EXHIBIT 4.2(b)


SCHEDULE  OF  MATERIAL  DETAILS  IN WHICH THE FORM OF SENIOR  SUBORDINATED  DEBT
INDENTURE (INCLUDING FORM OF SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURE) DIFFERS FROM EXHIBIT
4.2(a), THE FORM OF SENIOR DEBT INDENTURE (INCLUDING FORM OF SENIOR DEBENTURE)

         The form of Senior  Subordinated Debt Indenture  (including the form of
Senior  Subordinated  Debenture)  (the  "Senior  Subordinated  Debt  Indenture")
differs from Exhibit  4.2(a),  the form of Senior Debt Indenture  (including the
form of Senior  Debenture)  (the  "Senior  Debt  Indenture"),  in the  following
respects:

         (1)      The word "Senior" in the Senior Debt Indenture is changed to 
                  the words "Senior Subordinated" in the Senior Subordinated
                  Debt Indenture; and

         (2)      Article  11 and the  reference  to  Article 11 in the Table of
                  Contents  in  the  Senior   Subordinated  Debt  Indenture  and
                  paragraph 16 of the form of Senior Subordinated  Debenture are
                  not present in the form of Senior Debt  Indenture and the form
                  of Senior Debenture; and

         In addition,  other provisions  concerning  subordination of the Senior
Subordinated  Debentures,  which are  included in the Senior  Subordinated  Debt
Indenture,  are not  applicable  to, and do not appear in, the Indenture for the
Senior Debentures.








                                 EXHIBIT 4.2(b)

                              M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                                     Issuer



                                       AND

                          -----------------------------
                                     Trustee

                       SENIOR SUBORDINATED DEBT SECURITIES

                              ----------------------
                                    INDENTURE

                         DATED AS OF              , 1997
                                     -------------

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








ARTICLE ONE - Definitions and Incorporation by Reference

         Section 1.01.   Definitions.......................      1
         Section 1.02.   Other Definitions.................      6
         Section 1.03.   Incorporation by Reference of 
                           Trust Indenture Act.............      7
         Section 1.04.   Rules of Construction.............      7

ARTICLE TWO - The Securities

         Section 2.01.   Form and Dating...................      8
         Section 2.02.   Execution and Authentication......      9
         Section 2.03.   Registrar and Paying Agent........     10
         Section 2.04.   Paying Agent to Hold Money in
                           Trust...........................     10
         Section 2.05.   Securityholder Lists..............     11
         Section 2.06.   Transfer and Exchange.............     11
         Section 2.07.   Replacement Securities............     11
         Section 2.08.   Outstanding Securities............     12
         Section 2.09.   Temporary Securities..............     12
         Section 2.10.   Cancellation......................     12
         Section 2.11.   Defaulted Interest................     13
         Section 2.12.   Treasury Securities...............     13
         Section 2.13.   CUSIP Numbers.....................     13
         Section 2.14.   Deposit of Moneys.................     13
         Section 2.15.   Book-Entry Provisions for Global
                           Security........................     14

ARTICLE THREE - Redemption

         Section 3.01.   Notices to Trustee................     15
         Section 3.02.   Selection of Securities to be
                           Redeemed........................     15
         Section 3.03.   Notice of Redemption..............     16
         Section 3.04.   Effect of Notice of Redemption....     16
         Section 3.05.   Deposit of Redemption Price.......     17
         Section 3.06.   Securities Redeemed in Part.......     17

ARTICLE FOUR - Covenants

         Section 4.01.   Payment of Securities.............     17
         Section 4.02.   Maintenance of Office or Agency...     17
         Section 4.03.   Compliance Certificate............     17
         Section 4.04.   Payment of Taxes; Maintenance of
                           Corporate Existence; Maintenance
                           of Properties...................     18


                                     i


ARTICLE FIVE - Successor Corporation

         Section 5.01.   When Company May Merge, etc.......     19

ARTICLE SIX - Defaults and Remedies

         Section 6.01.   Events of Default.................     20
         Section 6.02.   Acceleration......................     22
         Section 6.03.   Other Remedies....................     22
         Section 6.04.   Waiver of Existing Defaults.......     22
         Section 6.05.   Control by Majority...............     23
         Section 6.06.   Limitation on Suits...............     23
         Section 6.07.   Rights of Holders to Receive
                           Payment.........................     23
         Section 6.08.   Collection Suit by Trustee........     24
         Section 6.09.   Trustee May File Proofs of Claim..     24
         Section 6.10.   Priorities........................     24
         Section 6.11.   Undertaking for Costs.............     25

ARTICLE SEVEN - Trustee

         Section 7.01.   Duties of Trustee.................     25
         Section 7.02.   Rights of Trustee.................     26
         Section 7.03.   Individual Rights of Trustee......     27
         Section 7.04.   Trustee's Disclaimer..............     27
         Section 7.05.   Notice of Defaults................     28
         Section 7.06.   Reports by Trustee to Holders.....     28
         Section 7.07.   Compensation and Indemnity........     28
         Section 7.08.   Replacement of Trustee............     29
         Section 7.09.   Successor Trustee by Merger, etc.      30
         Section 7.10.   Eligibility; Disqualification.....     30
         Section 7.11.   Preferential Collection of Claims
                           Against Company.................     30

ARTICLE EIGHT - Discharge of Indenture

         Section 8.01.   Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys
                           or  U.S. Government Obligations.     30
         Section 8.02.   Survival of the Company's
                           Obligations.....................     34
         Section 8.03.   Application of Trust Money........     34
         Section 8.04.   Repayment to the Company..........     34
         Section 8.05.   Reinstatement.....................     34


                                     ii




ARTICLE NINE - Amendments, Supplements and Waivers

         Section 9.01.   Without Consent of Holders.........    35
         Section 9.02.   With Consent of Holders............    35
         Section 9.03.   Compliance with Trust Indenture 
                           Act..............................    37
         Section 9.04.   Revocation and Effect of Consents..    37
         Section 9.05.   Notation on or Exchange of
                           Securities.......................    37
         Section 9.06.   Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc....    38

ARTICLE TEN - Miscellaneous

         Section 10.01.  Trust Indenture Act Controls.......    38
         Section 10.02.  Notices............................    38
         Section 10.03.  Communications by Holders with
                           Other Holders....................    39
         Section 10.04.  Certificate and Opinion as to
                           Conditions Precedent.............    39
         Section 10.05.  Statements Required in
                           Certificate or Opinion...........    40
         Section 10.06.  Rules by Trustee and Agents........    40
         Section 10.07.  Legal Holidays.....................    40
         Section 10.08.  Governing Law......................    40
         Section 10.09.  No Adverse Interpretation of
                           Other Agreements.................    41
         Section 10.10.  No Recourse Against Others.........    41
         Section 10.11.  Successors and Assigns.............    41
         Section 10.12.  Duplicate Originals................    41
         Section 10.13.  Severability.......................    41

ARTICLE ELEVEN - Subordination

         Section 11.01.  Agreement to Subordinate...........    41
         Section 11.02.  Certain Definitions................    42
         Section 11.03.  Liquidation; Dissolution;
                           Bankruptcy.......................    42
         Section 11.04.  Default on Senior Indebtedness.....    42
         Section 11.05.  Acceleration of Securities.........    43
         Section 11.06.  When Distributions Must Be Paid
                           over.............................    43
         Section 11.07.  Notice by the Company..............    44
         Section 11.08.  Subrogation........................    44
         Section 11.09.  Relative Rights....................    44
         Section 11.10.  Subordination May Not Be Impaired 
                           by the Company...................    45
         Section 11.11.  Distribution or Notice to the 
                           Representative...................    45
         Section 11.12.  Rights of the Trustee and Paying
                           Agent............................    45
         Section 11.13.  No Fiduciary Duty to Holders of
                           Senior Indebtedness..............    46


                                     iii


                    CROSS-REFERENCE TABLE
This  Cross-Reference  Table  is not a  part  of the Indenture.


     TIA                                          Indenture
   Section                                         Section
- ------------                                       --------
310(a)(1)..........................................  7.10
(a)(2).............................................  7.10
(a)(3).............................................  N.A.
(a)(4).............................................  N.A.
(b)................................................  7.08; 7.10; 10.02
311(a).............................................  7.11
(b)................................................  7.11
(c)................................................  N.A.
312(a).............................................  2.05
(b)................................................  10.03
(c)................................................  10.03
313(a).............................................  7.06
(b)(1).............................................  N.A.
(b)(2).............................................  7.06
(c)................................................  10.02
(d)................................................  7.06
314(a).............................................  7.06; 10.02
(b)................................................  N.A.
(c)(1).............................................  10.04
(c)(2).............................................  10.04
(c)(3).............................................  N.A.
(d)................................................  N.A.
(e)................................................  10.05
(f)................................................  N.A.
315(a).............................................  7.01(b)
(b)................................................  7.05; 10.02
(c)................................................  7.01(a)
(d)................................................  7.01(c)
(e)................................................  6.11
316(a)(last sentence)..............................  2.12
(a)(1)(A)..........................................  6.05
(a)(1)(B)..........................................  6.04
(a)(2).............................................  N.A.
(b)................................................  6.07
(c)................................................  9.04
317(a)(1)..........................................  6.08
(a)(2).............................................  6.09
(b)................................................  2.04
318(a).............................................  10.01



- -----------------------------
N.A. means Not Applicable.


                                     iv



         INDENTURE  dated  as  of              ,  1997,  by  and  among  M.D.C.
                                  -------------
HOLDINGS, INC., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), and             ,  (the
                                                            ------------
"Trustee").

         Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other party and for
the equal and ratable  benefit of the Holders of the Company's  debt  securities
issued under this Indenture (the "Securities"):

                                   ARTICLE ONE

                   Definitions and Incorporation by Reference

Section 1.01.     Definitions

         "Affiliate"  means, with respect to any specified Person, (i) any other
Person  directly or indirectly  controlling or controlled by, or under direct or
indirect  common  control  with,  such  specified  Person,  or (ii) any officer,
director, a Person acting with respect to such Person in a similar capacity,  or
controlling  shareholder of such other Person.  For purposes of this definition,
the term "control"  means (a) the power to direct the management and policies of
a Person, either directly or through one or more intermediaries, whether through
the ownership of voting securities,  by contract,  or otherwise,  or (b) without
limiting the foregoing,  the  beneficial  ownership of 10% or more of the voting
power of the voting  common  equity of such Person (on a fully  diluted  basis).
Notwithstanding  the  foregoing,  the term  "Affiliate"  will not include,  with
respect  to the  Company  or any  Restricted  Subsidiary  of  the  Company,  any
Restricted  Subsidiary  of the  Company,  or the  Company,  with  respect to any
Restricted Subsidiary.

         "Agent" means any Registrar,  Paying Agent or co-Registrar or agent for
service of notices and demands.

         "Attributable Debt"  means,  with  respect  to any  Capitalized  Lease
Obligations, the capitalized amount thereof determined in accordance with GAAP.

         "Authorizing Resolution"  means a  resolution  adopted by the Board of
Directors or by an Officer or committee of Officers pursuant to Board delegation
authorizing a Series of Securities.

         "Bankruptcy Law" means title 11 of the United  States Code, as 
amended,  or any similar  federal or state law for the relief of debtors.

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

                                       1


         "Capital Stock" means, with respect to any Person,  any and all shares,
interests,  participations  or other equivalents  (however  designated) of or in
such Person's capital stock or other equity  interests,  and options,  rights or
warrants to purchase such capital stock or other equity  interests,  whether now
outstanding  or issued  after the  applicable  Issue  Date,  including,  without
limitation, all Preferred Stock.

         "Capitalized Lease Obligations" of any Person means the obligations of
such  Person to pay rent or other  amounts  under a lease that is required to be
capitalized  for financial  reporting  purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the
amount of such obligations will be the capitalized  amount thereof determined in
accordance with GAAP.

         "Company"  means the  Person  named as such in this  Indenture  until a
successor  replaces  it  pursuant  to the  Indenture  and  thereafter  means the
successor.

         "Currency Agreement" of any Person means any foreign exchange contract,
currency swap agreement or other similar  agreement or  arrangement  designed to
protect  such  Person  or  any  of  its   Subsidiaries  or  Affiliates   against
fluctuations in currency values.

         "Default" means any event, act or condition that is, or after notice or
the passage of time or both would be, unless otherwise timely cured, an Event of
Default.

         "GAAP" means generally accepted accounting  principles set forth in the
opinions and  pronouncements of the Accounting  Principles Board of the American
Institute of Certified Public  Accountants and statements and  pronouncements of
the Financial  Accounting  Standards  Board or in such other  statements by such
other  entity as may be  approved  by a  significant  segment of the  accounting
profession of the United States, as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

         "Holder" or "Securityholder"  means the person in whose name a Security
is registered on the Registrar's books.

