.       Applicability of Article....................................................................63
     SECTION 1202.       Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.......................................63
     SECTION 1203.       Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund...................................................64

ARTICLE THIRTEEN  DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE.................................................................64
     SECTION 1301.       Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance................................64
     SECTION 1302.       Defeasance and Discharge....................................................................64
     SECTION 1303.       Covenant Defeasance.........................................................................65
     SECTION 1304.       Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.............................................65
     SECTION 1305.       Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in
                             Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.........................................................67
     SECTION 1306.       Reinstatement...............................................................................67

ARTICLE FOURTEEN  CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES..............................................................68
     SECTION 1401.       Applicability of Article....................................................................68
     SECTION 1402.       Exercise of Conversion and Exchange Privilege...............................................68
     SECTION 1403.       No Fractional Shares........................................................................69
     SECTION 1404.       Adjustment of Conversion and Exchange Price.................................................70
     SECTION 1405.       Notice of Certain Corporate Actions.........................................................70
     SECTION 1406.       Reservation of Shares of Common Stock.......................................................71
     SECTION 1407.       Payment of Certain Taxes Upon Conversion and Exchange.......................................71
     SECTION 1408.       Nonassessability............................................................................71
     SECTION 1409.       Provision in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets................................72
     SECTION 1410.       Duties of Trustee Regarding Conversion and Exchange.........................................73
     SECTION 1411.       Repayment of Certain Funds Upon Conversion and Exchange.....................................73
</TABLE>





                                       -v-

<PAGE>   7

                            SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

                  Certain Sections of this Indenture relating
  to Sections 310 through 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Trust Indenture                                            Indenture
  Act Section                                               Section
- ----------------                                        -----------------
<S>                                                         <C>
Section 310(a)(1)      .....................................609
           (a)(2)      .....................................609
           (a)(3)      .....................................Not Applicable
           (a)(4)      .....................................Not Applicable
           (b)         .....................................608, 610
Section 311(a)         .....................................613
           (b)         .....................................613
Section 312(a)         .....................................701, 702
           (b)         .....................................702
           (c)         .....................................702
Section 313(a)         .....................................703
           (b)         .....................................703
           (c)         .....................................703
           (d)         .....................................703
Section 314(a)         .....................................704
           (a)(4)      .....................................101, 1004
           (b)         .....................................Not Applicable
           (c)(1)      .....................................102
           (c)(2)      .....................................102
           (c)(3)      .....................................Not Applicable
           (d)         .....................................Not Applicable
           (e)         .....................................102
Section 315(a)         .....................................601
           (b)         .....................................602
           (c)         .....................................601
           (d)         .....................................601
           (e)         .....................................514
Section 316(a)         .....................................101
           (a)(1)(A)   .....................................502, 512
           (a)(1)(B)   .....................................513
           (a)(2)      .....................................Not Applicable
           (b)         .....................................508
           (c)         .....................................104
Section 317(a)(1)      .....................................503
           (a)(2)      .....................................504
           (b)         .....................................1003
Section 318(a)         .....................................107


</TABLE>

- ---------------------------
NOTE:   This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed
        to be a part of the Indenture.





                                      -vi-

<PAGE>   8

         INDENTURE, dated as of ___________, 1999, between Sun Microsystems,
Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware (herein called the "Company"), having its principal executive office at
901 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, California 94303, and The Bank of New York, a
New York banking corporation, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee").


                             RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

         The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured
debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the
"Securities"), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

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


                   NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

         For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of 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 appertaining, as follows:


                                   ARTICLE ONE

             DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101.  DEFINITIONS.

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

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

         (2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings
assigned to them therein;

         (3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term "generally accepted
accounting principles" with respect to any computation required or permitted
hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted at the
date of such computation;

         (4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
"Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be,
of this Indenture; and



<PAGE>   9

         (5) 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.

         "Act," when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified
in Section 104.

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

         "Attributable Debt" means, in respect of a Sale and Lease-Back
Transaction involving a Principal Property, at the time of determination, the
lesser of: (a) the fair value of such property (as determined in good faith by
the Board of Directors); or (b) the present value of the total net amount of
rent required to be paid under such lease during the remaining term thereof
(including any renewal term or period for which such lease has been extended),
discounted at the rate of interest set forth or implicit in the terms of such
lease or, if not practicable to determine such rate, the weighted average
interest rate per annum (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities, the
imputed interest rate) borne by the Securities of each series outstanding
pursuant to this Indenture compounded semi-annually. For purposes of the
foregoing definition, rent shall not include amounts required to be paid by the
lessee, whether or not designated as rent or additional rent, on account of or
contingent upon maintenance and repairs, insurance, taxes, assessments, water
rates and similar charges. In the case of any lease which is terminable by the
lessee upon the payment of a penalty, such net amount shall be the lesser of the
net amount determined assuming termination upon the first date such lease may be
terminated (in which case the net amount shall also include the amount of the
penalty, but no rent shall be considered as required to be paid under such lease
subsequent to the first date upon which it may be so terminated) and the net
amount determined assuming no such termination.

         "Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate
Securities of one or more series.

         "Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Company
or any duly authorized committee of that board empowered to act for it with
respect to this Indenture.

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

         "Business Day," when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means
each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which
banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law
or executive order to close.






                                      -2-
<PAGE>   10


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

         "Common Stock" includes any stock of any class of the Company which has
no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company
and which is not subject to redemption by the Company; provided, however,
subject to the provisions of Section 1409, shares issuable upon conversion of
Securities shall include only shares of the class designated as Common Stock of
the Company at the date of this Indenture or shares of any class or classes
resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications thereof and which have
no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company
and which are not subject to redemption by the Company; provided, further that
if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of
each such class then so issuable shall be substantially in the proportion which
the total number of shares of such class resulting from all such
reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes
resulting from all such reclassifications.

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

         "Company Request" or "Company Order" means a written request or order
signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice
Chairman of the Board, its President or a Vice President, and by its principal
financial officer, its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

         "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means, as of the time of
determination, total assets (excluding applicable reserves) less: (a) total
current liabilities, except for (1) notes and loans payable, (2) current
maturities of long-term debt and (3) current maturities of obligations under
capital leases; and (b) certain intangible assets to the extent included in
total assets, all as set forth on the most recent consolidated balance sheet of
the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and computed in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles.

         "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal corporate trust office of
the Trustee currently at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 21W, New York, New York
10286, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be
administered.

         "Corporation" means a corporation, association, company, limited
liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.

         "Covenant Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1303.

         "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307.






                                      -3-
<PAGE>   11

         "Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1302.

         "Depositary" means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable
in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing
agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary
for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301.

         "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 501.

         "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any
statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

         "Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 104.

         "Global Security" means a Security that evidences all or part of the
Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 204 (or such
legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).

         "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the
Security Register.

         "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and as it may
from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures
supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof,
including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental
indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a
part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture,
respectively. The term "Indenture" shall also include the terms of particular
series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301; provided,
however, that if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under
this Indenture due to the appointment of one or more separate Trustees for any
one or more separate series of Securities, "Indenture" shall mean, with respect
to such series of Securities for which any such Person is Trustee, this
instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented
or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant
to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular
series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as
contemplated by Section 301, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms
which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not
Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive
of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures
supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such person had become such
Trustee, but to which such person, as such Trustee, was not a party; provided,
further that in the event that this Indenture is supplemented or amended by one
or more indentures supplemental hereto which are only applicable to certain
series of Securities, the term "Indenture" for a particular series of Securities
shall only include the supplemental indentures applicable thereto.

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






                                      -4-
<PAGE>   12

         "Interest Payment Date," when used with respect to any Security, means
the Stated Maturity of an instalment of interest on such Security.

         "Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

         "Maturity," when used with respect to any Security, means the date on
which the principal of such Security or an instalment of principal becomes due
and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by
declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, repurchase at the option of
the Holder or otherwise.

         "Nonrecourse Obligation" means indebtedness or other obligations
substantially related to (i) the acquisition of assets not previously owned by
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or (ii) the financing of a project
involving the development or expansion of properties of the Company or any
Restricted Subsidiary, as to which the obligee with respect to such indebtedness
or obligation has no recourse to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or any
assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary other than the assets which
were acquired with the proceeds of such transaction or the project financed with
the proceeds of such transaction (and the proceeds thereof).

         "Notice of Default" means a written notice of the kind specified in
Section 501(4).

         "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and
by the principal financial officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the
Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to
Section 1004 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer
of the Company.

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

         "Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security which provides
for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon
a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

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

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

         (2) Securities for whose payment or redemption money in the necessary
amount has been theretofore deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent
(other than the Company) in trust or set aside and segregated in trust by the
Company (if the Company shall act as its own Paying Agent) for the Holders of
such Securities; provided that, if such Securities are to be redeemed, notice of
such






                                      -5-
<PAGE>   13

redemption has been duly given pursuant to this Indenture or provision therefor
satisfactory to the Trustee has been made;

         (3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to
Section 1302; and

         (4) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in
exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and
delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect
of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it
that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such
Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue
Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of
the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon
acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 502, (B)
if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a
Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall
be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as
contemplated by Section 301, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated
in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be
Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in
the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301, of the principal amount of
such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B)
above, of the amount determined as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities
owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate
of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to
be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be
protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a responsible
officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.
Securities so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as
Outstanding if the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the
pledgee's right so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee
is not the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of
the Company or of such other obligor.

         "Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the
principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the
Company.

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

         "Place of Payment," when used with respect to the Securities of any
series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and
interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as
contemplated by Section 301.






                                      -6-
<PAGE>   14

         "Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every previous
Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such
particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security
authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the
same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

         "Principal Property" means the land, land improvements, buildings and
fixtures (to the extent they constitute real property interests, including any
leasehold interest therein) constituting the principal corporate office, any
manufacturing facility (whether now owned or hereafter acquired) which: (a) is
owned by the Company or any Subsidiary; (b) is located within any of the present
50 states of the United States of America (or the District of Columbia); (c) has
not been determined in good faith by he Board of Directors not to be materially
important to the total business conducted by the Company and its Subsidiaries
taken as a whole; and (d) has a book value on the date as of which the
determination is being made in excess of 2.0% of Consolidated Net Tangible
Assets of the Company as most recently determined on or prior to such date.

         "Record Date" means any Regular Record Date or Special Record Date.

         "Redemption Date," when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this
Indenture.

         "Redemption Price," when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this
Indenture.

         "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose
as contemplated by Section 301.

         "Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary which owns any Principal
Property; provided, however, that the term "Restricted Subsidiary" shall not
include (a) any Subsidiary which is principally engaged in financing
receivables, or which is principally engaged in financing the Company's
operations outside the United States of America; or (b) any Subsidiary less than
80% of the voting stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the
Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more
other Subsidiaries if the Common Stock of such Subsidiary is traded on any
national securities exchange or quoted on the Nasdaq National Market or in the
over-the-counter market.

         "Sale and Leaseback Transaction" means any arrangement with any person
providing for the leasing by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary of any
Principal Property which property has been or is to be sold or transferred by
the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary to such person.

         "Securities" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this
Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture.

         "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute
successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.






                                      -7-
<PAGE>   15

         "Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 305.

         "Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a
date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

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

         "Subsidiary" means a corporation of which at least 66 2/3% of the
outstanding voting stock of such corporation is at the time owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the
Company and one or more other Subsidiaries, and the accounts of which are
consolidated with those of the Company in its most recent consolidated financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principals. For the
purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means stock which ordinarily has
voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long
as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

         "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force
at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in
the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust
Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

         "Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such
pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
"Trustee" shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and
if at any time there is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with
respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to
Securities of that series.

         "U.S. Government Obligation" has the meaning specified in Section 1304.

         "Vice President," when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee,
means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or
words added before or after the title "vice president."

SECTION 102.  COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS.

         Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take
any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to
the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust
Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an
Officers' Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an
Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in
this Indenture.






                                      -8-
<PAGE>   16

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

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

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

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

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

SECTION 103.  FORM OF DOCUMENTS DELIVERED TO TRUSTEE.

         In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or
covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all
such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one
such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one
or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify
or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

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

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

SECTION 104.  ACTS OF HOLDERS; RECORD DATES.

         Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or
taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent






                                      -9-
<PAGE>   17

duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided,
such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are
delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the
Company. The Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Company copies of all such
instrument or instruments and records delivered to the Trustee. Such instrument
or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are
herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrument
or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing
appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture
and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company,
if made in the manner provided in this Section.

         The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument
or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a
certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take
acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument
or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof. Where such
execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his or her individual
capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof
of his or her authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such
instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may
also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

         The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

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

         The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to
give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, vote, notice,
consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be
given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, provided that the
Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph
shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice,
declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any
record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders,
shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders
remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be
effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date
by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such
series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a
record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the
record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person
be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed
to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal
amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action
is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the
Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice






                                      -10-
<PAGE>   18

of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable
Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of
Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

         The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join
in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of
acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute
proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in
Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any
record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be
entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or
not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such
action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable
Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall
be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any
action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this
paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with
no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders
of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant
series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set
pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company's expense, shall cause
notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable
Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of
Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

         With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party
hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the "Expiration
Date" and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or
later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the
proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and
to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in
Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date
is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section,
the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially
designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with
respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided
in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be
later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

         Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any
action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to
all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly
appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with
regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

SECTION 105.  NOTICES, ETC., TO TRUSTEE AND COMPANY.

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






                                      -11-
<PAGE>   19

         (1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for
every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (or by
facsimile transmissions ((212) 815-5915), provided that oral confirmation of
receipt shall have been received) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust
Office, Attention: Corporate Trust, Trustee Administration or

         (2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for
every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in
writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it
at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this
instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the
Trustee by the Company, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

SECTION 106.  NOTICE TO HOLDERS; WAIVER.

         Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such
notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided)
if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected
by such event, at its address as it appears in the Security Register, not later
than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any),
prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is
given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any
notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such
notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice
in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to
receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be
the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with
the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity
of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

         In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by
reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail,
then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall
constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

SECTION 107.  CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

         If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision
of the Trust Indenture Act which is required under such Act to be a part of and
govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of
this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act
which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to
apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

SECTION 108.  EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

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






                                      -12-
<PAGE>   20

SECTION 109.  SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

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

SECTION 110.  SEPARABILITY CLAUSE.

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

SECTION 111.  BENEFITS OF INDENTURE.

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

SECTION 112.  GOVERNING LAW.

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

SECTION 113.  LEGAL HOLIDAYS.

         In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated
Maturity of any Security or the last date on which a Holder has the right to
convert a Security at a particular conversion price shall not be a Business Day
at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this
Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which
specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section))
payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) or, if applicable to a
particular series of Securities, conversion need not be made at such Place of
Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at
such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest
Payment Date or Redemption Date, at the Stated Maturity or on such last day for
conversion, as the case may be.

SECTION 114.  INDENTURE AND SECURITIES SOLELY CORPORATE OBLIGATIONS.

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






                                      -13-
<PAGE>   21

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

SECTION 115.  INDENTURE MAY BE EXECUTED IN COUNTERPARTS.

         This instrument 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 instruments.


                                   ARTICLE TWO

                                 SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201.  FORMS GENERALLY.

         The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set
forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or
pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto,
in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and
other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have
such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or
endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any
securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be
determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by
action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of
such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company
Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such
Securities. Any such Board Resolution or record of such action shall have
attached thereto a true and correct copy of the form of Security referred to
therein approved by or pursuant to such Board Resolution.

         The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on
steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined
by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of
such Securities.

























                                      -14-

<PAGE>   22

SECTION 202.  FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY.

            [INSERT ANY LEGEND REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE
                        AND THE REGULATIONS THEREUNDER.]

                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.


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

No. ________________                                              $_____________
CUSIP No. __________


         Sun Microsystems, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under
the laws of Delaware (herein called the "Company," which term includes any
successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to ____________, or registered assigns, the
principal sum of _____________ Dollars on _____________________________ [IF THE
SECURITY IS TO BEAR INTEREST PRIOR TO MATURITY, INSERT -- , and to pay interest
thereon from __________ or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to which
interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on ___________ and
__________ in each year, commencing _________., at the rate of ___% per annum,
until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [IF APPLICABLE,
INSERT -- , provided that any principal and premium, and any such instalment of
interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of ___% per annum (to
the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from
the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for
payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand]. The interest so payable,
and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the ______ or
______ (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such
Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided
for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date
and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special
Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the
Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series
not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time
in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and
upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided
in said Indenture. Interest on the Security shall be computed on the basis of a
360- day year of twelve 30-day months.]

         [IF THE SECURITY IS NOT TO BEAR INTEREST PRIOR TO MATURITY, INSERT --
The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a
default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated
Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall
bear interest at the rate of ___% per annum (to the extent that the payment of
such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due
until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue
principal or premium shall be payable on demand. [Any such interest on overdue
principal or premium which is not paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate
of ___% per annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest on interest
shall be legally enforceable), from the






                                      -15-
<PAGE>   23

date of such demand until the amount so demanded is paid or made available for
payment. Interest on any overdue interest shall be payable on demand.]]

         Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [IF APPLICABLE,
INSERT -- any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or
agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in _______, in such coin or
currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for payment of public and private debts [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- ;
provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be
made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such
address shall appear in the Security Register].

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

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

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.



                                        SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.



                                        By: ___________________________________
                                            Title:
Attest:


___________________________________


SECTION 203.  FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY.

         This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of __________ (herein called the
"Indenture," which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such
instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (herein
called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the
Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures
supplemental thereto for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of
rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee and the
Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon which the Securities are, and
are to be, authenticated and delivered. This Security is one of the series
designated on the face hereof [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- , limited in aggregate
principal amount to $________].

         [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- 30] days' notice by
mail,(1) on __________ in any year commencing with the year ________ and ending
with the year ________ through operation of the sinking fund for this series






                                      -16-
<PAGE>   24

at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and (2)] at any
time [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- on or after __________, 19__], as a whole or in
part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption Prices
(expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [IF APPLICABLE,
INSERT -- on or before __________, ___%, and if redeemed] during the 12-month
period beginning ____________ of the years indicated, and thereafter at a
Redemption Price equal to ___% of the principal amount, together in the case of
any such redemption [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- (whether through operation of the
sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but
interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption
Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more
Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]


                     REDEMPTION                                 REDEMPTION
    YEAR               PRICE                    YEAR               PRICE
   ------           ------------               ------          ------------





         [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than [if applicable, insert --- 30] days' notice by
mail, (1) on __________ in any year commencing with the year _____ and ending
with the year _____ through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the
Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund
(expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below,
and (2) at any time [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- on or after __________], as a
whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for
redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as
percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed
during the 12-month period beginning __________ of the years indicated,



                       REDEMPTION PRICE FOR              REDEMPTION PRICE FOR
                        REDEMPTION-THROUGH               REDEMPTION-OTHERWISE
                         OPERATION OF THE               THAN THROUGH OPERATION
    YEAR                   SINKING FUND                  OF THE SINKING FUND
   ------             ----------------------            -----------------------




and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to ____% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the
sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but
interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption
Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more
Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]

         [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
may not, prior to __________, redeem any Securities of this series as
contemplated by [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph
as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application,






                                      -17-
<PAGE>   25

directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the
Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of
less than ___% per annum.]

         [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- The sinking fund for this series provides for
the redemption on __________ in each year beginning with the year ______ and
ending with the year ______ of [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- not less than $_______
("mandatory sinking fund") and not more than] $_______ aggregate principal
amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or
redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT --
mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [if
applicable, insert -- mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be
made [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- , in the inverse order in which they become
due].]

         [IF THE SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OF ANY KIND, INSERT -- In the
event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities
of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be
issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

         [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- The Indenture contains provisions for
defeasance at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or]
[certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this
Security] [, in each case] upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in
the Indenture.]

         [IF THE SECURITY IS CONVERTIBLE INTO COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY,
INSERT -- Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this
Security is entitled, at its option, at any time on or before [insert date]
(except that, in case this Security or any portion hereof shall be called for
redemption, such right shall terminate with respect to this Security or portion
hereof, as the case may be, so called for redemption at the close of business on
the first Business Day next preceding the date fixed for redemption as provided
in the Indenture unless the Company defaults in making the payment due upon
redemption), to convert the principal amount of this Security (or any portion
hereof which is $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof), into fully paid and
non-assessable shares (calculated as to each conversion to the nearest 1/100th
of a share) of the Common Stock of the Company, as said shares shall be
constituted at the date of conversion, at the conversion price of $______
principal amount of Securities for each share of Common Stock, or at the
adjusted conversion price in effect at the date of conversion determined as
provided in the Indenture, upon surrender of this Security, together with the
conversion notice hereon duly executed, to the Company at the designated office
or agency of the Company in __________, accompanied (if so required by the
Company) by instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company and to
the Trustee, duly executed by the Holder or by its duly authorized attorney in
writing. Such surrender shall, if made during any period beginning at the close
of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on
the Interest Payment Date next following such Regular Record Date (unless this
Security or the portion being converted shall have been called for redemption on
a Redemption Date during the period beginning at the close of business on a
Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on the first Business
Day after the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment
Date is not a Business Day, the second such Business Day), also be accompanied
by payment in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest
payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of this Security
then being converted. Subject to the aforesaid requirement for payment and, in
the case of a conversion after the Regular Record Date next preceding any
Interest Payment Date and on or before such Interest








                                      -18-
<PAGE>   26

Payment Date, to the right of the Holder of this Security (or any Predecessor
Security) of record at such Regular Record Date to receive an installment of
interest (with certain exceptions provided in the Indenture), no adjustment is
to be made on conversion for interest accrued hereon or for dividends on shares
of Common Stock issued on conversion. The Company is not required to issue
fractional shares upon any such conversion, but shall make adjustment therefor
in cash on the basis of the current market value of such fractional interest as
provided in the Indenture. The conversion price is subject to adjustment as
provided in the Indenture. In addition, the Indenture provides that in case of
certain consolidations or mergers to which the Company is a party or the sale of
substantially all of the assets of the Company, the Indenture shall be amended,
without the consent of any Holders of Securities, so that this Security, if then
outstanding, will be convertible thereafter, during the period this Security
shall be convertible as specified above, only into the kind and amount of
securities, cash and other property receivable upon the consolidation, merger or
sale by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock into which this
Security might have been converted immediately prior to such consolidation,
merger or sale (assuming such holder of Common Stock failed to exercise any
rights of election and received per share the kind and amount received per share
by a plurality of non-electing shares). In the event of conversion of this
Security in part only, a new Security or Securities for the unconverted portion
hereof shall be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation
hereof.]

         [IF THE SECURITY IS CONVERTIBLE INTO OTHER SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY,
SPECIFY THE CONVERSION FEATURES.]

         [IF THE SECURITY IS NOT AN ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY, INSERT --
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and
be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared
due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

         [IF THE SECURITY IS AN ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY, INSERT -- If
an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be
continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to -- insert formula for determining the
amount. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable
and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each
case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally
enforceable), all of the Company's obligations in respect of the payment of the
principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series
shall terminate.]

         The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of more than 50% in principal amount of the Securities at
the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains
provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount
of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the
Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company
with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the
Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of
this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all
future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration
of transfer






                                      -19-
<PAGE>   27

hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such
consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

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

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

         As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security
Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any
premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or its
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of
this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees.

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

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

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






                                      -20-
<PAGE>   28

         This Security 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 and governed by the laws of said state, without regard to conflict of laws
principles thereof.

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

SECTION 204.  FORM OF LEGEND FOR GLOBAL SECURITIES.

         Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the
Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered
hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A
SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE
REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE
THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.

SECTION 205.  FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION.

         The Trustee's certificates of authentication shall be in substantially
the following form:

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

Dated:



                                        THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                                        As Trustee



                                        By: ___________________________________
                                            Authorized Signatory














                                      -21-
<PAGE>   29


SECTION 206.  FORM OF CONVERSION NOTICE.

         Conversion notices shall be in substantially the following form:

         To Sun Microsystems, Inc.:

         The undersigned owner of this Security hereby irrevocably exercises the
option to convert this Security, or portion hereof (which is $1,000 or an
integral multiple thereof) below designated, into shares of Common Stock of the
Company in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this
Security, and directs that the shares issuable and deliverable upon the
conversion, together with any check in payment for fractional shares and any
Securities representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and
delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name has been
indicated below. If this Notice is being delivered on a date after the close of
business on a Regular Record Date and prior to the opening of business on the
related Interest Payment Date (unless this Security or the portion thereof being
converted has been called for redemption on a Redemption Date during the period
beginning at the close of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the
opening of business on the first Business Day after the next succeeding Interest
Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the second
such Business Day), this Notice is accompanied by payment, in funds acceptable
to the Company, of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest
Payment Date of the principal of this Security to be converted. If shares are to
be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned
will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect hereto. Any amount required to
be paid by the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Security.


          PRINCIPAL AMOUNT TO BE CONVERTED
(IN AN INTEGRAL MULTIPLE OF $1,000, IF LESS THAN ALL)
                 U.S. $_________


Dated:_____________________             ________________________________________

                                        ________________________________________
                                        Signature(s) must be guaranteed if
                                        shares of Common Stock are to be
                                        delivered, or Securities to be issued,
                                        other than to and in the name of the
                                        registered owner.



                                        ________________________________________
                                        Signature Guaranty










                                      -22-

<PAGE>   30


         Fill in for registration of shares of Common Stock and Security if to
be issued otherwise than to the registered Holder.


_________________________________           ____________________________________
(Name)                                      Social Security or Other Taxpayer
                                            Identification Number


_________________________________
(Address)


_________________________________
Please print Name and Address
(including zip code number)

[The above conversion notice is to be modified, as appropriate, for conversion
into other securities or property of the Company.]


                                  ARTICLE THREE

                                 THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301.  AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES.

         The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated
and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

         The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be
established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303,
set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers' Certificate, or
established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance
of Securities of any series,

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

         (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of
the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except
for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or
in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to
Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 and except for any Securities which, pursuant
to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered
hereunder);

         (3) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall
be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date for such interest;

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






                                      -23-
<PAGE>   31

         (5) the rate or rates at which any Securities of the series shall bear
interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue,
the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the
Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

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

         (7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which
and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be
redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than
by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem
the Securities shall be evidenced;

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

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

         (10) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any
Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or
pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

         (11) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the
currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium
or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of
determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of
America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of
"Outstanding" in Section 101;

         (12) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities
of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder
thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in
which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or
currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such
Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods
within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made
and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be
determined);

         (13) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of
the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon
declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;






                                      -24-
<PAGE>   32

         (14) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any
Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates
prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the
principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose
thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be
due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall
be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in
any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount
shall be determined);

         (15) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any
specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 or
both such Sections and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which
any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

         (16) if applicable, the terms of any right to convert Securities of the
series into, or exchange Securities for, shares of Common Stock of the Company
or other securities or property;

         (17) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable
in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such
case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any
legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition
to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 204 and any circumstances in addition
to or in lieu of those set forth in Clause (2) of the last paragraph of Section
305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for
Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in
part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the
Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

         (18) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies
to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or
the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof
due and payable pursuant to Section 502;

         (19) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article
Ten which applies to Securities of the series; and

         (20) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by
Section 901(5)).

         All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical
except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant
to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set
forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers' Certificate
referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

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






                                      -25-
<PAGE>   33

SECTION 302.  DENOMINATIONS.

         The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form
without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as
contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such specified denomination
with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series
shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

SECTION 303.  EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING.

         The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its
Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its principal financial
officer, its President or one of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal
reproduced thereon attested by its Treasurer, its Assistant Treasurer, Secretary
or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these officers on
the Securities and the corporate seal may be manual or facsimile.

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

         At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of
this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the
authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance
with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the
form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or
pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301,
in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities
under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be
entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in
relying upon, a copy of such Board Resolution, the Officers' Certificate setting
forth the terms of the series and an Opinion of Counsel, with such Opinion of
Counsel stating,

         (1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant
to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form has been
established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

         (2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or
pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have
been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

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






                                      -26-
<PAGE>   34

         If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not
be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities
pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner
which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

         Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding
paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one
time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers' Certificate otherwise
required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel
otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the
authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered
at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security
of such series to be issued.

         Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

         No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein
executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any
Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security
has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder
but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such
Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309, for all
purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been
authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the
benefits of this Indenture.

SECTION 304.  TEMPORARY SECURITIES.

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

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






                                      -27-
<PAGE>   35

SECTION 305.  REGISTRATION; REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.

         The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other
office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes
collectively referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to such
reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the
registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby
appointed "Security Registrar" for the purpose of registering Securities and
transfers of Securities as herein provided.

         Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series
at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series,
the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in
the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities
of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and
aggregate principal amount.

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

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

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

         No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than
exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

         If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor)
are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue,
register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that
series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of
redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 1103 and
ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register
the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or
in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.






                                      -28-
<PAGE>   36

         The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only
to Global Securities:

         (1) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be
registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or
a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or
custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single
Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

         (2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global
Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no
transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name
of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee
thereof unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is
unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii)
has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (B) there
shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such
Global Security or (C) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition
to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as
contemplated by Section 301.

         (3) Subject to Clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Security for
other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in
exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in
such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

         (4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of
transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion
thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 304, 306, 906 or 1107 or
otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a
Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person
other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.

SECTION 306.  MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN SECURITIES.

         If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange
therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal
amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

         If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence
to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii)
such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and
any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the
Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security
of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number
not contemporaneously outstanding.

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






                                      -29-
<PAGE>   37

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

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

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

SECTION 307.  PAYMENT OF INTEREST; INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED.

         Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable,
and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall
be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for such interest.

         Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein
called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder
on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and
such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each
case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:

         (1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to
the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special
Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in
the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the
amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series
and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall
deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount
proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of
the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause
provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment
of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less
than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days
after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The
Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in
the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed
payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be
given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in
Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date.






                                      -30-
<PAGE>   38

Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record
Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to
the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special
Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

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

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

         Subject to the provisions of Section 1402, in the case of any Security
(or any part thereof) which is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or
prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security the
principal of (or premium, if any, on) which shall become due and payable,
whether at Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise prior
to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such
Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date
notwithstanding such conversion and such interest (whether or not punctually
paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that
Security (or any one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close
of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided
in the immediately preceding sentence or in Section 1402, in the case of any
Security (or any part thereof) which is converted, interest whose Stated
Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Security (or such part thereof)
shall not be payable.

SECTION 308.  PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.

         Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such
Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium
and (subject to Section 307) any interest on such Security and for all other
purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the
Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be
affected by notice to the contrary.

SECTION 309.  CANCELLATION.

         All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if
surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee
and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the
Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered
hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may
deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for
cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder






                                      -31-
<PAGE>   39

which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall
be promptly canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in
lieu of or in exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section,
except as expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by
the Trustee shall be returned to the Company.

SECTION 310.  COMPUTATION OF INTEREST.

         Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 311.  CUSIP NUMBERS.

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


                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                           SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401.  SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.

         This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect
(except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of
Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of
the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture, when

         (1)   either

               (A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other
         than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which
         have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii)
         Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in
         trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter
         repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in
         Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or






                                      -32-
<PAGE>   40

               (B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee
         for cancellation

                   (i) have become due and payable, or

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

                   (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under
         arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
         redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the
         Company, and the Company,

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

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

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

         Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of
the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall
have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of
this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last
paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.

SECTION 402.  APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY.

         Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all
money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust
and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this
Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent
(including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may
determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and
interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.






                                      -33-
<PAGE>   41

                                  ARTICLE FIVE

                                    REMEDIES

SECTION 501.  EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

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

         (1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that
series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a
period of 30 days; or

         (2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any
Security of that series at its Maturity; or

         (3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due
by the terms of a Security of that series; or

         (4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty
of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in
whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically
dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the
benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such
default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by
registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company
and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default
or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a
"Notice of Default" hereunder; or

         (5) failure by the Company to make any payment at maturity, including
any applicable grace period, in respect of indebtedness, which term as used
herein means obligations (other than the Securities of such series or
non-recourse obligations) of the Company for borrowed money or evidenced by
bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments ("Indebtedness") in an
amount in excess of $25,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in any other currency
or composite currency and such failure shall have continued for thirty (30) days
after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee
or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying
such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such
notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or

         (6) a default with respect to any Indebtedness, which default results
in the acceleration of Indebtedness in an amount in excess of $25,000,000 or the
equivalent thereof in any other currency or composite currency without such
Indebtedness having been discharged or such acceleration having been cured,
waived, rescinded or annulled for a period of thirty (30) days after written
notice thereof shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee or to the
Company and the Trustee by the Holders of






                                      -34-
<PAGE>   42

at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a
written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied
and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or

         (7) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a
decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or
proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the
Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition
seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect
of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a
custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other
similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or
ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of
any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed
and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

         (8) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding
under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a
bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order
for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under
any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other
similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or
proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent
seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State law, or
the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or
taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,
sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part
of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts
generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company
in furtherance of any such action; or

         (9) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of
that series.

provided that if any such failure, default or acceleration referred to in
clauses (5) or (6) above shall cease or be cured, waived, rescinded or annulled,
then the Event of Default hereunder by reason thereof shall be deemed likewise
to have been thereupon cured.

SECTION 502.  ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; RESCISSION AND ANNULMENT.

         If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in
Section 501(7) or 501(8)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the
Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that
series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount
Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be
specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice
in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any
such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become
immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(7)
or 501(8) with respect to Securities of any series at the time






                                      -35-
<PAGE>   43

Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series
(or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities,
such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by
the terms thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other
action on the part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and
payable.

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

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

               (A) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

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

               (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful,
         interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor
         in such Securities, and

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

         (2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series,
other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which
have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or
waived as provided in Section 513.

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

SECTION 503.  COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE.

         The Company covenants that if

         (1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when
such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of
30 days, or

         (2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if
any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the
Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such
Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that
payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any






                                      -36-
<PAGE>   44

overdue principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further
amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection,
including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

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

SECTION 504.  TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.

         In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any
other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee
shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act
in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such
proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and
receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims
and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee,
liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial
proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the
Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such
payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for
the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 607.

         No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee
to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan
of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the
Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to
vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided,
however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election
of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors'
or other similar committee.

SECTION 505.  TRUSTEE MAY ENFORCE CLAIMS WITHOUT POSSESSION OF SECURITIES.

         All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities
may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of
the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and
any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name
as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after
provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the
ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such
judgment has been recovered.






                                      -37-
<PAGE>   45

SECTION 506.  APPLICATION OF MONEY COLLECTED.

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

         FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;
and

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

SECTION 507.  LIMITATION ON SUITS.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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






                                      -38-
<PAGE>   46

SECTION 508.  UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND
INTEREST AND TO CONVERT.

         Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of
any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to
receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 307)
interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such
Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date), to convert
such Securities in accordance with Article Fourteen and to institute suit for
the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired
without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 509.  RESTORATION OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.

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

SECTION 510.  RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.

         Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment
of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of
Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee
or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and
every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and
in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter
existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any
right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent
assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.

SECTION 511.  DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.

         No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities
to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair
any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or
an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law
to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as
often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (subject to the limitations
contained in this Indenture) or by the Holders, as the case may be.

SECTION 512.  CONTROL BY HOLDERS.

         The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the
Securities of such series, provided that






                                      -39-
<PAGE>   47

         (1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or
with this Indenture and the Trustee shall not have determined that the action so
directed would be unjustly prejudicial to Holders of Securities of that series,
or any other series, not taking part in such direction, and

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

SECTION 513.  WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.

         The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the
Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such
series and its consequences, except a default

         (1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on
any Security of such series, or

         (2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article
Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Security of such series affected.

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

SECTION 514.  UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.

         In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this
Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to
file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, including legal fees and
expenses, and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner
and to the extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither
this Section nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court
to require such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit
instituted by the Company or the Trustee or in any suit for the enforcement of
the right to convert any Security in accordance with Article Fourteen.

SECTION 515.  WAIVER OF USURY, STAY OR EXTENSION LAWS.

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






                                      -40-
<PAGE>   48

                                   ARTICLE SIX

                                   THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601.  CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

         The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by
the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this
Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise
incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder,
or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable
grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against
such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein
expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct
or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be
subject to the provisions of this Section.

SECTION 602.  NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.

         If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series,
the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such
default known to it as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act;
provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in
Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to
Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For
the purpose of this Section, the term "default" means any event which is, or
after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with
respect to Securities of such series.

SECTION 603.  CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.

         Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

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

         (2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be
sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution
of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

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






                                      -41-
<PAGE>   49

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

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

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

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

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

         (9) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or
Event of Default unless a responsible officer of the Trustee has actual
knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a
default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee,
and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.

SECTION 604.  NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES.

         The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the
Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of
the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any
responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to
the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the
Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or
application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 605.  MAY HOLD SECURITIES AND ACT AS TRUSTEE UNDER OTHER INDENTURES.

         The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security
Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections
608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same






                                      -42-
<PAGE>   50

rights it would have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent,
Security Registrar or such other agent.

         Subject to the limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, nothing
in this Indenture shall prohibit the Trustee from becoming and acting as trustee
under other indentures under which other securities, or certificates of interest
of participation in other securities, of the Company are outstanding in the same
manner as if it were not Trustee hereunder.

SECTION 606.  MONEY HELD IN TRUST.

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

SECTION 607.  COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.

         The Company agrees

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

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

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

         When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with
an Event of Default specified in Section 501(7) or Section 501(8), the expenses
(including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the
compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under any applicable Federal or State Bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar law.






                                      -43-
<PAGE>   51

SECTION 608.  CONFLICTING INTERESTS.

         If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the
meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such
interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to
the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent
permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting
interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to
Securities of more than one series.

SECTION 609.  CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY.

         There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with
respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for
Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is
eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has (or if the
Trustee is a member of a bank holding company system, its bank holding company
has) a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of
this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the
combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined
capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so
published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any
series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this
Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect
hereinafter specified in this Article.

SECTION 610.  RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.

         No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a
successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the
applicable requirements of Section 611.

         The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of
one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the
instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall
not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such
notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the
Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

         The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities
of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the
Company.

         If at any time:

         (1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written
request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder
of a Security for at least six months, or






                                      -44-
<PAGE>   52

         (2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall
fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such
Holder, or

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

then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the
Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any
Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months
may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court
of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all
Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

         If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting,
or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect
to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution,
shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the
Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor
Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of
such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to
the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable
requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal
or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series
delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so
appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance
with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee
with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the
successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect
to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or
the Holders and accepted appointment in the manner required by Section 611, the
retiring Trustee may petition, or any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of
a Security of such series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and
all others similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for
the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such
series.

         The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of
the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of
a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders
of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice
shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities
of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

SECTION 611.  ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.

         In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall
execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an
instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal
of






                                      -45-
<PAGE>   53

the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee, without
any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the rights,
powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request of the
Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of
its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such successor
Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and shall duly
assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money
held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

         In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the
retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of
one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto
wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall
contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and
confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers,
trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that
or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2)
if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall
contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm
that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with
respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring
Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and
(3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts
hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or
in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the
same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts
hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by
any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental
indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become
effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the
Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor
Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such
retiring Trustee shall, upon payment in full of all of its charges, duly assign,
transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property and money held by
such retiring Trustee hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those
series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

         Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute
any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the
first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

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

SECTION 612.  MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS.

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






                                      -46-
<PAGE>   54

be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article, without the execution or
filing of any paper or any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.
In case any Securities shall have been authenticated, but not delivered, by the
Trustee then in office, any successor by merger, conversion or consolidation to
such authenticating Trustee may adopt such authentication and deliver the
Securities so authenticated with the same effect as if such successor Trustee
had itself authenticated such Securities.

SECTION 613.  PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY.

         If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company
(or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against
the Company (or any such other obligor).

SECTION 614.  APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT.

         The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect
to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf
of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original
issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof
or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to
the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all
purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is
made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the
Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of authentication, such reference shall be
deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an
Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of
the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be
acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof
or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating
Agent, having (or if the Authenticating Agent is a member of a bank holding
company system, its bank holding company has) a combined capital and surplus of
not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal
or State authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition
at least annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or
examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital
and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined
capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so
published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall
resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

         Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or
corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an
Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible
under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.






                                      -47-
<PAGE>   55

         An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice
thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate
the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such
Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of
resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating
Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such
appointment in the manner provided in Section 106 to all Holders of Securities
of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any
successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder
shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor
hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.
No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the
provisions of this Section.

         The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to
time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the
Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the
provisions of Section 607.

         If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant
to this Section 612, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in
addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternative
certificate of authentication in the following form:

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



                                        THE BANK OF NEW YORK, N.A.,
                                        As Trustee



                                        By: ____________________________________
                                            As Authenticating Agent



                                        By: ____________________________________
                                            Authorized Signatory


                                  ARTICLE SEVEN

                HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701.  COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF HOLDERS.

         The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

         (1) semi-annually, not later than 15 days after the Regular Record
Date, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names
and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of such Regular
Record Date, as the case may be, and







                                      -48-
<PAGE>   56

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

provided that no such list need be furnished by the Company to the Trustee so
long as the Trustee is acting as Security Registrar.

SECTION 702.  PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS TO HOLDERS.

         The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent
list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701, if any, and the names
and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security
Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

         The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to
their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding
rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust
Indenture Act.

         Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees
with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any
disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to
the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 703.  REPORTS BY TRUSTEE.

         The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the
Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the
Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

         If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee
shall, within sixty days after each September 15 following the date of this
Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such September 15,
which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

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

SECTION 704.  REPORTS BY COMPANY.

         The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and
transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such
summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the
times and in the manner provided pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act;






                                      -49-
<PAGE>   57

provided that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed
with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be
filed with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be filed
with the Commission.

         Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is
for informational purposes only and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not
constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or
determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's
compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is
entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).


                                  ARTICLE EIGHT

              CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

SECTION 801.  COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS.

         The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person
(in a transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation) or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety
to any Person, unless:

         (1) in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another
Person (in a transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation)
or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which
the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or
which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an
entirety shall be a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust
or other business entity, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws
of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia
and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and
delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and
punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the
Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture
on the part of the Company to be performed or observed and the conversion rights
shall be provided for in accordance with Article Fourteen, if applicable, or as
otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, by supplemental indenture
satisfactory in form to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee, by
the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into
which the Company shall have been merged or by the Person which shall have
acquired the Company's assets;

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

         (3) the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger,
conveyance, transfer or lease and, if a supplemental indenture is required in
connection with such transaction, such supplemental indenture






                                      -50-
<PAGE>   58

comply with this Article and that all conditions precedent herein provided for
relating to such transaction have been complied with.

SECTION 802.  SUCCESSOR SUBSTITUTED.

         Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company
into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties
and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with
Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the
Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall
succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of,
the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor
Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter, except in the case
of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all obligations and
covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.


                                  ARTICLE NINE

                             SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901.  SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

         Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a
Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter
into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the
Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

         (1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or
successive successions, and the assumption by any such successor of the
covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or

         (2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit 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 solely for the benefit of such series) or to
surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

         (3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the
Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of
Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating
that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for
the benefit of such series); or

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






                                      -51-
<PAGE>   59

         (5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this
Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any such
addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of
any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and
entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the
Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become
effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

         (6) to secure the Securities; or

         (7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as
permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or

         (8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder
by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and
to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts
hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611;
or

         (9) to make provision with respect to the conversion rights of Holders
pursuant to the requirements of Article Fourteen, including providing for the
conversion of the securities into any security (other than the Common Stock of
the Company) or property of the Company; or

         (10) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein,
or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising
under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this Clause (10)
shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any
series in any material respect; or

         (11) to supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture to such
extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and
discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Articles Four and Thirteen,
provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the
Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any
material respect.

SECTION 902.  SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

         With the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental
indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the
Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into
an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of
this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of
Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such
supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Security affected thereby,






                                      -52-
<PAGE>   60

         (1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment
of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount
thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the
redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue
Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a
declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or
change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any
Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated
Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption
Date), or

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

         (3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or
Section 1010, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain
other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the
consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided,
however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any
Holder with respect to changes in the references to "the Trustee" and
concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1010, or the deletion of this
proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611 and 901(8), or

         (4) if applicable, make any change that adversely affects the right to
convert any security as provided in Article Fourteen or pursuant to Section 301
(except as permitted by Section 901(9)) or decrease the conversion rate or
increase the conversion price of any such security.

         A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or
other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for
the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies
the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such
covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this
Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

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

SECTION 903.  EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

         In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any
supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of
the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive,
and (subject to Sections 601 and 603) shall be fully protected in relying upon,
an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture
is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be
obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the
Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.






                                      -53-
<PAGE>   61

SECTION 904.  EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

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

SECTION 905.  CONFORMITY WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

         Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall
conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 906.  REFERENCE IN SECURITIES TO SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

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


                                   ARTICLE TEN

                                    COVENANTS

SECTION 1001.  PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST.

         The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of
Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium
and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of
the Securities and this Indenture.

SECTION 1002.  MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.

         The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of
Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented
or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered
for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of that series may be
surrendered for conversion and where notices and demands to or upon the Company
in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served.
The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and
any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company
shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to
furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders,
notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all
such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.






                                      -54-
<PAGE>   62

         The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented
or surrendered for any or all such purposes and may from time to time rescind
such designations; provided, however, that no such designation or rescission
shall in any manner relieve the Company of its obligation to maintain an office
or agency in each Place of Payment for Securities of any series for such
purposes. The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any such
designation or rescission and of any change in the location of any such other
office or agency.

SECTION 1003.  MONEY FOR SECURITIES PAYMENTS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.

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

         Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any
series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of
or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a
Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as
provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the
Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure
so to act.

         The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities
other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in
which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions
of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the
continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the
Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the
Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith
pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in
respect of the Securities of that series.

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

         Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held
by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or
interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for a period
ending on the earlier of the date that is ten Business Days prior to the date
such money would escheat to the State or two years after such principal, premium
or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company
Request, or (if then held by the






                                      -55-
<PAGE>   63

Company) shall be discharged from such trust; and the Holder of such Security
shall thereafter, as an unsecured general creditor, look only to the Company for
payment thereof, and all liability of the Trustee or such Paying Agent with
respect to such trust money, and all liability of the Company as trustee
thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the Trustee or such
Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment, may at the
expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper published in
the English language, customarily published on each Business Day and of general
circulation in each Place of Payment, notice that such money remains unclaimed
and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days
from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then
remaining will be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 1004.  STATEMENT BY OFFICERS AS TO DEFAULT.

         The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers'
Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof
the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms,
provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of
grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be
in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of
which they may have knowledge. The fiscal year of the Company ends on June 30;
and the Company will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any change of its
fiscal year.

SECTION 1005.  EXISTENCE.

         Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all
things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence.

SECTION 1006.  MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES.

         The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of
its business to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working
order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all
necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof,
all as, and to the extent, in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so
that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and
advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this
Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or
maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment
of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business and not disadvantageous
in any material respect to the Holders.

SECTION 1007.  PAYMENT OF TAXES AND OTHER CLAIMS.

         The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged,
before the same shall become delinquent, (1) all taxes, assessments and
governmental charges levied or imposed upon the Company upon the income, profits
or property of the Company, and (2) all lawful claims for labor, materials and
supplies which, if unpaid, might by law become a lien upon the property of the
Company;






                                      -56-
<PAGE>   64

provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or
cause to be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment, charge or claim (i)
whose amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings or (ii) if the failure to pay or discharge would not
have a material adverse effect on the assets, business, operations, properties
or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and its Subsidiaries, taken
as a whole.

SECTION 1008.  LIMITATION ON LIENS.

         The Company will not issue, incur, create, assume or guarantee, and
will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to issue, incur, create, assume or
guarantee, any Secured Debt (as defined below) without in any such case
effectively providing concurrently with issuance, incurrence, creation,
assumption or guarantee of any such Secured Debt, or the grant of a mortgage
with respect to any such indebtedness, that the Securities (together with, if
the Company shall so determine, any other indebtedness of or guarantee by the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary ranking equally with the Securities) shall
be secured equally and ratably with (or, at the option of the Company, prior to)
such Secured Debt. The foregoing restriction with respect to Secured Debt,
however, will not apply to:

         (1) mortgages on property existing at the time of acquisition thereof
by the Company or any Subsidiary, provided that such mortgages were in existence
prior to the contemplation of such acquisitions;

         (2) mortgages on property, shares of stock or indebtedness or other
assets of any corporation existing at the time such corporation becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such mortgages are not incurred in
anticipation of such corporation becoming a Restricted Subsidiary (which may
include property previously leased by the Company and leasehold interests
thereon, provided that the lease terminates prior to or upon the acquisition);

         (3) mortgages on property, shares of stock or indebtedness existing at
the time of acquisition thereof by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or
mortgages thereon to secure the payment of all or any part of the purchase price
thereof, or mortgages on property, shares of stock or indebtedness to secure any
indebtedness for borrowed money incurred prior to, at the time of or within 270
days after, the latest of the acquisition thereof, or, in the case of property,
the completion of construction, the completion of improvements, or the
commencement of substantial commercial operation of such property for the
purpose of financing all or any part of the purchase price thereof, such
construction, or the making of such improvements;

         (4) mortgages to secure indebtedness owing to the Company or to a
Restricted Subsidiary:

         (5)      mortgages existing at the date of this Indenture;

         (6) mortgages on property of a corporation existing at the time such
corporation is merged into or consolidated with the Company or a Subsidiary or
at the time of a sale, lease or other disposition of the properties of a
corporation as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to the Company or a






                                      -57-
<PAGE>   65

Restricted Subsidiary, provided that such mortgage was not incurred in
anticipation of such merger or consolidation or sale, lease or other
disposition;

         (7) mortgages in favor of the United States or any State, territory or
possession thereof (or the District of Columbia), or any department, agency,
instrumentality or political subdivision of the United States or any State,
territory or possession thereof (or the District of Columbia), to secure
partial, progress, advance or other payments pursuant to any contract or statute
or to secure any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing all or any
part of the purchase price of the cost of constructing or improving the property
subject to such mortgages;

         (8) mortgages created in connection with the acquisition of assets or a
project financed with, and created to secure, a Nonrecourse Obligation;

         (9) extensions, renewals, refinancings or replacements of any mortgage
referred to in the foregoing clauses (1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8)
provided, however, that any mortgages permitted by any of the foregoing clauses
(1), (2), (3), (4), (5), (6), (7) and (8) shall not extend to or cover any
property of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be, other
than the property, if any, specified in such clauses and improvements thereto,
and provided further that any refinancing or replacement of any mortgages
permitted by the foregoing clauses (7) and (8) shall be of the type referred to
in such clauses (7) or (8), as the case may be.

         Notwithstanding the restrictions outlined in the preceding paragraph,
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary will be permitted to issue, incur,
create, assume or guarantee debt secured by a mortgage which would otherwise be
subject to such restrictions, without equally and ratably securing the
Securities, provided that after giving effect thereto, the aggregate amount of
all debt so secured by mortgages (not including mortgages permitted under
clauses (1) through (9) above) does not exceed the greater of $300 million or
10% of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the Company as most recently
determine on or prior to such date.

         For purposes of this Section 1008:

         (i) "Secured Debt" means any debt for borrowed money secured by a
mortgage upon any Principal Property of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary
or upon any shares of stock or indebtedness (whether such Principal Property,
shares or indebtedness are now existing or owed or hereafter created or
acquired); and

         (ii) "mortgage" means a mortgage, security interest, pledge, lien,
charge or other encumbrance.

SECTION 1009.  LIMITATIONS ON SALE AND LEASEBACK TRANSACTIONS.

         The Company will not, nor will it permit any Restricted Subsidiary to,
enter into any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction with respect to any Principal
Property, other than any such transaction involving a lease for a term of not
more than three years of any such transaction between the Company and a






                                      -58-
<PAGE>   66

Restricted Subsidiary or between Restricted Subsidiaries, unless: (1) the
Company or such Restricted Subsidiary would be entitled to incurs indebtedness
secured by a mortgage on the Principal Property involved in such transaction at
least equal in amount to the Attributable Debt with respect to such Sale and
Lease-Back Transaction, without equally and ratably securing the Securities,
pursuant to Section 1008; or (2) the Company shall apply an amount equal to the
greater of the net proceeds of such sale or the Attributable Debt with respect
to such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction within 180 days of such sale to either
(or a combination of) the retirement (other than mandatory retirement, mandatory
prepayment or sinking fund payment or by a payment at maturity) of debt for
borrowed money of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that matures more than
12 months after the creation of such indebtedness or the purchase, construction
or development of other comparable property.

         Notwithstanding the restrictions outlined is the preceding paragraph,
the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary will be permitted to enter into Sale
and Lease-Back Transactions which would otherwise be subject to such
restrictions, without applying the net proceeds of such transactions in the
manner set forth in clause (b) above, provided that after giving effect thereto,
the aggregate amount of such sale and Lease-Back Transactions, together with the
aggregate amount of all debt secured by mortgages not permitted by clauses (1)
through (9) under Section 1008 above, does not exceed the greater of $300
million or 10% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets of the company as most
recently determined on or prior to such date.

SECTION 1010.  WAIVER OF CERTAIN COVENANTS.

         Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of
any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision
or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(19),
901(2), 901(7), 1006, 1007, 1008 or 1009 for the benefit of the Holders of such
series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at least a majority
in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series shall, by Act
of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such instance or generally
waive compliance with such term, provision or condition, but no such waiver
shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition except to the extent
so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become effective, the
obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in respect of any such
term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and effect.

SECTION 1011.  CALCULATION OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT.

         The Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each
calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue
discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding
Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information
relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.





                                      -59-
<PAGE>   67

                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN

                            REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101.  APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.

         Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated
Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as
otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities) in
accordance with this Article.

SECTION 1102.  ELECTION TO REDEEM; NOTICE TO TRUSTEE.

         The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced
by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section
301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the
Company of less than all the Securities of any series (including any such
redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 45
days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice
shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption
Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and,
if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any
redemption of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such
redemption provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this
Indenture, the Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers' Certificate
evidencing compliance with such restriction.

SECTION 1103.  SELECTION BY TRUSTEE OF SECURITIES TO BE REDEEMED.

         If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed
(unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be
redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the
particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days
prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of
such series not previously called for redemption, by lot, or in the Trustee's
discretion, on a pro-rata basis, provided that the unredeemed portion of the
principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which
shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.
If less than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to
be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the
particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days
prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of
such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in
accordance with the preceding sentence.

         If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part
before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the
Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so
far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have
been converted during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated
by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.






                                      -60-
<PAGE>   68

         The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the
Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities
selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be
redeemed.

         The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with
respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such
Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such
redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the
Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than
the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

         For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise
requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate,
in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the
portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be
redeemed.

SECTION 1104.  NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.

         Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption
Date, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities to be redeemed, to
each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at its address appearing in the
Security Register.

         All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed
(including CUSIP number(s)) and shall state:

         (1) the Redemption Date,

         (2) the Redemption Price (including accrued interest, if any),

         (3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series
consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification
(and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal
amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the
Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be
redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed,

         (4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due
and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that
interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

         (5) the place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered
for payment of the Redemption Price,






                                      -61-
<PAGE>   69

         (6) if applicable, the conversion price, that the date on which the
right to convert the principal of the Securities or the portions thereof to be
redeemed will terminate will be the Redemption Date and the place or places
where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion, and

         (7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

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

SECTION 1105.  DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.

         On or prior to 10:00 a.m., New York time, on any Redemption Date, the
Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the
Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as
provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption
Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date)
accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

         If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited
with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for
the redemption of such Security shall (subject to the right of any Holder of
such Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of Section
307) be paid to the Company on Company Request, or if then held by the Company,
shall be discharged from such trust.

SECTION 1106.  SECURITIES PAYABLE ON REDEMPTION DATE.

         Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so
to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the
Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the
Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued
interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any
such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall
be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest
to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is
on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such
Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the
close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the
provisions of Section 307.

         If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until
paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in
the Security.






                                      -62-
<PAGE>   70

SECTION 1107.  SECURITIES REDEEMED IN PART.

         Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered
at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires,
due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to
the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or its attorney
duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service
charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of
any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal
amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of
the Security so surrendered.


                                 ARTICLE TWELVE

                                  SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 1201.  APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.

         The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund
for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

         The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the
terms of any Securities 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 such Securities is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund
payment." If provided for by the terms of any Securities, the cash amount of any
sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202.
Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities as
provided for by the terms of such Securities.

SECTION 1202.  SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES.

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






                                      -63-
<PAGE>   71

SECTION 1203. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND.

         Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any
Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such
Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if
any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if
any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to
Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so
delivered. Not less than 30 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date,
the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund
payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the
redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company
in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the
redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner
stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.


                                ARTICLE THIRTEEN

                       DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 1301.  COMPANY'S OPTION TO EFFECT DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

         The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 1302
or Section 1303 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the
case may be, designated pursuant to Section 301 as being defeasible pursuant to
such Section 1302 or 1303, in accordance with any applicable requirements
provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set
forth below in this Article. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board
Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
such Securities.

SECTION 1302.  DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE.

         Upon the Company's exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section
applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the
Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations with
respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the
conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called
"Defeasance"). For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be
deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such
Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities
and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at
the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the
same), subject to the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated
or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to
receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1304 and as more fully
set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any
premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Company's
obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002
and 1003, and, if applicable, Article Fourteen, (3) the rights, powers, trusts,
duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article. Subject to
compliance with this Article,






                                      -64-
<PAGE>   72

the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section applied to any
Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if any) to have
Section 1303 applied to such Securities.

SECTION 1303.  COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

         Upon the Company's exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section
applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (1)
the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 1006 through
1009, inclusive, and any covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(19), 901(2)
or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and (2) the
occurrence of any event specified in Sections 501(4) (with respect to any of
Sections 1006 through 1009, inclusive, and any such covenants provided pursuant
to Section 301(19), 901(2) or 901(7)) shall be deemed not to be or result in an
Event of Default, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in
this Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are
satisfied (hereinafter called "Covenant Defeasance"). For this purpose, such
Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may
omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term,
condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent
so specified in the case of Section 501(4)), whether directly or indirectly by
reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any
reference in any such Section to any other provision herein or in any other
document, but the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be
unaffected thereby.

SECTION 1304.  CONDITIONS TO DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

         The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section
1302 or Section 1303 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case
may be:

         (1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be
deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements
contemplated by Section 609 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this
Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the
following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely
to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or
(B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal
and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not
later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or
(C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a
written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge,
and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee)
to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on such
Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of
this Indenture and such Securities. As used herein, "U.S. Government Obligation"
means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of
America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States
of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised
by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America
the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit
obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii),
is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any
depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the
Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation






                                      -65-
<PAGE>   73

which is specified in Clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of
the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment
of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so
specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is
not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of
such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of
the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest
evidenced by such depositary receipt.

