AES CORPORATION
S-4/A, 1998-02-05
COGENERATION SERVICES & SMALL POWER PRODUCERS
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    AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON FEBRUARY 5, 1998
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-44845
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                               ----------------
                               AMENDMENT NO.1 TO
                                    FORM S-4
                            REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                               ----------------
                              THE AES CORPORATION
             (Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Its Charter)
    

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
           DELAWARE                             4911                             54-1163725
<S>                                  <C>                              <C>
(State or Other Jurisdiction of     (Primary Standard Industrial     (I.R.S. Employer Identification No.)
Incorporation or Organization)      Classification Code Number)
</TABLE>

                             1001 NORTH 19TH STREET
                            ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22209
                                 (703) 522-1315

  (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code, of
                          principal executive offices)

                                 BARRY J. SHARP
                             1001 NORTH 19TH STREET
                            ARLINGTON, VIRGINIA 22209
                                 (703) 522-1315

 (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number, including area code,
                              of agent for service)

                                ----------------
                                   COPIES TO:

                            RICHARD D. TRUESDELL, JR.
                              DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL
                              450 LEXINGTON AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
                                 (212) 450-4000

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

     APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC: As soon as
practicable after this Registration Statement becomes effective.

     If the  securities  being  registered  on this  Form are being  offered  in
connection  with the formation of a holding company and there is compliance with
General Instruction G, check the following box:[ ]

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

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

================================================================================
<PAGE>


                   


   
PROSPECTUS
FEBRUARY 5, 1998
    


[GRAPHIC OMITTED]


              THE AES CORPORATION



     OFFER TO EXCHANGE 8.50% SENIOR SUBORDINATED EXCHANGE NOTES DUE 2007 FOR ANY
AND ALL  OUTSTANDING  8.50% SENIOR  SUBORDINATED  NOTES DUE 2007 AND TO EXCHANGE
8.875%  SENIOR  SUBORDINATED  EXCHANGE  DEBENTURES  DUE  2027  FOR  ANY  AND ALL
OUTSTANDING 8.875% SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2027.

   
     The Exchange  Offer will expire at 5:00 p.m.,  New York City time, on March
9, 1998 unless extended.
    
     The AES Corporation ("AES" or the "Company"), hereby offers, upon the terms
and subject to the conditions set forth in this Prospectus and the  accompanying
Letter of  Transmittal  (which  together  constitute the "Exchange  Offer"),  to
exchange $1,000 principal amount of 8.50% Senior Subordinated Exchange Notes due
2007 (the "New 8.50% Notes") of the Company for each $1,000  principal amount of
the issued and outstanding  8.50% Senior  Subordinated  Notes due 2007 (the "Old
8.50% Notes") of the Company and to exchange $1,000  principal  amount of 8.875%
Senior  Subordinated  Exchange Debentures due 2027 (the "New 8.875% Debentures",
and together with the New 8.50% Debentures,  the "New Notes") of the Company for
each  $1,000  principal  amount of the  issued  and  outstanding  8.875%  Senior
Subordinated  Debentures due 2027 (the "Old 8.875%  Debentures",  and,  together
with the Old 8.50% Notes,  the "Old  Notes") of the  Company.  As of the date of
this  Prospectus,  there were outstanding  $375,000,000  principal amount of Old
8.50% Notes and  $125,000,000  principal  amount of Old 8.875%  Debentures.  The
terms of the New 8.50% Notes are  identical in all material  respects to the Old
8.50%  Notes and the terms of the New 8.875%  Debentures  are  identical  in all
material  respects  to the Old 8.875%  Debentures,  in each case except that the
offer of the New Notes will have been  registered  under the  Securities Act and
therefore,  the New Notes will not be subject to certain transfer  restrictions,
registration  rights and related liquidated damage provisions  applicable to the
Old Notes.

     The Old 8.50%  Notes were issued at 99.800% of their  principal  amount and
the Old 8.875% Debentures were issued at 97.040% of their principal amount.  The
New Notes will bear interest  from October 29, 1997.  Holders of Old Notes whose
Old Notes are accepted  for exchange  will be deemed to have waived the right to
receive any payment in respect of interest on the Old Notes accrued from October
29, 1997 to the date of issuance of the New Notes.  Interest on the New Notes is
payable  semi-annually on May 1 and November 1, commencing May 1, 1998, accruing
from  October 29, 1997 at a rate of 8.50% per annum in the case of the New 8.50%
Notes  and  at a rate  of  8.875%  per  annum  in the  case  of the  New  8.875%
Debentures.

     The New 8.50% Notes and Old 8.50% Notes  (collectively,  the "8.50% Notes")
are  redeemable  at any time on or after  November  1,  2002 and the New  8.875%
Debentures and the Old 8.875% Debentures (collectively,  the "8.875% Debentures"
and,  together with the 8.50% Notes,  the "Notes") are redeemable at any time on
or after  November  1,  2004,  in each  case,  for cash at the option of The AES
Corporation  ("AES" or the  "Company"),  in whole or in part, at the  redemption
prices set forth herein, plus accrued interest.  In addition,  prior to November
1, 2000, in the event that the Company  consummates one or more offerings of its
Qualified  Capital Stock (as defined herein),  the Company may at its option use
all or a portion of the net cash  proceeds  from such  offerings to redeem up to
33% of the  original  aggregate  principal  amount of the 8.50%  Notes at a cash
redemption price equal to 108.500% of the principal amount thereof and up to 33%
of the original  aggregate  principal amount of the 8.875%  Debentures at a cash
redemption  price equal to 108.875% of the  principal  amount  thereof,  in each
case, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon,  if any, to the redemption date;
provided that at least $100 million of the original  aggregate  principal amount
of the 8.50% Notes and $83.75 million of the original aggregate principal amount
of the 8.875% Debentures  remains  outstanding,  as the case may be, thereafter.
The Notes are  redeemable  at the option of the holder  upon a Change of Control
(as defined herein) at 101% of the principal  amount  thereof,  plus accrued and
unpaid interest thereon. The Notes are unsecured  obligations of the Company and
subordinated  to all existing and future  Senior Debt as defined  herein) of the
Company.  As of September  30, 1997, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to
the Adjustments (as defined herein),  the Company had approximately $207 million
in aggregate principal amount of Senior Debt and the subsidiaries of the Company
had  approximately  $4.0 billion in aggregate amount of liabilities to which the
Notes are effectively subordinated.

     The New Notes are  being  offered  hereunder  in order to  satisfy  certain
obligations  of the  Company  under the  Registration  Rights  Agreement,  dated
October  29,  1997,  among the Company and the other  signatories  thereto  (the
"Registration  Rights  Agreement").  Based  upon  interpretations  contained  in
letters  issued to third  parties by the staff of the  Securities  and  Exchange
Commission (the "Commission" or "SEC"),  the Company believes that the New Notes
issued  pursuant  to the  Exchange  Offer in  exchange  for the Old Notes may be
offered for resale,  resold and  otherwise  transferred  by each Holder  thereof
(other than a broker-dealer, as set forth below, and any such Holder which is an
"affiliate"  of the Company  within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended,  (the  "Securities  Act")) without  compliance with the
registration and prospectus  delivery provisions of the Securities Act, provided
that  such New Notes  are  acquired  in the  ordinary  course  of such  Holder's
business and such Holder has no arrangement or understanding  with any person to
participate in the  distribution of such New Notes.  Eligible Holders wishing to
accept  the  Exchange  Offer  must  represent  to the  Company  in the Letter of
Transmittal  that  such  conditions  have been met and must  represent,  if such
Holder is not a  broker-dealer,  or is a broker-dealer  but will not receive New
Notes in for its own account in exchange for Old Notes, that neither such Holder
nor the person  receiving such New Notes, if other than a Holder,  is engaged in
or  intends  to  participate  in  the  distribution  of  such  New  Notes.  Each
broker-dealer  that  receives  New Notes  for its own  account  pursuant  to the
Exchange Offer must  represent that the Old Notes tendered in exchange  therefor
were  acquired  as  a  result  of  market-making  activities  or  other  trading
activities and must  acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such New Notes.  The Letter of Transmittal  states that by so
acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed
to admit that it is an  "underwriter"  within the meaning of the Securities Act.
This Prospectus,  as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be
used by a  broker-dealer  in  connection  with resales of New Notes  received in
exchange for Old Notes where such Old Notes were acquired by such  broker-dealer
as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company
has agreed that, for a period of 90 days after the  Expiration  Date (as defined
herein), it will make this Prospectus  available to any broker-dealer for use in
connection with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."

     The Company will not receive any  proceeds  from the  Exchange  Offer.  The
Company will pay all the expenses incident to the Exchange Offer. Tenders of Old
Notes  pursuant to the Exchange  Offer may be withdrawn at any time prior to the
Expiration Date. In the event the Company terminates the Exchange Offer and does
not accept for exchange any Old Notes, the Company will promptly return tendered
Old Notes to the Holders thereof.

     Prior to this  Exchange  Offer,  there  has been no public  market  for the
Notes.  The  Company  does not  currently  intend  to list the New  Notes on any
securities  exchange or to seek  approval for  quotation  through any  automated
quotation system. There can be no assurance that an active public market for the
New Notes will develop.

     SEE "RISK  FACTORS" FOR A DISCUSSION OF CERTAIN RISK FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE
CONSIDERED BY HOLDERS PRIOR TO TENDERING THEIR OLD NOTES IN AN EXCHANGE OFFER.

  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
       EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE
       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMIS-
         SION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS.
            ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.


<PAGE>

     No  person  has  been  authorized  to give any  information  or to make any
representations  other than those contained or incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus  (this  "Prospectus") in connection with the offer made hereby and if
given or made such  information  or  representation  must not be relied  upon as
having been authorized by the Company or any other person.  Neither the delivery
of this Prospectus nor any sale made hereunder shall,  under any  circumstances,
create  any  implication  that  there has been no change in the  affairs  of the
Company since the date hereof or that the information  contained or incorporated
by  reference  herein is correct  as of any time  subsequent  to its date.  This
Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to
buy the securities  offered hereby by anyone in any  jurisdiction  in which such
offer or solicitation is not authorized or in which the person making such offer
or solicitation is not qualified to do so or to anyone to whom it is unlawful to
make such offer or solicitation. 

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                              PAGE                                             PAGE
                                              ----                                             ----


<S>                                            <C>                                              <C>
Available Information  .....................   2  Use of Proceeds  ...........................  24

Incorporation of Certain Documents by             The Exchange Offer  ........................  24
  Reference   ..............................   3
                                                  Description of Notes  ......................  31
Special Note Regarding Forward Looking
  Statements  ..............................   3  United States Federal Income Tax
                                                    Consequences of the Exchange Offer  ......  59
Prospectus Summary  ........................   5
                                                  Plan of Distribution  ......................  60
Risk Factors  ..............................  15
                                                  Legal Matters  .............................  60
Selected Consolidated Financial Data  ......  15
                                                  Experts  ...................................  60
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges  ........  24
</TABLE>


                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION

     This Prospectus  constitutes a part of the  Registration  Statement on Form
S-4 under the Securities Act filed by the company with the Commission  under the
Securities  Act. As permitted by the rules and  regulations  of the  Commission,
this  Prospectus  does  not  contain  all of the  information  contained  in the
Registration  Statement and the exhibits and schedules  thereto and reference is
herby made to the Registration  Statement and the exhibits and schedules thereto
for  further  information  with  respect to the  Company  and the Notes  offered
hereby.  Statements  contained herein concerning the provisions of any documents
filed as an exhibit to the  Registration  Statement or otherwise  filed with the
Commission are not necessarily complete,  and in each instance reference is made
to the copy of such document so filed.  Each such  statement is qualified in its
entirety by such reference.

     AES is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange
Act of 1934 (the "Exchange  Act"),  and in accordance  therewith  files reports,
proxy and  information  statements and other  information  with the  Commission.
These reports,  proxy and  information  statements and other  information may be
inspected  without  charge  and  copied  at  the  public  reference   facilities
maintained by the Commission at its principal  offices at Judiciary  Plaza,  450
Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C. 20549, and at the Commission's  regional
offices  located at  Citicorp  Center,  500 West  Madison  Street,  Suite  1400,
Chicago,  Illinois  60661,  and 7 World Trade Center,  Suite 1300, New York, New
York 10048.  Copies of such materials  also can be obtained at prescribed  rates
from the Public Reference  Section of the Commission at the principal offices of
the Commission at Judiciary  Plaza,  450 Fifth Street,  N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.
20549.  Such  material  may also be  inspected  at the  offices of the  National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., 1735 K Street, N.W.,  Washington,  D.C.
20006.  Such  material  may  also be  accessed  electronically  by  means of the
Commission's home page on the Internet at http://www.sec.gov.

     The Company has agreed that,  whether or not it is required to do so by the
rules and regulations of the Commission,  for so long as any of the Notes remain
outstanding,  it will  furnish  to the  holders  of the  Notes and file with the
Commission (i) all quarterly and annual financial information that would be 


                                       2
<PAGE>


required to file such forms, including contained in a filing with the Commission
on  Forms  10-Q  and 10-K if the  Company  were  required  to file  such  forms,
including a  "Discussion  and  Analysis of  Financial  Condition  and Results of
Operations" and, with respect to the annual  information  only, a report thereon
by the Company's certified  independent auditors and (ii) all reports that would
be required  to be filed with the  Commission  on Form 8-K if the  Company  were
required  to file such  reports.  In  addition,  for so long as any of the Notes
remain outstanding,  the Company has agreed to make available to any prospective
purchaser of the Notes or any beneficial  owner of the Notes in connection  with
any  sale  thereof  the  information  required  by  Rule  144A(d)(4)  under  the
Securities Act.


                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE

     The Company hereby incorporates in this Prospectus by reference thereto and
makes  a  part  hereof  the  following  documents,  heretofore  filed  with  the
Commission pursuant to the Exchange Act: (i) the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended December 31, 1996; (ii) the Company's  Quarterly  Report
on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1997; (iii) the Company's Quarterly
Report on Form 10-Q for the  quarter  ended June 30,  1997;  (iv) the  Company's
Quarterly  Report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1997; (v) the
Company's  Current  Reports on Form 8-K filed on January 9, 1998,  November  10,
1997,  November 6, 1997,  October 24, 1997, August 18, 1997, July 16, 1997, July
15, 1997, July 14, 1997, July 3, 1997, March 24, 1997, March 13, 1997,  February
18, 1997 and January 30, 1997 and the  Company's  Current  Reports on Form 8-K/A
filed on November 7, 1997 and August 5, 1997.

     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
termination of the offering being made hereby shall be deemed to be incorporated
in this  Prospectus  by  reference  and to be a part hereof from the  respective
dates of the filing of such documents.  Any statement  contained  herein or in a
document  incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall be
deemed to be modified or  superseded  for  purposes  of this  Prospectus  to the
extent that a statement  contained herein or in any subsequently  filed document
which also is, or is deemed to be, incorporated by reference herein, modifies or
supersedes such earlier statement. Any statement so modified or superseded shall
not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this
Prospectus.

     The Company hereby  undertakes to provide  without charge to each person to
whom a copy of this Prospectus has been delivered,  upon written or oral request
of any such  person,  a copy of any and all of the  documents  referred to above
which have been or may be incorporated  in this  Prospectus by reference,  other
than  exhibits to such  documents  which are not  specifically  incorporated  by
reference  into such  documents.  Requests for such copies should be directed to
William R. Luraschi,  General Counsel and Secretary,  The AES Corporation,  1001
North 19th Street, Arlington, Virginia 22209, telephone (703) 522-1315.

   
     THIS PROSPECTUS INCORPORATES DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE WHICH ARE NOT PRESENTED
HEREWITH.  THE DOCUMENTS ARE  AVAILABLE  UPON REQUEST FROM WILLIAM R.  LURASCHI,
GENERAL  COUNSEL AND  SECRETARY,  THE AES  CORPORATION,  1001 NORTH 19TH STREET,
ARLINGTON,  VIRGINIA 22209,  TELEPHONE (703) 522-1315. IN ORDER TO ENSURE TIMELY
DELIVERY OF THE DOCUMENTS, ANY REQUEST SHOULD BE MADE BY MARCH 2, 1998.
    


               SPECIAL NOTE REGARDING FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS

     Certain  statements  under the caption  "Prospectus  Summary" and under the
caption  "Risk   Factors"  in  this   Prospectus   constitute   "forward-looking
statements" within the meaning of the Private  Securities  Litigation Reform Act
of 1995  ("Reform  Act").  Such  forward-looking  statements  involve  known and
unknown  risks,  uncertainties  and other  factors  which  may cause the  actual
results,  performance  and  achievements  of AES,  or  industry  results,  to be
materially  different  from any  future  results,  performance  or  achievements
expressed or implied by such forward-looking  statements.  Such factors include,
among other things, the following factors, as well as those factors discussed in
the section  entitled  "Risk  Factors"  and those  discussed  elsewhere in AES's
filings  with the  Commission,  including  its Current  Report on Form 8-K dated
February 


                                       3
<PAGE>


26, 1996: changes in company-wide  operation and availability  compared to AES's
historical  performance;  changes in AES's historical  operating cost structure,
including  changes  in  various  costs  and  expenses;  political  and  economic
considerations  in certain  non-U.S.  countries  where AES is  conducting  or is
seeking to conduct business; restrictions on foreign currency convertibility and
remittance  abroad,  exchange rate  fluctuations  and developing  legal systems;
regulation and restrictions; legislation intended to promote competition in U.S.
and non-U.S.  electricity  markets;  tariffs;  governmental  approval processes;
environmental  matters;  construction,  operating  and fuel risks;  load growth,
dispatch  and  transmission  constraints;  conflict of  interest of  contracting
parties;  and adherence to the AES principles;  and other factors  referenced in
this Prospectus. See "Risk Factors." 


                                       4
<PAGE>


                               PROSPECTUS SUMMARY


     The  following  summary is qualified in its entirety by, and should be read
in connection  with, the more detailed  information and  consolidated  financial
statements and the notes thereto  included and incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus.  References  herein  to  "AES"  or the  "Company"  include  The  AES
Corporation  and its  subsidiaries  and affiliates  unless the context  requires
otherwise and references herein to "MW" are to megawatts.


                                  THE COMPANY

     AES is a  global  power  company  committed  to  supplying  electricity  to
customers  world-wide in a socially  responsible way. The Company was one of the
original  entrants  in the  independent  power  market  and  today is one of the
world's  largest  global  power  companies,  based on net  equity  ownership  of
generating  capacity (in  megawatts)  in operation  or under  construction.  AES
markets  power  principally  from  electricity  generating  facilities  that  it
develops, acquires, owns and operates.

     Over the last five years, the Company has experienced  significant  growth.
This growth has resulted  primarily from the development and construction of new
plants  ("greenfield  development")  and also from the  acquisition  of existing
generating  plants  and  distribution   companies,   through  competitively  bid
privatization   initiatives   outside  of  the  United   States  or   negotiated
acquisitions.  Since 1992, the Company's total generating  capacity in megawatts
has  grown  from  1,829 MW to 18,538 MW (an  increase  of 914%),  with the total
number of plants in operation  increasing  from eight to 74.  Additionally,  the
Company's  total revenues have increased at a compound annual growth rate of 20%
from  $401  million  in 1992 to $835  million  in 1996,  while  net  income  has
increased  at a  compound  annual  growth  rate of 22% from $56  million to $125
million and  Consolidated  EBITDA (as defined  herein)  has  increased  from $45
million to $189 million over the same period.

     AES  operates  and owns  (entirely or in part),  through  subsidiaries  and
affiliates,  power  plants in ten  countries  with a capacity  of  approximately
18,538 MW (including  4,000 MW  attributable  to Ekibastuz which currently has a
capacity  factor  of up to  approximately  20%).  AES  is  also  constructing  9
additional  power  plants in seven  countries  with a capacity of  approximately
4,921 MW.  The  Company's  total  ownership  in plants  in  operation  and under
construction aggregates  approximately 23,459 MW and its net equity ownership in
such plants is approximately  11,699 MW. In addition,  AES has numerous projects
in advanced stages of development, including seven projects with design capacity
of  approximately  3,398 MW that  have  executed  or been  awarded  power  sales
agreements. 

     The  Company  is also  engaged  (entirely  or in  part) in  electric  power
distribution   businesses  in  Latin  America  through  its   subsidiaries   and
affiliates.  These subsidiaries and affiliates serve approximately eight million
commercial,  industrial and  residential  customers using  approximately  63,000
gigawatt hours per year.

     As a result  of the  Company's  significant  growth in  recent  years,  the
Company's  operations have become more diverse with regard to both geography and
fuel  source  and it has  reduced  its  dependence  upon any  single  project or
customer.  During 1996, four of the Company's projects individually  contributed
more than 10% of the Company's  total  revenues;  Shady Point which  represented
approximately 20%, San Nicolas which represented approximately 16%, Thames which
represented  approximately 16% and Barbers Point which represented approximately
15%.

     The Company, a corporation organized under the laws of Delaware, was formed
in 1981.  The  principal  office of the  Company  is  located at 1001 North 19th
Street, Suite 2000, Arlington, Virginia 22209, and its telephone number is (703)
522-1315. 


                                       5
<PAGE>


                                    OUTLOOK

     The  global  trend  of  electricity   market   restructuring   has  created
significant new business opportunities for companies like AES. Both domestic and
international  electricity  markets are being  restructured and there is a trend
away from government-owned  electricity systems toward deregulated,  competitive
market  structures.  Many countries have rewritten their laws and regulations to
allow  foreign  investment  and private  ownership  of  electricity  generation,
transmission or distribution  systems. Some countries have or are in the process
of  "privatizing"  their  electricity  systems  by  selling  all or part of such
systems to private  investors.  With 69 of its operating plants and distribution
companies  having been acquired or commenced  commercial  operations since 1992,
AES has  been an  active  participant  in both the  international  privatization
process and the development  process.  The Company is currently pursuing over 90
projects  including  acquisitions,  the  expansion  of  existing  plants and new
projects.

     AES  believes  that  there  is  significant  demand  for  both new and more
efficiently  operated  electric  generating  capacity in many regions around the
world.  In an effort to further grow and diversify  the  Company's  portfolio of
electric generating plants, AES is pursuing,  through its integrated  divisions,
additional greenfield  developments and acquisitions in many countries.  Several
of these  acquisitions,  if  consummated,  would  require  the Company to obtain
substantial additional financing, in the form of both debt and equity financing,
in the short term.


                                    STRATEGY

     The Company's  strategy in helping meet the world's need for electricity is
to participate in competitive power markets as they develop either by greenfield
development or by acquiring and operating  existing  facilities or  distribution
systems in these markets.  The Company generally  operates  electric  generating
facilities  that utilize  natural gas, coal,  oil, hydro power,  or combinations
thereof.   In  addition,   the  Company   participates  in  the  electric  power
distribution and retail supply businesses in certain limited instances, and will
continue to review opportunities in such markets in the future.

     Other elements of the Company's strategy include:

     o    Supplying energy to customers at the lowest cost possible, taking into
          account factors such as reliability and environmental performance;

     o    Constructing  or  acquiring   projects  of  a  relatively  large  size
          (generally larger than 100 MW);

     o    When  available,  entering  into power sales  contracts  with electric
          utilities or other customers with significant credit strength; and

     o    Participating in electric power distribution and retail supply markets
          that grant concessions with long-term pricing arrangements.

     The Company also strives for  operating  excellence as a key element of its
strategy, which it believes it accomplishes by minimizing  organizational layers
and maximizing company-wide participation in decision-making.  AES has attempted
to create an  operating  environment  that  results in safe,  clean and reliable
electricity generation. Because of this emphasis, the Company prefers to operate
all facilities which it develops or acquires; however, there can be no assurance
that the Company will have operating control of all of its facilities.

     Where  possible,  AES attempts to sell  electricity  under  long-term power
sales  contracts.  The Company  attempts,  whenever  possible,  to structure the
revenue  provisions of such power sales  contracts such that changes in the cost
components of a facility  (primarily fuel costs)  correspond,  as effectively as
possible, to changes in the revenue components of the contract. The Company also
attempts to provide fuel for its  operating  plants  generally  under  long-term
supply agreements,  either through  contractual  arrangements with third parties
or, in some instances, through acquisition of a dependable source of fuel. 


                                       6
<PAGE>


     As electricity  markets become more  competitive,  it may be more difficult
for AES (and other power  generation  companies) to obtain long-term power sales
contracts.  In markets where  long-term  contracts are not  available,  AES will
pursue  methods to hedge  costs and  revenues  to provide as much  assurance  as
possible of a project's profitability.  In these situations, AES might choose to
purchase a project with a partial hedge or with no hedge, with the strategy that
its  diverse  portfolio  of  projects  provides  some  hedge  to  the  increased
volatility of the project's earnings and cash flow. Additionally, AES may choose
not to participate in these markets.

     The Company  attempts to finance each domestic and foreign plant  primarily
under loan  agreements  and  related  documents  which,  except as noted  below,
require the loans to be repaid  solely from the  project's  revenues and provide
that the repayment of the loans (and interest  thereon) is secured solely by the
capital  stock,  physical  assets,  contracts  and/or  cash  flow of that  plant
subsidiary  or  affiliate.  This type of financing  is generally  referred to as
"project financing." The lenders under these project financing structures cannot
look to AES or its other projects for repayment,  unless such entity  explicitly
agrees to undertake  liability.  AES has explicitly  agreed to undertake certain
limited  obligations  and contingent  liabilities,  most of which by their terms
will only be  effective  or will be  terminated  upon the  occurrence  of future
events. In certain  circumstances,  the Company may incur  indebtedness which is
recourse to the Company or to more than one project.



                              RECENT DEVELOPMENTS


Recent Acquisitions

   
     On January 26,  1998,  the Company  announced  that it was  selected by the
Government of Bangladesh Ministry of Energy and Mineral Resources as the winning
bidder to build,  own and operate a 360 MW (net) gas-fired  combined cycle power
plant at a site near  Dhaka,  Bangladesh  ("Haripur").  Haripur is  expected  to
commence commercial operations in the year 2000, and electricity will be sold to
the  Bangladesh  Power  Development  Board  under the  terms of a 22-year  power
purchase  agreement  which is expected to be signed  following the formal award.
Titus Gas  Transmission and  Distribution  Company,  a subsidiary of Petrobangla
will supply  natural gas to the facility from a nearby  pipeline for the term of
the power purchase agreement.
    

     On January 26, 1998, the Company announced that it won a bid to acquire for
$109 million the  outstanding  shares  (79.78%) of Compania de Luz  Electrica de
Santa Ana (CLESA),  an  electrical  distribution  company in El Salvador.  These
shares will be purchased from Comision  Ejecutiva  Hidroelectrica  del Rio Lempa
(CEL), a government-owned utility company. Energia Global International, Ltd., a
Bermuda company,  with activities in Central America,  may purchase up to 20% of
CLESA from AES.

   
     CLESA serves  188,000  customers and borders  Guatemala and Honduras to the
north, with access to the Pacific Ocean. Three other  distribution  companies in
El Salvador were sold in such auction to two other private companies. Closing is
expected to occur in mid-February 1998.
    

     In November 1997, the Company  announced that it won a bid to acquire three
natural gas-fired,  electric generating stations from Southern California Edison
for  approximately  $781  million.  The  facilities  were  auctioned  as part of
Edison's divestiture of all of its gas-fired generating  facilities prior to the
restructuring of California's electricity industry.

     The three  plants,  all  located  on the  southern  California  coast,  are
Alamitos (2083 MW),  Redondo Beach (1310 MW) and Huntington Beach (563 MW). Each
of the plants has been designated a "must-run  facility"  because station output
is critical to maintaining  the  reliability  of electric  supply in the region.
Consequently,  they  initially  will operate in part under  agreements  with the
Independent System Operator being established through electricity restructuring.
Pursuant to California's electricity restructuring law, Edison will remain under
contract to operate and maintain the facilities for two years.

     Completion  of the  acquisition  is  subject  to a  number  of  conditions,
including the receipt of California  Public  Utilities  Commission  approval and
successful implementation of the new California electric spot market, called the
Power Exchange.

     On October 21, 1997, a subsidiary of AES was the winning  bidder to acquire
approximately 90% of the common shares of Companhia Centro-Oeste de Distribuicao
de Energia Eletrica ("CCODEE"), the distribution company serving the central and
western  sections  of the  State of Rio  Grande  do Sul in  Brazil,  for a total
purchase price of approximately $1.37 billion. The acqui- 


                                       7
<PAGE>


sition  closed on October  27,  1997,  at which time the  Company  financed  the
payment of the purchase price with the proceeds of (i) $220 million of revolving
credit  borrowings  under  its  $425  million  revolving  credit  facility  (the
"Revolver")  (the commitments  under which had been  temporarily  increased from
$425  million to $600  million),  (ii) $550  million of short term loans under a
bridge loan  facility  (the "CEEE Bridge  Loan")  provided by affiliates of J.P.
Morgan Securities,  Inc., Donaldson,  Lufkin & Jenrette Securities  Corporation,
Salomon  Brothers  Inc and  Unterberg  Harris  (each  of  which  was an  Initial
Purchaser in one or both of the Initial  Offerings (as defined below)) and (iii)
$600 million of non-recourse financing under a $680 million facility provided by
BankBoston  and ANZ  Investment  Bank as  co-arrangers  (the "CEEE  Non-recourse
Financing").  AES purchased the shares of CCODEE from the State of Rio Grande do
Sul in a  partial  privatization  of  Companhia  Estadual  de  Energia  Eletrica
("CEEE"),  the  integrated  utility of Rio Grande do Sul.  All of the  remaining
shares of CCODEE may be  purchased by its  employees.  CCODEE  currently  serves
approximately  800,000 customers or approximately 31.3% of the population of the
State of Rio  Grande  do Sul on sales of 5,772  gigawatt  hours.  The  foregoing
transaction and the financing described therein and below are referred to herein
as the "CEEE Acquisition". The Borrowings under the Revolver and the CEEE Bridge
Loan were refinanced with the proceeds of the Initial Offerings.
See "Use of Proceeds".

     Also in October  1997, a joint venture named Tau Power that is 85% owned by
AES and 15% owned by  Israel-based  Suntree Power  completed the acquisition and
takeover of two hydro-electric stations ("GES") and four combined heat and power
stations  ("TETS")  in the  province  of East  Kazakhstan.  The  total  electric
capacity of the stations  included in the agreement is 1,384 MW, with additional
thermal capacity of over 1,000 MW electric  equivalent.  The transaction expands
AES's current global portfolio of electric generating facilities,  which already
includes the 4,000 MW  coal-fired  Ekibastuz  power station in  Kazakhstan.  The
power stations included in the agreement signed are: the 332 MW  Ust-Kamenogorsk
GES,  the 702 MW  Shulbinsk  GES,  the 240 MW  Ust-Kamenogorsk  TETS,  the 50 MW
Leninogorsk  TETS,  the 50 MW Sogrinsk  TETS and the 10 MW  Semipalatinsk  TETS.
Included in the  transaction,  AES obtained  ownership and control of the retail
sales department of the former utility and will assume the existing power supply
contracts  with the 50  largest  customers  in East  Kazakhstan,  including  the
distribution  companies.  Tau Power paid $20.7 million for the concession on the
GES, with an additional  payment of $2.5 million for the shares of the TETS. The
Company  will also repay back wages of  approximately  $4 million to the workers
during the first year of  operation  and provide for working  capital to finance
the delivery of much needed coal prior to winter and complete winter preparation
plans. 

     In June 1997,  AES together with The Southern  Company and The  Opportunity
Fund,  a  Brazilian  investment  fund,  (collectively,  the  "AES  Consortium"),
acquired 14.41% of Companhia Energ-tica de Minas Gerais ("CEMIG"), an integrated
electric  utility  serving  the  State of Minas  Gerais in  Brazil,  for a total
purchase price of  approximately  $1.056 billion,  $654 million of the financing
for which was in the form of non-recourse  financing  provided by Banco Nacional
de Desenvolvimento  Economico e Social ("BNDES").  AES's portion of the purchase
price was approximately $364 million after  consideration of the BNDES facility.
The shares of CEMIG,  which represent  approximately 33% of the voting interest,
have been purchased from the State of Minas Gerais in a partial privatization of
CEMIG.  Initially,  AES and The Opportunity Fund had a 90.6% and a 9.4% economic
interest in the AES Consortium, respectively. Subsequently, The Southern Company
exercised  its option to purchase 25% interest in the AES  Consortium  from AES.
Pursuant to a shareholders agreement between the AES Consortium and the State of
Minas Gerais, AES will have significant operating influence, including the right
to appoint  the chief  operating  officer  of CEMIG,  and will  otherwise  share
control of CEMIG with the State of Minas Gerais.  CEMIG owns approximately 5,000
MW of  generating  plants  and serves  approximately  4 million  customers.  The
foregoing transaction and the financing therefor described below are referred to
herein as the "CEMIG Acquisition".


                                       8
<PAGE>


     In June 1997, AES completed its acquisition of the international  assets of
Destec  Energy,  Inc.  ("Destec"),  a large  independent  energy  producer  with
headquarters in Houston,  Texas, at a total price to AES of  approximately  $439
million.  Destec's  international  assets  acquired  by  AES  include  ownership
interests in the  following  five  electric  generating  plants (with  ownership
percentages  in  parentheses):  (i) a 110 MW gas-fired  combined  cycle plant in
Kingston,  Canada  (50%);  (ii) a 405  MW  gas-fired  combined  cycle  plant  in
Terneuzen,  Netherlands  (50%);  (iii) a 140 MW gas-fired  simple cycle plant in
Cornwall,  England (100%);  (iv) a 235 MW oil-fired  simple cycle plant in Santo
Domingo,  Dominican  Republic  (99%);  and  (v)  a  1,600  MW  coal-fired  plant
("Hazelwood") in Victoria,  Australia (20%). Each of such plants is currently in
operation,  except for the plant in Terneuzen which is under  construction.  The
acquisition  by AES of  Destec's  international  assets also  includes  Destec's
non-U.S.  developmental stage power projects,  including projects in Taiwan, the
Philippines,   Australia  and  Argentina.  The  foregoing  transaction  and  the
financing  therefor  described  below are  referred  to  herein  as the  "Destec
Acquisition".

     In May  1997,  a  subsidiary  of AES,  and its  partner,  Community  Energy
Alternatives  ("CEA"),  acquired an aggregate  of 90% (AES  acquired 60% and CEA
acquired  30%) of two  distribution  companies  of Empresa  Social de Energia de
Buenos Aires S.A.  ("ESEBA")  serving certain portions of the Province of Buenos
Aires,  Argentina for an aggregate purchase price of $565 million. AES's portion
of the purchase price after consideration of non-recourse debt was $244 million.
The  remaining  10% is  owned  by the  employees  of each  of the  two  acquired
companies.  The  foregoing  transaction  is  referred  to herein  as the  "ESEBA
Acquisition".

     AES funded its  acquisition  of Destec  through cash on hand and borrowings
under the  Revolver.  The net  proceeds of  approximately  $387 million from the
Company's  issuance and sale of its common stock,  par value $.01 per share (the
"AES Common Stock"), and $2.6875 Term Convertible Securities,  Series A ("Series
A TECONS") in March 1997 was  temporarily  applied to repay amounts  outstanding
under the Revolver.  AES financed its  acquisitions  of CEMIG and ESEBA through:
(i) $450 million in non-recourse  bridge financing,  comprised of a $250 million
bridge  loan  (the  "CEMIG  Bridge")  to  AES  CEMIG  Funding   Corporation,   a
wholly-owned  subsidiary  of AES,  and a $200  million  bridge  loan (the "ESEBA
Bridge") to AESEBA Funding Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of AES; (ii) a
$200  million  subordinated  bridge loan to AES (the "AES Bridge  Loan");  (iii)
non-recourse  project debt; (iv) borrowings under AES's Revolver and (v) cash on
hand.

     AES  intends  to repay the ESEBA  Bridge  and the  CEMIG  Bridge  through a
combination of proceeds from: (i) the sale of AES's interest in Hazelwood;  (ii)
additional borrowings at one or more AES projects; (iii) the replacement of cash
reserves with letters of credit at certain AES projects;  (iv) the proceeds from
the  exercise of the Southern  Company's  option to purchase 25% interest in the
AES  Consortium  from AES or (v)  borrowings  under  the  Revolver.  None of the
foregoing  sources of funds is  committed  except for the  exercise  of Southern
Company's option.  Accordingly,  there can be no assurances that such sources or
any other sources will be available to repay the ESEBA Bridge and CEMIG Bridge.