         "Indebtedness"  of any  Person  means,  without  duplication,  (i)  any
liability of such Person (other than accounts payable,  other trade payables and
accrued expenses incurred in the ordinary course of such Person's  business) (a)
for borrowed money or under any reimbursement obligation relating to a letter of
credit or other similar instruments (other than standby letters of credit issued
for the benefit of or surety, performance,  completion or payment bonds, earnest
money notes or similar purpose undertakings or indemnifications  issued by, such
Person in the ordinary course of business, general contingency and tax reserves,
liabilities  for deposits and deferred  income which in accordance  with GAAP is
recorded as a liability),  (b) evidenced by a bond,  note,  debenture or similar
instrument  (including a purchase money obligation) given in connection with the
acquisition of any businesses, properties or assets of any kind or with services
incurred in connection with capital  expenditures  (other than any obligation to
pay a contingent

                                      2


purchase price which, as of the date of incurrence thereof is not required to be
recorded  as a  liability  in  accordance  with  GAAP),  or  (c) in  respect  of
Capitalized Lease Obligations (to the extent of the Attributable Debt in respect
thereof), (ii) any Indebtedness of others that such Person has guaranteed to the
extent  of the  guarantee,  (iii) to the  extent  not  otherwise  included,  the
obligations  of such Person under  Currency  Agreements  or Interest  Protection
Agreements  to the extent  recorded as  liabilities  not  constituting  Interest
Incurred,  net of amounts recorded as assets in respect of such  agreements,  in
accordance  with GAAP, and (iv) all  Indebtedness of others secured by a Lien on
any asset of such Person,  whether or not such  Indebtedness  is assumed by such
Person.  The amount of  Indebtedness  of any Person at any date shall be (a) the
outstanding  balance at such date of all unconditional  obligations as described
above, net of any unamortized  discount to be accounted for as Interest Expense,
in  accordance  with GAAP,  (b) the  maximum  liability  of such  Person for any
contingent  obligations  under  clause  (ii)  above at such  date,  net of,  any
unamortized  discount to be accounted for as Interest Expense in accordance with
GAAP and (c) in the case of clause (iv) above, the lesser of (1) the fair market
value of any asset subject to a Lien securing the  Indebtedness of others on the
date that the Lien attaches and (2) the amount of the Indebtedness secured.

         "Indenture"  means this Indenture as amended or supplemented  from time
to time,  including  pursuant  to any  Authorizing  Resolution  or  supplemental
indenture pertaining to any Series.

         "Interest Expense"  of  any  Person  for  any  period  means,  without
duplication,  the aggregate  amount of (i) interest  which,  in conformity  with
GAAP, would be set opposite the caption  "interest  expense" or any like caption
on an income statement for such Person (including,  without limitation,  imputed
interest included in Capitalized Lease Obligations,  all commissions,  discounts
and other fees and charges  owned with respect to letters of credit and bankers'
acceptance  financing,  the net costs (but reduced by net gains) associated with
Currency  Agreements and Interest Protection  Agreements,  amortization of other
financing  fees and  expenses;  with  respect to the Company and its  Restricted
Subsidiaries,  but excluding its Unrestricted Subsidiaries, the interest portion
of any deferred payment obligation, amortization of discount or premium, if any,
and all other  noncash  interest  expense  other than interest and other charges
amortized to cost of sales),  and (ii) all interest actually paid by the Company
or a  Restricted  Subsidiary  under any  guarantee of  Indebtedness  (including,
without  limitation,  a guarantee  of  principal,  interest  or any  combination
thereof)  of any Person  other than the  Company  or any  Restricted  Subsidiary
during such period;  provided,  that Interest  Expense shall exclude any expense
associated  with the  complete  write-off  of  financing  fees and  expenses  in
connection with the repayment or repurchase of any Indebtedness.

         "Interest Protection Agreement" of any Person means any interest rate
swap agreement,  interest rate collar  agreement,  option or futures contract or
other similar agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person or any of
its  Subsidiaries

                                        3


against fluctuations in interest rates with respect to Indebtedness permitted to
be incurred under this Indenture.

         "Investments" of any Person means (i) all investments by such Person in
any other Person in the form of loans, advances or capital  contributions,  (ii)
all guarantees of Indebtedness or other  obligations of any other Person by such
person,  (iii) all purchases (or other  acquisitions for  consideration) by such
Person of  Indebtedness,  Capital Stock or other  securities of any other Person
and (iv) all other items that would be  classified as  investments  in any other
Person (including, without limitation,  purchases of assets outside the ordinary
course of business)  on a balance  sheet of such Person  prepared in  accordance
with GAAP.

         "Issue Date" means, with respect to any Series of Securities,  the date
on which  the  Securities  of such  Series  are  originally  issued  under  this
Indenture.

         "Lien" means, with respect to any Property, any mortgage, lien, pledge,
charge, security interest or encumbrance of any kind in respect of such Property
(other  than an  obligation  to  share  revenues  or  profits  upon  the sale or
liquidation of Property to which such obligation relates).  For purposes of this
definition,  a Person  shall be deemed to own,  subject to a Lien,  any Property
which it has  acquired  or holds  subject to the  interest of a vendor or lessor
under any  conditional  sale  agreement,  capital lease or other title retention
agreement relating to such Property.

         "Non-Recourse Indebtedness"   with   respect  to  any  Person   means
Indebtedness of such Person for which (i) the sole legal recourse for collection
of principal and interest on such  Indebtedness is against the specific property
identified in the instruments  evidencing or securing such Indebtedness and such
property  was  acquired  with  the  proceeds  of  such   Indebtedness   or  such
Indebtedness  was incurred within 90 days after the acquisition of such property
and (ii) no other assets of such Person may be realized  upon in  collection  of
principal  or interest on such  Indebtedness.  Indebtedness  which is  otherwise
Non-Recourse   Indebtedness   will  not  lose  its  character  as   Non-Recourse
Indebtedness  because  there is recourse to the borrower or any other Person for
(i)  environmental  warranties  and  indemnities,  or (ii)  indemnities  for and
liabilities arising from fraud, misrepresentation, misapplication or non-payment
of rents,  profits,  insurance and condemnation proceeds and other sums actually
received by the borrower from secured assets to be paid to the lender, waste and
mechanics' liens.

         "Officer"  means the  Chairman of the Board,  the  President,  any Vice
President, the Treasurer or the Secretary of the Company.

         "Officers' Certificate"  means a certificate signed by two Officers or
by an Officer  and an  Assistant  Treasurer  or an  Assistant  Secretary  of the
Company.

                                        4


         "Opinion of Counsel" means a written  opinion from legal counsel who is
reasonably  acceptable  to the  Trustee.  The  counsel  may be an employee of or
counsel to the Company or the Trustee.

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

         "Preferred Stock" of any Person means all Capital Stock of such Person
which  has a  preference  in  liquidation  or with  respect  to the  payment  of
dividends.

         "Principal"  of a debt  security  means the  principal  of the security
plus, when appropriate, the premium, if any, on the security.

         "Property" of any Person means all types of real,  personal,  tangible,
intangible or mixed  property  owned by such Person,  whether or not included in
the most recent  consolidated  balance sheet of such Person and its Subsidiaries
under GAAP.

         "Restricted Subsidiary" means any Subsidiary of the Company which is 
not an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

         "SEC" means the  Securities  and Exchange  Commission  or any successor
agency performing the duties now assigned to it under the TIA.

         "Securities" means any Securities that are issued under this Indenture.

         "Series" means a series of Securities established under this Indenture.

         "Significant Subsidiary"  means any  Subsidiary  of the Company  which
would  constitute  a  "significant  subsidiary"  as  defined  in  Rule  1.02  of
Regulation S-X under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act.

         "Subsidiary" of any Person means any corporation or other entity (other
than political  subdivisions or enterprises thereof or governmental agencies) of
which a majority of the Capital  Stock having  ordinary  voting power to elect a
majority of the Board of Directors or other persons performing similar functions
is at the time directly or indirectly owned or controlled by such Person.

         "TIA" means the Trust  Indenture Act of 1939, as in effect from time to
time.

         "Trustee"  means  the  party  named as such in this  Indenture  until a
successor  replaces it  pursuant  to this  Indenture  and  thereafter  means the
successor serving hereunder.

                                       5


         "Trust Officer" means the Chairman of the Board,  the  President,  any
Vice President or any other officer or assistant officer of the Trustee assigned
by the Trustee to administer its corporate trust matters.

         "United States" means the United States of America.

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

         "Unrestricted  Subsidiary"  means  any  Subsidiary  of the  Company  so
designated by a resolution adopted by the Board of Directors of the Company.

Section 1.02.     Other Definitions

                      Term                                 Defined in
                                                           Section

"Agent Members"........................................     2.15
"Business Day".........................................     10.07
"Custodian"............................................     6.01
"Depositary"...........................................     2.15
"Event of Default".....................................     6.01
"Legal Holiday"........................................     10.07
"Paying Agent".........................................     2.03
"Registrar"............................................     2.03
"Senior Indebtedness"..................................     11.02
"Representative".......................................     11.02

                                       6



Section 1.03.     Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act

         Whenever this Indenture refers to a provision of the TIA, the provision
is incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following
TIA terms used in this Indenture have the following meanings:

         "Commission" means the SEC.

         "indenture securities" means the Securities.

         "indenture security holder" means a Securityholder.

         "indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture.

         "indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee.

         "obligor" on the  indenture  securities  means the Company or any other
obligor on the Securities of a Series thereof.

         All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA,
defined  by TIA  reference  to  another  statute or defined by SEC rule have the
meanings so assigned to them.

Section 1.04.     Rules of Construction

         Unless the context otherwise requires:

         (1)      a term has the meaning assigned to it;

         (2)      an accounting  term, not otherwise  defined,  has the meaning
assigned to it in accordance  with GAAP;

         (3)      "or" is not exclusive;

         (4)      words in the singular include the plural, and in the plural 
include the singular; and

         (5)      provisions apply to successive events and transactions.

                                       7


                                   ARTICLE TWO

                                 The Securities

Section 2.01.     Form and Dating

         The aggregate  principal  amount of Securities that may be issued under
this  Indenture is unlimited.  The Securities may be issued from time to time in
one or more Series. Each Series shall be created by an Authorizing Resolution or
a supplemental  indenture that  establishes  the terms of the Series,  which may
include the following:

         (1)      the title of the Series;

         (2)      the aggregate  principal amount (or any limit on the aggregate
                  principal  amount) of the Series and, if any  Securities  of a
                  Series are to be issued at a discount  from their face amount,
                  the method of computing the accretion of such discount;

         (3)      the interest rate or method of calculation of the interest 
                  rate;

         (4)      the date from which interest will accrue;

         (5)      the record dates for interest payable on Securities of the
                  Series;

         (6)      the dates when, places where and manner in which principal 
                  and interest are payable;

         (7)      the Registrar and Paying Agent;

         (8)      the terms of any mandatory  (including any sinking fund 
                  requirements) or optional  redemption by the Company;

         (9)      the terms of any redemption at the option of Holders;

         (10)     the denominations in which Securities are issuable;

         (11)     whether  Securities  will be issued in  registered or bearer
                  form and the terms of any such forms of Securities;

         (12)     whether  any  Securities  will be  represented  by a global
                  Security  and the  terms of any such global Security;

                                          8


         (13)     if  payments  of  principal  or  interest  may be made in a 
                  currency other than that in which Securities are denominated,
                  the manner for determining such payments;

         (14)     provisions  for  electronic  issuance of Securities  or
                  issuance of Securities in  uncertificated form;

         (15)     any Events of  Default,  covenants  and/or  defined  terms in
                  addition to or in lieu of those set forth in this Indenture;

         (16)     whether and upon what terms  Securities  may be defeased if 
                  different  from the  provisions  set forth in this Indenture;

         (17)     the form of the Securities,  which, unless the Authorizing
                  Resolution or supplemental  indenture otherwise provides,
                  shall be in the form of Exhibit A;

         (18)     any terms that may be required by or advisable under 
                  applicable law;

         (19)     the percentage of the principal amount of the Securities which
                  is payable if the maturity of the Securities is accelerated in
                  the case of  Securities  issued at a discount  from their face
                  amount; and

         (20)     any other terms in addition to or different from those 
                  contained in this Indenture.

         All  Securities  of one Series need not be issued at the same time and,
unless otherwise provided,  a Series may be reopened for issuances of additional
Securities of such Series  pursuant to an Authorizing  Resolution,  an Officers'
Certificate or in any indenture supplemental hereto.

         The  creation  and  issuance  of a Series  and the  authentication  and
delivery thereof are not subject to any conditions precedent.

Section 2.02.     Execution and Authentication

         Two  Officers  shall sign,  or one  Officer  shall sign and one Officer
shall  attest  to,  the  Securities  for the  Company  by  manual  or  facsimile
signature. The Company's seal shall be reproduced on the Securities.

         If an Officer  whose  signature  is on a Security no longer  holds that
office at the time the Trustee  authenticates  the Security,  the Security shall
nevertheless be valid.

                                         9



         A Security  shall not be valid  until the  Trustee  manually  signs the
certificate of authentication on the Security. The signature shall be conclusive
evidence that the Security has been authenticated under this Indenture.

         The Trustee  shall  authenticate  Securities  for  original  issue upon
receipt of an Officers' Certificate of the Company. Each Security shall be dated
the date of its authentication.

Section 2.03.     Registrar and Paying Agent

         The Company shall maintain an office or agency where  Securities may be
presented for registration of transfer or for exchange ("Registrar"),  an office
or agency where  Securities may be presented for payment  ("Paying Agent) and an
office or agency where  notices and demands to or upon the Company in respect of
the  Securities  and this  Indenture may be served.  The Registrar  shall keep a
register of the Securities  and of their transfer and exchange.  The Company may
have one or more co-Registrars and one or more additional paying agents.
The term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent.

         The Company shall enter into an appropriate  agency  agreement with any
Agent  not a  party  to  this  Indenture.  The  agreement  shall  implement  the
provisions  of this  Indenture  that  relate to such Agent.  The  Company  shall
promptly notify the Trustee in writing of the name and address of any such Agent
and the Trustee shall have the right to inspect the  Securities  register at all
reasonable times to obtain copies thereof,  and the Trustee shall have the right
to rely upon such  register as to the names and addresses of the Holders and the
principal  amounts and  certificate  numbers  thereof.  If the Company  fails to
maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent or fails to give the foregoing notice,  the
Trustee shall act as such.

         The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying
Agent.

Section 2.04.     Paying Agent to Hold Money in Trust

         Each   Paying   Agent   shall   hold  in  trust  for  the   benefit  of
Securityholders  and the  Trustee  all money  held by the  Paying  Agent for the
payment of  principal  of or interest on the  Securities,  and shall  notify the
Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment. If the Company
or a Subsidiary  acts as Paying Agent,  it shall segregate the money and hold it
as a separate  trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to
pay all money held by it to the  Trustee.  Upon doing so the Paying  Agent shall
have no further liability for the money.

