TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORP
S-3/A, 1997-09-08
NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION
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<PAGE>   1
 
   AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON SEPTEMBER 8, 1997
                                                      REGISTRATION NO. 333-27311
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------
                                 PRE-EFFECTIVE
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
                                       TO
                                    FORM S-3
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                             ---------------------
                   TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 
<TABLE>
<C>                                                 <C>
                     DELAWARE                                           74-1079400
           (State or other jurisdiction                              (I.R.S. Employer
        of incorporation or organization)                          Identification No.)
</TABLE>
 
                            2800 POST OAK BOULEVARD
                              HOUSTON, TEXAS 77056
                                 (713) 215-2000
         (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
             area code of registrant's principal executive offices)
                             ---------------------
                           WILLIAM G. VON GLAHN, ESQ.
                   SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                          THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
                              ONE WILLIAMS CENTER
                             TULSA, OKLAHOMA 74172
                                 (918) 588-2000
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
                             ---------------------
                                    COPY TO:
                             KEITH L. KEARNEY, ESQ.
                             DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL
                              450 LEXINGTON AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
                                 (212) 450-4000
 
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
     From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
                             ---------------------
 
     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box.  [ ]
 
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box.  [X]
 
     If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.  [ ]
 
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering.  [ ]
 
     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box.  [X]
                             ---------------------
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
========================================================================================================================
                                                         PROPOSED MAXIMUM       PROPOSED MAXIMUM          AMOUNT OF
   TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF            AMOUNT TO            OFFERING PRICE       AGGREGATE OFFERING       REGISTRATION
SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED        BE REGISTERED             PER UNIT               PRICE(1)                 FEE
- ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                           <C>                       <C>                  <C>                     <C>
Debt Securities.............            (2)                     (2)               $500,000,000            $151,516
========================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
 
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee.
 
(2) Not applicable pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction II(D) under the
     Securities Act of 1933.
 
(3) Calculated pursuant to Rule 457. The Registrant filed a registration
     Statement on May 16, 1997, relating to $300,000,000 of Debt Securities. In
     connection therewith, the Registrant paid a registration fee of $90,910.
 
     THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
 
     INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
     REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR
     MAY OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT
     BECOMES EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR
     THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE
     SECURITIES IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE
     UNLAWFUL PRIOR TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS
     OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
                 SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED SEPTEMBER 8, 1997
PROSPECTUS
 
                   TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORPORATION
 
                                DEBT SECURITIES
 
                             ---------------------
 
     Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation (the "Company") may offer and
sell from time to time in one or more series unsecured debentures, notes, or
other evidences of indebtedness ("Debt Securities") with an initial offering
price not to exceed $500,000,000 in the aggregate (or the equivalent in foreign
denominated currency or units based on or related to currencies, including
European Currency Units). All specific terms of the offering and sale of the
Debt Securities, including the (a) specific designation, rights and restrictions
and the currencies or composite currencies in which the Debt Securities are
denominated, the aggregate principal amount, the maturity, rate and time of
payment of interest, and any conversion, exchange, redemption or sinking fund
provisions, and (b) initial public offering price, listing on any securities
exchange, any other specific terms in connection with the offering of the Debt
Securities, and the agents, dealers or underwriters, if any, to be utilized in
connection with the sale of the Debt Securities, will be set forth in an
accompanying Prospectus Supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement"). The Debt
Securities may be sold for U.S. dollars, foreign denominated currency or
currency units; principal of and any interest on the Debt Securities may
likewise be payable in U.S. dollars, foreign denominated currency or currency
units -- in each case, as the Company specifically designates. The managing
underwriters with respect to each series sold to or through underwriters will be
named in the Prospectus Supplement.
 
                             ---------------------
 
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
   AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                               CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                             ---------------------
 
     The Debt Securities may be offered through dealers, through underwriters,
or through agents designated from time to time as set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement. Net proceeds to the Company will be the purchase price in the case
of a dealer, the public offering price less discount in the case of an
underwriter, or the purchase price less commission in the case of an agent -- in
each case, less other expenses attributable to issuance and distribution. See
"Plan of Distribution" for possible indemnification arrangements for dealers,
underwriters, and agents.
 
     This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy any of the Debt Securities other than the Debt Securities
described in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement.
 
                             ---------------------
 
               The date of this Prospectus is             , 1997.
<PAGE>   3
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") in Washington, D.C., a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to
the Debt Securities offered hereby. Certain portions of the Registration
Statement have not been included in this Prospectus as permitted by the
Commission's rules and regulations. For further information, reference is made
to the Registration Statement and the exhibits thereto. The Company is subject
to the informational requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports and
other information with the Commission. The Registration Statement (with
exhibits), as well as such reports and other information filed by the Company
with the Commission, can be inspected and copied at the public reference
facilities maintained by the Commission at its principal offices at Judiciary
Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024, Washington, D.C. 20549 and its
regional offices at Citicorp Center, 500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400,
Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511 and 7 World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New
York 10048; or from the Commission's worldwide web site at http://www.sec.gov.
Copies of such material can be obtained at prescribed rates from the Public
Reference Section of the Commission at its principal office at Judiciary Plaza,
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549.
                             ---------------------
 
     NO DEALER, SALESMAN OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED
BY THE COMPANY OR ANY UNDERWRITER, DEALER, OR AGENT. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF
THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE
AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE
THE DATE HEREOF. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE DEBT SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY
PERSON TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IN SUCH
JURISDICTION.
                             ---------------------
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
     The Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods
ended March 31, 1997, and June 30, 1997, ("Form 10-Q"), and the Company's Annual
Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1996, ("Form 10-K"),
filed by the Company with the Commission under the Exchange Act are incorporated
herein by reference.
 
     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14, or
15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of this offering shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus and to be a part hereof from the date of filing of such
documents. Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement in
this Prospectus or in any subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed
to be incorporated by reference modifies or replaces such statement.
 
     The Company undertakes to provide without charge to each person to whom a
copy of this Prospectus has been delivered, upon the written or oral request of
any such person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference
herein, other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference into the information that this Prospectus
incorporates. Written or oral requests for such copies should be directed to:
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation, P.O. Box 1396, Houston, Texas 77251,
Attention: General Counsel, (713) 215-2000.
 
                     REPORTS TO HOLDERS OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
     The Company is not required to publish annual and quarterly reports to
holders of Debt Securities. The Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q and
annual report on Form 10-K, which contains audited financial statements, will be
provided to holders of Debt Securities upon request.
 
                                        1
<PAGE>   4
 
                             ---------------------
 
     CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE MARKET PRICE OF THE DEBT
SECURITIES. SPECIFICALLY, THE UNDERWRITERS, IF ANY, MAY OVERALLOT IN CONNECTION
WITH THE OFFERING AND MAY BID FOR AND PURCHASE DEBT SECURITIES IN THE OPEN
MARKET.
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     The Company is an interstate natural gas transmission company that owns and
operates a natural gas pipeline system extending from Texas, Louisiana,
Mississippi, and the Gulf of Mexico through the States of Alabama, Georgia,
South Carolina, North Carolina, Virginia, Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey
to the New York City metropolitan area. The Company's transmission activities
are subject to regulation by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission ("FERC")
under the Natural Gas Act of 1938 and under the Natural Gas Policy Act of 1978.
 
     The Company was formerly a wholly owned subsidiary of Transco Energy
Company, which The Williams Companies, Inc. ("Williams") acquired on January 18,
1995. Following the acquisition, direct ownership of the Company was transferred
to Williams.
 
     The Company was incorporated in Delaware in 1948. The principal executive
offices of the Company are located at the Transco Tower, 2800 Post Oak
Boulevard, Houston, Texas 77056 (telephone: (713) 215-2000).
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the net
proceeds from the sale of the Debt Securities will be used for general corporate
purposes, including repayment of outstanding debt. The Company anticipates that
it will raise additional funds from time to time through debt financings,
including sale of additional Debt Securities and further borrowings under its
uncommitted short-term debt facilities and bank credit agreement.
 
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
     The following table represents the Company's ratio of earnings to fixed
charges for the periods shown.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              POST-ACQUISITION                          PRE-ACQUISITION
  ----------------------------------------   --------------------------------------
                                 PERIOD        PERIOD
  SIX MONTHS                  JANUARY 18,    JANUARY 1,
    ENDED       YEAR ENDED      1995 TO        1995 TO     YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
   JUNE 30,    DECEMBER 31,   DECEMBER 31,   JANUARY 17,   ------------------------
     1997          1996           1995          1995        1994     1993     1992
  ----------   ------------   ------------   -----------   ------   ------   ------
  <S>          <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>      <C>      <C>
   3.28            3.13           3.19            (a)        3.26     2.89     2.24
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
(a) Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges for the period January 1,
    1995, to January 17, 1995, by $7,434,000.
 
     For the purpose of this ratio: (i) earnings consist of income or loss
before fixed charges and income taxes for the Company and (ii) fixed charges
consist of interest and debt expense on all indebtedness (without reduction for
interest capitalized) and that portion of rental payments on operating leases
estimated to represent an interest factor for the Company.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   5
 
                            SELECTED FINANCIAL DATA
 
     The following income statement and cash flow data for the six months ended
June 30, 1997, and the balance sheet data at June 30, 1997, have been derived
from the Company's unaudited financial statements included in the Company's
Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the six months ended June 30, 1997,
incorporated herein by reference. The following income statement and cash flow
data for the years 1994 through 1996 and the balance sheet data for 1995 and
1996 have been derived from the Company's audited financial statements included
in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1996, incorporated herein by reference. The income statement and cash flow data
for 1993 and 1992 and the balance sheet data for 1994, 1993, and 1992 set forth
below have been derived from audited financial statements of the Company
previously filed with the Commission but not incorporated by reference. The
acquisition of Transco Energy Company and its subsidiaries, including the
Company, by Williams was accounted for by using the purchase method of
accounting. Accordingly, the purchase price was "pushed down" and recorded in
the following selected data which affects the comparability of the
post-acquisition and pre-acquisition financial data. The selected financial data
should be read in conjunction with such financial statements, the notes thereto
and the related management's discussion and analysis of financial condition and
results of operations.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      POST-ACQUISITION                          PRE-ACQUISITION
                                          ----------------------------------------   --------------------------------------
                                                                         PERIOD        PERIOD
                                          SIX MONTHS                  JANUARY 18,    JANUARY 1,
                                            ENDED       YEAR ENDED      1995 TO        1995 TO     YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                           JUNE 30,    DECEMBER 31,   DECEMBER 31,   JANUARY 17,   ------------------------
                                             1997          1996           1995          1995        1994     1993     1992
                                          ----------   ------------   ------------   -----------   ------   ------   ------
                                                   (MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)                     (MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
<S>                                       <C>          <C>            <C>            <C>           <C>      <C>      <C>
Income Statement Data:
  Operating revenues....................     $695         $1,595         $1,405         $ 72       $1,591   $1,522   $1,257
  Operating income (loss)...............     $113         $  209         $  188         $ (5)      $  223   $  202   $  178
  Common stock equity in net income
     (loss).............................     $ 51         $   96         $   86         $(10)      $  105   $   86   $   65
  Net cash provided by (used in)
     operating activities...............     $ 86         $  201         $  303         $(32)      $  162   $  259   $    4
</TABLE>
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                               POST-ACQUISITION            PRE-ACQUISITION
                                          --------------------------   ------------------------
                                                      DECEMBER 31,           DECEMBER 31,
                                          JUNE 30,   ---------------   ------------------------
                                            1997      1996     1995     1994     1993     1992
                                          --------   ------   ------   ------   ------   ------
                                            (MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)       (MILLIONS OF DOLLARS)
<S>                                       <C>        <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>
Balance Sheet Data:
  Property, plant and
     equipment -- net...................   $3,425    $3,420   $3,285   $1,763   $1,743   $1,764
  Total assets..........................   $3,941    $4,060   $3,922   $2,271   $2,304   $2,302
  Long-term debt, less current
     maturities.........................   $  673    $  681   $  382   $  644   $  644   $  519
  Common stockholder's equity...........   $1,868    $1,819   $1,737   $  815   $  707   $  619
</TABLE>
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
     The Debt Securities will constitute senior debt of the Company and will be
issued under an indenture dated as of July 15, 1996 (the "Indenture"), between
the Company and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee (the "Trustee"). The form of the
Indenture is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus is a part. The following summaries of certain provisions of the
Indenture and the Debt Securities do not purport to be complete, and such
summaries are subject to the detailed provisions of the Indenture to which
reference is hereby made for a full description of such provisions, including
the definition of certain terms used herein, and for other information regarding
the Debt Securities. Numerical references in parentheses below are to sections
in the Indenture. Wherever particular sections or defined terms of the Indenture
are referred to, such sections or defined terms are incorporated herein by
reference as part of the statement made, and the statement is qualified in its
entirety by such reference. The Debt Securities offered by this Prospectus and
the accompanying Prospectus Supplement are referred to herein as "Offered Debt
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   6
 
Securities." The Indenture does not contain any covenants or provisions that
affords debt holders protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction.
 
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
 
     Certain terms defined in the Indenture are summarized as follows:
 
          "Attributable Debt" means, with respect to any sale and lease-back
     transaction as of any particular time, the present value discounted at a
     rate of interest implicit in the terms of the lease of the obligations of
     the lessee under such lease for net rental payments during the remaining
     term of the lease (including any period for which such lease has been
     extended or may, at the option of the Company, be extended).
 
          "Consolidated Funded Indebtedness" means the aggregate of all
     outstanding Funded Indebtedness of the Company and its consolidated
     Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
     generally accepted accounting principles.
 
          "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the total assets appearing on
     a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated
     Subsidiaries less, in general: (i) intangible assets; (ii) current and
     accrued liabilities (other than Consolidated Funded Indebtedness and
     capitalized rentals or leases), deferred credits, deferred gains and
     deferred income; and (iii) reserves.
 
          "Funded Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness that matures more than
     one year after the date as of which Funded Indebtedness is being determined
     less any such Indebtedness as will be retired through or by means of any
     deposit or payment required to be made within one year from such date under
     any prepayment provision, sinking fund, purchase fund or otherwise.
 
          "Holder" means, in general, a Person in whose name the Debt Securities
     are registered, or, if not registered, the bearer thereof.
 
          "Indebtedness" means indebtedness that is for money borrowed from
     others.
 
          "Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
     limited partnership, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock
     company, trust, unincorporated organization, or government or any agency or
     political subdivision thereof.
 
          "Principal Property" means any natural gas pipeline gathering
     property, or natural gas processing plant located in the United States,
     except any such property that in the opinion of the Board of Directors is
     not of material importance to the total business conducted by the Company
     and its consolidated Subsidiaries; provided that "Principal Property" shall
     not include (i) production and proceeds from production from gas processing
     plants or oil or natural gas or petroleum products in any pipeline or
     storage field and (ii) any property acquired or constructed by any
     Subsidiary of the Company after December 31, 1995.
 
          "Subsidiary" means any corporation at least a majority of the
     outstanding securities of which having ordinary voting power shall be owned
     by the Company and/or another Subsidiary or Subsidiaries.
 
GENERAL
 
     The Indenture does not limit the amount of Debt Securities, debentures,
notes, or other evidences of indebtedness that may be issued by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries. The Debt Securities will be unsecured senior
obligations of the Company and will rank pari passu with all existing and future
unsubordinated and unsecured obligations of the Company.
 
     The Indenture provides that Debt Securities may be issued from time to time
in one or more series and may be denominated and payable in foreign currencies
or units based on or relating to foreign currencies, including European Currency
Units. Special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to any
Debt Securities so denominated are described in the relevant Prospectus
Supplement.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   7
 
     Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement for the following terms of
and information relating to the Offered Debt Securities (to the extent such
terms are applicable to such Debt Securities): (i) the specific designation,
aggregate principal amount, purchase price, and denomination; (ii) currency or
units based on or relating to currencies in which such Debt Securities are
denominated and/or in which principal, premium, if any, and/or any interest will
or may be payable; (iii) any date of maturity; (iv) interest rate or rates (or
method by which such rate will be determined), if any; (v) the dates on which
any such interest will be payable; (vi) the place or places where the principal
of and interest, if any, on the Offered Debt Securities will be payable; (vii)
any redemption or sinking fund provisions; (viii) whether the Offered Debt
Securities will be issuable in registered or bearer form or both and, if Offered
Debt Securities in bearer form are issuable, restrictions applicable to the
exchange of one form for another and to the offer, sale, and delivery of Offered
Debt Securities in bearer form; (ix) any applicable United States federal income
tax consequences, including whether and under what circumstances the Company
will pay additional amounts on Offered Debt Securities held by a Person who is
not a U.S. Person (as defined in the Prospectus Supplement) in respect of any
tax, assessment, or governmental charge withheld or deducted, and if so, whether
the Company will have the option to redeem such Debt Securities rather than pay
such additional amounts; and (x) any other specific terms of the Offered Debt
Securities, including any additional events of default or covenants provided for
with respect to such Debt Securities, and any terms that may be required by or
advisable under United States laws or regulations.
 
     Debt Securities may be presented for exchange, and registered Debt
Securities may be presented for transfer in the manner, at the places, and
subject to the restrictions set forth in the Debt Securities and the Prospectus
Supplement. Such services will be provided without charge, other than any tax or
other governmental charge payable in connection therewith, but subject to the
limitations provided in the applicable Indenture. Debt Securities in bearer form
and the coupons, if any, appertaining thereto will be transferable by delivery.
 
     Debt Securities that bear interest will do so at a fixed rate or a floating
rate. Debt Securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time
of issuance is below the prevailing market rate will be sold at a discount below
their stated principal amount. Special United States federal income tax
considerations applicable to any such discounted Debt Securities or to certain
Debt Securities issued at par that are treated as having been issued at a
discount for United States federal income tax purposes will be described in the
relevant Prospectus Supplement.
 
REGISTERED GLOBAL SECURITIES
 
     The registered Debt Securities of a series may be issued in the form of one
or more fully registered global Securities (a "Registered Global Security") that
will be deposited with a depositary (the "Depositary") or with a nominee for a
Depositary identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. In
such case, one or more Registered Global Securities will be issued in a
denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the aggregate
principal amount of outstanding registered Debt Securities of the series to be
represented by such Registered Global Security or Securities. Unless and until
it is exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities in definitive registered
form, a Registered Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by
the Depositary for such Registered Global Security to a nominee of such
Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another
nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to a
successor of such Depositary or a nominee of such successor.
 
     The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any
portion of a series of Debt Securities to be represented by a Registered Global
Security will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series.
The Company anticipates that the following provisions will apply to all
depositary arrangements.
 
     Upon the issuance of a Registered Global Security, the Depositary for such
Registered Global Security will credit, on its book-entry registration and
transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the Debt Securities
represented by such Registered Global Security to the accounts of Persons that
have accounts with such Depositary ("participants"). The accounts to be credited
shall be designated by any underwriters or agents participating in the
distribution of such Debt Securities. Ownership of beneficial interests in a
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   8
 
Registered Global Security will be limited to participants or Persons that may
hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such
Registered Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership
will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary for such
Registered Global Security (with respect to interests of participants) or by
participants or Persons that hold through participants (with respect to
interests of Persons other than participants). So long as the Depositary for a
Registered Global Security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such
Registered Global Security, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be,
will be considered the sole owner or Holder of the Debt Securities represented
by such Registered Global Security for all purposes under the Indenture. Except
as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a Registered Global
Security will not be entitled to have the Debt Securities represented by such
Registered Global Security registered in their names, will not receive or be
entitled to receive physical delivery of such Debt Securities in definitive form
and will not be considered the owners or Holders thereof under the Indenture.
 
     Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on Debt Securities
represented by a Registered Global Security registered in the name of a
Depositary or its nominee will be made to such Depositary or its nominee, as the
case may be, as the registered owner of such Registered Global Security. None of
the Company, the Trustee or any paying agent for such Debt Securities will have
any responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such Registered
Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records
relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
     The Company expects that the Depositary for any Debt Securities represented
by a Registered Global Security, upon receipt of any payment of principal,
premium or interest, will immediately credit participants' accounts with
payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in
the principal amount of such Registered Global Security as shown on the records
of such Depositary. The Company also expects that payments by participants to
owners of beneficial interests in such Registered Global Security held through
such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary
practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of
customers registered in "street names" and will be the responsibility of such
participants.
 
     If the Depositary for any Debt Securities represented by a Registered
Global Security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary and
a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within ninety days, the
Company will issue such Debt Securities in definitive form in exchange for such
Registered Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time and in its
sole discretion determine not to have any of the Debt Securities of a series
represented by one or more Registered Global Securities and, in such event, will
issue Debt Securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for all of
the Registered Global Security or Securities representing such Debt Securities.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
 
     Limitation on Liens. The Indenture provides that, subject to certain
exceptions, the Company will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, issue,
assume, or guarantee any Indebtedness secured by a mortgage, pledge, lien,
security interest, or encumbrance ("mortgage"), upon any property of the Company
or any subsidiary without effectively providing that the Debt Securities issued
thereunder shall be equally and ratably secured with such Indebtedness. Among
the exceptions are purchase money mortgages; preexisting mortgages on any
property acquired or constructed by the Company or a Subsidiary and mortgages
created within one year after completion of such acquisition or construction;
mortgages created on any contract for the sale of products or services related
to the operation or use of any property acquired or constructed within one year
after completion of such acquisition or construction; mortgages on property of a
Subsidiary existing at the time it became a Subsidiary of the Company or
existing on property at the time acquired by the Company; and other mortgages in
an aggregate amount which, at the time of the incurrence, does not exceed 5
percent of the Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. (Section 3.6).
 
     Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back Transactions. The Indenture provides that
the Company will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, sell and lease back
for more than three years any Principal Property acquired
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   9
 
or placed into service more than 180 days before such lease arrangement, unless
the Company retires Funded Indebtedness or causes Funded Indebtedness to be
retired within 90 days of the effective date of such sale and lease-back
transaction equal to the net proceeds of such sale. This limitation does not
apply to sale and lease-back transactions (i) relating to industrial development
or pollution control financing or (ii) involving only the Company and any
Subsidiary or Subsidiaries, nor are such transactions included in any
computation of Attributable Debt. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company and
its Subsidiaries may enter into sale and lease-back transactions so long as the
total consolidated Attributable Debt in respect of such transactions does not
exceed 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets. (Section 3.7).
 
     Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance of Assets. The Indenture provides, in
general, that the Company will not consolidate with or merge into any other
entity or convey, transfer, or lease its properties and assets substantially as
an entirety to any Person, unless the corporation, limited liability company,
limited partnership, joint stock company, or trust formed by such consolidation
or into which the Company is merged or the Person that acquires such assets
shall expressly assume the Company's obligations under the Indenture and the
Debt Securities issued thereunder and 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. (Section 8.1)
 
     Event Risk. Except for the limitations on Liens and Sale and Leaseback
Transactions described above, the Indenture and Debt Securities do not contain
any covenants or other provisions designed to afford holders of the Debt
Securities protection in the event of a highly leveraged transaction involving
the Company.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     In general, an Event of Default is defined under the Indenture with respect
to Debt Securities of any series issued under the Indenture as being: (a)
default in payment of any principal of the Debt Securities of such series,
either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration, or otherwise; (b)
default for 30 days in payment of any interest on any Debt Securities of such
series unless otherwise provided; (c) default for 90 days after written notice
in the observance or performance of any covenant or warranty in the Debt
Securities of such series (other than a covenant a default in whose performance,
or whose breach, is dealt with otherwise below); provided, however, that the
occurrence of any of the events described in this clause (c) shall not
constitute an event of Default if such occurrence is the result of changes in
generally accepted accounting principles; or (d) certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency, or reorganization of the Company. (Section 4.1)
 
     In general, the Indenture provides that, (a) if an Event of Default
described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above (if the Event of Default under clause
(c) is with respect to less than all series of Debt Securities then outstanding)
occurs, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25 percent in principal
amount of the Debt Securities of each affected series (voting as one class)
issued under the Indenture and then outstanding may then declare the entire
principal of all Debt Securities of each such affected series and interest
accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately and (b) if an Event of Default
due to a default described in clause (c) above which is applicable to all series
of Debt Securities then outstanding or due to certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency, and reorganization of the Company shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25 percent in principal
amount of all Debt Securities issued under the Indenture and then outstanding
(treated as one class) may declare the entire principal of all such Debt
Securities and interest accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately, but
upon certain conditions such declarations may be annulled and past defaults may
be waived (except a continuing default in payment of principal of, premium, if
any, or interest on such Debt Securities) by the Holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of all such affected series
then outstanding (voting as one class). (Sections 4.1 and 4.10)
 
     The Indenture contains a provision entitling the Trustee, subject to the
duty of the Trustee during a default to act with the required standard of care,
to be indemnified by the Holders of Debt Securities (treated as one class)
issued under the Indenture before proceeding, at the request of such Holders, to
exercise any right or power under the Indenture. (Section 5.2) Subject to such
provisions in the Indenture for the indemnification of the Trustee and certain
other limitations, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   10
 
amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected (treated as
one class) issued under the Indenture may direct the time, method, and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising
any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. (Section 4.9)
 
     In general, the Indenture provides that no Holder of Debt Securities issued
under the Indenture may institute any action against the Company under the
Indenture (except actions for payment of principal or interest on or after the
due date provided) unless such Holder previously shall have given to the Trustee
written notice of default and continuance thereof and unless the Holders of not
less than 25 percent in principal amount of the Debt Securities of each affected
series (treated as one class) issued under the Indenture and then outstanding
shall have requested the Trustee to institute such action and shall have offered
the Trustee reasonable indemnity and the Trustee shall not have instituted such
action within 60 days of such request and the Trustee shall not have received
direction inconsistent with such written request by the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Debt Securities of each affected series (treated as one
class) issued under the Indenture and then outstanding. (Sections 4.6, 4.7 and
4.9)
 
     The Indenture contains a covenant that the Company will file annually with
the Trustee a certificate of no default or a certificate specifying any default
that exists. (Section 3.5)
 
DISCHARGE, DEFEASANCE, AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
 
     The Company can discharge or defease its obligations under the Indenture as
set forth below. (Section 9.1)
 
     Under terms satisfactory to the Trustee, the Company may discharge certain
obligations to Holders of any series of Debt Securities issued under the
Indenture which have not already been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
and which have either become due and payable or are by their terms due and
payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by
irrevocably depositing with the Trustee cash or, in the case of Debt Securities
payable only in U.S. dollars, U.S. Government Obligations (as defined in the
Indenture) as trust funds in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay at
maturity (or upon redemption) the principal of and interest on such Debt
Securities.
 
     The Company may also, upon satisfaction of the conditions listed below,
discharge certain obligations to Holders of any series of Debt Securities issued
under the Indenture at any time ("defeasance"). Under terms satisfactory to the
Trustee, the Company may instead be released with respect to any outstanding
series of Debt Securities issued under the Indenture from the obligations
imposed by Sections 3.6, 3.7, and 8.1, (which contain the covenants described
above limiting liens, sale and lease-back transactions, and consolidations,
mergers, and conveyances of assets), and omit to comply with such Sections
without creating an Event of Default ("covenant defeasance"). Defeasance or
covenant defeasance may be effected only if, among other things: (i) the Company
irrevocably deposits with the Trustee cash or, in the case of Debt Securities
payable only in U.S. dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, as trust funds in an
amount certified to be sufficient to pay at maturity (or upon redemption) the
principal of and interest on all outstanding Debt Securities of such series
issued under such Indenture; (ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee an opinion
of counsel to the effect that the Holders of such series of Debt Securities will
not recognize income, gain, or loss for United States federal income tax
purposes as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be
subject to United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same
manner, and at the same times as would have been the case if defeasance or
covenant defeasance had not occurred (in the case of a defeasance, such opinion
must be based on a ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in United
States federal income tax law occurring after the date of such Indenture, since
such a result would not occur under current tax law).
 
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURE
 
     The Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may enter into
supplemental indentures (which conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act of 1939")) without the consent
of the Holders to, in general: (a) secure any Debt Securities; (b) evidence the
assumption by a successor Person of the obligations of the Company; (c) add
further covenants for the
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   11
 
protection of the Holders; (d) cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency
in such Indenture, so long as such action will not adversely affect the
interests of the Holders; (e) establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of
any series; and (f) evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor
trustee. (Section 7.1)
 
     The Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of not less than the majority in
principal amount of Debt Securities of all series issued under such Indenture
then outstanding and affected (voting as one class) to, in general, add any
provisions to, or change in any manner or eliminate any of the provisions of,
the Indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debt
Securities of each series so affected; provided that such changes conform to
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and provided that the Company and
the Trustee may not, without the consent of each Holder of outstanding Debt
Securities affected thereby, (a) extend the final maturity of the principal of
any Debt Securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof or reduce the rate
or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable
on redemption thereof or change the currency in which the principal thereof
(including any amount in respect of original issue discount) or interest thereon
is payable, or reduce the amount of any original issue discount security payable
upon acceleration or provable in bankruptcy or alter certain provisions of the
Indenture relating to Debt Securities not denominated in U.S. dollars or for
which conversion to another currency is required to satisfy the judgment of any
court, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment
on any Debt Securities when due or (b) reduce the aforesaid percentage in
principal amount of Debt Securities of any series issued under such Indenture,
the consent of the Holders of which is required for any such modification.
(Section 7.2)
 
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
 
     The Trustee is one of a number of banks with which the Company and its
affiliates maintain ordinary banking relationships and with which the Company
and its affiliates maintain credit facilities. An affiliate of the Trustee has
also underwritten securities offerings for affiliates of the Company and may
underwrite future offerings for the Company and its affiliates. The Trustee also
serves as the trustee under the Company's Senior Indenture dated July 15, 1996.
 
               LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCE OF BEARER DEBT SECURITIES
 
     Except as may otherwise be provided in the Prospectus Supplement applicable
thereto, in compliance with United States federal income tax laws and
regulations, Bearer Debt Securities (including Bearer Debt Securities in global
form) will not be offered, sold, resold or delivered, directly or indirectly, in
the United States or its possessions or to United States persons (as defined
below), except as permitted by United States Treasury Regulations Section
1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D). Any underwriters, agents and dealers participating in the
offerings of Bearer Debt Securities, directly or indirectly, must agree that (i)
they will not, in connection with the original issuance of any bearer Debt
Securities or during the restricted period, as defined in United States Treasury
Regulations Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7) (the "restricted period"), offer,
sell, resell or deliver, directly or indirectly, any Bearer Debt Securities in
the United States or its possessions or to United States persons (other than as
permitted by the applicable Treasury Regulations described above). In addition,
any such underwriters, agents and dealers must have procedures reasonably
designed to ensure that its employees or agents who are directly engaged in
selling Bearer Debt Securities are aware of the above restrictions on the
offering, sale, resale or delivery of Bearer Debt Securities. Moreover, Bearer
Debt Securities (other than temporary global Debt Securities and Bearer Debt
Securities that satisfy the requirements of United States Treasury Regulations
Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(3)(iii)) and any coupons appertaining thereto will
not be delivered in definitive form nor will any interest be paid on any Bearer
Debt Securities, unless the Company has received a signed certificate in writing
(or an electronic certificate described in United States Treasury Regulations
Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(3)(iii)) stating that on such date such Bearer Debt
Security (i) is owned by a person that is not a United States person, (ii) is
owned by a United States person that (a) is a foreign branch of a United States
financial institution (as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section
1.165-12(c)(1)(v)) (a "financial institution") purchasing for its own account or
for resale, or (b) is acquiring such Bearer Debt Securities through a foreign
branch of a United States financial institution and who holds the Bearer Debt
Security through such financial institution through such date (and in either
case
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   12
 
(a) or (b), each such United States financial institution agrees, on its own
behalf or through its agent, that the Company may be advised that it will comply
with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B), or (C) of the United States
Internal Revenue Code, and the regulations thereunder) or (iii) is owned by a
United States or foreign financial institution for the purposes of resale during
the restricted period and such financial institution certifies that it has not
acquired the Bearer Debt Security for purposes of resale directly or indirectly
to a United States person or to a person within the United States or its
possessions.
 
     Bearer Securities (other than temporary global Debt Securities) and any
Coupons appertaining thereto will bear a legend substantially to the following
effect: "Any United States person who holds this obligation will be subject to
limitations under the United States federal income tax laws, including the
limitations provided in Sections 165(j) and 1287(a) of the United States
Internal Revenue Code." The sections referred to in such legend provide that a
United States person (other than a United States financial institution described
above or United States person holding through such a financial institution) who
holds a Bearer Security or coupon will not be allowed to deduct any loss
realized on the sale, exchange or redemption of such Bearer Security and will
not be eligible for capital gain treatment with respect to any gain recognized
on such sale, exchange or redemption.
 
     As used herein, "United States person" means any person who is, for United
States federal income tax purposes, a citizen, national, or resident of the
United States, a corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized
in or under the laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof,
or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to United States federal
income taxation regardless of its source.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     The Company may sell the Offered Debt Securities in the following ways: (i)
through agents; (ii) through underwriters; (iii) through dealers; and (iv)
directly to purchasers.
 
     Offers to purchase the Offered Debt Securities may be solicited by agents
designated by the Company from time to time. Any such agent, who may be deemed
to be an underwriter as that term is defined in the Securities Act, involved in
the offer or sale of the Offered Debt Securities in respect of which this
Prospectus is delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by the
Company to such agent set forth, in the Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise
indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best
efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
 
     If any underwriters are utilized in the sale, the Company will enter into
an underwriting agreement with such underwriters at the time of sale to them and
the names of the underwriters and the terms of the transaction will be set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement, which will be used by the underwriters to make
resales to the public of the Offered Debt Securities in respect of which this
Prospectus is delivered.
 
     If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the Offered Debt Securities in
respect of which this Prospectus is delivered, the Company will sell such
Offered Debt Securities to the dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell
such Offered Debt Securities to the public at varying prices to be determined by
such dealer at the time of resale.
 
     Agents, dealers, and underwriters may be entitled under agreements entered
into with the Company to indemnification by the Company against certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution
with respect to payments which such agents, dealers, or underwriters may be
required to make in respect thereof. Agents, dealers, and underwriters may be
customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for the Company
in the ordinary course of business.
 
     The Offered Debt Securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated
in the Prospectus Supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their
purchase, in accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms,
or otherwise, by one or more firms ("remarketing firms"), acting as principals
for their own accounts or as agents for the Company. Any remarketing firm will
be identified and the terms of its agreement, if any, with the Company and its
compensation will be described in the Prospectus Supplement. Remarketing firms
may be deemed to be underwriters in connection with the Offered Debt Securities
remarketed thereby.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   13
 
Remarketing firms may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into
with the Company to indemnification by the Company against certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be
customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for the Company in
the ordinary course of business.
 
     If so indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company will authorize
agents and underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain purchasers to
purchase the Offered Debt Securities from the Company at the public offering
price set forth in the Prospectus Supplement pursuant to delayed delivery
contracts providing for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future.
Such contracts will be subject to only those conditions set forth in the
Prospectus Supplement, and the Prospectus Supplement will set forth the
commission payable for solicitation of such offers.
 
     Each series of Offered Debt Securities will be a new issue of securities
and will have no established trading market. Such Offered Debt Securities may or
may not be listed on a national securities exchange. No assurance can be given
as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any Offered Debt
Securities.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The financial statements of the Company at December 31, 1996, and 1995, and
for the year ended December 31, 1996, and for the periods from January 1, 1995,
to January 17, 1995, and from January 18, 1995, to December 31, 1995, appearing
in the Company's Annual Report (Form 10-K) for the year ended December 31, 1996,
have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP, independent auditors, and the financial
statements of the Company for the year ended December 31, 1994, have been
audited by Arthur Andersen LLP, independent public accountants, as set forth in
their respective reports thereon included therein and incorporated herein by
reference. Such financial statements are incorporated herein by reference in
reliance upon such reports given upon the authority of such firms as experts in
accounting and auditing.
 
     The financial statements of the Company included in or incorporated by
reference in any documents filed pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of the
Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination of
the offering will be so included or incorporated by reference in reliance upon
the reports of independent auditors or public accountants pertaining to such
financial statements (to the extent covered by consents filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission) given upon the authority of such independent
auditors or public accountants as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     Certain legal matters in connection with the Debt Securities offered hereby
will be passed upon for the Company by William G. von Glahn, Senior Vice
President and General Counsel of Williams, and for the Underwriters by Davis
Polk & Wardwell, New York, New York. Mr. von Glahn beneficially owns
approximately 28,331 shares of Williams' Common Stock and also has exercisable
options to purchase an additional 29,260 shares of Williams' Common Stock.
Pursuant to its By-laws and an indemnity agreement, Williams is required to
indemnify Mr. von Glahn to the fullest extent permitted by Delaware law against
any expenses actually and reasonably incurred by him in connection with any
action, suit, or proceeding in which he is made party by reason of his being an
officer of the Williams. Williams also maintains directors' and officers'
liability insurance under which Mr. von Glahn is insured against certain
expenses and liabilities.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   14
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
     Set forth below is an estimate of the approximate amount of the fees and
expenses payable by the Company in connection with the offering described in
this Registration Statement:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              APPROXIMATE
                                                                AMOUNT
                                                              -----------
<S>                                                           <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.........   $151,516
Printing and engraving expenses.............................     50,000
Accounting fees and expenses................................     25,000
Blue Sky fees and expenses (including legal fees)...........     15,000
Legal fees and expenses.....................................     30,000
Trustees' fees and expenses (including legal fees)..........     12,000
Fees of rating agencies.....................................     50,000
Miscellaneous expenses......................................     16,484
                                                               --------
          TOTAL.............................................   $350,000
                                                               ========
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
 
     The Company, a Delaware corporation, is empowered by Section 145 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, subject to the procedures and
limitations stated therein, to indemnify any person against expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by them in connection with any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding in which such person is made party by
reason of their being or having been a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Company. The statute provides that indemnification pursuant to its
provisions is not exclusive of other rights of indemnification to which a person
may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors, or otherwise. The By-laws of the Company provide for
indemnification by the Company of its directors and officers to the fullest
extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. In
addition, Williams has entered into indemnity agreements with its directors and
certain officers providing for, among other things, the indemnification of and
the advancing of expenses to such individuals to the fullest extent permitted by
law, and to the extent insurance is maintained, for the continued coverage of
such individuals.
 
     Policies of insurance are maintained by Williams under which the directors
and officers of the Company are insured, within the limits and subject to the
limitations of the policies, against certain expenses in connection with the
defense of actions, suits or proceedings, and certain liabilities which might be
imposed as a result of such actions, suits or proceedings, to which they are
parties by reason of being or having been such directors or officers.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
     (a) Exhibits:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
        -------                                  -----------
<C>                      <S>
         *1.1            -- Form of Underwriting Agreement (filed as Exhibit 1.1 to
                            Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-27311, filed May
                            16, 1997).
         *1.2            -- Form of Distribution Agreement (filed as Exhibit 1.2 to
                            Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-27311, filed May
                            16, 1997).
          4.1            -- Form of Indenture
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   15
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                                  DESCRIPTION
- ------------------------  ------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<C>                       <S>
          *4.2            -- Form of Floating Rate Note (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Form S-3 Registration Statement No.
                             333-27311, filed May 16, 1997).
          *4.3            -- Form of Fixed Rate Note (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to Form S-3 Registration Statement No.
                             333-27311, filed May 16, 1997).
          *4.4            -- Form of Debenture (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to Form S-3 Registration Statement No.
                             333-27311, filed May 16, 1997).
          *4.5            -- Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company, as amended (filed as
                             Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K dated January 23, 1987, and Exhibit (10)-17 to Transco Energy
                             Company's 1993 Form 10-K).
          *4.6            -- Indenture dated June 1, 1983, between the Company and RepublicBank Houston National
                             Association, as Trustee and First through Sixth Supplements (filed as Exhibit (4)-5 to
                             the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1989).
          *4.7            -- Indenture dated September 15, 1992, between the Company and the Bank of New York, as
                             Trustee (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Form 8-K dated September 17, 1992).
          *4.8            -- U.S. $1,000,000,000 Second Amended and Restated Credit Agreement, dated as of July 23,
                             1997, among The Williams Companies, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries, and the
                             lenders named therein and Citibank, N.A., as agent (filed as Exhibit 4.16 to
                             Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated September 8, 1997, of The Williams Companies,
                             Inc.).
           5              -- Opinion and consent of counsel of The Williams Companies, Inc., relating to the
                             validity of the Debt Securities.
          12              -- Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
         *23.1            -- Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (filed as Exhibit 23.1 to Form S-3 Registration Statement
                             No. 333-27311, filed May 16, 1997).
         *23.2            -- Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (filed as Exhibit 23.2 to Form S-3 Registration
                             Statement No. 333-27311, filed May 16, 1997).
          23.3            -- Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5).
         *24.1            -- Power of Attorney (filed as Exhibit 24.1 to Form S-3 Registration Statement No.
                             333-27311, filed May 16, 1997).
         *24.2            -- Certified copy of resolutions authorizing signatures pursuant to power of attorney
                             (filed as Exhibit 24.2 to Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-27311, filed May 16,
                             1997).
          24.3            -- Power of Attorney.
          24.4            -- Certified copy of resolutions authorizing signatures pursuant to power of attorney.
          25              -- Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 for the Indenture.
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
* Such exhibit has heretofore been filed with the Securities and Exchange
  Commission as part of the filing indicated and is incorporated herein by
  reference.
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
     The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company's annual report
pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   16
 
     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
 
     (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
 
          (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
     Securities Act;
 
          (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
     the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
     post-effective amendment thereto) which, individually or in the aggregate,
     represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in the
     Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
     decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
     securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
     deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
     may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
     pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
     price represent no more than a 20 percent change in the maximum aggregate
     offering price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in
     the effective registration statement;
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   17
 
          (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan of
     distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement or any
     material change to such information in the Registration Statement.
 
     (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
 
     (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised
that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a claim for indemnification
against such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses
incurred or paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in
the successful defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against
the Company by such director, officer or controlling person in connection with
the securities being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its
counsel the matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court
of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   18
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized in the City of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma on the 8th day of
September, 1997.
 
                                            TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE
                                            (Registrant)
 
                                            By:   /s/ REBECCA H. HILBORNE
                                              ----------------------------------
                                                     Rebecca H. Hilborne
                                                       Attorney-in-Fact
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     SIGNATURE                                   TITLE                      DATE
                     ---------                                   -----                      ----
<C>                                                  <S>                              <C>
 
/s/ KEITH E. BAILEY*                                 Chairman of the Board
- ---------------------------------------------------
Keith E. Bailey
 
/s/ BRIAN E. O'NEILL*                                President & Chief Executive
- ---------------------------------------------------    Officer (principal
Brian E. O'Neill                                       executive officer) and
                                                       Director
 
/s/ NICK A. BACILE*                                  Vice President and Treasurer
- ---------------------------------------------------    (principal financial
Nick A. Bacile                                         officer and principal
                                                       accounting officer)
 
/s/ CUBA WADLINGTON, JR.*                            Director
- ---------------------------------------------------
Cuba Wadlington, Jr.
 
*By /s/ REBECCA H. HILBORNE
    -----------------------------------------------
    Rebecca H. Hilborne
    Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>
 
                                                            September 8, 1997
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   19
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
        -------                                  -----------
<C>                      <S>
         *1.1            -- Form of Underwriting Agreement (filed as Exhibit 1.1 to
                            Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-27311, filed May
                            16, 1997).
         *1.2            -- Form of Distribution Agreement (filed as Exhibit 1.2 to
                            Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-27311, filed May
                            16, 1997).
          4.1            -- Form of Indenture
         *4.2            -- Form of Floating Rate Note (filed as Exhibit 4.2 to Form
                            S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-27311, filed May 16,
                            1997).
         *4.3            -- Form of Fixed Rate Note (filed as Exhibit 4.3 to Form S-3
                            Registration Statement No. 333-27311, filed May 16,
                            1997).
         *4.4            -- Form of Debenture (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to Form S-3
                            Registration Statement No. 333-27311, filed May 16,
                            1997).
         *4.5            -- Second Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the
                            Company, as amended (filed as Exhibit 3.1 to Form 8-K
                            dated January 23, 1987, and Exhibit (10)-17 to Transco
                            Energy Company's 1993 Form 10-K).
         *4.6            -- Indenture dated June 1, 1983, between the Company and
                            RepublicBank Houston National Association, as Trustee and
                            First through Sixth Supplements (filed as Exhibit (4)-5
                            to the Company's Form 10-K for the year ended December
                            31, 1989).
         *4.7            -- Indenture dated September 15, 1992, between the Company
                            and the Bank of New York, as Trustee (filed as Exhibit
                            4.2 to Form 8-K dated September 17, 1992).
         *4.8            -- U.S. $1,000,000,000 Second Amended and Restated Credit
                            Agreement, dated as of July 23, 1997, among The Williams
                            Companies, Inc. and certain of its subsidiaries, and the
                            lenders named therein and Citibank, N.A., as agent (filed
                            as Exhibit 4.16 to Registration Statement on Form S-3
                            dated September 8, 1997, of The Williams Companies,
                            Inc.).
          5              -- Opinion and consent of counsel of The Williams Companies,
                            Inc., relating to the validity of the Debt Securities.
         12              -- Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges
        *23.1            -- Consent of Ernst & Young LLP (filed as Exhibit 23.1 to
                            Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-27311, filed May
                            16, 1997).
        *23.2            -- Consent of Arthur Andersen LLP (filed as Exhibit 23.2 to
                            Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-27311, filed May
                            16, 1997).
         23.3            -- Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5).
        *24.1            -- Power of Attorney (filed as Exhibit 24.1 to Form S-3
                            Registration Statement No. 333-27311, filed May 16,
                            1997).
        *24.2            -- Certified copy of resolutions authorizing signatures
                            pursuant to power of attorney (filed as Exhibit 24.2 to
                            Form S-3 Registration Statement No. 333-27311, filed May
                            16, 1997).
         24.3            -- Power of Attorney.
         24.4            -- Certified copy of resolutions authorizing signatures
                            pursuant to power of attorney.
         25              -- Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1
                            for the Indenture.
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
* Such exhibit has heretofore been filed with the Securities and Exchange
  Commission as part of the filing indicated and is incorporated herein by
  reference.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.1


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


                  TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORPORATION

                                     AND


                           CITIBANK, N.A., Trustee


                              Senior Indenture


                        Dated as of __________, 1997


                                 __________


          ========================================================
<PAGE>   2



                               TABLE OF CONTENTS


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

                                                       DEFINITIONS

         SECTION 1.1  Certain Terms Defined . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   1
                 Attributable Debt  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 Authenticating Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 Authorized Newspaper . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 Board of Directors . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 Board Resolution . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 Business Day . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   2
                 Commission . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 Consolidated Funded Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 Consolidated Net Tangible Assets . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   3
                 Corporate Trust Office . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 Coupon . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 covenant defeasance  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 Depositary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 Dollar . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 ECU  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 Event of Default . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 Funded Indebtedness  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   4
                 Holder, Holder of Securities, Securityholder . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Indebtedness . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Indenture  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Issuer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Issuer Order . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Judgment Currency  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Officers' Certificate  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 Opinion of Counsel . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   5
                 original issue date  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
                 Original Issue Discount Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
                 Outstanding  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   6
                 Periodic Offering  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
                 Person . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
                 principal  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
                 Principal Property . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
                 record date  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
                 Registered Global Security . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
</TABLE>





                                       i
<PAGE>   3
<TABLE>
         <S>              <C>                                                                                          <C>
                 Registered Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
                 Required Currency  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
                 Responsible Officer  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   7
                 Sale and Lease-Back Transaction  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
                 Security or Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
                 Subsidiary . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
                 Trust Indenture Act of 1939  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
                 Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
                 Unregistered Security  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
                 U.S. Government Obligations  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
                 Yield to Maturity  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8

                                                       ARTICLE TWO

                                                        SECURITIES

         SECTION 2.1      Forms Generally . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   8
         SECTION 2.2      Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .   9
         SECTION 2.3      Amount Unlimited; Issuable in Series  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  10
         SECTION 2.4      Authentication and Delivery of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  12
         SECTION 2.5      Execution of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
         SECTION 2.6      Certificate of Authentication . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  16
         SECTION 2.7      Denomination and Date of Securities; Payments of Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  17
         SECTION 2.8      Registration, Transfer and Exchange . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  18
         SECTION 2.9      Mutilated, Defaced, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen Securities . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  21
         SECTION 2.10     Cancellation of Securities; Disposition Thereof . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23
         SECTION 2.11     Temporary Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  23

                                                      ARTICLE THREE

                                                 COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER

         SECTION 3.1      Payment of Principal and Interest . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
         SECTION 3.2      Offices for Payments, etc.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  25
         SECTION 3.3      Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in Office of Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
         SECTION 3.4      Paying Agents . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  27
         SECTION 3.5      Written Statement to Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
         SECTION 3.6      Limitations upon Liens  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  28
         SECTION 3.7      Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  33
         SECTION 3.8      Luxembourg Publications . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
         SECTION 3.9      Securityholders Lists . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
         SECTION 3.10     Reports by the Issuer . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  34
         SECTION 3.11     Reports by the Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  35
</TABLE>





                                       ii
<PAGE>   4
                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                  REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
                              ON EVENT OF DEFAULT

<TABLE>
         <S>                                                                                                           <C>
         SECTION 4.1      Event of Default Defined; Acceleration of Maturity; Waiver of Default . . . . . . . . . . .  35
         SECTION 4.2      Collection of Indebtedness by Trustee; Trustee May Prove Debt . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  38
         SECTION 4.3      Application of Proceeds . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  41
         SECTION 4.4      Suits for Enforcement . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
         SECTION 4.5      Restoration of Rights on Abandonment of Proceedings . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  42
         SECTION 4.6      Limitations on Suits by Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
         SECTION 4.7      Unconditional Right of Securityholders to Institute Certain Suits . . . . . . . . . . . . .  43
         SECTION 4.8      Powers and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or Omission Not Waiver of Default . . . . . . . . . .  44
         SECTION 4.9      Control by Holders of Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  44
         SECTION 4.10     Waiver of Past Defaults . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  45
         SECTION 4.11     Trustee to Give Notice of Default, But May Withhold in Certain Circumstances  . . . . . . .  45
         SECTION 4.12     Right of Court to Require Filing of Undertaking to Pay Costs  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  46

                                                       ARTICLE FIVE

                                                  CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

         SECTION 5.1      Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee; During Default; Prior to Default  . . . . . . .  46
         SECTION 5.2      Certain Rights of the Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  48
         SECTION 5.3      Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Disposition of Securities or Application of
                          Proceeds Thereof  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  49
         SECTION 5.4      Trustee and Agents May Hold Securities or Coupons; Collections, etc.  . . . . . . . . . . .  49
         SECTION 5.5      Moneys Held by Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
         SECTION 5.6      Compensation and Indemnification of Trustee and Its Prior Claim . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
         SECTION 5.7      Right of Trustee to Rely on Officers' Certificate, etc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  50
         SECTION 5.8      Persons Eligible for Appointment as Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
         SECTION 5.9      Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  51
         SECTION 5.10     Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  53
         SECTION 5.11     Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or
</TABLE>





                                      iii
<PAGE>   5
<TABLE>
         <S>              <C>                                                                                          <C>
                          Succession to Business of Trustee . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  54
         SECTION 5.12     Appointment of Authenticating Agent . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  55

                                                       ARTICLE SIX

                                              CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

         SECTION 6.1      Evidence of Action Taken by Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  56
         SECTION 6.2      Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding of Securities  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  57
         SECTION 6.3      Holders to be Treated as Owners . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
         SECTION 6.4      Securities Owned by Issuer Deemed Not Outstanding . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  58
         SECTION 6.5      Right of Revocation of Action Taken . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  59

                                                      ARTICLE SEVEN

                                                 SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES

         SECTION 7.1      Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of Securityholders  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  60
         SECTION 7.2      Supplemental Indentures With Consent of Securityholders . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  61
         SECTION 7.3      Effect of Supplemental Indenture  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
         SECTION 7.4      Documents to Be Given to Trustee  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63
         SECTION 7.5      Notation on Securities in Respect of Supplemental Indentures  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  63

                                                      ARTICLE EIGHT

                                        CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

         SECTION 8.1      Issuer May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain Terms . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  64
         SECTION 8.2      Successor Corporation Substituted . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65

                                                       ARTICLE NINE

                                         SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE;
                                                     UNCLAIMED MONEYS

         SECTION 9.1      Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  65
         SECTION 9.2      Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for Payment of Securities . . . . . . . . . . . .  71
         SECTION 9.3      Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  71
         SECTION 9.4      Return of Moneys Held by Trustee and Paying Agent Unclaimed for Two Years . . . . . . . . .  71
         SECTION 9.5      Indemnity for U.S. Government
</TABLE>





                                       iv
<PAGE>   6
<TABLE>
         <S>              <C>                                                                                          <C>
                          Obligations . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  72
         SECTION 9.6      Excess Funds  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  72

                                                       ARTICLE TEN

                                                 MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS

         SECTION 10.1     Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and Directors of Issuer Exempt from Individual
                          Liability . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  72
         SECTION 10.2     Provisions of Indenture for the Sole Benefit of Parties and Holders of Securities and
                          Coupons . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  72
         SECTION 10.3     Successors and Assigns of Issuer Bound by Indenture . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  73
         SECTION 10.4     Notices and Demands on Issuer, Trustee and Holders of Securities and Coupons  . . . . . . .  73
         SECTION 10.5     Officers' Certificates and Opinions of Counsel; Statements to Be Contained Therein  . . . .  74
         SECTION 10.6     Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
         SECTION 10.7     Conflict of Any Provision of Indenture with Trust Indenture Act of 1939 . . . . . . . . . .  75
         SECTION 10.8     New York Law to Govern  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
         SECTION 10.9     Counterparts  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  75
         SECTION 10.10    Effect of Headings  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  76
         SECTION 10.11    Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  76
         SECTION 10.12    Judgment Currency . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  77

                                                      ARTICLE ELEVEN

                                        REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS

         SECTION 11.1     Applicability of Article  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  78
         SECTION 11.2     Notice of Redemption; Partial Redemptions . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  78
         SECTION 11.3     Payment of Securities Called for Redemption . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  80
         SECTION 11.4     Exclusion of Certain Securities from Eligibility for Selection for Redemption . . . . . . .  81
         SECTION 11.5     Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .  81
</TABLE>





                                       v
<PAGE>   7
                 THIS INDENTURE, dated as of __________, 1997 between
TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPELINE CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the
"Issuer"), and  CITIBANK, N.A., as trustee (the "Trustee"),

                             W I T N E S S E T H :

                 WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the issue from time to
time of its unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness to
be issued in one or more series (the "Securities") up to such principal amount
or amounts as may from time to time be authorized in accordance with the terms
of this Indenture;

                 WHEREAS, the Issuer has duly authorized the execution and
delivery of this Indenture to provide, among other things, for the
authentication, delivery and administration of the Securities; and

                 WHEREAS, all things necessary to make this Indenture a valid
indenture and agreement according to its terms have been done;

                 NOW, THEREFORE:

                 In consideration of the premises and the purchases of the
Securities by the holders thereof, the Issuer and the Trustee mutually covenant
and agree for the equal and proportionate benefit of the respective holders
from time to time of the Securities and of the Coupons, if any, appertaining
thereto as follows:

                                  ARTICLE ONE


                                  DEFINITIONS

                 SECTION 1.1  Certain Terms Defined.  The following terms
(except as otherwise expressly provided or unless the context otherwise clearly
requires) for all purposes of this Indenture and of any indenture supplemental
hereto shall have the respective meanings specified in this Article.  All other
terms used in this Indenture that are defined in the Trust Indenture Act of
1939 or the definitions of which in the Securities Act of 1933 are referred to
in the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, including terms defined therein by
reference to the Securities Act of 1933 (except as herein otherwise expressly
provided or unless the context otherwise requires), shall have the meanings
assigned to such terms in said Trust Indenture Act and in said Securities Act
as in force at the


                                      1
<PAGE>   8
date of this Indenture.  All accounting terms used herein and not expressly
defined shall have the meanings assigned to such terms in accordance with
generally accepted accounting principles, and the term "generally accepted
accounting principles" means such accounting principles as are generally
accepted at the time of any computation.  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.  The
terms defined in this Article have the meanings assigned to them in this
Article and include the plural as well as the singular.

                 "Attributable Debt" shall have the meaning set forth in 
Section 3.7.

                 "Authenticating Agent" shall have the meaning set forth in 
Section 5.12.

                 "Authorized Newspaper" means a newspaper (which, in the case of
The City of New York, will, if practicable, be The Wall Street Journal (Eastern
Edition), in the case of the United Kingdom, will, if practicable, be the
Financial Times (London Edition) and, in the case of Luxembourg, will, if
practicable, be the Luxemburger Wort) published in an official language of the
country of publication and customarily published at least once a day for at
least five days in each calendar week and of general circulation in The City of
New York, the United Kingdom or in Luxembourg, as applicable.  If it shall be
impractical in the opinion of the Trustee to make any publication of any notice
required hereby in an Authorized Newspaper, any publication or other notice in
lieu thereof which is made or given with the approval of the Trustee shall
constitute a sufficient publication of such notice.

                 "Board of Directors" means either the Board of Directors of
the Issuer or any committee of such Board duly authorized to act on its behalf.

                 "Board Resolution" means a copy of one or more resolutions,
certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer to have been
duly adopted or consented to by the Board of Directors and to be in full force
and effect, and delivered to the Trustee.

                 "Business Day" means, with respect to any Security, a day that
in the city (or in any of the cities, if more than one) in which amounts are
payable, as specified in the form of such Security, is not a day on which
banking institutions are authorized or required by law or regulation to close.





                                       2
<PAGE>   9
                 "Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission, as
from time to time constituted, created under the Securities Exchange Act of
1934, as amended, or if at any time after the execution and delivery of this
Indenture such Commission is not existing and performing the duties now assigned
to it under the Trust Indenture Act, then the body performing such duties on
such date.

                 "Consolidated Funded Indebtedness" means the aggregate of all
outstanding Funded Indebtedness of the Issuer and its consolidated
Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with generally
accepted accounting principles.

                 "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the total assets
appearing on a consolidated balance sheet of the Issuer and its consolidated
Subsidiaries, less:

                 (1)  intangible assets, unamortized debt discount and expense
         and stock expense and other deferred debits;

                 (2)  all current and accrued liabilities (other than
         Consolidated Funded Indebtedness and capitalized rentals or leases);
         deferred credits (other than deferred investment tax credits),
         deferred gains and deferred income and billings recorded as revenues
         deferred pending the outcome of a rate proceeding (less applicable
         income taxes) to the extent refunds thereof shall not have been
         finally determined; and

                 (3)  all reserves (other than for deferred federal income
         taxes arising from timing differences) not already deducted from
         assets.