     The CEMIG Bridge and ESEBA Bridge  mature in August 1998 or, in the case of
the ESEBA Bridge,  earlier if AES sells its interest in Hazelwood.  The interest
rates on both the CEMIG Bridge and the ESEBA Bridge will initially be LIBOR plus
2.5% and will  increase by 1.0% each month  beginning  February  1, 1998.  These
loans are secured by a pledge of 34.6 million  shares of AES Common Stock issued
to a subsidiary of AES.

     These projects are subject to a number of risks  including those related to
financing,  construction and contract compliance,  and there can be no assurance
that they will be completed successfully.

Other Events

     In September 1997, AES began construction on the AES Parana project, an 830
MW  gas-fired,  combined  cycle power  plant.  AES Parana will be located in San
Nicolas, Argentina, adjacent to Central Termica San Nicolas, in which AES owns a
controlling interest. AES Parana is in the 


                                       9
<PAGE>


final stages of arranging for project financing for the facility. AES Parana has
entered into a lump sum, turnkey construction contract with Nichimen Corporation
and  Mitsubishi  Heavy  Industries  for the plant. A portion of the fuel will be
supplied  by Total  Corporation  under a long term,  risk  management  contract.
Project output will be sold into the Argentine  electric  market.  Total capital
cost is  estimated  at $440  million,  and the  project is  expected to commence
commercial operation in 2000.

     Also in September,  AES's 100% owned  subsidiary,  AES Mt.  Stuart,  raised
A$103.50  million   (approximately  US$75.5  million)  of  non-recourse  project
financing for its 288 MW kerosene-fired  simple cycle power plant in Townsville,
Queensland,  Australia.  The project debt facility was solely  under-written  by
Societe  Generale  Australia  Ltd.  and is  comprised  of a 10-year term loan, a
letter of credit  facility and a  short-term  revolving  cash advance  facility.
Low-cost   peaking  power  from  the  plant  will  be  sold  to  the  Queensland
Transitional Power Trading Corporation under a 10-year power purchase agreement.
A turnkey construction agreement has been signed with Nichimen Corporation,  and
the  major   equipment  will  be  supplied  by  Mitsubishi   Heavy   Industries.
Construction  of the plant will start  during the fourth  quarter of 1997 and is
scheduled to be completed on January 1, 1999.

     In July 1997, the Company  announced a two for one stock split, in the form
of a stock dividend, for holders of record on July 28, 1997 of its Common Stock,
par value $.01 per share, which was paid on August 28, 1997.

     In the same month, the Company issued  approximately $325 million of senior
subordinated  notes due 2007 with an 83/8%  interest rate per annum in a private
placement.  The Company used the net proceeds of  approximately  $315 million to
repay amounts outstanding under the AES Bridge Loan, to redeem the Company's $75
million 93/4% senior subordinated notes due 2000 and to repay pro rata a portion
of the amounts  outstanding  under the ESEBA  Bridge and the CEMIG  Bridge.  The
ESEBA Bridge and the CEMIG Bridge have been  refinanced  and are currently  $180
million and $106 million, respectively.

     Also in July, the Company sold 4.5 million shares of its common stock (on a
pre-split basis) for gross proceeds of approximately  $359 million or $79.75 per
share. The Company used the net proceeds of approximately  $350 million to repay
pro rata a portion of the  amounts  outstanding  under the ESEBA  Bridge and the
CEMIG Bridge.

     On  January  9, 1998,  the  Southern  Company  exercised  their  option for
approximately  $114 million  which was used  entirely to partially  pay down the
CEMIG Bridge to $106 million.

     Unless otherwise indicated, all share numbers and per share amounts in this
Prospectus have been restated to reflect the stock split.

     The pro forma  information  contained or  incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus  has  been  adjusted  for the  Company's  issuance  of  $325  million
aggregate  principal  amount of 83/8% Senior  Subordinated  Notes due 2007 and 9
million  shares of AES Common Stock,  the redemption of $75 million 93/4% Senior
Subordinated  Notes and the  repayment and  reborrowing  of the CEMIG Bridge and
ESEBA Bridge, in each case, during the third quarter of 1997 (collectively,  the
"Third Quarter Financings"),  the CEMIG Acquisition, the Destec Acquisition, the
ESEBA Acquisition, the CEEE Acquisition and the offering of the Old Notes and an
offering of Trust  Convertible  Securities  ("TECONS") issued by AES Trust II, a
Delaware business trust formed by the Company for the purpose of conducting such
offering  (such  offerings  collectively,   the  "Initial  Offerings")  and  the
application of the net proceeds  therefrom  (collectively,  the  "Adjustments").
Complete  unaudited  pro  forma  financial  information  giving  effect  to  the
Adjustments is incorporated by reference to the Company's Current Report on Form
8-K filed on January 9, 1998. 


                                       10
<PAGE>


                              THE EXCHANGE OFFER

SECURITIES OFFERED.......   Up to $375,000,000  principal amount of 8.50% Senior
                            Subordinated  Exchange  Notes  due  2007  and  up to
                            $125,000,000   principal  amount  of  8.875%  Senior
                            Subordinated Exchange Debentures due 2027. The terms
                            of the New 8.50%  Notes and the Old 8.50%  Notes are
                            identical in all material  respects and the terms of
                            the  New  8.875%   Debentures  and  the  Old  8.875%
                            Debentures  are identical in all material  respects,
                            in each case  except that the offer of the New Notes
                            will have been  registered  under the Securities Act
                            and therefore,  the New Notes will not be subject to
                            certain transfer  restrictions,  registration rights
                            and related liquidated damage provisions  applicable
                            to the Old Notes.

THE EXCHANGE OFFER.......   The Company is offering,  upon the terms and subject
                            to the conditions of the Exchange Offer, to exchange
                            $1,000  principal amount of New 8.50% Notes for each
                            $1,000  principal  amount  of Old  8.50%  Notes  and
                            $1,000 principal amount of New 8.875% Debentures for
                            each   $1,000   principal   amount  of  Old   8.875%
                            Debentures.   See  "The   Exchange   Offer"   for  a
                            description  of  the  procedure  for  tendering  Old
                            Notes.  The  Exchange  Offer is  intended to satisfy
                            obligations  of the Company  under the  Registration
                            Rights  Agreement,  dated October 29, 1997,  between
                            J.P.   Morgan  &  Co.  and  Salomon   Brothers  Inc.
                            (collectively,  the  "Initial  Purchasers")  and the
                            Company.

   
TENDERS, EXPIRATION DATE;
  WITHDRAWAL.............   The  Exchange  Offer will  expire at 5:00 p.m.,  New
                            York City time on March 9, 1998,  or such later date
                            and time to which it is extended.  The tender of Old
                            Notes   pursuant  to  the  Exchange   Offer  may  be
                            withdrawn at any time prior to the Expiration  Date.
                            Any Old  Notes not  accepted  for  exchange  for any
                            reasons  will be  returned  without  expense  to the
                            tendering  Holder thereof as promptly as practicable
                            after the  expiration or termination of the Exchange
                            Offer.
    

FEDERAL INCOME TAX
  CONSEQUENCES...........   The exchange pursuant to the Exchange Offer will not
                            result in any income, gain or loss to the Holders or
                            the  Company for federal  income tax  purposes.  See
                            "United States Federal  Income Tax  Consequences  of
                            the Exchange Offer."

USE OF PROCEEDS..........   There will be no proceeds  to the  Company  from the
                            issuance of the New Notes  pursuant to the  Exchange
                            Offer.

EXCHANGE AGENT...........   The First  National  Bank of  Chicago  is serving as
                            Exchange  Agent  in  connection  with  the  Exchange
                            Offer.



                                       11
<PAGE>


                       CONSEQUENCE OF EXCHANGING OLD NOTES
                         PURSUANT TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER

     Based upon interpretations  contained in letters issued to third parties by
the staff of the SEC, the Company  believes that,  generally,  any Holder of Old
Notes (other than a broker-dealer,  as set forth below, and any Holder who is an
"affiliate"  of the Company  within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities
Act) who  exchanges its Old Notes for New Notes  pursuant to the Exchange  Offer
may  offer  such New Notes for  resale,  resell  such New  Notes,  or  otherwise
transfer such New Notes without  compliance with the registration and prospectus
delivery  provisions of the Securities Act, provided such New Notes are acquired
in  the  ordinary  course  of the  Holder's  business  and  such  Holder  has no
arrangement or understanding with any person to participate in a distribution of
such New Notes.  Eligible  Holders  wishing to accept  the  Exchange  Offer must
represent to the Company in the Letter of Transmittal  that such conditions have
been met and must  represent,  if such  Holder is not a  broker-dealer,  or is a
broker-dealer but will not receive New Notes for its own account in exchange for
Old Notes,  that neither such Holder nor the person receiving such New Notes, if
other  than  the  Holder,  is  engaged  in or  intends  to  participate  in  the
distribution of such New Notes. Each  broker-dealer  that receives New Notes for
its own  account in  exchange  for Old Notes must  represent  that the Old Notes
tendered  in  exchange  therefor  were  acquired  as a result  of  market-making
activities or other trading activities and must acknowledge that it will deliver
a  prospectus  in  connection  with any resale of such New  Notes.  See "Plan of
Distribution".  To comply with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions,  it
may be necessary to qualify for sale or register the New Notes prior to offering
or selling  such New Notes.  The Company does not  currently  intend to take any
action  to   register   or  qualify  the  New  Notes  for  resale  in  any  such
jurisdictions. If a Holder of Old Notes does not exchange such Old Notes for New
Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer, such Old Notes will continue to be subject
to the restrictions on transfer contained in the legend thereon. In general, the
Old Notes may not be offered or sold,  unless  registered  under the  Securities
Act,  except  pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to,
the Securities Act and applicable  state securities laws. Any holder who tenders
in the Exchange Offer with the intention to  participate,  or for the purpose of
participating,  in a distribution of New Notes could not rely on the position of
the staff of the SEC enunciated in Exxon Capital Holdings Corporation (available
May 13, 1988) or  similar-no-action  letters and, in the absence of an exemption
therefrom,   must  comply  with  the   registration   and  prospectus   delivery
requirements  in such  instance  may result in such holder  incurring  liability
under the Securities Act for which the holder is not indemnified by the Company.
See "The Exchange Offer-Consequences of Failure to Exchange" and "Description of
Notes-Registration Rights."


                      SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE NEW NOTES

     The terms of the New 8.50% Notes and the Old 8.50% Notes are  identical  in
all material  respects,  and the terms of the New 8.875%  Debentures and the Old
8.875%  Debentures are identical in all material  respects,  in each case except
that the offer of the New Notes will have been  registered  under the Securities
Act and,  therefore,  the New Notes  will not be  subject  to  certain  transfer
restrictions,  registration rights and related provisions  applicable to the Old
Notes.

NOTES OFFERED............   Up to $375  million  aggregate  principal  amount of
                            8.50% Senior  Subordinated  Exchange  Notes due 2007
                            and up to $125 million aggregate principal amount of
                            8.875% Senior  Subordinated  Exchange Debentures due
                            2027.

MATURITY DATE............   The 8.50%  Notes will mature on November 1, 2007 and
                            the 8.875%  Debentures  will  mature on  November 1,
                            2027.

INTEREST RATE............   The  8.50%  Notes  will bear  interest  at 8.50% per
                            annum and the 8.875%  Debentures  will bear interest
                            at 8.875% per annum.



                                       12
<PAGE>



                            The New Notes will bear  interest  from  October 29,
                            1997.  Holders  of Old  Notes  whose  Old  Notes are
                            accepted for exchange  will be deemed to have waived
                            the right to  receive  any  payment  in  respect  of
                            interest on such Old Notes  accrued from October 29,
                            1997  to  date of the  issuance  of the  New  Notes.
                            Consequently,  holders who exchange  their Old Notes
                            for New Notes will receive the same interest payment
                            on May 1, 1998 (the first interest payment date with
                            respect  to the Old  Notes and the New  Notes)  that
                            they would have  received  had they not accepted the
                            Exchange Offer.

INTEREST PAYMENT DATES...   May 1 and November 1, commencing May 1, 1998.

OPTIONAL REDEMPTION BY THE
  COMPANY................   The  8.50%  Notes  may  not  be  redeemed  prior  to
                            November 1, 2002. On and after that date,  the 8.50%
                            Notes may be  redeemed  at any time,  in whole or in
                            part,  on not less  than 30 nor  more  than 60 days'
                            notice at the prices set forth herein.

                            The 8.875%  Debentures  may not be redeemed prior to
                            November 1, 2004. On and after that date, the 8.875%
                            Debentures  may be redeemed at any time, in whole or
                            in part,  on not less than 30 nor more than 60 days'
                            notice at the prices set forth herein.

                            In addition, prior to November 1, 2000, in the event
                            that the Company  consummates  one or more offerings
                            of its Qualified  Capital Stock,  the Company may at
                            its  option  use all or a  portion  of the net  cash
                            proceeds from such  offerings to redeem up to 33% of
                            the original aggregate principal amount of the 8.50%
                            Notes at a cash  redemption  price equal to 108.500%
                            of the principal amount thereof and up to 33% of the
                            original  aggregate  principal  amount of the 8.875%
                            Debentures  at a  cash  redemption  price  equal  to
                            108.875% of the principal  amount  thereof,  in each
                            case, plus accrued and unpaid interest  thereon,  if
                            any, to the redemption date;  provided that at least
                            $100  million of the  original  aggregate  principal
                            amount of the 8.50% Notes and $83.75  million of the
                            original  aggregate  principal  amount of the 8.875%
                            Debentures,  as the case may be, remains outstanding
                            thereafter.

MANDATORY SINKING FUND PAY-
  MENTS..................   The 8.50% Notes are not subject to a  sinking  fund.

                            The  8.875%  Debentures  are  subject  to  mandatory
                            redemption on a pro rata basis through  operation of
                            a mandatory sinking fund on November 1 of each year,
                            commencing  on  November 1, 2008,  to and  including
                            November  1, 2026,  according  to the  sinking  fund
                            payments   set  forth   herein.   The  sinking  fund
                            redemption  price is 100% of the principal amount of
                            the 8.875% Debentures being redeemed,  together with
                            interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption.

RANKING..................   The Notes will be general  unsecured  obligations of
                            the  Company  and will be  subordinated  in right of
                            payment to all  Senior  Debt of the  Company.  As of
                            September  30,  1997,  on a pro  forma  basis  after
                            giving  effect to the  Adjustments,  the Company had
                            approximately $207 million in aggregate principal



                                       13
<PAGE>


                            amount of Senior Debt.  In addition,  the  Company's
                            subsidiaries  had  approximately   $4.0  billion  in
                            aggregate  amount of  liabilities to which the Notes
                            are effectively subordinated.

CHANGE OF CONTROL OFFER..   Upon a Change of  Control,  each Holder of the Notes
                            shall have, subject to certain conditions, the right
                            to require that the Company repurchase such Holder's
                            Notes at 101% of the principal amount thereof,  plus
                            accrued and unpaid  interest to the date of purchase
                            in accordance  with the  procedures set forth in the
                            Indenture  (as defined  herein) for the Notes.  If a
                            Change  of   Control   occurs,   the   subordination
                            provisions  of the Notes  require  Senior Debt to be
                            repaid prior to the purchase of any tendered  Notes.
                            Due to the highly  leveraged  nature of the Company,
                            there  can be no  assurance  that,  upon a Change of
                            Control,  the  Company  will be  able  to  fund  the
                            purchase of the Notes.  See "Description of Notes --
                            Covenants  --  Repurchase  of Notes Upon a Change of
                            Control."

PRINCIPAL COVENANTS......   The  Indenture  for the Notes will  restrict,  among
                            other  things,  the  ability of the  Company and its
                            Restricted  Subsidiaries  (as defined herein) to (i)
                            incur  additional  indebtedness,  (ii) pay dividends
                            and make other  distributions,  (iii)  make  certain
                            investments,  (iv) engage in  unrelated  businesses,
                            (v) create  encumbrances to secure Debt that is pari
                            passu with or subordinated to the Notes, (vi) engage
                            in  certain  transactions  with  affiliates,   (vii)
                            dispose  of  certain   assets  or  (viii)  merge  or
                            consolidate  with or  into,  or  sell  or  otherwise
                            transfer their  properties and assets as an entirety
                            to, another  entity.  See  "Description  of Notes --
                            Covenants."


                                 RISK FACTORS

     Prospective  purchasers of the Notes should carefully consider the specific
matters set forth under "Risk Factors" as well as the other information and data
included,  or incorporated by reference,  in this Prospectus  prior to making an
investment in the Notes.



                                       14
<PAGE>


                                 RISK FACTORS

     In addition to the other matters  described in this Prospectus,  Holders of
Old Notes should carefully  consider the following risk factors before accepting
the Exchange Offer. 


CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE

     Holders  of Old  Notes  who do not  exchange  their Old Notes for New Notes
pursuant to the Exchange  Offer will continue to be subject to the  restrictions
on  transfer of such Old Notes as set forth in the legend  thereon.  In general,
the Old Notes may not be offered or sold, unless registered under the Securities
Act,  except  pursuant to an exemption  from, or in a transaction not subject to
the Securities Act and applicable  state  securities  laws. The Company does not
intend to register the Old Notes under the Securities Act. The Company  believes
that, based upon interpretations contained in letters issued to third parties by
the  staff of the SEC,  New  Notes  issued  pursuant  to the  Exchange  Offer in
exchange  for  Old  Notes  may  be  offered  for  resale,  resold  or  otherwise
transferred  by each Holder thereof  (other than a  broker-dealer,  as set forth
below,  and any such Holder which is an  "affiliate"  of the Company  within the
meaning  of Rule 405 under  the  Securities  Act)  without  compliance  with the
registration and prospectus  delivery  provisions of the Securities Act provided
that  such New Notes  are  acquired  in the  ordinary  course  of such  Holder's
business and such Holder has no arrangement or understanding  with any person to
participate in the  distribution of such New Notes.  Eligible Holders wishing to
accept  the  Exchange  Offer  must  represent  to the  Company  in the Letter of
Transmittal  that  such  conditions  have been met and must  represent,  if such
Holder is not a  broker-dealer,  or is a broker-dealer  but will not receive New
Notes for its own account in exchange  for Old Notes,  that  neither such Holder
nor the person receiving such New Notes, if other than the Holder, is engaged in
or  intends  to  participate  in  the  distribution  of  such  New  Notes.  Each
broker-dealer  that  receives  New Notes  for its own  account  pursuant  to the
Exchange Offer must  represent that the Old Notes tendered in exchange  therefor
were  acquired  as  a  result  of  market-making  activities  or  other  trading
activities and must  acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection
with any resale of such New Notes.  The Letter of Transmittal  states that by so
acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed
to admit that it is an  "underwriter"  within the meaning of the Securities Act.
This Prospectus,  as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be
used by a broker-dealer  in connection with the resales of New Notes received in
exchange for Old Notes where such Old Notes were acquired by such  broker-dealer
as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company
has agreed that, for a period of 90 days after the  Expiration  Date (as defined
herein), it will make this Prospectus  available to any broker-dealer for use in
connection with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."  However, to comply
with the securities laws of certain jurisdictions,  if applicable, the New Notes
may not be offered or sold unless they have been  registered  or  qualified  for
sale in such  jurisdiction or an exemption from registration or qualification is
available and is complied  with.  The Company does not currently  intend to take
any  action  to  register  or  qualify  the New  Notes  for  resale  in any such
jurisdictions.  In  addition,  the tender of Old Notes  pursuant to the Exchange
Offer will reduce the principal amount of the Old Notes  outstanding,  which may
have an adverse effect upon, and increase the volatility of, the market price of
the Old Notes due to a reduction in liquidity.


EXCHANGE OFFER PROCEDURES

     To participate in the Exchange  Offer,  and avoid the  restrictions  on Old
Notes,  each Holder of Old Notes must  transmit a properly  completed  Letter of
Transmittal,   including  all  other  documents   required  by  such  Letter  of
Transmittal, to the Exchange Agent at one of the addresses set forth below under
"Exchange  Agent")  on or  prior to the  Expiration  Date  (or  comply  with the
guaranteed  delivery  procedures  described  below on or before  the  Expiration
Date). In addition,  (i) certificates for such Old Notes must be received by the
Exchange Agent along with the Letter of Transmittal,  (ii) a timely confirmation
of a book-entry  transfer (a "Book-Entry  Confirmation")  of such Old Notes,  if
such procedure is available, into the Exchange Agent's account at The Depository
Trust Company (the "Book-Entry Transfer Facility") pursuant to the procedure for
book-entry  transfer  described  below,  must be received by the Exchange  Agent
prior to the Expiration Date or (iii) the Holder must comply with the guaranteed
delivery procedures described below. See "The Exchange Offer." 


                                       15
<PAGE>


LEVERAGE AND SUBORDINATION

     The  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  had  approximately  $3.9  billion  of
outstanding  indebtedness  at September  30, 1997.  As a result of the Company's
level of debt, the Company might be significantly limited in its ability to meet
its debt service  obligations,  to finance the  acquisition  and  development of
additional  projects,  to compete  effectively or to operate  successfully under
adverse  economic  conditions.  As of  September  30,  1997,  the  Company had a
consolidated ratio of total debt to total book capitalization (including current
debt) of approximately 70%.

     The Notes will be  subordinated  to all  existing  and future  Senior Debt,
including,  but not limited to, the amounts outstanding under the Company's $425
million  Revolver.  As of September  30, 1997, on a pro forma basis after giving
effect to the  Adjustments,  the  Company  had  approximately  $207  million  in
aggregate principal amount of Senior Debt.

     Upon  any  payment  or   distribution  of  assets  to  creditors  upon  any
liquidation, dissolution, winding up, receivership,  reorganization,  assignment
for the  benefit  of  creditors,  marshaling  of assets and  liabilities  or any
bankruptcy,  insolvency or similar  proceedings  of the Company,  the holders of
Senior Debt will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due
or to become due under all Senior  Debt  before the holders of the Notes will be
entitled to receive any payment in respect of the principal of, premium, if any,
or interest on such Notes. No payments on account of principal, premium, if any,
or interest in respect of the Notes may be made if there shall have occurred and
be continuing a default in any payment  under any Senior Debt or during  certain
periods when an event of default under  certain  Senior Debt permits the lenders
thereunder to accelerate  the maturity  thereof.  See  "Description  of Notes --
Subordination."

     The Notes will be effectively  subordinated to the  indebtedness  and other
obligations  (including  trade  payables)  of  the  Company's  subsidiaries.  At
September 30, 1997, on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the Adjustments,
the  indebtedness  and  obligations  of the  Company's  subsidiaries  would have
aggregated  approximately  $4.0  billion.  The  ability  of the  Company  to pay
principal of, premium,  if any, and interest on the Notes will be dependent upon
the receipt of funds from its subsidiaries by way of dividends,  fees, interest,
loans or otherwise.  Most of the Company's  subsidiaries with interests in power
generation  facilities  currently have in place, and the Indenture for the Notes
will, under certain  circumstances,  permit the Company's  subsidiaries to enter
into,  arrangements  that restrict  their ability to make  distributions  to the
Company by way of dividends,  fees, interest,  loans or otherwise. The Company's
subsidiaries  are separate and distinct  legal  entities and have no obligation,
contingent or otherwise, to pay any amounts due pursuant to the Notes or to make
any funds available therefor, whether by dividends, loans or other payments, and
do not guarantee the payment of interest on or principal of the Notes. Any right
of the  Company  to  receive  any  assets  of any of its  subsidiaries  upon any
liquidation, dissolution, winding up, receivership,  reorganization,  assignment
for the  benefit  of  creditors,  marshaling  of assets and  liabilities  or any
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings of the Company (and the consequent
right of the holders of the Notes to participate in the  distribution  of, or to
realize  proceeds from,  those assets) will be effectively  subordinated  to the
claims of any such subsidiary's creditors (including trade creditors and holders
of debt and preferred stock issued by such  subsidiary).  The Company  currently
conducts substantially all of its operations through its subsidiaries.

DOING BUSINESS OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES

     The  Company's  involvement  in the  development  of new  projects  and the
acquisition  of  existing  plants in  locations  outside  the  United  States is
increasing  and  most  of the  Company's  current  development  and  acquisition
activities are for projects and plants  outside the United States.  The Company,
through subsidiaries,  affiliates and joint ventures, has ownership interests in
76 power plants  outside the United  States in operation or under  construction.
Thirty-nine  of such power  plants are located in Brazil;  nine in the  People's
Republic of China;  seven in  Kazakhstan;  six in Argentina;  five in the United
Kingdom;  three in Hungary;  two in each of Australia and  Pakistan;  and one in
each of the Netherlands, Canada and the Dominican Republic.

     The  financing,  development  and operation of projects  outside the United
States entail  significant  political and  financial  uncertainties  (including,
without  limitation,  uncertainties  associated  with  first-time  privatization
efforts in the countries involved, currency exchange rate fluctuations, currency
repatriation 


                                       16
<PAGE>


restrictions,  currency inconvertibility,  political instability,  civil unrest,
and expropriation) and other credit quality, liquidity or structural issues that
have the  potential  to cause  substantial  delays  in  respect  of or  material
impairment  of the value of the project being  developed or operated,  which AES
may not be capable of fully insuring or hedging  against.  The ability to obtain
financing on a commercially  acceptable non-recourse basis in developing nations
may also require higher  investments by the Company than  historically have been
the case. In addition,  financing in countries with less than  investment  grade
sovereign  credit  ratings  may  also  require   substantial   participation  by
multilateral  financing agencies.  There can be no assurance that such financing
can be obtained when needed.

     The uncertainty of the legal  environment in certain countries in which the
Company,  its  subsidiaries  and  its  affiliates  are or in the  future  may be
developing,  constructing  or  operating  could make it more  difficult  for the
Company to enforce  its  respective  rights  under  agreements  relating to such
projects.  In addition,  the laws and regulations of certain countries may limit
the Company's  ability to hold a majority  interest in some of the projects that
it may develop or acquire.  International  projects owned by the Company may, in
certain cases, be expropriated by applicable governments.  Although AES may have
legal recourse in enforcing its rights under  agreements and recovering  damages
for breaches thereof,  there can be no assurance that any such legal proceedings
will be successful.

COMPETITION

     The global power production  market is characterized by numerous strong and
capable   competitors,   many  of  whom  may  have  extensive  and   diversified
developmental or operating experience (including both domestic and international
experience)  and  financial  resources  similar to or greater  than the Company.
Further,  in recent years, the power production  industry has been characterized
by strong and increasing  competition with respect to both obtaining power sales
agreements and acquiring  existing power generation  assets. In certain markets,
these  factors  have caused  reductions  in prices  contained in new power sales
agreements  and,  in many  cases,  have  caused  higher  acquisition  prices for
existing  assets  through  competitive  bidding  practices.   The  evolution  of
competitive   electricity  markets  and  the  development  of  highly  efficient
gas-fired  power plants have also caused,  or are  anticipated  to cause,  price
pressure in certain  power  markets  where the Company  sells or intends to sell
power. There can be no assurance that the foregoing competitive factors will not
have a material adverse effect on the Company.

DEVELOPMENT UNCERTAINTIES

     The  majority of the  projects  that AES develops are large and complex and
the completion of any such project is subject to substantial risks.  Development
can require the Company to expend significant sums for preliminary  engineering,
permitting,  legal and other expenses in preparation for competitive  bids which
the  Company  may not win or before it can be  determined  whether a project  is
feasible,  economically  attractive  or  capable of being  financed.  Successful
development and construction is contingent upon, among other things, negotiation
on terms satisfactory to the Company of engineering,  construction,  fuel supply
and power sales contracts with other project  participants,  receipt of required
governmental  permits and consents and timely  implementation  and  satisfactory
completion of  construction.  There can be no assurance that AES will be able to
obtain new power sales contracts,  overcome local opposition, if any, obtain the
necessary site agreements, fuel supply and ash disposal agreements, construction
contracts, steam sales contracts, licenses and certifications, environmental and
other permits and financing commitments necessary for the successful development
of its  projects.  There can be no  assurance  that  development  efforts on any
particular project, or the Company's efforts generally,  will be successful.  If
these development efforts are not successful,  the Company may abandon a project
under  development.  At the time of  abandonment,  the Company would expense all
capitalized  development costs incurred in connection  therewith and could incur
additional losses associated with any related contingent liabilities. The future
growth of the Company is  dependent,  in part,  upon the demand for  significant
amounts of additional  electrical  generating capacity and its ability to obtain
contracts to supply portions of this capacity. Any material unremedied delay in,
or unsatisfactory  completion of,  construction of the Company's projects could,
under certain circumstances,  have an adverse effect on the Company's ability to
meet its obligations, including the payment of principal of, premium, if any and
interest  on the  Notes.  The  Company  also is faced with  certain  development
uncertainties  arising out of doing business  outside of the United States.  See
"-- Doing Business Outside the United States." 


                                       17
<PAGE>


RISKS ASSOCIATED WITH ACQUISITIONS

     The  Company  has  achieved a  significant  portion  of its growth  through
acquisitions  and  expects  that it will  continue  to grow,  in  part,  through
acquisitions.  During 1997 alone the Company  consummated the ESEBA Acquisition,
the Destec Acquisition,  the CEMIG Acquisition and the CEEE Acquisition in which
the Company  invested an aggregate  of  approximately  $1.9  billion  (excluding
non-recourse  debt).  Although each of the acquired businesses had a significant
operating history at the time of its acquisition by the Company, the Company has
a limited history of owning and operating these businesses. In addition, most of
these  businesses  were  government  owned and some were  operated  as part of a
larger integrated  utility prior to their acquisition by the Company.  There can
be no assurances that the Company will be successful in  transitioning  these to
private  ownership,  that such  businesses  will perform as expected or that the
returns from such businesses will support the  indebtedness  incurred to acquire
them or the capital expenditures needed to develop them.

UNCERTAINTY OF ACCESS TO CAPITAL FOR FUTURE PROJECTS

     Each of AES's projects under development and those independent power supply
businesses it may seek to acquire may require  substantial  capital  investment.
Continued  access to capital  with  acceptable  terms is necessary to assure the
success of future  projects and  acquisitions.  AES has  substantially  utilized
project  financing  loans  to fund  the  capital  expenditures  associated  with
constructing and acquiring its electric power plants and related assets. Project
financing borrowings have been substantially  non-recourse to other subsidiaries
and affiliates and to AES as the parent company and are generally secured by the
capital stock,  physical assets,  contracts and cash flow of the related project
subsidiary  or  affiliate.  The  Company  intends  to  continue  to seek,  where
possible,  such  non-recourse  project  financing in connection  with the assets
which the Company or its affiliates may develop,  construct or acquire. However,
depending on market  conditions  and the unique  characteristics  of  individual
projects,  such  financing  may not be  available or the  Company's  traditional
providers of project financing, particularly multinational commercial banks, may
seek higher borrowing spreads and increased equity contributions.

     Furthermore,  because of the reluctance of commercial lending  institutions
to provide non-recourse  project financing  (including financial  guarantees) in
certain less developed economies,  the Company, in such locations,  has and will
continue to seek  direct or  indirect  (through  credit  support or  guarantees)
project   financing  from  a  limited  number  of   multilateral   or  bilateral
international  financial  institutions or agencies.  As a precondition to making
such  project  financing   available,   these   institutions  may  also  require
governmental   guarantees  of  certain  project  and  sovereign  related  risks.
Depending on the policies of specific  governments,  such  guarantees may not be
offered  and as a result,  AES may  determine  that  sufficient  financing  will
ultimately not be available to fund the related project.

     In addition to the project  financing  loans, if available,  AES provides a
portion,  or in certain  instances  all, of the  remaining  long-term  financing
required to fund development,  construction,  or acquisition.  These investments
have  generally  taken  the form of  equity  investments  or  loans,  which  are
subordinated to the project  financing  loans.  The funds for these  investments
have been  provided  by cash  flows from  operations  and by the  proceeds  from
borrowings  under the  short-term  credit  facilities  and  issuances  of senior
subordinated notes, convertible debentures and common stock of the Company.

     The Company's  ability to arrange for financing on either a fully  recourse
or a  substantially  non-recourse  basis  and  the  costs  of such  capital  are
dependent on numerous  factors,  including  general  economic and capital market
conditions, the availability of bank credit, investor confidence in the Company,
the continued  success of current  projects and provisions of tax and securities
laws which are conducive to raising capital in this manner. Should future access
to capital not be  available,  AES may decide not to build new plants or acquire
existing  facilities.  While a  decision  not to build  new  plants  or  acquire
existing  facilities  would not affect the results of  operations  of AES on its
currently operating facilities or facilities under construction, such a decision
would affect the future growth of AES. 


DEPENDENCE ON UTILITY CUSTOMERS AND CERTAIN PROJECTS

     The  nature of most of AES's  power  projects  is such  that each  facility
generally  relies on one power sales  contract  with a single  customer  for the
majority, if not all, of its revenues over the life of the power sales contract.
During  1996,  five  customers,   including  CL&P,  a  subsidiary  of  Northeast
Utilities, ac- 


                                       18
<PAGE>


counted for 73% of the  Company's  consolidated  total  revenues.  The prolonged
failure of any one utility customer to fulfill its contractual obligations could
have a substantial negative impact on AES's primary source of revenues.  AES has
sought to reduce this risk in part by entering into power sales  contracts  with
utilities or other customers of strong credit quality and by locating its plants
in  different  geographic  areas in order to  mitigate  the  effects of regional
economic downturns.

     Four of the Company's plants collectively represented  approximately 39% of
AES's consolidated total assets at December 31, 1996 and generated approximately
67% of AES's consolidated total revenues for the year ended December 31, 1996.

     Sales to Connecticut Light & Power Company ("CL&P")  represented 16% of the
Company's total revenues in 1996. Moody's Investor Service Inc.  ("Moody's") and
Standard & Poor's  Corporation  ("S&P") have recently  downgraded  CL&P's senior
secured long-term debt from Baa3/BBB- to Ba2/BB and S&P has placed CL&P on watch
for possible  downgrade.  As a result of regulatory action by the Public Service
Commission  of New  Hampshire,  Moody's and S&P recently  downgraded  the senior
unsecured debt of Northeast Utilities,  the parent of CL&P, from Ba2/BB to B1/B+
and S&P has placed Northeast Utilities on watch for possible downgrade.


REGULATORY UNCERTAINTY

     AES's  cogeneration  operations  in the United  States  are  subject to the
provisions  of  various  laws and  regulations,  including  the  Public  Utility
Regulatory  Policies Act of 1978, as amended  ("PURPA")  and the Public  Utility
Holding Company Act of 1935, as amended ("PUHCA").  PURPA provides to qualifying
facilities  ("QFs")  certain  exemptions  from  substantial  federal  and  state
legislation,  including  regulation as public utilities.  PUHCA regulates public
utility  holding  companies and their  subsidiaries.  AES is not and will not be
subject to regulation  as a holding  company under PUHCA as long as the domestic
power plants it owns are QFs under PURPA.  QF status is  conditioned  on meeting
certain criteria, and would be jeopardized,  for example, by the loss of a steam
customer.  The Company believes that, upon the occurrence of an event that would
threaten the QF status of one of its domestic plants,  it would be able to react
in a manner that would  avoid the loss of QF status  (such as by  replacing  the
steam customer).  In the event the Company were unable to avoid the loss of such
status for one of its plants,  to avoid public utility  holding  company status,
AES could apply to the Federal Energy Regulatory  Commission  ("FERC") to obtain
status  as an Exempt  Wholesale  Generator  ("EWG"),  or could  restructure  the
ownership  of the  project  subsidiary.  EWGs,  however,  are subject to broader
regulation  by FERC and may be  subject  to  state  public  utility  commissions
regulation  regarding  non-rate  matters.  In addition,  any  restructuring of a
project  subsidiary  could result in, among other  things,  a reduced  financial
interest in such subsidiary, which could result in a gain or loss on the sale of
the  interest  in such  subsidiary,  the  removal  of such  subsidiary  from the
consolidated  income tax group or the consolidated  financial  statements of the
Company, or an increase or decrease in the results of operations of the Company.