         (2) In the event of an election to have Section 1302 apply to any
Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall
have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company
has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service
a ruling or (B) since the date of this instrument, there has been a change in
the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect
that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such
Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a
result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to
such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in
the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit,
Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

         (3) In the event of an election to have Section 1303 apply to any
Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall
have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the
Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income
tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected
with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the
same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if
such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.

         (4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other Securities
of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted
as a result of such deposit.

         (5) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would
become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other
Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or,
with regard to any such event specified in Sections 501(5) and (6), at any time
on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood
that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

         (6) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee
to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act
(assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act).

         (7) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach
or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.






                                      -66-
<PAGE>   74

         (8) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the
trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be registered
under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder.

         (9) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been
complied with.

SECTION 1305.  DEPOSITED MONEY AND U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS TO BE HELD IN
               TRUST; MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

         Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all
money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited
with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this
Section and Section 1306, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to
collectively as the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of any
Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with
the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either
directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its
own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such
Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal
and any premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law.

         The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or
other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations
deposited pursuant to Section 1304 or the principal and interest received in
respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for
the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.

         Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee
shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any
money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1304 with
respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm
of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof
delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then
be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as
the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

SECTION 1306.  REINSTATEMENT.

         If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in
accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any
order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining
or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this
Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or
released pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303 shall be revived and reinstated as
though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such
Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply
all money held in trust pursuant to Section 1305 with respect to such Securities
in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company makes
any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security
following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated






                                      -67-
<PAGE>   75

to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment
from the money so held in trust.


                                ARTICLE FOURTEEN

                      CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1401.  APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.

         The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of
any series which are convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock of
the Company, and the issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon the conversion
or exchange of such Securities, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by
Section 301 for the Securities of such series.

SECTION 1402.  EXERCISE OF CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE.

         In order to exercise a conversion or exchange privilege, the Holder of
a Security of a series with such a privilege shall surrender such Security to
the Company at the office or agency maintained for that purpose pursuant to
Section 1002, accompanied by a duly executed conversion or exchange notice to
the Company substantially in the form set forth in Section 206 stating that the
Holder elects to convert such Security or a specified portion thereof. Such
notice shall also state, if different from the name and address of such Holder,
the name or names (with address) in which the certificate or certificates for
shares of Common Stock which shall be issuable on such conversion or exchange
shall be issued. Securities surrendered for conversion or exchange shall (if so
required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed by or accompanied by
instruments of transfer in forms satisfactory to the Company and the Trustee
duly executed by the registered Holder or its attorney duly authorized in
writing; and Securities so surrendered for conversion or exchange (in whole or
in part) during the period from the close of business on any Regular Record Date
to the opening of business on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date
(excluding Securities or portions thereof called for redemption during the
period beginning at the close of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at
the opening of business on the first Business Day after the next succeeding
Interest Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day,
the second such Business Day) shall also be accompanied by payment in funds
acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to the interest payable on such
Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of such Security then being
converted or exchanged, and such interest shall be payable to such registered
Holder notwithstanding the conversion or exchange of such Security, subject to
the provisions of Section 307 relating to the payment of Defaulted Interest by
the Company. As promptly as practicable after the receipt of such notice and of
any payment required pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303,
set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers' Certificate, or
established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto setting forth the
terms of such series of Security, and the surrender of such Security in
accordance with such reasonable regulations as the Company may prescribe, the
Company shall issue and shall deliver, at the office or agency at which such
Security is surrendered, to such Holder or on its written order, a certificate
or certificates for the number of full shares of Common Stock issuable upon the
conversion or exchange of such Security (or specified portion thereof), in
accordance with the provisions of such Board Resolution, Officers'






                                      -68-
<PAGE>   76

Certificate or supplemental indenture, and cash as provided therein in respect
of any fractional share of such Common Stock otherwise issuable upon such
conversion or exchange. Such conversion or exchange shall be deemed to have been
effected immediately prior to the close of business on the date on which such
notice and such payment, if required, shall have been received in proper order
for conversion or exchange by the Company and such Security shall have been
surrendered as aforesaid (unless such Holder shall have so surrendered such
Security and shall have instructed the Company to effect the conversion or
exchange on a particular date following such surrender and such Holder shall be
entitled to convert or exchange such Security on such date, in which case such
conversion or exchange shall be deemed to be effected immediately prior to the
close of business on such date) and at such time the rights of the Holder of
such Security as such Security Holder shall cease and the person or persons in
whose name or names any certificate or certificates for shares of Common Stock
of the Company shall be issuable upon such conversion or exchange shall be
deemed to have become the Holder or Holders of record of the shares represented
thereby. Except as set forth above and subject to the final paragraph of Section
307, no payment or adjustment shall be made upon any conversion or exchange on
account of any interest accrued on the Securities (or any part thereof)
surrendered for conversion or exchange or on account of any dividends on the
Common Stock of the Company issued upon such conversion or exchange.

         In the case of any Security which is converted or exchanged in part
only, upon such conversion or exchange the Company shall execute and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver to or on the order of the Holder thereof, at the
expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of
authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted
or unexchanged portion of such Security.

SECTION 1403.  NO FRACTIONAL SHARES.

         No fractional share of Common Stock of the Company shall be issued upon
conversions or exchanges of Securities of any series. If more than one Security
shall be surrendered for conversion or exchange at one time by the same Holder,
the number of full shares which shall be issuable upon conversion or exchange
shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the
Securities (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted hereby) so
surrendered. If, except for the provisions of this Section 1403, any Holder of a
Security or Securities would be entitled to a fractional share of Common Stock
of the Company upon the conversion or exchange of such Security or Securities,
or specified portions thereof, the Company shall pay to such Holder an amount in
cash equal to the current market value of such fractional share computed, (i) if
such Common Stock is listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a
national securities exchange or market, on the basis of the last reported sale
price regular way on such exchange or market on the last trading day prior to
the date of conversion or exchange upon which such a sale shall have been
effected, or (ii) if such Common Stock is not at the time so listed or admitted
to unlisted trading privileges on a national securities exchange or market, on
the basis of the average of the bid and asked prices of such Common Stock in the
over-the-counter market, on the last trading day prior to the date of conversion
or exchange, as reported by the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or
similar organization if the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated is no longer
reporting such information, or if not so available, the fair market price as
determined by the Board of Directors. For purposes of this Section, "trading
day" shall






                                      -69-
<PAGE>   77

mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday other than any day on
which the Common Stock is not traded on the Nasdaq National Market, or if the
Common Stock is not traded on the Nasdaq National Market, on the principal
exchange or market on which the Common Stock is traded or quoted.

SECTION 1404.  ADJUSTMENT OF CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE PRICE.

         The conversion or exchange price of Securities of any series that is
convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock of the Company shall be adjusted
for any stock dividends, stock splits, reclassifications, combinations or
similar transactions in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture
or Board Resolutions setting forth the terms of the Securities of such series.

         Whenever the conversion or exchange price is adjusted, the Company
shall compute the adjusted conversion or exchange price in accordance with terms
of the applicable Board Resolution or supplemental indenture and shall prepare
an Officers' Certificate setting forth the adjusted conversion or exchange price
and showing in reasonable detail the facts upon which such adjustment is based,
and such certificate shall forthwith be filed at each office or agency
maintained for the purpose of conversion or exchange of Securities pursuant to
Section 1002 and, if different, with the Trustee. The Company shall forthwith
cause a notice setting forth the adjusted conversion or exchange price to be
mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each Holder of Securities of such series
at its address appearing on the Security Register and to any conversion or
exchange agent other than the Trustee.

SECTION 1405.  NOTICE OF CERTAIN CORPORATE ACTIONS.

         In case:

         (1) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on
its Common Stock payable otherwise than in cash out of its retained earnings
(other than a dividend for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is
required) that would require an adjustment pursuant to Section 1404; or

         (2) the Company shall authorize the granting to all or substantially
all of the holders of its Common Stock of rights, options or warrants to
subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any
other rights (other than any such grant for which approval of any shareholders
of the Company is required); or

         (3) of any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company (other
than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding shares of Common Stock, or
of any consolidation, merger or share exchange to which the Company is a party
and for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required), or of
the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or






                                      -70-
<PAGE>   78

         (4) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding
up of the Company;

then the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee, and shall cause to be
mailed to all Holders at their last addresses as they shall appear in the
Security Register, at least 20 days (or 10 days in any case specified in Clause
(1) or (2) above) prior to the applicable record date hereinafter specified, a
notice stating (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of
such dividend, distribution, rights, options or warrants, or, if a record is not
to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be
entitled to such dividend, distribution, rights, options or warrants are to be
determined, or (ii) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation,
merger, share exchange, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected
to become effective, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of
Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common
Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, dissolution,
liquidation or winding up. If at any time the Trustee shall not be the
conversion or exchange agent, a copy of such notice shall also forthwith be
filed by the Company with the Trustee.

SECTION 1406.  RESERVATION OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.

         The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available, free from
preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, for the
purpose of effecting the conversion or exchange of Securities, the full number
of shares of Common Stock of the Company then issuable upon the conversion or
exchange of all outstanding Securities of any series that has conversion or
exchange rights.

SECTION 1407.  PAYMENT OF CERTAIN TAXES UPON CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE.

         Except as provided in the next sentence, the Company will pay any and
all taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of
its Common Stock on conversion or exchange of Securities pursuant hereto. The
Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in
respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of its
Common Stock in a name other than that of the Holder of the Security or
Securities to be converted or exchanged, and no such issue or delivery shall be
made unless and until the person requesting such issue has paid to the Company
the amount of any such tax, or has established, to the satisfaction of the
Company, that such tax has been paid.

SECTION 1408.  NONASSESSABILITY.

         The Company covenants that all shares of its Common Stock which may be
issued upon conversion or exchange of Securities will upon issue in accordance
with the terms hereof be duly and validly issued and fully paid and
nonassessable.






                                      -71-
<PAGE>   79

SECTION 1409.  PROVISION IN CASE OF CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OF ASSETS.

         In case of any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any
other Person, any merger of another Person with or into the Company (other than
a merger which does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or
cancellation of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company) or any
conveyance, sale, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company, the Person formed by such consolidation or resulting from such
merger or which acquires such assets, as the case may be, shall execute and
deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture providing that the Holder of
each Security of a series then Outstanding that is convertible or exchangeable
into Common Stock of the Company shall have the right thereafter (which right
shall be the exclusive conversion or exchange right thereafter available to said
Holder), during the period such Security shall be convertible or exchangeable,
to convert or exchange such Security only into the kind and amount of
securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger,
conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by a holder of the number of shares of
Common Stock of the Company into which such Security might have been converted
or exchanged immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale,
transfer or lease, assuming such holder of Common Stock of the Company (i) is
not a Person with which the Company consolidated or merged with or into or which
merged into or with the Company or to which such conveyance, sale, transfer or
lease was made, as the case may be (a "Constituent Person"), or an Affiliate of
a Constituent Person and (ii) failed to exercise his rights of election, if any,
as to the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon
such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease (provided that
if the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon
such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer, or lease is not the same
for each share of Common Stock of the Company held immediately prior to such
consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by others than a
Constituent Person or an Affiliate thereof and in respect of which such rights
of election shall not have been exercised ("Non-electing Share"), then for the
purpose of this Section 1409 the kind and amount of securities, cash and other
property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer
or lease by the holders of each Non-electing Share shall be deemed to be the
kind and amount so receivable per share by a plurality of the Non- electing
Shares). Such supplemental indenture shall provide for adjustments which, for
events subsequent to the effective date of such supplemental indenture, shall be
as nearly equivalent as may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in
this Article or in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture or
Board Resolutions setting forth the terms of such adjustments. The above
provisions of this Section 1409 shall similarly apply to successive
consolidations, mergers, conveyances, sales, transfers or leases. Notice of the
execution of such a supplemental indenture shall be given by the Company to the
Holder of each Security of a series that is convertible or exchangeable into
Common Stock of the Company as provided in Section 106 promptly upon such
execution.

         Neither the Trustee nor any conversion or exchange agent, if any, shall
be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions
contained in any such supplemental indenture relating either to the kind or
amount of shares of stock or other securities or property or cash receivable by
Holders of Securities of a series convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock
of the Company upon the conversion or exchange of their Securities after any
such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, sale or lease or to any such
adjustment, but may accept as conclusive evidence of






                                      -72-
<PAGE>   80

the correctness of any such provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon,
an Opinion of Counsel with respect thereto, which the Company shall cause to be
furnished to the Trustee upon request.

SECTION 1410.  DUTIES OF TRUSTEE REGARDING CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE.

         Neither the Trustee nor any conversion or exchange agent shall at any
time be under any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Securities of any
series that is convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock of the Company to
determine whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the
conversion or exchange price, or with respect to the nature or extent of any
such adjustment when made, or with respect to the method employed, whether
herein or in any supplemental indenture (or whether any provisions of any
supplemental indenture are correct), any resolutions of the Board of Directors
or written instrument executed by one or more officers of the Company provided
to be employed in making the same. Neither the Trustee nor any conversion or
exchange agent shall be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or
the kind or amount) of any shares of Common Stock of the Company, or of any
securities or property, which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the
conversion or exchange of any Securities and neither the Trustee nor any
conversion or exchange agent makes any representation with respect thereto.
Subject to the provisions of Section 601, neither the Trustee nor any conversion
or exchange agent shall be responsible for any failure of the Company to issue,
transfer or deliver any shares of its Common Stock or stock certificates or
other securities or property upon the surrender of any Security for the purpose
of conversion or exchange or to comply with any of the covenants of the Company
contained in this Article Fourteen or in the applicable supplemental indenture,
resolutions of the Board of Directors or written instrument executed by one or
more duly authorized officers of the Company.

SECTION 1411.  REPAYMENT OF CERTAIN FUNDS UPON CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE.

         Any funds which at any time shall have been deposited by the Company or
on its behalf with the Trustee or any other paying agent for the purpose of
paying the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on any of
the Securities (including, but not limited to, funds deposited for the sinking
fund referred to in Article Twelve hereof and funds deposited pursuant to
Article Thirteen hereof) and which shall not be required for such purposes
because of the conversion or exchange of such Securities as provided in this
Article Fourteen shall after such conversion or exchange be repaid to the
Company by the Trustee upon the Company's written request.

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






                                      -73-
<PAGE>   81

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



                                        SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.



                                        By: ___________________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:


                                        THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee



                                        By: ___________________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:























                                      -74-



<PAGE>   1

                                                                     Exhibit 4.2
================================================================================





















                             Sun Microsystems, Inc.

                                       TO


                              The Bank of New York,

                                   as Trustee


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


                                    Indenture

                          Dated as of __________, 1999


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




                          Subordinated Debt Securities










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



<PAGE>   2



                                TABLE OF CONTENTS



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
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                                                                                                                   ----
<S>                                                                                                                  <C>
ARTICLE ONE - DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION.................................................1
         SECTION 101.        Definitions..............................................................................1
                  Act ................................................................................................2
                  Affiliate  .........................................................................................2
                  Authenticating Agent................................................................................2
                  Board of Directors..................................................................................2
                  Board Resolution....................................................................................2
                  Business Day........................................................................................2
                  Commission .........................................................................................2
                  Common Stock........................................................................................2
                  Company ............................................................................................3
                  Company Request.....................................................................................3
                  Company Order.......................................................................................3
                  Corporate Trust Office..............................................................................3
                  Covenant Defeasance.................................................................................3
                  Defaulted Interest..................................................................................3
                  Defeasance .........................................................................................3
                  Depositary .........................................................................................3
                  Designated Senior Debt..............................................................................3
                  Event of Default....................................................................................3
                  Exchange Act........................................................................................3
                  Expiration Date.....................................................................................3
                  Global Security.....................................................................................3
                  Holder .............................................................................................4
                  Indenture ..........................................................................................4
                  Interest ...........................................................................................4
                  Interest Payment Date...............................................................................4
                  Investment Company Act..............................................................................4
                  Maturity ...........................................................................................4
                  Notice of Default...................................................................................4
                  Officers' Certificate...............................................................................4
                  Opinion of Counsel..................................................................................5
                  Original Issue Discount Security....................................................................5
                  Outstanding.........................................................................................5
                  Paying Agent........................................................................................6
                  Payment Blockage Notice.............................................................................6
                  Person .............................................................................................6
                  Place of Payment....................................................................................6
                  Predecessor Security................................................................................6
                  Record Date.........................................................................................6
                  Redemption Date.....................................................................................6
</TABLE>





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<PAGE>   3


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (continued)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   Page
                                                                                                                   ----
<S>                                                                                                                  <C>
                  Redemption Price....................................................................................6
                  Regular Record Date.................................................................................6
                  Representative......................................................................................6
                  Revolving Credit Agreement..........................................................................6
                  Securities .........................................................................................7
                  Securities Act......................................................................................7
                  Security Register...................................................................................7
                  Security Registrar..................................................................................7
                  Senior Debt.........................................................................................7
                  Special Record Date.................................................................................8
                  Stated Maturity.....................................................................................8
                  Subsidiary .........................................................................................8
                  Trust Indenture Act.................................................................................8
                  Trustee ............................................................................................8
                  U.S. Government Obligation..........................................................................8
                  Vice President......................................................................................8
         SECTION 102.        Compliance Certificates and Opinions.....................................................8
         SECTION 103.        Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee...................................................9
         SECTION 104.        Acts of Holders; Record Dates............................................................9
         SECTION 105.        Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company...................................................11
         SECTION 106.        Notice to Holders; Waiver...............................................................12
         SECTION 107.        Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.......................................................12
         SECTION 108.        Effect of Headings and Table of Contents................................................12
         SECTION 109.        Successors and Assigns..................................................................13
         SECTION 110.        Separability Clause.....................................................................13
         SECTION 111.        Benefits of Indenture...................................................................13
         SECTION 112.        Governing Law...........................................................................13
         SECTION 113.        Legal Holidays..........................................................................13
         SECTION 114.        Indenture and Securities Solely Corporate Obligations...................................13
         SECTION 115.        Indenture May be Executed in Counterparts...............................................14

ARTICLE TWO - SECURITY FORMS.........................................................................................14
         SECTION 201.        Forms Generally.........................................................................14
         SECTION 202.        Form of Face of Security................................................................15
         SECTION 203.        Form of Reverse of Security.............................................................16
         SECTION 204.        Form of Legend for Global Securities....................................................21
         SECTION 205.        Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.........................................22
         SECTION 206.        Form of Conversion Notice...............................................................22
</TABLE>





                                      -ii-

<PAGE>   4


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (continued)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   Page
                                                                                                                   ----
<S>                                                                                                                  <C>
ARTICLE THREE - THE SECURITIES.......................................................................................23
         SECTION 301.        Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series....................................................23
         SECTION 302.        Denominations...........................................................................26
         SECTION 303.        Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating..........................................26
         SECTION 304.        Temporary Securities....................................................................28
         SECTION 305.        Registration; Registration of Transfer and Exchange.....................................28
         SECTION 306.        Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities........................................30
         SECTION 307.        Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved..........................................30
         SECTION 308.        Persons Deemed Owners...................................................................32
         SECTION 309.        Cancellation............................................................................32
         SECTION 310.        Computation of Interest.................................................................32
         SECTION 311.        CUSIP Numbers...........................................................................32

ARTICLE FOUR - SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE............................................................................33
         SECTION 401.        Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.................................................33
         SECTION 402.        Application of Trust Money..............................................................34

ARTICLE FIVE - REMEDIES..............................................................................................34
         SECTION 501.        Events of Default.......................................................................34
         SECTION 502.        Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment......................................36
         SECTION 503.        Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee ........................37
         SECTION 504.        Trustee May File Proofs of Claim........................................................37
         SECTION 505.        Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.............................38
         SECTION 506.        Application of Money Collected..........................................................38
         SECTION 507.        Limitation on Suits.....................................................................38
         SECTION 508.        Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium
                               and Interest and to Convert...........................................................39
         SECTION 509.        Restoration of Rights and Remedies......................................................39
         SECTION 510.        Rights and Remedies Cumulative..........................................................39
         SECTION 511.        Delay or Omission Not Waiver............................................................40
         SECTION 512.        Control by Holders......................................................................40
         SECTION 513.        Waiver of Past Defaults.................................................................40
         SECTION 514.        Undertaking for Costs...................................................................40
         SECTION 515.        Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.................................................41

ARTICLE SIX - THE TRUSTEE............................................................................................41
         SECTION 601.        Certain Duties and Responsibilities.....................................................41
         SECTION 602.        Notice of Defaults......................................................................41
         SECTION 603.        Certain Rights of Trustee...............................................................42
</TABLE>






                                      -iii-

<PAGE>   5


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (continued)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   Page
                                                                                                                   ----
<S>                                                                                                                  <C>
         SECTION 604.        Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities..................................43
         SECTION 605.        May Hold Securities and Act as Trustee Under Other Indentures ..........................43
         SECTION 606.        Money Held in Trust.....................................................................43
         SECTION 607.        Compensation and Reimbursement..........................................................43
         SECTION 608.        Conflicting Interests...................................................................44
         SECTION 609.        Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.................................................44
         SECTION 610.        Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.......................................45
         SECTION 611.        Acceptance of Appointment by Successor..................................................46
         SECTION 612.        Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.............................47
         SECTION 613.        Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.......................................47
         SECTION 614.        Appointment of Authenticating Agent.....................................................47

ARTICLE SEVEN - HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY....................................................49
         SECTION 701.        Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders...............................49
         SECTION 702.        Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders..................................49
         SECTION 703.        Reports by Trustee......................................................................50
         SECTION 704.        Reports by Company......................................................................50

ARTICLE EIGHT - CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER
                             OR LEASE................................................................................51
         SECTION 801.        Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms....................................51
         SECTION 802.        Successor Substituted...................................................................51

ARTICLE NINE - SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES...............................................................................52
         SECTION 901.        Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders......................................52
         SECTION 902.        Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.........................................53
         SECTION 903.        Execution of Supplemental Indentures....................................................54
         SECTION 904.        Effect of Supplemental Indentures.......................................................54
         SECTION 905.        Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.....................................................55
         SECTION 906.        Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures......................................55
         SECTION 907.        Subordination Unimpaired................................................................55

ARTICLE TEN - COVENANTS..............................................................................................55
         SECTION 1001.       Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest..............................................55
         SECTION 1002.       Maintenance of Office or Agency.........................................................55
         SECTION 1003.       Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.......................................56
         SECTION 1004.       Statement by Officers as to Default.....................................................57
         SECTION 1005.       Existence...............................................................................57
         SECTION 1006.       Maintenance of Properties...............................................................57
         SECTION 1007.       Payment of Taxes and Other Claims.......................................................57
</TABLE>





                                      -iv-

<PAGE>   6


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (continued)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   Page
                                                                                                                   ----
<S>                                                                                                                  <C>
         SECTION 1008.       Waiver of Certain Covenants.............................................................58
         SECTION 1009.       Calculation of Original Issue Discount..................................................58

ARTICLE ELEVEN - REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES............................................................................58
         SECTION 1101.       Applicability of Article................................................................58
         SECTION 1102.       Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee...................................................58
         SECTION 1103.       Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed.......................................59
         SECTION 1104.       Notice of Redemption....................................................................59
         SECTION 1105.       Deposit of Redemption Price.............................................................60
         SECTION 1106.       Securities Payable on Redemption Date...................................................61
         SECTION 1107.       Securities Redeemed in Part.............................................................61

ARTICLE TWELVE - SINKING FUNDS.......................................................................................61
         SECTION 1201.       Applicability of Article................................................................61
         SECTION 1202.       Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities...................................62
         SECTION 1203.       Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund...............................................62

ARTICLE THIRTEEN - DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE................................................................62
         SECTION 1301.       Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance ...........................62
         SECTION 1302.       Defeasance and Discharge................................................................63
         SECTION 1303.       Covenant Defeasance.....................................................................63
         SECTION 1304.       Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.........................................63
         SECTION 1305.       Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to be Held
                                    in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions...............................................65
         SECTION 1306.       Reinstatement...........................................................................66

ARTICLE FOURTEEN - CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES.............................................................66
         SECTION 1401.       Applicability of Article................................................................66
         SECTION 1402.       Exercise of Conversion and Exchange Privilege...........................................67
         SECTION 1403.       No Fractional Shares....................................................................68
         SECTION 1404.       Adjustment of Conversion and Exchange Price.............................................68
         SECTION 1405.       Notice of Certain Corporate Actions.....................................................69
         SECTION 1406.       Reservation of Shares of Common Stock...................................................70
         SECTION 1407.       Payment of Certain Taxes Upon Conversion and Exchange...................................70
         SECTION 1408.       Nonassessability........................................................................70
         SECTION 1409.       Provision in Case of Consolidation, Merger or Sale of Assets............................70
         SECTION 1410.       Duties of Trustee Regarding Conversion and Exchange.....................................71
         SECTION 1411.       Repayment of Certain Funds Upon Conversion and Exchange ................................72
</TABLE>





                                       -v-

<PAGE>   7


                                TABLE OF CONTENTS
                                   (continued)



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   Page
                                                                                                                   ----
<S>                                                                                                                  <C>
ARTICLE FIFTEEN - SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES........................................................................72
         SECTION 1501.       Securities Subordinate to Senior Debt...................................................72
         SECTION 1502.       Payment Over of Proceeds Upon Dissolution, Etc..........................................73
         SECTION 1503.       Prior Payment to Senior Debt Upon Acceleration of Securities............................74
         SECTION 1504.       No Payment in Certain Circumstances.....................................................74
         SECTION 1505.       Payment Permitted If No Default.........................................................76
         SECTION 1506.       Subrogation to Rights of Holders of Senior Debt.........................................76
         SECTION 1507.       Provisions Solely to Define Relative Rights.............................................76
         SECTION 1508.       Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.....................................................77
         SECTION 1509.       No Waiver of Subordination Provisions...................................................77
         SECTION 1510.       Notice to Trustee.......................................................................77
         SECTION 1511.       Reliance on Judicial Order or Certificate of Liquidating Agent..........................78
         SECTION 1512.       Trustee Not Fiduciary for Holders of Senior Debt........................................78
         SECTION 1513.       Rights of Trustee as Holder of Senior Debt; Preservation of
                                   Trustee's Rights..................................................................78
         SECTION 1514.       Article Applicable to Paying Agents.....................................................79
         SECTION 1515.       Certain Conversions Deemed Payment......................................................79
         SECTION 1516.       Obligations of Company and Right to Convert Unconditional...............................79
         SECTION 1517.       Reliance by Holders of Senior Indebtedness on Subordination
                                   Provisions .......................................................................80
</TABLE>































                                      -vi-

<PAGE>   8

                             Sun Microsystems, Inc.

           Certain Sections of this Indenture relating to Sections 310
           through 318, inclusive, of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 Trust Indenture                                              Indenture
   Act Section                                                 Section
- -----------------                                           -------------
<S>                                                              <C>
Section 310(a)(1)     ...........................................609
           (a)(2)     ...........................................609
           (a)(3)     ...........................................Not Applicable
           (a)(4)     ...........................................Not Applicable
           (b)        ...........................................608, 610
Section 311(a)        ...........................................613
           (b)        ...........................................613
Section 312(a)        ...........................................701, 702
           (b)        ...........................................702
           (c)        ...........................................702
Section 313(a)        ...........................................703
           (b)        ...........................................703
           (c)        ...........................................703
           (d)        ...........................................703
Section 314(a)        ...........................................704
           (a)(4)     ...........................................101, 1004
           (b)        ...........................................Not Applicable
           (c)(1)     ...........................................102
           (c)(2)     ...........................................102
           (c)(3)     ...........................................Not Applicable
           (d)        ...........................................Not Applicable
           (e)        ...........................................102
Section 315(a)        ...........................................601
           (b)        ...........................................602
           (c)        ...........................................601
           (d)        ...........................................601
           (e)        ...........................................514
Section 316(a)        ...........................................101
           (a)(1)(A)  ...........................................502, 512
           (a)(1)(B)  ...........................................513
           (a)(2)     ...........................................Not Applicable
           (b)        ...........................................508
           (c)        ...........................................104
Section 317(a)(1)     ...........................................503
           (a)(2)     ...........................................504
           (b)        ...........................................1003
Section 318(a)        ...........................................107
</TABLE>

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

NOTE:   This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed
        to be a part of the Indenture.






                                     -vii-

<PAGE>   9

         INDENTURE, dated as of _______________, 1999, between Sun Microsystems,
Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware (herein called the "Company"), having its principal executive office at
901 San Antonio Road, Palo Alto, California 94303 and The Bank of New York,
N.A., a New York banking corporation, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee").


                             RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

         The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its unsecured
debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called the
"Securities"), to be issued in one or more series as provided in this Indenture.

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


                   NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

         For and in consideration of the premises and the purchase of 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 appertaining, as follows:


                                   ARTICLE ONE

             DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101. DEFINITIONS.

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

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

         (2) all other terms used herein which are defined in the Trust
Indenture Act, either directly or by reference therein, have the meanings
assigned to them therein;

         (3) all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the meanings
assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
and, except as otherwise herein expressly provided, the term "generally accepted
accounting principles" with respect to any computation required or permitted
hereunder shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted at the
date of such computation;

         (4) unless the context otherwise requires, any reference to an
"Article" or a "Section" refers to an Article or a Section, as the case may be,
of this Indenture; and





<PAGE>   10

         (5) 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.

         "Act," when used with respect to any Holder, has the meaning specified
in Section 104.

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

         "Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee
pursuant to Section 614 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate
Securities of one or more series.

         "Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of the Company
or any duly authorized committee of that board empowered to act for it with
respect to this Indenture.

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

         "Business Day," when used with respect to any Place of Payment, means
each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which
banking institutions in that Place of Payment are authorized or obligated by law
or executive order to close.