                                       3
<PAGE>   10
                 "Corporate Trust Office" means the office of the Trustee at
which the corporate trust business of the Trustee shall, at any particular
time, be principally administered, which office is, at the date as of which
this Indenture is dated, located in the City of New York, New York.

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

                 "covenant defeasance" shall have the meaning set forth in 
Section 9.1(C).

                 "Depositary" means, with respect to the Securities of any
series issuable or issued in the form of one or more Registered Global
Securities, the Person designated as Depositary by the Issuer pursuant to
Section 2.3 until a successor Depositary shall have become such pursuant to the
applicable provisions of this Indenture, and thereafter "Depositary" shall mean
or include each Person who is then a Depositary hereunder, and if at any time
there is more than one such Person, "Depositary" as used with respect to the
Securities of any such series shall mean the Depositary with respect to the
Registered Global Securities of that series.

                 "Dollar" means the coin or currency of the United States of
America as at the time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and
private debts.

                 "ECU" means the European Currency Unit as defined and revised
from time to time by the Council of European Communities.

                 "Event of Default" means any event or condition specified as 
such in Section 4.1.

                 "Foreign Currency" means a currency issued by the government
of a country other than the United States.

                 "Funded Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness which matures
more than one year after the date as of which Funded Indebtedness is being
determined less any such Indebtedness as will be retired through or by means of
any deposit or payment required to be made within one year from such date under
any prepayment provision, sinking fund, purchase fund or otherwise.


                                       4
<PAGE>   11
                 "Holder", "Holder of Securities", "Securityholder" or other
similar terms mean (a) in the case of any Registered Security, the Person in
whose name such Security is registered in the security register kept by the
Issuer for that purpose in accordance with the terms hereof, and (b) in the
case of any Unregistered Security, the bearer of such Security, or any Coupon
appertaining thereto, as the case may be.

                 "Indebtedness" means indebtedness which is for money borrowed
from others.

                 "Indenture" means this instrument as originally executed and
delivered or, if amended or supplemented as herein provided, as so amended or
supplemented or both, and shall include the forms and terms of particular
series of Securities established as contemplated hereunder.

                 "Interest" means, when used with respect to non-interest
bearing Securities, interest payable after maturity.

                 "Issuer" means Texas Gas Transmission Corporation, a Delaware
corporation and, subject to Article Eight, its successors and assigns.

                 "Issuer Order" means a written statement, request or order of
the Issuer signed in its name by the Chairman of the Board, the President, a
Vice President, a Secretary or a Treasurer of the Issuer.

                 "Judgment Currency" shall have the meaning set forth in 
Section 10.12.

                 "Market Exchange Rate" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 10.11.

                 "New York Banking Day" shall have the meaning set forth in
Section 10.12.

                 "Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by the
Chairman of the Board, the President or a Vice President, and by the
Controller, Treasurer, an Assistant Treasurer, the Secretary or an Assistant
Secretary of the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee.  Each such certificate
shall comply with Section 314 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and include
the statements provided for in Section 10.5, if applicable.

                 "Opinion of Counsel" means an opinion in writing signed by
legal counsel who may be an employee of or counsel to the Issuer and who shall
be satisfactory to the Trustee.  Each such opinion shall comply with Section
314 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and include the statements provided for
in Section 10.5, if applicable.


                                       5
<PAGE>   12
                 "Original issue date" of any Security (or portion thereof)
means the earlier of (a) the date of such Security or (b) the date of any
Security (or portion thereof) for which such Security was issued (directly or
indirectly) on registration of transfer, exchange or substitution.

                 "Original Issue Discount Security" means any Security that
provides for an amount less than the principal amount thereof to be due and
payable upon a declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to
Section 4.1.

                 "Outstanding" when used with reference to Securities, shall,
subject to the provisions of Section 6.4, mean, as of any particular time, all
Securities authenticated and delivered by the Trustee under this Indenture,
except

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

                 (b)  Securities, or portions thereof, for the payment or
         redemption of which moneys or U.S. Government Obligations (as provided
         for in Section 9.1) in the necessary amount shall have been deposited
         in trust with the Trustee or with any paying agent (other than the
         Issuer) or shall have been set aside, segregated and held in trust by
         the Issuer for the Holders of such Securities (if the Issuer shall act
         as its own paying agent), provided that if such Securities, or
         portions thereof, are to be redeemed prior to the maturity thereof,
         notice of such redemption shall have been given as herein provided, or
         provision satisfactory to the Trustee shall have been made for giving
         such notice; and

                 (c)  Securities which shall have been paid or in substitution
         for which other Securities shall have been authenticated and delivered
         pursuant to the terms of Section 2.9 (except with respect to any such
         Security as to which proof satisfactory to the Trustee is presented
         that such Security is held by a Person in whose hands such Security is
         a legal, valid and binding obligation of the Issuer).

                 In determining whether the Holders of the requisite principal
amount of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have given any request,
demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver hereunder, the
principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that shall be deemed to
be Outstanding for such purposes shall be the amount of the principal thereof
that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon a
declaration of acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 4.1.





                                       6
<PAGE>   13
                 "Periodic Offering" means an offering of Securities of a
series from time to time, the specific terms of which Securities, including,
without limitation, the rate or rates of interest, if any, thereon, the stated
maturity or maturities thereof and the redemption provisions, if any, with
respect thereto, are to be determined by the Issuer or its agents upon the
issuance of such Securities.

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

                 "principal" whenever used with reference to the Securities or
any Security or any portion thereof, shall be deemed to include "and premium,
if any".

                 "Principal Property" shall have the meaning set forth in 
Section 3.7.

                 "record date" shall have the meaning set forth in Section 2.7.

                 "Registered Global Security", means a Security evidencing all
or a part of a series of Registered Securities, issued to the Depositary for
such series in accordance with Section 2.4, and bearing the legend prescribed
in Section 2.4.

                 "Registered Security" means any Security registered on the
Security register of the Issuer.

                 "Required Currency" shall have the meaning set forth in 
Section 10.12.

                 "Responsible Officer" when used with respect to the Trustee
means the chairman of the board of directors, any vice chairman of the board of
directors, the chairman of the trust committee, the chairman of the executive
committee, any vice chairman of the executive committee, the president, any
vice president, (whether or not designated by numbers or words added before or
after the title "vice president") the cashier, the secretary, the treasurer,
any trust officer, any senior trust officer, any assistant trust officer, any
assistant vice president, any assistant cashier, any assistant secretary, any
assistant treasurer, or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee
customarily performing functions similar to those performed by the persons who
at the time shall be such officers, respectively, or to whom any corporate
trust matter is referred because of his knowledge of and familiarity with the
particular subject.





                                       7
<PAGE>   14
                 "Sale and Lease-Back Transaction" shall have the meaning set 
forth in Section 3.7.

                 "Security" or "Securities" has the meaning stated in the first
recital of this Indenture, or, as the case may be, Securities that have been
authenticated and delivered under this Indenture.

                 "Subsidiary" means any corporation at least a majority of the
outstanding securities of which having ordinary voting power shall be owned by
the Issuer and/or another Subsidiary or Subsidiaries.

                 "Trustee" means the Person identified as "Trustee" in the
first paragraph hereof and, subject to the provisions of Article Five, shall
also include any successor trustee.  "Trustee" shall also 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 the Securities of such series.

                 "Trust Indenture Act of 1939" (except as otherwise provided in
Sections 7.1 and 7.2) means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended by the
Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990, as in force at the date as of which this
Indenture was originally executed.

                 "Unregistered Security" means any Security other than a 
Registered Security.

                 "U.S. Government Obligations" shall have the meaning set 
forth in Section 9.1(A).

                 "Yield to Maturity" means the yield to maturity on a series of
Securities, calculated at the time of issuance of such series, or, if
applicable, at the most recent redetermination of interest on such series, and
calculated in accordance with accepted financial practice.


                                  ARTICLE TWO


                                   SECURITIES


                 SECTION 2.1  Forms Generally.  The Securities of each series
and the Coupons, if any, to be attached thereto shall be substantially in such
form (not inconsistent with this Indenture) as shall be established by or
pursuant to one or more Board Resolutions (as set forth in a Board Resolution
or, to the extent





                                       8
<PAGE>   15
established pursuant to rather than set forth in a Board Resolution, an
Officers' Certificate detailing such establishment) or in one or more
indentures supplemental hereto, in each case with such appropriate insertions,
omissions, substitutions and other variations as are required or permitted by
this Indenture and may have imprinted or otherwise reproduced thereon such
legend or legends or endorsements, not inconsistent with the provisions of this
Indenture, as may be required to comply with any law or with any rules or
regulations pursuant thereto, or with any rules of any securities exchange or
to conform to general usage, all as may be determined by the officers executing
such Securities and Coupons, if any, as evidenced by their execution of such
Securities and Coupons if any.

                 The definitive Securities and Coupons, if any, 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 and Coupons, if any, as evidenced by their execution of such
Securities and Coupons, if any.

                 SECTION 2.2  Form of Trustee's Certificate of Authentication.
The Trustee's certificate of authentication on all Securities shall be in
substantially the following form:


                 "This is one of the Securities of the Series designated herein
and referred to in the within-mentioned Senior Indenture.


                                                                 
                                        _______________________, 
                                        as Trustee               
                                                                 
                                                                 
                                        By _____________________ 
                                           Authorized Signatory"   


                 If at any time there shall be an Authenticating Agent
appointed with respect to any series of Securities, then the Securities of such
series may have endorsed thereon, in addition to or in lieu of the Trustee's
certificate of authentication to be borne by the Securities of each such
series, an alternative Certificate of Authentication substantially as follows:

                 "This is one of the Securities of the Series designated herein
and referred to in the within-mentioned Senior Indenture.


                                       9
<PAGE>   16
                                                                 
                                        _______________________, 
                                        as Trustee               
                                        
                                        By ____________________,
                                           as Authenticating Agent
                                                                 
                                        By _____________________ 
                                           Authorized Officer"   

                 SECTION 2.3  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, and each
such series shall rank equally and pari passu with all other unsecured and
unsubordinated debt of the Issuer.  There shall be established in or pursuant
to one or more Board Resolutions (and, to the extent established pursuant to
rather than set forth in a Board Resolution, in an Officers' Certificate
detailing such establishment) or established in one or more indentures
supplemental hereto, prior to the initial issuance of Securities of any series,

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

                 (2)  any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the
         Securities of the series that may be authenticated and delivered under
         this Indenture (except for Securities authenticated and delivered upon
         registration of transfer of, or in exchange for, or in lieu of, other
         Securities of the series pursuant to Section 2.8, 2.9, 2.11, 7.5 or
         11.3);

                 (3)  if other than Dollars, the coin or currency in which the
         Securities of that series are denominated (including, but not limited
         to, any Foreign Currency or ECU);

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

                 (5)  the rate or rates at which the Securities of the series
         shall bear interest, if any, the date or dates from which such
         interest shall accrue, on which such interest shall be payable and (in
         the case of Registered Securities) on which a record shall be taken
         for the determination of Holders to whom interest is payable and/or
         the method by which such rate or rates or date or dates shall be
         determined;

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


                                       10
<PAGE>   17
         other than as provided in Section 3.2);

                 (7)  the right, if any, of the Issuer to redeem Securities, in
         whole or in part, at its option and the period or periods within
         which, the price or prices at which and any terms and conditions upon
         which Securities of the series may be so redeemed, pursuant to any
         sinking fund or otherwise;

                 (8)  the obligation, if any, of the Issuer to redeem,
         repurchase or repay Securities of the series pursuant to any mandatory
         redemption, sinking fund or analogous provisions or at the option of a
         Holder thereof and the price or prices at which and the period or
         periods within which and any terms and conditions upon which
         Securities of the series shall be redeemed, repurchased or repaid, in
         whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;

                 (9)  if other than denominations of $1,000 and any integral
         multiple thereof in the case of Registered Securities, or $1,000 and
         $5,000 in the case of Unregistered Securities, the denominations in
         which Securities of the series shall be issuable;

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

                 (11)  if other than the coin or currency in which the
         Securities of that series are denominated, the coin or currency in
         which payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of
         such series shall be payable;

                 (12)  if the principal of or interest on the Securities of such
         series are to be payable, at the election of the Issuer or a Holder
         thereof, in a coin or currency other than that in which the Securities
         are denominated, the period or periods within which, the terms and
         conditions upon which, such election may be made and the amount so
         payable (or the manner in which such amount shall be determined);

                 (13)  if the amount of payments of principal of or interest
         on the Securities of the series may be determined with reference to an
         index based on a coin or currency other than that in which the
         Securities of the series are denominated, the manner in which such
         amounts shall be determined;

                 (14)  whether the Securities of the series will be issuable as
         Registered Securities (and if so, whether such Securities will be
         issuable as Registered Global Securities)





                                       11
<PAGE>   18
         or Unregistered Securities (with or without Coupons), or any
         combination of the foregoing, any restrictions applicable to the
         offer, sale or delivery of Unregistered Securities or the payment of
         interest thereon and, if other than as provided in Section 2.8, the
         terms upon which Unregistered Securities of any series may be
         exchanged for Registered Securities of such series and vice versa;

                 (15)  whether and under what circumstances the Issuer will pay
         additional amounts on the Securities of the series held by a Person
         who is not a U.S. Person in respect of any tax, assessment or
         governmental charge withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the
         Issuer will have the option to redeem such Securities rather than pay
         such additional amounts;

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

                 (17)  any trustees, depositaries, authenticating or paying
         agents, transfer agents or registrars or any other agents with respect
         to the Securities of such series;

                 (18)  any other Events of Default or covenants with respect to
         the Securities of such series; and

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

                 All Securities of any one series and Coupons, if any,
appertaining thereto, shall be substantially identical, except in the case of
Registered Securities as to denomination and except as may otherwise be
provided by or pursuant to the Board Resolution or Officers' Certificate
referred to above or as set forth in any such indenture supplemental hereto.
All Securities of any one series need not be issued at the same time and may be
issued from time to time, consistent with the terms of this Indenture, if so
provided by or pursuant to such Board Resolution, such Officers' Certificate or
in any such indenture supplemental hereto.

                 SECTION 2.4  Authentication and Delivery of Securities.  The
Issuer may deliver Securities of any series having attached thereto appropriate
Coupons, if any, executed by the Issuer to the Trustee for authentication
together with the applicable documents referred to below in this Section, and
the Trustee shall thereupon authenticate and deliver such Securities to or upon
the order of the Issuer (contained in the Issuer Order referred to below in
this





                                       12
<PAGE>   19
Section) or pursuant to such procedures acceptable to the Trustee and to such
recipients as may be specified from time to time by an Issuer Order.  The
maturity date, original issue date, interest rate and any other terms of the
Securities of such series and Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto shall be
specified in or pursuant to such Issuer Order or procedures.  If provided for
in such procedures, such Issuer Order may authorize authentication and delivery
pursuant to oral instructions from the Issuer or its duly authorized agent,
which instructions shall be promptly confirmed in writing.  In authenticating
such Securities and accepting the additional responsibilities under this
Indenture in relation to such Securities, the Trustee shall be entitled to
receive (in the case of subparagraphs 2, 3 and 4 below only at or before the
time of the first request of the Issuer to the Trustee to authenticate
Securities of such series) and (subject to Section 5.1) shall be fully
protected in relying upon, unless and until such documents have been superceded
or revoked:

                 (1)  an Issuer Order requesting such authentication and
         setting forth delivery instructions if the Securities and Coupons, if
         any, are not to be delivered to the Issuer, provided that, with
         respect to Securities of a series subject to a Periodic Offering, (a)
         such Issuer Order may be delivered by the Issuer to the Trustee prior
         to the delivery to the Trustee of such Securities for authentication
         and delivery, (b) the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver
         Securities of such series for original issue from time to time, in an
         aggregate principal amount not exceeding the aggregate principal
         amount established for such series, pursuant to an Issuer Order or
         pursuant to procedures acceptable to the Trustee as may be specified
         from time to time by an Issuer Order, (c) the maturity date or dates,
         original issue date or dates, interest rate or rates and any other
         terms of Securities of such series shall be determined by an Issuer
         Order or pursuant to such procedures and (d) if provided for in such
         procedures, such Issuer Order may authorize authentication and
         delivery pursuant to oral or electronic instructions from the Issuer
         or its duly authorized agent or agents, which oral instructions shall
         be promptly confirmed in writing;

                 (2)  any Board Resolution, Officers' Certificate and/or
         executed supplemental indenture referred to in Sections 2.1 and 2.3 by
         or pursuant to which the forms and terms of the Securities and
         Coupons, if any, were established;

                 (3)  an Officers' Certificate setting forth the form or forms
         and terms of the Securities and Coupons, if any, stating that the form
         or forms and terms of the Securities and Coupons, if any, have been
         established pursuant to Sections





                                       13
<PAGE>   20
         2.1 and 2.3 and comply with this Indenture, and covering such other
         matters as the Trustee may reasonably request; and

                 (4)  at the option of the Issuer, either an Opinion of
         Counsel, or a letter addressed to the Trustee permitting to it to rely
         on an Opinion of Counsel, substantially to the effect that:

                          (a)  the forms of the Securities and Coupons, if any,
                 have been duly authorized and established in conformity with
                 the provisions of this Indenture;

                          (b)  in the case of an underwritten offering, the
                 terms of the Securities have been duly authorized and
                 established in conformity with the provisions of this
                 Indenture, and, in the case of an offering that is not
                 underwritten, certain terms of the Securities have been
                 established pursuant to a Board Resolution, an Officers'
                 Certificate or a supplemental indenture in accordance with
                 this Indenture, and when such other terms as are to be
                 established pursuant to procedures set forth in an Issuer
                 Order shall have been established, all such terms will have
                 been duly authorized by the Issuer and will have been
                 established in conformity with the provisions of this
                 Indenture;

                          (c)  when the Securities and Coupons, if any, have
                 been executed by the Issuer and authenticated by the Trustee
                 in accordance with the provisions of this Indenture and
                 delivered to and duly paid for by the purchasers thereof, they
                 will have been duly issued under this Indenture and will be
                 valid and legally binding obligations of the Issuer,
                 enforceable in accordance with their respective terms, and
                 will be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture; and

                          (d)  the execution and delivery by the Issuer of, and
                 the performance by the Issuer of its obligations under, the
                 Securities and Coupons, if any, will not contravene any
                 provision of applicable law or the certificate of
                 incorporation or by-laws of the Issuer or any agreement or
                 other instrument binding upon the Issuer or any of its
                 Subsidiaries that is material to the Issuer and its
                 Subsidiaries, considered as one enterprise, or, to the best of
                 such counsel's knowledge, any judgment, order or decree of any
                 governmental body, agency or court having jurisdiction over
                 the Issuer or any Subsidiary, and no consent, approval or
                 authorization of any governmental body or agency is required
                 for the performance by the Issuer of its obligations under the





                                       14
<PAGE>   21
                 Securities and Coupons, if any, except such as are specified
                 and have been obtained and such as may be required by the
                 securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states in
                 connection with the offer and sale of the Securities.

                 In rendering such opinions, such counsel may qualify any
opinions as to enforceability by stating that such enforceability may be
limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, moratorium and
other similar laws affecting the rights and remedies of creditors and is
subject to general principles of equity (regardless of whether such
enforceability is considered in a proceeding in equity or at law).  Such
counsel may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other
than the State of New York and the federal law of the United States, upon
opinions of other counsel (copies of which shall be delivered to the Trustee),
in which case the opinion shall state that such counsel believes he and the
Trustee are entitled so to rely.  Such counsel may also state that, insofar as
such opinion involves factual matters, he has relied, to the extent he deems
proper, upon certificates of officers of the Issuer and its subsidiaries and
certificates of public officials.

                 The Trustee shall have the right to decline to authenticate
and deliver any Securities under this Section if the Trustee, being advised by
counsel, determines that such action may not lawfully be taken by the Issuer or
if the Trustee in good faith by its board of directors or board of trustees,
executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees or
Responsible Officers shall determine that such action would expose the Trustee
to personal liability to existing Holders or would affect the Trustee's own
rights, duties or immunities under the Securities, this Indenture or otherwise.

                 If the Issuer shall establish pursuant to Section 2.3 that the
Securities of a series are to be issued in the form of one or more Registered
Global Securities, then the Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall, in
accordance with this Section and the Issuer Order with respect to such series,
authenticate and deliver one or more Registered Global Securities that (i)
shall represent and shall be denominated in an amount equal to all or part of
the aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series issued and not
yet cancelled, (ii) shall be registered in the name of the Depositary for such
Registered Global Security or Securities or the nominee of such Depositary,
(iii) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depositary or pursuant to such
Depositary's instructions and (iv) shall bear a legend substantially to the
following effect:  "Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for
Securities in definitive registered form, this Security may not be transferred
except as a whole by the Depositary to the nominee of





                                       15
<PAGE>   22
the Depositary or by a nominee of the Depositary to the Depositary or another
nominee of the Depositary or by the Depositary or any such nominee to a
successor Depositary or a nominee of such successor Depositary."

                 Each Depositary must, at the time of its designation and at
all times while it serves as Depositary, be a clearing agency registered under
the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, and any other applicable 
statute or regulation.

                 SECTION 2.5  Execution of Securities.  The Securities and, if
applicable, each Coupon appertaining thereto shall be signed on behalf of the
Issuer by its Chairman of the Board, its President or one of its Vice
Presidents, under its corporate seal (except in the case of Coupons) which may,
but need not, be attested.  Such signatures may be the manual or facsimile
signatures of the present or any future such officers.  The seal of the Issuer
may be in the form of a facsimile thereof and may be impressed, affixed,
imprinted or otherwise reproduced on the Securities.  Typographical and other
minor errors or defects in any such reproduction of the seal or any such
signature shall not affect the validity or enforceability of any Security that
has been duly authenticated and delivered by the Trustee.

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

                 SECTION 2.6  Certificate of Authentication.  Only such
Securities as shall bear thereon a certificate of authentication substantially
in the form hereinbefore recited, executed by the Trustee by the manual
signature of one of its authorized officers, shall be entitled to the benefits
of this Indenture or be valid or obligatory for any purpose.  No Coupon shall
be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture or shall be valid and obligatory
for any purpose until the certificate of authentication on the Security to
which such Coupon appertains shall have been duly executed by the Trustee.  The
execution of such certificate by the Trustee upon any Security executed by the
Issuer shall be conclusive evidence that the Security so authenticated has been
duly authenticated and





                                       16
<PAGE>   23
delivered hereunder and that the Holder is entitled to the benefits of this
Indenture.

                 SECTION 2.7  Denomination and Date of Securities; Payments of
Interest.  The Securities of each series shall be issuable as Registered
Securities or Unregistered Securities in denominations established as
contemplated by Section 2.3 or, with respect to the Registered Securities of
any series, if not so established, in denominations of $1,000 and any integral
multiple thereof.  If denominations of Unregistered Securities of any series
are not so established, such Securities shall be issuable in denominations of
$1,000 and $5,000.  The Securities of each series shall be numbered, lettered
or otherwise distinguished in such manner or in accordance with such plan as
the officers of the Issuer executing the same may determine with the approval
of the Trustee, as evidenced by the execution and authentication thereof.

                 Each Registered Security shall be dated the date of its
authentication.  Each Unregistered Security shall be dated as provided in or
pursuant to the resolution or resolutions of the Board of Directors of the
Issuer referred to in Section 2.3.  The Securities of each series shall bear
interest, if any, from the date, and such interest shall be payable on the
dates, established as contemplated by Section 2.3.

                 Unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution,
Officers' Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto provided pursuant to
Section 2.3, the Person in whose name any Registered Security of any series is
registered at the close of business on any record date applicable to a
particular series with respect to any interest payment date for such series
shall be entitled to receive the interest, if any, payable on such interest
payment date notwithstanding any transfer or exchange of such Registered
Security subsequent to the record date and prior to such interest payment date,
except if and to the extent the Issuer shall default in the payment of the
interest due on such interest payment date for such series, in which case such
defaulted interest shall be paid to the Persons in whose names Outstanding
Registered Securities for such series are registered at the close of business
on a subsequent record date (which shall be not less than five Business Days
prior to the date of payment of such defaulted interest) established by notice
given by mail by or on behalf of the Issuer to the Holders of Registered
Securities not less than 15 days preceding such subsequent record date.  The
term "record date" as used with respect to any interest payment date (except a
date for payment of defaulted interest) for the Registered Securities of 
any series shall mean the date specified as such in the terms of the Registered 
Securities of such series established as contemplated by Section 2.3, or, 
if no such date is so established, if such interest payment date is the 
first day of a calendar month, the





                                       17
<PAGE>   24
fifteenth day of the next preceding calendar month or, if such interest payment
date is the fifteenth day of a calendar month, the first day of such calendar
month, whether or not such record date is a Business Day.

                 SECTION 2.8  Registration, Transfer and Exchange.  The Issuer
will keep or cause to be kept at each office or agency to be maintained for the
purpose as provided in Section 3.2 for each series of Securities a register in
which, subject to such reasonable regulations as it may prescribe, it will
provide for the registration of Registered Securities of such series and the
registration of transfer of Registered Securities of such series.  Such
register shall be in written form in the English language or in any other form
capable of being converted into such form within a reasonable time.  At all
reasonable times such register or registers shall be open for inspection by the
Trustee.

                 Upon due presentation for registration of transfer of any
Registered Security of any series at any such office or agency to be maintained
for the purpose as provided in Section 3.2, the Issuer shall execute and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver in the name of the transferee or
transferees a new Registered Security or Registered Securities of the same
series, maturity date, interest rate and original issue date in authorized
denominations for a like aggregate principal amount.

                 Unregistered Securities (except for any temporary global
Unregistered Securities) and Coupons (except for Coupons attached to any
temporary global Unregistered Securities) shall be transferable by delivery.

                 At the option of the Holder thereof, Registered Securities of
any series (other than a Registered Global Security, except as set forth below)
may be exchanged for a Registered Security or Registered Securities of the same
series having authorized denominations and an equal aggregate principal amount,
upon surrender of such Registered Securities to be exchanged at the office or
agency of the Issuer that shall be maintained for such purpose in accordance
with Section 3.2 and upon payment, if the Issuer shall so require, of the
charges hereinafter provided.  If the Securities of any series are issued in
both registered and unregistered form, except as otherwise specified pursuant to
Section 2.3, at the option of the Holder thereof, Unregistered Securities of any
series may be exchanged for Registered Securities of the same series having
authorized denominations and an equal aggregate principal amount, upon surrender
of such Unregistered Securities to be exchanged at the office or agency of the
Issuer that shall be maintained for such purpose in accordance with Section 3.2,
with, in the case of Unregistered Securities that have Coupons attached, all
unmatured Coupons and all matured Coupons in default thereto appertaining, and
upon





                                       18
<PAGE>   25
payment, if the Issuer shall so require, of the charges hereinafter provided.
At the option of the Holder thereof, if Unregistered Securities of any series,
maturity date, interest rate and original issue date are issued in more than
one authorized denomination, except as otherwise specified pursuant to Section
2.3, such Unregistered Securities may be exchanged for Unregistered Securities
of the same series, maturity date, interest rate and original issue date having
authorized denominations and an equal aggregate principal amount, upon
surrender of such Unregistered Securities to be exchanged at the office or 
agency of the Issuer that shall be maintained for such purpose in accordance
with Section 3.2 or as specified pursuant to Section 2.3, with, in the case of
Unregistered Securities that have Coupons attached, all unmatured Coupons and
all matured Coupons in default thereto appertaining, and upon payment, if the
Issuer shall so require, of the charges hereinafter provided.  Unless otherwise
specified pursuant to Section 2.3, Registered Securities of any series may not
be exchanged for Unregistered Securities of such series.  Whenever any
Securities are so surrendered for exchange, the Issuer shall execute, and the
Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, the Securities which the Holder making
the exchange is entitled to receive.  All Securities and Coupons surrendered
upon any exchange or transfer provided for in this Indenture shall be promptly
cancelled and disposed of by the Trustee and the Trustee will deliver a
certificate of disposition thereof to the Issuer.

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

                 The Issuer may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover
any tax or other governmental charge that may be imposed in connection with any
exchange or registration of transfer of Securities.  No service charge shall be
made for any such transaction.

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

                 Notwithstanding any other provision of this Section 2.8,
unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Securities in
definitive registered form, a Registered Global Security





                                       19
<PAGE>   26
representing all or a portion of the Securities of a series may not be
transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such series to a nominee of
such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or
another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any such nominee to
a successor Depositary for such series or a nominee of such successor
Depositary.

                 If at any time the Depositary for any Registered Securities of
a series represented by one or more Registered Global Securities notifies the
Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary for such
Registered Securities or if at any time the Depositary for such Registered
Securities shall no longer be eligible under Section 2.4, the Issuer shall
appoint a successor Depositary with respect to such Registered Securities.  If
a successor Depositary for such Registered Securities is not appointed by the
Issuer within 90 days after the Issuer receives such notice or becomes aware of
such ineligibility, the Issuer's election pursuant to Section 2.3 that such
Registered Securities be represented by one or more Registered Global
Securities shall no longer be effective and the Issuer will execute, and the
Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers' Certificate for the authentication and
delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will authenticate and
deliver, Securities of such series in definitive registered form without
Coupons, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate principal amount
equal to the principal amount of the Registered Global Security or Securities
representing such Registered Securities in exchange for such Registered Global
Security or Securities.