     The United States Congress is considering  proposed legislation which would
repeal  PURPA  entirely,  or at least  repeal the  obligation  of  utilities  to
purchase  from QFs.  There is strong  support  for  grandfathering  existing  QF
contracts  if such  legislation  is  passed,  and  also  support  for  requiring
utilities  to conduct  competitive  bidding for new electric  generation  if the
PURPA purchase obligation is eliminated. Various bills have also proposed repeal
of  PUHCA.  Repeal  of  PUHCA  would  allow  both  independents  and  vertically
integrated  utilities to acquire retail  utilities in the United States that are
geographically  widespread, as opposed to the current limitations of PUHCA which
require  that retail  electric  systems be capable of physical  integration.  In
addition,  registered  holding  companies  would be free to acquire  non-utility
businesses,  which they may not do now, with certain limited exceptions.  In the
event of a PUHCA repeal,  competition  for  independent  power  generators  from
vertically  integrated  utilities would likely increase.  Repeal of PURPA and/or
PUHCA may or may not be part of  comprehensive  legislation to  restructure  the
electric  utility  industry,  allow  retail  competition,  and  deregulate  most
electric rates. The effect of any such repeal cannot be predicted,  although any
such repeal could have a material adverse effect on the Company.



                                       19
<PAGE>


ELECTRIC UTILITY INDUSTRY RESTRUCTURING PROPOSALS

     The FERC and many state utility commissions are currently studying a number
of proposals to restructure the electric  utility industry in the United States.
Such  restructuring  would permit  utility  customers  to choose  their  utility
supplier in a competitive  electric energy market.  The FERC issued a final rule
in April  1996  which  requires  utilities  to  offer  wholesale  customers  and
suppliers open access on utility  transmission  lines, on a comparable  basis to
the utilities' own use of the lines.  The final rule is subject to rehearing and
may become the subject of court  litigation.  Many  utilities have already filed
"open  access"  tariffs.  The  utilities  contend that they should  recover from
departing  customers their fixed costs that will be "stranded" by the ability of
their wholesale  customers (and perhaps  eventually,  their retail customers) to
choose new electric power  suppliers.  The FERC final rule endorses the recovery
of  legitimate  and  verifiable  "stranded  costs."  These may include the costs
utilities are required to pay under many QF contracts  which the utilities  view
as excessive  when  compared  with current  market  prices.  Many  utilities are
therefore  seeking ways to lower these contract  prices or rescind the contracts
altogether,  out of concern that their shareholders will be required to bear all
or part of such  "stranded"  costs.  Some  utilities  have engaged in litigation
against QFs to achieve these ends.

     In addition,  future United States  electric  rates may be deregulated in a
restructured  United States electric utility industry and increased  competition
may result in lower rates and less profit for United States electricity sellers.
Falling  electricity  prices and  uncertainty as to the future  structure of the
industry is inhibiting  United  States  utilities  from entering into  long-term
power purchase  contracts.  The effect of any such  restructuring on the Company
cannot be  predicted,  although  any such  restructuring  could  have a material
adverse effect on the Company.


LITIGATION AND REGULATORY PROCEEDINGS

     From time to time, the Company and its affiliates are parties to litigation
and regulatory  proceedings.  Investors  should review the  descriptions of such
matters contained in the Company's  Annual,  Quarterly and Current Reports filed
with the  Commission  and  incorporated  by  reference  herein.  There can be no
assurances  that the outcome of such  matters  will not have a material  adverse
effect on the Company.


BUSINESS SUBJECT TO STRINGENT ENVIRONMENTAL REGULATIONS

     AES's  activities  are subject to  stringent  environmental  regulation  by
federal,  state, local and foreign  governmental  authorities.  For example, the
Clean Air Act  Amendments  of 1990 impose more  stringent  standards  than those
previously  in  effect,  and  require  states to impose  permit  fees on certain
emissions. Congress and other foreign governmental authorities also may consider
proposals to restrict or tax certain  emissions.  These  proposals,  if adopted,
could impose additional costs on the operation of AES's power plants.  There can
be no  assurance  that AES would be able to recover all or any  increased  costs
from its  customers  or that its  business,  financial  condition  or results of
operations  would not be materially and adversely  affected by future changes in
domestic or foreign environmental laws and regulations. The Company has made and
will   continue  to  make  capital  and  other   expenditures   to  comply  with
environmental  laws  and  regulations.  There  can  be no  assurance  that  such
expenditures will not have a material adverse effect on the Company's  financial
condition or results of operations.


CONTROL BY EXISTING STOCKHOLDERS

     As of September 30, 1997,  AES's two founders,  Roger W. Sant and Dennis W.
Bakke, and their immediate  families together owned  beneficially  approximately
22.1% of the  outstanding  AES  Common  Stock.  As a result  of their  ownership
interests,  Messrs.  Sant and Bakke may be able to  significantly  influence  or
exert  control over the affairs of AES,  including the election of the Company's
directors.  As of September  30, 1997,  all of AES's  officers and directors and
their immediate families together owned beneficially  approximately 29.2% of the
outstanding  AES Common Stock.  To the extent that they decide to vote together,
these  stockholders  would be able to  significantly  influence  or control  the
election of AES's  directors,  the management and policies of AES and any action
requiring  stockholder approval,  including significant corporate  transactions.



                                       20
<PAGE>


ADHERENCE TO AES'S PRINCIPLES -- POSSIBLE IMPACT ON RESULTS OF OPERATIONS

     A  core  part  of  AES's  corporate  culture  is a  commitment  to  "shared
principles":  to act with integrity,  to be fair, to have fun and to be socially
responsible.  The Company seeks to adhere to these  principles not as a means to
achieve economic  success,  but because adherence is a worthwhile goal in and of
itself.  However,  if the Company  perceives a conflict between these principles
and  profits,  the Company will try to adhere to its  principles  -- even though
doing so might  result in  diminished  or foregone  opportunities  or  financial
benefits.


LACK OF PUBLIC MARKET

     The New Notes are being  offered to the  Holders of the Old Notes.  The Old
Notes  were  issued on October  29,  1997 to a limited  number of  institutional
investors.  The New Notes are new  securities  for which there  currently  is no
market.  The  Company  does not intend to apply for  listing of the Notes on any
securities  exchange  or for  quotation  through  the  National  Association  of
Securities Dealers Automated Quotation System. There can be no assurance that an
active  trading  market  for the New Notes  will  develop.  If a trading  market
develops for the New Notes, future trading prices of such securities will depend
on many factors,  including  prevailing interest rates, the Company's results of
operations and financial condition and the market for similar securities.


RISK OF FRAUDULENT TRANSFER

     Various fraudulent  conveyance laws have been enacted for the protection of
creditors  and may be applied by a court on behalf of any unpaid  creditor  or a
representative of AES's creditors in a lawsuit to subordinate or avoid the Notes
in favor  of  other  existing  or  future  creditors  of AES.  Under  applicable
provisions  of the  U.S.  Bankruptcy  code or  comparable  provisions  of  state
fraudulent  transfer or  conveyance  laws, if AES at the time of issuance of the
Notes, (i) incurred such  indebtedness  with intent to hinder,  delay or defraud
any present or future creditor of AES or  contemplated  insolvency with a design
to prefer one or more  creditors to the  exclusion in whole or in part of others
or (ii) received less than reasonably equivalent value or fair consideration for
issuing  the Notes and AES (a) was  insolvent,  (b) was  rendered  insolvent  by
reason of the  issuance  of the  Notes,  (c) was  engaged  or about to engage in
business  or a  transaction  for which the  remaining  assets of AES  constitute
unreasonably small capital to carry on its business or (d) intended to incur, or
believed that it would incur, debts beyond its ability to pay such debts as they
mature,  then,  in each case, a court of competent  jurisdiction  could void, in
whole or in part, the Notes.  Among other things, a legal challenge of the Notes
on fraudulent  conveyance grounds may focus on the benefits, if any, realized by
AES as a result of the issuance by AES of the Notes.

     The measure of insolvency for purposes of the foregoing will vary depending
upon the law applied in such case.  Generally,  however, AES would be considered
insolvent  if the  sum of its  debts,  including  contingent  liabilities,  were
greater  than all of its assets at fair  valuation or if the present fair market
value of its assets  were less than the amount that would be required to pay the
probable liability on its existing debts, including contingent  liabilities,  as
they become absolute and mature. There can be no assurance that, after providing
for all prior claims,  there will be sufficient  assets to satisfy the claims of
the holders of the Notes.

     Management  believes that, for purposes of all such insolvency,  bankruptcy
and fraudulent transfer or conveyance laws, the Notes are being incurred without
the intent to hinder,  delay or defraud creditors and for proper purposes and in
good faith,  and that AES after the issuance of the Notes will be solvent,  will
have sufficient capital for carrying on its business and will be able to pay its
debts as they mature. There can be no assurance,  however,  that a court passing
on such questions would agree with management's view.

                                       21
<PAGE>


                     SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA

         The following table summarizes certain selected consolidated  financial
data,  which  should  be read in  conjunction  with the  Company's  consolidated
financial  statements and related notes  incorporated by reference  herein.  The
selected consolidated financial data as of and for each of the five years in the
period ended  December 31, 1996 have been derived from the audited  consolidated
financial statements of the Company. The consolidated financial statements as of
December  31, 1995 and 1996,  and for each of the three years inthe period ended
December  31,  1996,  and  the  independent   auditors'   report  thereon,   are
incorporated by reference herein. The selected financial data presented below as
of September 30, 1996 and 1997 and for the nine months ended  September 30, 1996
and 1997 are derived from the unaudited consolidated financial statements of the
Company.  The results of operations for the nine months ended September 30, 1997
are not necessarily  indicative of the results to be expected for the full year.
The Company  believes that the unaudited  information  for the nine months ended
September 30, 1996 and 1997 contain all  adjustments,  consisting only of normal
recurring  adjustments,  necessary  for a fair  presentation  of  the  operating
results for such periods.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                  NINE MONTHS
                                                                                                                      ENDED
                                                                 YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                         SEPTEMBER 30,
                                              --------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                  1992        1993        1994        1995        1996          1996         1997   
                                              ----------- ----------------------- ----------- ------------ ------------ ------------
<S>                                           <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>          <C>         
In millions, except ratio and per share data                                                                                        
STATEMENT OF OPERATIONS DATA:                                                                                                       
Revenues:                                                                                                                           
 Sales ...................................... $     394   $     508   $     514   $     672   $     824    $     545     $     871  
 Services ...................................         7          11          19           7          11            6             9  
                                              ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------    ---------     ---------  
   Total revenues ...........................       401         519         533         679         835          551           880  
                                              ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------    ---------     ---------  
Operating cost and expenses:                                                                                                        
 Cost of sales ..............................       222         257         252         388         495          315           567  
 Cost of services ...........................         6           9          13           6           7            6             9  
 Selling, general and administrative ex-                                                                                            
   penses                                            18          35          32          32          35           23            25  
 Provision to reduce carrying value of as-                                                                                          
   sets .....................................        --          22          --          --          20           --            19  
                                              ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------    ---------     ---------  
   Total operating costs and expenses .......       246         323         297         426         557          344           620  
                                              ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------    ---------     ---------  
Operating income ............................       155         196         236         253         278          207           260  
Other income and (expense):                                                                                                         
 Interest expense ...........................       (99)       (128)       (125)       (127)       (144)         (97)         (154) 
 Interest income ............................         8          11          22          27          24           16            28  
 Equity in earnings of affiliates (net of                                                                                           
   income taxes) ............................         2          10          12          14          35           16            58  
                                              ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------    ---------     ---------  
 Income before income taxes, minority                                                                                               
   interest and extraordinary item ..........        66          89         145         167         193          142           192  
 Income taxes ...............................         9          18          44          57          60           47            50  
 Minority interest ..........................         1          --           3           3           8            6            10  
                                              ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------    ---------     ---------  
 Net income before extraordinary item .......        56          71          98         107         125           89           132  
 Extraordinary item .........................        --          --           2          --          --           --            (3) 
                                              ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------   ---------    ---------     ---------  
 Net income ................................. $      56   $      71   $     100   $     107   $     125    $      89     $     129  
                                             =========   =========   =========   =========   =========    =========     =========  
 Net income per share before extraordinary
   item...................................... $    0.40   $    0.49   $    0.65   $    0.71   $    0.81    $    0.58     $    0.78
                                              =========   =========   =========   =========   =========    =========     =========
 Net income per share ....................... $    0.40   $    0.49   $    0.66   $    0.71   $    0.81    $    0.58     $    0.76
                                              =========   =========   =========   =========   =========    =========     =========
 Weighted average number of common                                                                                                  
   and common equivalent shares .............     138.8       146.0       151.6       151.8       154.6        153.1         169.0
 Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1) ......      1.37 x      1.62 x      2.08 x      2.18        1.83 x       2.04 x        1.45 x
</TABLE>


                                       22

<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                              NINE MONTHS
                                                                                                                 ENDED
                                                               YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                        SEPTEMBER 30,
                                             ----------------------------------------------------------- -----------------------
                                                 1992        1993        1994        1995        1996        1996        1997
                                             ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- ----------- -----------
<S>                                          <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>
In millions, except ratios
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Total assets ...............................  $  1,552    $  1,687    $  1,915    $  2,341    $  3,622    $  3,419    $  6,568
Revolving bank loan (current) ..............        --          --          --          50          88          89          --
Project financing debt (current) ...........        71          79          61          84         110         243         533
Revolving bank loan (long term) ............        --          --          --          --         125         125          --
Project financing debt (long term) .........     1,146       1,075       1,019       1,098       1,558       1,301       2,814
Other notes payable (long term) ............        50         125         125         125         325         325         573
Company-obligated mandatorily redeem-
 able preferred securities of AES Trust I...        --          --          --          --          --          --         250
Stockholders' equity .......................       177         309         401         549         721         689       1,444
Debt to total capitalization plus short term
 debt ratio:
 Project financing debt ....................      83.2 %      72.4 %      67.0 %      61.6 %      57.0%      55.7%       59.6%
 Parent debt(2) ............................       3.4         7.9         7.8         9.1        18.4       19.4        10.2
                                              --------    --------    --------    --------    --------    --------     --------
   Total   .................................      86.6 %      80.3 %      74.8 %      70.7 %      75.4%      75.1%       69.8%
                                              ========    ========    ========    ========    ========    ========     ========
</TABLE>
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                  FOUR QUARTERS
                                                                                                      ENDED
                                                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                     SEPTEMBER 30,
                                      ------------------------------------------------------- ---------------------
                                          1992        1993       1994       1995       1996       1996       1997
                                      ----------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ---------- ----------
<S>                                   <C>         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
In millions, except ratios
OTHER DATA:
Net cash provided by operating activ-
 ities ..............................  $     76    $   123    $   164    $   197    $   182    $   178    $   152
Consolidated EBITDA(3)(4) ...........        45         30         68        110        193        121        234
Consolidated Fixed Charges(3) .......         3          7         11         12         40         26         69
Fixed Charge Ratio(3) ...............      15.0 x      4.3 x      6.2 x      9.2 x      4.8 x      4.7 x      3.4 x
</TABLE>


- ----------
(1) For purposes of this ratio,  earnings  include income before taxes and fixed
    charges  excluding  capitalized  interest.  Fixed charges include  interest,
    whether  capitalized or expensed,  and  amortization  of deferred  financing
    costs, whether capitalized or expensed.

(2) Parent debt represents  obligations of the Company,  as parent.  It does not
    include non-recourse obligations of the Company's subsidiaries.

(3) The other data  presented  for  "Consolidated  EBITDA," "Consolidated  Fixed
    Charges" and "Fixed  Charge  Ratio" is  calculated  in  accordance  with the
    respective  definitions  of such terms in the Indenture and set forth herein
    under  "Description  of Notes -- Certain  Definitions."  As of September 30,
    1997,  on a  pro  forma  basis  after  giving  effect  to  the  Adjustments,
    Consolidated EBITDA, Consolidated Fixed Charges, and Fixed Charge Ratio were
    $246 million, $99 million, and 2.5x, respectively.

(4) Consolidated  EBITDA  is a concept  defined  in the  Indenture  and is not a
    substitute for cash flows from operating  activities as defined by generally
    accepted accounting principles.



                                       23
<PAGE>


                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

     The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges.
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           NINE MONTHS
                                                                                              ENDED
                                                      YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,             SEPTEMBER 30,
                                             ------------------------------------------   --------------
                                              1992     1993     1994     1995     1996         1997
                                             ------   ------   ------   ------   ------   --------------
<S>                                          <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges  ......   1.37     1.62     2.08     2.18     1.83         1.45
</TABLE>

     For the  purpose  of  computing  the ratio of  earnings  to fixed  charges,
earnings  consist of income from continuing  operations  before income taxes and
minority interest, plus fixed charges, less capitalized interest, less excess of
earnings  over  dividends  of  less-than-fifty-percent-owned   companies.  Fixed
charges   consist  of  interest   (including   capitalized   interest)   on  all
indebtedness,  amortization  of debt  discount  and expense and that  portion of
rental expense which the Company  believes to be  representative  of an interest
factor. A statement setting forth the computation of the above ratios is on file
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.

     During the period from January 1, 1992 until  September 30, 1997, no shares
of  Preferred  Stock were  issued or  outstanding,  and during  that  period the
Company did not pay any Preferred Stock dividends.


                                 USE OF PROCEEDS

     The Company will not receive any cash proceeds from the issuance of the New
Notes  offered  hereby.  The net proceeds  from the offering of the Old Notes of
approximately  $486 million were used,  together with approximately $291 million
from the TECONS offering to repay approximately $770 million of the indebtedness
incurred in connection with the CEEE  Acquisition  (consisting of  approximately
$220 million under the Revolver and $550 million under the CEEE Bridge Loan) and
for general corporate purposes, including other potential acquisitions. 


                                       24
<PAGE>

                               THE EXCHANGE OFFER

TERMS OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER; PERIOD FOR TENDERING OLD NOTES

   
     Upon the terms and subject to the conditions  set forth in this  Prospectus
and in the  accompanying  Letter of Transmittal  (which together  constitute the
Exchange  Offer),  the  Company  will  accept for  exchange  Old Notes which are
properly  tendered  on or prior to the  Expiration  Date  and not  withdrawn  as
permitted below. As used herein, the term "Expiration Date" means 5:00 p.m., New
York City time, on March 9, 1998; provided, however, that if the Company, in its
sole discretion, has extended the period of time for which the Exchange Offer is
open,  the term  "Expiration  Date"  means the latest time and date to which the
Exchange Offer is extended.
    

     As of the date of this Prospectus,  $375,000,000 aggregate principal amount
of the Old 8.50% Notes and  $125,000,000  aggregate  principal amount of the Old
8.875% Debentures was outstanding. This Prospectus,  together with the Letter of
Transmittal,  is first  being  sent on or about  the date set forth on the cover
page to all  Holders  of Old Notes at the  addresses  set forth in the  security
register  with respect to Old Notes  maintained  by the Trustee.  The  Company's
obligations  to accept Old Notes for exchange  pursuant to the Exchange Offer is
subject to certain  conditions  as set forth under  "Certain  Conditions  to the
Exchange Offer" below. 

     The Company expressly reserves the right, at any time or from time to time,
to extend  the  period of time  during  which the  Exchange  Offer is open,  and
thereby delay  acceptance of any Old Notes,  by giving oral or written notice of
such extension to the Exchange Agent and notice of such extension to the Holders
as described below. During any such extension, all Old Notes previously tendered
will remain  subject to the  Exchange  Offer and may be accepted for exchange by
the  Company.  Any Old Notes not  accepted  for  exchange for any reason will be
returned  without  expense  to the  tendering  Holder  thereof  as  promptly  as
practicable after the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.

     The Company expressly reserves the right to amend or terminate the Exchange
Offer, and not to accept for exchange any Old Notes not theretofore accepted for
exchange,  upon the  occurrence of any of the  conditions of the Exchange  Offer
specified  below under "Certain  Conditions to the Exchange  Offer." The Company
will give oral or written notice of any extension, amendment,  non-acceptance or
termination  to the Holders of the Old Notes as promptly  as  practicable,  such
notice in the case of any  extension to be issued by means of a press release or
other public  announcement  no later than 9:00 a.m.,  New York City time, on the
next business day after the previously scheduled Expiration Date.

     Holders of Old Notes do not have any appraisal or dissenters'  rights under
the  General  Corporation  Law of the  State of  Delaware  or the  Indenture  in
connection with the Exchange Offer.  The Company intends to conduct the Exchange
Offer in accordance with the applicable requirements of the Exchange Act and the
rules and regulations of the SEC thereunder.


PROCEDURES FOR TENDERING OLD NOTES

     The  tender to the  Company  of Old Notes by a Holder  thereof as set forth
below and the  acceptance  thereof  by the  Company  will  constitute  a binding
agreement  between  the  tendering  Holder  and the  Company  upon the terms and
subject to the conditions set forth in this  Prospectus and in the  accompanying
Letter of Transmittal.  Except as set forth below, a Holder who wishes to tender
Old Notes for exchange  pursuant to the Exchange  Offer must transmit a properly
completed and duly executed Letter of Transmittal, including all other documents
required by such Letter of  Transmittal,  to The First  National Bank of Chicago
(the "Exchange  Agent") at one of the addresses set forth below under  "Exchange
Agent" on or prior to the Expiration  Date (or comply with  guaranteed  delivery
procedures described below on or prior to the Expiration Date). In addition, (i)
certificates  for such Old Notes must be  received by the  Exchange  Agent along
with the  Letter of  Transmittal,  (ii) a timely  confirmation  of a  book-entry
transfer (a "Book-Entry  Confirmation")  of such Old Notes, if such procedure is
available,  into the Exchange  Agent's  account at The Depository  Trust Company
(The "Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility")  pursuant to the procedure for book-entry
transfer  described  below,  must be received by the Exchange Agent prior to the
Expiration  Date or (iii) the Holder must comply  with the  guaranteed  delivery
procedures described below.


                                       25

<PAGE>


     THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF OLD NOTES,  LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL  AND ALL OTHER
REQUIRED  DOCUMENTS IS AT THE  ELECTION  AND RISK OF THE HOLDERS AND,  EXCEPT AS
OTHERWISE  PROVIDED BELOW, WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY  RECEIVED.  IF
SUCH DELIVERY IS BY MAIL,  IT IS  RECOMMENDED  THAT  REGISTERED  MAIL,  PROPERLY
INSURED, WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED,  BE USED. IN ALL CASES,  SUFFICIENT TIME
SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ASSURE TIMELY  DELIVERY.  NO LETTERS OF  TRANSMITTAL OR OLD
NOTES SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMPANY. 

     Signatures on a Letter of  Transmittal  or a notice of  withdrawal,  as the
case may be, must be guaranteed  unless the Old Notes  surrendered  for exchange
pursuant  thereto are tendered  (i) by a registered  Holder of the Old Notes who
has not completed the box entitled "Special  Issuance  Instructions" or "Special
Delivery  Instructions"  on the Letter of Transmittal or (ii) for the account of
an Eligible  Institution (as defined  below).  In the event that signatures on a
Letter  of  Transmittal  or a notice  of  withdrawal,  as the  case may be,  are
required to be guaranteed,  such  guarantees must be by a firm which is a member
of a  registered  national  securities  exchange  or a  member  of the  National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. or by a commercial bank or trust company
having an office or correspondent in the United States (collectively,  "Eligible
Institutions").  If Old Notes are  registered in the name of a person other than
the person  signing the Letter of  Transmittal,  the Old Notes  surrendered  for
exchange  must be endorsed  by, or be  accompanied  by a written  instrument  or
instruments of transfer or exchange,  in satisfactory  form as determined by the
Company in its sole discretion,  duly executed by the registered Holder with the
signature thereon guaranteed by an Eligible Institution.

     If the Letter of  Transmittal  or any Old Notes or powers of  attorney  are
signed by trustees,  executors,  administrators,  guardians,  attorneys-in-fact,
officers  or  corporations  or others  acting in a fiduciary  or  representative
capacity,  such person should so indicate when signing and, unless waived by the
Company,  proper evidence satisfactory to the Company of its authority to so act
must be submitted. 

     All  questions as to the validity,  form,  eligibility  (including  time of
receipt) and acceptance of Old Notes tendered for exchange will be determined by
the  Company  in its sole  discretion,  which  determination  shall be final and
binding.  The Company  reserves the absolute right to reject any and all tenders
of  any  particular  Old  Notes  not  properly  tendered  or to not  accept  any
particular Old Notes which  acceptance  might, in the judgment of the Company or
its counsel,  be unlawful.  The Company also reserves the absolute  right in its
sole  discretion  to waive any defects or  irregularities  or  conditions of the
Exchange  Offer as to any  particular  Old  Notes  either  before  or after  the
Expiration  Date (including the right to waive the  ineligibility  of any Holder
who seeks to tender Old Notes in the Exchange Offer).  The interpretation of the
terms and conditions of the Exchange Offer as to any particular Old Notes either
before or after the Expiration Date (including the Letter of Transmittal and the
instructions  thereto) by the Company shall be final and binding on all parties.
Unless waived,  any defects or  irregularities in connection with the tenders of
Old Notes for exchange  must be cured within such  reasonable  period of time as
the Company shall  determine.  Neither the Company,  the Exchange  Agent nor any
other  person  shall be under  any duty to give  notification  of any  defect or
irregularity with respect to any tender of Old Notes for exchange, nor shall any
of them incur any liability for failure to give such notification.

     By tendering,  each Holder will represent to the Company that,  among other
things,  (i) the New Notes  acquired  pursuant to the  Exchange  Offer are being
acquired in the  ordinary  course of business of the person  receiving  such New
Notes, whether or not such person is the Holder, (ii) neither the Holder nor any
such  other  person  has an  arrangement  or  understanding  with any  person to
participate in the distribution of such New Notes,  (iii) if the Holder is not a
broker-dealer,  or is a broker-dealer but will not receive New Notes for its own
account in exchange for Old Notes,  neither the Holder not any such other person
is engaged in or intends to  participate in the  distribution  of such New Notes
and (iv)  neither  the Holder nor any such other  person is an  "affiliate,"  as
defined under Rule 405 of the Securities  Act, of the Company.  If the tendering
Holder is a  broker-dealer  that will  receive New Notes for its owns account in
exchange  for  Old  Notes  that  were  acquired  as a  result  of  market-making
activities or other trading activities,  it will be required to acknowledge that
it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such New Notes.



                                       26
<PAGE>


     No  alternative,  conditional,  irregular  or  contingent  tenders  will be
accepted.  All tendering Holders,  by execution of the Letter of Transmittal (or
facsimile thereof), shall waive any right to receive notice of the acceptance of
the Old Notes for exchange.


ACCEPTANCE OF OLD NOTES FOR EXCHANGE; DELIVERY OF NEW NOTES

     Upon satisfaction or waiver of all of the conditions to the Exchange Offer,
the Company will  accept,  promptly  after the  Expiration  Date,  all Old Notes
properly  tendered and will issue the New Notes promptly after acceptance of the
Old Notes. See "Certain Conditions to the Exchange Offer" below. For purposes of
the  Exchange  Offer,  the  Company  shall be deemed to have  accepted  properly
tendered  Old Notes for exchange  when,  as and if the Company has given oral or
written notice thereof to the Exchange Agent.

     In all cases,  issuance  of New Notes for Old Notes that are  accepted  for
exchange  pursuant to the Exchange  Offer will be made only after timely receipt
by the Exchange Agent of certificates for such Old Notes or a timely  Book-Entry
Confirmation  of such  Old  Notes  into  the  Exchange  Agent's  account  at the
Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility  pursuant to the book-entry  transfer  procedures
described  below, a properly  completed and duly executed  Letter of Transmittal
and all other required documents. If any tendered Old Notes are not accepted for
any reason set forth in the terms and  conditions  of the  Exchange  Offer or if
certificates representing Old Notes are submitted for a greater principal amount
than the Holder desires to exchange,  such unaccepted or non-exchanged Old Notes
will be returned  without  expense to the tendering  Holder  thereof (or, in the
case of Old Notes  tendered by  book-entry  transfer  into the Exchange  Agent's
account at the Book-Entry  Transfer Facility pursuant to the book-entry transfer
procedures  described below, such non-exchanged Old Notes will be credited to an
account  maintained  with such  Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility)  as  promptly as
practicable after the expiration or termination of the Exchange Offer.


INTEREST ON THE NEW NOTES

   
     The  New  Notes  will  bear  interest   from  October  29,  1997,   payable
semiannually on May 1 and November 1 of each year, commencing on May 1, 1998, at
the rate of 8.50% per  annum in the case of the New 8.50%  Notes and at the rate
of 8.875% per annum in the case of the 8.875%  Debentures.  Holders of Old Notes
whose Old Notes are  accepted  for  exchange  will be deemed to have  waived the
right to receive any  payment in respect of  interest  on the Old Notes  accrued
from  October  29,  1997  until  the  date of the  issuance  of the  New  Notes.
Consequently,  holders who  exchange  their Old Notes for New Notes will receive
the same interest  payment on May 1, 1998 (the first interest  payment date with
respect to the Old Notes and the New Notes)  that they would have  received  had
they not accepted the Exchange Offer. 
    


BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER

     The Exchange Agent will make a request to establish an account with respect
to the Old  Notes  at the  Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility  for  purposes  of the
Exchange  Offer  promptly  after  the  date of this  Prospectus.  Any  financial
institution that is a participant in the Book-Entry  Transfer Facility's systems
may make  book-entry  delivery  of  Notes by  causing  the  Book-Entry  Transfer
Facility to transfer such Notes into the Exchange  Agent's account in accordance
with the Book-Entry Transfer Facility's  Automated Tender Offer Program ("ATOP")
procedures  for transfer.  However,  the exchange for the Notes so tendered will
only be made after timely confirmation of such book-entry transfer of Notes into
the Exchange  Agent's  account,  and timely  receipt by the Exchange Agent of an
Agent's  Message  (as such term is defined in the next  sentence)  and any other
documents  required by the Letter of  Transmittal.  The term  "Agent's  Message"
means a message, transmitted by the Book-Entry Transfer Facility and received by
the Exchange Agent and forming a part of a Book-Entry Confirmation, which states
that the  Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility has received an express  acknowledgment
from a  participant  tendering  Notes that are the  subject  of such  Book-Entry
Confirmation  that such  participant  has received and agrees to be bound by the
terms of the  Letter of  Transmittal,  and that the  Company  may  enforce  such
agreement against such participant.


                                       27
<PAGE>

GUARANTEED DELIVERY PROCEDURES

     If a  registered  Holder of the Old Notes  desires to tender such Old Notes
and the Old Notes are not  immediately  available,  or time will not permit such
Holder's  Old Notes or other  required  documents  to reach the  Exchange  Agent
before the Expiration  Date, or the procedure for book-entry  transfer cannot be
completed on a timely basis,  a tender may be effected if (i) the tender is made
through an Eligible  Institution,  (ii) on or prior to the Expiration  Date, the
Exchange Agent receives from such Eligible  Institution a properly completed and
duly executed Notice of Guaranteed Delivery,  substantially in the form provided
by the Company (by telegram,  facsimile  transmission,  mail or hand  delivery),
setting  forth the name and address of the Holder of Old Notes and the amount of
Old  Notes  tendered,  stating  that  the  tender  is  being  made  thereby  and
guaranteeing  that within five New York Stock  Exchange  ("NYSE")  trading  days
after  the  date  of  execution  of  the  Notice  of  Guaranteed  Delivery,  the
certificates of all physically  tendered Old Notes, in proper form for transfer,
or a Book-Entry Confirmation,  as the case may be, a properly completed and duly
executed  Letter of Transmittal  (or facsimile  thereof) and any other documents
required  by the  Letter  of  Transmittal  will  be  deposited  by the  Eligible
Institution  with  the  Exchange  Agent,  and  (iii)  the  certificates  for all
physically  tendered  Old Notes,  in proper form for  transfer,  or a Book-Entry
Confirmation,  as the case may be, a properly completed and duly executed Letter
of Transmittal (or a facsimile thereof), and all other documents required by the
Letter of  Transmittal,  are  received by the  Exchange  Agent  within five NYSE
trading days after the date of execution of the Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.


WITHDRAWAL RIGHTS

     Tenders of Old Notes may be withdrawn  at any time prior to the  Expiration
Date.

     For a  withdrawal  to be  effective,  a written,  telegraphic  or facsimile
notice  of  withdrawal  must be  received  by the  Exchange  Agent at one of the
addresses set forth below under "Exchange  Agent." Any such notice of withdrawal
must  specify  the  name of the  person  having  tendered  the Old  Notes  to be
withdrawn,  identify  the Old Notes to be  withdrawn  (including  the  principal
amount of such Old  Notes),  and  (where  certificates  for Old Notes  have been
transmitted)  specify  the  name in which  such Old  Notes  are  registered,  if
different  from that of the  withdrawing  Holder,  must include a statement that
such Holder is  withdrawing  its election to have such Old Notes  exchanged  and
must be signed by the Holder in the same manner as the original signature on the
Letter of  Transmittal  (including  any  required  signature  guarantees)  or be
accompanied by evidence  satisfactory to the Company than the person withdrawing
the tender has  succeeded  to the  beneficial  ownership  of the Old Notes being
withdrawn.  If  certificates  for Old Notes  have been  delivered  or  otherwise
identified  to  the  Exchange  Agent,   then,  prior  to  the  release  of  such
certificates,  the withdrawing Holder must also submit the serial numbers of the
particular  certificates  to be  withdrawn.  If Old  Notes  have  been  tendered
pursuant to the procedure for book-entry  transfer  described above, any note of
withdrawal  must  specify the name and number of the  account at the  Book-Entry
Transfer  Facility to be credited  with the  withdrawn  Old Notes and  otherwise
comply with the procedures of such  facility.  All questions as to the validity,
form  and  eligibility  (including  time of  receipt)  of such  notices  will be
determined by the Company, whose determination shall be final and binding on all
parties.  Any Old Notes so  withdrawn  will be deemed  not to have been  validly
tendered for exchange  for purposes of the Exchange  Offer.  Any Old Notes which
have been  tendered for exchange but which are not exchanged for any reason will
be returned to the Holder  thereof  without cost to such Holder (or, in the case
of Old Notes tendered by book-entry  transfer into the Exchange  Agent's account
at  the  Book-Entry  Transfer  Facility  pursuant  to  the  book-entry  transfer
procedures  described  above,  such Old Notes  will be  credited  to an  account
maintained with such Book-Entry  Transfer Facility for the Old Notes) as soon as
practicable after withdrawal, rejection of tender or termination of the Exchange
Offer.  Properly  withdrawn  Old Notes may be retendered by following one of the
procedures  described  under  "Procedures  for Tendering Old Notes" above at any
time on or prior to the Expiration Date. 


CERTAIN CONDITIONS TO THE EXCHANGE OFFER

     Notwithstanding  any other  provisions of the Exchange  Offer,  the Company
shall not be required to accept for exchange,  or to issue New Notes in exchange
for, any Old Notes and may terminate or amend


                                       28
<PAGE>

the Exchange  Offer,  if at any time before the acceptance of such Old Notes for
exchange or the exchange of the New Notes for such Old Notes, such acceptance or
issuance would violate  applicable law or any interpretation of the staff of the
SEC.

     The  foregoing  condition is for the sole benefit of the Company and may be
asserted  by the Company  regardless  of the  circumstances  giving rise to such
condition  or may be waived by the  Company  in whole or in part at any time and
from time to time in its sole discretion. The failure by the Company at any time
to exercise the foregoing  rights shall not be deemed a waiver of any such right
and each such right  shall be deemed an ongoing  right  which may be asserted at
any time and from time to time.

     In  addition,  the  Company  will not  accept  for  exchange  any Old Notes
tendered, and no New Notes will be issued in exchange for any such Old Notes, if
at such time any stop order shall be threatened or in effect with respect to the
Registration  Statement  of  which  this  Prospectus  constitutes  a part or the
qualification of the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended
(the "TIA").


