COMDISCO INC
S-3, 1995-10-31
COMPUTER RENTAL & LEASING
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<PAGE>
 
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER 31, 1995
 
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 33-
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D. C. 20549
                                ---------------
                                   FORM S-3
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                          THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                                ---------------
                                COMDISCO, INC.
            (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
               DELAWARE                              36-2687938
    (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF     (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
    INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)
         6111 NORTH RIVER ROAD                  PHILIP A. HEWES, ESQ.
       ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS 60018            SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT/LEGAL AND
            (708) 698-3000                            SECRETARY
   (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND               COMDISCO, INC.
TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,          6111 NORTH RIVER ROAD
  OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE         ROSEMONT, ILLINOIS 60018
               OFFICES)                            (708) 698-3000
                                         (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE,
                                        AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA
                                             CODE, OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
                                  COPIES TO:
          LOLA M. HALE, ESQ.                  ROBERT J. DONATUCCI, ESQ.
         MCBRIDE BAKER & COLES                      BROWN & WOOD
  500 WEST MADISON STREET, 40TH FLOOR          ONE WORLD TRADE CENTER
        CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60661             NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10048-0557
 
  Approximate date of commencement of proposed sale to the public: From time
to time after the effective date of the Registration Statement.
  If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the
following box. [_]
  If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]
  If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_] __________
  If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier 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. [_]
                                ---------------
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
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- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               PROPOSED       PROPOSED
                                                               MAXIMUM        MAXIMUM
                                                 AMOUNT       AGGREGATE      AGGREGATE      AMOUNT OF
      TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF SECURITIES          TO BE          PRICE         OFFERING     REGISTRATION
              TO BE REGISTERED               REGISTERED(1)   PER UNIT(2)    PRICE(2)(3)        FEE
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 <S>                                         <C>            <C>            <C>            <C>
 Debt Securities (4).......................   $750,000,000       100%       $750,000,000   $258,621.00
 Common Stock, par value $0.10 per share
  (5)......................................
</TABLE>
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Or, if Debt Securities are to be issued with a principal amount
    denominated in a foreign currency or composite currency such greater
    principal amount as shall result in an aggregate initial offering price
    equivalent to $750,000,000 at the time of initial offering, or if at an
    original issue discount, such greater principal amount as shall result in
    proceeds to the registrant of $750,000,000.
(2) Estimated solely for the purpose of calculating the registration fee
    pursuant to Rule 457(o). The aggregate public offering price of the
    securities registered hereby will not exceed $750,000,000. No separate
    consideration will be received for Common Stock or Debt Securities that
    are issued upon conversion or exchange of Debt Securities.
(3) Exclusive of accrued interest, if any.
(4) Such indeterminate amount of Debt Securities as may from time to time be
    issued at indeterminate prices or issuable upon conversion or exchange of
    Debt Securities to the extent such Debt Securities are, by their terms,
    convertible into or exchangeable for Debt Securities.
(5) Such indeterminate number of shares of Common Stock as may from time to
    time be issuable upon conversion or exchange of Debt Securities to the
    extent any of such Debt Securities are, by their terms, convertible into
    or exchangeable for shares of Common Stock. Includes the common stock
    purchase rights associated with the Common Stock which will be issued for
    no additional consideration.
                                ---------------
  THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS
REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH
SECTION 8(A) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
SHALL BECOME EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID
SECTION 8(A), MAY DETERMINE.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED           , 1995
PROSPECTUS
 
                                  $750,000,000
 
                                      LOGO
 
                                DEBT SECURITIES
 
                                  -----------
 
  Comdisco, Inc. (the "Company") may issue from time to time, together or
separately its debt securities (the "Debt Securities"), which may be either (i)
senior ("Senior Debt Securities") or (ii) subordinated in priority of payment
("Subordinated Debt Securities"), both of which may be convertible into or
exchangeable for shares of common stock, par value $0.10, of the Company (the
"Common Stock"). The Company may also issue Subordinated Debt Securities at a
substantial discount from their principal amount at maturity, with no periodic
payments of interest, which will be convertible into or exchangeable for shares
of Common Stock, in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined by market
conditions at the time of offering ("Zero-Coupon Subordinated Convertible
Securities").
 
  The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series or issuances and will
be limited to $750,000,000 in aggregate public offering price (or its
equivalent, based on the applicable exchange rate, to the extent Debt
Securities are issued for one or more foreign currencies or currency units).
The Debt Securities may be sold for U.S. dollars, or any foreign currency or
currencies or currency units, and the principal of, any premium on, and any
interest on, the Debt Securities may be payable in U.S. dollars, or any foreign
currency or currencies or currency units.
 
  The specific terms of the Debt Securities in respect of which this Prospectus
is being delivered are set forth in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement,
including, where applicable, the specific designation, ranking, priority,
aggregate principal amount, currency or currencies, denominations, maturity,
which may be fixed or extendible, premium or discount, if any, interest rate
(or method of calculation), which may be fixed or floating, and time of payment
of interest, form (which may be bearer, registered or global), terms for
redemption at the option of the Company or repayment at the option of the
holder, terms for sinking fund payments, terms for conversion into or exchange
for shares of Common Stock and any other terms in connection with the offers
and sale of Debt Securities. Additionally, the Prospectus Supplement relating
to an issuance of Subordinated Debt Securities or Zero-Coupon Subordinated
Convertible Securities will identify the indenture pursuant to which such Debt
Securities will be offered and the trustee under such indenture, and will
provide a summary of the provisions of such indenture which are materially
different than the descriptions contained in this Prospectus. The applicable
Prospectus Supplement will also contain information, where applicable, about
certain United States federal income tax considerations relating to the Debt
Securities and any listing on a securities exchange of the Debt Securities
covered by such Prospectus Supplement and about relationships between the
Company and the applicable trustee.
 
                                  -----------
 
THESE  SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES  AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION, NOR  HAS THE SECURI-
  TIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON
   THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS OR ANY PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
    ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                                  -----------
 
  The Debt Securities may be offered directly, through agents designated from
time to time, through underwriting syndicates led by one or more managing
underwriters, through or to one or more dealers or underwriters acting alone,
or through a combination of the foregoing. If any agents, dealers or
underwriters are involved in the sale of any of the Debt Securities, their
names, and any applicable fee, commission, purchase price or discount
arrangements with them, will be set forth, or will be calculable from the
information set forth, in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. See "Plan of
Distribution."
 
                                  -----------
 
                The date of this Prospectus is           , 1995.
<PAGE>
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
  The Company is subject to the information requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and, in accordance
therewith, files reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission"). Reports, proxy statements and other information
filed by the Company can be inspected and copied at the public reference
facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington,
D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's Regional Offices at 13th Floor, Seven World
Trade Center, New York, New York 10048 and 500 West Madison Street, Chicago,
Illinois 60661. Copies of such material can be obtained by mail from the Public
Reference Branch of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549, at prescribed rates. In addition, reports, proxy statements and other
information concerning the Company may be inspected at the offices of the New
York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005 and the Chicago
Stock Exchange, 440 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60605.
 
  Additional information regarding the Company and the Debt Securities is
contained in the registration statement on Form S-3 (together with all exhibits
and amendments, the "Registration Statement") filed with the Commission under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"). This Prospectus
does not contain all of the information set forth in the Registration
Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in accordance with the
Commission's rules. For further information pertaining to the Company and the
Debt Securities offered hereby reference is made to the Registration Statement
which may be inspected without charge at the office of the Commission at 450
Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and copies thereof may be obtained
from the Commission at prescribed rates.
 
  Statements made in this Prospectus concerning the provisions of any contract,
agreement or other document referred to herein are not necessarily complete.
With respect to each such statement concerning a contract, agreement or other
document filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement or otherwise filed
with the Commission, reference is made to such exhibit or other filing for a
more complete description of the matter involved, and each such statement is
qualified in its entirety by such reference.
 
                               ----------------
 
  Unless otherwise indicated, currency amounts in this Prospectus and any
Prospectus Supplement are stated in United States dollars ("$", "dollars,"
"U.S. dollars," or "U.S.$").
 
                               ----------------
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
  The following documents filed with the Commission (File No. 1-7725) are
incorporated herein by reference.
 
    1. The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
  September 30, 1994.
 
    2. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
  December 31, 1994.
 
    3. The Company's Amendment No. 1 to Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
  quarter ended December 31, 1994, filed on Form 10-Q/A on February 17, 1995.
 
    4. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
  March 31, 1995.
 
    5. The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended June
  30, 1995.
 
    6. The Company's Current Reports on Form 8-K dated November 7, 1994;
  January 27, 1995; February 15, 1995 (four reports); March 21, 1995; March
  24, 1995; April 6, 1995; April 28, 1995; May 15, 1995 (as amended by Form
  8-K/A dated May 16, 1995); June 21, 1995; and September 21, 1995.
 
    7. The description of the Common Stock included in the registration
  statement filed under the Exchange Act under File No. 1-7725, including all
  amendments or reports filed for the purpose of updating such description.
 
    8. The description of the Company's Common Stock Purchase Rights included
  in the Registration Statement on Form 8-A filed November 20, 1987, as
  amended by Form 8-A/A filed December 6, 1994.
 
  All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior
to the termination of the offering of the Debt Securities
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be
a part hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement
contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference
herein shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein or in any other
subsequently filed document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference herein modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so
modified or superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or
superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
  The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person,
including any beneficial owner, a copy of any or all of the documents
incorporated herein by reference (other than exhibits, unless such exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). Written requests for
such copies should be directed to Edward A. Pacewicz, Vice President/Finance,
Comdisco, Inc., 6111 North River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018; telephone
(708) 698-3000.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
  Comdisco, Inc. (with its subsidiaries, the "Company" or "Comdisco") is
primarily engaged in the buying, selling and leasing of new and used computer
and other high technology equipment and in providing disaster recovery services
(also referred to as "business continuity services"). In addition, the Company
provides technology planning and asset management services, integrating leasing
and business continuity services with customized asset acquisition, asset
management software tools and data center moves and/or consolidations,
disposition and migration strategies. These services are designed to provide
integrated, long-term, cost effective asset and technological planning to users
of high technology equipment.
 
  The Company's operations are conducted through its principal office in the
Chicago area and approximately fifty offices in the United States, Canada,
Europe, the Pacific Rim and Australia. The Company also operates in South
America; however, it does not maintain local offices. Subsidiaries in Europe
and Canada offer services similar to those offered in the United States,
although the Company's European leasing operations are predominately in the
computer marketplace. The Company's disaster recovery activities include the
domestic, Canadian and European marketplaces.
 
  The Company was founded in 1969 and incorporated in Delaware in 1971. The
executive offices of the Company are located in the Chicago area at 6111 North
River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018, and its telephone number is (708) 698-
3000. At September 30, 1994, the Company had 2,118 full-time employees.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
  The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the
Company for the periods indicated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
  NINE MONTHS
     ENDED
   JUNE 30,                          FISCAL YEAR ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
- ----------------             ------------------------------------------------------------------------------
1995        1994             1994             1993             1992             1991             1990
- ----        ----             ----             ----             ----             ----             ----
<S>         <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>              <C>
1.54        1.53             1.29             1.43             1.09             1.33             1.35
</TABLE>
 
  For purposes of calculating the ratio of earnings to fixed charges earnings
have been calculated by adding fixed charges and income taxes to net earnings
to common stockholders without taking into account earnings and losses
attributed to discontinued operations and extraordinary items. Fixed charges
consist of interest expense on all indebtedness, amortization of debt issuance
costs, and one-third of rental expense, which is assumed to be the
representative interest portion of rental expense.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
  Unless otherwise stated in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the
Company intends to use the net proceeds from the sale of the Debt Securities
for general corporate purposes, including equipment purchases, repayment of
short-term debt and redemption or repurchase of senior debt. Pending such
applications, the net proceeds may be temporarily invested in cash equivalents.
Management of the Company expects that it will, on a recurrent basis, engage in
additional financings as the need arises to finance the growth of the Company
or to lengthen the average maturity of its borrowings.
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
GENERAL
 
  The following description of the terms of the Debt Securities sets forth
certain general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms of the Debt Securities
offered by any Prospectus Supplement and the extent, if any, to which such
general provisions may apply to such Debt Securities will be described in such
Prospectus Supplement.
 
  The Senior Debt Securities are to be issued under an Indenture, as amended
from time to time (the "Senior Indenture") dated as of October 1, 1995, between
the Company and Yasuda Bank & Trust Co. (U.S.A.) as trustee, or the trustee
named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement as trustee (the "Senior
Trustee"). The form of the Senior Indenture is an exhibit to the Registration
Statement. Subordinated Debt Securities (other than Zero-Coupon Convertible
Subordinated Securities) will be issued under an indenture or indentures, as
amended from time to time (collectively, the "Subordinated Indenture") between
the Company and the trustee or trustees named in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement (collectively, the "Subordinated Trustee"). Zero-Coupon Convertible
Subordinated Securities will be issued under an indenture or indentures, as
amended from time to time (collectively, the "Zero-Coupon Convertibles
Indenture") between the Company and the trustee named in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement as trustee (collectively, the "Zero-Coupon Convertibles
Trustee"). Prior to the issuance of any Subordinated Debt Securities or Zero-
Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities thereunder, the forms of
Subordinated Indenture and Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture, as applicable,
will be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust
Indenture Act"), and filed by amendment as exhibits to the Registration
Statement. The Senior Indenture, Subordinated Indenture and Zero-Coupon
Convertibles Indenture are collectively referred to as the "Indentures."
 
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
  The terms of the Debt Securities include those stated, and to be stated, in
the Indentures and those made a part of the Indentures by reference to the
Trust Indenture Act, and the holders of Debt Securities are referred to the
Indentures and the Trust Indenture Act for a statement thereof. The following
summary of certain provisions of the Debt Securities and the Indentures does
not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety
by reference to, the Indentures and the Trust Indenture Act. The term "Debt
Securities," as used under this caption, refers to all Securities issued or
issuable from time to time under the Indentures. The particular terms of the
Debt Securities offered by a Prospectus Supplement and the extent, if any, to
which such general provisions may apply to Debt Securities, will be described
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities.
 
  Wherever particular defined terms of the Indentures are referred to, it is
intended that such defined terms shall be incorporated herein by reference.
Unless otherwise indicated, capitalized terms used herein that are defined in
the Indentures shall have the meanings ascribed to them in the Indentures.
 
  Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, none of
the Indentures limits the amount of Debt Securities which may be issued
thereunder, and each Indenture provides that Debt Securities of any series may
be issued thereunder up to the aggregate principal amount which may be
authorized from time to time by the Company and may be denominated in any
currency or currency unit designated by the Company. Unless otherwise provided
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, neither the Indentures nor the Debt
Securities will limit or otherwise restrict the amount of other indebtedness
which may be incurred or the other securities which may be issued by the
Company or any of its subsidiaries.
 
  Debt Securities of a series may be issuable in registered form without
coupons ("Registered Securities"), in bearer form with or without coupons
attached ("Bearer Securities") or in the form of one or more global securities
in registered or bearer form (each a "Global Security").
 
  Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the particular
series of Debt Securities offered thereby for the following terms, when
applicable, of the Debt Securities: (i) the title of the Debt Securities; (ii)
any limit on the aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities; (iii) the
date or dates, or the method by which such date or dates will be determined or
extended, on which the principal (and premium, if any) of the Debt Securities
will be payable; (iv) the rate or rates per annum at which the Debt Securities
will bear interest, if any, or the method by which such rate or rates will be
determined and the date or dates from which such interest will accrue; (v) the
dates on which such interest, if any, will be payable and the Regular Record
Dates for any interest payable on any Registered Security on any such Interest
Payment Dates, any circumstances in which the Company may defer interest
payments or any manner of computing interest if other than a 360-day year of
twelve 30-day months; (vi) the place or places where principal and interest
(and premium, if any) on the Debt Securities may be payable, where any
Registered Securities may be surrendered for transfer and where Debt Securities
may be exchanged and notices and demands may be served or published, (vii) the
price at which, the periods within which or the date or dates on which, and the
terms and conditions upon which the Debt Securities may, pursuant to any
optional or mandatory redemption provisions, be redeemed at the option of the
Company; (viii) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, repay or
purchase Debt Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions
or at the option of a Holder thereof and the period or periods, price or prices
and terms and conditions upon which such repurchase, redemption or purchase
shall occur; (ix) whether Debt Securities are to be Registered Securities,
Bearer Securities or both, are to be issuable with or without coupons and the
terms upon which Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered Securities
and in the case of Bearer Securities, the date as of which such Bearer
Securities shall be dated (if not the date of original issuance of the first
security of like tenor and term); (x) whether Debt Securities are to be issued
in the form of a Global Security, the Depositary and Global Exchange Agent,
whether such global form is temporary or permanent, the circumstances under
which any temporary Global Security will be exchanged for definitive Global
Securities and any applicable Exchange Date; (xi) whether any additional
amounts ("Additional Amounts") will be payable to Holders of the Debt
Securities; (xii) the denomination of any Registered Security (if other than
$1,000 or any integral multiple thereof) and of any Bearer Security (if other
than $5,000 or any integral multiple thereof); (xiii) if
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
other than Dollars, the currency or currencies of denomination, including any
composite currency or index; (xiv) the application, if any, of the defeasance
or covenant defeasance provisions of the applicable Indenture to the Debt
Securities; (xv) if other than Dollars, the currency, currencies or currency
units in which payments shall be made on the Debt Securities and the time and
manner of determining any exchange rate between the currency or Currencies of
denomination and that or those in which they are to be paid; (xvi) the manner
in which any payments on an offered Security may be determined with respect to
an index; (xvii) the designation of any initial Exchange Rate Agent; (xviii)
the terms and conditions, if any, upon which the Debt Securities are to be
convertible into or exchangeable for any securities of any Person (including
the Company); (xix) the portion of the principal amount of the Debt Securities,
if other than the principal amount thereof, payable upon acceleration of
maturity thereof; (xx) the Person to whom any interest on any Registered
Security shall be payable, if other than the Person in whose name such
Registered Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at
the close of business on the Regular Record Date, the manner in which, or
Person to whom, any interest on any Bearer Security will be payable, if other
than upon presentation and surrender of the coupons appertaining thereto as
they mature, and the extent to which any interest payable on an Interest
Payment Date on any temporary Security issued in Global form will be paid if
other than the manner in the applicable Indenture; (xxi) the terms of any
pledge of property made to secure the obligations of the Company under such
Debt Securities and the circumstances under which such pledge may be released,
and the limitations, if any, on recourse against the Company under such Debt
Securities; (xxii) if other than the Trustee, the identity of the Security
Registrar and/or Paying Agent; (xxiii) if other than the principal amount
thereof, the portion of the principal amount of the Debt Securities which will
be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to
an Event of Default; (xxiv) if other than as defined in the Indenture, the
meaning of "Business Day" when used with respect to the Debt Securities; and
(xxv) any other terms of the Debt Securities not inconsistent with the
provisions of the applicable Indenture. The variable terms of the Debt
Securities are subject to change from time to time, but no such change will
affect any Debt Security already issued or as to which an offer to purchase has
been accepted by the Company. For purposes of this Prospectus, any reference to
the payment of principal (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on any Debt
Securities will be deemed to include mention of the payment of any Additional
Amounts required by the terms of such Debt Securities.
 
  Special United States Federal income tax considerations or other restrictions
or terms applicable to any Debt Securities which are (i) Bearer Securities,
(ii) offered exclusively to United States Aliens (as defined in the Indenture)
or (iii) denominated in a currency other than United States dollars will be set
forth in a Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
 
  Under the Indentures, the Company will have the ability to issue Debt
Securities with terms different from those of Debt Securities previously issued
thereunder and, without the consent of the holders thereof, to issue additional
amounts of a series of Debt Securities (with different dates for payments,
different rates of interest and in different currencies or currency), in an
aggregate principal amount determined by the Company.
 
  Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Indentures do not, and will not, include covenants of the Company restricting
its ability to incur additional debt.
 
  Principal and interest, premium and additional amounts, if any, will be
payable in the manner, at the places and subject to the restriction set forth
in the Indentures, the Debt Securities and the Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto, provided that payment of any interest and any additional amounts may
be made at the option of the Company by check mailed to the holders of
registered Debt Securities at their registered addresses.
 
  Debt Securities may be presented for exchange, and registered Debt Securities
may be presented for transfer in the manner, at the places and subject to the
restrictions set forth in the applicable Indentures, the Debt Securities and
the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. Bearer Securities and the coupons,
if any, pertaining thereto will be transferable by delivery. Unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Prospectus
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
Supplement, no service charge will be made for any transfer or exchange of Debt
Securities, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.
 
DENOMINATIONS, FORM, EXCHANGE, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
 
  Debt Securities of a series may be issuable solely as Registered Securities,
solely as Bearer Securities or as both Registered Securities and Bearer
Securities. Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
Registered Securities denominated in U.S. dollars (other than Global
Securities, which may be of any denomination) are issuable in denominations of
$1,000 and any integral multiple thereof and Bearer Securities denominated in
U.S. dollars are issuable in denominations of $5,000 and any integral multiples
thereof. The Indentures will also provide that Debt Securities of a series may
be issuable in global form. See "Description of Debt Securities--Global
Securities" below. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, Bearer Securities (except Global Securities) will have interest
coupons attached.
 
  Registered Securities of any series will be exchangeable for other Registered
Securities of the same series of authorized denominations and of a like
aggregate principal amount, tenor and terms. In addition, if Debt Securities of
any series are issuable as both Registered Securities and Bearer Securities, at
the option of the Holder, but subject to applicable laws, upon request
confirmed in writing, and subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture,
Bearer Securities (with all unmatured coupons, except as provided below, and
all matured coupons in default) of such series will be exchangeable into
Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of
a like aggregate principal amount, tenor and terms. Bearer Securities
surrendered in exchange for Registered Securities of the same series between
the close of business on a Regular Record Date or a Special Record Date and the
relevant date for payment of interest shall be surrendered without the coupon
relating to such date for payment of interest, and interest will not be payable
in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer
Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in
accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture. Unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Bearer Securities will not
otherwise be issued in exchange for Registered Securities.
 
  Debt Securities may be presented for exchange as provided above, and
Registered Securities may be presented for registration of transfer (duly
endorsed or accompanied by a satisfactory written instrument of transfer), at
the office of the Security Registrar or at the office of any transfer agent
designated by the Company for such purpose with respect to such series of Debt
Securities, without service charge and upon payment of any taxes and other
governmental charges. If the Prospectus Supplement refers to any transfer agent
(in addition to the Security Registrar) initially designated by the Company
with respect to any series of Debt Securities, the Company may at any time
rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the
location through which any such transfer agent (or Security Registrar) acts,
except that, if Debt Securities of a series are issuable solely as Registered
Securities, the Company will be required to maintain a transfer agent in each
Place of Payment for such series and, if Debt Securities of a series are
issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will be required to maintain (in
addition to the Security Registrar) a transfer agent in a Place of Payment for
such series located outside the United States. The Company may at any time
designate additional transfer agents with respect to any series of Debt
Securities.
 
  The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or
exchange Debt Securities of any particular series to be redeemed or exchanged
for a period of 15 days preceding the first publication of the relevant notice
of redemption or, if Registered Securities are outstanding and there is no
publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or exchange, (ii)
to register the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security so selected for
redemption in whole or in part, except the unredeemed portion of any Registered
Security being redeemed or exchanged in part, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer
Security so selected for redemption except that such a Bearer Security may be
exchanged for a Registered Security of like tenor and terms of that series,
provided that such Registered Security shall be surrendered for redemption.
 
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
GLOBAL SECURITIES
 
  The Debt Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in the form
of one or more Global Securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of,
a depository (the "Depository") identified in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series. Global Securities may be issued in fully registered or
bearer form and may be issued in either temporary or permanent form. Unless and
until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the individual Debt Securities
represented thereby, a Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole
by the Depository for such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository or
by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such
Depository or by the Depository or any nominee of such Depository to a
successor Depository or any nominee of such successor.
 
  The specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to a series of
Debt Securities will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series. The Company anticipates that the following provisions
will generally apply to depository arrangements.
 
  Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depository for such Global
Security or its nominee will credit on its book-entry registration and transfer
system the respective principal amounts of the individual Debt Securities
represented by such Global Security to the accounts of persons that have
accounts with such Depository ("Participants"). Such accounts shall be
designated by the underwriters, dealers or agents with respect to such Debt
Securities or by the Company if such Debt Securities are offered and sold
directly by the Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security
will be limited to Participants or persons that may hold interests through
Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security will be
shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through,
records maintained by the applicable Depository or its nominee (with respect to
interests of Participants) and records of Participants (with respect to
interests of persons who hold through Participants). The laws of some states
require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such
securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability
to own, pledge or transfer a beneficial interest in a Global Security.
 
  So long as the Depository for a Global Security or its nominee is the
registered owner of such Global Security, such Depository or such nominee, as
the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Debt
Securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the
applicable Indenture. Except as provided below, owners of beneficial interests
in a Global Security will not be entitled to have any of the individual Debt
Securities of the series represented by such Global Security registered in
their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of
any such Debt Securities of such series in definitive form and will not be
considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable Indenture.
 
  Payments of principal of and any interest (and premium, if any) on individual
Debt Securities represented by a Global Security registered in the name of a
Depository or its nominee will be made to the Depository or its nominee, as the
case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Security representing such
Debt Securities. None of the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent or the
Security Registrar for such Debt Securities will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account
of beneficial ownership interests in the Global Security for such Debt
Securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to
such beneficial ownership interest.
 
  The Company expects that the Depository for a series of Debt Securities or
its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of principal or interest (or premium,
if any) in respect of a permanent Global Security representing any of such Debt
Securities, immediately will credit Participants' accounts with payments in
amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interest in the principal
amount of such Global Security representing such Debt Securities as shown on
the records of such Depository or its nominee. The Company also expects that
payments by Participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global
Security held through such Participants will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held
for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in "street name."
Such payments will be the responsibility of such Participants.
 
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
  If a Depository for a series of Debt Securities is at any time unwilling,
unable or ineligible to continue as depository and a successor depository is
not appointed by the Company within 90 days, the Company will issue definitive
Debt Securities of such series to Participants in exchange for the Global
Security representing such series of Debt Securities. In addition, the Company
may, at any time and in its sole discretion, subject to any limitations
described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt
Securities, determine not to have any Debt Securities of such series
represented by one or more Global Securities and, in such event, will issue
individual Debt Securities of such series to Participants in exchange for the
Global Security or Securities representing such series of Debt Securities.
 
ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT SECURITIES
 
  The Debt Securities may be issued under the Indentures as Original Issue
Discount Securities to be offered and sold at a substantial discount below
their principal amount. Special United States federal income tax, accounting
and other considerations applicable to any such Original Issue Discount
Securities will be described in any Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
"Original Issue Discount Security" means any security that provides for an
amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and payable upon a
declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof as a result of the
occurrence of an Event of Default and the continuation thereof. In addition,
the Subordinated Debt Securities may, for United States federal income tax
purposes, be deemed to have been issued with "Original Issue Discount" ("OID")
even if such securities are offered and sold at an amount equal to their stated
principal amount. The United States federal income tax consequences of
Subordinated Debt Securities deemed to be issued with OID will be described in
any Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
 
LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCE OF BEARER SECURITIES
 
  In compliance with United States federal tax laws and regulations, Bearer
Securities may not be offered, sold, resold or delivered in connection with
their original issuance in the United States or to United States persons (each
as defined below) other than to a Qualifying Branch of a United States
Financial Institution (as defined below) or a United States person acquiring
Bearer Securities through a Qualifying Branch of a United States Financial
Institution and any underwriters, agents and dealers participating in the
offering of Debt Securities must agree that they will not offer any Bearer
Securities for sale or resale in the United States or to United States persons
(other than a Qualifying Branch of a United States Financial Institution or a
United States person acquiring Bearer Securities through a Qualifying Branch of
a United States Financial Institution) nor deliver Bearer Securities within the
United States. In addition, any such underwriters, agents and dealers must
agree to send confirmations to each purchaser of a Bearer Security confirming
that such purchaser represents that it is not a United States person or is a
Qualifying Branch of a United States Financial Institution and, if such person
is a dealer, that it will send similar confirmations to purchasers form it. The
term "Qualifying Branch of a United States Financial Institution" means a
branch located outside the United States of a United States securities clearing
organization, bank or other financial institution listed under Treasury
Regulation Section 1.165(c)(1)(v) that agrees to comply with the requirements
of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Code and the regulations thereunder.
 
  Bearer Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto will bear a legend
substantially to the following effect: "Any United States person who holds this
obligation will be subject to limitations under the United States income tax
laws, including the limitations provided in Sections 165(j) and 1287(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code." Under Sections 165(j) and 1287(a) of the Code, holders
that are United States persons, with certain exceptions, will not be entitled
to deduct any loss on Bearer Securities and must treat as ordinary income any
gain realized on the sale or other disposition (including the receipt of
principal) of Bearer Securities.
 
  The term "United States person" means a citizen or resident of the United
States, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or
under the laws of the United States or of any political
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
subdivision thereof, and an estate or trust the income of which is subject to
United States federal income taxation regardless of its source, and the term
"United States" means the United State of America (including the states and the
District of Columbia), its territories, its possessions and other areas subject
to its jurisdiction (including the Commonwealth of Puerto Rico).
 
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
 
  Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Place
of Payment for a series issuable solely as Registered Securities will be New
York, New York, U.S.A., and the Company will initially designate the corporate
trust office of the applicable Trustee for this purpose. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, at the option of the Company, interest, if any, may be paid on
Registered Securities (i) by check mailed to the address of the Person entitled
thereto as such Person's address appears in the Security Register or (ii) by
wire transfer to an account located in the United States maintained by the
Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. Unless otherwise
provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of any installment of
interest on Registered Securities will be made to the Person in whose name such
Registered Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular
Record Date of such interest.
 
  If Debt Securities of a series are issuable solely as Bearer Securities or as
both Registered Securities and Bearer Securities, information relating to the
place and manner of payment, and the identity of the Company's Paying Agents,
will be specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
  The Company may from time to time designate additional offices or agencies
for payment with respect to any Debt Securities, approve a change in the
location of any such office or agency and, except as provided above, rescind
the designation of any such office or agency.
 
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER OR SALE OF ASSETS BY THE COMPANY
 
  Except as is otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
each Indenture provides, or will provide, that the Company may, without the
consent of the Holders of Outstanding Debt Securities, consolidate with or
merge into any other person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to another person, provided that, (i) the
resulting, surviving or transferee person (if other than the Company) is
organized and existing under the laws of the United States, any state thereof
or the District of Columbia and such person assumes all obligations of the
Company under any Debt Securities and related Indenture, (ii) the Company or
such successor person shall not immediately thereafter be in default under the
Indenture relating to any Debt Securities and (iii) certain other conditions
under the applicable Indenture are met. Upon the assumption of the Company's
obligations by such a person in such circumstances, subject to certain
exceptions, the Company shall be discharged from all obligations under any Debt
Securities and the Indenture relating to any Debt Securities.
 
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE; WAIVER OF COVENANTS
 
  Each Indenture provides, or will provide, that, with the consent of the
holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
outstanding Debt Securities of each affected series, modifications and
alterations of such Indenture may be made which affect the rights of the
holders of such Debt Securities; provided however, that no such modification or
alternation may be made without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security
so affected which would, among other things, (i) change the maturity of the
principal of, or of any installment of interest (or premium, if any) on, any
Debt Security issued pursuant to such Indenture, or reduce the principal amount
thereof or say premium thereon, or change the method of calculation of interest
or the currency of payment of principal or interest (or premium, if any) on, or
reduce the minimum rate of interest thereon, or impair the right to institute
suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or with respect to any such
Debt Security, or reduce the amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount
Security that would be due and payable upon an acceleration of the maturity
thereof; or (ii) reduce the above-stated percentage in principal amount of
outstanding Debt Securities required to modify or alter such Indenture.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
 
                 PARTICULAR TERMS OF THE SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
 
GENERAL
 
  The following description of the Senior Debt Securities sets forth certain
general terms and provisions of the Senior Debt Securities to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. The particular terms of the Senior Debt
Securities offered by any Prospectus Supplement, and the extent, if any, to
which such general provisions may apply to the Senior Debt Securities so
offered, will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Senior
Debt Securities. The Senior Debt Securities will be direct, unsecured
obligations of the Company and will rank equally with each other and with all
outstanding unsecured senior indebtedness of the Company.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT; WAIVERS, ETC.
 
  Unless otherwise described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, under the
Senior Indenture, the following will be Events of Default with respect to
Senior Debt Securities of any series under the Senior Indenture: (a) default in
the payment of any interest or Additional Amounts upon any of the Senior Debt
Securities of that series when due, continued for 30 days; (b) default in the
payment of any principal or premium, if any, on any of the Senior Debt
Securities of that series when due, whether at maturity, upon declaration of
acceleration, notice of redemption, request for repayment, or otherwise; (c)
default in the deposit of any sinking fund payment, when due, in respect of any
of the Senior Debt Securities of that series; (d) default in the performance of
any covenant of the Company, contained in the Senior Indenture (other than a
covenant expressly included in the Senior Indenture for the benefit of a series
of Senior Debt Securities other than such series or otherwise expressly dealt
with in the Senior Indenture or the Senior Debt Securities) continued for 60
days after written notice as provided in the Senior Indenture; (e) default in
the payment when due (subject to any applicable grace period), whether at
stated maturity or otherwise, of any principal of or interest on (however
designated) any indebtedness for borrowed money of, or guaranteed by, the
Company (other than the Senior Debt Securities of any series and other than
non-recourse indebtedness) in an aggregate principal amount exceeding 5% of the
consolidated net worth of the Company and its subsidiaries (determined as of
the most recent fiscal quarter for which a balance sheet is available), whether
such indebtedness now exists or shall hereafter be created, which default shall
result in such indebtedness becoming or being declared due and payable prior to
the date on which it would otherwise become due and payable and the Senior
Trustee receives written notice from a Holder or the Company of such
declaration; provided however, that if any such acceleration shall subsequently
be rescinded or annulled (including through the discharge of the accelerated
indebtedness) prior to the obtaining of any judgment or decree for the payment
of any money due on such indebtedness or the actual payment of money on such
indebtedness, any acceleration with respect to Senior Debt Securities of any
series consequent solely on such other acceleration shall likewise be deemed
rescinded or annulled without further action on the part of any Holders;
provided, further, that for a default other than a default in payment, so long
as the Company is contesting in good faith such event of default and the
Company delivers to the Senior Trustee a certificate that the Company is
contesting in good faith the existence of such event of default, then no Event
of Default shall be deemed to exist under this clause; (f) certain events in
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization; and (g) any other Event of Default
established with respect to Senior Debt Securities of that series. The Senior
Trustee may withhold notice to the Holders of any series of Debt Securities
issued under the Senior Indenture of any default (except in the payment of
principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any of the Debt Securities
of such series or in the making of any sinking fund installment) if it
considers it in the interest of such Holders to do so. No Event of Default with
respect to a particular series of Senior Debt Securities necessarily
constitutes an Event of Default with respect to any other series of Senior Debt
Securities issued under the Senior Indenture.
 