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

         "Common Stock" includes any stock of any class of the Company which has
no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company
and which is not subject to redemption by the Company; provided, however,
subject to the provisions of Section 1409, shares issuable upon conversion of
Securities shall include only shares of the class designated as Common Stock of
the Company at the date of this Indenture or shares of any class or classes
resulting from any reclassification or reclassifications thereof and which have
no preference in respect of dividends or of amounts payable in the event of any
voluntary or involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the Company
and which are not subject to redemption by the Company; provided, further, that
if at any time there shall be more than one such resulting class, the shares of
each such class then so issuable shall be substantially in the proportion which
the total number of shares of such class resulting from all such
reclassifications bears to the total number of shares of all such classes
resulting from all such reclassifications.






                                      -2-
<PAGE>   11

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

         "Company Request" or "Company Order" means a written request or order
signed in the name of the Company by its Chairman of the Board, its Vice
Chairman of the Board, its President or a Vice President, and by its principal
financial officer, its Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, its Secretary or an
Assistant Secretary, and delivered to the Trustee.

         "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal corporate trust office of
the Trustee currently at 101 Barclay Street, Floor 21W, New York, New York
10286, at which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be
administered.

         "corporation" means a corporation, association, company, limited
liability company, joint-stock company or business trust.

         "Covenant Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1303.

         "Defaulted Interest" has the meaning specified in Section 307.

         "Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1302.

         "Depositary" means, with respect to Securities of any series issuable
in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities, a clearing
agency registered under the Exchange Act that is designated to act as Depositary
for such Securities as contemplated by Section 301.

         "Designated Senior Debt" means the Company's obligations under the
Revolving Credit Agreement and the Company's obligations under any particular
Senior Debt in which the instrument creating or evidencing the same or the
assumption or guarantee thereof (or related agreements or documents to which the
Company is a party) expressly provides that such Senior Debt shall be
"Designated Senior Debt" for purposes of this Indenture (provided that such
instrument, agreement or other document may place limitations and conditions on
the right of such Senior Debt to exercise the rights of Designated Senior Debt).

         "Event of Default" has the meaning specified in Section 501.

         "Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 and any
statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

         "Expiration Date" has the meaning specified in Section 104.

         "Global Security" means a Security that evidences all or part of the
Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 204 (or such
legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).






                                      -3-
<PAGE>   12

         "Holder" means a Person in whose name a Security is registered in the
Security Register.

         "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and as it may
from time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures
supplemental hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof,
including, for all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental
indenture, the provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a
part of and govern this instrument and any such supplemental indenture,
respectively. The term "Indenture" shall also include the terms of particular
series of Securities established as contemplated by Section 301; provided,
however, that if at any time more than one Person is acting as Trustee under
this Indenture due to the appointment of one or more separate Trustees for any
one or more separate series of Securities, "Indenture" shall mean, with respect
to such series of Securities for which any such Person is Trustee, this
instrument as originally executed or as it may from time to time be supplemented
or amended by one or more indentures supplemental hereto entered into pursuant
to the applicable provisions hereof and shall include the terms of particular
series of Securities for which such Person is Trustee established as
contemplated by Section 301, exclusive, however, of any provisions or terms
which relate solely to other series of Securities for which such Person is not
Trustee, regardless of when such terms or provisions were adopted, and exclusive
of any provisions or terms adopted by means of one or more indentures
supplemental hereto executed and delivered after such person had become such
Trustee, but to which such person, as such Trustee, was not a party; provided,
further that in the event that this Indenture is supplemented or amended by one
or more indentures supplemental hereto which are only applicable to certain
series of Securities, the term "Indenture" for a particular series of Securities
shall only include the supplemental indentures applicable thereto.

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

         "Interest Payment Date," when used with respect to any Security, means
the Stated Maturity of an instalment of interest on such Security.

         "Investment Company Act" means the Investment Company Act of 1940 and
any statute successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

         "Maturity," when used with respect to any Security, means the date on
which the principal of such Security or an instalment of principal becomes due
and payable as therein or herein provided, whether at the Stated Maturity or by
declaration of acceleration, call for redemption, repurchase at the option of
the Holder or otherwise.

         "Notice of Default" means a written notice of the kind specified in
Section 501(4).

         "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman of
the Board, a Vice Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and
by the principal financial officer, the Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the
Secretary or an Assistant Secretary, of the Company, and delivered to the
Trustee. One of the officers signing an Officers' Certificate given pursuant to
Section 1004 shall be the principal executive, financial or accounting officer
of the Company.






                                      -4-
<PAGE>   13

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

         "Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security which provides
for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon
a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502.

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

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

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

         (3) Securities as to which Defeasance has been effected pursuant to
Section 1302; and

         (4) Securities which have been paid pursuant to Section 306 or in
exchange for or in lieu of which other Securities have been authenticated and
delivered pursuant to this Indenture, other than any such Securities in respect
of which there shall have been presented to the Trustee proof satisfactory to it
that such Securities are held by a bona fide purchaser in whose hands such
Securities are valid obligations of the Company;

provided, however, that in determining whether the Holders of the requisite
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities have given, made or taken any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action hereunder as of any date, (A) the principal amount of an Original Issue
Discount Security which shall be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount of
the principal thereof which would be due and payable as of such date upon
acceleration of the Maturity thereof to such date pursuant to Section 502, (B)
if, as of such date, the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of a
Security is not determinable, the principal amount of such Security which shall
be deemed to be Outstanding shall be the amount as specified or determined as
contemplated by Section 301, (C) the principal amount of a Security denominated
in one or more foreign currencies or currency units which shall be deemed to be
Outstanding shall be the U.S. dollar equivalent, determined as of such date in
the manner provided as contemplated by Section 301, of the principal amount of
such Security (or, in the case of a Security described in Clause (A) or (B)
above, of the amount determined as provided in such Clause), and (D) Securities
owned by the Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate
of the Company or of such other obligor shall be disregarded and deemed not to
be Outstanding, except that, in determining whether the Trustee shall be
protected in relying upon any such request, demand, authorization, direction,
notice, consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a responsible
officer of the Trustee actually knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.
Securities






                                      -5-
<PAGE>   14

so owned which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if
the pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right
so to act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the
Company or any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company
or of such other obligor.

         "Paying Agent" means any Person authorized by the Company to pay the
principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities on behalf of the
Company.

         "Payment Blockage Notice" has the meaning specified in Section 1504.

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

         "Place of Payment," when used with respect to the Securities of any
series, means the place or places where the principal of and any premium and
interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as
contemplated by Section 301.

         "Predecessor Security" of any particular Security means every previous
Security evidencing all or a portion of the same debt as that evidenced by such
particular Security; and, for the purposes of this definition, any Security
authenticated and delivered under Section 306 in exchange for or in lieu of a
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security shall be deemed to evidence the
same debt as the mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security.

         "Record Date" means any Regular Record Date or Special Record Date.

         "Redemption Date," when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, means the date fixed for such redemption by or pursuant to this
Indenture.

         "Redemption Price," when used with respect to any Security to be
redeemed, means the price at which it is to be redeemed pursuant to this
Indenture.

         "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment
Date on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose
as contemplated by Section 301.

         "Representative" means the (a) indenture trustee or other trustee,
agent or representative for any Senior Debt or (b) with respect to any Senior
Debt that does not have any such trustee, agent or other representative, (i) in
the case of such Senior Debt issued pursuant to an agreement providing for
voting arrangements as among the holders or owners of such Senior Debt, any
holder or owner of such Senior Debt acting with the consent of the required
persons necessary to bind such holders or owners of such Senior Debt and (ii) in
the case of all other such Senior Debt, the holder or owner of such Senior Debt.

         "Revolving Credit Agreement" means that certain Restated Revolving
Credit Agreement, dated as of August 27, 1997, by and between Company, the
financial institutions named on the signature pages






                                      -6-
<PAGE>   15

thereto (the "Bank) and Citicorp N.A., as agent for the Banks, as amended,
restated, supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time.

         "Securities" has the meaning stated in the first recital of this
Indenture and more particularly means any Securities authenticated and delivered
under this Indenture.

         "Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933 and any statute
successor thereto, in each case as amended from time to time.

         "Security Register" and "Security Registrar" have the respective
meanings specified in Section 305.

         "Senior Debt" means the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest, if any (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any
petition in bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Company to the
extent that such claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such
proceeding), on, rent with respect to, and all fees and other amounts payable in
connection with, the following, whether absolute or contingent, secured or
unsecured, due or to become due, outstanding on the date of this Indenture or
thereafter created, incurred or assumed: (a) indebtedness of the Company
evidenced by credit or loan agreement, note, bond, debenture or other written
obligation, (b) all obligations of the Company for money borrowed, (c) all
obligations of the Company evidenced by a note or similar instrument given in
connection with the acquisition of any businesses, properties or assets of any
kind, (d) obligations of the Company (i) as lessee under leases required to be
capitalized on the balance sheet of the lessee under generally accepted
accounting principles, (ii) as lessee under other leases for facilities,
equipment or related assets, whether or not capitalized, entered into or leased
after the date of this Indenture for financing purposes (as determined by the
Company) or (iii) under any lease or related document (including a purchase
agreement) that provides that the Company is contractually obligated to purchase
or cause a third party to purchase the leased property and the obligations of
the Company under such lease or related document to purchase or to cause a third
party to purchase such leased property, (e) all obligations of the Company under
interest rate and currency swaps, caps, floors, collars, hedge agreements,
forward contracts, or similar agreements or arrangements, (f) all obligations of
the Company with respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar
facilities (including reimbursement obligations with respect to any of the
foregoing), (g) all obligations of the Company issued or assumed as the deferred
purchase price of property or services (but excluding trade accounts payable
arising in the ordinary course of business), (h) all obligations of the type
referred to in clauses (a) through (g) above of another Person and all dividends
of another Person, the payment of which, in either case, the Company has assumed
or guaranteed (or in effect guaranteed through an agreement to purchase or
otherwise (including, without limitation, "take or pay" and similar
arrangements)), or for which the Company is responsible or liable, directly or
indirectly, jointly or severally, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, or which
is secured by lien on property of the Company, and all obligations of the
Company with respect thereto, and (i) renewals, extensions, modifications,
replacements, restatements and refundings of, or any indebtedness or obligation
issued in exchange for, any such indebtedness or obligation described in clauses
(a) through (h) of this paragraph; provided, however, that Senior Debt shall not
include the Securities or any such indebtedness or obligation if the terms of
such indebtedness






                                      -7-
<PAGE>   16

or obligation (or the terms of the instrument under which, or pursuant to which
it is issued) expressly provide that such indebtedness or obligation is not
superior in right of payment to the Securities.

         "Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest means a
date fixed by the Trustee pursuant to Section 307.

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

         "Subsidiary" means a corporation of which at least 66 2/3% of the
outstanding voting stock of such corporation is at the time owned, directly or
indirectly, by the Company or by one or more other Subsidiaries, or by the
Company and one or more other Subsidiaries, and the accounts of which are
consolidated with those of the Company in its most recent consolidated financial
statements in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles. For the
purposes of this definition, "voting stock" means stock which ordinarily has
voting power for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long
as no senior class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

         "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 as in force
at the date as of which this instrument was executed; provided, however, that in
the event the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 is amended after such date, "Trust
Indenture Act" means, to the extent required by any such amendment, the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 as so amended.

         "Trustee" means the Person named as the "Trustee" in the first
paragraph of this instrument until a successor Trustee shall have become such
pursuant to the applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter
"Trustee" shall mean or include each Person who is then a Trustee hereunder, and
if at any time there is more than one such Person, "Trustee" as used with
respect to the Securities of any series shall mean the Trustee with respect to
Securities of that series.

         "U.S. Government Obligation" has the meaning specified in Section 1304.

         "Vice President," when used with respect to the Company or the Trustee,
means any vice president, whether or not designated by a number or a word or
words added before or after the title "vice president."

SECTION 102. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATES AND OPINIONS.

         Upon any application or request by the Company to the Trustee to take
any action under any provision of this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to
the Trustee such certificates and opinions as may be required under the Trust
Indenture Act. Each such certificate or opinion shall be given in the form of an
Officers' Certificate, if to be given by an officer of the Company, or an
Opinion of Counsel, if to be given by counsel, and shall comply with the
requirements of the Trust Indenture Act and any other requirements set forth in
this Indenture.






                                      -8-
<PAGE>   17

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

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

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

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

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

SECTION 103. FORM OF DOCUMENTS DELIVERED TO TRUSTEE.

         In any case where several matters are required to be certified by, or
covered by an opinion of, any specified Person, it is not necessary that all
such matters be certified by, or covered by the opinion of, only one such
Person, or that they be so certified or covered by only one document, but one
such Person may certify or give an opinion with respect to some matters and one
or more other such Persons as to other matters, and any such Person may certify
or give an opinion as to such matters in one or several documents.

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

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

SECTION 104. ACTS OF HOLDERS; RECORD DATES.

         Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or
taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent






                                      -9-
<PAGE>   18

duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided,
such action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are
delivered to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the
Company. The Trustee shall promptly deliver to the Company copies of all such
instrument or instruments and records delivered to the Trustee. Such instrument
or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced thereby) are
herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing such instrument
or instruments. Proof of execution of any such instrument or of a writing
appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this Indenture
and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the Trustee and the Company,
if made in the manner provided in this Section.

         The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument
or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by a
certificate of a notary public or other officer authorized by law to take
acknowledgments of deeds, certifying that the individual signing such instrument
or writing acknowledged to him or her the execution thereof. Where such
execution is by a signer acting in a capacity other than his or her individual
capacity, such certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof
of his or her authority. The fact and date of the execution of any such
instrument or writing, or the authority of the Person executing the same, may
also be proved in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

         The ownership of Securities shall be proved by the Security Register.

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

         The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to
give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, vote, notice,
consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be
given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, provided that the
Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph
shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice,
declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph. If any
record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders,
shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders
remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be
effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date
by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of such
series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall be construed to
prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any action for which a
record date has previously been set pursuant to this paragraph (whereupon the
record date previously set shall automatically and with no action by any Person
be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this paragraph shall be construed
to render ineffective any action taken by Holders of the requisite principal
amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant series on the date such action
is taken. Promptly after any record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the
Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice






                                      -10-
<PAGE>   19

of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable
Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of
Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

         The Trustee may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to join
in the giving or making of (i) any Notice of Default, (ii) any declaration of
acceleration referred to in Section 502, (iii) any request to institute
proceedings referred to in Section 507(2) or (iv) any direction referred to in
Section 512, in each case with respect to Securities of such series. If any
record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date, and no other Holders, shall be
entitled to join in such notice, declaration, request or direction, whether or
not such Holders remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such
action shall be effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable
Expiration Date by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date. Nothing in this paragraph shall
be construed to prevent the Trustee from setting a new record date for any
action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this
paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with
no action by any Person be canceled and of no effect), and nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders
of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant
series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set
pursuant to this paragraph, the Trustee, at the Company's expense, shall cause
notice of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable
Expiration Date to be given to the Company in writing and to each Holder of
Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

         With respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section, the party
hereto which sets such record dates may designate any day as the "Expiration
Date" and from time to time may change the Expiration Date to any earlier or
later day; provided that no such change shall be effective unless notice of the
proposed new Expiration Date is given to the other party hereto in writing, and
to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in
Section 106, on or prior to the existing Expiration Date. If an Expiration Date
is not designated with respect to any record date set pursuant to this Section,
the party hereto which set such record date shall be deemed to have initially
designated the 180th day after such record date as the Expiration Date with
respect thereto, subject to its right to change the Expiration Date as provided
in this paragraph. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no Expiration Date shall be
later than the 180th day after the applicable record date.

         Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to take any
action hereunder with regard to any particular Security may do so with regard to
all or any part of the principal amount of such Security or by one or more duly
appointed agents each of which may do so pursuant to such appointment with
regard to all or any part of such principal amount.

SECTION 105. NOTICES, ETC., TO TRUSTEE AND COMPANY.

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






                                      -11-
<PAGE>   20

         (1) the Trustee by any Holder or by the Company shall be sufficient for
every purpose hereunder if made, given, furnished or filed in writing (or by
facsimile transmissions ((212) 815-5915), provided that oral confirmation of
receipt shall have been received) to or with the Trustee at its Corporate Trust
Office, Attention: Corporate Trust, Trustee Administration, or

         (2) the Company by the Trustee or by any Holder shall be sufficient for
every purpose hereunder (unless otherwise herein expressly provided) if in
writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to the Company addressed to it
at the address of its principal office specified in the first paragraph of this
instrument or at any other address previously furnished in writing to the
Trustee by the Company, Attention: Chief Financial Officer.

SECTION 106. NOTICE TO HOLDERS; WAIVER.

         Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such
notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided)
if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected
by such event, at its address as it appears in the Security Register, not later
than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than the earliest date (if any),
prescribed for the giving of such notice. In any case where notice to Holders is
given by mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any
notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall affect the sufficiency of such
notice with respect to other Holders. Where this Indenture provides for notice
in any manner, such notice may be waived in writing by the Person entitled to
receive such notice, either before or after the event, and such waiver shall be
the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of notice by Holders shall be filed with
the Trustee, but such filing shall not be a condition precedent to the validity
of any action taken in reliance upon such waiver.

         In case by reason of the suspension of regular mail service or by
reason of any other cause it shall be impracticable to give such notice by mail,
then such notification as shall be made with the approval of the Trustee shall
constitute a sufficient notification for every purpose hereunder.

SECTION 107. CONFLICT WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

         If any provision hereof limits, qualifies or conflicts with a provision
of the Trust Indenture Act which is required under such Act to be a part of and
govern this Indenture, the latter provision shall control. If any provision of
this Indenture modifies or excludes any provision of the Trust Indenture Act
which may be so modified or excluded, the latter provision shall be deemed to
apply to this Indenture as so modified or to be excluded, as the case may be.

SECTION 108. EFFECT OF HEADINGS AND TABLE OF CONTENTS.

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






                                      -12-
<PAGE>   21

SECTION 109. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS.

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

SECTION 110. SEPARABILITY CLAUSE.

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

SECTION 111. BENEFITS OF INDENTURE.

         Nothing in this Indenture or in the Securities, express or implied,
shall give to any Person, other than the parties hereto and their successors
hereunder, the holders of Senior Debt and the Holders, any benefit or any legal
or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture.

SECTION 112. GOVERNING LAW.

         THIS INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN
ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAW OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF
LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.

SECTION 113. LEGAL HOLIDAYS.

         In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated
Maturity of any Security or the last date on which a Holder has the right to
convert a Security at a particular conversion price shall not be a Business Day
at any Place of Payment, then (notwithstanding any other provision of this
Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision of any Security which
specifically states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section))
payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any) or, if applicable to a
particular series of Securities, conversion need not be made at such Place of
Payment on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business Day at
such Place of Payment with the same force and effect as if made on the Interest
Payment Date or Redemption Date, at the Stated Maturity or on such last day for
conversion, as the case may be.

SECTION 114. INDENTURE AND SECURITIES SOLELY CORPORATE OBLIGATIONS.

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






                                      -13-
<PAGE>   22

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

SECTION 115. INDENTURE MAY BE EXECUTED IN COUNTERPARTS.

         This instrument 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 instruments.


                                   ARTICLE TWO

                                 SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201. FORMS GENERALLY.

         The Securities of each series shall be in substantially the form set
forth in this Article, or in such other form as shall be established by or
pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto,
in each case with such appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and
other variations as are required or permitted by this Indenture, and may have
such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends or
endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of any
securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith, be
determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution thereof. If the form of Securities of any series is established by
action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of
such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company
Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such
Securities. Any such Board Resolution or record of such action shall have
attached thereto a true and correct copy of the form of Security referred to
therein approved by or pursuant to such Board Resolution.

         The definitive Securities shall be printed, lithographed or engraved on
steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other manner, all as determined
by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their execution of
such Securities.














                                      -14-

<PAGE>   23

SECTION 202. FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY.

          [INSERT ANY LEGEND REQUIRED BY THE INTERNAL REVENUE CODE AND
                          THE REGULATIONS THEREUNDER.]

                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

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


No. _______________                                              $_____________
CUSIP No. _________


         Sun Microsystems, Inc., a corporation duly organized and existing under
the laws of Delaware (herein called the "Company," which term includes any
successor Person under the Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value
received, hereby promises to pay to ________________________, or registered
assigns, the principal sum of ____________________ Dollars on ________________
[IF THE SECURITY IS TO BEAR INTEREST PRIOR TO MATURITY, INSERT -- , and to pay
interest thereon from _________ or from the most recent Interest Payment Date to
which interest has been paid or duly provided for, semi-annually on _________
and _________ in each year, commencing _________, at the rate of ___% per annum,
until the principal hereof is paid or made available for payment [IF APPLICABLE,
INSERT -- , provided that any principal and premium, and any such instalment of
interest, which is overdue shall bear interest at the rate of ___% per annum (to
the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable), from
the dates such amounts are due until they are paid or made available for
payment, and such interest shall be payable on demand]. The interest so payable,
and punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in such Indenture, be paid to the Person in whose name this Security
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the Regular Record Date for such interest, which shall be the ______ or
_______ (whether or not a Business Day), as the case may be, next preceding such
Interest Payment Date. Any such interest not so punctually paid or duly provided
for will forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on such Regular Record Date
and may either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special
Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest to be fixed by the
Trustee, notice whereof shall be given to Holders of Securities of this series
not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time
in any other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
securities exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and
upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more fully provided
in said Indenture. Interest on the Security shall be computed on the basis of a
360 day year of twelve 30 day months.]

         [IF THE SECURITY IS NOT TO BEAR INTEREST PRIOR TO MATURITY, INSERT --
The principal of this Security shall not bear interest except in the case of a
default in payment of principal upon acceleration, upon redemption or at Stated
Maturity and in such case the overdue principal and any overdue premium shall
bear interest at the rate of ___% per annum (to the extent that the payment of
such interest shall be legally enforceable), from the dates such amounts are due
until they are paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue
principal or premium shall be payable on demand. Any such interest on overdue
principal or premium which is not paid on demand shall bear interest at the rate
of ___% per






                                      -15-
<PAGE>   24

annum (to the extent that the payment of such interest on interest shall be
legally enforceable), from the date of such demand until the amount so demanded
is paid or made available for payment. Interest on any overdue interest shall be
payable on demand.]

         Payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and [IF APPLICABLE,
INSERT -- any such] interest on this Security will be made at the office or
agency of the Company maintained for that purpose in _________, in such coin or
currency of the United States of America as at the time of payment is legal
tender for payment of public and private debts [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- ;
provided, however, that at the option of the Company payment of interest may be
made by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled thereto as such
address shall appear in the Security Register].

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

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

         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.



                                        SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.


                                        By: ____________________________________
                                            Title:

Attest:



SECTION 203. FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY.

         This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of securities of the
Company (herein called the "Securities"), issued and to be issued in one or more
series under an Indenture, dated as of ____________, 1999 (herein called the
"Indenture," which term shall have the meaning assigned to it in such
instrument), between the Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (herein
called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the
Indenture), and reference is hereby made to the Indenture and all indentures
supplemental thereto for a statement of the respective rights, limitations of
rights, duties and immunities thereunder of the Company, the Trustee, the
holders of Senior Debt and the Holders of the Securities and of the terms upon
which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered. This
Security is one of the series designated on the face hereof [IF APPLICABLE,
INSERT -- , limited in aggregate principal amount to $_________].






                                      -16-
<PAGE>   25

         [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- 30] days' notice by
mail, [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- (1) on _________ in any year commencing with the
year _____ and ending with the year _____ through operation of the sinking fund
for this series at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount, and
(2)] at any time [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- on or after _________, 19__], as a
whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the following Redemption
Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount): If redeemed [IF
APPLICABLE, INSERT -- on or before _________, ___%, and if redeemed] during the
12-month period beginning ________ of the years indicated, and thereafter at a
Redemption Price equal to .....% of the principal amount, together in the case
of any such redemption [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- (whether through operation of
the sinking fund or otherwise)] with accrued interest to the Redemption Date,
but interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such
Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or
more Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]


                    REDEMPTION                                    REDEMPTION
   YEAR               PRICE                       YEAR               PRICE
  ------           ------------                  ------          ------------





         [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- The Securities of this series are subject to
redemption upon not less than [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- 30] days' notice by
mail, (1) on _________ in any year commencing with the year _____ and ending
with the year _____ through operation of the sinking fund for this series at the
Redemption Prices for redemption through operation of the sinking fund
(expressed as percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below,
and (2) at any time [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- on or after __________], as a
whole or in part, at the election of the Company, at the Redemption Prices for
redemption otherwise than through operation of the sinking fund (expressed as
percentages of the principal amount) set forth in the table below: If redeemed
during the 12-month period beginning ________ of the years indicated,



                      REDEMPTION PRICE FOR               REDEMPTION PRICE FOR
                       REDEMPTION-THROUGH                REDEMPTION-OTHERWISE
                        OPERATION OF THE                THAN THROUGH OPERATION
    YEAR                  SINKING FUND                   OF THE SINKING FUND
   ------            ----------------------            -------------------------




and thereafter at a Redemption Price equal to ___% of the principal amount,
together in the case of any such redemption (whether through operation of the
sinking fund or otherwise) with accrued interest to the Redemption Date, but
interest installments whose Stated Maturity is on or prior to such Redemption
Date will be payable to the Holders of such Securities, or one or more
Predecessor Securities, of record at the close of business on the relevant
Record Dates referred to on the face hereof, all as provided in the Indenture.]







                                      -17-
<PAGE>   26

         [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company
may not, prior to __________, redeem any Securities of this series as
contemplated by [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- Clause (2) of] the preceding paragraph
as a part of, or in anticipation of, any refunding operation by the application,
directly or indirectly, of moneys borrowed having an interest cost to the
Company (calculated in accordance with generally accepted financial practice) of
less than ___% per annum.]

         [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- The sinking fund for this series provides for
the redemption on _________, in each year beginning with the year _____ and
ending with the year _____ of [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- not less than $_______
("mandatory sinking fund") and not more than] $_______ aggregate principal
amount of Securities of this series. Securities of this series acquired or
redeemed by the Company otherwise than through [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT --
mandatory] sinking fund payments may be credited against subsequent [if
applicable, insert -- mandatory] sinking fund payments otherwise required to be
made [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- , in the inverse order in which they become
due].]

         [IF THE SECURITY IS SUBJECT TO REDEMPTION OF ANY KIND, INSERT -- In the
event of redemption of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities
of this series and of like tenor for the unredeemed portion hereof will be
issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon the cancellation hereof.]

         [IF APPLICABLE, INSERT -- The Indenture contains provisions for
defeasance at any time of [the entire indebtedness of this Security] [or]
[certain restrictive covenants and Events of Default with respect to this
Security] [, in each case] upon compliance with certain conditions set forth in
the Indenture.]

         [IF THE SECURITY IS CONVERTIBLE INTO COMMON STOCK OF THE COMPANY,
INSERT -- Subject to the provisions of the Indenture, the Holder of this
Security is entitled, at its option, at any time on or before [insert date]
(except that, in case this Security or any portion hereof shall be called for
redemption, such right shall terminate with respect to this Security or portion
hereof, as the case may be, so called for redemption at the close of business on
the first Business Day next preceding the date fixed for redemption as provided
in the Indenture unless the Company defaults in making the payment due upon
redemption), to convert the principal amount of this Security (or any portion
hereof which is $1,000 or an integral multiple thereof), into fully paid and
non-assessable shares (calculated as to each conversion to the nearest 1/100th
of a share) of the Common Stock of the Company, as said shares shall be
constituted at the date of conversion, at the conversion price of $______
principal amount of Securities for each share of Common Stock, or at the
adjusted conversion price in effect at the date of conversion determined as
provided in the Indenture, upon surrender of this Security, together with the
conversion notice hereon duly executed, to the Company at the designated office
or agency of the Company in ____________, accompanied (if so required by the
Company) by instruments of transfer, in form satisfactory to the Company and to
the Trustee, duly executed by the Holder or by its duly authorized attorney in
writing. Such surrender shall, if made during any period beginning at the close
of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on
the Interest Payment Date next following such Regular Record Date (unless this
Security or the portion being converted shall have been called for redemption on
a Redemption Date during the period beginning at the close of business on a
Regular Record Date and ending at the opening of business on the first Business
Day after the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment
Date is not a Business Day, the second such Business Day), also be accompanied
by payment in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount






                                      -18-
<PAGE>   27

equal to the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal
amount of this Security then being converted. Subject to the aforesaid
requirement for payment and, in the case of a conversion after the Regular
Record Date next preceding any Interest Payment Date and on or before such
Interest Payment Date, to the right of the Holder of this Security (or any
Predecessor Security) of record at such Regular Record Date to receive an
installment of interest (with certain exceptions provided in the Indenture), no
adjustment is to be made on conversion for interest accrued hereon or for
dividends on shares of Common Stock issued on conversion. The Company is not
required to issue fractional shares upon any such conversion, but shall make
adjustment therefor in cash on the basis of the current market value of such
fractional interest as provided in the Indenture. The conversion price is
subject to adjustment as provided in the Indenture. In addition, the Indenture
provides that in case of certain consolidations or mergers to which the Company
is a party or the sale of substantially all of the assets of the Company, the
Indenture shall be amended, without the consent of any Holders of Securities, so
that this Security, if then outstanding, will be convertible thereafter, during
the period this Security shall be convertible as specified above, only into the
kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon the
consolidation, merger or sale by a holder of the number of shares of Common
Stock into which this Security might have been converted immediately prior to
such consolidation, merger or sale (assuming such holder of Common Stock failed
to exercise any rights of election and received per share the kind and amount
received per share by a plurality of non-electing shares). In the event of
conversion of this Security in part only, a new Security or Securities for the
unconverted portion hereof shall be issued in the name of the Holder hereof upon
the cancellation hereof.]