                 The Issuer may at any time and in its sole discretion
determine that the Registered Securities of any series issued in the form of
one or more Registered Global Securities shall no longer be represented by a
Registered Global Security or Securities.  In such event the Issuer will
execute, and the Trustee, upon receipt of an Officers' Certificate for the
authentication and delivery of definitive Securities of such series, will
authenticate and deliver, Securities of such series in definitive registered
form without Coupons, in any authorized denominations, in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the principal amount of the Registered Global
Security or Securities representing such Registered Securities, in exchange for
such Registered Global Security or Securities.

                 If specified by the Issuer pursuant to Section 2.3 with
respect to Securities represented by a Registered Global Security, the
Depositary for such Registered Global Security may surrender such Registered
Global Security in exchange in whole or in part for Securities of the same
series in definitive registered form on such terms as are acceptable to the
Issuer and such Depositary.  Thereupon, the Issuer shall execute, and the
Trustee shall





                                       20
<PAGE>   27
authenticate and deliver, without service charge,

                 (i)  to the Person specified by such Depositary a new
         Registered Security or Securities of the same series, of any
         authorized denominations as requested by such Person, in an aggregate
         principal amount equal to and in exchange for such Person's beneficial
         interest in the Registered Global Security; and

                 (ii)  to such Depositary a new Registered Global Security in a
         denomination equal to the difference, if any, between the principal
         amount of the surrendered Registered Global Security and the aggregate
         principal amount of Registered Securities authenticated and delivered
         pursuant to clause (i) above.

                 Upon the exchange of a Registered Global Security for
Securities in definitive registered form without Coupons, in authorized
denominations, such Registered Global Security shall be cancelled by the
Trustee or its agent.  Securities in definitive registered form without Coupons
issued in exchange for a Registered Global Security pursuant to this Section
2.8 shall be registered in such names and in such authorized denominations as
the Depositary for such Registered Global Security, pursuant to instructions
from its direct or indirect participants or otherwise, shall instruct the
Trustee or an agent of the Issuer or the Trustee.  The Trustee or such agent
shall deliver such Securities to or as directed by the Persons in whose names
such Securities are so registered.

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

                 Notwithstanding anything herein or in the terms of any series
of Securities to the contrary, none of the Issuer, the Trustee or any agent of
the Issuer or the Trustee (any of which, other than the Issuer, shall rely on
an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel) shall be required to
exchange any Unregistered Security for a Registered Security if such exchange
would result in adverse Federal income tax consequences to the Issuer (such as,
for example, the inability of the Issuer to deduct from its income, as computed
for Federal income tax purposes, the interest payable on the Unregistered
Securities) under then applicable United States Federal income tax laws.

                 SECTION 2.9  Mutilated, Defaced, Destroyed, Lost and Stolen
Securities.  In case any temporary or definitive Security or any Coupon
appertaining to any Security shall become mutilated, defaced or be destroyed,
lost or stolen, the Issuer in its discretion may execute, and upon the written
request of any officer





                                       21
<PAGE>   28
of the Issuer, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver a new Security of the
same series, maturity date, interest rate and original issue date, bearing a
number or other distinguishing symbol not contemporaneously outstanding, in
exchange and substitution for the mutilated or defaced Security, or in lieu of
and in substitution for the Security so destroyed, lost or stolen with Coupons
corresponding to the Coupons appertaining to the Securities so mutilated,
defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen, or in exchange or substitution for the
Security to which such mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Coupon
appertained, with Coupons appertaining thereto corresponding to the Coupons so
mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen.  In every case the applicant for
a substitute Security or Coupon shall furnish to the Issuer and to the Trustee
and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee such security or indemnity as may be
required by them to indemnify and defend and to save each of them harmless and,
in every case of destruction, loss or theft, evidence to their satisfaction of
the destruction, loss or theft of such Security or Coupon and of the ownership
thereof and in the case of mutilation or defacement shall surrender the
Security and related Coupons to the Trustee or such agent.

                 Upon the issuance of any substitute Security or Coupon, the
Issuer 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 or its agent)
connected therewith.  In case any Security or Coupon which has matured or is
about to mature or has been called for redemption in full shall become
mutilated or defaced or be destroyed, lost or stolen, the Issuer may instead of
issuing a substitute Security, pay or authorize the payment of the same or the
relevant Coupon (without surrender thereof except in the case of a mutilated or
defaced Security or Coupon), if the applicant for such payment shall furnish to
the Issuer and to the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee such
security or indemnity as any of them may require to save each of them harmless,
and, in every case of destruction, loss or theft, the applicant shall also
furnish to the Issuer and the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the
Trustee evidence to their satisfaction of the destruction, loss or theft of
such Security or Coupon and of the ownership thereof.

                 Every substitute Security or Coupon of any series issued
pursuant to the provisions of this Section by virtue of the fact that any such
Security or Coupon is destroyed, lost or stolen shall constitute an additional
contractual obligation of the Issuer, whether or not the destroyed, lost or
stolen Security or Coupon shall be at any time enforceable by anyone and shall
be entitled to all the benefits of (but shall be subject to all the limitations
of rights set forth in) this Indenture equally and proportionately





                                       22
<PAGE>   29
with any and all other Securities or Coupons of such series duly authenticated
and delivered hereunder.  All Securities and Coupons shall be held and owned
upon the express condition that, to the extent permitted by law, the foregoing
provisions are exclusive with respect to the replacement or payment of
mutilated, defaced or destroyed, lost or stolen Securities and Coupons and
shall preclude any and all other rights or remedies notwithstanding any law or
statute existing or hereafter enacted to the contrary with respect to the
replacement or payment of negotiable instruments or other securities without
their surrender.

                 SECTION 2.10  Cancellation of Securities; Disposition Thereof.
All Securities and Coupons surrendered for payment, redemption, registration of
transfer or exchange, or for credit against any payment in respect of a sinking
or analogous fund, if surrendered to the Issuer or any agent of the Issuer or
the Trustee shall be delivered to the Trustee or its agent for cancellation or,
if surrendered to the Trustee, shall be cancelled by it; and no Securities or
Coupons shall be issued in lieu thereof except as expressly permitted by any of
the provisions of this Indenture.  The Trustee or its agent shall dispose of
cancelled Securities and Coupons held by it and deliver a certificate of
disposition to the Issuer.  If the Issuer or its agent shall acquire any of the
Securities or Coupons, such acquisition shall not operate as a redemption or
satisfaction of the indebtedness represented by such Securities or Coupons
unless and until the same are delivered to the Trustee or its agent for
cancellation.

                 SECTION 2.11  Temporary Securities.  Pending the preparation
of definitive Securities for any series, the Issuer may execute and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver temporary Securities for such series (printed,
lithographed, typewritten or otherwise reproduced, in each case in form
satisfactory to the Trustee).  Temporary Securities of any series shall be
issuable as Registered Securities without Coupons, or as Unregistered
Securities with or without Coupons attached thereto, of any authorized
denomination, and substantially in the form of the definitive Securities of
such series but with such omissions, insertions and variations as may be
appropriate for temporary Securities, all as may be determined by the Issuer
with the concurrence of the Trustee as evidenced by the execution and
authentication thereof.  Temporary Securities may contain such references to
any provisions of this Indenture as may be appropriate.  Every temporary
Security shall be executed by the Issuer and be authenticated by the Trustee
upon the same conditions and in substantially the same manner, and with like
effect, as the definitive Securities.  Without unreasonable delay the Issuer
shall execute and shall furnish definitive Securities of such series and
thereupon temporary Registered Securities of such series may be





                                       23
<PAGE>   30
surrendered in exchange therefor without charge at each office or agency to be
maintained by the Issuer for that purpose pursuant to Section 3.2 and, in the
case of Unregistered Securities, at any office or agency maintained by the 
Issuer for such purpose as specified pursuant to Section 2.3, and the Trustee
shall authenticate and deliver in exchange for such temporary Securities of such
series an equal aggregate principal amount of definitive Securities of the same
series having authorized denominations and, in the case of Unregistered
Securities, having attached thereto any appropriate Coupons.  Until so
exchanged, the temporary Securities of any series shall be entitled to the same
benefits under this Indenture as definitive Securities of such series, unless
otherwise established pursuant to Section 2.3.  The provisions of this Section
are subject to any restrictions or limitations on the issue and delivery of
temporary Unregistered Securities of any series that may be established pursuant
to Section 2.3 (including any provision that Unregistered Securities of such
series initially be issued in the form of a single global Unregistered Security
to be delivered to a depositary or agency located outside the United States and
the procedures pursuant to which definitive or global Unregistered Securities of
such series would be issued in exchange for such temporary global Unregistered
Security).





                                       24
<PAGE>   31
                                 ARTICLE THREE

                            COVENANTS OF THE ISSUER




                 SECTION 3.1  Payment of Principal and Interest.  The Issuer
covenants and agrees for the benefit of each series of Securities that it will
duly and punctually pay or cause to be paid the principal of, and interest on,
each of the Securities of such series (together with any additional amounts
payable pursuant to the terms of such Securities) at the place or places, at
the respective times and in the manner provided in such Securities and in the
Coupons, if any, appertaining thereto and in this Indenture.  The interest on
Securities with Coupons attached (together with any additional amounts payable
pursuant to the terms of such Securities) shall be payable only upon
presentation and surrender of the several Coupons for such interest
installments as are evidenced thereby as they severally mature.  If any
temporary Unregistered Security provides that interest thereon may be paid
while such Security is in temporary form, the interest on any such temporary
Unregistered Security (together with any additional amounts payable pursuant to
the terms of such Security) shall be paid, as to the installments of interest
evidenced by Coupons attached thereto, if any, only upon presentation and
surrender thereof, and, as to the other installments of interest, if any, only
upon presentation of such Securities for notation thereon of the payment of
such interest, in each case subject to any restrictions that may be established
pursuant to Section 2.3.  The interest on Registered Securities (together with
any additional amounts payable pursuant to the terms of such Securities) shall
be payable only to or upon the written order of the Holders thereof entitled
thereto and, at the option of the Issuer, may be paid by wire transfer or by
mailing checks for such interest payable to or upon the written order of such
Holders at their last addresses as they appear on the registry books of the
Issuer.

                 SECTION 3.2  Offices for Payments, etc. So long as any
Registered Securities are authorized for issuance pursuant to this Indenture or
are outstanding hereunder, the Issuer will maintain in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York, an office or agency where the Registered
Securities of each series may be presented for payment, where the Securities of
each series may be presented for exchange as is provided in this Indenture and,
if applicable, pursuant to Section 2.3 and where the Registered Securities of
each series may be presented for registration of transfer as in this Indenture
provided.





                                       25
<PAGE>   32
                 The Issuer will maintain one or more offices or agencies in a
city or cities located outside the United States (including any city in which
such an agency is required to be maintained under the rules of any stock
exchange on which the Securities of such series are listed) where the
Unregistered Securities, if any, of each series and Coupons, if any,
appertaining thereto may be presented for payment.  No payment on any
Unregistered Security or Coupon will be made upon presentation of such
Unregistered Security or Coupon at an office or agency of the Issuer within the
United States nor will any payment be made by transfer to an account in, or by
mail to an address in, the United States unless pursuant to applicable United
States laws and regulations then in effect such payment can be made without
adverse tax consequences to the Issuer.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, payments
in Dollars of Unregistered Securities of any series and Coupons appertaining
thereto which are payable in Dollars may be made at office or an agency of the
Issuer maintained in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York if such
payment in Dollars at each office or agency maintained by the Issuer outside the
United States for payment on such Unregistered Securities is illegal or
effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.

                 The Issuer will maintain in the Borough of Manhattan, The City
of New York, an office or agency where notices and demands to or upon the
Issuer in respect of the Securities of any series, the Coupons appertaining
thereto or this Indenture may be served.

                 The Issuer will give to the Trustee written notice of the
location of each such office or agency and of any change of location thereof.
In case the Issuer shall fail to maintain any such office or agency required by
this Section to be located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, or
shall fail to give such notice of the location or of any change in the location
of any of the office or above agencies, presentations and demands may be made
and notices may be served at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee.

                 The Issuer may from time to time designate one or more
additional offices or agencies where the Securities of a series and any Coupons
appertaining thereto may be presented for payment, where the Securities of that
series may be presented for exchange as provided in this Indenture and pursuant
to Section 2.3 and where the Registered Securities of that series may be
presented for registration of transfer as in this Indenture provided, and the
Issuer may from time to time rescind any such designation, as the Issuer may
deem desirable or expedient; provided, however, that no such designation or
rescission shall





                                       26
<PAGE>   33
in any manner relieve the Issuer of its obligation to maintain the agencies
provided for in this Section.  The Issuer will give to the Trustee prompt
written notice of any such designation or rescission thereof.

                 SECTION 3.3  Appointment to Fill a Vacancy in Office of
Trustee.  The Issuer, whenever necessary to avoid or fill a vacancy in the
office of Trustee, will appoint, in the manner provided in Section 5.9, a
Trustee, so that there shall at all times be a Trustee with respect to each
series of Securities hereunder.

                 SECTION 3.4  Paying Agents.  Whenever the Issuer shall appoint
a paying agent other than the Trustee with respect to the Securities of any
series, it will cause such paying agent to execute and deliver to the Trustee
an instrument in which such agent shall agree with the Trustee, subject to the
provisions of this Section,

                 (a)  that it will hold all sums received by it as such agent
         for the payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities of
         such series (whether such sums have been paid to it by the Issuer or
         by any other obligor on the Securities of such series) in trust for
         the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such series, or
         Coupons appertaining thereto, if any, or of the Trustee,

                 (b)  that it will give the Trustee notice of any failure by
         the Issuer (or by any other obligor on the Securities of such series)
         to make any payment of the principal of or interest on the Securities
         of such series when the same shall be due and payable, and

                 (c)  that it will at any time during the continuance of any
         failure referred to in Section 3.4(b) above, upon the written request 
         of the Trustee, forthwith pay to the Trustee all sums so held in 
         trust by such paying agent.

                 The Issuer will, on or prior to each due date of the principal
of or interest on the Securities of such series, deposit with the paying agent
a sum sufficient to pay such principal or interest so becoming due, and (unless
such paying agent is the Trustee) the Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee
of any failure to take such action.

                 If the Issuer shall act as its own paying agent with respect
to the Securities of any series, it will, on or before each due date of the
principal of or interest on the Securities of such series, set aside, segregate
and hold in trust for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of such
series or the





                                       27
<PAGE>   34
Coupons appertaining thereto a sum sufficient to pay such principal or interest
so becoming due.  The Issuer will promptly notify the Trustee of any failure to
take such action.

                 Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, but
subject to Section 9.1, the Issuer may at any time, for the purpose of
obtaining a satisfaction and discharge with respect to one or more or all
series of Securities hereunder, or for any other reason, pay or cause to be
paid to the Trustee all sums held in trust for any such series by the Issuer or
any paying agent hereunder, as required by this Section, such sums to be held
by the Trustee upon the trusts herein contained.

                 Anything in this Section to the contrary notwithstanding, the
agreement to hold sums in trust as provided in this Section is subject to the
provisions of Sections 9.3 and 9.4.

                 SECTION 3.5  Written Statement to Trustee.  The Issuer will
furnish to the Trustee on or before May 31 in each year (beginning with May 31,
1998) a brief certificate (which need not comply with Section 10.5) from the
principal executive, financial or accounting officer of the Issuer as to his or
her knowledge of the Issuer's compliance with all conditions and covenants
under the Indenture (such compliance to be determined without regard to any
period of grace or requirement of notice provided under the Indenture).

                 SECTION 3.6  Limitations upon Liens.  After the date hereof
and so long as any Securities are Outstanding, the Issuer will not, and will
not permit any Subsidiary to, issue, assume or guarantee any Indebtedness
secured by a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or encumbrance (any
mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or encumbrance being hereinafter in
this Article referred to as a "mortgage" or "mortgages" or as a "lien" or
"liens") of, or upon any property of the Issuer or of any Subsidiary, without
effectively providing that the Securities (together with, if the Issuer shall
so determine, any other Indebtedness of the Issuer ranking equally with the
Securities) shall be equally and ratably secured with such Indebtedness;
provided, however, that the foregoing restriction shall not apply to

                 (a)  Any purchase money mortgage created by the Issuer or a
         Subsidiary to secure all or part of the purchase price of any property
         (or to secure a loan made to enable the Issuer or a Subsidiary to
         acquire the property described in such mortgage), provided that the
         principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by any such mortgage,
         together with all


                                       28
<PAGE>   35
         other Indebtedness secured by a mortgage on such property, shall not
         exceed the purchase price of the property acquired;

                 (b)  Any mortgage existing on any property at the time of the
         acquisition thereof by the Issuer or a Subsidiary whether or not
         assumed by the Issuer or a Subsidiary, and any mortgage on any
         property acquired or constructed by the Issuer or a Subsidiary and
         created not later than 12 months after (i) such acquisition or
         completion of such construction or (ii) commencement of full operation
         of such property, whichever is later; provided, however, that, if
         assumed or created by the Issuer or a Subsidiary, the principal amount
         of the Indebtedness secured by such mortgage, together with all other
         Indebtedness secured by a mortgage on such property, shall not exceed
         the purchase price of the property, acquired and/or the cost of the
         property constructed;

                 (c)  Any mortgage created or assumed by the Issuer or a
         Subsidiary on any contract for the sale of any product or service or
         any rights thereunder or any proceeds therefrom, including accounts
         and other receivables, related to the operation or use of any property
         acquired or constructed by the Issuer or a Subsidiary and created not
         later than 12 months after (i) such acquisition or completion of such
         construction or (ii) commencement of full operation of such property,
         whichever is later;

                 (d)  Any mortgage existing on any property of a Subsidiary at
         the time it becomes a Subsidiary and any mortgage on property existing
         at the time of acquisition thereof;

                 (e)  Any refunding or extension of maturity, in whole or in
         part, of any mortgage created or assumed in accordance with the
         provisions of subdivision (a), (b), (c) or (d) above or (j), (p), or
         (y) below, provided that the principal amount of the Indebtedness
         secured by such refunding mortgage or extended mortgage shall not
         exceed the principal amount of the Indebtedness secured by the mortgage
         to be refunded or extended outstanding at the time of such refunding or
         extension and that such refunding mortgage or extended mortgage shall
         be limited in lien to the same property that secured the mortgage so
         refunded or extended;

                 (f)  Any mortgage created or assumed by the Issuer or a
         Subsidiary to secure loans to the Issuer or a Subsidiary maturing
         within 12 months of the date of creation thereof and not renewable or
         extendible by the terms thereof at the option of the obligor beyond
         such 12 months, and made in the ordinary course of business;


                                       29
<PAGE>   36
                 (g)  Mechanics' or materialmen's liens or any lien or charge
         arising by reason of pledges or deposits to secure payment of
         workmen's compensation or other insurance, good faith deposits in
         connection with tenders or leases of real estate, bids or contracts
         (other than contracts for the payment of money), deposits to secure
         public or statutory obligations, deposits to secure or in lieu of
         surety, stay or appeal bonds and deposits as security for the payment
         of taxes or assessments or other similar charges;

                 (h)  Any mortgage arising by reason of deposits with or the
         giving of any form of security to any governmental agency or any body
         created or approved by law or governmental regulation for any purpose
         at any time as required by law or governmental regulation as a
         condition to the transaction of any business or the exercise of any
         privilege or license, or to enable the Issuer or a Subsidiary to
         maintain self-insurance or to participate in any fund for liability on
         any insurance risks or in connection with workmen's compensation,
         unemployment insurance, old age pensions or other social security or
         to share in the privileges or benefits required for companies
         participating in such arrangements;

                 (i)  Mortgages upon rights-of-way;

                 (j)  Undetermined mortgages and charges incidental to
         construction or maintenance;

                 (k)  The right reserved to, or vested in, any municipality or
         governmental or other public authority or railroad by the terms of any
         right, power, franchise, grant, license, permit or by any provision of
         law, to terminate or


                                       30
<PAGE>   37
         to require annual or other periodic payments as a condition to the
         continuance of such right, power, franchise, grant, license or permit;

                 (l)  The lien of taxes and assessments which are not at the
         time delinquent;

                 (m)  The lien of specified taxes and assessments which are
         delinquent but the validity of which is being contested in good faith
         at the time by the Issuer or a Subsidiary;

                 (n)  The lien reserved in leases for rent and for compliance
         with the terms of the lease in the case of leasehold estates;

                 (o)  Defects and irregularities in the titles to any property
         (including rights-of-way and easements) which are not material to the
         business of the Issuer and its Subsidiaries considered as a whole;

                 (p)  Any mortgages securing Indebtedness neither assumed nor
         guaranteed by the Issuer or a Subsidiary nor on which it customarily
         pays interest, existing upon real estate or rights in or relating to
         real estate (including rights-of-way and easements) acquired by the
         Issuer or a Subsidiary, which mortgages do not materially impair the
         use of such property for the purposes for which it is held by the
         Issuer or such Subsidiary;

                 (q)  Easements, exceptions or reservations in any property of
         the Issuer or a Subsidiary granted or reserved for the purpose of
         pipelines, roads, telecommunication equipment and cable, streets,
         alleys, highways, railroad purposes, the removal of oil, gas, coal or
         other minerals or timber, and other like purposes, or for the joint or
         common use of real property, facilities and equipment, which do not
         materially impair the use of such property for the purposes for which
         it is held by the Issuer or such Subsidiary;

                 (r)  Rights reserved to or vested in any municipality or
         public authority to control or regulate any property of the Issuer or
         a Subsidiary, or to use such property in any manner which does not
         materially impair the use of such property for the purposes for which
         it is held by the Issuer or such Subsidiary;

                 (s)  Any obligations or duties, affecting the property of the
         Issuer or a Subsidiary, to any municipality or public authority with
         respect to any franchise, grant, license or permit;


                                       31
<PAGE>   38
                 (t)  The liens of any judgments in an aggregate amount not in
         excess of $2,000,000 or the lien of any judgment the execution of
         which has been stayed or which has been appealed and secured, if
         necessary, by the filing of an appeal bond;

                 (u)  Zoning laws and ordinances;

                 (v)  Any mortgage existing on any office equipment, data
         processing equipment (including computer and computer peripheral
         equipment) or transportation equipment (including motor vehicles,
         aircraft and marine vessels);

                 (w)  Leases now or hereafter existing and any renewals or
         extensions thereof;

                 (x)  Any lien on inventory and receivables incurred in the
         ordinary course of business to secure Indebtedness incurred for working
         capital purposes including liens incurred in connection with a sale of
         receivables; and 

                 (y)  Any mortgage not permitted by clauses (a) through (y)
         above if at the time of, and after giving effect to, the creation or
         assumption of any such mortgage, the aggregate of all Indebtedness of
         the Issuer and its Subsidiaries secured by all such mortgages not so
         permitted by clauses (a) through (x) above do not exceed 5% of 
         Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

                 In the event that the Issuer or a Subsidiary shall hereafter
secure the Securities equally and ratably with any other obligation or
Indebtedness pursuant to the provisions of this Section 3.6, the Trustee is
hereby authorized to enter into an indenture supplemental hereto and to take
such action, if any, as it may deem advisable to enable it to enforce
effectively the rights of the Holders of the Securities so secured, equally and
ratably with such other obligation or Indebtedness.


                 Subject to the provisions of Section 5.1, the Trustee, at its
request, may receive an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any such
supplemental indenture or steps taken to


                                       32
<PAGE>   39
secure the Securities equally and ratably comply with the provisions of this
Section 3.6.


                 SECTION 3.7  Limitation on Sale and Lease-Back.  The Issuer
agrees that it will not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, enter into any
arrangement with any Person providing for the leasing by the Issuer or a
Subsidiary of any Principal Property, acquired or placed into service more than
180 days prior to such arrangement (except for leases of three years or less),
whereby such property has been or is to be sold or transferred by the Issuer or
any Subsidiary to such Person (herein referred to as a "Sale and Lease-Back
Transaction"), unless:

                 (a)  the Issuer or any Subsidiary would, at the time of
        entering into a Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, be entitled to incur
        Indebtedness secured by a mortgage on the property to be leased in an
        amount at least equal to the Attributable Debt in respect of such
        transaction without equally and ratably securing the Securities pursuant
        to Section 3.6; or

                 (b)  the Issuer shall covenant that it will apply an amount
        equal to the net proceeds from the sale of the Principal Property so 
        leased to the retirement (other than any mandatory retirement) of its
        Funded Indebtedness within 90 days of the effective date of any such
        Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, provided that the amount to be applied
        to the retirement of Funded Indebtedness of the Issuer shall be reduced
        by (i) the principal amount of any Securities delivered by the Issuer to
        the Trustee within 90 days after such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction
        for retirement and cancellation, and (ii) the principal amount of Funded
        Indebtedness, other than Securities, voluntarily retired by the Issuer
        within 90 days following such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction, provided,
        further, the covenant contained in this Section 3.7 shall not apply to,
        and there shall be excluded from Attributable Debt in any computation
        under this Section 3.7, Attributable Debt with respect to any Sale and
        Lease-Back Transaction if:

                 (1)  such Sale and Lease-Back Transaction is entered into in
         connection with transactions which are part of an industrial
         development or pollution control financing or,

                 (2)  the only parties involved in such Sale and Lease-Back
         Transaction are the Issuer and any Subsidiary or any Subsidiaries.

                 For purposes of Section 3.6 and this Section 3.7,





                                       33
<PAGE>   40
"Attributable Debt" means, with respect to any Sale and Lease-Back Transaction
as of any particular time, the present value discounted at the rate of interest
implicit in the terms of the lease of the obligations of the lessee under such
lease for net rental payments during the remaining term of the lease (including
any period for which such lease has been extended or may, at the option of the
Issuer, be extended).

                 For purposes of this Section 3.7, "Principal Property" means
any natural gas pipeline, gathering property or natural gas processing plant
located in the United States, except any such property that in the opinion of
the Board of Directors is not of material importance to the total business
conducted by the Issuer and its consolidated Subsidiaries.  "Principal
Property" shall not include (i) the production or proceeds from production of 
gas processing plants or natural gas or petroleum products in any 
pipeline or storage field and (ii) any property acquired or constructed by any 
Subsidiary of the Issuer after December 31, 1996.

                 Notwithstanding these restrictions on Sale and Lease-Back 
Transaction, the Issuer and its Subsidiaries may enter into, create, assume and 
suffer to exist Sale and Lease-Back Transactions, not otherwise permitted 
hereby, if at the time of, and after giving effect to, such Sale and Lease-Back 
Transaction, the total Consolidated Attributable Debt of the Issuer and its 
Subsidiaries does not exceed 5% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets.

                 SECTION 3.8  Luxembourg Publications.  In the event of the
publication of any notice pursuant to Section 4.11, 5.9(a), 5.10, 7.2, 9.4,
11.2 or 11.5, the party making such publication in the Borough of Manhattan,
The City of New York and London shall also, to the extent that notice is
required to be given to Holders of Securities of any series by applicable
Luxembourg law or stock exchange regulation, as evidenced by an Officers'
Certificate delivered to such party, make a similar publication in Luxembourg.

                 SECTION 3.9  Securityholders Lists.  If and so long as the
Trustee shall not be the Security registrar for the Securities of any series,
the Issuer will furnish or cause to be furnished to the Trustee a list in such
form as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of the
holders of the Securities of such series pursuant to Section 312 of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 (a) semi-annually not more than 15 days after each record
date for the payment of interest on such Securities, as hereinabove specified,
as of such record date and on dates to be determined pursuant to Section 2.3
for non-interest bearing securities in each year, and (b) at such other times
as the Trustee may request in writing, within thirty days after receipt by the
Issuer of any such request as of a date not more than 15 days prior to the time
such information is furnished.

                 SECTION 3.10  Reports by the Issuer.  The Issuer covenants to
file with the Trustee, within 15 days after the


                                       34
<PAGE>   41
Issuer is required to file the same with the Commission, copies of the annual
reports and of the information, documents, and other reports which the Issuer
may be required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.

                 SECTION 3.11.  Reports by the Trustee.  Any Trustee's report
required under Section 313(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 shall be
transmitted on or before April 15 in each year following the date hereof, so
long as any Securities are outstanding hereunder, and shall be dated as of a
date convenient to the Trustee no more than 60 nor less than 45 days prior
thereto.

                                  ARTICLE FOUR


                  REMEDIES OF THE TRUSTEE AND SECURITYHOLDERS
                              ON EVENT OF DEFAULT


                 SECTION 4.1  Event of Default Defined; Acceleration of
Maturity; Waiver of Default.  "Event of Default" with respect to Securities of
any series wherever used herein, means each one of the following events which
shall have occurred and be continuing (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):

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

                 (b)  default in the payment of all or any part of the
         principal on any of the Securities of such series as and when the same
         shall become due and payable either at maturity, upon any redemption,
         by declaration or otherwise;  or

                 (c)  default in the performance, or breach, of any covenant or
         warranty of the Issuer in respect of the Securities of such series
         (other than a covenant or warranty in respect of the Securities of such
         series a default in whose performance or whose breach is elsewhere in
         this Section specifically dealt with) and continuance of such default
         or breach for a period of 90 days after there has been given, by
         registered or certified mail, to the Issuer by the Trustee or to the


                                       35
<PAGE>   42
         Issuer and the Trustee by the Holders of at least 25% in aggregate
         principal amount of the Outstanding Securities of all series affected
         thereby, 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

                 (d)  the entry of a decree or order by a court having
         jurisdiction in the premises adjudging the Issuer a bankrupt or
         insolvent, or approving as properly filed a petition seeking
         reorganization arrangement, adjustment or composition of or in respect
         of the Issuer under the federal bankruptcy law or any other applicable
         federal or state law, or appointing a receiver, liquidator, assignee,
         trustee, sequestrator (or other similar official) of the Issuer or for
         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 60 consecutive days; or

                 (e)  the institution by the Issuer 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 the federal bankruptcy law or any other applicable
         federal or state 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 other similar official) of the Issuer or for
         any substantial part of its property, or the making by it of any 
         general assignment for the benefit of creditors;

                 (f)  any other Event of Default provided in the supplemental
         indenture under which such series of Securities is issued or in the
         form of Security for such series;

provided, however, that the occurrence of any of the events described in the
foregoing clause (c) or (f) shall not constitute an Event of Default if such
occurrence is the result of changes in generally accepted accounting principles
as recognized by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants at the
date as of which this Indenture is executed and a certificate to such effect is
delivered to the Trustee by the Issuer's independent public accountants.