  If an Event of Default with respect to outstanding Senior Debt Securities of
any series occurs and is continuing, the Senior Trustee or the Holders of not
less than 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of
that series may declare the principal amount of all outstanding Senior Debt
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
 
Securities of that series (or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the
Senior Debt Securities of that series or the Prospectus Supplement relating to
that series) and the interest accrued thereon and Additional Amounts payable in
respect thereof, if any, to be due and payable immediately. At any time after a
declaration of acceleration has been made with respect to Senior Debt
Securities of any series, but before a judgment or decree for payment of money
due has been obtained by the Senior Trustee, the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of that series may
rescind any declaration of acceleration and its consequences, if all payments
due (other than those due as a result of acceleration) have been made and all
Events of Default have been remedied or waived.
 
  Any default with respect to Senior Debt Securities of any series may be
waived by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of all outstanding
Senior Debt Securities of that series, except a default in the payment of
principal or premium, if any, or interest or Additional Amounts, if any, on any
of the Senior Debt Securities of that series or a default in respect of a
covenant or provisions which cannot be modified or amended without the consent
of the Holder of each of the outstanding Senior Debt Securities of such series
affected. Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist and any Event
of Default arising from it shall be deemed to be cured.
 
  The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Senior Debt
Securities of any series may direct the time, method and place of conducting
any proceeding for any remedy available to the Senior Trustee or exercising any
trust or power conferred on the Senior Trustee with respect to Senior Debt
Securities of such series, provided that such direction shall not be in
conflict with any rule of law or the Senior Indenture and the Senior Trustee
determines that the action so directed is not unduly prejudicial to the rights
of other Holders of such series. Before proceeding to exercise any right or
power under the Indenture at the direction of such Holders, the Senior Trustee
shall be entitled to receive from such Holders reasonable security or indemnity
against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred by it in
complying with any such direction.
 
  The Company is required to file with the Senior Trustee annually a written
statement as to the presence or absence of certain defaults under the Senior
Indenture and compliance by the Company with all conditions and covenants under
the Senior Indenture.
 
CONCERNING THE SENIOR TRUSTEE
 
  The Senior Trustee has its principal office at 666 Fifth Avenue, 8th Floor,
New York, New York 10103. The Senior Trustee's offices for the purpose of
presenting Securities for payment or registration of transfer or exchange are
located at the same address. The Company has leased equipment to the Senior
Trustee and provides it with business continuity services through its
subsidiaries. The Senior Trustee is one of several core relationship banks
which provide credit and banking services to the Company and its subsidiaries,
both domestically and internationally.
 
              PARTICULAR TERMS OF THE SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES
 
GENERAL
 
  The particular terms of the Subordinated Debt Securities, including Zero-
Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities, offered by any Prospectus
Supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply
will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Subordinated
Debt Securities.
 
  The Subordinated Debt Securities will be direct, unsecured obligations of the
Company. Except to the extent otherwise set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement or applicable Subordinated Debt Indenture or Zero-Coupon
Convertibles Indenture, the obligations of the Company pursuant to the
Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinated in right of payment to all
Senior Indebtedness of the Company. See "Subordination," below.
 
  The default provisions, covenants and amendment provisions, relating to
Subordinated Debt Securities, including, as applicable, Zero-Coupon Convertible
Subordinated Securities, will be set forth in the applicable Indenture and the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Securities.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
 
  To the extent that Subordinated Debt Securities, including, as applicable,
Zero-Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities, are issued as Original Issue
Discount Securities, or deemed to be issued with OID, the United States federal
income tax considerations applicable to such Subordinated Debt Securities will
be described in any applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
  Prior to the issuance of any Subordinated Debt Securities, including without
limitation, Zero-Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities, the Company will
qualify the applicable Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture or Subordinated
Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act and amend the Registration Statement to
file the applicable Indenture as an exhibit. The applicable Prospectus
Supplement will also identify the Trustee under the applicable Indenture and
the Trustee's relationships with the Company.
 
SUBORDINATION
 
  Indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Debt Securities, including Zero-
Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities, will be subordinated in right of
payment, as set forth in the applicable Subordinated Indenture or Zero-Coupon
Convertibles Indenture, to the prior payment in full, in cash or cash
equivalents, of all existing and future Senior Indebtedness (as defined below),
in each case as more fully provided in the Prospectus Supplement applicable to
such Subordinated Debt Securities.
 
  By reason of such subordination, unless and to the extent otherwise provided
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, in the event of dissolution,
insolvency, bankruptcy or similar proceedings, upon any distribution of the
assets of the Company the holders of Senior Indebtedness will first be entitled
to receive payment in full in cash or cash equivalents of all amounts due or to
become due thereon, before the Holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities,
including Zero-Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities, will be entitled to
receive any payment or distribution from the Company with respect to any
Subordinated Debt Securities, including Zero-Coupon Convertible Subordinated
Securities.
 
  Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, no
payment of the principal amount at maturity, interest, if any, or any other
amount with respect to the Subordinated Debt Securities, including Zero-Coupon
Convertible Subordinated Securities, may be made (nor may the Company acquire
any Zero-Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities for cash or property) if
(i) any payment default on any Senior Indebtedness occurs and is continuing
that permits the acceleration of the maturity thereof or (ii) any other default
on any Senior Indebtedness occurs and is continuing that permits the
acceleration of the maturity thereof and either such default is the subject of
judicial proceedings or the Company receives notice of the default, unless (a)
in the case of defaults on Senior Indebtedness other than payment defaults, 180
days pass after notice of default is given and such default is not then the
subject of judicial proceedings or (b) the default with respect to Senior
Indebtedness is cured or waived and, in each case, the terms of the applicable
Subordinated Indenture or Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture otherwise permit
the payment (or acquisition of the Zero-Coupon Convertible Subordinated
Securities) at that time.
 
  Unless otherwise defined in the definitive form of applicable Subordinated
Indenture or Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture filed under the Registration
Statement, or is otherwise provided in an applicable Prospectus Supplement,
"Senior Indebtedness" means the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on
(including interest accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any
proceeding pursuant to any bankruptcy law, whether or not allowable as a claim
in such proceeding) and other amounts due on or in connection with, any
Indebtedness of the Company, either outstanding on the date of the applicable
Subordinated Indenture or Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture or created,
incurred or assumed subsequent to such date, unless, in the case of any
particular Indebtedness, the instrument creating or evidencing the same or
pursuant to which the same is outstanding expressly provides that such
Indebtedness shall not be senior in right of payment to the Subordinated Debt
Securities, including Zero-Coupon Convertible Subordinated Securities. Without
limiting the generality of the foregoing, and except as otherwise provided in
the applicable Subordinated Indenture or Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture, or
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, "Senior Indebtedness" shall include
the principal of, premium, if any, and interest on (including interest
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
 
accruing after the filing of a petition initiating any proceeding pursuant to
any bankruptcy law, whether or not allowable as a claim in such proceeding) all
obligations of every nature of the Company from time to time owed to the
holders of the Senior Debt Securities under the Senior Indenture including,
without limitation, all fees, expenses (including fees and expenses of
counsel), claims, charges and indemnity obligations.
 
  Unless otherwise defined in the definitive form of applicable Subordinated
Indenture or Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture filed under the Registration
Statement, or otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
"Indebtedness" means (i) any liability of any Person (A) for borrowed money, or
under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of credit, or (B)
evidenced by a bond, note, debenture or similar instrument (including a
purchase money obligation) given in connection with the acquisition of any
businesses, properties or assets of any kind (other than a trade payable or a
current liability arising in the ordinary course of business), or (C) under
interest rate contracts and exchange rate contracts, or (D) for the payment of
money as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance sheet of
the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles; (ii) any liability
of others described in the preceding clause (i) that such Person has guaranteed
or that is otherwise its legal liability; (iii) all Indebtedness referred to in
(but not excluded from ) clauses (i) and (ii) above of other Persons and all
dividends of other Persons, the payment of which is secured by (or for which
the holder of such Indebtedness has an existing right, contingent or otherwise,
to be secured by) any lien upon or in property (including, without limitation,
accounts and contract rights) owned by such Person, even though such Person has
not assumed or become liable for the payment of such Indebtedness; and (iv) any
amendment, supplement, modification, deferral, renewal, extension or refunding
of any liability of the types referred to in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) above.
 
  If Subordinated Debt Securities are issued under a Subordinated Indenture, on
Zero-Coupon Subordinated Convertible Securities are issued under a Zero-Coupon
Convertibles Indenture, the amount of Senior Indebtedness outstanding as of a
then recent date will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Except to the extent otherwise set forth in a Prospectus Supplement, no
Subordinated Indenture or Zero-Coupon Convertibles Indenture will contain any
restriction on the amount of Senior Indebtedness which the Company may incur.
 
                   DESCRIPTION OF THE COMPANY'S COMMON STOCK
 
  The following statements with respect to the Company's common stock and
common stock purchase rights are subject to the detailed provisions of the
Company's restated certificate of incorporation, as amended (the "Certificate
of Incorporation"), and bylaws, as amended (the "Bylaws"), and to the Rights
Agreement (as defined below). These statements do not purport to be complete
and are qualified in their entirety by reference to the terms of the
Certificate of Incorporation, the Bylaws and the Rights Agreement, which are
incorporated by reference as exhibits to the Registration Statement.
 
GENERAL
 
  The Company is authorized to issue 200,000,000 shares of Common Stock, par
value $.10 per share, of which 34,992,936 shares were issued and outstanding as
of June 30, 1995, and 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, par value $.10 per
share ("Preferred Stock"), of which an aggregate of 3,758,800 shares of 8.75%
Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series A and B were issued and outstanding as of
June 30, 1995.
 
  Holders of Common Stock are entitled to one vote for each share held on all
matters requiring stockholder action. Subject to the rights of the holders of
Preferred Stock, the holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive dividends
out of any funds of the Company lawfully available therefore (if, when and as
declared by the Board of Directors in its discretion). Certain restrictions set
forth in the Company's financing agreements limit the Company's ability to
declare and pay dividends.
 
  Stockholders are entitled upon liquidation, dissolution or winding-up of the
affairs of the Company to share ratably in the assets of the Company legally
available for distribution to holders of Common Stock. Holders of Common Stock
have no preemptive rights. The shares of Common Stock do not have cumulative
voting rights.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
 
  The Certificate of Incorporation of the Company provides for a Board of
Directors of not less than four and no more than fifteen directors, with the
number to be set by or in accordance with the Bylaws. The affirmative votes of
the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the stock then entitled to vote in an
election of directors is required for the approval of any proposal that any
director of the Company be removed from office, or that the provisions relating
to the number in classification of directors or the Bylaw provision setting the
number or procedure for determining the number of directors be altered, amended
or repealed.
 
  Article 12 of the Certificate of Incorporation of the Company requires the
affirmative vote of the holders of at least 66 2/3% of the stock and entitled
to vote in an election of directors, not owned by a Substantial Stockholder (as
defined below) for the approval of certain business combinations and certain
other transactions with a Substantial Stockholder unless certain minimum price
and procedural requirements are met and for the amendment or repeal of these
provisions. A Substantial Stockholder is defined as any person or entity that
acquires at least 10% or more of the Common Stock of the Company, excluding any
member of the Board of Directors of the Company as of September 30, 1985, or
any employee benefit plan of the Company or its subsidiaries. Such super-
majority approval would not be required if (1) the business combination is
solely between the Company and another corporation 50% or more stock which is
owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company and none of which is owned by a
Substantial Stockholder or (2) all following conditions are satisfied: (a) the
cash or fair market value of the consideration to be received per share by
holders of the common stock is not less than the higher of (i) the highest per
share price paid by such Substantial Stockholder in acquiring any Common Stock
of the Company of (ii) the highest per share market price of the Company's
Common Stock during the three-month period immediately preceding the date of
the proxy statement described in (c) below or, if none, the six-month period
prior to the consummation of the business combination; (b) after becoming a
Substantial Stockholder and prior to consummation of such business combination
(i) such Substantial Stockholder shall not have acquired any newly issued
shares of capital stock, directly or indirectly, from the Company except
proportionately as a stockholder or upon compliance with the provisions of
Article 12 and (ii) such Substantial Stockholder shall not have received the
benefit, directly or indirectly (except proportionately as a stockholder), of
any loans or other financial assistance provided by the Company, or made any
major change in the Company's equity capital structure; and (c) if such
proposal otherwise requires stockholder approval, a proxy statement responsive
to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, whether or not the
Company is subject to such requirements, shall be mailed to the stockholders of
the Company for the purpose of soliciting stockholder approval of such business
combination. The outstanding shares of the Company's Common Stock are duly and
validly issued, fully paid and nonassessable, and any shares of Common Stock
issuable upon the conversion or exchange of Debt Securities which are
convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock, unless the applicable
Prospectus Supplement specifies otherwise, upon the purchase of such Debt
Securities at the option of the Holder thereof will be, duly and validly
issued, fully paid and nonassessable.
 
COMMON STOCK PURCHASE RIGHTS
 
  Each outstanding share of Common Stock of the Company is accompanied by a
common stock purchase right (a "Right"). Each Right entitles the registered
holder to purchase from the Company one share of Common Stock of the Company at
a price of $95.24 per share, subject to adjustment. The description and terms
of the Rights are set forth in the Rights Agreement, dated as of November 18,
1987, as amended and restated as of November 7, 1994 (the "Rights Agreement"),
between the Company and Chemical Bank (the successor of Manufacturers Hanover
Trust Company), as Rights Agent.
 
  The following summary of certain provisions of the Rights and the Rights
Agreement does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified
in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions of the Rights and the
Rights Agreement, including particular provisions or defined terms of the
Rights Agreement. A copy of the Rights Agreement has been filed with the
Commission as an exhibit to a Registration Statement on Form 8-A, which, as
amended by Form 8-A/A, is incorporated herein by reference. See "Incorporation
of Certain Documents by Reference."
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
 
  Presently, the Rights are attached to all Common Stock certificates
representing shares outstanding, and no separate Right Certificates have been
distributed. The Rights will separate from the Common Stock and a Distribution
Date will occur upon the earlier of (i) 10 days following a public announcement
that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (an "Acquiring
Person") has acquired, or obtained the right to acquire, beneficial ownership
of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Stock (the date of such announcement
being the "Stock Acquisition Date"); provided, however, that an Acquiring
Person shall not include, and a Distribution Date shall not occur as a result
of the ownership of Common Stock by, any person who, at the Record Date,
together with all affiliates and associates of such person, is the beneficial
owner of 20% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding (an
"Existing Holder") until such time as such Existing Holder or any affiliate or
associate of such Existing Holder shall become the beneficial owner of any
additional shares of Common Stock or any other person who is the beneficial
owner of any shares of Common Stock shall become an affiliate or associate of
such Existing Holder, if after giving effect to such additional shares or the
shares beneficially owned by such other person, such Existing Holder, together
with all affiliates and associates of such Existing Holder, shall be the
beneficial owner of 30% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.
Each of the Existing Holder's successors in interest (as defined in the Rights
Agreement) that would beneficially own, as a result of the transfer to such
successor of any shares of Common Stock beneficially owned by an Existing
Holder, 15% or more of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding shall be
treated as an Existing Holder.
 
  Until the Distribution Date, (i) the Rights will be evidenced by the Common
Stock certificates and will be transferred with and only with such Common Stock
certificates, (ii) Common Stock certificates issued after the Record Date will
contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference and (iii)
the surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of Common Stock
outstanding will also constitute the transfer of the Rights associated with the
Common Stock represented by such certificates.
 
  The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date and will expire at
the close of business on November 17, 1997, unless earlier redeemed by the
Company as described below.
 
  As soon as practicable after the Distribution Date, Rights Certificates will
be mailed to holders of record of the Common Stock as of the close of business
on the Distribution Date and, thereafter, the separate Rights Certificates
alone will represent the Rights. All shares of Common Stock issued prior to the
Distribution Date will be issued with Rights. Shares of Common Stock issued
after the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights if such shares are
issued pursuant to the exercise of stock options or under an employee benefit
plan, granted or awarded as of the Distribution Date, or upon the conversion of
securities issued after adoption of the Rights Agreement. Except as otherwise
determined by the Board of Directors, no other shares of Common Stock issued
after the Distribution Date will be issued with Rights.
 
  In the event that (i) a person becomes an Acquiring Person (except pursuant
to an offer for all outstanding shares of Common Stock which the independent
directors of the Company determine to be fair to and otherwise in the best
interests of the Company and its stockholders) or (ii) the Board of Directors
declares a person to be an Adverse Person, following the Distribution Date,
each holder of a Right will thereafter have the right to receive, upon
exercise, the number of shares of Common Stock for which such Right was
exercisable immediately prior to the first occurrence of such event (currently,
one) at an adjusted per share Purchase Price of 20% of the market price per
share of Common Stock. Notwithstanding any of the foregoing, following the
occurrence of any of the events set forth in this paragraph, all Rights that
are, or (under certain circumstances specified in the Rights Agreement) were,
beneficially owned by any Acquiring Person or Adverse Person will be null and
void. However, Rights are not exercisable following the occurrence of any of
the events set forth above until such time as the Rights are no longer
redeemable by the Company as set forth below.
 
  In the event that, at any time following the Stock Acquisition Date, (i) the
Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination transaction
(other than a merger which follows an offer described in
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
 
the preceding paragraph) or (ii) 50% or more of the Company's assets or earning
power is sold or transferred, each holder of a Right (except Rights which have
previously been voided as set forth above) shall thereafter have the right to
receive, upon exercise, common stock of the acquiring company having a value
equal to two times the Exercise Price of the Right. The Exercise Price is the
Purchase Price multiplied by the number of shares of Common Stock issuable upon
exercise of a Right prior to the events described in this paragraph (currently,
one). The events set forth in this paragraph and in the preceding paragraph are
referred to as the "Triggering Events".
 
  The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Common Stock or other
securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are subject to
adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of a stock
dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the Common
Stock, (ii) if holders of the Common Stock are granted certain rights or
warrants to subscribe for shares of Common Stock or convertible securities at
less than the current market price of the Common Stock or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Common Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular quarterly cash dividends) or of subscription rights
or warrants (other than those referred to above).
 
  With certain exceptions, no adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required
until cumulative adjustments amount to at least 1% of the Purchase Price. No
fractional shares of Common Stock will be issued upon exercise of the Rights
and, in lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market
price of the Common Stock on the last trading date prior to the date of
exercise.
 
  At any time until fifteen days following the Stock Acquisition Date, the
Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in part, at a price of $.048
per Right (payable, at the election of the Company, in cash, Common Stock or
such other consideration as the Board of Directors may determine). Immediately
upon the action of the Board of Directors ordering redemption of the Rights,
the Rights will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be
to receive the $.048 redemption price.
 
  Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have no rights
as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the right to
vote or to receive dividends. While the distribution of the Rights will not be
taxable to stockholders or to the Company, stockholders may, depending upon the
circumstances, recognize taxable income in the event that the Rights become
exercisable for Common Stock (or other consideration) of the Company or for
common stock of the acquiring company as set forth.
 
  Other than those provisions relating to the principal economic terms of the
Rights, any of the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board of Directors of the Company prior to the Distribution Date. After the
Distribution Date, the provisions of the Rights Agreement may be amended by the
Board in order to cure any ambiguity, defect or inconsistency, to make changes
which do not adversely affect the interests of holders of Rights (excluding the
interests of an Acquiring Person or Adverse Person), or to shorten or lengthen
any time period under the Rights Agreement; provided, however, that no
amendment to adjust the time period governing redemption shall be made at such
time as the Rights are not redeemable.
 
  Each share of outstanding Common Stock has one Right attached thereto. Until
the Distribution Date, the Company will issue one Right with each share of
Common Stock that shall become outstanding so that all such shares will have
attached Rights.
 
  The Rights have certain antitakeover effects. The Rights will cause
substantial dilution to a person or group that attempts to acquire the Company
without conditioning the offer on a substantial number of Rights being
acquired. Accordingly, the existence of the Rights may deter certain acquirors
from making takeover proposals or tender offers. However, the Rights are not
intended to prevent a takeover but rather are designed to enhance the ability
of the Board of Directors to negotiate with an acquiror on behalf of all of the
stockholders. In addition, the Rights should not interfere with a proxy
contest.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
  The Company may sell any of the Debt Securities directly to purchasers, or
through agents, dealers, or underwriters.
 
  The Prospectus Supplement and Pricing Supplement, if any, set forth the terms
of the offering of the particular series of Debt Securities to which such
Prospectus Supplement and any such Pricing Supplement relate, including (i) the
name or names of any underwriters or agents with whom the Company has entered
into arrangements with respect to the sale of such series of Debt Securities,
(ii) the initial public offering or purchase price of such series of Debt
Securities, (iii) any underwriting discounts, commissions and other items
constituting underwriters' compensation from the Company and any other
discounts, concessions or commissions allowed or reallowed or paid by any
underwriters to other dealers, (iv) any commissions paid to any agents, (v) the
net proceeds to the Company, and (vi) the securities exchanges, if any, on
which such series of Debt Securities will be listed.
 
  If underwriters are used in the sale, the Debt Securities will be acquired by
the underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in
one or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public
offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The
obligations of the underwriters to purchase such Debt Securities will be
subject to certain conditions precedent, and the underwriters will be obligated
to purchase all the Debt Securities offered by the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series if any are purchased. Any initial public offering price
and any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be
changed from time to time.
 
  Offers to purchase the Debt Securities may be solicited directly by the
Company or by agents designated by the Company from time to time. Any agent
involved in the offering and sale thereof in respect of which this Prospectus
is delivered is named and any commissions payable by the Company to such agent
are set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. Unless
otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, any such agent will be acting
on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
 
  If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the Debt Securities in respect of
which this Prospectus is delivered, the Company will sell such Debt Securities
to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such Debt Securities to
the public at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of
resale. Any initial public offering price and any discounts or concessions
allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
 
  If the sale is accomplished through an underwriter or underwriters, the
Company will enter into an underwriting agreement with such underwriters at the
time of sale to them, and the names of the underwriters (including
identification of any managing underwriter or underwriters) and the terms of
the transaction will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, which, together
with this Prospectus, will be used by the underwriters to make resales of the
Debt Securities in respect of which the Prospectus Supplement and this
Prospectus is delivered to the public.
 
  If so indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company will
authorize underwriters, agents or dealers to solicit offers by certain
institutions to purchase Debt Securities to which such Prospectus Supplement
relates pursuant to Delayed Delivery Contracts ("Contracts") providing for
payment and delivery on the date or dates stated in the Prospectus Supplement.
Each of the Contracts will be for an amount not less than, and, unless the
Company otherwise agrees, the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities
sold pursuant to such Contracts shall not be less or more than, the respective
amounts stated in the Prospectus Supplement. Institutions with whom Contracts,
when authorized, may be made include commercial and savings banks, insurance
companies, pension funds, investment companies, educational and charitable
institutions, and other institutions, but will in all cases be subject to the
approval of the Company. Contracts will not be subject to any conditions except
that (i) the purchase by an institution of Debt Securities covered thereby
shall not at the time of delivery be prohibited under the applicable laws of
any jurisdiction in the
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
 
United States to which such institution is subject, and (ii) if the particular
Debt Securities are being sold to underwriters, the Company shall have sold to
such underwriters the total amount of such Debt Securities less the amount
thereof covered by such Contracts. Underwriters, agents or dealers will not
have any responsibility in respect of the validity of such arrangements or the
performance of the Company or such institutional investors thereunder.
 
  Underwriters, agents and dealers may be entitled under agreements entered
into with the Company to indemnification by the Company against certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution
with respect to payments which the underwriters or agents may be required to
make in respect thereof.
 
  All Debt Securities will be new issues of securities with no established
trading market. Any underwriters to whom Debt Securities are sold by the
Company for public offering and sale may make a market in such Debt Securities,
but such underwriters will not be obligated to do so and may discontinue any
market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given concerning
the liquidity of the trading market for any Debt Securities.
 
  Underwriters, agents and dealers, and their respective affiliates, may engage
in transactions with, or perform services for, the Company, including
investment and commercial banking transactions and services, in the ordinary
course of business.
 
  Underwriters, agents and dealers participating in the distribution of the
Debt Securities may be deemed to be underwriters under the Securities Act, and
any discounts and commissions received by them and any profit realized by them
on resale of Debt Securities may be deemed to be underwriting discounts and
commissions under the Securities Act.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
  Certain legal matters with respect to the legality of the Debt Securities
will be passed upon for the Company by Jeremiah M. Fitzgerald, Esq., Vice
President and General Counsel of the Company and for the underwriters, agents
and dealers by Brown & Wood, New York, New York. Certain other legal matters
will be passed upon for the Company by McBride Baker & Coles, Chicago,
Illinois. Mr. Fitzgerald beneficially owns 11,097 shares of the Company's
Common Stock and holds options, granted under the Company's stock option plans,
to purchase an additional 25,363 shares of Common Stock.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
  The consolidated financial statements and schedules of Comdisco, Inc. and
subsidiaries as of September 30, 1994 and 1993 and for each of the years in the
three-year period ended September 30, 1994 incorporated herein by reference to
the Annual Report on Form 10-K of the Company for the year ended September 30,
1994 have been audited by KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, independent certified public
accountants, as indicated in their reports with respect thereto, and are
incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the authority of said firm as
experts in auditing and accounting.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14.OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
      All dollar amounts in the following tables are estimated other than
    the amounts of the registration fee under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
<TABLE>
       <S>                                                          <C>
       Securities and Exchange Commission filing fee............... $258,621.00
       Printing fees and expenses..................................   70,000.00
       Auditors' fees and expenses.................................   40,000.00
       Legal fees and expenses.....................................  100,000.00
       Blue sky qualification and legal investment survey fees and
        expenses (including counsel fees)..........................   15,000.00
       Trustee fees and expenses...................................   30,000.00
       Rating Agency fees and expenses.............................  150,000.00
       Miscellaneous...............................................    1,379.00
                                                                    -----------
           Total................................................... $665,000.00
                                                                    ===========
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 15.INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
 
      Subsection (a) of Section 145 of the General Corporation Law of the
    State of Delaware (the "DGCL") empowers a corporation to 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 (other than an action
    by or in the right of the corporation) by reason of the fact that he is
    or was a director, officer, employee or agent of the corporation, or is
    or was serving at the request of the corporation as a director,
    officer, employee or agent of another corporation, partnership, joint
    venture, trust or other enterprise, against expenses (including
    attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement
    actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with such action,
    suit or proceeding if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
    reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
    the corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or
    proceeding, had no reasonable cause to believe his conduct was
    unlawful.
 
      Subsection (b) of Section 145 of the DGCL empowers a corporation to
    indemnify any person who was or is a party or is threatened to be made
    a party to any threatened, pending or completed action, or suit by or
    in the right of the corporation to procure a judgment in its favor by
    reason of the fact that such person acted in any of the capacities set
    forth above, against expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and
    reasonably incurred by him in connection with the defense or settlement
    of such action or suit if he acted in good faith and in a manner he
    reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of
    the corporation, except that no indemnification may be made in respect
    of any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been
    adjudged to be liable to the corporation unless and only to the extent
    that the Court of Chancery or the court in which such action or suit
    was brought shall determine upon application that, despite the
    adjudication of liability but in view of all the circumstances of the
    case, such person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for
    such expenses which the Court of Chancery or such other court shall
    deem proper.
 
      Section 145 of the DGCL further provides that to the extent a
    director or officer of a corporation has been successful on the merits
    or otherwise in the defense of any action, suit or proceeding referred
    to in subsections (a) and (b) of Section 145, or in defense of any
    claim, issue or
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
 
    matter therein, he shall be indemnified against expenses (including
    attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection
    therewith; that indemnification provided for by Section 145 shall not
    be deemed exclusive of any other rights to which the indemnified party
    may be entitled; that indemnification provided for by Section 145
    shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or ratified, continue
    as to a person who has ceased to be a director, officer, employee or
    agent and shall inure to the benefit of such person's heirs, executors
    and administrators; and empowers the corporation to purchase and
    maintain insurance on behalf of a director or officer of the
    corporation against any liability asserted against him and incurred by
    him in any such capacity, or arising out of his status as such, whether
    or not the corporation would have the power to indemnify him against
    such liabilities under Section 145. Article VIII of the by-laws of the
    Registrant provides, in substance, that the Registrant will indemnify
    its directors and officers to the full extent permitted by Section 145
    of the DGCL. Also, as permitted by the DGCL, Article 13 of the
    Registrant's Restated Certificate of Incorporation eliminates the
    personal liability of each director of the Registrant to the Registrant
    or its stockholders for monetary damages arising out of or resulting
    from any breach of his fiduciary duty as a director, except where such
    director (i) breached his duty of loyalty to the Registrant or its
    stockholders, (ii) failed to act in good faith or engaged in
    intentional misconduct or a knowing violation of the law, (iii)
    violated Section 174 of the DGCL or (iv) obtained an improper personal
    benefit.
 
      The Registrant maintains policies insuring its and its subsidiaries'
    officers and directors against certain liabilities for actions taken in
    such capacities, including, subject to certain exemptions, liabilities
    under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
      Reference is made to the form of Underwriting Agreement filed as
    Exhibit 1.1 hereto and to the form of Distribution Agreement filed as
    Exhibit 1.2 hereto for a description of the indemnification
    arrangements in connection with any offering through underwriters or
    agents of the Securities registered hereby. Similar indemnification
    provisions were contained in the underwriting agreements, distribution
    agreements and other agreements executed in connection with prior
    offerings and sales of securities by the Registrant.
 
ITEM 16.LIST OF EXHIBITS.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       PAGE
                                                                      NUMBERS
                                                                    OF EXHIBITS
     EXHIBIT                                                           FILED
     NUMBER                         EXHIBIT                          HEREWITH
     -------                        -------                         -----------
     <C>     <S>                                                    <C>
       1.1   --Form of Underwriting Agreement for Senior Debt Se-
              curities
       1.2   --Form of Distribution Agreement for Senior Debt Se-
              curities
       4.1   --Form of Senior Debt Indenture between the Regis-
              trant and Yasuda Bank & Trust Co. (U.S.A.) as
              Trustee. The form or forms of Senior Debt Securi-
              ties with respect to each particular offering will
              be filed as an exhibit to a Current Report on Form
              8-K and incorporated herein by reference.
       5     --Opinion of Jeremiah M. Fitzgerald, Esq., Vice
              President and General Counsel of the Registrant
      12     --Statement Regarding Computation of Ratios (incor-
              porated by reference to Exhibit 12 to the Regis-
              trant's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal
              year ended September 30, 1994)
      23.1   --Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
      23.2   --Consent of Jeremiah M. Fitzgerald (contained in
              the opinion filed as Exhibit 5 to this Registration
              Statement)
      24     --Powers of Attorney of Directors and Officers of
              the Registrant (included on signature page)
      25     --Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 of Yasuda
              Bank & Trust Co. (U.S.A.)
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 17.UNDERTAKINGS
 
      The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
 
        (1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
      made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
 
                (a) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of
              the Securities Act of 1933 (the "Securities Act");
 
                (b) 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 Securities and Exchange Commission
              pursuant to Rule 424(b) promulgated under the Securities Act 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
              Registration Statement.
 
                (c) to include any material information with respect to the
              plan of distribution not previously disclosed in the
              Registration Statement, or any material change to such
              information in the Registration Statement;
 
      provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(a) and (1)(b) do not apply if
      the information required to be included in a post-effective
      amendment by those paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed
      by the Registrant pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
      Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"),
      that are incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement;
 
        (2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
      Securities 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; and
 
        (4) that, for purposes of determining any liability under the
      Securities 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 herein, and the offering of such securities at that time
      shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
      Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the
    Securities Act may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling
    persons of the Registrant pursuant to the provisions described above in
    Item 15, or otherwise, the Registrant has been advised that in the
    opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification
    is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and is,
    therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
    against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Registrant of
    expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person
    of the Registrant in the successful defense of any action, suit or
    proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
    in connection with the securities being registered, the Registrant
    will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled
    by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
    the question whether such indemnification by it is against public
    policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by the
    final adjudication of such issue.
 
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT
CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-3 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY
AUTHORIZED, IN THE VILLAGE OF ROSEMONT, STATE OF ILLINOIS, ON OCTOBER 30, 1995.
 
                                          COMDISCO, INC.
 
                                                    /s/ Jack Slevin
                                          By___________________________________
                                                  Jack Slevin, President
 
                        POWER OF ATTORNEY AND SIGNATURES
 
  EACH PERSON WHOSE SIGNATURE APPEARS BELOW CONSTITUTES AND APPOINTS JACK
SLEVIN, JOHN J. VOSICKY AND WILLIAM N. PONTIKES, OR ANY ONE OF THEM, EACH WITH
FULL POWER OF SUBSTITUTION AND RESUBSTITUTION, SUCH PERSON'S TRUE AND LAWFUL
ATTORNEY-IN-FACT AND AGENT, IN SUCH PERSON'S NAME AND ON SUCH PERSON'S BEHALF,
IN ANY AND ALL CAPACITIES, TO SIGN ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS TO THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT, INCLUDING ANY POST-EFFECTIVE AMENDMENTS, AND TO SIGN ANY RELATED
REGISTRATION STATEMENT, AND ANY AND ALL AMENDMENTS TO SUCH REGISTRATION
STATEMENT, FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 462(B) OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, AND TO
FILE THE SAME, WITH ALL EXHIBITS THERETO AND OTHER DOCUMENTS IN CONNECTION
THEREWITH, WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION.
 
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BELOW BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES AND
ON THE DATES INDICATED.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
             SIGNATURE                           TITLE                    DATE
             ---------                           -----                    ----
 
<S>                                  <C>                           <C>
/s/ Jack Slevin
- ------------------------------------
(Jack Slevin)                        President, Chief Executive  )
                                      Officer and Director       )
                                      (Principal Executive       )
                                      Officer)                   )
- ------------------------------------                             )  
(John J. Vosicky)                    Executive Vice              )
                                      President/Chief Financial  )
                                      Officer and Treasurer and  )
                                      Director (Principal        )
                                      Financial Officer)         )
- ------------------------------------                             )
(David J. Keenan)                    Vice President and          )
                                      Controller (Principal      )
                                      Accounting Officer)        )
- ------------------------------------                             )
(Robert A. Bardagy)                  Director                    )
- ------------------------------------                             )
(Edward H. Fiedler, Jr.)             Director                    )
- ------------------------------------                             )
(C. Keith Hartley)                   Director                    )
- ------------------------------------                             )
(Thomas H. Patrick)                  Director                    )        , 1995
- ------------------------------------                             )
(William N. Pontikes)                Director                    )
- ------------------------------------                             )
(Nicholas K. Pontikes)               Director                    )
- ------------------------------------                             )
(Basil R. Twist, Jr.)                Director                    )
- ------------------------------------                             )
(Rick Kash)                          Director                    )
- ------------------------------------                             )
(Alan J. Andreini)                   Director                    )
- ------------------------------------                             )
(Philip A. Hewes)                    Director                    )
</TABLE>                                                         

<PAGE>
 

                                  EXHIBIT 1.1
                        FORM OF UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                        ------------------------------


                                COMDISCO, INC.