         [IF THE SECURITY IS CONVERTIBLE INTO OTHER SECURITIES OF THE COMPANY,
SPECIFY THE CONVERSION FEATURES.]

         The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent and in
the manner provided in the Indenture, subordinate and subject in right of
payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company,
and this Security is issued subject to such provisions of the Indenture with
respect thereto. Each Holder of this Security, by accepting the same (a) agrees
to and shall be bound by such provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee
on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary to appropriate to
effectuate the subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

         [IF THE SECURITY IS NOT AN ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY, INSERT --
If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and
be continuing, the principal of the Securities of this series may be declared
due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.]

         [IF THE SECURITY IS AN ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITY, INSERT -- If
an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this series shall occur and be
continuing, an amount of principal of the Securities of this series may be
declared due and payable in the manner and with the effect provided in the
Indenture. Such amount shall be equal to --INSERT FORMULA FOR DETERMINING THE
AMOUNT. Upon payment (i) of the amount of principal so declared due and payable
and (ii) of interest on any overdue principal, premium and interest (in each
case to the extent that the payment of such interest shall be legally
enforceable), all of the Company's obligations in respect of the payment of the
principal of and premium and interest, if any, on the Securities of this series
shall terminate.]






                                      -19-
<PAGE>   28

         The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein provided, the
amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and obligations of the
Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of each series to be
affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and the Trustee with the
consent of the Holders of more than 50% in principal amount of the Securities at
the time Outstanding of each series to be affected. The Indenture also contains
provisions permitting the Holders of specified percentages in principal amount
of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding, on behalf of the
Holders of all Securities of such series, to waive compliance by the Company
with certain provisions of the Indenture and certain past defaults under the
Indenture and their consequences. Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of
this Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon all
future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon the registration
of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not
notation of such consent or waiver is made upon this Security.

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

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

         As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein
set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in the Security
Register, upon surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the
office or agency of the Company in any place where the principal of and any
premium and interest on this Security are payable, duly endorsed by, or
accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Security Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or its
attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of
this series and of like tenor, of authorized denominations and for the same
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees.

         The Securities of this series are issuable only in registered form
without coupons in denominations of $_____ and any integral multiple thereof. As
provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations therein set forth,
Securities of this series are exchangeable for a like aggregate






                                      -20-
<PAGE>   29

principal amount of Securities of this series and of like tenor of a different
authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering the same.

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

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

         The Security 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 and governed by the laws of said state, without regard to conflict of laws
principles thereof.

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

SECTION 204. FORM OF LEGEND FOR GLOBAL SECURITIES.

         Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for the
Securities evidenced thereby, every Global Security authenticated and delivered
hereunder shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

THIS SECURITY IS A GLOBAL SECURITY WITHIN THE MEANING OF THE INDENTURE
HEREINAFTER REFERRED TO AND IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF A DEPOSITARY OR A
NOMINEE THEREOF. THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE EXCHANGED IN WHOLE OR IN PART FOR A
SECURITY REGISTERED, AND NO TRANSFER OF THIS SECURITY IN WHOLE OR IN PART MAY BE
REGISTERED, IN THE NAME OF ANY PERSON OTHER THAN SUCH DEPOSITARY OR A NOMINEE
THEREOF, EXCEPT IN THE LIMITED CIRCUMSTANCES DESCRIBED IN THE INDENTURE.
















                                      -21-

<PAGE>   30

SECTION 205. FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION.

         The Trustee's certificates of authentication shall be in substantially
the following form:

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


Dated:

                                        THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                        As Trustee



                                        By: ____________________________________
                                            Authorized Signatory

SECTION 206. FORM OF CONVERSION NOTICE.

         Conversion notices shall be in substantially the following form:

         To Sun Microsystems, Inc.:

         The undersigned owner of this Security hereby irrevocably exercises the
option to convert this Security, or portion hereof (which is $1,000 or an
integral multiple thereof) below designated, into shares of Common Stock of the
Company in accordance with the terms of the Indenture referred to in this
Security, and directs that the shares issuable and deliverable upon the
conversion, together with any check in payment for fractional shares and any
Securities representing any unconverted principal amount hereof, be issued and
delivered to the registered holder hereof unless a different name has been
indicated below. If this Notice is being delivered on a date after the close of
business on a Regular Record Date and prior to the opening of business on the
related Interest Payment Date (unless this Security or the portion thereof being
converted has been called for redemption on a Redemption Date during the period
beginning at the close of business on a Regular Record Date and ending at the
opening of business on the first Business Day after the next succeeding Interest
Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment Date is not a Business Day, the second
such Business Day), this Notice is accompanied by payment, in funds acceptable
to the Company, of an amount equal to the interest payable on such Interest
Payment Date of the principal of this Security to be converted. If shares are to
be issued in the name of a person other than the undersigned, the undersigned
will pay all transfer taxes payable with respect hereto. Any amount required to
be paid by the undersigned on account of interest accompanies this Security.






                                      -22-
<PAGE>   31

         Principal Amount to be Converted
(in an integral multiple of $1,000, if less than all)
                 U.S. $ _________


Dated: ______________________           ________________________________________
                                        Signature(s) must be guaranteed if
                                        shares of Common Stock are to be
                                        delivered, or Securities to be issued,
                                        other than to and in the name of the
                                        registered owner.


                                        ________________________________________
                                        Signature Guaranty

         Fill in for registration of shares of Common Stock and Security if to
be issued otherwise than to the registered Holder.



_______________________________         ________________________________________
(Name)                                  Social Security or Other Taxpayer
                                        Identification Number

_______________________________
(Address)


_______________________________
Please print Name and Address
(including zip code number)

[The above conversion notice is to be modified, as appropriate, for conversion
into other securities or property of the Company.]


                                  ARTICLE THREE

                                 THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301. AMOUNT UNLIMITED; ISSUABLE IN SERIES.

         The aggregate principal amount of Securities which may be authenticated
and delivered under this Indenture is unlimited.

         The Securities may be issued in one or more series. There shall be
established in or pursuant to a Board Resolution and, subject to Section 303,
set forth, or determined in the manner provided, in an Officers' Certificate, or
established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, prior to the issuance
of Securities of any series,

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






                                      -23-
<PAGE>   32

         (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of
the series which may be authenticated and delivered under this Indenture (except
for Securities authenticated and delivered upon registration of transfer of, or
in exchange for, or in lieu of, other Securities of the series pursuant to
Section 304, 305, 306, 906 or 1107 and except for any Securities which, pursuant
to Section 303, are deemed never to have been authenticated and delivered
hereunder);

         (3) the Person to whom any interest on a Security of the series shall
be payable, if other than the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date for such interest;

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

         (5) the rate or rates at which any Securities of the series shall bear
interest, if any, the date or dates from which any such interest shall accrue,
the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be payable and the
Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on any Interest Payment Date;

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

         (7) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which
and the terms and conditions upon which any Securities of the series may be
redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company and, if other than
by a Board Resolution, the manner in which any election by the Company to redeem
the Securities shall be evidenced;

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

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

         (10) if the amount of principal of or any premium or interest on any
Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an index or
pursuant to a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;

         (11) if other than the currency of the United States of America, the
currency, currencies or currency units in which the principal of or any premium
or interest on any Securities of the series shall be payable and the manner of
determining the equivalent thereof in the currency of the United States of
America for any purpose, including for purposes of the definition of
"Outstanding" in Section 101;






                                      -24-
<PAGE>   33

         (12) if the principal of or any premium or interest on any Securities
of the series is to be payable, at the election of the Company or the Holder
thereof, in one or more currencies or currency units other than that or those in
which such Securities are stated to be payable, the currency, currencies or
currency units in which the principal of or any premium or interest on such
Securities as to which such election is made shall be payable, the periods
within which and the terms and conditions upon which such election is to be made
and the amount so payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be
determined);

         (13) if other than the entire principal amount thereof, the portion of
the principal amount of any Securities of the series which shall be payable upon
declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502;

         (14) if the principal amount payable at the Stated Maturity of any
Securities of the series will not be determinable as of any one or more dates
prior to the Stated Maturity, the amount which shall be deemed to be the
principal amount of such Securities as of any such date for any purpose
thereunder or hereunder, including the principal amount thereof which shall be
due and payable upon any Maturity other than the Stated Maturity or which shall
be deemed to be Outstanding as of any date prior to the Stated Maturity (or, in
any such case, the manner in which such amount deemed to be the principal amount
shall be determined);

         (15) if applicable, that the Securities of the series, in whole or any
specified part, shall be defeasible pursuant to Section 1302 or Section 1303 or
both such Sections and, if other than by a Board Resolution, the manner in which
any election by the Company to defease such Securities shall be evidenced;

         (16) if applicable, the terms of any right to convert Securities of the
series into, or exchange securities for, shares of Common Stock of the Company
or other securities or property;

         (17) if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be issuable
in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in such
case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities, the form of any
legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global Security in addition
to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 204 and any circumstances in addition
to or in lieu of those set forth in Clause (2) of the last paragraph of Section
305 in which any such Global Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for
Securities registered, and any transfer of such Global Security in whole or in
part may be registered, in the name or names of Persons other than the
Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof;

         (18) any addition to or change in the Events of Default which applies
to any Securities of the series and any change in the right of the Trustee or
the requisite Holders of such Securities to declare the principal amount thereof
due and payable pursuant to Section 502;

         (19) any addition to or change in the covenants set forth in Article
Ten which applies to Securities of the series; and






                                      -25-
<PAGE>   34

         (20) any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be
inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by
Section 901(5)).

         All Securities of any one series shall be substantially identical
except as to denomination and except as may otherwise be provided in or pursuant
to the Board Resolution referred to above and (subject to Section 303) set
forth, or determined in the manner provided, in the Officers' Certificate
referred to above or in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

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

         The Securities shall be subordinated in right of payment to Senior Debt
as provided in Article Fifteen.

SECTION 302. DENOMINATIONS.

         The Securities of each series shall be issuable only in registered form
without coupons and only in such denominations as shall be specified as
contemplated by Section 301. In the absence of any such specified denomination
with respect to the Securities of any series, the Securities of such series
shall be issuable in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.

SECTION 303. EXECUTION, AUTHENTICATION, DELIVERY AND DATING.

         The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its
Chairman of the Board, its Vice Chairman of the Board, its principal financial
officer, its President or one of its Vice Presidents, under its corporate seal
reproduced thereon attested by its Treasurer, its Assistant Treasurer, its
Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries. The signature of any of these
officers on the Securities and the corporate seal may be manual or facsimile.

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

         At any time and from time to time after the execution and delivery of
this Indenture, the Company may deliver Securities of any series executed by the
Company to the Trustee for authentication, together with a Company Order for the
authentication and delivery of such Securities, and the Trustee in accordance
with the Company Order shall authenticate and deliver such Securities. If the
form or terms of the Securities of the series have been established by or
pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions as permitted by Sections 201 and 301,
in authenticating such Securities, and accepting the additional responsibilities
under this Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be
entitled to receive, and (subject to Section 601) shall be fully protected in
relying upon, a copy of such






                                      -26-
<PAGE>   35

Board Resolution, the Officers' Certificate setting forth the terms of the
series and an Opinion of Counsel, with such Opinion of Counsel stating,

         (1) if the form of such Securities has been established by or pursuant
to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 201, that such form has been
established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

         (2) if the terms of such Securities have been established by or
pursuant to Board Resolution as permitted by Section 301, that such terms have
been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture; and

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

         If such form or terms have been so established, the Trustee shall not
be required to authenticate such Securities if the issue of such Securities
pursuant to this Indenture will affect the Trustee's own rights, duties or
immunities under the Securities and this Indenture or otherwise in a manner
which is not reasonably acceptable to the Trustee.

         Notwithstanding the provisions of Section 301 and of the preceding
paragraph, if all Securities of a series are not to be originally issued at one
time, it shall not be necessary to deliver the Officers' Certificate otherwise
required pursuant to Section 301 or the Company Order and Opinion of Counsel
otherwise required pursuant to such preceding paragraph at or prior to the
authentication of each Security of such series if such documents are delivered
at or prior to the authentication upon original issuance of the first Security
of such series to be issued.

         Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

         No Security shall be entitled to any benefit under this Indenture or be
valid or obligatory for any purpose unless there appears on such Security a
certificate of authentication substantially in the form provided for herein
executed by the Trustee by manual signature, and such certificate upon any
Security shall be conclusive evidence, and the only evidence, that such Security
has been duly authenticated and delivered hereunder. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, if any Security shall have been authenticated and delivered hereunder
but never issued and sold by the Company, and the Company shall deliver such
Security to the Trustee for cancellation as provided in Section 309, for all
purposes of this Indenture such Security shall be deemed never to have been
authenticated and delivered hereunder and shall never be entitled to the
benefits of this Indenture.






                                      -27-
<PAGE>   36

SECTION 304. TEMPORARY SECURITIES.

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

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

SECTION 305. REGISTRATION; REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE.

         The Company shall cause to be kept at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee a register (the register maintained in such office and in any other
office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment being herein sometimes
collectively referred to as the "Security Register") in which, subject to such
reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, the Company shall provide for the
registration of Securities and of transfers of Securities. The Trustee is hereby
appointed "Security Registrar" for the purpose of registering Securities and
transfers of Securities as herein provided.

         Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Security of a series
at the office or agency of the Company in a Place of Payment for that series,
the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, in
the name of the designated transferee or transferees, one or more new Securities
of the same series, of any authorized denominations and of like tenor and
aggregate principal amount.

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

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






                                      -28-
<PAGE>   37

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

         No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange of Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
with any registration of transfer or exchange of Securities, other than
exchanges pursuant to Section 304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

         If the Securities of any series (or of any series and specified tenor)
are to be redeemed in part, the Company shall not be required (A) to issue,
register the transfer of or exchange any Securities of that series (or of that
series and specified tenor, as the case may be) during a period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of the mailing of a notice of
redemption of any such Securities selected for redemption under Section 1103 and
ending at the close of business on the day of such mailing, or (B) to register
the transfer of or exchange any Security so selected for redemption in whole or
in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Security being redeemed in part.

         The provisions of Clauses (1), (2), (3) and (4) below shall apply only
to Global Securities:

         (1) Each Global Security authenticated under this Indenture shall be
registered in the name of the Depositary designated for such Global Security or
a nominee thereof and delivered to such Depositary or a nominee thereof or
custodian therefor, and each such Global Security shall constitute a single
Security for all purposes of this Indenture.

         (2) Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, no Global
Security may be exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and no
transfer of a Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name
of any Person other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee
thereof unless (A) such Depositary (i) has notified the Company that it is
unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such Global Security or (ii)
has ceased to be a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act, (B) there
shall have occurred and be continuing an Event of Default with respect to such
Global Security or (C) there shall exist such circumstances, if any, in addition
to or in lieu of the foregoing as have been specified for this purpose as
contemplated by Section 301.

         (3) Subject to Clause (2) above, any exchange of a Global Security for
other Securities may be made in whole or in part, and all Securities issued in
exchange for a Global Security or any portion thereof shall be registered in
such names as the Depositary for such Global Security shall direct.

         (4) Every Security authenticated and delivered upon registration of
transfer of, or in exchange for or in lieu of, a Global Security or any portion
thereof, whether pursuant to this Section, Section 304, 306, 906 or 1107 or
otherwise, shall be authenticated and delivered in the form of, and shall be, a
Global Security, unless such Security is registered in the name of a Person
other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a nominee thereof.






                                      -29-
<PAGE>   38

SECTION 306. MUTILATED, DESTROYED, LOST AND STOLEN SECURITIES.

         If any mutilated Security is surrendered to the Trustee, the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in exchange
therefor a new Security of the same series and of like tenor and principal
amount and bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding.

         If there shall be delivered to the Company and the Trustee (i) evidence
to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security and (ii)
such security or indemnity as may be required by them to save each of them and
any agent of either of them harmless, then, in the absence of notice to the
Company or the Trustee that such Security has been acquired by a bona fide
purchaser, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and
deliver, in lieu of any such destroyed, lost or stolen Security, a new Security
of the same series and of like tenor and principal amount and bearing a number
not contemporaneously outstanding.

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

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

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

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

SECTION 307. PAYMENT OF INTEREST; INTEREST RIGHTS PRESERVED.

         Except as otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with
respect to any series of Securities, interest on any Security which is payable,
and is punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall
be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date
for such interest.

         Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is not
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein
called "Defaulted Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder
on the relevant Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and
such Defaulted Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each
case, as provided in Clause (1) or (2) below:






                                      -30-
<PAGE>   39

         (1) The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest to
the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on a Special
Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which shall be fixed in
the following manner. The Company shall notify the Trustee in writing of the
amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid on each Security of such series
and the date of the proposed payment, and at the same time the Company shall
deposit with the Trustee an amount of money equal to the aggregate amount
proposed to be paid in respect of such Defaulted Interest or shall make
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for such deposit prior to the date of
the proposed payment, such money when deposited to be held in trust for the
benefit of the Persons entitled to such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause
provided. Thereupon the Trustee shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment
of such Defaulted Interest which shall be not more than 15 days and not less
than 10 days prior to the date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days
after the receipt by the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment. The
Trustee shall promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in
the name and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed
payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to be
given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set forth in
Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date. Notice of
the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date
therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the
Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their respective
Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business on such Special
Record Date and shall no longer be payable pursuant to the following Clause (2).

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

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

         Subject to the provisions of Section 1402, in the case of any Security
(or any part thereof) which is converted after any Regular Record Date and on or
prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date (other than any Security the
principal of (or premium, if any, on) which shall become due and payable,
whether at Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration or otherwise prior
to such Interest Payment Date), interest whose Stated Maturity is on such
Interest Payment Date shall be payable on such Interest Payment Date
notwithstanding such conversion and such interest (whether or not punctually
paid or duly provided for) shall be paid to the Person in whose name that
Security (or any one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close
of business on such Regular Record Date. Except as otherwise expressly provided
in the immediately preceding sentence or in Section 1402, in the case of any
Security (or any part thereof) which is converted, interest whose Stated
Maturity is after the date of conversion of such Security (or such part thereof)
shall not be payable.






                                      -31-
<PAGE>   40

SECTION 308. PERSONS DEEMED OWNERS.

         Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose name such Security is registered as the owner of such
Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and any premium
and (subject to Section 307) any interest on such Security and for all other
purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security be overdue, and neither the
Company, the Trustee nor any agent of the Company or the Trustee shall be
affected by notice to the contrary.

SECTION 309. CANCELLATION.

         All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if
surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee
and shall be promptly canceled by it. The Company may at any time deliver to the
Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and delivered
hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner whatsoever, and may
deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery to the Trustee) for
cancellation any Securities previously authenticated hereunder which the Company
has not issued and sold, and all Securities so delivered shall be promptly
canceled by the Trustee. No Securities shall be authenticated in lieu of or in
exchange for any Securities canceled as provided in this Section, except as
expressly permitted by this Indenture. All canceled Securities held by the
Trustee shall be returned to the Company.

SECTION 310. COMPUTATION OF INTEREST.

         Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of any series, interest on the Securities of each series shall be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

SECTION 311. CUSIP NUMBERS.

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



















                                      -32-

<PAGE>   41

                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                           SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401. SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE.

         This Indenture shall upon Company Request cease to be of further effect
(except as to any surviving rights of registration of transfer or exchange of
Securities herein expressly provided for), and the Trustee, at the expense of
the Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging satisfaction and
discharge of this Indenture, when

         (1)   either

               (A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other
         than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which
         have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii)
         Securities for whose payment money has theretofore been deposited in
         trust or segregated and held in trust by the Company and thereafter
         repaid to the Company or discharged from such trust, as provided in
         Section 1003) have been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

               (B) all such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee
         for cancellation

                   (i) have become due and payable, or

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

                   (iii) are to be called for redemption within one year under
         arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of
         redemption by the Trustee in the name, and at the expense, of the
         Company,

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

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

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






                                      -33-
<PAGE>   42

         Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607, the obligations of
the Trustee to any Authenticating Agent under Section 614 and, if money shall
have been deposited with the Trustee pursuant to subclause (B) of Clause (1) of
this Section, the obligations of the Trustee under Section 402 and the last
paragraph of Section 1003 shall survive.

SECTION 402. APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY.

         Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all
money deposited with the Trustee pursuant to Section 401 shall be held in trust
and applied by it, in accordance with the provisions of the Securities and this
Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent
(including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may
determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal and any premium and
interest for whose payment such money has been deposited with the Trustee.


                                  ARTICLE FIVE

                                    REMEDIES

SECTION 501. EVENTS OF DEFAULT.

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

         (1) default in the payment of any interest upon any Security of that
series when it becomes due and payable, and continuance of such default for a
period of 30 days; or

         (2) default in the payment of the principal of or any premium on any
Security of that series at its Maturity; or

         (3) default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when and as due
by the terms of a Security of that series; or

         (4) default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or warranty
of the Company in this Indenture (other than a covenant or warranty a default in
whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in this Section specifically
dealt with or which has expressly been included in this Indenture solely for the
benefit of series of Securities other than that series), and continuance of such
default or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by
registered or certified mail, to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company
and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such default
or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice is a
"Notice of Default" hereunder; or






                                      -34-
<PAGE>   43

         (5) failure by the Company to make any payment at maturity, including
any applicable grace period, in respect of indebtedness, which term as used
herein means obligations (other than the Securities of such series or
non-recourse obligations) of the Company for borrowed money or evidenced by
bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments ("Indebtedness") in an
amount in excess of $25,000,000 or the equivalent thereof in any other currency
or composite currency and such failure shall have continued for thirty (30) days
after written notice thereof shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee
or to the Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying
such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such
notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or

         (6) a default with respect to any Indebtedness, which default results
in the acceleration of Indebtedness in an amount in excess of $25,000,000 or the
equivalent thereof in any other currency or composite currency without such
Indebtedness having been discharged or such acceleration having been cured,
waived, rescinded or annulled for a period of thirty (30) days after written
notice thereof shall have been given to the Company by the Trustee or to the
Company and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such
default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such notice
is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or

         (7) the entry by a court having jurisdiction in the premises of (A) a
decree or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or
proceeding under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization or other similar law or (B) a decree or order adjudging the
Company a bankrupt or insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition
seeking reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect
of the Company under any applicable Federal or State law, or appointing a
custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator or other
similar official of the Company or of any substantial part of its property, or
ordering the winding up or liquidation of its affairs, and the continuance of
any such decree or order for relief or any such other decree or order unstayed
and in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

         (8) the commencement by the Company of a voluntary case or proceeding
under any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or
other similar law or of any other case or proceeding to be adjudicated a
bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the entry of a decree or order
for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case or proceeding under
any applicable Federal or State bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other
similar law or to the commencement of any bankruptcy or insolvency case or
proceeding against it, or the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent
seeking reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State law, or
the consent by it to the filing of such petition or to the appointment of or
taking possession by a custodian, receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,
sequestrator or other similar official of the Company or of any substantial part
of its property, or the making by it of an assignment for the benefit of
creditors, or the admission by it in writing of its inability to pay its debts
generally as they become due, or the taking of corporate action by the Company
in furtherance of any such action; or

         (9) any other Event of Default provided with respect to Securities of
that series.






                                      -35-
<PAGE>   44

provided that if any such failure, default or acceleration referred to in
clauses (5) or (6) above shall cease or be cured, waived, rescinded or annulled,
then the Event of Default hereunder by reason thereof shall be deemed likewise
to have been thereupon cured.

SECTION 502. ACCELERATION OF MATURITY; RESCISSION AND ANNULMENT.

         If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in
Section 501(7) or 501(8)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the
Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that
series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount
Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be
specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice
in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), and upon any
such declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) shall become
immediately due and payable. If an Event of Default specified in Section 501(7)
or 501(8) with respect to Securities of any series at the time Outstanding
occurs, the principal amount of all the Securities of that series (or, if any
Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion
of the principal amount of such Securities as may be specified by the terms
thereof) shall automatically, and without any declaration or other action on the
part of the Trustee or any Holder, become immediately due and payable. Any
payments by the Company on the Securities following any such acceleration will
be subject to the subordination provisions of Article Fifteen to the extent
provided therein.

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

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

               (A) all overdue interest on all Securities of that series,

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

               (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful,
         interest upon overdue interest at the rate or rates prescribed therefor
         in such Securities, and

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






                                      -36-
<PAGE>   45

         (2) all Events of Default with respect to Securities of that series,
other than the non-payment of the principal of Securities of that series which
have become due solely by such declaration of acceleration, have been cured or
waived as provided in Section 513.

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

SECTION 503. COLLECTION OF INDEBTEDNESS AND SUITS FOR ENFORCEMENT BY TRUSTEE.

         The Company covenants that if

         (1) default is made in the payment of any interest on any Security when
such interest becomes due and payable and such default continues for a period of
30 days, or

         (2) default is made in the payment of the principal of (or premium, if
any, on) any Security at the Maturity thereof,

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the
Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such
Securities for principal and any premium and interest and, to the extent that
payment of such interest shall be legally enforceable, interest on any overdue
principal and premium and on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates
prescribed therefor in such Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further
amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and expenses of collection,
including the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of
the Trustee, its agents and counsel.

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

SECTION 504. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM.

         In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any
other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee
shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act
in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such
proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and
receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims
and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee,
liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial
proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the
Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such
payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for
the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 607.






                                      -37-
<PAGE>   46

         No provision of this Indenture shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee
to authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder any plan
of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition affecting the
Securities or the rights of any Holder thereof or to authorize the Trustee to
vote in respect of the claim of any Holder in any such proceeding; provided,
however, that the Trustee may, on behalf of the Holders, vote for the election
of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar official and be a member of a creditors'
or other similar committee.

SECTION 505. TRUSTEE MAY ENFORCE CLAIMS WITHOUT POSSESSION OF SECURITIES.

         All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or the Securities
may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the possession of any of
the Securities or the production thereof in any proceeding relating thereto, and
any such proceeding instituted by the Trustee shall be brought in its own name
as trustee of an express trust, and any recovery of judgment shall, after
provision for the payment of the reasonable compensation, expenses,
disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel, be for the
ratable benefit of the Holders of the Securities in respect of which such
judgment has been recovered.

SECTION 506. APPLICATION OF MONEY COLLECTED.

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

         FIRST: To the payment of all amounts due the Trustee under Section 607;
and

         SECOND: Subject to Article Fifteen, to the payment of the amounts then
due and unpaid for principal of and any premium, if any, and interest on the
Securities in respect of which or for the benefit of which such money has been
collected, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind, according to the
amounts due and payable on such Securities for principal and any premium, if
any, and interest, respectively.

SECTION 507. LIMITATION ON SUITS.

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

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

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






                                      -38-
<PAGE>   47

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

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

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

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

SECTION 508. UNCONDITIONAL RIGHT OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND
             INTEREST AND TO CONVERT.

         Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of
any Security shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to
receive payment of the principal of and any premium and (subject to Section 307)
interest on such Security on the respective Stated Maturities expressed in such
Security (or, in the case of redemption, on the Redemption Date), to convert
such Securities in accordance with Article Fourteen and to institute suit for
the enforcement of any such payment, and such rights shall not be impaired
without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 509. RESTORATION OF RIGHTS AND REMEDIES.

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

SECTION 510. RIGHTS AND REMEDIES CUMULATIVE.

         Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment
of mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities in the last paragraph of
Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the Trustee
or to the Holders is intended to be exclusive of any other right or remedy, and
every right and remedy shall, to the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and
in addition to every other right and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter
existing at law or in equity or otherwise. The assertion or employment of any
right or remedy hereunder, or otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent
assertion or employment of any other appropriate right or remedy.






                                      -39-
<PAGE>   48

SECTION 511. DELAY OR OMISSION NOT WAIVER.

         No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of any Securities
to exercise any right or remedy accruing upon any Event of Default shall impair
any such right or remedy or constitute a waiver of any such Event of Default or
an acquiescence therein. Every right and remedy given by this Article or by law
to the Trustee or to the Holders may be exercised from time to time, and as
often as may be deemed expedient, by the Trustee (subject to the limitations
contained in this Indenture) or by the Holders, as the case may be.

SECTION 512. CONTROL BY HOLDERS.

         The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series shall have the right to direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee, with respect to the
Securities of such series, provided that

         (1) such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or
with this Indenture and the Trustee shall not have determined that the action so
directed would be unjustly prejudicial to Holders of Securities of that series,
or any other series, not taking part in such direction; and

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

SECTION 513. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS.

         The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all the
Securities of such series waive any past default hereunder with respect to such
series and its consequences, except a default

         (1) in the payment of the principal of or any premium or interest on
any Security of such series, or

         (2) in respect of a covenant or provision hereof which under Article
Nine cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Security of such series affected.

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

SECTION 514. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS.

         In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this
Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to
file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, including legal fees and
expenses,






                                      -40-
<PAGE>   49

and may assess costs against any such party litigant, in the manner and to the
extent provided in the Trust Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section
nor the Trust Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require
such an undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the
Company or in any suit for the enforcement of the right to convert any Security
in accordance with Article Fourteen.

SECTION 515. WAIVER OF USURY, STAY OR EXTENSION LAWS.

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


                                   ARTICLE SIX

                                   THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601. CERTAIN DUTIES AND RESPONSIBILITIES.

         The duties and responsibilities of the Trustee shall be as provided by
the Trust Indenture Act. Notwithstanding the foregoing, no provision of this
Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise
incur any financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder,
or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable
grounds for believing that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against
such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it. Whether or not therein
expressly so provided, every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct
or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be
subject to the provisions of this Section.

