ALLSTATE CORP
8-K, 1996-12-06
FIRE, MARINE & CASUALTY INSURANCE
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<PAGE>   1

                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549

                                  FORM 8-K
                               CURRENT REPORT

                   Pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                       Securities Exchange Act of 1934

                               November 27, 1996
                       ---------------------------------
                       (Date of earliest event reported)

                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

                              Allstate Financing II  
             ------------------------------------------------------
             (Exact name of Registrant as specified in its charter)

Delaware                 1-11840                  36-3871531
Delaware                 0-21807                  Applied For
- --------------     ---------------------      ------------------
(State of          (Commission File No.)      (IRS Employer
Incorporation)                                Identification No.)

                    2775 Sanders Road, Northbrook, IL 60062
          ------------------------------------------------------------  
          (Address of principal executive offices, including zip code)

                                 (847) 402-5000
              ----------------------------------------------------
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)

                                      None
         -------------------------------------------------------------
         (Former name or former address, if changed since last report)


<PAGE>   2

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

     On August 27, 1996, The Allstate Corporation (the "Company") and Allstate
Financing I, Allstate Financing II, Allstate Financing III and Allstate
Financing IV filed a Registration Statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-10857).  Such
Registration Statement was declared effective by the Commission on October 1,
1996.

     On November 27, 1996, Allstate Financing II issued 200,000 7.83%
Capital Securities, guaranteed to the extent provided in the Registration 
Statement by the Company.  The sole assets of Allstate Financing II are 
$206,186,000 of 7.83% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures,
Series B, of the Company.

     This form 8-K includes as exhibits conformed copies of the definitive
Indenture, Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of Allstate Financing II,
Second Supplemental Indenture, Capital Securities Guarantee, form of the
Company's 7.83% Junior Subordinated Debenture, form of Allstate Financing II's
Capital Security and form of Underwriting Agreement.  These exhibits are being
filed herewith for purposes of incorporation by reference, pursuant to Rule
12b-32(c) under the Security Act of 1934, on the Registration Statement.

(c) Exhibits.

Exhibit Number by
Reference to Item                         Description
601 of Regulation
8-K                  

4.1                                      Indenture dated as of November
                                         25, 1996 between the Company and State
                                         Street Bank and Trust Company, as
                                         trustee.

4.2                                      Amended and Restated Declaration of
                                         Trust dated as of November 25, 1996
                                         among Joseph T. Kane and Jennifer M
                                         Hager, as Regular Trustees, Delaware
                                         Trust Capital Management, Inc., as
                                         Delaware Trustee, State Street Bank and
                                         Trust Company, as Property Trustee and
                                         the Company.

4.3                                      Second Supplemental Indenture
                                         dated as of November 27, 1996 between
                                         the Company and State Street Bank and
                                         Trust Company, as 


<PAGE>   3

                                         Trustee.

4.4                                      Capital Security Guarantee
                                         dated as of November 27, 1996 between
                                         the Company and State Street Bank and
                                         Trust Company, as Preferred Guarantee
                                         Trustee. 


4.5                                      Form of 7.83% Junior
                                         Subordinated Deferable Interest
                                         Debenture (included as an exhibit in 
                                         Exhibit 4.3 above). 

4.6                                      Form of Capital Security (included as
                                         an exhibit in Exhibit 4.2 above). 

4.7                                      Form of Underwriting Agreement
                                         (included as an exhibit in Exhibit 
                                         4.2 above).

8.1                                      Opinion of Skadden, Arps,
                                         Slate, Meagher & Flom (Illinois), as
                                         to certain United States tax matters.


                                      3

<PAGE>   4

                                   SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, The
Allstate Corporation and Allstate Financing II have duly caused this report to 
be signed on its behalf by the undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                     THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

                                     By: /s/ James P. Zils  
                                         Name: James P. Zils  
                                         Title: Treasurer                 
                                                 
                                     ALLSTATE FINANCING II

                                     By: /s/ Joseph T. Kane
                                         Joseph T. Kane, 
                                         as Regular Trustee


                                     Date: December 6, 1996




                                      4

<PAGE>   5


                                 EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit Number                           Description
- --------------                           -----------
4.1                                      Indenture dated as of November
                                         25, 1996 between the Company and State
                                         Street Bank and Trust Company, as
                                         trustee.

4.2                                      Amended and Restated Declaration of
                                         Trust dated as of November 27, 1996
                                         among Joseph T. Kane and Jennifer M
                                         Hager, as Regular Trustees, Delaware
                                         Trust Capital Management, Inc., as
                                         Delaware Trustee, State Street Bank and
                                         Trust Company, as Property Trustee and
                                         the Company. 

4.3                                      Second Supplemental Indenture
                                         dated as of November 27, 1996 between
                                         the Company and State Street Bank and
                                         Trust Company, as Trustee.

4.4                                      Capital Security Guarantee
                                         dated as of November 27, 1996 between
                                         the Company and State Street Bank and
                                         Trust Company, as Preferred Guarantee
                                         Trustee.

             
4.5                                      Form of 7.83% Junior
                                         Subordinated Deferable Interest
                                         Debenture (included as an exhibit in 
                                         Exhibit 4.3 above).

4.6                                      Form of 



                                      5

<PAGE>   6




                                         Capital Security (included as an
                                         exhibit in Exhibit 4.2 above).        

4.7                                      Form of Underwriting Agreement
                                         (included as an exhibit in Exhibit 
                                         4.2 above).

8.1                                      Opinion of Skadden, Arps,
                                         Slate, Meagher & Flom (Illinois), as
                                         to certain United States tax matters.



                                      6


<PAGE>   1

                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1








                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

                                       TO

                      STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY
                                    Trustee



                              ___________________


                                   INDENTURE

                          SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

                         Dated as of November 25, 1996


                              ___________________



<PAGE>   2

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                 Page
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                                <C>
PARTIES   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
RECITALS OF THE COMPANY   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1

                                  ARTICLE ONE

                       DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
                            OF GENERAL APPLICATION

SECTION 101.  Definitions   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1
Act   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
Additional Interest   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
Additional Sums   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
Additional Taxes  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
Affiliate   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
AIC   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
Allstate Trusts   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
Authenticating Agent    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
Board of Directors    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Board Resolution    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Business Day    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Commission    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Common Securities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Common Securities Guarantee   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Company   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Company Request   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Corporate Trust Office    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
corporation   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Covenant Defeasance   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  3
Declaration   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Defaulted Interest    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Defeasance    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Depositary    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Event of Default    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Exchange Act    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Expiration Date   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Extension Period  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Global Security   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Holder    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Indebtedness    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Indenture   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
Interest    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
Interest Payment Date   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
Investment Company Act    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
</TABLE>


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

<PAGE>   3

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                 Page
                                                                                 ----
<S>                                                                              <C>
Investment Company Event    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5
Maturity    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5
Notice of Default   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5
Officers' Certificate   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5
Opinion of Counsel    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5
Original Issue Discount Security    . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    6
Outstanding   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    6
Paying Agent  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7
Person  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7
Place of Payment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7
Predecessor Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7
Preferred Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7
Preferred Securities Guarantee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7
Property Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7
Redemption Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7
Redemption Price  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7
Regular Record Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7
Responsible Officer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8
Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8
Securities Act  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8
Security Register . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8
Senior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8
Special Event   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8
Special Record Date . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8
Stated Maturity . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9
Subsidiary  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9
Tax Event   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9
Trust Indenture Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9
Trust Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9
Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9
U.S. Government Obligation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10
Vice President  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10
SECTION 102.  Compliance Certificates and Opinions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10
SECTION 103.  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . .   10
SECTION 104.  Acts of Holders; Record Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11
SECTION 105.  Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   13
SECTION 106.  Notice to Holders; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   13
SECTION 107.  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   14
SECTION 108.  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents  . . . . . . . . . . . .   14
SECTION 109.  Successors and Assigns  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   14
SECTION 110.  Separability Clause . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   14
SECTION 111.  Benefits of Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   15
SECTION 112.  Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   15
SECTION 113.  Legal Holidays  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   15
SECTION 114.  Computations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   15
</TABLE>


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


                                       ii
<PAGE>   4
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

  
                                                                                    Page
                                                                                    ----
<S>           <C>                                                                   <C>
                                       
                                  ARTICLE TWO
                                        
                                SECURITY FORMS

SECTION 201.  Forms Generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
SECTION 202.  Form of Legend for Global Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 16
SECTION 203.  Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . 17

                                        
                                 ARTICLE THREE

                                THE SECURITIES

SECTION 301.  Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17
SECTION 302.  Denominations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SECTION 303.  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating  . . . . . . . . . . . 20
SECTION 304.  Temporary Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22
SECTION 305.  Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange . . . . . . . . . 22
SECTION 306.  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities  . . . . . . . . . . 24
SECTION 307.  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved  . . . . . . . . . . . 24
SECTION 308.  Persons Deemed Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
SECTION 309.  Cancellation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
SECTION 310.  Computation of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26
SECTION 311.  Deferrals of Interest Payment Dates . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 27
SECTION 312.  Right of Set-Off  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
SECTION 313.  Agreed Tax Treatment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28
SECTION 314.  Shortening or Extension of Stated Maturity  . . . . . . . . . . . . . 28

                                       
                                 ARTICLE FOUR

                          SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE

SECTION 401.  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 29
SECTION 402.  Application of Trust Money  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30


                                 ARTICLE FIVE

                                   REMEDIES

SECTION 501.  Events of Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 30
SECTION 502.  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment  . . . . . . . . . 32
</TABLE>





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

                                      iii
<PAGE>   5

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                                                    Page
                                                                                    ----
<S>           <C>                                                                   <C>
SECTION 503.  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee . . .  33
SECTION 504.  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
SECTION 505.  Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities . . . . .  35
SECTION 506.  Application of Money Collected  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
SECTION 507.  Limitation on Suits . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
SECTION 508.  Unconditional Right of Holders to Receive Principal,
                 Premium and Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
SECTION 509.  Restoration of Rights and Remedies  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
SECTION 510.  Rights and Remedies Cumulative  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
SECTION 511.  Delay or Omission Not Waiver  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
SECTION 512.  Control by Holders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
SECTION 513.  Waiver of Past Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
SECTION 514.  Undertaking for Costs . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
SECTION 515.  Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39



                                         ARTICLE SIX

                                         THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601.  Certain Duties and Responsibilities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
SECTION 602.  Notice of Defaults  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
SECTION 603.  Certain Rights of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  39
SECTION 604.  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities  . . . . . . .  40
SECTION 605.  May Hold Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
SECTION 606.  Money Held in Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
SECTION 607.  Compensation and Reimbursement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
SECTION 608.  Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
SECTION 609.  Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
SECTION 610.  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor . . . . . . . . . .  42
SECTION 611.  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
SECTION 612.  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business . . . . .  45
SECTION 613.  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company . . . . . . . . . .  45
SECTION 614.  Appointment of Authenticating Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45


                                        ARTICLE SEVEN
   
                      HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY

SECTION 701.  Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders . . . . . .  48
SECTION 702.  Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders  . . . . . . .  48
SECTION 703.  Reports by Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
SECTION 704.  Reports by Company  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
</TABLE>




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

                                       iv
<PAGE>   6

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>


                                                                                   Page
                                                                                   ----

                                        ARTICLE EIGHT

                     CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE
<S>           <C>                                                                  <C>
SECTION 801.  Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms  . . . . . . .   49
SECTION 802.  Successor Substituted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   50
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                       ARTICLE NINE                                 
                                                                                  
                                  SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES                           
                                                                                  
SECTION 901.  Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders  . . . . . . . .   50
SECTION 902.  Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders . . . . . . . . . .   52
SECTION 903.  Execution of Supplemental Indentures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   53
SECTION 904.  Effect of Supplemental Indentures . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   53
SECTION 905.  Conformity with Trust Indenture Act . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   53
SECTION 906.  Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures  . . . . . . . .   53
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                      ARTICLE TEN                                 
                                                                                  
                                       COVENANTS                                  
                                                                                  
SECTION 1001.  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest . . . . . . . . . . . .   55
SECTION 1002.  Maintenance of Office or Agency  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   55
SECTION 1003.  Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust  . . . . . . . .   55
SECTION 1004.  Statement by Officers as to Default  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   55
SECTION 1005.  Existence  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   56
SECTION 1006.  Maintenance of Properties  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   56
SECTION 1007.  Payment of Taxes . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   56
SECTION 1008.  Limitation on Dividends  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   56
SECTION 1009.  Covenants as to Allstate Trusts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   57
SECTION 1010.  Additional Sums  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   58
SECTION 1011.  Waiver of Certain Covenants  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   58
                                                                                  
                                                                                  
                                     ARTICLE ELEVEN                               
                                                                                  
                                REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES                          
                                                                                  
SECTION 1101.  Applicability of Article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   58
SECTION 1102.  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   59
SECTION 1103.  Selection by Trustee of Securities to Be Redeemed  . . . . . . . .   59
SECTION 1104.  Notice of Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   60
</TABLE>                                                                  





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

                                       v
<PAGE>   7


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    Page
                                                                                    ----
                                                                                               
<S>            <C>                                                                  <C>
SECTION 1105.  Deposit of Redemption Price  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   60
SECTION 1106.  Securities Payable on Redemption Date. . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   61
SECTION 1107.  Securities Redeemed in Part  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   61
SECTION 1108.  Right of Redemption of Securities Issued to an Allstate Trust  . .   61
                                                                                               
                                                                                               
                                     ARTICLE TWELVE                               
                                                                                               
                                     SINKING FUNDS                                
                                                                                               
SECTION 1201.  Applicability of Article . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   62
SECTION 1202.  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities  . . . . . .   62
SECTION 1203.  Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund  . . . . . . . . . . . .   62
                                                                                               
                                                                                               
                                    ARTICLE THIRTEEN                              
                                                                                               
                             DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE                   
                                                                                               
SECTION 1301.  Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance . . .   63
SECTION 1302.  Defeasance and Discharge . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   63
SECTION 1303.  Covenant Defeasance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   64
SECTION 1304.  Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance  . . . . . . . . .   64
SECTION 1305.  Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be                           
                   Held in Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions  . . . . . . . . . . .   66
SECTION 1306.  Reinstatement  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   66
                                                                                               
                                                                                               
                                      ARTICLE FOURTEEN                            
                                                                                               
                                 SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES                       
                                                                                               
SECTION 1401.  Agreement to Subordinate . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   67
SECTION 1402.  Default on Senior Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   67
SECTION 1403.  Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   68
SECTION 1404.  Subrogation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   69
SECTION 1405.  Trustee to Effectuate Subordination  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   70
SECTION 1406.  Notice by the Company  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   70
SECTION 1407.  Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness  . . . . . .   70
SECTION 1408.  Subordination May Not Be Impaired  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   71
</TABLE>





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

                                       vi
<PAGE>   8

                                [TO BE UPDATED]

    ........................................................................
    CERTAIN SECTIONS OF THIS INDENTURE RELATING TO SECTIONS 310 THROUGH 318,
                 INCLUSIVE, OF THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
TRUST INDENTURE                                                                  INDENTURE
ACT Section                                                                      SECTION
   <S>                                                                           <C>
   310(A)(1)      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      609
      (A)(2)      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      609
      (A)(3)      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      NOT APPLICABLE
      (A)(4)      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      NOT APPLICABLE
      (B)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      608
                                                                                 610
   311(A)                                                                        613
      (B)                                                                        613
   312(A)                                                                        701
                                                                                 702
      (B)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      702
      (C)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      702
   313(A)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      703
      (B)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      703
      (C)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      703
      (D)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      703
   314(A)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      704
      (A)(4)      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      101
                                                                                 1004
      (B)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      NOT APPLICABLE
      (C)(L)      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      102
      (C)(2)      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      102
      (C)(3)      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      NOT APPLICABLE
      (D)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      NOT APPLICABLE
      (E)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      102
   315(A)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      601
      (B)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      602
      (C)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      601
      (D)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      601
      (E)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      514
   316(A)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      101
      (A)(L)(A)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      502
                                                                                 512
      (A)(L)(B)   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      513
      (A)(2)      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      NOT APPLICABLE
      (B)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      508
      (C)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      104
   317(A)(1)      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      503
      (A)(2)      . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      504
      (B)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      1003
   318(A)         . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .      107
</TABLE>                    

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





<PAGE>   9
           INDENTURE, dated as of November 25, 1996, between The Allstate
Corporation, a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the
State of Delaware (herein called the "Company"), having its principal office at
2775 Sanders Road, Northbrook, Illinois, and State Street Bank and Trust
Company, a trust company duly organized and existing under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as Trustee (herein called the "Trustee").


                            RECITALS OF THE COMPANY

           The Company has duly authorized the execution and delivery of this
Indenture to provide for the issuance from time to time of its subordinated
unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (herein called
the "Securities"), to be issued in one or more series as in this Indenture
provided, including, without limitation, Securities to be issued and sold from
time to time to one or more Allstate Trusts (as defined herein).

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

           NOW, THEREFORE, THIS INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

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


                                  ARTICLE ONE

                        DEFINITIONS AND OTHER PROVISIONS
                             OF GENERAL APPLICATION


SECTION 101.  Definitions.

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

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

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

           (3)  all accounting terms not otherwise defined herein have the
           meanings assigned to them in accordance with generally accepted
           accounting principles, and, except as otherwise herein expressly
           provided, the term "generally accepted accounting princi-



<PAGE>   10




           ples" with respect to any computation required or permitted hereunder
           shall mean such accounting principles as are generally accepted at
           the date of such computation;

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

           (5)  the words "herein," "hereof" and "hereunder" and other words of
           similar import refer to this Indenture as a whole and not to any
           particular Article, Section or other subdivision.

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

           "Additional Interest" means the interest, if any, that shall accrue
on any interest on the Securities of any series the payment of which has not
been made on the applicable Interest Payment Date and which shall accrue at the
rate per annum specified or determined as specified in such Security.

           "Additional Sums" has the meaning specified in Section 1010.

           "Additional Taxes" means the sum of any additional taxes, duties and
other governmental charges to which an Allstate Trust has become subject from
time to time as a result of a Tax Event.

           "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person directly
or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common
control with such specified Person, provided, however, that an Affiliate of the
Company shall not be deemed to include any Allstate Trust to which Securities
have been issued. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with
respect to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and
policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership
of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

           "AIC" means Allstate Insurance Company, an insurance company duly
organized and existing under the insurance laws of the State of Illinois, or any
Person successor thereto.


           "Allstate Trusts" means, collectively, Allstate Financing I, Allstate
Financing II, Allstate Financing III and Allstate Financing IV, each a statutory
business trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware, or any other
similar trust created for the purpose of issuing preferred securities in
connection with the issuance of Securities under this Indenture.

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



                                       2



<PAGE>   11




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

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

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

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

     "Common Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
an Allstate Trust which rank pari passu with Preferred Securities issued by such
Allstate Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default, the rights of holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of
distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are
subordinated to the rights of holders of Preferred Securities.

     "Common Securities Guarantee" means any guarantee that the Company may
enter into with any Person or Persons that operate directly or indirectly for
the benefit of holders of Common Securities of such Allstate Trust.

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

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

     "Corporate Trust Office" means the principal office of the Trustee at which
at any particular time its corporate trust business shall be administered.

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

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

                                       3





<PAGE>   12




     "Declaration," with respect to an Allstate Trust, means the Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust of such Allstate Trust.

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

     "Defeasance" has the meaning specified in Section 1302.

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

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

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

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

     "Extension Period" has the meaning specified in Section 311.

     "Global Security" means a Security that evidences all or part of the
Securities of any series and bears the legend set forth in Section 202 (or such
legend as may be specified as contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities).

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

     "Indebtedness" of any person means the principal of and premium, if any,
and interest due on indebtedness of such Person, whether outstanding on the date
of this Indenture or thereafter created, incurred or assumed, which is (a)
indebtedness for money borrowed, and (b) any amendments, renewals, extensions,
modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness.  For the purposes of this
definition, "indebtedness for money borrowed" means (i) any obligation of, or
any obligation guaranteed by, such Person for the repayment of borrowed money,
whether or not evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other written
instruments, (ii) any obligation of, or any such obligation guaranteed by, such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or similar written instruments,
including obligations assumed or incurred in connection with the acquisition of
property, assets or businesses (provided, however, that the deferred purchase
price of any other business or property or assets shall not be considered
Indebtedness if the purchase price thereof is payable in full within 90 days
from the date on which such indebtedness was created), and (iii) any obligations
of such Person as lessee under leases required to be capitalized on the balance
sheet of the lessee under generally accepted accounting principles and leases of
property or assets made as part of any sale and lease-back transaction to which
such Person is a party.

                                       4



<PAGE>   13




     "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and as it may from
time to time be supplemented or amended by one or more indentures supplemental
hereto entered into pursuant to the applicable provisions hereof, including, for
all purposes of this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are deemed to be a part of and govern
this instrument and any such supplemental indenture, respectively.  The term
"Indenture" shall also include the terms of particular series of Securities
established as contemplated by Section 301.

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

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

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

     "Investment Company Event," with respect to any Allstate Trust, means the
receipt by such Allstate Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such
matters to the effect that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or
regulation or a change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by
any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory authority (a
"Change in 1940 Act Law"), such Allstate Trust is or will be considered an
"investment company" that is required to be registered under the Investment
Company Act, which Change in 1940 Act Law becomes effective on or after the date
of original issuance of the Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate Trust.

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

     "Notice of Default" means a written notice of the kind specified in Section
501(4) or 501(5).

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

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

                                       5


<PAGE>   14




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

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

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

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

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

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

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



                                      6



<PAGE>   15



consent, waiver or other action, only Securities which a Responsible Officer of
the Trustee knows to be so owned shall be so disregarded.  Securities so owned
which have been pledged in good faith may be regarded as Outstanding if the
pledgee establishes to the satisfaction of the Trustee the pledgee's right so to
act with respect to such Securities and that the pledgee is not the Company or
any other obligor upon the Securities or any Affiliate of the Company or of such
other obligor.

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

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

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

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

     "Preferred Securities" means undivided beneficial interests in the assets
of an Allstate Trust which rank pari passu with Common Securities issued by such
Allstate Trust; provided, however, that upon the occurrence of an Event of
Default, the rights of holders of Common Securities to payment in respect of
distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise are
subordinated to the rights of holders of Preferred Securities.

     "Preferred Securities Guarantee" means any guarantee that the Company may
enter into with State Street Bank and Trust Company or other Persons that
operates directly or indirectly for the benefit of holders of Preferred
Securities of an Allstate Trust.

     "Property Trustee" has the meaning set forth in the Declaration of the
applicable Allstate Trust.

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

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

     "Regular Record Date" for the interest payable on any Interest Payment Date
on the Securities of any series means the date specified for that purpose as
contemplated by Section 301 or 311.

                                       7





<PAGE>   16




     "Responsible Officer" of the Trustee means an officer in the Corporate
Trust Office of the Trustee.

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

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

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

     "Senior Indebtedness" means with respect to the Company, (i) the principal
or any premium and interest in respect of (A) indebtedness of the Company, for
money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by securities, debentures (other
than the Securities), bonds or other similar instruments issued by the Company;
(ii) all capital lease obligations of the Company; (iii) all obligations of the
Company issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all
conditional sale obligations of the Company and all obligations of the Company
under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable
arising in the ordinary course of business); (iv) all obligations of the Company
for the reimbursement on any letter of credit, banker's acceptance, security
purchase facility or similar credit transaction; (v) all obligations of the
types referred to in clauses (i) through (iv) above of other persons for the
payment of which the Company is responsible or liable as obligor, guarantor or
otherwise; (vi) all obligations of the types referred to in clauses (i) through
(v) above of other persons secured by any lien on any property or asset of the
Company (whether or not such obligation is assumed by the Company), except for
(1) any such indebtedness that is by its terms subordinated to or pari passu
with the Subordinated Debt Securities and (2) any indebtedness between or among
the Company or its affiliates, including all other debt securities and
guarantees in respect of those debt securities, issued to (a) any other Allstate
Trust or a trustee of such trust and (b) any other trust, or a trustee of such
trust, partnership or other entity affiliated with the Company that is a
financing vehicle of the Company (a "financing entity") in connection with the
issuance by such financing entity of preferred securities unless otherwise
expressly provided in the terms of such debt securities; and (vii) renewals,
extensions or refundings of any of the indebtedness referred to in clauses (i)
through (vi) above unless, in the case of any particular indebtedness, renewal,
extension or refunding, under the express provisions of the instrument creating
or evidencing the same, or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, such
indebtedness or such renewal, extension or refunding thereof is not superior in
right of payment to the Securities.

     "Special Event" means an Investment Company Event or a Tax Event.

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



                                       8



<PAGE>   17




     "Stated Maturity," when used with respect to any Security or any
installment of principal thereof or interest thereon, means the date specified
pursuant to the terms of such Security as the date on which the principal of
such Security or such installment of principal or interest is due and payable,
in the case of such principal or installment of principal, as such date may be
shortened or extended as provided pursuant to the terms of such Security.

     "Subsidiary" means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding voting
stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or
more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries
and which is engaged primarily in the insurance business.  For the purposes of
this definition, "voting stock" means stock which ordinarily has voting power
for the election of directors, whether at all times or only so long as no senior
class of stock has such voting power by reason of any contingency.

     "Tax Event," with respect to any Allstate Trust, means the receipt by such
Allstate Trust of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the
effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any announced
prospective change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or
as a result of any official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or which pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date
of original issuance of the Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate Trust,
there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) such Allstate Trust is, or
will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United States
federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued on the
corresponding series of Securities, (ii) interest payable by the Company on the
corresponding series of Securities is not, or within 90 days of the date of such
opinion, will not be, deductible by the Company, in whole or in part, for United
States federal income tax purposes or (iii) such Allstate Trust is, or will be
within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to more than a de minimis
amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.

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

     "Trust Securities" means, collectively, Common Securities and Preferred
Securities of an Allstate Trust.

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


                                       9




<PAGE>   18




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

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


SECTION 102.  Compliance Certificates and Opinions.

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

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

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

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

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

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


SECTION 103.  Form of Documents Delivered to Trustee.

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

     Any certificate or opinion of an officer of the Company may be based,
insofar as it relates to legal matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or
representations by, counsel,


                                       10



<PAGE>   19
unless such officer knows, or in the exercise of reasonable care should know,
that the certificate or opinion or representations with respect to the matters
upon which his certificate or opinion is based are erroneous.  Any such
certificate or opinion of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to factual
matters, upon a certificate or opinion of, or representations by, an officer or
officers, or other management employee of the Company or any Subsidiary stating
that the information with respect to such factual matters is in the possession
of the Company or such Subsidiary, unless such counsel knows, or in the exercise
of reasonable care should know, that the certificate or opinion or
representations with respect to such matters are erroneous.

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


SECTION 104.  Acts of Holders; Record Dates.

          Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be given, made or
taken by Holders may be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of
substantially similar tenor signed by such Holders in person or by agent duly
appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise expressly provided, such
action shall become effective when such instrument or instruments are delivered
to the Trustee and, where it is hereby expressly required, to the Company.  Such
instrument or instruments (and the action embodied therein and evidenced
thereby) are herein sometimes referred to as the "Act" of the Holders signing
such instrument or instruments.  Proof of execution of any such instrument or of
a writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this
Indenture and (subject to Section 601) conclusive and may be relied upon by the
Trustee and the Company, if made in the manner provided in this Section.

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

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

          Any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver
or other Act of the Holder of any Security shall bind every future Holder of the
same Security and the Holder of every Security issued upon the registration of
transfer thereof or in exchange therefor or in lieu thereof in respect of
anything done, omitted or suffered to be done by



                                       11





<PAGE>   20
the Trustee or the Company in reliance thereon, whether or not notation of such
action is made upon such Security.

          The Company may set any day as a record date for the purpose of
determining the Holders of Outstanding Securities of any series entitled to
give, make or take any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice,
consent, waiver or other action provided or permitted by this Indenture to be
given, made or taken by Holders of Securities of such series, provided that the
Company may not set a record date for, and the provisions of this paragraph
shall not apply with respect to, the giving or making of any notice,
declaration, request or direction referred to in the next paragraph.  If any
record date is set pursuant to this paragraph, the Holders of Outstanding
Securities of the relevant series on such record date, and no other Holders,
shall be entitled to take the relevant action, whether or not such Holders
remain Holders after such record date; provided that no such action shall be
effective hereunder unless taken on or prior to the applicable Expiration Date
(as defined below) by Holders of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding
Securities of such series on such record date.  Nothing in this paragraph shall
be construed to prevent the Company from setting a new record date for any
action for which a record date has previously been set pursuant to this
paragraph (whereupon the record date previously set shall automatically and with
no action by any Person be cancelled and of no effect), and nothing in this
paragraph shall be construed to render ineffective any action taken by Holders
of the requisite principal amount of Outstanding Securities of the relevant
series on the date such action is taken. Promptly after any record date is set
pursuant to this paragraph, the Company, at its own expense, shall cause notice
of such record date, the proposed action by Holders and the applicable
Expiration Date to be given to the Trustee in writing and to each Holder of
Securities of the relevant series in the manner set forth in Section 106.

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



                                       12



<PAGE>   21
 

Company in writing and to each Holder of Securities of the relevant series in
the manner set forth in Section 106.

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

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


SECTION 105.   Notices, Etc., to Trustee and Company.

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

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

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


SECTION 106.  Notice to Holders; Waiver.

          Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of any event, such
notice shall be sufficiently given (unless otherwise herein expressly provided)
if in writing and  mailed, first-class postage prepaid, to each Holder affected
by such event, at his address as it appears in the Security Register, not later
than the latest date (if any), and not earlier than


                                       13



<PAGE>   22




the earliest date (if any), prescribed for the giving of such notice.  In any
case where  notice to Holders is given by mail, neither the failure to mail such
notice, nor any defect in any notice so mailed, to any particular Holder shall
affect the sufficiency of such notice with respect to other Holders.  Where this
Indenture provides for notice in any manner, such notice may be waived in
writing by the Person entitled to receive such notice, either before or after
the event, and such waiver shall be the equivalent of such notice. Waivers of
notice by Holders shall be filed with the Trustee, but such filing shall not be
a condition precedent to the validity of any action taken in reliance upon such
waiver.

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


SECTION 107.  Conflict with Trust Indenture Act.

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


SECTION 108.  Effect of Headings and Table of Contents.

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


SECTION 109.  Successors and Assigns.

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


SECTION 110.  Separability Clause.

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



                                       14



<PAGE>   23




SECTION 111.  Benefits of Indenture.

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


SECTION 112.  Governing Law.

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


SECTION 113.  Legal Holidays.

          In any case where any Interest Payment Date, Redemption Date or Stated
Maturity of any Security shall not be a Business Day, then (notwithstanding any
other provision of this Indenture or of the Securities (other than a provision
of any Security which specifically states that such provision shall apply in
lieu of this Section)) payment of interest or principal (and premium, if any)
need not be made on such date, but may be made on the next succeeding Business
Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of such delay); except
that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment
shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the
same force and effect as if made on the Interest Payment Date or Redemption
Date, or at the Stated Maturity.


SECTION 114.  Computations.

          Unless otherwise specifically provided, the certificate or opinion of
any independent firm of public accountants of recognized standing selected by
the Board of Directors shall be conclusive evidence of the correctness of any
computation made under the provisions of this Indenture.  The Company shall
furnish to the Trustee upon its request a copy of any such certificate or
opinion.


                                  ARTICLE TWO

                                 SECURITY FORMS


SECTION 201.  Forms Generally.

          The Securities of each series shall be in such form as shall be
established by or pursuant to a Board Resolution or in one or more indentures
supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate provisions as are
required or permitted by this indenture, and


                                       15





<PAGE>   24




may have such letters, numbers or other marks of identification and such legends
or endorsements placed thereon as may be required to comply with the rules of
any securities exchange or Depositary therefor or as may, consistently herewith,
be determined by the officers executing such Securities, as evidenced by their
execution thereof.  If the form of Securities of any series is established by
action taken pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of
such action shall be certified by the Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the
Company and delivered to the Trustee at or prior to the delivery of the Company
Order contemplated by Section 303 for the authentication and delivery of such
Securities.

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


SECTION 202.  Form of Legend for Global Securities.

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

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


SECTION 203.  Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.

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

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



                                     ...........................................
                                                                      As Trustee


                                     By........................................
                                                            Authorized Signatory



                                       16



<PAGE>   25



                                 ARTICLE THREE

                                 THE SECURITIES


SECTION 301.  Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series.

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

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

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

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

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

          (4)  the Stated Maturity or Maturities on which the principal of any
     Securities of the series is payable or the method of determination thereof;

          (5)  the rate or rates at which any Securities of the series shall
     bear interest, if any, the rate or rates at which, and extent to which,
     Additional Interest, if any, shall be payable in respect of any Securities
     of such series, the date or dates from which any such interest shall
     accrue, the Interest Payment Dates on which any such interest shall be
     payable, the right, pursuant to Section 311 or as otherwise set forth
     therein, of the Company to defer or extend an Interest Payment Date, and
     the Regular Record Date for any such interest payable on any Interest
     Payment Date or the method by which any of the foregoing shall be
     determined;

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



                                       17
<PAGE>   26





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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



                                       18
<PAGE>   27
 



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

          (16)  if applicable, that any Securities of the series shall be
     issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities
     and, in such case, the respective Depositaries for such Global Securities,
     the form of any legend or legends which shall be borne by any such Global
     Security in addition to or in lieu of that set forth in Section 202 and any
     circumstances in addition to or in lieu of those set forth in Clause (2) of
     the last paragraph of Section 305 in which any such Global Security may be
     exchanged in whole or in part for Securities registered, and any transfer
     of such Global Security in whole or in part may be registered, in the name
     or names of Persons other than the Depositary for such Global Security or a
     nominee thereof;

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

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

          (19)  any other terms of the series (which terms shall not be
     inconsistent with the provisions of this Indenture, except as permitted by
     Section 901(5), but which may modify or delete any provision of this
     Indenture with respect to such series, provided that no such term may
     modify or delete any provision hereof if imposed by the Trust Indenture
     Act, and provided, further that any modification or deletion of the rights,
     duties or immunities of the Trustee hereunder shall have been consented to
     in writing by the Trustee).

          If any of the foregoing terms are not available at the time such Board
Resolution is adopted, or such Officers' Certificate or any supplemental
indenture is executed, such resolutions, Officers' Certificate or supplemental
indenture may reference the document or documents to be created in which such
terms will be set forth prior to the issuance of such Securities.

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

          If any of the terms of the series are established by action taken
pursuant to a Board Resolution, a copy of an appropriate record of such action
shall be certified by the





                                       19
<PAGE>   28





Secretary or an Assistant Secretary of the Company and delivered to the Trustee
at or prior to the delivery of the Officers' Certificate setting forth the terms
of the series.


SECTION 302.  Denominations.

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


SECTION 303.  Execution, Authentication, Delivery and Dating.

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

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

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

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

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

          (3)  that such Securities, when authenticated and delivered by the
     Trustee and issued by the Company in the manner and subject to any
     conditions specified in such



                                       20
<PAGE>   29





     Opinion of Counsel, will constitute valid and legally binding obligations
     of the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, subject to
     bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and
     similar laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors'
     rights and to general equity principles and any other customary exceptions
     reasonably requested by such counsel.

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

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

          Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

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


SECTION 304.  Temporary Securities.

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

          If temporary Securities of any series are issued, the Company will
cause definitive Securities of that series to be prepared without unreasonable
delay.  After the preparation of definitive Securities of such series, the
temporary Securities of such series shall be


                                       21
<PAGE>   30




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


SECTION 305.  Registration, Registration of Transfer and Exchange.

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

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

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

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

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

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



                                       22
<PAGE>   31





transfer or exchange of Securities, other than exchanges pursuant to Section
304, 906 or 1107 not involving any transfer.

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

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

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

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

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

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




                                       23
<PAGE>   32





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

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

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

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

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

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

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


SECTION 307.  Payment of Interest; Interest Rights Preserved.

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

          Any interest on any Security of any series which is payable, but is
not punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date (herein
called "Defaulted



                                       24
<PAGE>   33





Interest") shall forthwith cease to be payable to the Holder on the relevant
Regular Record Date by virtue of having been such Holder, and such Defaulted
Interest may be paid by the Company, at its election in each case, as provided
in Clause (1) or (2) below:

          (1)  The Company may elect to make payment of any Defaulted Interest
     to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series (or their
     respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of business
     on a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, which
     shall be fixed in the following manner.  The Company shall notify the
     Trustee in writing of the amount of Defaulted Interest proposed to be paid
     on each Security of such series and the date of the proposed payment, and
     at the same time the Company shall deposit with the Trustee an amount of
     money equal to the aggregate amount proposed to be paid in respect of such
     Defaulted Interest or shall make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee
     for such deposit prior to the date of the proposed payment, such money when
     deposited to be held in trust for the benefit of the Persons entitled to
     such Defaulted Interest as in this Clause provided.  Thereupon the Trustee
     shall fix a Special Record Date for the payment of such Defaulted Interest
     which shall be not more than 15 days and not less than 10 days prior to the
     date of the proposed payment and not less than 10 days after the receipt by
     the Trustee of the notice of the proposed payment.  The Trustee shall
     promptly notify the Company of such Special Record Date and, in the name
     and at the expense of the Company, shall cause notice of the proposed
     payment of such Defaulted Interest and the Special Record Date therefor to
     be given to each Holder of Securities of such series in the manner set
     forth in Section 106, not less than 10 days prior to such Special Record
     Date.  Notice of the proposed payment of such Defaulted Interest and the
     Special Record Date therefor having been so mailed, such Defaulted Interest
     shall be paid to the Persons in whose names the Securities of such series
     (or their respective Predecessor Securities) are registered at the close of
     business on such Special Record Date and shall no longer be payable
     pursuant to the following Clause (2).

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

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


SECTION 308.  Persons Deemed Owners.

          Prior to due presentment of a Security for registration of transfer,
the Company, the Trustee and any agent of the Company or the Trustee may treat
the Person in whose



                                       25
<PAGE>   34





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


SECTION 309.  Cancellation.

          All Securities surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange or for credit against any sinking fund payment shall, if
surrendered to any Person other than the Trustee, be delivered to the Trustee
and shall be promptly cancelled by it.  The Company may at any time deliver to
the Trustee for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated and
delivered hereunder which the Company may have acquired in any manner
whatsoever, and may deliver to the Trustee (or to any other Person for delivery
to the Trustee) for cancellation any Securities previously authenticated
hereunder which the Company has not issued and sold, and all Securities so
delivered shall be promptly cancelled by the Trustee.  No Securities shall be
authenticated in lieu of or in exchange for any Securities cancelled as provided
in this Section, except as expressly permitted by this Indenture.  All cancelled
Securities held by the Trustee shall be disposed of as directed by a Company
Order.


SECTION 310.  Computation of Interest.

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


SECTION 311.  Deferrals of Interest Payment Dates.

          If specified as contemplated by Section 201 or 301 with respect to the
Securities of a particular series, so long as no Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Company shall have the right, at any time during the term
of such series, from time to time to defer the payment of interest on such
Securities for such period or periods as may be specified as contemplated by
Section 301 (each, an "Extension Period"), during which Extension Periods the
Company shall have the right to make partial payments of interest on any
Interest Payment Date.  No Extension Period shall end on a date other than an
Interest Payment Date.  At the end of any such Extension Period the Company
shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Securities; provided,
however, that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not, and shall
not permit any Subsidiary to, (a) declare or pay any dividend on, make any
distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (b) make any payment of
principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company (including



                                       26
<PAGE>   35





other Securities of any series) that rank pari passu with or junior in interest
to such Securities (other than (i) dividends or distributions in common stock of
the Company, (ii) redemptions or repurchases of any rights, or the declaration
of a dividend of any rights, or the issuance of any security under any future
rights plan of the Company, (iii) purchases or acquisitions of shares of common
stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations
under any benefit plans for its or its Subsidiaries' directors, officers,
employees or independent contractors, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of
the Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series
of the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's
capital stock or (v) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of
such capital stock of the Company or the security being converted or exchanged)
or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing. Prior to the
termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further defer the
payment of interest, provided that no Extension Period shall exceed the period
or periods specified in such Securities or extend beyond the Maturity of the
principal of such Securities. Upon termination of any Extension Period and upon
the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then
due on any Interest Payment Date, the Company may elect to begin a new Extension
Period, subject to the foregoing requirements.  No interest shall be due and
payable during an Extension Period, except at the end thereof.  The Company
shall give the Holders of the Securities of such series and the Trustee notice
of its election to begin any such Extension Period at least one Business Day
prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date on which interest on
Securities of such series would be payable but for such deferral or, with
respect to the Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust, so long as
such Securities are held by such Allstate Trust, prior to the earlier of (i) the
next succeeding date on which Distributions (as defined in the Declaration of
such Allstate Trust) on the Preferred Securities of such Allstate Trust would be
payable but for such deferral or (ii) the date the Regular Trustees of such
Allstate Trust are required to give notice to any securities exchange or other
applicable self-regulatory organization or to holders of such Preferred
Securities of the record date or the date such Distributions are payable, but in
any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record date.

          The Trustee shall promptly give notice of the Company's election to
begin any such Extension Period to the Holders of the Outstanding Securities of
such series.


SECTION 312.  Right of Set-Off.

          With respect to the Securities of a series issued to an Allstate
Trust, notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Indenture, the Company
shall have the right to set-off any payment it is otherwise required to make
hereunder in respect of any such Security to the extent the Company has
theretofore made, or is concurrently on the date of such payment making, a
payment under the Guarantee (as defined in the Declaration of such Allstate
Trust) relating to such Security or under Section 508.





                                       27
<PAGE>   36





SECTION 313.  Agreed Tax Treatment.

          Each Security issued hereunder shall provide that the Company and, by
its acceptance of a Security or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of,
and any Person that acquires a beneficial interest in, such Security agree that
for United States federal, state and local tax purposes it is intended that such
Security constitute indebtedness.

SECTION 314.  Shortening or Extension of Stated Maturity.

          If specified as contemplated by Section 201 or 301 with respect to the
Securities of a particular series, the Company shall have the right to (i)
shorten the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series at
any time to any date not earlier than the first date on which the Company has
the right to redeem the Securities of such series, and (ii) extend the Stated
Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series at any time at its
election for one or more periods, but in no event to a date later than December
31, 2045; provided that, if the Company elects to exercise its right to extend
the Stated Maturity of the principal of the Securities of such series pursuant
to clause (ii), above, at the time such election is made and at the time of
extension (A) the Company is not in bankruptcy, otherwise insolvent or in
liquidation, (B) the Company is not in default in the payment of any interest or
principal on such Securities, (C) in the case of any series of Securities issued
to an Allstate Trust, such Allstate Trust is not in arrears on payments of
Distributions on the Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate Trust and no
deferred Distributions are accumulated and (D) such Securities are rated not
less than BBB- by Standard & Poor's Ratings Services or Baa3 by Moody's
Investors Service, Inc. or the equivalent by any other nationally recognized
statistical rating organization.  In the event the Company elects to shorten or
extend the Stated Maturity of such Securities, it shall give notice to the
Trustee, and the Trustee shall give notice of such shortening or extension to
the Holders, no less than 30 and no more than 60 days prior to the effectiveness
thereof.


                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                           SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE


SECTION 401.  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.

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

          (1)  either

               (A) all Securities theretofore authenticated and delivered (other
          than (i) Securities which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and
          which have been replaced






                                       28
<PAGE>   37




          or paid as provided in Section 306 and (ii) Securities for whose
          payment money has theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated
          and held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to the Company
          or discharged from such trust, as provided in Section 1003) have been
          delivered to the Trustee for cancellation; or

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

                    (i)   have become due and payable, or

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

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

and the Company, in the case of (i), (ii) or (iii) above, has deposited or
caused to be deposited with the Trustee as trust funds: (A) money in an amount;
(B) U.S. Government Obligations which through the scheduled payment of principal
and interest in respect thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not
later than one day before the due date of any payment, money in an amount; or
(C) a combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a
nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a
written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee to pay and discharge, and
which shall be applied by the Trustee; to pay and discharge the entire
indebtedness on such Securities not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation, for principal and any premium and interest (including Additional
Interest) to the date of such deposit (in the case of Securities which have
become due and payable) or to the Stated Maturity or Redemption Date, as the
case may be;

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

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

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





                                       29
<PAGE>   38





SECTION 402.  Application of Trust Money.

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


                                  ARTICLE FIVE
                                        
                                    REMEDIES


SECTION 501.  Events of Default.

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

          (1)  default in the payment of any interest (including Additional
     Interest) upon any Security of that series when it becomes due and payable,
     and continuance of such default for a period of 30 days (subject to the
     deferral of any due date in the case of an Extension Period); or

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

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

          (4)  default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect,
     of any covenant or warranty of the Company in this Indenture (other than a
     covenant or warranty a default in whose performance or whose breach is
     elsewhere in this Section specifically dealt with or which has expressly
     been included in this Indenture solely for the benefit of series of
     Securities other than that series), and continuance of such default or
     breach for a period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or
     certified mail,  to the Company by the Trustee or to the Company and the
     Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
     Outstanding Securities of that series a written notice specifying such
     default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that such
     notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or




                                       30
<PAGE>   39





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

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

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


SECTION 502.  Acceleration of Maturity; Rescission and Annulment.

          If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in
Section 501(5) or 501(6)) with respect to Securities of any series at the time
Outstanding occurs and is continuing, then in every such case the Trustee or the
Holders of not less than 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
of that series may declare the principal amount of all the Securities of that
series (or, if any Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount
Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such Securities as may be
specified by the terms thereof) to be due and payable immediately, by a notice
in writing to the Company (and to the Trustee if given by Holders), provided
that, in the case of the Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust, if,
upon an Event of Default, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of that series fail to declare
the principal of all the Securities of that series to be immediately due and
payable, the holders of at least 25% in aggregate liquidation amount of the
corresponding series of Preferred Securities then outstanding shall have such



                                       31
<PAGE>   40





right by a notice in writing to the Company and the Trustee; and upon any such
declaration such principal amount (or specified amount) of and the accrued
interest (including any Additional Interest) on all the Securities of such
series shall become immediately due and payable, provided that the payment of
principal and interest (including any Additional Interest) on such Securities
shall remain subordinated to the extent provided in Article Fourteen. If an
Event of Default specified in Section 501(5) or 501(6) with respect to
Securities of any series at the time Outstanding occurs, the principal amount of
all the Securities of that series (or, if any Securities of that series are
Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal amount of such
Securities as may be specified by the terms thereof) shall automatically, and
without any declaration or other action on the part of the Trustee or any
Holder, become immediately due and payable.

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

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

               (A) all overdue interest (including any Additional Interest) on
          all Securities of that series,

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

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

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

     and

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

          In the case of Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust,
should the Holder of such Securities fail to rescind and annul such declaration
and its consequences, the holders of a majority in aggregate liquidation amount
of the related series of Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate Trust
shall have such right by written notice to the



                                       32
<PAGE>   41
 



Company and the Trustee, subject to satisfaction of the conditions set forth in
clauses (1) and (2) above of this Section 502.

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

SECTION 503.  Collection of Indebtedness and Suits for Enforcement by Trustee.

          The Company covenants that if

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

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

the Company will, upon demand of the Trustee, pay to it, for the benefit of the
Holders of such Securities, the whole amount then due and payable on such
Securities for principal and any premium and interest (including Additional
Interest) and (to the extent that payment of such interest shall be legally
enforceable and, if the Securities are held by an Allstate Trust or a trustee of
such trust, without duplication of any other amounts paid by an Allstate Trust
or trustee in respect thereof) interest on any overdue principal and premium and
on any overdue interest, at the rate or rates prescribed therefor in such
Securities, and, in addition thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient
to cover the costs and expenses of collection, including the reasonable
compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents
and counsel.

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


SECTION 504.  Trustee May File Proofs of Claim.

          In case of any judicial proceeding relative to the Company (or any
other obligor upon the Securities), its property or its creditors, the Trustee
shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceeding or
otherwise, to take any and all actions authorized under the Trust Indenture Act
in order to have claims of the Holders and the Trustee allowed in any such
proceeding. In particular, the Trustee shall be authorized to collect and
receive any moneys or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims
and to distribute the same; and any custodian, receiver, assignee, trustee,




                                       33
<PAGE>   42
liquidator, sequestrator or other similar official in any such judicial
proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the
Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such
payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for
the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the
Trustee, its agents and counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 607.

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


SECTION 505.  Trustee May Enforce Claims Without Possession of Securities.

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


SECTION 506.  Application of Money Collected.