                                        10


Section 2.05.     Securityholder Lists

         The  Trustee  shall  preserve  in as  current  a form as is  reasonably
practicable  the most recent list  available to it of the names and addresses of
Securityholders.  If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish
to the Trustee at least 5 Business Days before each semi-annual interest payment
date and at such other  times as the  Trustee  may  request in writing a list in
such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names
and addresses of Securityholders.

Section 2.06.     Transfer and Exchange

         Where a Security is presented to the Registrar or a co-Registrar with a
request to register a transfer,  the  Registrar  shall  register the transfer as
requested  if the  requirements  of  Section  8-401(1)  of the New York  Uniform
Commercial  Code are met.  Where  Securities are presented to the Registrar or a
co-Registrar  with a request to exchange them for an equal  principal  amount of
Securities  of other  denominations,  the  Registrar  shall make the exchange as
requested if the same  requirements  are met. To permit transfers and exchanges,
the Trustee  shall  authenticate  Securities  at the  Registrar's  request.  The
Registrar  need not transfer or exchange any Security  selected for  redemption,
except the  unredeemed  part  thereof if the  Security is  redeemed in part,  or
transfer or exchange any  Securities  for a period of 15 days before a selection
of Securities to be redeemed.  Any exchange or transfer shall be without charge,
except that the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any tax
or other  governmental  charge that may be imposed in relation thereto except in
the  case of  exchanges  pursuant  to 2.09,  3.06,  or 9.05  not  involving  any
transfer.

         Any Holder of a global  Security  shall,  by  acceptance of such global
Security,  agree that transfers of beneficial  interests in such global Security
may be effected  only  through a book entry system  maintained  by the Holder of
such global Security (or its agent), and that ownership of a beneficial interest
in the Security shall be required to be reflected in a book entry.

Section 2.07.     Replacement Securities

         If the Holder of a Security  claims  that the  Security  has been lost,
destroyed,  mutilated or  wrongfully  taken,  the Company  shall issue and, upon
written request of any Officer of the Company,  the Trustee shall authenticate a
replacement  Security;  provided,  however, in the case of a lost,  destroyed or
wrongfully  taken  Security,  that the  requirements of Section 8-405 of the New
York Uniform Commercial Code are met. If any such lost, destroyed,  mutilated or
wrongfully  taken Security  shall have matured or shall be about to mature,  the
Company  may,  instead  of  issuing a  substitute  Security  therefor,  pay such
Security  without  requiring  (except in the case of a mutilated  Security)  the
surrender  thereof.  An indemnity bond must be sufficient in the judgment of the
Company and the

                                      11


Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee or any Agent from any loss which any
of them may suffer if a Security is replaced,  including the acquisition of such
Security  by a bona fide  purchaser.  The  Company or the Trustee may charge the
Holder for expenses in replacing a Security.

Section 2.08.     Outstanding Securities

         Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities  authenticated by
the Trustee except for those canceled by it and those described in this Section.
A Security  does not cease to be  outstanding  because the Company or one of its
Affiliates holds the Security.

         If a Security is replaced  pursuant  to Section  2.07,  it ceases to be
outstanding  unless  the  Trustee  receives  proof  satisfactory  to it that the
replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser.

         If, on a redemption date or maturity date, the Paying Agent holds money
sufficient to pay Securities  payable on that date,  then on and after that date
such Securities cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

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

Section 2.09.     Temporary Securities

         Until  definitive  Securities  are ready for delivery,  the Company may
prepare and the  Trustee  shall  authenticate  temporary  Securities.  Temporary
Securities shall be  substantially in the form of definitive  Securities but may
have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities.
Without  unreasonable  delay,  the Company shall prepare and, upon surrender for
cancellation  of the  temporary  Security,  the  Company  shall  execute and the
Trustee  shall  authenticate  definitive  Securities  in exchange for  temporary
Securities.  Until so exchanged,  the temporary Securities shall in all respects
be entitled to the same benefits under this  Indenture as definitive  Securities
authenticated and delivered hereunder.

Section 2.10.     Cancellation

         The  Company at any time may  deliver  Securities  to the  Trustee  for
cancellation.  The  Registrar  and Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any
Securities   surrendered  to  them  for  registration  of  transfer,   exchange,
redemption or payment.  The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and destroy, or
retain  in  accordance  with  its  standard  retention  policy,  all  Securities
surrendered  for  registration  or  transfer,  exchange,  redemption,  paying or

                                       12


cancellation. Unless the Authorizing Resolution so provides, the Company may not
issue new  Securities  to  replace  Securities  that it has  previously  paid or
delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

Section 2.11.     Defaulted Interest

         If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities,  it
shall pay the  defaulted  interest  plus any interest  payable on the  defaulted
interest to the persons who are  Securityholders  on a subsequent special record
date.  The Company  shall fix such special  record date and a payment date which
shall be reasonably  satisfactory  to the Trustee.  At least 15 days before such
special record date, the Company shall mail to each Securityholder a notice that
states the record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to
be paid. On or before the date such notice is mailed,  the Company shall deposit
with the Paying Agent money  sufficient to pay the amount of defaulted  interest
to be so paid. The Company may pay defaulted interest in any other lawful manner
if, after  notice  given by the Company to the Trustee of the proposed  payment,
such manner of payment shall be deemed practicable by the Trustee.

Section 2.12.     Treasury Securities

         In determining  whether the Holders of the required principal amount of
Securities  of a Series have  concurred  in any  direction,  waiver,  consent or
notice,  Securities  owned by the  Company or any of its  Subsidiaries  shall be
considered as though they are not  outstanding,  except that for the purposes of
determining  whether  the  Trustee  shall be  protected  in  relying on any such
direction,  waiver or consent,  only Securities which the Trustee actually knows
are so owned shall be so considered.

Section 2.13.     CUSIP Numbers

         The Company in issuing the  Securities  of any Series may use a "CUSIP"
number,  and if so,  the  Trustee  shall use the  CUSIP  number  in  notices  of
redemption or exchange as a convenience to Holders of such Securities;  provided
that no  representation  is hereby  deemed to be made by the  Trustee  as to the
correctness  or  accuracy of any such CUSIP  number  printed in the notice or on
such   Securities,   and  that   reliance  may  be  placed  only  on  the  other
identification  numbers printed on such  Securities.  The Company shall promptly
notify the Trustee of any change in any CUSIP number.

Section 2.14.     Deposit of Moneys

         Prior to 11:00 a.m.  New York City time on each  interest  payment date
and maturity date with respect to each Series of  Securities,  the Company shall
have  deposited  with the Paying  Agent in  immediately  available  funds  money
sufficient to make cash  payments due on such interest  payment date or maturity
date,  as the case may be, in a timely  manner

                                       13


which  permits the Paying Agent to remit payment to the Holders on such interest
payment date or maturity date, as the case may be.

Section 2.15.     Book-Entry Provisions for Global Security

         (a)   Any global  Security of a Series  initially shall (i) be 
registered  in the  name  of the  depository  who  shall  be  identified  in the
Authorizing  Resolution or  supplemental  indenture  relating to such Securities
(the  "Depository") or the nominee of such Depository,  (ii) be delivered to the
Trustee as custodian for such Depository and (iii) bear any required legends.

               Members  of,  or  participants  in,  the  Depository   ("Agent
Members")  shall have no rights under this  Indenture with respect to any global
Security  held  on  their  behalf  by  the  Depository,  or the  Trustee  as its
custodian,  or under the global  Security,  and the Depository may be treated by
the  Company,  the  Trustee  and any agent of the  Company or the Trustee as the
absolute   owner  of  the  global   Security   for  all   purposes   whatsoever.
Notwithstanding  the foregoing,  nothing  herein shall prevent the Company,  the
Trustee or any agent of the  Company or the Trustee  from  giving  effect to any
written certification,  proxy or other authorization furnished by the Depository
or impair,  as between the Depository  and its Agent  Members,  the operation of
customary  practices  governing  the  exercise  of the rights of a Holder of any
Security.

         (b)   Transfers of any global Security shall be limited to transfers in
whole,  but not in part, to the Depository,  its successors or their  respective
nominees.  Interests  of  beneficial  owners  in  the  global  Security  may  be
transferred or exchanged for definitive  Securities in accordance with the rules
and procedures of the Depository.  In addition,  definitive  Securities shall be
transferred to all beneficial owners in exchange for their beneficial  interests
in a global  Security if (i) the  Depository  notifies  the  Company  that it is
unwilling  or unable to continue as  Depository  for the global  Security  and a
successor  depository  is not  appointed  by the Company  within 90 days of such
notice  or (ii) an Event of  Default  has  occurred  and is  continuing  and the
Registrar  has  received  a  request  from the  Depository  to issue  definitive
Securities.

         (c)   In connection  with any transfer  or exchange of a portion of the
beneficial  interest in any global  Security to  beneficial  owners  pursuant to
paragraph (b), the Registrar shall (if one or more definitive  Securities are to
be issued)  reflect  on its books and  records  the date and a  decrease  in the
principal  amount of the global  Security  in an amount  equal to the  principal
amount of the beneficial interest in the global Security to be transferred,  and
the Company shall execute,  and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver,  one
or more definitive Securities of like tenor and amount.

         (d)   In connection with the transfer of an entire  global  Security to
beneficial owners pursuant to paragraph (b), the global Security shall be deemed
to be  surrendered

                                      14


to the Trustee for cancellation,  and the Company shall execute, and the Trustee
shall  authenticate  and deliver,  to each  beneficial  owner  identified by the
Depository in exchange for its beneficial  interest in the global  Security,  an
equal  aggregate  principal  amount  of  definitive   Securities  of  authorized
denominations.

         (e)   The Holder of any global Security may grant proxies and otherwise
authorize  any  person,  including  Agent  Members  and  persons  that  may hold
interests  through Agent Members,  to take any action which a Holder is entitled
to take under this Indenture or the Securities of such Series.

                                  ARTICLE THREE

                                   Redemption

Section 3.01.     Notices to Trustee

         Securities of a Series that are  redeemable  prior to maturity shall be
redeemable in accordance with their terms and, unless the Authorizing Resolution
or supplemental indenture provides otherwise, in accordance with this Article.

         If the Company  wants to redeem  Securities  pursuant to Paragraph 5 of
the  Securities,  it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the Redemption  Date
and the principal  amount of  Securities to be redeemed.  Any such notice may be
canceled at any time prior to notice of such redemption being mailed to Holders.
Any such canceled notice shall be void and of no effect.

         If the  Company  wants to credit any  Securities  previously  redeemed,
retired or  acquired  against  any  redemption  pursuant  to  Paragraph 6 of the
Securities, it shall notify the Trustee of the amount of the credit and it shall
deliver any Securities not previously  delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
with such notice.

         The Company shall give each notice provided for in this Section 3.01 at
least 30 days  before  the  notice  of any such  redemption  is to be  mailed to
Holders (unless a shorter notice shall be satisfactory to the Trustee).

Section 3.02.     Selection of Securities to be Redeemed

         If fewer than all of the Securities of a Series are to be redeemed, the
Trustee  shall  select the  Securities  to be  redeemed  by a method the Trustee
considers  fair and  appropriate.  The  Trustee  shall make the  selection  from
Securities  outstanding not previously  called for redemption and shall promptly
notify the Company of the serial numbers or other identifying  attributes of the
Securities so selected.  The Trustee may select for  redemption  portions of the
principal  of  Securities  that  have  denominations  larger

                                       15


than the minimum denomination for the Series. Securities and portions of them it
selects shall be in amounts equal to the minimum  denomination for the Series or
an  integral  multiple  thereof.  Provisions  of this  Indenture  that  apply to
Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for
redemption.

Section 3.03.     Notice of Redemption

         At least 30 days but not more than 60 days  before a  redemption  date,
the Company  shall mail a notice of  redemption  by  first-class  mail,  postage
prepaid, to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed.

         The notice  shall  identify  the  Securities  to be redeemed  and shall
state:

         (1)      the redemption date;

         (2)      the redemption price;

         (3)      the name and address of the Paying Agent;

         (4)      that  Securities  called for redemption  must be  surrendered
                  to the Paying Agent to collect the redemption price;

         (5)      that interest on Securities  called for  redemption ceases to
                  accrue on and after the redemption date; and

         (6)      that the  Securities  are being  redeemed  pursuant to the 
                  mandatory  redemption or the optional redemption provisions,
                  as applicable.

         At the  Company's  request,  the  Trustee  shall  give  the  notice  of
redemption in the Company's name and at its expense; provided, however, that the
Company shall deliver to the Trustee at least 15 days prior to the date on which
notice  of  redemption  is to be  mailed  or  such  shorter  period  as  may  be
satisfactory  to the  Trustee,  an  Officers'  Certificate  requesting  that the
Trustee give such notice and setting forth the  information to be stated in such
notice as provided in the preceding paragraph.

Section 3.04.     Effect of Notice of Redemption

         Once notice of redemption is mailed,  Securities  called for redemption
become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price as set
forth in the notice of  redemption.  Upon  surrender to the Paying  Agent,  such
Securities shall be paid at the redemption  price,  plus accrued interest to the
redemption date.

                                        16


Section 3.05.     Deposit of Redemption Price

         On or before the  redemption  date,  the Company shall deposit with the
Paying Agent immediately  available funds sufficient to pay the redemption price
of and accrued interest on all Securities to be redeemed on that date.