SECTION 602. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS.

         If a default occurs hereunder with respect to Securities of any series,
the Trustee shall give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such
default known to it as and to the extent provided by the Trust Indenture Act;
provided, however, that in the case of any default of the character specified in
Section 501(4) with respect to Securities of such series, no such notice to
Holders shall be given until at least 30 days after the occurrence thereof. For
the purpose of this Section, the term "default" means any event which is, or
after notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of Default with
respect to Securities of such series.






                                      -41-
<PAGE>   50

SECTION 603. CERTAIN RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE.

         Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

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

         (2) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be
sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order, and any resolution
of the Board of Directors shall be sufficiently evidenced by a Board Resolution;

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

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

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

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

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

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






                                      -42-
<PAGE>   51

         (9) the Trustee shall not be deemed to have notice of any default or
Event of Default unless a responsible officer of the Trustee has actual
knowledge thereof or unless written notice of any event which is in fact such a
default is received by the Trustee at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee,
and such notice references the Securities and this Indenture.

SECTION 604. NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR RECITALS OR ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES.

         The recitals contained herein and in the Securities, except the
Trustee's certificates of authentication, shall be taken as the statements of
the Company, and neither the Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent assumes any
responsibility for their correctness. The Trustee makes no representations as to
the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the Securities. Neither the
Trustee nor any Authenticating Agent shall be accountable for the use or
application by the Company of Securities or the proceeds thereof.

SECTION 605. MAY HOLD SECURITIES AND ACT AS TRUSTEE UNDER OTHER INDENTURES.

         The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security
Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections
608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would
have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security
Registrar or such other agent.

         Subject to the limitations imposed by the Trust Indenture Act, nothing
in this Indenture shall prohibit the Trustee from becoming and acting as trustee
under other indentures under which other securities, or certificates of interest
of participation in other securities, of the Company are outstanding in the same
manner as if it were not Trustee hereunder.

SECTION 606. MONEY HELD IN TRUST.

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

SECTION 607. COMPENSATION AND REIMBURSEMENT.

         The Company agrees

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






                                      -43-
<PAGE>   52

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

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

         When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services in connection with
an Event of Default specified in Section 501(7) or Section 501(8), the expenses
(including the reasonable charges and expenses of its counsel) and the
compensation for the services are intended to constitute expenses of
administration under any applicable Federal or State Bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar law.

SECTION 608. CONFLICTING INTERESTS.

         If the Trustee has or shall acquire a conflicting interest within the
meaning of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee shall either eliminate such
interest or resign, to the extent and in the manner provided by, and subject to
the provisions of, the Trust Indenture Act and this Indenture. To the extent
permitted by such Act, the Trustee shall not be deemed to have a conflicting
interest by virtue of being a trustee under this Indenture with respect to
Securities of more than one series.

SECTION 609. CORPORATE TRUSTEE REQUIRED; ELIGIBILITY.

         There shall at all times be one (and only one) Trustee hereunder with
respect to the Securities of each series, which may be Trustee hereunder for
Securities of one or more other series. Each Trustee shall be a Person that is
eligible pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act to act as such and has (or if the
Trustee is a member of a bank holding company system, its bank holding company
has) a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000. If any such Person
publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law or to the
requirements of its supervising or examining authority, then for the purposes of
this Section and to the extent permitted by the Trust Indenture Act, the
combined capital and surplus of such Person shall be deemed to be its combined
capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so
published. If at any time the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any
series shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the provisions of this
Section, it shall resign immediately in the manner and with the effect
hereinafter specified in this Article.

SECTION 610. RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL; APPOINTMENT OF SUCCESSOR.

         No resignation or removal of the Trustee and no appointment of a
successor Trustee pursuant to this Article shall become effective until the
acceptance of appointment by the successor Trustee in accordance with the
applicable requirements of Section 611.






                                      -44-
<PAGE>   53

         The Trustee may resign at any time with respect to the Securities of
one or more series by giving written notice thereof to the Company. If the
instrument of acceptance by a successor Trustee required by Section 611 shall
not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such
notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition, at the expense of the
Company, any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor
Trustee with respect to the Securities of such series.

         The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities
of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the
Company.

         If at any time:

         (1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 608 after written
request therefor by the Company or by any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder
of a Security for at least six months, or

         (2) the Trustee shall cease to be eligible under Section 609 and shall
fail to resign after written request therefor by the Company or by any such
Holder, or

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

then, in any such case, (A) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the
Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (B) subject to Section 514, any
Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at least six months
may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition any court
of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with respect to all
Securities and the appointment of a successor Trustee or Trustees.

         If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting,
or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, with respect
to the Securities of one or more series, the Company, by a Board Resolution,
shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee or Trustees with respect to the
Securities of that or those series (it being understood that any such successor
Trustee may be appointed with respect to the Securities of one or more or all of
such series and that at any time there shall be only one Trustee with respect to
the Securities of any particular series) and shall comply with the applicable
requirements of Section 611. If, within one year after such resignation, removal
or incapability, or the occurrence of such vacancy, a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of any series shall be appointed by Act of the Holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such series
delivered to the Company and the retiring Trustee, the successor Trustee so
appointed shall, forthwith upon its acceptance of such appointment in accordance
with the applicable requirements of Section 611, become the successor Trustee
with respect to the Securities of such series and to that extent supersede the
successor Trustee appointed by the Company. If no successor Trustee with respect
to the Securities of any series shall have been so appointed by the Company or
the Holders and accepted






                                      -45-
<PAGE>   54

appointment in the manner required by Section 611, the retiring Trustee may
petition, any Holder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security of such
series for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others
similarly situated, petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the
appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of such
series.

         The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of
the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of
a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders
of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice
shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities
of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.

SECTION 611. ACCEPTANCE OF APPOINTMENT BY SUCCESSOR.

         In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall
execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an
instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal
of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request
of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon
payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and
shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property
and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

         In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Company, the
retiring Trustee and each successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of
one or more series shall execute and deliver an indenture supplemental hereto
wherein each successor Trustee shall accept such appointment and which (1) shall
contain such provisions as shall be necessary or desirable to transfer and
confirm to, and to vest in, each successor Trustee all the rights, powers,
trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the Securities of that
or those series to which the appointment of such successor Trustee relates, (2)
if the retiring Trustee is not retiring with respect to all Securities, shall
contain such provisions as shall be deemed necessary or desirable to confirm
that all the rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with
respect to the Securities of that or those series as to which the retiring
Trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested in the retiring Trustee, and
(3) shall add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts
hereunder by more than one Trustee, it being understood that nothing herein or
in such supplemental indenture shall constitute such Trustees co-trustees of the
same trust and that each such Trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts
hereunder separate and apart from any trust or trusts hereunder administered by
any other such Trustee; and upon the execution and delivery of such supplemental
indenture the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become
effective to the extent provided therein and each such successor Trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee with respect to the
Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of such successor
Trustee relates; but, on request of the Company or any successor Trustee, such
retiring Trustee shall, upon payment of all of its charges, duly assign,
transfer and deliver to such






                                      -46-
<PAGE>   55

successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder
with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment
of such successor Trustee relates.

         Upon request of any such successor Trustee, the Company shall execute
any and all instruments for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor Trustee all such rights, powers and trusts referred to in the
first or second preceding paragraph, as the case may be.

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

SECTION 612. MERGER, CONVERSION, CONSOLIDATION OR SUCCESSION TO BUSINESS.

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

SECTION 613. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY.

         If and when the Trustee shall be or become a creditor of the Company
(or any other obligor upon the Securities), the Trustee shall be subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act regarding the collection of claims against
the Company (or any such other obligor).

SECTION 614. APPOINTMENT OF AUTHENTICATING AGENT.

         The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect
to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf
of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original
issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof
or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to
the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all
purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is
made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the
Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of authentication, such reference shall be
deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an
Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of
the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be
acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof
or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating
Agent, having (or if the Authenticating Agent is a member of a bank holding
company system, its bank holding company has) a combined capital and surplus of
not less than $50,000,000 and subject to supervision or examination by Federal
or State






                                      -47-
<PAGE>   56

authority. If such Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least
annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of said supervising or
examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital
and surplus of such Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined
capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent report of condition so
published. If at any time an Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in
accordance with the provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall
resign immediately in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section.

         Any corporation into which an Authenticating Agent may be merged or
converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which such Authenticating Agent
shall be a party, or any corporation succeeding to the corporate agency or
corporate trust business of an Authenticating Agent, shall continue to be an
Authenticating Agent, provided such corporation shall be otherwise eligible
under this Section, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further
act on the part of the Trustee or the Authenticating Agent.

         An Authenticating Agent may resign at any time by giving written notice
thereof to the Trustee and to the Company. The Trustee may at any time terminate
the agency of an Authenticating Agent by giving written notice thereof to such
Authenticating Agent and to the Company. Upon receiving such a notice of
resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time such
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, the Trustee may appoint a successor Authenticating
Agent which shall be acceptable to the Company and shall give notice of such
appointment in the manner provided in Section 106 to all Holders of Securities
of the series with respect to which such Authenticating Agent will serve. Any
successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance of its appointment hereunder
shall become vested with all the rights, powers and duties of its predecessor
hereunder, with like effect as if originally named as an Authenticating Agent.
No successor Authenticating Agent shall be appointed unless eligible under the
provisions of this Section.

         The Trustee agrees to pay to each Authenticating Agent from time to
time reasonable compensation for its services under this Section, and the
Trustee shall be entitled to be reimbursed for such payments, subject to the
provisions of Section 607.

         If an appointment with respect to one or more series is made pursuant
to this Section 612, the Securities of such series may have endorsed thereon, in
addition to the Trustee's certificate of authentication, an alternative
certificate of authentication in the following form:



















                                      -48-

<PAGE>   57


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



                                        THE BANK OF NEW YORK,
                                        As Trustee



                                        By: ____________________________________
                                            As Authenticating Agent



                                        By: ____________________________________
                                            Authorized Signatory


                                  ARTICLE SEVEN

                HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701. COMPANY TO FURNISH TRUSTEE NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF HOLDERS.

         The Company will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee

         (1) semi-annually, not later than 15 days after the Regular Record
Date, a list, in such form as the Trustee may reasonably require, of the names
and addresses of the Holders of Securities of each series as of such Regular
Record Date, as the case may be, and

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

provided that no such list need be furnished by the Company to the Trustee so
long as the Trustee is acting as Security Registrar.

SECTION 702. PRESERVATION OF INFORMATION; COMMUNICATIONS TO HOLDERS.

         The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, the names and addresses of Holders contained in the most recent
list furnished to the Trustee as provided in Section 701, if any, and the names
and addresses of Holders received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security
Registrar. The Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in
Section 701 upon receipt of a new list so furnished.

         The rights of Holders to communicate with other Holders with respect to
their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities, and the corresponding
rights and privileges of the Trustee, shall be as provided by the Trust
Indenture Act.






                                      -49-
<PAGE>   58

         Every Holder of Securities, by receiving and holding the same, agrees
with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the Trustee nor
any agent of either of them shall be held accountable by reason of any
disclosure of information as to names and addresses of Holders made pursuant to
the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 703. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE.

         The Trustee shall transmit to Holders such reports concerning the
Trustee and its actions under this Indenture as may be required pursuant to the
Trust Indenture Act at the times and in the manner provided pursuant thereto.

         If required by Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act, the Trustee
shall, within sixty days after each September 15 following the date of this
Indenture deliver to Holders a brief report, dated as of such September 15,
which complies with the provisions of such Section 313(a).

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

SECTION 704. REPORTS BY COMPANY.

         The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and
transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such
summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the
times and in the manner provided pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act; provided
that any such information, documents or reports required to be filed with the
Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed
with the Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be filed with
the Commission.

         Delivery of such reports, information and documents to the Trustee is
for informational purposes only and the Trustee's receipt of such shall not
constitute constructive notice of any information contained therein or
determinable from information contained therein, including the Company's
compliance with any of its covenants hereunder (as to which the Trustee is
entitled to rely exclusively on Officers' Certificates).




















                                      -50-

<PAGE>   59

                                  ARTICLE EIGHT

              CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE

SECTION 801. COMPANY MAY CONSOLIDATE, ETC., ONLY ON CERTAIN TERMS.

         The Company shall not consolidate with or merge into any other Person
(in a transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation) or
convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an entirety
to any Person, unless:

         (1) in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another
Person (in a transaction in which the Company is not the surviving corporation)
or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an
entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or into which
the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance or transfer, or
which leases, the properties and assets of the Company substantially as an
entirety shall be a corporation, limited liability company, partnership, trust
or other business entity, shall be organized and validly existing under the laws
of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia
and shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and
delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and
punctual payment of the principal of and any premium and interest on all the
Securities and the performance or observance of every covenant of this Indenture
on the part of the Company to be performed or observed and the conversion rights
shall be provided for in accordance with Article Fourteen, if applicable, or as
otherwise specified pursuant to Section 301, by supplemental indenture
satisfactory in form to the Trustee, executed and delivered to the Trustee, by
the Person (if other than the Company) formed by such consolidation or into
which the Company shall have been merged or by the Person which shall have
acquired the Company's assets;

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

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

SECTION 802. SUCCESSOR SUBSTITUTED.

         Upon any consolidation of the Company with, or merger of the Company
into, any other Person or any conveyance, transfer or lease of the properties
and assets of the Company substantially as an entirety in accordance with
Section 801, the successor Person formed by such consolidation or into which the
Company is merged or to which such conveyance, transfer or lease is made shall
succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of,
the Company under this Indenture with the same effect as if such successor
Person had been named as the Company herein, and thereafter,






                                      -51-
<PAGE>   60

except in the case of a lease, the predecessor Person shall be relieved of all
obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the Securities.


                                  ARTICLE NINE

                             SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

         Without the consent of any Holders, the Company, when authorized by a
Board Resolution, and the Trustee, at any time and from time to time, may enter
into one or more indentures supplemental hereto, in form satisfactory to the
Trustee, for any of the following purposes:

         (1) to evidence the succession of another Person to the Company, or
successive successions, and the assumption by any such successor of the
covenants of the Company herein and in the Securities; or

         (2) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit 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 solely for the benefit of such series) or to
surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company; or

         (3) to add any additional Events of Default for the benefit of the
Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such additional Events of
Default are to be for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating
that such additional Events of Default are expressly being included solely for
the benefit of such series); or

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

         (5) to add to, change or eliminate any of the provisions of this
Indenture in respect of one or more series of Securities, provided that any such
addition, change or elimination (A) shall neither (i) apply to any Security of
any series created prior to the execution of such supplemental indenture and
entitled to the benefit of such provision nor (ii) modify the rights of the
Holder of any such Security with respect to such provision or (B) shall become
effective only when there is no such Security Outstanding; or

         (6)      to secure the Securities; or

         (7) to establish the form or terms of Securities of any series as
permitted by Sections 201 and 301; or






                                      -52-
<PAGE>   61

         (8) to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment hereunder
by a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of one or more series and
to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as shall be
necessary to provide for or facilitate the administration of the trusts
hereunder by more than one Trustee, pursuant to the requirements of Section 611;
or

         (9) to make provision with respect to the conversion rights of Holders
pursuant to the requirements of Article Fourteen, including providing for the
conversion of the securities into any security (other than the Common Stock of
the Company) or property of the Company; or

         (10) to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision
herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision herein,
or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or questions arising
under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant to this Clause (10)
shall not adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any
series in any material respect; or

         (11) to supplement any of the provisions of the Indenture to such
extent as shall be necessary to permit or facilitate the defeasance and
discharge of any series of Securities pursuant to Articles Four and Thirteen,
provided that any such action shall not adversely affect the interests of the
Holders of Securities of such series or any other series of Securities in any
material respect.

SECTION 902. SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS.

         With the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such supplemental
indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the Trustee, the
Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may enter into
an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any
provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of
this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the Holders of
Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however, that no such
supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of each
Outstanding Security affected thereby,

         (1) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment
of principal of or interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount
thereof or the rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the
redemption thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue
Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon a
declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section 502, or
change any Place of Payment where, or the coin or currency in which, any
Security or any premium or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to
institute suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated
Maturity thereof (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption
Date), or modify the provisions of this Indenture with respect to the
subordination of such series of Securities in a manner adverse to the Holders of
Securities of such series, or

         (2) reduce the percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series, the consent of whose Holders is required for any such
supplemental indenture, or the consent of whose






                                      -53-
<PAGE>   62

Holders is required for any waiver (of compliance with certain provisions of
this Indenture or certain defaults hereunder and their consequences) provided
for in this Indenture, or

         (3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, Section 513 or
Section 1008, except to increase any such percentage or to provide that certain
other provisions of this Indenture cannot be modified or waived without the
consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Security affected thereby; provided,
however, that this clause shall not be deemed to require the consent of any
Holder with respect to changes in the references to "the Trustee" and
concomitant changes in this Section and Section 1008, or the deletion of this
proviso, in accordance with the requirements of Sections 611 and 901(8), or

         (4) if applicable, make any change that adversely affects the right to
convert any security as provided in Article Fourteen or pursuant to Section 301
(except as permitted by Section 901(9)) or decrease the conversion rate or
increase the conversion price of any such security.

         A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or
other provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for
the benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies
the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such
covenant or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this
Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

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

SECTION 903. EXECUTION OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

         In executing, or accepting the additional trusts created by, any
supplemental indenture permitted by this Article or the modifications thereby of
the trusts created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive,
and (subject to Sections 601 and 603) shall be fully protected in relying upon,
an Opinion of Counsel stating that the execution of such supplemental indenture
is authorized or permitted by this Indenture. The Trustee may, but shall not be
obligated to, enter into any such supplemental indenture which affects the
Trustee's own rights, duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise.

SECTION 904. EFFECT OF SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

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









                                      -54-

<PAGE>   63

SECTION 905. CONFORMITY WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT.

         Every supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article shall
conform to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 906. REFERENCE IN SECURITIES TO SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES.

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

SECTION 907. SUBORDINATION UNIMPAIRED.

         No provision in any supplemental indenture which affects the superior
position of the holders of Senior Debt shall be effective against holders of
Senior Debt.


                                   ARTICLE TEN

                                    COVENANTS

SECTION 1001. PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL, PREMIUM AND INTEREST.

         The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of
Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of and any premium
and interest on the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of
the Securities and this Indenture.

SECTION 1002. MAINTENANCE OF OFFICE OR AGENCY.

         The Company will maintain in each Place of Payment for any series of
Securities an office or agency where Securities of that series may be presented
or surrendered for payment, where Securities of that series may be surrendered
for registration of transfer or exchange, where Securities of that series may be
surrendered for conversion and where notices and demands to or upon the Company
in respect of the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served.
The Company will give prompt written notice to the Trustee of the location, and
any change in the location, of such office or agency. If at any time the Company
shall fail to maintain any such required office or agency or shall fail to
furnish the Trustee with the address thereof, such presentations, surrenders,
notices and demands may be made or served at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee, and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all
such presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

         The Company may also from time to time designate one or more other
offices or agencies where the Securities of one or more series may be presented
or surrendered for any or all such purposes and






                                      -55-
<PAGE>   64

may from time to time rescind such designations; provided, however, that no such
designation or rescission shall in any manner relieve the Company of its
obligation to maintain an office or agency in each Place of Payment for
Securities of any series for such purposes. The Company will give prompt written
notice to the Trustee of any such designation or rescission and of any change in
the location of any such other office or agency.

SECTION 1003. MONEY FOR SECURITIES PAYMENTS TO BE HELD IN TRUST.

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

         Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any
series of Securities, it will, on or prior to each due date of the principal of
or any premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a
Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as
provided by the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the
Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure
so to act.

         The Company will cause each Paying Agent for any series of Securities
other than the Trustee to execute and deliver to the Trustee an instrument in
which such Paying Agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the provisions
of this Section, that such Paying Agent will (1) comply with the provisions of
the Trust Indenture Act applicable to it as a Paying Agent and (2) during the
continuance of any default by the Company (or any other obligor upon the
Securities of that series) in the making of any payment in respect of the
Securities of that series, upon the written request of the Trustee, forthwith
pay to the Trustee all sums held in trust by such Paying Agent for payment in
respect of the Securities of that series.

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

         Any money deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held
by the Company, in trust for the payment of the principal of or any premium or
interest on any Security of any series and remaining unclaimed for a period
ending on the earlier of the date that is ten Business Days prior to the date
such money would escheat to the State or two years after such principal, premium
or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the Company on Company
Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust;
and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general
creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the
Trustee






                                      -56-
<PAGE>   65

or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability of the
Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however, that the
Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such repayment,
may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a newspaper
published in the English language, customarily published on each Business Day
and of general circulation in each Place of Payment, notice that such money
remains unclaimed and that, after a date specified therein, which shall not be
less than 30 days from the date of such publication, any unclaimed balance of
such money then remaining will be repaid to the Company.

SECTION 1004. STATEMENT BY OFFICERS AS TO DEFAULT.

         The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers'
Certificate, stating whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof
the Company is in default in the performance and observance of any of the terms,
provisions and conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of
grace or requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be
in default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of
which they may have knowledge. The fiscal year of the Company ends on June 30;
and the Company will give the Trustee prompt written notice of any change of its
fiscal year.

SECTION 1005. EXISTENCE.

         Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all
things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence.

SECTION 1006. MAINTENANCE OF PROPERTIES.

         The Company will cause all properties used or useful in the conduct of
its business to be maintained and kept in good condition, repair and working
order and supplied with all necessary equipment and will cause to be made all
necessary repairs, renewals, replacements, betterments and improvements thereof,
all as, and to the extent, in the judgment of the Company may be necessary so
that the business carried on in connection therewith may be properly and
advantageously conducted at all times; provided, however, that nothing in this
Section shall prevent the Company from discontinuing the operation or
maintenance of any of such properties if such discontinuance is, in the judgment
of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its business and not disadvantageous
in any material respect to the Holders.

SECTION 1007. PAYMENT OF TAXES AND OTHER CLAIMS.

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






                                      -57-
<PAGE>   66

contested in good faith by appropriate proceedings or (ii) if the failure to pay
or discharge would not have a material adverse effect on the assets, business,
operations, properties or condition (financial or otherwise) of the Company and
its Subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

SECTION 1008. WAIVER OF CERTAIN COVENANTS.

         Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of such series or in a supplemental indenture, the Company may, with
respect to the Securities of any series, omit in any particular instance to
comply with any term, provision or condition set forth in any covenant provided
pursuant to Section 301(19), 901(2), 901(7), 1006 or 1007 for the benefit of the
Holders of such series if before the time for such compliance the Holders of at
least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of such
series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in such
instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or condition,
but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or condition
except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall become
effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee in
respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force and
effect.

SECTION 1009. CALCULATION OF ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT.

         The Company shall file with the Trustee promptly at the end of each
calendar year (i) a written notice specifying the amount of original issue
discount (including daily rates and accrual periods) accrued on Outstanding
Securities as of the end of such year and (ii) such other specific information
relating to such original issue discount as may then be relevant under the
Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended from time to time.


                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN

                            REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.

         Securities of any series which are redeemable before their Stated
Maturity shall be redeemable in accordance with their terms and (except as
otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities) in
accordance with this Article.

SECTION 1102. ELECTION TO REDEEM; NOTICE TO TRUSTEE.

         The election of the Company to redeem any Securities shall be evidenced
by a Board Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section
301 for such Securities. In case of any redemption at the election of the
Company of less than all the Securities of any series (including any such
redemption affecting only a single Security), the Company shall, at least 45
days prior to the Redemption Date fixed by the Company (unless a shorter notice
shall be satisfactory to the Trustee), notify the Trustee of such Redemption
Date, of the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed and,
if applicable, of the tenor of the Securities to be redeemed. In the case of any
redemption






                                      -58-
<PAGE>   67

of Securities prior to the expiration of any restriction on such redemption
provided in the terms of such Securities or elsewhere in this Indenture, the
Company shall furnish the Trustee with an Officers' Certificate evidencing
compliance with such restriction.

SECTION 1103. SELECTION BY TRUSTEE OF SECURITIES TO BE REDEEMED.

         If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed
(unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be
redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the
particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days
prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of
such series not previously called for redemption, by lot, or in the Trustee's
discretion, on a pro-rata basis, provided that the unredeemed portion of the
principal amount of any Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which
shall not be less than the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.
If less than all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to
be redeemed (unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the
particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days
prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of
such series and specified tenor not previously called for redemption in
accordance with the preceding sentence.

         If any Security selected for partial redemption is converted in part
before termination of the conversion right with respect to the portion of the
Security so selected, the converted portion of such Security shall be deemed (so
far as may be) to be the portion selected for redemption. Securities which have
been converted during a selection of Securities to be redeemed shall be treated
by the Trustee as Outstanding for the purpose of such selection.

         The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company in writing of the
Securities selected for redemption as aforesaid and, in case of any Securities
selected for partial redemption as aforesaid, the principal amount thereof to be
redeemed.

         The provisions of the two preceding paragraphs shall not apply with
respect to any redemption affecting only a single Security, whether such
Security is to be redeemed in whole or in part. In the case of any such
redemption in part, the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of the
Security shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than
the minimum authorized denomination) for such Security.

         For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise
requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate,
in the case of any Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the
portion of the principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be
redeemed.

SECTION 1104. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION.

         Notice of redemption shall be given by first-class mail, postage
prepaid, mailed not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the Redemption
Date, unless a shorter period is specified in the Securities






                                      -59-
<PAGE>   68

to be redeemed, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed, at its address
appearing in the Security Register.

         All notices of redemption shall identify the Securities to be redeemed
(including CUSIP number(s)) and shall state:

         (1) the Redemption Date,

         (2) the Redemption Price (including accrued interest, if any),

         (3) if less than all the Outstanding Securities of any series
consisting of more than a single Security are to be redeemed, the identification
(and, in the case of partial redemption of any such Securities, the principal
amounts) of the particular Securities to be redeemed and, if less than all the
Outstanding Securities of any series consisting of a single Security are to be
redeemed, the principal amount of the particular Security to be redeemed,

         (4) that on the Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due
and payable upon each such Security to be redeemed and, if applicable, that
interest thereon will cease to accrue on and after said date,

         (5) the place or places where each such Security is to be surrendered
for payment of the Redemption Price,

         (6) if applicable, the conversion price, that the date on which the
right to convert the principal of the Securities or the portions thereof to be
redeemed will terminate will be the Redemption Date and the place or places
where such Securities may be surrendered for conversion, and

         (7) that the redemption is for a sinking fund, if such is the case.

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

SECTION 1105. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE.

         On or prior to 10:00 a.m., New York time, on any Redemption Date, the
Company shall deposit with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the
Company is acting as its own Paying Agent, segregate and hold in trust as
provided in Section 1003) an amount of money sufficient to pay the Redemption
Price of, and (except if the Redemption Date shall be an Interest Payment Date)
accrued interest on, all the Securities which are to be redeemed on that date.

         If any Security called for redemption is converted, any money deposited
with the Trustee or with a Paying Agent or so segregated and held in trust for
the redemption of such Security shall (subject to the right of any Holder of
such Security to receive interest as provided in the last paragraph of






                                      -60-
<PAGE>   69

Section 307) be paid to the Company on Company Request, or if then held by the
Company, shall be discharged from such trust.

SECTION 1106. SECURITIES PAYABLE ON REDEMPTION DATE.

         Notice of redemption having been given as aforesaid, the Securities so
to be redeemed shall, on the Redemption Date, become due and payable at the
Redemption Price therein specified, and from and after such date (unless the
Company shall default in the payment of the Redemption Price and accrued
interest) such Securities shall cease to bear interest. Upon surrender of any
such Security for redemption in accordance with said notice, such Security shall
be paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest
to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that, unless otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301, installments of interest whose Stated Maturity is
on or prior to the Redemption Date will be payable to the Holders of such
Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at the
close of business on the relevant Record Dates according to their terms and the
provisions of Section 307.

         If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon
surrender thereof for redemption, the principal and any premium shall, until
paid, bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in
the Security.

SECTION 1107. SECURITIES REDEEMED IN PART.

         Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered
at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires,
due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to
the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or its attorney
duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service
charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of
any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal
amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of
the Security so surrendered.


                                 ARTICLE TWELVE

                                  SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 1201. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.

         The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund
for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

         The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the
terms of any Securities 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 such Securities is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund
payment." If provided for by the terms of any Securities, the cash amount of any
sinking






                                      -61-
<PAGE>   70

fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section 1202. Each
sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of Securities as
provided for by the terms of such Securities.

SECTION 1202. SATISFACTION OF SINKING FUND PAYMENTS WITH SECURITIES.

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

SECTION 1203. REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES FOR SINKING FUND.

         Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any
Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such
Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if
any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if
any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to
Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so
delivered. Not less than 30 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date,
the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund
payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the
redemption thereof to be given in the name of and at the expense of the Company
in the manner provided in Section 1104. Such notice having been duly given, the
redemption of such Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner
stated in Sections 1106 and 1107.


                                ARTICLE THIRTEEN

                       DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE

SECTION 1301. COMPANY'S OPTION TO EFFECT DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

         The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 1302
or Section 1303 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the
case may be, designated pursuant to Section 301 as being defeasible pursuant to
such Section 1302 or 1303, in accordance with any applicable requirements
provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set
forth below in this Article. Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board
Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
such Securities.






                                      -62-
<PAGE>   71

SECTION 1302. DEFEASANCE AND DISCHARGE.