EXCHANGE AGENT

     The First National Bank of Chicago has been appointed as the Exchange Agent
for the Exchange Offer. All executed  Letters of Transmittal  should be directed
to the Exchange  Agent at one of the  addresses  set forth below.  Questions and
requests for assistance, requests for additional copies of this Prospectus or of
the Letter of Transmittal and requests for Notices of Guaranteed Delivery should
be directed to the Exchange Agent, addressed as follows: 
<TABLE>
<S>                                     <C>                              <C>
                                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                                                Exchange Agent

                  By Mail:                 Facsimile Transmissions:        By Hand or Overnight Delivery:

     (Registered or Certified Mail       (Eligible Institutions Only)     The First National Bank of Chicago
              Recommended)                    (212) 240-8938             c/o First Chicago Trust Company
    The First National Bank of Chicago                                             of New York
         c/o First Chicago Trust                                                   14 Wall Street
           Company of New York                                                   8th Floor, Window 2
               14 Wall Street                                                 New York, New York 10005
           8th Floor, Window 2
        New York, New York 10005
                              To Confirm by Telephone or for Information Call:
                                               (212) 240-8801
</TABLE>

     DELIVERY  TO AN ADDRESS  OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE OR  TRANSMISSION  OF
INSTRUCTIONS  VIA FACSIMILE  OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE DOES NOT CONSTITUTE A
VALID DELIVERY.


FEES AND EXPENSES

     The  principal  solicitation  is being  made by mail;  however,  additional
solicitation  may be made by  telegraph,  telephone or in person by officers and
regular employees of the Company and its affiliates.  No additional compensation
will be paid to any  such  officers  and  employees  who  engage  in  soliciting
tenders.  The Company will not make any payment to brokers,  dealers,  or others
soliciting acceptances of the Exchange Offer. The Company, however, will pay the
Exchange Agent reasonable and customary fees for its services and will reimburse
it for its reasonable out-of-pocket expenses in connection therewith.

   
     The estimated cash expenses to be incurred in connection  with the Exchange
Offer will be paid by the  Company  and are  estimated  in the  aggregate  to be
$200,000.
    



                                       29
<PAGE>

TRANSFER TAXES

     Holders who tender  their Old Notes for  exchange  will not be obligated to
pay any  transfer  taxes in  connection  therewith,  except that (i) Holders who
instruct  the Company to register  New Notes in the name of, or request that Old
Notes not  tendered or not  accepted  in the  Exchange  Offer be returned  to, a
person other than the registered  tendering  Holder will be responsible  for the
payment of any  applicable  transfer  tax thereon and (ii) if a transfer  tax is
imposed  for any reason  other than the  transfer of Old Notes to the Company or
its order pursuant to the Exchange Offer, the Holder will be responsible for the
payment of any such taxes (whether imposed on the registered Holder or any other
person). 


CONSEQUENCES OF FAILURE TO EXCHANGE

     Holders  of Old  Notes  who do not  exchange  their Old Notes for New Notes
pursuant to the Exchange  Offer will continue to be subject to the  restrictions
on  transfer of such Old Notes as set forth in the legend  thereon.  In general,
the Old Notes may not be offered or sold, unless registered under the Securities
Act,  except  pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to,
the Securities Act and applicable  state  securities  laws. The Company does not
intend to register the Old Notes under the Securities Act. The Company  believes
that, based upon interpretations contained in letters issued to third parties by
the  staff of the SEC,  New  Notes  issued  pursuant  to the  Exchange  Offer in
exchange  for  Old  Notes  may  be  offered  for  resale,  resold  or  otherwise
transferred  by each Holder thereof  (other than a  broker-dealer,  as set forth
below,  and any such Holder which is an  "affiliate"  of the Company  within the
meaning  of Rule 405 under  the  Securities  Act)  without  compliance  with the
registration and prospectus  delivery  provisions of the Securities Act provided
that  such New Notes  are  acquired  in the  ordinary  course  of such  Holder's
business and such Holder has no arrangement or understanding  with any person to
participate  in the  distribution  of such  New  Notes.  If any  Holder  has any
arrangement or  understanding  with respect to the distribution of the New Notes
to be acquired pursuant to the Exchange Offer, such Holder (i) could not rely on
the applicable interpretations of the staff of the SEC and (ii) must comply with
the registration and prospectus  delivery  requirements of the Securities Act in
connection with any resale  transaction.  Each  broker-dealer  that receives New
Notes for its own account in  exchange  for Old Notes must  acknowledge  that it
will deliver a prospectus in connection  with any resale of such New Notes.  See
"Plan of  Distribution."  In  addition,  to comply with the  securities  laws of
certain jurisdictions,  if applicable,  the New Notes may not be offered or sold
unless they have been  registered or qualified for sale in such  jurisdiction or
an exemption from  registration  or  qualification  is available and is complied
with.  The Company does not  currently  intend to take any action to register or
qualify the New Notes for resale in any such jurisdictions.


                                       30
<PAGE>


                              DESCRIPTION OF NOTES

   
     The New 8.50% Notes and the New 8.875%  Debentures  will each be a separate
series of debt securities to be issued under an Indenture (as amended heretofore
the "Indenture") dated as of October 29, 1997, between the Company and The First
National Bank of Chicago  (hereinafter  referred to as the "Trustee") as amended
by the First  Supplemental  Indenture  dated as of November 21, 1997,  copies of
each of which have been filed as an exhibit  to the  Registration  Statement  of
which this  Prospectus  constitutes  a part.  The  following  summary of certain
provisions of the  Indenture  does not purport to be complete and is subject to,
and is  qualified in its entirety by  reference  to, all the  provisions  of the
Indenture,  including the  definitions  of certain terms therein and those terms
made a part thereof by the Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939,  as amended.  Wherever
particular  defined  terms of the  Indenture are referred to, such defined terms
shall be  incorporated  herein by reference.  A summary of certain defined terms
used in the Indenture and referred to in the following  summary  description  of
the Notes is set forth below under "Certain Definitions".  The following summary
of certain  provisions of the Registration  Rights Agreement does not purport to
be complete and is subject to, and  qualified  in its entirety by reference  to,
all of the provisions of the Registration  Rights Agreement which has been filed
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus constitutes
a part.
    

     The terms of the New 8.50% Notes are identical in all material  respects to
the terms of the Old 8.50%  Notes and the  terms of the  8.875%  Debentures  are
identical in all material respects to the terms of the Old 8.875% Debentures, in
each case except for  certain  transfer  restrictions  and  registration  rights
relating  to the Old  Notes  and  except  that,  if the  Exchange  Offer  is not
consummated by April 27, 1998, Holders that have complied with their obligations
under the Registration  Rights  Agreements will be entitled,  subject to certain
exceptions,  to liquidated  damaged in an amount equal to 0.5% per annum held by
such Holder  until July 26, 1998 and  increasing  to an amount equal to 1.0% per
annum thereafter until the consummation of the Exchange Offer.


GENERAL

     The Notes will be general unsecured obligations of the Company subordinated
in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Company. Initially the 8.50% Notes
will be  limited  to $375  million  aggregate  principal  amount  and the 8.875%
Debentures will be limited to $125 million aggregate principal amount.  However,
the Company has the right to issue additional 8.50% Notes and additional  8.875%
Debentures  under  the  Indenture  with  the  same  terms   including,   without
limitation, interest and interest payment rates, as the Notes offered hereby.

     Any such additional  8.50% Notes or 8.875%  Debentures  issued from time to
time by the Company shall  constitute part of the same series as the 8.50% Notes
or 8.875% Debentures, as the case may be, offered hereby.

     Principal of, and premium,  if any, on, the Notes will be payable,  and the
Notes may be exchanged or  transferred,  at the office or agency of the Trustee.
Interest  at the annual rate set forth on the cover page hereof will accrue from
October  29,  1997,  will  be  payable  semi-annually  on May 1 and  November  1
commencing  May 1, 1998, to the Holders  thereof at the close of business on the
preceding April 15 and October 15, respectively,  and, unless other arrangements
are made, will be paid by checks mailed to such Holders.

     The Notes will be issued only in fully  registered form in denominations of
$1,000 and any  multiple of $1,000.  No service  charge shall be payable for any
registration  of  transfer  or  exchange  of Notes,  but the Company may require
payment  of a sum  sufficient  to  cover  any  transfer  tax  or  other  similar
governmental charge payable in connection therewith. 


                                       31
<PAGE>


OPTIONAL REDEMPTION

     The 8.50% Notes will be redeemable, at the Company's option, in whole or in
part, at any time on or after November 1, 2002, and prior to maturity,  upon not
less than 30 nor more than 60 days' prior notice,  at the  following  redemption
prices  (expressed in percentages of principal  amount)  ("Redemption  Prices"),
plus accrued interest to the date of redemption, if redeemed during the 12-month
period commencing on or after November 1 of the years set forth below: 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                 YEAR                               REDEMPTION PRICE
                 ----                               ----------------
<S>              <C>                                    <C>     
                 2002.........................          104.250%
                 2003.........................          102.833%
                 2004.........................          101.417%
</TABLE>
     and, after November 1, 2005, at 100% of the principal amount.

     The 8.875% Debentures will be redeemable, at the Company's option, in whole
or in part,  at any time on or after  November 1, 2004,  and prior to  maturity,
upon not less than 30 nor more than 60 days' prior  notice,  at a price equal to
the sum of (i) par plus accrued interest to the date of redemption plus (ii) the
"Make-Whole Amount" if any.

     The term  "Make-Whole  Amount" shall mean, in connection  with any optional
redemption  of any 8.875%  Debenture,  the excess,  if any, of (i) the aggregate
present  value as of the date of such  redemption  of each  dollar of  principal
being redeemed and the amount of interest  (exclusive of interest accrued to the
date of  redemption)  that would have been  payable in respect of such dollar if
such prepayment had not been made,  determined by  discounting,  on a semiannual
basis,  such principal and interest at the Reinvestment  Rate (determined on the
Business  Day  immediately  preceding  the  date of such  redemption)  from  the
respective dates on which such principal and interest would have been payable if
such prepayment had not been made, over (ii) the aggregate  principal  amount of
the 8.875% Debentures being redeemed.

     The term  "Reinvestment  Rate" shall mean 0.50%  (one-half  of one percent)
plus the arithmetic mean of the yields under the respective headings "This Week"
and "Last Week" published in the Statistical Release under the caption "Treasury
Constant   Maturities"   for  the  maturity   (rounded  to  the  nearest  month)
corresponding  to the maturity of the principal  being  prepaid.  If no maturity
exactly  corresponds to such maturity,  yields for the two published  maturities
most closely  corresponding to such maturity shall be calculated pursuant to the
immediately  preceding  sentence and the Reinvestment Rate shall be interpolated
or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line  basis,  rounding in each of
such relevant  periods to the nearest month.  For the purpose of calculating the
Reinvestment  Rate, the most recent  Statistical  Release published prior to the
date of determination of the Make-Whole Amount shall be used.

     The  term  "Statistical   Release"  shall  mean  the  statistical   release
designated "H.15(519)" or any successor publication which is published weekly by
the Federal Reserve System and which establishes  yields on actively traded U.S.
government  securities  adjusted to constant  maturities or, if such statistical
release is not published at the time of any  determination  under the Indenture,
then such other  reasonably  comparable  index which shall be  designated by the
Company.

   
     In  addition,  prior to  November  1,  2000 in the event  that the  Company
consummates  one or more offerings of its Qualified  Capital Stock,  the Company
may at its option,  use all or a portion of the proceeds  therefrom to redeem up
to 33% of the original aggregate principal amount at maturity of the 8.50% Notes
at a cash redemption price equal to 108.500% of the principal amount thereof and
up to 33% of the original aggregate principal amount of the 8.875% Debentures at
a cash redemption  price equal to 108.875% of the principal  amount thereof,  in
each  case,  plus  accrued  and  unpaid  interest  thereon  through  the date of
repurchase;  provided  that at least  $100  million  of the  original  aggregate
principal amount of the 8.50% Notes and $83.75 million of the original aggregate
principal  amount  of  the  8.875%  Debentures,  as the  case  may  be,  remains
outstanding thereafter.
    


                                       32
<PAGE>


MANDATORY SINKING FUND

     The 8.875%  Debentures  are subject to mandatory  redemption  on a pro rata
basis on each November 1, commencing November 1, 2008, to and including November
1, 2026 (each, a "Mandatory  Sinking Fund Redemption  Date").  On each Mandatory
Sinking Fund Redemption Date, the Company shall redeem 8.875% Debentures with an
aggregate  principal  amount equal to $6.25  million  (subject to  adjustment as
described below, the "Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment Amount"); provided that the
Company's  obligation to redeem 8.875%  Debentures on any Mandatory Sinking Fund
Redemption  Date  shall be  deemed  satisfied  to the  extent  that the  Company
delivers or causes to be delivered to the Trustee for cancellation,  on or prior
to such Mandatory  Sinking Fund  Redemption  Date,  8.875%  Debentures,  if any,
acquired  during the  12-month  period  preceding  such  Mandatory  Sinking Fund
Redemption  Date.  The sinking fund  redemption  price is 100% of the  principal
amount of the 8.875%  Debentures being redeemed,  together with interest accrued
to the Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment Date.

     The Mandatory Sinking Fund Payment Amount shall be subject to adjustment in
the event that on or prior to any  Mandatory  Sinking Fund  Redemption  Date the
Company  delivers or causes to be  delivered  to the  Trustee  for  cancellation
8.875% Debentures with an aggregate  principal amount in excess of the Mandatory
Sinking  Fund Payment  Amount for such next  succeeding  Mandatory  Sinking Fund
Redemption  Date,  in which  case the  Mandatory  Sinking  Fund  Payment  Amount
applicable  to each  Mandatory  Sinking  Fund  Redemption  Date  after  the next
succeeding  Mandatory  Sinking Fund  Redemption Date shall be adjusted to be the
quotient  obtained  by dividing  (i) the  aggregate  principal  amount of 8.875%
Debentures  outstanding  after giving  effect to such  cancellation  by (ii) the
number of remaining  Mandatory  Sinking Fund Redemption Dates including the next
succeeding Mandatory Sinking Fund Redemption Date.


GLOBAL NOTES

     The Notes will be issued in the form of one or more fully registered global
notes (each a "Global Note") deposited with the Depositary or a nominee thereof.
Unless  and until it is  exchanged  in whole or in part for Notes in  definitive
registered  form, a Global Note 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 of the Depositary or a nominee of such successor.

     Ownership  of  beneficial  interests  in a Global  Note will be  limited to
persons that have accounts with the Depositary  ("Participants") or persons that
may hold interests through Participants. Upon the issuance of a Global Note, the
Depositary for such Global Note will credit, on its book-entry  registration and
transfer  system,  the  Participants'  accounts  with the  respective  principal
amounts of the Notes represented by such Global Note beneficially  owned by such
Participants.  Ownership  of  beneficial  interests  in such Global Note will be
shown on, and the  transfer of such  ownership  interests  will only be effected
through,  records  maintained  by the  Depositary  (with respect to interests of
Participants)  and on the records of Participants  (with respect to interests of
persons holding through Participants).  The laws of some states may 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,
transfer, or pledge beneficial interests in Global Notes.

     So long as the Depositary or its nominee is the owner of record of a Global
Note, the Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the
sole  owner or holder  of the  Notes  represented  by such  Global  Note for all
purposes  under the Indenture.  Except as set forth below,  owners of beneficial
interests in a Global Note will not be entitled to have the Notes represented by
such Global Note registered in their names,  and will not receive or be entitled
to receive  physical  delivery of such Notes in definitive  form and will not be
considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture.  Accordingly, each
person owning a beneficial interest in a Global Note must rely on the procedures
of the Depositary and, if such person is not a Participant, on the procedures of
the  Participant  through which such person owns its  interest,  to exercise any
rights of a holder of record under the Indenture.  The Company  understands that
under existing industry practices, if the Company requests any action of holders
or if any owner of a  beneficial  interest in a Global  Note  desires to give or
take any action which 


                                       33
<PAGE>


a holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture,  the Depositary  would
authorize the Participants  holding the relevant beneficial interests to give or
take such action, and such Participants would authorize beneficial owners owning
through such  Participants  to give or take such action or would  otherwise  act
upon the instruction of beneficial owners holding through them.

     Payments  of  principal  of,  premium,   if  any,  and  interest  on  Notes
represented  by a Global Note  registered  in the name of the  Depositary or its
nominee will be made to such Depositary or such nominee,  as the case may be, as
the registered owner of such Global Note. None of the Company,  the Trustee,  or
any agent of the Company or agent of the Trustee will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records  relating to or payments made on account
of  beneficial  ownership  interests  in such  Global  Note or for  maintaining,
supervising,  or reviewing  any records  relating to such  beneficial  ownership
interests.

     The Company  expects  that the  Depositary,  upon receipt of any payment of
principal,  premium,  if any, or interest in respect of such Global  Note,  will
immediately credit Participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate
to their  respective  beneficial  interests  in such Global Note as shown on the
records  of  the   Depositary.   The  Company  also  expects  that  payments  by
Participants to owners of beneficial  interests in such Global Note held through
such  Participants  will be  governed  by  standing  customer  instructions  and
customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of
customers  in  bearer  form or  registered  in  "street  name,"  and will be the
responsibility of such Participants.

     If the Depositary  notifies the Company that it is at any time unwilling or
unable to continue as Depositary or ceases to be eligible under  applicable law,
and a successor Depositary eligible under applicable law is not appointed by the
Company within 90 days, the Company will issue such Notes in definitive  form in
exchange for such Global Note.  In addition,  the Company may at any time and in
its sole discretion determine not to have any of the Notes represented by one or
more Global  Notes and, in such event,  will issue Notes in  definitive  form in
exchange for all of the Global Notes  representing  such Notes. Any Notes issued
in definitive form in exchange for a Global Note will be registered in such name
or names as the Depositary shall instruct the Trustee.  It is expected that such
instructions  will be based upon  directions  received  by the  Depositary  from
Participants  with respect to ownership of  beneficial  interests in such Global
Note.


SAME-DAY SETTLEMENT IN RESPECT OF GLOBAL NOTES

     So long as any Notes are represented by Global Notes registered in the name
of the  Depositary  or its  nominee,  such Notes will trade in the  Depositary's
Same-Day Funds Settlement  System, and secondary market trading activity in such
Notes will  therefore  be required by the  Depositary  to settle in  immediately
available  funds.  No  assurances  can be given  as to the  effect,  if any,  of
settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the Notes.


SUBORDINATION

     The payment of principal of, Change of Control purchase price,  premium, if
any, and  interest on the Notes will,  to the extent and in the manner set forth
in the Indenture,  be  subordinated  in right of payment to the prior payment in
full, in cash equivalents, of all Senior Debt.

     Upon  any  payment  or   distribution  of  assets  to  creditors  upon  any
liquidation, dissolution, winding up, receivership,  reorganization,  assignment
for the  benefit  of  creditors,  marshaling  of assets and  liabilities  or any
bankruptcy, insolvency or similar proceedings of the Company, the holders of all
Senior Debt will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts due
or to become due  thereon  before the  Holders of the Notes will be  entitled to
receive any payment in respect of the principal  of, Change of Control  purchase
price, premium, if any, or interest on the Notes.

     No  payments on account of  principal,  Change of Control  purchase  price,
premium,  if any, or interest in respect of the Notes may be made by the Company
if there shall have  occurred  and be  continuing  a default in any payment with
respect to Senior Debt. In addition,  during the  continuance of any other event
of default (other than a payment default) with respect to Designated Senior Debt
pursuant to which the maturity  thereof may be  accelerated,  from and after the
date of receipt by the Trustee of 


                                       34
<PAGE>


written notice from the holders of such Designated  Senior Debt or from an agent
of such holders, no payments on account of principal, Change of Control purchase
price,  premium,  if any, or interest in respect of the Notes may be made by the
Company  for a period  ("Payment  Blockage  Period")  commencing  on the date of
delivery  of such notice and ending 179 days  thereafter  (unless  such  Payment
Blockage  Period shall be terminated  by written  notice to the Trustee from the
holders of such Designated Senior Debt or from an agent of such holders, or such
event of default  has been  cured or waived or has  ceased to  exist).  Only one
Payment  Blockage  Period may be commenced  with respect to the Notes during any
period  of 360  consecutive  days.  No event of  default  which  existed  or was
continuing on the date of the  commencement of any Payment  Blockage Period with
respect to the Designated  Senior Debt initiating  such Payment  Blockage Period
shall be or be made the basis for the  commencement  of any  subsequent  Payment
Blockage Period by the holders of such Designated Senior Debt, unless such event
of  default  shall  have been  cured or waived  for a period of not less than 90
consecutive days.

     By reason of such  subordination,  in the event of  insolvency,  funds that
would otherwise be payable to Holders will be paid to the holders of Senior Debt
to the extent  necessary to pay the Senior Debt in full,  and the Company may be
unable to meet fully its obligations with respect to the Notes.

     As of September  30, 1997,  on a pro forma basis after giving effect to the
Adjustments,  the Company had approximately $207 million in aggregate  principal
amount of Debt which would have  constituted  Senior Debt.  The Company  expects
from time to time to incur additional Debt  constituting  Senior Debt.  Although
the Indenture  contains  limitations on the amount of Debt which the Company may
incur,  the amount of such Debt could be substantial and, in any case, such Debt
may be Senior Debt. See "-- Covenants -- Limitation on Debt" below.

     In  addition,  the  Company  currently  conducts  substantially  all of its
operations  through  its  Subsidiaries.  The  rights  of  the  Company  and  its
creditors,   including  the  Holders  of  the  Notes,   to  participate  in  the
distribution   of  the  assets  of  any  Subsidiary   upon  any  liquidation  or
reorganization of such Subsidiary or otherwise will be effectively  subordinated
to, and subject to, the prior claims of creditors of such Subsidiary,  except to
the extent  that the  Company may itself be a creditor  with  recognized  claims
against the  Subsidiary.  The ability of the Company to pay principal of, Change
of Control  purchase price,  premium,  if any, and interest on the Notes will be
dependent upon the receipt of funds from its  Subsidiaries  by way of dividends,
fees,  interest,  loans or otherwise.  Most of the Company's  Subsidiaries  with
interests in a Power Supply Business  currently have in place, and the Indenture
will permit the Company's Subsidiaries to enter into, arrangements that restrict
their ability to make  distributions  to the Company by way of dividends,  fees,
interest,  loans and  otherwise.  As of September 30, 1997, on a pro forma basis
after  giving  effect  to  the  Adjustments,   the  Company's  Subsidiaries  had
approximately  $4.0 billion of  indebtedness  to which the Notes would have been
effectively subordinated. The Company expects its Subsidiaries from time to time
to incur additional Debt and the amount of such Debt could be substantial.


REGISTRATION RIGHTS

     Holders  of New Notes are not  entitled  in any  registration  rights  with
respect  to the  New  Notes.  Holders  of Old  Notes  are  entitled  to  certain
registration  rights  pursuant to the  Registration  Rights  Agreement.  AES has
agreed with the  Initial  Purchasers  pursuant to the terms of the  Registration
Rights Agreement, for the benefit of the Holders of the Old Notes, that AES will
use its  reasonable  best  efforts,  to file and  cause to  become  effective  a
registration  statement  (the "Exchange  Offer  Registration  Statement,")  with
respect to a registered offer to exchange the Old Notes for an issue of notes of
AES with terms  identical  to the Old Notes  (except that the New Notes will not
contain terms with respect to transfer  restrictions or the additional  interest
provisions  described below).  Upon such  registration  statement being declared
effective,  AES shall  offer the New Notes in return  for  surrender  of the Old
Notes.  The Exchange  Offer shall remain open for not less than 20 business days
after the date notice of the Exchange  Offer is mailed out to Holders of the Old
Notes. For each Old Note surrendered to AES under the Exchange Offer, the Holder
will receive a New Note of the same series and of equal  principal  amount.  The
Registration  Statement  of which  this  Prospectus  is a part  constitutes  the
Exchange Offer Registration Statement.



                                       35
<PAGE>


     In the event that applicable interpretations of the staff of the Commission
do not permit AES to effect the Exchange  Offer,  AES shall use its best efforts
to cause to become  effective a shelf  registration  statement  with  respect to
resales of the Notes (a "Shelf  Registration  Statement") and to keep such Shelf
Registration  Statement  effective until the earliest of (i) two years after the
Closing Date, (ii) the time when the Notes registered  thereunder can be sold by
non-affiliates  of AES  pursuant to Rule  144(k),  or (iii) such time as all the
Notes  have  been  sold  thereunder,  AES  shall,  in the  event of such a shelf
registration,  provide to each  Holder  copies of the  prospectus,  notify  each
Holder when a registration statement for the Notes has become effective and take
certain other actions as are required to permit resales of the Notes.

     In the event that (i) the Exchange Offer Registration  Statement (or in the
event the Exchange  Offer is not permitted  under  applicable  law or Commission
policy, a Shelf  Registration  Statement) is not filed with the Commission on or
prior to the 90th day  following  the Closing  Date,  (ii) such  Exchange  Offer
Registration  Statement is not declared  effective by the  Commission or a Shelf
Registration Statement is not filed with the Commission on or prior to the 150th
day following  the Closing Date of the Notes or (iii) the Exchange  Offer is not
consummated or a Shelf  Registration  Statement is not declared  effective on or
prior to the 180th day following  the Closing Date (each such event  referred to
in clauses (i)  through  (iii),  a  "Registration  Default"),  then AES will pay
additional  interest (in addition to the interest otherwise due on the Notes) to
each holder of the Notes during the first 90-day  period  immediately  following
the occurrence of each such Registration  Default in an amount equal to 0.5% per
annum  increasing  to an  amount  equal  to  1.0%  per  annum  thereafter.  Such
additional  interest  will cease  accruing  on such Notes when the  Registration
Default has been cured. 


COVENANTS

Limitation on Debt

     The Company will not Incur any Debt,  including  Acquisition  Debt,  unless
after  giving  effect  to the  Incurrence  of  such  Debt  and the  receipt  and
application  of the  proceeds  therefrom,  the Fixed Charge Ratio of the Company
would be  greater  than 2 to 1. The  Company's  obligation  to comply  with this
covenant will terminate if and when the Notes become Investment Grade.

     Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the Company may Incur each and all of the
following:  (i) Debt  under or in  respect of the Bank  Credit  Agreement  in an
aggregate  principal  amount  at any one time  outstanding  not to  exceed  $600
million;  (ii) Debt issued in exchange for, or the proceeds of which are used to
refinance,  outstanding  Notes or other Debt of the Company in an amount (or, if
such new Debt provides for an amount less than the principal  amount  thereof to
be due and payable upon a declaration of acceleration  thereof, with an original
issue price) not to exceed the amount so exchanged or  refinanced  (plus accrued
interest,  premium,  if any, and fees and expenses  related to such  exchange or
refinancing);  provided that (A) the date of any scheduled  payment of principal
by way of sinking fund, mandatory redemption or otherwise (including defeasance)
on any Debt so refinanced or exchanged  otherwise due after the final  scheduled
maturity  date of the Notes  shall not occur  prior to such  maturity  date as a
result of such  exchange or  refinancing  and (B) new Debt the proceeds of which
are used to exchange or refinance the Notes or other Debt of the Company that is
subordinated in right of payment to the Notes shall only be permitted under this
clause (ii) if (x) in case the Notes are exchanged or  refinanced in part,  such
new Debt, by its terms or by the terms of any  agreement or instrument  pursuant
to which such Debt is issued,  is expressly made pari passu with, or subordinate
in  right  of  payment  to,  the  remaining  Notes,  (y) in case  the Debt to be
exchanged or refinanced is subordinated  in right of payment to the Notes,  such
new Debt, by its terms or by the terms of any  agreement or instrument  pursuant
to which such Debt is issued,  is expressly made subordinate in right of payment
to the Notes, at least to the extent that the Debt to be exchanged or refinanced
is  subordinated  in right of payment to the Notes and (z) in case the Notes are
exchanged or  refinanced  in part or the Debt to be exchanged or  refinanced  is
subordinated  in right of payment  to the Notes,  as of the date the new Debt is
Incurred, the Average Life of the new Debt shall be equal to or greater than the
Average Life of the Notes or Debt to be exchanged or  refinanced;  (iii) Debt of
the Company to any of its Consolidated Subsidiaries, except that any transfer of
such Debt by a Consolidated  Subsidiary (other than to another Consolidated Sub-



                                       36
<PAGE>


sidiary) will be deemed to be an Incurrence of Debt;  provided that such Debt is
expressly  subordinated  in right of payment  to the Notes;  and (iv) Debt in an
aggregate   principal  amount  not  to  exceed  $50  million  at  any  one  time
outstanding.

     For  purposes  of  determining  any  particular  amount of Debt  under this
"Limitation on Debt"  covenant,  Guarantees  of, or obligations  with respect to
letters of credit  supporting,  Debt otherwise  included in the determination of
such  particular  amount  shall not be  included.  For  purposes of  determining
compliance  with this  "Limitation on Debt"  covenant,  (A) in the event that an
item of Debt meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Debt  described
in the above clauses,  the Company, in its sole discretion,  shall classify such
item of Debt and only be required to include the amount and type of such Debt in
one of such  clauses  and (B) the amount of Debt  issued at a price that is less
than the principal  amount thereof shall be equal to the amount of the liability
in respect thereof determined in conformity with GAAP.


Limitation on Restricted Subsidiary Debt

     The Company will not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to Incur, directly or
indirectly,  any Debt,  including  Acquisition Debt. The Company's obligation to
comply with this covenant will terminate if and when the Notes become Investment
Grade.

     Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  each and all of the following Debt may be
Incurred by a  Restricted  Subsidiary:  (i) Debt  outstanding  as of the Closing
Date;  (ii) Debt  Incurred for any purpose  (including  without  limitation  the
purposes set forth in clause  (iii)  below) to the extent of the amount  thereof
that is also Debt of the Company and is permitted under the "Limitation on Debt"
covenant  described  above;  (iii) Debt  Incurred  to finance  the  development,
acquisition,  construction,  maintenance,  working  capital  requirements in the
ordinary  course of business  consistent  with past  practice or  operation of a
Power  Supply  Business  or  Unrelated  Business  in which  the  Company  or any
Restricted Subsidiary has a direct or indirect interest;  provided that (a) such
Debt shall be permitted under this clause (iii) only to the extent of the amount
thereof which (x) is  Non-Recourse to the Company and (y) is Non-Recourse to any
other  Restricted  Subsidiary of the Company other than Restricted  Subsidiaries
which  represented less than 33% of the  Consolidated  EBITDA of the Company for
the Reference Period, and (b) upon the commencement of commercial  operations of
such  Power  Supply  Business  or, in the case of an  acquisition  of such Power
Supply Business or Unrelated  Business,  upon the date of such acquisition,  the
Company  directly or through its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  either (x) controls,
under  an  operating  and  management  agreement  or  otherwise,  the day to day
management and operation of the Power Supply  Business or Unrelated  Business so
financed or (y) has  significant  influence over the management and operation of
such Power Supply Business or Unrelated  Business;  (iv) Debt issued in exchange
for, or the proceeds of which are used to  refinance,  outstanding  Debt of such
Restricted  Subsidiary otherwise permitted under the Indenture in an amount (or,
if such new Debt provides for an amount less than the principal  amount  thereof
to be due and  payable  upon a  declaration  of  acceleration  thereof,  with an
original issue price) not to exceed the amount so exchanged or refinanced  (plus
accrued  interest,  premium,  if any,  and fees  and  expenses  related  to such
exchange or refinancing plus any principal amounts previously repaid);  provided
that (a) the new Debt shall be Non-Recourse to the Company to the same extent as
the Debt to be exchanged or refinanced,  (b) if such Restricted Subsidiary has a
direct or indirect interest in any Power Supply Business or Unrelated  Business,
the new Debt shall be  Non-Recourse  to any other  Restricted  Subsidiary of the
Company other than Restricted  Subsidiaries  which  represented less than 33% of
the Consolidated EBITDA of the Company for the Reference Period, (c) the date of
any scheduled payment of principal by way of sinking fund,  mandatory redemption
or  otherwise  (including  defeasance)  on any Debt so  refinanced  or exchanged
otherwise  due after the final  scheduled  maturity  date of the Notes shall not
occur prior to such maturity  date as a result of such  exchange or  refinancing
and (d) if the new Debt refinances principal amounts previously repaid, (x) such
new Debt shall be permitted  only if on the date such new Debt is Incurred,  the
Company  could  incur at least  $1 of Debt  under  the  first  paragraph  of the
"Limitation on Debt" covenant described above and (y) the proceeds from such new
Debt are not to be used to make any Restricted Payments;  (v) Guarantees of Debt
of the Company  under the Bank Credit  Agreement;  (vi) Debt Incurred to support
the  performance  obligations  of a Restricted  Subsidiary  engaged in providing
construction management or operat- 


                                       37
<PAGE>


ing services to a Power Supply  Business;  provided  that (a) such Debt shall be
permitted  under this clause (vi) only to the extent of the amount thereof which
is  Non-Recourse  to the Company  and is  Non-Recourse  to any other  Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company other than Restricted  Subsidiaries  which represented
less  than 33% of the  Consolidated  EBITDA  of the  Company  for the  Reference
Period,  and (b) upon the  commencement  of  commercial  operation of such Power
Supply Business or in the case of an acquisition of such Power Supply  Business,
upon  the  date of  such  acquisition,  the  Company  directly  or  through  its
Restricted  Subsidiaries either (x) controls,  under an operating and management
agreement or otherwise,  the day to day  management  and operation of such Power
Supply  Business  or (y) has  significant  influence  over  the  management  and
operation of such Power Supply  Business;  (vii) Debt in an aggregate amount for
all  Restricted  Subsidiaries  at any one time  outstanding of not more than $50
million  Incurred to finance the on-going  operation,  but not any  expansion or
improvement,  of a Power  Supply  Business or  Unrelated  Business in which such
Restricted Subsidiary has a direct or indirect interest; provided that such Debt
shall be permitted under this clause (vii) only to the extent it is Non-Recourse
to the Company and to any other Restricted  Subsidiary of the Company other than
Restricted  Subsidiaries  which  represented  less than 33% of the  Consolidated
EBITDA of the Company for the Reference  Period;  (viii) Debt of any  Restricted
Subsidiary  of the  Company  owed  to (A)  the  Company  or (B)  any  Restricted
Subsidiary  of the  Company;  (ix) Debt in respect  of  Currency  Agreements  or
Interest  Rate  Agreements;  (x) Debt that is  Non-Recourse  to the  Company and
Non-Recourse  to any other  Restricted  Subsidiary  of the  Company  other  than
Restricted  Subsidiaries  which  represented  less than 33% of the  Consolidated
EBITDA of the  Company  for the  Reference  Period,  only to the extent that the
proceeds of such Debt are  received by the  Company or an  Intermediate  Holding
Company  as a  result  of such  proceeds  being  used to pay  dividends  or make
distributions  on the Capital Stock of such Restricted  Subsidiary and any other
Restricted  Subsidiary  in the chain of  ownership  between  the Company or such
Intermediate  Holding Company and such Restricted  Subsidiary;  (xi) Acquisition
Debt and Debt incurred to finance the  acquisition  of a Power Supply  Business;
provided  that such  Acquisition  Debt and  other  Debt is  Non-Recourse  to the
Company  or  any  Person  that  was  a  Restricted  Subsidiary  of  the  Company
immediately  prior to such Incurrence;  and provided further that where any Debt
is incurred to finance the  acquisition of more than one Power Supply  Business,
all such  acquisitions  shall have occurred  within 180 days of each other;  and
(xii) Debt of the type described in clause (iii) of the  definition  thereof the
Incurrence  of which  causes a  corresponding  reduction  in any debt service or
other similar cash reserve required to be maintained in connection with any Debt
of such Restricted Subsidiary permitted by clause (iii) above and (to the extent
that the same  constitutes a  refinancing  of Debt  permitted  under such clause
(iii)),  clause (iv) above,  in each case,  only to the extent that the proceeds
from such  reserve  reduction  are  received by the  Company or an  Intermediate
Holding Company as a result of such proceeds being used to pay dividends or make
distributions  on the Capital Stock of such Restricted  Subsidiary and any other
Restricted  Subsidiary  in the chain of  ownership  between  the Company or such
Intermediate Holding Company and such Restricted Subsidiary.

     For purposes of determining  compliance with this "Limitation on Restricted
Subsidiary  Debt"  covenant,  (A) in the  event  that an item of Debt  meets the
criteria of more than one of the types of Debt  described in the above  clauses,
the Company,  in its sole discretion,  shall classify such item of Debt and only
be required  to include the amount and type of such Debt in one of such  clauses
and (B) the  amount of Debt  issued at a price  that is less than the  principal
amount thereof shall be equal to the amount of the liability in respect  thereof
determined in conformity with GAAP.