                           (a Delaware corporation)

                            Senior Debt Securities


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



                                                       _____________ ___, 1995




[UNDERWRITER A]                                [UNDERWRITER B]
[ADDRESS]                                      [ADDRESS]

[UNDERWRITER C]
[ADDRESS]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Comdisco, Inc. (the "Company") proposes to issue and sell from time to time
its Senior Debt Securities ("Debt Securities") in one or more offerings on the
terms to be determined at the time of sale. The Debt Securities will be issued
under an indenture dated as of October 1, 1995 (the "Indenture"), between the
Company and Yasuda Bank & Trust Co. (U.S.A.), as Trustee. Each issue of Debt
Securities may vary, where applicable, as to aggregate principal amount,
maturity, interest rate or rates and timing of payments thereof, redemption
provisions and sinking fund requirements, if any, exercise provisions and any
other variable terms which the Indenture contemplates may be set forth in the
Debt Securities as issued from time to time. As used herein, "Securities" shall
mean the securities covered by the applicable Terms Agreement (as defined
below), and "you" or "your", unless the context otherwise requires, shall mean
such of the parties as are named in the applicable Terms Agreement.

     Whenever the Company determines to make an offering of Securities to be
made through one or more of you, it will enter into an agreement (a "Terms
Agreement") providing for the sale of such Securities to, and the purchase and
offering thereof by, one or more of you and such other underwriters, if any,
selected by you as have authorized you to enter into such Terms Agreement on
their behalf (such firms constituting the "Underwriters" with respect to such
Terms Agreement and the securities specified therein; the term "Underwriters"
shall include you and/or those underwriters named therein, whether acting alone
in the sale of Securities or as members of an underwriting syndicate, and shall
also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10).
It is understood that the Company may from time to time authorize the issuance
of additional securities and that such securities may be
<PAGE>
 

distributed through the Underwriters pursuant to the terms of this Agreement as
though the issuance of such securities was authorized as of the date hereof.

     The Terms Agreement, which shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A
hereto, may take the form of an exchange of any standard form of written
telecommunication between you and the Company. The Terms Agreement relating to
each offering of Securities shall specify such applicable information as is
indicated in Exhibit A hereto. Each offering of Securities will be governed by
this Agreement, as supplemented by the applicable Terms Agreement, and this
Agreement and such Terms Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be binding
upon each Underwriter participating in the offering of such Securities.

     The Securities will be represented by either a global security registered
in the name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company (the "Depositary"), as
Depositary (a "Book-Entry Note"), or a certificate issued in definitive form, as
determined and agreed to by the Company and the Underwriters and specified in
the applicable Terms Agreement. Beneficial interests in Book-Entry Notes will be
shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records
maintained by the Depositary and its participants. Book-Entry Notes will not be
issuable in definitive form, except under the circumstances described in the
applicable prospectus supplement relating to the Securities.

     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-________), such
registration statement relating to the Securities and the offering thereof from
time to time in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act of 1933 (the
"1933 Act"), and has filed such amendments thereto as may have been required to
the date hereof. Such registration statement as amended has been declared
effective by the Commission, and the Indenture has been qualified under the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "1939 Act"). Such registration statement as
amended and the prospectus relating to the sale of Securities by the Company
constituting a part thereof, including all documents incorporated therein by
reference, as from time to time amended or supplemented pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), the 1933 Act or otherwise, are
collectively referred to herein as the "Registration Statement" and the
"Prospectus", respectively, except that if any revised prospectus shall be
provided to you by the Company for use in connection with the solicitation of
offers to purchase the Securities which differs from the Prospectus on file at
the Commission at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective (whether
or not such revised prospectus is required to be filed by the Company pursuant
to Rule 424(b) under the rules and regulations under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act
Regulations"), the term "Prospectus" shall refer to such revised prospectus from
and after the time it is first provided to the Underwriters for such use);
provided, however, that a supplement of the Prospectus contemplated by Section
3(a) (a "Prospectus Supplement") shall be deemed to have supplemented the
Prospectus only with respect to the offering of Securities to which it relates.

     Section 1. Representations and Warranties. (a) The Company represents and
warrants to each of you as of the date hereof, and to each Underwriter named in
a Terms Agreement as of the date thereof (in each case the "Representation
Date"), as follows:

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
          (i) Due Incorporation and Qualification.  The Company has been duly
     incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
     under the laws of the State of Delaware with corporate power and authority
     to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as
     described in the Prospectus; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign
     corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each
     jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of substantial properties or
     the conduct of its business requires such qualification and in which the
     failure to so qualify and be in good standing would materially adversely
     affect the business or financial condition of the Company and its
     subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.

          (ii) Subsidiaries.  No subsidiary of the Company is a "significant
     subsidiary" as defined in Rule 405 of Regulation C of the 1933 Act
     Regulations.

          (iii) Registration Statement and Prospectus.  At the time the
     Registration Statement became effective, the Registration Statement
     complied, and as of the applicable Representation Date will comply, in all
     material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act
     Regulations and the 1939 Act. The Registration Statement, at the time it
     became effective did not, and as of the applicable Representation Date will
     not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
     material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein not misleading.  The Prospectus, at the time the
     Registration Statement became effective (unless the term "Prospectus"
     refers to a prospectus which has been provided to the Underwriters by the
     Company for use in connection with the offering of Securities which differs
     from the Prospectus on file at the Commission at the time the Registration
     Statement became effective, in which case at the time it is first provided
     to the Underwriters for such use), did not, and as of the applicable
     Representation Date will not, contain an untrue statement of a material
     fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
     statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and
     warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions
     from the Registration Statement or Prospectus made in reliance upon and in
     conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by the
     Underwriters expressly for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus
     or that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the
     Statement of Eligibility under the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations
     of the Commission promulgated thereunder.


          (iv) Incorporated Documents.  The documents incorporated by reference
     in the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the
     Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the
     requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations thereunder (the
     "1934 Act Regulations"), and, when read together and with the other
     information in the Prospectus, did not and will not contain an untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
     be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in the light
     of the circumstances under which they were or are made, not misleading;
     provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this
     subsection shall

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     not apply to any statements and/or omissions from the Prospectus made in
     reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to
     the Company by an Underwriter expressly for use in the Prospectus as
     amended or supplemented.

          (v) Accountants.  To the best of the Company's knowledge, the
     accountants who certified the financial statements included or incorporated
     by reference in the Prospectus are independent public accountants as
     required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.

          (vi) Financial Statements.  The consolidated financial statements of
     the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in
     the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company and its
     subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations
     for the periods specified; except as stated therein, said financial
     statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
     accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the period
     or periods involved.

          (vii) Material Changes or Material Transactions.  Since the respective
     dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein or contemplated thereby,
     (a) there has been no material adverse change, or any material development
     known to management which is likely to result in a material adverse change,
     in the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company and its
     subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, or in the earnings, business
     affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
     considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course
     of business, and (b) there have been no transactions considered material to
     the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise entered into
     by the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those in the ordinary
     course of business.

          (viii) No Defaults, Breaches, Liens; Regulatory Approvals.  The
     Company is not in violation of its charter or in default in the performance
     or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
     contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease
     or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its
     properties may be bound; and the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
     the Indenture and each applicable Terms Agreement, if any, and the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein have been
     duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not conflict
     with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the creation
     or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or
     assets of the Company pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan
     agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which the Company is a party
     or by which it may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of
     the Company is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the
     provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or, to the best of its
     knowledge, any law, administrative regulation or administrative or court
     order or decree; and no consent, approval, authorization, order or decree
     of any court or governmental agency or body is required for the
     consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this
     Agreement, except such as may be

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
     required under the 1933 Act, the 1939 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations or
     state securities or Blue Sky laws.

          (ix) Legal Proceedings; Contracts.  Except as may be set forth in the
     Prospectus, there is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court
     or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, with
     respect to which the Company has been served, or, to the knowledge of the
     Company, threatened against or affecting, the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries, which might, in the opinion of the Company, result in any
     material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, of the
     Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, or in the
     earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
     subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, or might materially and
     adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or might materially and
     adversely affect the consummation of this Agreement or any Terms Agreement;
     and there are no material contracts or documents of the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries which are required to be filed as exhibits to the
     Registration Statement by the 1933 Act or by the 1933 Act Regulations which
     have not been so filed.

          (x) Material Licenses and Other Authorizations.  The Company owns or
     possesses or has obtained all governmental licenses, permits, consents,
     orders, approvals and other authorizations necessary to lease or own, as
     the case may be, and to operate its properties and to carry on its business
     as presently conducted except where the failure to possess any such
     licenses, permits, consents, orders, approvals or authorizations would not
     have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, or the earnings
     or business of the Company.

          (xi) Trademarks, Service Marks and Trade Names.  The Company owns or
     possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, service
     marks and trade names necessary to conduct the business now operated by it,
     and the Company has not received any notice of infringement of or conflict
     with asserted rights of others with respect to any trademarks, service
     marks or trade names which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of
     an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would materially adversely
     affect the conduct of the business, operations, financial condition or
     income of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.

          (xii)  Authorization and Validity of the Securities.  The Securities
     have been duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement
     and, when issued, authenticated and delivered pursuant to the provisions of
     this Agreement and of the Indenture against payment of the consideration
     therefor specified herein or in any Terms Agreement, the Securities will
     constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable
     in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be
     limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or other laws relating to or affecting
     creditors' rights generally or by general equity principles, and will be
     entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, which will be
     substantially in the form heretofore delivered to the Underwriters; and the
     Securities and the Indenture conform in all material respects to all
     statements relating thereto contained in the Prospectus.

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     (b) Additional Certifications.  Any certificate signed by any officer of
the Company and delivered to you or to counsel for the Underwriters in
connection with an offering of Securities shall be deemed a representation and
warranty by the Company to each Underwriter as to the matters covered thereby.

     Section 2.  Purchase and Sale.  The several commitments of the Underwriters
to purchase Securities pursuant to any Terms Agreements shall be deemed to have
been made on the basis of the representations and warranties herein contained
and shall be subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth.

     Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of, any Securities to be
purchased by the Underwriters shall be made (i) in the case of Securities in
registered form, at the office of Brown & Wood, One World Trade Center, 58th
Floor, New York, New York 10048, or (ii) in the case of Securities in bearer
form, at the office of Brown & Wood, Blackwell House, Guildhall Yard, London
EC2V 5AB or at such other place as shall be agreed upon by you and the Company,
at 10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the third business day (unless postponed
in accordance with the provisions of Section 10) following the date of the
applicable Terms Agreement or such other time as shall be agreed upon by you and
the Company (each such time and date being referred to as a "Closing Time").
Payment shall be made to the Company by certified or official bank check or
checks in New York Clearing House or similar next day funds payable to the order
of the Company against delivery to you for the respective accounts of the
Underwriters of the Securities to be purchased by them (unless such Securities
are issuable only in the form of a single global Security registered in the name
of a depository or a nominee of a depository, in which event the Underwriters'
interest in such global certificate shall be noted in a manner satisfactory to
the Underwriters and their counsel).  Such Securities shall be in such
authorized denominations and registered in such names as you may request in
writing at least two business days prior to the applicable Closing Time.  Such
Securities, which may be in temporary form, will be made available for
examination and packaging by you on or before the first business day prior to
Closing Time.

     If authorized by the applicable Terms Agreement, the Underwriters named
therein may solicit offers to purchase Securities from the Company pursuant to
delayed delivery contracts ("Delayed Delivery Contracts") substantially in the
form of Exhibit B hereto with such changes therein as the Company may approve.
As compensation for arranging Delayed Delivery Contracts, the Company will pay
at Closing Time, for the accounts of the Underwriters, a fee relating to the
principal amount of Securities for which Delayed Delivery Contracts are made at
Closing Time as is specified in the applicable Terms Agreement.  Any Delayed
Delivery Contracts are to be with institutional investors of the types set forth
in the Prospectus.  At Closing Time the Company will enter into Delayed Delivery
Contracts (for not less than the minimum principal amount of Securities per
Delayed Delivery Contract specified in the applicable Terms Agreement) with all
purchasers proposed by the Underwriters and previously approved by the Company
as provided below, but not for an aggregate principal amount of Securities in
excess of that specified in the applicable Terms Agreement.  The Underwriters
will not have any responsibility for the validity or performance of Delayed
Delivery Contracts.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
     You are to submit to the Company, at least three business days prior to
Closing Time, the names of any institutional investors with which it is proposed
that the Company will enter into Delayed Delivery Contracts and the principal
amount of Securities to be purchased by each of them, and the Company will
advise you, at least two business days prior to Closing Time, of the names of
the institutions with which the making of Delayed Delivery Contracts is approved
by the Company and the principal amount of Securities to be covered by each such
Delayed Delivery Contract.

     The principal amount of Securities agreed to be purchased by the respective
Underwriters pursuant to the applicable Terms Agreement shall be reduced by the
principal amount of Securities covered by Delayed Delivery Contracts, as to each
Underwriter as set forth in a written notice delivered by you to the Company;
provided, however, that the total principal amount of Securities to be purchased
by all Underwriters shall be the total amount of Securities covered by the
applicable Terms Agreement, less the principal amount of Securities covered by
Delayed Delivery Contracts.

     Section 3.  Covenants of the Company.  The Company covenants with each of
you, and with each Underwriter participating in the applicable offering of
Securities, as follows:

     (a) Prospectus Supplements.  Immediately following the execution of each
Terms Agreement, the Company will prepare a Prospectus Supplement setting forth
the principal amount of Securities covered thereby and their terms not otherwise
specified in the Indenture, the names of the Underwriters participating in the
offering and the principal amount of Securities which each severally has agreed
to purchase, the names of the Underwriters acting as co-managers in connection
with the offering, the price at which the Securities are to be purchased by the
Underwriters from the Company, the initial public offering price, the selling
concession and reallowance, if any, any delayed delivery arrangements, and such
other information as you and the Company deem appropriate in connection with the
offering of the Securities. The Company will promptly transmit copies of the
Prospectus Supplement to the Commission for filing pursuant to Rule 424 of the
1933 Act Regulations and will furnish to the Underwriters named therein as many
copies of the Prospectus and such Prospectus Supplement as you shall reasonably
request.

     (b) Notice of Certain Events.  The Company will notify each of you
immediately and confirm the notice in writing, (i) of the effectiveness of any
amendment to the Registration Statement (including any post-effective
amendment), (ii) of the mailing or the delivery to the Commission for filing of
any supplement to the Prospectus or any document to be filed pursuant to the
1934 Act which will be incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, (iii) of the
receipt of any comments from the Commission with respect to the Registration
Statement or Prospectus, (iv) of any request by the Commission for any amendment
to the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus
or for additional information, (v) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop
order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the
initiation of any proceedings for that purpose.  The Company will make every
reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any stop order and, if any stop
order is issued, to obtain the lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
     (c) Notice of Certain Proposed Filings.  The Company will give you notice
of its intention to file any additional Registration Statement with respect to
the registration of additional Securities, any amendment to the Registration
Statement (including any post-effective amendment) or any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus (including any revised Prospectus which the Company
proposes for use by you in connection with the offering of the Securities which
differs from the prospectus on file at the Commission at the time the
Registration Statement becomes effective, whether or not such revised prospectus
is required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations),
whether by the filing of documents pursuant to the 1934 Act, the 1933 Act or
otherwise, and will furnish you with copies of any such amendment or supplement
or other documents proposed to be filed or used a reasonable time in advance of
such filing or use, and will not file any such amendment or supplement or other
documents in a form to which you or your counsel shall reasonably object.

     (d) Copies of Registration Statement, Prospectus.  The Company will deliver
to you as many signed and conformed copies of the Registration Statement (as
originally filed) and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed
therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus) as you may reasonably request.  The Company will
furnish to you as many copies of the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented) as
you shall reasonably request so long as any Underwriter is required to deliver a
Prospectus in connection with sales or solicitations of offers to purchase the
Securities.

     (e) Revisions of Prospectus -- Material Changes.  If at any time when the
Prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales
of the Securities any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which
it is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of the Underwriters' counsel or
counsel for the Company, to further amend or supplement the Prospectus in order
that the Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or
omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it
is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the reasonable
opinion of either such counsel, at any such time to amend or supplement the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to comply with the
requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, immediate notice shall
be given, and confirmed in writing, to each of the Underwriters to cease sales
of any Securities, and the Company will promptly prepare and file with the
Commission such amendment or supplement, whether by filing documents pursuant to
the 1934 Act, the 1933 Act or otherwise, as may be necessary to correct such
untrue statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement comply with
such requirements; provided that, the cost of furnishing such an amendment or
supplement (other than an amendment or supplement filed pursuant to the 1934
Act) after 6 months following the Closing shall be paid by the Underwriters if
all of the Securities have not been previously offered to the public.

     (f) Section 11(a) Earnings Statements.  The Company will make generally
available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than 90
days after the close of the period covered thereby, earnings statements (in form
complying with the provisions of Rule 158 under the 1933 Act) covering twelve-
month periods beginning, in each case, not later than the first day of the
Company's fiscal quarter 

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
next following the "effective date" (as defined in such Rule 158) of the
Registration Statement with respect to each sale of Securities.

     (g) Copies of Financial Reports.  So long as this Agreement is in effect,
the Company will furnish to the Underwriters, at the earliest time the Company
makes the same available to others, copies of its annual reports and other
financial reports furnished or made available to the public generally.

     (h) Blue Sky Qualifications.  The Company will endeavor, in cooperation
with the Underwriters, to qualify the Securities for offering and sale under the
applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions of the United
States as the Underwriters may reasonably designate, and will maintain such
qualifications in effect for as long as may be required for the distribution of
the Securities; the Company will file such statements and reports as may be
required by the laws of each jurisdiction in which the Securities have been
qualified as above provided; provided, however, that the Company shall not be
obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a
foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or as a
dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to
subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction in
which it is not otherwise so subject or expend amounts in excess of $1,000 for
filing fees in any one jurisdiction.

     (i) 1934 Act Filings.  The Company, during the period when the Prospectus
is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file promptly all documents
required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the 1934 Act.

     (j) Stand-Off Agreement.  Between the date of any Terms Agreement and the
Closing Time with respect to such Terms Agreement, the Company will not, without
the prior consent of the Underwriter(s), offer or sell, or enter into any
agreement to sell, any debt securities of the Company (other than the Securities
which are to be sold pursuant to such Terms Agreement and commercial paper, tax-
exempt securities or other securities in the ordinary course of its business,
including, but not limited to, securities issued by the Company in connection
with the non-recourse financing of lease receivables), except as may otherwise
be provided in any such Terms Agreement.

     Section 4.  Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.  The obligations of
the Underwriters to purchase Securities pursuant to any Terms Agreement are
subject to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the
Company herein contained, to the accuracy of the statements of the Company's
officers made in any certificate furnished pursuant to the provisions hereof, to
the performance by the Company of all of its covenants and other obligations
hereunder and to the following further conditions:

          (a) At the applicable Closing Time (i) no stop order suspending the
     effectiveness of the Registration Statement shall have been issued under
     the 1933 Act, no order suspending trading or striking or withdrawing any
     Securities to be listed on a national securities exchange from listing and
     registration under the 1934 Act shall be in effect, and no  proceedings
     under the 1933 Act or 1934 Act therefor shall have been initiated or
     threatened by the Commission, or, with 

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
     respect to the filing of any Form 8-A, by any national securities exchange,
     (ii) the rating assigned by any nationally recognized securities rating
     agency indicated in the applicable Terms Agreement to any debt securities
     or other obligations of the Company as of the date of the applicable Terms
     Agreement shall not have been lowered since the execution of such Terms
     Agreement nor shall any such rating agency have publicly announced that it
     has placed any obligations of the Company on what is commonly termed a
     "watch list" for possible downgrading, (iii) any Securities for which
     application has been made to list on a national securities exchange shall
     have been approved for listing, subject to official notice of issuance and
     (iv) there shall not have come to your attention any facts that would cause
     you to believe that the Prospectus, together with the applicable Prospectus
     Supplement, at the time it was required to be delivered to a purchaser of
     the Securities, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
     to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein,
     in the light of the circumstances existing at such time, not misleading.

          (b) At the applicable Closing Time you shall have received:

          (1) The favorable opinion, dated as of the applicable Closing Time, of
     Philip A. Hewes, Esq., Senior Vice President/Legal, of the Company, or
     Jeremiah M. Fitzgerald, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel of the
     Company, in form and substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that:

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

               (ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease
          and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in
          the Prospectus.

               (iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Company is
          duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in
          good standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of
          substantial properties or the conduct of its business requires such
          qualifications and in which failure of the Company to be so qualified
          and in good standing would have a material adverse effect upon the
          Company and its subsidiaries considered as a single enterprise.

               (iv) This Agreement and the applicable Terms Agreement have been
          duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company.

               (v) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and
          delivered by the Company and (assuming the Indenture has been duly
          authorized, executed and delivered by the Trustee) constitutes a valid
          and binding agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with
          its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
          insolvency, or other laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
          generally or by general equity principles.

                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
               (vi) The Securities are in the form contemplated by the
          Indenture, have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action
          and, when executed and authenticated as specified in the Indenture and
          delivered against payment of the consideration therefor in accordance
          with this Agreement, as supplemented by the applicable Terms
          Agreement, if any, will be valid and binding obligations of the
          Company, enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as
          enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or other
          laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights generally, or by
          general equity principles, and each holder of Securities will be
          entitled to the benefits of the Indenture.

               (vii) The statements in the Prospectus under the caption
          "Description of Debt Securities" and the Prospectus Supplement under
          the caption "Description of the Notes", insofar as they purport to
          summarize certain provisions of documents specifically referred to
          therein, are accurate summaries of such provisions.

               (viii) The Indenture is qualified under the 1939 Act.

               (ix) The Registration Statement is effective under the 1933 Act,
          and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending
          the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under
          the 1933 Act or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the
          Commission.

               (x) At the time the Registration Statement became effective, the
          Registration Statement (other than the financial statements and other
          financial or statistical data included or incorporated by reference
          therein, as to which no opinion need be rendered) complied as to form
          in all material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the
          1939 Act and the regulations under each of those Acts.

               (xi) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal
          or governmental proceedings pending or threatened which are required
          to be disclosed in the Registration Statement, other than those
          disclosed therein, and all pending legal or governmental proceedings
          which the Company or any subsidiary is a party or of which any of
          their property is the subject which are not described in the
          Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the
          business, are, considered in the aggregate, not material.

               (xii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and information,
          there are no contracts, indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes,
          leases or other instruments required to be described or referred to in
          the Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto other
          than those described or referred to therein or filed or incorporated
          by reference as exhibits thereto, the descriptions thereof or
          references thereto are correct, and, except for certain minor matters
          which, either individually or in the aggregate, will not or do not
          have a material adverse effect on the Company or its business, no
          default 

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
          exists in the due performance or observance of any material
          obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
          contract, indenture, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument
          so described, referred to, filed or incorporated by reference.

               (xiii) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court
          or governmental authority or agency is required in connection with the
          sale of the Securities, except such as may be required under the 1933
          Act, the 1939 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations or state securities laws;
          and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge and information, the
          execution and delivery of this Agreement, the applicable Terms
          Agreement and the Indenture and the consummation of the transactions
          contemplated herein and therein will not conflict with or constitute a
          breach of, or default under, or result in the creation or imposition
          of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or assets of the
          Company pursuant to, any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan
          agreement, note, lease  or other instrument known to such counsel and
          to which the Company is a party or by which it may be bound or to
          which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, or any
          law, administrative regulation or administrative or court decree
          known to such counsel to be applicable to the Company of any court or
          governmental agency, authority or body or any arbitrator having
          jurisdiction over the Company, except that counsel need not express an
          opinion as to any state securities laws or regulations; nor will such
          action result in any violation of the provisions of the charter or by-
          laws of the Company.

               (xiv)  Each document filed pursuant to the 1934 Act and
          incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (except for the financial
          statements and other financial or statistical data included therein or
          omitted therefrom, as to which counsel need not comment), appeared on
          its face to comply, when filed, as to form in all material respects
          with the 1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.

     In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
involving the application of laws of the State of New York, to the extent deemed
proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of Brown & Wood, counsel
for the Underwriters, delivered pursuant to subsection (b)(2) hereof and (B) as
to matters of fact, to the extent deemed proper, on certificates of responsible
officers of the Company and public officials.

     (2) Opinion of Counsel to the Underwriters.  The opinion of Brown & Wood,
counsel to the Underwriters, dated as of such Closing Time, covering the matters
referred to in subparagraph (1) under the subheadings (i) and (iv) to (x),
inclusive.

     (3) In giving their opinions required by subsection (b)(1) and (b)(2) of
this Section, Mr. Hewes  or Mr. Firzgerald and Brown & Wood shall each
additionally state that nothing has come to their attention that would lead them
to believe that the Registration Statement (except for the financial statements
and other financial or statistical data included therein or omitted therefrom,
as to which counsel need not comment), at the time it became effective, or if an
amendment to the Registration 

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
Statement or an Annual Report on Form 10-K has been filed by the Company with
the Commission subsequent to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, at
the time of the most recent such amendment or filing, contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or
that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented at the Closing Date or the date
of such opinion, as the case may be, contains an untrue statement of a material
fact or omits to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
misleading.

     (c) Officer's Certificate.  At the Closing Time there shall not have been,
since the respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus or since the date of the Terms Agreement, any
material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company
and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, or in the earnings, business
affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business; and
the Underwriters shall have received a certificate of the President and the
Chief Financial Officer of the Company at the Closing Time, dated as of the
Closing Time to the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse
change, (ii) the other representations and warranties of the Company contained
in Section l are true and correct with the same force and effect as though
expressly made at and as of the date of such certificate, (iii) the Company has
complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be
performed or satisfied at or prior to the date of such certificate, and (iv) no
stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been
issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been initiated or threatened by
the Commission.

     (d) Comfort Letter.  The Underwriters shall have received a letter from
KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, dated as of the date hereof or the date of the most
recent report filed with the Commission containing financial statements or
unaudited consolidated information and incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement, if the date of such report is later than the date
hereof, and delivered at such time, in form and substance satisfactory to the
Underwriters to the effect that:

          (i) They are independent public accountants with respect to the
     Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the
     1933 Act Regulations.

          (ii) In their opinion, the consolidated financial statements and
     supporting schedule(s) audited by them and incorporated by reference in the
     Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the
     applicable accounting requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
     Regulations with respect to registration statements on Form S-3 and the
     1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.

          (iii)  based upon limited procedures set forth in detail in such
     letter (which shall include, without limitation, the procedures specified
     by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of
     interim financial information as described in SAS No. 71, Interim Financial
     Information, with respect to the unaudited consolidated financial
     statements of the 

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
     Company and its subsidiaries included in the Registration Statement),
     nothing has come to their attention which causes them to believe that:

               (A) any material modifications should be made to the unaudited
          consolidated financial statements included in the Registration
          Statement for them to be in conformity with generally accepted
          accounting principles; or

               (B) the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in
          the Registration Statement do not comply as to form in all material
          respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1933 Act
          and the related published rules and regulations; or

               (C) at a specified date not more than five days prior to the date
          of such letter, there was any change in the capital stock or any
          increase in the long term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries
          consolidated or any decrease in consolidated net assets, in each case
          as compared with amounts shown in the most recent consolidated balance
          sheet incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, except
          in each case for changes, increases or decreases which the
          Registration Statement and the Prospectus disclose have occurred or
          may occur; or

               (D) for the period from the date of the most recent interim
          period financial statements incorporated by reference in the
          Registration Statement to a specified date not more than five days
          prior to the date of such letter, there were any decreases, as
          compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in
          consolidated revenues or net earnings, except in each case for
          decreases which the Registration Statement and the Prospectus disclose
          have occurred or may occur.

          (iv) In addition to the examination referred to in their report
     incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
     they have carried out certain other specified procedures, not constituting
     an audit, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial
     information which are included in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus and which are specified by the Underwriters and have found such
     amounts, percentages and financial information to be in agreement with the
     relevant accounting, financial and other records of the Company and its
     subsidiaries identified in such letter.

     (e) Bring-down Comfort Letter.  You shall have received from KPMG Peat
Marwick LLP, or other independent certified public accountants acceptable to you
a letter, dated as of the applicable Closing Time, reconfirming or updating the
letter required by subsection (d) of this Section to the extent that may be
reasonably requested.

     (f) Other Documents.  At the date hereof and at the Closing Time, counsel
to the Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions
as such counsel may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling such counsel
to pass upon the issuance and sale of Securities as herein 

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
contemplated and related proceedings, or in order to evidence the accuracy and
completeness of any of the representations and warranties, or the fulfillment of
any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the
Company in connection with the issuance and sale of Securities as herein
contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and substance to the Underwriters and
to the Underwriters' counsel.

     (g) Further Condition.  The obligations of each of the Underwriters to
purchase Securities pursuant to any Terms Agreement will be subject to the
further condition that there shall not have come to the Underwriters' attention
any facts that would cause them to believe that the Prospectus, at the time it
was required to be delivered to a purchaser of Securities, contained an untrue
statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in
order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances existing
at such time, not misleading.

     If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled,
this Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be terminated by the Underwriters by
notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Time, and such
termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party, except
as provided in Section 5.

     Section 5.  Payment of Expenses.  The Company will pay all expenses
incident to the performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including
(i) the preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and all amendments
thereto and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, (ii) the
preparation, issuance and delivery of the Securities to the Underwriters, (iii)
the fees and disbursements of the Company's accountants and of the Trustee and
its counsel, (iv) the qualification of the Securities under the securities laws
in accordance with the provisions of Section 3(h), including filing fees and the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection
therewith and in connection with the preparation of any Blue Sky Surveys and any
Legal Investment Survey, (v) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters in
quantities as hereinabove stated of copies of the Registration Statement and any
amendments thereto, and of the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
thereto, and the delivery by the Underwriters of the Prospectus and any
amendments or supplements thereto in connection with solicitations or
confirmations of sales of the Securities, (vi) the printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of copies of the Indenture and any Blue Sky Survey and Legal
Investment Survey, (vii) any fees charged by rating agencies for the rating of
the Securities, (viii) the fees and expenses, if any, incurred in connection
with the listing of the Securities on the New York Stock Exchange or any other
national exchange, (ix) the fees and expenses, if any, incurred with respect to
any filing with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., and (x)
any advertising and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred with the approval of
the Company.

     If a Terms Agreement is terminated by you in accordance with the provisions
of Section 4 or Section 9(i), the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters named
in such Terms Agreement for all of their out-of-pocket expenses, including the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters.

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 6.  Indemnification.  (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act
as follows:

          (i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
     untrue statement of a material fact contained in the registration statement
     as originally filed (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged
     omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of
     any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
     contained in the Prospectus (if used within the period set forth in Section
     3(e) hereof and as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have
     furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) or the omission or alleged
     omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make the
     statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company will not be
     liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage,
     liability or expense arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or
     omission or such alleged untrue statement or omission (A) which has been
     made therein or omitted therefrom in reliance upon and in conformity with
     written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter through you
     expressly for use in the registration statement as originally filed (or any
     amendment thereto) or the Prospectus as originally filed (or any amendment
     or supplement thereto) or (B) which has been made or omitted from the
     Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee on Form T-1, other than any such
     untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made
     therein or omitted therefrom in reliance upon information furnished in
     writing to the Trustee by the Company for use therein; the foregoing
     indemnification with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure
     to the benefit of any Underwriter from whom the person asserting any such
     losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased Securities, or any person
     controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended
     or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments or
     supplements thereto) was not sent or given by or on behalf of such
     Underwriter to such person, if such delivery is required by law, at or
     prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such
     person and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented) would have
     cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage or liability;

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

          (iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including
     the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by you), reasonably incurred
     in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or
     investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or 

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
 
     body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such
     untrue statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or
     omission, to the extent that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii)
     above.

     Insofar as this indemnity may permit indemnification for liabilities under
the 1933 Act of any person who is a partner of an Underwriter or who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act and who, at the date of this Agreement, is a director, officer or
controlling person of the Company, such indemnity agreement is subject to the
undertaking of the Company in the Registration Statement.

     (b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the registration
statement as originally filed (or any amendment thereto), and each person, if
any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act
or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage
and expense to the same extent described in the indemnity contained in
subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue
statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or omissions, made in or
omitted from the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter
through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (c) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter
against any documentary stamp or similar issue tax and any related interest or
penalties on the issue or sale of the Securities to the Underwriters which are
due in the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any other
jurisdiction.

     (d) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above of written notice of the commencement of any action such indemnified
party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in
writing of the commencement thereof, and in the event that such indemnified
party shall not so notify the indemnifying party within 30 days following
receipt of any such notice by such indemnified party, the indemnifying party
shall have no further liability under such subdivision to such indemnified party
unless such indemnifying party shall have received other notice addressed and
delivered in the manner provided in Section 11 hereof of the commencement of
such action; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall not
relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under such subsection.  Any indemnified party or any such
controlling person shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such
action and participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such
counsel shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the
employment of such counsel has been specifically authorized in writing by the
indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense
and employ counsel or (iii) the named parties to any such action (including any
impleaded parties) include both such indemnified party and the indemnifying
party and such indemnified party has been advised by such counsel that there may
be one or more legal defenses available to it which are different from or
additional to those available to the 

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
 
indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall not have the
right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such indemnified party,
it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in
connection with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or
related action in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general
allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and expenses of
more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to local counsel) for all
such indemnified parties, which firm shall be designated in writing by you).

     Section 7.  Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in Section 6
is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in
respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) referred to therein, then the Company and the contributing Underwriter
shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a
result of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits
received by the Company on the one hand and the contributing Underwriter on the
other from the offering of the Securities to which such loss, claim, damage or
liability (or action in respect thereof) relates.  If, however, the
indemnification provided for in Section 6 is unavailable to or insufficient to
hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein, if the
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted by
applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required
under Section 6(d) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to such
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and the contributing Underwriter on the
other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the contributing Underwriter on the other
shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the
sale of Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to
the total commissions or discounts received by the contributing Underwriter in
respect thereof.  The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or by
the contributing Underwriter on the other and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.  The Company and the contributing Underwriter agree that
it would not be just and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7
were determined by pro rata allocation or by any other method of allocation
which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in
this Section 7.  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result
of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to include any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Securities
purchased by or through such Underwriter were sold exceeds the amount of any
damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of
such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No
person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the 

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
 
meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes
of this Section, each person, if any, who controls an Underwriter within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have
the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each director of the
Company, each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and
each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15
of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company. Any amounts to be paid a party pursuant to this
Section 7 for losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) referred to above in this Section 7 shall be paid as incurred;
provided, however, that amounts so paid shall be returned to the paying party in
the event that it is ultimately determined that the party that received payment
was not entitled to such payment.