         Upon the Company's exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section
applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the
Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations, and the
provisions of Article Fifteen shall cease to be effective, with respect to such
Securities as provided in this Section on and after the date the conditions set
forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called "Defeasance"). For this
purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and
discharged the entire indebtedness represented by such Securities and to have
satisfied all its other obligations under such Securities and this Indenture
insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the Trustee, at the expense of the
Company, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging the same), subject to
the following which shall survive until otherwise terminated or discharged
hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such Securities to receive, solely from
the trust fund described in Section 1304 and as more fully set forth in such
Section, payments in respect of the principal of and any premium and interest on
such Securities when payments are due, (2) the Company's obligations with
respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305, 306, 1002 and 1003, and, if
applicable, Article Fourteen, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and
immunities of the Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article. Subject to compliance
with this Article, the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this
Section applied to any Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its
option (if any) to have Section 1303 applied to such Securities.

SECTION 1303. COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

         Upon the Company's exercise of its option (if any) to have this Section
applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, (1)
the Company shall be released from its obligations under Sections 1006 through
1007, inclusive, and any covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(19), 901(2)
or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such Securities and (2) the
occurrence of any event specified in Sections 501(4) (with respect to any of
Sections 1006 through 1007, inclusive, and any such covenants provided pursuant
to Section 301(19), 901(2) or 901(7)), shall be deemed not to be or result in an
Event of Default, and (3) the provisions of Article Fifteen shall cease to be
effective, in each case with respect to such Securities as provided in this
Section on and after the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are
satisfied (hereinafter called "Covenant Defeasance"). For this purpose, such
Covenant Defeasance means that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may
omit to comply with and shall have no liability in respect of any term,
condition or limitation set forth in any such specified Section (to the extent
so specified in the case of Section 501(4)) or Article Fifteen, whether directly
or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such Section or
Article or by reason of any reference in any such Section or Article to any
other provision herein or in any other document, but the remainder of this
Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

SECTION 1304. CONDITIONS TO DEFEASANCE OR COVENANT DEFEASANCE.

         The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section
1302 or Section 1303 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case
may be:






                                      -63-
<PAGE>   72

         (1) The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be
deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the requirements
contemplated by Section 609 and agrees to comply with the provisions of this
Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for the purpose of making the
following payments, specifically pledged as security for, and dedicated solely
to, the benefits of the Holders of such Securities, (A) money in an amount, or
(B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal
and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not
later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or
(C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a
written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and discharge,
and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other qualifying trustee)
to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium and interest on such
Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in accordance with the terms of
this Indenture and such Securities. As used herein, "U.S. Government Obligation"
means (x) any security which is (i) a direct obligation of the United States of
America for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States
of America is pledged or (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised
by and acting as an agency or instrumentality of the United States of America
the payment of which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit
obligation by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii),
is not callable or redeemable at the option of the issuer thereof, and (y) any
depositary receipt issued by a bank (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the
Securities Act) as custodian with respect to any U.S. Government Obligation
which is specified in Clause (x) above and held by such bank for the account of
the holder of such depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment
of principal of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so
specified and held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is
not authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of
such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in respect of
the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of principal or interest
evidenced by such depositary receipt.

         (2) In the event of an election to have Section 1302 apply to any
Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall
have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A) the Company
has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service
a ruling or (B) since the date of this instrument, there has been a change in
the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case (A) or (B) to the effect
that, and based thereon such opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of such
Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a
result of the deposit, Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to
such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in
the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit,
Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

         (3) In the event of an election to have Section 1303 apply to any
Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall
have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the
Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for Federal income
tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant Defeasance to be effected
with respect to such Securities and will be subject to Federal income tax on the
same amount, in the same manner and at the same times as would be the case if
such deposit and Covenant Defeasance were not to occur.






                                      -64-
<PAGE>   73

         (4) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate to the effect that neither such Securities nor any other Securities
of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange, will be delisted
as a result of such deposit.

         (5) No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would
become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other
Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such deposit or,
with regard to any such event specified in Sections 501(5) and (6), at any time
on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit (it being understood
that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied until after such 90th day).

         (6) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not cause the Trustee
to have a conflicting interest within the meaning of the Trust Indenture Act
(assuming all Securities are in default within the meaning of such Act).

         (7) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a breach
or violation of, or constitute a default under, any other agreement or
instrument to which the Company is a party or by which it is bound.

         (8) Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the
trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company within the
meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust shall be registered
under such Act or exempt from registration thereunder.

         (9) At the time of such deposit, (A) no default in the payment of any
principal of or premium or interest on any Senior Debt shall have occurred and
be continuing, (B) no event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall
have resulted in such Senior Debt becoming, and continuing to be, due and
payable prior to the date on which it would otherwise have become due and
payable (unless payment of such Senior Debt has been made or duly provided for),
and (C) no other event of default with respect to any Senior Debt shall have
occurred and be continuing permitting (after notice or lapse of time or both)
the holders of such Senior Debt (or a trustee on behalf of such holders) to
declare such Senior Debt due and payable prior to the date on which it would
otherwise have become due and payable.

         (10) The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have been
complied with.

SECTION 1305. DEPOSITED MONEY AND U.S. GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS TO BE HELD IN
              TRUST; MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS.

         Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all
money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited
with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this
Section and Section 1306, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to
collectively as the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of any
Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with
the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either
directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its
own






                                      -65-
<PAGE>   74

Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such Securities,
of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal and any
premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated from
other funds except to the extent required by law. Money and U.S. Government
Obligations so held in trust shall not be subject to the provisions of Article
Fifteen.

         The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or
other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations
deposited pursuant to Section 1304 or the principal and interest received in
respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for
the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.

         Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee
shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any
money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1304 with
respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm
of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof
delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then
be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as
the case may be, with respect to such Securities.

SECTION 1306. REINSTATEMENT.

         If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in
accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any
order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining
or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this
Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or
released pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303 shall be revived and reinstated as
though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such
Securities, until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply
all money held in trust pursuant to Section 1305 with respect to such Securities
in accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company makes
any payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security
following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated
to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment
from the money so held in trust.


                                ARTICLE FOURTEEN

                      CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1401. APPLICABILITY OF ARTICLE.

         The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of
any series which are convertible or exchangeable into shares of Common Stock of
the Company, and the issuance of such shares of Common Stock upon the conversion
of such Securities, except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301
for the Securities of such series.






                                      -66-
<PAGE>   75

SECTION 1402. EXERCISE OF CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE PRIVILEGE.

         In order to exercise a conversion or exchange privilege, the Holder of
a Security of a series with such a privilege shall surrender such Security to
the Company at the office or agency maintained for that purpose pursuant to
Section 1002, accompanied by a duly executed conversion or exchange notice to
the Company substantially in the form set forth in Section 206 stating that the
Holder elects to convert or exchange such Security or a specified portion
thereof. Such notice shall also state, if different from the name and address of
such Holder, the name or names (with address) in which the certificate or
certificates for shares of Common Stock which shall be issuable on such
conversion or exchange shall be issued. Securities surrendered for conversion or
exchange shall (if so required by the Company or the Trustee) be duly endorsed
by or accompanied by instruments of transfer in forms satisfactory to the
Company and the Trustee duly executed by the registered Holder or its attorney
duly authorized in writing; and Securities so surrendered for conversion or
exchange (in whole or in part) during the period from the close of business on
any Regular Record Date to the opening of business on the next succeeding
Interest Payment Date (excluding Securities or portions thereof called for
redemption during the period beginning at the close of business on a Regular
Record Date and ending at the opening of business on the first Business Day
after the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, or if such Interest Payment
Date is not a Business Day, the second such Business Day) shall also be
accompanied by payment in funds acceptable to the Company of an amount equal to
the interest payable on such Interest Payment Date on the principal amount of
such Security then being converted or exchanged, and such interest shall be
payable to such registered Holder notwithstanding the conversion or exchange of
such Security, subject to the provisions of Section 307 relating to the payment
of Defaulted Interest by the Company. As promptly as practicable after the
receipt of such notice and of any payment required pursuant to a Board
Resolution and, subject to Section 303, set forth, or determined in the manner
provided, in an Officers' Certificate, or established in one or more indentures
supplemental hereto setting forth the terms of such series of Security, and the
surrender of such Security in accordance with such reasonable regulations as the
Company may prescribe, the Company shall issue and shall deliver, at the office
or agency at which such Security is surrendered, to such Holder or on its
written order, a certificate or certificates for the number of full shares of
Common Stock issuable upon the conversion or exchange of such Security (or
specified portion thereof), in accordance with the provisions of such Board
Resolution, Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture, and cash as
provided therein in respect of any fractional share of such Common Stock
otherwise issuable upon such conversion or exchange. Such conversion or exchange
shall be deemed to have been effected immediately prior to the close of business
on the date on which such notice and such payment, if required, shall have been
received in proper order for conversion or exchange by the Company and such
Security shall have been surrendered as aforesaid (unless such Holder shall have
so surrendered such Security and shall have instructed the Company to effect the
conversion or exchange on a particular date following such surrender and such
Holder shall be entitled to convert or exchange such Security on such date, in
which case such conversion or exchange shall be deemed to be effected
immediately prior to the close of business on such date) and at such time the
rights of the Holder of such Security as such Security Holder shall cease and
the person or persons in whose name or names any certificate or certificates for
shares of Common Stock of the Company shall be issuable upon such conversion or
exchange shall be deemed to have become the Holder or Holders of record of the
shares represented thereby. Except as set forth above and subject to the final
paragraph of Section 307, no payment or adjustment shall be made upon any
conversion or






                                      -67-
<PAGE>   76

exchange on account of any interest accrued on the Securities (or any part
thereof) surrendered for conversion or exchange or on account of any dividends
on the Common Stock of the Company issued upon such conversion or exchange.

         In the case of any Security which is converted or exchanged in part
only, upon such conversion or exchange the Company shall execute and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver to or on the order of the Holder thereof, at the
expense of the Company, a new Security or Securities of the same series, of
authorized denominations, in aggregate principal amount equal to the unconverted
or unexchanged portion of such Security.

SECTION 1403. NO FRACTIONAL SHARES.

         No fractional share of Common Stock of the Company shall be issued upon
conversions or exchanges of Securities of any series. If more than one Security
shall be surrendered for conversion or exchange at one time by the same Holder,
the number of full shares which shall be issuable upon conversion or exchange
shall be computed on the basis of the aggregate principal amount of the
Securities (or specified portions thereof to the extent permitted hereby) so
surrendered. If, except for the provisions of this Section 1403, any Holder of a
Security or Securities would be entitled to a fractional share of Common Stock
of the Company upon the conversion or exchange of such Security or Securities,
or specified portions thereof, the Company shall pay to such Holder an amount in
cash equal to the current market value of such fractional share computed, (i) if
such Common Stock is listed or admitted to unlisted trading privileges on a
national securities exchange or market, on the basis of the last reported sale
price regular way on such exchange or market on the last trading day prior to
the date of conversion or exchange upon which such a sale shall have been
effected, or (ii) if such Common Stock is not at the time so listed or admitted
to unlisted trading privileges on a national securities exchange or market, on
the basis of the average of the bid and asked prices of such Common Stock in the
over-the-counter market, on the last trading day prior to the date of conversion
or exchange, as reported by the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated or
similar organization if the National Quotation Bureau, Incorporated is no longer
reporting such information, or if not so available, the fair market price as
determined by the Board of Directors. For purposes of this Section, "trading
day" shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday other than
any day on which the Common Stock is not traded on the Nasdaq National Market,
or if the Common Stock is not traded on the Nasdaq National Market, on the
principal exchange or market on which the Common Stock is traded or quoted.

SECTION 1404. ADJUSTMENT OF CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE PRICE.

         The conversion price of Securities of any series that is convertible or
exchangeable into Common Stock of the Company shall be adjusted for any stock
dividends, stock splits, reclassifications, combinations or similar transactions
in accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture or Board Resolutions
setting forth the terms of the Securities of such series.

         Whenever the conversion or exchange price is adjusted, the Company
shall compute the adjusted conversion or exchange price in accordance with terms
of the applicable Board Resolution or






                                      -68-
<PAGE>   77

supplemental indenture and shall prepare an Officers' Certificate setting forth
the adjusted conversion or exchange price and showing in reasonable detail the
facts upon which such adjustment is based, and such certificate shall forthwith
be filed at each office or agency maintained for the purpose of conversion or
exchange of Securities pursuant to Section 1002 and, if different, with the
Trustee. The Company shall forthwith cause a notice setting forth the adjusted
conversion or exchange price to be mailed, first class postage prepaid, to each
Holder of Securities of such series at its address appearing on the Security
Register and to any conversion or exchange agent other than the Trustee.

SECTION 1405. NOTICE OF CERTAIN CORPORATE ACTIONS.

         In case:

         (1) the Company shall declare a dividend (or any other distribution) on
its Common Stock payable otherwise than in cash out of its retained earnings
(other than a dividend for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is
required) that would require an adjustment pursuant to Section 1404; or

         (2) the Company shall authorize the granting to all or substantially
all of the holders of its Common Stock of rights, options or warrants to
subscribe for or purchase any shares of capital stock of any class or of any
other rights (other than any such grant for which approval of any shareholders
of the Company is required); or

         (3) of any reclassification of the Common Stock of the Company (other
than a subdivision or combination of its outstanding shares of Common Stock, or
of any consolidation, merger or share exchange to which the Company is a party
and for which approval of any shareholders of the Company is required), or of
the sale of all or substantially all of the assets of the Company; or

         (4) of the voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding
up of the Company;

then the Company shall cause to be filed with the Trustee, and shall cause to be
mailed to all Holders at their last addresses as they shall appear in the
Security Register, at least 20 days (or 10 days in any case specified in Clause
(1) or (2) above) prior to the applicable record date hereinafter specified, a
notice stating (i) the date on which a record is to be taken for the purpose of
such dividend, distribution, rights, options or warrants, or, if a record is not
to be taken, the date as of which the holders of Common Stock of record to be
entitled to such dividend, distribution, rights, options or warrants are to be
determined, or (ii) the date on which such reclassification, consolidation,
merger, share exchange, sale, dissolution, liquidation or winding up is expected
to become effective, and the date as of which it is expected that holders of
Common Stock of record shall be entitled to exchange their shares of Common
Stock for securities, cash or other property deliverable upon such
reclassification, consolidation, merger, share exchange, sale, dissolution,
liquidation or winding up. If at any time the Trustee shall not be the
conversion or exchange agent, a copy of such notice shall also forthwith be
filed by the Company with the Trustee.






                                      -69-
<PAGE>   78

SECTION 1406. RESERVATION OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK.

         The Company shall at all times reserve and keep available, free from
preemptive rights, out of its authorized but unissued Common Stock, for the
purpose of effecting the conversion or exchange of Securities, the full number
of shares of Common Stock of the Company then issuable upon the conversion or
exchange of all outstanding Securities of any series that has conversion or
exchange rights.

SECTION 1407. PAYMENT OF CERTAIN TAXES UPON CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE.

         Except as provided in the next sentence, the Company will pay any and
all taxes that may be payable in respect of the issue or delivery of shares of
its Common Stock on conversion or exchange of Securities pursuant hereto. The
Company shall not, however, be required to pay any tax which may be payable in
respect of any transfer involved in the issue and delivery of shares of its
Common Stock in a name other than that of the Holder of the Security or
Securities to be converted or exchanged, and no such issue or delivery shall be
made unless and until the person requesting such issue has paid to the Company
the amount of any such tax, or has established, to the satisfaction of the
Company, that such tax has been paid.

SECTION 1408. NONASSESSABILITY.

         The Company covenants that all shares of its Common Stock which may be
issued upon conversion or exchange of Securities will upon issue in accordance
with the terms hereof be duly and validly issued and fully paid and
nonassessable.

SECTION 1409. PROVISION IN CASE OF CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OF ASSETS.

         In case of any consolidation or merger of the Company with or into any
other Person, any merger of another Person with or into the Company (other than
a merger which does not result in any reclassification, conversion, exchange or
cancellation of outstanding shares of Common Stock of the Company) or any
conveyance, sale, transfer or lease of all or substantially all of the assets of
the Company, the Person formed by such consolidation or resulting from such
merger or which acquires such assets, as the case may be, shall execute and
deliver to the Trustee a supplemental indenture providing that the Holder of
each Security of a series then Outstanding that is convertible or exchangeable
into Common Stock of the Company shall have the right thereafter (which right
shall be the exclusive conversion right thereafter available to said Holder),
during the period such Security shall be convertible or exchangeable, to convert
or exchange such Security only into the kind and amount of securities, cash and
other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale,
transfer or lease by a holder of the number of shares of Common Stock of the
Company into which such Security might have been converted or exchanged
immediately prior to such consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or
lease, assuming such holder of Common Stock of the Company (i) is not a Person
with which the Company consolidated or merged with or into or which merged into
or with the Company or to which such conveyance, sale, transfer or lease was
made, as the case may be (a "Constituent Person"), or an Affiliate of a
Constituent Person and (ii) failed to exercise his rights of election, if any,
as to the kind or amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon
such consolidation, merger,






                                      -70-
<PAGE>   79

conveyance, sale, transfer or lease (provided that if the kind or amount of
securities, cash and other property receivable upon such consolidation, merger,
conveyance, sale, transfer, or lease is not the same for each share of Common
Stock of the Company held immediately prior to such consolidation, merger,
conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by others than a Constituent Person or an
Affiliate thereof and in respect of which such rights of election shall not have
been exercised ("Non-electing Share"), then for the purpose of this Section 1409
the kind and amount of securities, cash and other property receivable upon such
consolidation, merger, conveyance, sale, transfer or lease by the holders of
each Non-electing Share shall be deemed to be the kind and amount so receivable
per share by a plurality of the Non-electing Shares). Such supplemental
indenture shall provide for adjustments which, for events subsequent to the
effective date of such supplemental indenture, shall be as nearly equivalent as
may be practicable to the adjustments provided for in this Article or in
accordance with the terms of the supplemental indenture or Board Resolutions
setting forth the terms of such adjustments. The above provisions of this
Section 1409 shall similarly apply to successive consolidations, mergers,
conveyances, sales, transfers or leases. Notice of the execution of such a
supplemental indenture shall be given by the Company to the Holder of each
Security of a series that is convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock of
the Company as provided in Section 106 promptly upon such execution.

         Neither the Trustee nor any conversion or exchange agent, if any, shall
be under any responsibility to determine the correctness of any provisions
contained in any such supplemental indenture relating either to the kind or
amount of shares of stock or other securities or property or cash receivable by
Holders of Securities of a series convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock
of the Company upon the conversion or exchange of their Securities after any
such consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer, sale or lease or to any such
adjustment, but may accept as conclusive evidence of the correctness of any such
provisions, and shall be protected in relying upon, an Opinion of Counsel with
respect thereto, which the Company shall cause to be furnished to the Trustee
upon request.

SECTION 1410. DUTIES OF TRUSTEE REGARDING CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE.

         Neither the Trustee nor any conversion agent shall at any time be under
any duty or responsibility to any Holder of Securities of any series that is
convertible or exchangeable into Common Stock of the Company to determine
whether any facts exist which may require any adjustment of the conversion or
exchange price, or with respect to the nature or extent of any such adjustment
when made, or with respect to the method employed, whether herein or in any
supplemental indenture (or whether any provisions of any supplemental indenture
are correct), any resolutions of the Board of Directors or written instrument
executed by one or more officers of the Company provided to be employed in
making the same. Neither the Trustee nor any conversion or exchange agent shall
be accountable with respect to the validity or value (or the kind or amount) of
any shares of Common Stock of the Company, or of any securities or property,
which may at any time be issued or delivered upon the conversion or exchange of
any Securities and neither the Trustee nor any conversion or exchange agent
makes any representation with respect thereto. Subject to the provisions of
Section 601, neither the Trustee nor any conversion or exchange agent shall be
responsible for any failure of the Company to issue, transfer or deliver any
shares of its Common Stock or stock certificates or other securities or property
upon the surrender of any Security for the purpose of conversion or to comply
with any of the covenants of the Company contained






                                      -71-
<PAGE>   80

in this Article Fourteen or in the applicable supplemental indenture,
resolutions of the Board of Directors or written instrument executed by one or
more duly authorized officers of the Company.

SECTION 1411. REPAYMENT OF CERTAIN FUNDS UPON CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE.

         Any funds which at any time shall have been deposited by the Company or
on its behalf with the Trustee or any other paying agent for the purpose of
paying the principal of, and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on any of
the Securities (including, but not limited to, funds deposited for the sinking
fund referred to in Article Twelve hereof and funds deposited pursuant to
Article Thirteen hereof) and which shall not be required for such purposes
because of the conversion or exchange of such Securities as provided in this
Article Fourteen shall after such conversion or exchange be repaid to the
Company by the Trustee upon the Company's written request.


                                 ARTICLE FIFTEEN

                           SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1501. SECURITIES SUBORDINATE TO SENIOR DEBT.

         Except as otherwise provided in a supplemental indenture or pursuant to
Section 301, the Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of a Security, by
its acceptance thereof, likewise covenants and agrees, that, to the extent and
in the manner hereinafter set forth in this Article, the indebtedness
represented by the Securities and the payment of the principal of and any
premium and interest on each and all of the Securities or on the account of the
purchase, redemption or other acquisition of the Securities or constituting a
sinking fund or defeasance payment by the Company to the Trustee or any Paying
Agent, as the case may be, in accordance with Article Twelve or Article
Thirteen, respectively, on the Securities are hereby expressly made subordinate
and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, this Article Fifteen shall not apply to the
application of any amounts deposited with the Trustee or any Paying Agent
pursuant to any sinking fund requirement or defeasance which, at the time such
amounts were deposited with the Trustee or Paying Agent, as the case may be,
such deposits were not prohibited by the provisions of this Article Fifteen
("Previous Payments").

         The expressions "prior payment in full," "payment in full" and "paid in
full" and any other similar term or phrase when used in this Article Fifteen
with respect to Senior Debt shall mean in the case of Senior Debt consisting of
contingent obligations in respect of letters of credit (or local guaranties, as
applicable), bankers' acceptances, interest rate protection agreements or
currency exchange or purchase agreements, the setting apart of cash or other
payment acceptable to holders of such Senior Debt sufficient to discharge such
portion of Senior Debt in an account for the exclusive benefit of the holders
thereof, in which account such holders shall be granted by the Company a first
priority perfected security interest, which first priority perfected security
interest shall have been retained by the holders of Senior Debt for a period of
time in excess of all applicable preference or other similar periods, if any,
under applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or creditors' rights laws.






                                      -72-
<PAGE>   81

SECTION 1502. PAYMENT OVER OF PROCEEDS UPON DISSOLUTION, ETC.

         In the event of (a) any insolvency or bankruptcy case or proceeding, or
any receivership, liquidation, reorganization, debt restructuring or other
similar case or proceeding in connection therewith, relative to the Company or
to its creditors, as such, or to its assets, or (b) any liquidation, dissolution
or other winding up of the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary and whether
or not involving insolvency or bankruptcy, or (c) any assignment for the benefit
of creditors or any other marshaling of assets and liabilities of the Company,
then and in any such event the holders of Senior Debt shall be entitled to
receive payment in full of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of
all Senior Debt in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of Senior
Debt before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any payment on
account of principal of or any premium or interest on the Securities or on the
account of the purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Securities or
constituting a sinking fund or defeasance payment by the Company to the Trustee
or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, in accordance with Article Twelve or
Article Thirteen, respectively, on the Securities (other than Previous
Payments), and to that end the holders of Senior Debt or their representative or
representatives or the trustee or trustees under any indenture under which any
instruments evidencing any of such Senior Debt may have been issued shall be
entitled to receive, for application to the payment thereof, any payment or
distribution of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities,
which may be payable or deliverable in respect of the Securities in any such
case, proceeding, dissolution, liquidation or other winding up or event, to the
extent necessary to pay all Senior Debt in full in cash or other payment
satisfactory to the holders of Senior Debt, after giving effect to any
concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of other Senior Debt.

         In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this
Section, the Trustee or the Holder of any Security shall have received any
payment or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character,
whether in cash, property or securities, before all Senior Debt is paid in full
in cash or other payment satisfactory to the holders of Senior Debt then, and in
such event such payment or distribution shall be paid over or delivered
forthwith to the trustee in bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee,
custodian, assignee, agent or other Person making payment or distribution of
assets of the Company for application to the payment of all Senior Debt
remaining unpaid, to the extent necessary to pay all Senior Debt in full, after
giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the holders of
Senior Debt.

         For purposes of this Article only, the words "cash, property or
securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as
reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation
provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment which are subordinated
in right of payment to all Senior Debt which may at the time be outstanding to
substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Securities
are so subordinated as provided in this Article. The consolidation of the
Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another Person or the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer
of its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to another Person upon
the terms and conditions set forth in Article Eight shall not be deemed a
dissolution, winding up, liquidation, reorganization, assignment for the benefit
of creditors or marshaling of assets and liabilities of the Company for the
purposes of this Section if the Person formed by such consolidation or into
which the Company is merged or which acquires by






                                      -73-
<PAGE>   82

conveyance or transfer such properties and assets substantially as an entirety,
as the case may be, shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance
or transfer, comply with the conditions set forth in Article Eight.

SECTION 1503. PRIOR PAYMENT TO SENIOR DEBT UPON ACCELERATION OF SECURITIES.

         In the event that any Securities are declared due and payable before
their Stated Maturity, then and in such event the holders of the Senior Debt
outstanding at the time such Securities so become due and payable shall be
entitled to receive payment in full in cash or other payment satisfactory to the
holders of Senior Debt of all amounts due or to become due on or in respect of
all Senior Debt before the Holders of the Securities are entitled to receive any
payment by the Company on account of the principal of or any premium or interest
on the Securities or on account of the purchase, redemption or other acquisition
of Securities or constituting a sinking fund or defeasance payment by the
Company to the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, in accordance
with Article Twelve or Article Thirteen, respectively, on the Securities (other
than Previous Payments); provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall
prevent the satisfaction of any sinking fund payment in accordance with Article
Twelve by delivering and crediting pursuant to Section 1202 Securities which
have been acquired (upon redemption or otherwise) prior to such declaration of
acceleration or which have been converted pursuant to Article Fourteen; provided
further that the Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to receive payment
on the Securities to the extent such acceleration is rescinded in accordance
with the terms of this Indenture. If the payment of Securities is accelerated
because of an Event of Default, the Company shall promptly notify holders of
Senior Debt of the acceleration.

         In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall
make any payment to the Trustee or the Holder of any Security prohibited by the
foregoing provisions of this Section, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the
time of such payment, have been made known to the Trustee or, as the case may
be, such Holder, then and in such event such payment shall be paid over and
delivered forthwith to the Company.

         The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any payment with
respect to which Section 1502 would be applicable.

SECTION 1504. NO PAYMENT IN CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES.

         The Company may not make any payment of principal of, or premium, if
any, or interest on the Securities on or account of the purchase, redemption or
other acquisition of Securities or constituting a sinking fund or defeasance
payment by the Company to the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be,
in accordance with Article Twelve or Article Thirteen, respectively, on the
Securities (other than Previous Payments), if:

                     (i) a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any,
         or interest (including a default under any redemption or repurchase
         obligation) or other amounts with respect to any Senior Debt occurs and
         is continuing (or, in the case of Senior Debt for which there is a
         period of grace, in the event of such a default that continues beyond
         the period of grace, if any, specified






                                      -74-
<PAGE>   83

         in the instrument or lease evidencing such Senior Debt) unless and
         until such default shall have been cured or waived or shall have ceased
         to exist; or

                     (ii) a default, other than a payment default, on any
         Designated Senior Debt occurs and is continuing that then permits
         holders of such Designated Senior Debt to accelerate its maturity and
         the Trustee receives a notice of the default (a "Payment Blockage
         Notice") from the Company, a holder such Designated Senior Debt or a
         Representative of such Designated Senior Debt

provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall prevent the satisfaction
of any sinking fund payment in accordance with Article Twelve by delivering and
crediting pursuant to Section 1202 Securities which have been acquired (upon
redemption or otherwise) prior to such declaration of acceleration or which have
been converted pursuant to Article Fourteen.

         If the Trustee receives any Payment Blockage Notice pursuant to clause
(ii) above, no subsequent Payment Blockage Notice shall be effective for
purposes of this Section unless and until at least 365 days shall have elapsed
since the initial effectiveness of the immediately prior Payment Blockage
Notice. No nonpayment default that existed or was continuing on the date of
delivery of any Payment Blockage Notice to the Trustee (unless such default was
waived, cured or otherwise ceased to exist and thereafter subsequently
reoccurred) shall be, or be made, the basis for a subsequent Payment Blockage
Notice.

         The Company may and shall resume payments on and distributions in
respect of the Securities and may purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire
Securities and may make a sinking fund or defeasance payment to the Trustee or
Paying Agent, as the case may be, in accordance with Article Twelve or Article
Thirteen, respectively, on the Securities, upon the earlier of:

         (1) the date upon which the default is cured or waived or ceases to
exist, or

         (2) in the case of a default referred to in clause (ii) above, 179 days
after the Payment Blockage Notice is received,

unless this Article Fifteen otherwise prohibits the payment, distribution,
purchase, redemption, acquisition, sinking fund payment or defeasance payment at
the time of such payment, distribution, purchase, redemption, acquisition,
sinking fund payment or defeasance payment (including, without limitation, in
the case of a default referred to in clause (ii) above, as a result of a payment
default with respect to the applicable Senior Debt as a consequence of the
acceleration of the maturity thereof or otherwise).

         In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall
make any payment to the Trustee or the Holder of any Security prohibited by the
foregoing provisions of this Section, and if such fact shall, at or prior to the
time of such payment, have been made known to the Trustee or, as the case may
be, such Holder, then and in such event such payment shall be paid over and
delivered forthwith to the Company.






                                      -75-
<PAGE>   84

         The provisions of this Section shall not apply to any payment with
respect to which Section 1502 would be applicable.