Section 3.06.     Securities Redeemed in Part

         Upon  surrender  of a Security  that is redeemed  in part,  the Company
shall execute and the Trustee shall  authenticate for each Holder a new Security
equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

                                  ARTICLE FOUR

                                    Covenants

Section 4.01.     Payment of Securities

         The Company  shall pay the principal of and interest on a Series on the
dates and in the manner provided in the Securities of the Series. An installment
of principal or interest  shall be considered  paid on the date it is due, if on
that date the Paying Agent holds money  designated for and sufficient to pay the
installment;  provided,  however,  that money  held by the Paying  Agent for the
benefit of holders of Senior Indebtedness  pursuant to the provisions of Article
11 hereof shall not be considered paid within the meaning of this Section 4.01.

         The Company  shall pay interest on overdue  principal at the rate borne
by the Series; it shall pay interest on overdue  installments of interest at the
same rate.

Section 4.02.     Maintenance of Office or Agency

         The Company shall maintain the office or agency  required under Section
2.03.  The  Company  shall  give  prior  written  notice to the  Trustee  of the
location,  and any change in the location,  of such office or agency.  If at any
time the Company  shall fail to maintain any such  required  office or agency or
shall fail to furnish the Trustee with the address thereof,  such presentations,
surrenders,  notices  and  demands  may be made or served at the  address of the
Trustee.

Section 4.03.     Compliance Certificate

         The Company shall deliver to the Trustee  within 120 days after the end
of each fiscal year of the Company an Officers'  Certificate  stating whether or
not the  signers  know

                                       17



of any Default by the  Company in  performing  any of its
obligations  under  this  Indenture.  If they do  know  of such a  Default,  the
certificate shall describe the Default.

Section 4.04.     Payment of Taxes; Maintenance of Corporate Existence; 
                  Maintenance of Properties

         The Company will:

         (a)      cause to be paid and  discharged  all  lawful  taxes,  
                  assessments  and  governmental charges or levies imposed upon
                  the Company and its  Restricted  Subsidiaries  or upon the 
                  income or profits of the Company and its  Restricted  
                  Subsidiaries  or upon property or any part thereof  belonging
                  to the Company and its Restricted  Subsidiaries  before the 
                  same shall be in default,  as well as all lawful claims for
                  labor,  materials  and supplies  which,  if unpaid,  might
                  become a lien or charge upon such property or any part 
                  thereof;  provided,  however, that the Company shall not be
                  required to cause to be paid or discharged  any such tax,
                  assessment,  charge,  levy or claim so long as the  validity
                  or  amount  thereof  shall  be  contested  in good  faith  by
                  appropriate proceedings and the nonpayment thereof does not,
                  in the  judgment of the  Company,  materially adversely  
                  affect  the  ability  of the  Company  and  the  Restricted 
                  Subsidiaries  to pay  all obligations  under this Indenture
                  when due; and provided  further,  that the Company shall not
                  be required to cause to be paid or discharged any such tax,
                  assessment,  charge, levy or claim if, in the judgment of the
                  Company,  such payment  shall not be  advantageous  to the 
                  Company in the conduct of its  business  and if the failure
                  so to pay or  discharge  does not, in its  judgment,
                  materially  adversely  affect the ability of the Company and 
                  the Restricted  Subsidiaries  to pay all obligations under
                  this Indenture when due;

         (b)      cause to be done all things  necessary to preserve and keep in
                  full force and effect the  corporate  existence of the Company
                  and each of its Restricted  Subsidiaries;  provided,  however,
                  that  nothing  in  this   subsection   (b)  shall   prevent  a
                  consolidation  or  merger  of the  Company  or any  Restricted
                  Subsidiary not prohibited by the provisions of Article Five or
                  any  other   provision  or  the   Authorizing   Resolution  or
                  supplemental indenture pertaining to a Series, and the Company
                  need not maintain  the  corporate  existence of an  immaterial
                  Restricted Subsidiary ; and

         (c)      at all times  keep,  maintain  and  preserve  the  property
                  of the  Company  and the  Restricted Subsidiaries  in good 
                  repair,  working order and condition  (reasonable  wear and 
                  tear  excepted) and from time to time make all needful and
                  proper repairs,  renewals,  replacements,  betterments
                  and  improvements  thereto,  so that the  business  carried
                  on in  connection  therewith  may be

                                           18


                  properly and  advantageously  conducted  at all times; 
                  provided,  however, that nothing in this subsection (c) shall
                  prevent the Company from  discontinuing  the operation and
                  maintenance  of any such  properties if such  discontinuance
                  is, in the judgment of the  Company, desirable in the conduct
                  of its business and not  disadvantageous  in any material
                  respect to the ability of the Company and the  Restricted
                  Subsidiaries  to pay all obligations  under this Indenture
                  when due.


                                  ARTICLE FIVE

                              Successor Corporation

Section 5.01.     When Company May Merge, etc

         The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, any other
corporation,  or transfer all or substantially  all of its assets to, any entity
unless  permitted by law and unless (1) the  resulting,  surviving or transferee
entity,  which shall be a corporation  organized and existing  under the laws of
the United States or a State thereof,  assumes by supplemental  indenture,  in a
form  reasonably  satisfactory  to the Trustee,  all of the  obligations  of the
Company under the Securities and this Indenture and (2) immediately after giving
effect to, and as a result of, such transaction,  no Default or Event of Default
shall have occurred and be continuing.  Thereafter such successor corporation or
corporations  shall succeed to and be substituted  for the Company with the same
effect as if it had been named herein as the "Company" and all such  obligations
of the predecessor corporation shall terminate.

         The Company shall deliver to the Trustee prior to the  consummation  of
the proposed transaction an Officers' Certificate to the foregoing effect and an
Opinion of Counsel stating that the proposed  transaction and such  supplemental
indenture comply with this Indenture.

         To the extent that an Authorizing  Resolution or supplemental indenture
pertaining  to any Series  provides  for  different  provisions  relating to the
subject  matter  of this  Article  Five,  the  provisions  in  such  Authorizing
Resolution or supplemental indenture shall govern for purposes of such Series.


                                    19



                                 ARTICLE SIX

                            Defaults and Remedies

Section 6.01.     Events of Default

         An  "Event  of  Default"  on  a  Series  occurs  if,   voluntarily   or
involuntarily,  whether by operation of law or  otherwise,  any of the following
occurs:

         (1)     the failure by the Company to pay interest on any Security of
such Series when the same becomes due and payable and the continuance of any 
such failure for a period of 30 days;

         (2)     the failure by the Company to pay the  principal  or premium 
of any  Security of such Series when the same becomes due and payable at 
maturity, upon acceleration or otherwise;

         (3)     the failure by the Company or any  Restricted  Subsidiary to
comply in all  material  respects  with  any of its  agreements  or  covenants
in,  or provisions of, the Securities of such Series,  or this Indenture (as
they relate thereto)  and such  failure  continues  for the  period  and  after
the  notice specified  below  (except in the case of a default  with respect to
Article Five (or any  replacement provisions as  contemplated by Article Five),
which will constitute an Event of Default with notice but without passage of
time);

         (4)     the  acceleration  of any  Indebtedness  (other  than
Non-Recourse  Indebtedness) of the Company or any Restricted  Subsidiary in
an amount of $30 million or more,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  and such
acceleration does not cease to exist, or such Indebtedness is not satisfied,  in
either case within 30 days after such acceleration;

         (5)     the failure by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary to
make any principal or interest payment in an amount of $30 million or more,
individually or in the aggregate,  in respect of Indebtedness for borrowed money
(other  than  Non-Recourse  Indebtedness)  of  the  Company  or  any  Restricted
Subsidiary within 30 days of such principal or interest becoming due and payable
(after giving effect to any  applicable  grace period set forth in the documents
governing such Indebtedness);

         (6)     a final  judgment or judgments in an amount of $30 million or
more,  individually  or in the  aggregate,  for the payment of money having been
entered by a court or courts of  competent  jurisdiction  against the Company or
any of its Restricted Subsidiaries and such judgment or judgments is not covered
by a policy of insurance,  satisfied,  stayed,  annulled or rescinded  within 90
days of being entered;

                                        20



         (7)     the Company or any Restricted  Subsidiary that is a 
Significant  Subsidiary pursuant to or within the meaning of any Bankruptcy Law:

                  (A)      commences a voluntary case,

                  (B)      consents to the entry of an order for relief against
                           it in an involuntary case,

                  (C)      consents to the  appointment  of a  Custodian  of it
                           or for all or substantially  all of its property, or

                  (D)      makes a general  assignment (except in the case of a
                           Restricted  Subsidiary,  to the Company) for the
                           benefit of its creditors; or

         (8)     a court of competent jurisdiction enters an order or decree 
under any Bankruptcy Law that:

                  (A)      is for relief  against the Company or any  Restricted
                           Subsidiary that is a Significant Subsidiary as debtor
                           in an involuntary case,

                  (B)      appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Restricted
                           Subsidiary  that  is a  Significant  Subsidiary  or a
                           Custodian  for  all  or  substantially   all  of  the
                           property of the Company or any Restricted  Subsidiary
                           that is a Significant Subsidiary, or

                  (C)      orders the  liquidation  of the Company or any
                           Restricted  Subsidiary  that is a Significant
                           Subsidiary,

and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 90 days.

         A Default as  described in  sub-clause  (3) above will not be deemed an
Event of Default  until the Trustee  notifies the Company,  or the Holders of at
least 25 percent in principal amount of the then  outstanding  Securities of the
applicable Series notify the Company and the Trustee, of the Default and (except
in the case of a  default  with  respect  to  Article  Five (or any  replacement
provisions  as  contemplated  by Article  Five)) the  Company  does not cure the
Default within 90 days after receipt of the notice.  The notice must specify the
Default,  demand that it be  remedied  and state that the notice is a "Notice of
Default." If such a Default is cured within such time period, it ceases.

         The term "Custodian" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator,
custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

                                       21


Section 6.02.     Acceleration

         If an Event of Default  (other than an Event of Default with respect to
the Company  resulting from  sub-clauses (7) or (8) above),  shall have occurred
and be continuing under the Indenture,  the Trustee by notice to the Company, or
the Holders of at least 25 percent in principal  amount of the Securities of the
applicable Series then outstanding by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may
declare all  Securities of such Series to be due and payable  immediately.  Upon
such declaration of acceleration,  the amounts due and payable on the Securities
of such Series will be due and payable immediately.  If an Event of Default with
respect to the Company  specified in  sub-clauses  (7) or (8) above occurs,  all
amounts due and payable on the  Securities of such Series will ipso facto become
and be immediately due and payable without any declaration,  notice or other act
on the part of the  Trustee  and the  Company or any  Holder.  The  Holders of a
majority in principal  amount of the Securities of such Series then  outstanding
by written  notice to the Trustee and the Company may waive any Default or Event
of Default  (other than any Default or Event of Default in payment of  principal
or interest)  with  respect to such Series of  Securities  under the  Indenture.
Holders of a majority in principal amount of the then outstanding  Securities of
such  Series may  rescind an  acceleration  with  respect to such Series and its
consequence  (except an acceleration  due to nonpayment of principal or interest
on the Securities of such Series) if the rescission  would not conflict with any
judgment  or decree and if all  existing  Events of  Default  have been cured or
waived.

         No such rescission shall extend to or shall affect any subsequent Event
of Default, or shall impair any right or power consequent thereon.

Section 6.03.     Other Remedies

         If an Event  of  Default  on a Series  occurs  and is  continuing,  the
Trustee may pursue any  available  remedy by  proceeding  at law or in equity to
collect the payment of  principal of or interest on the Series or to enforce the
performance of any provision in the  Securities or this Indenture  applicable to
the Series.

         The Trustee may maintain a  proceeding  even if it does not possess any
of the Securities or does not produce any of them in the proceeding.  A delay or
omission by the Trustee or any  Securityholder in exercising any right or remedy
accruing  upon an Event of  Default  shall  not  impair  the  right or remedy or
constitute  a waiver of or  acquiescence  in the Event of Default.  No remedy is
exclusive of any other remedy. All available remedies are cumulative.

Section 6.04.     Waiver of Existing Defaults

         Subject to Section 9.02, the Holders of a majority in principal  amount
of the  outstanding  Securities  of a Series on behalf of all the Holders of the
Series by notice to the

                                      22


Trustee may waive an existing Default on such Series and its  consequences.
When a Default is  waived,  it is cured and stops  continuing,  and any Event of
Default arising therefrom shall be deemed to have been cured; but no such waiver
shall extend to any  subsequent or other Default or impair any right  consequent
thereon.

Section 6.05.     Control by Majority

         The  Holders  of a  majority  in  principal  amount of the  outstanding
Securities of a Series 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 it with respect to such Series.  The Trustee,  however,  may
refuse to follow any direction (i) that  conflicts  with law or this  Indenture,
(ii) that, subject to Section 7.01, the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial
to the rights of other Securityholders,  or (iii) that would involve the Trustee
in personal liability.

Section 6.06.     Limitation on Suits

         A Securityholder  of a Series may not pursue any remedy with respect to
this Indenture or the Series unless:

         (1)      the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice of a continuing
                  Event of Default on the Series;

         (2)      the Holders of at least a majority  in  principal  amount of
                  the  outstanding  Securities  of the Series make a written 
                  request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

         (3)      such Holder or Holders offer to the Trustee  indemnity
                  satisfactory  to the Trustee  against any loss, liability or
                  expense;

         (4)      the  Trustee  does not comply with the request within 90 days
                  after  receipt of the request and the offer of indemnity; and

         (5)      no written  request  inconsistent  with such  written  request
                  shall have been given to the Trustee  pursuant to this Section
                  6.06.

         A Securityholder  may not use this Indenture to prejudice the rights of
another  Securityholder  or to obtain a  preference  or  priority  over  another
Securityholder.

Section 6.07.     Rights of Holders to Receive Payment

         Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any
Holder to receive  payment of principal of and interest on the  Security,  on or
after the respective due

                                      23


dates  expressed in the Security,  or to bring suit for the  enforcement of any
such payment on or after such respective dates, is absolute  and  unconditional
and shall not be impaired or affected  without the consent of the Holder.