                 If an Event of Default described in clauses (a), (b), (c) or
(f) above (if the Event of Default under clause (c) or (f), as the case may 
be, is with respect to less than all series of Securities then Outstanding) 
occurs and is continuing, then, and





                                       36
<PAGE>   43
in each and every such case, except for any series of Securities the principal
of which shall have already become due and payable, either the Trustee or the
Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of
each such affected series then Outstanding hereunder (voting as a single class)
by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by
Securityholders), may declare the entire principal (or, if the Securities of
any such affected series are Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion
of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of such series) of all
Securities of all such affected series, and the interest accrued thereon, if
any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon any such declaration, the same
shall become immediately due and payable.  If an Event of Default described in
clause (c) or (f) (if the Event of Default under clause (c) or (f), as the case
may be, is with respect to all series of Securities then Outstanding), (d) or
(e) occurs and is continuing, then and in each and every such case, unless the
principal of all the Securities shall have already become due and payable,
either the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25% in aggregate principal
amount of all the Securities then Outstanding hereunder (treated as one class),
by notice in writing to the Issuer (and to the Trustee if given by
Securityholders), may declare the entire principal (or, if any Securities are
Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal as may be
specified in the terms thereof) of all the Securities then Outstanding, and
interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately, and upon
any such declaration the same shall become immediately due and payable.

                 The foregoing provisions, however, are subject to the
condition that if, at any time after the principal (or, if the Securities are
Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal as may be
specified in the terms thereof) of the Securities of any series (or of all the
Securities, as the case may be) shall have been so declared due and payable,
and before any judgment or decree for the payment of the moneys due shall have
been obtained or entered as hereinafter provided, the Issuer shall pay or shall
deposit with the Trustee a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of
interest upon all the Securities of such series (or of all the Securities, as
the case may be) and the principal of any and all Securities of each such
series (or of all the Securities, as the case may be) which shall have become
due otherwise than by acceleration (with interest upon such principal and, to
the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under applicable law,
on overdue installments of interest, at the same rate as the rate of interest
or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount Securities)
specified in the Securities of each such series (or at the respective rates of
interest or Yields to Maturity of all the Securities, as the case may be) to
the date of such payment or





                                       37
<PAGE>   44
deposit) and such amount as shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation
to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee and their agents, attorneys and
counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made,
by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee except as a result of negligence or
bad faith, and if any and all Events of Default under this Indenture, other than
the non-payment of the principal of Securities which shall have become due by
acceleration, shall have been cured, waived or otherwise remedied as provided
herein--then and in every such case the Holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of all the Securities of each such series, or of all the
Securities, in each case voting as a single class, then Outstanding, by written
notice to the Issuer and to the Trustee, may waive all defaults with respect to
each such series (or with respect to all the Securities, as the case may be) and
rescind and annul such declaration and its consequences, but no such waiver or
rescission and annulment shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent default
or shall impair any right consequent thereon.

For all purposes under this Indenture, if a portion of the principal of any
Original Issue Discount Securities shall have been accelerated and declared due
and payable pursuant to the provisions hereof, then, from and after such
declaration, unless such declaration has been rescinded and annulled, the
principal amount of such Original Issue Discount Securities shall be deemed,
for all purposes hereunder, to be such portion of the principal thereof as
shall be due and payable as a result of such acceleration, and payment of such
portion of the principal thereof as shall be due and payable as a result of
such acceleration, together with interest, if any, thereon and all other
amounts owing thereunder, shall constitute payment in full of such Original
Issue Discount Securities.

                 SECTION 4.2  Collection of Indebtedness by Trustee; Trustee
May Prove Debt.  The Issuer covenants that (a) in case default shall be made in
the payment of any installment of interest on any of the Securities of any
series when such interest shall have become due and payable, and such default
shall have continued for a period of 30 days or (b) in case default shall be
made in the payment of all or any part of the principal of any of the
Securities of any series when the same shall have become due and payable,
whether upon maturity of the Securities of such series or upon any redemption
or by declaration or otherwise -- then upon demand of the Trustee, the Issuer
will pay to the Trustee for the benefit of the Holders of the Securities of
such series the whole amount that then shall have become due and payable on all
Securities of such series, and such Coupons, for principal or interest, as the
case may be (with interest to the date of such payment upon the overdue
principal





                                       38
<PAGE>   45
and, to the extent that payment of such interest is enforceable under
applicable law, on overdue installments of interest at the same rate as the
rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original Issue Discount
Securities) specified in the Securities of such series); and in addition
thereto, such further amount as shall be sufficient to cover the costs and
expenses of collection, including reasonable compensation to the Trustee and
each predecessor Trustee, their respective agents, attorneys and counsel, and
any expenses and liabilities incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee
and each predecessor Trustee except as a result of its negligence or bad faith.

                 Until such demand is made by the Trustee, the Issuer may pay
the principal of and interest on the Securities of any series to the registered
Holders, whether or not the principal of and interest on Securities of such 
series be overdue.

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

                 In case there shall be pending proceedings relative to the
Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities under Title 11 of the United
States Code or any other applicable federal or state bankruptcy, insolvency or
other similar law, or in case a receiver, assignee or trustee in bankruptcy or
reorganization, liquidator, sequestrator or similar official shall have been
appointed for or taken possession of the Issuer or its property or such other
obligor, or in case of any other comparable judicial proceedings relative to
the Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities, or to the creditors or
property of the Issuer or such other obligor, the Trustee, irrespective of
whether the principal of the Securities shall then be due and payable as
therein expressed or by declaration or otherwise and irrespective of whether
the Trustee shall have made any demand pursuant to the provisions of this
Section, shall be entitled and empowered, by intervention in such proceedings
or otherwise:

                 (a)  to file and prove a claim or claims for the whole amount
         of principal and interest  (or, if the Securities of any series are
         Original Issue Discount Securities, such portion of the principal
         amount as may be specified in the





                                       39
<PAGE>   46
         terms of such series) owing and unpaid in respect of the Securities of
         any series, and to file such other papers or documents as may be
         necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee
         (including any claim for reasonable compensation to the Trustee and
         each predecessor Trustee, and their respective agents, attorneys and
         counsel, and for reimbursement of all expenses and liabilities
         incurred, and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor
         Trustee, except as a result of negligence or bad faith) and of the
         Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the
         Issuer or other obligor upon the Securities, or to the creditors or
         property of the Issuer or such other obligor,

                 (b)  unless prohibited by applicable law and regulations, to
         vote on behalf of the Holders of the Securities of any series in any
         election of a trustee or a standby trustee in arrangement,
         reorganization, liquidation or other bankruptcy or insolvency
         proceedings or Person performing similar functions in comparable
         proceedings, and

                 (c)  to collect and receive any moneys or other property
         payable or deliverable on any such claims, and to distribute all
         amounts received with respect to the claims of the Securityholders and
         of the Trustee on their behalf; and any trustee, receiver, or
         liquidator, custodian or other similar official is hereby authorized
         by each of the Securityholders to make payments to the Trustee, and,
         in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of payments
         directly to the Securityholders, to pay to the Trustee such amounts as
         shall be sufficient to cover reasonable compensation to the Trustee,
         each predecessor Trustee and their respective agents, attorneys and
         counsel, and all other expenses and liabilities incurred, and all
         advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee except as a
         result of negligence or bad faith.

                 Nothing herein contained shall be deemed to authorize the
Trustee to authorize or consent to or vote for or accept or adopt on behalf of
any Securityholder any plan of reorganization, arrangement, adjustment or
composition affecting the Securities of any series or the rights of any Holder
thereof, or to authorize the Trustee to vote in respect of the claim of any
Securityholder in any such proceeding except, as aforesaid, to vote for the
election of a trustee in bankruptcy or similar Person.


                 All rights of action and of asserting claims under this
Indenture, or under any of the Securities of any series or





                                       40
<PAGE>   47
Coupons appertaining to such Securities, may be enforced by the Trustee without
the possession of any of the Securities of such series or Coupons appertaining
to such Securities or the production thereof on any trial or other proceedings
relative thereto, and any such action or proceedings instituted by the Trustee
shall be brought in its own name as trustee of an express trust, and any
recovery of judgment, subject to the payment of the expenses, disbursements and
compensation of the Trustee, each predecessor Trustee and their respective
agents and attorneys, shall be for the ratable benefit of the Holders of the
Securities or Coupons appertaining to such Securities in respect of which such
action was taken.

                 In any proceedings brought by the Trustee (and also any
proceedings involving the interpretation of any provision of this Indenture to
which the Trustee shall be a party) the Trustee shall be held to represent all
the Holders of the Securities or Coupons appertaining to such Securities in
respect to which such action was taken, and it shall not be necessary to make
any Holders of such Securities or Coupons appertaining to such Securities
parties to any such proceedings.

                 SECTION 4.3  Application of Proceeds.  Any moneys collected by
the Trustee pursuant to this Article in respect of any series shall be applied
in the following order at the date or dates fixed by the Trustee and, in case
of the distribution of such moneys on account of principal or interest, upon
presentation of the several Securities and Coupons appertaining to such
Securities in respect of which monies have been collected and stamping (or
otherwise noting) thereon the payment, or issuing Securities of such series in
reduced principal amounts in exchange for the presented Securities of like
series if only partially paid, or upon surrender thereof if fully paid:

                 FIRST:  To the payment of costs and expenses applicable to
such series in respect of which monies have been collected, including
reasonable compensation to the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee and their
respective agents and attorneys and of all expenses and liabilities incurred,
and all advances made, by the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee except as a
result of negligence or bad faith;

                 SECOND:  In case the principal of the Securities of such
series in respect of which moneys have been collected shall not have become and
be then due and payable, to the payment of interest on the Securities of such
series in default in the order of the maturity of the installments of such
interest, with interest (to the extent that such interest has been collected by
the Trustee) upon the overdue installments of interest at the same rate as the
rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the





                                       41
<PAGE>   48
case of Original Issue Discount Securities) specified in such Securities, such
payments to be made ratably to the Persons entitled thereto, without
discrimination or preference;

                 THIRD:  In case the principal of the Securities of such series
in respect of which moneys have been collected shall have become and shall be
then due and payable, to the payment of the whole amount then owing and unpaid
upon all the Securities of such series for principal and interest, with
interest upon the overdue principal, and (to the extent that such interest has
been collected by the Trustee) upon overdue installments of interest at the
same rate as the rate of interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of Original
Issue Discount Securities) specified in the Securities of such series; and in
case such moneys shall be insufficient to pay in full the whole amount so due
and unpaid upon the Securities of such series, then to the payment of such
principal and interest or Yield to Maturity, without preference or priority of
principal over interest or Yield to Maturity, or of interest or Yield to
Maturity over principal, or of any installment of interest over any other
installment of interest, or of any Security of such series over any other
Security of such series, ratably to the aggregate of such principal and accrued
and unpaid interest or Yield to Maturity; and

                 FOURTH:  To the payment of the remainder, if any, to the
Issuer or any other Person lawfully entitled thereto.

                 SECTION 4.4  Suits for Enforcement.  In case an Event of
Default has occurred, has not been waived and is continuing, the Trustee may in
its discretion proceed to protect and enforce the rights vested in it by this
Indenture by such appropriate judicial proceedings as the Trustee shall deem
most effectual to protect and enforce any of such rights, either at law or in
equity or in bankruptcy or otherwise, whether for the specific enforcement of
any covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture or in aid of the exercise
of any power granted in this Indenture or to enforce any other legal or
equitable right vested in the Trustee by this Indenture or by law.

                 SECTION 4.5  Restoration of Rights on Abandonment of
Proceedings.  In case the Trustee shall have proceeded to enforce any right
under this Indenture and such proceedings shall have been discontinued or
abandoned for any reason, or shall have been determined adversely to the
Trustee, then and in every such case the Issuer and the Trustee shall be
restored respectively to their former positions and rights hereunder, and all
rights, remedies and powers of the Issuer, the Trustee and the Securityholders
shall continue as though no such proceedings had been taken.





                                       42
<PAGE>   49
                 SECTION 4.6  Limitations on Suits by Securityholders.  No
Holder of any Security of any series or of any Coupon appertaining thereto
shall have any right by virtue or by availing of any provision of this
Indenture to institute any action or proceeding at law or in equity or in
bankruptcy or otherwise upon or under or with respect to this Indenture, or for
the appointment of a trustee, receiver, liquidator, custodian or other similar
official or for any other remedy hereunder, unless such Holder previously shall
have given to the Trustee written notice of default and of the continuance
thereof, as hereinbefore provided, and unless also the Holders of not less than
25% in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each affected series
then Outstanding (treated as a single class) shall have made written request
upon the Trustee to institute such action or proceedings in its own name as
Trustee hereunder and shall have offered to the Trustee such reasonable
indemnity as it may require against the costs, expenses and liabilities to be
incurred therein or thereby and the Trustee for 60 days after its receipt of
such notice, request and offer of indemnity shall have failed to institute any
such action or proceeding and no direction inconsistent with such written
request shall have been given to the Trustee pursuant to Section 4.9; it being
understood and intended, and being expressly covenanted by the taker and Holder
of every Security or Coupon with every other taker and Holder and the Trustee,
that no one or more Holders of Securities of any series or Coupons appertaining
to such Securities shall have any right in any manner whatever by virtue or by
availing of any provision of this Indenture to affect, disturb or prejudice the
rights of any other such Holder of Securities or Coupons appertaining to such
Securities, or to obtain or seek to obtain priority over or preference to any
other such Holder or to enforce any right under this Indenture, except in the
manner herein provided and for the equal, ratable and common benefit of all
Holders of Securities of the applicable series and Coupons appertaining to such
Securities.  For the protection and enforcement of the provisions of this
Section, each and every Securityholder and the Trustee shall be entitled to
such relief as can be given either at law or in equity.

                 SECTION 4.7  Unconditional Right of Securityholders to
Institute Certain Suits.  Notwithstanding any other provision in this Indenture
and any provision of any Security, the right of any Holder of any Security or
Coupon to receive payment of the principal of and interest on such Security or
Coupon on or after the respective due dates expressed or provided for in such
Security or Coupon, or to institute suit for the enforcement of any such
payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected
without the consent of such Holder.

                 SECTION 4.8  Powers and Remedies Cumulative; Delay or





                                       43
<PAGE>   50
Omission Not Waiver of Default.  Except as provided in Section 4.6 and the last
paragraph of Section 2.9, no right or remedy herein conferred upon or reserved
to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or Coupons is intended to be
exclusive of any other right or remedy, and every right and remedy shall, to
the extent permitted by law, be cumulative and in addition to every other right
and remedy given hereunder or now or hereafter existing at law or in equity or
otherwise.  The assertion or employment of any right or remedy hereunder, or
otherwise, shall not prevent the concurrent assertion or employment of any
other appropriate right or remedy.

                 No delay or omission of the Trustee or of any Holder of
Securities or Coupons to exercise any right or power accruing upon any Event of
Default occurring and continuing as aforesaid shall impair any such right or
power or shall be construed to be a waiver of any such Event of Default or an
acquiescence therein; and, subject to Section 4.6, every power and remedy given
by this Indenture or by law to the Trustee or to the Holders of Securities or
Coupons may be exercised from time to time, and as often as shall be deemed
expedient, by the Trustee or by the Holders of Securities or Coupons.

                 SECTION 4.9  Control by Holders of Securities.  The Holders of
a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of each series
affected (with each such series voting as a single class) at the time
Outstanding shall have the right to direct the time, method, and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee, or
exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to the
Securities of such series by this Indenture; provided that such direction shall
not be otherwise than in accordance with law and the provisions of this
Indenture and provided further that (subject to the provisions of Section 5.1)
the Trustee shall have the right to decline to follow any such direction if the
Trustee, being advised by counsel, shall determine that the action or
proceeding so directed may not lawfully be taken or if the Trustee in good
faith by its board of directors, the executive committee, or a trust committee
of directors or Responsible Officers of the Trustee shall determine that the
action or proceedings so directed would involve the Trustee in personal
liability or if the Trustee in good faith shall so determine that the actions
or forebearances specified in or pursuant to such direction would be unduly
prejudicial to the interests of Holders of the Securities of all series so
affected not joining in the giving of said direction, it being understood that
(subject to Section 5.1) the Trustee shall have no duty to ascertain whether or
not such actions or forebearances are unduly prejudicial to such Holders.





                                       44
<PAGE>   51
                 Nothing in this Indenture shall impair the right of the
Trustee in its discretion to take any action deemed proper by the Trustee and
which is not inconsistent with such direction or directions by Securityholders.

                 SECTION 4.10  Waiver of Past Defaults.  Prior to the
acceleration of the maturity of any Securities as provided in Section 4.1, the
Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all
series at the time Outstanding with respect to which an Event of Default shall
have occurred and be continuing (voting as a single class) may on behalf of the
Holders of all such Securities waive any past default or Event of Default
described in Section 4.1 and its consequences, except a default in respect of a
covenant or provision hereof which cannot be modified or amended without the
consent of the Holder of each Security affected.  In the case of any such
waiver, the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of all such Securities shall be
restored to their former positions and rights hereunder, respectively; but no
such waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other default or impair any right
consequent thereon.


                 Upon any such waiver, such default shall cease to exist and be
deemed to have been cured and not to have occurred, and any Event of Default
arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured, and not to have occurred
for every purpose of this Indenture; but no such waiver shall extend to any
subsequent or other default or Event of Default or impair any right consequent
thereon.

                 SECTION 4.11  Trustee to Give Notice of Default, But May
Withhold in Certain Circumstances.  The Trustee shall, within 90 days after the
occurrence of a default with respect to the Securities of any series, give
notice of all defaults with respect to that series known to the Trustee (i) if
any Unregistered Securities of that series are then Outstanding, to the Holders
thereof, by publication at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough
of Manhattan, The City of New York and at least once in an Authorized Newspaper
in London (and, if required by Section 3.8, at least once in an Authorized
Newspaper in Luxembourg) and (ii) to all Holders of Securities of such series
in the manner and to the extent provided in Section 313(c) of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, unless in each case such defaults shall have been cured
before the mailing or publication of such notice (the term "defaults" for the
purpose of this Section being hereby defined to mean any event or condition
which is, or with notice or lapse of time or both would become, an Event of
Default); provided that, except in the case of default in the payment of the
principal of or interest on any of the Securities of such series, or in the
payment of any sinking fund installment on such series, the Trustee shall be





                                       45
<PAGE>   52
protected in withholding such notice if and so long as the board of directors,
the executive committee, or a trust committee of directors or trustees and/or
Responsible Officers of the Trustee in good faith determines that the
withholding of such notice is in the interests of the Securityholders of such
series.

                 SECTION 4.12  Right of Court to Require Filing of Undertaking
to Pay Costs.  All parties to this Indenture agree, and each Holder of any
Security or Coupon by his acceptance thereof shall be deemed to have agreed,
that any court may in its discretion require, 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, the filing by any
party litigant in such suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of such suit,
and that such court may in its discretion assess reasonable costs, including
reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in such suit, having due
regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by such
party litigant; but the provisions of this Section shall not apply to any suit
instituted by the Trustee, to any suit instituted by any Securityholder or
group of Securityholders of any series holding in the aggregate more than 10%
in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of such series, or, in the case
of any suit relating to or arising under clause (c) or (f) of Section 4.1 (if
the suit relates to Securities of more than one but less than all series), l0%
in aggregate principal amount of Securities then Outstanding and affected
thereby, or in the case of any suit relating to or arising under clause (c) or
(f) (if the suit under clause (c) or (f) relates to all the Securities then
Outstanding), (d) or (e) of Section 4.1, 10% in aggregate principal amount of
all Securities then Outstanding, or to any suit instituted by any
Securityholder for the enforcement of the payment of the principal of or
interest on any Security on or after the due date expressed in such Security or
any date fixed for redemption.


                                  ARTICLE FIVE


                             CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE

                 SECTION 5.1  Duties and Responsibilities of the Trustee;
During Default; Prior to Default.  With respect to the Holders of any series of
Securities issued hereunder, the Trustee, prior to the occurrence of an Event
of Default with respect to the Securities of a particular series and after the
curing or waiving of all Events of Default which may have occurred with respect
to such series, undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are
specifically set forth in this





                                       46
<PAGE>   53
Indenture.  In case an Event of Default with respect to the Securities of a
series has occurred (which has not been cured or waived) the Trustee shall
exercise with respect to such series of Securities such of the rights and
powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and
skill in their exercise, as a prudent man would exercise or use under the
circumstances in the conduct of his own affairs.

                 No provision of this Indenture shall be construed to relieve
the Trustee from liability for its own negligent action, its own negligent
failure to act or its own wilful misconduct, except that

                 (a)  prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default with
         respect to the Securities of any series and after the curing or
         waiving of all such Events of Default with respect to such series
         which may have occurred:

                 (i)  the duties and obligations of the Trustee with respect to
         the Securities of any series shall be determined solely by the express
         provisions of this Indenture, and the Trustee shall not be liable
         except for the performance of such duties and obligations as are
         specifically set forth in this Indenture, and no implied covenants or
         obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

                 (ii)  in the absence of bad faith on the part of the Trustee,
         the Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the statements
         and the correctness of the opinions expressed therein, upon any
         statements, certificates or opinions furnished to the Trustee and
         conforming to the requirements of this Indenture; but in the case of
         any such statements, certificates or opinions which by any provision
         hereof are specifically required to be furnished to the Trustee, the
         Trustee shall be under a duty to examine the same to determine whether
         or not they conform to the requirements of this Indenture;

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

                 (c)  the 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 pursuant to Section 4.9 relating to
         the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy
         available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred
         upon the





                                       47
<PAGE>   54
         Trustee, under this Indenture.

                 None of the provisions contained in this Indenture shall
require the 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 there shall be reasonable ground for
believing that the repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such
liability is not reasonably assured to it.

                 The provisions of this Section 5.1 are in furtherance of and
subject to Sections 315 and 316 of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.

                 SECTION 5.2  Certain Rights of the Trustee.  In furtherance of
and subject to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, and subject to Section 5.1:

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

                 (b)  any request, direction, order or demand of the Issuer
         mentioned herein shall be sufficiently evidenced by an Officers'
         Certificate (unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein
         specifically prescribed); and any resolution of the Board of Directors
         may be evidenced to the Trustee by a copy thereof certified by the
         secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer;

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

                 (d)  the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any
         of the trusts or powers vested in it by this Indenture at the request,
         order or direction of any of the Securityholders pursuant to the
         provisions of this Indenture, unless such Securityholders shall have
         offered to the Trustee reasonable security or indemnity against the
         costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred therein or
         thereby;





                                       48
<PAGE>   55
                 (e)  the Trustee shall not be liable for any action taken or
         omitted by it in good faith and believed by it to be authorized or
         within the discretion, rights or powers conferred upon it by this
         Indenture;

                 (f)  prior to the occurrence of an Event of Default hereunder
         and after the curing or waiving of all Events of Default, 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, consent, order, approval, appraisal, bond,
         debenture, note, Coupon, Security, or other paper or document unless
         requested in writing so to do by the Holders of not less than a
         majority in aggregate principal amount of the Securities of all series
         affected then Outstanding; provided that, if the payment within a
         reasonable time to the Trustee of the costs, expenses or liabilities
         likely to be incurred by it in the making of such investigation is, in
         the opinion of the Trustee, not reasonably assured to the Trustee by
         the security afforded to it by the terms of this Indenture, the
         Trustee may require reasonable indemnity against such expenses or
         liabilities as a condition to proceeding; the reasonable expenses of
         every such investigation shall be paid by the Issuer or, if paid by
         the Trustee or any predecessor Trustee, shall be repaid by the Issuer
         upon demand; and

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

                 SECTION 5.3  Trustee Not Responsible for Recitals, Disposition
of Securities or Application of Proceeds Thereof.  The recitals contained
herein and in the Securities, except the Trustee's certificates of
authentication, shall be taken as the statements of the Issuer, and the Trustee
assumes no responsibility for the correctness of the same.  The Trustee makes
no representation as to the validity or sufficiency of this Indenture or of the
Securities or Coupons.  The Trustee shall not be accountable for the use or
application by the Issuer of any of the Securities or of the proceeds thereof.

                 SECTION 5.4  Trustee and Agents May Hold Securities or
Coupons; Collections, etc.  The Trustee or any agent of the Issuer or the
Trustee, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or
pledgee of Securities or Coupons with the same rights it would have if it were
not the Trustee or such





                                       49
<PAGE>   56
agent and may otherwise deal with the Issuer and receive, collect, hold and
retain collections from the Issuer with the same rights it would have if it
were not the Trustee or such agent.

                 SECTION 5.5  Moneys Held by Trustee.  Subject to the
provisions of Section 9.4 hereof, all moneys received by the Trustee shall,
until used or applied as herein provided, be held in trust for the purposes for
which they were received, but need not be segregated from other funds except to
the extent required by mandatory provisions of law.  Neither the Trustee nor
any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be under any liability for
interest on any moneys received by it hereunder.

                 SECTION 5.6  Compensation and Indemnification of Trustee and
Its Prior Claim.  The Issuer covenants and agrees to pay to the Trustee from
time to time, and the Trustee shall be entitled to, reasonable compensation
(which shall not be limited by any provision of law in regard to the
compensation of a trustee of an express trust) and the Issuer covenants and
agrees to pay or reimburse the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee upon its
request for all reasonable expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or
made by or on behalf of it in accordance with any of the provisions of this
Indenture (including the reasonable compensation and the expenses and
disbursements of its counsel and of all agents and other persons not regularly
in its employ) except any such expense, disbursement or advance as may result
from its negligence or bad faith.  The Issuer also covenants to indemnify the
Trustee and each predecessor Trustee for, and to hold it harmless against, any
loss, liability or expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its
part, arising out of or in connection with the acceptance or administration of
this Indenture or the trusts hereunder and its duties hereunder, including the
costs and expenses of defending itself against or investigating any claim of
liability in the premises.  The obligations of the Issuer under this Section to
compensate and indemnify the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee and to pay or
reimburse the Trustee and each predecessor Trustee for expenses, disbursements
and advances shall constitute additional indebtedness hereunder and shall
survive the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture.  Such additional
indebtedness shall be a senior claim to that of the Securities upon all
property and funds held or collected by the Trustee as such, except funds held
in trust for the benefit of the Holders of particular Securities or Coupons,
and the Securities are hereby subordinated to such senior claim.

                 SECTION 5.7  Right of Trustee to Rely on Officers'
Certificate, etc. Subject to Sections 5.1 and 5.2, whenever in the
administration of the trusts of this Indenture the Trustee


                                       50
<PAGE>   57
shall deem it necessary or desirable that a matter be proved or established
prior to taking or suffering or omitting any action hereunder, such matter
(unless other evidence in respect thereof be herein specifically prescribed)
may, in the absence of negligence or bad faith on the part of the Trustee, be
deemed to be conclusively proved and established by an Officers' Certificate
delivered to the Trustee, and such certificate, in the absence of negligence or
bad faith on the part of the Trustee, shall be full warrant to the Trustee for
any action taken, suffered or omitted by it under the provisions of this
Indenture upon the faith thereof.

                 SECTION 5.8  Persons Eligible for Appointment as Trustee.  The
Trustee for each series of Securities hereunder shall at all times be a
corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the United States of
America or of any state or the District of Columbia having a combined capital
and surplus of at least $5,000,000, and which is eligible in accordance with
the provisions of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939.  If such
corporation publishes reports of condition at least annually, pursuant to law
or to the requirements of a federal, state or District of Columbia supervising
or examining authority, then for the purposes of this Section, 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.

                 SECTION 5.9  Resignation and Removal; Appointment of Successor
Trustee.  (a)  The Trustee, or any trustee or trustees hereafter appointed, may
at any time resign with respect to one or more or all series of Securities by
giving written notice of resignation to the Issuer and (i) if any Unregistered
Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, by giving notice of such
resignation to the Holders thereof, by publication at least once in an
Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, and at
least once in an Authorized Newspaper in London (and, if required by Section
3.8, at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg), (ii) if any
Unregistered Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, by mailing
notice of such resignation to the Holders thereof who have filed their names
and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2) of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 at such addresses as were so furnished to the Trustee and
(iii) by mailing notice of such resignation to the Holders of then Outstanding
Registered Securities of each series affected at their addresses as they shall
appear on the registry books.  Upon receiving such notice of resignation, the
Issuer shall promptly appoint a successor trustee or trustees with respect to
the applicable series by written instrument in duplicate, executed by authority
of the Board of Directors, one copy of which instrument shall be





                                       51
<PAGE>   58
delivered to the resigning Trustee and one copy to the successor trustee or
trustees.  If no successor trustee shall have been so appointed with respect to
any series and have accepted appointment within 30 days after the mailing of
such notice of resignation, the resigning trustee may petition any court of
competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor trustee, or any
Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or Securities of
the applicable series for at least six months may, subject to the provisions of
Section 4.12, on behalf of himself and all others similarly situated, petition
any such court for the appointment of a successor trustee.  Such court may
thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and prescribe,
appoint a successor trustee.