SECTION 1505. PAYMENT PERMITTED IF NO DEFAULT.

         Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in
any of the Securities shall prevent (a) the Company, at any time except during
the pendency of any case, proceeding, dissolution, liquidation or other winding
up, debt restructuring, assignment for the benefit of creditors or other
marshaling of assets and liabilities of the Company referred to in Section 1502
or under the conditions described in Section 1503 or 1504, from making payments
at any time of principal of and any premium or interest on the Securities or on
the account of the purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Securities, or
(b) the application by the Trustee of any money deposited with it hereunder to
the payment of or on account of the principal of and any premium or interest on
the Securities or on the account of the purchase, redemption or other
acquisition of Securities, or the retention of such payment by the Holders, if,
at the time of such application by the Trustee, it did not have knowledge that
such payment would have been prohibited by the provisions of this Article.

SECTION 1506. SUBROGATION TO RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF SENIOR DEBT.

         Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Debt, the Holders of the
Securities shall be subrogated to the rights of the holders of such Senior Debt
to receive payments and distributions of cash, property and securities
applicable to the Senior Debt until the principal of and any premium and
interest on the Securities shall be paid in full. For purposes of such
subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of the Senior Debt of
any cash, property or securities to which the Holders of the Securities or the
Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article, and no
payments over pursuant to the provisions of this Article to the holders of
Senior Debt by Holders of the Securities or the Trustee, shall, as among the
Company, its creditors other than holders of Senior Debt and the Holders of the
Securities, be deemed to be a payment or distribution by the Company to or on
account of the Senior Debt.

SECTION 1507. PROVISIONS SOLELY TO DEFINE RELATIVE RIGHTS.

         The provisions of this Article are and are intended solely for the
purpose of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the Securities on the
one hand and the holders of Senior Debt on the other hand. Nothing contained in
this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in the Securities is intended to
or shall (a) impair, as among the Company, its creditors other than holders of
Senior Debt and the Holders of the Securities, the obligation of the Company,
which is absolute and unconditional (and which, subject to the rights under this
Article of the holders of Senior Debt, is intended to rank equally with all
other general obligations of the Company), to pay to the Holders of the
Securities the principal of and any premium and interest on the Securities as
and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance with their terms;
or (b) affect the relative rights against the Company of the Holders of the
Securities and creditors of the Company other than the holders of Senior Debt;
or (c) prevent the Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all
remedies otherwise permitted by applicable law upon






                                      -76-
<PAGE>   85

default under this Indenture, subject to the rights, if any, under this Article
of the holders of Senior Debt to receive cash, property and securities otherwise
payable or deliverable to the Trustee or such Holder.

SECTION 1508. TRUSTEE TO EFFECTUATE SUBORDINATION.

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

SECTION 1509. NO WAIVER OF SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS.

         No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Debt to enforce
subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any way be prejudiced or
impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the Company or by any act
or failure to act, in good faith, by any such holder, or by any non-compliance
by the Company with the terms, provisions and covenants of this Indenture,
regardless of any knowledge thereof any such holder may have or be otherwise
charged with.

         Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph,
the holders of Senior Debt may, at any time and from time to time, without the
consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders of the Securities, without
incurring responsibility to the Holders of the Securities and without impairing
or releasing the subordination provided in this Article or the obligations
hereunder of the Holders of the Securities to the holders of Senior Debt, do any
one or more of the following: (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment
or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, Senior Debt, or otherwise
amend or supplement in any manner Senior Debt or any instrument evidencing the
same or any agreement under which Senior Debt is outstanding; (ii) sell,
exchange, release or otherwise dispose of any property pledged, mortgaged or
otherwise securing Senior Debt; (iii) release any Person liable in any manner
for the collection of Senior Debt; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising
any rights against the Company and any other Person.

SECTION 1510. NOTICE TO TRUSTEE.

         The Company shall give prompt written notice to the Trustee of any fact
known to the Company which would prohibit the making of any payment to or by the
Trustee in respect of the Securities. Notwithstanding the provisions of this
Article or any other provision of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be
charged with knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the
making of any payment to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities, unless
and until the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the
Company or a holder of Senior Debt or from any trustee or other Representative
therefor; and, prior to the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee,
subject to the provisions of Section 601, shall be entitled in all respects to
assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall
not have received the notice provided for in this Section at least two Business
Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may become
payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of the
principal of and any premium or interest on any Security), then, anything herein
contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall have full power and
authority to receive such money and to apply the same to the purpose for which
such






                                      -77-
<PAGE>   86

money was received and shall not be affected by any notice to the contrary which
may be received by it within two Business Days prior to such date.

         Subject to the provisions of Section 601, the Trustee shall be entitled
to rely on the delivery to it of a written notice by a Person representing
himself to be a holder of Senior Debt (or a trustee or other Representative
therefor) to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of Senior
Debt (or a trustee or other Representative therefor). 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 Senior Debt to participate in any
payment or distribution pursuant to this Article, the Trustee may request such
Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to
the amount of Senior Debt held by such Person, the extent to which such Person
is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and any other facts
pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article, 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 1511. RELIANCE ON JUDICIAL ORDER OR CERTIFICATE OF LIQUIDATING AGENT.

         Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to
in this Article, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Section 601, and the
Holders of the Securities shall be entitled to rely upon any order or decree
entered by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such insolvency,
bankruptcy, receivership, liquidation, reorganization, dissolution, winding up
or similar case or proceeding is pending, or a certificate of the trustee in
bankruptcy, receiver, liquidating trustee, custodian, assignee for the benefit
of creditors, 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 payment or
distribution, the holders of the Senior Debt 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.

SECTION 1512. TRUSTEE NOT FIDUCIARY FOR HOLDERS OF SENIOR DEBT.

         The Trustee, in its capacity as trustee under this Indenture, shall not
be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Debt and shall not
be liable to any such holders if it shall in good faith mistakenly pay over or
distribute to Holders of Securities or to the Company or to any other Person
cash, property or securities to which any holders of Senior Debt shall be
entitled by virtue of this Article or otherwise. With respect to the holders of
Senior Debt, the Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its
covenants or obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article and no
implied covenants or obligations with respect to holders of Senior Debt shall be
read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

SECTION 1513. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AS HOLDER OF SENIOR DEBT; PRESERVATION OF
              TRUSTEE'S RIGHTS.

         The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the
rights set forth in this Article with respect to any Senior Debt which may at
any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Debt,
and nothing in this Indenture shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as
such holder.






                                      -78-
<PAGE>   87

         Nothing in this Article shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the
Trustee under or pursuant to Section 607.

SECTION 1514. ARTICLE APPLICABLE TO PAYING AGENTS.

         In case at any time any Paying Agent other than the Trustee shall have
been appointed by the Company and be then acting hereunder, the term "Trustee"
as used in this Article shall in such case (unless the context otherwise
requires) be construed as extending to and including such Paying Agent within
its meaning as fully for all intents and purposes as if such Paying Agent were
named in this Article in addition to or in place of the Trustee; provided,
however, that Section 1512 shall not apply to the Company or any Affiliate of
the Company if it or such Affiliate acts as Paying Agent.

SECTION 1515. CERTAIN CONVERSIONS DEEMED PAYMENT.

         For the purposes of this Article only, (1) the issuance and delivery of
junior securities upon conversion of Securities in accordance with Article
Fourteen shall not be deemed to constitute a payment or distribution on account
of the principal of or any premium or interest on Securities or on account of
the purchase, redemption or other acquisition of Securities, and (2) the
payment, issuance or delivery of cash, property or securities (other than junior
securities and cash paid for fractional shares) upon conversion of a Security
shall be deemed to constitute payment on account of the principal of such
Security. For the purposes of this Section, the term "junior securities" means
(a) shares of any stock of any class of the Company and (b) securities of the
Company which are subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Debt which may
be outstanding at the time of issuance or delivery of such securities to
substantially the same extent as, or to a greater extent than, the Securities
are so subordinated as provided in this Article.

SECTION 1516. OBLIGATIONS OF COMPANY AND RIGHT TO CONVERT UNCONDITIONAL.

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

         Nothing contained in this Article or elsewhere in this Indenture or in
the Securities is intended to or shall impair, as among the Company, its
creditors other than holders of Senior Debt and the Holders of the Securities,
the right, which is absolute and unconditional, of the Holder of any Security to
convert such Security in accordance with Article Fourteen (if applicable).






                                      -79-
<PAGE>   88


SECTION 1517. RELIANCE BY HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS ON SUBORDINATION
              PROVISIONS.

         Each Holder by accepting a Security acknowledges and agrees that the
foregoing subordination provisions are, and are intended to be, an inducement
and a consideration to each holder of any Senior Debt, whether such Senior Debt
was created or acquired before or after the issuance of the Securities, to
acquire and continue to hold, or to continue to hold, such Senior Debt and such
holder of Senior Debt shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such
subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold, or in continuing
to hold, such Senior Debt, and no amendment or modification of the provisions
contained herein shall diminish the rights of such holders of Senior Debt unless
such holders shall have agreed in writing hereto.



























                                      -80-

<PAGE>   89


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



                                        SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.



                                        By: ____________________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:



                                        THE BANK OF NEW YORK, as Trustee



                                        By: ____________________________________
                                            Name:
                                            Title:














<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3

          NUMBER                                           SHARES

PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES __                             CUSIP _________
      PAR VALUE $.001                        SEE REVERSE FOR CERTAIN DEFINITIONS



                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.

              INCORPORATED UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF DELAWARE

THIS CERTIFIES that


                                    SPECIMEN


is the owner of

     FULLY PAID AND NON-ASSESSABLE SHARES OF THE __% PREFERRED STOCK, SERIES __
($.001 PAR VALUE) OF SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC., transferable on the books of the
Company in person or by duly authorized attorney upon surrender of this
certificate properly endorsed. This certificate is not valid unless
countersigned by the Transfer Agent and registered by the Registrar.

     WITNESS the corporate seal of the said Company and the signatures of its
duly authorized officers.


     Dated


[SEAL]

               Secretary                               Chief Executive Officer

Countersigned and Registered:

               [Transfer Agent]

By                                 Transfer Agent
                                   and Registrar


                         Authorized Signature
<PAGE>   2
     THE CORPORATION WILL FURNISH WITHOUT CHARGE, A FULL STATEMENT OF THE
DESIGNATION, RELATIVE RIGHTS, PREFERENCES AND LIMITATIONS OF THE SHARES OF EACH
CLASS AUTHORIZED TO BE ISSUED AND OF EACH SERIES TO THE EXTENT FIXED AND THE
AUTHORITY OF THE BOARD TO DESIGNATE AND FIX THE RELATIVE RIGHTS, PREFERENCES
AND LIMITATIONS OF OTHER SERIES.

                                ________________

                                 ABBREVIATIONS

The following abbreviations, when used in the inscription of the face of the
instrument, shall be construed as though they were written out in full
according to applicable laws or regulations:

<TABLE>

<S>       <C>                                                    <C>
TEN COM   --as tenant in common                                  UNIF GIFT MIN ACT--          Custodian
TEN ENT   --as tenants by the entireties                                                  __________________
JT TEN    --as joint tenants with right of                                                (Cust)     (Minor)
            survivorship and not as tenants in common                             Under Uniform Gifts to Minors
                                                                                           Act _______________
                                                                                                   (State)
</TABLE>

Additional abbreviations may also be used through            in the above list

                                ________________

PLEASE INSERT SOCIAL SECURITY OR OTHER
IDENTIFYING NUMBER OF ASSIGNEE

________________________________________________________________________________

________________________________________________________________________________
PLEASE PRINT OR TYPEWRITE NAME AND ADDRESS INCLUDING POSTAL ZIP CODE OF ASSIGNEE

________________________________________________________________________________
the within stock certificate and all rights thereunder, hereby irrevocably
constituting and appointing

________________________________________________________________________attorney
to transfer said stock certificate on the books of the Company with full power
of substitution in the premises.


Dated: _________________          _____________________________________________
                                  NOTICE: The signature to this assignment must
                                  correspond with the name as written upon the
                                  face of the within instrument in every
                                  particular, without alteration or enlargement
                                  or any change whatsoever.





<PAGE>   1


                                                                     Exhibit 5.1



                                  July 14, 1999



Sun Microsystems, Inc.
901 San Antonio Road
Palo Alto, CA  94303


            RE: SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC. -- REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3

Ladies and Gentlemen:

            At your request, we have examined the Registration Statement on Form
S-3 (No. 333-81101), including Amendment No. 1 (the "Registration Statement"),
filed or to be filed Sun Microsystems, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the
"Company"), with the Securities and Exchange Commission in connection with the
registration pursuant to the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), of
the Company's debt securities (the "Debt Securities"), shares of the Company's
Common Stock, $0.00067 par value per share (the "Common Stock"), and shares of
the Company's Preferred Stock, $0.001 par value per share (the "Preferred
Stock"), with an aggregate offering price of up to $3,000,000,000 or the
equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies or composite currencies.
The Debt Securities, the Common Stock and the Preferred Stock are to be sold
from time to time as set forth in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
contained therein (the "Prospectus") and the supplements to the Prospectus (the
"Prospectus Supplements"). The Debt Securities may be either senior debt
securities (the "Senior Debt Securities") or subordinated debt securities (the
"Subordinated Debt Securities").

            The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued pursuant to a Senior
Indenture, which has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement (the
"Senior Indenture"), to be entered into between the Company and The Bank of New
York, as Trustee (the "Senior Trustee"). The Subordinated Debt Securities are to
be issued pursuant to a Subordinated Indenture, which has been filed as an
exhibit to the Registration Statement (the "Subordinated Indenture", together
with the Senior Indenture, the "Indentures"), to be entered into between the
Company and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (the "Subordinated Trustee"). The
shares of Common Stock are to be sold pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement
(Common Stock) (the "Common Stock Underwriting Agreement"), the shares of
Preferred Stock are to be sold pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement (Preferred
Stock) (the "Preferred Stock Underwriting Agreement"), and the Debt Securities
are to be sold pursuant to an Underwriting Agreement (Debt Securities) (the
"Debt Securities Underwriting Agreement") or an Underwriting Agreement
(Convertible Debt Securities) (the "Convertible Debt Securities Underwriting
Agreement"), in substantially the respective form to be filed as exhibits to, or
incorporated by reference in, the Registration Statement. The Debt Securities
are to be issued in the forms of Debt Securities included in the Indentures
filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement.



<PAGE>   2

Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-3
July 14, 1999
Page 2




            We have examined instruments, documents and records which we deemed
relevant and necessary for the basis of our opinion hereinafter expressed. In
such examination, we have assumed (a) the authenticity of original documents and
the genuineness of all signatures, (b) the conformity to the originals of all
documents submitted to us as copies and (c) the truth, accuracy and completeness
of the information, representations and warranties contained in the records,
documents, instruments and certificates we have reviewed.

            Based on such examination, we are of the opinion that:

            1. When the issuance of Senior Debt Securities has been duly
authorized by appropriate corporate action and the Senior Debt Securities, in
the form included in the Senior Indenture filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, have been duly completed, executed, authenticated and
delivered in accordance with the Senior Indenture and sold pursuant to the Debt
Securities Underwriting Agreement or the Convertible Debt Securities
Underwriting Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement, any
amendment thereto, the Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto, the Senior Debt Securities will be legal, valid and binding obligations
of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Senior Indenture.

            2. When the issuance of Subordinated Debt Securities has been duly
authorized by appropriate corporate action and the Subordinated Debt Securities,
in the form included in the Subordinated Indenture filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, have been duly completed, executed, authenticated and
delivered in accordance with the Subordinated Indenture and sold pursuant to the
Debt Securities Underwriting Agreement or the Convertible Debt Securities
Underwriting Agreement and as described in the Registration Statement, any
amendment thereto, the Prospectus and any Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto, the Subordinated Debt Securities will be legal, valid and binding
obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits of the Subordinated
Indenture.

            3. When (i) the terms of any particular series of Preferred Stock
have been established in accordance with the resolutions of the Company's Board
of Directors authorizing the issuance and sale of such series of Preferred
Stock, (ii) a Certificate of Designation conforming to the Delaware General
Corporation Law regarding such series of Preferred Stock has been filed with the
Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and (iii) shares of such series of
Preferred Stock have been issued, sold and delivered in accordance with the
Preferred Stock Underwriting Agreement and as described in the Registration
Statement, any amendment thereto, the Prospectus and the Prospectus Supplement
relating thereto, and in accordance with the terms of the particular series as
established by the Company's Board of Directors, the shares of Preferred Stock
will be legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.





<PAGE>   3

Sun Microsystems, Inc.
Registration Statement on Form S-3
July 14, 1999
Page 3




            4. When the issuance of the shares of Common Stock has been duly
authorized by appropriate corporate action, including any Common Stock that may
be issuable pursuant to the conversion of any Preferred Stock or Debt
Securities, and the shares of Common Stock have been duly issued, sold and
delivered in accordance the Common Stock Underwriting Agreement and as described
in the Registration Statement, any amendment thereto, the Prospectus and any
Prospectus Supplement relating thereto, the shares of Common Stock will be
legally issued, fully paid and nonassessable.

            Our opinion that any document is legal, valid and binding is
qualified as to:

               (a) limitations imposed by bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, arrangement, fraudulent conveyance, moratorium or other laws
relating to or affecting the rights of creditors generally;

               (b) rights to indemnification and contribution which may be
limited by applicable law or equitable principles; and

               (c) general principles of equity, including without limitation,
concepts of materiality, reasonableness, good faith and fair dealing, and the
possible unavailability of specific performance or injunctive relief, and
limitation of rights of acceleration regardless of whether such enforceability
is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law.

            We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
above-referenced Registration Statement and the use of our name wherever it
appears in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus
Supplement, and in any amendment of supplement thereto. In giving such consent,
we do not believe that we are "experts" within the meaning of such term used in
the Act or the rules and regulations of the Securities and Exchange Commission
issued thereunder with respect to any part of the Registration Statement,
including this opinion as an exhibit or otherwise.







                                        Very truly yours,


                                        WILSON SONSINI GOODRICH & ROSATI
                                        Professional Corporation

                                        /s/ Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati



<PAGE>   1

                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

               CONSENT OF ERNST & YOUNG LLP, INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

        We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in
Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (Form S-3 No. 333-81101) and
related Prospectus of Sun Microsystems, Inc. for the registration of
$4,000,000,000 of debt securities, preferred stock and common stock and to the
incorporation by reference therein of our reports dated July 15, 1998, with
respect to the consolidated financial statements of Sun Microsystems, Inc.
incorporated by reference in its annual report (Form 10-K, as amended on Form
10-K/A) for the year ended June 30, 1998 and the related financial statement
schedule included therein, filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

                                                               ERNST & YOUNG LLP
Palo Alto, California
July 9, 1999



<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 25.1
================================================================================


                                    FORM T-1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                   UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
                    CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                      CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
                      ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
                             SECTION 305(b)(2) |__|

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

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
               (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

New York                                                     13-5160382
(State of incorporation                                      (I.R.S. employer
if not a U.S. national bank)                                 identification no.)

One Wall Street, New York, N.Y.                              10286
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip code)



                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
               (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)


Delaware                                                     94-2805249
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                               identification no.)

901 San Antonio Road
Palo Alto, California                                        94303
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip code)

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

                             Senior Debt Securities
                       (Title of the indenture securities)


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

<PAGE>   2

1. GENERAL INFORMATION. FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

         (A) NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO
WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Name                                                Address
          ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          <S>                                                 <C>
          Superintendent of Banks of the State of             2 Rector Street, New York,
          New York                                            N.Y.  10006, and Albany, N.Y. 12203

          Federal Reserve Bank of New York                    33 Liberty Plaza, New York,
                                                              N.Y.  10045

          Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation               Washington, D.C.  20429

          New York Clearing House Association                 New York, New York   10005
</TABLE>

          (B) WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

          Yes.

2.        AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR.

          IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH
AFFILIATION.

          None.

16.       LIST OF EXHIBITS.

          EXHIBITS IDENTIFIED IN PARENTHESES BELOW, ON FILE WITH THE COMMISSION,
          ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AS AN EXHIBIT HERETO, PURSUANT TO
          RULE 7a-29 UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 (THE "ACT") AND 17
          C.F.R. 229.10(d).

          1.   A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York
               (formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains
               the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to
               exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to
               Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits
               1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.
               33-21672 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration
               Statement No. 33-29637.)

          4.   A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form
               T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-31019.)

          6.   The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
               (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.
               33-44051.)

          7.   A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published
               pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or
               examining authority.






                                      -2-

<PAGE>   3

                                    SIGNATURE



          Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New
York, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New
York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and
State of New York, on the 9th day of July, 1999.




                                        THE BANK OF NEW YORK



                                        By:  /s/  ILIANA  A. ARCIPRETE
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:   ILIANA  A. ARCIPRETE
                                           Title:   ASSISTANT TREASURER



<PAGE>   4

                       Consolidated Report of Condition of
                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                    of One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286
                     And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 1999,
published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              Dollar Amounts
                                                                                In Thousands
<S>                                                                             <C>
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
   Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin ......................    $  4,508,742
   Interest-bearing balances ...............................................       4,425,071
Securities:
   Held-to-maturity securities .............................................         836,304
   Available-for-sale securities ...........................................       4,047,851
Federal funds sold and Securities purchased under agreements to resell .....       1,743,269
Loans and lease financing receivables:
   Loans and leases, net of unearned income ................................      39,349,679
   LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses ...............................         603,025
   LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve ...................................          15,906
   Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve ........      38,730,748
Trading Assets .............................................................       1,571,372
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) ...................         685,674
Other real estate owned ....................................................          10,331
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies ........         182,449
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding ...............       1,184,822
Intangible assets ..........................................................       1,129,636
Other assets ...............................................................       2,632,309
                                                                                ------------
Total assets ...............................................................    $ 61,688,578
                                                                                ============
LIABILITIES
Deposits:
   In domestic offices .....................................................    $ 25,731,036
   Noninterest-bearing .....................................................      10,252,589
   Interest-bearing ........................................................      15,478,447
   In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs ...........      18,756,302
   Noninterest-bearing .....................................................         111,386
   Interest-bearing ........................................................      18,644,916
Federal funds purchased and Securities sold under agreements to repurchase .       3,276,362
Demand notes issued to the U.S.Treasury ....................................         230,671
Trading liabilities ........................................................       1,554,493
Other borrowed money:
   With remaining maturity of one year or less .............................       1,154,502
   With remaining maturity of more than one year through three years .......             465
   With remaining maturity of more than three years ........................          31,080
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding ...................       1,185,364
</TABLE>






                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                             <C>
Subordinated notes and debentures ..........................................       1,308,000
Other liabilities ..........................................................       2,743,590
                                                                                 -----------
Total liabilities ..........................................................      55,971,865
                                                                                 ===========
EQUITY CAPITAL
Common stock ...............................................................       1,135,284
Surplus ....................................................................         764,443
Undivided profits and capital reserves .....................................       3,807,697
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities .....          44,106
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ........................         (34,817)
                                                                                 -----------
Total equity capital .......................................................       5,716,713
                                                                                 -----------
Total liabilities and equity capital .......................................     $61,688,578
                                                                                 ===========
</TABLE>


         I, Thomas J. Mastro, Senior Vice President and Comptroller of the
above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been
prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System and is true to the best of my knowledge and
belief.

         We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report
of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our
knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions
issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true and
correct.



Thomas A. Reyni
Alan R. Griffith                   Directors
Gerald L. Hassell






                                       5



<PAGE>   1

                                                                    Exhibit 25.2
================================================================================


                                    FORM T-1

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                   UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF A
                    CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                      CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE
                      ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO
                             SECTION 305(b)(2) |__|

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

                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
               (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

New York                                                     13-5160382
(State of incorporation                                      (I.R.S. employer
if not a U.S. national bank)                                 identification no.)

One Wall Street, New York, N.Y.                              10286
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip code)



                             SUN MICROSYSTEMS, INC.
               (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)


Delaware                                                     94-2805249
(State or other jurisdiction of                              (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                               identification no.)

901 San Antonio Road
Palo Alto, California                                        94303
(Address of principal executive offices)                     (Zip code)


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


                          Subordinated Debt Securities
                       (Title of the indenture securities)


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

<PAGE>   2



1. GENERAL INFORMATION. FURNISH THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

         (A) NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO
WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          Name                                                Address
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          <S>                                                 <C>
          Superintendent of Banks of the State of             2 Rector Street, New York,
          New York                                            N.Y.  10006, and Albany, N.Y. 12203

          Federal Reserve Bank of New York                    33 Liberty Plaza, New York,
                                                              N.Y.  10045

          Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation               Washington, D.C.  20429

          New York Clearing House Association                 New York, New York   10005
</TABLE>

          (B) WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

          Yes.

2.        AFFILIATIONS WITH OBLIGOR.

          IF THE OBLIGOR IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH SUCH
          AFFILIATION.

          None.

16.       LIST OF EXHIBITS.

          EXHIBITS IDENTIFIED IN PARENTHESES BELOW, ON FILE WITH THE COMMISSION,
          ARE INCORPORATED HEREIN BY REFERENCE AS AN EXHIBIT HERETO, PURSUANT TO
          RULE 7a-29 UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 (THE "ACT") AND 17
          C.F.R. 229.10(d).

          1.   A copy of the Organization Certificate of The Bank of New York
               (formerly Irving Trust Company) as now in effect, which contains
               the authority to commence business and a grant of powers to
               exercise corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 1 to Amendment No. 1 to
               Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-6215, Exhibits
               1a and 1b to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.
               33-21672 and Exhibit 1 to Form T-1 filed with Registration
               Statement No. 33-29637.)

          4.   A copy of the existing By-laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to Form
               T-1 filed with Registration Statement No. 33-31019.)

          6.   The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of the Act.
               (Exhibit 6 to Form T-1 filed with Registration Statement No.
               33-44051.)

          7.   A copy of the latest report of condition of the Trustee published
               pursuant to law or to the requirements of its supervising or
               examining authority.









                                      -2-

<PAGE>   3


                                    SIGNATURE



         Pursuant to the requirements of the Act, the Trustee, The Bank of New
York, a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the State of New
York, has duly caused this statement of eligibility to be signed on its behalf
by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in The City of New York, and
State of New York, on the 9th day of July, 1999.





                                        THE BANK OF NEW YORK



                                        By:  /s/  ILIANA  A. ARCIPRETE
                                           -------------------------------------
                                           Name:   ILIANA  A. ARCIPRETE
                                           Title:  ASSISTANT TREASURER





<PAGE>   4

                       Consolidated Report of Condition of
                              THE BANK OF NEW YORK
                    of One Wall Street, New York, N.Y. 10286
                     And Foreign and Domestic Subsidiaries,
a member of the Federal Reserve System, at the close of business March 31, 1999,
published in accordance with a call made by the Federal Reserve Bank of this
District pursuant to the provisions of the Federal Reserve Act.


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                             Dollar Amounts
                                                                               In Thousands
<S>                                                                             <C>
ASSETS
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
   Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin ......................    $ 4,508,742
   Interest-bearing balances ...............................................      4,425,071
Securities:
   Held-to-maturity securities .............................................        836,304
   Available-for-sale securities ...........................................      4,047,851
Federal funds sold and Securities purchased under agreements to resell .....      1,743,269
Loans and lease financing receivables:
   Loans and leases, net of unearned income ................................     39,349,679
   LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses ...............................        603,025
   LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve ...................................         15,906
   Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and reserve ........     38,730,748
Trading Assets .............................................................      1,571,372
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) ...................        685,674
Other real estate owned ....................................................         10,331
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated companies ........        182,449
Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding ...............      1,184,822
Intangible assets ..........................................................      1,129,636
Other assets ...............................................................      2,632,309
                                                                                -----------
Total assets ...............................................................    $61,688,578
                                                                                ===========
LIABILITIES
Deposits:
   In domestic offices .....................................................    $25,731,036
   Noninterest-bearing .....................................................     10,252,589
   Interest-bearing ........................................................     15,478,447
   In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs ...........     18,756,302
   Noninterest-bearing .....................................................        111,386
   Interest-bearing ........................................................     18,644,916
Federal funds purchased and Securities sold under agreements to repurchase .      3,276,362
Demand notes issued to the U.S.Treasury ....................................        230,671
Trading liabilities ........................................................      1,554,493
Other borrowed money:
   With remaining maturity of one year or less .............................      1,154,502
   With remaining maturity of more than one year through three years .......            465
   With remaining maturity of more than three years ........................         31,080
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding ...................      1,185,364
</TABLE>








                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                             <C>
Subordinated notes and debentures ..........................................      1,308,000
Other liabilities ..........................................................      2,743,590
                                                                                -----------
Total liabilities ..........................................................     55,971,865
                                                                                ===========
EQUITY CAPITAL
Common stock ...............................................................      1,135,284
Surplus ....................................................................        764,443
Undivided profits and capital reserves .....................................      3,807,697
Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale securities .....         44,106
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ........................        (34,817)
                                                                                -----------
Total equity capital .......................................................      5,716,713
                                                                                -----------
Total liabilities and equity capital .......................................    $61,688,578
                                                                                ===========
</TABLE>


         I, Thomas J. Mastro, Senior Vice President and Comptroller of the
above-named bank do hereby declare that this Report of Condition has been
prepared in conformance with the instructions issued by the Board of Governors
of the Federal Reserve System and is true to the best of my knowledge and
belief.

                                             Thomas J. Mastro

         We, the undersigned directors, attest to the correctness of this Report
of Condition and declare that it has been examined by us and to the best of our
knowledge and belief has been prepared in conformance with the instructions
issued by the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System and is true and
correct.



Thomas A. Reyni
Alan R. Griffith                             Directors
Gerald L. Hassell


                                       5


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