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

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

          SECOND:  Subject to Article Fourteen, to the payment of the amounts
     then due and unpaid for principal of and premium, if any, and interest
     (including Additional Interest) on the Securities in respect of which or
     for the benefit of which such money has been collected, ratably, without
     preference or priority of any kind, according to the amounts due and
     payable on such Securities for principal and premium, if any, and interest
     (including Additional Interest), respectively; and



                                       34
<PAGE>   43

          THIRD:  To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the Company, its
     successors or assigns or to whomsoever may be lawfully entitled to receive
     the same or as a court of competent jurisdiction may direct.


SECTION 507.  Limitation on Suits.

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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




                                       35
<PAGE>   44
consent of such Holder.  In the case of Securities of a series issued to an
Allstate Trust, any holder of the corresponding series of Preferred Securities
issued by such Allstate Trust shall have the right set forth in the preceding
sentence to institute directly a proceeding for enforcement of payment to such
holder of principal of and premium, if any, and (subject to Section 307)
interest (including any Additional Interest) on any Security of the principal
amount of or interest on the Securities having a principal amount equal to the
aggregate liquidation amount of such Preferred Securities of the corresponding
series held by such holder.


SECTION 509.  Restoration of Rights and Remedies.

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


SECTION 510.  Rights and Remedies Cumulative.

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


SECTION 511.  Delay or Omission Not Waiver.

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




                                       36
<PAGE>   45
SECTION 512.  Control by Holders.

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

          (1)  such direction shall not be in conflict with any rule of law or
     with this Indenture, and

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

SECTION 513.  Waiver of Past Defaults.

          The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of any series and, in the case of any Securities of a
series issued to an Allstate Trust, the holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate liquidation amount of the Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate
Trust, may waive any past default hereunder with respect to such series and its
consequences, except a default:

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

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

          Any such waiver shall be deemed to be on behalf of all Holders of the
Securities of such series or by all Holders of the Preferred Securities issued
by such Allstate Trust, as applicable.

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

SECTION 514.  Undertaking for Costs.

          In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this
Indenture, or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken, suffered or
omitted by it as Trustee, a court may require any party litigant in such suit to
file an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit, and may assess costs against
any such party litigant, in the manner and to the extent provided in the Trust
Indenture Act; provided that neither this Section nor the Trust



                                       37
<PAGE>   46
Indenture Act shall be deemed to authorize any court to require such an
undertaking or to make such an assessment in any suit instituted by the Company.


SECTION 515.  Waiver of Usury, Stay or Extension Laws.

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


                                  ARTICLE SIX

                                  THE TRUSTEE

SECTION 601.  Certain Duties and Responsibilities.

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


SECTION 602.  Notice of Defaults.

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



                                       38
<PAGE>   47
SECTION 603.  Certain Rights of Trustee.

          Subject to the provisions of Section 601:

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

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

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

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

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

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

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



                                       39
<PAGE>   48
SECTION 604.  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Securities.

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


SECTION 605.  May Hold Securities.

          The Trustee, any Authenticating Agent, any Paying Agent, any Security
Registrar or any other agent of the Company, in its individual or any other
capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and, subject to Sections
608 and 613, may otherwise deal with the Company with the same rights it would
have if it were not Trustee, Authenticating Agent, Paying Agent, Security
Registrar or such other agent.


SECTION 606.  Money Held in Trust.

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


SECTION 607.  Compensation and Reimbursement.

          The Company agrees:

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

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

          (3)  to indemnify the Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against,
     any loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence, willful
     misconduct or bad faith on its part or on the part of its agents or
     attorneys, arising out of or in connection with the




                                       40
<PAGE>   49

     acceptance or administration of the trust or trusts hereunder, including
     the reasonable costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or
     liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its
     powers or duties hereunder.


SECTION 608.  Conflicting Interests.

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


SECTION 609.  Corporate Trustee Required; Eligibility.

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


SECTION 610.  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor.

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

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




                                       41
<PAGE>   50
          The Trustee may be removed at any time with respect to the Securities
of any series by Act of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Securities of such series, delivered to the Trustee and to the
Company.

          If at any time:

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

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

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

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

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



                                       42
<PAGE>   51
          The Company shall give notice of each resignation and each removal of
the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series and each appointment of
a successor Trustee with respect to the Securities of any series to all Holders
of Securities of such series in the manner provided in Section 106. Each notice
shall include the name of the successor Trustee with respect to the Securities
of such series and the address of its Corporate Trust Office.


SECTION 611.  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor.

          In case of the appointment hereunder of a successor Trustee with
respect to all Securities, every such successor Trustee so appointed shall
execute, acknowledge and deliver to the Company and to the retiring Trustee an
instrument accepting such appointment, and thereupon the resignation or removal
of the retiring Trustee shall become effective and such successor Trustee,
without any further act, deed or conveyance, shall become vested with all the
rights, powers, trusts and duties of the retiring Trustee; but, on the request
of the Company or the successor Trustee, such retiring Trustee shall, upon
payment of its charges, execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor Trustee all the rights, powers and trusts of the retiring Trustee and
shall duly assign, transfer and deliver to such successor Trustee all property
and money held by such retiring Trustee hereunder.

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



                                       43
<PAGE>   52
such successor Trustee all property and money held by such retiring Trustee
hereunder with respect to the Securities of that or those series to which the
appointment of such successor Trustee relates.

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

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


SECTION 612.  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession to Business.

          Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged or converted or
with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business
of the Trustee, shall be the successor Trustee hereunder, provided such
corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible under this Article,
without the execution or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of
any of the parties hereto. In case any Securities shall have been authenticated,
but not delivered, by the Trustee then in office, any successor by merger,
conversion or consolidation to such authenticating Trustee may adopt such
authentication and deliver the Securities so authenticated with the same effect
as if such successor Trustee had itself authenticated such Securities


SECTION 613.  Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company.

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


SECTION 614.  Appointment of Authenticating Agent.

          The Trustee may appoint an Authenticating Agent or Agents with respect
to one or more series of Securities which shall be authorized to act on behalf
of the Trustee to authenticate Securities of such series issued upon original
issue and upon exchange, registration of transfer or partial redemption thereof
or pursuant to Section 306, and Securities so authenticated shall be entitled to
the benefits of this Indenture and shall be valid and obligatory for all
purposes as if authenticated by the Trustee hereunder. Wherever reference is
made in this Indenture to the authentication and delivery of Securities by the
Trustee or the Trustee's certificate of authentication, such reference shall 



                                       44
<PAGE>   53
be deemed to include authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an
Authenticating Agent and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of
the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent. Each Authenticating Agent shall be
acceptable to the Company and shall at all times be a corporation organized and
doing business under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof
or the District of Columbia, authorized under such laws to act as Authenticating
Agent, having a combined capital and surplus of not less than $50,000,000 and
subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State authority. If such
Authenticating Agent publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant
to law or to the requirements of said supervising or examining authority, then
for the purposes of this Section, the combined capital and surplus of such
Authenticating Agent shall be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as
set forth in its most recent report of condition so published. If at any time an
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section, such Authenticating Agent shall resign immediately
in the manner and with the effect specified in this Section. 

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

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

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

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


                                       45
<PAGE>   54

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



                                                       -----------------------
                                                                    As Trustee



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



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



                                       46
<PAGE>   55
                                 ARTICLE SEVEN

               HOLDERS' LISTS AND REPORTS BY TRUSTEE AND COMPANY


SECTION 701.  Company to Furnish Trustee Names and Addresses of Holders.

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

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

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

provided, that no such list need be provided in any case to the extent it would
include names and addresses received by the Trustee in its capacity as Security
Registrar.


SECTION 702.  Preservation of Information; Communications to Holders.

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

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

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


SECTION 703.  Reports by Trustee.

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




                                       47
<PAGE>   56
          A copy of each such report shall, at the time of such transmission to
Holders, be filed by the Trustee with each stock exchange upon which any
Securities are listed, with the Commission and with the Company.  The Company
will notify the Trustee when any Securities are listed on any stock exchange.


SECTION 704.  Reports by Company.

          The Company shall file with the Trustee and the Commission, and
transmit to Holders, such information, documents and other reports, and such
summaries thereof, as may be required pursuant to the Trust Indenture Act at the
times and in the manner provided pursuant to such Act; provided that any such
information, documents or reports required to be filed with the Commission
pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act shall be filed with the
Trustee within 15 days after the same is so required to be filed with the
Commission.


                                 ARTICLE EIGHT

              CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, CONVEYANCE, TRANSFER OR LEASE


SECTION 801.  Company May Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms.

          (a)  Subject to Section 801(c), the Company shall not consolidate with
or merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and the Company shall not
permit any Person to consolidate with or merge into the Company, unless:

          (1)  in case the Company shall consolidate with or merge into another
     Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially
     as an entirety to any Person, the Person formed by such consolidation or
     into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires by conveyance
     or transfer, or which leases, the properties and assets of the Company
     substantially as an entirety shall be a corporation, partnership or trust,
     shall be organized and validly existing under the laws of the United States
     of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and shall
     expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and
     delivered to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of
     and any premium and interest on all the Securities and the performance or
     observance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the Company
     to be performed or observed;

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

          (3)  the Company has delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
     and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger,
     conveyance, transfer 



                                       48
<PAGE>   57
     or lease and, if a supplemented indenture is required in connection with
     such transaction, such supplemental indenture comply with this Article and
     that all conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such
     transaction have been complied with.

          (b)  Subject to Section 801(c), any indebtedness which becomes an
obligation of the Company or any Subsidiary as a result of any such transaction
shall be treated as having been incurred by the Company or such Subsidiary at
the time of such transaction.

          (c)  The provisions of Section 801(a) and (b) shall not be applicable
to the direct or indirect transfer of all or any portion of the stock, assets or
liabilities of any Subsidiary to another Subsidiary.


SECTION 802.  Successor Substituted.

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


                                  ARTICLE NINE

                            SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES


SECTION 901.  Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Holders.


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

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

          (2)  to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the
     Holders of all or any series of Securities (and if such covenants are to be
     for the benefit of less than all series of Securities, stating that such
     covenants are expressly being included solely 



                                       49
<PAGE>   58
     for the benefit of such series) or to surrender any right or power herein
     conferred upon the Company; or

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

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

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

          (6)  to secure the Securities; or

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

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

          (9)  to cure any ambiguity, to correct or supplement any provision
     herein which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision
     herein, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or
     questions arising under this Indenture, provided that such action pursuant
     to this Clause (9) shall not adversely affect in any material respect the
     interests of the Holders of Securities of any series or, in the case of the
     Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust and for so long as any
     of the corresponding series of Preferred Securities issued by such Allstate
     Trust shall remain outstanding, the holders of such Preferred Securities;
     or

          (10)  to conform any provision hereof to the requirements of the Trust
     Indenture Act.




                                       50
<PAGE>   59
SECTION 902.  Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Holders.

          With the consent of the Holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of each series affected by such
supplemental indenture, by Act of said Holders delivered to the Company and the
Trustee, the Company, when authorized by a Board Resolution, and the Trustee may
enter into an indenture or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of
adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the
provisions of this Indenture or of modifying in any manner the rights of the
Holders of Securities of such series under this Indenture; provided, however,
that no such supplemental indenture shall, without the consent of the Holder of
each Outstanding Security affected thereby:

          (1)  except to the extent permitted by Section 311 or as otherwise
     specified as contemplated by Section 301 with respect to the extension of
     the interest payment period of the Securities of any series, change the
     Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any instalment of principal of or
     interest on, any Security, or reduce the principal amount thereof or the
     rate of interest thereon or any premium payable upon the redemption
     thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of an Original Issue
     Discount Security or any other Security which would be due and payable upon
     a declaration of acceleration of the Maturity thereof pursuant to Section
     502, or change the coin or currency in which, any Security or any premium
     or interest thereon is payable, or impair the right to institute suit for
     the enforcement of any such payment on or after the Stated Maturity thereof
     (or, in the case of redemption, on or after the Redemption Date), or

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

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

provided, further, that if the Securities of such series are held by an Allstate
Trust or a  trustee of such trust, such supplemental indenture shall not be
effective until the holders of not less than a majority in liquidation amount of
Trust Securities of the applicable Allstate Trust shall have consented to such
supplemental indenture; provided, further, that if the consent of the Holder of
each outstanding Security is required, such supplemental indenture shall not be
effective until each holder of the Trust Securities of the applicable Allstate
Trust shall have consented to such supplemental indenture.



                                       51
<PAGE>   60
A supplemental indenture which changes or eliminates any covenant or other
provision of this Indenture which has expressly been included solely for the
benefit of one or more particular series of Securities, or which modifies the
rights of the Holders of Securities of such series with respect to such covenant
or other provision, shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this
Indenture of the Holders of Securities of any other series.

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


SECTION 903.  Execution of Supplemental Indentures.

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


SECTION 904.  Effect of Supplemental Indentures.

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


SECTION 905.  Conformity with Trust Indenture Act.

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


SECTION 906.  Reference in Securities to Supplemental Indentures.

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



                                       52
<PAGE>   61
                                  ARTICLE TEN

                                   COVENANTS


SECTION 1001.  Payment of Principal, Premium and Interest.

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

SECTION 1002.  Maintenance of Office or Agency.

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

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


SECTION 1003.  Money for Securities Payments to Be Held in Trust.

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




                                       53
<PAGE>   62
          Whenever the Company shall have one or more Paying Agents for any
series of Securities, it will, prior to each due date of the principal of or any
premium or interest on any Securities of that series, deposit with a Paying
Agent a sum sufficient to pay such amount, such sum to be held as provided by
the Trust Indenture Act, and (unless such Paying Agent is the Trustee) the
Company will promptly notify the Trustee of its action or failure so to act.

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

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

          Any money or U.S. Government Obligation deposited with the Trustee or
any Paying Agent, or then held by the Company, in trust for the payment of the
principal of or any premium or interest on any Security of any series and
remaining unclaimed for two years after such principal, premium or interest has
become due and payable shall be paid to the Company at its option on Company
Request, or (if then held by the Company) shall be discharged from such trust;
and the Holder of such Security shall thereafter, as an unsecured general
creditor, look only to the Company for payment thereof, and all liability of the
Trustee or such Paying Agent with respect to such trust money, and all liability
of the Company as trustee thereof, shall thereupon cease; provided, however,
that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required to make any such
repayment, may at the expense of the Company cause to be published once, in a
newspaper published in the English language, customarily published on each
Business Day and of general circulation in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York, notice that such money remains unclaimed and that, after a date
specified therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such
publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining will be repaid
to the Company.


SECTION 1004.  Statement by Officers as to Default.

          The Company will deliver to the Trustee, within 120 days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Company ending after the date hereof, an Officers'
Certificate, stating 



                                       54
<PAGE>   63


whether or not to the best knowledge of the signers thereof the Company is in
default in the performance and observance of any of the terms, provisions and
conditions of this Indenture (without regard to any period of grace or
requirement of notice provided hereunder) and, if the Company shall be in
default, specifying all such defaults and the nature and status thereof of which
they may have knowledge.


SECTION 1005.  Existence.

          Subject to Article Eight, the Company will do or cause to be done all
things necessary to preserve and keep in full force and effect its existence,
rights (charter and statutory) and franchises; provided, however, that the
Company shall not be required to preserve any such right or franchise if the
Board of Directors shall determine that the preservation thereof is no longer
desirable in the conduct of the business of the Company and that the loss
thereof is not disadvantageous in any material respect to the Holders.


SECTION 1006.  Maintenance of Properties.

          The Company will cause all buildings and equipment owned by it to be
maintained and kept in such condition, repair and working order as in the
judgment of the Company may be necessary in the interest of its business and
that of its Subsidiaries; provided, however, that nothing in this Section shall
prevent the Company from selling, abandoning or otherwise disposing of, or
discontinuing the operation or maintenance of, any of such properties if such
action is, in the judgment of the Company, desirable in the conduct of its
business or the business of any Subsidiary.


SECTION 1007.  Payment of Taxes.

          The Company will pay or discharge or cause to be paid or discharged,
before the same shall become delinquent, all taxes, assessments and governmental
charges levied or imposed upon the Company or any Subsidiary or upon the income,
profits or property of the Company or any Subsidiary, which, if unpaid, might by
law become a lien upon the property of the Company or any Subsidiary; provided,
however, that the Company shall not be required to pay or discharge or cause to
be paid or discharged any such tax, assessment or governmental charge whose
amount, applicability or validity is being contested in good faith by
appropriate proceedings.


SECTION 1008.  Limitation on Dividends.

          If Securities are issued to an Allstate Trust or a trustee of such
trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities by such Allstate Trust
and (i) there shall have occurred any event of which the Company has actual
knowledge that (A) with the giving of notice or the lapse of time or both, would
constitute an Event of Default and (B) in respect of which the Company shall not
have taken reasonable steps to cure, (ii) the Company shall be in 




                                       55
<PAGE>   64


default with respect to its payment of any obligations under the related
Preferred Securities Guarantee or Common Securities Guarantee, or (iii) the
Company shall have given notice of its election to begin an Extension Period as
provided in this Indenture and shall not have rescinded such notice, or such
period, or any extension thereof, shall be continuing, then the Company shall
not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, (A) declare or pay any dividend on,
make any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (B)
make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the
Company (including other Securities of any series) that rank pari passu with or
junior in interest to such Securities (other than (1) dividends or distributions
in common stock of the Company, (2) redemptions or repurchases of any rights, or
the declaration of a dividend of any rights, or the issuance of any security
under any future rights plan of the Company, (3) purchases or acquisitions of
shares of common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its
obligations under any benefit plans for its or its Subsidiaries' directors,
officers, employees or independent contractors, (4) as a result of a
reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of
one class or series of the Company's capital stock for another class or series
of the Company's capital stock or (5) the purchase of fractional interests in
shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange
provisions of such capital stock of the Company or the security being converted
or exchanged) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing.


SECTION 1009.  Covenants as to Allstate Trusts.

          In the event Securities are issued to an Allstate Trust or a trustee
of such trust in connection with the issuance of Trust Securities of such
Allstate Trust, for so long as such Trust Securities remain outstanding, the
Company will covenant (i) to directly or indirectly maintain 100% ownership of
the Common Securities of such Allstate Trust; provided, however, that any
permitted successor of the Company under this Indenture may succeed to the
Company's ownership of such Common Securities, (ii) to use its reasonable
efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of the Declaration of such
Allstate Trust, to cause such Allstate Trust (a) to remain a statutory business
trust, except in connection with the distribution of Securities to the holders
of Trust Securities in liquidation of such Allstate Trust, the redemption of all
of the Trust Securities of such Allstate Trust, or certain mergers,
consolidations or amalgamations, each as permitted by the Declaration of such
Allstate Trust, and (b) to continue to be classified as a grantor trust for
United States federal income tax purposes and (iii) to use its reasonable
efforts to cause each holder of Trust Securities to be treated as owning an
undivided beneficial interest in the Securities.


SECTION 1010.  Additional Sums.

          In the case of the Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust,
except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 201 or 301, in the
event that (i) an Allstate Trust is the Holder of all of the Outstanding
Securities of such series, (ii) a Tax Event in respect of such Allstate Trust
shall have occurred and be continuing and (iii) the Company 




                                       56
<PAGE>   65
shall not have (A) redeemed the Securities of such series pursuant to Section
1108 or other redemption provision applicable to any series or (B) terminated
such Allstate Trust pursuant to the Declaration of such Allstate Trust, the
Company shall pay to such Allstate Trust (and its permitted successors or
assigns under the Declaration of such Allstate Trust) for so long as such
Allstate Trust (or its permitted successor or assignee) is the Holder of any
Securities of such series, such additional amounts as may be necessary in order
that the amount of Distributions (as defined in such Declaration) then due and
payable by such Allstate Trust on the related Preferred Securities and Common
Securities that at any time remain outstanding in accordance with the terms
thereof shall not be reduced as a result of any Additional Taxes (the
"Additional Sums").  Whenever in this Indenture or the Securities there is a
reference in any context to the payment of principal of or interest on the
Securities, such mention shall be deemed to include mention of the payments of
the Additional Sums provided for in this paragraph to the extent that, in such
context, Additional Sums are, were or would be payable in respect thereof
pursuant to the provisions of this paragraph, and express mention of the payment
of Additional Sums (if applicable) in any provisions hereof shall not be
construed as excluding Additional Sums in those provisions hereof where such
express mention is not made; provided however, that the deferral of the payment
of interest pursuant to section 311 or the Securities shall not defer the
payment of any Additional Sums that may be due and payable.

SECTION 1011.  Waiver of Certain Covenants.

          Except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
Securities of such series, the Company may, with respect to the Securities of
any series, omit in any particular instance to comply with any term, provision
or condition set forth in any covenant provided pursuant to Section 301(18),
901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such series or in any of
Sections 1006 to 1010, inclusive, if before the time for such compliance the
Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Outstanding Securities
of such series shall, by Act of such Holders, either waive such compliance in
such instance or generally waive compliance with such term, provision or
condition, but no such waiver shall extend to or affect such term, provision or
condition except to the extent so expressly waived, and, until such waiver shall
become effective, the obligations of the Company and the duties of the Trustee
in respect of any such term, provision or condition shall remain in full force
and effect.


                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN

                            REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES


SECTION 1101.  Applicability of Article.

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



                                       57
<PAGE>   66
SECTION 1102.  Election to Redeem; Notice to Trustee.

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


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

          If less than all the Securities of any series are to be redeemed
(unless all the Securities of such series and of a specified tenor are to be
redeemed or unless such redemption affects only a single Security), the
particular Securities to be redeemed shall be selected not more than 45 days
prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee, from the Outstanding Securities of
such series not previously called for redemption, by such method as the Trustee
shall deem fair and appropriate and which may provide for the selection for
redemption of a portion of the principal amount of any Security of such series,
provided that the unredeemed portion of the principal amount of any Security
shall be in an authorized denomination (which shall not be less than the minimum
authorized denomination) for such Security. If less than all the Securities of
such series and of a specified tenor are to be redeemed (unless such redemption
affects only a single Security), the particular Securities to be redeemed shall
be selected not more than 45 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Trustee,
from the Outstanding Securities of such series and specified tenor not
previously called for redemption in accordance with the preceding sentence.

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

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

          For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context otherwise
requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities shall relate,
in the case of any 



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<PAGE>   67


Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to the portion of the
principal amount of such Securities which has been or is to be redeemed.


SECTION 1104.  Notice of Redemption.

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

          All notices of redemption shall state:

          (1) the Redemption Date,

          (2) the Redemption Price,

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

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

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

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

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

SECTION 1105.  Deposit of Redemption Price.

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



                                       59
<PAGE>   68
SECTION 1106.  Securities Payable on Redemption Date.

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

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


SECTION 1107.  Securities Redeemed in Part.

          Any Security which is to be redeemed only in part shall be surrendered
at a Place of Payment therefor (with, if the Company or the Trustee so requires,
due endorsement by, or a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to
the Company and the Trustee duly executed by, the Holder thereof or his attorney
duly authorized in writing), and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver to the Holder of such Security without service
charge, a new Security or Securities of the same series and of like tenor, of
any authorized denomination as requested by such Holder, in aggregate principal
amount equal to and in exchange for the unredeemed portion of the principal of
the Security so surrendered.

SECTION 1108.  Right of Redemption of Securities Issued to an Allstate Trust.

          In the case of the Securities of a series issued to an Allstate Trust,
except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section 301, the Company, at
its option, may redeem such Securities (i) on or after the date five years after
the date of original issuance of such Securities, in whole at any time or in
part from time to time, or (ii) upon the occurrence and during the continuation
of a Special Event in respect of such Allstate Trust, at any time within 90 days
following the occurrence of such Special Event, in whole (but not in part), in
each case at a Redemption Price equal to 100% of the principal amount thereof.




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<PAGE>   69


                                 ARTICLE TWELVE

                                 SINKING FUNDS


SECTION 1201.  Applicability of Article.

          The provisions of this Article shall be applicable to any sinking fund
for the retirement of Securities of any series except as otherwise specified as
contemplated by Section 301 for such Securities.

          The minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the
terms of any Securities is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund
payment", and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the
terms of such Securities is herein referred to as an "optional sinking fund
payment".  If provided for by the terms of any Securities, the cash amount of
any sinking fund payment may be subject to reduction as provided in Section
1202.  Each sinking fund payment shall be applied to the redemption of
Securities as provided for by the terms of such Securities.


SECTION 1202.  Satisfaction of Sinking Fund Payments with Securities.

          The Company (1) may deliver Outstanding Securities of a series (other
than any previously called for redemption) and (2) may apply as a credit
Securities of a series which have been redeemed either at the election of the
Company pursuant to the terms of such Securities or through the application of
permitted optional sinking fund payments pursuant to the terms of such
Securities, in each case in satisfaction of all or any part of any sinking fund
payment with respect to any Securities of such series required to be made
pursuant to the terms of such Securities as and to the extent provided for by
the terms of such Securities; provided that the Securities to be so credited
have not been previously so credited.  The Securities to be so credited shall be
received and credited for such purpose by the Trustee at the Redemption Price,
as specified in the Securities so to be redeemed, for redemption through
operation of the sinking fund and the amount of such sinking fund payment shall
be reduced accordingly.


SECTION 1203.   Redemption of Securities for Sinking Fund.

          Not less than 45 days prior to each sinking fund payment date for any
Securities, the Company will deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
specifying the amount of the next ensuing sinking fund payment for such
Securities pursuant to the terms of such Securities, the portion thereof, if
any, which is to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion thereof, if
any, which is to be satisfied by delivering and crediting Securities pursuant to
Section 1202 and will also deliver to the Trustee any Securities to be so
delivered.  Not less than 30 days prior to each such sinking fund payment date,
the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed upon such sinking fund
payment date in the manner specified in Section 1103 and cause notice of the
redemption thereof to be 



                                       61
<PAGE>   70


given in the name of and at the expense of the Company in the manner provided in
Section 1104.  Such notice having been duly given, the redemption of such
Securities shall be made upon the terms and in the manner stated in Sections
1106 and 1107.


                                ARTICLE THIRTEEN

                       DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE


SECTION 1301.  Company's Option to Effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

          The Company may elect, at its option at any time, to have Section 1302
or Section 1303 applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the
case may be, designated pursuant to Section 301 as being defeasible pursuant to
such Section 1302 or 1303, in accordance with any applicable requirements
provided pursuant to Section 301 and upon compliance with the conditions set
forth below in this Article.  Any such election shall be evidenced by a Board
Resolution or in another manner specified as contemplated by Section 301 for
such Securities.


SECTION 1302.  Defeasance and Discharge.

          Upon the Company's exercise of its option (if any) to have this
Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may
be, the Company shall be deemed to have been discharged from its obligations
with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after the
date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter called
"Defeasance").  For this purpose, such Defeasance means that the Company shall
be deemed to have paid and discharged the entire indebtedness represented by
such Securities and to have satisfied all its other obligations under such
Securities and this Indenture insofar as such Securities are concerned (and the
Trustee, at the expense of the Company, shall execute proper instruments
acknowledging the same), subject to the following which shall survive until
otherwise terminated or discharged hereunder: (1) the rights of Holders of such
Securities to receive, solely from the trust fund described in Section 1304 and
as more fully set forth in such Section, payments in respect of the principal of
and any premium and interest on such Securities when payments are due, (2) the
Company's obligations with respect to such Securities under Sections 304, 305,
306, 1002 and 1003, (3) the rights, powers, trusts, duties and immunities of the
Trustee hereunder and (4) this Article.  Subject to compliance with this
Article, the Company may exercise its option (if any) to have this Section
applied to any Securities notwithstanding the prior exercise of its option (if
any) to have Section 1303 applied to such Securities.

                                       62
<PAGE>   71



SECTION 1303.  Covenant Defeasance.

          Upon the Company's exercise of its option (if any) to have this
Section applied to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may
be, (1) the Company shall be released from its obligations under Section 801(3),
Sections 1006 through 1009, inclusive, and any covenants provided pursuant to
Section 301(18), 901(2) or 901(7) for the benefit of the Holders of such
Securities and (2) the occurrence of any event specified in Sections 501(4)
(with respect to any of Section 801(3), Sections 1006 through 1009, inclusive,
and any such covenants provided pursuant to Section 301(18), 901(2) or 901(7))
and 501(7) shall be deemed not to be or result in an Event of Default, in each
case with respect to such Securities as provided in this Section on and after
the date the conditions set forth in Section 1304 are satisfied (hereinafter
called "Covenant Defeasance").  For this purpose, such Covenant Defeasance means
that, with respect to such Securities, the Company may omit to comply with and
shall have no liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set
forth in any such specified Section (to the extent so specified in the case of
Section 501(4)), whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference
elsewhere herein to any such Section or by reason of any reference in any such
Section to any other provision herein or in any other document, but the
remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.


SECTION 1304.  Conditions to Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance.

          The following shall be the conditions to the application of Section
1302 or Section 1303 to any Securities or any series of Securities, as the case
may be:

          (1)  The Company shall irrevocably have deposited or caused to be
     deposited with the Trustee (or another trustee which satisfies the
     requirements contemplated by Section 609 and agrees to comply with the
     provisions of this Article applicable to it) as trust funds in trust for
     the purpose of making the following payments, specifically pledged as
     security for, and dedicated solely to, the benefits of the Holders of such
     Securities, (A) money in an amount, or (B) U.S. Government Obligations
     which through the scheduled payment of principal and interest in respect
     thereof in accordance with their terms will provide, not later than one day
     before the due date of any payment, money in an amount, or (C) a
     combination thereof, in each case sufficient, in the opinion of a
     nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in a
     written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee, to pay and
     discharge, and which shall be applied by the Trustee (or any such other
     qualifying trustee) to pay and discharge, the principal of and any premium
     and interest on such Securities on the respective Stated Maturities, in
     accordance with the terms of this Indenture and such Securities.  As used
     herein, "U.S. Government Obligation" means (x) any security which is (i) a
     direct obligation of the United States of America for the payment of which
     the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged or
     (ii) an obligation of a Person controlled or supervised by and acting as an
     agency or instrumentality of the United States of America the payment of
     which is unconditionally guaranteed as a full faith and credit obligation
     by the United States of America, which, in either case (i) or (ii), is not
     callable or redeemable at the option 


                                       63
<PAGE>   72


     of the issuer thereof, and (y) any depositary receipt issued by a bank
     (as defined in Section 3(a)(2) of the Securities Act) as custodian with
     respect to any U.S. Government Obligation which is specified in Clause (x)
     above and held by such bank for the account of the holder of such
     depositary receipt, or with respect to any specific payment of principal
     of or interest on any U.S. Government Obligation which is so specified and
     held, provided that (except as required by law) such custodian is not
     authorized to make any deduction from the amount payable to the holder of
     such depositary receipt from any amount received by the custodian in
     respect of the U.S. Government Obligation or the specific payment of
     principal or interest evidenced by such depositary receipt.

          (2)  In the event of an election to have Section 1302 apply to any
     Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company
     shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that (A)
     the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal
     Revenue Service a ruling or (B) since the date of this instrument, there
     has been a change in the applicable federal income tax law, in either case
     (A) or (B) to the effect that, and based thereon such opinion shall
     confirm that, the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or 
     loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit, 
     Defeasance and discharge to be effected with respect to such Securities 
     and will be subject to federal income tax on the same amount, in the same
     manner and at the same times as would be the case if such deposit, 
     Defeasance and discharge were not to occur.

          (3)  In the event of an election to have Section 1303 apply to any
     Securities or any series of Securities, as the case may be, the Company
     shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect
     that the Holders of such Securities will not recognize gain or loss for
     federal income tax purposes as a result of the deposit and Covenant
     Defeasance to be effected with respect to such Securities and will be
     subject to Federal income tax on the same amount, in the same manner and at
     the same times as would be the case if such deposit and Covenant Defeasance
     were not to occur.

          (4)  The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer's
     Certificate to the effect that it has been informed by the relevant
     securities exchange(s) that neither such Securities nor any other
     Securities of the same series, if then listed on any securities exchange,
     will be delisted as a result of such deposit.

          (5)  No event which is, or after notice or lapse of time or both would
     become, an Event of Default with respect to such Securities or any other
     Securities shall have occurred and be continuing at the time of such
     deposit or, with regard to any such event specified in Sections 501(5) and
     (6), at any time on or prior to the 90th day after the date of such deposit
     (it being understood that this condition shall not be deemed satisfied
     until after such 90th day).

          (6)  Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in a
     breach or violation of, or constitute a default under, any indenture or
     other agreement or instrument for borrowed money to which the Company is a
     party or by which it is bound.


                                       64
<PAGE>   73


          (7)  Such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance shall not result in the
      trust arising from such deposit constituting an investment company 
      within the meaning of the Investment Company Act unless such trust
      shall be  registered under such Act or exempt from registration
      thereunder.

          (8)  The Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officer's
      Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions
      precedent with respect to such Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance have
      been complied with.


SECTION 1305.  Deposited Money and U.S. Government Obligations to Be Held in
               Trust; Miscellaneous Provisions.

          Subject to the provisions of the last paragraph of Section 1003, all
money and U.S. Government Obligations (including the proceeds thereof) deposited
with the Trustee or other qualifying trustee (solely for purposes of this
Section and Section 1306, the Trustee and any such other trustee are referred to
collectively as the "Trustee") pursuant to Section 1304 in respect of any
Securities shall be held in trust and applied by the Trustee, in accordance with
the provisions of such Securities and this Indenture, to the payment, either
directly or through any such Paying Agent (including the Company acting as its
own Paying Agent) as the Trustee may determine, to the Holders of such
Securities, of all sums due and to become due thereon in respect of principal
and any premium and interest, but money so held in trust need not be segregated
from other funds except to the extent required by law.

          The Company shall pay and indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee
or other charge imposed on or assessed against the U.S. Government Obligations
deposited pursuant to Section 1304 or the principal and interest received in
respect thereof other than any such tax, fee or other charge which by law is for
the account of the Holders of Outstanding Securities.

          Anything in this Article to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee
shall deliver or pay to the Company from time to time upon Company Request any
money or U.S. Government Obligations held by it as provided in Section 1304 with
respect to any Securities which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm
of independent public accountants expressed in a written certification thereof
delivered to the Trustee, are in excess of the amount thereof which would then
be required to be deposited to effect the Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as
the case may be, with respect to such Securities.


SECTION 1306.  Reinstatement.

          If the Trustee or the Paying Agent is unable to apply any money in
accordance with this Article with respect to any Securities by reason of any
order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining
or otherwise prohibiting such application, then the obligations under this
Indenture and such Securities from which the Company has been discharged or
released pursuant to Section 1302 or 1303 shall be revived and reinstated as
though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article with respect to such
Securities, 


                                      65
<PAGE>   74


until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all money
held in trust pursuant to Section 1305 with respect to such Securities in
accordance with this Article; provided, however, that if the Company makes any
payment of principal of or any premium or interest on any such Security
following such reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated
to the rights (if any) of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment
from the money so held in trust.


                                ARTICLE FOURTEEN

                          SUBORDINATION OF SECURITIES


SECTION 1401.  Agreement to Subordinate.

          The Company covenants and agrees, and each Holder of Securities issued
hereunder and under any supplemental indenture or by any resolutions by the
Board of Directors ("Additional Provisions") by such Holder's acceptance thereof
likewise covenants and agrees, that all Securities shall be issued subject to
the provisions of this Article Fourteen; and each holder of a Security, whether
upon original issue or upon transfer or assignment thereof, accepts and agrees
to be bound by such provisions.

          The payment by the Company of the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on all Securities issued hereunder and under any Additional Provisions
shall, to the extent and in the manner hereinafter set forth, be subordinate in
right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company, whether outstanding at the date of this Indenture or thereafter
incurred.

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


SECTION 1402.  Default on Senior Indebtedness.

          In the event and during the continuation of any default by the Company
in the payment of principal, premium, interest or any other payment due on any
Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, or in the event that the
maturity of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, has been
accelerated because of a default, then, in either case, no payment shall be made
by the Company with respect to the principal (including redemption and sinking
fund payments) of, or premium, if any, or interest on the Securities.

          In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment shall be
received by the Trustee when such payment is prohibited by the preceding
paragraph of this Section 1402, such payment shall be held in trust for the
benefit of, and shall be paid over or delivered to, the holders of Senior
Indebtedness or their respective representatives, or to the trustee or trustees
under any indenture pursuant to which any of such Senior Indebtedness 


                                       66
<PAGE>   75


may have been issued, as their respective interests may appear, but only to the
extent that the holders of the Senior Indebtedness (or their representative or
representatives or a trustee) notify the Trustee in writing within 90 days of
such payment of the amounts then due and owing on the Senior Indebtedness and
only the amounts specified in such notice to the Trustee shall be paid to the
holders of Senior Indebtedness.


SECTION 1403.  Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy.

          Upon any payment by the Company or distribution of assets of the
Company of any kind or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to
creditors upon any dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization of
the Company, whether voluntary or involuntary or in bankruptcy, insolvency,
receivership or other proceedings, all amounts due upon all Senior Indebtedness
of the Company shall first be paid in full, or payment thereof provided for in
money in accordance with its terms, before any payment is made by the Company on
account of the principal (and premium, if any) or interest on the Securities;
and upon any such dissolution or winding-up or liquidation or reorganization,
any payment by the Company, or distribution of assets of the Company of any kind
or character, whether in cash, property or securities, to which the Holders or
the Trustee would be entitled to receive from the Company, except for the
provisions of this Article Fourteen, shall be paid by the Company or by any
receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidating trustee, agent or other Person
making such payment or distribution, or by the Holders or by the Trustee under
the Indenture if received by them or it, directly to the holders of Senior
Indebtedness of the Company (pro rata to such holders on the basis of the
respective amounts of Senior Indebtedness held by such holders, as calculated by
the Company) or their representative or representatives, or to the trustee or
trustees under any indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such
Senior Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective interests may
appear, to the extent necessary to pay such Senior Indebtedness in full, in
money or money's worth, after giving effect to any concurrent payment or
distribution to or for the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, before any
payment or distribution is made to the Holders or to the Trustee.

          In the event that, notwithstanding the foregoing, any payment or
distribution of assets of the Company of any kind or character, whether in cash,
property or securities, prohibited by the foregoing, shall be received by the
Trustee before all Senior Indebtedness of the Company is paid in full, or
provision is made for such payment in money in accordance with its terms, such
payment or distribution shall be held in trust for the benefit of and shall be
paid over or delivered to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness or their
representative or representatives, or to the trustee or trustees under any
indenture pursuant to which any instruments evidencing such Senior Indebtedness
may have been issued, and their respective interests may appear, as calculated
by the Company, for application to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company, as the case may be, remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay
such Senior Indebtedness in full in money in accordance with its terms, after
giving effect to any concurrent payment or distribution to or for the benefit of
the holders of such Senior Indebtedness.


                                       67
<PAGE>   76


          For purposes of this Article Fourteen, the words "cash, property or
securities" shall not be deemed to include shares of stock of the Company as
reorganized or readjusted, or securities of the Company or any other corporation
provided for by a plan of reorganization or readjustment, the payment of which
is subordinated at least to the extent provided in this Article Fourteen with
respect to the Securities to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company, as the case may be, that may at the time be outstanding, provided that
(i) such Senior Indebtedness is assumed by the new corporation, if any,
resulting from any such reorganization or readjustment, and (ii) the rights of
the holders of such Senior Indebtedness are not, without the consent of such
holders, altered by such reorganization or readjustment.  The consolidation of
the Company with, or the merger of the Company into, another corporation or the
liquidation or dissolution of the Company following the conveyance or transfer
of its property as an entirety, or substantially as an entirety, to another
corporation upon the terms and conditions provided for in Article Eight of this
Indenture shall not be deemed a dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or
reorganization for the purposes of this Section 1403 if such other corporation
shall, as a part of such consolidation, merger, conveyance or transfer, comply
with the conditions stated in Article Eight of this Indenture.  Nothing in
Section 1402 or in this Section 1403 shall apply to claims of, or payments to,
the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 607 of this Indenture.


SECTION 1404.  Subrogation.

          Subject to the payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the
Company, the rights of the Holders shall be subrogated to the rights of the
holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive payments or distributions of
cash, property or securities of the Company, as the case may be, applicable to
such Senior Indebtedness until the principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on the Securities shall be paid in full; and, for the purposes of such
subrogation, no payments or distributions to the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness of any cash, property or securities to which the Holders or the
Trustee would be entitled except for the provisions of this Article Fourteen,
and no payment over pursuant to the provisions of this Article Fourteen to or
for the benefit of the holders of such Senior Indebtedness by Holders or the
Trustee, shall, as between the Company, its creditors other than holders of
Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the Holders of the Securities, be deemed
to be a payment by the Company to or on account of such Senior Indebtedness.  It
is understood that the provisions of this Article Fourteen are and are intended
solely for the purposes of defining the relative rights of the Holders of the
Securities, on the one hand, and the holders of such Senior Indebtedness on the
other hand.

          Nothing contained in this Article Fourteen or elsewhere in this
Indenture, any Additional Provisions or in the Securities is intended to or
shall impair, as between the Company, its creditors other than the holders of
Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and the Holders of the Securities, the
obligation of the Company, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay to the
Holders of the Securities the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on
the Securities as and when the same shall become due and payable in accordance
with their terms, or is intended to or shall affect the relative rights of the
Holders of the Securities and creditors of the Company, as the case may be,
other than the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may
be, nor shall anything herein or therein prevent the 

                                       68
<PAGE>   77
 
Trustee or the Holder of any Security from exercising all remedies otherwise
permitted by applicable law upon default under this Indenture, subject to the
rights, if any, under this Article Fourteen of the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness in respect of cash, property or securities of the Company, as the
case may be, received upon the exercise of any such remedy.

          Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Company referred to
in this Article Fourteen, the Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Six
of this Indenture, and the Holders shall be entitled to conclusively rely upon
any order or decree made by any court of competent jurisdiction in which such
dissolution, winding-up, liquidation or reorganization proceedings are pending,
or a certificate of the receiver, trustee in bankruptcy, liquidation trustee,
agent or other Person making such payment or distribution, delivered to the
Trustee or to the Holders, for the purposes of ascertaining the Persons entitled
to participate in such distribution, the holders of Senior Indebtedness and
other indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be, the amount thereof or
payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other
facts pertinent thereto or to this Article Fourteen.


SECTION 1405.  Trustee to Effectuate Subordination.

          Each Holder by such Holder's acceptance thereof authorizes and directs
the Trustee on such Holder's behalf to take such action as may be necessary or
appropriate to effectuate the subordination provided in this Article Fourteen
and appoints the Trustee such Holder's attorney-in-fact for any and all such
purposes.


SECTION 1406.  Notice by the Company.

          The Company shall give prompt written notice to a Responsible Officer
of the Trustee of any fact known to the Company that would prohibit the making
of any payment of monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities
pursuant to the provisions of this Article Fourteen.  Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Article Fourteen or any other provision of this Indenture or
any Additional Provisions, the Trustee shall not be charged with knowledge of
the existence of any facts that would prohibit the making of any payment of
monies to or by the Trustee in respect of the Securities pursuant to the
provisions of this Article Fourteen, unless and until a Responsible Officer of
the Trustee shall have received written notice thereof from the Company or a
holder or holders of Senior Indebtedness or from any trustee therefor; and
before the receipt of any such written notice, the Trustee, subject to the
provisions of Article Six of this Indenture, shall be entitled in all respects
to assume that no such facts exist; provided, however, that if the Trustee shall
not have received the notice provided for in this Section 1506 at least two
Business Days prior to the date upon which by the terms hereof any money may
become payable for any purpose (including, without limitation, the payment of
the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any Debenture), then,
anything herein contained to the contrary notwithstanding, the Trustee shall
have full power and authority to receive such money and to apply the same to 



                                       69
<PAGE>   78


the purposes for which they were received, and shall not be affected by any
notice to the contrary that may be received by it within two Business Days prior
to such date.

          The Trustee, subject to the provisions of Article Six of this
Indenture, shall be entitled to conclusively rely on the delivery to it of a
written notice by a Person representing himself to be a holder of Senior
Indebtedness of the Company, as the case may be (or a trustee on behalf of such
holder), to establish that such notice has been given by a holder of such Senior
Indebtedness or a trustee on behalf of any such holder or holders.  In the event
that the Trustee determines in good faith that further evidence is required with
respect to the right of any Person as a holder of such Senior Indebtedness to
participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article Fourteen,
the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable
satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by
such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such
payment or distribution and any other facts pertinent to the rights of such
Person under this Article Fourteen, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the
Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as
to the right of such Person to receive such payment.


SECTION 1407.  Rights of the Trustee; Holders of Senior Indebtedness.

          The Trustee in its individual capacity shall be entitled to all the
rights set forth in this Article Fourteen in respect of any Senior Indebtedness
at any time held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior
Indebtedness, and nothing in this Indenture or any Additional Provisions shall
deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder.

          With respect to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the
Trustee undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its covenants and
obligations as are specifically set forth in this Article Fourteen, and no
implied covenants or obligations with respect to the holders of such Senior
Indebtedness shall be read into this Indenture or any Additional Provisions
against the Trustee.  The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty
to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and, subject to the provisions of
Article Six of this Indenture, the Trustee shall not be liable to any holder of
such Senior Indebtedness if it shall pay over or deliver to Holders, the Company
or any other Person money or assets to which any holder of such Senior
Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article Fourteen or otherwise.

          Nothing in this Article Fourteen shall apply to claims of, or payments
to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 607.


SECTION 1408.  Subordination May Not Be Impaired.

          No right of any present or future holder of any Senior Indebtedness of
the Company to enforce subordination as herein provided shall at any time in any
way be prejudiced or impaired by any act or failure to act on the part of the
Company, as the case may be, or by any act or failure to act, in good faith, by
any such holder, or by any noncompliance by the 


                                       70
<PAGE>   79


Company, as the case may be, with the terms, provisions and covenants of this
Indenture, regardless of any knowledge thereof that any such holder may have or
otherwise be charged with.

          Without in any way limiting the generality of the foregoing paragraph,
the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company may, at any time and from time
to time, without the consent of or notice to the Trustee or the Holders, without
incurring responsibility to the Holders and without impairing or releasing the
subordination provided in this Article Fourteen or the obligations hereunder of
the holders of the Securities to the holders of such Senior Indebtedness, do any
one or more of the following:  (i) change the manner, place or terms of payment
or extend the time of payment of, or renew or alter, such Senior Indebtedness,
or otherwise amend or supplement in any manner such Senior Indebtedness or any
instrument evidencing the same or any agreement under which such Senior
Indebtedness is outstanding; (ii) sell, exchange, release or otherwise deal with
any property pledged, mortgaged or otherwise securing such Senior Indebtedness;
(iii) release any Person liable in any manner for the collection of such Senior
Indebtedness; and (iv) exercise or refrain from exercising any rights against
the Company, as the case may be, and any other Person.