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


                 (i)  the Trustee shall fail to comply with the provisions of
         Section 310(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 with respect to any
         series of Securities after written request therefor by the Issuer or
         by any Securityholder who has been a bona fide Holder of a Security or
         Securities of such series for at least six months; or

                 (ii)  the Trustee shall cease to be eligible in accordance
         with the provisions of Section 310(a) of the Trust Indenture Act of
         1939 and shall fail to resign after written request therefor by the
         Issuer or by any Securityholder; or

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





                                       52
<PAGE>   59
         successor trustee with respect to such series.  Such court may
         thereupon, after such notice, if any, as it may deem proper and
         prescribe, remove the Trustee and appoint a successor trustee.

                 (c)  The Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
         of the Securities of each series at the time Outstanding may at any
         time remove the Trustee with respect to Securities of such series and
         appoint a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of such
         series by delivering to the Trustee so removed, to the successor
         trustee so appointed and to the Issuer the evidence provided for in
         Section 6.1 of the action in that regard taken by the Securityholders.

                 (d)  Any resignation or removal of the Trustee with respect to
         any series and any appointment of a successor trustee with respect to
         such series pursuant to any of the provisions of this Section 5.9
         shall become effective upon acceptance of appointment by the successor
         trustee as provided in Section 5.10.

                 SECTION 5.10  Acceptance of Appointment by Successor Trustee.
Any successor trustee appointed as provided in Section 5.9 shall execute and
deliver to the Issuer and to its predecessor trustee an instrument accepting
such appointment hereunder, and thereupon the resignation or removal of the
predecessor trustee with respect to all or any applicable series shall become
effective and such successor trustee, without any further act, deed or
conveyance, shall become vested with all rights, powers, duties and obligations
with respect to such series of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as
if originally named as trustee for such series hereunder; but, nevertheless, on
the written request of the Issuer or of the successor trustee, upon payment of
its charges then unpaid, the trustee ceasing to act shall, subject to Section
9.4, pay over to the successor trustee all moneys at the time held by it
hereunder and shall execute and deliver an instrument transferring to such
successor trustee all such rights, powers, duties and obligations.  Upon
request of any such successor trustee, the Issuer shall execute any and all
instruments in writing for more fully and certainly vesting in and confirming
to such successor trustee all such rights and powers.  Any trustee ceasing to
act shall, nevertheless, retain a prior claim upon all property or funds held
or collected by such trustee to secure any amounts then due it pursuant to the
provisions of Section 5.6.

                 If a successor trustee is appointed with respect to the
Securities of one or more (but not all) series, the Issuer, the predecessor
trustee and each successor trustee with respect to





                                       53
<PAGE>   60
the Securities of any applicable series shall execute and deliver an indenture
supplemental hereto which shall contain such provisions as shall be deemed
necessary or desirable to confirm that all the rights, powers, trusts and
duties of the predecessor trustee with respect to the Securities of any series
as to which the predecessor trustee is not retiring shall continue to be vested
in the predecessor trustee, and shall add to or change any of the provisions of
this Indenture as shall be necessary to provide for or facilitate the
administration of the trusts hereunder by more than one trustee, it being
understood that nothing herein or in such supplemental indenture shall
constitute such trustees co-trustees of the same trust and that each such
trustee shall be trustee of a trust or trusts under separate indentures.

                 Upon acceptance of appointment by any successor trustee as
provided in this Section 5.10, the Issuer shall give notice thereof (a) if any
Unregistered Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, to the
Holders thereof, by publication of such notice at least once in an Authorized
Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and at least once
in an Authorized Newspaper in London (and, if required by Section 3.8, at least
once in an Authorized Newspaper in Luxembourg), (b) if any Unregistered
Securities of a series affected are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof
who have filed their names and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section
313(c)(2) of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, by mailing such notice to such
Holders at such addresses as were so furnished to the Trustee (and the Trustee
shall make such information available to the Issuer for such purpose) and (c)
to the Holders of Registered Securities of each series affected, by mailing
such notice to such Holders at their addresses as they shall appear on the
registry books.  If the acceptance of appointment is substantially
contemporaneous with the resignation, then the notice called for by the
preceding sentence may be combined with the notice called for by Section 5.9.
If the Issuer fails to give such notice within ten days after acceptance of
appointment by the successor trustee, the successor trustee shall cause such
notice to be given at the expense of the Issuer.

                 SECTION 5.11  Merger, Conversion, Consolidation or Succession
to Business of Trustee.  Any corporation into which the Trustee may be merged
or converted or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation resulting
from any merger, conversion or consolidation to which the Trustee shall be a
party, or any corporation succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate
trust business of the Trustee, shall be the successor of the Trustee hereunder,
provided that such corporation shall be eligible under the provisions of
Section 5.8, without the execution or filing of any paper or any further





                                       54
<PAGE>   61
act on the part of any of the parties hereto, anything herein to the contrary
notwithstanding.

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

                 SECTION 5.12  Appointment of Authenticating Agent.  As long as
any Securities of a series remain Outstanding, the Trustee may, by an
instrument in writing, appoint with the approval of the Issuer an
authenticating agent (the "Authenticating Agent") which shall be authorized to
act on behalf of the Trustee to authenticate Securities, including Securities
issued upon exchange, registration of transfer, partial redemption or pursuant
to Section 2.9.  Securities of each such series authenticated by such
Authenticating Agent shall be entitled to the benefits of this Indenture and
shall be valid and obligatory for all purposes as if authenticated by the
Trustee.  Whenever reference is made in this Indenture to the authentication
and delivery of Securities of any series by the Trustee or to the Trustee's
certificate of authentication, such reference shall be deemed to include
authentication and delivery on behalf of the Trustee by an Authenticating Agent
for such series and a certificate of authentication executed on behalf of the
Trustee by such Authenticating Agent.  Such Authenticating Agent shall at all
times be a corporation organized and doing business under the laws of the
United States of America or of any State, authorized under such laws to
exercise corporate trust powers, having a combined capital and surplus of at
least $5,000,000 (determined as provided in Section 5.8 with respect to the
Trustee) and subject to supervision or examination by Federal or State
authority.

                 Any corporation into which any Authenticating Agent may be
merged or converted, or with which it may be consolidated, or any corporation
resulting from any merger, conversion or





                                       55
<PAGE>   62
consolidation to which any Authenticating Agent shall be a party, or any
corporation succeeding to the corporate agency business of any Authenticating
Agent, shall continue to be the Authenticating Agent with respect to all series
of Securities for which it served as Authenticating Agent without the execution
or filing of any paper or any further act on the part of the Trustee or such
Authenticating Agent.

                 Any Authenticating Agent may at any time, and if it shall
cease to be eligible shall, resign by giving written notice of resignation to
the Trustee and to the Issuer.  The Trustee may at any time terminate the
agency of any Authenticating Agent by giving written notice of termination to
such Authenticating Agent and to the Issuer.  Upon receiving such a notice of
resignation or upon such a termination, or in case at any time any
Authenticating Agent shall cease to be eligible in accordance with the
provisions of this Section 5.12 with respect to one or more series of
Securities, the Trustee may upon receipt of an Issuer Order appoint a successor
Authenticating Agent and the Issuer shall provide notice of such appointment to
all Holders of Securities of such series in the manner and to the extent
provided in Section 5.10.  Any successor Authenticating Agent upon acceptance
of its appointment hereunder shall become vested with all rights, powers,
duties and responsibilities of its predecessor hereunder, with like effect as
if originally named as Authenticating Agent.  The Issuer agrees to pay to the
Authenticating Agent for such series from time to time reasonable compensation.
The Authenticating Agent for the Securities of any series shall have no
responsibility or liability for any action taken by it as such at the direction
of the Trustee.

                 Sections 5.2, 5.3, 5.4, 5.6, 5.8 and 6.3 shall be applicable
to any Authenticating Agent.


                                  ARTICLE SIX


                         CONCERNING THE SECURITYHOLDERS

                 SECTION 6.1  Evidence of Action Taken by Securityholders.  Any
request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other
action provided by this Indenture to be given or taken by a specified
percentage in principal amount of the Securityholders of any or all series may
be embodied in and evidenced by one or more instruments of substantially
similar tenor signed by such specified percentage of Securityholders in person
or by an agent duly appointed in writing; and, except as herein otherwise
expressly provided, such action shall become effective when such instrument or
instruments





                                       56
<PAGE>   63
are delivered to the Trustee.  Proof of execution of any instrument or of a
writing appointing any such agent shall be sufficient for any purpose of this
Indenture and (subject to Sections 5.1 and 5.2) conclusive in favor of the
Trustee and the Issuer, if made in the manner provided in this Article.

                 SECTION 6.2  Proof of Execution of Instruments and of Holding
of Securities.  Subject to Sections 5.1 and 5.2, the execution of any
instrument by a Securityholder or his agent or proxy may be proved in the
following manner:

                 (a)  The fact and date of the execution by any Holder of any
         instrument may be proved by the certificate of any notary public or
         other officer of any jurisdiction authorized to take acknowledgments
         of deeds or administer oaths that the Person executing such
         instruments acknowledged to him the execution thereof, or by an
         affidavit of a witness to such execution sworn to before any such
         notary or other such officer.  Where such execution is by or on behalf
         of any legal entity other than an individual, such certificate or
         affidavit shall also constitute sufficient proof of the authority of
         the Person executing the same.  The fact of the holding by any Holder
         of an Unregistered Security of any series, and the identifying number
         of such Security and the date of his holding the same, may be proved
         by the production of such Security or by a certificate executed by any
         trust company, bank, banker or recognized securities dealer wherever
         situated satisfactory to the Trustee, if such certificate shall be
         deemed by the Trustee to be satisfactory.  Each such certificate shall
         be dated and shall state that on the date thereof a Security of such
         series bearing a specified identifying number was deposited with or
         exhibited to such trust company, bank, banker or recognized securities
         dealer by the Person named in such certificate.  Any such certificate
         may be issued in respect of one or more Unregistered Securities of one
         or more series specified therein.  The holding by the Person named in
         any such certificate of any Unregistered Securities of any series
         specified therein shall be presumed to continue for a period of one
         year from the date of such certificate unless at the time of any
         determination of such holding (1) another certificate bearing a later
         date issued in respect of the same Securities shall be produced, or
         (2) the Security of such series specified in such certificate shall be
         produced by some other Person, or (3) the Security of such series
         specified in such certificate shall have ceased to be Outstanding.
         The fact and date of the execution of any such instrument and the
         amount and numbers of Securities of any series held by the Person so
         executing such instrument and





                                       57
<PAGE>   64
         the amount and numbers of any Security or Securities for such series
         may also be proven in accordance with such reasonable rules and
         regulations as may be prescribed by the Trustee for such series or in
         any other manner which the Trustee for such series may deem
         sufficient.

                 (b)  In the case of Registered Securities, the ownership of
         such Securities shall be proved by the Security register or by a
         certificate of the Security registrar.

                 SECTION 6.3  Holders to be Treated as Owners.  The Issuer, the
Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee may deem and treat the
Person in whose name any Security shall be registered upon the Security
register for such series as the absolute owner of such Security (whether or not
such Security shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of ownership or
other writing thereon) for the purpose of receiving payment of or on account of
the principal of and, subject to the provisions of this Indenture, interest on
such Security and for all other purposes; and neither the Issuer nor the
Trustee nor any agent of the Issuer or the Trustee shall be affected by any
notice to the contrary.  The Issuer, the Trustee and any agent of the Issuer or
the Trustee may treat the Holder of any Unregistered Security and the Holder of
any Coupon as the absolute owner of such Unregistered Security or Coupon
(whether or not such Unregistered Security or Coupon shall be overdue) for the
purpose of receiving payment thereof or on account thereof and for all other
purposes and neither the Issuer, the Trustee, nor any agent of the Issuer or
the Trustee shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.  All such payments
so made to any such Person, or upon his order, shall be valid, and, to the
extent of the sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the
liability for moneys payable upon any such Registered Security Unregistered 
Security or Coupon.

                 SECTION 6.4  Securities Owned by Issuer Deemed Not
Outstanding.  In determining whether the Holders of the requisite aggregate
principal amount of Outstanding Securities of any or all series have concurred
in any direction, consent or waiver under this Indenture, Securities which are
owned by the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to
which such determination is being made or by any Person directly or indirectly
controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with
the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities with respect to which such
determination is being made shall be disregarded and deemed not to be
Outstanding for the purpose of any such determination, except that for the
purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any
such direction, consent or waiver only Securities which the Trustee knows are
so owned shall be so disregarded.  Securities so owned which have been pledged
in good faith may be





                                       58
<PAGE>   65
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 Issuer or any other obligor upon the Securities or any
Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or
indirect common control with the Issuer or any other obligor on the Securities.
In case of a dispute as to such right, the advice of counsel shall be full
protection in respect of any decision made by the Trustee in accordance with
such advice.  Upon request of the Trustee, the Issuer shall furnish to the
Trustee promptly an Officers' Certificate listing and identifying all
Securities, if any, known by the Issuer to be owned or held by or for the
account of any of the above-described Persons; and, subject to Sections 5.1 and
5.2, the Trustee shall be entitled to accept such Officers' Certificate as
conclusive evidence of the facts therein set forth and of the fact that all
Securities not listed therein are Outstanding for the purpose of any such
determination.

                 SECTION 6.5  Right of Revocation of Action Taken.  At any time
prior to (but not after) the evidencing to the Trustee, as provided in Section
6.1, of the taking of any action by the Holders of the percentage in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case may be,
specified in this Indenture in connection with such action, any Holder of a
Security the serial number of which is shown by the evidence to be included
among the serial numbers of the Securities the Holders of which have consented
to such action may, by filing written notice at the Corporate Trust Office and
upon proof of holding as provided in this Article, revoke such action so far as
concerns such Security.  Except as aforesaid any such action taken by the
Holder of any Security shall be conclusive and binding upon such Holder and
upon all future Holders and owners of such Security and of any Securities
issued in exchange or substitution therefor or on registration of transfer
thereof, irrespective of whether or not any notation in regard thereto is made
upon any such Security.  Any action taken by the Holders of the percentage in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities of any or all series, as the case
may be, specified in this Indenture in connection with such action shall be
conclusively binding upon the Issuer, the Trustee and the Holders of all the
Securities affected by such action.





                                       59
<PAGE>   66
                                 ARTICLE SEVEN


                            SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURES


                 SECTION 7.1  Supplemental Indentures Without Consent of
Securityholders.  The Issuer, when authorized by a resolution of its Board of
Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or parameters for such
action and may provide that the specific terms of such action may be determined
in accordance with or pursuant to an Officers' Certificate), and the Trustee
may from time to time and at any time enter into an indenture or indentures
supplemental hereto for one or more of the following purposes:

                 (a)  to convey, transfer, assign, mortgage or pledge to the
         Trustee as security for the Securities of one or more series any
         property or assets;

                 (b)  to evidence the succession of another corporation to the
         Issuer, or successive successions, and the assumption by the successor
         corporation of the covenants, agreements and obligations of the Issuer
         pursuant to Article Eight;

                 (c)  to add to the covenants of the Issuer such further
         covenants, restrictions, conditions or provisions as the Issuer and
         the Trustee shall consider to be for the protection of the Holders of
         Securities or Coupons, and to make the occurrence, or the occurrence
         and continuance, of a default in any such additional covenants,
         restrictions, conditions or provisions an Event of Default permitting
         the enforcement of all or any of the several remedies provided in this
         Indenture as herein set forth; provided, that in respect of any such
         additional covenant, restriction, condition or provision such
         supplemental indenture may provide for a particular period of grace
         after default (which period may be shorter or longer than that allowed
         in the case of other defaults) or may provide for an immediate
         enforcement upon such an Event of Default or may limit the remedies
         available to the Trustee upon such an Event of Default or may limit
         the right of the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount
         of the Securities of such series to waive such an Event of Default;

                 (d)  to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any
         provision contained herein or in any supplemental indenture which may
         be defective or inconsistent with any other provision contained herein
         or in any supplemental





                                       60
<PAGE>   67
         indenture, or to make any other provisions as the Issuer may deem
         necessary or desirable, provided that no such action shall materially
         adversely affect the interests of the Holders of the Securities or
         Coupons;

                 (e)  to establish the form or terms of Securities of any
         series or of the Coupons appertaining to such Securities as permitted
         by Sections 2.1 and 2.3; and

                 (f)  to evidence and provide for the acceptance of appointment
         hereunder by a successor trustee with respect to the Securities of one
         or more series 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 5.10.

                 The Trustee is hereby authorized to join with the Issuer in
the execution of any such supplemental indenture, to make any further
appropriate agreements and stipulations which may be therein contained and to
accept the conveyance, transfer, assignment, mortgage or pledge of any property
thereunder, but the Trustee 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.

                 Any supplemental indenture authorized by the provisions of
this Section may be executed without the consent of the Holders of any of the
Securities at the time Outstanding, notwithstanding any of the provisions of
Section 7.2.

                 SECTION 7.2  Supplemental Indentures With Consent of
Securityholders.  With the consent (evidenced as provided in Article Six) of
the Holders of not less than a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Securities at the time Outstanding of all series affected by such supplemental
indenture (voting as one class), the Issuer, when authorized by a resolution of
its Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general terms or
parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of such
action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer Order),
and the Trustee may, from time to time and at any time, enter into an indenture
or indentures supplemental hereto for the purpose of adding any provisions to
or changing in any manner or eliminating any of the provisions of this
Indenture or of any supplemental indenture or of modifying in any manner the
rights of the Holders of the Securities of each such series or of the Coupons
appertaining to such Securities; provided, that no such supplemental indenture
shall (a) extend the final maturity of any Security, or reduce the principal
amount thereof, or reduce the





                                       61
<PAGE>   68
rate or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount
payable on redemption thereof, or make the principal thereof (including any
amount in respect of original issue discount) or interest thereon payable in
any coin or currency other than that provided in the Securities and Coupons or
in accordance with the terms thereof, or reduce the amount of the principal of
an Original Issue Discount Security that would be due and payable upon an
acceleration of the maturity thereof pursuant to Section 4.1 or the amount
thereof provable in bankruptcy pursuant to Section 4.2, or alter the provisions
of Section 10.11 or 10.12 or impair or affect the right of any Securityholder
to institute suit for the payment thereof or, if the Securities provide
therefor, any right of repayment at the option of the Securityholder, in each
case without the consent of the Holder of each Security so affected, or (b)
reduce the aforesaid percentage of Securities of any series, the consent of the
Holders of which is required for any such supplemental indenture, without the
consent of the Holders of each Security so affected.

                 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 Holders of Securities of such series, or of Coupons
appertaining to such Securities, with respect to such covenant or provision,
shall be deemed not to affect the rights under this Indenture of the Holders of
Securities of any other series or of the Coupons appertaining to such
Securities.

                 Upon the request of the Issuer, accompanied by a copy of a
resolution of the Board of Directors (which resolution may provide general
terms or parameters for such action and may provide that the specific terms of
such action may be determined in accordance with or pursuant to an Issuer
Order) certified by the secretary or an assistant secretary of the Issuer
authorizing the execution of any such supplemental indenture, and upon the
filing with the Trustee of evidence of the consent of the Holders of the
Securities as aforesaid and other documents, if any, required by Section 6.1,
the Trustee shall join with the Issuer in the execution of such supplemental
indenture unless such supplemental indenture affects the Trustee's own rights,
duties or immunities under this Indenture or otherwise, in which case the
Trustee may in its discretion, but shall not be obligated to, enter into such
supplemental indenture.

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





                                       62
<PAGE>   69
                 Promptly after the execution by the Issuer and the Trustee of
any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this Section, the
Trustee shall give notice thereof (i) to the Holders of then Outstanding
Registered Securities of each series affected thereby, by mailing a notice
thereof by first-class mail to such Holders at their addresses as they shall
appear on the Security register, (ii) if any Unregistered Securities of a
series affected thereby are then Outstanding, to the Holders thereof who have
filed their names and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2)
of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, by mailing a notice thereof by first-class
mail to such Holders at such addresses as were so furnished to the Trustee and
(iii) if any Unregistered Securities of a series affected thereby are then
Outstanding, to all Holders thereof, by publication of a notice thereof at
least once in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of
New York and at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in London (and, if
required by Section 3.8, at least once in an Authorized Newspaper in
Luxembourg), and in each case such notice shall set forth in general terms the
substance of such supplemental indenture.  Any failure of the Issuer to give
such notice, or any defect therein, shall not, however, in any way impair or
affect the validity of any such supplemental indenture.

                 SECTION 7.3  Effect of Supplemental Indenture.  Upon the
execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions hereof, this
Indenture shall be and be deemed to be modified and amended in accordance
therewith and the respective rights, limitations of rights, obligations, duties
and immunities under this Indenture of the Trustee, the Issuer and the Holders
of Securities of each series affected thereby shall thereafter be determined,
exercised and enforced hereunder subject in all respects to such modifications
and amendments, and all the terms and conditions of any such supplemental
indenture shall be and be deemed to be part of the terms and conditions of this
Indenture for any and all purposes.

                 SECTION 7.4  Documents to Be Given to Trustee.  The Trustee,
subject to the provisions of Sections 5.1 and 5.2, may receive an Officers'
Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence that any
supplemental indenture executed pursuant to this Article Seven complies with
the applicable provisions of this Indenture.

                 SECTION 7.5  Notation on Securities in Respect of Supplemental
Indentures.  Securities of any series authenticated and delivered after the
execution of any supplemental indenture pursuant to the provisions of this
Article may bear a notation in form approved by the Trustee for such series as
to any matter provided for by such supplemental indenture or as to any action





                                       63
<PAGE>   70
taken by Securityholders.  If the Issuer or the Trustee shall so determine, new
Securities of any series so modified as to conform, in the opinion of the
Trustee and the Board of Directors, to any modification of this Indenture
contained in any such supplemental indenture may be prepared by the Issuer,
authenticated by the Trustee and delivered in exchange for the Securities of
such series then Outstanding.


                                 ARTICLE EIGHT


                   CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE

                 SECTION 8.1  Issuer May Consolidate, etc., Only on Certain
Terms.  The Issuer shall not consolidate with or merge into any other entity 
or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as an 
entirety to any Person, unless:

                 (a)  the corporation, limited liability company, limited
         partnership, joint stock company, or trust formed by such 
         consolidation or into which the Issuer is merged or the Person which 
         acquires by conveyance, transfer or lease the properties and assets 
         of the Issuer substantially as an entirety shall expressly assume, 
         by a supplemental indenture hereto, executed and delivered to the 
         Trustee, in form reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, the due and 
         punctual payment of the principal of and interest on all the 
         Securities and Coupons, if any, according to their tenor, and the 
         performance of every covenant of this Indenture on the part of the 
         Issuer to be performed or observed;

                 (b)  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;

                 (c)  the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
         Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel each stating that such
         consolidation, merger, conveyance, transfer or lease and such
         supplemental indenture comply with this Article and that all
         conditions precedent herein provided for relating to such transaction
         have been complied with; and

                 (d)  the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee such other
         documents as the Trustee may, in its discretion, reasonably require.





                                       64
<PAGE>   71
                 SECTION 8.2  Successor Entity Substituted.  In case of
any such consolidation, merger, sale, lease or conveyance, and following such
an assumption by the successor Person, such successor Person shall succeed to
and be substituted for the Issuer, with the same effect as if it had been named
herein.  Such successor Person may cause to be signed, and may issue either in
its own name or in the name of the Issuer prior to such succession any or all
of the Securities issuable hereunder which together with any Coupons
appertaining thereto theretofore shall not have been signed by the Issuer and
delivered to the Trustee; and, upon the order of such successor Person, instead
of the Issuer, and subject to all the terms, conditions and limitations in this
Indenture prescribed, the Trustee shall authenticate and shall deliver any
Securities together with any Coupons appertaining thereto which previously
shall have been signed and delivered by the officers of the Issuer to the
Trustee for authentication, and any Securities which such successor Person
thereafter shall cause to be signed and delivered to the Trustee for that
purpose.  All of the Securities so issued together with any Coupons
appertaining thereto shall in all respects have the same legal rank and benefit
under this Indenture as the Securities theretofore or thereafter issued in
accordance with the terms of this Indenture as though all of such Securities
had been issued at the date of the execution hereof.

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

                 In the event of any such sale or conveyance (other than a
conveyance by way of lease) the Issuer or any successor Person which shall
theretofore have become such in the manner described in this Article shall be
discharged from all obligations and covenants under this Indenture and the
Securities the Coupons and may be liquidated and dissolved.


                                  ARTICLE NINE


                    SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE;
                                UNCLAIMED MONEYS


                 SECTION 9.1  Satisfaction and Discharge of Indenture.  (A)  If
at any time (a) the Issuer shall have paid or caused to be paid the principal
of and interest on all the Securities of any series Outstanding hereunder and
all unmatured Coupons





                                       65
<PAGE>   72
appertaining thereto (other than Securities of such series and Coupons
appertaining thereto which have been destroyed, lost or stolen and which have
been replaced or paid as provided in Section 2.9) as and when the same shall
have become due and payable, or (b) the Issuer shall have delivered to the
Trustee for cancellation all Securities of any series theretofore authenticated
and all unmatured Coupons appertaining thereto (other than any Securities of
such series and Coupons appertaining thereto which shall have been destroyed,
lost or stolen and which shall have been replaced or paid as provided in Section
2.9) or (c) in the case of any series of Securities where the exact or maximum
amount (including the currency of payment) of principal of and interest due on
which can be determined at the time of making the deposit referred to in clause
(ii) below, (i) all the Securities of such series and all unmatured Coupons
appertaining thereto not theretofore delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
shall have become due and payable, or are by their terms to become due and
payable within one year or are to be called for redemption within one year under
arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the giving of notice of redemption,
and (ii) the Issuer shall have irrevocably deposited or caused to be deposited
with the Trustee as trust funds the entire amount in cash (other than moneys
repaid by the Trustee or any paying agent to the Issuer in accordance with
Section 9.4), or, in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which
may only be made in Dollars, direct obligations of the United States of America,
backed by its full faith and credit ("U.S. Government Obligations"), maturing as
to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will insure the
availability of cash, or a combination thereof, 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 (A) the principal
of and interest on all Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining
thereto on each date that such principal or interest is due and payable and (B)
any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to Securities of such Series on
the dates on which such payments are due and payable in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such series; and if, in any such
case, the Issuer shall also pay or cause to be paid all other sums payable
hereunder by the Issuer with respect to the Securities of such series, then this
Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series shall cease to be of
further effect (except as to (i) rights of registration of transfer and exchange
of Securities of such series and of Coupons appertaining thereto and the
Issuer's right of optional redemption, if any, (ii) substitution of mutilated,
defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or Coupons, (iii) rights of
Holders of Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto to receive payments of
principal thereof and interest thereon, upon the original stated due dates
therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining rights of the





                                       66
<PAGE>   73
Holders to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv) the rights,
obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, (v) the rights of
the Holders of Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto as
beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so deposited with the Trustee
payable to all or any of them, and (vi) the obligations of the Issuer under
Section 3.2) and the Trustee, on demand of the Issuer accompanied by an
Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of
the Issuer, shall execute proper instruments acknowledging such satisfaction of
and discharging this Indenture with respect to the Securities of such series
and coupons appertaining thereto; provided, that the rights of Holders of the
Securities and Coupons to receive amounts in respect of principal of and
interest on the Securities and Coupons held by them shall not be delayed longer
than required by then-applicable mandatory rules or policies of any securities
exchange upon which the Securities are listed.  The Issuer agrees to reimburse
the Trustee for any costs or expenses thereafter reasonably and properly
incurred and to compensate the Trustee for any services thereafter reasonably
and properly rendered by the Trustee in connection with this Indenture or the
Securities of such series.

                 (B)  The following provisions shall apply to the Securities of
each series unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution,
Officers' Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto provided pursuant to
Section 2.3.  In addition to discharge of the Indenture pursuant to the next
preceding paragraph, in the case of any series of Securities the exact or
maximum amounts (including the currency of payment) of principal of and
interest due on which can be determined at the time of making the deposit
referred to in clause (a) below, the Issuer shall be deemed to have paid and
discharged the entire indebtedness on all the Securities of such a series and
the Coupons appertaining thereto on the 91st day after the date of the deposit
referred to in subparagraph (a) below, and the provisions of this Indenture
with respect to the Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto
shall no longer be in effect (except as to (i) rights of registration of
transfer and exchange of Securities of such series and of Coupons appertaining
thereto and the Issuer's right of optional redemption, if any, (ii)
substitution of mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost or stolen Securities or
Coupons, (iii) rights of Holders of Securities and Coupons appertaining thereto
to receive payments of principal thereof and interest thereon, upon the
original stated due dates therefor (but not upon acceleration), and remaining
rights of the Holders to receive mandatory sinking fund payments, if any, (iv)
the rights, obligations, duties and immunities of the Trustee hereunder, (v)
the rights of the Holders of Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining
thereto as beneficiaries hereof with respect to the property so





                                       67
<PAGE>   74
deposited with the Trustee payable to all or any of them and (vi) the
obligations of the Issuer under Section 3.2) and the Trustee, at the expense of
the Issuer, shall at the Issuer's request, execute proper instruments
acknowledging the same, if

                 (a)  with reference to this provision the Issuer has
         irrevocably deposited or caused to be irrevocably deposited with the
         Trustee as trust funds in trust, specifically pledged as security for,
         and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities
         of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto (i) cash in an amount,
         or (ii) in the case of any series of Securities the payments on which
         may only be made in Dollars, U.S.  Government Obligations, maturing as
         to principal and interest at such times and in such amounts as will
         insure the availability of cash or (iii) a combination thereof,
         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 (A) the principal of and
         interest on all Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining
         thereto on each date that such principal or interest is due and
         payable and (B) any mandatory sinking fund payments applicable to such
         Securities on the dates on which such payments are due and payable in
         accordance with the terms of the Indenture and the Securities of such
         series;

                 (b)  such deposit will not result in a breach or violation of,
         or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any other agreement 
         or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by which it is bound;

                 (c)  the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of
         Counsel based on the fact that (x) the Issuer has received from, or
         there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling or
         (y) since the date hereof, there has been a change in the applicable
         Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and such
         opinion shall confirm that, the Holders of the Securities of such
         series and Coupons appertaining thereto will not recognize income,
         gain or loss for federal income tax purposes as a result of such
         deposit, defeasance and discharge and will be subject to federal
         income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same
         times, as would have been the case if such deposit, defeasance and
         discharge had not occurred;

                 (d)  the Issuer has delivered to the Trustee an Officers'
         Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all
         conditions precedent provided for relating to the defeasance
         contemplated by this provision have been complied with.