     Section 8.  Indemnities, Contributions, Representations, Warranties and
Agreements to Survive Delivery.  The indemnity and contribution agreements
contained in Sections 6 and 7 and all representations, warranties and agreements
contained in this Agreement, or contained in certificates of officers of the
Company submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and
effect, regardless of any termination of this Agreement, or any investigation
made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on
behalf of the Company, and shall survive the delivery of any Securities to the
Underwriters.

     Section 9.  Termination.  Prior to the execution of any Terms Agreement
hereunder, this Agreement may be terminated for any reason at any time by either
the Company or a majority of the Underwriters upon the giving of three days'
written notice of such termination to the other parties hereto.  Each
Underwriter who may be named in any Terms Agreement may also terminate such
Terms Agreement, immediately upon notice to the Company, at any time at or prior
to the applicable Closing Time (i) if there has been, since the date of such
Terms Agreement or since the respective dates as of which information is given
in the Registration Statement, any material adverse change in the condition,
financial or otherwise, of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not
arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any
outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or other calamity or crisis the
effect of which on the financial markets of the United States is such as to make
it, in the judgment of such of you as are named in such Terms Agreement,
impracticable to market the Securities or enforce contracts for the sale of the
Securities, or (iii) if trading in the Common Stock of the Company has been
suspended by the Commission or a national securities exchange, or if trading
generally on either the American Stock Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange
has been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or
maximum ranges for prices for securities have been required, by either of said
exchanges or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority, if
a banking moratorium in the United States generally or in the City or the State
of New York has been declared by either Federal or New York authorities or if a
banking moratorium has been declared by the relevant authorities in the country
or countries of origin of any foreign currency or currencies underlying the
Securities, or (iv) if the rating assigned by any nationally recognized
securities rating agency indicated in the applicable Terms Agreement to any debt
securities or other obligations of the Company as of the 

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
 
date of any applicable Terms Agreement shall have been lowered since that date
or if any such rating agency shall have publicly announced that it has placed
any debt securities or other obligations of the Company on what is commonly
termed a "watch list" for possible downgrading. In the event of any such
termination, the covenant set forth in Section 3(f), the provisions of Section
5, the indemnity agreement set forth in Section 6, the contribution provisions
set forth in Section 7, and the provisions of Sections 8 and 13 shall remain in
effect.

     Section 10.  Default.  If one or more of the Underwriters participating in
an offering of Securities shall fail at the applicable Closing Time to purchase
the Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase hereunder and under
the applicable Terms Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), then such of you as
are named therein shall have the right, within 24 hours thereafter, to make
arrangements for one or more of the non defaulting Underwriters, or any other
underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all, of the Defaulted
Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the terms herein set
forth.  If, however, during such 24 hours you shall not have completed such
arrangements for the purchase of all of the Defaulted Securities, then:

          (a) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Securities does not
     exceed 10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be
     purchased pursuant to such Terms Agreement, the non-defaulting Underwriters
     named in such Terms Agreement shall be obligated to purchase the full
     amount thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting
     obligations hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all such non-
     defaulting Underwriters, or

          (b) if the aggregate principal amount of Defaulted Securities exceeds
     10% of the aggregate principal amount of the Securities to be purchased
     pursuant to such Terms Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreement shall
     terminate, without any liability on the part of any non-defaulting
     Underwriter or the Company.

     No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of any default of such Underwriter under
this Agreement and the applicable Terms Agreement.

     In the event of a default by any Underwriter or Underwriters as set forth
in this Section which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, either
you or the Company shall have the right to postpone the applicable Closing Time
for a period not exceeding seven days in order that any required changes in the
Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other documents or arrangements
may be effected.

     Section 11.  Covenants of the Underwriters.  Each Underwriter severally
agrees with the Company that:

          (a) It will not offer, sell, resell or deliver, directly or indirectly
     in connection with the original issuance of the Securities, in the United
     States (as hereinafter defined) or to
     any United Sates person (as hereinafter defined), other than a financial
     institution (as hereinafter defined), any Securities in bearer form
     (whether temporary or definitive).  As used herein, "financial 

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
 
     institution" means a branch located outside the United States of a
     qualified financial institution as defined in Section 1.165-12(c)(1)(v) of
     the Treasury Department Regulations that agrees to comply with the
     requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Internal Revenue
     Code of 1986 and the regulations thereunder.

          (b) It will deliver to each purchaser from it of Securities in bearer
     form (whether temporary or definitive) acquired by it during the original
     issuance of the Securities a written confirmation stating substantially the
     following:

               "You represent that you are not a United States person, or, if
          you are a United States person, that you are a financial institution
          that will comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or
          (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986 and the regulations
          thereunder.  Furthermore, if you are a dealer, you agree that you will
          deliver a confirmation containing this entire paragraph to purchasers
          of such Securities from you.  As used herein, "United States person"
          means a citizen or resident of the United States of America, its
          territories, its possessions or any area subject to its jurisdiction
          ("United States"), or a corporation, partnership or other entity
          created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any
          political subdivision thereof, or an estate or trust the income of
          which is subject to United States Federal income taxation regardless
          of its source."

     Section 12.  Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication.  Notices to the
Underwriters shall be directed to you as follows:  ______________
______________________________________________________________________________
______________ or, in respect of any Terms Agreement, to such other person and
place as may be specified therein; notices to the Company shall be directed to
it at Comdisco, Inc., 6111 North River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018, attention
of Edward A. Pacewicz, Vice President/Finance, with a copy to the General
Counsel at the same address.

     Section 13.  Parties.  This Agreement shall inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon you and the Company, and any Terms Agreement shall inure to the
benefit of and be binding upon the Company and any Underwriter who becomes a
party to a Terms Agreement, and their respective successors.  Nothing expressed
or mentioned in this Agreement or a Terms Agreement is intended or shall be
construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other than the parties hereto
or thereto and their respective successors and the controlling persons and
officers and directors referred to in Section 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal
representatives, any legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in
respect of this Agreement or a Terms Agreement or any provision herein or
therein contained. This Agreement and any Terms Agreement and all conditions and
provisions hereof and thereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive
benefit of the parties and their respective successors and said controlling
persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal representatives,
and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of
Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason
merely of such purchase.

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
 
     Section 14.  Governing Law.  This Agreement and each Terms Agreement shall
be governed by and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New
York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such State.

     Section 15.  Counterparts.  This Agreement may be executed in one or more
counterparts, and when a counterpart has been executed by each party hereto all
such counterparts taken together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

                                     -22-
<PAGE>
 
       [SIGNATURE PAGE FOR ____________________ UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT]


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

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       COMDISCO, INC.


                                       By: ____________________________________
                                              Its: ____________________________

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


[UNDERWRITER A]



By:  _______________________________
Its: _______________________________


[UNDERWRITER B]



By:  _______________________________
Its: _______________________________


[UNDERWRITER C]



By:  _______________________________
Its: _______________________________

                                     -23-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT A


                                COMDISCO, INC.
                           (A DELAWARE CORPORATION)

                            SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES


                                TERMS AGREEMENT
                                ---------------

To:  COMDISCO, INC.
     6111 North River Road
     Rosemont, Illinois  60018

     Re:  Underwriting Agreement dated ____________ __, 199__

                            SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES
                            ----------------------

Title of Senior Debt Securities:

Principal amount to be issued:  $

Current ratings:

Interest rate:    Payable:

Date of Maturity:

[Currency of Denomination:

Currency of Payment:

Form and Denomination:

Overseas Paying Agent:]

Redemption provisions:

Sinking Fund requirements:

Delayed Delivery Contracts [authorized] [not authorized]


                                      A-1
<PAGE>
 
     Delivery Date:

     Minimum Contract:
     Maximum aggregate principal amount:

     Fee: %

[Public offering price:  %, plus accrued interest, or amortized original issue
discount if any, from              , 19   ].

Purchase price:  %, plus accrued interest, or amortized original issue discount,
if any, from              , 19   (payable in next day funds).


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


Closing date and location with respect to registered Securities:

Closing date and location with respect to bearer Securities:

Rating Agencies applicable to Sections 4 and 9 of the Underwriting Agreement:

     [Moody's Investors Service]

     [Standard & Poor's Ratings Group]

     [Duff & Phelps]

Additional co-managers, if any:

     [Additional Termination Events:  To the list of termination events included
     in Section 9 of the Underwriting Agreement is added the following:

          [(v) a general moratorium in foreign exchange trading, or a moratorium
     in or U.S. dollar trading, by major international banks or persons has been
     declared, or exchange controls have been imposed or proposed, affecting the
     or the U.S. dollar by any competent governmental authority in the United
     States or ; or]

          (vi) there shall be pending any legal proceedings against the Company
     or the Underwriters relating to the Securities]

     [Additional Agreement of the Underwriters: To the agreements of the
     Underwriters included in Section 11 of the Underwriting Agreement is added
     to the following:


                                      A-2
<PAGE>
 
     The Underwriters agree that they will not offer, sell, resell or deliver,
     directly or indirectly, any Securities in or to residents of            ,
     or to others for the reoffering, resale or delivery of any Securities
     directly or indirectly in or to any resident of             .]

     [Exceptions, if any, to Section 3(j) of the Underwriting Agreement:  The
provisions of such Section are hereby waived.]

     [Consents pursuant to Section 3(j) of the Underwriting Agreement may be
executed by [name(s) of underwriter(s)].]
            ---------------------------  

     All notices to the Underwriters in respect of this Agreement shall be
     directed to the undersigned as follows:

Each Underwriter severally agrees, subject to the terms and provisions of the
above referenced Underwriting Agreement, which is incorporated herein in its
entirety and made a part hereof, to purchase the principal amount of Securities
set forth opposite its name.

                           Principal
                           Amount of
Name                       Securities
- ----                     --------------

                         $
                         --------------
                         [$            ]

                    [UNDERWRITER A


                    By: _________________________________
                        Vice President                   ]

 
                    [UNDERWRITER Y



                    By: _________________________________
                    Title: ______________________________]



                    [UNDERWRITER Z



                    By: ________________________________]


                                      A-3
<PAGE>
 
                    Title: ______________________________]



Accepted:

COMDISCO, INC.


By: ______________________________


                                      A-4

<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT B

                                COMDISCO, INC.
                           (A DELAWARE CORPORATION)

                            SENIOR DEBT SECURITIES


                           DELAYED DELIVERY CONTRACT
                           -------------------------

                                                              ____________, 19__
                                                              


COMDISCO, INC.
6111 North River Road
Rosemont, Illinois  60018

Attention: _____________________________

Dear Sirs:

     The undersigned hereby agrees to purchase from Comdisco, Inc.  (the
"Company"), and the Company agrees to sell to the undersigned on             19
(the "Delivery Date"),

principal amount of the Company's [insert title of security] (the "Securities")
offered by the Company's Prospectus dated         , 19  , as supplemented by its
Prospectus Supplement dated     , 19 , receipt of which is hereby acknowledged,
at a purchase price of     % of the principal amount of Securities, plus accrued
interest from             , 19   , to the Delivery Date and on the further terms
and conditions set forth in this contract.

     Payment for the Securities which the undersigned has agreed to purchase on
the Delivery Date shall be made to the Company or its order by certified or
official bank check in New York Clearing House funds, at the office of Comdisco,
Inc., 6111 North River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018 on the Delivery Date, upon
delivery to the undersigned of the Securities to be purchased by the undersigned
in definitive form and in such denominations and registered in such names as the
undersigned may designate by written or telegraphic communication addressed to
the Company not less than five full business days prior to the Delivery Date.

     The obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of and make
payments for Securities on the Delivery Date shall be subject to only the
conditions that (1) the purchase of Securities to be made by the undersigned
shall not on the Delivery Date be prohibited under the laws of the jurisdiction
to which the undersigned is subject and (2) the Company, on or before     , 19
shall have sold to the Underwriters of the Securities (the "Underwriters") such
principal amount of the Securities as is to be sold to them pursuant to the
Terms Agreement dated      , 19   between the Company and the

                                      B-1
<PAGE>
 
Underwriters. The obligation of the undersigned to take delivery of and make
payment for Securities shall not be affected by the failure of any purchaser to
take delivery of and make payment for Securities pursuant to other contracts
similar to this contract. The undersigned represents and warrants to you that
its investment in the Securities is not, as of the date hereof, prohibited under
the laws of any jurisdiction to which the undersigned is subject and which
govern such investment.

     Promptly after completion of the sale to the Underwriters, the Company
will mail or deliver to the undersigned at its address set forth below notice to
such effect, accompanied by a copy of the opinion of counsel for the Company
delivered to the Underwriters in connection therewith.

     By the execution hereof, the undersigned represents and warrants to
the Company that all necessary corporate action for the due execution and
delivery of this contract and the payment for and purchase of the Securities has
been taken by it and no further authorization or approval of any governmental or
other regulatory authority is required for such execution, delivery, payment or
purchase, and that, upon acceptance hereof by the Company and mailing or
delivery of a copy as provided below, this contract will constitute a valid and
binding agreement of the undersigned in accordance with its terms.

     This contract will inure to the benefit of and be binding upon the
parties hereto and their respective successors, but will not be assignable by
either party hereto without the written consent of the other.

     It is understood that the Company will not accept Delayed Delivery
Contracts for an aggregate amount of Securities in excess of $           and
that the acceptance of any Delayed Delivery Contracts is in the Company's sole
discretion and, without limiting the foregoing, need not be on a first-come,
first-served basis.  If this contract is acceptable to the Company, it is
requested that the Company sign the form of acceptance on a copy hereof and mail
or deliver a signed copy hereof to the undersigned at its address set forth
below.  This will become a binding contract between the Company and the
undersigned when such copy is so mailed or delivered.

                                      B-2
<PAGE>
 
     This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with
the laws of the State of New York applicable to agreements made and to be
performed in such State.

                                Very truly yours,


                                ------------------------------------------------
                                (Name of Purchaser)


                                By:
                                    --------------------------------------------
                                                                         (Title)

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

                                ------------------------------------------------
                                              (Address)


Accepted as of the date first above written.

COMDISCO, INC.



By: ______________________________________________________


                                      B-3
<PAGE>
 
                  PURCHASER-PLEASE COMPLETE AT TIME OF SIGNING

The name and telephone number of the representative of the Purchaser with whom
details of delivery on the Delivery Date may be discussed are as follows:
(Please print).



Name                               Telephone No. (including area code)
- ----                               -----------------------------------














                                      B-4

<PAGE>
 
                                  EXHIBIT 1.2
                        FORM OF DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT
                        ------------------------------

                                COMDISCO, INC.
                          Medium-Term Notes, Series _


                            DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT


                                                  _______________ ____, 1995


[AGENT #1]
[ADDRESS]

[AGENT #2]
[ADDRESS]

[AGENT #3]
[ADDRESS]

[AGENT #4]
[ADDRESS]

[AGENT #5]
[ADDRESS]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Comdisco, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company") confirms its
agreement with each of you (each an "Agent"; collectively, the "Agents") with
respect to the issue and sale by the Company of its Medium-Term Notes, Series _
(the "Notes"). The Notes are to be issued pursuant to an indenture (the
"Indenture") dated as of October 1, 1995, between the Company and Yasuda Bank &
Trust Co. (U.S.A.), as trustee (the "Trustee"). As of the date hereof, the
Company has authorized the issuance of up to $___________ aggregate principal
amount of Notes, which may be distributed through the Agents pursuant to the
terms of this Agreement. It is understood, however, that the Company may from
time to time authorize the issuance of additional notes and that such notes may
be distributed through the Agents pursuant to the terms of this Agreement, or
through one or more other agents pursuant to the terms of a separate agreement,
all as though the issuance of such notes was authorized as of the date hereof.

     The Notes will be represented by either a global security registered in the
name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company (the "Depositary"), as
Depositary (a "Book-Entry Note"), or a certificate issued in definitive form 
(a "Certificated Note"), as selected by the purchaser and agreed to by the 
Company and specified in the applicable pricing supplement. Beneficial 
interests in Book-Entry Notes
<PAGE>
 
will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only through, records
maintained by the Depositary and its participants.  Book-Entry Notes will not be
issuable in definitive form, except under the circumstances described in the
applicable prospectus supplement.  The Notes shall be issued in the currency or
currency unit (the "Specified Currency") and shall have the maturity ranges,
annual interest rate (whether fixed or floating), redemption provisions,
repayment provisions and other terms set forth in the Prospectus referred to
below as it may be supplemented from time to time, including any pricing
supplement (the "Pricing Supplement").

     Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and subject to the
reservation by the Company of the right to sell Notes directly to investors on
its own behalf or through other agents, dealers or underwriters substantially on
the same terms and conditions provided herein, the Company hereby (i) agrees
that whenever the Company determines to sell Notes directly to any of the Agents
as principal for resale to others, it will enter into a Terms Agreement (as
hereinafter defined) relating to such sale in accordance with the provisions of
Section 2(a) hereof, and (ii) appoints the Agents as its agents to solicit
orders for, and to sell, all or part of the Notes during a period beginning on
the date hereof and ending when the Notes have been sold, or such other time as
the Company may specify to you in writing.  Each Agent will use all reasonable
efforts to assist the Company in obtaining performance by each purchaser whose
offer to purchase Notes from the Company has been solicited by such Agent as
agent and accepted by the Company, but such Agent shall not have any liability
to the Company in the event any such purchase is not consummated for any reason.

     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-________) relating to
the Notes and the offering thereof from time to time in accordance with Rule 415
under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "1933 Act").  Such registration statement
has been declared effective by the Commission, and the Indenture has been
qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "1939 Act").  Such
registration statement (and any further registration statements which may be
filed by the Company for the purpose of registering additional notes and in
connection with which this Agreement is included or incorporated by reference as
an exhibit) and the prospectus filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act,
including all documents incorporated therein by reference, as from time to time
amended or supplemented by the filing of documents pursuant to the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act"), the 1933 Act or otherwise, are referred
to herein as the "Registration Statement" and the "Prospectus", respectively,
except that if any revised prospectus shall be provided to the Agents by the
Company for use in connection with the offering of the Notes which differs from
the Prospectus on file at the Commission at the time the Registration Statement
becomes effective (whether or not such revised prospectus is required to be
filed by the Company pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and regulations under
the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations")), the term "Prospectus" shall refer to
such revised prospectus from and after the time it is first provided to the
Agents for such use.

SECTION 1.  REPRESENTATIONS AND WARRANTIES.

     (a) The Company represents and warrants to each of the Agents as of the
date hereof (the "Closing Date"), as of the date of each acceptance by the
Company of an offer for the purchase of Notes 

                                      -2-
<PAGE>
 
whether through an Agent as agent or to an Agent as principal, as of the date of
each sale of Notes whether through an Agent as agent or to an Agent as principal
(each such sale to an Agent as principal being referred to herein as a
"Settlement Date"), and as of the times referred to in Sections 6(a) and 6(b)
hereof (each of the times referenced above being referred to herein as a
"Representation Date"), as follows:

          (i) Due Incorporation and Qualification. The Company has been duly
     incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing
     under the laws of the State of Delaware with corporate power and authority
     to own, lease and operate its properties and conduct its business as
     described in the Prospectus; and the Company is duly qualified as a foreign
     corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each
     jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of substantial properties or
     the conduct of its business requires such qualification and in which the
     failure to so qualify and be in good standing would materially adversely
     affect the business or financial condition of the Company and its
     subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.

          (ii) Subsidiaries. No subsidiary of the Company is a "significant
     subsidiary" as defined in Rule 405 of Regulation C of the 1933 Act
     Regulations.

          (iii) Registration Statement and Prospectus. At the time the
     Registration Statement became effective, the Registration Statement
     complied, and as of the applicable Representation Date will comply, in all
     material respects with the requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act
     Regulations and the 1939 Act. The Registration Statement, at the time it
     became effective did not, and as of the applicable Representation Date will
     not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
     material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, at the time the
     Registration Statement became effective (unless the term "Prospectus"
     refers to a prospectus which has been provided to the Agents by the Company
     for use in connection with the offering of the Notes which differs from the
     Prospectus on file at the Commission at the time the Registration Statement
     became effective, in which case at the time it is first provided to the
     Agents for such use), did not, and as of the applicable Representation Date
     will not, contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
     material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
     light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
     provided, however, that the representations and warranties in this
     subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions from the
     Registration Statement or Prospectus made in reliance upon and in
     conformity with information furnished to the Company in writing by the
     Agents expressly for use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or
     that part of the Registration Statement which shall constitute the
     Statement of Eligibility under the 1939 Act and the rules and regulations
     of the Commission promulgated thereunder.

          (iv) Incorporated Documents. The documents incorporated by reference
     in the Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the
     Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the
     requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     regulations thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations"), and, when read
     together and with the other information in the Prospectus, did not and will
     not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a
     material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
     or are made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations
     and warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements and/or
     omissions from the Prospectus made in reliance upon and in conformity with
     the information furnished to the Company in writing by you expressly for
     use in the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented.

          (v) Accountants. To the best of the Company's knowledge, the
     accountants who certified the financial statements included or incorporated
     by reference in the Prospectus are independent public accountants as
     required by the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations.

          (vi) Financial Statements. The consolidated financial statements of
     the Company and its subsidiaries included or incorporated by reference in
     the Prospectus present fairly the financial position of the Company and its
     subsidiaries as at the dates indicated and the results of their operations
     for the periods specified; except as stated therein, said financial
     statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
     accounting principles applied on a consistent basis throughout the period
     or periods involved.

          (vii) Material Changes or Material Transactions. Since the respective
     dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein or contemplated thereby,
     (a) there has been no material adverse change in, or any material
     development known to management which is likely to result in a material
     adverse change in, the condition, financial or otherwise, of the Company
     and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, or in the earnings,
     business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
     considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course
     of business, and (b) there have been no transactions considered material to
     the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise entered into
     by the Company or any of its subsidiaries other than those in the ordinary
     course of business.

          (viii) No Defaults, Breaches, Liens; Regulatory Approvals. The Company
     is not in violation of its charter or in default in the performance or
     observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or condition
     contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease
     or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its
     properties may be bound; and the execution and delivery of this Agreement,
     the Indenture and each applicable Terms Agreement, if any, and the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein have been
     duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and will not conflict
     with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or result in the creation
     or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property or
     assets of the Company pursuant to any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan
     agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which the Company is a party
     or by which it may be bound or to which any of the property or assets of
     the Company is subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the
     provisions of the

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
     charter or by-laws of the Company or, to the best of its knowledge, any
     law, administrative regulation or administrative or court order or decree;
     and no consent, approval, authorization, order or decree of any court or
     governmental agency or body is required for the consummation by the Company
     of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except such as may be
     required under the 1933 Act, the 1939 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations or
     state securities or Blue Sky laws.

          (ix) Legal Proceedings; Contracts. Except as may be set forth in the
     Prospectus, there is no action, suit or proceeding before or by any court
     or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, with
     respect to which the Company has been served, or, to the knowledge of the
     Company, threatened against or affecting, the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries, which might, in the opinion of the Company, result in any
     material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, of the
     Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, or in the
     earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
     subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, or might materially and
     adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or might materially and
     adversely affect the consummation of this Agreement or any Terms Agreement;
     and there are no material contracts or documents of the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries which are required to be filed as exhibits to the
     Registration Statement by the 1933 Act or by the 1933 Act Regulations which
     have not been so filed.

          (x) Material Licenses and Other Authorizations. The Company owns or
     possesses or has obtained all governmental licenses, permits, consents,
     orders, approvals and other authorizations necessary to lease or own, as
     the case may be, and to operate its properties and to carry on its business
     as presently conducted, except where the failure to possess any such
     license, permits, consents, orders, approvals or authorizations would not
     have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, or the earnings
     or business of the Company.

          (xi) Trademarks, Service Marks and Trade Names. The Company owns or
     possesses, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate trademarks, service
     marks and trade names necessary to conduct the business now operated by it,
     and the Company has not received any notice of infringement of or conflict
     with asserted rights of others with respect to any trademarks, service
     marks or trade names which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of
     an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would materially adversely
     affect the conduct of the business, operations, financial condition or
     income of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise.

          (xii) Authorization and Validity of the Notes. The Notes have been
     duly authorized for issuance and sale pursuant to this Agreement and, when
     issued, authenticated and delivered pursuant to the provisions of this
     Agreement and of the Indenture against payment of the consideration
     therefor specified herein or in any Terms Agreement, the Notes will
     constitute valid and legally binding obligations of the Company enforceable
     in accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be
     limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or other laws relating to or affecting
     creditors' rights generally or by general equity principles, and will be
     entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, which will be
     substantially in the form heretofore

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
     delivered to the Agents; and the Notes and the Indenture conform in all
     material respects to all statements relating thereto contained in the
     Prospectus.

     (b) Additional Certifications. Any certificate signed by any officer of the
Company and delivered to the Agents or to counsel for the Agents in connection
with an offering of Notes shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the
Company to the Agents as to the matters covered thereby.

SECTION 2.  PURCHASES AS PRINCIPAL; SOLICITATIONS AS AGENT.

     (a) Purchases as Principal. Unless otherwise agreed by the Company and the
applicable Agent, Notes shall be purchased by such Agent as principal. Such
purchase shall be made in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and a
separate agreement which will provide for the sale of such Notes to, and the
purchase and reoffering thereof by such Agent. Each such separate agreement
(which may be an oral agreement and confirmed in writing as described below
between the Agent and the Company) is herein referred to as a "Terms Agreement".
Each such Terms Agreement, whether oral (and confirmed in writing, which may be
by facsimile transmission) or in writing, shall be with respect to such
information (as applicable) as is specified in Exhibit A hereto. Unless
otherwise agreed to between the Company and the Agent in a Terms Agreement, any
Note sold to an Agent (i) shall be purchased by such Agent at a price equal to
100% of the principal amount thereof less a percentage equal to the commission
applicable to an agency sale of a Note of identical maturity and (ii) may be
resold by such Agent at varying prices from time to time. In connection with any
resale of Notes purchased, an Agent may use a selling or dealer group and may
reallow any portion of the discount or commission payable pursuant hereto to
dealers or other purchasers.

     (b) Solicitations as Agent. On the basis of the representations and
warranties herein contained, but subject to the terms and conditions herein set
forth, when agreed to by the Company and the applicable Agent, such Agent as an
agent of the Company, will use its reasonable efforts to solicit offers to
purchase the Notes upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

     The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to instruct the
Agents to suspend solicitation of purchases of the Notes commencing at any time
for any period of time or permanently. As soon as practicable, but in any event
not later than one business day after receipt of instructions from the Company,
the Agents will suspend solicitation of offers to purchase Notes from the
Company until such time as the Company has advised the Agents that such
solicitation may be resumed.

     Unless otherwise agreed between the Company and the Agents, the Company
agrees to pay each Agent, as consideration for soliciting the sale of any Notes,
a commission in the form of a discount equal to the applicable percentage of the
principal amount of each Note sold by the Company as a result of a solicitation
made by each respective Agent as set forth in Exhibit B hereto. Except as
provided in Section 2(a), without the prior approval of the Company, the Agent
may not re-allow any portion of the commission payable pursuant hereto to
dealers or purchasers in connection with the offer and sale of any Notes.

                                      -6-
<PAGE>
 
     As agent, each Agent is authorized to solicit orders for the Notes at a
purchase price which shall be agreed upon by the Company and the Agents and set
forth in a supplement to the Prospectus and (except as may be otherwise provided
in an applicable supplement to the Prospectus) only in denominations of $1,000
or any integral multiple thereof. Each Agent shall communicate to the Company,
orally or in writing, each reasonable offer to purchase Notes received by it.
The Company shall have the sole right to accept offers to purchase the Notes and
may reject any such offer in whole or in part. Each Agent shall have the right
to reject, in its discretion reasonably exercised, any offer to purchase the
Notes in whole or in part, and any such rejection shall not be deemed a breach
of the Agent's agreements contained herein.

     (c) Administrative Procedures. Administrative procedures respecting the
sale of Notes shall be agreed upon from time to time in writing by the Agents
and the Company (the "Procedures"). The Agents and the Company agree to perform
the respective duties and obligations specifically provided to be performed by
the Agents herein and in the Procedures.

     (d) Delivery of Documents. The documents required to be delivered by
Section 5 hereof shall be delivered at the office of Brown & Wood, One World
Trade Center, New York, New York 10048 on the date hereof or such other time 
as the Agents and the Company may agree in writing.

     Any Notes which are purchased by an Agent as principal shall be purchased,
and any Notes the placement of which an Agent arranges, shall be placed by such
Agent, in reliance on the representations and warranties of the Company herein
contained and on to the terms and conditions and in the manner provided herein.

SECTION 3.  COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

     The Company covenants with each of the Agents as follows:

     (a) Notice of Certain Events. The Company will notify each of the Agents
immediately (i) of the effectiveness of any amendment to the Registration
Statement (including any post-effective amendment), (ii) of the mailing or the
delivery to the Commission for filing of any supplement to the Prospectus or any
document to be filed pursuant to the 1934 Act which will be incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus, (iii) of the receipt of any comments from the
Commission with respect to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, (iv) of
any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or
any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for additional information, and
(v) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the
effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings
for that purpose. The Company will make every reasonable effort to prevent the
issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the
lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment; provided, however, that the
Company shall have no such obligation during any period from the time (i) the
Agents shall have suspended solicitation of offers to purchase Notes in their
capacity as agents pursuant to a request from the Company and (ii) the Agents
shall not then hold any Notes as principal purchased pursuant to a Terms
Agreement (or, if the Agents hold Notes as principal purchased pursuant to a
Terms Agreement, the Agents have held

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
such Notes for more than 90 days), to the time the Company shall determine that
solicitation of purchases of the Notes should be resumed or shall subsequently
enter into a new Terms Agreement with the Agents.

     (b) Notice of Certain Proposed Filings. The Company will give the Agents
notice of its intention to file any additional registration statement with
respect to the registration of additional notes, any amendment to the
Registration Statement (including any post-effective amendment) or any amendment
or supplement to the Prospectus (including any revised prospectus which the
Company proposes for use by the Agents in connection with the offering of the
Notes which differs from the prospectus on file at the Commission at the time
the Registration Statement becomes effective, whether or not such revised
prospectus is required to be filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the 1933 Act
Regulations), whether by the filing of documents pursuant to the 1934 Act, the
1933 Act or otherwise, and will furnish the Agents with copies of any such
amendment or supplement or other documents proposed to be filed or used a
reasonable time in advance of such filing or use, and will not file any such
amendment or supplement or other documents in a form to which you or your
counsel shall reasonably object.

     (c) Copies of Registration Statement, Prospectus. The Company will deliver
to the Agents as many signed and conformed copies of the Registration Statement
(as originally filed) and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed
therewith or incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated by
reference in the Prospectus) as the Agents may reasonably request. The Company
will furnish to the Agents as many copies of the Prospectus (as amended or
supplemented) as the Agents shall reasonably request so long as the Agents are
required to deliver a Prospectus in connection with sales or solicitations of
offers to purchase the Notes.

     (d) Revisions of Prospectus -- Material Changes. If at any time when the
Prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with sales
of the Notes or an Agent holds any Notes as principal purchased pursuant to a
Terms Agreement any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it
is necessary, in the reasonable opinion of the Agents counsel or counsel for the
Company, to further amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that the
Prospectus will not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to
state any material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the time it is
delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the reasonable opinion
of either such counsel, at any such time to amend or supplement the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933
Act or the 1933 Act Regulations, immediate notice shall be given, and confirmed
in writing, to the Agents to cease the solicitation of offers to purchase the
Notes in the Agents' capacity as agents and to cease sales of any Notes an Agent
may then own as principal, and the Company will promptly prepare and file with
the Commission such amendment or supplement, whether by filing documents
pursuant to the 1934 Act, the 1933 Act or otherwise, as may be necessary to
correct such untrue statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement
comply with such requirements.

     (e) Prospectus Revisions -- Periodic Financial Information. On or prior to
the date on which there shall be released to the general public interim
financial statement information related to the Company with respect to each of
the first three quarters of any fiscal year or preliminary financial

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
statement information with respect to any fiscal year, the Company shall furnish
such information to the Agents, confirmed in writing, and shall cause the
Prospectus to be amended or supplemented to include or incorporate by reference
capsule financial information with respect thereto and corresponding information
for the comparable period of the preceding fiscal year, as well as such other
information and explanations as shall be necessary for an understanding thereof
or as shall be required by the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations; provided,
however, that if on the date of such release the Agents shall have suspended
solicitation of offers to purchase Notes in each Agent's capacity as agent
pursuant to a request from the Company, and shall not then hold any Notes as
principal purchased pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the Company shall not be
obligated so to amend or supplement the Prospectus until such time as the
Company shall determine that solicitation of offers to purchase Notes should be
resumed or shall subsequently enter into a Terms Agreement with an Agent.

     (f) Prospectus Revisions -- Audited Financial Information. On or prior to
the date on which there shall be released to the general public financial
information included in or derived from the audited financial statements of the
Company for the preceding fiscal year, the Company shall cause the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus to be amended, whether by the filing of documents
pursuant to the 1934 Act, the 1933 Act or otherwise, to include or incorporate
by reference such audited financial statements and the report or reports, and
consent or consents to such inclusion or incorporation by reference, of the
independent accountants with respect thereto, as well as such other information
and explanations as shall be necessary for an understanding of such financial
statements or as shall be required by the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations;
provided, however, that if on the date of such release the Agents shall have
suspended solicitation of offers to purchase Notes in each Agent's capacity as
agent pursuant to a request from the Company, and shall not then hold any Notes
as principal purchased pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the Company shall not be
obligated so to amend or supplement the Prospectus until such time as the
Company shall determine that solicitation of offers to purchase Notes should be
resumed or shall subsequently enter into a Terms Agreement with an Agent.

     (g) Section 11(a) Earnings Statements. The Company will make generally
available to its security holders as soon as practicable, but not later than 90
days after the close of the period covered thereby, earnings statements (in form
complying with the provisions of Rule 158 under the 1933 Act) covering twelve-
month periods beginning, in each case, not later than the first day of the
Company's fiscal quarter next following the "effective date" (as defined in such
Rule 158) of the Registration Statement with respect to each sale of Notes.

     (h) Copies of Financial Reports. The Company will furnish to the Agents, at
the earliest time the Company makes the same available to others, copies of its
annual reports and other financial reports furnished or made available to the
public generally.

     (i) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Company will endeavor, in cooperation with
the Agents, to qualify the Notes for offering and sale under the applicable
securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions of the United States as
the Agents may reasonably designate, and will maintain such qualifications in
effect for as long as may be required for the distribution of the Notes; the
Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the laws of
each jurisdiction in which the

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
Notes have been qualified as above provided; provided, however, that the Company
shall not be obligated to file any general consent to service of process or to
qualify as a foreign corporation in any jurisdiction in which it is not so
qualified or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so
qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any
jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject or expend amounts in excess
of $1,000 for filing fees in any one jurisdiction.