Limitation on Restricted Payments

     The Company will not,  and will not permit any  Restricted  Subsidiary  to,
directly or indirectly,  make any  Restricted  Payment if after giving effect to
such Restricted Payment: (a) an Event of Default or event that, after the giving
of notice or lapse of time or both would become an Event of Default,  shall have
occurred and be continuing,  (b) the Company could not Incur at least $1 of Debt
under the first paragraph of the  "Limitation on Debt" covenant  described above
or  (c)  the  aggregate  amount  expended  by the  Company  and  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  for all  Restricted  Payments (the amount of any single or related
series of Restricted  Payments so expended or  distributed,  if in excess of $15
million and other than in cash,  to be  determined in good faith by the Board of
Directors, as evidenced by a Board 


                                       38
<PAGE>


resolution)  after  April 1, 1997  shall  exceed  the sum of: (1) 50% of the Net
Income of the Company and its Consolidated Subsidiaries for the period (taken as
one accounting  period) beginning on April 1, 1997 and ending on the last day of
the fiscal  quarter for which  financial  information  is available  immediately
prior to the date of such  calculation;  provided  that if Net  Income  for such
period  is less  than  zero,  then  minus  100% of such net  loss;  plus (2) the
aggregate net proceeds  (including  the fair market value of proceeds other than
cash, as  determined in good faith by the Board of Directors,  as evidenced by a
Board resolution if the fair market value of such non-cash proceeds is in excess
of $15  million)  received by (A) the Company  from and after April 1, 1997 from
the  issuance and sale (other than to a  Restricted  Subsidiary)  of its Capital
Stock  (excluding  Redeemable  Stock,  but  including  Capital  Stock other than
Redeemable Stock issued upon conversion of, or in exchange for, Redeemable Stock
or securities other than its Capital Stock), and warrants, options and rights to
purchase its Capital Stock (other than Redeemable  Stock), but excluding the net
proceeds from the issuance,  sale, exchange,  conversion or other disposition of
its Capital Stock convertible  (unless solely at the option of the Company) into
(x) any security other than its Capital Stock or (y) its Redeemable Stock or (B)
a  Finance  Subsidiary  of the  Company  from and  after  April 1, 1997 from the
issuance and sale (other than to the Company or a Restricted  Subsidiary) of its
Qualified  Capital  Stock;  plus (3) to the  extent not  included  in clause (1)
above,  the net reduction in  Investments  of the type specified in clauses (iv)
through (vi) of the definition of Restricted  Payment resulting from payments of
interest on Debt, dividends, repayments of loans or advances, or other transfers
of assets to the Company or other Person that made the original  Investment from
the  Person in which  such  Investment  was made or  resulting  from the sale or
disposition of the Investment or other return of the amount of the Investment or
from  the   redesignation  of  any  Unrestricted   Subsidiary  as  a  Restricted
Subsidiary;  provided that such payment,  for purposes of the  calculation to be
made  pursuant to this clause (3),  shall not exceed the amount of the  original
Investment;  plus (4) any amount previously  included as a Restricted Payment on
account of an obligation by the Company or any  Restricted  Subsidiary to make a
Restricted  Payment  which  has not  actually  been made by the  Company  or any
Restricted  Subsidiary and which is no longer required to be paid by the Company
or any Restricted Subsidiary; plus (5) $502 million; provided that the foregoing
clause (c) shall not prevent the  payment of any  dividend  within 60 days after
the date of its declaration if such dividend could have been made on the date of
its  declaration  without  violation of the  provisions  of this  covenant.  For
purposes of clause  (c)(2) above,  the  aggregate  net proceeds  received by the
Company (x) from the issuance of its Capital  Stock upon the  conversion  of, or
exchange for, securities evidencing Debt of the Company,  shall be calculated on
the  assumption  that the gross  proceeds  from such  issuance  are equal to the
aggregate principal amount (or, if discount Debt, the accreted principal amount)
of the Debt evidenced by such securities converted or exchanged and (y) upon the
conversion or exchange of other  securities of the Company shall be equal to the
aggregate  net proceeds of the original  sale of the  securities so converted or
exchanged if such proceeds of such original sale were not previously included in
any calculation for the purposes of clause (c)(2) above plus any additional sums
payable upon  conversion or exchange.  The  Company's  obligation to comply with
this covenant shall terminate if and when the Notes become Investment Grade. The
amount  available to make  Restricted  Payments  calculated in  accordance  with
clause (c) of the first  sentence of this covenant is the same amount  available
under the equivalent provision  applicable to the Company's  outstanding 10 1/4%
Senior  Subordinated  Notes due 2006 and 8 3/8%  Senior  Subordinated  Notes due
2007.

     If an  Investment  which  the  Company  or  any  Restricted  Subsidiary  is
obligated  to make either in part from time to time or in whole in the future is
fixed in amount by the agreement setting forth such obligation,  for purposes of
determining  whether such Investment is a Restricted Payment permitted under the
foregoing covenant or is a Permitted Payment,  the Investment shall be deemed to
have been made only  once,  in the amount so fixed,  at the time the  obligation
first arises (and not when  payments in respect  thereof are later made).  If an
Investment  which the Company or any Restricted  Subsidiary is obligated to make
either  in part  from  time to time or in whole in the  future  is not  fixed in
amount  by  the  agreement  setting  forth  such  obligation,  for  purposes  of
determining  whether such Investment is a Restricted Payment permitted under the
foregoing covenant or is a Permitted Payment,  the Investment shall be deemed to
have  been  made at the time the  obligation  first  arises  in an  amount to be
determined  in good faith by the Board of  Directors,  as  evidenced  by a Board
resolution, and any actual payments in 


                                       39
<PAGE>


respect of such Investment shall be deemed to be Investments made on the date of
payment  thereof.  Subject  to the  terms of  clause  (v) of the  definition  of
Permitted Payments, such later Investments may be Permitted Payments.

     Restricted  Payments  are  defined in the  Indenture  to exclude  Permitted
Payments which include Permitted Investments. See "Certain Definitions" below.


Limitation on Restricted Subsidiary Investments and Mergers

     The Company will not permit any  Restricted  Subsidiary  with any direct or
indirect  interest in a Power Supply  Business to make any  Investment in, or to
consolidate or merge with,  any other Person with a direct or indirect  interest
in any other Power Supply Business or any Unrelated Business.  In addition,  the
Company will not permit any  Restricted  Subsidiary  with any direct or indirect
interest in any Unrelated  Business to make any Investment in, or to consolidate
or merge with, any other Person with a direct or indirect  interest in any Power
Supply Business or any other  Unrelated  Business.  The Company's  obligation to
comply  with  this  covenant  shall  terminate  if and  when  the  Notes  become
Investment Grade.

     The  foregoing  restrictions  shall not apply to any  Intermediate  Holding
Company;  provided that (i) each such Intermediate  Holding Company's direct and
indirect  interest in any Power Supply  Business or Unrelated  Business shall be
limited to the ownership of Capital Stock or Debt obligations of a Person with a
direct or indirect interest in such Power Supply Business or Unrelated Business;
(ii) no Intermediate  Holding Company shall incur,  assume,  create or suffer to
exist any Debt  (including any Guarantee of Debt) other than Debt to the Company
or Debt  permitted  under clauses (iii),  (viii) and (xi) of the  "Limitation on
Restricted  Subsidiary  Debt" covenant  described above; and (iii) no Lien shall
exist  upon any  assets of such  Intermediate  Holding  Company  whether  now or
hereafter  acquired,  except for Liens upon the  Capital  Stock of a  Restricted
Subsidiary of an Intermediate  Holding Company  securing Debt of such Restricted
Subsidiary and Liens securing Debt permitted under clauses (iii) and (xi) of the
"Limitation on Restricted Subsidiary Debt" covenant described above.


Limitation on Business

     The Company (a) will  continue,  and will cause each Material AES Entity to
continue, to engage in business of the same general type as now conducted by the
Company and its Restricted  Subsidiaries  and (b) will continue,  and will cause
each  Material  AES  Entity to  continue,  to operate  its and their  respective
businesses on a basis  substantially  consistent with the policies and standards
of the Company or such Material AES Entity as in effect on the Closing Date.


Limitations on Dividend and  Other  Payment  Restrictions  Affecting  Restricted
Subsidiaries

     The Company will not,  and will not permit any  Restricted  Subsidiary  to,
create or otherwise cause or suffer to exist or become  effective any consensual
encumbrance  or  restriction  of any  kind  on  the  ability  of any  Restricted
Subsidiary  to (i) pay  dividends or make any other  distributions  permitted by
applicable law on any Capital Stock of such Restricted  Subsidiary  owned by the
Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) make payments in respect of any
Debt owed to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary, (iii) make loans or
advances to the Company or any other Restricted  Subsidiary or (iv) transfer any
of its Property to the Company or any other Restricted Subsidiary. The Company's
obligation  to comply with this  covenant  will  terminate if and when the Notes
become Investment Grade.

     This  covenant  shall  not  restrict  or  prohibit  any   encumbrances   or
restrictions  existing:  (i) in  connection  with  the  Incurrence  of any  Debt
permitted  under clause (iii),  (vi),  (vii),  (x) or (xi) of the "Limitation on
Restricted  Subsidiary  Debt"  covenant  described  above or with respect to any
portion  thereof  that is also  Debt of the  Company  and  permitted  under  the
"Limitation on Debt" covenant  described above;  provided that such encumbrances
or  restrictions  are  required  in order to effect such  financing  and are not
materially more restrictive,  taken as a whole, on the ability of the applicable
Restricted  Subsidiary to make the payments,  distributions,  loans, advances or
transfers  referred to in clauses (i) through  (iv) of the  preceding  paragraph
than encumbrances and restrictions, taken as a whole, customarily accepted (or,




                                       40
<PAGE>

in the absence of any industry custom,  reasonably  acceptable) in substantially
non-recourse  project  financing,  (ii) in  connection  with the  execution  and
delivery of an electric power or thermal energy purchase  contract to which such
Restricted  Subsidiary is the supplying party or other contracts with customers,
suppliers and  contractors  to which such  Restricted  Subsidiary is a party and
where such Restricted  Subsidiary is engaged in the  development,  construction,
acquisition  or  operation  of a  Power  Supply  Business;  provided  that  such
encumbrances or restrictions  are required in order to effect such contracts and
are not materially  more  restrictive,  taken as a whole,  on the ability of the
applicable  Restricted  Subsidiary to make the payments,  distributions,  loans,
advances or transfers  referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) in the  preceding
paragraph than  encumbrances  and  restrictions,  taken as a whole,  customarily
accepted (or, in the absence of any industry custom,  reasonably  acceptable) in
substantially  non-recourse  project  financing,  (iii) in  connection  with the
Incurrence  of any  Debt  permitted  under  clause  (iv) of the  "Limitation  on
Restricted  Subsidiary  Debt"  covenant  described  above,  provided  that  such
encumbrances  or  restrictions   taken  as  a  whole  are  not  materially  more
restrictive on the ability of the applicable  Restricted  Subsidiary to make the
payments, distributions, loans, advances or transfers referred to in clauses (i)
through  (iv) in the  preceding  paragraph  than  those that are then in effect,
taken as a whole, in connection  with the Debt so exchanged or refinanced,  (iv)
in connection with the Bank Credit Agreement and the project financing, electric
power  and  thermal  energy  purchase  arrangements  and  other  contracts  with
customers,  suppliers and  contractors in effect on the Closing Date,  including
extensions,  refinancings,  renewals or  replacements  thereof,  (v) pursuant to
customary  non-assignment  provisions in leases,  (vi) pursuant to  restrictions
imposed pursuant to any stock purchase or asset purchase  agreement  pending the
consummation of the transactions  contemplated thereby, (vii) in connection with
any  Acquisition  Debt,  provided that such  encumbrance or restriction  was not
incurred in contemplation of the obligor becoming a Restricted Subsidiary of the
Company,  which  encumbrance or restriction is not applicable to any Person,  or
the Property or assets of any Person,  other than the Person, or the Property or
assets, acquired, (viii) customary restrictions on transfers of Property subject
to a Lien which could not materially  adversely affect the Company's  ability to
satisfy its  obligations  under the Indenture  and the Notes or (ix)  provisions
contained  in  agreements  or  instruments  relating to Debt which  prohibit the
transfer of all or  substantially  all of the assets of the  obligor  thereunder
unless the  transferee  shall assume the  obligations  of the obligor under such
agreement or instrument, in each case; provided that, in the case of clause (iv)
above,  such  encumbrances  and  restrictions,  taken  as a  whole,  in any such
extensions,  refinancings,  renewals or  replacements  are not  materially  more
restrictive on the ability of the applicable  Restricted  Subsidiary to make the
payments, distributions, loans, advances or transfers referred to in clauses (i)
through (iv) in the preceding  paragraph than those encumbrances or restrictions
taken as a whole in  effect  immediately  before  such  extension,  refinancing,
renewal or replacement. The covenant shall not prevent the Company from granting
any Liens not expressly prohibited by this covenant.


Limitation on Additional Tiers of Senior Subordinated Debt

     The  Company  will not Incur or suffer to exist any Debt,  other  than Debt
evidenced by the Notes,  that is  subordinate  in right of payment to any Senior
Debt unless such Debt, by its terms or the terms of the  instrument  creating or
evidencing  it, is pari passu with, or  subordinate  in right of payment to, the
Notes;  provided  that  any  Debt  of the  Company  or  any  of  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries which is outstanding on the Closing Date shall be excluded from the
operation of this covenant.


Limitation on Asset Dispositions

     The  Company  will not  make,  and will not  permit  any of its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  to  make,  any  Asset  Disposition  unless  the  Company  (or  the
Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be) receives consideration at the time of
each such  Asset  Disposition  at least  equal to the fair  market  value of the
shares or assets sold or  otherwise  disposed of (such  amounts in excess of $50
million  determined in good faith by the Board of  Directors,  as evidenced by a
Board resolution) and either (i) not less than 75% of the consideration received
by the Company  (or such  Restricted  Subsidiary,  as the case may be) is in the
form of cash or property or assets used or useful in a Power Supply  Business or
Capital Stock of a Person primarily engaged in a Power Supply Business, provided
that any note or other obligation re- 


                                       41
<PAGE>


ceived by the Company (or such Restricted  Subsidiary,  as the case may be) that
is  converted  into  cash  within  180 days of such  Asset  Disposition  and any
liabilities  (as shown on the  Company's or such  Restricted  Subsidiary's  most
recent  balance  sheet) of the  Company or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  that are
assumed  by the  transferee  of any such  assets  shall be deemed to be cash for
purposes of this clause (i), and (ii) first, the Net Cash Proceeds of such Asset
Disposition  are applied within 90 days from the later of the date of such Asset
Disposition or the receipt of Net Cash Proceeds related thereto,  to the payment
of the  principal  of,  premium  and  interest on any Senior Debt of the Company
(including to cash collateralize  letters of credit) and, in connection with any
such payment, any related loan commitment, standby facility or the like shall be
permanently  reduced in an amount  equal to the  principal  amount so repaid and
second, to the extent such Net Cash Proceeds are not required by the lenders, or
the terms, of the Senior Debt to be applied in accordance with the foregoing or,
if after being so applied there remain Net Cash Proceeds,  then at the Company's
election,  such Net Cash  Proceeds  are either (x)  invested in the  business or
businesses of the Company or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries consistent with
the  "Limitation  on Business"  covenant  described  above;  provided  that such
investment  is made  within  365 days from the  later of the date of such  Asset
Disposition  or the  receipt  of the Net Cash  Proceeds  related  thereto or (y)
applied  to the  payment  of any  Senior  Debt  of the  Company  or  Debt of any
Restricted  Subsidiary or any Consolidated  Subsidiary  (other than Debt owed to
the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary),  and, in connection with any such
payment,  any related  loan  commitment,  standby  facility or the like shall be
permanently  reduced  in an amount  equal to the  principal  amount  so  repaid;
provided  that such Net Cash  Proceeds are so applied  within three months after
the  expiration  of the  365-day  period  referred to in clause (x) above or (z)
applied to make a tender offer (the "Offer") to purchase Notes and other Debt of
the Company from time to time outstanding with similar provisions  requiring the
Company to make an offer to purchase  or to redeem  such Debt with the  proceeds
from assets sales,  pro rata in proportion to the respective  principal  amounts
(or accreted  values in the case of Debt issued with an original issue discount)
of the Notes and such other Debt then outstanding at a purchase price of 100% of
their  principal  amount (or  accreted  value in the case of Debt issued with an
original issue  discount),  plus accrued  interest  (subject to proration in the
event of  oversubscription  in the manner set forth below).  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, to the extent that any or all of the Net Cash Proceeds of any Foreign
Asset  Disposition are prohibited or delayed by applicable  local law from being
repatriated to the U.S., the Company (or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case
may be) shall not be required to apply the portion of such Net Cash  Proceeds so
affected in  accordance  with clause (ii) above (other than to repay Debt of the
Restricted  Subsidiary  making such Asset  Disposition or Debt of a Consolidated
Subsidiary of the Company, in each case as contemplated by clause (ii) above and
to the extent the prohibition or delay on repatriation is not applicable to such
repayment  and such  repayment  is not in  violation  of the terms of any Senior
Debt) (the Company hereby agreeing to cause the applicable Restricted Subsidiary
to promptly take all actions required by the applicable local law to permit such
repatriation);  provided  that once such  repatriation  of any such affected Net
Cash Proceeds is permitted  under the  applicable  local law, such  repatriation
will be  immediately  effected and such  repatriated  Net Cash  Proceeds will be
applied in the manner set forth in this  covenant.  To the extent that dividends
or  distributions  of any or all of the Net Cash  Proceeds of any Foreign  Asset
Disposition  would  result in a tax  liability  greater than that which would be
incurred if such Net Cash Proceeds were not so  dividended or  distributed,  the
Net Cash  Proceeds so affected  may be  retained  by the  applicable  Restricted
Subsidiary  for so long as such  adverse  tax  liability  would  continue  to be
incurred.

     Notwithstanding  anything in this covenant to the contrary, the Company and
any  Restricted  Subsidiary  may make the following  Asset  Dispositions:  (i) a
disposition  resulting from the bona fide exercise by governmental  authority of
its  claimed  or actual  power of  eminent  domain;  (ii) a  realization  upon a
security  interest;  (iii) any Permitted  Payment or Restricted  Payment that is
permitted  hereunder;  or (iv) any sale,  transfer,  conveyance,  lease or other
disposition of the Capital Stock or Property of a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant
to the terms of any power  sales  agreement  or steam sales  agreement  or other
agreement or contract related to the output or product of, or services  rendered
by, a Power  Supply  Business  as to which  such  Restricted  Subsidiary  is the
supplying  party;  provided  that to the  extent the  Company or any  Restricted
Subsidiary  receives  any cash  consideration  in  connection  with  such  Asset
Disposition,  the Net Cash Proceeds from such Asset Disposition shall be applied
in accordance with clause (ii) of this covenant. 


                                       42
<PAGE>


     If the aggregate  purchase price of Notes and other Debt tendered  pursuant
to an Offer  made  pursuant  to clause  (ii)(z) in the first  paragraph  of this
covenant description is less than the Net Cash Proceeds allotted to the purchase
of the Notes and other Debt, the Company may use the remaining Net Cash Proceeds
for general corporate purposes.  The Company will not be required to comply with
the provisions of clause (ii) in the first paragraph of this covenant if the Net
Cash Proceeds from one or more Asset Dispositions occurring on or after the date
of the  Indenture  are less than $40 million in any one fiscal year.  Any lesser
amounts so carried  forward and cumulated need not be segregated or reserved and
may be used for general corporate purposes.

     The  Company  will make such Offer by mailing to each  Holder of the Notes,
within  30 days  from  the  receipt  of Net  Cash  Proceeds,  a  written  notice
specifying the purchase date, which shall be not less than 30 days nor more than
60 days after the date of such notice (the  "Purchase  Date") and shall  contain
certain  information  concerning  the business of the Company  which the Company
believes  in good faith will enable the Holders of the Notes to make an informed
decision.  Holders  electing to have their Notes  purchased  will be required to
surrender such Notes at least one Business Day prior to the Purchase Date. If at
the  expiration  of the offer  period the  aggregate  principal  amount of Notes
surrendered  by Holders  exceeds the amount  available  to purchase  Notes,  the
Company will select the Notes to be purchased on a pro rata basis.

     In the event the  Company is unable to  purchase  Notes from  Holders in an
Offer  because of  provisions  of  applicable  law, the Company need not make an
Offer.  The  Company  shall then be  obligated  to use the Net Cash  Proceeds in
accordance  with clauses  (ii)(x) or (y) in the first paragraph of this covenant
description.

     The Company will comply with all applicable  tender offer rules,  including
without  limitation  Rule 14e-1 under the Exchange  Act, in  connection  with an
Offer under the provisions of this covenant.


Repurchase of Notes Upon a Change of Control

     Upon a Change of Control,  each Holder of the Notes shall have,  subject to
the provisions of  "Subordination"  above, the right to require that the Company
repurchase  such Holder's  Notes at a repurchase  price in cash equal to 101% of
the principal  amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid  interest,  if any, to the
date of repurchase. Certain of the events constituting a Change of Control under
the Notes will also  constitute  an event of default  under the  Company's  Bank
Credit  Agreement and, in any event,  the right of Holders to receive the Change
of Control  purchase price is subordinated in right of payment to the payment of
all Senior Debt, including Debt outstanding under the Bank Credit Agreement.  As
of  September  30,  1997,  on a pro  forma  basis  after  giving  effect  to the
Adjustments,  the Company had approximately $207 million in aggregate  principal
amount of Debt which would have  constituted  Senior  Debt.  Furthermore,  other
Senior Debt is permitted to be Incurred,  provided  certain  Fixed Charge Ratios
are met.  Due to the highly  leveraged  nature of the  Company,  there can be no
assurance that the Company will have sufficient funds to purchase tendered Notes
upon a Change of Control.

     The Change of Control provisions may not be waived by the Trustee or by the
Board of  Directors,  and any  modification  thereof  must be  approved  by each
Holder.  Nevertheless,  the Change of Control  provisions  will not  necessarily
afford protection to Holders,  including protection against an adverse effect on
the  value of the  Notes,  in the  event  that  the  Company  or its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  Incur  additional  Debt,  whether  through   recapitalizations  or
otherwise.  Furthermore, the Change of Control provisions will not be applicable
in the event of certain  transactions  with  Affiliates  of the Company that are
approved by the Board of Directors.  The Change of Control  provisions  will not
prevent a change in the Board of Directors which is approved by the then-present
members  of the  Board of  Directors.  See  "Certain  Definitions  --  Change of
Control"  below.  With  respect  to  a  sale  of  assets,  the  phrase  "all  or
substantially  all",  which appears in the definition of Change of Control,  has
not gained an established meaning. In interpreting this phrase, courts have made
subjective  determinations,  considering such factors as the value of the assets
conveyed  and the  proportion  of an entity's  income  derived from such assets.
Accordingly,  there may be  uncertainty  as to  whether a Holder  can  determine
whether a Change of Control has occurred  and can  exercise  any  remedies  such
Holder may have upon a Change of Control.



                                       43
<PAGE>


     Within 30 days  following  any Change of Control,  the Company shall mail a
notice to each Holder of the Notes with a copy to the Trustee stating (1) that a
Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require the
Company to repurchase such Holder's Notes at a repurchase price in cash equal to
101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid  interest,  if any,
to the date of repurchase (the "Change of Control Offer"), (2) the circumstances
and relevant facts regarding such Change of Control (including  information with
respect  to pro forma  historical  income,  cash flow and  capitalization  after
giving effect to such Change of Control),  (3) the repurchase  date (which shall
be not  earlier  than 30 days or later than 60 days from the date such notice is
mailed) (the "Repurchase Date"), (4) that any Note not tendered will continue to
accrue  interest,  (5) that any Note accepted for payment pursuant to the Change
of Control Offer shall cease to accrue  interest after the Repurchase  Date, (6)
that Holders  electing to have a Note purchased  pursuant to a Change of Control
Offer will be required to surrender the Note, with the form entitled  "Option of
Holder to Elect  Purchase" on the reverse of the Note  completed,  to the paying
agent at the address  specified  in the notice prior to the close of business on
the  Repurchase  Date,  (7) that  Holders  will be entitled  to  withdraw  their
election if the paying agent  receives,  not later than the close of business on
the third Business Day (or such shorter periods as may be required by applicable
law) preceding the Repurchase Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or
letter setting forth the name of the Holder,  the principal  amount of Notes the
Holder  delivered for purchase,  and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing
his election to have such Notes  purchased,  and (8) that Holders which elect to
have their Notes  purchased only in part will be issued new Notes in a principal
amount equal to the unpurchased portion of the Notes surrendered.

     On the  Repurchase  Date, the Company shall (i) accept for payment Notes or
portions thereof tendered  pursuant to the Change of Control Offer, (ii) deposit
with the Trustee  money  sufficient  to pay the  purchase  price of all Notes or
portions  thereof so tendered and (iii)  deliver or cause to be delivered to the
Trustee Notes so accepted together with an officers' certificate identifying the
Notes or portions  thereof  tendered to the Company.  The Trustee shall promptly
mail to the Holders of the Notes so accepted  payment in an amount  equal to the
purchase price, and promptly authenticate and mail to such Holders a new Note in
a principal amount equal to any unpurchased portion of the Note surrendered. The
Company will publicly  announce the results of the Change of Control Offer on or
as soon as practicable after the Repurchase Date.

     The Company will comply with all applicable  tender offer rules,  including
without  limitation  Rule 14e-1 under the  Exchange  Act, in  connection  with a
Change of Control Offer.


Limitations on Transactions with Affiliates

     The  Company  will  not,  and  will  not  permit  any  of  its   Restricted
Subsidiaries to, directly or indirectly  enter into any transaction  (including,
without  limitation,  the sale, purchase or lease of any assets or properties or
the rendering of any services) involving aggregate consideration in excess of $5
million with any Affiliate  (other than a Person that  constitutes  an Affiliate
solely because of the Company's or a Subsidiary of the Company's control of such
Person except for any  Unrestricted  Subsidiary)  or holder of 5% or more of any
class of  Capital  Stock of the  Company  except  for  transactions  (including,
subject to the "Limitation on Restricted Payments" covenant described above, any
loans or advances by or to, or Guarantee on behalf of, any Affiliate or any such
holder)  made in good  faith the terms of which are fair and  reasonable  to the
Company or such Restricted  Subsidiary,  as the case may be, and are at least as
favorable as the terms which could be obtained by the Company or such Restricted
Subsidiary,  as  the  case  may  be,  in a  comparable  transaction  made  on an
arm's-length basis with Persons who are not such a holder or Affiliate; provided
that any such transaction shall be conclusively  deemed to be on terms which are
fair and reasonable to the Company or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries and on
terms which are at least as favorable as the terms which could be obtained on an
arm's-length  basis with  Persons who are not such a holder or Affiliate if such
transaction  is approved by a majority of the Company's  directors  (including a
majority of the Company's  independent  directors);  and provided further,  that
with respect to the purchase or  disposition  of assets of the Company or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries having a net book value in excess of $15 million, in
addition to  approval of its Board of  Directors,  the  Company  shall  obtain a
written  opinion of an Independent  Financial  Advisor stating that the terms of
such  transaction are fair to the Company or its Restricted  Subsidiary,  as the
case may be, from a 


                                       44
<PAGE>

financial point of view; and provided further that the fairness,  reasonableness
and  arm's-length  nature  of the  terms of any  transaction  which is part of a
series of related  transactions  may be  determined on the basis of the terms of
the series of related  transactions  taken as a whole.  This covenant  shall not
apply  to (a)  transactions  between  the  Company  or  any  of  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries  and  any  employee  of  the  Company  or  any  of  its  Restricted
Subsidiaries that are approved by the Board of Directors or any committee of the
Board of Directors consisting of the Company's  independent  directors,  (b) the
payment of reasonable and customary  regular fees to directors of the Company or
a Restricted Subsidiary,  (c) any transaction between the Company and any of its
Consolidated Subsidiaries or between any of its Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  (d)
any Permitted Payment and any Restricted Payment not otherwise prohibited by the
"Limitation  on  Restricted  Payments"  covenant  described  above  or  (e)  the
provision  of  general  corporate   administrative,   operating  and  management
services, including, without limitation, procurement,  construction engineering,
construction  administration,  legal, accounting,  financial,  money management,
risk management,  personnel,  administration and business planning services,  in
each case, in the ordinary course.


EVENTS OF DEFAULT

     An Event of Default,  as defined in the  Indenture  and  applicable  to the
8.50% Notes or the 8.875% Debentures, will occur with respect to the 8.50% Notes
or the 8.875%  Debentures,  as the case may be, if: (i) the Company  defaults in
the  payment of all or any part of  principal,  the  Change of Control  purchase
price or premium, if any, on any 8.50% Note or 8.875% Debenture, as the case may
be,  when the same  becomes  due and  payable at  maturity,  upon  acceleration,
redemption, mandatory repurchase, or otherwise; (ii) the Company defaults in the
payment of interest on any 8.50% Note or 8.875%  Debenture,  as the case may be,
when the same becomes due and payable,  and such default  continues for a period
of 30 days; (iii) an event of default, as defined in any indenture or instrument
evidencing or under which the Company or any  Significant  Subsidiary has at the
date of this  Indenture or shall  hereafter  have  outstanding  any Debt,  shall
happen and be continuing and either (a) such default results from the failure to
pay the  principal  of such Debt in excess of $50  million at final  maturity of
such Debt or (b) as a result of such  default,  the  maturity of such Debt shall
have been  accelerated so that the same shall be or become due and payable prior
to the date on which the same would  otherwise have become due and payable,  and
such  acceleration  shall not be  rescinded  or annulled  within 60 days and the
principal  amount of such Debt,  together with the principal amount of any other
Debt of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in default, or the maturity of
which has been accelerated,  aggregates $50 million or more;  provided that such
default  shall not be an Event of Default if such Debt is Debt of a  Significant
Subsidiary, is Non-Recourse to the Company in respect of the amounts not paid or
due upon  acceleration  and the Company could, at the time of default,  incur at
least $1 of Debt under the "Limitation on Debt" covenant  described  above;  and
provided,  further however,  that,  subject to certain  provisions,  the Trustee
shall not be charged with  knowledge of any such default  unless  written notice
thereof shall have been given to the Trustee by the Company, by the holder or an
agent of the holder of any such  Debt,  by the  trustee  then  acting  under any
indenture or other instrument  under which such default shall have occurred,  or
by the  Holders of not less than 25% in the  aggregate  principal  amount of the
Notes at the time  outstanding;  (iv) the Company defaults in the performance of
or breaches any other covenant or agreement of the Company in the Indenture with
respect to the Notes or under the Notes and such default or breach continues for
a period of 60  consecutive  days after written  notice by the Trustee or by the
Holders of 25% or more in aggregate  principal  amount of the Notes;  (v) one or
more  judgments or orders shall be entered by a court against the Company or any
Significant Subsidiary for the payment of money in an amount which, individually
or in the aggregate exceeds $50 million (excluding the amount thereof covered by
insurance  or by a bond written by third  parties but treating any  deductibles,
self insurance or retentions as not so covered by insurance) and which judgments
or orders shall not be discharged or waived,  and shall remain  outstanding  and
there  shall  be any  period  of 60  consecutive  days  following  entry of such
judgment or order in excess of $50 million or the judgment or order which causes
the aggregate amount to exceed $50 million during which a stay of enforcement of
such judgment or order, by reason of a pending appeal or otherwise, shall not be
in  effect;  provided,  that such a judgment  or order  shall not be an Event of
Default if such judgment or order is against a Significant  Subsidiary  and does
not require any payment by the Company and the Company could,  at the expiration
of the 


                                       45
<PAGE>


applicable  60 day period,  incur at least $1 of Debt under the  "Limitation  on
Debt" covenant described above; (vi) a court having jurisdiction in the premises
enters a decree or order for (A) relief in respect of the  Company or any of its
Material  Subsidiaries in an involuntary  case under any applicable  bankruptcy,
insolvency,  or other similar law now or hereafter in effect, (B) appointment of
a receiver,  liquidator,  assignee, custodian, trustee, sequestrator, or similar
official  of the  Company  or any of its  Material  Subsidiaries  or for  all or
substantially  all of the  property  and  assets  of the  Company  or any of its
Material Subsidiaries or (C) the winding up or liquidation of the affairs of the
Company or any of its Material  Subsidiaries  and, in each case,  such decree or
order shall remain  unstayed and in effect for a period of 60 consecutive  days;
or (vii)  the  Company  or any of its  Material  Subsidiaries  (A)  commences  a
voluntary case under any applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, or other similar law
now or hereafter  in effect,  or consents to the entry of an order for relief in
an  involuntary  case under any such law, (B) consents to the  appointment of or
taking  possession  by a receiver,  liquidator,  assignee,  custodian,  trustee,
sequestrator,  or  similar  official  of the  Company  or  any  of its  Material
Subsidiaries or for all or  substantially  all of the property and assets of the
Company  or  any  of its  Material  Subsidiaries  or  (C)  effects  any  general
assignment for the benefit of creditors.

     If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in clauses
(vi) or (vii) above that occurs with respect to the Company) occurs with respect
to the Notes and is continuing under the Indenture,  then, and in each and every
such case either the  Trustee or the  Holders of not less than 25% in  aggregate
principal  amount of the Notes then  outstanding (or, in the case of an Event of
Default specified in clauses (i) or (ii) above, the Holders of not less than 25%
in the  aggregate  amount of the series so  affected)  by written  notice to the
Company  (and to the  Trustee  if such  notice  is  given  by the  Holders  (the
"Acceleration  Notice")),  may,  and the Trustee at the request of such  Holders
shall,  declare the principal of, premium,  if any, and accrued  interest on the
Notes to be immediately  due and payable.  Upon a declaration  of  acceleration,
such principal of, and accrued interest shall be immediately due and payable. If
an Event of Default specified in clauses (vi) or (vii) above occurs with respect
to the  Company,  the  principal  of,  and  accrued  interest  on the Notes then
outstanding shall ipso facto become and be immediately due and payable,  subject
to the prior  payment in full of all Senior  Debt,  without any  declaration  or
other act on the part of the  Trustee or any  Holder.  The Holders of at least a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding  Notes may, by written notice to
the Company and to the  Trustee,  waive all past  defaults  with  respect to the
Notes and rescind and annul a declaration  of  acceleration  with respect to the
Notes and its  consequences if (i) all existing Events of Default  applicable to
the Notes,  other than the  nonpayment  of the  principal  of, Change in Control
purchase  price or premium,  if any,  and interest on the Notes that have become
due solely by such  declaration of  acceleration,  have been cured or waived and
(ii) the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree of a court of
competent jurisdiction.

     The Holders of at least a majority  in  aggregate  principal  amount of the
outstanding  Notes may  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.  However,  the Trustee may refuse to follow any
direction that conflicts with law or the Indenture, that may involve the Trustee
in  personal  liability,  or that the  Trustee  determines  in good faith may be
unduly  prejudicial  to the rights of  Holders  of the Notes not  joining in the
giving of such  direction  and may take any other action it deems proper that is
not inconsistent  with any such direction  received from Holders of the Notes. A
Holder  may not pursue any remedy  with  respect to the  Indenture  or the Notes
unless: (i) the Holder gives the Trustee written notice of a continuing Event of
Default;  (ii) the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate  principal amount of the
outstanding  Notes make a written  request to the  Trustee to pursue the remedy;
(iii) such  Holder or Holders  offer and,  if  requested,  provide  the  Trustee
indemnity  satisfactory to the Trustee against any costs,  liability or expense;
(iv) the Trustee does not comply with the request  within 60 days after  receipt
of the request and the offer of  indemnity;  and (v) during such 60-day  period,
the  Holders  of at  least a  majority  in  aggregate  principal  amount  of the
outstanding  Notes do not give the Trustee a direction that is inconsistent with
the request. However, such limitations do not apply to the right of any Notes to
receive payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on, such Notes
or to bring suit for the  enforcement  of any such payment,  on or after the due
date  expressed  in the Notes,  which  right  shall not be  impaired or affected
without the consent of the Holder. 