                                       71
<PAGE>   80
 


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

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

                                        THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION


                                        By:  /s/ James P. Zils
                                             -------------------
                                             Name: James P. Zils
                                             Title: Vice President and Treasurer


Attest:

/s/ Robert W. Pike 
- ---------------------
Name: Robert W. Pike 
Title: Secretary

        
                                STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST    
                                COMPANY, as Trustee

                                By: /s/ Harry W. Seemore
                                    -------------------------------
                                    Name: Harry W. Seemore
                                    Title: Assistant Vice President






<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2


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





                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                              DECLARATION OF TRUST

                                       OF

                             ALLSTATE FINANCING II


                         Dated as of November 27, 1996





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

<PAGE>   2





                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              Page
                                                              ----
<S>            <C>                                          <C>
                            ARTICLE I
                  INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS

Section 1.1    Definitions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2

                            ARTICLE II
                       TRUST INDENTURE ACT

Section 2.1    Trust Indenture Act; Application . . . . . . .  11
Section 2.2    Lists of Holders of Securities . . . . . . . .  11
Section 2.3    Reports by the Property Trustee  . . . . . . .  12
Section 2.4    Periodic Reports to Property Trustee . . . . .  12
Section 2.5    Evidence of Compliance with
                  Conditions Precedent  . . . . . . . . . . .  12
Section 2.6    Events of Default; Waiver  . . . . . . . . . .  12
Section 2.7    Event of Default; Notice . . . . . . . . . . .  14

                           ARTICLE III
                           ORGANIZATION

Section 3.1    Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  14
Section 3.2    Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
Section 3.3    Purpose  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
Section 3.4    Authority  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  15
Section 3.5    Title to Property of the Trust . . . . . . . .  15
Section 3.6    Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees  . .  16
Section 3.7    Prohibition of Actions by the Trust
                  and the Trustees  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  19
Section 3.8    Powers and Duties of the Property Trustee  . .  20
Section 3.9    Certain Duties and Responsibilities
                  of the Property Trustee . . . . . . . . . .  22
Section 3.10   Certain Rights of Property Trustee . . . . . .  25
Section 3.11   Delaware Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
Section 3.12   Execution of Documents . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
Section 3.13   Not Responsible for Recitals or
                  Issuance of Securities  . . . . . . . . . .  28
Section 3.14   Duration of Trust  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
Section 3.15   Mergers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28

                            ARTICLE IV
                            DEPOSITOR

Section 4.1    Depositor's Purchase of Common Securities  . .  30
Section 4.2    Responsibilities of the Depositor  . . . . . .  30
</TABLE>





                                       i
<PAGE>   3





<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Page
                                                             ----
<S>            <C>                                           <C>
                            ARTICLE V
                             TRUSTEES

Section 5.1    Number of Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  31
Section 5.2    Delaware Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  32
Section 5.3    Property Trustee; Eligibility  . . . . . . . .  32
Section 5.4    Certain Qualifications of Regular
                  Trustees and Delaware Trustee Generally . .  33
Section 5.5    Regular Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
Section 5.6    Delaware Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
Section 5.7    Appointment, Removal and Resignation
                  of Trustees . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
Section 5.8    Vacancies among Trustees . . . . . . . . . . .  36
Section 5.9    Effect of Vacancies  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
Section 5.10   Meetings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  36
Section 5.11   Delegation of Power  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  37
Section 5.12   Merger, Conversion, Consolidation
                  or Succession to Business . . . . . . . . .  37

                            ARTICLE VI
                          DISTRIBUTIONS

Section 6.1    Distributions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38

                           ARTICLE VII
                      ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES

Section 7.1    General Provisions Regarding Securities  . . .  38
Section 7.2    Registrar, Paying Agent and Exchange Agent . .  39
Section 7.3    Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust  . . . . .  40

                           ARTICLE VIII
                       TERMINATION OF TRUST

Section 8.1    Termination of Trust . . . . . . . . . . . . .  40

                            ARTICLE IX
                      TRANSFER OF INTERESTS

Section 9.1    Transfer of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
Section 9.2    Transfer of Certificates . . . . . . . . . . .  42
Section 9.3    Deemed Security Holders  . . . . . . . . . . .  42
Section 9.4    Book Entry Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
Section 9.5    Notices to Clearing Agency . . . . . . . . . .  43
Section 9.6    Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency . . .  43
</TABLE>





                                       ii
<PAGE>   4


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Page
                                                             ----
<S>                                                          <C>
Section 9.7    Definitive Capital Security Certificates . . .  44
Section 9.8    Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or
                  Stolen Certificates . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
Section 9.9    Cancellation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
Section 9.10   CUSIP Numbers  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45

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

Section 10.1   Liability  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
Section 10.2   Exculpation  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46
Section 10.3   Fiduciary Duty . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  47
Section 10.4   Indemnification  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
Section 10.5   Outside Businesses . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51

                            ARTICLE XI
                            ACCOUNTING

Section 11.1   Fiscal Year  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  52
Section 11.2   Certain Accounting Matters . . . . . . . . . .  52
Section 11.3   Banking  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
Section 11.4   Withholding  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53

                           ARTICLE XII
                     AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS

Section 12.1   Amendments . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
Section 12.2   Meetings of the Holders of Securities;
                  Action by Written Consent . . . . . . . . .  56

                           ARTICLE XIII
               REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE
                       AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE

Section 13.1   Representations and Warranties of
                  Property Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  57
Section 13.2   Representations and Warranties of
                  Delaware Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58

                           ARTICLE XIV
                          MISCELLANEOUS
Section 14.1   Notices  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  59
Section 14.2   Governing Law  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
Section 14.3   Intention of the Parties . . . . . . . . . . .  61
Section 14.4   Headings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  61
</TABLE>





                                      iii
<PAGE>   5





<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                             Page
                                                             ----
<S>            <C>                                           <C>
Section 14.5   Successors and Assigns . . . . . . . . . . . .  61
Section 14.6   Partial Enforceability . . . . . . . . . . . .  61
Section 14.7   Counterparts . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  61

ANNEX I           TERMS OF SECURITIES . . . . . . . . . . . . I-1
EXHIBIT A-1       FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE  . .  A1-1
EXHIBIT A-2       FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE . . .  A2-1
EXHIBIT B         SPECIMEN OF DEBENTURE . . . . . . . . . . . B-1
EXHIBIT C         UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT  . . . . . . . . . . C-1
</TABLE>





                                       iv
<PAGE>   6


                             CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE*


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
     Section of
Trust Indenture Act                          Section of
of 1939, as amended                          Declaration
- -------------------                          -----------
<S>                                          <C>
310(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    5.3(a)
310(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Inapplicable
311(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Inapplicable
312(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2.2(a)
312(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2.2(b)
313 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2.3
314(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2.4
314(b)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Inapplicable
314(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2.5
314(d)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Inapplicable
314(f)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Inapplicable
315(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    3.9(b)
315(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    3.9(a)
315(d)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    3.9(a)
316(a)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    Annex I
316(c)  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    3.6(e)
- ---------------                                    

</TABLE>

*    This Cross-Reference Table does not constitute part of the
     Declaration and shall not affect the interpretation of any of
     its terms or provisions.





                                       v
<PAGE>   7





                              AMENDED AND RESTATED
                              DECLARATION OF TRUST
                                       OF
                             ALLSTATE FINANCING II

                               November 27, 1996

          
          
                    AMENDED AND RESTATED DECLARATION OF TRUST ("Declaration"),
          dated and effective as of November 27, 1996, by the Trustees (as
          defined herein), the Depositor (as defined herein) and by the
          holders, from time to time, of undivided beneficial interests in the
          Trust to be issued pursuant to this Declaration;
          
                    WHEREAS, the Trustees and the Depositor established
          Allstate Financing II (the "Trust"), a trust under the Delaware
          Business Trust Act pursuant to a Declaration of Trust dated as of
          August 21, 1996 (the "Original Declaration") and a Certificate of
          Trust filed with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware on
          August 21, 1996, for the sole purpose of issuing and selling certain
          securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the assets
          of the Trust and investing the proceeds thereof in certain Debentures
          of the Debenture Issuer;
          
                    WHEREAS, as of the date hereof, no interests in the Trust
          have been issued;
          
                    WHEREAS, all of the Trustees and the Depositor, by this
          Declaration, amend and restate each and every term and provision of
          the Original Declaration; and
          
                    NOW, THEREFORE, it being the intention of the parties
          hereto to continue the Trust as a business trust under the Business
          Trust Act and that this Declaration constitute the governing
          instrument of such business trust, the Trustees declare that all
          assets contributed to the Trust will be held in trust for the benefit
          of the holders, from time to time, of the securities representing
          undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust issued
          hereunder, subject to the provisions of this Declaration.

<PAGE>   8
          
          
          
          

                                  ARTICLE I
                       INTERPRETATION AND DEFINITIONS
          
                    Section 1.1  Definitions.
          
                    Unless the context otherwise requires:
          
                         (a)  Capitalized terms used in this Declaration but
          not defined in the preamble above have the respective meanings
          assigned to them in this Section 1.1;
          
                         (b)  a term defined anywhere in this Declaration has
          the same meaning throughout;
          
                         (c)  all references to "the Declaration" or "this
          Declaration" are to this Declaration as modified, supplemented or
          amended from time to time;
          
                         (d)  all references in this Declaration to Articles
          and Sections and Annexes and Exhibits are to Articles and Sections of
          and Annexes and Exhibits to this Declaration unless otherwise
          specified;
          
                         (e)  a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the
          same meaning when used in this Declaration unless otherwise defined
          in this Declaration or unless the context otherwise requires; and
          
                         (f)  a reference to the singular includes the plural
          and vice versa.
          
                    "Affiliate" has the same meaning as given to that term in
          Rule 405 of the Securities Act or any successor rule thereunder.
          
                    "Agent" means any Paying Agent.
          
                    "Authorized Officer" of a Person means any Person that is
          authorized to bind such Person.
          
                    "Bankruptcy Event" means, with respect to any Person:
          
                    (a)  the entry of a decree or order by a court having
          jurisdiction in the premises judging such Person a bankrupt or
          insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking
          reorganization, arrangement, adjudication or composition of or in
          respect of such Person under any applicable Federal or State
          




                                       2
<PAGE>   9





          bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or
          appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee, sequestrator
          (or other similar official) of such Person or of any substantial part
          of its property or ordering the winding up or liquidation of its
          affairs, and the continuance of any such decree or order unstayed and
          in effect for a period of 90 consecutive days; or

                    (b)  the institution by such Person of proceedings to be
          adjudicated a bankrupt or insolvent, or the consent by it to the
          institution of bankruptcy or insolvency proceedings against it, or
          the filing by it of a petition or answer or consent seeking
          reorganization or relief under any applicable Federal or State
          bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other similar law, or the
          consent by it to the filing of any such petition or to the
          appointment of a receiver, liquidator, assignee, trustee,
          sequestrator (or similar official) of such Person or of any
          substantial part of its property, or the making by it of an
          assignment for the benefit of creditors, or the admission by it in
          writing of its inability to pay its debts generally as they become
          due and its willingness to be adjudicated a bankrupt, or the taking
          of corporate action by such Person in furtherance of any such action.

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

                    "Business Day" means any day other than a Saturday or
          Sunday or any day on which banking institutions in New York, New York
          are authorized or required by law or executive order or a day on
          which the corporate trust office of the Property Trustee or the
          Debenture Trustee is closed for business.

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


                    "Capital Securities" and "Capital Security" have the
          meanings specified in Section 7.1.

                    "Capital Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee
          agreement to be dated as of November 27, 1996, of the Depositor in
          respect of the Capital Securities.





                                       3
<PAGE>   10





                    "Capital Security Beneficial Owner" means, with respect to
          a Book Entry Interest, a Person who is the beneficial owner of such
          Book Entry Interest, as reflected on the books of the Clearing
          Agency, or on the books of a Person maintaining an account with such
          Clearing Agency (directly as a Clearing Agency Participant or as an
          indirect participant, in each case in accordance with the rules of
          such Clearing Agency).

                    "Capital Security Certificate" means a certificate
          representing a Capital Security substantially in the form of Exhibit
          A-1.

                    "Certificate" means a Common Security Certificate or a
          Capital Security Certificate.

                    "Clearing Agency" means an organization registered as a
          "Clearing Agency" pursuant to Section 17A of the Exchange Act that is
          acting as depositary for the Capital Securities and in whose name or
          in the name of a nominee of that organization shall be registered a
          Global Certificate and which shall undertake to effect book entry
          transfers and pledges of the Capital Securities.

                    "Clearing Agency Participant" means a broker, dealer, bank,
          other financial institution or other Person for whom from time to
          time the Clearing Agency effects book entry transfers and pledges of
          securities deposited with the Clearing Agency.

                    "Closing Date" means the "Closing Date" and each "Time of
          Delivery" under the Underwriting Agreement.

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

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

                    "Common Securities" and "Common Security" have the meanings
          specified in Section 7.1.

                    "Common Securities Guarantee" means the guarantee agreement
          to be dated as of November 27, 1996 of the Depositor in respect of
          the Common Securities.





                                       4
<PAGE>   11





                    "Common Security Certificate" means a definitive
          certificate in fully registered form representing a Common Security
          substantially in the form of Exhibit A-2.

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

                    "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Property
          Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Property Trustee
          shall, at any particular time, be principally administered, which
          office at the date of execution of this Agreement is located at Two
          International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.

                    "Covered Person" means: (a) any officer, director,
          shareholder, partner, member, representative, employee or agent of
          (i) the Trust or (ii) the Trust's Affiliates; and (b) any Holder of
          Securities.

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

                    "Debenture Trustee" means State Street Bank and Trust
          Company, a Massachusetts trust company, as trustee under the
          Indenture until a successor is appointed thereunder, and thereafter
          means such successor trustee.

                    "Debentures" means the series of Debentures to be issued by
          the Debenture Issuer under the Indenture to be held by the Property
          Trustee, a specimen certificate for such series of Debentures being
          Exhibit B.

                    "Delaware Trustee" means Delaware Trust Capital Management,
          Inc., a Delaware banking corporation, solely in its capacity as
          Delaware Trustee of the Trust heretofore formed and continued
          hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in
          interest in such capacity, or any successor Delaware Trustee
          appointed as herein provided in Section 5.2.

                    "Definitive Capital Security Certificates" has the meaning
          set forth in Section 9.7.





                                       5
<PAGE>   12





                    "Depositor" means The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware
          corporation, in its capacity as depositor of the Trust.

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

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

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

                         (a)  the occurrence of an Indenture Event of Default;
          or

                         (b)  default by the Property Trustee in the payment of
          any Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of
          such default for a period of 30 days; or

                         (c)  default by the Property Trustee in the payment of
          any Redemption Price of any Security when it becomes due and payable;
          or

                         (d)  default in the performance, or breach, in any
          material respect, of any covenant or warranty of the Trustees in this
          Declaration (other than a covenant or warranty, a default in the
          performance of which or the breach of which is dealt with in clause
          (b) or (c) above) and continuation of such default or breach for a
          period of 60 days after there has been given, by registered or
          certified mail, to the defaulting Trustee or Trustees by the Holders
          of at least 25% in aggregate liquidation preference of the
          outstanding Capital Securities, a written notice specifying such
          default or breach and requiring it to be remedied and stating that
          such notice is a "Notice of Default" hereunder; or

                         (e)  the occurrence of a Bankruptcy Event with respect
          to the Property Trustee and the failure by the Depositor to appoint a
          successor Property Trustee within 60 days thereof.

                    "Event Redemption Price", with respect to any redemption of
          Securities upon a redemption of Debentures pursuant to Section 2.7(b)
          of the Second Supplemental Indenture, means an





                                       6
<PAGE>   13





          amount equal to the redemption price of a Like Amount of such
          Debentures pursuant to said Section 2.7(b), plus accrued and unpaid
          Distributions on such Securities to the Redemption Date.

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

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

                    "Global Certificate" has the meaning set forth in Section
          9.4.

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

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

                    "Indenture" means the Subordinated Indenture, dated as of
          November 27, 1996, between the Debenture Issuer and the Debenture
          Trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to which the
          Debentures are to be issued, as amended from time to time.

                    "Indenture Event of Default" means an Event of Default as
          defined in the Indenture.

                    "Investment Company" means an "investment company" as
          defined in the Investment Company Act.

                    "Investment Company Act"  means the Investment Company Act
          of 1940, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.

                    "Investment Company Event" means the receipt by the Trust
          of an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
          that, as a result of the occurrence of a change in law or regulation
          or a change in interpretation or application of law or regulation by
          any legislative body, court, governmental agency or regulatory
          authority (a "Change in Investment Company Act Law"), the Trust is or
          will be considered an "investment company" that is required to be
          registered under the Investment Company Act, which Change in
          Investment Company Act Law becomes effective on or after the date of
          original issuance of the Preferred Securities under this Declaration.





                                       7
<PAGE>   14





                    "Legal Action" has the meaning set forth in Section 3.6(g).

                    "Like-Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of the
          Securities, Securities having a Liquidation Value equal to the
          principal amount of Debentures to be paid in accordance with their
          terms and (ii) with respect to a distribution of Debentures upon the
          liquidation of the Trust, Debentures having a principal amount equal
          to the Liquidation Value of the Securities of the holder to whom such
          Debentures are distributed.

                    "Liquidation Value" means $1,000 per Security.

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

                    "Maturity Redemption Price" means the price equal to the
          Liquidation Value of, plus accrued Distributions on, the Securities.

                    "Ministerial Action" has the meaning set forth in the terms
          of the Securities as set forth in Annex I.

                    "Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person,
          a certificate signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person.  Any
          Officers' Certificate delivered with respect to compliance with a
          condition or covenant provided for in this Declaration shall include:

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

                         (b)  a brief statement of the nature and scope of the
          examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering
          the Certificate;





                                       8
<PAGE>   15





                         (c)  a statement that each such officer has made such
          examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is
          necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to
          whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

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

                    "Optional Redemption Price", with respect to any redemption
          of Securities upon a redemption of Debentures pursuant to Section
          2.7(a) of the Second Supplemental Indenture, means an amount equal to
          the redemption price of a Like Amount of such Debentures pursuant to
          said Section 2.7(a), together with accrued and unpaid Distributions
          on such Securities to the Redemption Date.

                    "Paying Agent" has the meaning specified in Section 7.2.

                    "Person" means a legal person, including any individual,
          corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint
          stock company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated
          association, or government or any agency or political subdivision
          thereof, or any other entity of whatever nature.

                    "Pricing Agreement" means the pricing agreement among the
          Trust, the Depositor, and the underwriters designated by the Regular
          Trustees with respect to the offer and sale of the Capital
          Securities.

                    "Property Trustee" means State Street Bank and Trust
          Company, a Massachusetts trust company, solely in its capacity as
          Property Trustee of the Trust heretofore formed and continued
          hereunder and not in its individual capacity, or its successor in
          interest in such capacity, or any successor Property Trustee
          appointed as herein provided.

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

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





                                       9
<PAGE>   16





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

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

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

                    "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Property
          Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the
          Property Trustee, including any vice-president, any assistant
          vice-president, any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant
          treasurer or other officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the
          Property Trustee customarily performing functions similar to those
          performed by any of the above designated officers and also means,
          with respect to a particular corporate trust matter, any other
          officer to whom such matter is referred because of that officer's
          knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

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

                    "Second Supplemental Indenture" means the Second
          Supplemental Indenture, dated as of November 27, 1996, between the
          Depositor and the Debenture Trustee, as amended from time to time.

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

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

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

                    "Special Event" means the occurrence of a Tax Event or an
          Investment Company Event, as so collectively defined.

                    "Stated Maturity" means December 1, 2045.





                                       10
<PAGE>   17





                    "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Trust of an opinion of
          counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result
          of any amendment to, or change (including any announced prospective
          change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
          States or any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof or
          therein, or as a result of any official administrative pronouncement
          or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or
          regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which
          pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date hereof,
          there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the Trust is, or
          will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to United
          States Federal income tax with respect to income received or accrued
          on the Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Debenture Issuer on
          such Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such
          opinion, will not be, deductible by the Debenture Issuer, in whole or
          in part, for United States Federal income tax purposes, or (iii) the
          Trust is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion,
          subject to more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or
          other governmental charges.

                    "25% in liquidation amount of the Securities" means, except
          as provided in the terms of the Capital Securities or by the Trust
          Indenture Act, Holder(s) of outstanding Securities voting together as
          a single class or, as the context may require, Holders of outstanding
          Capital Securities or Holders of outstanding Common Securities voting
          separately as a class, who are the record owners of 25% or more of
          the aggregate liquidation amount (including the stated amount that
          would be paid on redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued
          and unpaid Distributions to the date upon which the voting
          percentages are determined) of all outstanding Securities of the
          relevant class.

                    "Treasury Regulations" means the income tax regulations,
          including temporary and proposed regulations, promulgated under the
          Code by the United States Treasury, as such regulations may be
          amended from time to time (including corresponding provisions of
          succeeding regulations).

                    "Trustee" or "Trustees" means each Person who has signed
          this Declaration as a trustee, so long as such Person shall continue
          in office in accordance with the terms hereof, and all other Persons
          who may from time to time be duly appointed, qualified and serving as
          Trustees in accordance with the provisions hereof, and references
          herein to a Trustee or the Trustees shall refer to such Person or
          Persons solely in their capacity as trustees hereunder.





                                       11
<PAGE>   18





                    "Trust Indenture Act" means the Trust Indenture Act of
          1939, as amended from time to time, or any successor legislation.

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


                                   ARTICLE II
                              TRUST INDENTURE ACT

                    Section 2.1  Trust Indenture Act; Application.

                         (a)  This Declaration is subject to the provisions of
          the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this
          Declaration and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed by such
          provisions.

                         (b)  The Property Trustee shall be the only Trustee
          which is a Trustee for the purposes of the Trust Indenture Act.

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

                         (d)  The application of the Trust Indenture Act to
          this Declaration shall not affect the nature of the Securities as
          equity securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the
          assets of the Trust.

                    Section 2.2  Lists of Holders of Securities.

                         (a)  Each of the Depositor and the Regular Trustees on
          behalf of the Trust shall provide the Property Trustee, unless the
          Property Trustee is Registrar for the Securities (i) within 14 days
          after each record date for payment of Distributions, a list, in such
          form as the Property Trustee may reasonably require, of the names and
          addresses of the Holders of the Securities ("List of Holders") as of
          such record date; provided that neither the Depositor nor the Regular
          Trustees on behalf of the Trust shall be obligated to provide such
          List of Holders at any time the List of Holders does not differ from
          the most recent List of Holders given to the Property Trustee by the
          Depositor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust, and (ii)
          at any other time, within 30 days of receipt by the Trust of a
          written




                                       12
<PAGE>   19





          request for a List of Holders as of a date no more than 14 days
          before such List of Holders is given to the Property Trustee.  The
          Property Trustee shall preserve, in as current a form as is
          reasonably practicable, all information contained in Lists of Holders
          given to it or which it receives in the capacity as Paying Agent (if
          acting in such capacity); provided that the Property Trustee may
          destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a
          new List of Holders.

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

                    Section 2.3  Reports by the Property Trustee.

                    Within 60 days after May 15 of each year, commencing May
          15, 1997, the Property Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the
          Capital Securities such reports as are required by Section 313 of the
          Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and in the manner provided
          by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act.  The Property Trustee
          shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of the
          Trust Indenture Act.

                    Section 2.4  Periodic Reports to Property Trustee.

                    Each of the Depositor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of
          the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such documents,
          reports and information as required by Section 314 (if any) and the
          compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust
          Indenture Act in the form, in the manner and at the times required by
          Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act.

                    Section 2.5  Evidence of Compliance with Conditions
          Precedent.

                    Each of the Depositor and the Regular Trustees on behalf of
          the Trust shall provide to the Property Trustee such evidence of
          compliance with any conditions precedent, if any, provided for in
          this Declaration that relate to any of the matters set forth in
          Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.  Any certificate or
          opinion required to be given by an officer pursuant to Section
          314(c)(1) of the Trust Indenture Act may be given in the form of an
          Officers' Certificate.





                                       13
<PAGE>   20





                    Section 2.6  Events of Default; Waiver.

                         (a)  The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount
          of Capital Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all
          of the Capital Securities, waive any past Event of Default in respect
          of the Capital Securities and its consequences; provided that, if the
          underlying Event of Default under the Indenture is not waivable under
          the Indenture, the Event of Default under this Declaration shall also
          not be waivable.

                    The foregoing provisions of this Section 2.6(a) shall be in
          lieu of Section  316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such
          Section  316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act is hereby expressly
          excluded from this Declaration and the Securities, as permitted by
          the Trust Indenture Act.  Upon such waiver, any such default shall
          cease to exist, and any Event of Default with respect to the Capital
          Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for
          every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall extend to
          any subsequent or other default or an Event of Default with respect
          to the Capital Securities or impair any right consequent thereon.
          Any waiver by the Holders of the Capital Securities of an Event of
          Default with respect to the Capital Securities shall also be deemed
          to constitute a waiver by the Holders of the Common Securities of any
          such Event of Default with respect to the Common Securities for all
          purposes of this Declaration without any further act, vote or consent
          of the Holders of the Common Securities.

                         (b)  The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount
          of the Common Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of
          all of the Common Securities, waive any past Event of Default with
          respect to the Common Securities and its consequences; provided that,
          if the underlying Event of Default under the Indenture is not
          waivable under the Indenture, except where the Holders of the Common
          Securities are deemed to have waived such Event of Default under the
          Declaration as provided below in this Section 2.6(b), the Event of
          Default under the Declaration shall also not be waivable; provided
          further, each Holder of Common Securities will be deemed to have
          waived any such Event of Default and all Events of Default with
          respect to the Common Securities and its consequences until all
          Events of Default with respect to the Capital Securities have been
          cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, and until such Events of
          Default have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the
          Property Trustee will be deemed to be acting solely on behalf of the
          Holders of the Capital Securities and only the Holders of the Capital
          Securities will have the right to direct the Property Trustee in
          accordance




                                       14
<PAGE>   21





          with the terms of the Securities.  The foregoing provisions of this
          Section 2.6(b) shall be in lieu of Sections 316(a)(1)(A) and
          316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act and such Sections
          316(a)(1)(A) and 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust Indenture Act are hereby
          expressly excluded from this Declaration and the Securities, as
          permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.  Subject to the foregoing
          provisions of this Section 2.6(b), upon such waiver, any such default
          shall cease to exist and any Event of Default with respect to the
          Common Securities arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been
          cured for every purpose of this Declaration, but no such waiver shall
          extend to any subsequent or other default or Event of Default with
          respect to the Common Securities or impair any right consequent
          thereon.

                         (c)  A waiver of an Event of Default under the
          Indenture by the Property Trustee at the direction of the Holders of
          the Capital Securities constitutes a waiver of the corresponding
          Event of Default under this Declaration.  The foregoing provisions of
          this Section 2.6(c) shall be in lieu of Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the
          Trust Indenture Act and such Section 316(a)(1)(B) of the Trust
          Indenture Act is hereby expressly excluded from this Declaration and
          the Securities, as permitted by the Trust Indenture Act.

                    Section 2.7  Event of Default; Notice.

                         (a)  The Property Trustee shall, within five Business
          Days after the occurrence of an Event of Default actually known to
          the Property Trustee, transmit by mail, first class postage prepaid,
          to the Holders of the Securities, the Regular Trustees and the
          Depositor, notices of all defaults with respect to the Securities
          actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee,
          unless such defaults have been cured or waived before the giving of
          such notice (the term "defaults" for the purposes of this Section
          2.7(a) being hereby defined to be an Event of Default as defined in
          the Indenture, not including any periods of grace provided for
          therein and irrespective of the giving of any notice provided
          therein); provided that, except for a default in the payment of
          principal of (or premium, if any) or interest on any of the
          Debentures or in the payment of any sinking fund installment
          established for the Debentures, the Property Trustee shall be
          protected in withholding such notice if and so long as a Responsible
          Officer of the Property Trustee in good faith determines that the
          withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Holders of the
          Securities.





                                       15
<PAGE>   22





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

                              (1)  a default under Sections 5.01(a) and 5.01(b)
          of the Indenture; or

                              (2)  any default as to which the Property Trustee
          shall have received written notice or of which a Responsible Officer
          of the Property Trustee charged with the administration of the
          Declaration shall have actual knowledge.


                                  ARTICLE III
                                  ORGANIZATION

                    Section 3.1  Name.

                    The Trust is named "Allstate Financing II", as such name
          may be modified from time to time by the Regular Trustees following
          written notice to the Holders of Securities.  The Trust's activities
          may be conducted under the name of the Trust or any other name deemed
          advisable by the Regular Trustees.

                    Section 3.2  Office.

                    The address of the principal office of the Trust is c/o The
          Allstate Corporation, 2775 Sanders Road, Northbrook, Illinois 60062.
          On ten Business Days written notice to the Holders of Securities, the
          Regular Trustees may designate another principal office.

                    Section 3.3  Purpose.

                    The exclusive purposes and functions of the Trust are (a)
          to issue and sell Securities and use the proceeds from such sale to
          acquire the Debentures, and (b) except as otherwise limited herein,
          to engage in only those other activities necessary, advisable or
          incidental thereto.  The Trust shall not borrow money, issue debt or
          reinvest proceeds derived from investments, pledge any of its assets,
          or otherwise undertake (or permit to be undertaken) any activity that
          would cause the Trust not to be classified for United States federal
          income tax purposes as a grantor trust.





                                       16
<PAGE>   23





                    Section 3.4  Authority.

                    Subject to the limitations provided in this Declaration and
          to the specific duties of the Property Trustee, the Regular Trustees
          shall have exclusive and complete authority to carry out the purposes
          of the Trust.  An action taken by the Regular Trustees in accordance
          with their powers shall constitute the act of and serve to bind the
          Trust and an action taken by the Property Trustee on behalf of the
          Trust in accordance with its powers shall constitute the act of and
          serve to bind the Trust.  In dealing with the Trustees acting on
          behalf of the Trust, no person shall be required to inquire into the
          authority of the Trustees to bind the Trust.  Persons dealing with
          the Trust are entitled to rely conclusively on the power and
          authority of the Trustees as set forth in this Declaration.

                    Section 3.5  Title to Property of the Trust.

                    Except as provided in Section 3.8 with respect to the
          Debentures and the Property Trustee Account or as otherwise provided
          in this Declaration, legal title to all assets of the Trust shall be
          vested in the Trust.  The Holders shall not have legal title to any
          part of the assets of the Trust, but shall have an undivided
          beneficial interest in the assets of the Trust.

                    Section 3.6  Powers and Duties of the Regular Trustees.

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

                         (a)  to issue and sell the Capital Securities and the
          Common Securities in accordance with this Declaration; provided,
          however, that the Trust may issue no more than one series of Capital
          Securities and no more than one series of Common Securities, and,
          provided further, that there shall be no interests in the Trust other
          than the Securities, and the issuance of Securities shall be limited
          to a simultaneous issuance of both Capital Securities and Common
          Securities on each Closing Date;

                         (b)  in connection with the issuance and sale of the
          Capital Securities, at the direction of the Depositor, to:

                              (i)  execute and file with the Commission the
               registration statement on Form S-3 prepared by





                                       17
<PAGE>   24





               the Depositor, including any amendments thereto, pertaining to
               the Capital Securities;

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

                              (iii)  execute and file an application, prepared
               by the Depositor, to the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. or any
               other national stock exchange or the Nasdaq Stock Market's
               National Market for listing upon notice of issuance of any
               Capital Securities;

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

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

                              (vi)  execute and enter into the Underwriting
               Agreement and Pricing Agreement providing for the sale of the
               Capital Securities;

                         (c)  to acquire the Debentures with the proceeds of
          the sale of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities;
          provided, however, that the Regular Trustees shall cause legal title
          to the Debentures to be held of record in the name of the Property
          Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities and
          the Holders of Common Securities;

                         (d)  to give the Depositor and the Property Trustee
          prompt written notice of the occurrence of a Special Event; provided
          that the Regular Trustees shall consult with the Depositor and the
          Property Trustee before taking or refraining from taking any
          Ministerial Action in relation to a Special Event;

                         (e)  to establish a record date with respect to all
          actions to be taken hereunder that require a record date be





                                       18
<PAGE>   25





          established, including and with respect to, for the purposes of
          Section 316(c) of the Trust Indenture Act, Distributions, voting
          rights, redemptions and exchanges, and to issue relevant notices to
          the Holders of Capital Securities and Holders of Common Securities as
          to such actions and applicable record dates;

                         (f)  to take all actions and perform such duties as
          may be required of the Regular Trustees pursuant to the terms of the
          Securities;

                         (g)  to bring or defend, pay, collect, compromise,
          arbitrate, resort to legal action, or otherwise adjust claims or
          demands of or against the Trust ("Legal Action"), unless pursuant to
          Section 3.8(e), the Property Trustee has the exclusive power to bring
          such Legal Action;

                         (h)  to employ or otherwise engage employees and
          agents (who may be designated as officers with titles) and managers,
          contractors, advisors, and consultants and pay reasonable
          compensation for such services;

                         (i)  to cause the Trust to comply with the Trust's
          obligations under the Trust Indenture Act;

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

                         (k)  to incur expenses that are necessary or
          incidental to carry out any of the purposes of the Trust;

                         (l)  to act as, or appoint another Person to act as,
          registrar and transfer agent for the Securities;

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

                         (n)  to execute all documents or instruments, perform
          all duties and powers, and do all things for and on behalf of the
          Trust in all matters necessary or incidental to the foregoing;

                         (o)  to take all action that may be necessary or
          appropriate for the preservation and the continuation of the





                                       19
<PAGE>   26





          Trust's valid existence, rights, franchises and privileges as a
          statutory business trust under the laws of the State of Delaware and
          of each other jurisdiction in which such existence is necessary to
          protect the limited liability of the Holders of the Capital
          Securities or to enable the Trust to effect the purposes for which
          the Trust was created;

                         (p)  to take any action, not inconsistent with this
          Declaration or with applicable law, that the Regular Trustees
          determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable in
          carrying out the activities of the Trust as set out in this Section
          3.6, including, but not limited to:

                              (i)  causing the Trust not to be deemed to be an
               "investment company" required to be registered under the
               Investment Company Act;

                              (ii)  causing the Trust to be classified for
               United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust;
               and

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

          provided that such action does not adversely affect the interests of
          Holders; and

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

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

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

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





                                       20
<PAGE>   27





                    Section 3.7  Prohibition of Actions by the Trust and the
          Trustees.

                         (a)  The Trust shall not, and the Trustees (including
          the Property Trustee) shall not, engage in any activity other than as
          required or authorized by this Declaration.  In particular, the Trust
          shall not and the Trustees (including the Property Trustee) shall
          cause the Trust not to:

                              (i)  invest any proceeds received by the Trust
               from holding the Debentures, but shall distribute all such
               proceeds to Holders of Securities pursuant to the terms of this
               Declaration and of the Securities;

                              (ii)  acquire any assets other than as expressly
               provided herein;

                              (iii)  possess Trust property for other than a
               Trust purpose;

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

                              (v)  possess any power or otherwise act in such a
               way as to vary the Trust assets or the terms of the Securities
               in any way whatsoever;

                              (vi)  issue any securities or other evidences of
               beneficial ownership of, or beneficial interest in, the Trust
               other than the Securities; or

                              (vii)  other than as provided in this Declaration
               or Annex I, (A) direct the time, method and place of conducting
               any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture
               Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred upon the
               Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (B) waive any
               past default that is waivable under the Indenture, or (C)
               exercise any right to rescind or annul any declaration that the
               principal of all the Debentures shall be due and payable, or (D)
               consent to any amendment, modification or termination of the
               Indenture or the Debentures where such consent shall be
               required; without in each case, obtaining the prior approval of
               a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities and, in the
               case of clause (D), the Trust shall have received an opinion





                                       21
<PAGE>   28





               of counsel to the effect that such amendment, modification or
               termination will not cause more than an insubstantial risk that
               for United States federal income tax purposes the Trust will not
               be classified as a grantor trust, or

                              (viii)  revoke any action previously authorized
               or approved by a vote of the holders of the Capital Securities
               except by subsequent vote of the holders of such Capital
               Securities.

                    Section 3.8  Powers and Duties of the Property Trustee.

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

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

                         (c)  The Property Trustee shall:

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





                                       22
<PAGE>   29





               equal to the rating assigned to the Capital Securities by a
               "nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as that
               term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the
               Securities Act;

                              (ii)  engage in such ministerial activities as
               shall be necessary or appropriate to effect the redemption of
               the Capital Securities and the Common Securities to the extent
               the Debentures are redeemed or mature consistent with the terms
               of Annex I; and

                              (iii)  upon written notice of distribution issued
               by the Regular Trustees in accordance with the terms of the
               Securities, engage in such ministerial activities as shall be
               necessary or appropriate to effect the distribution of the
               Debentures to Holders of Securities upon the occurrence of
               certain special events (as may be defined in the terms of the
               Securities) arising from a change in law or a change in legal
               interpretation or other specified circumstances pursuant to the
               terms of the Securities.

                         (d)  The Property Trustee shall take all actions and
          perform such duties as may be specifically required of the Property
          Trustee pursuant to the terms of the Securities.

                         (e)  The Property Trustee shall take any Legal Action
          which arises out of or in connection with an Event of Default of
          which a Responsible Officer of the Property Trustee has actual
          knowledge or the Property Trustee's duties and obligations under this
          Declaration or the Trust Indenture Act; provided, however, that if a
          Declaration Event of Default has occurred and is continuing and such
          event is attributable to the failure of the Debenture Issuer to pay
          interest or principal on the Debentures on the date such interest or
          principal is otherwise payable (or in the case of redemption, on the
          redemption date), then a Holder of Capital Securities may directly
          institute a proceeding against the Depositor, pursuant to Section 508
          of the Indenture for enforcement of payment to such Holder of the
          principal of or interest on the Debentures having a principal amount
          equal to the aggregate liquidation amount of the Capital Securities
          of such Holder (a "Direct Action") on or after the respective due
          date specified in the Debentures.  In connection with such Direct
          Action, the rights of the Holders of the Common Securities will be
          subrogated to the rights of such Holder of Capital Securities to the
          extent of any payment made by the Debenture Issuer to such Holder of
          Capital Securities in such




                                       23
<PAGE>   30





          Direct Action.  Except as provided in the preceding sentences, the
          Holders of Capital Securities will not be able to exercise directly
          any other remedy available to the holders of the Debentures.

                         (f)  The Property Trustee shall not resign as a
          Trustee unless either:

                              (i)  the Trust has been completely liquidated and
               the proceeds of the liquidation distributed to the Holders of
               Securities pursuant to the terms of the Securities; or

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

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

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

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

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

                    Notwithstanding anything expressed or implied to the
          contrary in this Declaration or any Annex or Exhibit hereto, (i) the
          Property Trustee must exercise the powers set forth in this Section
          3.8 in a manner that is consistent with the purposes and





                                       24
<PAGE>   31





          functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3 and (ii) the Property
          Trustee shall not take any action that is inconsistent with the
          purposes and functions of the Trust set out in Section 3.3.

                    Section 3.9  Certain Duties and Responsibilities of the
          Property Trustee.

                         (a)  The Property Trustee, before the occurrence of
          any Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default
          that may have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties
          as are specifically set forth in this Declaration and no implied
          covenants shall be read into this Declaration against the Property
          Trustee.  In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been
          cured or waived pursuant to Section 2.6) of which a Responsible
          Officer of the Property Trustee has actual knowledge, the Property
          Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by
          this Declaration, and use the same degree of care and skill in their
          exercise, as a prudent person would exercise or use under the
          circumstances in the conduct of his or her own affairs.

                         (b)  No provision of this Declaration shall be
          construed to relieve the Property Trustee from liability for its own
          negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own
          willful misconduct, except that:

                              (i)  prior to the occurrence of an Event of
               Default and after the curing or waiving of all such Events of
               Default that may have occurred:

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

                                   (B)  in the absence of bad faith on the part
                    of the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee may
                    conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements and
                    the correctness of the opinions expressed there-





                                       25
<PAGE>   32





                    in, upon any certificates or opinions furnished to the
                    Property Trustee and conforming to the requirements of this
                    Declaration; but in the case of any such certificates or
                    opinions that by any provision hereof are specifically
                    required to be furnished to the Property Trustee, the
                    Property Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same
                    to determine whether or not they conform to the
                    requirements of this Declaration;

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

                              (iii)  the Property Trustee shall not be liable
               with respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in
               good faith in accordance with the direction of the Holders of
               not less than a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities
               relating to the time, method and place of conducting any
               proceeding for any remedy available to the Property Trustee, or
               exercising any trust or power conferred upon the Property
               Trustee under this Declaration;

                              (iv)  no provision of this Declaration shall
               require the Property Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or
               otherwise incur personal financial liability in the performance
               of any of its duties or in the exercise of any of its rights or
               powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds for believing that
               the repayment of such funds or liability is not reasonably
               assured to it under the terms of this Declaration or indemnity
               reasonably satisfactory to the Property Trustee against such
               risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it;

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





                                       26
<PAGE>   33





               Property Trustee under this Declaration and the Trust Indenture
               Act;

                              (vi)  the Property Trustee shall have no duty or
               liability for or with respect to the value, genuineness,
               existence or sufficiency of the Debentures or the payment of any
               taxes or assessments levied thereon or in connection therewith;

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

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

                    Section 3.10  Certain Rights of Property Trustee.

                         (a)  Subject to the provisions of Section 3.9:

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

                              (ii)  any direction or act of the Depositor or
               the Regular Trustees contemplated by this Declaration shall be
               sufficiently evidenced by an Officers' Certificate;

                              (iii)  whenever in the administration of this
               Declaration, the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable that a
               matter be proved or established before





                                       27
<PAGE>   34





               taking, suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Property
               Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically
               prescribed) may, in the absence of bad faith on its part,
               request and conclusively rely upon an Officers' Certificate
               which, upon receipt of such request, shall be promptly delivered
               by the Depositor or the Regular Trustees;

                              (iv)  the Property Trustee shall have no duty to
               see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument
               (including any financing or continuation statement or any filing
               under tax or securities laws) or any rerecording, refiling or
               registration thereof;

                              (v)  the Property Trustee may consult with
               counsel or other experts of its selection and the advice or
               opinion of such counsel and experts with respect to legal
               matters or advice within the scope of such experts' area of
               expertise shall be full and complete authorization and
               protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted
               by it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice
               or opinion, such counsel may be counsel to the Depositor or any
               of its Affiliates, and may include any of its employees.  The
               Property Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek
               instructions concerning the administration of this Declaration
               from any court of competent jurisdiction;

                              (vi)  the Property Trustee shall be under no
               obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it
               by this Declaration at the request or direction of any Holder,
               unless such Holder shall have provided to the Property Trustee
               security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory to the Property
               Trustee, against the costs, expenses (including attorneys' fees
               and expenses and the expenses of the Property Trustee's agents,
               nominees or custodians) and liabilities that might be incurred
               by it in complying with such request or direction, including
               such reasonable advances as may be requested by the Property
               Trustee provided, that, nothing contained in this Section
               3.10(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the Property Trustee, upon
               the occurrence of an Event of Default, of its obligation to
               exercise the rights and powers vested in it by this Declaration;





                                       28
<PAGE>   35





                              (vii)  the Property Trustee shall not be bound to
               make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any
               resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
               notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture,
               note, other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document,
               but the Property Trustee, in its discretion, may make such
               further inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as
               it may see fit;

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

                              (ix)  any action taken by the Property Trustee or
               its agents hereunder shall bind the Trust and the Holders of the
               Securities, and the signature of the Property Trustee or its
               agents alone shall be sufficient and effective to perform any
               such action and no third party shall be required to inquire as
               to the authority of the Property Trustee to so act or as to its
               compliance with any of the terms and provisions of this
               Declaration, both of which shall be conclusively evidenced by
               the Property Trustee's or its agent's taking such action;

                              (x)  whenever in the administration of this
               Declaration the Property Trustee shall deem it desirable to
               receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy or
               right or taking any other action hereunder, the Property Trustee
               (i) may request instructions from the Holders of the Securities
               which instructions may only be given by the Holders of the same
               proportion in liquidation amount of the Securities as would be
               entitled to direct the Property Trustee under the terms of the
               Securities in respect of such remedy, right or action, (ii) may
               refrain from enforcing such remedy or right or taking such other
               action until such instructions are received, and (iii) shall be
               protected in conclusively relying on or acting in accordance
               with such instructions;





                                       29
<PAGE>   36





                              (xi)  except as otherwise expressly provided by
               this Declaration, the Property Trustee shall not be under any
               obligation to take any action that is discretionary under the
               provisions of this Declaration;

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

                              (xiii)  If no Event of Default has occurred and
               is continuing and the Property Trustee is required to decide
               between alternative causes of action, construe ambiguous
               provisions in the Declaration or is unsure of the application of
               any provision of the Declaration, and the matter is not one on
               which holders of Capital Securities are entitled under the
               Declaration to vote, then the Property Trustee shall take such
               action as is directed by the Company and, if not so directed,
               shall take such action as it deems advisable and in the best
               interests of the holders of the Trust Securities and will have
               no liability except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful
               misconduct.

                         (b)  No provision of this Declaration shall be deemed
          to impose any duty or obligation on the Property Trustee to perform
          any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or obligation
          conferred or imposed on it, in any jurisdiction in which it shall be
          illegal, or in which the Property Trustee shall be unqualified or
          incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such
          act or acts, or to exercise any such right, power, duty or
          obligation.  No permissive power or authority available to the
          Property Trustee shall be construed to be a duty.

                    Section 3.11  Delaware Trustee.

                    Notwithstanding any other provision of this Declaration
          other than Section 5.2, the Delaware Trustee shall not be entitled to
          exercise any powers, nor shall the Delaware Trustee have any of the
          duties and responsibilities of the Regular Trustees or the Property
          Trustee described in this Declaration.  Except as set forth in
          Section 5.2, the Delaware Trustee shall be a Trustee for the sole and
          limited purpose of fulfilling the requirements of Section  3807 of
          the Business Trust Act and shall have no powers,



                                       30
<PAGE>   37





          duties or responsibilities whatsoever, except as expressly provided
          herein or except as required by the Business Trust Act.

                    Section 3.12  Execution of Documents.

                    Unless otherwise determined by the Regular Trustees, and
          except as otherwise required by the Business Trust Act, a majority of
          or, if there are only two, any Regular Trustee or, if there is only
          one, such Regular Trustee is authorized to execute on behalf of the
          Trust any documents that the Regular Trustees have the power and
          authority to execute pursuant to Section 3.6.

                    Section 3.13  Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of
          Securities.

                    The recitals contained in this Declaration and the
          Securities shall be taken as the statements of the Depositor, and the
          Trustees do not assume any responsibility for their correctness.  The
          Trustees make no representations as to the value or condition of the
          property of the Trust or any part thereof.  The Trustees make no
          representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Declaration
          or the Securities.

                    Section 3.14  Duration of Trust.

                    The Trust, unless terminated pursuant to the provisions of
          Article VIII hereof, shall have existence for fifty-five (55) years
          from the Closing Date.

                    Section 3.15  Mergers.

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

                         (b)  The Trust may, at the request of the Depositor,
          with the consent of the Regular Trustees or, if there are more than
          two, a majority of the Regular Trustees and without the consent of
          the Holders of the Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or
          into, or be replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its property
          substantially as an entirety to, a trust organized as such under the
          laws of any State; provided that:

                              (i)  such successor entity (the "Successor
               Entity") either:





                                       31
<PAGE>   38





                                   (A)  expressly assumes all of the
                    obligations of the Trust with respect to the Securities; or

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

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

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

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

                              (v)  such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
               replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not adversely
               affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the Holders of
               the Capital Securities (including any Successor Securities) in
               any material respect;
                              
                              (vi)  such Successor Entity has a purpose
               identical to that of the Trust;

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





                                       32
<PAGE>   39





                                   (A)  such merger, consolidation,
                    amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease
                    does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and
                    privileges of the Holders of the Capital Securities
                    (including any Successor Securities) in any material
                    respect;

                                   (B)  following such merger, consolidation,
                    amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease,
                    neither the Trust nor the Successor Entity will be required
                    to register as an Investment Company; and

                                   (C)  following such merger, consolidation,
                    amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease,
                    the Trust (or the Successor Entity) will continue to be
                    classified as a grantor trust for United States federal
                    income tax purposes.

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

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





                                       33
<PAGE>   40





                                      ARTICLE IV
                                      DEPOSITOR

                    Section 4.1  Depositor's Purchase of Common Securities.

                    On the Closing Date the Depositor will purchase all of the
          Common Securities issued by the Trust, in an amount at least equal to
          3% of the capital of the Trust, at the same time as the Capital
          Securities are sold.

                    Section 4.2  Responsibilities of the Depositor.

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

                         (a)  to prepare for filing by the Trust with the
          Commission a registration statement on Form S-3 in relation to the
          Capital Securities, including any amendments thereto;

                         (b)  to determine the States in which to take
          appropriate action to qualify or register for sale all or part of the
          Capital Securities and to do any and all such acts, other than
          actions which must be taken by the Trust, and advise the Trust of
          actions it must take, and prepare for execution and filing any
          documents to be executed and filed by the Trust, as the Depositor
          deems necessary or advisable in order to comply with the applicable
          laws of any such States;

                         (c)  to prepare for filing by the Trust an application
          to the New York Stock Exchange or any other national stock exchange
          or the Nasdaq National Market for listing upon notice of issuance of
          any Capital Securities;

                         (d)  to prepare for filing by the Trust with the
          Commission a registration statement on Form 8-A relating to the
          registration of the Capital Securities under Section 12(b) or 12(g)
          of the Exchange Act, including any amendments thereto; and

                         (e)  to negotiate the terms of the Underwriting
          Agreement and Pricing Agreement providing for the sale of the Capital
          Securities; and

                         (f)  any other actions necessary or desirable to carry
          out any of the foregoing activities.





                                       34
<PAGE>   41





                                   ARTICLE V
                                    TRUSTEES


                    Section 5.1  Number of Trustees.