Section 6.08.     Collection Suit by Trustee

         If an Event of Default in payment of interest or principal specified in
Section  6.01(1)  or (2) occurs  and is  continuing,  the  Trustee  may  recover
judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express  trust against the Company
for the whole amount of principal and interest remaining unpaid.

Section 6.09.     Trustee May File Proofs of Claim

         The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents
as may be  necessary  or  advisable  in order to have the claims of the  Trustee
(including any claim for the reasonable compensation,  expenses,  disbursements,
and  advances of the Trustee,  its agents and  counsel) and the  Securityholders
allowed in any judicial  proceedings  relative to the Company,  its creditors or
its property, and unless prohibited by applicable law or regulation, may vote on
behalf of the Holders in any election of a Custodian,  and shall be entitled and
empowered  to  collect  and  receive  any  moneys or other  property  payable or
deliverable  on any such claims and to distribute  the same and any Custodian in
any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Securityholder to make
such  payments to the Trustee.  Nothing  herein 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 or the rights of any Holder or to authorize
the  Trustee  to vote in respect  of the claim of any  Securityholder  except as
aforesaid for the election of the Custodian.

Section 6.10.     Priorities

         If the Trustee  collects any money  pursuant to this Article,  it shall
pay out the money in the following order:

First:       to the Trustee for amounts due under Section 7.07;

Second:      to holders of Senior Indebtedness to the extent required by
             Article 11;

Third:       to  Securityholders  for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities
             for principal and interest, ratably,  without  preference  or 
             priority of any kind,  according to the amounts due and payable
             on the Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and

Fourth:      to the Company as its interests may appear.  The Trustee  may fix
             a record date and payment  date for any payment to Securityholders
             pursuant to this Section 6.10.

                                       24


Section 6.11.     Undertaking for Costs

         In any suit for the  enforcement  of any  right or  remedy  under  this
Indenture  or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by
it as  Trustee,  a court in its  discretion  may require the filing by any party
litigant  in the suit of an  undertaking  to pay the costs of the suit,  and the
court in its  discretion  may  assess  reasonable  costs,  including  reasonable
attorneys' fees,  against any party litigant in the suit,  having the due regard
to the  merits  and good  faith of the  claims  or  defenses  made by the  party
litigant.  This  Section  does not apply to a suit by the  Trustee,  a suit by a
Holder  pursuant  to  Section  6.07 or a suit by  Holders  of more  than  10% in
principal amount of the Series.

                                  ARTICLE SEVEN

                                     Trustee

Section 7.01.     Duties of Trustee

         (a)   If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing,  the
Trustee shall,  prior to the  receipt of  directions  from the  Holders of a
majority in principal  amount of the Securities, exercise its rights and powers
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.

         (b)   Except during the continuance of an Event of Default:

                  (1)      The Trustee  need  perform only those duties that
                           are  specifically  set forth in this Indenture and no
                           others and no implied  covenants or obligations shall
                           be read into this Indenture against the Trustee.

                  (2)      In the  absence  of bad  faith on its  part,  the
                           Trustee may conclusively rely, as to the truth of the
                           statements  and  the   correctness  of  the  opinions
                           expressed  therein,  upon  certificates  or  opinions
                           furnished  to  the  Trustee  and  conforming  to  the
                           requirements of his Indenture. The Trustee,  however,
                           shall  examine  the   certificates  and  opinions  to
                           determine   whether  or  not  they   conform  to  the
                           requirements  of this  Indenture but need not confirm
                           or   investigate   the   accuracy   of   mathematical
                           calculations or other facts or matters stated herein.

         (c)   The Trustee may  not be  relieved  from  liability  for  its own
negligent  action,  its  own  negligent  failure  to  act  or  its  own  willful
misconduct, except that:

                                      25


                  (1)      This  paragraph  does  not limit the  effect of
                           paragraph (b) of this Section.

                  (2)      The Trustee shall not be liable for any error of
                           judgment  made in  good  faith  by a  Trust  Officer,
                           unless it is proved that the Trustee was negligent in
                           ascertaining the pertinent facts.

                  (3)      The Trustee  shall not be liable with  respect to
                           any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in
                           accordance  with a direction  received by it pursuant
                           to Section 6.05 or any other direction of the Holders
                           permitted hereunder.

         (d)   Every  provision  of  this  Indenture  that in any way  relates
to the  Trustee  is  subject  to paragraphs (a), (b) and (c) of this Section.

         (e)   The Trustee may refuse to perform any duty or exercise any right
or power unless it receives indemnity  satisfactory  to it  against  any  loss,
liability or expense.

         (f)   The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money 
received by it except as the Trustee may agree with the Company.  Money held in
trust by the  Trustee  need not be  segregated  from  other  funds  except to
the  extent required by law.

         (g)   None of the provisions contained in this Indenture  shall require
the  Trustee  to  expend  or risk its own  funds or  otherwise  incur  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  grounds for believing  that
the repayment of such funds or adequate  indemnity against such liability is not
reasonably assured to it.

Section 7.02.     Rights of Trustee

         Subject to Section 7.01:

         (a)   The Trustee may rely and shall be protected in acting or 
refraining from acting on any document,  resolution,  certificate,  instrument,
report, or direction  believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or 
presented by the proper person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or
matter stated in the document, resolution, certificate, instrument, report, or
direction.

         (b)   Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require
an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel or both, which shall conform
to Sections 10.04 and 10.05 hereof and containing such other  statements  as the
Trustee reasonably deems necessary to perform its duties hereunder.  The Trustee
shall not be liable  for any  action

                                      26


it takes or omits to take in good  faith in reliance on the Officers'
Certificate, Opinion of Counsel or any other direction of the Company permitted
hereunder.

         (c)   The  Trustee  may  act  through  agents  and  shall  not be
responsible  for the  misconduct  or negligence of any agent appointed with due
care.

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

         (e)   The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the written  advice of
such  counsel  or any  Opinion of Counsel as to matters of law shall be full and
complete authorization and protection in respect of any action taken, omitted or
suffered  by it  hereunder  in good faith and in  accordance  with the advice or
opinion of such counsel.

         (f)   Unless  otherwise  specifically  provided  in the  Indenture, any
demand,  request,  direction or notice from the Company  shall be  sufficient if
signed by an Officer of the Company.

         (g)   For all purposes  under this  Indenture, the Trustee shall not be
deemed to have  notice or  knowledge  of any Event of Default  (other than under
Section  6.01(1) or 6.01(2))  unless a Trust Officer  assigned to and working in
the  Trustee's  corporate  trust office has actual  knowledge  thereof or unless
written notice of any Event of Default is received by the Trustee at its address
specified in Section  10.02  hereof and such notice  references  the  Securities
generally, the Company or this Indenture.

Section 7.03.     Individual Rights of Trustee

         The  Trustee in its  individual  or any other  capacity  may become the
owner or pledgee of Securities  and may  otherwise  deal with the Company or its
Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.  Any Agent
may do the same with  like  rights.  The  Trustee,  however,  must  comply  with
Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

Section 7.04.     Trustee's Disclaimer

         The Trustee makes no  representation as to the validity or adequacy of
this Indenture, the Securities or of any prospectus used to sell the Securities;
it shall not be accountable for  the  Company's  use of the  proceeds  from  the
Securities;  it shall not be accountable  for any money paid to the Company,  or
upon the Company's direction, if made under and in accordance with any provision
of this Indenture; it shall not be responsible for the use or application of any
money  received by any Paying Agent other than the Trustee;  and it shall not be
responsible  for  any  statement  of the  Company  in this  Indenture  or in the
Securities other than its certificate of authentication.

                                      27


Section 7.05.     Notice of Defaults

         If a Default on a Series occurs and is continuing and if it is known to
the Trustee,  the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder of the Series notice
of the Default  (which shall specify any uncured  Default known to it) within 90
days after it occurs. Except in the case of a default in payment of principal of
or interest on a Series,  the Trustee may  withhold the notice if and so long as
the board of directors of the Trustee,  the executive or any trust  committee of
such  directors  and/or  responsible  officers  of the  Trustee  in  good  faith
determine(s)  that  withholding the notice is in the interests of Holders of the
Series.

Section 7.06.     Reports by Trustee to Holders

         Within 60 days after each May 15  beginning  with the May 15  following
the date of this  Indenture,  the Trustee  shall mail to each  Securityholder  a
brief report dated as of such May 15 that  complies  with TIA ss. 313(a) (but if
no event  described  in TIA ss.  313(2) has  occurred  within the twelve  months
preceding the reporting  date no report need be  transmitted).  The Trustee also
shall comply with TIA ss. 313(b).

         A copy of each  report at the time of its  mailing  to  Securityholders
shall be delivered to the Company and filed by the Trustee with the SEC and each
national  securities  exchange on which the Securities  are listed.  The Company
agrees to notify the Trustee of each national  securities  exchange on which the
Securities are listed.

Section 7.07.     Compensation and Indemnity

         The Company shall pay to the Trustee or  predecessor  trustee from time
to time reasonable  compensation  for their  respective  services subject to any
written  agreement  between  the  Trustee and the  Company.  The  Company  shall
reimburse  the Trustee upon request for all  reasonable  out-of-pocket  expenses
incurred by it. Such expenses  shall  include the  reasonable  compensation  and
expenses of the Trustee's  agents and counsel.  The Company shall  indemnify the
Trustee and each predecessor  trustee,  its officers,  directors,  employees and
agents and hold it harmless  against any loss,  liability or expense incurred or
made  by or on  behalf  of it in  connection  with  the  administration  of this
Indenture or the trust  hereunder and its duties  hereunder  including the costs
and  expenses of  defending  itself  against or  investigating  any claim in the
premises.  The Trustee shall notify the Company  promptly of any claim for which
it may seek  indemnity.  The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify
against any loss or liability incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee's,  or
its officers', directors', employees' or agents' negligence or bad faith.

         To ensure  the  Company's  payment  obligations  in this  Section,  the
Trustee shall have a claim prior to the Securities on all money or property held
or collected by the  Trustee,  except that held in trust to pay  principal of or
interest on particular  Securities.

                                      28


When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders  services in connection with an
Event of Default  specified  in Section  6.01 or in  connection  with  Article 6
hereof, the expenses (including the reasonable fees and expenses of its counsel)
and the  compensation  for services in  connection  therewith  are to constitute
expenses of administration under any bankruptcy law.

Section 7.08.     Replacement of Trustee

         The Trustee may resign by so notifying  the  Company.  The Holders of a
majority  in  principal  amount of the  outstanding  Securities  may  remove the
Trustee  by so  notifying  the  removed  Trustee in  writing  and may  appoint a
successor trustee with the Company's consent.  Such resignation or removal shall
not take effect until the appointment by the  Securityholders  or the Company as
hereinafter  provided  of  a  successor  trustee  and  the  acceptance  of  such
appointment  by such successor  trustee.  The Company may remove the Trustee and
any  Securityholder  may petition any court of  competent  jurisdiction  for the
removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor  trustee for any or no
reason, including if:

         (1)      the Trustee  fails to comply with Section  7.10 after  written
                  request by the Company or any bona fide Securityholder who has
                  been a Securityholder for at least six months;

         (2)      the Trustee is adjudged a bankrupt or an insolvent;

         (3)      a receiver or other public officer takes charge of the Trustee
                  or its property; or

         (4)      the Trustee becomes incapable of acting.

         If the  Trustee  resigns or is  removed  or if a vacancy  exists in the
office of Trustee for any reason, the Company shall promptly appoint a successor
trustee.  If a successor  trustee does not take office  within 45 days after the
retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee, the Company or any
Holder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a
successor trustee.

         A  successor  trustee  shall  deliver  a  written   acceptance  of  its
appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company.  Immediately after that,
the retiring  Trustee  shall  transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the
successor  trustee,  the  resignation  or removal of the retiring  Trustee shall
become effective,  and the successor  trustee shall have all the rights,  powers
and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture.  A successor  trustee shall mail
notice of its succession to each Securityholder.

                                       29


Section 7.09.     Successor Trustee by Merger, etc

         If the Trustee consolidates with, merges with or into or converts into,
or  transfers  all or  substantially  all of its  corporate  trust  business to,
another corporation,  the successor corporation without any further act shall be
the successor trustee.

Section 7.10.     Eligibility; Disqualification

         This   Indenture   shall  always  have  a  Trustee  who  satisfies  the
requirements of TIA ss.310(a)(1).  The Trustee shall have a combined capital and
surplus of at least $10,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual
report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA ss.310(b).

Section 7.11.     Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company

         The Trustee  shall comply with TIA  ss.311(a),  excluding  any creditor
relationship listed in TIA ss.311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed
shall be subject to TIA ss.311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

                                  ARTICLE EIGHT

                             Discharge of Indenture

Section 8.01.     Defeasance upon Deposit of Moneys or  U.S. Government 
                  Obligations

         (a)    The  Company  may, at its option  and at any time, elect to have
either  paragraph  (b) or  paragraph  (c) below be  applied  to the  outstanding
Securities of any Series upon  compliance  with the  applicable  conditions  set
forth in paragraph (d).