                                       46
<PAGE>


     The Indenture will require certain  officers of the Company to certify,  on
or before a date not more than four months  after the end of each  fiscal  year,
that to the best of such officers' knowledge,  the Company has fulfilled all its
obligations  under the  Indenture.  The Company will also be obligated to notify
the Trustee of any default or defaults in the  performance  of any  covenants or
agreements under the Indenture.

MODIFICATION AND WAIVER

     The  Indenture  provides  that the  Company  and the  Trustee  may amend or
supplement  the Indenture or the Notes  without  notice to or the consent of any
Holder:  (i) to cure any ambiguity,  defect,  or inconsistency in the Indenture;
provided that such  amendments  or  supplements  shall not adversely  affect the
interests of the Holders in any material respect;  (ii) to comply with the terms
in "Restriction on Mergers, Consolidations and Sales of Assets" described below;
(iii) to comply with any  requirements  of the Commission in connection with the
qualification  of the  Indenture  under  the  Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939,  as
amended;  (iv) to evidence and provide for the  acceptance of  appointment  with
respect to the Notes of a successor  Trustee;  (v) to provide for uncertificated
Notes and to make all appropriate changes for such purpose; and (vi) to make any
change that does not materially and adversely affect the rights of any Holder.

     The  Indenture  also  provides  that  modifications  and  amendments of the
Indenture  may be made by the Company  and the  Trustee  with the consent of the
Holders  of not less  than a  majority  in  aggregate  principal  amount  of the
outstanding  Notes;  provided,  however,  that no such modification or amendment
may, without the consent of each Holder affected thereby,  (i) change the stated
maturity of the principal of, or any  installment of interest on, any Note, (ii)
reduce the  principal  amount of, or premium,  if any, or interest on, any Note,
(iii) reduce the  above-stated  percentage of  outstanding  Notes the consent of
whose Holders is necessary to modify or amend the Indenture  with respect to the
Notes,  or  (iv)  reduce  the  percentage  or  aggregate   principal  amount  of
outstanding  Notes the  consent  of whose  Holders  is  necessary  for waiver of
compliance  with certain  provisions  of the  Indenture or for waiver of certain
defaults.  It shall not be  necessary  for the consent of the Holders to approve
the  particular  form of any proposed  amendment,  supplement or waiver,  but it
shall be sufficient if such consent  approves the  substance  thereof.  After an
amendment,  supplement,  or waiver becomes effective,  the Company shall give to
the  Holders  affected  thereby  a  notice  briefly  describing  the  amendment,
supplement,  or waiver. The Company will mail supplemental indentures to Holders
upon  request.  Any  failure of the Company to mail such  notice,  or any defect
therein,  shall not,  however,  in any way impair or affect the  validity of any
such supplemental indenture or waiver.

RESTRICTION ON MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS AND SALES OF ASSETS

     The Company may not consolidate  with,  merge with or into, or transfer all
or substantially  all of its assets (as an entirety or substantially an entirety
in one transaction or a series of related  transactions),  to any Person unless:
(i) the Company shall be the continuing Person, or the Person (if other than the
Company) formed by such  consolidation or into which the Company is merged or to
which  properties and assets of the Company are  transferred  shall be a solvent
corporation  organized  and existing  under the laws of the United States or any
State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall expressly  assume in writing
all the  obligations  of the  Company  under the Notes and the  Indenture;  (ii)
immediately after giving effect to such transaction no Event of Default or event
or condition  which  through the giving of notice of lapse of time or both would
become an Event of Default  shall have  occurred  and be  continuing;  and (iii)
immediately  after giving effect to such  transaction on a pro forma basis,  the
Company or the surviving entity would be able to incur at least $1 of Debt under
the first  paragraph  of the  "Limitation  on Debt"  covenant  described  above.
Notwithstanding the foregoing,  clause (iii) of the preceding sentence shall not
prohibit a transaction, the principal purpose of which is (as determined in good
faith by the Board of Directors as  evidenced by a Board  resolution)  to change
the state of incorporation of the Company, and such transaction does not have as
one of its purposes  the evasion of the  limitations  imposed by this  covenant.



                                       47
<PAGE>

DEFEASANCE

Defeasance and Discharge

     The  Indenture  provides  that the Company shall be deemed to have paid and
shall be discharged  from any and all obligations in respect of the Notes of any
series,  on the 123rd day after the deposit referred to below has been made, and
the provisions of the Indenture shall no longer be in effect with respect to the
Notes of such series (except for, among other  matters,  certain  obligations to
register  the transfer or exchange of the Notes,  to replace  stolen,  lost,  or
mutilated Notes, to maintain paying agencies,  and to hold monies for payment in
trust) if, among other things,  (A) the Company has  irrevocably  deposited with
the Trustee, in trust, money and/or U.S. government obligations that through the
payment of interest and principal in respect  thereof,  in accordance with their
terms  will  provide  money in an amount  sufficient  to pay the  principal  of,
premium,  if any, and accrued interest on the Notes of such series on the Stated
Maturity  thereof  or  earlier  redemption   (irrevocably   provided  for  under
arrangements  satisfactory  to the  Trustee),  as the case may be, in accordance
with the terms of the  Indenture  and the Notes of such series,  (B) the Company
has  delivered to the Trustee (i) either (x) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
that holders of the Notes of such series will not  recognize  income,  gain,  or
loss for federal  income tax purposes as a result of the  Company's  exercise of
its option  under  this  "Defeasance"  provision  and will be subject to federal
income tax on the same  amount  and in the same  manner and at the same times as
would have been the case if such  deposit,  defeasance,  and  discharge  had not
occurred, which Opinion of Counsel must be based upon (and accompanied by a copy
of) a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service to the same effect unless there has
been a  change  in  applicable  federal  income  tax law  after  the date of the
Indenture such that a ruling is no longer  required or (y) a ruling  directed to
the Trustee received from the Internal Revenue Service to the same effect as the
aforementioned  Opinion of Counsel  and (ii) an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
that the  creation  of the  defeasance  trust does not  violate  the  Investment
Company Act of 1940 and after the passage of 123 days following the deposit, the
trust fund will not be subject to the effect of section 547 of the United States
Bankruptcy  Code or section  15 of the New York  Debtor and  Creditor  Law,  (C)
immediately  after giving effect to such deposit on a pro forma basis,  no Event
of  Default,  or event  that after the giving of notice or lapse of time or both
would become an Event of Default,  shall have occurred and be continuing  (other
than a Default or Event of Default  resulting  from the borrowing of funds to be
applied to such deposit) on the date of such deposit or during the period ending
on the  123rd day after the date of such  deposit,  and such  deposit  shall not
result in a breach or violation  of, or  constitute a default  under,  any other
agreement or  instrument to which the Company is a party or by which the Company
is bound,  (D) the Company is not prohibited  from making payments in respect of
the  Notes of such  series  by the  subordination  provisions  contained  in the
Indenture  and (E) if at such  time the  Notes of such  series  are  listed on a
national  securities  exchange,  the  Company  has  delivered  to the Trustee an
Opinion  of  Counsel to the  effect  that the Notes of such  series  will not be
delisted as a result of such deposit, defeasance, and discharge.


Defeasance of Certain Covenants and Certain Events of Default

     The Indenture further provides that the provisions of the Indenture will no
longer be in effect with respect to the covenants  described in this  Prospectus
under "Covenants" and clause (iv) under "Events of Default" with respect to such
covenants and clauses  (iii) and (v) under  "Events of Default"  shall be deemed
not to be Events of Default with respect to the Notes of any series, upon, among
other  things,  the deposit  with the  Trustee,  in trust,  of money and/or U.S.
government  obligations through the payment of interest and principal in respect
thereof  in  accordance  with  their  terms  will  provide  money  in an  amount
sufficient to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and accrued interest on the
Notes of such  series,  on the Stated  Maturity  thereof  or earlier  redemption
(irrevocably provided for under agreements  satisfactory to the Trustee), as the
case may be, in accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Notes of such
series,  the satisfaction of the provisions  described in clauses (B)(ii),  (C),
(D), and (E) of the  preceding  paragraph and the delivery by the Company to the
Trustee of an Opinion of Counsel to the effect  that,  among other  things,  the
holders of the Notes of such series will not recognize income, 


                                       48
<PAGE>

gain,  or loss for federal  income tax  purposes as a result of such deposit and
defeasance of the covenants and Events of Default and will be subject to federal
income tax on the same  amount  and in the same  manner and at the same times as
would have been the case if such deposit and defeasance had not occurred.


Defeasance and Certain Other Events of Default

     If the  Company  exercises  its  option  to omit  compliance  with  certain
covenants  and  provisions  of the  Indenture  with  respect to the Notes of any
series as described in the immediately preceding paragraph and the Notes of such
series are declared  due and payable  because of the  occurrence  of an Event of
Default that  remains  applicable,  the amount of money  and/or U.S.  Government
Obligations on deposit with the Trustee will be sufficient to pay amounts due on
the Notes of such series at the time of their  Stated  Maturity,  but may not be
sufficient  to pay  amounts  due on the Notes of such  series at the time of the
acceleration  resulting from such Event of Default.  However,  the Company shall
remain liable for such payments.


CERTAIN DEFINITIONS

     "Acquisition  Debt" is defined to mean Debt of any Person  existing  at the
time such Person  became a Restricted  Subsidiary of the Company (or such Person
is merged into the Company or one of its Restricted  Subsidiaries) or assumed in
connection  with the  acquisition  of assets  from any such  Person  (other than
assets acquired in the ordinary course of business),  including Debt Incurred in
connection  with,  or in  contemplation  of, such Person  becoming a  Restricted
Subsidiary  of  the  Company  (but  excluding  Debt  of  such  Person  which  is
extinguished,  retired  or repaid in  connection  with such  Person  becoming  a
Restricted Subsidiary of the Company).

     "Adjusted  Consolidated Net Income" is defined to mean, for any period, for
any  Person  the  aggregate  Net  Income  (or  loss)  of  such  Person  and  its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries  for such period  determined in conformity  with GAAP
plus the Net  Income  of any  Restricted  Subsidiary  of such  Person  for prior
periods to the extent  such Net Income is  actually  paid in cash to such Person
during such period  plus the Net Income of any Person  (other than a  Restricted
Subsidiary)  in which such  Person has a joint  interest  with a third party for
prior  periods to the extent  such Net Income is  actually  paid in cash to such
Person during such period;  provided that the following  items shall be excluded
in computing Adjusted Consolidated Net Income (without duplication): (i) the Net
Income (or loss) of any Person  (other than a  Restricted  Subsidiary)  in which
such Person has a joint  interest with a third party,  except to the extent such
Net Income is actually  paid in cash to such Person  during  such  period;  (ii)
solely for the purposes of  calculating  the amount of Restricted  Payments that
may be  made  pursuant  to  clauses  (c)(1)  or  (c)(2)  of the  "Limitation  on
Restricted  Payments"  covenant described above (and in such case, except to the
extent includible pursuant to clause (i) above), the Net Income (if positive) of
such Person accrued prior to the date it becomes a Restricted  Subsidiary of any
other Person or is merged into or consolidated  with such other Person or any of
its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  or all or  substantially  all of the property and
assets of such Person are acquired by such other Person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries;  (iii) the Net Income (or loss) of any  Restricted  Subsidiary  of
such Person, except to the extent such Net Income (if positive) is actually paid
in cash to such  Person  during  such  period;  (iv) any gains or losses  (on an
after-tax  basis)  attributable to Asset Sales;  (v) the cumulative  effect of a
change  in  accounting  principle;  and  (vi) any  amounts  paid or  accrued  as
dividends on Preferred Stock of such Person or Preferred Stock of any Restricted
Subsidiary of such Person.

     "AES Hawaii" is defined to mean AES Hawaii Management Co., Inc., a Delaware
corporation and a Subsidiary of the Company, and its successors.

     "AES  Oklahoma" is defined to mean AES  Oklahoma  Management  Co.,  Inc., a
Delaware corporation and a Subsidiary of the Company, and its successors.

     "Affiliate" is defined to mean, as applied to any Person,  any other Person
directly or indirectly  controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect
common control with such Person. For the purposes of this definition,  "control"
(including, with correlative meanings, the terms "controlling", 


                                       49
<PAGE>


"controlled  by" and "under common  control with") when used with respect to any
Person is defined to mean the possession,  directly or indirectly,  of the power
to direct or cause the direction of the  management and policies of such Person,
whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise.

     "Asset  Acquisition" is defined to mean (i) an investment by the Company or
any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries  in any other Person  pursuant to which such
Person  shall  become  a  Restricted  Subsidiary  of the  Company  or any of its
Restricted Subsidiaries or shall be merged into or consolidated with the Company
or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries  or (ii) an acquisition by the Company or
any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries of the Property of any Person other than the
Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries that constitutes substantially all
of an operating unit or business of such Person.

     "Asset  Disposition"  is defined to mean,  with respect to any Person,  any
sale,  transfer,  conveyance,  lease or other  disposition  (including by way of
merger, consolidation or sale-leaseback) by such Person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries  to any  Person  (other  than  to  such  Person  or a  Consolidated
Subsidiary of such Person and other than in the ordinary  course of business) of
(i) any assets  (excluding  cash and cash  equivalents) of such Person or any of
its Restricted Subsidiaries or (ii) any shares of Capital Stock of such Person's
Restricted  Subsidiaries.  For purposes of this  definition,  any disposition in
connection with directors' qualifying shares or investments by foreign nationals
mandated  by  applicable  law  shall not  constitute  an Asset  Disposition.  In
addition,  the term "Asset  Disposition"  shall not include any sale,  transfer,
conveyance, lease or other disposition of assets governed by the "Restriction on
Mergers,  Consolidations and Sales of Assets" covenant described above. The term
"Asset  Disposition"  also shall not include (i) any sale of shares of Preferred
Stock of a Restricted  Subsidiary,  (ii) the grant of a security interest by any
Person in any assets or shares of Capital  Stock  securing  a  borrowing  by, or
contractual  performance obligation of, such Person or any Restricted Subsidiary
of such Person, (iii) a sale-leaseback  transaction involving  substantially all
of the assets of a Power Supply  Business  where a Restricted  Subsidiary of the
Company  sells  the  Power  Supply  Business  to a Person  in  exchange  for the
assumption by that Person of the Debt  financing  the Power Supply  Business and
the  Restricted  Subsidiary  leases the Power Supply  Business from such Person,
(iv) dispositions of contract rights,  development rights and resource data made
in connection  with the initial  development  of a Power Supply  Business,  made
prior to the commencement of commercial  operation of such Power Supply Business
or (v)  transactions  made in order to enhance the repatriation of cash proceeds
in  connection  with a Foreign  Asset  Disposition  or in order to increase  the
after-tax proceeds thereof available for immediate distribution.

     "Asset  Sale" is  defined  to mean the  sale or  other  disposition  by the
Company or any of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  (other  than to the  Company or
another Restricted Subsidiary of the Company) of (i) all or substantially all of
the Capital  Stock of any  Restricted  Subsidiary  of the Company or (ii) all or
substantially all of the Property that constitutes an operating unit or business
of the Company or any of its Restricted Subsidiaries.

     "Average  Life" is  defined  to mean,  at any  date of  determination  with
respect to any debt security,  the quotient  obtained by dividing (i) the sum of
the  product of (A) the number of years from such date of  determination  to the
dates of each  successive  scheduled  principal  payment  of such debt  security
multiplied  by (B) the amount of such  principal  payment by (ii) the sum of all
such principal payments.

     "Bank Agent" is defined to mean Morgan  Guaranty Trust Company of New York,
as agent for the Banks pursuant to the Bank Credit Agreement,  and any successor
or successors thereto in such capacity.

     "Bank Credit Agreement" is defined to mean the Credit Agreement dated as of
August 2, 1996 among the Company, the Banks named on the signature pages thereof
and the Bank Agent,  as such  agreement  has been and may be amended,  restated,
supplemented or otherwise modified from time to time, and includes any agreement
extending the maturity of, or restructuring (including,  but not limited to, the
inclusion of additional borrowers thereunder that are Restricted Subsidiaries of
the Company and whose obligations are guaranteed by the Company  thereunder) all
or any portion of, the Debt under such agreement or any successor agreements and
includes  any  agreement  with one or more banks or other  lending  institutions
refinancing all or any portion of the Debt under such agreement or any successor
agreements. 


                                       50
<PAGE>


     "Banks" is defined to mean the lenders who are from time to time parties to
the Bank Credit Agreement.

     "Board of  Directors"  is defined to mean either the Board of  Directors of
the Company or (except for the  purposes of clause  (iii) of the  definition  of
"Change of Control")  any  committee of such Board duly  authorized to act under
the Indenture.

     "Business Day" is defined to mean any day, other than a Saturday or Sunday,
that is neither a legal  holiday  nor a day on which  banking  institutions  are
authorized or required by law or regulation to close in The City of New York.

     "Capital Stock" is defined to mean, with respect to any Person, any and all
shares,  interests,  participations  or other equivalents  (however  designated,
whether  voting or  non-voting)  of, or interests in (however  designated),  the
equity of such  Person  which is  outstanding  or issued on or after the Closing
Date,  including,  without limitation,  all Common Stock and Preferred Stock and
partnership and joint venture interests of such Person.

     "Capitalized Lease" is defined to mean, as applied to any Person, any lease
of any Property of which the discounted  present value of the rental obligations
of such Person as lessee, in conformity with GAAP, is required to be capitalized
on the balance  sheet of such Person;  and  "Capitalized  Lease  Obligation"  is
defined to mean the rental obligations, as aforesaid, under such lease.

     "Change of Control" is defined to mean the occurrence of one or more of the
following  events:  (i) any sale,  lease,  exchange  or other  transfer  (in one
transaction or a series of related  transactions) of all, or substantially  all,
of the  assets of the  Company  to any  Person or group (as that term is used in
Section 13(d)(3) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended) of Persons,
(ii) a Person or group (as so defined) of Persons (other than  management of the
Company on the date of the Indenture or their  Affiliates) shall have become the
beneficial  owner  of more  than  35% of the  outstanding  Voting  Stock  of the
Company,  or (iii) during any one-year period,  individuals who at the beginning
of such period constitute the Board of Directors (together with any new director
whose election or nomination was approved by a majority of the directors then in
office who were either  directors  at the  beginning  of such period or who were
previously  so  approved)  cease  to  constitute  a  majority  of the  Board  of
Directors.

     "Closing  Date"  is  defined  to mean  the  date on  which  the  Notes  are
originally issued under the Indenture.

     "Common Stock" is defined to mean, with respect to any Person,  any and all
shares,  interests,  participations  or other equivalents  (however  designated,
whether  voting  or  non-voting)  of  common  stock  of  such  Person  which  is
outstanding or issued on or after the date of the Indenture,  including, without
limitation, all series and classes of such common stock.

     "Consolidated  EBITDA"  of any Person for any period is defined to mean the
Adjusted  Consolidated Net Income of such Person, plus (without duplication) (i)
income  taxes  (other  than  income  taxes (x)  (either  positive  or  negative)
attributable to extraordinary and  non-recurring  gains or losses or Asset Sales
and  (y)  actually  payable  with  respect  to  such  period)  determined  on  a
consolidated  basis  for  such  Person  and  its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  in
accordance  with GAAP to the extent  payable by such Person,  (ii)  Consolidated
Fixed Charges,  (iii) depreciation and amortization  expense for such period and
prior periods,  all  determined on a consolidated  basis for such Person and its
Consolidated  Subsidiaries  in accordance with GAAP, but only to the extent that
the  positive  cash flow  associated  with such  depreciation  and  amortization
expense is actually  received in cash by such Person during such period and (iv)
all other  non-cash items reducing Net Income for such period and prior periods,
all  determined  on a  consolidated  basis for such Person and its  Consolidated
Subsidiaries  in accordance  with GAAP, but only to the extent that the positive
cash flow  associated  with such non-cash items is actually  received in cash by
such Person during such period, and less (without  duplication) (i) all non-cash
items increasing Net Income of such Person during such period and prior periods,
but only to the extent that  positive  cash flow  associated  with such non-cash
items in not actually  received in cash by such Person  during such period,  and
(ii) the aggregate  amount of any capitalized  expenses  (including  capitalized
interest)  paid by such  Person  during  such  period  which  have the effect of
increasing Net Income for such period. 


                                       51
<PAGE>


     "Consolidated  Fixed  Charges"  of any Person is  defined to mean,  for any
period,  the aggregate of (i) Consolidated  Interest Expense,  (ii) the interest
component of Capitalized  Leases,  determined on a  consolidated  basis for such
Person and its Consolidated  Subsidiaries in accordance with GAAP, excluding any
interest  component  of  Capitalized  Leases in  respect  of that  portion  of a
Capitalized Lease Obligation of a Restricted  Subsidiary that is Non-Recourse to
such Person and (iii) cash and non-cash  dividends due (whether or not declared)
on any Redeemable Stock of such Person.

     "Consolidated  Interest  Expense" of any Person is defined to mean, for any
period,   the  aggregate   interest   expense  in  respect  of  Debt  (including
amortization  of original  issue  discount  and  non-cash  interest  payments or
accruals)  of such Person and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries,  determined  on a
consolidated   basis  in  accordance  with  GAAP,   including  all  commissions,
discounts,  other fees and  charges  owed with  respect to letters of credit and
bankers'  acceptance  financing  and net costs  associated  with  Interest  Rate
Agreements  and any amounts paid during such period in respect of such  interest
expense,  commissions,   discounts,  other  fees  and  charges  that  have  been
capitalized;  provided that  Consolidated  Interest Expense of the Company shall
not include any interest expense  (including all commissions,  discounts,  other
fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers'  acceptance
financing and net costs  associated with Interest Rate Agreements) in respect of
that  portion  of  Debt  of a  Restricted  Subsidiary  of the  Company  that  is
Non-Recourse to the Company;  and provided  further that  Consolidated  Interest
Expense of the  Company in respect of a  Guarantee  by the  Company of Debt of a
Restricted Subsidiary shall be equal to the commissions,  discounts,  other fees
and charges  that would be due with respect to a  hypothetical  letter of credit
issued  under the Bank  Credit  Agreement  that can be drawn by the  beneficiary
thereof  in the  amount  of the Debt so  guaranteed  if (i) the  Company  is not
actually making directly or indirectly  interest  payments on such Debt and (ii)
GAAP does not require the Company on an unconsolidated basis to record such Debt
as a liability of the Company.

     "Consolidated  Subsidiary"  is defined to mean at any date with  respect to
any Person,  any Subsidiary of such Person or other entity the accounts of which
would be consolidated  with those of such Person in its  consolidated  financial
statements  if such  statements  were  prepared  as of such date,  other than an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.

     "Consolidated  Total Assets" is defined to mean, with respect to any Person
at any time, the total assets of such Person and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries
at such time determined in conformity with GAAP.

     "Currency  Agreement" is defined to mean,  with respect to any Person,  any
foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement or
arrangement   designed  to  protect  such  Person  or  any  of  its   Restricted
Subsidiaries  against  fluctuations  in  currency  values to or under which such
Person or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries is a party or a beneficiary on the
Closing Date or becomes a party or a beneficiary thereafter.

     "Debt"  is  defined  to mean,  with  respect  to any  Person at any date of
determination  (without  duplication),  (i) all  indebtedness of such Person for
borrowed  money,  (ii)  all  obligations  of such  Person  evidenced  by  bonds,
debentures,  notes or other similar  instruments,  (iii) all obligations of such
Person in respect of letters of credit or bankers'  acceptance  or other similar
instruments  (or  reimbursement  obligations  with  respect  thereto),  (iv) all
obligations  of such Person to pay the  deferred  purchase  price of property or
services,  except Trade  Payables,  (v) all obligations of such Person as lessee
under Capitalized Leases, (vi) all Debt of others secured by a Lien on any asset
of such  Person,  whether or not such Debt is assumed by such  Person;  provided
that, for purposes of  determining  the amount of any Debt of the type described
in this clause,  if recourse with respect to such Debt is limited to such asset,
the amount of such Debt shall be limited to the lesser of the fair market  value
of such asset or the amount of such Debt, (vii) all Debt of others Guaranteed by
such Person to the extent such Debt is  Guaranteed  by such  Person,  (viii) all
Redeemable  Stock  valued  at  the  greater  of  its  voluntary  or  involuntary
liquidation  preference plus accrued and unpaid dividends and (ix) to the extent
not otherwise included in this definition,  all obligations of such Person under
Currency Agreements and Interest Rate Agreements.

     "Designated  Senior Debt" is defined to mean (i) Debt under the Bank Credit
Agreement  and (ii) Debt  constituting  Senior  Debt  which,  at the time of its
determination, (A) has an aggregate principal 


                                       52
<PAGE>


amount  of at  least  $30  million  and (B) is  specifically  designated  in the
instrument  evidencing  such  Senior  Debt as  "Designated  Senior  Debt" by the
Company.

     "Excess  Cash  Flow"  of any  Person  for any  period  is  defined  to mean
Consolidated  EBITDA  less  Consolidated  Fixed  Charges  less any income  taxes
actually paid by such Person during such period.

     "Finance  Subsidiary" is defined to mean a  Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary of the
Company that does not engage in any activity  other than (i) the holding of Debt
of the Company that both (x) is  subordinated  to the Notes and (y) provides for
no  payments  of  principal  by way of sinking  fund,  mandatory  redemption  or
otherwise prior to the maturity of the 8.50% Notes, (ii) the issuance of Capital
Stock and (iii) any activity necessary, incidental or related to the foregoing.

     "Fixed Charge Ratio" is defined to mean the ratio, on a pro forma basis, of
(i) the aggregate amount of Consolidated  EBITDA of any Person for the Reference
Period  immediately prior to the date of the transaction giving rise to the need
to  calculate  the  Fixed  Charge  Ratio  (the  "Transaction  Date") to (ii) the
aggregate  Consolidated  Fixed  Charges of such  Person  during  such  Reference
Period;  provided  that  for  purposes  of  such  computation,   in  calculating
Consolidated  EBITDA and Consolidated  Fixed Charges,  (1) the Incurrence of the
Debt  giving  rise to the need to  calculate  the  Fixed  Charge  Ratio  and the
application of the proceeds  therefrom  shall be assumed to have occurred on the
first day of the Reference Period,  (2) Asset Sales and Asset Acquisitions which
occur during the Reference  Period or  subsequent  to the  Reference  Period and
prior to the  Transaction  Date (but including any Asset  Acquisition to be made
with the Debt  Incurred  pursuant to clause (1) above)  shall be assumed to have
occurred on the first day of the  Reference  Period,  (3) the  Incurrence of any
Debt during the Reference Period or subsequent to the Reference Period and prior
to the Transaction  Date and the application of the proceeds  therefrom shall be
assumed  to have  occurred  on the  first  day of  such  Reference  Period,  (4)
Consolidated  Interest  Expense  attributable  to any Debt (whether  existing or
being  Incurred)  computed on a pro forma basis and bearing a floating  interest
rate shall be computed as if the rate in effect on the date of  computation  had
been the applicable  rate for the entire period unless such Person or any of its
Restricted  Subsidiaries  is a party to an Interest Rate Agreement  (which shall
remain in effect for the twelve month period after the  Transaction  Date) which
has the effect of fixing the interest rate on the date of computation,  in which
case such rate  (whether  higher or lower)  shall be used and (5) there shall be
excluded from Consolidated  Fixed Charges any Consolidated Fixed Charges related
to any  amount of Debt  which  was  outstanding  during  and  subsequent  to the
Reference  Period but is not  outstanding on the  Transaction  Date,  except for
Consolidated  Fixed Charges actually  incurred with respect to Debt borrowed (as
adjusted  pursuant  to clause  (4)) (x)  under a  revolving  credit  or  similar
arrangement  to the extent the  commitment  thereunder  remains in effect on the
Transaction  Date or (y)  pursuant  to clause (iv) in the  "Limitation  on Debt"
covenant  described  above.  For the purpose of making this  computation,  Asset
Sales and Asset Acquisitions which have been made by any Person which has become
a Restricted  Subsidiary  of the Company or been merged with or into the Company
or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  of the Company  during the  Reference  Period or
subsequent to the Reference  Period and prior to the  Transaction  Date shall be
calculated on a pro forma basis (including all of the  calculations  referred to
in clauses (1) through (5) above assuming such Asset Sales or Asset Acquisitions
occurred on the first day of the Reference Period).

     "Foreign  Asset  Disposition"  is defined to mean any Asset  Disposition in
respect of the Capital Stock and/or Property of any Restricted Subsidiary of any
Person  where such  Restricted  Subsidiary  is  organized  under the laws of any
jurisdiction  other  than  the  U.S.  or any  state  thereof  or any  Restricted
Subsidiary of the type described in Section 936 of the Internal  Revenue Code of
1986, as amended,  to the extent that the proceeds of such Asset Disposition are
received  by a Person  subject in respect of such  proceeds to the tax laws of a
jurisdiction other than the U.S. or any state thereof.

     "GAAP" is defined to mean generally accepted  accounting  principles in the
U.S. as in effect as of the date of the Indenture  applied on a basis consistent
with  the  principles,   methods,  procedures  and  practices  employed  in  the
preparation of the Company's audited financial  statements,  including,  without
limitation, those set forth in the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting
Principles Board of the American  Institute of Certified Public  Accountants and
statements and pronouncements of the Financial  Accounting Standards Board or in
such other  statements  by such other  entity as is  approved  by a  significant
segment of the accounting profession. 


                                       53
<PAGE>


     "Guarantee" is defined to mean any obligation,  contingent or otherwise, of
any Person directly or indirectly  guaranteeing  any Debt or other obligation of
any other Person and,  without  limiting the  generality of the  foregoing,  any
obligation,  direct or indirect,  contingent or otherwise, of such Person (i) to
purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such
Debt or other  obligation  of such other  Person  (whether  arising by virtue of
partnership  arrangements,  or by  agreement to  keepwell,  to purchase  assets,
goods,  securities  or  services,  to  take-or-pay,  or  to  maintain  financial
statement conditions or otherwise) or (ii) entered into for purposes of assuring
in any other manner the obligee of such Debt or other  obligation of the payment
thereof or to protect such obligee  against loss in respect thereof (in whole or
in part);  provided that the term "Guarantee" shall not include endorsements for
collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business.  The term  "Guarantee"
used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

     "Holder", "holder of Securities",  "Securityholder" and other similar terms
mean the registered holder of any Security.

     "Incur" is defined to mean,  with  respect to any Debt,  to incur,  create,
issue,  assume,  Guarantee or otherwise become liable for or with respect to, or
become  responsible for, the payment of,  contingently or otherwise,  such Debt;
provided that neither the accrual of interest  (whether such interest is payable
in cash  or  kind)  nor the  accretion  of  original  issue  discount  shall  be
considered an Incurrence of Debt.

     "Independent  Financial Advisor" is defined to mean a nationally recognized
investment  banking  firm (i) which  does not (and  whose  directors,  officers,
employees and  Affiliates do not) have a direct or indirect  material  financial
interest in the Company  and (ii)  which,  in the sole  judgment of the Board of
Directors,  is otherwise independent and qualified to perform the task for which
such firm is being engaged.

     "Interest Rate  Agreement" is defined to mean,  with respect to any Person,
any interest rate protection agreement, interest rate future agreement, interest
rate  option  agreement,   interest  rate  swap  agreement,  interest  rate  cap
agreement,  interest rate collar  agreement,  interest  rate hedge  agreement or
other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person or any of
its Restricted  Subsidiaries  against fluctuations in interest rates to or under
which  such  Person  or any of  its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  is a  party  or a
beneficiary  on the date of the  Indenture  or becomes a party or a  beneficiary
thereafter.

     "Intermediate Holding Company" is defined to mean any Restricted Subsidiary
of the Company  that serves as a holding  company  for the  Company's  direct or
indirect interests in Power Supply Businesses and Unrelated Businesses.

     "Investment"  in a Person is defined  to mean any  investment  in,  loan or
advance to, Guarantee on behalf of, directly or indirectly, or other transfer of
assets  to  such  Person.  For  purposes  of  the  definition  of  "Unrestricted
Subsidiary"  and the  "Limitation  on Restricted  Payments"  covenant  described
above,  "Investment"  shall include (i) the fair market value of the assets (net
of  liabilities)  of any Restricted  Subsidiary at the time that such Restricted
Subsidiary is designated an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary and shall exclude the fair
market value of the assets (net of liabilities) of any  Unrestricted  Subsidiary
at the time  that  such  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  is  designated  a  Restricted
Subsidiary  and (ii) any  property  transferred  to or from any Person  shall be
valued at its fair market  value at the time of such  transfer,  in each case as
determined by the Board of Directors in good faith.

     "Investment  Grade" is defined to mean,  with  respect to any  security,  a
rating of Baa3 or higher of such  security  by Moody's  Investors  Service  Inc.
together  with a rating of BBB- or higher of such  security by Standard & Poor's
Corporation.

     "Joint  Venture" is defined to mean a joint  venture,  partnership or other
similar  arrangement,  whether in  corporate,  partnership  or other legal form;
provided that, as to any such  arrangement in corporate form,  such  corporation
shall not,  as to any  Person of which  such  corporation  is a  Subsidiary,  be
considered to be a Joint Venture to which such Person is a party.

     "Lien" is defined to mean,  with  respect to any  Property,  any  mortgage,
lien, pledge, charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of
such Property. For purposes of the Indenture, the Company shall be deemed to own
subject to a Lien any  Property  which it has  acquired or holds  subject to the
interest of a vendor or lessor under any  conditional  sale  agreement,  capital
lease or other title retention agreement relating to such Property.



                                       54
<PAGE>


     "Material AES Entity" is defined to mean (i) any Subsidiary Guarantor, (ii)
any of AES  Connecticut  Management  Co.,  Inc.,  AES Thames,  Inc., AES Barbers
Point,  Inc. and AES Shady  Point,  Inc. and (iii) any other Person in which the
Company has a direct or indirect equity Investment if such Person's contribution
to  Consolidated  EBITDA of the  Company  for the four most  recently  completed
fiscal  quarters  of the  Company  constitutes  15% or more of the  Consolidated
EBITDA of the Company for such period,  in each case, other than an Unrestricted
Subsidiary.

     "Material  Subsidiary"  of a Person is defined to mean, as of any date, any
Restricted  Subsidiary that would constitute a "significant  subsidiary"  within
the meaning of Article 1 of Regulation S-X.

     "Net Cash  Proceeds"  from an Asset  Disposition  is  defined  to mean cash
payments  received  (including  any cash  payments  received  by way of deferred
payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment  receivable or otherwise,
but  only as and  when  received  (including  any  cash  received  upon  sale or
disposition  of such note or  receivable),  excluding  any  other  consideration
received  in the form of  assumption  by the  acquiring  Person of Debt or other
obligations  relating to the Property  disposed of in such Asset  Disposition or
received in any other noncash form)  therefrom,  in each case, net of all legal,
title and  recording  tax  expenses,  commissions  and other  fees and  expenses
incurred  (including,  without  limitation,  consent  and  waiver  fees  and any
applicable  premiums,  earn-out or working interest payments or payments in lieu
or in termination  thereof),  and all federal,  state,  provincial,  foreign and
local  taxes  required  to  be  accrued  as a  liability  under  GAAP  (i)  as a
consequence of such Asset Disposition,  (ii) as a result of the repayment of any
Debt in any jurisdiction other than the jurisdiction where the Property disposed
of was  located  or (iii) as a result  of any  repatriation  to the U.S.  of any
proceeds of such Asset Disposition, and in each case net of a reasonable reserve
for the after tax-cost of any  indemnification  payments  (fixed and contingent)
attributable to seller's  indemnities to the purchaser undertaken by the Company
or any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Disposition
(but  excluding any payments,  which by the terms of the  indemnities  will not,
under any  circumstances,  be made during the term of the Notes), and net of all
payments made on any Debt which is secured by such Property,  in accordance with
the terms of any Lien upon or with respect to such Property or which must by its
terms or by  applicable  law be  repaid  out of the  proceeds  from  such  Asset
Disposition,  and net of all  distributions  and other payments made to minority
interest  holders in Restricted  Subsidiaries  or Joint  Ventures as a result of
such Asset Disposition.