                    The number of Trustees initially shall be four (4), and:

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

                         (b)  after the issuance of any Securities, the number
          of Trustees may be increased or decreased by vote of the Holders of a
          majority in liquidation amount of the Common Securities voting as a
          class at a meeting of the Holders of the Common Securities; provided,
          however, that, the number of Trustees shall in no event be less than
          two (2); provided further that (1) one Trustee, in the case of a
          natural person, shall be a person who is a resident of the State of
          Delaware or that, if not a natural person, is an entity which has its
          principal place of business in the State of Delaware; (2) there shall
          be at least one Trustee who is an employee or officer of, or is
          affiliated with the Depositor (a "Regular Trustee"); and (3) one
          Trustee shall be the Property Trustee for so long as this Declaration
          is required to qualify as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act,
          and such Trustee may also serve as Delaware Trustee if it meets the
          applicable requirements.

                    Section 5.2  Delaware Trustee.

                    If required by the Business Trust Act, one Trustee (the
          "Delaware Trustee") shall be:

                         (a)  a natural person who is a resident of the State
          of Delaware; or

                         (b)  if not a natural person, an entity which has its
          principal place of business in the State of Delaware, and otherwise
          meets the requirements of applicable law;

          provided that, if the Property Trustee has its principal place of
          business in the State of Delaware and otherwise meets the
          requirements of applicable law, then the Property Trustee shall also
          be the Delaware Trustee and Section 3.11 shall have no application.





                                       35
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                    Section 5.3  Property Trustee; Eligibility.

                         (a)  There shall at all times be one Trustee which
          shall act as Property Trustee which shall:

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

                              (ii)  be a corporation organized and doing
               business under the laws of the United States of America or any
               State or Territory thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a
               corporation or Person permitted by the Commission to act as an
               institutional trustee under the Trust Indenture Act, authorized
               under such laws to exercise corporate trust powers, having a
               combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million U.S. dollars
               ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination by
               Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority.
               If such corporation publishes reports of condition at least
               annually, pursuant to law or to the requirements of the
               supervising or examining authority referred to above, then for
               the purposes of this Section 5.3(a)(ii), the combined capital
               and surplus of such corporation shall be deemed to be its
               combined capital and surplus as set forth in its most recent
               report of condition so published.

                         (b)  If at any time the Property Trustee shall cease
          to be eligible to so act under Section 5.3(a), the Property Trustee
          shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set forth
          in Section 5.7(c).

                         (c)  If the Property Trustee has or shall acquire any
          "conflicting interest" within the meaning of Section  310(b) of the
          Trust Indenture Act, the Property Trustee and the Holder of the
          Common Securities (as if it were the obligor referred to in Section
          310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act) shall in all respects comply with
          the provisions of Section  310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

                         (d)  The Capital Securities Guarantee shall be deemed
          to be specifically described in this Declaration for purposes of
          clause (i) of the first provision contained in Section 310(b) of the
          Trust Indenture Act.

                         (e)  The initial Property Trustee shall be:

                         State Street Bank and Trust Company



                                       36
<PAGE>   43





                    Section 5.4  Certain Qualifications of Regular Trustees and
          Delaware Trustee Generally.

                    Each Regular Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (unless the
          Property Trustee also acts as Delaware Trustee) shall be either a
          natural person who is at least 21 years of age or a legal entity that
          shall act through one or more Authorized Officers.

                    Section 5.5  Regular Trustees.

                    The initial Regular Trustees shall be:

                               Joseph T. Kane
                               Jennifer M. Hager

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

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

                         (c)  a Regular Trustee may, by power of attorney
          consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person
          over the age of 21 his or her power for the purposes of signing any
          documents which the Regular Trustees have power and authority to
          cause the Trust to execute pursuant to Section 3.6.

                    Section 5.6  Delaware Trustee.

                    The initial Delaware Trustee shall be:

                    Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc.

                    Section 5.7  Appointment, Removal and Resignation of
          Trustees.

                         (a)  Subject to Section 5.7(b), Trustees may be
          appointed or removed without cause at any time except during an
          Indenture Event of Default:




                                       37
<PAGE>   44





                              (i)  until the issuance of any Securities, by
               written instrument executed by the Depositor; and

                              (ii)  after the issuance of any Securities, by
               vote of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
               Common Securities voting as a class at a meeting of the Holders
               of the Common Securities.

                         (b)  After the occurrence of and during the
          continuation an Indenture Event of Default, the Trustee that acts as
          the Property Trustee may be removed at such time by the holders of a
          Majority in liquidation amount of the outstanding Capital Securities.

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

                              (ii)  the Trustee that acts as Delaware Trustee
               shall not be removed in accordance with this Section 5.7(a)
               until a successor Trustee possessing the qualifications to act
               as Delaware Trustee under Sections 5.2 and 5.4 (a "Successor
               Delaware Trustee") has been appointed and has accepted such
               appointment by written instrument executed by such Successor
               Delaware Trustee and delivered to the Regular Trustees and the
               Depositor.

                         (d)  A Trustee appointed to office shall hold office
          until his successor shall have been appointed or until his death,
          removal or resignation.  Any Trustee may resign from office (without
          need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an instrument in writing
          signed by the Trustee and delivered to the Depositor and the Trust,
          which resignation shall take effect upon such delivery or upon such
          later date as is specified therein; provided, however, that:

                              (i)  No such resignation of the Trustee that acts
               as the Property Trustee shall be effective:

                                   (A)  until a Successor Property Trustee has
                    been appointed and has accepted such appointment by
                    instrument executed by




                                       38
<PAGE>   45





                    such Successor Property Trustee and delivered to the Trust,
                    the Depositor and the resigning Property Trustee; or

                                   (B)  until the assets of the Trust have been
                    completely liquidated and the proceeds thereof distributed
                    to the holders of the Securities; and

                              (ii)  no such resignation of the Trustee that
               acts as the Delaware Trustee shall be effective until a
               Successor Delaware Trustee has been appointed and has accepted
               such appointment by instrument executed by such Successor
               Delaware Trustee and delivered to the Trust, the Depositor and
               the resigning Delaware Trustee.

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

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

                         (g)  No Property Trustee or Delaware Trustee shall be
          liable for the acts or omissions to act of any Successor Property
          Trustee or Successor Delaware Trustee, as the case may be.

                         (h)  In no event will the holders of Capital
          Securities have the right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the
          Regular Trustees, which voting rights are vested exclusively in the
          Debenture Issuer.

                     Section 5.8  Vacancies among Trustees.





                                       39
<PAGE>   46





                    If a Trustee ceases to hold office for any reason and the
          number of Trustees is not reduced pursuant to Section 5.1, or if the
          number of Trustees is increased pursuant to Section 5.1, a vacancy
          shall occur.  A resolution certifying the existence of such vacancy
          by the Regular Trustees or, if there are more than two, a majority of
          the Regular Trustees shall be conclusive evidence of the existence of
          such vacancy.  The vacancy shall be filled with a Trustee appointed
          in accordance with Section 5.7.

                    Section 5.9  Effect of Vacancies.

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

                    Section 5.10  Meetings.

                    If there is more than one Regular Trustee, meetings of the
          Regular Trustees shall be held from time to time upon the call of any
          Regular Trustee.  Regular meetings of the Regular Trustees may be
          held at a time and place fixed by resolution of the Regular Trustees.
          Notice of any in-person meetings of the Regular Trustees shall be
          hand delivered or otherwise delivered in writing (including by
          facsimile, with a hard copy by overnight courier) not less than 48
          hours before such meeting.  Notice of any telephonic meetings of the
          Regular Trustees or any committee thereof shall be hand delivered or
          otherwise delivered in writing (including by facsimile, with a hard
          copy by overnight courier) not less than 24 hours before a meeting.
          Notices shall contain a brief statement of the time, place and
          anticipated purposes of the meeting.  The presence (whether in person
          or by telephone) of a Regular Trustee at a meeting shall constitute a
          waiver of notice of such meeting except where a Regular Trustee
          attends a meeting for the express purpose of objecting to the
          transaction of any activity on the ground that the meeting has not
          been properly called or convened.  Unless provided otherwise in this
          Declaration, any action of the Regular Trustees may be taken at a
          meeting by vote of a majority of the Regular Trustees present
          (whether in person or by telephone) and eligible to vote with respect
          to such matter, provided that a Quorum is present, or





                                       40
<PAGE>   47





          without a meeting by the unanimous written consent of the Regular
          Trustees.  In the event there is only one Regular Trustee, any and
          all action of such Regular Trustee shall be evidenced by a written
          consent of such Regular Trustee.

                    Section 5.11  Delegation of Power.

                         (a)  Any Regular Trustee may, by power of attorney
          consistent with applicable law, delegate to any other natural person
          over the age of 21 his or her power for the purpose of executing any
          documents contemplated in Section 3.6, including any registration
          statement or amendment thereto filed with the Commission, or making
          any other governmental filing; and

                         (b)  The Regular Trustees shall have power to delegate
          from time to time to such of their number or to officers of the Trust
          the doing of such things and the execution of such instruments either
          in the name of the Trust or the names of the Regular Trustees or
          otherwise as the Regular Trustees may deem expedient, to the extent
          such delegation is not prohibited by applicable law or contrary to
          the provisions of the Trust, as set forth herein.

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

                    Any corporation into which the Property Trustee or the
          Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, may be merged or converted or
          with which either may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
          from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Property
          Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, shall be a
          party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the
          corporate trust business of the Property Trustee or the Delaware
          Trustee, as the case may be, shall be the successor of the Property
          Trustee or the Delaware Trustee, as the case may be, hereunder,
          provided such corporation shall be otherwise qualified and eligible
          under this Article, without the execution or filing of any paper or
          any further act on the part of any of the parties hereto.





                                       41
<PAGE>   48





                                   ARTICLE VI
                                 DISTRIBUTIONS

                    Section 6.1  Distributions.

                    Holders shall receive Distributions (as defined herein) in
          accordance with the applicable terms of the relevant Holder's
          Securities.  Distributions shall be made on the Capital Securities
          and the Common Securities in accordance with the preferences set
          forth in their respective terms.  If and to the extent that the
          Debenture Issuer makes a payment of interest (including Additional
          Interest (as defined in the Indenture)) or principal on the
          Debentures held by the Property Trustee (the amount of any such
          payment being a "Payment Amount"), the Property Trustee shall and is
          directed, to the extent funds are available for that purpose, to make
          a distribution (a "Distribution") of the Payment Amount to Holders.


                                  ARTICLE VII
                             ISSUANCE OF SECURITIES

                    Section 7.1  General Provisions Regarding Securities.

                         (a)  The Regular Trustees shall on behalf of the Trust
          issue one class of preferred securities representing undivided
          beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust having such terms as
          are set forth in Annex I (the "Capital Securities") and one class of
          common securities representing undivided beneficial interests in the
          assets of the Trust having such terms as are set forth in Annex I
          (the "Common Securities"). The Trust shall issue no securities or
          other interests in the assets of the Trust other than the Capital
          Securities and the Common Securities.

                         (b)  The Certificates shall be signed on behalf of the
          Trust by a Regular Trustee.  Such signature shall be the manual
          signature of any present or any future Regular Trustee.  In case any
          Regular Trustee of the Trust who shall have signed any of the
          Securities shall cease to be such Regular Trustee before the
          Certificates so signed shall be delivered by the Trust, such
          Certificates nevertheless may be delivered as though the person who
          signed such Certificates had not ceased to be such Regular Trustee;
          and any Certificate may be signed on behalf of the Trust by such
          persons who, at the actual date of execution of such Security, shall
          be the Regular Trustees of the Trust, although at the date of the
          execution and delivery of the Declara-





                                       42
<PAGE>   49





          tion any such person was not such a Regular Trustee.  Certificates
          shall be printed, lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any
          other manner as is reasonably acceptable to the Regular Trustees, as
          evidenced by their execution thereof, and may have such letters,
          numbers or other marks of identification or designation and such
          legends or endorsements as the Regular Trustees may deem appropriate,
          or as may be required to comply with any law or with any rule or
          regulation of any stock exchange on which Securities may be listed,
          or to conform to usage.

                         (c)  The consideration received by the Trust for the
          issuance of the Securities shall constitute a contribution to the
          capital of the Trust and shall not constitute a loan to the Trust.

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

                         (e)  Every Person, by virtue of having become a Holder
          or a Capital Security Beneficial Owner in accordance with the terms
          of this Declaration, shall be deemed to have expressly assented and
          agreed to the terms of, and shall be bound by, this Declaration.

                    Section 7.2  Registrar, Paying Agent and Exchange Agent.

                    In the event that the Capital Securities are not in
          book-entry only form, the Trust shall maintain in the Borough of
          Manhattan, The City of New York, (i) an office or agency where
          Capital Securities may be presented for registration of transfer
          ("Registrar"), (ii) an office or agency where Capital Securities may
          be presented for payment ("Paying Agent") and (iii) an office or
          agency where Securities may be presented for exchange ("Exchange
          Agent").  The Registrar shall keep a register of the Capital
          Securities and of their transfer.  The Trust may appoint the
          Registrar, the Paying Agent and the Exchange Agent and may appoint
          one or more co-registrars, one or more additional paying agents and
          one or more additional exchange agents in such other locations as it
          shall determine.  The term "Registrar" includes any additional
          registrar, the term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying
          agent and the term "Exchange Agent" includes any additional exchange
          agent.  The Paying Agent shall initially be the Property Trustee and
          co-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee and acceptable to the
          Regular Trustees and Debenture Issuer.  The Trust may change any
          Paying Agent, Registrar, or





                                       43
<PAGE>   50





          Exchange Agent without prior notice to any Holder.  The Paying Agent
          shall be permitted to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written
          notice to the Regular Trustees.  The Trust shall notify the Property
          Trustee of the name and address of any Agent not a party to this
          Declaration.  If the Trust fails to appoint or maintain another
          entity as Registrar, Paying Agent or Exchange Agent, the Property
          Trustee shall act as such.  The Trust or any of its Affiliates may
          act as Paying Agent, Registrar, or Exchange Agent.  The Trust shall
          act as Paying Agent, Registrar, and Exchange Agent for the Common
          Securities.

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

                    Section 7.3  Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust.

                    The Trust shall require each Paying Agent other than the
          Property Trustee to agree in writing that the Paying Agent will hold
          in trust for the benefit of Holders or the Property Trustee all money
          held by the Paying Agent for the payment of liquidation amounts or
          Distributions on the Securities, and will notify the Property Trustee
          if there are insufficient funds for such purpose.  While any such
          insufficiency continues, the Property Trustee may require a Paying
          Agent to pay all money held by it to the Property Trustee.  The Trust
          at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to
          the Property Trustee and to account for any money disbursed by it.
          Upon payment over to the Property Trustee, the Paying Agent (if other
          than the Trust or an Affiliate of the Trust) shall have no further
          liability for the money.  If the Trust or the Depositor or an
          Affiliate of the Trust or the Depositor acts as Paying Agent, it
          shall segregate and hold in a separate trust fund for the benefit of
          the Holders all money held by it as Paying Agent.  The Trust shall
          notify the Property Trustee of the name and address of any Agent not
          a party to this Declaration.  If the Trust fails to appoint or
          maintain another entity as Paying Agent, the Property Trustee shall
          act as such.  The Trust or any of its Affiliates may act as Paying
          Agent.  The Trust shall initially act as Paying Agent for the Capital
          Securities and the Common Securities.





                                       44
<PAGE>   51





                                  ARTICLE VIII
                              TERMINATION OF TRUST

                    Section 8.1  Termination of Trust.

                         (a)  The Trust shall terminate:

                              (i)  upon the liquidation of or the occurrence of
               a Bankruptcy Event with respect to the Depositor;

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

                              (iii)  when all of the Securities shall have been
               called for redemption and the amounts necessary for redemption
               thereof shall have been paid to the Holders in accordance with
               the terms of the Securities;

                              (iv)  upon dissolution of the Trust pursuant to
               Section 4(d) of Annex I; or

                              (v)  before the issuance of any Securities, with
               the consent of all of the Regular Trustees and the Depositor.

                         (b)  As soon as is practicable after the occurrence of
          an event referred to in Section 8.1(a), the Trustees shall file a
          certificate of cancellation with the Secretary of State of the State
          of Delaware.

                         (c)  The provisions of Section 3.9 and Article X shall
          survive the termination of the Trust.

                         (d)  If an early termination occurs as described in
          clause (i), (ii) or (iv) above, the Trust shall be liquidated by the
          Trustees as expeditiously as the Trustees determine to be possible by
          distributing the Debentures, after satisfaction of liabilities to
          creditors of the Debenture Issuer as provided by applicable law, to
          the holders of Securities, unless such distribution is determined by
          the Property Trustee not to be practical, in which event such holders
          will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Debenture Issuer
          available for distribution to holders, after satisfaction of
          liabilities to creditors of the Debenture Issuer as provided by
          applicable law, an amount equal





                                       45
<PAGE>   52





          to, in the case of holders of Capital Securities, the aggregate
          liquidation amount of such Capital Securities plus accrued and unpaid
          Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount being the
          "Liquidation Distribution").


                                   ARTICLE IX
                             TRANSFER OF INTERESTS

                    Section 9.1  Transfer of Securities.

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

                         (b)  Subject to this Article IX, Capital Securities
          shall be freely transferable.

                         (c)  To the fullest extent permitted by law, other
          than a transfer in connection with a consolidation or merger of the
          Depositor into another corporation, or any conveyance, transfer or
          lease by the Depositor of its properties and assets substantially as
          an entirety to any Person, pursuant to Section 1009 of the Indenture,
          any attempted transfer of the Common Securities shall be void.  The
          Regular Trustees shall cause each Common Securities Certificate
          issued to the Depositor to contain a legend stating "THIS CERTIFICATE
          IS NOT TRANSFERABLE".

                    Section 9.2  Transfer of Certificates.

                    The Property Trustee will act as registrar and transfer
          agent for the Capital Securities.  The Property Trustees shall
          provide for the registration of Certificates and of transfers of
          Certificates, which will be effected without charge but only upon
          payment (with such indemnity as the Regular Trustees may require) in
          respect of any tax or other government charges that may be imposed in
          relation to it.  Upon surrender for registration of transfer of any
          Certificate, the Regular Trustees shall cause one or more new
          Certificates to be issued in the name of the designated transferee or
          transferees.  Every Certificate surrendered for registration of
          transfer shall be accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in
          form satisfactory to the Regular Trustees duly executed by the Holder
          or such Holder's attorney duly authorized in writing.  Each
          Certificate surrendered for registration of transfer shall be
          canceled by the Regular Trust-





                                       46
<PAGE>   53





          ees.  A transferee of a Certificate shall be entitled to the rights
          and subject to the obligations of a Holder hereunder upon the receipt
          by such transferee of a Certificate.  By acceptance of a Certificate,
          each transferee shall be deemed to have agreed to be bound by this
          Declaration.  The Trustees will not be required to register or cause
          to be registered the transfer of its Capital Securities after such
          Capital Securities have been called for redemption.

                     Section 9.3  Deemed Security Holders.

                    The Trustees may treat the Person in whose name any
          Certificate shall be registered on the books and records of the Trust
          as the sole holder of such Certificate and of the Securities
          represented by such Certificate for purposes of receiving
          Distributions, redemption payments and for all other purposes
          whatsoever and, accordingly, shall not be bound to recognize any
          equitable or other claim to or interest in such Certificate or in the
          Securities represented by such Certificate on the part of any Person,
          whether or not the Trust shall have actual or other notice thereof.

                    Section 9.4  Book Entry Interests.

                    Unless otherwise specified in the terms of the Capital
          Securities, the Capital Securities Certificates, on original
          issuance, will be issued in the form of one or more, fully
          registered, global Capital Security Certificates (each a "Global
          Certificate"), to be delivered to DTC, the initial Clearing Agency,
          by, or on behalf of, the Trust.  Such Global Certificates shall
          initially be registered on the books and records of the Trust in the
          name of Cede & Co., the nominee of DTC, and no Capital Security
          Beneficial Owner will receive a definitive Capital Security
          Certificate representing such Capital Security Beneficial Owner's
          interests in such Global Certificates, except as provided in Section
          9.7.  Unless and until definitive, fully registered Capital Security
          Certificates (the "Definitive Capital Security Certificates") have
          been issued to the Capital Security Beneficial Owners pursuant to
          Section 9.7:

                         (a)  the provisions of this Section 9.4 shall be in
          full force and effect;

                         (b)  the Trust and the Trustees shall be entitled to
          deal with the Clearing Agency for all purposes of this Declaration
          (including the payment of Distributions on the Global Certificates
          and receiving approvals, votes or consents hereunder)





                                       47
<PAGE>   54





          as the Holder of the Capital Securities and the sole holder of the
          Global Certificates and shall have no obligation to the Capital
          Security Beneficial Owners;

                         (c)  to the extent that the provisions of this Section
          9.4 conflict with any other provisions of this Declaration, the
          provisions of this Section 9.4 shall control; and

                         (d)  the rights of the Capital Security Beneficial
          Owners shall be exercised only through the Clearing Agency and shall
          be limited to those established by law and agreements between such
          Capital Security Beneficial Owners and the Clearing Agency and/or the
          Clearing Agency Participants and receive and transmit payments of
          Distributions on the Global Certificates to such Clearing Agency
          Participants.  DTC will make book entry transfers among the Clearing
          Agency Participants.

                    Section 9.5  Notices to Clearing Agency.

                    Whenever a notice or other communication to the Capital
          Security Holders is required under this Declaration, unless and until
          Definitive Capital Security Certificates shall have been issued to
          the Capital Security Beneficial Owners pursuant to Section 9.7, the
          Regular Trustees shall give all such notices and communications
          specified herein to be given to the Capital Security Holders to the
          Clearing Agency, and shall have no notice obligations to the Capital
          Security Beneficial Owners.

                    Section 9.6  Appointment of Successor Clearing Agency.

                    If any Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its services
          as securities depositary with respect to the Capital Securities, the
          Regular Trustees may, in their sole discretion, appoint a successor
          Clearing Agency with respect to such Capital Securities.

                    Section 9.7  Definitive Capital Security Certificates.

                    If:

                         (a)  a Clearing Agency elects to discontinue its
          services as securities depositary with respect to the Capital
          Securities and a successor Clearing Agency is not appointed within 90
          days after such discontinuance pursuant to Section 9.6; or





                                       48
<PAGE>   55





                         (b)  the Regular Trustees elect after consultation
          with the Depositor to terminate the book entry system through the
          Clearing Agency with respect to the Capital Securities;

          then:

                         (c)  Definitive Capital Security Certificates shall be
          prepared by the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust with respect
          to such Capital Securities; and

                         (d)  upon surrender of the Global Certificates by the
          Clearing Agency, accompanied by registration instructions, the
          Regular Trustees shall cause Definitive Capital Security Certificates
          to be delivered to Capital Security Beneficial Owners in accordance
          with the instructions of the Clearing Agency.  Neither the Trustees
          nor the Trust shall be liable for any delay in delivery of such
          instructions and each of them may conclusively rely on and shall be
          protected in relying on, said instructions of the Clearing Agency.
          The Definitive Capital Security Certificates shall be printed,
          lithographed or engraved or may be produced in any other manner as is
          reasonably acceptable to the Regular Trustees, as evidenced by their
          execution thereof, and may have such letters, numbers or other marks
          of identification or designation and such legends or endorsements as
          the Regular Trustees may deem appropriate, or as may be required to
          comply with any law or with any rule or regulation made pursuant
          thereto or with any rule or regulation of any stock exchange on which
          Capital Securities may be listed, or to conform to usage.

                    Section 9.8  Mutilated, Destroyed, Lost or Stolen
          Certificates.

                    If:

                         (a)  any mutilated Certificates should be surrendered
          to the Regular Trustees, or if the Regular Trustees shall receive
          evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of
          any Certificate; and

                         (b)  there shall be delivered to the Regular Trustees
          such security or indemnity as may be required by them to keep each of
          them harmless;

          then, in the absence of notice that such Certificate shall have been
          acquired by a bona fide purchaser, any Regular Trustee on behalf of
          the Trust shall execute and deliver, in exchange for or





                                       49
<PAGE>   56





          in lieu of any such mutilated, destroyed, lost or stolen Certificate,
          a new Certificate of like denomination.  In connection with the
          issuance of any new Certificate under this Section 9.8, the Regular
          Trustees may require the payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
          or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection
          therewith.  Any duplicate Certificate issued pursuant to this Section
          shall constitute conclusive evidence of an ownership interest in the
          relevant Securities, as if originally issued, whether or not the
          lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate shall be found at any time.

                    Section 9.9  Cancellation.

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

                    Section 9.10  CUSIP Numbers.

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





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

                    Section 10.1  Liability.

                         (a)  Except as expressly set forth in this
          Declaration, the Securities Guarantees and the terms of the
          Securities, the Depositor shall not be:

                              (i)  personally liable for the return of any
               portion of the capital contributions (or any return thereon) of
               the Holders of the Securities which shall be made solely from
               assets of the Trust; and

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

                         (b)  The Holder of the Common Securities shall be
          liable for all of the debts and obligations of the Trust (other than
          with respect to the Securities) to the extent not satisfied out of
          the Trust's assets.

                         (c)  Pursuant to Section  3803(a) of the Business
          Trust Act, the Holders of the Capital Securities shall be entitled to
          the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of
          private corporations for profit organized under the General
          Corporation Law of the State of Delaware.

                    Section 10.2  Exculpation.

                         (a)  No Indemnified Person shall be liable,
          responsible or accountable in damages or otherwise to the Trust or
          any Covered Person for any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason
          of any act or omission performed or omitted by such Indemnified
          Person in good faith on behalf of the Trust and in a manner such
          Indemnified Person reasonably believed to be within the scope of the
          authority conferred on such Indemnified Person by this Declaration or
          by law, except that an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any
          such loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of such Indemnified
          Person's gross negligence or willful misconduct with respect to such
          acts or omissions.

                         (b)  An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in
          relying in good faith upon the records of the Trust and upon such
          information, opinions, reports or statements presented





                                       51
<PAGE>   58





          to the Trust by any Person as to matters the Indemnified Person
          reasonably believes are within such other Person's professional or
          expert competence and who has been selected with reasonable care by
          or on behalf of the Trust, including information, opinions, reports
          or statements as to the value and amount of the assets, liabilities,
          profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and
          amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Securities
          might properly be paid.

                    Section 10.3  Fiduciary Duty.

                         (a)  To the extent that, at law or in equity, an
          Indemnified Person has duties (including fiduciary duties) and
          liabilities relating thereto to the Trust or to any other Covered
          Person, an Indemnified Person acting under this Declaration shall not
          be liable to the Trust or to any other Covered Person for its good
          faith reliance on the provisions of this Declaration.  The provisions
          of this Declaration, to the extent that they restrict the duties and
          liabilities of an Indemnified Person otherwise existing at law or in
          equity (other than the duties imposed on the Property Trustee under
          the Trust Indenture Act), are agreed by the parties hereto to replace
          such other duties and liabilities of such Indemnified Person.

                         (b)  Unless otherwise expressly provided herein:

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

                              (ii)  whenever this Declaration or any other
               agreement contemplated herein or therein provides that an
               Indemnified Person shall act in a manner that is, or provides
               terms that are, fair and reasonable to the Trust or any Holder
               of Securities,

          the Indemnified Person shall resolve such conflict of interest, take
          such action or provide such terms, considering in each case the
          relative interest of each party (including its own interest) to such
          conflict, agreement, transaction or situation and the benefits and
          burdens relating to such interests, any customary or accepted
          industry practices, and any applicable generally accepted accounting
          practices or principles.  In the absence of bad faith by the
          Indemnified Person, the resolution, action or term so made, taken or
          provided by the Indemnified Person shall not constitute a breach of
          this Declaration or any other agreement contemplated herein or of any
          duty or obligation of the Indemnified Person at law or in equity or
          otherwise.





                                       52
<PAGE>   59





                         (c)  Whenever in this Declaration an Indemnified
          Person is permitted or required to make a decision:

                              (i)  in its "discretion" or under a grant of
               similar authority, the Indemnified Person shall be entitled to
               consider such interests and factors as it desires, including its
               own interests, and shall have no duty or obligation to give any
               consideration to any interest of or factors affecting the Trust
               or any other Person; or

                              (ii)  in its "good faith" or under another
               express standard, the Indemnified Person shall act under such
               express standard and shall not be subject to any other or
               different standard imposed by this Declaration or by applicable
               law.

                    Section 10.4  Indemnification.

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

                              (ii)  The Debenture Issuer shall indemnify, to
          the full extent permitted by law, any Company Indemnified Person who
          was or is a party or is threatened to be made a party to any
          threatened, pending or completed action or suit by or in the right of
          the





                                       53
<PAGE>   60





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

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

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





                                       54
<PAGE>   61





               in a written opinion, or (3) by the Common Security Holder of
               the Trust.

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

                              (vi)  The indemnification and advancement of
               expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, the other
               paragraphs of this Section 10.4(a) shall not be deemed exclusive
               of any other rights to which those seeking indemnification and
               advancement of expenses may be entitled under any agreement,
               vote of stockholders or disinterested directors of the Debenture
               Issuer or Capital Security Holders of the Trust or otherwise,
               both as to action in his official capacity and as to action in
               another capacity while holding such office.




                                       55
<PAGE>   62





               All rights to indemnification under this Section 10.4(a) shall
               be deemed to be provided by a contract between the Debenture
               Issuer and each Company Indemnified Person who serves in such
               capacity at any time while this Section 10.4(a) is in effect.
               Any repeal or modification of this Section 10.4(a) shall not
               affect any rights or obligations then existing.

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

                              (viii)  For purposes of this Section 10.4(a),
               references to "the Trust" shall include, in addition to the
               resulting or surviving entity, any constituent entity (including
               any constituent of a constituent) absorbed in a consolidation or
               merger, so that any person who is or was a director, trustee,
               officer or employee of such constituent entity, or is or was
               serving at the request of such constituent entity as a director,
               trustee, officer, employee or agent of another entity, shall
               stand in the same position under the provisions of this Section
               10.4(a) with respect to the resulting or surviving entity as he
               would have with respect to such constituent entity if its
               separate existence had continued.

                              (ix)  The indemnification and advancement of
               expenses provided by, or granted pursuant to, this Section
               10.4(a) shall, unless otherwise provided when authorized or
               ratified, continue as to a person who has ceased to be a Company
               Indemnified Person and shall inure to the benefit of the heirs,
               executors and administrators of such a person.

                         (b)  The Debenture Issuer agrees to indemnify the (i)
          Property Trustee, (ii) the Delaware Trustee (in its individual
          capacity), (iii) any Affiliate of the Property Trustee and the
          Delaware Trustee, and (iv) any officers, directors, shareholders,
          members, partners, employees, representatives, custodians, nominees
          or agents of the Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee (each of
          the Persons in (i) through (iv) being referred




                                       56
<PAGE>   63





          to as a "Fiduciary Indemnified Person") for, and to hold each
          Fiduciary Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss,
          liability, damage, claim or expense including taxes (other than taxes
          based on the income of such Fiduciary Indemnified Person) incurred
          without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or in
          connection with the acceptance or administration or the trust or
          trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including
          reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself against or
          investigating any claim or liability in connection with the exercise
          or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.  The
          obligation to indemnify as set forth in this Section 10.4(b) shall
          survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Declaration.

                    Section 10.5  Outside Businesses.

                    Any Covered Person, the Depositor, the Delaware Trustee and
          the Property Trustee may engage in or possess an interest in other
          business ventures of any nature or description, independently or with
          others, similar or dissimilar to the business of the Trust, and the
          Trust and the Holders of Securities shall have no rights by virtue of
          this Declaration in and to such independent ventures or the income or
          profits derived therefrom, and the pursuit of any such venture, even
          if competitive with the business of the Trust, shall not be deemed
          wrongful or improper.  No Covered Person, the Depositor, the Delaware
          Trustee, or the Property Trustee shall be obligated to present any
          particular investment or other opportunity to the Trust even if such
          opportunity is of a character that, if presented to the Trust, could
          be taken by the Trust, and any Covered Person, the Depositor, the
          Delaware Trustee and the Property Trustee shall have the right to
          take for its own account (individually or as a partner or fiduciary)
          or to recommend to others any such particular investment or other
          opportunity.  Any Covered Person, the Delaware Trustee and the
          Property Trustee may engage or be interested in any financial or
          other transaction with the Depositor or any Affiliate of the
          Depositor, or may act as depositary for, trustee or agent for, or act
          on any committee or body of holders of, securities or other
          obligations of the Depositor or its Affiliates.





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                                   ARTICLE XI
                                   ACCOUNTING

                    Section 11.1  Fiscal Year.

                    The fiscal year ("Fiscal Year") of the Trust shall be the
          calendar year, or such other year as is required by the Code.

                    Section 11.2  Certain Accounting Matters.

                         (a)  At all times during the existence of the Trust,
          the Regular Trustees shall keep, or cause to be kept, full books of
          account, records and supporting documents, which shall reflect in
          reasonable detail, each transaction of the Trust.  The books of
          account shall be maintained on the accrual method of accounting, in
          accordance with generally accepted accounting principles,
          consistently applied.  The books of account and the records of the
          Trust shall be examined by and reported upon as of the end of each
          Fiscal Year of the Trust by a firm of independent certified public
          accountants selected by the Regular Trustees.

                         (b)  The Regular Trustees shall cause to be prepared
          and delivered to each of the Holders of Securities, within 90 days
          after the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust, annual financial
          statements of the Trust, including a balance sheet of the Trust as of
          the end of such Fiscal Year, and the related statements of income or
          loss.

                         (c)  The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly
          prepared and delivered to each of the Holders of Securities, any
          annual United States federal income tax information statement,
          required by the Code, containing such information with regard to the
          Securities held by each Holder as is required by the Code and the
          Treasury Regulations.  Notwithstanding any right under the Code to
          deliver any such statement at a later date, the Regular Trustees
          shall endeavor to deliver all such statements within 30 days after
          the end of each Fiscal Year of the Trust.

                         (d)  The Regular Trustees shall cause to be duly
          prepared and filed with the appropriate taxing authority, an annual
          United States federal income tax return, on a Form 1041 or such other
          form required by United States federal income tax law, and any other
          annual income tax returns required to be filed by the Regular
          Trustees on behalf of the Trust with any state or local taxing
          authority.





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<PAGE>   65





                    Section 11.3  Banking.

                    The Trust shall maintain one or more bank accounts in the
          name and for the sole benefit of the Trust; provided, however, that
          all payments of funds in respect of the Debentures held by the
          Property Trustee shall be made directly to the Property Trustee
          Account and no other funds of the Trust shall be deposited in the
          Property Trustee Account.  The sole signatories for such accounts
          shall be designated by the Regular Trustees; provided, however, that
          the Property Trustee shall designate the signatories for the Property
          Trustee Account.

                    Section 11.4  Withholding.

                    The Trust and the Regular Trustees shall comply with all
          withholding requirements under United States federal, state and local
          law.  The Trust shall request, and the Holders shall provide to the
          Trust, such forms or certificates as are necessary to establish an
          exemption from withholding with respect to each Holder, and any
          representations and forms as shall reasonably be requested by the
          Trust to assist it in determining the extent of, and in fulfilling,
          its withholding obligations.  The Regular Trustees shall file
          required forms with applicable jurisdictions and, unless an exemption
          from withholding is properly established by a Holder, shall remit
          amounts withheld with respect to the Holder to applicable
          jurisdictions.  To the extent that the Trust is required to withhold
          and pay over any amounts to any authority with respect to
          distributions or allocations to any Holder, the amount withheld shall
          be deemed to be a distribution in the amount of the withholding to
          the Holder.  In the event of any claimed over withholding, Holders
          shall be limited to an action against the applicable jurisdiction.
          If the amount required to be withheld was not withheld from actual
          Distributions made, the Trust may reduce subsequent Distributions by
          the amount of such withholding.


                                  ARTICLE XII
                            AMENDMENTS AND MEETINGS

                    Section 12.1  Amendments.

                         (a)  Except as otherwise provided in this Declaration
          or by any applicable terms of the Securities, this Declaration may
          only be amended by a written instrument approved and executed by:





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<PAGE>   66





                              (i)  the Regular Trustees (or, if there are more
               than two Regular Trustees a majority of the Regular Trustees);

                              (ii)  if the amendment affects the rights,
               powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Property
               Trustee, the Property Trustee; and

                              (iii)  if the amendment affects the rights,
               powers, duties, obligations or immunities of the Delaware
               Trustee, the Delaware Trustee;

                         (b)  No amendment shall be made, and any such
          purported amendment shall be void and ineffective:

                              (i)  unless, in the case of any proposed
               amendment, the Property Trustee shall have first received an
               Officers' Certificate from each of the Trust and the Depositor
               that such amendment is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms
               of this Declaration (including the terms of the Securities);

                              (ii)  unless, in the case of any proposed
               amendment which affects the rights, powers, duties, obligations
               or immunities of the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee
               shall have first received:

                                   (A)  an Officers' Certificate from each of
                    the Trust and the Depositor that such amendment is
                    permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this
                    Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and

                                   (B)  an opinion of counsel (who may be
                    counsel to the Depositor or the Trust) that such amendment
                    is permitted by, and conforms to, the terms of this
                    Declaration (including the terms of the Securities); and

                              (iii)  to the extent the result of such amendment
               would be to:

                                   (A)  cause the trust to fail to continue to
                    be classified for purposes of United States federal income
                    taxation as a grantor trust;





                                       60
<PAGE>   67





                                   (B)  reduce or otherwise adversely affect
                    the powers of the Property Trustee in contravention of the
                    Trust Indenture Act; or

                                   (C)  cause the Trust to be deemed to be an
                    Investment Company required to be registered under the
                    Investment Company Act;

                         (c)  At such time after the Trust has issued any
          Securities that remain outstanding, any amendment that would
          adversely affect the rights, privileges or preferences of any Holder
          of Securities may be effected only with such additional requirements
          as may be set forth in the terms of such Securities;

                         (d)  Section 9.1(c) and this Section 12.1 shall not be
          amended without the consent of all of the Holders of the Securities;

                         (e)  Article IV shall not be amended without the
          consent of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
          Common Securities;

                         (f)  The rights of the holders of the Common
          Securities under Article V to increase or decrease the number of, and
          appoint and remove Trustees shall not be amended without the consent
          of the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the Common
          Securities; and

                         (g)  Notwithstanding Section 12.1(c), this Declaration
          may be amended by the Depositor and the Trustees without the consent
          of the Holders of the Securities to:

                              (i)  cure any ambiguity;

                              (ii)  correct or supplement any provision in this
               Declaration that may be defective or inconsistent with any other
               provision of this Declaration or to make any other provisions
               with respect to matters or questions arising under this
               Declaration, which shall not be inconsistent with the other
               provisions of this Declaration; or

                              (iii)  modify, eliminate or add to any provision
               of this Declaration to such extent as shall be necessary to
               ensure that the Trust will be classi-





                                       61
<PAGE>   68





               fied for United Stated federal income tax purposes as a grantor
               trust at all times that any Securities are outstanding or to
               ensure that the Trust will not be required to register as an
               "investment company" under the Investment Company Act; provided,
               however, that in the case of clauses (i) and (ii) above, such
               action shall not adversely affect in any material respect the
               interests of any Holders of the Securities.  Any amendment to
               the Declaration shall become effective when written notice
               thereof is given to the holders of the Securities.

                    Section 12.2  Meetings of the Holders of Securities; Action
          by Written Consent.

                         (a)  Meetings of the Holders of any class of
          Securities may be called at any time by the Regular Trustees (or as
          provided in the terms of the Securities) to consider and act on any
          matter on which Holders of such class of Securities are entitled to
          act under the terms of this Declaration, the terms of the Securities
          or the rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital Securities
          are listed or admitted for trading.  The Regular Trustees shall call
          a meeting of the Holders of such class if directed to do so by the
          Holders of at least 25% in liquidation amount of such class of
          Securities.  Such direction shall be given by delivering to the
          Regular Trustees one or more calls in a writing stating that the
          signing Holders of Securities wish to call a meeting and indicating
          the general or specific purpose for which the meeting is to be
          called.  Any Holders of Securities calling a meeting shall specify in
          writing the Security Certificates held by the Holders of Securities
          exercising the right to call a meeting and only those Securities
          specified shall be counted for purposes of determining whether the
          required percentage set forth in the second sentence of this
          paragraph has been met.

                         (b)  Except to the extent otherwise provided in the
          terms of the Securities, the following provisions shall apply to
          meetings of Holders of Securities:

                              (i)  notice of any such meeting shall be given to
               all the Holders of Securities having a right to vote thereat at
               least 7 days and not more than 60 days before the date of such
               meeting.  Whenever a vote, consent or approval of the Holders of
               Securities is permitted or required under this Declaration or
               the rules of any stock exchange on which the Capital Secu-





                                       62
<PAGE>   69





               rities are listed or admitted for trading, such vote, consent or
               approval may be given at a meeting of the Holders of Securities.
               Any action that may be taken at a meeting of the Holders of
               Securities may be taken without a meeting if a consent in
               writing setting forth the action so taken is signed by the
               Holders of Securities owning not less than the minimum amount of
               Securities in liquidation amount that would be necessary to
               authorize or take such action at a meeting at which all Holders
               of Securities having a right to vote thereon were present and
               voting.  Prompt notice of the taking of action without a meeting
               shall be given to the Holders of Securities entitled to vote who
               have not consented in writing.  The Regular Trustees may specify
               that any written ballot submitted to the Security Holder for the
               purpose of taking any action without a meeting shall be returned
               to the Trust within the time specified by the Regular Trustees;

                              (ii)  each Holder of a Security may authorize any
               Person to act for it by proxy on all matters in which a Holder
               of Securities is entitled to participate, including waiving
               notice of any meeting, or voting or participating at a meeting.
               No proxy shall be valid after the expiration of 11 months from
               the date thereof unless otherwise provided in the proxy.  Every
               proxy shall be revocable at the pleasure of the Holder of
               Securities executing it.  Except as otherwise provided herein,
               all matters relating to the giving, voting or validity of
               proxies shall be governed by the General Corporation Law of the
               State of Delaware relating to proxies, and judicial
               interpretations thereunder, as if the Trust were a Delaware
               corporation and the Holders of the Securities were stockholders
               of a Delaware corporation;

                              (iii)  each meeting of the Holders of the
               Securities shall be conducted by the Regular Trustees or by such
               other Person that the Regular Trustees may designate; and

                              (iv)  unless the Business Trust Act, this
               Declaration, the terms of the Securities, the Trust Indenture
               Act or the listing rules of any stock exchange on which the
               Capital Securities are then listed or trading, otherwise
               provides, the Regular Trustees, in their sole discretion, shall
               establish all





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               other provisions relating to meetings of Holders of Securities,
               including notice of the time, place or purpose of any meeting at
               which any matter is to be voted on by any Holders of Securities,
               waiver of any such notice, action by consent without a meeting,
               the establishment of a record date, quorum requirements, voting
               in person or by proxy or any other matter with respect to the
               exercise of any such right to vote.


                                  ARTICLE XIII
                      REPRESENTATIONS OF PROPERTY TRUSTEE
                              AND DELAWARE TRUSTEE

                    Section 13.1  Representations and Warranties of Property
          Trustee.

                    The Trustee that acts as initial Property Trustee
          represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Depositor at the date
          of this Declaration, and each Successor Property Trustee represents
          and warrants to the Trust and the Depositor at the time of the
          Successor Property Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as
          Property Trustee that:

                         (a)  the Property Trustee is a Massachusetts trust
          company with trust powers and authority to execute and deliver, and
          to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this
          Declaration;

                         (b)  the execution, delivery and performance by the
          Property Trustee of the Declaration has been duly authorized by all
          necessary corporate action on the part of the Property Trustee.  The
          Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the Property
          Trustee, and it constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of
          the Property Trustee, enforceable against it in accordance with its
          terms, subject to applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium,
          insolvency, and other similar laws affecting creditors' rights
          generally and to general principles of equity and the discretion of
          the court (regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is
          considered in a proceeding in equity or at law);

                         (c)  the execution, delivery and performance of this
          Declaration by the Property Trustee does not conflict with or
          constitute a breach of the charter or by-laws of the Property
          Trustee; and





                                       64
<PAGE>   71





                         (d)  no consent, approval or authorization of, or
          registration with or notice to, any Massachusetts or federal banking
          authority is required for the execution, delivery or performance by
          the Property Trustee, of this Declaration.

                    Section 13.2  Representations and Warranties of Delaware
          Trustee.

                    The Trustee that acts as initial Delaware Trustee
          represents and warrants to the Trust and to the Depositor at the date
          of this Declaration, and each Successor Delaware Trustee represents
          and warrants to the Trust and the Depositor at the time of the
          Successor Delaware Trustee's acceptance of its appointment as
          Delaware Trustee that:

                         (a)  The Delaware Trustee is duly organized, validly
          existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
          Delaware, with trust power and authority to execute and deliver, and
          to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of, this
          Declaration.

                         (b)  The Delaware Trustee has been authorized to
          perform its obligations under the Certificate of Trust and this
          Declaration.  This Declaration under Delaware law constitutes a
          legal, valid and binding obligation of the Delaware Trustee,
          enforceable against it in accordance with its terms, subject to
          applicable bankruptcy, reorganization, moratorium, insolvency, and
          other similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and to
          general principles of equity and the discretion of the court
          (regardless of whether the enforcement of such remedies is considered
          in a proceeding in equity or at law).

                         (c)  No consent, approval or authorization of, or
          registration with or notice to, any banking authority of the State of
          Delaware or any federal banking authority governing the banking or
          trust powers of the Delaware Trustee is required for the execution,
          delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee, of this Declaration.

                         (d)  The Delaware Trustee is a natural person who is a
          resident of the State of Delaware or, if not a natural person, an
          entity which has its principal place of business in the State of
          Delaware.





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<PAGE>   72





                                  ARTICLE XIV
                                 MISCELLANEOUS

                    Section 14.1  Notices.

                    All notices provided for in this Declaration shall be in
          writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be
          delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows:

                         (a)  if given to the Trust, in care of the Regular
          Trustees at the Trust's mailing address set forth below (or such
          other address as the Trust may give notice of to the Holders of the
          Securities):

                         Allstate Financing II
                         c/o The Allstate Corporation
                         2775 Sanders Road
                         Northbrook, Illinois  60062
                         Attention:  Secretary
                         Telecopy:

                         (b)  if given to the Delaware Trustee, at the mailing
          address set forth below (or such other address as Delaware Trustee
          may give notice of to the Holders of the Securities):

                         Delaware Trust Capital
                           Management, Inc.
                         900 Market Street, 2nd Floor
                         Wilmington, Delaware  19801
                         Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration/
                                     Richard N. Smith
                         Telecopy:

                         (c)  if given to the Property Trustee, at the Property
          Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as
          the Property Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the
          Securities):

                         State Street Bank and
                           Trust Company
                         Two International Place
                         Boston, Massachusetts  02110
                         Attention:  Corporate Trust Department
                         Telecopy:





                                       66
<PAGE>   73





                         (d)  if given to the Holder of the Common Securities,
          at the mailing address of the Depositor set forth below (or such
          other address as the Holder of the Common Securities may give notice
          to the Trust):

                         The Allstate Corporation
                         2775 Sanders Road
                         Northbrook, Illinois  60062
                         Attention:  Secretary
                         Telecopy:

                         (e)  if given to any other Holder, at the address set
          forth on the books and records of the Trust.

                    All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when
          received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by
          first class mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other
          document is refused delivery or cannot be delivered because of a
          changed address of which no notice was given, such notice or other
          document shall be deemed to have been delivered on the date of such
          refusal or inability to deliver.

                    Section 14.2  Governing Law.

                    This Declaration and the rights of the parties hereunder
          shall be governed by and interpreted in accordance with the laws of
          the State of Delaware and all rights and remedies shall be governed
          by such laws without regard to principles of conflict of laws.

                    Section 14.3  Intention of the Parties.

                    It is the intention of the parties hereto that the Trust be
          classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor
          trust.  The provisions of this Declaration shall be interpreted to
          further this intention of the parties.

                    Section 14.4  Headings.

                    Headings contained in this Declaration are inserted for
          convenience of reference only and do not affect the interpretation of
          this Declaration or any provision hereof.

                    Section 14.5  Successors and Assigns.

                    Whenever in this Declaration any of the parties hereto is
          named or referred to, the successors and assigns of such party





                                       67
<PAGE>   74





          shall be deemed to be included, and all covenants and agreements in
          this Declaration by the Depositor and the Trustees shall bind and
          inure to the benefit of their respective successors and assigns,
          whether so expressed.

                    Section 14.6  Partial Enforceability.

                    If any provision of this Declaration, or the application of
          such provision to any Person or circumstance, shall be held invalid,
          the remainder of this Declaration, or the application of such
          provision to persons or circumstances other than those to which it is
          held invalid, shall not be affected thereby.