         (b)    Upon the Company's exercise  under  paragraph (a) of the  option
applicable  to this  paragraph  (b),  the  Company  shall be deemed to have been
released and  discharged  from its  respective  obligations  with respect to the
outstanding  Securities of a Series on the date the  applicable  conditions  set
forth below are satisfied (hereinafter,  "Legal Defeasance").  For this purpose,
such Legal  Defeasance  means that the Company  shall be deemed to have paid and
discharged the entire Indebtedness  represented by the outstanding Securities of
a Series,  which shall  thereafter  be deemed to be  "outstanding"  only for the
purposes of the Sections and matters under this Indenture referred to in (i) and
(ii)  below,  and to  have  satisfied  all  its  other  obligations  under  such
Securities and this Indenture  insofar as such Securities are concerned,  except
for the following which shall survive until  otherwise  terminated or discharged
hereunder:  (i) the rights of Holders of  outstanding  Securities of a Series to
receive  solely from the trust fund described in paragraph (d) below and as more
fully set forth in such  paragraph,  payments in respect of the principal of and
interest on such  Securities  when such  payments  are due and (ii)

                                     30


obligations listed in Section 8.02, subject to compliance with this Section
8.01.  The Company may exercise its option under this  paragraph
(b)  notwithstanding  the prior  exercise of its option  under  paragraph
(c) below with  respect to such Securities.

         (c)    Upon the Company's exercise  under paragraph  (a) of the  option
applicable to this  paragraph  (c), the Company shall be released and discharged
from the obligations under any covenant  contained in Article Five and any other
covenant  contained in the  Authorizing  Resolution  or  supplemental  indenture
relating to such Series to the extent  provided  for  therein,  on and after the
date the  conditions  set forth  below  are  satisfied  (hereinafter,  "Covenant
Defeasance"), and the Securities of such Series shall thereafter be deemed to be
not  "outstanding"  for  the  purpose  of  any  direction,  waiver,  consent  or
declaration  or act  of  Holders  (and  the  consequences  of  any  thereof)  in
connection  with such covenants,  but shall continue to be deemed  "outstanding"
for all other purposes  hereunder.  For this purpose,  such Covenant  Defeasance
means that, with respect to the outstanding  Securities of a Series, the Company
may omit to comply  with and shall  have no  liability  in  respect of any term,
condition or  limitation  set forth in any such  covenant,  whether  directly or
indirectly,  by reason of any reference elsewhere herein to any such covenant or
by reason of any reference in any such covenant to any other provision herein or
in any other document and such omission to comply shall not constitute a Default
or an Event of Default under Section  6.01(3),  but, except as specified  above,
the remainder of this Indenture and such Securities shall be unaffected thereby.

         (d)    The following shall be the conditions to  application  of either
paragraph  (b) or  paragraph  (c)  above to the  outstanding  Securities  of the
applicable Series:

               (1)         The Company shall have  irrevocably  deposited in
                           trust with the  Trustee,  pursuant to an  irrevocable
                           trust and security  agreement  in form and  substance
                           reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee, money in U.S.
                           dollars   or  U.S.   government   obligations   or  a
                           combination thereof in such amounts and at such times
                           as are  sufficient,  in the  opinion of a  nationally
                           recognized firm of independent public accountants, to
                           pay the principal of and interest on the  outstanding
                           Securities of such Series to maturity or  redemption;
                           provided,   however,   that  the  Trustee  (or  other
                           qualifying    trustee)   shall   have   received   an
                           irrevocable    written   order   from   the   Company
                           instructing the Trustee (or other qualifying trustee)
                           to apply  such  money or the  proceeds  of such  U.S.
                           government  obligations to said payments with respect
                           to the  Securities  of such  Series  to  maturity  or
                           redemption;

               (2)         No Default or Event of  Default  shall have  occurred
                           and be continuing on the date of such deposit;

                                        31


               (3)         Such deposit  will not result in a Default  under
                           this  Indenture  or a  breach  or  violation  of,  or
                           constitute  a  default  under,   any  other  material
                           instrument  or  agreement to which the Company or any
                           of its  Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any
                           of their property is bound;

               (4)         (i) In the event the Company elects paragraph (b)
                           hereof,  the Company  shall deliver to the Trustee an
                           Opinion of Counsel in the United States,  in form and
                           substance reasonably  satisfactory to the Trustee, to
                           the effect that (A) the Company has received from, or
                           there has been  published  by, the  Internal  Revenue
                           Service  a  ruling  or  (B)  since  the  Issue   Date
                           pertaining to such Series, there has been a change in
                           the applicable federal income tax law, in either case
                           to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of
                           Counsel  shall state  that,  or (ii) in the event the
                           Company  elects  paragraph  (c)  hereof,  the Company
                           shall deliver to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel in
                           the United States,  in form and substance  reasonably
                           satisfactory  to the Trustee,  to the effect that, in
                           the case of  clauses  (i) and  (ii),  Holders  of the
                           Securities of such Series will not recognize  income,
                           gain or loss for  United  States  federal  income tax
                           purposes  as  a  result  of  such   deposit  and  the
                           defeasance contemplated hereby and will be subject to
                           federal  income  tax in the same  amounts  and in the
                           same  manner and at the same times as would have been
                           the  case  if such  deposit  and  defeasance  had not
                           occurred;

               (5)         The Company  shall have  delivered to the Trustee
                           an  Officers'  Certificate,  stating that the deposit
                           under clause (1) was not made by the Company with the
                           intent of preferring the Holders of the Securities of
                           such Series over any other  creditors  of the Company
                           or with the intent of defeating,  hindering, delaying
                           or defrauding  any other  creditors of the Company or
                           others;

               (6)         The Company  shall have  delivered to the Trustee
                           an Opinion of Counsel, reasonably satisfactory to the
                           Trustee, to the effect that, (A) the trust funds will
                           not  be   subject   to  the   rights  of  Holders  of
                           Indebtedness of the Company other than the Securities
                           of  such  Series  and  (B)  assuming  no  intervening
                           bankruptcy of the Company between the date of deposit
                           and the 91st day  following  the  deposit and that no
                           Holder of  Securities of such Series is an insider of
                           the  Company,   after  the  91st  day  following  the
                           deposit,  the trust  funds will not be subject to any
                           applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,  reorganization or
                           similar law affecting  creditors'  rights  generally;
                           and

                                      32


               (7)         The  Company  has  delivered  to the  Trustee  an
                           Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each
                           stating  that  all  conditions   precedent  specified
                           herein  relating to the  defeasance  contemplated  by
                           this Section 8.01 have been complied with.

         In the event all or any portion of the Securities of a Series are to be
redeemed  through such  irrevocable  trust,  the Company must make  arrangements
satisfactory to the Trustee, at the time of such deposit,  for the giving of the
notice of such  redemption or  redemptions by the Trustee in the name and at the
expense of the Company.

         (e)    In addition to the Company's rights above under this 
Section 8.01, the Company may  terminate  all of its  obligations  under this
Indenture  with respect to a Series when:

                  (1)      All    Securities   of   such   Series    theretofore
                           authenticated  and delivered  (other than  Securities
                           which have been  destroyed,  lost or stolen and which
                           have been  replaced  or paid as  provided  in Section
                           2.07 and  Securities  for  whose  payment  money  has
                           theretofore been deposited in trust or segregated and
                           held in trust by the Company and thereafter repaid to
                           the Company or discharged  from such trust) have been
                           delivered to the Trustee for cancellation or all such
                           Securities not  theretofore  delivered to the Trustee
                           for cancellation  have become due and payable and the
                           Company  has  irrevocably  deposited  or caused to be
                           deposited  with the  Trustee as trust  funds in trust
                           solely for that purpose an amount of money sufficient
                           to pay and discharge the entire  Indebtedness  on the
                           Securities not  theretofore  delivered to the Trustee
                           for cancellation, for principal of and interest;

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

                  (3)      The  Company has delivered  irrevocable instructions
                           to the  Trustee  to  apply  the deposited  money 
                           toward the payment of the Securities at maturity or
                           redemption,  as the case may be; and

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

                                           33



Section 8.02.     Survival of the Company's Obligations

         Notwithstanding  the  satisfaction and discharge of the Indenture under
Section 8.01,  the Company's  obligations  in paragraph 9 of the  Securities and
Sections 2.03 through 2.07,  4.01,  7.07,  7.08, 8.04 and 8.05,  however,  shall
survive until the Securities of an applicable Series are no longer  outstanding.
Thereafter,  the Company's  obligations in paragraph 9 of the Securities of such
Series and Sections  7.07,  8.04 and 8.05 shall  survive (as they relate to such
Series).

Section 8.03.     Application of Trust Money

         The Trustee  shall hold in trust money or U.S.  government  obligations
deposited  with it pursuant to Section 8.01. It shall apply the deposited  money
and the money from U.S. government obligations in accordance with this Indenture
to the payment of principal of and  interest on the  Securities  of the defeased
Series.

Section 8.04.     Repayment to the Company

         The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly pay to the Company upon
request any excess money or securities held by them at any time. The Trustee and
the Paying  Agent shall pay to the Company  upon  request any money held by them
for the payment of principal or interest  that remains  unclaimed for two years;
provided,  however, that the Trustee or such Paying Agent, before being required
to make  any such  repayment,  may at the  expense  of the  Company  cause to be
published once in a newspaper of general  circulation in the City of New York or
mail to each such Holder  notice  that such money  remains  unclaimed  and that,
after a date  specified  therein,  which shall not be less than 30 days from the
date of such  publication or mailing,  any unclaimed  balance of such money then
remaining  will  be  repaid  to the  Company.  After  payment  to  the  Company,
Securityholders  entitled  to the money must look to the  Company for payment as
general creditors unless applicable  abandoned  property law designates  another
person and all  liability  of the Trustee or such Paying  Agent with  respect to
such money shall cease.

Section 8.05.     Reinstatement

         If the  Trustee  is  unable  to  apply  any  money  or U.S.  government
obligations in accordance with Section 8.01 by reason of any legal proceeding or
by reason  of any  order or  judgment  of any  court or  governmental  authority
enjoining,  restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company's
obligations under this Indenture and the Securities relating to the Series shall
be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred  pursuant to Section
8.01 until such time as the Trustee is permitted to apply all such money or U.S.
government obligations in accordance with Section 8.01; provided,  however, that
(a) if the  Company has made any  payment of  interest  on or  principal  of any

                                       34



Securities of the Series because of the reinstatement of their obligations,  the
Company shall be  subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such  Securities to
receive such payment from the money or U.S.  government  obligations held by the
Trustee and (b) unless  otherwise  required by any legal proceeding or any order
or judgment of any court or governmental authority, the Trustee shall return all
such  money  or  U.S.  government  obligations  to the  Company  promptly  after
receiving a written request  therefor at any time, if such  reinstatement of the
Company's obligations has occurred and continues to be in effect.


                                  ARTICLE NINE

                       Amendments, Supplements and Waivers

Section 9.01.     Without Consent of Holders

         The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement  this  Indenture or
the Securities of a Series without notice to or consent of any Securityholder of
such Series:

         (1)      to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency;

         (2)      to comply with Article Five;

         (3)      to  provide  that  specific  provisions  of this  Indenture
                  shall  not  apply  to a  Series  not  previously issued;

         (4)      to create a Series and establish its terms;

         (5)      to provide for uncertificated  Securities in addition to or
                  in place of certificated  Securities; and

         (6)      to make any other change that does not adversely affect the
                  rights of Securityholders.

         After an  amendment  under this Section  9.01  becomes  effective,  the
Company shall mail notice of such amendment to the Securityholders.

Section 9.02.     With Consent of Holders

         The Company and the Trustee may amend or supplement  this  Indenture or
the Securities of a Series without notice to any  Securityholder  of such Series
but with the written  consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal
amount  of the  outstanding  Securities  of each  such  Series  affected  by the
amendment.  Each such Series  shall vote

                                       35


as a separate class.  The Holders of a majority in principal  amount of the
outstanding  Securities  of any Series may waive  compliance by the Company with
any provision of the Securities of such Series or of this Indenture  relating to
such Series  without notice to any  Securityholder.  Without the consent of each
Securityholder  of a Series  affected,  however,  an  amendment,  supplement  or
waiver, including a waiver pursuant to Section 6.04, may not:

         (1)      reduce the amount of  Securities  of such Series  whose  
                  Holders  must  consent to an  amendment, supplement or waiver;

         (2)      reduce the rate of or change the time for payment of interest,
                  including defaulted interest,  on  any Security;

         (3)      reduce the  principal  of or change the fixed  maturity of any
                  Security   or  alter   the   provisions   (including   related
                  definitions) with respect to redemption of Securities pursuant
                  to Article Three hereof or with respect to any  obligations on
                  the part of the  Company  to offer to  purchase  or to  redeem
                  Securities of a Series pursuant to the Authorizing  Resolution
                  or supplemental indenture pertaining to such Series;

         (4)      modify the ranking or priority of the Securities of any 
                  Series;

         (5)      make any change in Sections 6.04, 6.07 or this Section 9.02;

         (6)      waive a continuing Default or Event of Default in the payment
                  of the  principal  of or interest on any Security; or

         (7)      make any  Security  payable at a place or in money  other than
                  that  stated  in the  Security,  or  impair  the  right of any
                  Securityholder to bring suit as permitted by Section 6.07.

         An amendment of a provision  included  solely for the benefit of one or
more  Series  does not  affect the  interests  of  Securityholders  of any other
Series.

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

         After the issuance of any  Securities,  an amendment under this Section
or under  Section  9.01 may not make any change  that  adversely  affects in any
material  respect  the  rights  under  Article  11  of  the  holders  of  Senior
Indebtedness, unless such holders of Senior Indebtedness consent to the change.

                                        36



Section 9.03.     Compliance with Trust Indenture Act

         Every  amendment to or supplement of this  Indenture or the  Securities
shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

Section 9.04.     Revocation and Effect of Consents

         A consent to an amendment,  supplement or waiver by a Holder shall bind
the Holder and every  subsequent  Holder of a Security  or portion of a Security
that  evidences  the same  debt as the  consenting  Holder's  Security,  even if
notation of the consent is not made on any  Security.  Subject to the  following
paragraph, any such Holder or subsequent Holder, however, may revoke the consent
as to his Security or portion of a Security.  Such revocation shall be effective
only if the  Trustee  receives  the  notice of  revocation  before  the date the
amendment, supplement or waiver becomes effective.