     (j) 1934 Act Filings. The Company, during the period when the Prospectus is
required to be delivered under the 1933 Act, will file promptly all documents
required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Sections 13(a), 13(c), 14
or 15(d) of the 1934 Act.

     (k) Stand-Off Agreement. Between the date of any Terms Agreement and the
Settlement Date with respect to such Terms Agreement, the Company will not,
without the prior consent of each Agent that is a party to said Terms Agreement,
offer or sell or enter into any agreement to sell, any debt securities of the
Company (other than the Notes which are to be sold pursuant to such Terms
Agreement and commercial paper, tax-exempt securities or other securities (which
contain terms which are not substantially similar to the Notes which are to be
sold pursuant to such Terms Agreement) offered and sold by the Company in the
ordinary course of its business, including, but not limited to, securities
issued by the Company in connection with the non-recourse financing of lease
receivables), except as may otherwise be provided in any such Terms Agreement.

SECTION 4.  PAYMENT OF EXPENSES.

     The Company will pay all expenses incident to the performance of its
obligations under this Agreement, including:

          (i) The preparation and filing of the Registration Statement and all
     amendments thereto and the Prospectus and any amendments or supplements
     thereto;

          (ii) The preparation, issuance and delivery of the Notes;

          (iii) The fees and disbursements of the Company's accountants and of
     the Trustee and its counsel;

          (iv) The reasonable fee and disbursements of the Agents' counsel;

          (v) The qualification of the Notes under securities laws in accordance
     with the provisions of Section 3(i), including filing fees and the
     reasonable fees and disbursements of the Agents' counsel in connection
     therewith and in connection with the preparation of any Blue Sky Survey and
     any Legal Investment Survey;

          (vi) The printing and delivery to the Agents in quantities as
     hereinabove stated of copies of the Registration Statement and any
     amendments thereto, and of the Prospectus and any

                                     -10-
<PAGE>
 
     amendments or supplements thereto, and the delivery by the Agents of the
     Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto in connection with
     solicitations or confirmations of sales of the Notes;

          (vii) The printing and delivery to the Agents of copies of the
     Indenture and any Blue Sky Survey and any Legal Investment Survey;

          (viii) Any fees charged by rating agencies for the rating of the
     Notes;

          (ix) The fees and expenses, if any, incurred with respect to any
     filing with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; and

          (x) Any advertising and other out-of-pocket expenses incurred with the
     approval of the Company.

SECTION 5.  CONDITIONS OF OBLIGATIONS.

     Each Agent's obligations to purchase the Notes as principal and to solicit
offers to purchase the Notes as agent of the Company and the obligation of any
purchaser of Notes sold through an Agent as agent, will be subject at all times
to the accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the Company
herein and to the accuracy of the statements of the Company's officers made in
any certificate furnished pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance
and observance by the Company of all covenants and agreements herein contained
on its part to be performed and observed and to the following additional
conditions precedent:

     (a) Legal Opinions. At the Closing Date and at each Settlement Date with
respect to any applicable Terms Agreement, if called for by such Terms
Agreement, each Agent shall have received the following documents:

          (1) Opinion of Company Counsel. The opinion of Philip A. Hewes, Esq.,
     Senior Vice President/Legal of the Company, or Jeremiah M. Fitzgerald,
     Esq., Vice President and General Counsel of the Company, dated as of such
     Closing Date or Settlement Date, in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Agents and the Agents' counsel, to the effect that:

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

            (ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and
          operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the
          Prospectus.

            (iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Company is duly
          qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good
          standing in each jurisdiction in which its ownership or lease of
          substantial properties or the conduct of its business

                                     -11-
<PAGE>
 
          requires such qualification and in which failure of the Company to be
          so qualified and in good standing would have a material adverse effect
          upon the Company and its subsidiaries considered as a single
          enterprise.

            (iv) This Agreement (and, if the opinion is being given pursuant to
          Section 6(c) hereof as a result of the Company having entered into a
          Terms Agreement requiring such opinion, the applicable Terms
          Agreement) has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
          Company.

            (v) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
          by the Company and (assuming the Indenture has been duly authorized,
          executed and delivered by the Trustee) constitutes a valid and binding
          agreement of the Company, enforceable in accordance with its terms,
          except as enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
          insolvency, or other laws relating to or affecting creditors' rights
          generally, or by general equity principles.

            (vi) The Notes are in the form contemplated by the Indenture, have
          been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and, when
          executed and authenticated as specified in the Indenture and delivered
          against payment of the consideration therefor in accordance with this
          Agreement, as supplemented by the applicable Terms Agreement, if any,
          will be valid and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in
          accordance with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be
          limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, or other laws relating to or
          affecting creditors' rights generally, or by general equity
          principles, and each holder of Notes will be entitled to the benefits
          of the Indenture.

            (vii)  The statements in the Prospectus under the caption
          "Description of Debt Securities" and in the Prospectus Supplement
          under the caption "Description of the Notes", insofar as they purport
          to summarize certain provisions of documents specifically referred to
          therein, are accurate summaries of such provisions.

            (viii)  The Indenture is qualified under the 1939 Act.

            (ix) The Registration Statement is effective under the 1933 Act and,
          to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no stop order suspending the
          effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued under the
          1933 Act or proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the
          Commission.

            (x) At the time the Registration Statement became effective, the
          Registration Statement (other than the financial statements and other
          financial or statistical data included or incorporated by reference
          therein, as to which no opinion need be rendered) appeared on its face
          to comply as to form in all material respects with the requirements of
          the 1933 Act, the 1939 Act and the regulations under each of those
          Acts.

                                     -12-
<PAGE>
 
            (xi) To the best of such counsel's knowledge, there are no legal or
          governmental proceedings pending or threatened which are required to
          be disclosed in the Registration Statement, other than those disclosed
          therein, and all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which
          the Company or any subsidiary is a party or of which any of their
          property is the subject which are not described in the Prospectus,
          including ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, are,
          considered in the aggregate, not material.

            (xii)  To the best of such counsel's knowledge and information,
          there are no contracts, indentures, mortgages, loan agreements, notes,
          leases or other instruments required to be described or referred to in
          the Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto other
          than those described or referred to therein or filed or incorporated
          by reference as exhibits thereto, the descriptions thereof or
          references thereto are correct, and, except for certain minor matters
          which, either individually or in the aggregate, will not or do not
          have a material adverse effect on the Company or its business, no
          default exists in the due performance or observance of any material
          obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any
          contract, indenture, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument
          so described, referred to, filed or incorporated by reference.

            (xiii) No consent, approval, authorization, or order of any court or
          governmental authority or agency is required in connection with the
          sale of the Notes, except such as may be required under the 1933 Act,
          the 1939 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, or state securities laws; and,
          to the best of such counsel's knowledge, the execution and delivery of
          this Agreement (and, if the opinion is being given pursuant to Section
          6(c) hereof on account of the Company having entered into a Terms
          Agreement, the applicable Terms Agreement) and the Indenture and the
          consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will
          not conflict with or constitute a breach of, or default under, or
          result in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or
          encumbrance upon any property or assets of the Company pursuant to,
          any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or
          other instrument known to such counsel and to which the Company is a
          party or by which it may be bound or to which any of the property or
          assets of the Company is subject, or any law, administrative
          regulation or administrative or court decree, known to such counsel to
          be applicable to the Company, of any court or governmental agency,
          authority or body or any arbitrator having jurisdiction over the
          Company, except that such counsel need express no opinion as to any
          state securities or Blue Sky laws, or any rules or regulations
          thereunder; nor will such action result in any violation of the
          provisions of the charter or bylaws of the Company.

            (xiv)  Each document filed pursuant to the 1934 Act and incorporated
          by reference in the Prospectus (except for the financial statements
          and other financial or statistical data included therein or omitted
          therefrom, as to which counsel need not comment), appeared on its face
          to comply when filed as to form in all material respects with the 1934
          Act and the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.

                                     -13-
<PAGE>
 
          In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
     involving the application of laws of the State of New York, to the extent
     deemed proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of Brown &
     Wood, counsel for the Agents, delivered pursuant to subsection (a)(2)
     hereof and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent deemed proper, on
     certificates of responsible officers of the Company and public officials.

          (2) Opinion of Counsel to the Agents.  The opinion of Brown & Wood,
     counsel to the Agents, dated as of such Closing Date or Settlement Date,
     covering the matters referred to in subparagraph (1) under the subheadings
     (i) and (iv) to (x), inclusive.

          (3) In giving their opinions required by subsection (a)(1) and (a)(2)
     of this Section, Mr. Hewes or Mr. Fitzgerald and Brown & Wood shall each
     additionally state that nothing has come to their attention that would lead
     them to believe that the Registration Statement (except for the financial
     statements and other financial or statistical data included therein or
     omitted therefrom, as to which counsel need not comment), at the time it
     became effective, or if an amendment to the Registration Statement or an
     Annual Report on Form 10-K has been filed by the Company with the
     Commission subsequent to the effectiveness of the Registration Statement,
     then at the time of the most recent such amendment or filing, contained an
     untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
     not misleading or that the Prospectus, as amended or supplemented at the
     Closing Date, the Settlement Date or the date of such opinion, as the case
     may be, contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
     material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
     light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

     (b) Officer's Certificate.  At the Closing Date and at each Settlement Date
with respect to any Terms Agreement, there shall not have been, since the
respective dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement
and the Prospectus or since the date of such Terms Agreement, any material
adverse change in, or any material development known to management which is
likely to result in a material adverse change in, the condition, financial or
otherwise, of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, or
the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the
ordinary course of business; and the Agents shall have received a certificate of
the President and the Chief Financial Officer of the Company at the Closing Date
and, if called for by the applicable Terms Agreement, at each Settlement Date,
dated as of the Closing Date or such Settlement Date, to the effect that (i)
there has been no such material adverse change or material development known to
management which is likely to result in a material adverse change, (ii) the
other representations and warranties of the Company contained in Section 1 are
true and correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and
as of the date of such certificate, (iii) the Company has complied with all
agreements and satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied
at or prior to the date of such certificate, and (iv) no stop order suspending
the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been issued and no
proceedings for that purpose have been initiated or threatened by the
Commission.

                                     -14-
<PAGE>
 
     (c) Comfort Letter. The Agents shall have received on the date hereof, a
letter from KPMG Peat Marwick LLP, dated as of the date hereof, in form and
substance satisfactory to the Agents, to the effect that:

          (i) They are independent public accountants with respect to the
     Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the 1933 Act and the
     1933 Act Regulations.

          (ii) In their opinion, the consolidated financial statements and
     supporting schedule(s) audited by them and incorporated by reference in the
     Registration Statement comply as to form in all material respects with the
     applicable accounting requirements of the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act
     Regulations with respect to registration statements on Form S-3 and the
     1934 Act and the 1934 Act Regulations.

          (iii) Based upon limited procedures set forth in detail in such letter
     (which shall include, without limitation, the procedures specified by the
     American institute of Certified Public Accountants for a review of interim
     financial information as described in SAS No. 71, Interim Financial
     Information, with respect to the unaudited consolidated financial
     statements of the Company and its subsidiaries included in the Registration
     Statement), nothing has come to their attention which causes them to
     believe that:

               (A) any material modifications should be made to the unaudited
          consolidated financial statements included in the Registration
          Statement for them to be in conformity with generally accepted
          accounting principles; or

               (B) the unaudited consolidated financial statements included in
          the Registration Statement do not comply as to form in all material
          respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the 1933 Act
          and the related published rules and regulations; or

               (C) at a specified date not more than five days prior to the date
          of such letter, there was any change in the capital stock or any
          increase in the long-term debt of the Company and its subsidiaries
          consolidated or any decrease in consolidated net assets, in each case
          as compared with amounts shown in the most recent consolidated balance
          sheet incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, except
          in each case for changes, increases or decreases which the
          Registration Statement and the Prospectus disclose have occurred or
          may occur; or

               (D) for the period from the date of the most recent interim
          period financial statements incorporated by reference in the
          Registration Statement to a specified date not more than five days
          prior to the date of such letter, there were any decreases, as
          compared with the corresponding period in the preceding year, in
          consolidated revenues or net earnings, except in each case for
          increases or decreases  which the Registration Statement and the
          Prospectus disclose have occurred or may occur.

                                     -15-
<PAGE>
 
          (iv) In addition to the examination referred to in their report
     incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
     they have carried out certain other specified procedures, not constituting
     an audit, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and financial
     information which are included in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus and which are specified by the Agents, and have found such
     amounts, percentages and financial information to be in agreement with the
     relevant accounting, financial and other records of the Company and its
     subsidiaries identified in such letter.

     (d) Other Documents.  At the date hereof, at the Closing Date and at each
Settlement Date with respect to any applicable Terms Agreement, counsel to the
Agents shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as such
counsel may reasonably require for the purpose of enabling such counsel to pass
upon the issuance and sale of Notes as herein contemplated and related
proceedings, or in order to evidence the accuracy and completeness of any of the
representations and warranties, or the fulfillment of any of the conditions,
herein contained; and all proceedings taken by the Company in connection with
the issuance and sale of Notes as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in
form and substance to the Agents and to the Agents' counsel.

     (e) Further Conditions.  The obligations of each of the Agents to purchase
Notes pursuant to any Terms Agreement will be subject to the following further
conditions:  (i) the rating assigned by any nationally recognized securities
rating agency to any debt securities or other obligations of the Company as of
the date of the applicable Terms Agreement shall not have been lowered since
that date nor shall any such rating agency have publicly announced that it has
placed any obligations of the Company on what is commonly termed a "watch list"
for possible downgrading, and (ii) there shall not have come to such Agent's
attention any facts that would cause such Agent to believe that the Prospectus,
at the time it was required to be delivered to a purchaser of Notes, contained
an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances existing at such time, not misleading.

     If any condition specified in this Section shall not have been fulfilled,
this Agreement and any Terms Agreement may be terminated by the Agents by notice
to the Company at any time at or prior to the Closing Date or the applicable
Settlement Date, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to
any other party, except that the covenants set forth in Section 3(g) hereof, the
provisions of Section 4 hereof, the indemnity and contribution agreements set
forth in Sections 7 and 8 hereof, and the provisions of Sections 9 and 13 hereof
shall remain in effect.

SECTION 6.  ADDITIONAL COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY.

     The Company covenants and agrees that:

     (a) Reaffirmation of Representations and Warranties.  Each acceptance by it
of an offer for the purchase of Notes, and each sale of Notes to the Agents
pursuant to a Terms Agreement, shall be deemed to be an affirmation that the
representations and warranties of the Company contained in this Agreement and in
any certificate theretofore delivered to the Agents pursuant hereto are true and
correct 

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
 
at the time of such acceptance or sale, as the case may be, and an undertaking
that such representations and warranties will be true and correct at the time of
delivery to the purchaser or his agent, or to the Agents, of the Notes or Notes
relating to such acceptance or sale, as the case may be, as though made at and
as of each such time (and it is understood that such representations and
warranties shall relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as
amended and supplemented to each such time);

     (b) Subsequent Delivery of Certificates.  Each time that the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than by an
amendment or supplement providing solely for a change in the interest rates of
Notes or a change in the principal amount of Notes remaining to be sold or
similar changes) or there is filed with the Commission any document incorporated
by reference into the Prospectus or, if so indicated in the applicable Terms
Agreement, the Company sells Notes to the Agents pursuant to a Terms Agreement,
the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished to the Agents forthwith a
certificate in form satisfactory to the Agents to the effect that the statements
contained in the certificates referred to in Section 5(b) hereof which were last
furnished to the Agents are true and correct at the time of such amendment or
supplement or filing or sale, as the case may be, as though made at and as of
such time (except that such statements shall be deemed to relate to the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such
time) or, in lieu of such certificate, certificates of the same tenor as the
certificates referred to in said Section 5(b), modified as necessary to relate
to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to
the time of delivery of such certificates;

     (c) Subsequent Delivery of Legal Opinions.  Each time that the Registration
Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than by an
amendment or supplement providing solely for a change in the interest rates of
the Notes or a change in the principal amount of Notes remaining to be sold or
similar changes) or there is filed with the Commission any document incorporated
by reference into the Prospectus (other than any Current Report on Form 8-K) or,
if so indicated in the applicable Terms Agreement, the Company sells Notes to
the Agents pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the Company shall furnish or cause to
be furnished forthwith to the Agents and to the Agents' counsel a written
opinion of Philip A. Hewes, Esq., Senior Vice President/Legal of the Company or
Jeremiah M. Fitzgerald, Vice President and General Counsel of the Company, or
other counsel satisfactory to the Agents, dated the date of delivery of such
opinion, in form satisfactory to the Agents, of the same tenor as the opinion
referred to in Section 5(a) hereof but modified, as necessary, to relate to the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the
time of delivery of such opinion or, in lieu of such opinion, counsel last
furnishing such opinion to the Agents shall furnish the Agents with a letter to
the effect that the Agents may rely on such last opinion to the same extent as
though it was dated the date of such letter authorizing reliance (except that
statements in such last opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration
Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery
of such letter authorizing reliance); and

     (d) Subsequent Delivery of Comfort Letters.  Prior to the initial sale of
any of the Notes within any fiscal quarter, the Company shall cause KPMG Peat
Marwick LLP to furnish the Agents a letter, dated the date of such initial sale,
or the date of the filing of an amendment, supplement or document including or
incorporating by reference additional financial information in the Registration

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
 
Statement or the Prospectus; such letter shall be in form satisfactory to the
Agents, of the same tenor as the portions of the letter referred to in clauses
(i) and (ii) of Section 5(c) hereof but modified to relate to the Registration
Statement and Prospectus, as amended and supplemented to the date of such
letter, and of the same general tenor as the portions of the letter referred to
in clauses (iii) and (iv) of said Section 5(c) with such changes as may be
necessary to reflect changes in the financial statements and other information
derived from the accounting records of the Company; provided, however, that if
the Registration Statement or the Prospectus is amended or supplemented solely
to include financial information as of and for a fiscal quarter, KPMG Peat
Marwick LLP may limit the scope of such letter to the unaudited financial
statements included in such amendment or supplement unless any other information
included therein of an accounting, financial, or statistical nature is of such a
nature that, in the Agents' reasonable judgment, such letter should cover such
other information.

SECTION 7.  INDEMNIFICATION.

     (a) Indemnification of the Agents.  The Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless each of the Agents and each person, if any, who controls either
Agent within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934
Act as follows:

          (i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
     untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
     as originally filed (or any amendment thereto), or the omission or alleged
     omission therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of
     any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
     contained in the Prospectus (if used within the period set forth in Section
     3(e) hereof and as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have
     furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or the omission or
     alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in order to make
     the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
     were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the Company will not be
     liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage,
     liability or expense arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or
     omission or such alleged untrue statement or omission (A) which has been
     made therein or omitted therefrom in reliance upon and in conformity with
     written information furnished to the Company by any Agent expressly for use
     in the registration statement as originally filed (or any amendment
     thereto) or the prospectus as originally filed (or any amendment or
     supplement thereto) or (B) which has been made or omitted from the
     Statement of Eligibility of the Trustee on Form T-1, other than any such
     untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made
     therein or omitted therefrom in reliance upon information furnished in
     writing to the Trustee by the Company for use therein; the foregoing
     indemnification with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure
     to the benefit of any Agent from whom the person asserting any such losses,
     claims, damages or liabilities purchased Notes, or any person controlling
     such Agent, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or supplemented if
     the Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto) was
     not sent or given by or on behalf of such Agent to such person, if such
     delivery is required by law, at or prior to the written confirmation of the
     sale of such 

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
 
     Notes to such person and if the Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented)
     would have cured the defect giving rise to such loss, claim, damage or
     liability;

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

          (iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including
     the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by the Agents), reasonably
     incurred in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation,
     or investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body,
     commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue
     statement or omission, or any such alleged untrue statement or omission
     (except as made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
     furnished by the Agents as aforesaid), to the extent that any such expense
     is not paid under (i) or (ii) above.

     Insofar as this indemnity may permit indemnification for liabilities under
the 1933 Act of any person who is a partner of an Agent or who controls an Agent
within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act
and who, at the date of this Agreement, is a director, officer or controlling
person of the Company, such indemnity agreement is subject to the undertaking of
the Company in the Registration Statement.

     (b) Indemnification of Company.  Each Agent severally agrees to indemnify
and hold the Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the
Registration Statement as originally filed (or any amendment thereto), and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act, harmless from and against any and all
loss, liability, claim, damage and expense to the same extent described in the
indemnity contained in subsection (a) of this Section, as incurred, but only
with respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or
omissions, made in or omitted from the Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by the
Agents expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment
thereto) or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (c) Tax Indemnity.  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each
Agent against any documentary stamp or similar issue tax and any related
interest or penalties on the issue or sale of the Notes to the Agents which are
due in the United States of America, the United Kingdom or any other
jurisdiction.

     (d) General.  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under
subsection (a) or (b) above of written notice of the commencement of any action
such indemnified party shall, if a claim in 

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
 
respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under such
subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement
thereof, and in the event that such indemnified party shall not so notify the
indemnifying party within 30 days following receipt of any such notice by such
indemnified party, the indemnifying party shall have no further liability under
such subdivision to such indemnified party unless such indemnifying party shall
have received other notice addressed and delivered in the manner provided in
Section 11 hereof of the commencement of such action; but the omission so to
notify the indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which it
may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection. Any
indemnified party or any such controlling person shall have the right to
employ separate counsel in any such action and participate in the defense
thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel shall be at the expense of
such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of such counsel has been
specifically authorized in writing by the indemnifying party, (ii) the
indemnifying party has failed to assume the defense and employ counsel or (iii)
the named parties to any such action (including any impleaded parties) include
both such indemnified party and the indemnifying party and such indemnified
party has been advised by such counsel that there may be one or more legal
defenses available to it which are different from or additional to those
available to the indemnifying party (in which case the indemnifying party shall
not have the right to assume the defense of such action on behalf of such
indemnified party, it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party
shall not, in connection with any one such action or separate but substantially
similar or related action in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same
general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable fees and
expenses of more than one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to local
counsel) for all such indemnified parties, which firm shall be designated in
writing by you).

SECTION 8.  CONTRIBUTION.

     If the indemnification provided for in Section 7 is unavailable to or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to
therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or
payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is appropriate
to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
contributing Agent on the other from the offering of the Notes to which such
loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates.  If,
however, the indemnification provided for in Section 7 is unavailable to or
insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to
therein, if the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not
permitted by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the
notice required under Section 7(d) above, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also
the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the contributing Agent on
the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof), as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the contributing Agent on the other shall be
deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the sale of
Notes (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to the total

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
 
commissions or discounts received by the contributing Agent in respect thereof
(or, in the case of Notes sold pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the aggregate
commissions that would have been received by such Agent if such commissions had
been payable).  The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among
other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact
or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or by
the contributing Agent on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission. The Company and the contributing Agent agree that it would not be just
and equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 8 were determined by pro
rata allocation or by any other method of allocation which does not take account
of the equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 8. The amount
paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to above in this
Section 8 shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably
incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending
any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 8, no
Agent shall be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by
which the total price at which the Notes purchased by or through such Agent were
sold exceeds the amount of any damages which such Agent has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission. No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution
from any person who is not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For
purposes of this Section, each person, if any, who controls an Agent within the
meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have
the same rights to contribution as such Agent, and each director of the Company,
each officer of the Company who signed the Registration Statement, and each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company. Any amounts to be paid a party pursuant to this
Section 8 for losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) referred to above in this Section 8 shall be paid as incurred;
provided, however, that amounts so paid shall be returned to the paying party in
the event that it is ultimately determined that the party that received payment
was not entitled to such payment.

SECTION 9.  INDEMNIFICATIONS, CONTRIBUTIONS, REPRESENTATIONS, WARRANTIES AND
            AGREEMENTS TO SURVIVE DELIVERY.

     The indemnification and contribution agreements contained in Sections 7 and
8 and the representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement
or any Terms Agreement, or contained in certificates of officers of the Company
submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agents or any
controlling person, or by or on behalf of the Company, and shall survive each
delivery of and payment of any of the Notes.

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 10.  TERMINATION.

     (a) Termination of this Agreement.  This Agreement (excluding any Terms
Agreement) may be terminated for any reason, at any time by either the Company
as to any Agent or one of the Agents (with respect to such Agent), upon the
giving of 3 days written notice of such termination to the other parties hereto.

     (b) Termination of a Terms Agreement.  Each Agent named in a Terms
Agreement may terminate such Terms Agreement, immediately upon notice to the
Company, at any time at or prior to the Settlement Date relating thereto (i) if
there has been, since the date of such Terms Agreement or since the respective
dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, any
material adverse change in, or any material development known to management
which is likely to result in a material adverse change in, the condition,
financial or otherwise, of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise, or in the earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the
Company and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, whether or not
arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has occurred any
outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or other calamity or crisis the
effect of which on the financial markets of the United States is such as to make
it, in such Agent's reasonable judgment, impracticable to market the Notes or
enforce contracts for the sale of the Notes, or (iii) if trading in the Common
Stock of the Company has been suspended by the Commission or a national
securities exchange, or if trading generally on either the American Stock
Exchange or the New York Stock Exchange has been suspended, or minimum or
maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for
securities have been required, by either of said exchanges or by order of the
Commission or any other governmental authority, or if a banking moratorium in
the United States generally or in the City or the State of New York has been
declared by either Federal or New York authorities or if a banking moratorium
has been declared by the relevant authorities in the country or countries of
origin of any foreign currency or currencies underlying the Notes, or (iv) if
the rating assigned by any nationally recognized securities rating agency to any
debt securities or other obligations of the Company has been lowered since the
date of the applicable Terms Agreement or if any such rating agency shall have
publicly announced that it has placed any debt securities or other obligations
of the Company on what is commonly termed a "watch list" for possible
downgrading, or (v) if there shall have come to such Agent's attention any facts
that would cause the Agent to believe that the Prospectus, at the time it was
required to be delivered to a purchaser of Notes, contained an untrue statement
of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to
make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances existing at the time
of such delivery, not misleading.

     (c) General.  In the event of any such termination, no party will have any
liability to any other party hereto, except that (i) each Agent shall be
entitled to any commissions earned in accordance with the third paragraph of
Section 2(a) hereof, (ii) if at the time of termination (a) either Agent shall
own any Notes purchased pursuant to a Terms Agreement with the intention of
reselling them or (b) an offer to purchase any of the Notes has been accepted by
the Company but the time of delivery to the purchaser or his agent of the Note
or Notes relating thereto has not occurred, the covenants set forth in Sections
3 and 6 hereof shall remain in effect until such Notes are so resold or
delivered, as the case may be, and (iii) the covenant set forth in Section 3(g)
hereof, the provisions of Section 4 hereof,

                                     -22-
<PAGE>
 
the indemnity and contribution agreements set forth in Sections 7 and 8 hereof,
and the provisions of Sections 9 and 13 hereof shall remain in effect.

     In the event of termination with respect to any Agent this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect with respect to any Agent as to which such
termination has not occurred.

SECTION 11.  NOTICES.
             -------

     All notices and other communications hereunder shall be in writing and
shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or transmitted by any standard
form of telecommunication.  Notices to the Agents shall be directed to _________
_______________________________________________________; notices to the Company
shall be directed to it at Comdisco, Inc., 6111 North River Road, Rosemont,
Illinois 60018, attention of Edward A. Pacewicz, Vice President/Finance, with a
copy to the General Counsel at the same address.

SECTION 12.  PARTIES.
             -------

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

SECTION 13.  GOVERNING LAW.
             -------------

     This Agreement and any Terms Agreement and the rights and obligations of
the parties created hereby shall be governed by the laws of the State of New
York applicable to agreements made and to be performed in such state.  Any suit,
action or proceeding brought by the Company against the Agents in connection
with, or arising under, this Agreement shall be brought in the state or federal
court of appropriate jurisdiction located in either the Borough of Manhattan,
the City of New York, New York or the City of Chicago, Illinois.

SECTION 14.  COUNTERPARTS.
             ------------

     This Agreement may be executed in one or more counterparts, and when a
counterpart has been executed by each party hereto all such counterparts taken
together shall constitute one and the same Agreement.

                                     -23-
<PAGE>
 
         [SIGNATURE PAGE FOR _________________ DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT]

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

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       COMDISCO, INC.


                                       By: ____________________________________
                                               Its: ___________________________

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

[AGENT #1]


By: __________________________________
    Its:  Authorized Signatory


[AGENT #2]


By: __________________________________
    Its:  Authorized Signatory


[AGENT #3]


By: __________________________________
    Its:  Authorized Signatory


[AGENT #4]


By: __________________________________
    Its:  Authorized Signatory

                                     -24-
<PAGE>
 
[AGENT #5]


By: __________________________________
    Its:  Authorized Signatory

                                     -25-
<PAGE>
 
                                                                       EXHIBIT A


                                 $___,000,000

                                COMDISCO, INC.

                               Medium-Term Notes

                                TERMS AGREEMENT

                                                               ___________, 19__



[AGENT #1]
[ADDRESS]

[AGENT #2]
[ADDRESS]

[AGENT #3]
[ADDRESS]

[AGENT #4]
[ADDRESS]

[AGENT #5]
[ADDRESS]



Attention: ____________

      Re:  Distribution Agreement dated ______________________ ___, 1995

      The undersigned agrees to purchase the following principal amount of
Medium-Term Notes:

$________________

                                      -1-
<PAGE>
 
Specified Currency:
Principal:
Interest:
Aggregate principal Amount U. S. $ other
Price to Public:
Provisions relating to redemption, if any:
Provisions relating to repayment, if any:

IF FIXED RATE NOTES:
     Interest Rate:
     Maturity:
     Amortization Schedule:

IF FLOATING RATE NOTES:
     Base Rate:
     Initial Interest Date:
     Interest Determination Date:
     Interest Reset Date:
     Interest Reset Period:
     Record Date:
     Interest Payment Dates:
     Index Maturity:
     Maturity:
     Maximum Interest Rate:
     Minimum Interest Rate:
     Spread:
     Spread Multiplier:
     Indexed Currency or Currencies (if any):
Settlement Date and Time:
Place of Delivery:
Calculation Agent:
Form of Note (Book Entry or Certificated)
Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of
 Purchase Price:  By certified or official
 bank check or checks, payable to the order of
 the Company, in New York Clearing House
 (immediately available) funds
By wire transfer to a bank account specified
 by the Company in next day immediately
 available funds
Provisions relating to underwriter default,
 if any:
Other termination provisions, if any:

                                      A-2
<PAGE>
 

          Exceptions, if any, to Section 3(k) of the Distribution Agreement:

     [The certificate referred to in Section 6(b) of the Distribution Agreement,
the opinions referred to in Section 6(c) of the Distribution Agreement and the
accountants' letter referred to in Section 6(d) of the Distribution Agreement
will be required.]

                    [AGENT #1]

                    [AGENT #2]

                    [AGENT #3]

                    [AGENT #4]

                    [AGENT #5]


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


Accepted:

COMDISCO, INC.


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


                                      A-3
<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT B


                  Commission Schedule for Agency Transactions
                  -------------------------------------------



                  Term                                  Commission Rate*
                  ----                                  --------------- 

From 9 months but less than 1 year ....................
From 1 year but less than 18 months ...................
From 18 months but less than 2 years ..................
From 2 years but less than 3 years ....................
From 3 years but less than 4 years ....................
From 4 years but less than 5 years ....................
From 5 years but less than 6 years ....................
From 6 years but less than 7 years ....................
From 7 years but less than 8 years ....................
From 8 years but less than 9 years ....................
From 9 years but less than 10 years ...................
From 10 years to 15 years .............................


- ----------

*    Commission rates for Notes denominated in a foreign currency vary from the
     commission rate schedule set forth above, with respect to Notes with the
     following maturities:

          From 8 years but less than 9 years ..........
          From 9 years but less than 10 years .........
          From 10 years to 15 years ...................


     Notes sold to an Agent as principal will be sold at a discount negotiated
     at the time of sale.


                                      B-1

<PAGE>
 

                                                         EXHIBIT 4.1
                                                         FORM OF SENIOR DEBT 
                                                         INDENTURE

============================================================================
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------


                                COMDISCO, INC.