                    Section 14.7  Counterparts.

                    This Declaration may contain more than one counterpart of
          the signature page and this Declaration may be executed by the
          affixing of the signature of each of the Trustees to one of such
          counterpart signature pages.  All of such counterpart signature pages
          shall be read as though one, and they shall have the same force and
          effect as though all of the signers had signed a single signature
          page.





                                       68
<PAGE>   75





                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have caused these
          presents to be executed as of the day and year first above written.


                                        /s/ Joseph T. Kane                
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Joseph T. Kane, as Regular Trustee



                                        /s/ Jennifer M. Hager             
                                        ----------------------------------
                                        Jennifer M. Hager, as Regular
                                        Trustee


                                        DELAWARE TRUST CAPITAL
                                          MANAGEMENT, INC.,
                                        as Delaware Trustee



                                        By:/s/ Richard N. Smith           
                                           -------------------------------
                                           Name:   Richard N. Smith
                                           Title:  Vice President


                                        STATE STREET BANK AND
                                         TRUST COMPANY,
                                        as Property Trustee



                                        By:/s/ Henry W. Seemore           
                                           -------------------------------
                                           Name:   Henry W. Seemore
                                           Title:  Assistant Vice President


                                        THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION,
                                        as Depositor



                                        By:/s/ James P. Zils              
                                           -------------------------------
                                           Name:   James P. Zils
                                           Title:  Vice President and
                                                   Treasurer
                                                            
<PAGE>   76





                                    ANNEX I


                                    TERMS OF
                            7.83% CAPITAL SECURITIES
                            7.83% COMMON SECURITIES


                    Pursuant to Section 7.1 of the Amended and Restated
          Declaration of Trust, dated as of November 27, 1996 (as amended from
          time to time, the "Declaration"), the designation, rights,
          privileges, restrictions, preferences and other terms and provisions
          of the Capital Securities and the Common Securities are set out below
          (each capitalized term used but not defined herein has the meaning
          set forth in the Declaration or, if not defined in such Declaration,
          as defined in the Prospectus referred to below):

                    1.  Designation and Number.

                         (a)  Capital Securities.  200,000 Capital Securities
          of the Trust with an aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the
          assets of the Trust of Two Hundred Million Dollars ($200,000,000) and
          a liquidation amount with respect to the assets of the Trust of
          $1,000 per capital security, are hereby designated for the purposes
          of identification only as "7.83% Capital Securities" (the "Capital
          Securities").  The Capital Security Certificates evidencing the
          Capital Securities shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A-1
          to the Declaration, with such changes and additions thereto or
          deletions therefrom as may be required by ordinary usage, custom or
          practice or to conform to the rules of any stock exchange on which
          the Capital Securities are listed.

                         (b)  Common Securities.  6,186 Common Securities of
          the Trust with an aggregate liquidation amount with respect to the
          assets of the Trust of Six Million One Hundred Eighty Six Thousand
          Dollars ($6,186,000), and a liquidation amount with respect to the
          assets of the Trust of $1,000 per common security, are hereby
          designated for the purposes of identification only as "7.83% Common
          Securities" (the "Common Securities").  The Common Security
          Certificates evidencing the Common Securities shall be substantially
          in the form of Exhibit A-2 to the Declaration, with such changes and
          additions thereto or deletions therefrom as may be required by
          ordinary usage, custom or practice.





                                      I-1
<PAGE>   77





                    2.  Distributions.

                         (a)  Distributions payable on each Security will be
          fixed at a rate per annum of 7.83% (the "Coupon Rate") of the stated
          liquidation amount of $1,000 per Security, such rate being the rate
          of interest payable on the Debentures to be held by the Property
          Trustee.  Distributions in arrears for more than one semi-annual
          period will bear interest thereon compounded semi-annually at the
          Coupon Rate (to the extent permitted by applicable law).  The term
          "Distributions" as used herein includes such cash distributions and
          any such interest payable unless otherwise stated.  A Distribution is
          payable only to the extent that payments are made in respect of the
          Debentures held by the Property Trustee and to the extent the
          Property Trustee has funds available therefor.  The amount of
          Distributions payable for any period will be computed for any full
          semi-annual Distribution period on the basis of a 360-day year of
          twelve 30-day months, and for any period shorter than a full
          semi-annual Distribution period for which Distributions are computed,
          Distributions will be computed on the basis of the actual number of
          days elapsed per 180-day period.

                         (b)  Distributions on the Securities will be
          cumulative, will accrue from November 27, 1996, and will be payable
          semi-annually in arrears, on June 1 and December 1 of each year,
          commencing on June 1, 1997,  except as otherwise described below.  So
          long as no Event of Default under the Indenture has occurred and is
          continuing, the Debenture Issuer has the right under the Indenture to
          defer payments of interest by extending the interest payment period
          from time to time on the Debentures for a period not exceeding 10
          consecutive semi-annual periods or extending beyond the maturity date
          of the Debentures (each an "Extension Period"), during which
          Extension Period no interest shall be due and payable on the
          Debentures; provided that no Extension Period shall last beyond the
          date of maturity of the Debentures.  As a consequence of such
          deferral, Distributions will also be deferred.  Despite such
          deferral, semi-annual Distributions will continue to accrue with
          interest thereon (to the extent permitted by applicable law) at the
          Coupon Rate compounded semi-annually during any such Extension
          Period.  The term "Distribution" as used herein shall include any
          such additional Distributions.  During any such Extension Period, the
          Debenture Issuer shall not, and shall not permit any subsidiary of
          the Debenture Issuer to, (a) declare or pay any dividend on, make any
          distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or make a
          liquidation payment with respect to any of the Debenture Issuer's
          capital stock or (b) make any payment of principal, interest or





                                      I-2
<PAGE>   78





          premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt
          securities (including guarantees) issued by the Debenture Issuer
          (including other debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior in
          interest to the Debentures (other than (i) dividends or distributions
          in common stock of the Debenture Issuer, (ii) redemptions or
          repurchases of any rights, or the declaration of a dividend of any
          rights, or the issuance of any security under any future rights plan
          of the Debenture Issuer, (iii) purchases or acquisitions of shares of
          common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Debenture
          Issuer of its obligations under any benefit plans for its or its
          subsidiaries' directors, officers, employees or independent
          contractors, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of the Debenture
          Issuer's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or
          series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock for another class or
          series of the Debenture Issuer's capital stock or (v) the purchase of
          fractional interests in shares of the Debenture Issuer's capital
          stock  pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such
          capital stock of the Debenture Issuer or the security being converted
          or exchanged) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the
          foregoing.  Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period,
          the Debenture Issuer may further extend such Extension Period;
          provided that such Extension Period together with all such previous
          and further extensions thereof may not exceed 10 consecutive
          semi-annual periods or extend beyond the maturity of the Debentures.
          Payments of accrued Distributions will be payable to Holders as they
          appear on the books and records of the Trust on the first record date
          after the end of the Extension Period.  Upon the termination of any
          Extension Period and the payment of all amounts then due, the
          Debenture Issuer may commence a new Extension Period, subject to the
          above requirements.

                         (c)  Distributions on the Securities will be payable
          to the Holders thereof as they appear on the books and records of the
          Trust on the relevant record dates.  The relevant record dates shall
          be the 15th day of the month immediately prior to the month in which
          the relevant payment date occurs which payment dates correspond to
          the interest payment dates on the Debentures.  Subject to any
          applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the
          Declaration, each such payment in respect of the Capital Securities
          will be made as described under the heading Book-Entry Only Issuance
          in the Prospectus Supplement dated November 22, 1996, to the
          Prospectus dated October 1, 1996 (together, the "Prospectus"), of the
          Trust included in the Registration Statement on Form S-3 of the
          Depositor, the Trust and certain other business trusts.  The relevant
          record dates for the Common Securities shall be the same record date
          as for the





                                      I-3
<PAGE>   79





          Capital Securities.  Distributions payable on any Securities that are
          not punctually paid on any Distribution payment date, as a result of
          the Debenture Issuer having failed to make a payment under the
          Debentures, will cease to be payable to the Person in whose name such
          Securities are registered on the relevant record date, and such
          defaulted Distribution will instead be payable to the Person in whose
          name such Securities are registered on the special record date or
          other specified date determined in accordance with the Indenture.  If
          any date on which Distributions are payable on the Securities is not
          a Business Day, then payment of the Distribution payable on such date
          will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and
          without any interest, additional Distributions or other payment in
          respect of any such delay) except that, if such Business Day is in
          the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the
          immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force
          and effect as if made on such date.

                         (d)  In the event that there is any money or other
          property held by or for the Trust that is not accounted for
          hereunder, such property shall be distributed Pro Rata (as defined
          herein) among the Holders of the Securities.

                    3.  Liquidation Distribution Upon Dissolution.

                    In the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution,
          winding-up or termination of the Trust, the Holders of the Securities
          on the date of the dissolution, winding-up or termination, as the
          case may be, will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the
          Trust available for distribution to Holders of Securities after
          satisfaction of liabilities of creditors an amount equal to the
          aggregate of the stated liquidation amount of $1,000 per Security
          plus accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment
          (such amount being the "Liquidation Distribution"), unless, in
          connection with such dissolution, winding-up or termination,
          Debentures in an aggregate stated principal amount equal to the
          aggregate stated liquidation amount of such Securities, with an
          interest rate equal to the Coupon Rate of, and bearing accrued and
          unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid
          Distributions on, such Securities, shall be distributed on a Pro Rata
          basis to the Holders of the Securities in exchange for such
          Securities.  The Liquidation Distribution shall be consistent with
          the provisions of paragraph 4(f) below.

                    If, upon any such dissolution, the Liquidation Distribution
          can be paid only in part because the Trust has insuffi-





                                      I-4
<PAGE>   80





          cient assets available to pay in full the aggregate Liquidation
          Distribution, then the amounts payable directly by the Trust on the
          Securities shall be paid on a Pro Rata basis.

                    4.  Redemption and Distribution.

                         (a)  Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in
          part, of the Debentures, whether at Stated Maturity or upon earlier
          redemption as provided in the Indenture, the proceeds from such
          repayment or redemption shall be simultaneously applied by the
          Property Trustee to redeem a Like Amount of the Securities having an
          aggregate liquidation amount equal to the aggregate principal amount
          of the Debentures so repaid or redeemed, upon not less than 15 nor
          more than 60 days notice prior to the date fixed for repayment or
          redemption (the "Redemption Date"), at the applicable Redemption
          Price, with respect to the Capital Securities which shall be equal to
          (i) in the case of repayment of the Debentures at their Stated
          Maturity, the Maturity Redemption Price, (ii) in the case of the
          redemption of the Debentures upon the occurrence and during the
          continuation of a Special Event, the Event Redemption Price and (iii)
          in the case of the optional redemption of the Debentures pursuant to
          Section 2.7(a) of the Second Supplemental Indenture, the Optional
          Redemption Price.

                         (b)  If fewer than all the outstanding Securities are
          to be so redeemed, the Common Securities and the Capital Securities
          will be redeemed Pro Rata, by lot or by any other method determined
          by the Debenture Trustee to be equitable, and if the Debenture
          Trustee redeems such Securities on a Pro Rata basis, the Capital
          Securities to be redeemed will be as described in Section 4(e)(ii)
          below.

                         (c)  The Debenture Issuer will have the right to
          redeem the Debentures as provided in the Second Supplemental
          Indenture.

                         (d)  At any time, the Depositor shall have the right
          to dissolve the Trust and, after satisfaction of creditors, cause
          Debentures held by the Property Trustee, having an aggregate
          principal amount equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of,
          with an interest rate identical to the Coupon Rate of, and accrued
          and unpaid interest equal to accrued and unpaid Distributions on, and
          having the same record date for payment as the Securities, to be
          distributed to the Holders of the Securities in liquidation of such
          Holders' interests in the Trust on a Pro Rata basis, subject to the
          Depositor having received an opinion of counsel experienced in such
          matters to the effect that




                                      I-5
<PAGE>   81





          Holders of the Securities will not recognize income, gain or loss
          for United States federal income tax purposes.

                    On and from the date fixed by the Regular Trustees for any
          distribution of Debentures and dissolution of the Trust:  (i) the
          Securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii) DTC or
          its nominee (or any successor Clearing Agency or its nominee), as the
          record Holder of the Capital Securities, will receive a registered
          global certificate or certificates representing the Debentures to be
          delivered upon such distribution and (iii) any certificates
          representing Securities, except for certificates representing Capital
          Securities held by DTC or its nominee (or any successor Clearing
          Agency or its nominee), will be deemed to represent beneficial
          interests in the Debentures  having an aggregate principal amount
          equal to the aggregate stated liquidation amount of, with an interest
          rate identical to the Coupon Rate of, and bearing accrued and unpaid
          interest equal to accrued and unpaid Distributions on, such
          Securities until such certificates are presented to the Debenture
          Issuer or its agent for transfer or reissuance.

                         (e)  "Redemption or Distribution Procedures."

                              (i)  Notice of any redemption of, or notice of
               distribution of Debentures in exchange for the Securities (a
               "Redemption/Distribution Notice") will be given by the Trust by
               mail to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed or exchanged
               not fewer than 15 nor more than 60 days before the date fixed
               for redemption or exchange thereof which, in the case of a
               redemption, will be the date fixed for redemption of the
               Debentures.  For purposes of the calculation of the date of
               redemption or exchange and the dates on which notices are given
               pursuant to this Section 4(e)(i), a Redemption/Distribution
               Notice shall be deemed to be given on the day such notice is
               first mailed by first-class mail, postage prepaid, to Holders of
               Securities.  Each Redemption/Distribution Notice shall be
               addressed to the Holders of Securities at the address of each
               such Holder appearing in the books and records of the Trust.  No
               defect in the Redemption/Distribution Notice or in the mailing
               of either thereof with respect to any Holder shall affect the
               validity of the redemption or exchange proceedings with respect
               to any other Holder.

                             (ii)  In the event that fewer than all the
               outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the





                                      I-6
<PAGE>   82





               Securities to be redeemed may be redeemed Pro Rata from each
               Holder of Capital Securities (or by lot or any other method
               determined by the Property Trustee to be equitable), it being
               understood that, in respect of Capital Securities registered in
               the name of and held of record by the DTC or its nominee (or any
               successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) or any nominee, the
               distribution of the proceeds of such redemption will be made to
               each Clearing Agency Participant (or Person on whose behalf such
               nominee holds such securities) in accordance with the procedures
               applied by such agency or nominee.  The particular Securities to
               be redeemed shall be selected on a Pro Rata basis not more than
               60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee
               from the outstanding Securities not previously called for
               redemption, by such method as the Property Trustee shall deem
               fair and appropriate.

                            (iii)  If Securities are to be redeemed and the
               Trust gives a Redemption/Distribution Notice, which notice may
               only be issued if the Debentures are redeemed as set out in this
               Section 4 (which notice will be irrevocable), then (A) while the
               Capital Securities are in book-entry only form, with respect to
               the Capital Securities, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on
               the redemption date, provided that the Debenture Issuer has paid
               the Property Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in connection
               with the related redemption or maturity of the Debentures, the
               Property Trustee will deposit irrevocably with DTC or its
               nominee (or successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) funds
               sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price with respect
               to the Capital Securities and will give DTC irrevocable
               instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the
               Holders of the Capital Securities, and (B) with respect to
               Capital Securities issued in definitive form and Common
               Securities, provided that the Debenture Issuer has paid the
               Property Trustee a sufficient amount of cash in connection with
               the related redemption or maturity of the Debentures, the
               Property Trustee will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent
               for the Securities Funds sufficient to pay the relevant
               Redemption Price and will give such paying agent irrevocable
               instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the
               Holders of record of such Securities on the relevant record date
               by check mailed to the address of such Holders appearing on the
               books and





                                      I-7
<PAGE>   83





               records of the Trust on such record date.  If a
               Redemption/Distribution Notice shall have been given and funds
               deposited as required, if applicable, then immediately prior to
               the close of business on the date of such deposit, or on the
               redemption date, as applicable, distributions will cease to
               accrue on the Securities so called for redemption and all rights
               (except the rights described in the immediately preceding
               sentence) of Holders of such Securities so called for redemption
               will cease, except the right of the Holders of record on the
               relevant record date of such Securities to receive the
               Redemption Price, but without interest on such Redemption Price,
               and such Securities shall cease to be Outstanding.  Neither the
               Regular Trustees nor the Trust shall be required to register or
               cause to be registered the transfer of any Securities that have
               been so called for redemption.  If any date fixed for redemption
               of Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the
               Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next
               succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest
               or other payment in respect of any such delay) except that, if
               such Business Day falls in the next calendar year, such payment
               will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each
               case with the same force and effect as if made on such date
               fixed for redemption.  If payment of the Redemption Price in
               respect of any Securities is improperly withheld or refused and
               not paid either by the Property Trustee or by the Depositor as
               guarantor pursuant to the relevant Securities Guarantee,
               Distributions on such Securities will continue to accrue from
               the original redemption date to the actual date of payment, in
               which case the actual payment date will be considered the date
               fixed for redemption for purposes of calculating the Redemption
               Price.


                             (iv)  Redemption/Distribution Notices shall be
               sent by the Regular Trustees on behalf of the Trust to (A) in
               respect of the Capital Securities, DTC or its nominee (or any
               successor Clearing Agency or its nominee) if the Global
               Certificates have been issued or, if Definitive Capital Security
               Certificates have been issued, to the Holder thereof, and (B) in
               respect of the Common Securities to the Holder thereof.  Such
               notice shall state: (I) the Redemption Date; (II) the Redemption
               Price; (III) the CUSIP number; (IV)  if less





                                      I-8
<PAGE>   84





               than all the Outstanding Trust Securities are to be redeemed,
               the identification and the total Liquidation Amount of the
               particular Trust Securities to be redeemed; and (V) that on the
               Redemption Date the Redemption Price will become due and payable
               upon each such Trust Security to be redeemed and that
               distributions thereon will cease to accrue on and after said
               date.

                              (v)  Subject to the foregoing and applicable law
               (including, without limitation, United States federal securities
               laws), provided the acquiror is not the Holder of the Common
               Securities or the obligor under the Indenture, the Depositor or
               any of its subsidiaries may at any time and from time to time
               purchase outstanding Capital Securities by tender, in the open
               market or by private agreement.


                         (f)  Payment of any Redemption Price on the Capital
          Securities and any Distribution of Debentures to Holders of Capital
          Securities shall be made only to the Holders thereof upon surrender
          of their certificates evidencing such capital securities.

                    5.  Voting Rights - Capital Securities.

                         (a)  Except as provided under Sections 5(b) and 7 and
          as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders of the
          Capital Securities will have no voting rights.

                         (b)  Subject to the requirements set forth in this
          paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in aggregate liquidation amount
          of the Capital Securities, voting separately as a class may direct
          the time, method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any
          remedy available to the Property Trustee, or exercising any trust or
          power conferred upon the Property Trustee under the Declaration,
          including the right to direct the Property Trustee, as holder of the
          Debentures, to (i) exercise the remedies available under the
          Indenture, conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the
          Debenture Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on the
          Debenture Trustee with respect to the Debentures, (ii) waive any past
          default and its consequences that is waivable under Section 513 of
          the Indenture, or (iii) exercise any right to rescind or annul a
          declaration that the principal of all the Debentures shall be due and
          payable.  The Property Trustee shall not revoke any action previously
          authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Capital
          Securi-





                                      I-9
<PAGE>   85





          ties.  Other than with respect to directing the time, method and
          place of conducting any remedy available to the Property Trustee or
          the Debenture Trustee as set forth above, the Property Trustee shall
          not take any action in accordance with the directions of the Holders
          of the Capital Securities under this paragraph unless the Property
          Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for
          the purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not
          be classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such
          action.  If a Declaration Event of Default has occurred and is
          continuing and such event is attributable to the failure of the
          Debenture Issuer to pay interest or principal on the Debentures on
          the date such interest or principal is otherwise payable (or in the
          case of redemption, on the redemption date), then a holder of Capital
          Securities may directly institute a proceeding for enforcement of
          payment to such Holder of the principal of or interest on the
          Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate
          liquidation amount of the Capital Securities of such holder (a
          "Direct Action") on or after the respective due date specified in the
          Debentures.  In connection with such Direct Action, the rights of the
          holders of the Common Securities Holder will be subrogated to the
          rights of such holder of Capital Securities to the extent of any
          payment made by the Issuer to such holder of Capital Securities in
          such Direct Action.  Except as provided in the preceding sentences,
          the Holders of Capital Securities will not be able to exercise
          directly any other remedy available to the holders of the Debentures.

                    Any required approval or direction of Holders of Capital
          Securities may be given at a meeting of Holders of Capital Securities
          convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of
          Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent.  The Property
          Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of
          Capital Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which
          action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be
          mailed to each Holder of record of Capital Securities.  Each such
          notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such
          meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a
          description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting
          on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon
          which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the
          delivery of proxies or consents.

                    No vote or consent of the Holders of the Capital Securities
          will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel





                                      I-10
<PAGE>   86





          Capital Securities or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with
          the Declaration and the terms of the Securities.

                    Notwithstanding that Holders of Capital Securities are
          entitled to vote or consent under any of the circumstances described
          above, any of the Capital Securities that are owned by the Depositor
          or any Affiliate of the Depositor shall not be entitled to vote or
          consent and shall, for purposes of such vote or consent, be treated
          as if they were not outstanding.

                    6.  Voting Rights - Common Securities.

                         (a)  Except as provided under Sections 6(b), (c), 7(a)
          and 8 as otherwise required by law and the Declaration, the Holders
          of the Common Securities will have no voting rights.

                         (b)  The Holders of the Common Securities are
          entitled, in accordance with Article V of the Declaration, to vote to
          appoint, remove or replace any Trustee or to increase or decrease the
          number of Trustees.

                         (c)  Subject to Section 2.6 of the Declaration and
          only after the Event of Default with respect to the Capital
          Securities has been cured, waived, or otherwise eliminated and
          subject to the requirements of the second to last sentence of this
          paragraph, the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
          Common Securities, voting separately as a class, may direct the time,
          method, and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
          available to the Property Trustee, or exercising any trust or power
          conferred upon the Property Trustee under the Declaration, including
          (i) directing the time, method, place of conducting any proceeding
          for any remedy available to the Debenture Trustee, or exercising any
          trust or power conferred on the Debenture Trustee with respect to the
          Debentures, (ii) waive any past default and its consequences that is
          waivable under Section 513 of the Indenture, or (iii) exercise any
          right to rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the
          Debentures shall be due and payable.  Pursuant to this Section 6(c),
          the Property Trustee shall not revoke any action previously
          authorized or approved by a vote of the Holders of the Capital
          Securities.  Other than with respect to directing the time, method
          and place of conducting any remedy available to the Property Trustee
          or the Debenture Trustee as set forth above, the Property Trustee
          shall not take any action in accordance with the directions of the
          Holders of the Common Securities under this paragraph unless the
          Property Trustee has obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect
          that for the purposes of United States federal income





                                      I-11
<PAGE>   87





          tax the Trust will not be classified as other than a grantor trust on
          account of such action.  If the Property Trustee fails to enforce its
          rights under the Declaration, any Holder of Common Securities may
          institute a legal proceeding directly against any Person to enforce
          the Property Trustee's rights under the Declaration, without first
          instituting a legal proceeding against the Property Trustee or any
          other Person.

                    Any approval or direction of Holders of Common Securities
          may be given at a separate meeting of Holders of Common Securities
          convened for such purpose, at a meeting of all of the Holders of
          Securities in the Trust or pursuant to written consent.  The Regular
          Trustees will cause a notice of any meeting at which Holders of
          Common Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter upon which
          action by written consent of such Holders is to be taken, to be
          mailed to each Holder of record of Common Securities.  Each such
          notice will include a statement setting forth (i) the date of such
          meeting or the date by which such action is to be taken, (ii) a
          description of any resolution proposed for adoption at such meeting
          on which such Holders are entitled to vote or of such matter upon
          which written consent is sought and (iii) instructions for the
          delivery of proxies or consents.

                    No vote or consent of the Holders of the Common Securities
          will be required for the Trust to redeem and cancel Common Securities
          or to distribute the Debentures in accordance with the Declaration
          and the terms of the Securities.

                    7.  Amendments to Declaration and Indenture.

                         (a)  In addition to any requirements under Section
          12.1 of the Declaration, and except for the amendments permitted by
          Section 12.1(g) of the Declaration, the Declaration may be amended by
          the Trustees and the Company with, and shall not become effective
          without, (i) the consent of holders representing not less than a
          majority (based upon Liquidation Values) of the outstanding
          Securities, and (ii) receipt by the Trustees of an opinion of counsel
          experienced in such matters to the effect that such amendment or the
          exercise of any power granted to the Trustees in accordance with such
          amendment will not affect the Trust's status as a grantor trust for
          United States federal income tax purposes or the Trust's exemption
          from status as an "investment company" under the Investment Company
          Act, provided that without the consent of each holder of Securities,
          such Declaration may not be amended to (i) change the amount or
          timing of any Distribution on the Securities or otherwise adversely





                                      I-12
<PAGE>   88





          affect the amount of any Distribution required to be made in respect
          of the Securities as of a specified date or (ii) restrict the right
          of a holder of Securities to institute suit for the enforcement of
          any such payment on or after such date.  If any amendment or proposal
          referred to in the preceding sentence would adversely affect only the
          Capital Securities or only the Common Securities, then only the
          affected class will be entitled to vote on such amendment or proposal
          and such amendment or proposal shall not be effective except with the
          approval of the requisite vote of such class of Securities.

                         (b)  In the event the consent of the Property Trustee
          as the holder of the Debentures is required under the Indenture with
          respect to any amendment, modification or termination on the
          Indenture or the Debentures, the Property Trustee shall request the
          written direction of the Holders of the Securities with respect to
          such amendment, modification or termination and shall vote with
          respect to such amendment, modification or termination as directed by
          a Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities voting together as
          a single class; provided, that the Property Trustee shall not take
          any action in accordance with the directions of the Holders of the
          Securities under this Section 7(b) unless the Property Trustee has
          obtained an opinion of tax counsel to the effect that for the
          purposes of United States federal income tax the Trust will not be
          classified as other than a grantor trust on account of such action.

                    8.  Pro Rata.

                    A reference in these terms of the Securities to any
          payment, distribution or treatment as being "Pro Rata" shall mean pro
          rata to each Holder of Securities according to the aggregate
          liquidation amount of the Securities held by the relevant Holder in
          relation to the aggregate liquidation amount of all Securities
          outstanding unless, in relation to a payment, an Event of Default
          under the Declaration has occurred and is continuing, in which case
          any funds available to make such payment shall be paid first to each
          Holder of the Capital Securities pro rata according to the aggregate
          liquidation amount of Capital Securities held by the





                                      I-13
<PAGE>   89





          relevant Holder relative to the aggregate liquidation amount of all
          Capital Securities outstanding, and only after satisfaction of all
          amounts owed to the Holders of the Capital Securities, to each Holder
          of Common Securities pro rata according to the aggregate liquidation
          amount of Common Securities held by the relevant Holder relative to
          the aggregate liquidation amount of all Common Securities
          outstanding.

                    9.  Ranking.

                    The Capital Securities rank pari passu with the Common
          Securities and payment thereon shall be made Pro Rata with the Common
          Securities, except that, if an Event of Default under the Declaration
          occurs and is continuing, no payments in respect of Distributions on,
          or payments upon liquidation, redemption or otherwise with respect
          to, the Common Securities shall be made until the Holders of the
          Capital Securities shall be paid in full the Distributions,
          Redemption Price, Liquidation Distribution and other payments to
          which they are entitled at such time.

                    10.  Acceptance of Securities Guarantee and Indenture.

                    Each Holder of Capital Securities and Common Securities, by
          the acceptance thereof, agrees to the provisions of the Capital
          Securities Guarantee and the Common Securities Guarantee,
          respectively, including the subordination provisions therein and to
          the provisions of the Indenture.

                    11.  No Preemptive Rights.

                    The Holders of the Securities shall have no preemptive
          rights to subscribe for any additional securities.

                    12.  Miscellaneous.

                    These terms constitute a part of the Declaration.

                    The Depositor will provide a copy of the Declaration, the
          Capital Securities Guarantee or the Common Securities Guarantee (as
          may be appropriate), and the Indenture to a Holder without charge on
          written request to the Trust at its principal place of business.





                                      I-14
<PAGE>   90





                                  EXHIBIT A-1

                      FORM OF CAPITAL SECURITY CERTIFICATE

                    This Capital Security is a Global Certificate within the
          meaning of the Declaration hereinafter referred to and is registered
          in the name of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or a nominee of
          DTC.  This Capital Security is exchangeable for Capital Securities
          registered in the name of a person other than DTC or its nominee only
          in the limited circumstances described in the Declaration and no
          transfer of this Capital Security (other than a transfer of this
          Capital Security as a whole by DTC to a nominee of DTC or by a
          nominee of DTC to DTC or another nominee of DTC) may be registered
          except in limited circumstances.

                    Unless this Capital Security is presented by an authorized
          representative of DTC (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the
          Trust or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment,
          and any Capital Security issued is registered in the name of Cede &
          Co. or such other name as requested by an authorized representative
          of DTC and any payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER,
          PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS
          WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an
          interest herein.

          Certificate Number                   Number of Capital Securities

            P -                                   CUSIP NO. _______________


                   Certificate Evidencing Capital Securities

                                       of

                             Allstate Financing II


          7.83% Capital Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital
          Security)

                    Allstate Financing II, a statutory business trust formed
          under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby
          certifies that ______________ (the "Holder") is the registered owner
          of preferred securities of the Trust representing undivided
          beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and designated the
          7.83% Capital Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Capital
          Security) (the "Capital Securities").  The





                                      A1-1
<PAGE>   91





          Capital Securities are transferable on the books and records of the
          Trust, in person or by a duly authorized attorney, upon surrender of
          this certificate duly endorsed and in proper form for transfer.  The
          designation, rights, privileges, restrictions, preferences and other
          terms and provisions of the Capital Securities represented hereby are
          set forth in, and this certificate and the Capital Securities
          represented hereby are issued and shall in all respects be subject to
          the provisions of the Amended and Restated Declaration of Trust of
          the Trust dated as of November 27, 1996, as the same may be amended
          from time to time (the "Declaration"), including the designation of
          the terms of the Capital Securities as set forth in Annex I to the
          Declaration.  Capitalized terms used herein but not defined shall
          have the meaning given them in the Declaration.  The Holder is
          entitled to the benefits of the Capital Securities Guarantee to the
          extent provided therein.  The Depositor will provide a copy of the
          Declaration, the Capital Securities Guarantee and the Indenture to a
          Holder without charge upon written request to the Trust at its
          principal place of business.

                    Upon receipt of this certificate, the Holder is bound by
          the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

                    By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United
          States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness
          and the Capital Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial
          ownership in the Debentures.

                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate
          this ____ day of November, 1996.

                                             ALLSTATE FINANCING II



                                             By:                           
                                                ---------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title: Regular Trustee





                                      A1-2
<PAGE>   92





                                   ASSIGNMENT

          FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this
          Capital Security Certificate to:
          ____________________________________________________________________
          ____________________________________________________________________
          ____________________________________________________________________
          (Insert assignee's name and social security or tax identification
                                    number)

          ____________________________________________________________________
          ____________________________________________________________________
          ____________________________________________________________________
          ____________________________________________________________________
                   (Insert address and zip code of assignee)

          and irrevocably appoints                                         
          ____________________________________________________________________
          ____________________________________________________________________
          ___________________________________________________________ agent to
          transfer this Capital Security Certificate on the books of the Trust.
          The agent may substitute another to act for him or her.

          Date: _______________________

          Signature: __________________
          (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Capital
          Security Certificate) 

          Signature Guarantee*:

          ____________________

          *    Signature must be guaranteed by an "eligible guarantor
               institution" that is a bank, stockbroker, savings and loan
               association or credit union meeting the requirements of the
               Registrar, which requirements include membership or partici-
               pation in the Securities Transfer Agents Medallion Program
               ("STAMP") or such other "signature guarantee program" as may be
               determined by the Registrar in addition to, or in substitution
               for, STAMP, all in accordance with the Securities and Exchange
               Act of 1934, as amended.



                                      A1-3
<PAGE>   93





                                  EXHIBIT A-2

                      THIS CERTIFICATE IS NOT TRANSFERABLE

                      FORM OF COMMON SECURITY CERTIFICATE


          Certificate Number                    Number of Common Securities


                    Certificate Evidencing Common Securities

                                       of

                             Allstate Financing II


                            7.83% Common Securities
                (liquidation amount $1,000 per Common Security)


                    Allstate Financing II, a statutory business trust formed
          under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), hereby
          certifies that The Allstate Corporation (the "Holder") is the
          registered owner of ___ common securities of the Trust representing
          undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust designated
          the 7.83% Common Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per Common
          Security) (the "Common Securities").  The Common Securities are not
          transferable except in accordance with Section 4.1 of the Declaration
          (as defined below), and any attempted transfer in violation thereof
          shall be void.  The designation, rights, privileges, restrictions,
          preferences and other terms and provisions of the Common Securities
          represented hereby are set forth in, and this certificate and the
          Common Securities represented hereby are issued and shall in all
          respects be subject to the provisions of the Amended and Restated
          Declaration of Trust of the Trust dated as of November 27, 1996, as
          the same may be amended from time to time (the "Declaration"),
          including the designation of the terms of the Common Securities as
          set forth in Annex I to the Declaration.  Capitalized terms used
          herein but not defined shall have the meaning given them in the
          Declaration.  The Holder is entitled to the benefits of the Common
          Securities Guarantee to the extent provided therein.  The Depositor
          will provide a copy of the Declaration, the Common Securities
          Guarantee and the Indenture to a Holder without charge upon written
          request to the Trust at its principal place of business.





                                      A2-1
<PAGE>   94





                    Upon receipt of this certificate, the Depositor is bound by
          the Declaration and is entitled to the benefits thereunder.

                    By acceptance, the Holder agrees to treat, for United
          States federal income tax purposes, the Debentures as indebtedness
          and the Common Securities as evidence of indirect beneficial
          ownership in the Debentures.

                    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Trust has executed this certificate
          this ___ day of November, 1996.

                                             ALLSTATE FINANCING II



                                             By:                           
                                                ---------------------------
                                                Name:
                                                Title: Regular Trustee





                                      A2-2
<PAGE>   95





                             _____________________


                                   ASSIGNMENT

          FOR VALUE RECEIVED, the undersigned assigns and transfers this Common
          Security Certificate to:
          _____________________________________________________________________
          _____________________________________________________________________
          _____________________________________________________________________
          (Insert assignee's name and social security or tax identification
          number)

          _____________________________________________________________________
          _____________________________________________________________________
          _____________________________________________________________________
          _____________________________________________________________________
          (Insert address and zip code of assignee)

          and irrevocably appoints ____________________________________________
          _____________________________________________________________________
          ______________________________________________ agent to transfer this
          Common Security Certificate on the books of the Trust.  The agent may
          substitute another to act for him or her.

          Date: _______________________

          Signature: __________________
          (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Common
          Security Certificate)



          Signature Guarantee*:              


          _________________________________


          ____________________
          *                                  Signature must be guaranteed by an
                                             "eligible guarantor institution"
                                             that is a bank, stockbroker,
                                             savings and loan association or
                                             credit union meeting the
                                             requirements of the Registrar,
                                             which requirements include
                                             membership or participation in the
                                             Securities Transfer Agents
                                             Medallion Program ("STAMP") or
                                             such other "signature guarantee
                                             program" as may be determined by
                                             the Registrar in addition to, or
                                             in substitution for, STAMP, all in
                                             accordance with the Securities and
                                             Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.


                                      A2-3
<PAGE>   96





                                   EXHIBIT B

                             SPECIMEN OF DEBENTURE
                           (FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY)

                     [IF THE SECURITY IS TO BE A GLOBAL SECURITY, INSERT - This
          Security is a Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture
          hereinafter referred to and is registered in the name of a Depositary
          or a nominee of a Depositary.  This Security is exchangeable for
          Securities registered in the name of a person other than the
          Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances described
          in the Indenture, and no transfer of this Security (other than a
          transfer of this Security as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee
          of the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary
          or another nominee of the Depositary) may be registered except in
          limited circumstances.

                     Unless this Security is presented by an authorized
          representative of The Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New
          York, New York) to the issuer or its agent for registration of
          transfer, exchange or payment, and any Security issued is registered
          in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested by an
          authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any
          payment hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER
          USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the
          registered owner hereof, Cede & Co., has an interest herein.]

          Certificate No.                                         $________
                                                                  CUSIP No.
                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

           7.83% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES,
                                    Series B

                     THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the
          "Company", which term includes any successor corporation under the
          Indenture hereinafter referred to), for value received, hereby
          promises to pay to __________ or registered assigns, the principal
          sum of ___________ ($__________) on December 1, 2045.  The Company
          further promises to pay interest on said principal sum from November
          27, 1996, or from the most recent interest payment date (each such
          date, an "Interest Payment Date") to which interest has been paid or
          duly provided for, semi-annually (subject to deferral as set forth
          herein) in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year commencing
          June 1, 1997, at the rate of 7.83% per annum, until the principal
          hereof shall have become due and payable, until the principal hereof
          is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment and on any
          overdue prin-



                                      B-1
<PAGE>   97





          cipal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such
          interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue
          installment of interest at the rate of 7.83% per annum, compounded
          semi-annually.  The amount of interest payable on any Interest
          Payment Date shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of
          twelve 30-day months.  The amount of interest payable for any partial
          period shall be computed on the basis of the number of actual days
          elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  In the event that
          any date on which interest is payable on this Security is not a
          Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date will be
          made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without
          any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except
          that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year,
          such payment shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day,
          in each case with the same force and effect as if made on such date.
          A "Business Day" shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday
          and Friday which is not (i) a day on which banking institutions in
          the City of New York or Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required
          by law or executive order to close or (ii) a day on which the
          Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or the principal office of the
          Property Trustee under the Declaration hereinafter referred to for
          Allstate Financing II is closed for business.  The interest
          installment so payable, and punctually paid or duly provided for, on
          any Interest Payment Date will, as provided in the Indenture, be paid
          to the person in whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor
          Securities) is registered at the close of business on the Regular
          Record Date for such interest installment, which shall be the close
          of business on the May 15 or November 15 immediately preceding such
          June 1 or December 1, respectively.  Any such interest installment
          not punctually paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be
          payable to the registered Holder on such Regular Record Date and may
          either be paid to the Person in whose name this Security (or one or
          more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
          on a Special Record Date to be fixed by the Trustee for the payment
          of such Defaulted Interest, notice whereof shall be given to the
          Holders of this series of Securities not less than 10 days prior to
          such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful
          manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities
          exchange on which the Securities of this series may be listed, and
          upon such notice as may be required by such exchange, all as more
          fully provided in the Indenture.

                     The principal of (and premium, if any) and the interest on
          this Security shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company
          maintained for that purpose in the United States in such coin or
          currency of the United States of America that at the time of payment
          is legal tender for payment of public and private debts; provided,
          however, that payment of interest may be made at the option of the
          Company by check mailed to the registered Holder at such address as
          shall appear in the Security Register.

                                      B-2
<PAGE>   98





          Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long as the Holder of this Security
          is the Property Trustee, the payment of the principal of (and
          premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made at such
          place and to such account as may be designated by the Property
          Trustee.

                     The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the
          extent provided in the Indenture, subordinate in right of payment to
          the prior payment in full of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company,
          and this Security is issued subject to the provisions of the
          Indenture with respect thereto.  Each Holder of this Security, by
          accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such
          provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her
          behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to
          acknowledge or effectuate the subordination so provided and (c)
          appoints the Trustee his or her attorney-in-fact for any and all such
          purposes.  Each Holder hereof, by his or her acceptance hereof,
          hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the subordination
          provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder of
          Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred,
          and waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.

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

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





                                      B-3
<PAGE>   99





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

                                               THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION       
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                                                              
                                               By:_________________________   
                                                  Name: 
                                                  Title:                     
                                                                              

          Attest:



          By:___________________________
             Name:
             Title:


                         CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

          Dated:

          STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,
          as Trustee



          By:_____________________________
                Authorized Signatory





                                      B-4
<PAGE>   100





                         (FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY)

                    This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of
          securities of the Company, designated as its 7.83% Junior
          Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series B (herein
          referred to as the "Securities"), issued under and pursuant to an
          Indenture, dated as of November 27, 1996, between the Company and
          State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Trustee (herein called the
          "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee under the
          Indenture), as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture,
          dated as of November 27, 1996, between the Company and the Trustee
          (the Indenture as so supplemented, the "Indenture"), to which
          Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby
          made for a description of the rights, limitations of rights,
          obligations, duties and immunities thereunder of the Trustee, the
          Company and the Holders of the Securities, and of the terms upon
          which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and delivered.

                    All terms used in this Security that are defined in the
          Indenture or in the Amended and Restated Declaration, dated as of
          November 27, 1996 (the "Declaration"), of Allstate Financing II,
          among The Allstate Corporation, as Depositor, and the Trustees named
          therein, shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture or
          the Declaration, as the case may be.

                    So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is
          continuing, the Company shall have the right at any time during the
          term of this Security from time to time, to defer the payment of
          interest on such Security for up to 10 consecutive semi-annual
          periods with respect to each deferral period (each an "Extension
          Period"), during which periods interest will compound semi-annually
          and the Company shall have the right to make partial payments of
          interest on any Interest Payment Date, and at the end of which the
          Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with
          Additional Interest thereon to the extent permitted by applicable
          law); provided that during any such Extension Period, the Company
          shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary to, (a) declare or pay
          any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to, or redeem,
          purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the
          Company's capital stock or (b) make any payment of principal,
          interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
          debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company
          (including other Securities of any series) that rank pari passu with
          or junior in interest to such Securities (other than (i) dividends or
          distributions in common





                                      B-5
<PAGE>   101





          stock of the Company, (ii) redemptions or repurchases of any rights,
          or the declaration of a dividend of any rights, or the issuance of
          any security under any future rights plan of the Company, (iii)
          purchases or acquisitions of shares of common stock in connection
          with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any
          benefit plans for its or its Subsidiaries' directors, officers,
          employees or independent contractors, (iv) as a result of a
          reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the exchange or
          conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock for
          another class or series of the Company's capital stock or (v) the
          purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital
          stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such
          capital stock of the Company or the security being converted or
          exchanged) or make any guarantee payments with respect to the
          foregoing.  Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period,
          the Company may further extend such Extension Period, provided that
          such Extension Period together with all such previous and further
          extensions thereof shall not exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual
          periods or extend beyond the Maturity of this Security.  Upon the
          termination of any such Extension Period and upon the payment of all
          accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due on
          any Interest Payment Date, the Company may commence a new Extension
          Period, subject to the above requirements.  No interest shall be due
          and payable during an Extension Period except at the end thereof.
          The Company shall give the Holders of the Securities of this series
          and the Trustee notice of its election to begin any such Extension
          Period at least one Business Day prior to the next succeeding
          Interest Payment Date on which interest on the Securities would be
          payable but for such deferral or, so long as the Securities are held
          by the Trust prior to the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on
          which the Distributions on the Capital Securities are payable or (ii)
          the date the Regular Trustees are required to give notice to the New
          York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National Market or other applicable
          self-regulatory organization or to holders of such Capital Securities
          of the record date or the date such Distributions are payable, but in
          any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record date.

                    On or after December 1, 2006, the Company may at any time,
          at its option, subject to the terms and conditions of Article Eleven
          of the Indenture, redeem this Security in whole at any time or in
          part from time to time, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed
          as percentages of the principal amount) for the periods





                                      B-6
<PAGE>   102





          indicated, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional
          Interest, if any, to the Redemption Date:

          December 1, 2006 to November 30, 2007:  103.915%
          December 1, 2007 to November 30, 2008:  103.524%
          December 1, 2008 to November 30, 2009:  103.132%
          December 1, 2009 to November 30, 2010:  102.741%
          December 1, 2010 to November 30, 2011:  102.349%
          December 1, 2011 to November 30, 2012:  101.958%
          December 1, 2012 to November 30, 2013:  101.566%
          December 1, 2013 to November 30, 2014:  101.175%
          December 1, 2014 to November 30, 2015:  100.783%
          December 1, 2015 to November 30, 2016:  100.392%
          On or after December 1, 2016:           100.000%

                    If a Special Event in respect of Allstate Financing II
          shall occur and be continuing, the Company may, at its option, redeem
          this Security at any time within 90 days of the occurrence of such
          Special Event, in whole but not in part, subject to the provisions of
          Section 1108 and the other provisions of Article Eleven of the
          Indenture.  The Redemption Price for such a redemption prior to
          December 1, 2006 shall be equal to (A) the greater of (i) 100% of the
          principal amount of this Security or (ii) as determined by a
          Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the principal
          amount and premium that would be payable as part of the Redemption
          Price with respect to an optional redemption of this Security on
          December 1, 2006 pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph,
          together with the present values (as determined pursuant to the
          Indenture) of scheduled payments of interest from the Redemption Date
          to December 1, 2006 (such time period between the Redemption Date and
          December 1, 2006 being referred to as the "Remaining Life"), in each
          case discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis
          (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the
          Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus, (B) accrued interest thereon to but
          excluding the Redemption Date.  If the Company redeems this Security
          as a result of a Special Event on a Redemption Date which occurs on
          or after December 1, 2006, the Redemption Price shall be the
          Redemption Price that would be payable on or upon optional redemption
          of this Security on such Redemption Date pursuant to the immediately
          preceding paragraph.

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

                    If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of this
          series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities
          of this series may be declared due and



                                      B-7
<PAGE>   103





          payable in the manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions
          provided in the Indenture.

                    The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction,
          discharge and defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of
          this Security upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions
          set forth in the Indenture.

                    The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as therein
          provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights
          and obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the
          Securities of each series to be affected under the Indenture at any
          time by the Company and the Trustee with the consent of the Holders
          of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of each series at
          the time Outstanding of each series to be affected.  The Indenture
          also contains provisions permitting Holders of specified percentages
          in principal amount of the Securities of each series at the time
          Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such
          series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of
          the Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their
          consequences.  Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this
          Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and upon
          all future Holders of this Security and of any Security issued upon
          the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange herefor or in lieu
          hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is made
          upon this Security.

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

                    As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain
          limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is
          registrable in the Securities Register, upon surrender of this
          Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency of the
          Company maintained under Section 1002 of the Indenture duly endorsed
          by, or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form
          satisfactory to the Company and the Securities Registrar duly
          executed by, the Holder hereof or his or her attorney duly authorized
          in writing, and thereupon one or more new Securities of this series,
          of authorized denominations and for the same aggregate principal
          amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or transferees.
          No service charge shall be made for any such registration of transfer
          or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient
          to cover any




                                      B-8
<PAGE>   104





          tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

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

                    [The Securities of this series are issuable only in
          registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any
          integral multiple thereof.]  [This Global Security is exchangeable
          for Securities in definitive form only under certain limited
          circumstances set forth in the Indenture.  Securities of this series
          so issued are issuable only in registered form without coupons in
          denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof.]  As
          provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations [herein
          and] therein set forth, Securities of this series [so issued] are
          exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of
          this series of a different authorized denomination, as requested by
          the Holder surrendering the same.

                    The Company and, by its acceptance of this Security or a
          beneficial interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that
          acquires a beneficial interest in, this Security agree that for
          United States federal, state and local tax purposes it is intended
          that this Security constitute indebtedness.

                    THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL GOVERN THE
          INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW
          PROVISIONS THEREOF.





                                      B-9
<PAGE>   105





                                   EXHIBIT C

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT





                                         C-1
<PAGE>   106





                             ALLSTATE FINANCING II

                               CAPITAL SECURITIES
                    (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $1,000 PER SECURITY)
                     GUARANTEED ON A SUBORDINATED BASIS BY

                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

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

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

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



                                                          November 22, 1996


Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
As representatives of the
several Underwriters
  c/o Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
1585 Broadway
New York, New York  10036


Ladies and Gentlemen:

          From time to time Allstate Financing II, a statutory business trust
formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"), and The Allstate
Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor" and, together with the
Trust, the "Offerors"), as Depositor of the Trust and as Guarantor, propose to
issue and sell certain of the Trust's preferred securities registered under the
Registration Statement referred to in Section 2(a).  The Trust and the Guarantor
intend to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a "Pricing Agreement")
in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and deletions as the parties
thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein
and therein, to issue and sell to the firms named in Schedule I of the Pricing
Agreement (such firms constituting the



                                     C-2

<PAGE>   107

"Underwriters" with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the Securities
specified therein) the numbers of Capital Securities (liquidation amount $1,000
per security) of the Trust ("Capital Securities") specified in Schedule II to
the Pricing Agreement.