         The Company may,  but shall not be obligated  to, fix a record date for
the purpose of determining  the Holders of Securities of any Series  entitled to
consent to any  amendment,  supplement or waiver,  which record date shall be at
least 10 days prior to the first solicitation of such consent.  If a record date
is fixed, then  notwithstanding  the last sentence of the immediately  preceding
paragraph,  those  Persons  who were  Holders at such record date (or their duly
designated  proxies),  and only those  Persons,  shall be entitled to revoke any
consent  previously  given,  whether or not such Persons  continue to be Holders
after such record  date.  No such consent  shall be valid or effective  for more
than 90 days after such record date.

         After an amendment,  supplement or waiver becomes  effective,  it shall
bind every  Holder,  unless it makes a change  described  in any of clauses  (1)
through (7) of Section 9.02, in which case, the amendment,  supplement or waiver
shall bind only each  Holder of a  Security  who has  consented  to it and every
subsequent Holder of a Security or portion of a Security that evidences the same
debt as the consenting Holder's Security;  provided,  that any such waiver shall
not impair or affect the right of any Holder to receive  payment of principal of
and interest on a Security,  on or after the respective  due dates  expressed in
such  Security,  or to bring suit for the  enforcement of any such payment on or
after such respective dates without the consent of such Holder.

Section 9.05.     Notation on or Exchange of Securities

         If an amendment,  supplement or waiver changes the terms of a Security,
the Company may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee,
at which time the Trustee  shall place an  appropriate  notation on the Security
about the  changed  terms and  return it to the  Holder.  Alternatively,  if the
Company or the Trustee so  determines,  the Company in exchange for the Security
shall issue and the Trustee shall  authenticate a new Security that reflects the
changed terms. Section 9.06. Trustee to Sign Amendments, etc

                                    37


        Subject to  Section  7.02(b),  the  Trustee  shall sign any  amendment,
supplement  or waiver  authorized  pursuant  to this  Article if the  amendment,
supplement or waiver does not adversely affect the rights,  duties,  liabilities
or immunities of the Trustee.  If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it.
In signing or refusing to sign such  amendment or  supplemental  indenture,  the
Trustee  shall be entitled to receive  and shall be fully  protected  in relying
upon, an Officers'  Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel as conclusive evidence
that such amendment or supplemental indenture is authorized or permitted by this
Indenture,  that it is not inconsistent  herewith, and that it will be valid and
binding upon the Company in accordance with its terms.

                                   ARTICLE TEN

                                  Miscellaneous

Section 10.01.    Trust Indenture Act Controls

         If any provision of this Indenture limits,  qualifies or conflicts with
another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA,
the required provision shall control.

Section 10.02.    Notices

         Any order, consent, notice or communication shall be sufficiently given
if in writing and  delivered  in person or mailed by first  class mail,  postage
prepaid, addressed as follows:

         if to the Company:

                  M.D.C. Holdings, Inc.
                  3600 South Yosemite
                  Suite 900
                  Denver, CO 80237
                  Telecopy No.: (303) 793-2760
                  Attention: Chief Financial Officer

                                       38



         if to the Trustee:

                  -----------------------
                  -----------------------
                  -----------------------
                  Telecopy No.:
                               ----------
                  Attention:
                            -------------

         The  Company  or the  Trustee  by notice  to the  other  may  designate
additional or different addresses for subsequent notices or communications.

         Any notice or communication  mailed to a Securityholder shall be mailed
to him by first  class mail at his  address  as it  appears on the  registration
books of the  Registrar  and  shall be  sufficiently  given to him if so  mailed
within the time prescribed.

         Failure to mail a notice or communication  to a  Securityholder  or any
defect  in  it  shall  not  affect  its   sufficiency   with  respect  to  other
Securityholders.  If a notice or  communication is mailed in the manner provided
above,  it is duly given,  whether or not the addressee  receives it except that
notice to the  Trustee  shall  only be  effective  upon  receipt  thereof by the
Trustee.

         If the Company mails notice or communications  to the  Securityholders,
it shall mail a copy to the Trustee at the same time.

Section 10.03.    Communications by Holders with Other Holders

         Securityholders  may  communicate  pursuant to TIA ss. 312(b) with 
other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this  Indenture or the
Securities.  The Company,  the Trustee,  the  Registrar  and anyone else shall
have the protection of TIA ss. 312(c).

Section 10.04.    Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent

         Upon any request or  application  by the Company to the Trustee to take
any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

         (1)      an Officers'  Certificate  (which shall include the statements
                  set forth in Section  10.05)  stating  that, in the opinion of
                  the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in
                  this  Indenture  relating  to the  proposed  action  have been
                  complied with; and

         (2)      an Opinion of Counsel  (which shall include the statements set
                  forth in Section  10.05)  stating that, in the opinion of such
                  counsel,   all  such   conditions

                                        39


                  precedent  and  covenants, compliance with which  constitutes
                  a condition precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture
                  relating to the proposed action or inaction,  have been
                  complied with and that any such section does not conflict with
                  the terms of the Indenture.

Section 10.05.    Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion

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

         (1)      a  statement  that the person  making  such  certificate  or
                  opinion  has read such  covenant  or condition;

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

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

         (4)      a  statement  as to  whether  or not,  in the  opinion of such
                  person, such condition or covenant has been complied with.

Section 10.06.    Rules by Trustee and Agents

         The  Trustee  may make  reasonable  rules for action by or a meeting of
Securityholders. The Registrar or Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for its
functions.

Section 10.07.    Legal Holidays

         A "Legal Holiday" is a Saturday,  a Sunday, a legal holiday or a day on
which banking  institutions  in Denver,  Colorado and New York, New York are not
required to be open. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday at a place of payment,
payment may be made at that place on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal
Holiday,  and no interest shall accrue for the intervening  period.  A "Business
Day" is any day other than a Legal Holiday.

Section 10.08.    Governing Law

         The laws of the State of New York shall govern this  Indenture  and the
Securities of each Series.

                                       40


Section 10.09.    No Adverse Interpretation of Other Agreements

         This Indenture may not be used to interpret another indenture,  loan or
debt agreement of the Company or a Subsidiary.  Any such indenture, loan or debt
agreement may not be used to interpret this Indenture.

Section 10.10.    No Recourse Against Others

         All  liability  described  in  paragraph  12 of the  Securities  of any
director,  officer,  employee or stockholder,  as such, of the Company is waived
and released.

Section 10.11.    Successors and Assigns

         All covenants and  agreements of the Company in this  Indenture and the
Securities shall bind its successors and assigns.  All agreements of the Trustee
in this Indenture shall bind its successors and assigns.

Section 10.12.    Duplicate Originals

         The  parties  may sign any  number of copies  of this  Indenture.  Each
signed copy shall be an original,  but all of them  together  represent the same
agreement.

Section 10.13.    Severability

         In case any one or more of the  provisions  contained in this Indenture
or in the  Securities  of a Series  shall for any reason be held to be  invalid,
illegal  or  unenforceable  in  any  respect,  such  invalidity,  illegality  or
unenforceability  shall not affect any other  provisions of this Indenture or of
such Securities.

                                 ARTICLE ELEVEN

                                 Subordination

Section 11.01.    Agreement to Subordinate

         The Company  agrees,  and each  Securityholder  by accepting a Security
agrees,  that the  indebtedness  evidenced by the Securities is  subordinated in
right of payment,  to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article,  to
the prior payment in full of all Senior  Indebtedness and that the subordination
is for the benefit of the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

                                      41


Section 11.02.    Certain Definitions

         "Representative" means the indenture trustee or other trustee, agent or
representative for an issue of Senior Indebtedness.

         "Senior Indebtedness" means all Indebtedness (present or future) 
created,  incurred,  assumed or  guaranteed  by the Company  (and all  renewals,
extensions  or  refundings  thereof),  unless the  instrument  under  which such
Indebtedness  is created,  incurred,  assumed or  guaranteed  provides that such
Indebtedness  is not senior or superior  in right of payment to the  Securities.
Notwithstanding  anything to the contrary in the foregoing,  Senior Indebtedness
shall  not  include  (i)  any   Indebtedness  of  the  Company  to  any  of  its
subsidiaries,  (ii) any trade payables of the Company or (iii) guarantees by the
Company or any of its  Subsidiaries of Indebtedness  (a) outstanding at the date
hereof  or (b)  which may be  outstanding  in the  future,  except  that  Senior
Indebtedness  shall include any  guarantees  as may be listed in a  supplemental
indenture  and any other  present and future  guarantees  that  provide by their
terms that they constitute Senior Indebtedness.

Section 11.03.    Liquidation; Dissolution; Bankruptcy

         Upon any  distribution  to creditors of the Company in a liquidation or
dissolution  of the  Company  or in a  bankruptcy,  reorganization,  insolvency,
receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or its Property:

         (1)      holders of Senior  Indebtedness  shall be  entitled to receive
                  payment  in  full in cash  of the  principal  of and  interest
                  (including  interest  accruing after the  commencement  of any
                  such  proceeding)  to  the  date  of  payment  on  the  Senior
                  Indebtedness  before  Securityholders  shall  be  entitled  to
                  receive any payment of principal of or interest on Securities;
                  and

         (2)      until the  Senior  Indebtedness  is paid in full in cash,  any
                  distribution  to which  Securityholders  would be entitled but
                  for  this   Article   shall  be  made  to  holders  of  Senior
                  Indebtedness  as  their  interests  may  appear,  except  that
                  Securityholders  may receive  securities that are subordinated
                  to  Senior  Indebtedness  to at least  the same  extent as the
                  Securities.

         For  purposes of this Article 11, a  distribution  may consist of cash,
securities or other property, by set-off or otherwise.

Section 11.04.    Default on Senior Indebtedness

         Upon the final  maturity of any Senior  Indebtedness  by lapse of time,
acceleration or otherwise,  all such Senior  Indebtedness shall first be paid in
full, or such payment duly provided for in cash or in a manner  satisfactory  to
the  holders of such  Senior

                                        42



Indebtedness,  before  any  payment is made by the Company  or any  person  
acting on  behalf  of the  Company  on  account  of the principal or interest
of the Securities.

         The Company may not pay principal of or interest on the  Securities and
may not acquire any Securities for cash or property (other than capital stock of
the Company or other  securities of the Company that are  subordinated to Senior
Indebtedness  to at least the same  extent as the  Securities)  if a default  on
Senior Indebtedness occurs and is continuing that permits holders of such Senior
Indebtedness to accelerate its maturity.

         The Company  shall resume  payments on the  Securities  and may acquire
them, if this Article otherwise permits the payment or acquisition at that time,
when the default is cured or waived.


Section 11.05.    Acceleration of Securities

         If  payment of the  Securities  is  accelerated  because of an Event of
Default, the Company shall promptly notify holders of Senior Indebtedness of the
acceleration.  The Company shall pay the Securities when 180 days pass after the
acceleration occurs if this Article permits the payment at that time;  provided,
however,  that if no  Senior  Indebtedness  is  outstanding  at the time of such
acceleration,  the  Company  shall pay the  Securities  in  accordance  with the
provisions of Article 6.

Section 11.06.    When Distributions Must Be Paid Over

         In the event that the Company  shall make any payment to the Trustee on
account of the  principal  or  interest  on the  Securities  at a time when such
payment is prohibited  by Section 11.03 or 11.04,  such payment shall be held by
the Trustee in trust for the benefit  of, and shall  forthwith  be paid over and
delivered  to, the holders of Senior  Indebtedness  (pro rata as to each of such
holders on the basis of the respective  amounts of Senior  Indebtedness  held by
them) or their  Representative  under the indenture or other  agreement (if any)
pursuant to which Senior  Indebtedness may have been issued, as their respective
interests may appear, for application to the payment of all Senior  Indebtedness
remaining unpaid to the extent necessary to pay all Senior  Indebtedness in full
in accordance with its terms,  after giving effect to any concurrent  payment or
distribution to or for the holders of Senior Indebtedness.

         If a  distribution  is made to  Securityholders  that  because  of this
Article should not have been made to them, the  Securityholders  who receive the
distribution  shall hold it in trust for holders of Senior  Indebtedness and pay
it over to them as their interests may appear.

                                        43


Section 11.07.    Notice by the Company

         The Company shall  promptly  notify the Trustee and the Paying Agent of
any facts known to the Company  that would  cause a payment of  principal  of or
interest on the  Securities  to violate this  Article,  but failure to give such
notice  shall not  affect  the  subordination  of the  Securities  to the Senior
Indebtedness  provided in this  Article.  Nothing in this Article shall apply to
claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.07.

Section 11.08.    Subrogation

         After all Senior  Indebtedness is paid in full and until the Securities
are paid in full,  Securityholders  shall be subrogated to the rights of holders
of  Senior   Indebtedness   to  receive   distributions   applicable  to  Senior
Indebtedness  to  the  extent  that  distributions   otherwise  payable  to  the
Securityholders  have been  applied  to the  payment of Senior  Indebtedness.  A
distribution  made under this  Article to holders of Senior  Indebtedness  which
otherwise would have been made to Securityholders is not, as between the Company
and Securityholders, a payment by the Company on Senior Indebtedness.

Section 11.09.    Relative Rights

         This Article defines the relative rights of Securityholders and holders
of Senior Indebtedness. Nothing in this Indenture shall:

         (1)      impair,  as  between  the  Company  and  Securityholders,  the
                  obligation   of   the   Company,   which   is   absolute   and
                  unconditional,  to  pay  principal  of  and  interest  on  the
                  Securities in accordance with their terms;

         (2)      affect the relative rights of  Securityholders  and creditors
                  of the Company, other than holders of Senior Indebtedness; or

         (3)      prevent the Trustee or any Securityholder  from exercising its
                  available remedies upon a Default or Event of Default, subject
                  to the  rights of holders  of Senior  Indebtedness  to receive
                  distributions otherwise payable to Securityholders.