                                      To



                 YASUDA BANK & TRUST CO. (U.S.A.), as Trustee


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


                                   INDENTURE


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


                          Dated as of October 1, 1995


                            Senior Debt Securities


- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------
============================================================================
<PAGE>
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                    Page
                                                                    ----
<S>                                                                 <C> 
Parties ...........................................................    1
Recitals ..........................................................    1


                                  ARTICLE ONE
            DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101.  Definitions .........................................    4
     Act ..........................................................    2
     Additional Amounts ...........................................    2
     Affiliate ....................................................    2
     Authenticating Agent .........................................    2
     Authorized Newspaper .........................................    2
     Bearer Security ..............................................    2
     Board of Directors ...........................................    2
     Board Resolution .............................................    2
     Business Day .................................................    2
     Company ......................................................    3
     Company Request ..............................................    3
     Consolidated Assets ..........................................    3
     Corporate Trust Office .......................................    3
     Corporation ..................................................    3
     Coupon .......................................................    3
     Defaulted Interest ...........................................    3
     Depositary ...................................................    3
     Dollars ......................................................    3
     Event of Default .............................................    3
     Holder .......................................................    4
     Indenture ....................................................    4
     Interest .....................................................    4
     Interest Payment Date ........................................    4
     Lien .........................................................    4
     Maturity .....................................................    4
     Officers' Certificate ........................................    5
     Opinion of Counsel ...........................................    5
     Original Issue Discount Security .............................    5
     Outstanding ..................................................    5
     Paying Agent .................................................    6
     Person .......................................................    6
     Place of Payment .............................................    6
</TABLE>
<PAGE>

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                    Page
                                                                    ----
<S>                                                                 <C> 
     Predecessor Security .........................................    6
     Property .....................................................    6
     Redemption Date ..............................................    6
     Redemption Price .............................................    6
     Registered Security ..........................................    6
     Regular Record Date ..........................................    6
     Responsible Officer ..........................................    6
     Security .....................................................    7
     Security Register ............................................    7
     Special Record Date ..........................................    7
     Stated Maturity ..............................................    7
     Subsidiary ...................................................    7
     Trustee ......................................................    7
     Trust Indenture Act ..........................................    7
     United States ................................................    7
     United States Alien ..........................................    7
     Vice President ...............................................    8
     Voting Stock .................................................    8
SECTION 102.    Compliance Certificates and Opinions ..............    8
SECTION 103.    Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee ............    8
SECTION 104.    Acts of Holders ...................................    9
SECTION 105.    Notices, etc., to Trustee and Company .............   11
SECTION 106.    Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver ...........   11
SECTION 107.    Language of Notices, etc. .........................   12
SECTION 108.    Conflict with Trust Indenture Act .................   12
SECTION 109.    Effect of Headings and Table of Contents ..........   12
SECTION 110.    Successors and Assigns ............................   12
SECTION 111.    Separability Clause ...............................   13
SECTION 112.    Benefits of Indenture .............................   13
SECTION 113.    Governing Law .....................................   13
SECTION 114.    Legal Holidays ....................................   13


                                  ARTICLE TWO
                                SECURITY FORMS
 
SECTION 201.    Forms Generally ...................................   13
SECTION 202.    Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication ...   14
SECTION 203.    Securities in Global Form .........................   14
</TABLE>

                                     -ii-
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                    Page
                                                                    ----

                                 ARTICLE THREE
                                THE SECURITIES

<S>                                                                 <C> 
SECTION 301.    Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series ..............   15
SECTION 302.    Denominations .....................................   18
SECTION 303.    Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating ....   18
SECTION 304.    Temporary Securities ..............................   20
SECTION 305.    Registration, Transfer and Exchange ...............   21
SECTION 306.    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities ..   24
SECTION 307.    Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved ....   25
SECTION 308.    Persons Deemed Owners .............................   27
SECTION 309.    Cancellation ......................................   28
SECTION 310.    Computation of Interest ...........................   28


                                 ARTICLE FOUR
                          SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401.    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture ...........   28
SECTION 402.    Application of Trust Money ........................   30


                                 ARTICLE FIVE
                                   REMEDIES

SECTION 501.    Events of Default .................................   30
SECTION 502.    Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.   31
SECTION 503.    Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for 
                Enforcement by Trustee ............................   32
SECTION 504.    Trustee May File Proofs of Claim ..................   33
SECTION 505.    Trustee May Enforce Claims without Possession
                of Securities or Coupons ..........................   34
SECTION 506.    Application of Money Collected ....................   34
SECTION 507.    Limitation on Suits ...............................   34
SECTION 508.    Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive 
                Principal, Premium and Interest ...................   35
SECTION 509.    Restoration of Rights and Remedies ................   35
SECTION 510.    Rights and Remedies Cumulative ....................   35
SECTION 511.    Delay or Omission Not Waiver ......................   36
SECTION 512.    Control by Holders of Securities ..................   36
SECTION 513.    Waiver of Past Defaults ...........................   36
SECTION 514.    Undertaking for Costs .............................   37
SECTION 515.    Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws ..................   37
</TABLE>

                                     -iii-
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                    Page
                                                                    ----

                                ARTICLE SIX   
                                THE TRUSTEE    

<S>                                                                 <C> 
SECTION 601.    Certain Duties and Responsibilities ...............   38
SECTION 602.    Notice of Defaults ................................   38
SECTION 603.    Certain Rights of Trustee .........................   38
SECTION 604.    Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance 
                of Securities .....................................   39
SECTION 605.    May Hold Securities ...............................   39
SECTION 606.    Money Held in Trust ...............................   40
SECTION 607.    Compensation and Reimbursement ....................   40
SECTION 608.    Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility ...........   40
SECTION 609.    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor .   41
SECTION 610.    Acceptance of Appointment by Successor ............   42
SECTION 611.    Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession 
                to Business .......................................   43
SECTION 612.    Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company .   44
SECTION 613.    Appointment of Authenticating Agent ...............   44


                                 ARTICLE SEVEN
               HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY
 
SECTION 701.    Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses 
                of Holders ........................................   46
SECTION 702.    Preservation of Information; Communications 
                to Holders ........................................   46
SECTION 703.    Reports by Trustee ................................   47
SECTION 704.    Reports by the Company ............................   48


                                 ARTICLE EIGHT
               CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE OR CONVEYANCE
 
SECTION 801.    Consolidations and Mergers of Company and Sales,
                Leases and Conveyances Permitted ..................   49
SECTION 802.    Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation ........   49
SECTION 803.    Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel ......   50


                                 ARTICLE NINE
                            SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES
 
SECTION 901.    Supplemental Indentures without Consent 
                of Holders ........................................   50
SECTION 902.    Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders ...   51
SECTION 903.    Execution of Supplemental Indentures ..............   52
SECTION 904.    Effect of Supplemental Indentures .................   52
SECTION 905.    Conformity with Trust Indenture Act ...............   53
SECTION 906.    Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indenture .   53
</TABLE>

                                     -iv-
<PAGE>

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                    Page
                                                                    ----

                                ARTICLE TEN   
                                COVENANTS      

<S>                                                                 <C> 
SECTION 1001.   Payment of Principal, Premium, if any, 
                and Interest ......................................   53
SECTION 1002.   Maintenance of Office or Agency ...................   53
SECTION 1003.   Money for Securities Payments To Be Held in Trust .   54
SECTION 1004.   Additional Amounts ................................   56
SECTION 1005.   Statement as to Compliance; Notice of 
                Certain Defaults ..................................   56
SECTION 1006.   Waiver of Certain Covenants .......................   56


                                ARTICLE ELEVEN
                           REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101.   Applicability of Article ..........................   57
SECTION 1102.   Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee .............   57
SECTION 1103.   Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed .   57
SECTION 1104.   Notice of Redemption ..............................   58
SECTION 1105.   Deposit of Redemption Price .......................   59
SECTION 1106.   Securities Payable on Redemption Date .............   59
SECTION 1107.   Securities Redeemed in Part .......................   60


                                ARTICLE TWELVE
                                 SINKING FUNDS

SECTION 1201.   Applicability of Article ..........................   60
SECTION 1202.   Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments 
                With Securities ...................................   60
SECTION 1203.   Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund .........   61


                               ARTICLE THIRTEEN
                      REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

SECTION 1301.   Applicability of Article ..........................   61


                                ARTICLE FOURTEEN
                       MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1401.   Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called .........   62
SECTION 1402.   Call, Notice and Place of Meetings ................   62
SECTION 1403.   Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings ..............   63
SECTION 1404.   Quorum; Action ....................................   63
SECTION 1405.   Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and
                Adjournment of Meetings ...........................   64
</TABLE>

                                      -v-
<PAGE>
 


<TABLE> 
<CAPTION> 
                                                                    Page
                                                                    ----
<S>                                                                 <C> 
SECTION 1406.   Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings ...   64


                                ARTICLE FIFTEEN
                           MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 1501.   Securities in Foreign Currencies ..................   65
SECTION 1502.   Payments in Substitute Currencies .................   65
</TABLE> 







                                     -vi-
<PAGE>
 
                                COMDISCO, INC.

    Reconciliation and tie between Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
                   and Indenture dated as of October 1, 1995


Trust Indenture Act Section                              Indenture Section
- ---------------------------                              -----------------
                                                         
(S)310(a)(1).........................................    608
      (a)(2).........................................    608
      (a)(3).........................................    Not Applicable
      (a)(4).........................................    Not Applicable
      (b)............................................    608, 609
      (c)............................................    Not Applicable
(S)311(a)............................................    612(a), (c)
      (b)............................................    612(b), (c)
      (c)............................................    Not Applicable
      (b)(2).........................................    703(a)(2), 703(b)
      (c)............................................    Not Applicable
(S)312(a)............................................    701, 702(a)
      (b)............................................    702(b)
      (c)............................................    702(c)
(S)313(a)............................................    703(a)
      (b)(1).........................................    Not Applicable
      (b)(2).........................................    703(b)
      (c)............................................    703(c)
      (d)............................................    703(d)
(S)314(a)............................................    704
      (b)............................................    Not Applicable
      (c)(1).........................................    102
      (c)(2).........................................    102
      (c)(3).........................................    Not Applicable
      (d)............................................    Not Applicable
      (e)............................................    102
      (f)............................................    Not Applicable
(S)315(a)............................................    601
      (b)............................................    602, 703(a)(6)
      (c)............................................    602
      (d)............................................    603
      (e)............................................    514
(S)316(a)(last sentence).............................    101
      (a)(1)(A)......................................    502, 512
      (a)(1)(B)......................................    13
      (a)(2).........................................    Not Applicable
      (b)............................................    508
      (c)............................................    104(e)
(S)317(a)(1).........................................    503
      (a)(2).........................................    504
      (b)............................................    1003
(S)318(a)............................................    108
      (c)............................................    108

- ----------

Note:  This reconciliation and tie shall not, for any purpose, be deemed to 
       be a part of this Indenture.
<PAGE>
 
     INDENTURE, dated as of October 1, 1995, between Comdisco, Inc., a Delaware
corporation (hereinafter called the "Company"), having its principal office at
6111 North River Road, Rosemont, Illinois 60018, and Yasuda Bank & Trust Co.
(U.S.A.), a New York State chartered bank and trust company (hereinafter called
the "Trustee"), having its principal office in New York, New York.

                            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 and
unsubordinated debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (hereinafter
called the "Securities"), unlimited as to principal amount, to bear such rates
of interest, to mature at such time or times, to be issued in one or more series
and to have such other provisions as shall be fixed as hereinafter provided.

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

     NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and the purchase of the
Securities by the Holders thereof, and the sum of one dollar duly paid by the
Company to the Trustee, the receipt of which is hereby acknowledged, it is
mutually covenanted and agreed, for the equal and proportionate benefit of all
Holders of the Securities or of series thereof, as follows:

     NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:


                                  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
<PAGE>
 
     computation required or permitted hereunder shall mean such accounting
     principles as are generally accepted at the date of such computation; and

          (4) 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 Holders has the meaning specified in
Section 104.

     "Additional Amounts" means any additional amounts which are required by a
Security or by or pursuant to a Board Resolution, under circumstances specified
therein, to be paid by the Company in respect of certain taxes imposed on
certain Holders and which are owing to such Holders.

     "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 the meanings correlative to
the foregoing.

     "Authenticating Agent" means any Person authorized by the Trustee pursuant
to Section 613 to act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of one
or more series.

     "Authorized Newspaper" means a newspaper, in an official language of the
country of publication or in the English language, customarily published on each
Business Day, whether or not published on Saturdays, Sundays or holidays, and of
general circulation in the place in connection with which the term is used or in
the financial community of such place.  Where successive publications are
required to be made in Authorized Newspapers, the successive publications may be
made in the same or in different newspapers in the same city meeting the
foregoing requirements and in each case on any Business Day.

     "Bearer Security" means any Security in the form established pursuant to
Section 201 which is payable to bearer.

     "Board of Directors" means the board of directors of the Company or any
duly authorized committee of that board.

     "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", with respect to any Place of Payment means each Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not a day on which banking
institutions or trust companies in the Place of Payment are authorized or
obligated by law to close, except as may otherwise be provided in the form of
Securities of any particular series pursuant to the provisions of this
Indenture.

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

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

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

     "Consolidated Assets" means the amount of all assets which under general
accepted accounting principles as in effect on the date of such balance sheet,
would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its Subsidiaries
(after deducting related depreciation, amortization, unearned finance charges,
allowance for credit losses, and other valuation reserves), but shall not
include goodwill, unamortized debt discount and expenses, corporate organization
expense, patents and trademarks.

     "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Trustee, at
which at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered,
which office at the date of original execution of this Indenture is located at
666 Fifth Avenue, New York, New York 10103.

     "Corporation" includes corporations, associations, companies and business
trusts.

     "Coupon" means any interest coupon appertaining to a Bearer Security.

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

     "Depositary" means, with respect to the Securities of any series issuable
or issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more global Securities, the
Person designated as Depositary by the Company pursuant to Section 301 until a
successor Depositary shall have been appointed pursuant to Section 305, and
thereafter 'Depositary' shall mean or include each Person who is then a
Depositary hereunder, and if at any time there is more than one such Person,
'Depositary' as used with respect to the Securities of any such series shall
mean the Depositary with respect to the Securities of that series.

     "Dollars" or "$" or any similar reference shall mean the currency of the
United States, except as may otherwise be provided in the form of Securities of
any particular series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture.

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

                                      -3-
<PAGE>
 
     "Holder", when used with respect to any Security, means in the case of a
Registered Security, the Person in whose name the Security is registered in the
Security Register and in the case of a Bearer Security, the bearer thereof and,
when used with respect to any coupon, means the bearer thereof.

     "Indenture" means 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 established as contemplated
by Section 301; provided, however, that, if at any time more than one Person is
acting as Trustee under this instrument due to the appointment of one or more
separate Trustees for any one or more separate series of Securities pursuant to
Section 609(e), "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 the particular series of
Securities for which such Person is Trustee established or 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.

     "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, and, when used with respect to a Security which provides for the
payment of Additional Amounts pursuant to Section 1004, includes such Additional
Amounts.

     "Interest Payment Date" means the Stated Maturity of an installment of
interest on the applicable Securities.

     "Lien" means any interest in Property securing an obligation owed to, or a
claim by, a Person other than the owner of the Property, whether such interest
is based on the common law, statute or contract (but excluding a landlord's
statutory lien for rent not yet due), and including, but not limited to, the
security interest lien arising from a mortgage, encumbrance, pledge, conditional
sale or trust receipt or a lease, consignment or bailment for security purposes.
The term "Lien" shall include reservations, exceptions, encroachments,
easements, rights-of-way, covenants, conditions, restrictions, leases and other
title exceptions and encumbrances affecting Property.  For the purpose of this
Indenture, the Company or a Subsidiary shall be deemed to be the owner of any
Property which it has acquired or holds subject to a conditional sale agreement,
capital lease or other arrangement pursuant to which title to the Property has
been retained by or vested in some other Person for security purposes.

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

                                      -4-
<PAGE>
 
     "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the Chairman, the
Vice Chairman, the President, a Vice President or the Treasurer, and by a Vice
President, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of
the Company, and delivered to the Trustee.

     "Opinion of Counsel" means a written opinion of counsel, who may (except as
otherwise expressly provided in this Indenture) be an employee of or counsel for
the Company and who shall be acceptable to the Trustee.

     "Original Issue Discount Security" means a Security issued pursuant to this
Indenture which provides for declaration of an amount less than the principal
thereof to be due and payable upon acceleration 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:

       (i)  Securities theretofore cancelled by the Trustee or delivered to the
            Trustee for cancellation;

      (ii) 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 and any coupons thereto
           appertaining, 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; and

     (iii) 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 Outstanding Securities have given any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder or are present at
a meeting of Holders of Securities for quorum purposes, the principal amount of
an Original Issue Discount Security that may be counted in making such
determination and that shall be deemed to be Outstanding for such purposes shall
be equal to the amount of the principal thereof that could be declared to be due
and payable pursuant to the terms of such Original Issue Discount Security at
the time the taking of such action by the Holders of such requisite principal
amount is evidenced to the Trustee as provided in Section 104(a), and, provided,
further, that Securities owned beneficially by the Company or any other obligor
upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or such other obligor, shall
be disregarded and deemed not to be Outstanding, except that, in determining
whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying upon any such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver, only Securities which the
Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.  Securities so owned which
have been pledged

                                      -5-
<PAGE>
 
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 such other obligor.

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

     "Person" means any individual, corporation, partnership, joint venture,
association, joint-stock company, 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 premium, if any) and
interest on the Securities of that series are payable as specified as provided
pursuant to 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
lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security or a Security to which a
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains shall be deemed to
evidence the same debt as the lost, destroyed, mutilated or stolen Security or
the Security to which a mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.

     "Property" means any interest in any kinds of property or asset, whether
real, personal or mixed, or tangible or intangible.

     "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 as determined pursuant to the
provisions of this Indenture.

     "Registered Security" means any Security established pursuant to Section
201 which is registered in the Security Register.

     "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on a Registered Security on
any Interest Payment Date means the date, if any, specified in such Security as
the "Regular Record Date".

     "Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Trustee means the
chairman or vice chairman of the board of directors, the chairman or vice
chairman of the executive committee of the board of directors, the president,
any vice president (whether or not designated by a number or a word or words
added before or after the title vice president), the secretary, any assistant
secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer, the cashier, any assistant
cashier, any trust officer, senior trust officer or assistant trust officer, or
any other officer of the Trustee customarily performing functions similar to
those performed by any of the above designated officers and also means, with
respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any

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

     "Security" or "Securities" means any Security or Securities, as the case
may be, authenticated and delivered under this Indenture; provided, however,
that if at any time there is more than one Person acting as Trustee under this
Indenture, "Securities" with respect to the Indenture as to which such Person is
Trustee shall have the meaning stated in the first recital of this Indenture and
shall more particularly mean Securities authenticated and delivered under this
Indenture, exclusive, however, of Securities of any series as to which such
Person is not Trustee.

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

     "Special Record Date" for the payment of any Defaulted Interest on the
Registered Securities of any series 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 or a coupon representing such installment of interest as the fixed date
on which the principal of such Security or such installment of principal or
interest is due and payable.

     "Subsidiary" means any corporation of which at the time of determination
the Company and/or one or more Subsidiaries owns or controls directly or
indirectly more than 50% of the shares of Voting Stock.  "Wholly-owned", when
used with reference to a Subsidiary, means a Subsidiary of which all of the
outstanding capital stock (except for qualifying shares) is owned by the Company
or by one or more wholly-owned Subsidiaries.

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

     "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, 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.

     "United States" means the United States of America (including the States
and the District of Columbia), its territories and possessions and other areas
subject to its jurisdiction.

     "United States Alien" means any Person who, for United States Federal
income tax purposes, is a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien individual,
a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust,

                                      -7-
<PAGE>
 
or a foreign partnership one or more of the members of which is, for United
States Federal income tax purposes, a foreign corporation, a non-resident alien
individual or a non-resident alien fiduciary of a foreign estate or trust.

     "Vice President" when used with respect to the Company shall mean any Vice
President of the Company whether or not designated by a number or a word or
words added before or after the title "Vice President".

     "Voting Stock" means stock of the class or classes having general voting
power under ordinary circumstances to elect at least a majority of the board of
directors, managers or trustees of such corporation provided that, for the
purposes hereof, stock which carries only the right to vote conditionally on the
happening of an event shall not be considered voting stock whether or not such
event shall have happened.

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.

     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 condition or covenant and the definitions herein
     relating thereto;

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

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

                                      -8-
<PAGE>
 
     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 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.

     (a) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders may
be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially similar
tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly appointed in writing.
If, but only if, Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by Holders of Securities
of such series may, alternatively, be embodied in and evidenced by the record of
Holders of Securities of such series voting in favor thereof, either in person
or by proxies duly appointed in writing, at any meeting of Holders of Securities
of such series duly called and held in accordance with the provisions of Article
Fourteen, or a combination of such instruments and any such record. Except as
herein otherwise expressly provided, such action shall become effective when
such instrument or instruments or record or both are delivered to the Trustee,
and where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company. Such instrument or
instruments and any such record (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing
such instrument or instruments and so voting at any such meeting. Proof of
execution of any such instrument or of a writing appointing any such agent, or
of the holding by any Person of a Security, shall be sufficient for any purpose
of this Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive in favor of the
Trustee and the Company and any agent of the Trustee or the Company, if made in
the manner provided in this Section. The record of any meeting of Holders of
Securities shall be proved in the manner provided in Section 1406.

     (b) The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such instrument
or writing may be proved by the affidavit of a witness of such execution or by 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 the execution thereof. Where such execution is by
a signer acting in a capacity other than his individual capacity, such
certificate or affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of his
authority. The fact and date of the execution by any Person of any such
instrument or writing may also be proved in any reasonable manner which the
Trustee deems sufficient and in

                                      -9-
<PAGE>
 
accordance with such reasonable rules as the Trustee may determine; and the
Trustee may in any instance require further proof with respect to any of the
matters referred to in this Section.

     (c) The ownership of Registered Securities and the principal amount and
serial numbers of Registered Securities held by any Person, and the date of
holding the same, shall be proved by the Security Register.

     (d) The principal amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by
any Person, and the date of holding the same, may be proved by the production of
such Bearer Securities or by a certificate executed, as depositary, by any trust
company, bank, banker or other depositary reasonably acceptable to the Company,
wherever situated, if such certificate shall be deemed by the Trustee to be
satisfactory, showing that at the date therein mentioned such Person had on
deposit with such depositary, or exhibited to it, the Bearer Securities therein
described; or such facts may be proved by certificate or affidavit of the Person
holding such Bearer Securities if such certificate or affidavit is deemed by the
Trustee to be satisfactory. The Trustee and the Company may assume that such
ownership of any Bearer Security continues until (1) another certificate or
affidavit bearing a later date issued in respect of the same Bearer Security is
produced, or (2) such Bearer Security is produced to the Trustee by some other
Person, or (3) such Bearer Security is surrendered in exchange for a Registered
Security, or (4) such Bearer Security is no longer Outstanding. The principal
amount and serial numbers of Bearer Securities held by the Person so executing
such instrument or writing and the date of holding the same may also be proved
in any other manner which the Trustee deems sufficient.

     (e) If the Company shall solicit from the Holders of any Registered
Securities any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other Act, or for purpose of determining the identity of Holders
entitled to vote or consent to any action authorized or permitted by Sections
512 or 513 of this Indenture, the Company may, at its option, by or pursuant to
a Board Resolution, fix in advance a record date for the determination of
Holders of Registered Securities entitled to give such request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act, but the Company
shall have no obligation to do so. If such a record date is fixed, such request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other Act may be
given before or after such record date, but only the Holders of Registered
Securities of record at the close of business on such record date shall be
deemed to be Holders for the purposes of determining whether Holders of the
requisite proportion of Outstanding Securities have authorized or agreed or
consented to such request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent,
waiver or other Act, and for that purpose the Outstanding Securities shall be
computed as of such record date; provided that no such authorization, agreement
or consent by the Holders on such record date shall be deemed effective unless
it shall become effective pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture not later
than six months after the record date.

     (f) Without limiting the foregoing, a Holder entitled hereunder to give or
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 different part of such principal amount.

                                      -10-
<PAGE>
 
     (g) Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action by 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 the transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of
anything done or suffered to be done by the Trustee, any Security Registrar, any
Paying Agent or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such
action is made upon such Security.

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,

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

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

SECTION 106.    Notice to Holders of Securities; Waiver.

     Except as otherwise expressly provided herein or in the form of Securities
of any particular series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, where
this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of Securities of any event,

          (1) such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Registered
     Securities if in writing and mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each
     Holder of a Registered Security affected by such event, at his address as
     it appears in the Security Register, not later than the latest date, and
     not earlier than the earliest date, prescribed for the giving of such
     notice; and

          (2) such notice shall be sufficiently given to Holders of Bearer
     Securities, if any, if published in an Authorized Newspaper in The City of
     New York and, if the Securities of such series are then listed on any stock
     exchange outside the United States, in an Authorized Newspaper in such city
     as the Company shall advise the Trustee that such stock exchange so
     requires, on a Business Day at least twice, the first such publication to
     be not earlier than the earliest date and not later than the latest date
     prescribed for the giving of such notice.

     In any case where notice to Holders of Registered Securities is given by
mail, neither the failure to mail such notice, nor any defect in any notice so
mailed, to any particular Holder of a Registered Security shall affect the
sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders of Registered
Securities or the sufficiency of any notice to Holders of Bearer Securities
given as provided herein.  In case by reason

                                      -11-
<PAGE>
 
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.

     In case by reason of the suspension of publication of any Authorized
Newspaper or Authorized Newspapers or by reason of any other cause it shall be
impracticable to publish any notice to Holders of

Bearer Securities as provided above, then such notification to Holders of Bearer
Securities as shall be given with the approval of the Trustee shall constitute
sufficient notice to such Holders for every purpose hereunder.  Neither failure
to give notice by publication to Holders of Bearer Securities as provided above,
nor any defect in any notice so published, shall affect the sufficiency of any
notice mailed to Holders of Registered Securities as provided above.

     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 of Securities 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.

SECTION 107.    Language of Notices, etc.

     Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, election or
waiver required or permitted under this Indenture shall be in the English
language, except that, if the Company so elects, any published notice may be in
an official language of the country of publication.

SECTION 108.    Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

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

SECTION 109.    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.

SECTION 110.    Successors and Assigns.

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

                                      -12-
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 111.    Separability Clause.

     In case any provision in this Indenture or coupons, if any, 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 112.    Benefits of Indenture.

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

SECTION 113.    Governing Law.

     This Indenture and the Securities and coupons shall be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.

SECTION 114.    Legal Holidays.

     Except as may otherwise be provided in the form of Securities of any
particular series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, in any case
where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity of any
Security shall not be a Business Day at any Place of Payment, then
(notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture or the Securities or
coupons, if any, other than a provision in the Securities which specifically
states that such provision shall apply in lieu of this Section) payment of
interest or any Additional Amounts or principal (and premium, if any) 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, or at the Stated
Maturity, and no interest shall accrue on the amount so payable for the period
from and after such Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated Maturity,
as the case may be.

                                  ARTICLE TWO

                                 SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201.    Forms Generally.

     The Registered Securities, if any, of each series and the Bearer
Securities, if any, of each series and related coupons, if any, and temporary
global Securities, if any, shall be in the form established by or pursuant to a
Board Resolution or in one or more indentures supplemental hereto, shall have
appropriate insertions, omissions, substitutions and other variations as are
required or permitted by this Indenture or any indenture supplemental hereto and
may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and

                                      -13-
<PAGE>
 
such legends or endorsements placed thereon as may, consistently herewith, be
determined by the officers of the Company executing such Securities, as
evidenced by their execution of such Securities.

     Unless otherwise provided as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to
any series of Securities, the Securities of each series shall be issuable in
registered form without coupons.  If so provided as contemplated by Section 301,
the Securities of a series also shall be issuable in bearer form, with or
without interest coupons attached.

     The definitive Securities and coupons, if any, shall be printed,
lithographed or engraved or produced by any combination of these methods on a
steel engraved border or steel engraved borders or may be produced in any other
manner, all as determined by the officers of the Company executing such
Securities, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities or coupons, if
any.

SECTION 202.    Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.

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


                         YASUDA BANK & TRUST CO. (U.S.A.) as Trustee


                         By
                            ------------------------------------------
                                       Authorized Officer


SECTION 203.    Securities in Global Form.

     If Securities of a series are issuable in whole or in part in global form,
as specified as contemplated by Section 301, then, notwithstanding clause (12)
of Section 301 and the provisions of Section 302, such global Security shall
represent such of the Outstanding Securities of such series as shall be
specified therein and may provide that it shall represent the aggregate amount
of Outstanding Securities from time to time endorsed thereon and that the
aggregate amount of Outstanding Securities represented thereby may from time to
time be reduced to reflect exchanges or increased to reflect the issuance of
additional uncertificated securities of such series.  Any endorsement of a
global Security to reflect any change in the rights of the Holders of
Outstanding Securities represented thereby, or to reflect the amount, or any
increase or decrease in the amount, of Outstanding Securities represented
thereby shall be made in such manner and upon written instructions given by such
Person or Persons as shall be specified therein or in the Company Order to be
delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 303 or Section 304.

     Global Securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form and in
either temporary or permanent form.

                                      -14-
<PAGE>
 
                                 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 set forth in an Officers'
Certificate, or established in one or more indentures supplemental hereto:

          (1) the title of the Securities and the series in which such
     Securities shall be included;

          (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of
     such title or the Securities of such series which may be authenticated and
     delivered under this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and
     delivered upon registration or transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu
     of, other Securities of the series pursuant to Sections 304, 305, 306, 906
     or 1107);

          (3) whether Securities of the series are to be issuable as Registered
     Securities, Bearer Securities (with or without coupons) or both, any
     restrictions applicable to the offer, sale or delivery of Bearer Securities
     and the terms upon which Bearer Securities of the series may be exchanged
     for Registered Securities of the series and vice versa;

          (4) the Person to whom any interest on any 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;

          (5) the date as of which any Bearer Securities of the series and any
     temporary global Security representing Outstanding Securities of the series
     shall be dated if other than the date of original issuance of the first
     Security of the series to be issued;

          (6) if Securities of the series are to be issuable as Bearer
     Securities, whether interest in respect to any portion of a temporary
     Bearer Security in global form (representing all of the Outstanding Bearer
     Securities of the series) payable in respect of an Interest Payment Date
     prior to the exchange of such temporary Bearer Security for definitive
     Securities of the series shall be paid to any clearing organization with
     respect to the portion of such temporary Bearer Security held for its
     account and, in such event, the terms and conditions (including any
     certification requirements) upon which any such interest payment received
     by a clearing organization will be credited to the Persons entitled to
     interest payable on such Interest Payment Date;

                                      -15-
<PAGE>
 
          (7) the date or dates on which the principal of such Securities of a
     particular series is payable;

          (8) the rate or rates at which such Securities of a particular series
     shall bear interest, if any, or method in which such rate or rates are
     determined, the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the
     Interest Payment Dates on which such interest shall be payable and the
     Regular Record Date for the interest payable on Registered Securities on
     any Interest Payment Date, whether and under what circumstances Additional
     Amounts of such Securities shall be payable in respect of specified taxes,
     assessments or other governmental charges withheld or deducted and, if so,
     whether the Company has the option to redeem the affected Securities rather
     than pay such Additional Amounts, and the basis upon which interest shall
     be calculated if other than that of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months;

          (9) the place or places, if any, in addition to or other than the
     Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, where the principal of (and
     premium, if any) and interest on or Additional Amounts, if any, payable in
     respect of such Securities of a particular series shall be payable;

          (10) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which
     and the terms and conditions upon which such Securities of a particular
     series may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;

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

          (12) the denominations in which Registered Securities of the series,
     if any, shall be issuable if other than denominations of $1,000 and any
     integral multiple thereof, and the denominations in which Bearer Securities
     of the series, if any, shall be issuable if other than the denomination of
     $5,000;

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

          (14) if other than such coin or currency of the United States of
     America as at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public or
     private debts, the coin or currency, including composite currencies, in
     which payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if
     any, on and Additional Amounts in respect of such Securities of a
     particular series shall be payable;

                                      -16-
<PAGE>
 
          (15) if the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if any,
     on, and Additional Amounts in respect of such Securities of a particular
     series are to be payable, at the election of the Company or a Holder
     thereof, in a coin or currency, including composite currencies, other than
     that in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the period or
     periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such
     election may be made;

          (16) if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any)
     or interest, if any, on, and Additional Amounts in respect of such
     Securities of a particular series may be determined with reference to an
     index, formula or other method based on a coin or currency other than that
     in which the Securities are stated to be payable, the manner in which such
     amounts shall be determined.

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

          (18) the extent to which any of the Securities of a particular series
     will be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more temporary
     or permanent global Security or Securities and, in such case, the
     Depositary for such global Security or Securities, the terms and
     conditions, if any, upon which such global Securities may be exchanged in
     whole or in part for definitive securities, and the manner in which any
     interest payable on a temporary or permanent global Security will be paid.

          (19) any other terms of such Securities of a particular series (which
     terms shall not be inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture).

     All Securities of any one series and coupons appertaining to Bearer
Securities of such series, if any, shall be substantially identical except as to
denomination and the rate or rates of interest, if any, and Stated Maturity, the
date from which interest, if any, shall accrue and except as may otherwise be
provided in or pursuant to such Board Resolution and set forth in such Officers'
Certificate or in any indenture supplemental hereto.  All Securities of any one
series need not be issued at the same time and, unless otherwise provided, a
series may be reopened for issuances of additional Securities of such series or
to establish additional terms of such series of Securities, provided, however,
that such additional terms shall not adversely affect the interest of the
Holders of Securities of any such series or any related coupons in any material
respect.

     If any of the terms of the Securities of any series were 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 such series.

                                      -17-
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 302.    Denominations.

     Unless other denominations and amounts may from time to time be fixed by or
pursuant to a Board Resolution, the Registered Securities of each series, if
any, shall be issuable in registered form without coupons in denominations of
$1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, and the Bearer Securities of each
series, if any, shall be issuable in the denomination of $5,000, or in such
other denominations and amounts as may from time to time be fixed by or pursuant
to a Board Resolution.

SECTION 303.    Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

     The Securities shall be executed on behalf of the Company by its Chairman
of the Board, President, Vice President serving as Chief Financial Officer or
its Treasurer under its corporate seal reproduced thereon and attested by its
Secretary or one of its Assistant Secretaries.  The signature of any of these
officers on the Securities may be manual or facsimile.  Coupons, if any, shall
bear the facsimile signature of the Treasurer or any Assistant Treasurer of the
Company.

     Securities and coupons, if any, 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, together with any
coupons appertaining thereto, if any, executed by the Company to the Trustee for
authentication, together with the Board Resolution and Officers' Certificate or
supplemental indenture with respect to such Securities referred to in Section
301 and a Company Order for the authentication and delivery of such Securities,
and the Trustee in accordance with the Company Order and subject to the
provisions hereof shall authenticate and deliver such Securities;  provided,
however, that, in connection with its original issuance, no Bearer Security
(including any temporary Bearer Security issued pursuant to Section 304 which is
not a Global Security) shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location in
the United States; and provided further that a Bearer Security may be delivered
outside the United States in connection with its original issuance only if the
Person entitled to receive such Bearer Security (including any temporary Bearer
Security issued pursuant to Section 304 which is not a Global Security) shall
have furnished a certificate in the form and manner specified in a Board
Resolution and Officers' Certificate or supplemental indenture with respect to
such Bearer Securities referred to in Section 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, an Opinion of
Counsel stating,

     (a) that the form and terms of such Securities and coupons, if any, have
been established in conformity with the provisions of this Indenture;

     (b) that all conditions precedent to the authentication and delivery of
such Securities together with the coupons, if any, appertaining thereto, have
been complied with and that such Securities, and

                                      -18-
<PAGE>
 
coupons, 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,
moratorium, reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to
or affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights and to general equity
principles;

     (c) that all laws and requirements in respect of the execution and delivery
by the Company of such Securities and coupons, if any, have been complied with;
and

     (d) as to such other matters as the Trustee may reasonably request.

     If the Company shall establish pursuant to Section 301 that the Securities
of a series are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more
global Securities in registered or permanent bearer form, then the Company shall
execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section and a Company
Order for the authentication and delivery of such global Securities with respect
to such series, authenticate and deliver one or more global Securities in
temporary or permanent form that (i) shall represent and shall be denominated in
an aggregate amount equal to the aggregate principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of such series to be represented by one or more global Securities,
(ii) shall be registered, if in registered form, in the name of the Depositary
for such global Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depositary and
(iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such
Depositary's instructions and (iv) shall, if in registered form, bear a legend
substantially to the following effect:

          "Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Debt
     Securities in definitive form, this Debt Security may not be transferred
     except as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary or by a
     nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another nominee of the
     Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a successor
     Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary."

     Each Depositary designated pursuant to Section 301 for a global Security in
registered form must, at the time of its designation and at all times while it
serves as Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any other applicable statute or
regulation."

     The Trustee shall not be required to authenticate Securities of any series
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 or if the Trustee, being advised by counsel, determines that such action
may not lawfully be taken.

     If a Board Resolution relating to any series of Securities shall so permit,
the Company may, pursuant to a Company Order, set up procedures acceptable to
the Trustee for the issuance of such Securities, including procedures to
determine the interest rate, stated maturity, date of issuance and other terms
of such Securities, and such Company Order or procedures may authorize
authentication and delivery of Securities pursuant to oral instructions from the
Company or its authorized agent, which instructions shall be promptly confirmed
in writing.

                                      -19-
<PAGE>
 
     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 time
of 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 and contemplate issuance of all Securities
of such series.

     Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.
Each Bearer Security and any temporary Bearer Security in global form shall be
dated as of the date specified as contemplated by Section 301.

     No Security or coupon appertaining thereto shall be entitled to any benefit
under this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose, unless there
appears on such Security a certification of authentication substantially in the
form provided for in Section 202 or 614 executed by or on behalf of the Trustee
by the manual signature of one of its authorized officers, 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.  Except as permitted by Section 306 or 307, the
Trustee shall not authenticate and deliver any Bearer Security unless all
appurtenant coupons for interest then matured have been detached and cancelled.

SECTION 304.    Temporary Securities.

     Pending the preparation of definitive Securities of any series, the Company
may execute and deliver to the Trustee, and upon Company Order the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, in the manner provided in Section 303, temporary
Securities of such series 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, in registered form, or, if authorized, in bearer form with one or
more coupons or without coupons and with such appropriate insertions, omissions,
substitutions and other variations as the officers of the Company executing such
Securities may determine, as evidenced by their execution of such Securities.
In the case of Bearer Securities of any series, such temporary Securities may be
in global form, representing all of the Outstanding Bearer Securities of such
series.

     Except in the case of temporary Global Securities in bearer form (which
shall be exchanged in accordance with provisions specified as contemplated by
Section 301) and temporary Securities in global form (which shall be exchanged
in accordance with the provisions of Sections 305 and 301), 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, the temporary Securities of such series
shall be exchangeable upon request for definitive Securities of such series
containing identical terms

                                      -20-
<PAGE>
 
and provisions upon surrender of the temporary Securities of such series at an
office or agency of the Company maintained for such purpose pursuant to Section
1002, without charge to the Holder.  Upon surrender for cancellation of any one
or more temporary Securities of any series (accompanied by any unmatured coupons
appertaining thereto) the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver in exchange therefor a like principal amount of
definitive Securities of authorized denominations of the same series containing
identical terms and provisions; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer
Security, except as provided pursuant to Section 301, shall be delivered in
exchange for a temporary Registered Security; and provided, further, that a
definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary Bearer
Security only in compliance with the conditions set forth therein.

     Unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, temporary
Securities of any series shall in all respects be entitled to the same benefits
under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series.


SECTION 305.    Registration, Transfer and Exchange.

     With respect to the Registered Securities of each series, if any, the
Company shall cause to be kept, at an office or agency of the Company maintained
pursuant to Section 1002, a register (herein sometimes 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 the Registered
Securities of each series and of transfers of the Registered Securities of each
series.  In the event that the Trustee shall not be the Security Registrar, it
shall have the right to examine the Security Register at all reasonable times.

     Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any Registered Security of
any series at any office or agency of the Company maintained for that series
pursuant to Section 1002, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee shall
authenticate and deliver, in the name of the designated transferee or
transferees, one or more new Registered Securities of the same series of any
authorized denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount bearing a number
not contemporaneously outstanding and containing identical terms and provisions.

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

     At the option of the Holder, Bearer Securities of any series may be
exchanged for Registered Securities of the same series containing identical
terms and provisions, of any authorized denominations and aggregate principal
amount, upon surrender of the Bearer Securities to be exchanged at any such
office or agency, with all unmatured coupons and all matured coupons in default
thereto appertaining.  If the Holder of a Bearer Security is unable to produce
any such unmatured coupon or coupons or matured coupon or coupons in default,
such exchange may be effected if the Bearer Securities are accompanied by
payment in

                                      -21-
<PAGE>
 
funds acceptable to the Company and the Trustee in an amount equal to the face
amount of such missing coupon or coupons, or the surrender of such missing
coupon or coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there is
furnished to them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of
them and any Paying Agent harmless.  If thereafter the Holder of such Security
shall surrender to any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect of which
such a payment shall have been made, such Holder shall be entitled to receive
the amount of such payment; provided, however, that, except as otherwise
provided in Section 1002, interest represented by coupons shall be payable only
upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency located
outside the United States.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, in case a Bearer
Security of any series is surrendered at any such office or agency in exchange
for a Registered Security of the same series and like tenor after the close of
business at such office or agency on (i) any Regular Record Date and before the
opening of business at such office or agency on the relevant Interest Payment
Date, or (ii) any Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such
office or agency on the related date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such
Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such
Interest Payment Date or proposed date of payment, as the case may be (or, if
such coupon is so surrendered with such Bearer Security, such coupon shall be
returned to the person so surrendering the Bearer Security), and interest or
Defaulted Interest, as the case may be, will not be payable on such Interest
Payment Date or proposed date for payment, as the case may be, in respect of the
Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be
payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance with the
provisions of this Indenture.

     If expressly provided with respect to the Securities of any series, at the
option of the Holder, Registered Securities of such series may be exchanged for
Bearer Securities upon such terms and conditions as may be provided with respect
to such series.

     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.

     If at any time the Depositary for the Securities of a series notifies the
Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for the
Securities of such series or if at any time the Depositary for the Securities of
such series shall no longer be eligible under Section 303, the Company shall
appoint a successor Depositary with respect to the Securities of such series.
If a successor Depositary for the Securities of such series is not appointed by
the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice or becomes
aware of such ineligibility, the Company's election pursuant to clause (18) of
Section 301 shall no longer be effective with respect to the Securities of such
series and the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company
Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such
series, will authenticate and deliver Securities of such series of like tenor
and terms in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the
principal amount of the global Security or Securities representing such series
in exchange for such global Security or Securities.

     The Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine that the
Securities of any series issued in the form of one or more global Securities
shall no longer be represented by such global Security or Securities.  In such
event the Company will execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of a Company Order

                                      -22-
<PAGE>
 
for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series,
will authenticate and deliver Securities of such series of like tenor and terms
in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal
amount of the global Security or Securities representing such series in exchange
for such global Security or Securities.

     If specified by the Company pursuant to Section 301 with respect to a
series of Securities, the Depositary for such series of Securities may surrender
a global Security for such series of Securities in exchange in whole or in part
for Securities of such series of like tenor and terms and in definitive form on
such terms as are acceptable to the Company, the Trustee and such Depositary.
Thereupon, the Company shall execute, and the Trustee upon receipt of a Company
Order for the authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such
series, shall authenticate and deliver, without service charge:

     (a) to the Depositary or to each Person specified by such Depositary a new
Security or Securities of the same series, of like tenor and terms and of any
authorized denomination as requested by such Person in aggregate principal
amount equal to and in exchange for such Person's beneficial interest in the
global Security; and

     (b) to such Depositary a new global Security of like tenor and terms and in
an authorized denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the
principal amount of the surrendered global Security and the aggregate principal
amount of Securities delivered to Holders thereof.

     In any exchange provided for in any of the preceding three paragraphs, the
Company will execute and the Trustee, pursuant to a Company Order, will
authenticate and deliver Securities (a) in definitive registered form in
authorized denominations, if the Securities of such series are issuable as
Registered Securities, (b) in definitive bearer form in authorized
denominations, with coupons attached, if any, if the Securities of such series
are issuable as Bearer Securities or (c) as either Registered or Bearer
Securities, if the Securities of such series are issuable in either form;
provided, however, that no definitive Bearer Security shall be delivered in
exchange for a temporary Bearer Security other than in accordance with the
provisions applicable to such transfer and exchange set forth in such Bearer
Security.

     Upon the exchange of global Securities for Securities in definitive form,
such global Securities shall be cancelled by the Trustee.  Registered Securities
issued in exchange for a global Security pursuant to this Section shall be
registered in such names and in such authorized denominations, as the Depositary
for such global Security, pursuant to instructions from its direct or indirect
participants or otherwise, shall instruct the Trustee in writing.  The Trustee
shall deliver such Registered Securities to the Persons in whose names such
Securities are so registered.  The Trustee shall deliver Bearer Securities
issued in exchange for a global Security pursuant to this Section to the
Depositary or to the Persons at such addresses, and in such authorized
denominations, as the Depositary for such global Security, pursuant to
instructions from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise shall
instruct the Trustee in writing; provided, however, that no definitive Bearer
Security shall be delivered in exchange for a temporary global Security other
than in accordance with the provisions applicable to such transfer and exchange
set forth in such Bearer Security.

                                      -23-
<PAGE>
 
     Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section, unless and until it is
exchanged in whole or in part for individual Securities represented thereby, a
global Security representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may
not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a
nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary
or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee
to a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor
Depositary.

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

     No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or
exchange, or redemption 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.

     The Company shall not be required (i) to issue, register the transfer of or
exchange any Securities of any series during a period beginning at the opening
of business 15 days before the day of the selection for redemption of Securities
of that series under Section 1103 and ending at the close of business on the day
of such selection, or (ii) to register the transfer of or exchange any
Registered Security so selected for redemption in whole or in part, except in
the case of any Security to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof not to be
redeemed, or (iii) to exchange any Bearer Security so selected for redemption
except that such Bearer Security may be exchanged for a Registered Security of
that series, provided that such Registered Security shall be immediately
surrendered for redemption with written instruction for payment consistent with
the provisions of this Indenture.

SECTION 306.    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities.

     If any mutilated Security or a Security with a mutilated coupon
appertaining to it 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 containing identical terms and of like principal amount and
bearing a number not contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding
to the coupons, if any, appertaining to the surrendered Security.

     If there is delivered to the Company and to the Trustee (i) evidence to
their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of any Security or coupon,
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

                                      -24-
<PAGE>
 
the Company or the Trustee that such Security or coupon has been acquired by a
bona fide purchaser, the Company shall execute and upon its request the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver, in exchange for or in lieu of any such
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or in exchange for the Security to
which a destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains with all appurtenant coupons
not destroyed, lost, or stolen, a new Security of the same series containing
identical terms and of like principal amount and bearing a number not
contemporaneously outstanding, with coupons corresponding to the coupons, if
any, appertaining to such destroyed, lost or stolen Security or to the Security
to which such destroyed, lost or stolen coupon appertains.

     In case any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Security or coupon
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 or coupon; provided,
however, that payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and any interest on
Bearer Securities shall, except as otherwise provided in Section 1002, be
payable only at an office or agency located outside the United States and,
unless otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, any interest on
Bearer Securities shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the
coupons appertaining thereto.

     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, with its coupons, if any, issued pursuant
to this Section in lieu of any destroyed, lost or stolen Security and its
coupons, if any, shall constitute an original additional contractual obligation
of the Company, whether or not the destroyed, lost or stolen Security or its
coupon 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 and their coupons, if any, 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 or coupons.

SECTION 307.    Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

     Interest on any Registered Security which is payable, and is punctually
paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date shall, if so provided in
such Security, be paid to the Person in whose name that Security (or one or more
Predecessor Securities) is registered as of the close of business on the Regular
Record Date for such interest.  In case a Bearer Security of any series is
surrendered in exchange for a Registered Security of such series after the close
of business (at an office or agency in a Place of Payment for such series) on
any Regular Record Date and before the opening of business (at such office or
agency) on the next succeeding Interest Payment Date, such Bearer Security shall
be surrendered without the coupon relating to such Interest Payment Date and
interest will not be payable on such Interest Payment Date in

                                      -25-
<PAGE>
 
respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange of such Bearer Security,
but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in accordance
with the provisions of this Indenture.

     Any interest on any Registered Security of any series which is payable, but
is not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date for
such Registered Security (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 Registered Securities affected (or their
     respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business
     on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which
     shall be fixed in the following manner.  The Company shall notify the
     Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid
     on each such Registered Security 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 mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder of such Registered
     Securities at his address as it appears in the Security Register not less
     than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date.  The Trustee may, in its
     discretion, in the name and at the expense of the Company, cause a similar
     notice to be published at least once in a newspaper, customarily published
     in the English language on each Business Day and of general circulation in
     the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, but such publication shall
     not be a condition precedent to the establishment of such Special Record
     Date.  Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the
     Special Record Date therefor having been mailed as aforesaid, such
     Defaulted Interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names such
     Registered Securities (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).  In case a
     Bearer Security of any series is surrendered at the office or agency in a
     Place of Payment for such series in exchange for a Registered Security of
     such series after the close of business at such office or agency on any
     Special Record Date and before the opening of business at such office or
     agency on the related proposed date for payment of Defaulted Interest, such
     Bearer Security shall be surrendered without the coupon relating to such
     proposed date of payment and Defaulted Interest will not be payable on such
     proposed date of payment in respect of the Registered Security issued in
     exchange for such Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the Holder
     of such coupon when due in accordance with the provisions of this
     Indenture.

                                      -26-
<PAGE>
 
          (2) The Company may make payment of any Defaulted Interest in any
     other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any
     securities exchange on which 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 payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

     At the option of the Company, interest on Registered Securities of any
series that bear interest may be paid by mailing a check to the address of the
person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register.

     Subject to the foregoing provisions of this Section and Section 305, 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.

SECTION 308.    Persons Deemed Owners.

     Prior to due presentment of a Registered 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 Registered Security is registered as the
owner of such Registered Security for the purpose of receiving payment of
principal of (and premium, if any), and (subject to Sections 305 and 307)
interest on and Additional Amounts with respect to, such Registered Security and
for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Registered 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.

     The Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may
treat the bearer of any Bearer Security and the bearer of any coupon as the
absolute owner of such Security or coupon for the purpose of receiving payment
thereof or on account thereof and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or
not such Security or coupon 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.

     None of the Company, the Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying
Agent or the Security Registrar will have any responsibility or liability for
any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial
ownership interests of a global Security or for maintaining, supervising or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests of a
global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records
relating to such beneficial ownership interests, and they shall be fully
protected in acting or refraining from acting on any such information provided
by the Depository.

     Notwithstanding the foregoing, with respect to any Global Security, nothing
herein shall prevent the Company, the Trustee, or any agent of the Company or
the Trustee, from giving effect to any written certification, proxy or other
authorization furnished by the Depository or impair, as between the Depository
and Holders of beneficial interests in any Global Security, the operation of
customary practices governing the exercise of the rights of the Depository as
Holder of such Global Security.

                                      -27-
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 309.    Cancellation.

     All Securities and coupons 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 any such Securities and coupons and Securities and coupons
surrendered directly to the Trustee for any such purpose shall be promptly
cancelled 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 all Securities
so delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee.  No Securities shall be
authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided
in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture.  All cancelled
Securities and coupons held by the Trustee shall be destroyed by it unless by a
Company Order the Company directs their return to it.

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.


                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                           SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401.    Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

     Upon the direction of the Company by a Company Order this Indenture shall
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 any
right to receive Additional Amounts, as provided in Section 1004), and the
Trustee, on demand of and at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper
instruments acknowledging satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, when

          (1)  either

               (A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered and
          all coupons appertaining thereto (other than (i) coupons appertaining
          to Bearer Securities surrendered for exchange for Registered
          Securities and maturing after such exchange, whose surrender is not
          required or has been waived as provided in Section 305, (ii)
          Securities and coupons which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and
          which have been replaced or paid as provided in Section 306, (iii)
          coupons appertaining to Securities called for redemption and maturing
          after the relevant Redemption Date, whose surrender has been waived as
          provided in Section 1106, and (iv) Securities and coupons for whose
          payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated
          and held in trust by the Company and thereafter

                                      -28-
<PAGE>
 
          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 and, in the case of (i) or (ii) below,
          any such coupons appertaining thereto 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) if redeemable at the option of the Company, 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 an amount sufficient to pay and discharge the
          entire indebtedness on such Securities and coupons no theretofore
          delivered to the Trustee for cancellation, for principal (and premium,
          if any) and interest, and any Additional Amounts with respect thereto,
          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 Officer's 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.

     In the event there are Securities of two or more series hereunder, the
Trustee shall be required to execute an instrument acknowledging satisfaction
and discharge of this Indenture only if requested to do so with respect to
Securities of all series as to which it is Trustee and if the other conditions
thereto are met.  In the event there are two or more Trustees hereunder, then
the effectiveness of any such instrument shall be conditioned upon receipt of
such instruments from all Trustees hereunder.

     Notwithstanding the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture, the
obligations of the Company to the Trustee under Section 607 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.

                                      -29-
<PAGE>
 
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, the coupons
and this Indenture, to the payment, either directly or through any Paying Agent
(including the Company acting as its own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may
determine, to the Persons entitled thereto, of the principal (and premium, if
any) and any interest and Additional Amounts for whose payment such money has
been deposited with the Trustee; but such money need not be segregated from
other funds except to the extent required by law.


                                  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 pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or
any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body) unless
such event (other than those events described in subsections (1) and (2) below)
is either inapplicable to a particular series or it is specifically deleted or
modified in the supplemental indenture creating such series of Securities or in
the form of Security for such series:

          (1) default in the payment of any interest upon or any Additional
     Amounts payable in respect of any Security of that series when such
     interest or Additional Amounts 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 (and premium, if any,
     on) any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable at
     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 been expressly 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 60 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
     10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series a
     written notice

                                      -30-
<PAGE>
 
     specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and
     stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or

          (5) default in the payment when due (subject to any applicable grace
     period), whether at Stated Maturity or otherwise, of any principal of or
     interest on (however designated) any indebtedness for borrowed money of, or
     guaranteed by, the Company (other than the Securities of any series and
     other than non-recourse indebtedness) in an aggregate principal amount
     exceeding 5% of the consolidated net worth of the Company and its
     subsidiaries (determined as of the most recent fiscal quarter for which a
     balance sheet is available), whether such indebtedness now exists or shall
     hereafter be created, which default shall result in such indebtedness
     becoming or being declared due and payable prior to the date on which it
     would otherwise become due and payable and the Trustee shall have received
     written notice from any Holder of Securities or the Company of such
     declaration; provided, however, that if any such acceleration shall
     subsequently be rescinded or annulled (including through the discharge of
     the accelerated indebtedness) prior to the obtaining of any judgment or
     decree for the payment of any money due on such indebtedness or the actual
     payment of money due on such indebtedness, any acceleration with respect to
     Securities of any series consequent solely on such other acceleration shall
     likewise be deemed rescinded or annulled without further action on the part
     of any Holders; or

          (6) a court having jurisdiction in the premises shall enter a decree
     or order for relief in respect of the Company in an involuntary case under
     any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency or other similar law now or hereafter
     in effect, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, custodian,
     trustee, sequestrator (or similar official) of the Company or for any
     substantial part of its property, or ordering the winding-up or liquidation
     of its affairs, and such decree or order shall remain unstayed and in
     effect for a period of 60 consecutive days; or

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

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

SECTION 502.    Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

     If an Event of Default, with respect to Securities of any series at the
time Outstanding, occurs and is continuing, then, and in every such case, the
Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of that series may declare the principal of all the
Securities of that series, or such lesser amount as may be provided for in the
Securities of that series, to be due and payable

                                      -31-
<PAGE>
 
immediately, by a notice in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given
by the Holders), and upon any such declaration such principal or such lesser
amount shall 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 installments of interest on and any Additional
          Amounts payable in respect of 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 interest thereon at the rate or rates borne by or
          provided for in such Securities,

               (C) to the extent that payment of such interest is lawful,
          interest upon overdue installments of interest and Additional Amounts
          at the rate or rates borne by or provided for 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 has 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 installment of interest on
     or any Additional Amounts payable in respect of any Security when such
     interest or Additional Amounts shall have become 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 its Maturity,

                                      -32-
<PAGE>
 
the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the
Holders of such Securities and coupons, the whole amount then due and payable on
such Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest and
Additional Amounts, if any, with interest upon the overdue principal (and
premium, if any) and, to the extent that payment of such interest shall be
legally enforceable, upon overdue installments of interest or any Additional
Amounts, at the rate or rates borne by or provided for 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 the Company fails to pay such amounts forthwith upon such demand, the
Trustee, in its own name and as trustee of an express trust, may institute a
judicial proceeding for the collection of the sums so due and unpaid, and may
prosecute such proceeding to judgment or final decree, and may enforce the same
against the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities and collect the
moneys adjudged or decreed to be payable in the manner provided by law out of
the property of the Company or any other obligor upon such Securities, wherever
situated.

     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 of the Holders of Securities of such series and any related coupons
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 the pendency of any receivership, insolvency, liquidation,
bankruptcy, reorganization, arrangement, adjustment, composition or other
judicial proceeding relative to the Company or any other obligor upon the
Securities or the property of the Company or of such other obligor or their
creditors, the Trustee (irrespective of whether the principal of the Securities
shall then be due and payable as therein expressed or by declaration or
otherwise and irrespective of whether the Trustee shall have made any demand on
the Company for the payment of overdue principal or interest) 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 (including, to the extent provided in Section 607,
any claim 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) 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 in accordance with
Section 506; and any receiver, assignee, trustee, liquidator, sequestrator (or
other similar official) in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by
each Holder of Securities and coupons 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 of Securities and coupons, to pay to the Trustee any
amount due to it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and
advances of the Trustee, its agents and counsel and any other amounts due the
Trustee under Section 607.

                                      -33-
<PAGE>
 
     Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the Trustee to
authorize or consent to or accept or adopt on behalf of any Holder of a Security
or coupon any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or composition
affecting the Securities or coupons or the rights of any Holder thereof, or to
authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any Holder of a
Security or coupon 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 or
                Coupons.

     All rights of action and claims under this Indenture or any of the
Securities or coupons may be prosecuted and enforced by the Trustee without the
possession of any of the Securities or coupons 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 or 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 and
coupons in respect of which such judgment has been recovered.

SECTION 506.    Application of Money Collected.

     Any money or other property 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 (and premium, if any), interest or any Additional Amounts, upon
presentation of the Securities or coupons, or both, as the case may be, 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;

          SECOND:  To the payment of the amounts then due and unpaid upon the
     Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any) and interest and
     any Additional Amounts payable 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 aggregate amounts due and payable on
     such Securities and coupons for principal (and premium, if any), interest
     and Additional Amounts, respectively;

          THIRD:  The balance, if any, to the Person or Persons entitled
     thereto.

SECTION 507.    Limitation on Suits.

     No Holder of any Security of any series or any related coupons 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

                                      -34-
<PAGE>
 
          (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 such
Holders or Holders of any other series, or to obtain or to seek to obtain
priority or preference over any other Holders or to enforce any right under this
Indenture, except in the manner herein provided and for the equal and ratable
benefit of all such Holders.

SECTION 508.    Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal, Premium and
                Interest.

     Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture, the Holder of any
Security or coupon shall have the right, which is absolute and unconditional, to
receive payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) and (subject to
Sections 305 and 307) interest on and any Additional Amounts in respect of such
Security or payment of such coupon on the respective Stated Maturity or
Maturities expressed in such Security or coupon (or, in the case of redemption,
on the Redemption Date) and to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment, and such right shall not be impaired without the consent of such
Holder.

SECTION 509.    Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

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

SECTION 510.    Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

                                      -35-
<PAGE>
 
     Except as otherwise provided with respect to the replacement or payment of
mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or coupons in the last paragraph
of Section 306, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved to the
Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or coupons 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 Security or
coupon 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 of Securities or coupons may
be exercised from time to time, and as often as may be deemed expedient, by the
Trustee or by the Holders of Securities or coupons, as the case may be.

SECTION 512.    Control by Holders of Securities.

     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,

          (2) the Trustee shall not determine that the action so directed is
     unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Holders of Securities of such
     series, and

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

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 and any related coupons waive any past default
hereunder with respect to such series and its consequences, except a default

          (1) in the payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or
     interest on or Additional Amounts payable in respect of any Security of
     such series, or

                                      -36-
<PAGE>
 
          (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, and that such court may in
its discretion assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees,
against any part litigant in such suit in the manner and to the extent provided
in the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that neither the provisions of
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, the Trustee or by any Holder, or group of Holders,
holding in the aggregate more than 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of any series, or to any suit instituted by any Holder of any
Security or coupon for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on or any Additional Amounts in respect of any
Security or the payment of any coupon on or after the respective Stated
Maturities expressed in such Security (or, in the case of redemption, on or
after the Redemption Date) or interest on any overdue principal of any Security.

SECTION 515.    Waiver of 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 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.

                                      -37-
<PAGE>
 
                                 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, and the Trustee has actual knowledge of such default, the Trustee shall
give the Holders of Securities of such series notice of such default as, and to
the extent provided by, the Trust Indenture Act and in the manner provided in
Section 106; 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:

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

     (b) any request or direction of the Company mentioned herein shall be
sufficiently evidenced by a Company Request or Company Order (other than
delivery of any Securities to the Trustee for authentication and delivery
pursuant to Section 303 which shall be sufficiently evidenced as provided
therein) and any resolution of the Board of Directors may be sufficiently
evidenced by a Board Resolution;

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

                                      -38-
<PAGE>
 
     (d) the Trustee may consult with counsel and the written advice of
such counsel or any Opinion of Counsel shall be full and complete authorization
and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by it
hereunder in good faith and in reliance thereon;

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

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

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

SECTION 604.    Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

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

SECTION 605.    May Hold Securities.

     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 coupons, if any,
and, subject to Sections 609 and 612, 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.

                                      -39-
<PAGE>
 
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 with the Company.

SECTION 607.    Compensation and Reimbursement.

     The Company agrees

          (1) to pay to the Trustee from time to time compensation agreed to
     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) 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 and its agents for, and to hold them
     harmless against, any loss, liability or expense incurred without
     negligence or bad faith on their 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 themselves against any claim
     or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of their
     powers or duties hereunder.

     As security for the performance of the obligations of the Company under
this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities of any
series upon all property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such.

SECTION 608.    Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

     There shall at all times be a Trustee hereunder which shall be either (i) a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of
America, any State or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust powers and subject to supervision or examination by
Federal or State authority; or (ii) a corporation or other Person organized and
doing business under the laws of a foreign government that is permitted to act
as Trustee pursuant to a rule, regulation or order of the Commission authorized
under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, and subject to supervision
or examination by authority of such foreign government or a political
subdivision thereof substantially equivalent to supervision or examination
applicable to United States institutional trustees, in either case having a
combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000.  If such corporation
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 corporation shall

                                      -40-
<PAGE>
 
be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent
report of condition so published.  The Trustee shall comply with Section 310(b)
of the Trust Indenture Act, provided that there shall be excluded from the
operation of Section 310(b)(i) of the Trust Indenture Act any indenture or
indentures under which other securities, or certificates of interest or
participation in other securities, of the Company are outstanding if the
requirements for such exclusion set forth in Section 310(b)(i) of the Trust
Indenture Act are met.  The provisions of Section 310 of the Trust Indenture Act
shall apply to the Company, as obligor of the Securities.  If at any time the
Trustee 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 609.    Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

     (a) 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 under Section 610.

     (b) 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 610 shall
not have been delivered to the Trustee within 30 days after the giving of such
notice of resignation, the resigning Trustee may petition any court of competent
jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee with respect to such
series.

     (c) 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.

     (d)  If at any time:

          (1) the Trustee shall fail to comply with Section 310(b) of the Trust
     Indenture Act after written request therefor by the Company or by any
     Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security for at
     least six months, unless the Trustee's duty to resign is stayed in
     accordance with the provisions of Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture
     Act, or

          (2) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 608, or

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

then, in any such case, (i) the Company by a Board Resolution may remove the
Trustee with respect to all Securities, or (ii) subject to Section 514, any
Holder of a Security who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or any series
for at least six months may, on behalf of himself and all others similarly
situated,

                                      -41-
<PAGE>
 
petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee with
respect to all Securities of such series and the appointment of a successor
Trustee or Trustees.

     (e) If the Trustee shall resign, be removed or become incapable of acting,
or if a vacancy shall occur in the office of Trustee for any cause, 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 as 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 610.  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 not have been 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 610,
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 of Securities and accepted
appointment in the manner required by Section 610, any Holder of a Security 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.

     (f) 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 by mailing
written notice of such event by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to the
Holders of Registered Securities, if any, of such series as their names and
addresses appear in the Security Register and, if Securities of such series are
issued as Bearer Securities, by publishing notice of such event once in an
Authorized Newspaper in each Place of Payment located outside the United States.
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 610.    Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

     (a) 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.

                                      -42-
<PAGE>
 
     (b) In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to the Securities or 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, 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 that no Trustee shall be responsible for any notice
given to, or received by, or any act or failure to act on the part of any other
Trustee hereunder, 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, such retiring Trustee shall with
respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the appointment of
such successor Trustee relates have no further responsibility for the exercise
of rights and powers or for the performance of the duties and obligations vested
in the Trustee under this Indenture other than as hereinafter expressly set
forth, 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 duly assign,
transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee, to the extent contemplated by
such supplemental indenture, the 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.

     (c) 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
paragraph (a) or (b) of this Section, as the case may be.

     (d) 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 611.    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 of the corporate trust
business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder,
provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this
Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or any

                                      -43-
<PAGE>
 
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.  In the event any Securities shall not have been
authenticated by such predecessor Trustee, any such successor Trustee may
authenticate and deliver such Securities as provided in a Company Order
addressed to the successor Trustee, in either its own name or that of its
predecessor Trustee with the full force and effect which the Indenture provides
for the certificate of authentication of the Trustee.

SECTION 612.    Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

     The Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of Section 311 of the Trust
Indenture Act.


SECTION 613.    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
or exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof 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 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.

                                      -44-
<PAGE>
 
     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 (i) mail written notice
of such appointment by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to all Holders of
Registered Securities, if any, of the series with respect to which such
Authenticating Agent will serve, as their names and addresses appear in the
Security Register, and (ii) if Securities of the series are issued as Bearer
Securities, publish notice of such appointment at least once in an Authorized
Newspaper in the place where such successor Authenticating Agent has its
principal office if such office is located outside the United States.  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 Company agrees to pay each Authenticating Agent from time to time
reasonable compensation for its services under this Section.

     The provisions of Sections 308, 604 and 605 shall be applicable to each
Authenticating Agent.

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


                              YASUDA BANK & TRUST CO. (U.S.A.), As Trustee



                              By
                                 -----------------------------------------
                                         As Authenticating Agent


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


     If all of the Securities of any series may not be originally issued at one
time, and if the Trustee does not have an office capable of authenticating
Securities upon original issuance located in a Place of Payment

                                      -45-
<PAGE>
 
where the Company wishes to have Securities of such series authenticated upon
original issuance, the Trustee, if so requested in writing (which writing need
not comply with Section 102) by the Company, shall appoint in accordance with
this Section 613 an Authenticating Agent having an office in a Place of Payment
designated by the Company with respect to such series of Securities.


                                 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

     (a) semi-annually, not later than fifteen days after the Regular Record
Date for interest for each series of Securities, a list, in such form as the
Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and addresses of the Holders of
Registered Securities of such series as of such Regular Record Date, or if there
is no Regular Record Date for interest for such series of Securities, semi-
annually, upon such dates as are set forth in the Board Resolution or indenture
supplemental hereto authorizing such series, and

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

provided, however, that, so long as the Trustee is the Security Registrar, no
such list shall be required to be furnished.

SECTION 702.    Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

     (a) The Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is reasonably
practicable, the names and addresses of Holders of Securities (i) contained in
the most recent list furnished to the Trustee for each series as provided in
Section 701, (ii) received by the Trustee for each series in the capacity of
Security Registrar if the Trustee is then acting in such capacity and (iii)
filed with it within the two preceding years pursuant to Section 703(b)(2).  The
Trustee may destroy any list furnished to it as provided in Section 701 upon
receipt of a new list so furnished, and destroy it not earlier than two years
after filing, any information filed with it pursuant to Section 703(b)(2).

     (b) If three or more Holders of Securities of any series (hereinafter
referred to as "applicants") apply in writing to the Trustee, and furnish to the
Trustee reasonable proof that each such applicant has owned a Security of such
series for a period of at least six months preceding the date of such
application, and such application states that the applicants desire to
communicate with other Holders of Securities of such series with respect to
their rights under this Indenture or under the Securities and is accompanied by

                                      -46-
<PAGE>
 
a copy of the form of proxy or other communication which such applicants propose
to transmit, then the Trustee shall, within five business days after the receipt
of such application, at its election, either

          (1) afford such applicants access to the information preserved at the
     time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), or

          (2) inform such applicants as to the approximate number of Holders of
     Securities whose names and addresses appear in the information preserved at
     the time by the Trustee in accordance with Section 702(a), and as to the
     approximate cost of mailing to such Holders the form of proxy or other
     communication, if any, specified in such application.

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

     (c) Every Holder of Securities or coupons, by receiving and holding the
same, agrees with the Company and the Trustee that neither the Company nor the
Trustee nor any Paying Agent nor any Security Registrar shall be held
accountable by reason of the disclosure of any such information as to the names
and addresses of the Holders of Securities in accordance with Section 702(b),
regardless of the source from which such information was derived, and that the
Trustee shall not be held accountable by reason of mailing any material pursuant
to a request made under Section 702(b).

SECTION 703.    Reports by Trustee.

     (a) Within 60 days after May 15 of each year commencing with the year 1996,
the Trustee shall transmit by mail to all Holders of Securities, as provided in
subsection (b) of this Section, a brief report dated as of such May 15 as
required by the Trust Indenture Act.

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

                                      -47-
<PAGE>
 
          (1) to all Holders of Registered Securities, as the names and
     addresses of such Holders appear in the Security Register;

          (2) to such Holders of Bearer Securities as have, within the two years
     preceding such transmission, filed their names and addresses with the
     Trustee for that purpose; and

          (3) except in the case of reports pursuant to Subsection (b) of this
     Section, to each Holder of a Security whose name and address is preserved
     at the time by the Trustee, as provided in Section 702(a).

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

SECTION 704.    Reports by the Company.

     The Company shall:

          (1) file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the Company is
     required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual reports
     and of the information, documents and other reports (or copies of such
     portions of any of the foregoing as the Commission may from time to time by
     rules and regulations prescribe) which the Company may be required to file
     with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the
     Securities Exchange Act of 1934; or, if the Company is not required to file
     information, documents or reports pursuant to either of said Sections, then
     it shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules
     and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such of the
     supplementary and periodic information, documents and reports which may be
     required pursuant to Section 13 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 in
     respect of a security listed and registered on a national securities
     exchange as may be prescribed from time to time in such rules and
     regulations;

          (2) file with the Trustee and the Commission, in accordance with rules
     and regulations prescribed from time to time by the Commission, such
     additional information, documents and reports with respect to compliance by
     the Company with the conditions and covenants of this Indenture as may be
     required from time to time by such rules and regulations; and

          (3) transmit by mail to all Holders, as their names and addresses
     appear in the Security Register within 30 days after the filing thereof
     with the Trustee, such summaries of any information, documents and reports
     required to be filed by the Company pursuant to paragraphs (1) and (2) of
     this Section as may be required by rules and regulations prescribed from
     time to time  by the Commission.

                                      -48-
<PAGE>
 
                                 ARTICLE EIGHT

                CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE, LEASE OR CONVEYANCE

SECTION 801.    Consolidations and Mergers of Company and Sales, Leases and
                Conveyances Permitted Subject to Certain Conditions.