          The Capital Securities will be guaranteed by the Guarantor with
respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise
(the "Capital Securities Guarantee") pursuant to the Capital Securities
Guarantee Agreement identified in such Pricing Agreement (the "Capital
Securities Guarantee Agreement") between the Guarantor and State Street Bank and
Trust Company, as trustee (the "Guarantee Trustee"), and entitled to the
benefits of certain backup undertakings described in the Prospectus with respect
to the Company's agreement pursuant to the Supplemental Indenture (as defined
herein) to pay all expenses relating to administration of the Trust (the
"Undertakings").  The Capital Securities and the related Capital Securities
Guarantees are referred to herein as the "Securities."

          The Offerors understand that the Underwriters propose to make a public
offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives (as defined herein)
deem advisable after the Pricing Agreement has been executed and delivered, and
the Declaration (as defined herein), the Indenture (as defined herein), and the
Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement have been qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). The entire
proceeds from the sale of the Securities will be combined with the entire
proceeds from the sale by the Trust to the Guarantor of its common securities
(the "Common Securities"), as guaranteed by the Guarantor, to the extent set
forth in the Prospectus, with respect to distributions and payments upon
liquidation and redemption (the "Common Securities Guarantee" and together with
the Capital Securities Guarantee, the "Guarantees") pursuant to the Common
Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee Agreement" and,
together with the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement, the "Guarantee
Agreements") by the Guarantor, and will be used by the Trust to purchase Junior
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures (the "Subordinated Debt Securities")
issued by the Guarantor.  The Capital Securities and the Common Securities will
be issued pursuant to the amended and restated declaration of trust





                                     C-3
<PAGE>   108

of the Trust (the "Declaration"), among the Guarantor, as Depositor, Joseph T.
Kane and Jennifer M. Hager, as regular trustees (the "Regular Trustees"), State
Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts trust company, as property
trustee (the "Property Trustee"), and Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc.,
a Delaware banking corporation, as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"
and, together with the Regular Trustees and the Property Trustee, the
"Trustees"), and the holders from time to time of undivided beneficial
interests in the assets of the Trust.  The Subordinated Debt Securities will be
issued pursuant to an indenture (the "Base Indenture"), between the Guarantor
and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as trustee (the "Debt Trustee"), and a
supplement to the Base Indenture (the "Supplemental Indenture," and together
with the Base Indenture and any other amendments or supplements thereto, the
"Indenture"), between the Guarantor and the Debt Trustee, each as identified in
such Pricing Agreement.

          1.(a)  Sales; Representatives.  Particular sales of Securities may be
made from time to time to the Underwriters of such Securities, for whom the
firms designated as representatives of the Underwriters of such Securities in
the Pricing Agreement relating thereto will act as representatives (the
"Representatives").  The term "Representatives" also refers to a single firm
acting as the sole representative of the Underwriters and to Underwriters who
act without any firm being designated as their representative.  This
Underwriting Agreement shall not be construed as an obligation of the Trust or
the Guarantor to sell any of the Securities or as an obligation of any of the
Underwriters to purchase any of the Securities.

               (b)  Pricing Agreements.  The obligation of the Trust or the
Guarantor to issue and sell any of the Securities and the obligation of any of
the Underwriters to purchase any of the Securities shall be evidenced by the
Pricing Agreement with respect to the Securities specified therein.  Such
Pricing Agreement shall specify the number of Capital Securities, the initial
public offering price of such Capital Securities, the purchase price to the
Underwriters of such Capital Securities, the names of the Underwriters of such
Capital Securities, the names of the Representatives of such Underwriters and
the number of such Capital Securities to





                                     C-4
<PAGE>   109

be purchased by each Underwriter.  In addition, such Pricing Agreement shall
set forth the date, time and manner of delivery of such Capital Securities and
payment therefor.  Such Pricing Agreement shall also specify (in a manner
consistent with the Declaration and the Registration Statement and prospectus
with respect thereto), the principal terms of such Capital Securities,
including the terms on which, and the terms of the securities into which, the
Capital Securities will be exchangeable.  A Pricing Agreement shall be in the
form of an executed writing (which may be in counterparts), and may be
evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic communications or any other rapid
transmission device designed to produce a written record of communications
transmitted.  The obligations of the Underwriters under this Agreement and each
Pricing Agreement shall be several and not joint.

          2.   Representations and Warranties. The Offerors jointly and
severally represent and warrant to, and agree with, each of the Underwriters
that:

               (a)  The Offerors have filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act") (the file number of which is set
forth in Schedule II to the Pricing Agreement), which has become effective, for
the registration under the Act of, inter alia, the Securities. The Offerors
propose to file with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act a
supplement or supplements to the form of prospectus included in such
registration statement relating to the Securities and the plan of distribution
thereof.  Such registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, as
amended at the date of this Agreement, is hereinafter called the "Registration
Statement"; such prospectus in the form in which it appears in the Registration
Statement is hereinafter called the "Basic Prospectus"; and such supplemented
form of prospectus, in the form in which it shall be first filed with the
Commission pursuant to Rule 424 (including the Basic Prospectus as so
supplemented) is hereinafter called the "Final Prospectus."  Any preliminary
form of the Final Prospectus which has heretofore been filed pursuant to Rule
424 is hereinafter called the "Preliminary Final Prospectus."  Any reference
herein to the Registration Statement, the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary
Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus shall be deemed to





                                       C-5
<PAGE>   110

refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant
to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934 (the "Exchange Act") on or before the date of this Agreement, or the issue
date of the Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final
Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to the terms "amend,"
"amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Registration Statement, the
Basic Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus
shall be deemed to refer to and include the filing of any document under the
Exchange Act after the date of this Agreement, or the issue date of the Basic
Prospectus, any Preliminary Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus, as the
case may be, deemed to be incorporated therein by reference;

               (b)  As of the date hereof, when the Final Prospectus is first
filed or transmitted for filing pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, when the
Registration Statement became effective, when, prior to any Time of Delivery (as
hereinafter defined) with respect to any Capital Securities, any amendment to
the Registration Statement becomes effective (including the filing of any
document incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement), when any
supplement to the Final Prospectus is filed with the Commission and at the Time
of Delivery, (i) the Registration Statement, as amended as of any such time, and
the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented as applicable, and the
Indenture, the Declaration and the Guarantee Agreements will comply in all
material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), and the Exchange
Act and the respective rules thereunder and (ii) neither the Registration
Statement, as amended as of any such time, nor the Final Prospectus, as amended
or supplemented as of such time, as applicable, will contain any untrue
statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be
stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
misleading; provided, however, that the Offerors make no representations or
warranties as to (i) that part of the Registration Statement which shall
constitute the Statements of Eligibility and Qualification (Form T-1) under the
Trust Indenture Act of the Trustees (the "Form T-1s") or (ii) the information
contained in or omitted from the Registration Statement or





                                      C-6
<PAGE>   111

the Final Prospectus or any amendment thereof or supplement thereto in reliance
upon and in conformity with information relating to such Underwriter or the
underwriting arrangements furnished in writing to the Company by any Underwriter
specifically for use in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus.

          (c)  Each document incorporated by reference in the Registration
Statement and the Final Prospectus will comply in all material respects, as
amended at the time the Registration Statement becomes effective, with the
Exchange Act.

          (d)  This Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered
by each of the Guarantor and the Trust.

          (e)  Except as described in or contemplated by the Registration
Statement and the Final Prospectus, there has not been any material adverse
change in, or any adverse development which materially affects, the business,
properties, financial condition or results of operations of the Trust or the
Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as a whole from the dates as of which
information is given in the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus;
and, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus, there has not been any change
in the consolidated capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon
exercise of options and stock appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance
shares and upon conversions of convertible securities, in each case which were
outstanding on the date of the latest balance sheet incorporated by reference in
the Final Prospectus) or any material increase in the consolidated long-term
debt of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries or any material adverse change, or
any development involving a prospective material adverse change, in or affecting
the general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or
results of operations of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as
set forth or contemplated in the Final Prospectus.

          (f)  The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing as a
statutory business trust in good standing under the Business Trust Act of the
State of Delaware (the "Delaware Act") with the power and authori-





                                      C-7
<PAGE>   112

ty to own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
Registration Statement, and any amendment or supplement thereto; the Trust is
not a party to or bound by any agreement or instrument other than those
described in the Final Prospectus; and the Trust is not an association taxable
as a corporation for United States federal income tax purposes.

          (g)  The Common Securities have been duly authorized by the
Declaration and, when issued and delivered by the Trust to the Guarantor against
payment therefor as described in the Registration Statement and the Final
Prospectus, will be validly issued and (subject to the terms of the Declaration)
fully paid and non-assessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
the Trust; the issuance of the Common Securities is not subject to preemptive or
other similar rights; and at the First Time of Delivery (as hereinafter defined)
all of the issued and outstanding Common Securities of the Trust will be
directly owned by the Guarantor free and clear of any security interest,
mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity.

          (h)  The Declaration has been duly authorized by the Guarantor and, at
the First Time of Delivery, will have been duly executed and delivered by the
Guarantor and the Regular Trustees, and assuming due authorization, execution
and delivery of the Declaration by the Property Trustee and the Delaware
Trustee, the Declaration will, at the First Time of Delivery, be a valid and
binding obligation of the Guarantor and the Regular Trustees, enforceable
against the Guarantor and the Regular Trustees in accordance with its terms,
except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws affecting creditors
rights generally or by general principles of equity (the "Bankruptcy
Exceptions"); and at the First Time of Delivery, the Declaration will have been
duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

          (i)  Each of the Guarantee Agreements has been duly authorized by the
Guarantor and, when validly executed and delivered by the Guarantor, and, in the
case of the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement, assuming due authorization,
execution and delivery of the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement by the
Guarantee Trustee,





                                      C-8
<PAGE>   113

will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable
against the Guarantor in accordance with its terms except to the extent that
enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions; and the
Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement, at the Time of Delivery, will have been
duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

          (j)  The Capital Securities have been duly authorized by the
Declaration and, when issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement against
payment of the consideration set forth in the Pricing Agreement, will be validly
issued and (subject to the terms of the Declaration) fully paid and
non-assessable undivided beneficial interests in the Trust and will be entitled
to the benefits of the Declaration; the issuance of the Capital Securities is
not subject to preemptive or other similar rights; and (subject to the terms of
the Declaration) holders of Capital Securities will be entitled to the same
limitation of personal liability under Delaware law as extended to stockholders
of private corporations for profit.

          (k)  The Indenture has been duly authorized by the Guarantor and, when
validly executed and delivered by the Guarantor, will constitute a valid and
binding agreement of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in
accordance with its terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be
limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions; and at the First Time of Delivery, the
Indenture will have been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act.

          (l)  The Subordinated Debt Securities have been duly authorized by the
Guarantor and, at the Time of Delivery for the related Capital Securities, will
have been duly executed by the Guarantor and, when authenticated in the manner
provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor as
described in the Final Prospectus, will constitute valid and binding obligations
of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in accordance with their
terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the
Bankruptcy Exceptions, and will be in the form contemplated by, and entitled to
the benefits of, the Indenture.





                                      C-9
<PAGE>   114

          (m)  Each of the Regular Trustees of the Trust is an employee of the
Guarantor and has been duly authorized by the Guarantor to execute and deliver
the Declaration; the Declaration has been duly executed and delivered by the
Regular Trustees and is a valid and binding obligation of each Regular Trustee,
enforceable against such Regular Trustee in accordance with its terms except to
the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions.

          (n)  The issue and sale of the Capital Securities pursuant to the
Pricing Agreement, and compliance by the Offerors with all of the provisions of
the Securities, this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the
Indenture, the Subordinated Debt Securities, the Guarantee Agreements and the
Guarantees, will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of
the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other material agreement to which the
Trust, the Guarantor or any of the subsidiaries listed in Annex III hereto
(each, a "Principal Subsidiary") is a party or by which the Trust, the Guarantor
or any of the Principal Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or
assets of the Trust, the Guarantor or any of the Principal Subsidiaries is
subject, nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the
Declaration or Certificate of Trust of the Trust or the Certificate of
Incorporation or By-laws of the Guarantor or any of the Principal Subsidiaries
or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or insurance
regulatory authority or other governmental agency or body having jurisdiction
over the Trust, the Guarantor or any of the Principal Subsidiaries or any of
their properties, in each case other than such breaches, conflicts, violations
or defaults which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a material
adverse effect on the Trust or the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as
a whole and would not affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the Indenture, the
Guarantee Agreements and the Guarantees, and no authorization, approval, order,
consent, registration or qualification of or with any such court or insurance
regulatory authority or other governmental agency or body is required for the
issue or sale of the Securities, except (i) the registration under the Act of
the Securities; and (ii) such authorizations,





                                      C-10
<PAGE>   115

approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications as may be required
under the Trust Indenture Act or state or foreign securities or Blue Sky laws
in connection with the purchase and distribution of the Securities by the
Underwriters, in each case other than such authorizations, approvals, orders,
consents, registrations or qualifications which (individually or in the
aggregate) the failure to make, obtain or comply with would not have a material
adverse effect on the Trust or the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as
a whole and would not affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated
by this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the Indenture, the
Guarantee Agreements and the Guarantees.

          3.  Terms of Sale.  Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement and
authorization by the Representatives of the release of the Capital Securities,
the several Underwriters propose to offer such Capital Securities for sale upon
the terms and conditions set forth in the Final Prospectus as amended or
supplemented.

          4.  Delivery of Capital Securities.  Capital Securities to be
purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to the Pricing Agreement, in definitive
form to the extent practicable, and in such authorized denominations and
registered in such names as the Representatives may request upon at least
forty-eight hours' prior notice to the Trust and the Guarantor, shall be
delivered by or on behalf of the Trust to the Representatives for the account of
such Underwriter, against payment by such Underwriter or on its behalf of the
purchase price therefor in the funds specified in the Pricing Agreement, all at
the place and time and date specified in the Pricing Agreement or at such other
place and time and date as the Representatives and the Trust and the Guarantor
may agree upon in writing, such time and date being herein called the "Time of
Delivery" for such Securities.  As used herein, "Time of Delivery" shall mean
the First Time of Delivery (as defined in the Pricing Agreement) and, if the
Pricing Agreement provides for an Underwriters' over-allotment option, all
references herein to a "Time of Delivery" shall also mean the time and date for
delivery of Securities purchased upon exercise of such over-allotment option as
specified by the Underwriters pursuant to the Pricing Agreement.





                                      C-11
<PAGE>   116

     5.  Offeror Covenants.  The Offerors jointly and severally agree with each
of the Underwriters as follows:

          (a)(i)  To prepare the Final Prospectus as amended and supplemented in
relation to the Capital Securities in a form approved by the Representatives and
to timely file such Final Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act; (ii)
to make no further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or
Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented after the date of the Pricing
Agreement and prior to the Time of Delivery for such Capital Securities unless
the Representatives for such Capital Securities shall have had a reasonable
opportunity to review and comment upon any such amendment or supplement prior to
any filing thereof; (iii) to advise the Representatives promptly of any such
amendment or supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish the
Representatives with copies thereof; (iv) to file promptly all reports and any
definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the Guarantor
with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required in
connection with the offering or sale of such Capital Securities, and during such
same period to advise the Representatives, promptly after it receives notice
thereof, of (I) the time when any amendment to any Registration Statement has
been filed or becomes effective or any supplement to the Final Prospectus or any
amended Final Prospectus has been filed with the Commission, (II) the issuance
by the Commission of any stop order or of any order preventing or suspending the
use of the Final Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto, (III) the
suspension of the qualification of such Capital Securities for offering or sale
in any jurisdiction or of the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for
any such purpose, or (IV) any request by the Commission for the amending or
supplementing of any Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus or for
additional information; and, in the event of the issuance of any such stop order
or of any such order preventing or suspending the use of the Final Prospectus or
suspending any such qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to obtain
its withdrawal;

          (b)  Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
Representatives may reasonably request





                                      C-12
<PAGE>   117

to qualify such Capital Securities (and the Capital Securities Guarantee) and
the Subordinated Debt Securities for offering and sale under the securities and
insurance securities laws of such jurisdictions as the Representatives may
request and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales
and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as long as may be necessary to
complete the distribution of such Capital Securities, provided that in
connection therewith none of the Offerors shall be required to qualify as a
foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of process in any
jurisdiction;

          (c)  To furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Final Prospectus
as amended or supplemented in such quantities as the Representatives may from
time to time reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus is
required at any time in connection with the offering or sale of such Capital
Securities, and if at such time any event shall have occurred as a result of
which the Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented would include an
untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary
in order to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under
which they were made when such Final Prospectus is delivered, not misleading,
or, if for any other reason it shall be necessary during such period to amend or
supplement the Final Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document
incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus in order to comply with the
Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify the Representatives
and upon their request to prepare and furnish without charge to each Underwriter
and to any dealer in securities as many copies as the Representatives may from
time to time reasonably request of an amended Final Prospectus or a supplement
to the Final Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect
such compliance;

          (d)  The Trust will make generally available to its securityholders as
soon as practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the
effective date of the later filed of the Registration Statement (as defined in
Rule 158(c)), an earnings statement of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries (which
need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act





                                      C-13
<PAGE>   118

and the rules and regulations thereunder (including, at the option of the
Guarantor, Rule 158); and

          (e)  During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing
Agreement for any Capital Securities and continuing to and including the earlier
of (i) the termination of trading restrictions for Capital Securities, as
determined by the Representatives and (ii) 30 days after the First Time of
Delivery for such Capital Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or
otherwise dispose of any Capital Securities, any other beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust, or any preferred securities or any other securities of
the Trust or the Guarantor which are substantially similar to the Capital
Securities, including any guarantee of such securities, or any securities
convertible into or exchangeable for or representing the right to receive
securities, preferred securities or any such substantially similar securities of
either the Trust or the Guarantor (collectively, "Similar Securities"), without
the prior written consent of the Representatives, which consent shall not be
unreasonably withheld, except for (i) the Subordinated Debt Securities and the
Capital Securities issued pursuant to this Agreement and (ii) up to 23,000,000
7.95% Cumulative Quarterly Preferred Securities, Series A (liquidation amount
$25 per Preferred Security), pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, dated
November 20, 1996, and the Pricing Agreement, dated November 20, 1996, each
among the Guarantor, Allstate Financing I, a Delaware business trust ("Allstate
Financing I"), and Goldman, Sachs & Co., Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., Merrill
Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated,
PaineWebber Incorporated, Prudential Securities Incorporated and Smith Barney
Inc., as representatives of the several underwriters named therein, and the
issuance and sale of the associated Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures by the Guarantor to Allstate Financing I.

     6.  Fees and Expenses.  The Guarantor covenants and agrees with the several
Underwriters that the Guarantor will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i)
the fees, disbursements and expenses of the Guarantor's counsel and accountants
in connection with the registration of the Capital Securities, the Capital
Securities Guarantee and the Subordinated Debt Securities under the Act and all
other expenses in connection with the prepara-





                                      C-14
<PAGE>   119

tion, printing and filing of the Registration Statement, Basic Prospectus, any  
Preliminary Final Prospectus and the Final Prospectus and amendments and
supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the
Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing this
Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, any Blue Sky Survey and any Legal Investment
Memoranda; (iii) all reasonable expenses in connection with the qualification
of the Capital Securities, the Capital Securities Guarantee and the
Subordinated Debt Securities for offering and sale under state securities and
insurance securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the
reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection
with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and Legal
Investment surveys; (iv) the filing fees incident to securing any required
review by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc.; (v) any fees
charged by securities rating services for rating the Capital Securities and
Subordinated Debt Securities; (vi) the cost of preparing the Capital
Securities; (vii) the fees and expenses of the Debt Trustee, including the fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Debt Trustee in connection with the
Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Securities; (viii) the fees and expenses of
the Property Trustee, and the Guarantee Trustee, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Property Trustee in connection with the
Declaration and the Certificate of Trust; and (ix) all other costs and expenses
incident to the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not
otherwise specifically provided in this Section.  It is understood, however,
that, except as provided in this Section, Section 8 and Section 11 hereof, the
Underwriters will pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees
of their counsel, transfer taxes on resale of any of the Capital Securities by
them, and any advertising expenses connected with any offers they may make.

     7.  Conditions to Underwriters' Obligations.  The obligations of the
Underwriters hereunder and under the Pricing Agreement to purchase Securities at
a Time of Delivery shall be subject to the condition that all representations
and warranties of the Offerors herein are, at and as of the Time of Delivery,
true and correct, the condition that the Offerors shall have performed all of
their respective obligations hereunder to be performed





                                      C-15
<PAGE>   120

     at or before such Time of Delivery, and the following additional
     conditions:

          (a)  The Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to
     the Capital Securities shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant
     to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for such filing
     by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance with Section
     5(a) hereof; no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
     Statement or any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for
     that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and
     all requests for additional information on the part of the Commission shall
     have been complied with to the Representatives' reasonable satisfaction;

          (b)  Counsel for the Underwriters shall have furnished to the
     Representatives such opinion or opinions, dated such Time of Delivery, with
     respect to the incorporation of the Guarantor and the formation of the
     Trust, the validity of the Capital Securities, the Subordinated Debt
     Securities, the Capital Securities Guarantee, the Registration Statement
     and the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and such other related
     matters as the Representatives may reasonably request, and such counsel
     shall have received such papers and information as they may reasonably
     request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

          (c)  Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher & Flom (ILLINOIS), special counsel
     for the Guarantor, shall have furnished to you their written opinion, dated
     as of such Time of Delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
     to you, to the effect that:

               (i)  The Guarantor has been duly incorporated and is validly
        existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
        of Delaware, with corporate power and authority to own its properties
        and conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus; and each
        of Allstate Insurance Company ("AIC") and Allstate Life Insurance
        Company ("ALIC") is validly existing as an insurance corporation under
        the laws of the State of Illinois, with corporate power and authority to
        own its prop-





                                      C-16
<PAGE>   121

          erties and conduct its business as described in the Final Prospectus;

                    (ii)  The issue and sale of the Capital Securities and the
          performance by the Offerors of their respective obligations under this
          Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the Capital
          Securities, the Common Securities, the Indenture, the Subordinated
          Debt Securities, the Guarantee Agreements and the Guarantees, and the
          consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will
          not conflict with or result in a breach of any of the terms or
          provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage,
          deed of trust, loan agreement or other material agreement or
          instrument relating to the Trust or the Guarantor or any of its
          subsidiaries, as such agreements or instruments have been amended, all
          as set forth on a schedule of such agreements identified to such
          counsel by officers of the Guarantor; nor will any such action result
          in any violation of the provisions of the Certificate of Incorporation
          or the By-Laws of the Guarantor or the Declaration or the Certificate
          of Trust of the Trust or any applicable United States law or statute
          or any order, rule or regulation of any United States court or
          governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Guarantor,
          its subsidiaries or any of their respective properties, provided, that
          the foregoing opinion is limited to those statutes, laws, rules and
          regulations of the United States of America, the State of Delaware and
          the State of Illinois, in each case, which, in such counsel's opinion,
          are normally applicable to transactions of the type contemplated by
          this Agreement, and provided further, that no opinion need be given
          with respect to (i) the Act, the Exchange Act, the Trust Indenture
          Act, the rules and regulations issued pursuant to each such act, any
          order, rule or regulation made or established by any insurance
          official or regulatory authority or the National Association of
          Securities Dealers, Inc., or state securities or Blue Sky laws in
          connection with the purchase and distribution





                                      C-17
<PAGE>   122

          of the Capital Securities by the Underwriters or (ii) conflicts,
          breaches or violations which individually and in the aggregate both   
          are not material to the Trust or the Guarantor and its subsidiaries
          taken as a whole and would not have a material adverse effect on the
          sale or ownership of the Capital Securities or the Subordinated Debt
          Securities.

                    (iii)  No consent, approval, authorization, order, 
          registration or qualification of or with any United States court
          or governmental agency or body is required for the issuance and sale
          of the Common Securities or the offering of the Capital Securities,
          the Subordinated Debt Securities or the Guarantees or the
          consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this
          Agreement, except that we express no opinion with respect to such
          consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or
          qualifications (i) as may be required under the Act, the Exchange
          Act, the Trust Indenture Act, the rules and regulations issued
          pursuant to each such act, any order, rule or regulation made or
          established by any insurance official or regulatory authority or the
          National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc., or (ii) as may be
          required under state securities or Blue Sky laws, (iii) the absence
          of which individually or in the aggregate both are not material to
          the Guarantor and its subsidiaries taken as a whole and would not
          have a material adverse effect on the sale or ownership of the
          Capital Securities or the Subordinated Debt Securities or (iv) as may
          be required under foreign laws in connection with the purchase and
          distribution of the Capital Securities by any international managers;
          provided, that the foregoing opinion is limited to those consents,
          approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations and qualifications
          under laws which, in our experience, are normally applicable to
          transactions of the type contemplated by this Agreement;

                    (iv)  This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement have been 
          duly authorized,





                                      C-18
<PAGE>   123

          executed and delivered by each of the Trust and the Guarantor;

                    (v)  The Trust has been duly created and is validly 
          existing in good standing as a business trust under the Delaware Act;
          all filings required under the laws of the State of Delaware with
          respect to the formation and valid existence of the Trust as a
          business trust have been made; the Trust has all necessary power and
          authority to own property and to conduct its business as described in
          the Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus and to enter into
          and perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Pricing
          Agreement, the Capital Securities and the Common Securities;

                    (vi)  The Common Securities have been duly authorized for 
          issuance and, when issued, delivered and paid for in accordance with
          the Declaration, will be validly issued and fully paid and
          non-assessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the
          Trust, and the issuance of the Common Securities is not subject to
          preemptive or other similar rights;

                    (vii)  The Capital Securities have been duly authorized 
          for issuance and, when issued, delivered and paid for in      
          accordance with the Declaration and this Agreement, will be validly
          issued, fully paid and non-assessable undivided beneficial interests
          in the assets of the Trust; the holders of the Capital Securities
          will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability under
          Delaware law as is extended to stockholders of private corporations
          for profit; and the issuance of the Capital Securities is not subject
          to preemptive or other similar rights.  Such counsel may bring to
          your attention that the Capital Securities holders may be obligated,
          pursuant to the Declaration, to (a) provide indemnity and/or security
          in connection with and pay taxes or governmental charges arising from
          transfers of Capital Securities and the issuance of replacement
          Capital Securities, and (b) provide security and indemnity in
          connection





                                      C-19
<PAGE>   124

     with requests of or directions to the Property Trustee to exercise its
     rights and powers under the Declaration; and the Declaration has been duly
     qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;

               (viii)  No registration under the Investment Company Act of 1940,
     as amended, is required of the Trust in connection with the initial
     issuance and sale of the Capital Securities, or of the Guarantor in
     connection with the initial issuance and sale of the Subordinated Debt
     Securities or the Guarantee;

               (ix)  The summaries set forth in the Final Prospectus, insofar as
     they are summaries of contracts, agreements or other legal documents, or
     refer to statements of law or legal conclusions, of certain terms and
     provisions of the Capital Securities, the Common Securities, the Guarantee,
     the Subordinated Debt Securities and the Indenture are in all material
     respects accurate summaries of such terms and provisions;

               (x)  The Registration Statement and the Final Prospectus as
     amended or supplemented and any further amendments thereto made by the
     Guarantor prior to such Time of Delivery for the Capital Securities (in
     each case other than with respect to the financial statements and financial
     and accounting data and related schedules incorporated by reference or
     included therein or excluded therefrom, or the exhibits to the Registration
     Statement including the Form T-1s, as to which such counsel need express no
     opinion or belief), appeared on their face to be appropriately responsive
     in all material respects to the requirements of the Act and the Trust
     Indenture Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
     thereunder; and, such counsel shall not be deemed to be passing upon and
     does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or
     fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement and
     Final Prospectus; and





                                      C-20
<PAGE>   125

                    (xi)  As such counsel, such counsel reviewed the
     Registration Statement and Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented,
     participated in discussions with representatives of the Underwriters and of
     the Guarantor and its accountants at which contents of the Registration
     Statement and Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and related
     matters were discussed; on the basis of the information that such counsel
     gained in the course of the performance of their services referred to
     above, although such counsel shall not be deemed to be passing upon and
     shall not assume any responsibility for, the accuracy, completeness or
     fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the
     Final Prospectuses and not be required to have made an independent check or
     verification thereof, on the basis of the foregoing, no facts have come to
     the attention of such counsel in the course of such review which have led
     such counsel to believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration
     Statement or any further amendment thereto made by the Guarantor prior to
     such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and the
     financial and accounting data and related schedules incorporated by
     reference or included therein or excluded therefrom, or the exhibits to the
     Registration Statement including the Form T-1s, as to which such counsel
     need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact
     or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that, as of its
     date, the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further
     amendment or supplement thereto made by the Guarantor prior to such Time of
     Delivery (other than the financial statements and financial and accounting
     data and related schedules incorporated by reference or included therein or
     excluded therefrom, or the exhibits to the Registration Statement including
     the Form T-1s, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contained
     an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
     necessary to make the





                                      C-21
<PAGE>   126

          statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
          were made not misleading or that, as of such Time of Delivery, the
          Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further amendment
          or supplement thereto made by the Guarantor prior to such Time of
          Delivery (other than the financial statements and financial and
          accounting data and related schedules incorporated by reference or
          included therein or excluded therefrom, or the exhibits to the
          Registration Statement including the Form T-1s, as to which such
          counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a
          material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make
          the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they
          were made not misleading.

                    In rendering their opinion as aforesaid, such counsel may
     rely upon an opinion or opinions, each dated such Time of Delivery, of its
     affiliates as to laws of any jurisdiction other than the United States, the
     State of Illinois and any matters relating to the Delaware business
     organizational statutes (including statutes relating to Delaware Business
     Trusts).

                    (d)  Robert W. Pike, Vice President, Secretary and General
     Counsel of the Guarantor, shall have furnished to you his written opinion,
     dated such Time of Delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory
     to you, to the effect that:

                         (i)  Each Principal Subsidiary has been duly
          incorporated and is validly existing as an insurance corporation under
          the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation;

                         (ii)  All of the issued shares of capital stock of each
          Principal Subsidiary have been duly and validly authorized and issued,
          are fully paid and nonassessable, and are owned of record directly or
          indirectly by the Guarantor, AIC or ALIC, as the case may be (such
          counsel being entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this
          clause upon opinions of local or in-house counsel and in respect of
          matters of fact upon certificates of officers





                                      C-22
<PAGE>   127

          of the Guarantor or its subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall
          state that he believes that both you and he are justified in relying
          upon such opinions and certificates);

                    (iii)  Each Principal Subsidiary is duly licensed or
          authorized as an insurer or reinsurer in each other jurisdiction where
          it is required to be so licensed, except where the failure to be so
          licensed or authorized in any such jurisdiction does not have a
          material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or
          properties of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as a
          whole; the Guarantor and each Principal Subsidiary have made all
          required filings under applicable insurance holding company statutes,
          and each is duly licensed or authorized as an insurance holding
          company in each jurisdiction where it is required to be so licensed,
          except where the failure to have made such filings or to be so
          licensed or authorized in any such jurisdiction does not have a
          material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or
          properties of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as a
          whole; the Guarantor and each Principal Subsidiary have all necessary
          authorizations, approvals, orders, consents, registrations or
          qualifications of and from all insurance regulatory authorities to
          conduct their respective businesses as described in the Final
          Prospectus, except where the failure to have such authorizations,
          approvals, orders, consents, registrations or qualifications does not
          have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or
          properties of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as a
          whole; and none of the Guarantor or any Principal Subsidiary has
          received any notification from any insurance regulatory authority to
          the effect that any additional authorization, approval, order,
          consent, registration or qualification from such insurance regulatory
          authority is needed to be obtained by any of the Guarantor or any
          Principal Subsidiary in any case where it could be reasonably expected
          that (x) the Guarantor or any Principal Subsidiary would in





                                      C-23
<PAGE>   128

          fact be required either to obtain any such additional authorization,
          approval, order, consent, registration or qualification or cease or
          otherwise limit writing certain business and (y) obtaining such
          authorization, approval, order, consent, license, certificate, permit,
          registration or qualification or limiting such business would have a
          material adverse effect on the business, financial position or results
          of operations of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, considered as a
          whole (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of the opinion
          in this clause upon opinions of local or in-house counsel and in
          respect of matters of fact upon certificates of officers of the
          Guarantor or its subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state
          that he believes that both you and he are justified in relying upon
          such opinions and certificates);

                    (iv)  Each Principal Subsidiary is in compliance with the
          requirements of the insurance laws and regulations of its state of
          incorporation and the insurance laws and regulations of other
          jurisdictions which are applicable to such Principal Subsidiary, and
          has filed all notices, reports, documents or other information
          required to be filed thereunder, or is subject to no material
          liability or disability by reason of the failure to so comply or file
          (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of this clause upon
          opinions of local or in-house counsel and in respect of matters of
          fact upon certificates of officers of the Guarantor and its
          subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that he believes
          that both you and he are justified in relying upon such opinions and
          certificates);

                    (v)  The Trust is duly qualified and in good standing as a
          foreign company in any other jurisdiction in which such
          qualification is necessary, except to the extent that the failure to
          so qualify or be in good standing would not have a material adverse
          effect on the Trust; and the Trust is not a party to or





                                      C-24
<PAGE>   129

          otherwise bound by any agreement other than those described in the
          Final Prospectus;

                    (vi)  To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than
          as set forth in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, there
          are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the
          Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any
          property of the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries is the subject
          which, if determined adversely to the Guarantor or any of its
          subsidiaries, individually or in the aggregate, could reasonably be
          expected to have a material adverse effect on the financial condition,
          business or properties of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries
          considered as a whole; and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge,
          no such proceedings are threatened;

                    (vii)  The issue and sale of the Capital Securities, and the
          performance by the Offerors of their respective obligations under the
          Capital Securities, this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the
          Declaration, the Common Securities, the Indenture, the Subordinated
          Debt Securities, the Guarantee Agreements and the Guarantees, and the
          consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and therein will
          not result in any violation of any order, rule or regulation known to
          such counsel of any insurance regulatory authority having jurisdiction
          over the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries or any of their
          properties, other than such breaches, conflicts, violations or
          defaults which, individually or in the aggregate, would not have a
          material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or
          properties of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as a whole
          (such counsel being entitled to rely in respect of the opinion in this
          clause upon opinions of local or in-house counsel and in respect of
          matters of fact upon certificates of officers of the Guarantor or its
          subsidiaries, provided that such counsel shall state that he believes
          that both you and he are justified in relying upon such opinions and
          certificates);





                                    C-25
<PAGE>   130

                    (viii)  To the best of such counsel's knowledge, the Trust
          and the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, as applicable, have filed all
          notices, reports, documents or other information required to be filed
          pursuant to, and have obtained all authorizations, approvals, orders,
          consents, registrations or qualifications required to be obtained
          under, and have otherwise complied with all requirements of, all
          applicable insurance laws and regulations known to such counsel in
          connection with the issuance and sale of the Capital Securities and,
          except as have been obtained pursuant to the foregoing clause, no
          filing, authorization, approval, order, consent, registration or
          qualification of or with any insurance regulatory agency having
          jurisdiction over the Guarantor or any of its subsidiaries or any of
          their properties known to such counsel is required for the issue and
          sale of the Capital Securities or the consummation of the transactions
          contemplated by this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the
          Declaration, the Indenture, the Guarantee Agreements and the
          Guarantees, except such filings, authorizations, approvals, orders,
          consents, registrations or qualifications which (individually or in
          the aggregate) the failure to make, obtain or comply with would not
          have a material adverse effect on the financial condition, business or
          properties of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries considered as a whole
          and would not affect the consummation of the transactions contemplated
          by this Agreement, the Pricing Agreement, the Declaration, the
          Indenture, the Guarantee Agreements and the Guarantees;

                    (ix)  Each of the Guarantee Agreements has been duly
          authorized, executed and delivered by the Guarantor; the Capital
          Securities Guarantee Agreement, assuming it is duly authorized,
          executed, and delivered by the Guarantee Trustee, constitutes a valid
          and binding obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable against the
          Guarantor in accordance with its terms, except to the extent that
          enforcement thereof may be limited by Bankruptcy Ex-





                                    C-26
<PAGE>   131

          ceptions; and the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement has been duly
          qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;

                    (x)  The Indenture has been duly executed and delivered by 
          the Guarantor and, assuming due authorization, execution, and
          delivery thereof by the Debt Trustee, is a valid and binding
          obligation of the Guarantor, enforceable against the Guarantor in
          accordance with its terms, except to the extent that enforcement
          thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions, and the
          Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;

                    (xi)  The Subordinated Debt Securities are in the form 
          contemplated by the Indenture, have been duly authorized,     
          executed and delivered by the Guarantor and, when authenticated by
          the Debt Trustee in the manner provided for in the Indenture and
          delivered against payment therefor, will constitute valid and binding
          obligations of the Guarantor enforceable against the Guarantor in
          accordance with their terms, except to the extent that enforcement
          thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions;

                    (xii)  The Declaration has been duly authorized, executed 
          and delivered by the Guarantor and each of the Regular Trustees and   
          constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the Guarantor and each
          of the Regular Trustees, enforceable against the Guarantor and each
          of the Regular Trustees in accordance with its terms, except to the
          extent that the enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy
          Exceptions;

                    (xiii)  As general counsel to the Guarantor, such counsel 
          reviewed the Registration Statement and Final Prospectus as
          amended or supplemented, participated in various discussions with
          representatives of the Underwriters and of the Guarantor and its
          accountants at which contents of the Registration Statement and Final
          Prospectus as amended or supplemented





                                    C-27
<PAGE>   132

         were discussed; on the basis of the information that such counsel      
         gained in the course of his activities referred to above, such counsel
         confirms that the Registration Statement, as of its effective date,
         and the Final Prospectus, as amended or supplemented (in each case
         other than with respect to the financial statements, financial and
         accounting data and related schedules therein, as to which such
         counsel need express no opinion or belief), appeared on their face to
         be appropriately responsive in all material respects to the
         requirements of the Act and the applicable rules and regulations of
         the Commission thereunder; and, although such counsel is not passing
         upon and does not assume any responsibility for the accuracy,
         completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the
         Registration Statement and Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented
         (except as expressly set forth in such opinion), on the basis of the
         foregoing, no facts have come to the attention of such counsel in the
         course of such review which has caused such counsel to believe that,
         as of its effective date, the Registration Statement or any further
         amendment thereto made by the Offerors prior to such Time of Delivery
         (other than the financial statements and financial and accounting data
         and related schedules therein and other than information under the
         captions "Description of Debt Securities," "Description of Debt
         Warrants," "Description of Preferred Stock," "Description of Preferred
         Securities," "Description of Preferred Securities Guarantees" and
         "Plan of Distribution" in the Basic Prospectus and in the descriptions
         of Capital Securities, Capital Securities Guarantees, Subordinated
         Debt Securities and underwriting matters contained in the Final
         Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as to which such counsel need
         express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact
         or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statement therein not misleading or that, as of
         its date, the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any
         further amendment or supplement thereto





                                    C-28
<PAGE>   133

        made by the Offerors prior to such Time of Delivery (other than the
        financial statements and financial and accounting data and related
        schedules therein and other than information under the captions
        "Description of Debt Securities," "Description of Debt Warrants,"
        "Description of Preferred Stock," "Description of Preferred
        Securities," "Description of Preferred Securities Guarantees" and "Plan
        of Distribution" in the Basic Prospectus and in the descriptions of
        Capital Securities, Capital Securities Guarantees, Subordinated Debt
        Securities and underwriting matters contained in the Final Prospectus
        as amended or supplemented, as to which such counsel need express no
        opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
        state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
        light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading
        or that, as of such Time of Delivery, either the Registration Statement
        or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or any further
        amendment or supplement (when considered together with the document to
        which such supplement relates) thereto made by the Offerors prior to
        such Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements and
        financial and accounting data and related schedules therein and other
        than information under the captions "Description of Debt Securities,"
        "Description of Debt Warrants," "Description of Preferred Stock,"
        "Description of Preferred Securities," "Description of Preferred
        Securities Guarantees" and "Plan of Distribution" in the Basic
        Prospectus and in the descriptions of Capital Securities, Capital
        Securities Guarantees, Subordinated Debt Securities, and underwriting
        matters contained in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented,
        as to which such counsel need express no opinion) contains an untrue
        statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact
        necessary to make the statements therein, in the light of the
        circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; and he does
        not know of any amendment to the Registration Statement required to be
        filed or of any contracts or





                                    C-29
<PAGE>   134

          other documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to
          the Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by
          reference into the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented or
          required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
          Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented which are not filed or
          described as required, in each case, other than with respect to the
          information under the captions "Description of Debt Securities,"
          "Description of Debt Warrants," "Description of Preferred Stock,"
          "Description of Preferred Securities," Description of Preferred
          Securities Guarantees" and "Plan of Distribution" in the Basic
          Prospectus and in the descriptions of Capital Securities, Capital
          Securities Guarantees, Subordinated Debt Securities and underwriting
          matters contained in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented;
          and

                    (xiv)  On the basis of the information that such counsel 
          gained in the course of the review referred to in paragraph (xiii)
          above (but without passing upon or assuming any responsibility
          for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements
          contained in the documents described below), such counsel confirms
          that no facts have come to the attention of such counsel in the
          course of such review which have caused such counsel to believe that
          the documents incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as
          amended or supplemented (other than the financial statements and
          financial and accounting data and related schedules therein or
          excluded therefrom, as to which such counsel need express no
          opinion), when they became effective or were filed with the
          Commission, as the case may be, did not comply as to form in all
          material respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange
          Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
          thereunder; and he has no reason to believe that any of such
          documents, when they became effective or were so filed, as the case
          may be, contained, in the case of a registration statement which
          became effective under the Act, an untrue statement of a material
          fact or





                                    C-30
<PAGE>   135

         omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or, in the
         case of other documents which were filed under the Act or the Exchange
         Act with the Commission, an untrue statement of a material fact or
         omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
         statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
         were made when such documents were so filed, not misleading.

                          (e)  Shipman & Goodwin, counsel of State Street Bank
and Trust Company, as Property Trustee under the Declaration, and Guarantee
Trustee under the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreements, shall have furnished
to you their written opinion, dated as of such Time of Delivery, in form and
substance reasonably satisfactory to you, to the effect that:

                                    (i)  State Street Bank and Trust Company is
         a Massachusetts trust company with trust powers, duly organized,
         validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
         Commonwealth of Massachusetts with all necessary power and authority
         to execute and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations
         under the terms of the Declaration and the Capital Securities
         Guarantee Agreement;

                                   (ii)  The execution, delivery and
         performance by the Property Trustee of the Declaration and the
         execution, delivery and performance by the Guarantee Trustee of the
         Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement have been duly authorized by
         all necessary corporate action on the part of the Property Trustee, in
         the case of the Declaration, and the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of
         the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement.  The Declaration and the
         Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement have been duly executed and
         delivered by the Property Trustee, in the case of the Declaration, and
         the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of the Capital Securities Guarantee
         Agreement, and constitute the legal, valid and binding obligations of
         the Property Trustee, in the case of the





                                    C-31
<PAGE>   136

         Declaration, and the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of the Capital
         Securities Guarantee Agreement, enforceable against the Property
         Trustee, in the case of the Declaration, and the Guarantee Trustee, in
         the case of the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement, in accordance
         with their terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by the
         Bankruptcy Exceptions;

                                  (iii)  The execution, delivery and
         performance of the Declaration and the Capital Securities Guarantee
         Agreement by the Property Trustee, in the case of the Declaration, and
         the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of the Capital Securities Guarantee
         Agreement, does not conflict with or constitute a breach of the
         Articles of Organization or Bylaws of the Property Trustee, in the
         case of the Declaration, or the Guarantee Trustee, in the case of the
         Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement; and

                                   (iv)  No consent, approval or authorization
         of, or registration with or notice to, any Massachusetts or federal
         banking authority is required for the execution, delivery or
         performance by the Property Trustee of the Declaration or by the
         Guarantee Trustee of the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement.

                          (f)  Morris, James, Hitchens & Williams, counsel of
Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc., as Delaware Trustee under the
Declaration, shall have furnished to you their written opinion, dated as of
such Time of Delivery, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to you, to
the effect that:

                                    (i)  Delaware Trust Capital Management,
         Inc. is a Delaware banking corporation with trust powers, duly
         organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of the
         State of Delaware with all necessary power and authority to execute
         and deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the
         terms of the Declaration;

                                   (ii)  The execution, delivery and
         performance by the Delaware Trustee of the Dec-





                                    C-32
<PAGE>   137

         laration has been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action on 
         the part of the Delaware Trustee.  The Declaration has been duly
         executed and delivered by the Delaware Trustee and constitutes the
         legal, valid and binding obligations of the Delaware Trustee,
         enforceable against the Delaware Trustee, in accordance with its
         terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy
         Exceptions;

                                  (iii)  The execution, delivery and
         performance of the Declaration by the Delaware Trustee does not
         conflict with or constitute a breach of the Articles of Organization
         or Bylaws of the Delaware Trustee; and

                                   (iv)  No consent, approval or authorization
         of, or registration with or notice to, any banking or trust authority
         of the State of Delaware or federal banking authority governing the
         banking and trust powers of the Delaware Trustee is required for the
         execution, delivery or performance by the Delaware Trustee of the
         Declaration.

                          (g)  The opinion of Skadden, Arps, Slate, Meagher &
Flom (ILLINOIS), special tax counsel to the Guarantor and the Trust, generally
to the effect that:

                                    (i)  Under current law, the Trust will be
         classified for United States federal income tax purposes as a grantor
         trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation;

                                   (ii)  Under current law the Subordinated
         Debt Securities will be classified for United States federal income
         tax purposes as indebtedness of the Guarantor; and

                                  (iii)  The discussion set forth in the Final
         Prospectus under the heading "Certain Federal Income Tax
         Consequences," to the extent it constitutes matters of law or legal
         conclusions, is correct in all material respects.





                                    C-33
<PAGE>   138

                 Such opinion may be conditioned on, among other things, the
initial and continuing accuracy of the facts, financial and other information, 
covenants and representations set forth in certificates of officers of the 
Guarantor and the Trust and other documents deemed necessary for such opinion.

                          (h)  On the date of the Pricing Agreement and such
Time of Delivery, Deloitte & Touche LLP shall have furnished to the
Representatives a letter, dated the effective date of the later filed of the
Registration Statement or the most recent report filed with the Commission
containing financial statements and incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement if the date of such report is later than such effective
date, and a letter dated such Time of Delivery, respectively, to the effect set
forth in Annex II hereto, and with respect to such letter dated such Time of
Delivery, in form and substance satisfactory to the Representatives.

                          (i)  Except as contemplated in the Final Prospectus,
in the form approved by you, since the respective dates as of which information
is given in the Final Prospectus, in the form approved by you, until such Time
of Delivery, there shall not have been any change in the consolidated capital
stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of options and stock
appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance shares and upon conversions
of convertible securities, in each case which were outstanding on the date of
the latest balance sheet included or incorporated by reference in the Final
Prospectus, in the form approved by you) or any material increase in the
consolidated long-term debt of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries or any
change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting the
general affairs, management, financial position, stockholders' equity or
results of operations of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as
set forth or contemplated in the Final Prospectus, in the form approved by you,
the effect of which, in any such case is in the judgment of the Representatives
so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed
with the public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in
the manner contemplated in the Final Prospectus, in the form approved by you.





                                    C-34
<PAGE>   139

                          (j)  On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement
(i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating accorded the Guarantor's
debt securities or financial strength or claims paying ability by any of
Moody's Investor Services, Inc., Standard & Poor's Corporation or A.M. Best &
Co. and (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has
under surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating
of any of the Guarantor's debt securities or financial strength or claims
paying ability, the effect of which, in any such case described in Clause (i)
or (ii), is in your judgment (after consultation with the Guarantor) so
material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with
the pubic offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the
manner contemplated in the Final Prospectus, in the form approved by you;

                          (k)  On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement
there shall not have occurred any of the following: (i) a suspension or
material limitation in trading in securities generally on the New York Stock
Exchange; (ii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New
York declared by either Federal or New York State authorities; or (iii) the
outbreak or escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the
declaration by the United States of a national emergency or war, if the effect
of any such event specified in this clause (iii) in the judgment of the
Representatives makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the
public offering or the delivery of the Securities on the terms and in the
manner contemplated by the Final Prospectus, in the form approved by you; and

                          (l)  The Guarantor shall have furnished or caused to
be furnished to the Representatives at such Time of Delivery certificates of
officers of the Guarantor reasonably satisfactory to the Representatives as to
the accuracy of the representations and warranties of the Guarantor herein at
and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the performance by the Guarantor of all
of its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to such Time of
Delivery, as to the matters set forth in subsections (a) and (j) of this
Section and as to such other matters as the Representatives may reasonably
request.