                                       68
<PAGE>   75
                 (e)  no Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse
         of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the
         Securities shall have occurred and be continuing on the date of such
         deposit or, insofar as subsections 4.1(d) and (e) are concerned, at
         any time during the period ending on the 91st day after the date of
         such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall not be
         deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period); and

                 (f)  Such defeasance contemplated by this provision shall not 
         cause any Securities of such Series then listed on any registered 
         national securities exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934,
         as amended, to be delisted.

                 (C)  The following provisions shall apply to the Securities of
each series unless specifically otherwise provided in a Board Resolution,
Officers' Certificate or indenture supplemental hereto provided pursuant to
Section 2.3.  In the case of any series of Securities the exact or maximum
amounts (including the currency of payment) of principal of and interest due on
which can be determined at the time of making the deposit referred to in clause
(a) below, the Issuer shall be released from its obligations under Sections
3.6, 3.7 and 8.1 with respect to the Securities of any such series, and any
Coupons appertaining thereto, Outstanding on and after the date the conditions
set forth below are satisfied (hereinafter, "covenant defeasance").  For this
purpose, such covenant defeasance means that, with respect to the Outstanding
Securities of any series, the Issuer may omit to comply with and shall have no
liability in respect of any term, condition or limitation set forth in such
Sections, whether directly or indirectly by reason of any reference elsewhere
herein to such Sections or by reason of any reference in such Sections to any
other provision herein or in any other document and such omission to comply
shall not constitute an Event of Default under Section 4.1, but the remainder
of this Indenture and such Securities and Coupons shall be unaffected thereby.
The following shall be the conditions to application of this subsection C of
this Section 9.1:

                 (a)  The Issuer has irrevocably deposited or caused to be
         deposited with the Trustee as trust funds in trust for the purpose of
         making the following payments, specifically pledged as security for,
         and dedicated solely to, the benefit of the Holders of the Securities
         of such series and Coupons appertaining thereto, (i) cash in an
         amount, or (ii) in the case of any series of Securities the payments
         on which may only be made in Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations
         maturing as to principal and interest at such times and in such
         amounts as will insure the availability of





                                       69
<PAGE>   76
         cash or (iii) a combination thereof, 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
         (A) the principal of and interest on all Securities of such series and
         Coupons appertaining thereto on each date that such principal and
         interest is due and payable and (B) any mandatory sinking fund
         payments applicable to such Securities on the day on which such 
         payments are due and payable in accordance with the terms of the
         Indenture and the Securities of such series.

                 (b)  No Event of Default or event which with notice or lapse
         of time or both would become an Event of Default with respect to the
         Securities of such Series shall have occurred and be continuing on 
         the date of such deposit or, insofar as subsections 4.1(d) and (e) are
         concerned, at any time during the period ending on the 91st day after
         the date of such deposit (it being understood that this condition shall
         not be deemed satisfied until the expiration of such period).

                 (c)  Such covenant defeasance shall not cause the Trustee to
         have a conflicting interest as described in Section 310 of the Trust
         Indenture Act of 1939 with respect to the Securities of such Series 
         of the Issuer.

                 (d)  Such covenant defeasance shall not result in a breach or
         violation of, or constitute a default under, this Indenture or any
         other agreement or instrument to which the Issuer is a party or by
         which it is bound.

                 (e)  Such covenant defeasance shall not cause any Securities
         of such Series then listed on any registered national securities 
         exchange under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, to 
         be delisted.
         

                 (f)  The Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an
         Officers' Certificate and Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the
         Holders of the Securities of such series and Coupons appertaining
         thereto will not recognize income, gain or loss for federal income tax
         purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject
         to federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at
         the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance
         had not occurred.

                 (g)  The Issuer shall have delivered to the Trustee an
         Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all
         conditions precedent provided for relating to the covenant defeasance
         contemplated by this provision have been complied with.





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<PAGE>   77
                 SECTION 9.2  Application by Trustee of Funds Deposited for
Payment of Securities.  Subject to Section 9.4, all moneys deposited with the
Trustee (or other trustee) pursuant to Section 9.1 shall be held in trust and
applied by it to the payment, either directly or through any paying agent
(including the Issuer acting as its own paying agent), to the Holders of the
particular Securities of such series and of Coupons appertaining thereto for
the payment or redemption of which such moneys have been deposited with the
Trustee, of all sums due and to become due thereon for principal and interest;
but such money need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent
required by law.

                 SECTION 9.3  Repayment of Moneys Held by Paying Agent.  In
connection with the satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture with respect
to Securities of any series, all moneys then held by any paying agent under the
provisions of this Indenture with respect to such series of Securities shall,
upon demand of the Issuer, be repaid to it or paid to the Trustee and thereupon
such paying agent shall be released from all further liability with respect to
such moneys.

                 SECTION 9.4  Return of Moneys Held by Trustee and Paying Agent
Unclaimed for Two Years.  Any moneys deposited with or paid to the Trustee or
any paying agent for the payment of the principal of or interest on any
Security of any series or Coupons attached thereto and not applied but
remaining unclaimed for two years after the date upon which such principal or
interest shall have become due and payable, shall, upon the written request of
the Issuer and unless otherwise required by mandatory provisions of applicable
escheat or abandoned or unclaimed property law, be repaid to the Issuer by the
Trustee for such series or such paying agent, and the Holder of the Securities
of such series and of any Coupons appertaining thereto shall, unless otherwise
required by mandatory provisions of applicable escheat or abandoned or
unclaimed property laws, thereafter look only to the Issuer for any payment
which such Holder may be entitled to collect, and all liability of the Trustee
or any paying agent with respect to such moneys shall thereupon cease;
provided, however, that the Trustee or such paying agent, before being required
to make any such repayment with respect to moneys deposited with it for any
payment (a) in respect of Registered Securities of any series, shall at the
expense of the Issuer, mail by first-class mail to Holders of such Securities
at their addresses as they shall appear on the Security register, and (b) in
respect of Unregistered Securities of any series, shall at the expense of the
Issuer cause to be published once, in an Authorized Newspaper in the Borough of
Manhattan, The City of New York and once in an Authorized Newspaper in London
(and if required by Section 3.8, once in an Authorized Newspaper in





                                       71
<PAGE>   78
Luxembourg), notice, that such moneys remain and that, after a date specified
therein, which shall not be less than 30 days from the date of such mailing or
publication, any unclaimed balance of such money then remaining  will be repaid
to the Issuer.

                 SECTION 9.5  Indemnity for U.S. Government Obligations.  The
Issuer 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 9.1 or the principal or interest received in respect of
such obligations other than any payable by or on behalf of the Holders.

                 SECTION 9.6  Excess Funds.  The Trustee shall deliver to the
Issuer from time to time upon Issuer Order any U.S. Government Obligations or
money held by it as provided in Section 9.1 which, as expressed in the opinion
of a nationally recognized firm of independent public accountants expressed in
a written certification thereof delivered to the Trustee (which may include the
applicable opinion delivered to the Trustee pursuant to Section 9.1), are then
in excess of the amount thereof which then would have been required to be
deposited for the purpose for which such obligations or money were deposited or
received.


                                  ARTICLE TEN


                            MISCELLANEOUS PROVISIONS


                 SECTION 10.1  Incorporators, Stockholders, Officers and
Directors of Issuer Exempt from Individual Liability.  No recourse under or
upon any obligation, covenant or agreement contained in this Indenture, or in
any Security or any Coupon appertaining thereto, or because of any indebtedness
evidenced thereby, shall be had against any incorporator, as such or against any
past, present or future stockholder, officer or director, as such, of the Issuer
or of any successor, either directly or through the Issuer or any successor,
under any rule of law, statute or constitutional provision or by the enforcement
of any assessment or by any legal or equitable proceeding or otherwise, all such
liability being expressly waived and released by the acceptance of the
Securities and the Coupons appertaining thereto by the Holders thereof and as
part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities and the Coupons
appertaining thereto.

                 SECTION 10.2  Provisions of Indenture for the Sole Benefit of
Parties and Holders of Securities and Coupons.  Nothing in this Indenture, in
the Securities or in the Coupons appertaining thereto, expressed or implied,
shall give or be construed to give to any Person, other than the parties hereto





                                       72
<PAGE>   79
and their successors and the Holders of the Securities or Coupons, if any, any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under this Indenture or under any
covenant or provision herein contained, all such covenants and provisions being
for the sole benefit of the parties hereto and their successors and of the
Holders of the Securities or Coupons, if any.

                 SECTION 10.3  Successors and Assigns of Issuer Bound by
Indenture.  All the covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this
Indenture contained by or in behalf of the Issuer shall bind its successors and
assigns, whether so expressed or not.

                 SECTION 10.4  Notices and Demands on Issuer, Trustee and
Holders of Securities and Coupons.  Any notice or demand which by any provision
of this Indenture is required or permitted to be given or served by the Trustee
or by the Holders of Securities or Coupons to or on the Issuer may be given or
served by being deposited postage prepaid, first-class mail (except as otherwise
specifically provided herein) addressed (until another address of the Issuer is
filed by the Issuer with the Trustee) to Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line
Corporation, 2800 Post Oak Blvd., Houston, TX 77056 Attention: Treasurer.  Any
notice, direction, request or demand by the Issuer or any Holder of Securities
or Coupons to or upon the Trustee shall be deemed to have been sufficiently
given or served by being deposited postage prepaid, first-class mail (except as
otherwise specifically provided herein) addressed (until another address of the
Trustee is filed by the Trustee with the Issuer) to Citibank, N.A. at its
Corporate Trust Office, Attention: Corporate Agency and Trust.

                 Where this Indenture provides for notice to Holders of
Registered Securities, such notice shall be sufficiently given (unless
otherwise herein expressly provided) if in writing and mailed, first-class
postage prepaid, to each Holder entitled thereto, at his last address as it
appears in the Security register.  In any case where notice to such 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 or


                                       73
<PAGE>   80
irregularities in regular mail service, it shall be impracticable to mail
notice to the Issuer or the Holders of Registered Securities when such notice 
is required to be given pursuant to any provision of this Indenture, then any 
manner of giving such notice as shall be reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee
shall be deemed to be a sufficient giving of such notice.

                 SECTION 10.5  Officers' Certificates and Opinions of Counsel;
Statements to Be Contained Therein.  Upon any application or demand by the
Issuer to the Trustee to take any action under any of the provisions of this
Indenture, the Issuer shall furnish to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate
stating that all conditions precedent provided for in this Indenture relating
to the proposed action have been complied with and an Opinion of Counsel
stating that in the opinion of such counsel all such conditions precedent have
been complied with, except that in the case of any such application or demand
as to which the furnishing of such documents is specifically required by any
provision of this Indenture relating to such particular application or demand,
no additional certificate or opinion need be furnished.

                 Each certificate or opinion provided for in this Indenture and
delivered to the Trustee with respect to compliance with a condition or
covenant provided for in this Indenture shall include (a) a statement that the
person making such certificate or opinion has read such covenant or condition,
(b) 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, (c) a statement that, in the opinion of such
person, he has made such examination or investigation as is necessary to enable
him to express an opinion as to whether or not such covenant or condition has
been complied with and (d) a statement as to whether or not, in the opinion of
such person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

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





                                       74
<PAGE>   81
certificate, statement or opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or
in the exercise of reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.

                 Any certificate, statement or opinion of an officer of the
Issuer or of counsel may be based, insofar as it relates to accounting matters,
upon a certificate or opinion of or representations by an accountant or firm of
accountants in the employ of the Issuer, unless such officer or counsel, as the
case may be, knows that the certificate or opinion or representations with
respect to the accounting matters upon which his certificate, statement or
opinion may be based as aforesaid are erroneous, or in the exercise of
reasonable care should know that the same are erroneous.

                 Any certificate or opinion of any independent firm of public
accountants filed with and directed to the Trustee shall contain a statement
that such firm is independent.

                 SECTION 10.6  Payments Due on Saturdays, Sundays and Holidays.
If the date of maturity of interest on or principal of the Securities of any
series or any Coupons appertaining thereto or the date fixed for redemption or
repayment of any such Security or Coupon shall not be a Business Day, then
payment of interest or principal need not be made on such date, but may be made
on the next succeeding Business Day with the same force and effect as if made
on the date of maturity or the date fixed for redemption or repayment, and no
interest shall accrue for the period after such date.

                 SECTION 10.7  Conflict of Any Provision of Indenture with
Trust Indenture Act of 1939.  If and to the extent that any provision of this
Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision included in
this Indenture by operation of Sections 310 to 317, inclusive, of the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939 (an "incorporated provision"), such incorporated
provision shall control.

                 SECTION 10.8  New York Law to Govern.  This Indenture and each
Security and Coupon shall be deemed to be a contract under the laws of the
State of New York, and for all purposes shall be construed in accordance with
the laws of such State, except as may otherwise be required by mandatory
provisions of law.

                 SECTION 10.9  Counterparts.  This Indenture may be executed in
any number of counterparts, each of which shall be an original; but such
counterparts shall together constitute but one and the same instrument.





                                       75
<PAGE>   82
                 SECTION 10.10  Effect of Headings.  The Article and Section
headings herein and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall
not affect the construction hereof.

                 SECTION 10.11  Securities in a Foreign Currency or in ECU.
Unless otherwise specified in an Officers' Certificate delivered pursuant to
Section 2.3 of this Indenture with respect to a particular series of Securities,
whenever for purposes of this Indenture any action may be taken by the Holders
of a specified percentage in aggregate principal amount of Securities of all
series or all series affected by a particular action at the time Outstanding
and, at such time, there are Outstanding Securities of any series which are
denominated in a coin or currency other than Dollars (including ECUs), then the
principal amount of Securities of such series which shall be deemed to be
Outstanding for the purpose of taking such action shall be that amount of
Dollars that could be obtained for such amount at the Market Exchange Rate as of
the date of initial issuance of such Securities.  For purposes of this Section
10.11, "Market Exchange Rate" as of any date shall mean the noon Dollar buying
rate in New York City for cable transfers of that currency on such date as
published by the Federal Reserve Bank of New York; provided, however, in the
case of ECUs, "Market Exchange Rate" shall mean the rate of exchange determined
by the Commission of the European Communities (or any successor thereto) as
published in the Official Journal of the European Communities (such publication
or any successor publication, the "Journal").  If such Market Exchange Rate is
not available for any reason with respect to such currency, the Trustee shall
use, in its sole discretion and without liability on its part, such quotation of
the Federal Reserve Bank of New York or, in the case of ECUs, the rate of
exchange as published in the Journal, as of the most recent available date, or
quotations or, in the case of ECUs, rates of exchange from one or more major
banks in The City of New York or in the country of issue of the currency in
question, which for purposes of the ECU shall be Brussels, Belgium, or such
other quotations or, in the case of ECU, rates of exchange as the Trustee shall
deem appropriate.  The provisions of this paragraph shall apply in determining
the equivalent principal amount in respect of Securities of a series denominated
in a currency other than Dollars in connection with any action taken by Holders
of Securities pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

                 All decisions and determinations of the Trustee regarding the
Market Exchange Rate or any alternative determination provided for in the
preceding paragraph shall be in its sole discretion and shall, in the absence
of manifest error, be conclusive to the extent permitted by law for all
purposes and irrevocably binding upon the Issuer and all Holders.


                                       76
<PAGE>   83
                 SECTION 10.12  Judgment Currency.  The Issuer agrees, to the
fullest extent that it may effectively do so under applicable law, that (a) if
for the purpose of obtaining judgment in any court it is necessary to convert
the sum due in respect of the principal of or interest on the Securities of any
series or any Coupon appertaining thereto (the "Required Currency") into a
currency in which a judgment will be rendered (the "Judgment Currency"), the
rate of exchange used shall be the rate at which in accordance with normal
banking procedures the Trustee could purchase in The City of New York the
Required Currency with the Judgment Currency on the day on which a final
unappealable judgment is entered, unless such day is not a New York Banking Day,
then, to the extent permitted by applicable law, the rate of exchange used shall
be the rate at which in accordance with normal banking procedures the Trustee
could purchase in The City of New York the Required Currency with the Judgment
Currency on the New York Banking Day preceding the day on which a final
unappealable judgment is entered, and (b) its obligations under this Indenture
to make payments in the Required Currency (i) shall not be discharged or
satisfied by any tender, or any recovery pursuant to any judgment (whether or
not entered in accordance with subsection (a)), in any currency other than the
Required Currency, except to the extent that such tender or recovery shall
result in the actual receipt, by the payee, of the full amount of the Required
Currency expressed to be payable in respect of such payments, (ii) shall be
enforceable as an alternative or additional cause of action for the purpose of
recovering in the Required Currency the amount, if any, by which such actual
receipt shall fall short of the full amount of the Required Currency so
expressed to be payable and (iii) shall not be affected by judgment being
obtained for any other sum due under this Indenture.  For purposes of the
foregoing, "New York Banking Day" means any day except a Saturday, Sunday or a
legal holiday in The City of New York or a day on which banking institutions in
The City of New York are authorized or required by law or executive order to
close.





                                       77
<PAGE>   84
                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN


                   REDEMPTION OF SECURITIES AND SINKING FUNDS


                 SECTION 11.1  Applicability of Article.  The provisions of
this Article shall be applicable to the Securities of any series which are
redeemable before their maturity or to any sinking fund for the retirement of
Securities of a series except as otherwise specified as contemplated by Section
2.3 for Securities of such series.

                 SECTION 11.2  Notice of Redemption; Partial Redemptions.
Notice of redemption to the Holders of Registered Securities of any series to
be redeemed as a whole or in part at the option of the Issuer shall be given by
mailing notice of such redemption by first class mail, postage prepaid, at
least 30 days and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed for redemption
to such Holders of Securities of such series at their last addresses as they
shall appear upon the registry books.  Notice of redemption to the Holders of
Unregistered Securities to be redeemed as a whole or in part, who have filed
their names and addresses with the Trustee pursuant to Section 313(c)(2) of the
Trust Indenture Act of 1939, shall be given by mailing notice of such
redemption, by first class mail, postage prepaid, at least 30 days and not more
than 60 prior to the date fixed for redemption, to such Holders at such
addresses as were so furnished to the Trustee (and, in the case of any such
notice given by the Issuer, the Trustee shall make such information available
to the Issuer for such purpose).  Notice of redemption to all other Holders of
Unregistered Securities shall be published in an Authorized Newspaper in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York and in an Authorized Newspaper in
London (and, if required by Section 3.8, in an Authorized Newspaper in
Luxembourg), in each case, once in each of three successive calendar weeks, the
first publication to be not less than 30 nor more than 60 days prior to the
date fixed for redemption.  Any notice which is mailed in the manner herein
provided shall be conclusively presumed to have been duly given, whether or not
the Holder receives the notice.  Failure to give notice by mail, or any defect
in the notice to the Holder of any Security of a series designated for
redemption as a whole or in part shall not affect the validity of the
proceedings for the redemption of any other Security of such series.

                 The notice of redemption to each such Holder shall specify the
principal amount of each Security of such series held by such Holder to be
redeemed, the date fixed for redemption, the





                                       78
<PAGE>   85
redemption price, the numbers of the certificate for such Security being
redeemed, the place or places of payment, that payment will be made upon
presentation and surrender of such Securities and, in the case of Securities
with Coupons attached thereto, of all Coupons appertaining thereto maturing
after the date fixed for redemption, that such redemption is pursuant to the
mandatory or optional sinking fund, or both, if such be the case, that interest
accrued to the date fixed for redemption will be paid as specified in such
notice and that on and after said date interest thereon or on the portions
thereof to be redeemed will cease to accrue.  In case any Security of a series
is to be redeemed in part only the notice of redemption shall state the portion
of the principal amount thereof to be redeemed and shall state that on and
after the date fixed for redemption, upon surrender of such Security, a new
Security or Securities of such series in principal amount equal to the
unredeemed portion thereof will be issued.

                 The notice of redemption of Securities of any series to be
redeemed at the option of the Issuer shall be given by the Issuer or, at the
Issuer's request, by the Trustee in the name and at the expense of the Issuer.

                 On or before the redemption date specified in the notice of
redemption given as provided in this Section, the Issuer will deposit with the
Trustee or with one or more paying agents (or, if the Issuer is acting as its
own paying agent, set aside, segregate and hold in trust as provided in Section
3.4) an amount of money sufficient to redeem on the redemption date all the
Securities of such series so called for redemption at the appropriate
redemption price, together with accrued interest to the date fixed for
redemption.  The Issuer will deliver to the Trustee at least 70 days prior to
the date fixed for redemption an Officers' Certificate stating the aggregate
principal amount of Securities to be redeemed.  In case of a redemption at the
election of the Issuer prior to the expiration of any restriction on such
redemption or subject to compliance with a condition precedent, the Issuer
shall deliver to the Trustee, prior to the giving of any notice of redemption
to Holders pursuant to this Section, an Officers' Certificate stating that such
restriction or condition precedent has been complied with.

                 If less than all the Securities of a series are to be
redeemed, the Trustee shall select, in such manner as it shall deem appropriate
and fair, Securities of such series to be redeemed in whole or in part.
Securities may be redeemed in part in multiples equal to the minimum authorized
denomination for Securities of such series or any multiple thereof.  The
Trustee shall promptly notify the Issuer in writing of the Securities of such
series selected for redemption and, in the case of any





                                       79
<PAGE>   86
Securities of such series selected for partial redemption, the principal amount
thereof to be redeemed.  For all purposes of this Indenture, unless the context
otherwise requires, all provisions relating to the redemption of Securities of
any series shall relate, in the case of any Security redeemed or to be redeemed
only in part, to the portion of the principal amount of such Security which has
been or is to be redeemed.

                 SECTION 11.3  Payment of Securities Called for Redemption.  If
notice of redemption has been given as above provided, the Securities or
portions of Securities specified in such notice shall become due and payable on
the date and at the place stated in such notice at the applicable redemption
price, together with interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption, and on
and after said date (unless the Issuer shall default in the payment of such
Securities at the redemption price, together with interest accrued to said
date) interest on the Securities or portions of Securities so called for
redemption shall cease to accrue, and the unmatured Coupons, if any,
appertaining thereto shall be void, and, except as provided in Sections 5.5 and
9.4, such Securities shall cease from and after the date fixed for redemption
to be entitled to any benefit or security under this Indenture, and the Holders
thereof shall have no right in respect of such Securities except the right to
receive the redemption price thereof and unpaid interest to the date fixed for
redemption.  On presentation and surrender of such Securities at a place of
payment specified in said notice, together with all Coupons, if any,
appertaining thereto maturing after the date fixed for redemption, said
Securities or the specified portions thereof shall be paid and redeemed by the
Issuer at the applicable redemption price, together with interest accrued
thereon to the date fixed for redemption; provided that payment of interest
becoming due on or prior to the date fixed for redemption shall be payable in
the case of Securities with Coupons attached thereto, to the Holders of the
Coupons for such interest upon surrender thereof, and in the case of Registered
Securities, to the Holders of such Registered Securities registered as such on
the relevant record date subject to the terms and provisions of Sections 2.3
and 2.7 hereof.

                 If any Security called for redemption shall not be so paid
upon surrender thereof for redemption, the principal shall, until paid or duly
provided for, bear interest from the date fixed for redemption at the rate of
interest or Yield to Maturity (in the case of an Original Issue Discount
Security) borne by such Security.

                 If any Security with Coupons attached thereto is surrendered
for redemption and is not accompanied by all appurtenant Coupons maturing after
the date fixed for redemption,





                                       80
<PAGE>   87
the surrender of such missing Coupon or Coupons may be waived by the Issuer and
the Trustee, if there be furnished to each of them such security or indemnity
as they may require to save each of them harmless.

                 Upon presentation of any Security redeemed in part only, the
Issuer shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver to or on
the order of the Holder thereof, at the expense of the Issuer, a new Security
or Securities of such series, of authorized denominations, in principal amount
equal to the unredeemed portion of the Security so presented.

                 SECTION 11.4  Exclusion of Certain Securities from Eligibility
for Selection for Redemption.  Securities shall be excluded from eligibility
for selection for redemption if they are identified by registration and
certificate number in an Officers' Certificate delivered to the Trustee at
least 40 days prior to the last date on which notice of redemption may be given
as being owned of record and beneficially by, and not pledged or hypothecated
by either (a) the Issuer or (b) an entity specifically identified in such
written statement as directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or
under direct or indirect common control with the Issuer.

                 SECTION 11.5  Mandatory and Optional Sinking Funds.  The
minimum amount of any sinking fund payment provided for by the terms of the
Securities of any series is herein referred to as a "mandatory sinking fund
payment", and any payment in excess of such minimum amount provided for by the
terms of the Securities of any series is herein referred to as an "optional
sinking fund payment".  The date on which a sinking fund payment is to be made
is herein referred to as the "sinking fund payment date".

                 In lieu of making all or any part of any mandatory sinking
fund payment with respect to any series of Securities in cash, the Issuer may
at its option (a) deliver to the Trustee Securities of such series theretofore
purchased or otherwise acquired (except upon redemption pursuant to the
mandatory sinking fund) by the Issuer or receive credit for Securities of such
series (not previously so credited) theretofore purchased or otherwise acquired
(except as aforesaid) by the Issuer and delivered to the Trustee for
cancellation pursuant to Section 2.10, (b) receive credit for optional sinking
fund payments (not previously so credited) made pursuant to this Section, or
(c) receive credit for Securities of such series (not previously so credited)
redeemed by the Issuer through any optional redemption provision contained in
the terms of such series.  Securities so delivered or credited shall be
received or credited by the Trustee at the sinking fund redemption price
specified in such





                                       81
<PAGE>   88
Securities.

                 On or before the 60th day next preceding each sinking fund
payment date for any series, the Issuer will deliver to the Trustee an
Officers' Certificate (which need not contain the statements required by
Section 10.5) (a) specifying the portion of the mandatory sinking fund payment
to be satisfied by payment of cash and the portion to be satisfied by credit of
Securities of such series and the basis for such credit, (b) stating that none
of the Securities of such series has theretofore been so credited, (c) stating
that no defaults in the payment of interest or Events of Default with respect
to such series have occurred (which have not been waived or cured) and are
continuing and (d) stating whether or not the Issuer intends to exercise its
right to make an optional sinking fund payment with respect to such series and,
if so, specifying the amount of such optional sinking fund payment which the
Issuer intends to pay on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment
date.  Any Securities of such series to be credited and required to be
delivered to the Trustee in order for the Issuer to be entitled to credit
therefor as aforesaid which have not theretofore been delivered to the Trustee
shall be delivered for cancellation pursuant to Section 2.10 to the Trustee
with such Officers' Certificate (or reasonably promptly thereafter if
acceptable to the Trustee).  Such Officers' Certificate shall be irrevocable
and upon its receipt by the Trustee the Issuer shall become unconditionally
obligated to make all the cash payments or payments therein referred to, if
any, on or before the next succeeding sinking fund payment date.  Failure of
the Issuer, on or before any such 60th day, to deliver such Officers'
Certificate and Securities specified in this paragraph, if any, shall not
constitute a default but shall constitute, on and as of such date, the
irrevocable election of the Issuer (i) that the mandatory sinking fund payment
for such series due on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date shall be
paid entirely in cash without the option to deliver or credit Securities of
such series in respect thereof and (ii) that the Issuer will make no optional
sinking fund payment with respect to such series as provided in this Section.