     "Net Income" of any Person for any period is defined to mean the net income
(loss) of such  Person for such  period,  determined  in  accordance  with GAAP,
except that  extraordinary and  non-recurring  gains and losses as determined in
accordance with GAAP shall be excluded.

     "Net Worth" of any Person is defined to mean, as of any date, the aggregate
of capital,  surplus and retained earnings (including any cumulative translation
adjustment) of such Person and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries as would be shown
on a consolidated balance sheet of such Person and its Consolidated Subsidiaries
prepared as of such date in accordance with GAAP.

     "Non-Recourse"  to a Person as applied to any Debt (or portion  thereof) is
defined to mean that such Person is not  directly or  indirectly  liable to make
any payments with respect to such Debt (or portion  thereof),  that no Guarantee
of such Debt (or  portion  thereof)  has been made by such  Person and that such
Debt (or portion thereof) is not secured by a Lien on any asset of such Person.

     "Opinion  of  Counsel"  is defined to mean an opinion in writing  signed by
legal  counsel who may be an employee of or counsel to the Company or who may be
other counsel  satisfactory to the Trustee.  Each such opinion shall comply with
Section 314 of the Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939,  as  amended,  and include the
statements provided for in the Indenture, if and to the extent required thereby.

     "Permitted  Investment"  is  defined  to mean  any  Investment  of the type
specified in clauses (iv) or (vi) of the definition of Restricted  Payment which
is made directly or indirectly by the Company and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries;
provided that (i) at the time such  Investment is made,  the Company could Incur
at least $1 of Debt  under  the  first  paragraph  of the  "Limitation  on Debt"
covenant  described above; (ii) at the time such Investment is made, no Event of
Default or event that, after the giving of notice or lapse of time or both would
become an Event of Default, shall have occurred and be continuing; (iii) 


                                       55
<PAGE>


after giving effect to the  Investment,  the aggregate  Investments  made by the
Company and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  in the  applicable  Person and in any
other  Persons that have a direct or indirect  interest in the same Power Supply
Business  or  Unrelated  Business  does not  exceed  40% of the Net Worth of the
Company as of the end of its most recently ended fiscal quarter; (iv) the Person
in which the Investment is made is engaged only in the  businesses  described in
the  "Limitation  on Business"  covenant  described  above;  and (v) the Company
directly or through its Restricted  Subsidiaries  either (x) controls,  under an
operating and management  agreement or otherwise,  the day to day management and
operation  of any Power Supply  Business or Unrelated  Business of the Person in
which  the  Investment  is  made  or (y)  has  significant  influence  over  the
management and operation of any such Power Supply Business or Unrelated Business
in  connection  with  such  management  or  operation.  To the  extent  that  an
Investment is not a Permitted  Investment only because the aggregate  investment
limitation  in clause (iii) above is not  satisfied,  such  Investment  shall be
treated as a Permitted Investment to the extent of the limitation and any excess
Investment  shall be subject to the other  restrictions  of the  "Limitation  on
Restricted Payments" covenant described above.

     "Permitted  Payments" is defined to mean with respect to the Company or any
of its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  (i) any  dividend  on shares of Capital  Stock
payable (or to the extent  paid)  solely in shares of Capital  Stock (other than
Redeemable  Stock) or in options,  warrants or other rights to purchase  Capital
Stock (other than Redeemable Stock) and any distribution of Capital Stock (other
than  Redeemable  Capital  Stock) in  respect  of the  exercise  of any right to
convert  or  exchange  any  instrument  (whether  Debt or equity  and  including
Redeemable  Stock);  (ii) any  dividend  or other  distribution  payable  to the
Company by any of its Restricted  Subsidiaries or by a Restricted  Subsidiary to
another  Restricted  Subsidiary;  (iii) the  repurchase or other  acquisition or
retirement  for  value of any  shares of the  Company's  Capital  Stock,  or any
option, warrant or other right to purchase shares of the Company's Capital Stock
with  additional   shares  of,  or  out  of  the  proceeds  of  a  substantially
contemporaneous  issuance of, Capital Stock other than Redeemable  Stock (unless
the  redemption  provisions of such  Redeemable  Stock  prohibit the  redemption
thereof  prior to the date on which the Capital  Stock to be acquired or retired
was by its terms  required to be  redeemed);  (iv) any  defeasance,  redemption,
repurchase or other  acquisition  for value of any Debt which by its terms ranks
pari  passu  with,  or  subordinate  in right of  payment  to the Notes with the
proceeds  from the  issuance of (x) Debt which is also pari passu with the Notes
or subordinate to the Notes at least to the extent and in the manner as the Debt
to be defeased,  redeemed,  repurchased or otherwise  acquired is subordinate in
right  of  payment  to,  the  Notes;  provided  that  such  new  pari  passu  or
subordinated  Debt provides for no payments of principal by way of sinking fund,
mandatory  redemption  or  otherwise  (including   defeasance)  by  the  Company
(including,  without limitation,  at the option of the holder thereof other than
an option given to a holder  pursuant to a "change of control" or "limitation on
asset sale" covenant which is no more favorable to the holders of such Debt than
the provisions contained in the Debt being replaced or, if none, the "Repurchase
of Notes  Upon a Change  in  Control"  and  "Limitation  on Asset  Dispositions"
covenants  described above) prior to the maturity of Debt being replaced and the
proceeds  of such new pari  passu or  subordinated  Debt are  utilized  for such
purpose  within 45 days of issuance or (y) Capital Stock (other than  Redeemable
Stock);  (v) in respect of any actual payment on account of an Investment  which
is not fixed in amount at the time when made, the amount determined by the Board
of  Directors  to be a  Restricted  Payment  on the  date  such  Investment  was
originally deemed to have been made (the "Original  Restricted  Payment Charge")
plus an amount equal to the interest on a hypothetical investment in a principal
amount equal to the Original  Restricted Payment Charge assuming interest at the
rate of 7% per annum compounded  annually for a period beginning on the date the
Investment  was  originally  deemed to have been made and ending with respect to
any portion of the Original  Restricted Payment Charge actually paid on the date
of actual payment,  less any actual payments  previously made on account of such
Investment;  provided that the Permitted  Payment under this clause (v) shall in
no event exceed the payment  actually made;  (vi) the declaration and payment of
dividends  to holders,  or any payment on account of the  purchase,  redemption,
retirement or acquisition for value, of any class or series of Redeemable Stock;
or (vii) a Permitted Investment.

     "Person" is defined to mean an individual, a corporation, a partnership, an
association, a trust or any other entity or organization, including a government
or political subdivision or an agency or instrumentality thereof.



                                       56
<PAGE>


     "Power  Supply  Business"  is defined to mean an electric  power or thermal
energy generation or cogeneration  facility or related  facilities,  or electric
power transmission, distribution, fuel supply or fuel transportation facilities,
or any  combination  thereof,  all subject to related  security  interests under
related project financing arrangements, together with its or their related power
supply,  thermal  energy  and  fuel  contracts  as  well  as  other  contractual
arrangements with customers, suppliers and contractors.

     "Preferred  Stock" is defined to mean, with respect to any Person,  any and
all shares, interests,  participations or other equivalents (however designated,
whether voting or  non-voting)  of preferred or preference  stock of such Person
which is outstanding or issued on or after the date of the Indenture.

     "Property"  of any Person is  defined to mean all types of real,  personal,
tangible,  intangible  or mixed  property  owned by such  Person  whether or not
included  in the most recent  consolidated  balance  sheet of such Person  under
GAAP.

     "Qualified  Capital Stock" is defined to mean any Capital Stock of a Person
that is not Redeemable Stock.

     "Redeemable  Stock" is defined to mean any class or series of Capital Stock
of any Person  that by its terms or  otherwise  is (i)  required  to be redeemed
prior to the Stated Maturity of the Notes,  (ii) redeemable at the option of the
holder of such class or series of Capital  Stock at any time prior to the Stated
Maturity  of the  8.50%  Notes or (iii)  convertible  into or  exchangeable  for
(unless solely at the option of the Company) Capital Stock referred to in clause
(i) or (ii)  above  or Debt  having a  scheduled  maturity  prior to the  Stated
Maturity of the 8.50%  Notes;  provided  that any  Capital  Stock that would not
constitute  Redeemable  Stock but for provisions  thereof giving holders thereof
the right to require the Company to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon
the  occurrence of an "asset sale" or a "change of control"  occurring  prior to
the Stated Maturity of the Securities  shall not constitute  Redeemable Stock if
the "asset  sale" or "change of control"  provision  applicable  to such Capital
Stock  is no more  favorable  to the  holders  of such  Capital  Stock  than the
provisions  contained in the "Limitation on Asset  Dispositions" and "Repurchase
of Notes upon a Change of Control"  covenants  described above, and such Capital
Stock  specifically  provides that the Company will not repurchase or redeem any
such Capital Stock pursuant to such provisions prior to the Company's repurchase
of Notes  required to be  repurchased  by the Company under the  "Limitation  on
Asset Dispositions" and "Repurchase of Notes upon a Change of Control" covenants
described above.

     "Reference  Period" is defined to mean the four fiscal  quarters  for which
financial  information is available  preceding the date of a transaction  giving
rise to the need to make a financial calculation.

     "Responsible  Officer"  when used with respect to the Trustee is defined to
mean any  officer of the  Trustee  assigned  by the  Trustee to  administer  its
corporate trust matters.

     "Restricted  Payment" is defined to mean,  with respect to any Person,  (i)
any dividend or other distribution on any shares of such Person's Capital Stock;
(ii)  any  payment  on  account  of  the  purchase,  redemption,  retirement  or
acquisition  for value of such Person's  Capital  Stock;  (iii) any  defeasance,
redemption,  repurchase or other  acquisition  or retirement  for value prior to
scheduled maturity of any Debt subordinated in right of payment to the Notes and
having a maturity date after the maturity of the Notes; (iv) any Investment in a
Restricted Subsidiary after the occurrence of an event of default, as defined in
any indenture or instrument evidencing or under which such Restricted Subsidiary
has at the date of the Indenture or shall  thereafter have outstanding any Debt,
shall  happen  and  be  continuing;   (v)  any  Investment  in  an  Unrestricted
Subsidiary;  (vi) any Investment made in an Affiliate  (other than a Person that
constitutes  an  Affiliate  solely  because of the  Company's,  or a  Restricted
Subsidiary of the Company's, control of such Person) and (vii) the conversion of
such  Person's  Capital  Stock  into  Debt  of  such  Person  or its  Restricted
Subsidiaries.  Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  "Restricted  Payment" shall not
include any Permitted Payment.

     "Restricted Subsidiary" is defined to mean any Subsidiary other than an
Unrestricted Subsidiary.

     "Security" or  "Securities"  is defined to mean any Notes or Notes,  as the
case may be, authenticated and delivered under the Indenture.



                                       57
<PAGE>


     "Senior Debt" is defined to mean the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on all Debt of the Company whether created, incurred or assumed before,
on or after the date of the  issuance of the  Securities;  provided  that Senior
Debt shall not include (i) the Company's  101/4% Senior  Subordinated  Notes due
2006,  83/8%  Senior  Subordinated  Notes  due  2007,  8.50%  Notes  and  8.875%
Debentures  which rank pari passu to each series of the Notes,  (ii) Debt of the
Company to any Affiliate,  (iii) Debt that, when incurred and without respect to
any election under Section  1111(b) of Title 11, United States Code, was without
recourse to the Company,  (iv) any other Debt of the Company  which by the terms
of the instrument creating or evidencing the same are specifically designated as
not being  senior in right of payment to the Notes and (v)  Redeemable  Stock of
the Company.

     "Significant  Subsidiary"  of a Person is defined to mean,  as of any date,
any Restricted Subsidiary which has two or more of the following attributes: (i)
it  contributes  20% or more of such  Person's  Excess  Cash  Flow  for its most
recently  completed  fiscal  quarter or (ii) it  contributes  15% or more of Net
Income  before tax of such  Person and its  Consolidated  Subsidiaries  for such
Person's most recently  completed  fiscal quarter or (iii) it constitutes 20% or
more of  Consolidated  Total  Assets of such Person at the end of such  Person's
most recently completed fiscal quarter.

     "Stated  Maturity" is defined to mean, with respect to any debt security or
any installment of interest thereon, the date specified in such debt security as
the  fixed  date on  which  any  principal  of such  debt  security  or any such
installment of interest is due and payable.

     "Subsidiary"  is  defined  to  mean,  with  respect  to  any  Person,   any
corporation  or other  entity of which a majority of the Capital  Stock or other
ownership  interests  having  ordinary  voting  power to elect a majority of the
board of directors or other persons performing similar functions are at the time
directly or indirectly owned by such Person.

     "Subsidiary  Guarantors"  is defined to mean (i) prior to the first day, if
any, on which the Company's long-term debt is rated BBB- or higher by Standard &
Poor's Ratings Group and Baa3 or higher by Moody's Investors Service,  Inc., AES
Oklahoma  and AES  Hawaii,  and (ii) on and after such first  day,  if any,  AES
Hawaii.

     "Trade  Payables"  is defined to mean,  with  respect  to any  Person,  any
accounts  payable or any other  indebtedness  or  monetary  obligation  to trade
creditors created, assumed or Guaranteed by such Person or any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries  arising in the ordinary  course of business in connection with the
acquisition of goods or services.

     "Unrelated  Business"  is  defined  to mean  any  business  not of the same
general type now conducted by the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries.

     "Unrestricted  Subsidiary"  is  defined to mean (i) any  Subsidiary  of the
Company that at the time of  determination  shall be designated an  Unrestricted
Subsidiary by the Board of Directors in the manner  provided  below and (ii) any
Subsidiary of an Unrestricted  Subsidiary.  The Board of Directors may designate
any  Restricted  Subsidiary  (including  any  newly  acquired  or  newly  formed
Subsidiary  of  the  Company)  to  be an  Unrestricted  Subsidiary  unless  such
Subsidiary  owns any Capital Stock of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property
of, the Company or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  that is not a Subsidiary  of the
Subsidiary to be so  designated,  provided that (A) any Guarantee by the Company
or any Restricted  Subsidiary of any Debt of the Subsidiary  being so designated
shall be deemed an  "Incurrence" of such Debt and an "Investment" by the Company
or such  Restricted  Subsidiary  (or both,  if  applicable)  at the time of such
designation;  (B) either (I) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total assets
of $1,000 or less or (II) if such  Subsidiary  has assets  greater  than $1,000,
such  designation  would  be  permitted  under  the  "Limitation  on  Restricted
Payments" covenant described below and (C) if applicable, the Incurrence of Debt
and the Investment  referred to in clause (A) of this proviso would be permitted
under  the  "Limitation  on  Restricted  Subsidiary  Debt"  and  "Limitation  on
Restricted  Payments"  covenants  described  above.  The Board of Directors  may
designate any Unrestricted  Subsidiary to be a Restricted  Subsidiary;  provided
that immediately  after giving effect to such designation (x) all Liens and Debt
of such Unrestricted  Subsidiary outstanding  immediately after such designation
would,  if Incurred at such time,  have been  permitted  to be incurred  for all
purposes of the Indenture and (y) no Default or 


                                       58
<PAGE>


Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing.  Any such designation by
the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with
the Trustee a copy of the Board Resolution giving effect to such designation and
an Officers'  Certificate  certifying  that such  designation  complied with the
foregoing provisions.

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

     "Voting  Stock" is defined to mean,  with  respect to any  Person,  Capital
Stock of any class or kind ordinarily  having the power to vote for the election
of directors of such Person.

     "Wholly-Owned  Subsidiary" is defined to mean,  with respect to any Person,
any  Restricted  Subsidiary  of such  Person if all the  Capital  Stock or other
ownership  interests in such Restricted  Subsidiary having ordinary voting power
to elect  the  entire  board  of  directors  or  entire  group of other  persons
performing  similar  functions (other than any director's  qualifying  shares or
Investments by foreign  nationals  mandated by applicable law) is owned directly
or indirectly by such Person.


UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

     The exchange of Old Notes for New Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer will
not result in any federal  income tax  consequences  to  Holders.  When a Holder
exchanges an Old Note for a New Note pursuant to the Exchange Offer,  the Holder
will have the same adjusted  basis and holding  period in the New Note as in the
Old Note immediately before the exchange. 


                                       59
<PAGE>


                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

     Each  broker-dealer that receives New Notes for its own account pursuant to
the  Exchange  Offer  must  acknowledge  that it will  deliver a  prospectus  in
connection  with any resale of such New  Notes.  This  Prospectus,  as it may be
amended or  supplemented  from time to time, may be used by a  broker-dealer  in
connection  with  resales of New Notes  received in exchange for Old Notes where
such Old Notes were  acquired as a result of  market-making  activities or other
trading  activities.  The  Company has agreed that for a period of 90 days after
the Expiration Date, it will make this  Prospectus,  as amended or supplemented,
available to any such  broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale.
The  Company  will not  receive  any  proceeds  from  any  sale of New  Notes by
broker-dealers.  New Notes  received  by  broker-dealers  for their own  account
pursuant  to the  Exchange  Offer  may be sold  from time to time in one or more
transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through
the  writing  of options on the New Notes or a  combination  of such  methods of
resale,  at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to
such prevailing market prices or negotiated  prices. Any such resale may be made
directly  to  purchasers  or to or through  brokers or dealers  who may  receive
compensation   in  the  form  of  commissions  or  concessions   from  any  such
broker-dealer  and/or the  purchasers of any such New Notes.  Any  broker-dealer
that resells New Notes that were received by it for its own account  pursuant to
the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that  participates in a distribution
of such New Notes may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the
Securities  Act  and  any  profit  on any  such  resale  of New  Notes  and  any
commissions  or  concessions  received  by any such  persons may be deemed to be
underwriting  compensation  under the Securities  Act. The Letter of Transmittal
states  that  by  acknowledging  that  it  will  deliver  and  by  delivering  a
prospectus,  a  broker-dealer  will  not  be  deemed  to  admit  that  it  is an
"underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

     For a period  of 90 days  after  the  Expiration  Date,  the  Company  will
promptly  send  additional  copies  of  this  Prospectus  and any  amendment  or
supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer  that requests such documents
in the Letter of Transmittal.

     The Company has agreed in the  Registration  Rights  Agreement to indemnify
each  broker-dealer  reselling New Notes pursuant to this Prospectus,  and their
officers,  directors and controlling  persons,  against  certain  liabilities in
connection with the offer and sale of the New Notes, including liabilities under
the Securities Act, or to contribute to payments that such broker-dealers may be
required to make in respect thereof.

     The Company does not intend to list the Notes on any  securities  exchange.
The  Company  has been  advised by the Initial  Purchasers  that they  currently
intend  to make a  market  in the  Notes as  permitted  by  applicable  laws and
regulations. The Initial Purchasers are not obligated, however, to make a market
in the Notes and any such  market-making  may be discontinued at any time at the
sole  discretion  of the Initial  Purchasers.  Accordingly,  no assurance can be
given as to the liquidity of, or trading market for, the Notes.


                                 LEGAL MATTERS

     The  legality of the New Notes  offered  hereby will be passed upon for the
Company by Davis Polk & Wardwell, New York, New York.


                                    EXPERTS

     The  financial  statements as of December 31, 1996 and 1995 and for each of
the three years in the period ended December 31, 1996  incorporated by reference
in this Prospectus from the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K, filed November
6, 1997, have been audited by Deloitte & Touche LLP,  independent  auditors,  as
 stated in their report, which is incorporated herein by reference and has  been
so  incorporated  in  reliance  upon the  report of such firm  given  upon their
authority as experts in accounting and auditing.



                                       60
<PAGE>


     The financial  statements of Companhia  Energetica de Minas Gerais -- CEMIG
for the years ended  December  31, 1996 and 1995,  prepared in  accordance  with
accounting principles generally accepted in Brazil, incorporated by reference in
this  Prospectus  from  Item 7 of the  Current  Report  on  Form  8-K of The AES
Corporation filed July 16, 1997, have been audited by Price Waterhouse Auditores
Independentes,  Belo Horizonte,  Brazil,  independent accountants,  as stated in
their  report,  which  is  incorporated  herein  by  reference,  and has been so
incorporated in reliance upon the report of such firm given upon their authority
as experts in accounting and auditing.

     The  financial  statements of Companhia  Centro-Oeste  de  Distribuicao  de
Energia Electrica -- CEEE D2 (formerly Midwest Division of Companhia Estadual de
Energia  Eletrica -- CEEE) as at and for the nine-month  period ended  September
30, 1997,  prepared in  accordance  with  accounting  practices  originating  in
Brazil's Corporation Law, incorporated by reference in this Prospectus from Item
7 of the Current  Report on Form 8-K of The AES  Corporation,  filed  January 9,
1998, have been audited by Ernst & Young  Auditores  Independentes  S.C.,  Porto
Alegre,  Brazil,  independent  accountants,  as stated in their report, which is
incorporated herein by reference,  and has been so incorporated in reliance upon
the report of such firm given upon their  authority as experts in accounting and
auditing. 


                                       61
<PAGE>


[GRAPHIC OMITTED]



<PAGE>

                                     PART II


ITEM 20. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS

     Under the  Company's  By-Laws,  and in  accordance  with Section 145 of the
Delaware General Corporation Law ("GCL"), the Company shall 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 any  action or suit by or in the
right of the  Company to procure a judgment in its favor,  which is  hereinafter
referred to as a "derivative  action") by reason of the fact that such person is
or was a director,  officer or employee of the Company,  or is or was serving in
such  capacity or as an agent at the request of the Company for another  entity,
to the full extent authorized by Delaware law, against expenses (including,  but
not limited to,  attorneys'  fees),  judgments,  fines and amounts  actually and
reasonably incurred in connection with the defense or settlement of such action,
suit or proceeding if such person acted in good faith and in a manner the person
reasonably  believed  to be in or not  opposed  to  the  best  interests  of the
Company,  and,  with  respect  to any  criminal  action  or  proceeding,  had no
reasonable cause to believe was unlawful. Agents of the Company may be similarly
indemnified, at the discretion of the Board of Directors.

     Under  Section 145 of the GCL, a similar  standard of care is applicable in
the case of  derivative  actions,  except that  indemnification  only extends to
expenses (including  attorneys' fees) incurred in connection with the defense or
settlement of such an action and then, where the person is adjudged to be liable
to the  Company,  only if and to the extent  that the Court of  Chancery  of the
State of Delaware or the court in which such action was brought  determines that
such person is fairly and  reasonably  entitled to such  indemnity  and only for
such expenses as the court shall deem proper.

     Pursuant to Company's  By-Laws, a person eligible for  indemnification  may
have the expenses incurred in connection with any matter described above paid in
advance of a final disposition by the Company.  However, such advances will only
be made upon the delivery of an undertaking  by or on behalf of the  indemnified
person to repay all amounts so advanced if it is ultimately determined that such
person is not entitled to indemnification.

     In  addition,  under the  Company's  By-Laws,  the Company may purchase and
maintain  insurance  on behalf of any person who is or was a director,  officer,
employee or agent of the Company or of another corporation against any liability
asserted against and incurred by such person in such capacity, or arising out of
the person's  status as such whether or not the Company  would have the power or
the  obligation  to  indemnify  such person  against  such  liability  under the
provisions of the Company's By-Laws.


ITEM 21. EXHIBITS

   
EXHIBIT                                         DESCRIPTION
- -------                                         -----------
4.1       Indenture dated as of October 29, 1997 between The AES Corporation and
          The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee *
4.1.2     First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 21, 1997 between The
          AES Corporation and The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee *
4.2       Registration  Rights  Agreement dated as of October 29, 1997 among The
          AES Corporation and J.P. Morgan  Securities Inc. and Salomon  Brothers
          Inc. *
5         Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell *
12        Statement  re:  Computation  of ratio  of  earnings  to fixed  charges
          (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  12.1 to  Amendment  No. 1 to
          Registration  Statement No.  333-39857 filed by The AES Corporation on
          November 19, 1997). 
23.1      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP *
23.2      Consent of Price Waterhouse *
23.3      Consent of Ernst & Young *
23.4      Consent of Davis Polk & Wardwell (included in Exhibit 5.)
    


                                      II-1
<PAGE>

   
EXHIBIT                                            DESCRIPTION
- -------                                            ------------
24.1      Power  of  Attorney   (included  as  signature  page  of  Registration
          Statement)
25.1      Statement of  Eligibility  under the Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939, as
          amended, of The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee *
99.1      Form of Letter of Transmittal
99.2      Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
99.3      Form of Letter to Clients
99.4      Form of Letter to Nominees
99.5      Form of Instructions to Registered Holder and/or  Book-Entry  Transfer
          Participant from Owner


- ----------------
*    Previously filed
    

ITEM 22. UNDERTAKINGS

     The  undersigned   registrant  hereby  undertakes  that,  for  purposes  of
determining  any liability  under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's  annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (and, where applicable,  each filing of an employee benefit
plan's annual report pursuant to Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of
1934) that is incorporated by reference in the  registration  statement shall be
deemed to be a new  registration  statement  relating to the securities  offered
therein,  and the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be
the initial bona fide offering thereof.

     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors,  officers and controlling  persons of the
registrant pursuant to the foregoing  provisions,  or otherwise,  the registrant
has been advised that in the opinion of the Securities  and Exchange  Commission
such  indemnification  is against  public policy as expressed in the Act and is,
therefore,  unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities  (other than the payment by the registrant of expenses incurred
or paid by a director,  officer or  controlling  person of the registrant in the
successful  defense of any  action,  suit or  proceeding)  is  asserted  by such
director,  officer or controlling person in connection with the securities being
registered, the registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter
has been  settled by  controlling  precedent,  submit to a court of  appropriate
jurisdiction the question whether such  indemnification  by it is against public
policy as expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of
such issue.

     The  undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes to respond to requests for
information  that is incorporated  by reference into the Prospectus  pursuant to
Items 4, 10(b), 11 or 13 of Form S-4, within one business day of receipt of such
request,  and to send the  incorporated  documents  by first class mail or other
equally prompt means.  This includes  information  contained in documents  filed
subsequent to the effective date of the Registration  Statement through the date
of responding to the request.

     The  undersigned  registrant  hereby  undertakes  to  supply  by means of a
post-effective  amendment  all  information  concerning a  transaction,  and the
company  being  acquired  involved  therein,  that  was not the  subject  of and
included in the registration statement when it became effective.


                                      II-2
<PAGE>


                                   SIGNATURES


   
     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
has duly caused this Amendment No. 1 to the Registration  Statement to be signed
on its behalf by the  undersigned,  thereunto  duly  authorized,  in the City of
Arlington, State of Virginia on February 5, 1998.
    


                                          THE AES CORPORATION



                                          By: /s/ Dennis W. Bakke
                                              ----------------------------------
                                              Dennis W. Bakke
                                              President and Chief Executive
                                              Officer

   
     Pursuant to the  requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
No. 1 to the  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>
   
                *                Chairman of the Board              February 5, 1998
 ---------------------------
          Roger W. Sant

     /s/ DENNIS W. BAKKE         President, Chief Executive         February 5, 1998
 ---------------------------     Officer and Director (Principal
         Dennis W. Bakke         Executive Officer)


               *                 Director                           February 5, 1998
 ---------------------------
         Vicki-Ann Assevero

               *                 Director                           February 5, 1998
 ----------------------------
         Dr. Alice F. Emerson

               *                 Director                           February 5, 1998
 -----------------------------
       Robert F. Hemphill, Jr.

               *                 Director                           February 5, 1998
 ---------------------------
         Frank Jungers

               *                 Director                           February 5, 1998
 ---------------------------
      Dr. Henry R. Linden
</TABLE>
    


                                      II-3
<PAGE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
          SIGNATURE                         TITLE                         DATE
          ---------                         -----                         ----
<S>                              <C>                                <C>
               *                 Director                           February 5, 1998
- ---------------------------
       John H. McArthur

               *                 Director                           February 5, 1998
 ---------------------------
         Hazel O'Leary

               *                 Director                           February 5, 1998
 ---------------------------
     Thomas I. Unterberg

               *                 Director                           February 5, 1998
 ---------------------------
     Robert H. Waterman, Jr.

               *                 Vice President and                 February 5, 1998
 ---------------------------     Chief Financial Officer
          Barry J. Sharp         (Principal Financial and 
                                 Accounting Officer)

* By: /s/ WILLIAM R. LURASCHI                                       February 5, 1998
  ---------------------------
        William R. Luraschi
         Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>
    


                                      II-4
<PAGE>

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
   
                                                                                            SEQUENTIALLY
EXHIBITS                            DESCRIPTION OF EXHIBIT                                  NUMBERED PAGE
- --------                            ----------------------                                  -------------
<S>       <C>                                 
4.1       Indenture dated as of October 29, 1997 between The AES Corporation and
          The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee *
4.1.2     First Supplemental Indenture dated as of November 21, 1997 between The
          AES Corporation and The First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee *
4.2       Registration  Rights  Agreement dated as of October 29, 1997 among The
          AES Corporation and J.P. Morgan  Securities Inc. and Salomon  Brothers
          Inc. *
5         Opinion of Davis Polk & Wardwell *
12        Statement  re:  Computation  of ratio  of  earnings  to fixed  charges
          (incorporated  by  reference  to Exhibit  12.1 to  Amendment  No. 1 to
          Registration  Statement No.  333-39857 filed by The AES Corporation on
          November 19, 1997). 
23.1      Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP *
23.2      Consent of Price Waterhouse *
23.3      Consent of Ernst & Young *
23.4      Consent of Davis Polk & Wardwell (included in Exhibit 5.)
24.1      Power  of  Attorney   (included  as  signature  page  of  Registration
          Statement)
25.1      Statement of  Eligibility  under the Trust  Indenture  Act of 1939, as
          amended, of The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee *
99.1      Form of Letter of Transmittal
99.2      Form of Notice of Guaranteed Delivery
99.3      Form of Letter to Clients
99.4      Form of Letter to Nominees
99.5      Form of Instructions to Registered Holder and/or  Book-Entry  Transfer
          Participant from Owner


- ----------------
*    Previously filed
</TABLE>
    




                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.1


                              LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL

                                OFFER TO EXCHANGE
                8.50% SENIOR SUBORDINATED EXCHANGE NOTES DUE 2007
                           FOR ANY AND ALL OUTSTANDING
                    8.50% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007
                                       AND

             8.875% SENIOR SUBORDINATED EXCHANGE DEBENTURES DUE 2027
                           FOR ANY AND ALL OUTSTANDING
                 8.875% SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2027
                                       OF

                               THE AES CORPORATION

                  THE EXCHANGE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M.,
                      NEW YORK CITY TIME ON MARCH 9 , 1998
                             (THE "EXPIRATION DATE")
                     UNLESS EXTENDED BY THE AES CORPORATION
                                 EXCHANGE AGENT:


                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                      <C>                              <C>
           By Mail:                         Facsimile Transmissions:         By Hand or Overnight Delivery:

  (Registered or Certified Mail          (Eligible Institutions Only)     The First National Bank of Chicago
         Recommended)                          (212) 240-8938                  c/o First Chicago Trust
The First National Bank of Chicago                                               Company of New York
     c/o First Chicago Trust                                                     14 Wall Street
       Company of New York                 To Confirm by Telephone               8th Floor, Window 2
       8th Floor, Window 2                 or for Information Call:           New York, New York 10005
    New York, New York 10005                   (212) 240-8801
</TABLE>

     DELIVERY  OF THIS  LETTER OF  TRANSMITTAL  TO AN ADDRESS  OTHER THAN AS SET
FORTH  ABOVE OR  TRANSMISSION  OF THIS  LETTER OF  TRANSMITTAL  VIA A  FACSIMILE
TRANSMISSION  TO A NUMBER  OTHER THAN AS SET FORTH ABOVE WILL NOT  CONSTITUTE  A
VALID DELIVERY.

     The undersigned  acknowledges  receipt of the Prospectus  dated February 5,
1998 (the  "Prospectus") of The AES Corporation (the "Company") which,  together
with this Letter of  Transmittal  (the "Letter of  Transmittal"),  describes the
Company's offer (the "Exchange Offer") to exchange $1,000 in principal amount of
8.50% Senior  Subordinated  Exchange  Notes due 2007 (the "New 8.50% Notes") for
each $1,000 in principal amount of outstanding 8.50% Senior  Subordinated  Notes
due 2007 (the "Old 8.50% Notes") and to exchange  $1,000 in principal  amount of
8.875%  Senior  Subordinated  Exchange  Debentures  due 2027  (the  "New  8.875%
Debentures",  and together  with the New 8.50% Notes,  the "New Notes") for each
$1,000 in principal amount of outstanding 8.875% Senior Subordinated  Debentures
due 2027 (the "Old 8.875% Debentures" and together with the Old 8.50% Notes, the
"Old Notes"). The terms of the New 8.50% Notes and the New 8.875% Debentures are
identical in all material respects  (including  principal amount,  interest rate
and maturity) to



<PAGE>

the terms of the Old 8.50%  Notes and Old 8.875%  Debentures  for which they may
respectively  be  exchanged  pursuant  to the  Exchange  Offer,  except that the
offering of the New Notes will have been registered  under the Securities Act of
1933, as amended and, therefore, the New Notes will not bear legends restricting
the  transfer  thereof  and  certain  provisions  relating to an increase in the
stated rate of interest shall be eliminated.

     The  undersigned  has checked the  appropriate  boxes below and signed this
Letter of  Transmittal  to indicate the action the  undersigned  desires to take
with respect to the Exchange Offer.

     PLEASE READ THE ENTIRE LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL  AND THE PROSPECTUS  CAREFULLY
BEFORE CHECKING ANY BOX BELOW.

     THE INSTRUCTIONS INCLUDED WITH THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MUST BE FOLLOWED.
QUESTIONS AND REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR FOR ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS
AND THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL MAY BE DIRECTED TO THE EXCHANGE AGENT.

     List below the Old Notes to which this Letter of  Transmittal  relates.  If
the space provided below is inadequate,  the  Certificate  Numbers and Principal
Amounts should be listed on a separate signed schedule affixed hereto.


<PAGE>




- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
             DESCRIPTION OF OLD 8.50% NOTES TENDERED HEREWITH
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                AGGREGATE
                                                PRINCIPAL
  NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)                        AMOUNT         PRINCIPAL
 OF REGISTERED HOLDER(S)      CERTIFICATE      REPRESENTED       AMOUNT
     (PLEASE FILL IN)         NUMBER(S)*      BY OLD NOTES*     TENDERED**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

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

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

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

                              --------------------------------------------------
                                 TOTAL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 * Need not be completed by book-entry Holders.
** Unless  otherwise  indicated,  the Holder will be deemed to have tendered the
   full aggregate principal amount represented by Old Notes. See Instruction  2.

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


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
          DESCRIPTION OF OLD 8.875% DEBENTURES TENDERED HEREWITH
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                AGGREGATE
                                                PRINCIPAL
  NAME(S) AND ADDRESS(ES)                        AMOUNT         PRINCIPAL
 OF REGISTERED HOLDER(S)      CERTIFICATE      REPRESENTED       AMOUNT
     (PLEASE FILL IN)         NUMBER(S)*      BY OLD NOTES*     TENDERED**
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

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

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

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

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

                              --------------------------------------------------
                                 TOTAL
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 * Need not be completed by book-entry Holders.
** Unless  otherwise  indicated,  the Holder will be deemed to have tendered the
   full aggregate principal amount represented by Old Notes. See Instruction  2.

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

<PAGE>

     This Letter of  Transmittal  is to be used either if  certificates  for Old
Notes are to be forwarded  herewith or if delivery of Old Notes is to be made by
book-entry  transfer  to an  account  maintained  by the  Exchange  Agent at The
Depository Trust Company  ("DTC"),  pursuant to the procedures set forth in "The
Exchange Offer -- Book-Entry Transfer" in the Prospectus.  Delivery of documents
to a book-entry  transfer facility does not constitute  delivery to the Exchange
Agent.

     Unless the context  requires  otherwise,  the term "Holder" for purposes of
this  Letter  of  Transmittal  means  any  person  in whose  name Old  Notes are
registered  on the books of the Company or any other  person who has  obtained a
properly completed bond power from the registered holder or any person whose Old
Notes are held of record by DTC or its nominee  who desires to deliver  such Old
Notes by book-entry transfer at DTC.