                                    C-35
<PAGE>   140

                 8.(a)  Indemnification and Contribution.  The Offerors will,
jointly and severally, indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter against any
losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which such
Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise
out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the Registration
Statement, the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other
prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement (when
considered together with the document to which such supplement relates)
thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse each Underwriter
for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such Underwriter in
connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such
expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the Offerors shall not be liable
in any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the
Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any
other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such amendment or
supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Offerors by any Underwriter of Securities through the
Representatives expressly for use in the Final Prospectus as amended or
supplemented relating to such Securities and, provided, further, that the
Offerors shall not be liable to any Underwriter under the indemnity agreement
in this subsection (a) with respect to any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the
Final Prospectus or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented, as the
case may be, to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability of
such Underwriter results from the fact such Underwriter sold Securities to a
person to whom there was not sent or given, at or prior to the written
confirmation of such sale, a copy of the Final Prospectus (excluding documents
incorporated by reference therein) or of the Final Prospectus as then amended
or supplemented (excluding documents incorporated by reference therein),
whichever is most recent, in any





                                    C-36
<PAGE>   141

case where such delivery is required by the Act if the Guarantor had previously
furnished copies thereof to such Underwriter and the loss, damage or liability
of such Underwriter results from an untrue statement or omission of a material
fact contained in the Preliminary Final Prospectus which was corrected in the
Final Prospectus (or the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented).

                          (b)  Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold
harmless the Offerors against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to
which the Offerors may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as
such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
arise out of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact contained in any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the
Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any
other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement
(when considered together with the document to which such supplement relates)
thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to
state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
make the statements therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but
only to the extent, that such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or
omission or alleged omission was made in any Preliminary Final Prospectus, the
Registration Statement, the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any
other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such amendment or
supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information
furnished to the Offerors by such Underwriter through the Representatives
expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Offerors for any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by the Offerors in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are
incurred.

                          (c)  Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party
under subsection (a) or (b) above of notice of the commencement of any action,
such indemnified party shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made
against the indemnifying party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying
party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the
indemnifying party shall not relieve it from any liability which





                                    C-37
<PAGE>   142

it may have to any indemnified party otherwise than under such subsection.  In
case any such action shall be brought against any indemnified party and it shall
notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying
party shall be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it shall
wish, jointly, with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume
the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified
party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be
counsel to the indemnifying party and who may act in respect of actions
involving more than one indemnified party), and, after notice from the
indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the
defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such indemnified
party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel or any
other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified party,
in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation.  Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in this Section 8, an
indemnifying party shall only be liable for the legal fees and expenses of one
national counsel and appropriate local counsel for the indemnified parties with
respect to any proceeding or related proceedings and in connection with any one
such action, suit or proceeding or separate but substantially similar or
related actions, suits or proceedings in the same jurisdiction arising out of
the same general allegations or circumstances, be liable for the reasonable
fees and expenses of only one separate firm of attorneys (in addition to any
local counsel) at any time for all such Underwriters and controlling persons
not having actual or potential differing interests with you or among
themselves, which firm shall be designated in writing by Morgan Stanley & Co.
Incorporated.

                          (d)  If the indemnification provided for in this
Section 8 is unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified
party under subsection (a) or (b) above in respect of any losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to therein,
then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by
such indemnified party as a result of such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Offerors on the
one hand and the Underwriters of the





                                    C-38
<PAGE>   143

Securities on the other from the offering of the Securities to which any such
loss, claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates.  If,
however, the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not
permitted by applicable law, or if the indemnified party failed to give the
notice required under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also
the relative fault of the Offerors on the one hand and the Underwriters of the
Securities on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable consideration.  In addition,
if the indemnified party is not entitled to receive the indemnification provided
for in subsection (a) above because of the second proviso thereof, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to such amount paid or payable by such
indemnified party in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
fault of the Offerors on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Securities on
the other in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof).  The
relative benefits received by the Offerors on the one hand and such Underwriters
on the other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net
proceeds from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Offerors
bear to the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such
Underwriters, in each case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the
Prospectus relating to such Securities.  The relative fault shall be determined
by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue
statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a
material fact relates to information supplied by the Offerors on the one hand or
such Underwriters on the other and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.  With respect to any such Underwriter, such relative fault shall also
be determined by reference to the extent (if any) to which such losses, claims,
damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) with respect to any
Preliminary Final Prospectus result from the fact that such Underwriter sold
Securities to a person to whom there was not sent or given, at





                                    C-39
<PAGE>   144

or prior to the written confirmation of such sale, a copy of the Final
Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by reference therein) or of the
Final Prospectus as then amended or supplemented (excluding documents
incorporated by reference therein), if the Offerors had previously furnished
copies thereof to such Underwriter.  The Offerors and the Underwriters agree
that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this
subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters
were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method of
allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred
to above in this subsection (d).  The amount paid or payable by an indemnified
party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in
respect thereof) referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.  The obligations of the Underwriters of
Securities in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to
their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such Securities and
not joint.

                          (e)  The obligations of the Offerors under this
Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which the Offerors may
otherwise have and shall extend upon the same terms and conditions, to each
person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and
the obligations of the Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition
to any liability which the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall
extend, upon the same terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the
Guarantor (including any person who, with his consent, is named in the
Registra-





                                      C-40
<PAGE>   145

tion Statement as about to become a director of the Guarantor), to each trustee
of the Trust and to each person, if any, who controls an Offeror within the 
meaning of the Act.

                 9.(a)  Defaulting Underwriters.  If any Underwriter shall
default in its obligation to purchase the Securities which it has agreed to
purchase under the Pricing Agreement, the Representatives may in their
discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to purchase
the Securities on the terms contained herein and in such Pricing Agreement.  If
within thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the
Representatives do not arrange for the purchase of such Securities, then the
Offerors shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which
to procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives
to purchase such Securities on such terms.  In the event that, within the
respective prescribed periods, the Representatives notify the Offerors that the
Representatives have so arranged for the purchase of such Securities, or the
Offerors notify the Representatives that they have so arranged for the purchase
of such Securities, the Representatives or the Offerors shall have the right to
postpone the Time of Delivery for such Securities for a period of not more than
seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be made necessary
in the Registration Statement or the Final Prospectus as amended or
supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Offerors agree
to file promptly any amendments to the Registration Statement or the Final
Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made
necessary.  The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any
person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had
originally been a party to the Pricing Agreement.

                          (b)  If, after giving effect to any arrangements for
the purchase of the Securities of any defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by
the Representatives and the Offerors as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate number of such Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed
one-eleventh of the aggregate number of the Securities to be purchased at such
Time of Delivery, then the Offerors shall have the right to require each
non-defaulting Underwriter to





                                    C-41
<PAGE>   146

purchase the number of Securities which such Underwriter agreed to purchase
under the Pricing Agreement and, in addition, to require each non- defaulting
Underwriter to purchase its pro rata share (based on the number of Securities
which such Underwriter agreed to purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the
Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such
arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting
Underwriter from liability for its default.

                          (c)  If, after giving effect to any arrangements for
the purchase of the Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by
the Representatives and the Offerors as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate number of Securities which remains unpurchased exceeds one-eleventh
of the number of all such Securities to be purchased at such Time of Delivery,
or if the Offerors shall not exercise the right described in subsection (b)
above to require non-defaulting Underwriters to purchase Securities of a
defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters, then the Pricing Agreement shall
thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
Underwriter or the Offerors, except for the expenses to be borne by the
Guarantor and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the
indemnity and contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein
shall relieve a defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

                 10.  Survival.  The respective indemnities, agreements,
representations, warranties and other statements of the Offerors and the
several Underwriters, as set forth in this Agreement or made by or on behalf of
them, respectively, pursuant to this Agreement, shall remain in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation (or any statement as to the results
thereof) made by or on behalf of any Underwriter, or the Offerors or any
officer or director or controlling person of the Offerors and shall survive
delivery of and payment for the Securities.

                 11.  Effect of Termination of Pricing Agreement or Nondelivery
of Securities.  If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to
Section 9 hereof, the Offerors shall not then be under any liability to any
Underwriter with respect to the Securities except as





                                    C-42
<PAGE>   147

provided in Section 6 and Section 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason,
Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Offerors as provided herein,
the Guarantor will reimburse the Underwriters through the Representatives for 
all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the Representatives, including
fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably incurred by the Underwriters in
making preparations for the purchase, sale and delivery of such Securities, but
the Offerors shall then be under no further liability to any Underwriter in
respect of such Securities except as provided in Section 6 and Section 8
hereof.

                 12.  Reliance Upon Representatives.  In all dealings
hereunder, the Representatives shall act on behalf of the Underwriters of
Securities and the parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any
statement, request, notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or
given by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be designated for such
purpose in the Pricing Agreement.

                 13.  Notices.  All statements, requests, notices and
agreements hereunder shall be in writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be
delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile transmission to the address of
the Representatives as set forth in the Pricing Agreement; if to the Guarantor
and the Trust, shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile
transmission to their respective addresses set forth in the Registration
Statement; provided, however, that any notice to an Underwriter pursuant to
Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or facsimile
transmission to such Underwriter at its address set forth in its Underwriters'
Questionnaire, or telex constituting such Questionnaire, which address will be
supplied to the Offerors by the Representatives upon request.  Any such
statements, requests, notices or agreements shall take effect at the time of
receipt thereof.

                 14.  Successors and Assigns.  This Agreement and each Pricing
Agreement shall be binding upon, and inure solely to the benefit of, the
Underwriters, the Offerors, and, to the extent provided in Sections 8 and 10
hereof, the officers and directors of the Guarantor, the trustees of the Trust
and each person who controls an Offeror or any Underwriter, and their
respective heirs,





                                    C-43
<PAGE>   148

executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no other person shall
acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement or any such
Pricing Agreement.  No purchaser of any of the Securities from any Underwriter
shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of such purchase.

                 15.  Time; "Business Day."  Time shall be of the essence of
each Pricing Agreement.  As used herein, the term "business day" shall mean any
day when the Commission's office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

                 16.  GOVERNING LAW.  THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH PRICING AGREEMENT
SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK.

                 17.  Counterparts.  This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement
may be executed by any one or more of the parties hereto and thereto in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but
all such counterparts shall together constitute one and the same instrument.





                                    C-44
<PAGE>   149

                 If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding,
please sign and return to us eight counterparts hereof.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION



                                        By:____________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


                                        ALLSTATE FINANCING II
                                        By:  The Allstate Corporation,
                                              as Depositor



                                        By:____________________________
                                           Name:
                                           Title:


Accepted as of the date hereof:

Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated
Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.

By: Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated


By:____________________________
   Name:
   Title:





                                    C-45
<PAGE>   150

                                                                      ANNEX I TO
                                                                    UNDERWRITING
                                                                       AGREEMENT



                               PRICING AGREEMENT

                                                                 _________, ____


[                 ]
As representatives of the
several Underwriters
named in Schedule I hereto
  c/o [             ]

Ladies and Gentlemen:

                                        Allstate Financing [II], a statutory
business trust formed under the laws of the State of Delaware (the "Trust"),
and The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Guarantor" and,
together with the Trust, the "Offerors"), propose, subject to the terms and
conditions stated herein and in the Underwriting Agreement, dated ___________,
____ (the "Underwriting Agreement"), among the Offerors on the one hand and
_________________________________________________________ on the other hand, to
issue and sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"Underwriters") the Securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the
"Securities").  Each of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is
incorporated herein by reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a
part of this Agreement to the same extent as if such provisions had been set
forth in full herein; and each of the representations and warranties set forth
therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing
Agreement, except that each representation and warranty which refers to the
Final Prospectus in Section 2 of the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to
be a representation or warranty as of the date of the Underwriting Agreement in
relation to the Final Prospectus (as therein defined) and also a representation
and warranty as of the date of this Pricing Agreement in relation to the Final
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to the Securities





                                    CI-1
<PAGE>   151

which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement.  Each reference to the
Representatives herein and in the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement so
incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to you.  Unless otherwise
defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting Agreement are used herein as
therein defined.  The Representative designated to act on behalf of the
Representatives pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting Agreement and the
address of the Representatives referred to in Section 13 of the Underwriting
Agreement are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto.

                                        An amendment to the Registration
Statement, or a supplement to the Final Prospectus, as the case may be,
relating to the Securities, in the form heretofore delivered to you is now
proposed to be filed with the Commission.

                                        Subject to the terms and conditions set
forth herein and in the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by
reference, the Offerors agree to sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of
the Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Trust,
at the time and place and at the purchase price to the Underwriters set forth
in Schedule II hereto, the number of Securities set forth opposite the name of
such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.

                                        If the foregoing is in accordance with
your understanding, please sign and return to us [     ] counterparts hereof,
and upon acceptance hereof by you, on behalf of each of the Underwriters, this
letter and such acceptance hereof, including the provisions of the Underwriting
Agreement incorporated herein by reference, shall constitute a binding
agreement among each of the Underwriters and the Offerors.  It is understood
that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each of the Underwriters is or
will be pursuant to the authority set forth in a form of Agreement among
Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the Offerors for
examination upon request, but without war-




                                    CI-2
<PAGE>   152


ranty on the part of the Representatives as to the authority of the signers 
thereof.


                                        Very truly yours,

                                        THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION



                                        By:_______________________________
                                            Name: 
                                            Title:


                                        ALLSTATE FINANCING [II]
                                        By:  The Allstate Corporation,
                                              as Depositor



                                        By:_______________________________
                                            Name: 
                                            Title:


Accepted as of the date hereof:

[                     ]

On behalf of each of the Underwriters





                                    CI-3
<PAGE>   153

                             SCHEDULE I TO ANNEX I


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                               [Number of
                                                                Optional
                                     Number                  Securities to
                                    of [Firm]                Be Purchased if
                                  Securities to              Maximum Option
Underwriters                      Be Purchased                  Exercised
- ------------                      ------------               ---------------
<S>                               <C>                         <C>
                    . . . . . . .
- -------------------              
                    . . . . . . .
- -------------------              
                    . . . . . . .
- -------------------              
                    . . . . . . .
- -------------------              
[Names of Underwriters]          
                                 
                                 
                                  --------                       -------
                                 
                                 
                                 
                                 
                       Total  . .                                       ]
                                  ========                       =======
</TABLE>





                                     CI-4
<PAGE>   154

                             SCHEDULE II TO ANNEX I


UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT DATED ______________, ____


REGISTRATION STATEMENT NO. __________


TITLE, PURCHASE PRICE AND DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES


         Title:      ___% ___________Capital Securities ("__")
                     (Liquidation Amount of $__ Per Security)

         Aggregate Number:


         Price to Public:

         Purchase Price per Security to Be Paid by Underwriters:

         Compensation Per Security to Be Paid by the Guarantor to the
         Underwriters:

         Specified Funds for payment of purchase price:

         [First] Time of Delivery:

         Provisions for Over-allotment Option:

         Declaration:

         Indenture:

         Guarantees:

         Other Provisions:


NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES:

                     Representatives:

                     Address for Notices, etc.:





                                     CI-5
<PAGE>   155

                                                                     ANNEX II TO
                                                                    UNDERWRITING
                                                                       AGREEMENT



                     Pursuant to Section 7(h) of the Underwriting Agreement,
the accountants shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:

                          (i)  They are independent certified public
         accountants with respect to the Guarantor and its subsidiaries within
         the meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and
         regulations thereunder;

                          (ii)  In their opinion, the financial statements,
         certain summary and selected consolidated financial and operating
         data, and any supplementary financial information and schedules (and,
         if applicable, pro forma financial information) audited by them and
         included or incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as
         amended or supplemented or the Registration Statement comply as to
         form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
         requirements of the Act and the related published rules and
         regulations thereunder; and, if applicable, they have made a review in
         accordance with standards established by the American Institute of
         Certified Public Accountants of the unaudited consolidated interim
         financial statements, and any supplementary financial information and
         schedules, selected financial data, pro forma financial information,
         prospective financial statements and/or condensed financial statements
         derived from audited financial statements of the Guarantor for the
         periods specified in such letter, and, as indicated in their report
         thereon, copies of which have been furnished to the representatives of
         the Underwriters (the "Representatives");

                          (iii)  On the basis of limited procedures, not
         constituting an audit in accordance with generally accepted auditing
         standards, consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial
         statements and other information referred to below, a reading of the
         latest available interim financial statements of the Guarantor and its
         subsidiaries, inspection of the minute books of the Guarantor and its
         subsidiaries since the date of the





                                    CII-1
<PAGE>   156

         latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by
         reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented,
         inquiries of officials of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries
         responsible for financial and accounting matters and such other
         inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter, nothing
         came to their attention that caused them to believe that:

                                  (A)  the unaudited consolidated statements of
                     income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated
                     statements of cash flows and certain summary and selected
                     consolidated financial and operating data included or
                     incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as
                     amended or supplemented do not comply as to form in all
                     material respects with the applicable accounting
                     requirements of the Act and the related published rules
                     and regulations thereunder;

                                  (B)  any other unaudited income statement
                     data and balance sheet items included or incorporated by
                     reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or
                     supplemented do not agree with the corresponding items in
                     the unaudited consolidated financial statements from which
                     such data and items were derived, and any such unaudited
                     data and items were not determined on a basis
                     substantially consistent with the basis for the
                     corresponding amounts in the audited consolidated
                     financial statements included or incorporated by reference
                     in the Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

                                  (C)  the unaudited financial statements which
                     were not included or incorporated by reference in the
                     Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented but from which
                     were derived any unaudited condensed financial statements
                     referred to in Clause (A) and any unaudited income 
                     statement data and balance sheet items included or
                     incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as





                                    CII-2
<PAGE>   157

                     amended or supplemented and referred to in Clause (B) were
                     not determined on a basis substantially consistent with
                     the basis for the audited consolidated financial
                     statements included or incorporated by reference in the
                     Final Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

                                  (D)  any unaudited pro forma consolidated
                     condensed financial statements included or incorporated by
                     reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or
                     supplemented do not comply as to form in all material
                     respects with the applicable accounting requirements of
                     the Act and the published rules and regulations thereunder
                     or the pro forma adjustments have not been properly
                     applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of
                     those statements.

                                  (E)  as of a specified date not more than
                     five business days prior to the date of such letter, there
                     have been any changes in the consolidated capital stock or
                     any increase in the consolidated borrowings or
                     consolidated reserve for property-liability insurance
                     claims and claims expense or consolidated reserve for life
                     insurance policy benefits, or asset reserves of the
                     Guarantor and its subsidiaries, or any decreases in
                     consolidated fixed income securities available for sale,
                     consolidated equity securities, consolidated investments
                     or shareholder equity, or any decrease in AIC's or ALIC's
                     statutory capital and surplus, or other items specified by
                     the Representatives, in each case as compared with amounts
                     shown in the latest balance sheet included or incorporated
                     by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or
                     supplemented, except in each case for changes, increases
                     or decreases which the Final Prospectus discloses have
                     occurred or may occur or which are described in such
                     letter; and





                                    CII-3
<PAGE>   158


                                  (F)  for the period from the date of the
                     latest financial statements included or incorporated by
                     reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or
                     supplemented to the specified date referred to in Clause
                     (E) there were any decreases in consolidated premiums
                     earned, consolidated net investment income, or other items
                     specified by the Representatives, or any increases in any
                     items specified by the Representatives, in each case as
                     compared with the comparable period of the preceding year
                     and with any other period of corresponding length
                     specified by the Representatives, except in each case for
                     decreases or increases which the Final Prospectus
                     discloses have occurred or may occur or which are
                     described in such letter; and

                          (iv)  In addition to the examination referred to in
         their report(s) included or incorporated by reference in the Final
         Prospectus as amended or supplemented and the limited procedures,
         inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures referred to
         in paragraphs (ii) and (iii) above, they have carried out certain
         procedures as specified in their letter, not constituting an audit in
         accordance with generally accepted auditing standards, with respect to
         certain amounts, percentages and financial information specified by
         the Representatives, which are derived from the general accounting
         records of the Guarantor and its subsidiaries, which appear or are
         incorporated by reference in the Final Prospectus as amended or
         supplemented or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to, the
         Registration Statement specified by the Representatives, and have
         compared certain of such specified amounts, percentages and financial
         information with the accounting records of the Guarantor and its
         subsidiaries and have found them to be in agreement.





                                    CII-4
<PAGE>   159

                                                                    ANNEX III TO
                                                                    UNDERWRITING
                                                                       AGREEMENT



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     PRINCIPAL                        JURISDICTION
                    SUBSIDIARIES                    OF INCORPORATION
                    ------------                    ----------------
<S>                                                     <C>
Allstate Insurance Company  . . . . . . . . . . . .     Illinois
Allstate Life Insurance Company . . . . . . . . . .     Illinois
</TABLE>





                                     CIII-1

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.3



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


                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

                                       TO

                STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, as Trustee


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

                         SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                         Dated as of November 27, 1996

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



           7.83% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures,

                                    Series B


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

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                          PAGE
                                                                          ----

                                   ARTICLE I

                       Relation to Indenture; Definitions

Section 1.1. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  1

Section 1.2. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2

                                   ARTICLE II

                            The Series of Securities

Section 2.1.   Title of the Securities   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
Section 2.2.   Limitation on Aggregate Principal
               Amount; Date of Securities. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
Section 2.3.   Principal Payment Date  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2 
Section 2.4.   Interest and Interest Rates   . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  2
Section 2.5.   Extension of Interest Payment Period  . . . . . . . . . . .  4
Section 2.6.   Place of Payment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5 
Section 2.7.   Redemption  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  5
Section 2.8.   Exchange  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Section 2.9.   Denomination  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8
Section 2.10.  Currency  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8 
Section 2.11.  Form of Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8 
Section 2.12.  Securities Registrar and Paying Agent . . . . . . . . . . .  8 
Section 2.13.  Sinking Fund Obligations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  8

                                ARTICLE III

                                  Expenses

Section 3.1.   Payment of Expenses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  9 
Section 3.2.   Payment Upon Resignation or Removal . . . . . . . . . . . .  9

                                 ARTICLE IV

                        Covenant to List on Exchange

Section 4.1.   Listing on an Exchange  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10




                                     -i-

<PAGE>   3

                                   ARTICLE V

               Miscellaneous Provisions
                                                                           Page
                                                                           ----
Section 5.1.   Trustee Not Responsible for
               Recitals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     10
Section 5.2.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     10
Section 5.3.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     10
Section 5.4.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     10




                                    -ii-

<PAGE>   4

                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

                         SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                                  $206,186,000

           7.83% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures,
                                    Series B


   SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE, dated as of November 27, 1996, between THE
ALLSTATE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and STATE STREET
BANK AND TRUST COMPANY, a trust company organized under the laws of the
Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as Trustee (the "Trustee").

                                    RECITALS

   The Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the Trustee an
Indenture for Subordinated Debt Securities, dated as of November 25, 1996 (the
"Indenture"), providing for the issuance from time to time of series of the
Company's Securities.

   Section 301 of the Indenture provides for various matters with respect to
any series of Securities issued under the Indenture to be established in an
indenture supplemental to the Indenture.

   Section 901(7) of the Indenture provides for the Company and the Trustee to
enter into an indenture supplemental to the Indenture to establish the form or
terms of Securities of any series as provided by Sections 201 and 301 of the
Indenture.

   NOW, THEREFORE, THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE WITNESSETH:

   For and in consideration of the premises and the issuance of the series of
Securities provided for herein, it is mutually agreed, for the equal and
proportionate benefit of all Holders of the Securities of such series, as
follows:


                                   ARTICLE I

                       Relation to Indenture; Definitions

   Section 1.1.  This Second Supplemental Indenture constitutes an integral
part of the Indenture.





<PAGE>   5

   Section 1.2.  For all purposes of this Second Supplemental Indenture:

   (a)  Capitalized terms used herein without definition shall have the
meanings specified in the Indenture or in the Amended and Restated Declaration
of Trust, dated as of November 27, 1996 (the "Declaration"), of Allstate
Financing II, among the Company, as Depositor, State Street Bank and Trust
Company, as Property Trustee, Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc., as
Delaware Trustee, and the Regular Trustees named therein, as the case may be;

   (b)  All references herein to Articles and Sections, unless otherwise
specified, refer to the corresponding Articles and Sections of this Second
Supplemental Indenture; and

   (c)  The terms "herein", "hereof", "hereunder" and other words of similar
import refer to this Second Supplemental Indenture.


                                   ARTICLE II

                            The Series of Securities

   Section 2.1.  Title of the Securities.  There shall be a series of
Securities designated the "7.83% Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
Debentures, Series B" (the "Securities").

   Section 2.2.  Limitation on Aggregate Principal Amount; Date of Securities.
The aggregate principal amount of the Securities shall be limited to
$206,186,000; provided, however, that the authorized aggregate principal amount
of the Securities may be increased above such amount by a Board Resolution to
such effect.  Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication.

   Section 2.3.  Principal Payment Date.  The principal amount of the
Securities Outstanding (together with any accrued and unpaid interest
(including any Additional Interest thereon, if any)) shall be payable in a
single installment on December 1, 2045, which date shall be the Stated Maturity
of the Securities Outstanding.  The provisions of Section 314 of the Indenture
shall not apply to the Securities.

   Section 2.4.  Interest and Interest Rates.  The rate of interest on each
Security shall be 7.83% per annum, accruing from November 27, 1996, or from the
most recent interest payment date (each such date, an "Interest Payment


                                     -2-


<PAGE>   6

Date") to which interest has been paid or duly provided for, payable
semi-annually (subject to Section 2.5) in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of
each year commencing June 1, 1997, at the rate of 7.83% per annum, until the
principal hereof shall have become due and payable, until the principal hereof
is paid or duly provided for or made available for payment and on any overdue
principal and (without duplication and to the extent that payment of such
interest is enforceable under applicable law) on any overdue installment of
interest at the rate of 7.83% per annum, compounded semi-annually.  The amount
of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date shall be computed on the basis
of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  The amount of interest payable for
any partial period shall be computed on the basis of the actual number of days
elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  In the event that any date
on which interest is payable on any Security is not a Business Day, then
payment of interest payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding
day that is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in
respect of any such delay), except that, if such Business Day is in the next
succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be made on the immediately
preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force and effect as if made
on such date.  A "Business Day" shall mean each Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday,
Thursday and Friday which is not (i) a day on which banking institutions in the
City of New York or Chicago, Illinois are authorized or required by law or
executive order to close or (ii) a day on which the Corporate Trust Office of
the Trustee or the principal office of the Property Trustee under the
Declaration hereinafter referred to for Allstate Financing II is closed for
business.  The interest installment so payable in respect of any Security, and
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name such Security
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the Regular Record Date for such interest installment, which shall be the
close of business on the May 15 or November 15 immediately preceding such June
1 or December 1, respectively.  Any such interest installment not punctually
paid or duly provided for in respect of any Security shall forthwith cease to
be payable to the registered Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either
be paid to the Person in whose name such Security (or one or more Predecessor
Securities) is registered at the close of business on a Special Record Date to
be fixed by the Trustee for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, notice
whereof shall be given to the Holders of this series of Securities not less
than 10 days prior to such Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any
other lawful manner not inconsistent with the requirements of any securities
exchange on which the


                                     -3-


<PAGE>   7

Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be
required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

   Section 2.5.  Extension of Interest Payment Period.  So long as no Event of
Default has occurred and is continuing, the Company shall have the right at any
time during the term of the Securities of this series from time to time, to
defer the payment of interest on such Securities for up to 10 consecutive
semi-annual periods with respect to each deferral period (each an "Extension
Period"), during which periods interest will compound semi-annually and the
Company shall have the right to make partial payments of interest on any
Interest Payment Date, and at the end of which the Company shall pay all
interest then accrued and unpaid (together with Additional Interest thereon, if
any, to the extent permitted by applicable law); provided that during any such
Extension Period, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary
to, (a) declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to,
or redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the
Company's capital stock or (b) make any payment of principal, interest or
premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities
(including guarantees) issued by the Company (including other Securities of any
series) that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to such Securities
(other than (i) dividends or distributions in common stock of the Company, (ii)
redemptions or repurchases of any rights, or the declaration of a dividend of
any rights, or the issuance of any security under any future rights plan of the
Company, (iii) purchases or acquisitions of shares of common stock in
connection with the satisfaction by the Company of its obligations under any
benefit plans for its or its Subsidiaries' directors, officers, employees or
independent contractors, (iv) as a result of a reclassification of the
Company's capital stock or the exchange or conversion of one class or series of
the Company's capital stock for another class or series of the Company's
capital stock or (v) the purchase of fractional interests in shares of the
Company's capital stock pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of
such capital stock of the Company or the security being converted or exchanged)
or make any guarantee payments with respect to the foregoing.  Prior to the
termination of any such Extension Period, the Company may further extend such
Extension Period, provided that such Extension Period together with all such
previous and further extensions thereof shall not exceed 10 consecutive
semi-annual periods or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Securities of
this series.  Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and upon the
payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any Additional Interest then due
on any

                                     -4-




<PAGE>   8

Interest Payment Date, the Company may commence a new Extension Period, subject
to the above requirements.  No interest shall be due and payable during an
Extension Period except at the end thereof.  The Company shall give the Holders
of the Securities of this series and the Trustee notice of its election to
begin any such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the next
succeeding Interest Payment Date on which interest on the Securities would be
payable but for such deferral or, so long as the Securities are held by the
Trust prior to the earlier of (i) the next succeeding date on which the
Distributions on the Capital Securities are payable or (ii) the date the
Regular Trustees are required to give notice to the New York Stock Exchange,
the Nasdaq National Market or other applicable self-regulatory organization or
to holders of such Capital Securities of the record date or the date such
Distributions are payable, but in any event not less than one Business Day
prior to such record date.

   Section 2.6.  Place of Payment.  The Place of Payment where the Securities
may be presented or surrendered for payment, where the Securities may be
surrendered for registration of transfer or exchange and where notices and
demand to or upon the Company in respect of the Securities and the Indenture
may be served shall be the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

   Section 2.7.  Redemption.

   (a)  On or after December 1, 2006, the Company may at any time, at its
option, subject to the terms and conditions of Article Eleven of the Indenture,
redeem this Security in whole at any time or in part from time to time, at the
following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the principal amount)
for the periods indicated, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including
Additional Interest, if any, to the Redemption Date:

   December 1, 2006 to November 30, 2007:   103.915%
   December 1, 2007 to November 30, 2008:   103.524%
   December 1, 2008 to November 30, 2009:   103.132%
   December 1, 2009 to November 30, 2010:   102.741%
   December 1, 2010 to November 30, 2011:   102.349%
   December 1, 2011 to November 30, 2012:   101.958%
   December 1, 2012 to November 30, 2013:   101.566%
   December 1, 2013 to November 30, 2014:   101.175%
   December 1, 2014 to November 30, 2015:   100.783%
   December 1, 2015 to November 30, 2016:   100.392%
   On or after December 1,          2016:   100.000%
   
   (b)  If a Special Event in respect of Allstate Financing II shall occur and
be continuing, the Company may,

                                     -5-




<PAGE>   9

at its option, redeem the Securities of this series at any time in whole (but
not in part) within 90 days of the occurrence of such Special Event, subject to
the provisions of Article Eleven of the Indenture.  The Redemption Price for
any Securities so redeemed on a Redemption Date prior to December 1, 2006 shall
be equal to (A) the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such
Securities or (ii) as determined by a Quotation Agent, the sum of the present
values of the principal amount and premium that would be payable as part of the
Redemption Price with respect to an optional redemption of such Securities on
December 1, 2006 pursuant to Section 2.7(a), together with the present values
of scheduled payments of interest from the Redemption Date to December 1, 2006
(such time period between the Redemption Date and December 1, 2006 being
referred to as the "Remaining Life"), in each case discounted to the Redemption
Date on a semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve
30-day months) at the Adjusted Treasury Rate, plus, (B) accrued interest
thereon to but excluding the Redemption Date.  If the Company redeems
Securities of this series as a result of a Special Event on a Redemption Date
which occurs on or after December 1, 2006, the Redemption Price shall be the
Redemption Price that would be payable on or upon optional redemption of such
Securities on such Redemption Date pursuant to Section 2.7(a).

   For purposes of this Section 2.7(b), the following terms shall have the
following respective meanings:

   "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means with respect to any Redemption Date, the
Treasury Rate plus (i) 1.25% if such Redemption Date occurs on or before
December 1, 1997 or (ii) 0.50% if such Redemption Date occurs after December 1,
1997.

   "Treasury Rate" means (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the
average for the immediately prior week, appearing in the most recently
published statistical release designated "H.15(519)" or any successor
publication which is published weekly by the Federal Reserve and which
establishes yields on actively traded United States Treasury securities
adjusted to constant maturity under the caption "Treasury Constant
Maturities," for the maturity corresponding to the Remaining Life (if no
maturity is within three months before or after the Remaining Life, yields for
the two published maturities most closely corresponding to the Remaining Life
shall be determined and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or extrapolated
from such yields on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month) or
(ii) if such release (or any successor release) is not published during the
week preceding the

                                     -6-



<PAGE>   10

calculation date or does not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to
the semi-annual equivalent yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue,
calculated using a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a
percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for
such Redemption Date.  The Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third
Business Day preceding the prepayment date.

   "Comparable Treasury Issue" means with respect to any Redemption Date the
United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a
maturity comparable to the Remaining Life that would be utilized, at the time
of selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing
new issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the Remaining
Life.  If no United States Treasury security has a maturity which is within a
period from three months before to three months after December 1, 2006, the two
most closely corresponding United States Treasury securities shall be used as
the Comparable Treasury Issue, and the Treasury Rate shall be interpolated or
extrapolated on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest month using such
securities.

   "Comparable Treasury Price" means (A) the average of five Reference Treasury
Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest and
lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Trustee obtains
fewer than three such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all
such Quotations.

   "Quotation Agent" means Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated.

   "Reference Treasury Dealer" means (i) Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated,
Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated and
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. and their respective successors; provided, however,
that if any of the foregoing shall cease to be a primary U.S. Government
securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury Dealer") the Company
shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury Dealer, and (ii) any other
Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Trustee after consultation with the
Company.

   "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each Reference
Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by the
Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in
writing to the Trustee by such Reference

                                     -7-



<PAGE>   11

Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the third Business Day preceding such
Redemption Date.

   (c)  The provisions of Section 1108 of the Indenture shall not apply to the
Securities.

   Section 2.8.  Exchange.  At any time, the Company may terminate Allstate
Financing II and cause the Securities to be distributed to holders of the Trust
Securities in liquidation of Allstate Financing II, subject to the Company
having received an opinion of counsel experienced in such matters to the effect
that holders of the Common Securities and the Capital Securities will not
recognize income, gain or loss as a result of such distribution for United
States federal income tax purposes.

   Section 2.9.  Denomination.  The Securities of this series shall be issuable
only in registered form without coupons and in denominations of $1,000 and
integral multiples thereof.

   Section 2.10.  Currency.  Principal and interest on the Securities shall be
payable in such coin or currency of the United States of America that at the
time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts.

   Section 2.11.  Form of Securities.  The Securities shall be substantially in
the form attached as Exhibit A hereto.

   Section 2.12.  Securities Registrar and Paying Agent.  The Trustee shall
serve initially as Securities Registrar and Paying Agent.

   Section 2.13.  Sinking Fund Obligations.  The Company has no obligation to
redeem or purchase any Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous
requirement or upon the happening of a specified event or at the option of a
Holder thereof.


                                  ARTICLE III

                                    Expenses

   Section 3.1.  Payment of Expenses.  In connection with the offering, sale
and issuance of the Securities and in connection with the sale of the Trust
Securities by the Trust, the Company, in its capacity as borrower with respect
to the Securities, shall:


                                     -8-


<PAGE>   12

   (a)  pay all costs and expenses relating to the offering, sale and issuance
of the Securities, including commissions to the underwriters payable pursuant
to the Underwriting Agreement and the Pricing Agreement and compensation and
expenses of the Trustee under the Indenture in accordance with the provisions
of Section 607 of the Indenture;

   (b)  pay all costs and expenses of the Trust (including, but not limited to,
costs and expenses relating to the organization of the Trust, the offering,
sale and issuance of the Trust Securities (including commissions to the
underwriters in connection therewith), the fees and expenses of the Property
Trustee and the Delaware Trustee, the costs and expenses relating to the
operation of the Trust, including without limitation, costs and expenses of
accountants, attorneys, statistical or bookkeeping services, expenses for
printing and engraving and computing or accounting equipment, paying agent(s),
registrar(s), transfer agent(s), duplicating, travel and telephone and other
telecommunications expenses and costs and expenses incurred in connection with
the acquisition, financing, and disposition of Trust assets);

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

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

   Section 3.2.  Payment Upon Resignation or Removal.  Upon termination of this
Second Supplemental Indenture or the Indenture or the removal or resignation of
the Trustee, unless otherwise stated, the Company shall pay to the Trustee all
amounts accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.  Upon
termination of the Declaration or the removal or resignation of the Delaware
Trustee or the Property Trustee, as the case may be, pursuant to Section 5.7 of
the Declaration, the Company shall pay to the Delaware Trustee or the Property
Trustee, as the case may be, all amounts accrued to the date of such
termination, removal or resignation.


                                     -9-


<PAGE>   13

                                   ARTICLE V

                            Miscellaneous Provisions

   Section 5.1.  Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals.  The recitals herein
contained are made by the Company and not by the Trustee, and the Trustee
assumes no responsibility for the correctness thereof.  The Trustee makes no
representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Second Supplemental
Indenture.

   Section 5.2.  The Indenture, as supplemented and amended by this Second
Supplemental Indenture, is in all respects hereby adopted, ratified and
confirmed.

   Section 5.3.  This Second Supplemental Indenture may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original, but such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.

   Section 5.4.  THIS SECOND SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND EACH SECURITY SHALL BE
DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK AND SHALL
BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.



                                    -10-

<PAGE>   14

   IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties hereto have caused this Second Supplemental
Indenture to be duly executed, and their respective corporate seals to be
hereunto affixed and attested, on the date or dates indicated in the
acknowledgements and as of the day and year first above written.

                                             THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION


                                             By:/s/ James P. Zils
                                                ------------------------
                                             Name:  James P. Zils
                                             Title: Vice President and
                                                       Treasurer


Attest:


By:/s/ Emma M. Kalaidjian   
   --------------------------
   Name:  Emma M. Kalaidjian
   Title: Assistant Secretary


                                             STATE STREET BANK AND
                                               TRUST COMPANY,
                                             as Trustee


                                             By:/s/ Henry W. Seemore
                                                ----------------------------
                                             Name:  Henry W. Seemore
                                             Title: Assistant Vice President


                                    -11-

<PAGE>   15

                           (FORM OF FACE OF SECURITY)

   [IF THE SECURITY IS TO BE A GLOBAL SECURITY, INSERT - This Security is a
Global Security within the meaning of the Indenture hereinafter referred to and
is registered in the name of a Depositary or a nominee of a Depositary.  This
Security is exchangeable for Securities registered in the name of a person
other than the Depositary or its nominee only in the limited circumstances
described in the Indenture, and no transfer of this Security (other than a
transfer of this Security as a whole by the Depositary to a nominee of the
Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another
nominee of the Depositary) may be registered except in limited circumstances.

   Unless this Security is presented by an authorized representative of The
Depository Trust Company (55 Water Street, New York, New York) to the issuer or
its agent for registration of transfer, exchange or payment, and any Security
issued is registered in the name of Cede & Co. or such other name as requested
by an authorized representative of The Depository Trust Company and any payment
hereon is made to Cede & Co., ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR
VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY A PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof,
Cede & Co., has an interest herein.]

Certificate No.                                                       $________
                                                                      CUSIP No.


                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION

           7.83% JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE INTEREST DEBENTURES,
                                    Series B

   THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company", which term
includes any successor corporation under the Indenture hereinafter referred
to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to __________ or registered
assigns, the principal sum of ___________ ($__________) on December 1, 2045.
The Company further promises to pay interest on said principal sum from
November 27, 1996, or from the most recent interest payment date (each such
date, an "Interest Payment Date") to which interest has been paid or duly
provided for, semi-annually (subject to deferral as set forth herein) in
arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year commencing June 1, 1997, at the
rate of 7.83% per annum, until the principal hereof shall have become due and
payable, until the principal hereof is paid or duly provided for or made
available for payment and on any overdue principal and (without duplication and
to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable
law) on any overdue

                                     A-1



<PAGE>   16

installment of interest at the rate of 7.83% per annum, compounded
semi-annually.  The amount of interest payable on any Interest Payment Date
shall be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.  The
amount of interest payable for any partial period shall be computed on the
basis of the number of actual days elapsed in a 360-day year of twelve 30-day
months.  In the event that any date on which interest is payable on this
Security is not a Business Day, then payment of interest payable on such date
will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any
interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if such
Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be
made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same
force and effect as if made on such date.  A "Business Day" shall mean each
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday and Friday which is not (i) a day on which
banking institutions in the City of New York or Chicago, Illinois are
authorized or required by law or executive order to close or (ii) a day on
which the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or the principal office of the
Property Trustee under the Declaration hereinafter referred to for Allstate
Financing II, is closed for business.  The interest installment so payable, and
punctually paid or duly provided for, on any Interest Payment Date will, as
provided in the Indenture, be paid to the person in whose name this Security
(or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered at the close of business
on the Regular Record Date for such interest installment, which shall be the
close of business on the May 15 or November 15 immediately preceding such June
1 or December 1, respectively.  Any such interest installment not punctually
paid or duly provided for shall forthwith cease to be payable to the registered
Holder on such Regular Record Date and may either be paid to the Person in
whose name this Security (or one or more Predecessor Securities) is registered
at the close of business on a Special Record Date to be fixed by the Trustee
for the payment of such Defaulted Interest, notice whereof shall be given to
the Holders of this series of Securities not less than 10 days prior to such
Special Record Date, or be paid at any time in any other lawful manner not
inconsistent with the requirements of any securities exchange on which the
Securities of this series may be listed, and upon such notice as may be
required by such exchange, all as more fully provided in the Indenture.

   The principal of (and premium, if any) and the interest on this Security
shall be payable at the office or agency of the Company maintained for that
purpose in the United States in such coin or currency of the United States of
America that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and
private debts; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made at the
option of the Company by check mailed to the registered Holder at such address
as

                                     A-2



<PAGE>   17

shall appear in the Security Register.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, so long
as the Holder of this Security is the Property Trustee, the payment of the
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on this Security will be made
at such place and to such account as may be designated by the Property Trustee.

   The indebtedness evidenced by this Security is, to the extent provided in
the Indenture, subordinate in right of payment to the prior payment in full of
all Senior Indebtedness of the Company, and this Security is issued subject to
the provisions of the Indenture with respect thereto.  Each Holder of this
Security, by accepting the same, (a) agrees to and shall be bound by such
provisions, (b) authorizes and directs the Trustee on his or her behalf to take
such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the
subordination so provided and (c) appoints the Trustee his or her
attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.  Each Holder hereof, by his or
her acceptance hereof, hereby waives all notice of the acceptance of the
subordination provisions contained herein and in the Indenture by each holder
of Senior Indebtedness, whether now outstanding or hereafter incurred, and
waives reliance by each such holder upon said provisions.

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

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

                                     A-3



<PAGE>   18

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

                                            THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION



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


Attest:



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


                         CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION

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

Dated:

STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,
as Trustee



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


                                     A-4


<PAGE>   19

                        (FORM OF REVERSE OF SECURITY)

                          This Security is one of a duly authorized issue of
securities of the Company, designated as its 7.83% Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series B (herein referred to as the
"Securities"), issued under and pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of November
27, 1996, between the Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, as
Trustee (herein called the "Trustee," which term includes any successor trustee
under the Indenture), as supplemented by the Second Supplemental Indenture,
dated as of November 27, 1996, between the Company and the Trustee (the
Indenture as so supplemented, the "Indenture"), to which Indenture and all
indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby made for a description of
the rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties and immunities
thereunder of the Trustee, the Company and the Holders of the Securities, and
of the terms upon which the Securities are, and are to be, authenticated and
delivered.

                          All terms used in this Security that are defined in
the Indenture or in the Amended and Restated Declaration, dated as of November
27, 1996 (the "Declaration"), of Allstate Financing II, among The Allstate
Corporation, as Depositor, and the Trustees named therein, shall have the
meanings assigned to them in the Indenture or the Declaration, as the case may
be.

                          So long as no Event of Default has occurred and is
continuing, the Company shall have the right at any time during the term of
this Security from time to time, to defer the payment of interest on such
Security for up to 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with respect to each
deferral period (each an "Extension Period"), during which periods interest
will compound semi-annually and the Company shall have the right to make
partial payments of interest on any Interest Payment Date, and at the end of
which the Company shall pay all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with
Additional Interest thereon to the extent permitted by applicable law);
provided that during any such Extension Period, the Company shall not, and
shall not permit any Subsidiary to, (a) declare or pay any dividend on, make
any distributions with respect to, or redeem, purchase or make a liquidation
payment with respect to, any of the Company's capital stock or (b) make any
payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or
redeem any debt securities (including guarantees) issued by the Company
(including other Securities of any series) that rank pari passu with or junior
in interest to such Securities (other than (i) dividends or



                                     A-5

<PAGE>   20

distributions in common stock of the Company, (ii) redemptions or repurchases
of any rights, or the declaration of a dividend of any rights, or the issuance
of any security under any future rights plan of the Company, (iii) purchases or
acquisitions of shares of common stock in connection with the satisfaction by
the Company of its obligations under any benefit plans for its or its
Subsidiaries' directors, officers, employees or independent contractors, (iv)
as a result of a reclassification of the Company's capital stock or the
exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Company's capital stock
for another class or series of the Company's capital stock or (v) the purchase
of fractional interests in shares of the Company's capital stock pursuant to
the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock of the Company or
the security being converted or exchanged) or make any guarantee payments with
respect to the foregoing.  Prior to the termination of any such Extension
Period, the Company may further extend such Extension Period, provided that
such Extension Period together with all such previous and further extensions
thereof shall not exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods or extend beyond
the Maturity of this Security.  Upon the termination of any such Extension
Period and upon the payment of all accrued and unpaid interest and any
Additional Interest then due on any Interest Payment Date, the Company may
commence a new Extension Period, subject to the above requirements.  No
interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period except at the end
thereof.  The Company shall give the Holders of the Securities of this series
and the Trustee notice of its election to begin any such Extension Period at
least one Business Day prior to the next succeeding Interest Payment Date on
which interest on the Securities would be payable but for such deferral or, so
long as the Securities are held by the Trust prior to the earlier of (i) the
next succeeding date on which the Distributions on the Capital Securities are
payable or (ii) the date the Regular Trustees are required to give notice to
the New York Stock Exchange, the Nasdaq National Market or other applicable
self-regulatory organization or to holders of such Capital Securities of the
record date or the date such Distributions are payable, but in any event not
less than one Business Day prior to such record date.