                 If the sinking fund payment or payments (mandatory or optional
or both) to be made in cash on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date
plus any unused balance of any preceding sinking fund payments made in cash
shall exceed $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency or ECU)
or a lesser sum in Dollars (or the equivalent thereof in any Foreign Currency
or ECU) if the Issuer shall so request with respect to the Securities of any
particular series, such cash shall be applied on the next succeeding sinking
fund payment date to the redemption of Securities of such series at the sinking
fund





                                       82
<PAGE>   89
redemption price together with accrued interest to the date fixed for
redemption.  If such amount shall be $50,000 (or the equivalent thereof in any
Foreign Currency or ECU) or less and the Issuer makes no such request then it
shall be carried over until a sum in excess of $50,000 (or the equivalent
thereof in any Foreign Currency or ECU) is available.  The Trustee shall
select, in the manner provided in Section 11.2, for redemption on such sinking
fund payment date a sufficient principal amount of Securities of such series to
absorb said cash, as nearly as may be, and shall (if requested in writing by
the Issuer) inform the Issuer of the serial numbers of the Securities of such
series (or portions thereof) so selected.  Securities shall be excluded from
eligibility for redemption under this Section if they are identified by
registration and certificate number in an Officers' Certificate delivered to
the Trustee at least 60 days prior to the sinking fund payment date as being
owned of record and beneficially by, and not pledged or hypothecated by either
(a) the Issuer or (b) an entity specifically identified in such Officers'
Certificate as directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under
direct or indirect common control with the Issuer.  The Trustee, in the name
and at the expense of the Issuer (or the Issuer, if it shall so request the
Trustee in writing) shall cause notice of redemption of the Securities of such
series to be given in substantially the manner provided in Section 11.2 (and
with the effect provided in Section 11.3) for the redemption of Securities of
such series in part at the option of the Issuer.  The amount of any sinking
fund payments not so applied or allocated to the redemption of Securities of
such series shall be added to the next cash sinking fund payment for such
series and, together with such payment, shall be applied in accordance with the
provisions of this Section.  Any and all sinking fund moneys held on the stated
maturity date of the Securities of any particular series (or earlier, if such
maturity is accelerated), which are not held for the payment or redemption of
particular Securities of such series shall be applied, together with other
moneys, if necessary, sufficient for the purpose, to the payment of the
principal of, and interest on, the Securities of such series at maturity.

                 On or before each sinking fund payment date, the Issuer shall
pay to the Trustee in cash or shall otherwise provide for the payment of all
interest accrued to the date fixed for redemption on Securities to be redeemed
on such sinking fund payment date.

                 The Trustee shall not redeem or cause to be redeemed any
Securities of a series with sinking fund moneys or give any notice of
redemption of Securities for such series by operation of the sinking fund
during the continuance of a default in payment of interest on such Securities
or of any Event of Default





                                       83
<PAGE>   90
except that, where the giving of notice of redemption of any Securities shall
theretofore have been made, the Trustee shall redeem or cause to be redeemed
such Securities, provided that it shall have received from the Issuer a sum
sufficient for such redemption.  Except as aforesaid, any moneys in the sinking
fund for such series at the time when any such default or Event of Default
shall occur, and any moneys thereafter paid into the sinking fund, shall,
during the continuance of such default or Event of Default, be deemed to have
been collected under Article Four and held for the payment of all such
Securities.  In case such Event of Default shall have been waived as provided
in Section 4.10 or the default cured on or before the sixtieth day preceding
the sinking fund payment date in any year, such moneys shall thereafter be
applied on the next succeeding sinking fund payment date in accordance with
this Section to the redemption of such Securities.





                                       84
<PAGE>   91
                 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 __________, 1997.


                                   TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORPORATION


                                   By _______________________
                                       Name:
                                       Title: 


[CORPORATE SEAL]

Attest:


By _________________________
    Assistant Secretary

                                   CITIBANK, N.A.
                                   TRUSTEE


                                   By _______________________
                                       Name:
                                       Title:

[CORPORATE SEAL]

Attest:


By _________________________


                                       85
<PAGE>   92
STATE OF  ________  )
                    )  ss.:
COUNTY OF ________  )


On this ____  of _________, 1997 before me personally came ___________, to me
personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he is
__________ of Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation, one of the 
corporations  described in and which executed the above instrument; that he
knows the corporate seal of said corporation; that the seal affixed to said
instrument is such corporate seal; that it was so affixed by authority of the
Board of Directors of said corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by
like authority.


[NOTARIAL SEAL]


                                        _______________________
                                           Notary Public


                                       1
<PAGE>   93
STATE OF __________ )
                    )  ss.:
COUNTY OF _________ )


On this ____ of ______, 1997 before me personally came ___________, to me
personally known, who, being by me duly sworn, did depose and say that he is a
__________ of _____________, one of the corporations described in and which
executed the above instrument; that he knows the corporate seal of said
corporation; that the seal affixed to said instrument is such corporate seal;
that it was so affixed by authority of the Board of Directors of said
corporation, and that he signed his name thereto by like authority.


[NOTARIAL SEAL]


                                   _____________________
                                     Notary Public


                                      2



<PAGE>   1
                                                                       Exhibit 5
                                                               September 8, 1997





Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation
2800 Post Oak Boulevard
Houston, TX 77251

Gentlemen:

     You have requested me, as General Counsel of The Williams Companies,
Inc., to render my opinion regarding certain matters in connection with the
preparation and filing of a registration statement by Transcontinental Gas Pipe
Line Corporation (the "Company") on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement")
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to $500,000,000
aggregate initial offering price of debt securities ("Securities").  The
Securities are to be issued from time to time as senior indebtedness of the
Company under an indenture between the Company and Citibank, N.A., as trustee
(the "Indenture").  The form of the Indenture and the Securities are filed as
exhibits to the Registration Statement.

     I am familiar with the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-laws,
each as amended to date, of the Company and have examined the originals, or
copies certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of corporate
records of the Company, statutes and other instruments and documents as the
basis for the opinion expressed herein.  In addition, I am, or someone under my
supervision is, familiar with the forms of the Indenture and the Securities.

     Based upon the foregoing, and having regard for such legal considerations 
as I have deemed relevant, I am of the opinion that, when the Securities have
been duly authorized by the Board of Directors of the Company, the Indenture
has been duly executed and delivered and the Securities have been duly issued
in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture and duly paid for by the
purchasers thereof, all required corporate action will have been taken with
respect to the issuance and sale of the Securities, and the Securities will
have been validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of
the Company enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as
enforceability may be 


<PAGE>   2
Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation
Page 2

limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws relative to or
affecting generally the enforcement of creditor's rights and by principles of
equity.

     I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to the undersigned appearing under
the caption "Legal Matters" in the related Prospectus.

                               Very truly yours,



                               William G. von Glahn

<PAGE>   1
                                                                      EXHIBIT 12

                  TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORPORATION

              COMPUTATION OF RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES

                                ($ thousands)


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                              POST-ACQUISITION
                                                             -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                                                    FOR THE PERIOD
                                                              FOR THE SIX           FOR THE            JANUARY 18,
                                                              MONTHS ENDED       YEAR ENDED            1995, TO
                                                                JUNE 30,        DECEMBER 31,         DECEMBER 31,
                                                                  1997              1996                  1995
                                                                --------          --------              --------
<S>                                                             <C>               <C>                   <C>
             Description
             -----------
Earnings Available for Fixed Charges:

   Net Income (Loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        $ 51,426          $ 95,543              $ 86,589
      Plus   -Interest expense, portion of rents
              representative of the interest factor
              and amortization of debt expense, 
              discount and premium . . . . . . . . . . .          35,670            69,189                61,947
             -Federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . .          29,707            88,927                66,819
             -Deferred federal income taxes  . . . . . .            (784)          (37,613)              (17,404)
             -State and municipal income taxes . . . . .           3,659             7,299                 5,063
                                                                --------          --------              --------
                Total  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        $119,678          $223,345              $203,014
                                                                ========          ========              ========

   Fixed Charges
        Interest on long-term debt . . . . . . . . . . .        $ 27,111          $ 56,623              $ 52,214
        Other interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . .           6,084            10,509                 3,215
        Portion of rents representative of
           interest factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .           3,478             7,504                 7,836
        Amortization of debt expenses, discount
           and premium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .            (133)           (3,294)                  334
                                                                --------          --------              --------
                Total  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        $ 36,540          $ 71,342              $ 63,599
                                                                ========          ========              ========

   Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges  . . . . . . . . .            3.28              3.13                  3.19

</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                   
                                                                                     PRE-ACQUISITION                         
                                                             -----------------------------------------------------------------
                                                             FOR THE PERIOD       
                                                             JANUARY 1, 1995                YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,           
                                                             TO JANUARY 17,       --------------------------------------------   
                                                                  1995              1994               1993             1992
                                                                --------          --------           --------          -------
<S>                                                             <C>               <C>                <C>               <C>
             Description                                                                                         
             -----------                                                                                         
Earnings Available for Fixed Charges:                                                                            
                                                                                                                 
   Net Income (Loss) . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        $ (9,662)         $110,726           $ 94,225           $ 73,543
      Plus   -Interest expense, portion of rents                                                                 
              representative of the interest factor                                                              
              and amortization of debt expense,                                                                  
              discount and premium . . . . . . . . . . .           3,156            72,373             74,259             84,520
             -Federal income taxes . . . . . . . . . . .          (2,734)           72,364             38,593             53,180
             -Deferred federal income taxes  . . . . . .           4,577           (23,669)             1,767            (25,353)
             -State and municipal income taxes . . . . .             466             9,038              8,981              6,152
                                                                --------          --------           --------           --------
                Total  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        $ (4,197)         $240,832           $217,825           $192,042
                                                                ========          ========           ========           ========
                                                                                                                 
   Fixed Charges                                                                                                 
        Interest on long-term debt . . . . . . . . . . .        $  2,472          $ 54,126           $ 55,899             61,367
        Other interest expense . . . . . . . . . . . . .             125             5,201              6,569             11,360
        Portion of rents representative of                                                                       
           interest factor . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .             593            13,426             11,992             11,946
        Amortization of debt expenses, discount                                                                  
           and premium . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .              48             1,044              1,011              1,056
                                                                --------          --------           --------           --------
                Total  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .        $  3,238          $ 73,797           $ 75,471           $ 85,729
                                                                ========          ========           ========           ========
                                                                                                                 
   Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges  . . . . . . . . .              (a)             3.26               2.89               2.24

</TABLE>

- ----------------------
(a)  Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges for the period January 1,
1995 to January 17, 1995 by $7.4 million.


        For the purpose of the ratio (i) earnings consist of income or loss
before fixed charges and income taxes for the Company, and (ii) fixed charges
consist of interest and debt expense on all indebtedness (without reduction for
interest capitalized) and that portion of rental payments on operating leases
estimated to represent an interest factor for the Company.

<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 24.3


                   TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORPORATION

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


          KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each of the undersigned
individuals, in their capacity as a director or officer, or both, as
hereinafter set forth below their signature, of TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE
CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation ("Transco"), does hereby constitute and
appoint WILLIAM G. VON GLAHN, DAVID M.  HIGBEE and REBECCA H. HILBORNE their
true and lawful attorneys and each of them (with full power to act without the
others) their true and lawful attorneys for them and in their name and in their
capacity as a director or officer, or both, of Transco, as hereinafter set
forth below their signature, to sign a registration statement on Form S-3 for
the registration of debt securities of Transco with an initial aggregate
offering price not to exceed two hundred million dollars ($200,000,000), and
any and all amendments to said registration statement and any and all
instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith; and

          THAT the undersigned Transco does hereby constitute and appoint 
WILLIAM G. VON GLAHN, DAVID M. HIGBEE and REBECCA H. HILBORNE its true
and lawful attorneys and each of them (with full power to act without the
others) its true and lawful attorney for it and in its name and on its behalf
to sign said registration statement and any and all amendments thereto and any
and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith.

          Each of said attorneys shall have full power of substitution
and resubstitution, and said attorneys or any of them or any substitute
appointed by any of them hereunder shall have full power and authority to do
and perform in the name and on behalf of each of the undersigned, in any and
all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as each of the undersigned might
or could do in person, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving the acts
of said attorneys or any of them or of any such substitute pursuant hereto.

          IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this
instrument, all as of the 25th day of August, 1997.




  /s/ BRIAN E. O'NEILL                             /s/ NICK A. BACILE
- ------------------------------                -------------------------------
      Brian E. O'Neill                                 Nick A. Bacile
       President and                              Vice President, Treasurer,
   Chief Executive Officer                             and Controller
(Principal Executive Officer)                    (Principal Financial Officer
       and Director                           and Principal Accounting Officer)

<PAGE>   2
                                                                    Page 2



  /s/ KEITH E. BAILEY                    /s/ CUBA WADLINGTON, JR.    
- -----------------------------         -------------------------------
      Keith E. Bailey                        Cuba Wadlington, Jr.





                                       TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE
                                               CORPORATION



                                       By     /s/ NICK A. BACILE         
                                           ------------------------------
                                                  Nick A. Bacile
                                                  Vice President

ATTEST:


    /s/ DAVID M. HIGBEE         
- --------------------------------
     David M. Higbee
        Secretary


<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 24.4



                   TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORPORATION


                  I, the undersigned, DAVID M. HIGBEE, Secretary of
TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORPORATION, a Delaware company (hereinafter
called the "Company"), do hereby certify that pursuant to Section 141(f) of the
General Corporation Law of Delaware, the Board of Directors of this Corporation
unanimously consented, as of August 25, 1997, to the following:

                 RESOLVED that the officers of the Corporation be, 
         and they hereby are, authorized to execute and file with
         the Securities and Exchange Commission under the Securities
         Act of 1933, as amended, a shelf Registration Statement on
         Form S-3, and all amendments and supplements thereto and
         all required exhibits and documents in connection
         therewith, and the Prospectus contained therein, and all
         amendments or supplements thereto (the "Registration
         Statement"), with respect to not more than two hundred
         million dollars ($200,000,000) aggregate principal amount
         of Debt Securities, and to do, or cause to be done, all
         such other acts and things as, in their opinion or in the
         opinion of any of them, may be necessary or desirable and
         proper in order to effect such filing or in order that such
         Registration Statement and any such amendment or amendments
         may become effective and may remain in effect as long as
         shall be required.

                 RESOLVED that the form of power of attorney 
         circulated with this Consent for use in connection with the
         execution and filing, for and on behalf of the Corporation,
         of the Registration Statement and any such amendments
         thereto referred to in the preceding resolution, is hereby
         approved, and the Chairman of the Board, the President or
         any Vice President of the Corporation is hereby authorized
         to execute said power of attorney in the form so presented
         for and on behalf of the Corporation.
         
                 RESOLVED that Mr. William G. von Glahn, Senior 
         Vice President and General Counsel of The Williams
         Companies, Inc., be, and he hereby is, designated as the
         person authorized to receive notices and communications
         from the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to
         the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and
         that he be, and he hereby is, designated the agent for
         service in connection with any and all
<PAGE>   2

         matters relating to the Registration Statement; and that
         there hereby is conferred upon him the powers enumerated in
         Rule 478 of the Rules and Regulations promulgated under the
         Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

                 RESOLVED that the officers of the Corporation be, 
         and each of them hereby is, authorized and directed in the
         name and on behalf of the Corporation to take any and all
         actions which such officers deem necessary or appropriate
         in order to obtain a permit, register or qualify the Debt
         Securities for issuance and sale or to request an exemption
         from registration of the Debt Securities or to register or
         to obtain a license for the Corporation as a dealer or
         broker under the securities laws of such of the states of
         the United States of America and of such foreign
         jurisdictions as such officers may deem necessary or
         appropriate; and that in connection with such
         registrations, permits, licenses, qualifications and
         exemptions, such officers are authorized and directed to
         execute, acknowledge, verify, deliver, file and publish all
         such applications, reports, resolutions, irrevocable
         consents to service of process, powers of attorney and
         other papers and instruments as may be required under such
         laws, and to take any and all further action which such
         officers deem necessary or appropriate in order to maintain
         the registration in effect for such time period as they may
         deem to be in the best interests of the Corporation.

                 RESOLVED that if any resolutions are required 
         to be adopted in connection with any application or other
         document to be submitted under the securities or "Blue Sky"
         laws of any state in order to permit the offering of the
         Debt Securities, such resolutions shall be deemed to have
         been adopted in the required language with the same force
         and effect as if set forth here at length and copies
         thereof shall be filed with this Consent.

                 RESOLVED that if an officer of the Corporation 
         shall so elect application may be made to the New York
         Stock Exchange, Inc. and to the Pacific Stock Exchange for
         the listing upon notice of issuance of the Debt Securities
         and that the Chairman of the Board, the President or any
         Vice President or the Secretary of the Corporation be, and
         each of them hereby is, authorized and directed by the
         Corporation to prepare, execute and file the applications
         required by such stock exchange and to make such changes as
         may be
<PAGE>   3
         necessary to conform with requirements for the listing of
         the Debt Securities, to appear (if requested) before
         officials of such exchange, to pay any fees required for
         such additional listing and to perform all other acts and
         things as may be deemed necessary to effect such listing.

                 RESOLVED that the Chairman of the Board, the 
         President or any Vice President of the Corporation (a
         "Designated Officer") be, and each of them hereby is,
         authorized and empowered to execute, acknowledge and
         deliver, for and on behalf of the Corporation, and under
         its corporate seal, which its Secretary or any Assistant
         Secretary is hereby authorized to affix and attest, an
         indenture, including  a subordinate indenture, between the
         Corporation and Citibank, N.A., as Trustee (the
         "Indenture") for the purpose of providing for the issuance,
         registration, transfer, exchange and payment of the Debt
         Securities to be issued pursuant thereto, each such
         Indenture to be in the form as the officers executing and
         delivering the same on behalf of the Corporation shall
         approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by such
         officer's execution, acknowledgement and delivery of the
         Indenture.

                 RESOLVED that the Chairman of the Board, the 
         President or the Chief Financial Officer of the Corporation
         be, and each hereby is, in accordance with the foregoing
         resolutions and the limitations previously approved,
         authorized to cause the Corporation to issue and sell one
         or more series of the Debt Securities and, in connection
         with any such series, determine, approve or appoint, as the
         case may be:

         (a)  the exact aggregate principal amount of the series
              of Debt Securities, whether Debt Securities of such
              series are to be issued as debentures, as notes or as
              any other evidences of indebtedness or in any
              combination thereof;

         (b)  the designation of the Debt Securities as senior or 
              subordinated indebtedness of the Corporation;

         (c)  whether each series of Debt Securities shall be sold 
              with or without competitive bidding, whether through a
              public offering or by private placement, or a
              combination thereof;

         (d)  the terms and rights of the Debt Securities, 


<PAGE>   4
              consistent with the terms of the respective Indenture 
              and the Registration Statements; provided, however,
              that no such Debt Securities shall be secured or
              convertible into any equity securities of the
              Corporation;

         (e)  the maturity or maturities of the Debt Securities;

         (f)  the price to be received by the Corporation in any 
              offering or sale of any of the Debt Securities (which
              may be at a discount from the principal amount payable
              at maturity of such Debt Securities), any public
              offering price and any discount received by, or
              commission paid to, any underwriters or agents;

         (g)  the rate or rates at which the Debt Securities 
              shall bear interest, if any, which rate or rates may
              vary from time to time in accordance with a formula to
              be approved by any such officer;

         (h)  the date or dates from which such interest shall 
              accrue, the dates on which such interest shall be
              payable and the record date for the interest payable
              on any interest payment date and/or the method by
              which such rate or rates or date or dates shall be
              determined;

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

         (j)  the option, if any, of the Corporation to redeem 
              the Debt Securities in whole or in part and the period
              or periods within which, the price or prices at which
              and the terms and conditions upon which, Debt
              Securities may be redeemed, in whole or in part,
              pursuant to such option or any sinking fund or
              otherwise;

         (k)  the obligation, if any, of the Corporation to 
              redeem, purchase or repay Debt Securities pursuant to
              any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or analogous
              provisions or at the option of a holder thereof and
              the period or periods within which, the price or
              prices at which and the terms and conditions upon
              which, Debt Securities shall be redeemed, purchased or
              repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such
<PAGE>   5
              obligation or option;

         (l)  the denominations and currencies, including U.S. 
              dollars, foreign currencies and composite currencies,
              in which the Debt Securities shall be issuable and
              payable and the election, if any, of holders of Debt
              Securities to receive payment of principal (and
              premium, if any) and interest in a currency other than
              the currency in which such Debt Securities were
              issued;

         (m)  such other terms, conditions and provisions as any 
              such officer shall deem appropriate;

         (n)  the forms of the Debt Securities; and

         (o)  whether the Debt Securities will be listed on the 
              New York Stock Exchange.

                 RESOLVED that any Designated Officer be, and 
         each hereby is, authorized to appoint one or more transfer
         agents or registrars, depositories, authenticating or
         paying agents, calculation agents, exchange rate agents and
         any other agents with respect to the Debt Securities, and
         to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the
         Corporation, any agreement, instrument or document relating
         to any such appointment, for the purpose of implementing
         and giving effect to the provisions of each Indenture;
         provided, however, that the Corporation may at any time
         elect to act in the capacity of paying agent.

                 RESOLVED that any Designated Officer be, and 
         each hereby is, authorized and directed to execute and
         deliver to the Trustee for each Indenture an Issuer Order
         or Officer's Certificate, as appropriate, referred to in
         the Indenture and to perform on behalf of the Corporation
         such other procedures acceptable to such Trustee as may be
         necessary in order to authorize the authentication and
         delivery by such Trustee of the Debt Securities.

                 RESOLVED that any Designated Officer be, and 
         each hereby is, authorized and directed to cause the
         Corporation to enter into agreements (the "Underwriting
         Agreement" or "Distribution Agreements"), with such
         investment banking company or companies as any such
         Designated Officer may choose (the "Agents"), and with such
         additional or successor Agents as any Designated Officer
         shall select, in the form as the Designated Officers
         executing and delivering the same on behalf of the
<PAGE>   6
         Corporation shall approve, such approval to be conclusively
         evidenced by such officers execution, acknowledgement and
         delivery of the Underwriting Agreement or Distribution
         Agreements.

                 RESOLVED that any Designated Officer be, 
         and each hereby is, authorized and directed to take, or
         cause to be taken, any and all action which any such
         Designated Officer may deem necessary or desirable to carry
         out the purpose and intent of the foregoing resolutions
         (hereby ratifying and confirming any and all actions taken
         heretofore or hereafter to accomplish such purposes, all or
         singular), and to make, execute and deliver, or cause to be
         made executed and delivered, all agreements, undertakings,
         documents, instruments or certificates in the name and on
         behalf of the Corporation as any such Designated Officer
         may deem necessary or desirable in connection therewith,
         and to perform, or cause to be performed, the obligations
         of the Corporation under the Debt Securities, the
         Indenture, the Underwriting Agreement and the Distribution
         Agreement (and any terms agreement thereunder) and the
         Registration Statements, and to pay such fees and expenses
         as, in their judgment, shall be proper or advisable.

                 RESOLVED that the officers of the Corporation be, 
         and each of them hereby is, authorized to take all such
         further action and to execute and deliver all such further
         instruments and documents in the name and on behalf of the
         Corporation with its corporate seal or otherwise and to pay
         such fees and expenses as, in their judgment, shall be
         proper or advisable in order to carry out the intent and to
         accomplish the purposes of the foregoing resolutions.
<PAGE>   7
                 I further certify that the foregoing resolutions have not been
modified, revoked or rescinded and are in full force and effect.

                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed
the corporate seal of TRANSCONTINENTAL GAS PIPE LINE CORPORATION, this 8th day
of September, 1997.

                                                       /s/ DAVID M. HIGBEE
                                                       -------------------------
                                                            David M. Higbee
                                                               Secretary



<PAGE>   1
================================================================================

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

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

                                    FORM T-1

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

         Check if an application to determine eligibility of a Trustee
                      pursuant to Section 305 (b)(2) ____

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

                                 CITIBANK, N.A.
              (Exact name of trustee as specified in its charter)

                                                          13-5266470
                                                          (I.R.S. employer
                                                          identification no.)

 399 Park Avenue, New York, New York                      10043
(Address of principal executive office)                   (Zip Code)

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

                   Transcontinental Gas Pipe Line Corporation
              (Exact name of obligor as specified in its charter)

Delaware                                                  74-1079400
(State or other jurisdiction of                           (I.R.S. employer
incorporation or organization)                            identification no.)


2800 Post Oak Boulevard
Houston, Texas                                            77056
(Address of principal executive offices)                  (Zip Code)

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

                                Debt Securities
                      (Title of the indenture securities)

================================================================================
<PAGE>   2

Item 1.   General Information.

          Furnish the following information as to the trustee:

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

          Name                                        Address
          ----                                        -------

          Comptroller of the Currency                 Washington, D.C.

          Federal Reserve Bank of New York            New York, NY
          33 Liberty Street
          New York, NY

          Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation       Washington, D.C.

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

          Yes.

Item 2.   Affiliations with Obligor.

          If the obligor is an affiliate of the trustee, describe each such
          affiliation.

               None.

Item 16.  List of Exhibits.

          List below all exhibits filed as a part of this Statement of
          Eligibility.

          Exhibits identified in parentheses below, on file with the
          Commission, are incorporated herein by reference as exhibits hereto.

          Exhibit 1 - Copy of Articles of Association of the Trustee, as now in
          effect. (Exhibit 1 to T-1 to Registration Statement No. 2-79983)

          Exhibit 2 - Copy of certificate of authority of the Trustee to
          commence business. (Exhibit 2 to T-1 to Registration Statement No.
          2-29577).

          Exhibit 3 - Copy of authorization of the Trustee to exercise
          corporate trust powers. (Exhibit 3 to T-1 to Registration Statement
          No. 2-55519)

          Exhibit 4 - Copy of existing By-Laws of the Trustee. (Exhibit 4 to
          T-1 to Registration Statement No. 33-34988)

          Exhibit 5 - Not applicable.


<PAGE>   3



          Exhibit 6 - The consent of the Trustee required by Section 321(b) of
          the Trust Indenture Act of 1939. (Exhibit 6 to T-1 to Registration
          Statement No. 33-19227.)

          Exhibit 7 - Copy of the latest Report of Condition of Citibank, N.A.
          (as of June 30, 1997 - attached)

          Exhibit 8 - Not applicable.

          Exhibit 9 - Not applicable.

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


                                   SIGNATURE

     Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, the
Trustee, Citibank, N.A., a national banking association organized and existing
under the laws of the United States of America, has duly caused this statement
of eligibility to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized, all in The City of New York and State of New York, on the 8th day
of September, 1997.



                                        CITIBANK, N.A.

                                        By  /s/ WAFAA ORFY
                                            -----------------------
                                            Wafaa Orfy
                                            Senior Trust Officer



<PAGE>   4
                                                                      EXHIBIT 7


                               Charter No. 1461
                          Comptroller of the Currency
                             Northeastern District
                              REPORT OF CONDITION
                                 CONSOLIDATING
                             DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN
                                SUBSIDIARIES OF
                                Citibank, N.A.

of New York in the State of New York, at the close of business on June 30,
1997, published in response to call made by Comptroller of the Currency, under
Title 12, United States Code, Section 161. Charter Number 1461 Comptroller of
the Currency Northeastern District.

                                    ASSETS
                                                                      Thousands
                                                                     of dollars
Cash and balances due from depository institutions:
  Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin ..........   $   7,129,000
Interest-bearing balances .....................................      14,089,000
Held-to-maturity securities ...................................               0
Available-for-sale securities .................................      32,578,000
  Federal funds sold and securities purchased under
    agreements to resell ......................................      10,072,000
Loans and lease financing receivables:
  Loans and Leases, net of unearned income ......  $150,867,000
    LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses ...     4,253,000
                                                   ------------
Loans and leases, net of unearned income,
  allowance, and reserve ......................................     146,614,000
Trading assets ................................................      27,966,000
Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases) ......       3,576,000
Other real estate owned .......................................         670,000
Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries
  and associated companies ....................................       1,284,000
Customers' liability to this bank on
  acceptances outstanding .....................................       2,146,000
Intangible assets .............................................         180,000
Other assets ..................................................       8,193,000
                                                                  -------------
TOTAL ASSETS ..................................................   $ 254,497,000
                                                                  =============

                                  LIABILITIES

Deposits:
  In domestic offices .........................................   $  36,303,000
  Noninterest-bearing ...........................  $ 12,930,000
  Interest-bearing ..............................    23,373,000
                                                   ------------
In foreign offices, Edge and
  Agreement subsidiaries, and IBFs ............................     142,390,000
  Noninterest-bearing .............................  11,307,000
  Interest-bearing ................................ 131,083,000
                                                   ------------
Federal funds purchased and securities sold under
  agreements to repurchase ....................................       7,627,000
Trading liabilities ...........................................      22,259,000
Other borrowed money (includes mortgage indebtedness
  and obligations under capitalized leases):
    With a remaining maturity of one year or less .............       8,826,000
    With a remaining maturity of more than one year
      through three years .....................................       2,250,000
    With a remaining maturity of more than three years ........       1,656,000
Bank's liability on acceptances executed and outstanding ......       2,183,000
Subordinated notes and debentures .............................       5,200,000
Other liabilities .............................................       8,663,000
                                                                  -------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES .............................................   $ 237,357,000
                                                                  =============

                                EQUITY CAPITAL

Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus .................               0
Common stock ..................................................   $     751,000
Surplus .......................................................       7,340,000
Undivided profits and capital reserves ........................       8,949,000
Net unrealized holding gains (losses)
  on available-for-sale securities ............................         743,000
Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments ...........        (643,000)
TOTAL EQUITY CAPITAL ..........................................   $  17,140,000
                                                                  -------------
TOTAL LIABILITIES, LIMITED-
  LIFE PREFERRED STOCK, AND EQUITY CAPITAL ....................   $ 254,497,000
                                                                  =============

I, Roger W. Trupin, Controller of the above-named bank do hereby declare that
this Report of Condition is true and correct to the best of my knowledge and
belief.

                                                                ROGER W. TRUPIN
                                                                     CONTROLLER

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

                                                                PAUL J. COLLINS
                                                                   JOHN S. REED
                                                              WILLIAM R. RHODES
                                                                      DIRECTORS


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