         If the Company  fails to pay  principal of or interest on a Security on
the due date because of this Article, the failure is still a Default or Event of
Default.

                                       44



Section 11.10.    Subordination May Not Be Impaired by the Company

         No  right  of  any  holder  of  Senior   Indebtedness  to  enforce  the
subordination of the indebtedness  evidenced by the Securities shall be impaired
by any act or failure to act by the  Company  or by its  failure to comply  with
this Indenture.

Section 11.11.    Distribution or Notice to the Representative

         Whenever a  distribution  is to be made or a notice given to holders of
Senior  Indebtedness  pursuant to this Article 11, the  distribution may be made
and the notice given to their Representative.

Section 11.12.    Rights of the Trustee and Paying Agent

         Notwithstanding any provision of this Article 11 or any other provision
of this Indenture, the Trustee and Paying Agent shall not at any time be charged
with  knowledge of the existence of any facts which would prohibit the making of
any  payment to or by the  Trustee or a Paying  Agent or the taking of any other
action (pursuant to this Article 11) by the Trustee or a Paying Agent unless and
until the Trustee or such Paying Agent,  as the case may be, shall have received
at its office  specified  in  Section  10.02  written  notice  thereof  from the
Company,  a Representative or a holder of Senior  Indebtedness and, prior to the
receipt of any such written  notice,  the Trustee,  subject to the provisions of
Sections 7.01 and 7.02, and such Paying Agent, shall be entitled in all respects
conclusively to assume that no such facts exist. The Trustee or Paying Agent may
continue to make payments on the Securities  unless it receives such a notice at
least three business days prior to the date upon which payment is due.

         The Trustee  shall be entitled to rely  reasonably in good faith on the
delivery to it of a written notice by a person representing himself,  herself or
itself to be a  Representative  or a holder of Senior  Indebtedness to establish
that such notice has been given by a  Representative  or a holder of such Senior
Indebtedness.  Only  the  Company,  a  Representative  or  a  holder  of  Senior
Indebtedness that has no Representative may give the notice.

         In the event that the  Trustee  determines  in good faith that  further
evidence  is  required  with  respect  to the right of any person as a holder of
Senior  Indebtedness to participate in any payment or  distribution  pursuant to
this Article 11, the Trustee may request such person to furnish  evidence to the
reasonable  satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior  Indebtedness
held by such person,  the extent to which such person is entitled to participate
in such payment or  distribution  and any other facts pertinent to the rights of
such person under this Article 11, and if such  evidence is not  furnished,  the
Trustee may defer any  payment  which it may be required to make for the

                                      45


benefit of such  person  pursuant  to the  terms  of  this  Indenture  pending
judicial determination as to the rights of such person to receive such payment.

         Upon any payment or distribution  of assets of the Company  referred to
in this  Article  11, the Trustee  and the  Holders of the  Securities  shall be
entitled  to rely  upon any order or decree  entered  by any court of  competent
jurisdiction in which such insolvency,  bankruptcy,  receivership,  liquidation,
reorganization,  dissolution,  winding  up or  similar  case  or  proceeding  is
pending,  or a certificate  of the trustee in bankruptcy,  liquidating  trustee,
Custodian,  receiver,  assignee  for the  benefit of  creditors,  agent or other
person making such payment or  distribution,  delivered to the Trustee or to the
Holders of Securities,  for the purpose of ascertaining  the persons entitled to
participate in such payment or distribution,  the holders of Senior Indebtedness
and other  indebtedness of the Company,  the amount thereof or payable  thereon,
the amount or amounts paid or distributed  thereon and all other facts pertinent
thereto or to this Article 11.

         The Trustee in its  individual  or any other  capacity  may hold Senior
Indebtedness  with the same  rights it would  have if it were not  Trustee.  Any
Agent may do the same with like rights.

Section 11.13.    No Fiduciary Duty to Holders of Senior Indebtedness

         With  respect  to the  holders  of  Senior  Indebtedness,  the  Trustee
undertakes to perform or to observe only such of its  covenants and  obligations
as are  specifically  set forth in this Article 11, and no implied  covenants or
obligations  with  respect to the holders of Senior  Indebtedness  shall be read
into this Indenture against the Trustee or Paying Agent. Neither the Trustee nor
the Paying  Agent  shall be deemed to owe any  fiduciary  duty to the holders of
such Senior  Indebtedness  and,  subject to the  provisions of Section 7.02, the
Trustee  shall not be liable to any  holder of such  Senior  Indebtedness  if it
shall,  in the  absence  of bad  faith,  pay  over  or  deliver  to  holders  of
Securities, the Company or any other person monies or assets to which any holder
of such Senior  Indebtedness  shall be entitled by virtue of this  Article 11 or
otherwise.


                                      46



                                   SIGNATURES

         IN WITNESS  WHEREOF,  the parties have caused this Indenture to be duly
executed, all as of the date first above written.

Dated:                  , 1997               M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC
       ----------------

                                             By:
                                             Name:
                                             Title:




Dated:                  , 1997                                     , as Trustee
      ------------------                      ---------------------
                                              By:
                                              Name:
                                              Title:
(SEAL)

                                       47



                                    Exhibit A

No.                             CUSIP No.: 
                                          ---------
                [Title of Security]

                M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
               a Delaware corporation

promises to pay to

or registered assigns
the principal sum of               [Dollars] on

[Title of Security]
Interest Payment Dates:      and
Record Dates       and

Authenticated:             Dated:

                                                M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.

[Seal]

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

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

- ------------------------------,
as Trustee, certifies that this is one of the
Securities referred to in the within mentioned
Indenture.

By:
   -----------------------------

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


Authorized Signatory

              M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC.
                [Title of Security]

                                        A-1


1.    Interest.

         M.D.C. HOLDINGS, INC. (the "Company"), a Delaware corporation, promises
to pay interest on the  principal  amount of this Security at the rate per annum
shown above.  The Company will pay interest  semiannually on
                                                             -------------------
and                  of each year until the principal is paid or made  available
    ---------------- 
for payment. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to
which  interest  has been paid or duly  provided for or, if no interest has been
paid, from               , 19  ; provided that, if there is no existing default
           --------------    --
in the payment of  interest,  and if this  Security is  authenticated  between a
record  date  referred to on the face  hereof and the next  succeeding  interest
payment date,  interest shall accrue from such interest  payment date.  Interest
will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months.

2. Method of Payment.  The Company will pay interest on the  Securities  (except
defaulted  interest,  if any, which will be paid on such special payment date to
Holders of record on such special record date as may be fixed by the Company) to
the persons who are registered Holders of Securities at the close of business on
the [Insert record dates].  Holders must surrender  Securities to a Paying Agent
to collect  principal  payments.  The Company will pay principal and interest in
money of the  United  States  that at the time of  payment  is legal  tender for
payment of public and private debts.

3.       Paying Agent and Registrar.

         Initially,                 (the "Trustee") will act as Paying Agent and
                    --------------- 
Registrar.  The  Company may change or appoint any Paying  Agent,  Registrar  or
co-Registrar  without notice.  The Company or any of its Subsidiaries may act as
Paying Agent, Registrar or co-Registrar.

4.       Indenture.

         The  Company  issued  the  Securities  under an  Indenture  dated as of
             ,  199   ("Indenture") among the Company and the Trustee. The terms
- -------------      --
of the Securities  include those stated in the Indenture  (including those terms
set forth in the Authorizing  Resolution or supplemental indenture pertaining to
the  Securities  of the Series of which this  Security is a part) and those made
part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 ("TIA") as
in effect on the date of the  Indenture.  The Securities are subject to all such
terms,  and  Securityholders  are  referred to the  Indenture  and the Act for a
statement of them.

         The Company  will furnish to any  Securityholder  upon  written request
and without  charge a copy of the Indenture and the applicable  Authorizing  
Resolution or supplemental indenture.  Requests may be made to: M.D.C. Holdings,
Inc., 3600 S. Yosemite, Suite 900, Denver, Colorado 80237, Attention: Secretary.

                                      A-2


5.       Optional Redemption.

         The   Company   may   redeem   the   Securities   at  any  time  on  or
after              ,  in whole or in part,  at the following  redemption  prices
     --------------
(expressed as a percentage  of their  principal  amount)  together with interest
accrued and unpaid to the date fixed for redemption:

                  If  redeemed  during  the   Twelve-Month   period   commencing
                  on              and ending on              in  each  of  the
                     ------------                ---------- 
                  following years Percentage

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

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

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



         Notice of redemption  will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the  redemption  date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed
at his registered address. Securities in denominations larger than $1,000 may be
redeemed in part. On and after the redemption date, interest ceases to accrue on
Securities  or  portions of them called for  redemption;  provided,  that if the
Company shall default in the payment of such  Security at the  redemption  price
together with accrued  interest,  interest  shall continue to accrue at the rate
borne by the Securities.

[Insert provisions relating to redemption at option of Holders, if any]

6.       Denominations, Transfer, Exchange.

         The Securities are in registered form without coupons in  denominations
of $1,000 and integral  multiples  of $1,000.  A Holder may transfer or exchange
Securities by presentation of such Securities to the Registrar or a co-Registrar
with a  request  to  register  the  transfer  or to  exchange  them for an equal
principal amount of Securities of other denominations. The Registrar may require
a Holder,  among other things, to furnish appropriate  endorsements and transfer
documents  and to pay any taxes and fees  required  by law or  permitted  by the
Indenture. The Registrar need not transfer or exchange any Security selected for
redemption,  except the  unredeemed  part thereof if the Security is redeemed in
part,  or transfer or exchange any  Securities  for a period of 15 days before a
selection of Securities to be redeemed.

                                       A-3


7.       Persons Deemed Owners.

         The registered Holder of this Security shall be treated as the owner of
it for all purposes.

8.       Unclaimed Money.

         If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for
two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent will pay the money back to the Company at
its request.  After that, Holders entitled to the money must look to the Company
for payment unless an abandoned property law designates another person.

9.       Amendment, Supplement, Waiver.

         Subject to certain  exceptions,  the Indenture or the Securities may be
amended or  supplemented  with the consent of the Holders of at least a majority
in principal amount of the outstanding Securities of each Series affected by the
amendment and any past default or compliance with any provision  relating to any
Series of the Securities may be waived in a particular instance with the consent
of the Holders of a majority in principal  amount of the outstanding  Securities
of such Series.  Without the consent of any Securityholder,  the Company and the
Trustee may amend or  supplement  the  Indenture or the  Securities  to cure any
ambiguity, defect or inconsistency,  to provide for uncertificated Securities in
addition  to or in place of  certificated  Securities,  to  create a Series  and
establish its terms, or to make any other change,  provided such action does not
adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder.

10.      Successor Corporation.

         When  a  successor  corporation  assumes  all  the  obligations  of its
predecessor under the Securities and the Indenture,  the predecessor corporation
will be released from those obligations.

11.      Trustee Dealings With Company.

                       ,  the Trustee under the Indenture,  in its individual or
         --------------
any other  capacity,  may make  loans to,  accept  deposits  from,  and  perform
services  for the Company or its  Affiliates,  and may  otherwise  deal with the
Company or its Affiliates, as if it were not Trustee.

12.      No Recourse Against Others.

         A director,  officer, employee or stockholder,  as such, of the Company
shall  not have any  liability  for any  obligations  of the  Company  under the
Securities  or the  Indenture  or for

                                       A-4



any claim  based on, in  respect  of or by reason of, such obligations or their
creation.  Each Securityholder by accepting a Security  waives and releases all
such  liability.  The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the 
issue of the Securities.

13.      Discharge of Indenture.

         The Indenture  contains  certain  provisions  pertaining to defeasance,
which  provisions  shall for all  purposes  have the same effect as if set forth
herein.

14.      Authentication.

         This  Security   shall  not  be  valid  until  the  Trustee  signs  the
certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security.

15.      Abbreviations.

         Customary  abbreviations may be used in the name of a Securityholder or
an assignee,  such as: TEN COM (= tenants in common),  TEN ENT (= tenants by the
entireties),  JT TEN (= joint  tenants  with  right of  survivorship  and not as
tenants in common),  CUST (= custodian),  and U/G/M/A (= Uniform Gifts to Minors
Act).

16.      Subordination.

         To the extent set forth in Article 11 of the Indenture,  the Securities
are  subordinated to Senior  Indebtedness,  which generally is any  Indebtedness
outstanding  on the date of the Indenture or  Indebtedness  thereafter  created,
incurred, assumed or guaranteed by the Company and all renewals,  extensions and
refundings  thereof except  Indebtedness that expressly  provides that it is not
senior to or superior in right of payment to the Securities. Senior Indebtedness
does not include  Indebtedness of the Company to any of its subsidiaries,  trade
payables of the Company and certain  Indebtedness  of others  guaranteed  by the
Company.  To the extent provided in the Indenture,  Senior  Indebtedness must be
paid  before  the  Securities  may  be  paid.  The  Company  agrees,   and  each
Securityholder  by  accepting  a  Security  agrees,  to  the  subordination  and
authorizes the Trustee to give it effect.


                                     A-5




                                 ASSIGNMENT FORM

         If you,  the  Holder,  want to assign this  Security,  fill in the form
below:

         I or we assign and transfer this Security to:

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

- ------------------------------------------------------------
       (Insert assignee's social security or tax ID number)


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

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

- ------------------------------------------------------------
       (Print or type assignee's name, address, and zip code)

and irrevocably appoint:

- ------------------------------------------------------------
agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may
substitute another to act for him.

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

Date:                     Your signature:
      ----------------                    --------------------------
                                          (Sign exactly as your name appears on
                                          the other side of this Security)

Signature
Guarantee:
          ----------------------------------------------------------



                                        1