     The Company may consolidate with, or sell, lease or convey all or
substantially all of its assets to, or merge with or into any other corporation,
provided that in any such case, (i) either the Company shall be the continuing
corporation, or the successor corporation shall be a corporation organized and
existing under the laws of the United States of America or a State thereof and
such successor corporation shall expressly assume the due and punctual payment
of the principal of (and premium, if any), any interest on, and any Additional
Amounts payable pursuant to Section 1004 with respect to, all the Securities,
according to their tenor, and the due and punctual performance and observance of
all of the covenants and conditions of this Indenture to be performed by the
Company by supplemental indenture satisfactory to the Trustee, executed and
delivered to the Trustee by such successor corporation and (ii) the Company or
such successor corporation, as the case may be, shall not, immediately after
such merger or consolidation, or such sale, lease or conveyance, be in default
in the performance of any such covenant or condition.

SECTION 802.    Rights and Duties of Successor Corporation.

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

     In case of any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance,
such changes in phraseology and form (but not in substance) may be made in the
Securities and coupons thereafter to be issued as may be appropriate.

                                      -49-
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 803.    Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel.

     The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Sections 601 and 603, may
receive an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive
evidence that any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance, and any
such assumption, complies with the provisions of this Article.


                                  ARTICLE NINE

                            SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

SECTION 901.    Supplemental Indentures without Consent of Holders.

     Without the consent of any Holders of Securities or coupons, 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, and
     the assumption by any such successor of the covenants of the Company herein
     and in the Securities contained; 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 to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture to
     provide that Bearer Securities may be registrable as to principal, to
     change or eliminate any restrictions on the payment of principal (or
     premium, if any) on Registered Securities or of principal (or premium, if
     any) or any interest on Bearer Securities, to permit Registered Securities
     to be exchanged for Bearer Securities or to permit the issuance of
     Securities in uncertificated form, provided any such action shall not
     adversely affect the interests of the Holders of Securities of any series
     or any related coupons in any material respect; or

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

          (5) 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 the 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(b); or

                                      -50-
<PAGE>
 
          (6) 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 which shall not be inconsistent with
     the provisions of this Indenture which shall not adversely affect the
     interest of the Holders of Securities of any series or any related coupons
     in any material respect; or

          (7) to add to, delete from or revise the conditions, limitations and
     restrictions on the authorized amount, terms or purposes of issue,
     authentication and delivery of Securities, as herein set forth; or

          (8) to add to or change any of the provisions of this Indenture as
     shall be necessary or desirable to establish that Bearer Securities are
     issued under arrangements reasonably designed to ensure that they are sold
     or resold in connection with their original issuance only to a person who
     is not a United States Person or who is a United States Person that is a
     financial institution purchasing for its own account or for the account of
     a customer and that agrees to comply with the requirements of section
     165(j)(3)(A), (B), or (C) of the Code and the regulations thereunder or any
     successor provisions thereto (including without limitation the procedures
     and other requirements necessary to satisfy the conditions set forth in
     section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code), and any other requirements that must be
     complied with in order to avoid the disallowance of an interest deduction
     by the Company with respect to interest paid on Bearer Securities or
     Coupons, the imposition of an excise tax on the Company with respect to the
     Bearer Securities or Coupons or the disallowance from exemption from
     withholding tax on interest paid on the Bearer Securities or Coupons.

SECTION 902.    Supplemental Indentures with Consent of Holders.

     With the consent of the Holders of not less than 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 interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the
     rate of interest thereon or any Additional Amounts payable in respect
     thereof, or any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, or change the
     obligation of the Company to pay Additional Amounts pursuant to Section
     1004 (except as contemplated by Section 801(i) and permitted by Section
     901, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue Discount
     Security that 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 the interest

                                      -51-
<PAGE>
 
     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 reduce the requirements of Section 1404 for quorum or voting;
     or

          (3) modify any of the provisions of this Section, or Section 513, or
     Section 107, 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.

     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 of 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 of Securities 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 trust created by this Indenture, the Trustee shall be entitled to receive,
and (subject to Section 601) 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
and of any coupons appertaining thereto shall be bound thereby.

                                      -52-
<PAGE>
 
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 as then in effect.

SECTION 906.    Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indenture.

     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, if any, and Interest.

     The Company covenants and agrees for the benefit of the Holders of each
series of Securities that it will duly and punctually pay the principal of (and
premium, if any), interest on and any Additional Amounts payable in respect of
the Securities of that series in accordance with the terms of such series of
Securities, any coupons appertaining thereto and this Indenture.  Any interest
due on and any Additional Amounts payable in respect of Bearer Securities on or
before Maturity, other than Additional Amounts, if any, payable as provided in
Section 1004 in respect of principal of (or premium, if any, on) such a
Security, shall be payable only upon presentation and surrender of the several
coupons for such interest installments as are evidenced thereby as they
severally mature.

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 (but not Bearer
Securities, except as otherwise provided below, unless such Place of Payment is
located outside the United States) may be presented or surrendered for payment,
where Securities of that series may be surrendered for registration of transfer
or exchange and where notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of
the Securities of that series and this Indenture may be served.  If Securities
of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will maintain,
subject to any laws or regulations applicable thereto, an office or agency in a
Place of Payment for such series which is located outside the United States
where Securities of such series and the related coupons may be presented and
surrendered for payment (including payment of any Additional Amounts payable on
Securities of such series pursuant to Section 1004); provided, however, that if
the Securities of such series are listed on The Stock Exchange of the United
Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland or the Luxembourg Stock Exchange

                                      -53-
<PAGE>
 
or any other stock exchange located outside the United States and such stock
exchange shall so require, the Company will maintain a Paying Agent in London,
Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United States, as the
case may be, so long as the Securities of such series are listed on such
exchange.  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, except that Bearer Securities of that series and the
related coupons may be presented and surrendered for payment (including payment
of any Additional Amounts payable on Bearer Securities of that series pursuant
to Section 1004) at the place specified for the purpose pursuant to Section 301,
and the Company hereby appoints the Trustee as its agent to receive all such
presentations, surrenders, notices and demands.

     Except as otherwise provided in the form of Bearer Security of any
particular series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, no payment of
principal, premium or interest on Bearer Securities shall be made at any office
or agency of the Company in the United States or by check mailed to any address
in the United States or by transfer to an account maintained with a bank located
in the United States; provided, however, payment of principal of and any premium
and interest in U.S. dollars (including Additional Amounts payable in respect
thereof) on any Bearer Security may be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the
Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York if (but only if)
payment of the full amount of such principal, premium, interest or Additional
Amounts at all offices outside the United States maintained for the purpose by
the Company in accordance with this Indenture is illegal or effectively
precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.

     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.  Unless otherwise set forth in a Board Resolution or indenture
supplemental hereto with respect to a series of Securities, the Company hereby
designates as the Place of Payment for each series of Securities the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, and initially appoints the Trustee at its
Corporate Trust Office as the Company's office or agency for each of such
purposes in such city.

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 (and premium, if any), or interest on, any of the Securities of
that series, segregate and hold in trust for the benefit of the Person entitled
thereto a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or interest
so becoming due until such sums shall be paid to such Persons or otherwise
disposed of as herein provided, and will promptly notify the Trustee of its
action or failure so to act.

                                      -54-
<PAGE>
 
     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 (and
premium, if any), or interest on, any Securities of that series, deposit with a
Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay the principal (and premium, if any) or
interest so becoming due, such sum to be held in trust for the benefit of the
Persons entitled to such principal, premium or interest, and (unless such Paying
Agent is the Trustee) the Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action
or failure so to act.

     The Company will cause each Paying Agent 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) at any time during the continuance of any such default, upon the
     written request of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so
     held in trust by such Paying Agent 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 terms 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.

     Except as otherwise provided in the form of Securities of any particular
series pursuant to the provisions of this Indenture, any money deposited with
the Trustee or any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the
payment of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Security of
any series and remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal (and
premium, if any) or interest has become due and payable shall be paid to the
Company on Company Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged
from such trust; and the Holder of such Security or any coupon appertaining
thereto 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 an Authorized Newspaper in
each Place of Payment or to be mailed to Holders of Registered Securities, or
both, 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
or mailing, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid to
the Company.

                                      -55-
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 1004.    Additional Amounts.

     If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional
Amounts, the Company will pay to the Holder of any Security of any series or any
coupon appertaining thereto Additional Amounts as provided therein.  Whenever in
this Indenture there is mentioned, in any context, the payment of the principal
of (or premium, if any) or interest on, or in respect of, any Security of any
series or any related coupon or the net proceeds received on the sale or
exchange of any Security of any series, such mention shall be deemed to include
mention of the payment of Additional Amounts provided for in this Section to the
extent that, in such context, Additional Amounts are, were or would be payable
in respect thereof pursuant to the provisions of this Section and express
mention of the payment of Additional Amounts (if applicable) in any provisions
hereof shall not be construed as excluding Additional Amounts in those
provisions hereof where such express mention is not made.

     If the Securities of a series provide for the payment of Additional
Amounts, at least 10 days prior to the first Interest Payment Date with respect
to that series of Securities (or if the Securities of that series will not bear
interest prior to Maturity, the first day on which a payment of principal (and
premium, if any,) is made, and at least 10 days prior to each date of payment or
principal (and premium, if any) or interest if there has been any change with
respect to the matters set forth in the below-mentioned Officers' Certificate,
the Company will furnish the Trustee and the Company's principal Paying Agent or
Paying Agents, if other than the Trustee, with an Officers' Certificate
instructing the Trustee and such Paying Agent or Paying Agents whether such
payment of principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities of that
series shall be made to Holders of Securities of that series or the related
coupons who are United States Aliens without withholding for or on account of
any tax, assessment or other governmental charge described in the Securities of
that series.  If any such withholding shall be required, then such Officers'
Certificate shall specify by country the amount, if any, required to be withheld
on such payments to such Holders of Securities or coupons and the Company will
pay to the Trustee or such Paying Agent the Additional Amounts required by this
Section.  The Company covenants to indemnify the Trustee and any Paying Agent
for, and to hold them harmless against, any loss, liability or expense
reasonably incurred without negligence or bad faith on their part arising out of
or in connection with actions taken or omitted by any of them in reliance on any
Officers' Certificate furnished pursuant to this Section.

SECTION 1005.    Statement as to Compliance; Notice of Certain Defaults.

     The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end of
each fiscal year (which on the date hereof ends on September 30), a certificate
from the Company's principal executive officer, principal financial officer or
principal accounting officer as to his or her knowledge of the Company's
compliance with all conditions and covenants under this Indenture, without
regard to any period of grace or requirement of notice otherwise provided under
this Indenture.

SECTION 1006.    Waiver of Certain Covenants.

     The Company may omit in any particular instance to comply with any term,
provision or condition set forth in Section 1004 with respect to the Securities
of any series if before the time for such compliance

                                      -56-
<PAGE>
 
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.


                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN

                            REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1101.    Applicability of Article.

     Redemption of Securities of any series at the option of the Company as
permitted or required by the terms of such Securities shall be made in
accordance with the terms of such Securities and 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.  In case of any redemption at the election of the Company of
the Securities of any series with the same issue date, interest rate and Stated
Maturity, the Company shall, at least 60 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 and of the principal amount of
Securities of such series to be redeemed.

SECTION 1103.    Selection by Trustee of Securities to be Redeemed.

     If less than all the Securities of any series with the same issue date,
interest rate and Stated Maturity are to be redeemed, the particular Securities
to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 60 days prior to the Redemption
Date by the Trustee from the Outstanding Securities of such series not
previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee shall deem fair
and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for redemption of
portions of the principal amount of Registered Securities of such series;
provided, however, that no such partial redemption shall reduce the portion of
the principal amount of a Registered Security of such series not redeemed to
less than the minimum denomination for a Security of that series established
pursuant to Section 302.

     The Trustee shall promptly notify the Company and the Security Registrar
(if other than itself) in writing of the Securities selected for redemption and,
in the case of any Securities selected for partial redemption, the principal
amount thereof to be redeemed.

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

                                      -57-
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 1104.    Notice of Redemption.

     Notice of redemption shall be given in the manner provided in Section 106,
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 the Holders of
Securities to be redeemed.  Failure to give notice by mailing in the manner
herein provided to the Holder of any Registered Securities designated for
redemption as a whole or in part, or any defect in the notice to any such Holder
shall not affect the validity of the proceedings for the redemption of any other
Securities or portion thereof.

     Any notice that is mailed to the Holder of any Registered Securities in the
manner herein provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given,
whether or not such Holder receives the notice.

     All notices of redemption shall state:

          (1)  the Redemption Date,

          (2)  the Redemption Price,

          (3) if less than all Outstanding Securities of any series are to be
     redeemed, the identification (and, in the case of partial redemption, the
     principal amount) of the particular Securities to be redeemed,

          (4) in case any Registered Security is to be redeemed in part only,
     the notice which relates to such Security shall state that on and after the
     Redemption Date, upon surrender of such Security, the Holder of such
     Security will receive, without charge, a new Registered Security or
     Registered Securities of authorized denominations for the principal amount
     thereof remaining unredeemed,

          (5) 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 shall cease to accrue on and after said date,

          (6) the place or places where such Securities, together, in the case
     of Bearer Securities with all coupons appertaining thereto, if any,
     maturing after the Redemption Date, are to be surrendered for payment of
     the Redemption Price, and

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

     A notice of redemption published as contemplated by Section 106 need not
identify particular Registered Securities to be redeemed.

                                      -58-
<PAGE>
 
     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.

SECTION 1105.    Deposit of Redemption Price.

     On or prior to any Redemption Date, the Company shall deposit with the
Trustee or with a Paying Agent (or, if the Company is acting as its own Paying
Agent, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section 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 and any Additional
Amounts with respect thereto, all the Securities or portions thereof which are
to be redeemed on that date.

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 and the coupons for such
interest appertaining to any Bearer Securities so to be redeemed, except to the
extent provided below, shall be  void.  Upon surrender of any such Security for
redemption in accordance with said notice, together with all coupons, if any,
appertaining thereto maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security shall be
paid by the Company at the Redemption Price, together with accrued interest (and
any Additional Amounts) to the Redemption Date; provided, however, that
installments of interest on Bearer Securities whose Stated Maturity is on or
prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable only upon presentation and
surrender of coupons for such interest (at an office or agency located outside
the United States except as otherwise provided in Section 1002), and provided,
further that installments of interest on Registered Securities whose Stated
Maturity is on or prior to the Redemption Date shall be payable to the Holders
of such Securities, or one or more Predecessor Securities, registered as such at
the close of business on the Regular Record Dates according to their terms and
the provisions of Section 307.

     If any Bearer Security surrendered for redemption shall not be accompanied
by all appurtenant coupons maturing after the Redemption Date, such Security may
be paid after deducting from the Redemption Price an amount equal to the face
amount of all such missing coupons, or the surrender of such missing coupon or
coupons may be waived by the Company and the Trustee if there be furnished to
them such security or indemnity as they may require to save each of them and any
Paying Agent harmless.  If thereafter the Holder of such Security shall
surrender to the Trustee or any Paying Agent any such missing coupon in respect
of which a deduction shall have been made from the Redemption Price, such Holder
shall be entitled to receive the amount so deducted; provided, however, that
interest (and any Additional Amounts) represented by coupons shall be payable
only upon presentation and surrender of those coupons at an office or agency
located outside of the United States except as otherwise provided in Section
1002.

                                      -59-
<PAGE>
 
     If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid upon surrender
thereof for redemption, the principal (and premium, if any) shall, until paid,
bear interest from the Redemption Date at the rate prescribed therefor in the
Security.

SECTION 1107.    Securities Redeemed in Part.

     Any Registered Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be
surrendered at any office or agency of the Company maintained for that purpose
pursuant to Section 1002 (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 his 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 Registered Security or Securities of the same series, containing identical
terms and provisions, 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 a series, except as otherwise permitted or
required by any form of Security of such series issued pursuant to this
Indenture.

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

SECTION 1202.    Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments With Securities.

     The Company may, in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund
payment with respect to the Securities of such series to be made pursuant to the
terms of such Securities as provided for by the terms of such series (1) deliver
Outstanding Securities of such series (other than any of such Securities
previously called for redemption or any of such Securities in respect of which
cash shall have been released to the Company), together in the case of any
Bearer Securities of such series with all unmatured coupons appertaining
thereto, and (2) apply as a credit Securities of such series which have been
redeemed either at the election of the Company pursuant to the terms of such
series of Securities or through the application

                                      -60-
<PAGE>
 
of permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such
Securities, provided that such series of Securities have not been previously so
credited.  Such Securities shall be received and credited for such purpose by
the Trustee at the Redemption Price specified in such Securities for redemption
through operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund
payment shall be reduced accordingly.  If as a result of the delivery or credit
of Securities of any series in lieu of cash payments pursuant to this Section
1202, the principal amount of Securities of such series to be redeemed in order
to exhaust the aforesaid cash payment shall be less than $100,000, the Trustee
need not call Securities of such series for redemption, except upon  Company
Request, and such cash payment shall be held by the Trustee or a Paying Agent
and applied to the next succeeding sinking fund payment, provided, however, that
the Trustee or such Paying Agent shall at the request of the Company from time
to time pay over and deliver to the Company any cash payment so being held by
the Trustee or such Paying Agent upon delivery by the Company to the Trustee of
Securities of that series purchased by the Company having an unpaid principal
amount equal to the cash payment requested to be released to the Company.

SECTION 1203.    Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

     Not less than 60 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any
series of Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers'
Certificate specifying the amount of the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund
payment for that series pursuant to the terms of that series, the portion
thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion
thereof, if any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting of
Securities of that series pursuant to Section 1202, and the optional amount, if
any, to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment, and
will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so credited and not
theretofore delivered.  If such Officers' Certificate shall specify an optional
amount to be added in cash to the next ensuing mandatory sinking fund payment,
the Company shall thereupon be obligated to pay the amount therein specified.
Not less than 30 days before 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

                       REPAYMENT AT THE OPTION OF HOLDERS

SECTION 1301.    Applicability of Article.

     Securities of any series which are repayable at the option of the Holders
thereof before their Stated Maturity shall be repaid in accordance with the
terms of the Securities of such series.  The repayment of any principal amount
of Securities pursuant to such option of the Holder to require repayment of
Securities before their Stated Maturity, for purposes of Section 309, shall not
operate as a payment, redemption or satisfaction of the indebtedness represented
by such Securities unless and until the Company, at its option,

                                      -61-
<PAGE>
 
shall deliver or surrender the same to the Trustee with a directive that such
Securities be cancelled.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary contained in
this Article Thirteen, in connection with any repayment of Securities, the
Company may arrange for the purchase of any Securities by an agreement with one
or more investment bankers or other purchasers to purchase such Securities by
paying to the Holders of such Securities on or before the close of business on
the repayment date an amount not less than the repayment price payable by the
Company on repayment of such Securities, and the obligation of the Company to
pay the repayment price of such Securities shall be satisfied and discharged to
the extent such payment is so paid by such purchasers.


                                ARTICLE FOURTEEN

                       MEETINGS OF HOLDERS OF SECURITIES

SECTION 1401.    Purposes for Which Meetings May Be Called.

     If Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, a meeting of
Holders of Securities of such series may be called at any time and from time to
time pursuant to this Article to make, give or take any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action provided by
this Indenture to be made, given or taken by Holders of Securities of such
series.

SECTION 1402.    Call, Notice and Place of Meetings.

     (a) The Trustee may at any time call a meeting of Holders of Securities of
any series for any purpose specified in Section 1401, to be held at such time
and at such place in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or in
London, as the Trustee shall determine.  Notice of every meeting of Holders of
Securities of any series, setting forth the time and place of such meeting and
in general terms the action proposed to be taken at such meeting, shall be
given, in the manner provided in Section 106, not less than 21 nor more than 180
days prior to the date fixed for the meeting.

     (b) In case at any time the Company, pursuant to a Board Resolution, or the
Holders of at least 10% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of any
series shall have requested the Trustee to call a meeting of the Holders of
Securities of such series for any purpose specified in Section 1401, by written
request setting forth in reasonable detail the action proposed to be taken at
the meeting, and the Trustee shall not have made the first publication of the
notice of such meeting within 21 days after receipt of such request or shall not
thereafter proceed to cause the meeting to be held as provided herein, then the
Company or the Holders of Securities of such series in the amount above
specified, as the case may be, may determine the time and the place in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or in London for such meeting and
may call such meeting for such purposes by giving notice thereof as provided in
subsection (a) of this Section.

                                      -62-
<PAGE>
 
SECTION 1403.    Persons Entitled to Vote at Meetings.

     To be entitled to vote at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any
series, a Person shall be (1) a Holder of one or more Outstanding Securities of
such series, or (2) a Person appointed by an instrument in writing as proxy for
a Holder or Holders of one or more Outstanding Securities of such series by such
Holder or Holders.  The only Persons who shall be entitled to be present or to
speak at any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be the Persons
entitled to vote at such meeting and their counsel, any representatives of the
Trustee and its counsel, and any representatives of the Company and its counsel.

SECTION 1404.    Quorum; Action.

     The Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of a series shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of
Holders of Securities of such series; provided, however, that if any action is
to be taken at such meeting with respect to a consent or waiver which this
Indenture expressly provides may be given by the Holders of not less than 66-
2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series, the Persons
entitled to vote 66-2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of
such series shall constitute a quorum.  In the absence of a quorum within 30
minutes of the time appointed for any such meeting, the meeting shall, if
convened at the request of Holders of Securities of such series, be dissolved.
In any other case the meeting may be adjourned for a period of not less than 10
days as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of
such meeting.  In the absence of a quorum at any such adjourned meeting, such
adjourned meeting may be further adjourned for a period of not less than 10 days
as determined by the chairman of the meeting prior to the adjournment of such
adjourned meeting.  Notice of the reconvening of any adjourned meeting shall be
given as provided in Section 1402(a), except that such notice need be given only
once not less than five days prior to the date on which the meeting is scheduled
to be reconvened.  Notice of the reconvening of an adjourned meeting shall state
expressly the percentage, as provided above, of the principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series which shall constitute a quorum.

     Except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution presented
to a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a quorum is present
as aforesaid may be adopted only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a
majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series;
provided, however, that, except as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any
resolution with respect to any consent or waiver which this Indenture expressly
provides may be given by the Holders of not less than 66-2/3% in principal
amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or
an adjourned meeting duly convened and at which a quorum is present as aforesaid
only by the affirmative vote of the Holders of 66-2/3% in principal amount of
the Outstanding Securities of that series; and provided, further, that, except
as limited by the proviso to Section 902, any resolution with respect to any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action which this Indenture expressly provides may be made, given or taken by
the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less than a majority, in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of a series may be adopted at a
meeting or an adjourned meeting duly reconvened and at which a quorum is present
as aforesaid by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified percentage
in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series.

                                      -63-
<PAGE>
 
     Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of
Securities of any series duly held in accordance with this Section shall be
binding on all the Holders of Securities of such series and the related coupons,
whether or not present or represented at the meeting.

SECTION 1405.    Determination of Voting Rights; Conduct and Adjournment of
                 Meetings.

     (a) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Indenture, the Trustee may
make such reasonable regulations as it may deem advisable for any meeting of
Holders of Securities of such series in regard to proof of the holding of
Securities of such series and of the appointment of proxies and in regard to the
appointment and duties of inspectors of votes, the submission and examination of
proxies, certificates and other evidence of the right to vote, and such other
matters, concerning the conduct of the meeting as it shall deem appropriate.
Except as otherwise permitted or required by any such regulations, the holding
of Securities shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104 and the
appointment of any proxy shall be proved in the manner specified in Section 104
or by having the signature of the person executing the proxy witnessed or
guaranteed by any trust company, bank or banker authorized by Section 104 to
certify to the holding of Bearer Securities.  Such regulations may provide that
written instruments appointing proxies, regular on their face, may be presumed
valid and genuine without the proof specified in Section 104 or other proof.

     (b) The Trustee shall, by an instrument in writing, appoint a temporary
chairman of the meeting, unless the meeting shall have been called by the
Company or by Holders of Securities as provided in Section 1402(b), in which
case the Company or the Holders of Securities of the series calling the meeting,
as the case may be, shall in like manner appoint a temporary chairman.  A
permanent chairman and a permanent secretary of the meeting shall be elected by
vote of the Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series represented at the meeting.

     (c) At any meeting each Holder of a Security of such series or proxy shall
be entitled to one vote for each $1,000 principal amount of Securities of such
series held or represented by him; provided, however, that no vote shall be cast
or counted at any meeting in respect of any Security challenged as not
Outstanding and ruled by the chairman of the meeting to be not Outstanding.  The
chairman of the meeting shall have no right to vote, except as a Holder of a
Security of such series or proxy.

     (d) Any meeting of Holders of Securities of any series duly called pursuant
to Section 1402 at which a quorum is present may be adjourned from time to time
by Persons entitled to vote a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding
Securities of such series represented at the meeting; and the meeting may be
held as so adjourned without further notice.

SECTION 1406.    Counting Votes and Recording Action of Meetings.

     The vote upon any resolution submitted to any meeting of Holders of
Securities of any series shall be by written ballots on which shall be
subscribed the signatures of the Holders of Securities of such series or of
their representatives by proxy and the principal amounts and serial numbers of
the Outstanding Securities of such series held or represented by them.  The
permanent chairman of the meeting shall

                                      -64-
<PAGE>
 
appoint two inspectors of votes who shall count all votes cast at the meeting
for or against any resolution and who shall make and file with the secretary of
the meeting their verified written reports in triplicate of all votes cast at
the meeting.  A record, at least in triplicate, of the proceedings of each
meeting of Holders of Securities of any series shall be prepared by the
secretary of the meeting and there shall be attached to said record the original
reports of the inspectors of votes on any vote by ballot taken thereat and
affidavits by one or more persons having knowledge of the facts setting forth a
copy of the notice of the meeting and showing that said notice was given as
provided in Section 1402 and, if applicable, Section 1404.  Each copy shall be
signed and verified by the affidavits of the permanent chairman and secretary of
the meeting and one such copy shall be delivered to the Company, and another to
the Trustee to be preserved by the Trustee, the latter to have attached thereto
the ballots voted at the meeting.  Any record so signed and verified shall be
conclusive evidence of the matters therein stated.


                                ARTICLE FIFTEEN

                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

SECTION 1501.    Securities in Foreign Currencies.

     Whenever this Indenture provides for (i) any action by, or the
determination of any of the rights of, Holders of Securities of any series in
which not all of such Securities are denominated in the same currency, or (ii)
any distribution to Holders of Securities, in the absence of any provision to
the contrary in the form of Security of any particular series, any amount in
respect of any Security denominated in a currency other than United States
dollars shall be treated for any such action or distribution as that amount of
United States dollars that could be obtained for such amount on the basis of the
Market Exchange Rate (as defined in Section 1502) as of the record date with
respect to Registered Securities of such series (if any) for such action,
determination of rights or distribution (or, if there shall be no applicable
record date, such other date reasonably proximate to the date of such action,
determination of rights or distribution) as the Company may specify in a written
notice to the Trustee or, in the absence of such written notice, as the Trustee
may determine.

SECTION 1502.    Payments in Substitute Currencies.

     If the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on any Securities is
payable in a currency other than United States dollars and such currency is not
available for payment due to the imposition of exchange controls or other
circumstances beyond the control of the Company, then the Company shall be
entitled to satisfy its obligations to Holders under this Indenture by making
such payment in United States dollars on the basis of the Market Exchange Rate
for such foreign currency on the latest date for which such rate was established
on or before the date on which payment is due.  Any payment made pursuant to
this Section 1502 in United States dollars where the required payment is in a
foreign currency shall not constitute a default under this Indenture.  As used
in this Section 1502, unless otherwise specified in the applicable Security, on
a given date for a given foreign currency "Market Exchange Rate" shall mean the

                                      -65-
<PAGE>
 
noon buying rate in The City of New York for cable transfers in such currency as
certified for customs purposes by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York on such
date.

                               *   *   *   *   *

     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.

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

                                    COMDISCO, INC.


[SEAL]                        By: 
                                 ---------------------------------------------
                                     Edward A. Pacewicz, Vice President/Finance
 


ATTEST:

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


                                    YASUDA BANK & TRUST CO. (U.S.A.)


[SEAL]                        By:
                                 -------------------------------------------

                                     Its: 
                                          ----------------------------------
 

ATTEST:

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

                               

                                      -66-

<PAGE>
 
                                                                       Exhibit 5
                                                                       ---------



                               October 27, 1995

The Board of Directors of
Comdisco, Inc.
6111 North River Road
Rosemont, Illinois  60018

     Re:  Registration of $750 Million in Debt Securities of Comdisco, Inc.
          -----------------------------------------------------------------

Gentlemen:

     Reference is made to the form of the Registration Statement on Form S-3 to
be filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") on
or about October 30, 1995 (the "Registration Statement") by Comdisco, Inc., a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Act"), relating to $750,000,000 in aggregate principal amount of
Debt Securities of the Company (the "Debt Securities") and Common Stock as may
be issuable from time to time upon conversion or exchange or Debt Securities to
the extent such Debt Securities are, by their terms, convertible or exchangeable
for Debt Securities pursuant to Rule 415 under the Act for issuance from time to
time.  At your request, this opinion is being furnished to you for filing as
Exhibit 5 to the Registration Statement.

     I am familiar with the proceedings taken and proposed to be taken by the
Company in connection with the proposed authorization, issue and sale of the
Debt Securities and related Common Stock, and I have examined the originals, or
copies, certified or otherwise identified, of corporate records of the Company,
certificates of public officials and the representatives of the Company,
statutes and other documents and instruments, as the basis for the opinion
hereinafter expressed.

     Based upon the foregoing examination, and in reliance thereon, I am of the
opinion that when the Registration Statement has become effective, and subject
to the terms of the Debt Securities and related Common Stock being otherwise in
compliance with applicable law:

     1.   The Debt Securities, when duly authorized, executed, authenticated and
delivered in accordance with the terms of the applicable resolutions of the
Board of Directors of the Company, any applicable indenture and any legally
required consents, approvals, authorizations and other orders of the Commission
or any other judicial or regulatory authorities required to be obtained, against
payment therefor as described in the Registration Statement, will be legally
issued and will be binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits
of any applicable indenture.

<PAGE>

Comdisco, Inc.
October 27, 1995
Page 2
 
     2.  All shares of Common Stock issuable on conversion or exchange of Debt
Securities, which by their terms are convertible or exchangeable for Common
Stock, will be legally issued, fully paid and non-assessable shares of the
Company.

     The foregoing opinion is subject to (i) any applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws affecting creditors'
rights generally and (ii) with respect to the enforceability of any agreement to
general principles of equity (regardless of whether such enforceability is
considered in an action at law or in equity).

     I am qualified to practice law in the State of Illinois and do not purport
to be an expert on, or to express any opinion herein concerning any law other
than the laws of the State of Illinois, the corporation laws of the State of
Delaware, and the federal laws of the United States.  Without limiting the
generality of the foregoing, I express no opinion as to the effect of the law of
any jurisdiction other than the State of Illinois or the corporate law of
Delaware.

     I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement, and I further consent to the use of my name under the
caption "LEGAL MATTERS" in the Prospectus forming a part of the Registration
Statement.

                                    Very truly yours,


                                    /s/ Jeremiah M. Fitzgerald
                                    -----------------------------------------
                                    Jeremiah M. Fitzgerald
                                    Vice President and
                                    General Counsel

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.1

[KPMG Peat Marwick LLP Letterhead]

                       Consent of KPMG Peat Marwick LLP
                       --------------------------------

The Board of Directors
Comdisco, Inc.:

We consent to the incorporation by reference in the Registration Statement on 
Form S-3 of Comdisco, Inc. of our reports dated November 7, 1994, relating to 
the consolidated balance sheets of Comdisco, Inc. and subsidiaries as of 
September 30, 1994 and 1993, and the related consolidated statements of 
earnings, stockholders' equity, and cash flows for each of the years in the 
three-year period ended September 30, 1994, and the related financial statement 
schedules which reports appear in or are incorporated by reference in the 
September 30, 1994 annual report on Form 10-K of Comdisco, Inc. and to the 
reference to our firm under the heading "Experts" included herein.

                                                       /s/ KPMG Peat Marwick LLP

October 27, 1995
Chicago, Illinois

<PAGE>
 
                                                                      EXHIBIT 25


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

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C.  20549

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

                                   FORM T-1


                           STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                   UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939 OF
                  A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE


        CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY OF A TRUSTEE 
                       PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2) ___


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


                     YASUDA BANK AND TRUST COMPANY (U.S.A)
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)


                New York                                 13-3410433
     (Jurisdiction of incorporation                   (I.R.S. Employer
      if not a U.S. national bank)                   Identification No.)


      666 Fifth Avenue, Suite 802                           10103
           New York, New York                            (Zip code)
(Address of principal executive offices)


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


                                COMDISCO, INC.
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)


                Delaware                                 36-2687938
     (State or other jurisdiction of                  (I.R.S. Employer
      incorporation or organization)                 Identification No.)


          6111 North River Road                             60018
           Rosemont, Illinois                            (Zip code)
 (Address of principal executive offices)


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


                                Debt Securities
                      (Title of the indenture securities)



<PAGE>
 
Item 1.        General Information

               Furnish the following information as to the Trustee:

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

                       Federal Reserve Bank of New York (2nd District)
                       New York, New York
                       Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
                       Washington, D.C.
                       New York Banking Department, Albany, New York.

     (b)  Whether it is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

                       Yes.

Item 2.        Affiliations with the Obligor.

               If the obligor is an affiliate of the Trustee, describe each such
               affiliation.  
                     
                       None.

Item 16.       List of Exhibits

               Exhibit 1 --   Copy of an Organization Certificate of the trustee
                              as now in effect. Incorporated herein by reference
                              to Exhibit 1 filed with Form T-1 Statement, 
                              Registration, # 33-43683.


               Exhibit 2 --   Copy of a certificate of authority of the trustee
                              to commence business. Incorporated herein by
                              reference to Exhibit 2 filed with Form T-1
                              Statement, Registration # 33-43683.

               Exhibit 3 --   The authorization of the trustee to exercise
                              corporate trust powers is included in Exhibit 2
                              incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 2
                              filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration 
                              # 33-43683

               Exhibit 4 --   Copy of existing by-laws of the trustee.
                              Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 4
                              filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration 
                              # 33-43683.

               Exhibit 5 --   Not Applicable.

               Exhibit 6 --   The consent of the trustee required by Section
                              321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
                              amended by the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990.
                              Incorporated herein by reference to Exhibit 6
                              filed with Form T-1 Statement, Registration 
                              # 33-43683.

               Exhibit 7 --   A copy of the Consolidated Financial Statements of
                              Yasuda Bank and Trust Company (U.S.A.)

               Exhibit 8 --   Not Applicable.

               Exhibit 9 --   Not Applicable.
<PAGE>
 
Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the Trustee,
Yasuda Bank and Trust Company (U.S.A.), a New York trust company, has duly
caused this statement of eligibility and qualification 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 21st day of September 1995.

                                  YASUDA BANK AND TRUST COMPANY (U.S.A.)

                              By: /s/ Anthony A. Bocchino
                                  -----------------------
                                  Anthony A. Bocchino
                                  Vice President



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