                          On or after December 1, 2006, the Company may at any
time, at its option, subject to the terms and conditions of Article Eleven of
the Indenture, redeem this Security in whole at any time or in part from time
to time, at the following Redemption Prices (expressed as percentages of the
principal amount) for the periods


                                     A-6


<PAGE>   21

indicated, plus accrued and unpaid interest, including Additional Interest, if
any, to the Redemption Date:

                          December 1, 2006 to November 30, 2007:    103.915%
                                                                         
                          December 1, 2007 to November 30, 2008:    103.524%
                                                                              
                          December 1, 2008 to November 30, 2009:    103.132%
                                                                              
                          December 1, 2009 to November 30, 2010:    102.741%
                                                                       
                          December 1, 2010 to November 30, 2011:    102.349%
                                                                        
                          December 1, 2011 to November 30, 2012:    101.958%
                                                                         
                          December 1, 2012 to November 30, 2013:    101.566%
                                                                         
                          December 1, 2013 to November 30, 2014:    101.175%
                                                                        
                          December 1, 2014 to November 30, 2015:    100.783%
                                                                          
                          December 1, 2015 to November 30, 2016:    100.392%
                                                                         
                          On or after December 1, 2016:             100.000%


                          If a Special Event in respect of Allstate Financing
II shall occur and be continuing, the Company may, at its option, redeem this
Security at any time within 90 days of the occurrence of such Special Event, in
whole but not in part, subject to the provisions of Section 1108 and the other
provisions of Article Eleven of the Indenture.  The Redemption Price for such a
redemption prior to December 1, 2006 shall be equal to (A) the greater of (i)
100% of the principal amount of this Security or (ii) as determined by a
Quotation Agent, the sum of the present values of the principal amount and
premium that would be payable as part of the Redemption Price with respect to
an optional redemption of this Security on December 1, 2006 pursuant to the
immediately preceding paragraph, together with the present values (as
determined pursuant to the Indenture) of scheduled payments of interest from
the Redemption Date to December 1, 2006 (such time period between the
Redemption Date and December 1, 2006 being referred to as the "Remaining
Life"), in each case discounted to the Redemption Date on a semi-annual basis
(assuming a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months) at the Adjusted
Treasury Rate, plus, (B) accrued interest thereon to but excluding the
Redemption Date.  If the Company redeems this Security as a result of a Special
Event on a Redemption Date which occurs on or after December 1, 2006, the
Redemption Price shall be the Redemption Price


                                     A-7


<PAGE>   22

that would be payable on or upon optional redemption of this Security on such
Redemption Date pursuant to the immediately preceding paragraph.

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

                          If an Event of Default with respect to Securities of
this series shall occur and be continuing, the principal of the Securities of
this series may be declared due and payable in the manner, with the effect and
subject to the conditions provided in the Indenture.

                          The Indenture contains provisions for satisfaction,
discharge and defeasance at any time of the entire indebtedness of this
Security upon compliance by the Company with certain conditions set forth in
the Indenture.

                          The Indenture permits, with certain exceptions as
therein provided, the amendment thereof and the modification of the rights and
obligations of the Company and the rights of the Holders of the Securities of
each series to be affected under the Indenture at any time by the Company and
the Trustee with the consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount
of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding of each series to be
affected.  The Indenture also contains provisions permitting Holders of
specified percentages in principal amount of the Securities of each series at
the time Outstanding, on behalf of the Holders of all Securities of such
series, to waive compliance by the Company with certain provisions of the
Indenture and certain past defaults under the Indenture and their consequences.
Any such consent or waiver by the Holder of this Security shall be conclusive
and binding upon such Holder and upon all future Holders of this Security and
of any Security issued upon the registration of transfer hereof or in exchange
herefor or in lieu hereof, whether or not notation of such consent or waiver is
made upon this Security.

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

                          As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain
limitations therein set forth, the transfer of this Security is registrable in
the Securities Register, upon

                                     A-8



<PAGE>   23

surrender of this Security for registration of transfer at the office or agency
of the Company maintained under Section 1002 of the Indenture duly endorsed by,
or accompanied by a written instrument of transfer in form satisfactory to the
Company and the Securities Registrar duly executed by, the Holder hereof or his
or her attorney duly authorized in writing, and thereupon one or more new
Securities of this series, of authorized denominations and for the same
aggregate principal amount, will be issued to the designated transferee or
transferees.  No service charge shall be made for any such registration of
transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient
to cover any tax or other governmental charge payable in connection therewith.

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

                          [The Securities of this series are issuable only in
registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral
multiple thereof.]  [This Global Security is exchangeable for Securities in
definitive form only under certain limited circumstances set forth in the
Indenture.  Securities of this series so issued are issuable only in registered
form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple
thereof.]  As provided in the Indenture and subject to certain limitations
[herein and] therein set forth, Securities of this series [so issued] are
exchangeable for a like aggregate principal amount of Securities of this series
of a different authorized denomination, as requested by the Holder surrendering
the same.

                          The Company and, by its acceptance of this Security
or a beneficial interest therein, the Holder of, and any Person that acquires a
beneficial interest in, this Security agree that for United States federal,
state and local tax purposes it is intended that this Security constitute
indebtedness.

                          THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK SHALL
GOVERN THE INDENTURE AND THE SECURITIES WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICT OF LAW
PROVISIONS THEREOF.


                                     A-9



<PAGE>   1





                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.4


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


                     CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT


                             Allstate Financing II

                         Dated as of November 27, 1996

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

                               TABLE OF CONTENTS

                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----

                                   ARTICLE I
                         DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

SECTION 1.1      Definitions and Interpretation  . . . . . . . . . . . . .    2


                                   ARTICLE II
                              TRUST INDENTURE ACT

SECTION 2.1      Trust Indenture Act; Application  . . . . . . . . . . . .    6
SECTION 2.2      Lists of Holders of Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . .    6
SECTION 2.3      Reports by the Capital Guarantee                          
                      Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    7
SECTION 2.4      Periodic Reports to Capital Guarantee Trustee . . . . . .    7
SECTION 2.5      Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent  . . . .    7
SECTION 2.6      Events of Default; Waiver . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8
SECTION 2.7      Event of Default; Notice  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8
SECTION 2.8      Conflicting Interests . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    8

                                  ARTICLE III
                          POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
                           CAPITAL GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

SECTION 3.1      Powers and Duties of the Capital Guaran
                 tee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .    9
SECTION 3.2      Certain Rights of Capital Guarantee                         
                 Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   11
SECTION 3.3.     Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance                    
                 of Capital Securities Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . .   13

                                   ARTICLE IV
                           CAPITAL GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

SECTION 4.1      Capital Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility  . . . . . . . . .   13
SECTION 4.2      Appointment, Removal and Resignation of                   
                 Capital Guarantee Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   14

                                   ARTICLE V
                                   GUARANTEE

SECTION 5.1      Guarantee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   15


<PAGE>   3


                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
SECTION 5.2      Waiver of Notice and Demand . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   15
SECTION 5.3      Obligations Not Affected  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   16
SECTION 5.4      Rights of Holders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   17
SECTION 5.5      Guarantee of Payment  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   17
SECTION 5.6      Subrogation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   17
SECTION 5.7      Independent Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   18

                                   ARTICLE VI
                   LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION

SECTION 6.1      Limitation of Transactions  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   18
SECTION 6.2      Ranking . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   19

                                  ARTICLE VII
                                  TERMINATION

SECTION 7.1      Termination . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   19

                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 8.1      Exculpation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   20
SECTION 8.2      Indemnification . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   20

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                 MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.1      Successors and Assigns  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   21
SECTION 9.2      Amendments  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   21
SECTION 9.3      Notices . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   21
SECTION 9.4      Benefit . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   22
SECTION 9.5      Governing Law . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   22





                                       ii
<PAGE>   4

                     CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT


                 This CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE AGREEMENT (the "Capital
Securities Guarantee"), dated as of November 27, 1996, is executed and
delivered by The Allstate Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Guarantor"), and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a trust company duly
organized and existing under the laws of the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, as
trustee (the "Capital Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the Holders (as
defined herein) from time to time of the Capital Securities (as defined herein)
of Allstate Financing II, a Delaware statutory business trust (the "Issuer").

                 WHEREAS, pursuant to an Amended and Restated Declaration of
Trust (the "Declaration"), dated as of November 27, 1996, among the trustees of
the Issuer named therein, the Guarantor, as Depositor, and the holders from
time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer, the
Issuer is issuing on the date hereof 200,000 preferred securities, having an
aggregate liquidation amount of $200,000,000, designated the 7.83% Capital
Securities (the "Capital Securities");

                 WHEREAS, the Capital Securities will be issued by the Issuer
and the proceeds thereof, together with the proceeds from the issuance of the
Issuer's Common Securities (as defined below), will be used to purchase the
Debentures (as defined below) of the Guarantor which will be deposited with
State Street Bank and Trust Company, as Property Trustee under the Declaration,
as trust assets;

                 WHEREAS, as incentive for the Holders to purchase the Capital
Securities, the Guarantor desires irrevocably and unconditionally to agree,
to the extent set forth in this Capital Securities Guarantee, to pay to the
Holders of the Capital Securities the Guarantee Payments (as defined herein)
and to make certain other payments on the terms and conditions set forth
herein; and

                 WHEREAS, the Guarantor is also executing and delivering a
guarantee agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee") in substantially
identical terms to this Capital Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the
holders of the Common Securities (as defined herein), except that if an Event
of Default (as defined in the Indenture), has occurred and is continuing, the
rights of holders of the Common Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under
the Common Securities Guarantee are subordinated to the

<PAGE>   5

rights of Holders of Capital Securities to receive Guarantee Payments under
this Capital Securities Guarantee.

                 NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the purchase by each
Holder of Capital Securities, which purchase the Guarantor hereby agrees shall
benefit the Guarantor, the Guarantor executes and delivers this Capital
Securities Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders from time to time of the
Capital Securities.


                                   ARTICLE I
                         DEFINITIONS AND INTERPRETATION

SECTION 1.1          Definitions and Interpretation

                 In this Capital Securities Guarantee, unless the context
otherwise requires:

                 (a)      Capitalized terms used in this Capital Securities
                          Guarantee but not defined in the preamble above have
                          the respective meanings assigned to them in this
                          Section 1.1;

                 (b)      a term defined anywhere in this Capital Securities
                          Guarantee has the same meaning throughout;

                 (c)      all references to "the Capital Securities Guarantee"
                          or "this Capital Securities Guarantee" are to this
                          Capital Securities Guarantee as modified,
                          supplemented or amended from time to time;

                 (d)      all references in this Capital Securities Guarantee
                          to Articles and Sections are to Articles and Sections
                          of this Capital Securities Guarantee, unless
                          otherwise specified;

                 (e)      a term defined in the Trust Indenture Act has the
                          same meaning when used in this Capital Securities
                          Guarantee, unless otherwise defined in this Capital
                          Securities Guarantee or unless the context otherwise
                          requires; and

                 (f)      a reference to the singular includes the plural and
                          vice versa.

                 "Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person
directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or





                                       2
<PAGE>   6

under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person; provided
however, that an Affiliate of the Guarantor shall not be deemed to include the
Issuer.  For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect
to any specified Person means the power to direct the management and policies
of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting
securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and
"controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing.

                 "Board of Directors" means either the board of directors of
the Guarantor or any committee of that board duly authorized to act hereunder.

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

                 "Capital Guarantee Trustee" means State Street Bank and Trust
Company, a Massachusetts trust company, until a Successor Capital Guarantee
Trustee has been appointed and has accepted such appointment pursuant to the
terms of this Capital Securities Guarantee and thereafter means each such
Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee.

                 "Capital Securities" means the securities representing
preferred undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.

                 "Common Securities" means the securities representing common
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Issuer.

                 "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Capital
Guarantee Trustee at which the corporate trust business of the Capital
Guarantee Trustee shall, at any particular time, be principally administered,
which office at the date of execution of this Agreement is located at Two
International Place, Boston, Massachusetts 02110.

                 "Covered Person" means any Holder or beneficial owner of 
Capital Securities.

                 "Debentures" means the series of subordinated debt securities
of the Guarantor designated the 7.83% Junior Subor-





                                       3
<PAGE>   7

dinated Deferrable Interest Debentures, Series B held by the Property Trustee
(as defined in the Declaration) of the Issuer.

                 "Event of Default" means a default by the Guarantor on any of
its payment or other obligations under this Capital Securities Guarantee,
provided, however, that, except with respect to a default in payment of any
Guarantee Payments, the Guarantor shall have received notice of default and
shall not have cured such default within 60 days after receipt of such notice.

                 "Guarantee Payments" means the following payments or
distributions, without duplication, with respect to the Capital Securities, to
the extent not paid or made by or on behalf of the Issuer:  (i) any accrued and
unpaid Distributions (as defined in the Declaration) that are required to be
paid on such Capital Securities to the extent the Issuer shall have funds
available therefor, (ii) the redemption price, including all accrued and unpaid
Distributions to the date of redemption (the "Redemption Price") to the extent
the Issuer has funds available therefor, with respect to any Capital Securities
called for redemption by the Issuer, and (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, winding-up or termination of the Issuer (other than in connection
with the distribution of Debentures to the Holders in exchange for Capital
Securities as provided in the Declaration), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of
the liquidation amount of $1000 per Capital Security and all accrued and unpaid
Distributions on the Capital Securities to the date of payment, to the extent
the Issuer shall have funds available therefor, and (b) the amount of assets of
the Issuer remaining available for distribution to Holders in liquidation of
the Issuer (in either case, the "Liquidation Distribution").  If an event of
default under the Indenture has occurred and is continuing, the rights of
holders of the Common Securities to receive payments under the Common
Securities Guarantee Agreement are subordinated to the rights of Holders of
Capital Securities to receive Guarantee Payments.

                 "Holder" shall mean any holder, as registered on the books and
records of the Issuer of any Capital Securities; provided, however, that, in
determining whether the holders of the requisite percentage of Capital
Securities have given any request, notice, consent or waiver hereunder,
"Holder" shall not include the Guarantor, the Capital Guarantee Trustee or any
Affiliate of the Guarantor or the Capital Guarantee Trustee.





                                       4
<PAGE>   8

                 "Indemnified Person" means the Capital Guarantee Trustee, any
Affiliate of the Capital Guarantee Trustee, or any officers, directors,
shareholders, members, partners, employees, representatives, nominees,
custodians or agents of the Capital Guarantee Trustee.

                 "Indenture" means the Indenture, dated as of November 25,
1996, between the Guarantor (the "Debenture Issuer") and State Street Bank and
Trust Company, as trustee, and any indenture supplemental thereto pursuant to
which certain subordinated debt securities of the Debenture Issuer are to be
issued to the Property Trustee of the Issuer.

                 "Majority in liquidation amount of the Securities" means,
except as provided by the Trust Indenture Act, a vote by Holder(s) of Capital
Securities, voting separately as a class, of more than 50% of the liquidation
amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on redemption,
liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to the date
upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all Capital Securities.

                 "Officers' Certificate" means, with respect to any Person, a
certificate signed by two Authorized Officers of such Person and delivered to
the Capital Guarantee Trustee.  Any Officers' Certificate delivered with
respect to compliance with a condition or covenant provided for in this Capital
Securities Guarantee shall include:

                 (a)  a statement that each officer signing the Officers'
         Certificate has read the covenant or condition and the definition
         relating thereto;

                 (b)      a brief statement of the nature and scope of the
         examination or investigation undertaken by each officer in rendering
         the Officers' Certificate;

                 (c)      a statement that each such officer has made such
         examination or investigation as, in such officer's opinion, is
         necessary to enable such officer to express an informed opinion as to
         whether or not such covenant or condition has been complied with; and

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





                                       5
<PAGE>   9

                 "Person" means a legal person, including any individual,
corporation, estate, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock
company, limited liability company, trust, unincorporated association, or
government or any agency or political subdivision thereof, or any other entity
of whatever nature.

                 "Responsible Officer" means, with respect to the Capital
Guarantee Trustee, any officer within the Corporate Trust Office of the Capital
Guarantee Trustee, including any vice president, any assistant vice president,
any assistant secretary, the treasurer, any assistant treasurer or other
officer of the Corporate Trust Office of the Capital Guarantee Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by any of the above
designated officers and also means, with respect to a particular corporate
trust matter, any other officer to whom such matter is referred because of that
officer's knowledge of and familiarity with the particular subject.

                 "Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee" means a successor
Capital Guarantee Trustee possessing the qualifications to act as Capital
Guarantee Trustee under Section 4.1.

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



                                  ARTICLE II
                             TRUST INDENTURE ACT

SECTION 2.1      Trust Indenture Act; Application

         (a)     This Capital Securities Guarantee is subject to the
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act that are required to be part of this
Capital Securities Guarantee and shall, to the extent applicable, be governed
by such provisions.

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

SECTION 2.2      Lists of Holders of Securities

         (a)     The Guarantor shall provide the Capital Guarantee Trustee with
a list, in such form as the Capital Guarantee Trustee may reasonably require,
of the names and addresses of the





                                       6
<PAGE>   10

Holders of the Capital Securities ("List of Holders") as of such date, (i)
within 1 Business Day after January 1 and June 30 of each year, and (ii) at any
other time within 30 days of receipt by the Guarantor of a written request for
a List of Holders, in each case as of a date no more than 14 days before such
List of Holders is given to the Capital Guarantee Trustee; provided, that the
Guarantor shall not be obligated to provide such List of Holders at any time
the List of Holders does not differ from the most recent List of Holders given
to the Capital Guarantee Trustee by the Guarantor.  The Capital Guarantee
Trustee may destroy any List of Holders previously given to it on receipt of a
new List of Holders.

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

SECTION 2.3     Reports by the Capital Guarantee Trustee

          Within 60 days after May 15 of each year, the Capital Guarantee
Trustee shall provide to the Holders of the Capital Securities such reports as
are required by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act, if any, in the form and
in the manner provided by Section 313 of the Trust Indenture Act. The Capital
Guarantee Trustee shall also comply with the requirements of Section 313(d) of
the Trust Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.4     Periodic Reports to Capital Guarantee Trustee

          The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Guarantee Trustee, the
Securities and Exchange Commission and the Holders such documents, reports and
information, if any, as required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act and
the compliance certificate required by Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act in
the form, in the manner and at the times required by Section 314 of the Trust
Indenture Act.

SECTION 2.5     Evidence of Compliance with Conditions Precedent

          The Guarantor shall provide to the Capital Guarantee Trustee such
evidence of compliance with such conditions precedent, if any, provided for in
this Capital Securities Guarantee that relate to any of the matters set forth in
Section 314(c) of the Trust Indenture Act.  Any certificate or opinion required
to be given by an officer pursuant to Section 314(c)(1) may be given in the form
of an Officers' Certificate.





                                       7
<PAGE>   11

SECTION 2.6      Events of Default; Waiver

             The Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of Capital
Securities may, by vote, on behalf of the Holders of all of the Capital
Securities, waive any past Event of Default and its consequences.  Upon such
waiver, any such Event of Default shall cease to exist, and any Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, for every purpose
of this Capital Securities Guarantee, but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent
therefrom.

SECTION 2.7  Event of Default; Notice

             (a)      The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall, within 90 days
after the occurrence of an Event of Default, transmit by mail, first class
postage prepaid, to the Holders of the Capital Securities, notices of all
Events of Default actually known to a Responsible Officer of the Capital
Guarantee Trustee, unless such defaults have been cured before the giving of
such notice, provided, that, except in the case of a default in the payment of
a Guarantee Payment, the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be protected in
withholding such notice if and so long as the Board of Directors, the executive
committee or a trust committee of directors and/or a Responsible Officer of the
Capital Guarantee Trustee in good faith determines that the withholding of such
notice is in the interests of the Holders of the Capital Securities.

             (b)      The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be deemed to
have knowledge of any Event of Default unless the Capital Guarantee Trustee
shall have received written notice, or a Responsible Officer of the Capital
Guarantee Trustee charged with the administration of the Capital Securities
Guarantee shall have obtained actual knowledge.

SECTION 2.8      Conflicting Interests

             The Declaration shall be deemed to be specifically described
in this Capital Securities Guarantee for the purposes of clause (i) of the
first proviso contained in Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act.

                                  ARTICLE III
                          POWERS, DUTIES AND RIGHTS OF
                           CAPITAL GUARANTEE TRUSTEE





                                       8
<PAGE>   12

SECTION 3.1               Powers and Duties of the Capital Guarantee Trustee

                 (a)      This Capital Securities Guarantee shall be held by
the Capital Guarantee Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital
Securities, and the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not transfer this Capital
Securities Guarantee to any Person except a Holder of Capital Securities
exercising his or her rights pursuant to Section 5.4(b) or to a Successor
Capital Guarantee Trustee on acceptance by such Successor Capital Guarantee
Trustee of its appointment to act as Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee.  The
right, title and interest of the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall automatically
vest in any Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee, and such vesting and cessation
of title shall be effective whether or not conveyancing documents have been
executed and delivered pursuant to the appointment of such Successor Capital
Guarantee Trustee.

                 (b)      If an Event of Default actually known to a
Responsible Officer of the Capital Guarantee Trustee has occurred and is
continuing, the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall enforce this Capital Securities
Guarantee for the benefit of the Holders of the Capital Securities.

                 (c)      The Capital Guarantee Trustee, before the occurrence
of any Event of Default and after the curing of all Events of Default that may
have occurred, shall undertake to perform only such duties as are specifically
set forth in this Capital Securities Guarantee, and no implied covenants shall
be read into this Capital Securities Guarantee against the Capital Guarantee
Trustee.  In case an Event of Default has occurred (that has not been cured or
waived pursuant to Section 2.6) and is actually known to a Responsible Officer
of the Capital Guarantee Trustee, the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall exercise
such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Capital Securities
Guarantee, and use the same degree of care and skill in its exercise thereof,
as a prudent person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the
conduct of his or her own affairs.

                 (d)      No provision of this Capital Securities Guarantee
shall be construed to relieve the Capital Guarantee Trustee from liability for
its own negligent action, its own negligent failure to act, or its own willful
misconduct, except that:

                 (i)      prior to the occurrence of any Event of Default and
         after the curing or waiving of all such Events of Default that may
         have occurred:





                                       9
<PAGE>   13

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

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

                 (ii)     the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for
         any error of judgment made in good faith by a Responsible Officer of
         the Capital Guarantee Trustee, unless it shall be proved that the
         Capital Guarantee Trustee was negligent in ascertaining the pertinent
         facts upon which such judgment was made;

                 (iii) the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable with
         respect to any action taken or omitted to be taken by it in good faith
         in accordance with the direction of the Holders of not less than a
         Majority in liquidation amount of the Capital Securities relating to
         the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
         available to the Capital Guarantee Trustee, or exercising any trust or
         power conferred upon the Capital Guarantee Trustee under this Capital
         Securities Guarantee; and

                 (iv)     no provision of this Capital Securities Guarantee
         shall require the Capital Guarantee Trustee to expend or risk its own
         funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
         performance of any of its duties or in the





                                       10
<PAGE>   14

         exercise of any of its rights or powers, if the Capital Guarantee
         Trustee shall have reasonable grounds for believing that the repayment
         of such funds or liability is not reasonably assured to it under the
         terms of this Capital Securities Guarantee or indemnity, reasonably
         satisfactory to the Capital Guarantee Trustee, against such risk or
         liability is not reasonably assured to it.

SECTION 3.2               Certain Rights of Capital Guarantee Trustee

                 (a)      Subject to the provisions of Section 3.1:

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

                 (ii)     Any direction or act of the Guarantor contemplated by
         this Capital Securities Guarantee shall be sufficiently evidenced by
         an Officers' Certificate.

                 (iii) Whenever, in the administration of this Capital
         Securities Guarantee, the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
         desirable that a matter be proved or established before taking,
         suffering or omitting any action hereunder, the Capital Guarantee
         Trustee (unless other evidence is herein specifically prescribed) may,
         in the absence of bad faith on its part, request and conclusively rely
         upon an Officers' Certificate which, upon receipt of such request,
         shall be promptly delivered by the Guarantor.

                 (iv)     The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall have no duty to
         see to any recording, filing or registration of any instrument (or any
         rerecording, refiling or registration thereof).

                 (v)      The Capital Guarantee Trustee may consult with
         counsel of its selection, and the advice or opinion of such counsel
         with respect to legal matters shall be full and complete authorization
         and protection in respect of any action taken, suffered or omitted by
         it hereunder in good faith and in accordance with such advice or
         opinion.  Such counsel may be counsel to the Guarantor or any of its
         Affil-





                                       11
<PAGE>   15

         iates and may include any of its employees.  The Capital Guarantee
         Trustee shall have the right at any time to seek instructions
         concerning the administration of this Capital Securities Guarantee
         from any court of competent jurisdiction.

                 (vi)     The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be under no
         obligation to exercise any of the rights or powers vested in it by
         this Capital Securities Guarantee at the request or direction of any
         Holder, unless such Holder shall have provided to the Capital
         Guarantee Trustee such security and indemnity, reasonably satisfactory
         to the Capital Guarantee Trustee, against the costs, expenses
         (including attorneys' fees and expenses and the expenses of the
         Capital Guarantee Trustee's agents, nominees or custodians) and
         liabilities that might be incurred by it in complying with such
         request or direction, including such reasonable advances as may be
         requested by the Capital Guarantee Trustee; provided that, nothing
         contained in this Section 3.2(a)(vi) shall be taken to relieve the
         Capital Guarantee Trustee, upon the occurrence of an Event of Default,
         of its obligation to exercise the rights and powers vested in it by
         this Capital Securities Guarantee.

                 (vii)    The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be bound to
         make any investigation into the facts or matters stated in any
         resolution, certificate, statement, instrument, opinion, report,
         notice, request, direction, consent, order, bond, debenture, note,
         other evidence of indebtedness or other paper or document, but the
         Capital Guarantee Trustee, in its discretion, may make such further
         inquiry or investigation into such facts or matters as it may see fit.

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

                 (ix)     Whenever in the administration of this Capital
         Securities Guarantee the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall deem it
         desirable to receive instructions with respect to enforcing any remedy
         or right or taking any other action hereunder, the Capital Guarantee
         Trustee (i) may request instructions from the Holders of a Majority in
         liquidation





                                       12
<PAGE>   16

         amount of the Capital Securities, (ii) may refrain from enforcing such
         remedy or right or taking such other action until such instructions
         are received, and (iii) shall be protected in conclusively relying on
         or acting in accordance with such instructions.

                 (x)      The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be liable for
         any action taken, suffered or omitted to be taken by it in good faith
         and reasonably believed by it to be authorized or within the
         discretion or rights or powers conferred upon it by this Capital
         Securities Guarantee.

                 (b)      No provision of this Capital Securities Guarantee
shall be deemed to impose any duty or obligation on the Capital Guarantee
Trustee to perform any act or acts or exercise any right, power, duty or
obligation conferred or imposed on it in any jurisdiction in which it shall be
illegal, or in which the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be unqualified or
incompetent in accordance with applicable law, to perform any such act or acts
or to exercise any such right, power, duty or obligation.  No permissive power
or authority available to the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be construed to
be a duty.

SECTION 3.3.              Not Responsible for Recitals or Issuance of Cap-
                          ital Securities Guarantee

                 The recitals contained in this Capital Securities Guarantee
shall be taken as the statements of the Guarantor, and the Capital Guarantee
Trustee does not assume any responsibility for their correctness.  The Capital
Guarantee Trustee makes no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of
this Capital Securities Guarantee.


                                   ARTICLE IV
                           Capital GUARANTEE TRUSTEE

SECTION 4.1               Capital Guarantee Trustee; Eligibility

                 (a)      There shall at all times be a Capital Guarantee
Trustee which shall:

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

                 (ii)     be a corporation organized and doing business under
         the laws of the United States of America or any State or Territory
         thereof or of the District of Columbia, or a





                                       13
<PAGE>   17

         corporation or Person permitted by the Securities and Exchange
         Commission to act as an institutional trustee under the Trust
         Indenture Act, authorized under such laws to exercise corporate trust
         powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at least 50 million
         U.S.  dollars ($50,000,000), and subject to supervision or examination
         by Federal, State, Territorial or District of Columbia authority.  If
         such corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually,
         pursuant to law or to the requirements of the supervising or examining
         authority referred to above, then, for the purposes of this Section
         4.1(a)(ii), the combined capital and surplus of such corporation shall
         be deemed to be its combined capital and surplus as set forth in its
         most recent report of condition so published.

                 (b)      If at any time the Capital Guarantee Trustee shall
cease to be eligible to so act under Section 4.1(a), the Capital Guarantee
Trustee shall immediately resign in the manner and with the effect set out in
Section 4.2(c).

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

SECTION 4.2               Appointment, Removal and Resignation of Capital
                          Guarantee Trustee

                 (a)      Subject to Section 4.2(b), the Capital Guarantee
Trustee may be appointed or removed without cause at any time by the Guarantor
except during an Event of Default.

                 (b)      The Capital Guarantee Trustee shall not be removed in
accordance with Section 4.2(a) until a Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee has
been appointed and has accepted such appointment by written instrument executed
by such Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor.

                 (c)      The Capital Guarantee Trustee appointed to office
shall hold office until a Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee shall have been
appointed or until its removal or resignation.  The Capital Guarantee Trustee
may resign from office (without need for prior or subsequent accounting) by an
instrument in writing executed by the Capital Guarantee Trustee and delivered
to the Guarantor, which resignation shall not take effect until a Successor
Capital Guarantee Trustee has been appointed and has





                                       14
<PAGE>   18

accepted such appointment by instrument in writing executed by such Successor
Capital Guarantee Trustee and delivered to the Guarantor and the resigning
Capital Guarantee Trustee.

                 (d)      If no Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee shall have
been appointed and accepted appointment as provided in this Section 4.2 within
60 days after delivery of an instrument of removal or resignation, the Capital
Guarantee Trustee resigning or being removed may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for appointment of a Successor Capital Guarantee
Trustee.  Such court may thereupon, after prescribing such notice, if any, as
it may deem proper, appoint a Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee.

                 (e)      No Capital Guarantee Trustee shall be liable for the
acts or omissions to act of any Successor Capital Guarantee Trustee.

                 (f)      Upon termination of this Capital Securities Guarantee
or removal or resignation of the Capital Guarantee Trustee pursuant to this
Section 4.2, the Guarantor shall pay to the Capital Guarantee Trustee all
amounts accrued to the date of such termination, removal or resignation.


                                   ARTICLE V
                                   GUARANTEE

SECTION 5.1      Guarantee

             The Guarantor irrevocably and unconditionally agrees to pay in
full to the Holders the Guarantee Payments (without duplication of amounts
theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer), as and when due, regardless of
any defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that the Issuer may have or
assert.  The Guarantor's obligation to make a Guarantee Payment may be
satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts by the Guarantor to the
Holders or by causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to the Holders.

SECTION 5.2      Waiver of Notice and Demand

             The Guarantor hereby waives notice of acceptance of this
Capital Securities Guarantee and of any liability to which it applies or may
apply, presentment, demand for payment, any right to require a proceeding first
against the Capital Guarantee Trustee, the Issuer or any other Person before
proceeding against





                                       15
<PAGE>   19

the Guarantor, protest, notice of nonpayment, notice of dishonor, notice of
redemption and all other notices and demands.

SECTION 5.3           Obligations Not Affected

                 The obligations, covenants, agreements and duties of the
Guarantor under this Capital Securities Guarantee shall in no way be affected
or impaired by reason of the happening from time to time of any of the
following:

                 (a)      the release or waiver, by operation of law or
otherwise, of the performance or observance by the Issuer of any express or
implied agreement, covenant, term or condition relating to the Capital
Securities to be performed or observed by the Issuer;

                 (b)      the extension of time for the payment by the Issuer
of all or any portion of the Distributions, Redemption Price, Liquidation
Distribution or any other sums payable under the terms of the Capital
Securities or the extension of time for the performance of any other obligation
under, arising out of, or in connection with, the Capital Securities (other
than an extension of time for payment of Distributions, Redemption Price,
Liquidation Distribution or other sum payable that results from the extension
of any interest payment period on the Debentures or any extension of the
maturity date of the Debentures permitted by the Indenture);

                 (c)      any failure, omission, delay or lack of diligence on
the part of the Holders to enforce, assert or exercise any right, privilege,
power or remedy conferred on the Holders pursuant to the terms of the Capital
Securities, or any action on the part of the Issuer granting indulgence or
extension of any kind;

                 (d)      the voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution, sale of any collateral, receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy,
assignment for the benefit of creditors, reorganization, arrangement,
composition or readjustment of debt of, or other similar proceedings affecting,
the Issuer or any of the assets of the Issuer;

                 (e)      any invalidity of, or defect or deficiency in, the
Capital Securities;

                 (f)      the settlement or compromise of any obligation
guaranteed hereby or hereby incurred; or





                                       16
<PAGE>   20

                 (g)      any other circumstance whatsoever that might
otherwise constitute a legal or equitable discharge or defense of a guarantor,
it being the intent of this Section 5.3 that the obligations of the Guarantor
hereunder shall be absolute and unconditional under any and all circumstances.

                 There shall be no obligation of the Holders to give notice to,
or obtain consent of, the Guarantor with respect to the happening of any of the
foregoing.

SECTION 5.4               Rights of Holders

                 (a)      The Guarantor expressly acknowledges that:  (i) this
Capital Securities Guarantee will be deposited with the Capital Guarantee
Trustee to be held for the benefit of the Holders; (ii) the Guarantee Trustee
has the right to enforce this Capital Securities Guarantee on behalf of the
Holders; and (iii) the Holders of a Majority in liquidation amount of the
Capital Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting of any proceeding for any remedy available to the Capital Guarantee
Trustee in respect of this Capital Securities Guarantee or exercising any trust
power conferred upon the Capital Guarantee Trustee under this Capital
Securities Guarantee.

                 (b)      Any Holder of Capital Securities may institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Guarantor to enforce such Holder's rights
under this Capital Securities Guarantee, without first instituting a legal
proceeding against the Issuer, the Capital Guarantee Trustee or any other
person or entity.  The Guarantor waives any right or remedy to require that any
action be brought first against the Issuer or any other person or entity before
proceeding directly against the Guarantor.

SECTION 5.5               Guarantee of Payment

                 This Capital Securities Guarantee creates a guarantee of
payment and not of collection.  This Capital Securities Guarantee will not be
discharged except by payment of the Guarantee Payments in full (without
duplication of amounts theretofore paid by or on behalf of the Issuer) or upon
distribution of Debentures to Holders of the Capital Securities as provided in
the Declaration.

SECTION 5.6               Subrogation

                 The Guarantor shall be subrogated to all rights of the Holders
of Capital Securities against the Issuer, if any, in





                                       17
<PAGE>   21

respect of any amounts paid to such Holders by the Guarantor under this Capital
Securities Guarantee; provided, however, that the Guarantor shall not (except
to the extent required by mandatory provisions of law) be entitled to enforce
or exercise any right that it may acquire by way of subrogation or any
indemnity, reimbursement or other agreement, in all cases as a result of
payment under this Capital Securities Guarantee, if, at the time of any such
payment, any amounts are due and unpaid under this Capital Securities
Guarantee.  If any amount shall be paid to the Guarantor in violation of the
preceding sentence, the Guarantor agrees to hold such amount in trust for the
Holders and to pay over such amount to the Holders.

SECTION 5.7      Independent Obligations

                 The Guarantor acknowledges that its obligations hereunder are
independent of the obligations of the Issuer with respect to the Capital
Securities, and that the Guarantor shall be liable as principal and as debtor
hereunder to make Guarantee Payments pursuant to the terms of this Capital
Securities Guarantee notwithstanding the occurrence of any event referred to in
subsections (a) through (g), inclusive, of Section 5.3 hereof.


                                   ARTICLE VI
                   LIMITATION OF TRANSACTIONS; SUBORDINATION

SECTION 6.1      Limitation of Transactions

                 So long as any Capital Securities remain outstanding, if there
shall have occurred an Event of Default or an event of default under the
Declaration, then the Guarantor shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary
to, (a) declare or pay any dividend on, make any distributions with respect to,
or redeem, purchase or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the
Guarantor's capital stock or (b) make any payment of principal, interest or
premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any debt securities
(including guarantees) issued by the Guarantor (including other Securities (as
defined in the Indenture) of any series) that rank pari passu with or junior in
interest to such Securities (other than (i) dividends or distributions in
common stock of the Guarantor, (ii) redemptions or repurchases of any rights,
or the declaration of a dividend of any rights, or the issuance of any security
under any future rights plan of the Guarantor, (iii) purchases or acquisitions
of shares of common stock in connection with the satisfaction by the Guarantor
of its obligations under any benefit plans for its or





                                       18
<PAGE>   22

its Subsidiaries' directors, officers, employees or independent contractors,
(iv) as a result of a reclassification of the Guarantor's capital stock or the
exchange or conversion of one class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock
for another class or series of the Guarantor's capital stock or (v) the
purchase of fractional interests in shares of the Guarantor's capital stock
pursuant to the conversion or exchange provisions of such capital stock of the
Guarantor or the security being converted or exchanged) or make any guarantee
payments with respect to the foregoing.

SECTION 6.2      Ranking

                 This Capital Securities Guarantee will constitute an unsecured
obligation of the Guarantor and will rank (i) subordinate and junior in right
of payment to all other liabilities of the Guarantor, except those made pari
passu with or subordinate to such obligations expressly by their terms.

SECTION 6.3      Pari Passu Guarantees

                 The obligations of the Guarantor under this Capital Securities
Guarantee shall rank pari passu with the obligations of the Guarantor under any
similar Capital and/or Preferred Securities Guarantee issued by the Guarantor
on behalf of the holders of preferred securities issued by any Allstate Trust
(as defined in the Indenture).


                                  ARTICLE VII
                                  TERMINATION

SECTION 7.1      Termination

                 This Capital Securities Guarantee shall terminate upon (i)
full payment of the Redemption Price of all Capital Securities, (ii) the
distribution of the Debentures to the Holders in exchange for all of the
Capital Securities or (iii) full payment of the amounts payable in accordance
with the Declaration upon liquidation of the Issuer.  Notwithstanding the
foregoing, this Capital Securities Guarantee will continue to be effective or
will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time any Holder of Capital
Securities must restore payment of any sums paid under the Capital Securities
or under this Capital Securities Guarantee.





                                       19
<PAGE>   23



                                  ARTICLE VIII
                                INDEMNIFICATION

SECTION 8.1      Exculpation

         (a)     No Indemnified Person shall be liable, responsible or
accountable in damages or otherwise to the Guarantor or any Covered Person for
any loss, damage or claim incurred by reason of any act or omission performed
or omitted by such Indemnified Person in good faith in accordance with this
Capital Securities Guarantee and in a manner that such Indemnified Person
reasonably believed to be within the scope of the authority conferred on such
Indemnified Person by this Capital Securities Guarantee or by law, except that
an Indemnified Person shall be liable for any such loss, damage or claim
incurred by reason of such Indemnified Person's negligence or willful
misconduct with respect to such acts or omissions.

         (b)     An Indemnified Person shall be fully protected in relying in
good faith upon the records of the Guarantor and upon such information,
opinions, reports or statements presented to the Guarantor by any Person as to
matters the Indemnified Person reasonably believes are within such other
Person's professional or expert competence and who has been selected with
reasonable care by or on behalf of the Guarantor, including information,
opinions, reports or statements as to the value and amount of the assets,
liabilities, profits, losses, or any other facts pertinent to the existence and
amount of assets from which Distributions to Holders of Capital Securities
might properly be paid.

SECTION 8.2      Indemnification

         The Guarantor agrees to indemnify each Indemnified Person for,
and to hold each Indemnified Person harmless against, any and all loss,
liability, damage, claim or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on
its part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration
of the trust or trusts hereunder, including the costs and expenses (including
reasonable legal fees and expenses) of defending itself against, or
investigating, any claim or liability in connection with the exercise or
performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder.  The obligation to
indemnify as set forth in this Section 8.2 shall survive the termination of
this Capital Securities Guarantee.





                                       20
<PAGE>   24

                                   ARTICLE IX
                                 MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 9.1      Successors and Assigns

          All guarantees and agreements contained in this Capital
Securities Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees
and representatives of the Guarantor and shall inure to the benefit of the
Holders of the Capital Securities then outstanding.  Except in connection with
a consolidation, merger or sale involving the Guarantor that is permitted under
Article Eight of the Indenture and pursuant to which the assignee agrees in
writing to perform the Guarantor's obligations hereunder, the Guarantor shall
not assign its obligations hereunder.

SECTION 9.2      Amendments

          Except with respect to any changes that do not adversely
affect the rights of Holders in any material respect (in which case no consent
of Holders will be required), this Capital Securities Guarantee may only be
amended with the prior approval of the Holders of at least a Majority in
liquidation amount (including the stated amount that would be paid on
redemption, liquidation or otherwise, plus accrued and unpaid Distributions to
the date upon which the voting percentages are determined) of all the
outstanding Capital Securities.  The provisions of Section 12.2 of the
Declaration with respect to meetings of Holders of the Securities apply to the
giving of such approval.

SECTION 9.3      Notices

          All notices provided for in this Capital Securities Guarantee
shall be in writing, duly signed by the party giving such notice, and shall be
delivered, telecopied or mailed by first class mail, as follows:

         (a)     If given to the Capital Guarantee Trustee, at the Capital
Guarantee Trustee's mailing address set forth below (or such other address as
the Capital Guarantee Trustee may give notice of to the Holders of the Capital
Securities):

                 State Street Bank and Trust Company
                 Two International Place
                 Boston, Massachusetts 02110
                 Attention:  Corporate Trust Administration
                 Telecopy:   (617) 664-5365
                 
                 



                                       21
<PAGE>   25

                 (b)      If given to the Guarantor, at the Guarantor's mailing
address set forth below (or such other address as the Guarantor may give notice
of to the Holders of the Capital Securities):

                          The Allstate Corporation
                          2775 Sanders Road
                          Northbrook, Illinois 60062
                          Attention: Secretary
                          Telecopy: (847) 402-0158

                 (c)      If given to any Holder of Capital Securities, at the
address set forth on the books and records of the Issuer.

                 All such notices shall be deemed to have been given when
received in person, telecopied with receipt confirmed, or mailed by first class
mail, postage prepaid except that if a notice or other document is refused
delivery or cannot be delivered because of a changed address of which no notice
was given, such notice or other document shall be deemed to have been delivered
on the date of such refusal or inability to deliver.

SECTION 9.4           Benefit

                 This Capital Securities Guarantee is solely for the benefit of
the Holders of the Capital Securities and, subject to Section 3.1(a), is not
separately transferable from the Capital Securities.

SECTION 9.5           Governing Law

                 THIS CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND
CONSTRUED AND INTERPRETED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW
YORK, WITHOUT REGARD TO CONFLICTS OF LAWS PRINCIPLES THEREOF.





                                       22
<PAGE>   26

                 THIS CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE may be executed in any
number of counterparts, each of which so executed shall be deemed to be an
original, but all such counterparts shall together constitute but one and the
same instrument.

                 THIS CAPITAL SECURITIES GUARANTEE is executed as of the day
and year first above written.

                                          THE ALLSTATE CORPORATION, as   
                                          Guarantor



                                          By:/s/ James P. Zils               
                                             --------------------------------
                                          Name:  James P. Zils
                                          Title: Vice President and
                                                   Treasurer


                                          STATE STREET BANK AND TRUST COMPANY,
                                          as Capital Guarantee Trustee



                                          By:/s/ Henry W. Seemore            
                                             --------------------------------
                                          Name:   Henry W. Seemore
                                          Title:  Assistant Vice President



<PAGE>   1





                                                                     EXHIBIT 8.1


                                     November 27, 1996




To:     The Allstate Corporation
        2775 Sanders Road
        Northbrook, IL 60062-6127

        Allstate Financing II
        c/o The Allstate Corporation
        2775 Sanders Road
        Northbrook, IL 60062-6127

Ladies and Gentlemen:

           We have acted as special counsel for The Allstate Corporation, a
Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and Allstate Financing II, a statutory
business trust organized under the Business Trust Act of the State of Delaware
(Chapter 38, Title 12, of the Delaware Code, 12 Del.  C. Section  3801,
et seq.) (the "Capital Securities Issuer"), in connection with the preparation
and filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities Act
of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), of a registration statement on Form S-3
dated as of August 27, 1996 (the "Registration Statement") (including the
amendment to the Registration Statement, dated September 30, 1996, and the
prospectus dated October 1, 1996, as supplemented by the prospectus supplement
dated November 22, 1996 contained in the Registration Statement (as so
supplemented, the "Final Prospectus"), relating to the issuance of 200,000 of
the Capital Securities Issuer's 7.83% Capital Securities (liquidation preference
$1,000 per capital security) (the "Capital Securities"), representing undivided
beneficial interests in the assets of the Capital Securities Issuer.

<PAGE>   2
November 27, 1996
Page 2

          The Capital Securities are guaranteed (the "Capital Securities
Guarantee") by the Company with respect to the payment of distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise pursuant to, and to the
extent set forth in, the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement, dated as of
November 27, 1996 ("Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement"), between the
Company and State Street Bank and Trust Company, a Massachusetts banking
corporation, as guarantee trustee, for the benefit of the holders of the Capital
Securities.

          In connection with the issuance of the Capital Securities, the Capital
Securities Issuer is also issuing 6,186 of its common securities (liquidation
amount of $1,000 per common security) (the "Common Securities"), representing
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Capital Securities Issuer.

          The Capital Securities are being issued pursuant to the Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust of the Capital Securities Issuer, dated as of
November 27, 1996 (the "Declaration"), among the Company, as Depositor, State
Street Bank and Trust Company, as Property Trustee (the "Property Trustee"),
Delaware Trust Capital Management, Inc., as Delaware trustee (the "Delaware
Trustee"), and the Regular Trustees named therein.

          The entire proceeds from the sale of the Capital Securities and the
Common Securities are to be used by the Capital Securities Issuer to purchase
$206,186,000 aggregate principal amount of 7.83% Junior Subordinated Debentures,
Series B, due on December 1, 2045 (the "Junior Subordinated Debentures") to be
issued by the Company.  The Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be issued
pursuant to an indenture, dated as of November 25, 1996 (the "Subordinated
Indenture"), between the Company and the State Street Bank and Trust Company, as
trustee (the


<PAGE>   3
November 27, 1996
Page 3



"Debenture Trustee"), and a supplement to the Subordinated Indenture, dated as
of November 27, 1996 (the "Supplemental Indenture" and, together with the
Subordinated Indenture, the "Indenture"), between the Company and the Debenture
Trustee.

          In connection with the issuance pursuant to the Registration
Statement, you have requested that we render the opinion set forth below.  In
connection with rendering our opinion, we have examined and are familiar with
originals or copies, certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of
(i) the Registration Statement; (ii) the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q
for the period ending September 30, 1996; (iii) the certificate of trust (the
"Certificate of Trust") filed by the Capital Securities Issuer with the
Secretary of the State of Delaware on August 21, 1996; (iv) the Declaration
(including the designation of the terms of the Capital Securities and the Common
Securities annexed thereto); (v) the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement;
(vi) the Indenture; (vii) the form of Junior Subordinated Debentures and a
specimen certificate thereof; (viii) a copy of the Underwriting Agreement, dated
November 22, 1996 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), and the Pricing Agreement,
dated November 22, 1996 (the "Pricing Agreement"), each among Morgan Stanley &
Co. Incorporated, Goldman, Sachs & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
Incorporated, and J. P. Morgan Securities, Inc. (collectively, the
"Underwriters"), the Company and the Capital Securities Issuer; (ix) the form of
the Capital Securities; and (x) such other records and documents as we have
deemed necessary or appropriate as a basis for the opinion set forth below.  We
have assumed the genuineness of all signatures, the legal capacity of all
natural persons, the authenticity of all records and documents submitted to us
as originals, the conformity to original records





<PAGE>   4

November 27, 1996
Page 4



and documents of all records and documents submitted to us as certified,
conformed or photostatic copies and the authenticity of the originals of such
copies.  As to any facts material to this opinion that we did not independently
establish or verify, we have relied upon statements and representations of
officers and other representatives of the Company.  In rendering this opinion,
we have assumed that the transactions were consummated in accordance with the
descriptions thereof set forth in such records and documents and that such
records and documents accurately reflect the material facts of the
transactions.  Our opinion is limited to legal rather than factual matters.

          In rendering our opinion, we have relied upon the Internal Revenue
Code of 1986, as amended, Treasury Regulations, legislative history, judicial
authorities, published positions of the Internal Revenue Service and such other
authorities as we have considered relevant, all in effect as of the date hereof
and all of which are subject to change or differing interpretation (possibly on
a retroactive basis).  There can be no assurances, moreover, that the opinion
expressed herein will be accepted by the Internal Revenue Service or, if
challenged, by a court.

          On the basis of and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion
that the discussion set forth in the Final Prospectus under the heading "Certain
Federal Income Tax Consequences," to the extent it constitutes matters of law or
legal conclusions, is correct in all material respects.

          We express no opinion as to any United States federal tax consequences
other than as set forth in this letter or as to any tax consequences under
state, local or foreign law.  We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as
Exhibit 8 to the Registration Statement.  We also consent to the reference to
our firm under the headings "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences" and
"Validity of Securities" in the Registration Statement.  In giving each such
consent, we do not thereby admit that





<PAGE>   5
November 27, 1996
Page 5



we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7 of
the 1933 Act or the rules and regulations promulgated thereunder.


                                              Very truly yours,



                                             /s/ Skadden, Arps, Slate
                                             Meagher & Flom (Illinois)







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