     Holders whose Old Notes are not immediately available or who cannot deliver
their Old Notes and all other documents required hereby to the Exchange Agent on
or prior to the  Expiration  Date may tender  their Old Notes  according  to the
guaranteed delivery procedure set forth in the Prospectus under the caption "The
Exchange Offer -- Guaranteed Delivery Procedures."

[  ] CHECK  HERE IF  TENDERED  OLD  NOTES  ARE  BEING  DELIVERED  BY  BOOK-ENTRY
     TRANSFER  MADE TO AN  ACCOUNT  MAINTAINED  BY THE  EXCHANGE  AGENT WITH THE
     DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

     Name of Tendering
     Institution
                ----------------------------------------------------------------

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

     The Depository Trust Company

     Account Number
                    ------------------------------------------------------------

     Transaction Code Number
                            ----------------------------------------------------


[  ] CHECK HERE IF TENDERED OLD NOTES ARE BEING DELIVERED PURSUANT TO  A  NOTICE
     OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY AND COMPLETE THE FOLLOWING:

     Name of Registered Holder(s)
                                 -----------------------------------------------

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

     Name of Eligible Institution that Guaranteed Delivery

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

     IF DELIVERED BY BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER:

     Account Number
                    ------------------------------------------------------------

[  ] CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A  BROKER-DEALER  AND WISH TO RECEIVE  10  ADDITIONAL
     COPIES OF THE  PROSPECTUS  AND 10 COPIES OF ANY  AMENDMENTS OR  SUPPLEMENTS
     THERETO.

     Name:
          ----------------------------------------------------------------------

     Address:
             -------------------------------------------------------------------

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



<PAGE>

               PLEASE READ THE ACCOMPANYING INSTRUCTIONS CAREFULLY

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Upon the terms and subject to the  conditions  of the Exchange  Offer,  the
undersigned hereby tenders to the Company the  above-described  principal amount
of Old Notes. Subject to, and effective upon, the acceptance for exchange of the
Old Notes tendered  herewith,  the  undersigned  hereby  exchanges,  assigns and
transfers to, or upon the order of, the Company all right, title and interest in
and to such Old  Notes.  The  undersigned  hereby  irrevocably  constitutes  and
appoints the Exchange Agent as the true and lawful agent and attorney-in-fact of
the undersigned  (with full knowledge that said Exchange Agent acts as the agent
of the undersigned in connection with the Exchange Offer) to cause the Old Notes
to be assigned,  transferred  and  exchanged.  The  undersigned  represents  and
warrants  that it has full power and authority to tender,  exchange,  assign and
transfer  the Old Notes and to acquire New Notes  issuable  upon the exchange of
such tendered Old Notes, and that, when the same are accepted for exchange,  the
Company will acquire good and unencumbered title to the tendered Old Notes, free
and clear of all liens,  restrictions,  charges and encumbrances and not subject
to any adverse claim.  The undersigned also warrants that it will, upon request,
execute and deliver any additional documents deemed by the Exchange Agent or the
Company to be necessary or desirable to complete the  exchange,  assignment  and
transfer of tendered  Old Notes or transfer  ownership  of such Old Notes on the
account books maintained by The Depository Trust Company.

     The  Exchange  Offer is subject to certain  conditions  as set forth in the
Prospectus  under the caption "The Exchange  Offer." The undersigned  recognizes
that as a result of these conditions  (which may be waived, in whole or in part,
by the Company),  as more particularly set forth in the Prospectus,  the Company
may not be  required to exchange  any of the Old Notes  tendered  hereby and, in
such event,  the Old Notes not exchanged will be returned to the  undersigned at
the address shown below the signature of the undersigned.

     By tendering,  each Holder of Old Notes  represents to the Company that (i)
the New Notes acquired  pursuant to the Exchange Offer are being obtained in the
ordinary course of business of the person  receiving such New Notes,  whether or
not such  person is such  Holder,  (ii)  neither the Holder of Old Notes nor any
such  other  person  has an  arrangement  or  understanding  with any  person to
participate in the distribution of such New Notes,  (iii) if the Holder is not a
broker-dealer  or is a broker-dealer  but will not receive New Notes for its own
account in exchange for Old Notes,  neither the Holder nor any such other person
is engaged in or intends to participate  in a distribution  of the New Notes and
(iv)  neither  the  Holder nor any such other  person is an  "affiliate"  of the
Company  within the  meaning of Rule 405 under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as
amended  (the  "Act").  If the  tendering  Holder is a  broker-dealer  that will
receive New Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes,  it  represents
that the Old Notes to be  exchanged  for the New Notes were  acquired by it as a
result of market-making activities or other trading activities, and acknowledges
that it  will  deliver  a  prospectus  meeting  the  requirements  of the Act in
connection  with any resale of such New  Notes.  By  acknowledging  that it will
deliver and by delivering a prospectus  meeting the  requirements  of the Act in
connection  with any resale of such New Notes,  the undersigned is not deemed to
admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Act.

     All authority  herein conferred or agreed to be conferred shall survive the
death,  bankruptcy or incapacity of the undersigned and every  obligation of the
undersigned hereunder shall be binding upon the heirs, personal representatives,
successors and assigns of the  undersigned.  Tendered Old Notes may be withdrawn
at any time prior to the Expiration Date.

     Certificates for all New Notes delivered in exchange for tendered Old Notes
and any Old Notes delivered herewith but not exchanged,  in each case registered
in the name of the  undersigned,  shall be delivered to the  undersigned  at the
address shown below the signature of the undersigned.

<PAGE>

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                          TENDERING HOLDER(S) SIGN HERE

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

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           Signature(s) of Holder(s)


Dated:             , 1998

(Must be  signed  by  registered  holder(s)  exactly  as  name(s)  appear(s)  on
certificate(s) for Old Notes or by any person(s) authorized to become registered
holder(s) by  endorsements  and  documents  transmitted  herewith or, if the Old
Notes are held of record by DTC or its  nominee,  the  person in whose name such
Old Notes  are  registered  on the  books of DTC.  If  signature  by a  trustee,
executor, administrator, guardian, attorney-in-fact, officer of a corporation or
other person acting in a fiduciary or representative capacity,  please set forth
the full title of such person.) See Instruction 3.

Name(s): -----------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                 (Please Print)


Capacity (full title):
                      ----------------------------------------------------------

Address: -----------------------------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                              (Including Zip Code)

Area Code and Telephone No:
                           -----------------------------------------------------

- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                             Tax Identification No.
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------


- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                           GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURE(S)
                        (IF REQUIRED--SEE INSTRUCTION 3)

Authorized Signature:
                     -----------------------------------------------------------

Name:
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Title:
      --------------------------------------------------------------------------

Address:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------

Name of Firm:
             -------------------------------------------------------------------

Area Code and Telephone No.:
                            ----------------------------------------------------

Dated:    , 199

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

<PAGE>

                                  INSTRUCTIONS


                    FORMING PART OF THE TERMS AND CONDITIONS
                              OF THE EXCHANGE OFFER

     1.  DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL AND  CERTIFICATES.  Certificates
for all  physically  delivered  Old  Notes  or  confirmation  of any  book-entry
transfer to the Exchange  Agent's account at The Depository Trust Company of Old
Notes tendered by book-entry transfer,  as well as a properly completed and duly
executed copy of this Letter of Transmittal or facsimile thereof,  and any other
documents  required  by this  Letter of  Transmittal,  must be  received  by the
Exchange  Agent at any of its  addresses  set  forth  herein  on or prior to the
Expiration Date.

     THE METHOD OF DELIVERY OF THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL, THE OLD NOTES AND ANY
OTHER REQUIRED  DOCUMENTS IS AT THE ELECTION AND RISK OF THE HOLDER AND,  EXCEPT
AS OTHERWISE PROVIDED BELOW, THE DELIVERY WILL BE DEEMED MADE ONLY WHEN ACTUALLY
RECEIVED BY THE EXCHANGE  AGENT.  IF SUCH  DELIVERY IS BY MAIL,  IT IS SUGGESTED
THAT REGISTERED MAIL WITH RETURN RECEIPT REQUESTED,  PROPERLY INSURED,  BE USED.
IN ALL CASES,  SUFFICIENT TIME SHOULD BE ALLOWED TO ASSURE TIMELY  DELIVERY.  NO
LETTERS OF TRANSMITTAL OR OLD NOTES SHOULD BE SENT TO THE COMPANY.

     Holders whose Old Notes are not immediately available or who cannot deliver
their Old Notes and all other  required  documents to the  Exchange  Agent on or
prior to the Expiration Date or comply with book-entry  transfer procedures on a
timely  basis may tender  their Old Notes  pursuant to the  guaranteed  delivery
procedure set forth in the  Prospectus  under "The Exchange  Offer -- Guaranteed
Delivery Procedures."  Pursuant to such procedure:  (i) such tender must be made
by or through an Eligible Institution (as defined therein);  (ii) on or prior to
the  Expiration  Date the Exchange  Agent must have  received from such Eligible
Institution,  a  properly  completed  and duly  executed  Notice  of  Guaranteed
Delivery,  substantially  in the form  provided  by the  Company  (by  telegram,
facsimile  transmission,  mail or hand  delivery)  setting  forth  the  name and
address of the tendering  Holder and the amount of Old Notes  tendered,  stating
that the tender is being made thereby and guaranteeing that within five New York
Stock  Exchange  trading  days  after the date of  execution  of such  Notice of
Guaranteed  Delivery,  the certificates of all physically tendered Old Notes, in
proper form for transfer,  or a confirmation of any book-entry  transfer of such
Old Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at The Depository Trust Company,  as
the case may be, and all other documents required by this Letter of Transmittal,
will be deposited by the Eligible Institution with the Exchange Agent, and (iii)
all tendered Old Notes (or a confirmation of any book-entry transfer of such Old
Notes into the Exchange Agent's account at The Depository Trust Company) as well
as this Letter of Transmittal and all other documents required by this Letter of
Transmittal  must be received by the  Exchange  Agent within five New York Stock
Exchange  trading days after the date of  execution of the Notice of  Guaranteed
Delivery,  all as provided in the  Prospectus  under the caption  "The  Exchange
Offer -- Guaranteed Delivery Procedures."

     No  alternative,  conditional,  irregular  or  contingent  tenders  will be
accepted.  All tendering Holders, by execution of this Letter of Transmittal (or
facsimile thereof), shall waive any right to receive notice of the acceptance of
the Old Notes for exchange.

     2.  PARTIAL TENDERS;  WITHDRAWALS. Tenders of Old Notes will be accepted in
all  denominations of $1,000 and integral  multiples in excess thereof.  If less
than  the  entire  principal  amount  of  Old  Notes  evidenced  by a  submitted
certificate is tendered,  the tendering Holder must fill in the principal amount
tendered  in the box  entitled  "Principal  Amount  Tendered."  A  newly  issued
certificate  for the  principal  amount of Old Notes  submitted but not tendered
will be sent to such Holder as soon as practicable  after the  Expiration  Date.
All Old  Notes  delivered  to the  Exchange  Agent  will be  deemed to have been
tendered unless otherwise indicated.

     Tenders of Old Notes pursuant to the Exchange Offer are irrevocable, except
that Old Notes  tendered  pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be withdrawn at any
time prior to the Expiration  Date. To be effective,  a written,  telegraphic or
facsimile  transmission  notice of  withdrawal  must be timely  received  by the
Exchange Agent at one of the addresses  specified on the first page hereof.  Any
such  notice of  withdrawal  must  specify  the  person  named in the  Letter of
Transmittal as having tendered Old Notes to be withdrawn, identify the Old Notes
to be  withdrawn  (including  the  principal  amount  of such Old  Notes,  where
certificates  for Old Notes have been  tendered)  specify the name in which such
Old Notes are registered, if different from that of the withdrawing Holder, must
include a statement that such Holder is withdrawing its election to have such

<PAGE>

Old Notes exchanged,  and must be signed by the Holder in the same manner as the
original  signature  on  the  Letter  of  Transmittal  (including  any  required
signature  guarantees) or be accompanied by evidence satisfactory to the Company
that the person withdrawing the tender has succeeded to the beneficial ownership
of the Old Notes being  withdrawn.  The Exchange  Agent will return the properly
withdrawn  Old Notes  promptly  following  receipt of notice of  withdrawal.  If
certificates  for Old Notes have been  delivered or otherwise  identified to the
Exchange Agent, then, prior to the release of such certificates, the withdrawing
Holder must also submit the serial numbers of the particular  certificates to be
withdrawn.  If Old Notes  have  been  tendered  pursuant  to the  procedure  for
book-entry  transfer,  any notice of withdrawal must specify the name and number
of the account at The Depository Trust Company to be credited with the withdrawn
Old Notes or otherwise  comply with The Depository  Trust Company's  procedures.
All  questions  as to the  validity,  form and  eligibility  (including  time of
receipt) of such notices will be determined by the Company,  whose determination
shall be final and binding on all parties.  Any Old Notes so  withdrawn  will be
deemed not to have been  validly  tendered  for  exchange  for  purposes  of the
Exchange  Offer.  Any Old Notes which have been  tendered for exchange but which
are not exchanged for any reason will be returned to the Holder thereof  without
cost to such  Holder  (or,  in the  case of Old  Notes  tendered  by  book-entry
transfer  into the Exchange  Agent's  account at The  Depository  Trust  Company
pursuant to the book-entry transfer  procedures  described above, such Old Notes
will be credited to an account  maintained with The Depository Trust Company for
the Old Notes) as soon as practicable after  withdrawal,  rejection of tender or
termination  of  the  Exchange  Offer.  Properly  withdrawn  Old  Notes  may  be
retendered  by  following  one of the  procedures  described  herein  and in the
Prospectus under "Procedures for Tendering Old Notes" at any time on or prior to
the Expiration Date.

     3.  SIGNATURE  ON THIS  LETTER  OF  TRANSMITTAL;  WRITTEN  INSTRUMENTS  AND
ENDORSEMENTS;  GUARANTEE OF SIGNATURES.  If this Letter of Transmittal is signed
by the registered Holder(s) of the Old Notes tendered hereby, the signature must
correspond  with the  name(s)  as written  on the face of  certificates  without
alteration, enlargement or any change whatsoever.

     If any of the Old Notes tendered  hereby are owned of record by two or more
joint owners, all such owners must sign this Letter of Transmittal.

     If a number of Old Notes  registered in different  names are  tendered,  it
will be necessary to complete,  sign and submit as many separate  copies of this
Letter of Transmittal as there are different registrations of Old Notes.

     When this  Letter of  Transmittal  is  signed by the  registered  Holder or
Holders of Old Notes listed and tendered hereby, no endorsements of certificates
or separate written instruments of transfer or exchange are required.

     If this  Letter  of  Transmittal  is  signed  by a  person  other  than the
registered  Holder  or  Holders  of the Old Notes  listed,  such  Notes  must be
endorsed or accompanied by separate written  instruments of transfer or exchange
in form satisfactory to the Company and duly executed by the registered  Holder,
in either case signed exactly as the name or names of the  registered  Holder or
Holders appear(s) on the Old Notes.

     If this  Letter  of  Transmittal,  any  certificates  or  separate  written
instruments  of  transfer  or  exchange  are  signed  by  trustees,   executors,
administrators, guardians, attorneys-in-fact, officers of corporations or others
acting  in a  fiduciary  or  representative  capacity,  such  persons  should so
indicate  when  signing,  and,  unless  waived by the Company,  proper  evidence
satisfactory to the Company of their authority so to act must be submitted.

     Endorsements on certificates or signatures on separate written  instruments
of transfer or exchange  required by this Instruction 3 must be guaranteed by an
Eligible Institution.

     Signatures  on this  Letter of  Transmittal  need not be  guaranteed  by an
Eligible Institution,  provided the Old Notes are tendered:  (i) by a registered
Holder  of such Old  Notes  and the  certificates  for New Notes to be issued in
exchange therefor are to be issued (or any untendered amount of Old Notes are to
be reissued) to the registered  Holder;  or (ii) for the account of any Eligible
Institution.

     4.  TRANSFER  TAXES.  The Company  shall pay all  transfer  taxes,  if any,
applicable to the transfer and exchange of Old Notes to it or its order pursuant
to the Exchange Offer. If, however,  New Notes are to be delivered to, or are to
be  registered  or issued in the name of, any person  other than the  registered
Holder of
<PAGE>

the Old Notes  tendered  hereby,  or if a transfer tax is imposed for any reason
other than the transfer of Old Notes to the Company or its order pursuant to the
Exchange  Offer,  the amount of any such transfer taxes (whether  imposed on the
registered  Holder or any other person) will be payable by the tendering Holder.
If satisfactory  evidence of payment of such taxes or exception therefrom is not
submitted  herewith the amount of such transfer taxes will be billed directly to
such tendering Holder.

     Except as  provided in this  Instruction  4, it will not be  necessary  for
transfer  tax  stamps to be affixed  to the Old Notes  listed in this  Letter of
Transmittal.

     5.  WAIVER OF CONDITIONS.  The Company  reserves the absolute  right in its
sole  discretion  to waive,  in whole or in part,  any of the  conditions to the
Exchange Offer set forth in the Prospectus.

     6.  MUTILATED, LOST,  STOLEN OR DESTROYED NOTES. Any Holder whose Old Notes
have been mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed should contact the Exchange Agent
at the address indicated below for further instructions.

     7.  REQUESTS FOR ASSISTANCE OR ADDITIONAL COPIES. Questions relating to the
procedure  for  tendering,  as well as  requests  for  additional  copies of the
Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal, may be directed to the Exchange Agent
at the address and telephone number set forth below. In addition,  all questions
relating to the Exchange Offer, as well as requests for assistance or additional
copies of the Prospectus and this Letter of Transmittal,  may be directed to the
Company at 1001 North 19th Street, Arlington,  Virginia 22209, Attention:  Barry
J. Sharp.

     8.  IRREGULARITIES.  All  questions as to the validity,  form,  eligibility
(including  time of receipt),  and  acceptance of Letters of  Transmittal or Old
Notes will be resolved by the  Company,  whose  determination  will be final and
binding. The Company reserves the absolute right to reject any or all Letters of
Transmittal  or tenders that are not in proper form or the  acceptance  of which
would, in the opinion of the Company's  counsel,  be unlawful.  The Company also
reserves the right to waive any irregularities or conditions of tender as to the
particular Old Notes covered by any Letter of  Transmittal or tendered  pursuant
to such letter either before or after the Expiration  Date  (including the right
to waive the  ineligibility  of any  Holder who seeks to tender Old Notes in the
Exchange Offer). Unless waived, any defects or irregularities in connection with
the  tenders of Old Notes for  exchange  must be cured  within  such  reasonable
period of time as the Company shall determine. None of the Company, the Exchange
Agent or any other  person  will be under any duty to give  notification  of any
defects or  irregularities in tenders or incur any liability for failure to give
any such notification.  The Company's interpretation of the terms and conditions
of the Exchange Offer as to any  particular  Old Notes  (including the Letter of
Transmittal and the instructions  thereto) either before or after the Expiration
Date shall be final and binding on all parties.

     9.  DEFINITIONS.  Capitalized  terms used in this Letter of Transmittal and
not otherwise defined have the meanings given in the Prospectus.

     IMPORTANT: THIS LETTER OF TRANSMITTAL OR A FACSIMILE THEREOF (TOGETHER WITH
CERTIFICATES FOR OLD NOTES OR CONFIRMATION OF BOOK-ENTRY  TRANSFER AND ALL OTHER
REQUIRED  DOCUMENTS) OR A NOTICE OF GUARANTEED  DELIVERY MUST BE RECEIVED BY THE
EXCHANGE AGENT ON OR PRIOR TO THE EXPIRATION DATE.




                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.2


                          NOTICE OF GUARANTEED DELIVERY

                                       FOR

                                OFFER TO EXCHANGE
                8.50% SENIOR SUBORDINATED EXCHANGE NOTES DUE 2007
                           FOR ANY AND ALL OUTSTANDING
                    8.50% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007

                                       AND


             8.875% SENIOR SUBORDINATED EXCHANGE DEBENTURES DUE 2027

                           FOR ANY AND ALL OUTSTANDING

                 8.875% SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2027


                                       OF

                               THE AES CORPORATION


     Registered holders of outstanding 8.50% Senior  Subordinated Notes due 2007
(the "Old 8.50% Notes") who wish to tender their Old 8.50% Notes in exchange for
a like  principal  amount of 8.50% Senior  Subordinated  Exchange Notes due 2007
(the "New 8.50%  Notes") and  registered  holders of  outstanding  8.875% Senior
Subordinated Debentures due 2027 (the "Old 8.875% Debentures" and, together with
the Old  8.50%  Notes,  the "Old  Notes")  who wish to tender  their Old  8.875%
Debentures in exchange for a like principal amount of 8.875% Senior Subordinated
Exchange Debentures due 2027 (the "New 8.875% Debentures" and, together with the
New 8.50% Notes,  the "New  Notes")  and, in each case,  whose Old Notes are not
immediately  available  or who  cannot  deliver  their Old  Notes and  Letter of
Transmittal  (and any other documents  required by the Letter of Transmittal) to
The  First  National  Bank  of  Chicago  (the  "Exchange  Agent")  prior  to the
Expiration Date, may use this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery or one substantially
equivalent hereto.  This Notice of Guaranteed  Delivery may be delivered by hand
or sent  by  facsimile  transmission  (receipt  confirmed  by  telephone  and an
original  delivered by  guaranteed  overnight  delivery) or mail to the Exchange
Agent.  See  "The  Exchange  Offer  -  Guaranteed  Delivery  Procedures"  in the
Prospectus.

                 The Exchange Agent for the Exchange Offer is:

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
<S>                                      <C>                              <C>
           By Mail:                         Facsimile Transmissions:         By Hand or Overnight Delivery:

  (Registered or Certified Mail          (Eligible Institutions Only)     The First National Bank of Chicago
         Recommended)                          (212) 240-8938                  c/o First Chicago Trust
The First National Bank of Chicago                                               Company of New York
     c/o First Chicago Trust                                                     14 Wall Street
       Company of New York                 To Confirm by Telephone               8th Floor, Window 2
       8th Floor, Window 2                 or for Information Call:           New York, New York 10005
    New York, New York 10005                   (212) 240-8801
</TABLE>

<PAGE>

     Delivery of this Notice of Guaranteed  Delivery to an address other than as
set forth above or transmission of instructions via a facsimile  transmission to
a number other than as set forth above will not constitute a valid delivery.

     This  Notice  of  Guaranteed  Delivery  is  not  to be  used  to  guarantee
signatures. If a signature on Letter of Transmittal is required to be guaranteed
by an  Eligible  Institution,  such  signature  guarantee  must  appear  in  the
applicable  space  provided  on the  Letter  of  Transmittal  for  Guarantee  of
Signatures.

<PAGE>


                   THE FOLLOWING GUARANTEE MUST BE COMPLETED

                             GUARANTEE OF DELIVERY

                    (NOT TO BE USED FOR SIGNATURE GUARANTEE)

     The  undersigned,  a  firm  that  is  a  member  of a  registered  national
securities  exchange  or a member  of the  National  Association  of  Securities
Dealers,  Inc. or a commercial  bank or trust company having an office,  branch,
agency or  correspondent in the United States,  hereby  guarantees to deliver to
the Exchange  Agent at one of its  addresses set forth above,  the  certificates
representing the Old Notes, together with a properly completed and duly executed
Letter of  Transmittal  (or  facsimile  thereof),  with any  required  signature
guarantees, and any other documents required by the Letter of Transmittal within
five New York Stock Exchange,  Inc.  trading days after the date of execution of
this Notice of Guaranteed Delivery.


Name of Firm:
              -----------------------------     --------------------------------
                                                    (Authorized Signature)

Address:                                    Title:
        ----------------------------------        ------------------------------
                                         
- ------------------------------------------  Name:
                                (Zip Code)        ------------------------------
                                                      (Please type or print)
Area Code and Telephone Number:             Date:

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

             NOTE: DO NOT SEND NOTES WITH THIS NOTICE OF GUARANTEED
               DELIVERY. NOTES SHOULD BE SENT WITH YOUR LETTER OF
                                  TRANSMITTAL.




                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.3



                                OFFER TO EXCHANGE
                8.50% SENIOR SUBORDINATED EXCHANGE NOTES DUE 2007
                           FOR ANY AND ALL OUTSTANDING
                    8.50% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007

                                       AND

               8.875% SENIOR SUBORDINATED EXCHANGE NOTES DUE 2027
                           FOR ANY AND ALL OUTSTANDING
                    8.875% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2027

                                       OF


                               THE AES CORPORATION
To Our Clients:

     We are enclosing herewith a Prospectus,  dated February 5, 1998, of The AES
Corporation (the  "Company"),  a Delaware  corporation,  and a related Letter of
Transmittal  (which together  constitute the "Exchange  Offer")  relating to the
offer by the Company to exchange its 8.50% Senior  Subordinated  Exchange  Notes
due 2007 (the  "New  8.50%  Notes")  and  8.875%  Senior  Subordinated  Exchange
Debentures  due 2027 (the "New 8.875%  Debentures"  and,  together  with the New
8.50% Notes,  the "New  Notes"),  pursuant to an offering  registered  under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities  Act"), for a like principal
amount of its issued and outstanding  8.50% Senior  Subordinated  Notes due 2007
(the "Old 8.50% Notes") or 8.875% Senior Subordinated  Debentures 2027 (the "Old
8.875%  Debentures"  and,  together with the Old 8.50% Notes,  the "Old Notes"),
respectively,  upon the terms and  subject  to the  conditions  set forth in the
Exchange Offer.

     PLEASE NOTE THAT THE OFFER WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON
MARCH 9 , 1998, UNLESS EXTENDED.

     The Offer is not  conditioned  upon any  minimum  number of Old Notes being
tendered.

     We are the holder of record and/or  participant in the book-entry  transfer
facility  of Old Notes held by us for your  account.  A tender of such Old Notes
can be made only by us as the record holder and/or participant in the book-entry
transfer facility and pursuant to your  instructions.  The Letter of Transmittal
is  furnished  to you for your  information  only and  cannot  be used by you to
tender Old Notes held by us for your account.

     We request  instructions as to whether you wish to tender any or all of the
Old Notes held by us for your account  pursuant to the terms and  conditions  of
the Exchange  Offer. We also request that you confirm that we may on your behalf
make the representations contained in the Letter of Transmittal.

     Pursuant  to the  Letter of  Transmittal,  each  holder  of Old Notes  will
represent to the Company that (i) the New Notes  acquired in the Exchange  Offer
are being  obtained in the ordinary  course of business of the person  receiving
such New Notes,  whether or not such  person is such  holder,  (ii)  neither the
holder  of the Old  Notes  nor any  such  other  person  has an  arrangement  or
understanding  with any person to  participate in the  distribution  of such New
Notes, (iii) if the holder is not a broker-dealer or is a broker-dealer but will
not receive New Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes, neither the
holder nor any such other  person is engaged in or intends to  participate  in a
distribution  of the New Notes and (iv)  neither  the  holder nor any such other
person is an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  If the tendering  holder is a broker-dealer
(whether or not it is also an  "affiliate")  that will receive New Notes for its
own  account in  exchange  for Old Notes,  we will  represent  on behalf of such
broker-dealer that the Old Notes to be exchanged for the New Notes were acquired
by it as a result of market-making  activities or other trading activities,  and
acknowledge  on behalf of such  broker-dealer  that it will deliver a prospectus
meeting the

<PAGE>

requirements  of the Act in  connection  with any resale of such New  Notes.  By
acknowledging  that it will deliver and by  delivering a prospectus  meeting the
requirements  of the Act in  connection  with any resale of such New Notes,  the
undersigned  is not  deemed  to admit  that it is an  "underwriter"  within  the
meaning of the Act.


                                        Very truly yours,



                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.4


                                OFFER TO EXCHANGE
                8.50% SENIOR SUBORDINATED EXCHANGE NOTES DUE 2007
                           FOR ANY AND ALL OUTSTANDING
                    8.50% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE 2007

                                       AND

             8.875% SENIOR SUBORDINATED EXCHANGE DEBENTURES DUE 2027
                           FOR ANY AND ALL OUTSTANDING
                 8.875% SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES DUE 2027

                                       OF


                               THE AES CORPORATION

To Registered Holders and Depository
 Trust Company Participants:


     We are enclosing  herewith the material  listed below relating to the offer
by The AES Corporation (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation,  to exchange its
8.50% Senior  Subordinated  Exchange  Notes due 2007 (the "New 8.50% Notes") and
8.875%  Senior  Subordinated  Exchange  Debentures  due 2027  (the  "New  8.875%
Debentures and, together with the New 8.50% Notes, the "New Notes"), pursuant to
an  offering  registered  under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as  amended  (the
"Securities  Act"),  for a like principal  amount of its issued and  outstanding
8.50%  Senior  Subordinated  Notes due 2007 (the "Old  8.50%  Notes")  or 8.875%
Senior  Subordinated  Debentures  due 2027 (the  "Old  8.875%  Debentures"  and,
together  with the Old 8.50% Notes,  the "Old  Notes"),  respectively,  upon the
terms and subject to the conditions set forth in the Company's Prospectus, dated
FEBRUARY  5,  1998,  and the  related  Letter  of  Transmittal  (which  together
constitute the "Exchange Offer").

     Enclosed herewith are copies of the following documents:

     1. Prospectus dated FEBRUARY 5, 1998;

     2. Letter of Transmittal;

     3. Notice of Guaranteed Delivery;

     4. Instruction to Registered Holder and/or Book-Entry Transfer  Participant
        from Owner; and

     5. Letter which may be sent to your clients for whose  account you hold Old
        Notes in your  name or in the name of your  nominee,  to  accompany  the
        instruction   form  referred  to  above,  for  obtaining  such  client's
        instruction with regard to the Exchange Offer.

     WE URGE YOU TO CONTACT  YOUR CLIENTS  PROMPTLY.  PLEASE NOTE THAT THE OFFER
WILL EXPIRE AT 5:00 P.M., NEW YORK CITY TIME, ON MARCH 9, 1998, UNLESS EXTENDED.

     The Offer is not  conditioned  upon any  minimum  number of Old Notes being
tendered.

     Pursuant  to the  Letter of  Transmittal,  each  holder  of Old Notes  will
represent to the Company that (i) the New Notes  acquired in the Exchange  Offer
are being  obtained in the ordinary  course of business of the person  receiving
such New Notes,  whether or not such  person is such  holder,  (ii)  neither the
holder  of the Old  Notes  nor any  such  other  person  has an  arrangement  or
understanding  with any person to  participate in the  distribution  of such New
Notes, (iii) if the holder is not a broker-dealer or is a broker-dealer but will
not receive New Notes for its own account in exchange for Old Notes, neither the
holder nor any such other  person is engaged in or intends to  participate  in a
distribution  of the New Notes and (iv)  neither  the  holder nor any such other
person is an "affiliate" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 405 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended.  If the tendering  holder is a broker-dealer
that will receive New Notes for its own account in exchange  for Old Notes,  you
will  represent  on  behalf  of such  broker-dealer  that  the Old  Notes  to be
exchanged for the New Notes were acquired by it

<PAGE>


as a result  of  market-making  activities  or  other  trading  activities,  and
acknowledge  on behalf of such  broker-dealer  that it will deliver a prospectus
meeting the  requirements  of the Act in connection  with any resale of such New
Notes.  By  acknowledging  that it will  deliver and by  delivering a prospectus
meeting the  requirements  of the Act in connection  with any resale of such New
Notes, the undersigned is not deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within
the meaning of the Act.

     The enclosed  Instruction to Registered Holder and/or  Book-Entry  Transfer
Participant from Owner contains an authorization by the beneficial owners of the
Old Notes for you to make the foregoing representations.

     The Company will not pay any fee or  commission  to any broker or dealer or
to any other  persons  (other than the Exchange  Agent) in  connection  with the
solicitation of tenders of Old Notes pursuant to the Offer. The Company will pay
or cause to be paid any transfer  taxes  payable on the transfer of Old Notes to
it,  except as otherwise  provided in  Instruction  4 of the enclosed  Letter of
Transmittal.

     Additional  copies  of the  enclosed  material  may be  obtained  from  the
undersigned.



                                          Very truly yours,



                                          THE AES CORPORATION


NOTHING  CONTAINED HEREIN OR IN THE ENCLOSED  DOCUMENTS SHALL CONSTITUTE YOU THE
AGENT OF THE AES  CORPORATION OR THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO OR AUTHORIZE
YOU TO USE ANY DOCUMENT OR MAKE ANY STATEMENT ON THEIR BEHALF IN CONNECTION WITH
THE  OFFER  OTHER  THAN  THE  DOCUMENTS  ENCLOSED  HEREWITH  AND THE  STATEMENTS
CONTAINED THEREIN.




                                                                    EXHIBIT 99.5


                     INSTRUCTION TO REGISTERED HOLDER AND/OR
                  BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER OF PARTICIPANT FROM OWNER
                                       OF
                               THE AES CORPORATION

                    8.50% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007
                 8.875% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2027

TO REGISTERED HOLDER AND/OR PARTICIPANT OF THE BOOK-ENTRY TRANSFER FACILITY:

     The  undersigned  hereby  acknowledges  receipt  of  the  Prospectus  dated
FEBRUARY 5,  1998  (the  "Prospectus")  of The AES  Corporation,  a  Delaware
corporation  (the "Company"),  and the  accompanying  Letter of Transmittal (the
"Letter of  Transmittal"),  that together  constitute  the Company's  offer (the
"Exchange  Offer").  Capitalized  terms  used but not  defined  herein  have the
meaning as ascribed to them in the Prospectus.

     This will instruct you, the registered  holder and/or  book-entry  transfer
facility  participant,  as to the  action  to be  taken by you  relating  to the
Exchange  Offer with respect to the Old Notes held by you for the account of the
undersigned.

     The  aggregate  face amount of the Old Notes held by you for the account of
the undersigned is (fill in amount):

     $------------  of the 8.50% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007

     $------------  of the 8.875% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2027

With respect to the Exchange Offer, the undersigned hereby instructs you (check
appropriate box):

     [  ] To TENDER the following Old Notes held by you for the account  of  the
          undersigned (insert principal amount of Old Notes to be tendered,  (if
          any):

     $------------  of the 8.50% Senior Subordinated Notes due 2007

     $------------  of the 8.875% Senior Subordinated Debentures due 2027

     [  ] NOT to  TENDER  any Old  Notes  held by you  for  the  account  of the
          undersigned.

     If the  undersigned  instructs  you to tender the Old Notes held by you for
the account of the  undersigned,  it is  understood  that you are  authorized to
make, on behalf of the undersigned (and the undersigned, by its signature below,
hereby makes to you), the representation and warranties  contained in the Letter
of  Transmittal  that  are to be  made  with  respect  to the  undersigned  as a
beneficial owner, including but not limited to the representations, that (i) the
New Notes  acquired  pursuant to the  Exchange  Offer are being  obtained in the
ordinary course of business of the undersigned, (ii) neither the undersigned nor
any such other person has an  arrangement  or  understanding  with any person to
participate in the  distribution of such New Notes,  (iii) if the undersigned is
not a  broker-dealer,  or is a broker-dealer  but will not receive New Notes for
its own account in exchange for Old Notes,  neither the undersigned nor any such
other person is engaged in or intends to participate in the distribution of such
New Notes and (iv) neither the undersigned nor any such person is an "affiliate"
of the Company  within the meaning of Rule 405 under the Securities Act of 1933,
as amended (the  "Securities  Act"). If the undersigned is a broker-dealer  that
will  receive  New Notes for its own  account  in  exchange  for Old  Notes,  it
represents  that  such old Notes  were  acquired  as a result  of  market-making
activities or other trading activities, and it acknowledges that it will deliver
a prospectus  meeting the  requirements of the Securities Act in connection with
any resale of such New  Notes.  By  acknowledging  that it will  deliver  and by
delivering  a  prospectus  meeting the  requirements  of the  Securities  Act in
connection  with any resale of such New Notes,  the undersigned is not deemed to
admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

<PAGE>

                                   SIGN HERE


Name of beneficial owner(s):
                            ----------------------------------------------------

Signature(s):
             -------------------------------------------------------------------

Name(s) (please print):
                       ---------------------------------------------------------

Address:
        ------------------------------------------------------------------------

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

Telephone Number:
                 ---------------------------------------------------------------

Taxpayer Identification or Social Security Number:
                                                  ------------------------------

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

Date:
     ---------------------------------------------------------------------------


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