EXHIBIT 1.1
   
                                                              DRAFT 1/15/97     



                             ARVIN INDUSTRIES, INC.
                         (AN INDIANA CORPORATION); AND



                                ARVIN CAPITAL I
                     (A DELAWARE STATUTORY BUSINESS TRUST)


    
                                   100,000  
                           CAPITAL SECURITIES ____%
                (LIQUIDATION AMOUNT $1,000 PER CAPITAL SECURITY)     



                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT


   
Dated: _______________, 1997    

       
                             TABLE OF CONTENTS
                             -----------------
   
 
 

                                                                         
PURCHASE AGREEMENT.........................................................   1

   SECTION 1.  Representations and Warranties..............................   4
          (a)  Representations and Warranties by the Offerors..............   4
               (i)      Compliance with Registration Requirements..........   4
               (ii)     Incorporated Documents.............................   5
               (iii)    Independent Accountants............................   6
               (iv)     Financial Statements...............................   6
               (v)      No Material Adverse Change in Business.............   6
               (vi)     Good Standing of the Company.......................   7
               (vii)    Good Standing of Subsidiaries......................   7
               (viii)   Capitalization; Descriptions.......................   8
               (ix)     Existence and Good Standing of the Trust...........   8
               (x)      Common Securities..................................   8
               (xi)     Capital Stock......................................   9
               (xii)    Authorization of Declaration.......................   9
               (xiii)   Guarantee Agreements...............................   9
               (xiv)    Capital Securities.................................   9
               (xv)     Authorization of Indenture.........................  10
               (xvi)    Authorization of Subordinated Debentures...........  10
               (xvii)   Authorization of Agreement.........................  10
               (xviii)  Absence of Defaults and Conflicts..................  10
               (xix)    Absence of Labor Dispute...........................  11
               (xx)     Absence of Proceedings.............................  11
               (xxi)    Accuracy of Exhibits...............................  12
               (xxii)   Possession of Intellectual Property................  12
               (xxiii)  Absence of Further Requirements....................  12
               (xxiv)   Possession of Licenses and Permits.................  13
               (xxv)    Title to Property..................................  13
               (xxvi)   Compliance with Cuba Act...........................  14
               (xxvii)  Investment Company Act.............................  14
               (xxviii) Environmental Laws.................................  14
               (xxix)   Price Stabilization................................  15
               (xxx)    Taxes..............................................  15
          (b)  Officer and Trustee Certificates............................  15

   SECTION 2.  Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing..................  15
          (a)  Capital Securities..... ....................................  15
          (b)  Commission..................................................  16
          (c)  Payment.....................................................  16
          (d)  Denominations; Registration.................................  17
      


                                       i

 

                                                                      
   SECTION 3.  Covenants of the Offerors...................................  17
          (a)  Compliance with Securities Regulations and
               Commission Requests.........................................  17
          (b)  Filing of Amendments........................................  17
          (c)  Delivery of Registration Statements.........................  18
          (d)  Delivery of Prospectuses....................................  18
          (e)  Continued Compliance with Securities Laws...................  18
          (f)  Blue Sky Qualifications.....................................  19
          (g)  Rule 158....................................................  19
          (h)  Use of Proceeds.............................................  19
          (i)  Listing.....................................................  19
          (j)  Restriction on Sale of Securities...........................  20
          (k)  Existence and Good Standing of the Trust....................  20
          (l)  Reporting Requirements......................................  20
          (m)  Existence and Good Standing of the Trust....................  20
 
   SECTION 4.  Payment of Expenses.........................................  20
          (a)  Expenses....................................................  20
          (b)  Termination of Agreement....................................  21
 
   SECTION 5.  Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.....................  22
          (a)  Effectiveness of Registration Statement.....................  22
          (b)  Opinion of Counsel for Offerors.............................  22
          (c)  Opinion of General Counsel for Company......................  22
          (d)  Opinion of Special Delaware Counsel for Offerors............  22
          (e)  Opinion of Counsel for Institutional Trustee, Debt Trustee
               and Guarantee Trustee.......................................  23
          (f)  Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters.........................  23
          (g)  Officer and Trustee Certificates............................  23
          (h)  Accountant's Comfort Letter.................................  24
          (i)  Bring-down Comfort Letter...................................  24
          (j)  Maintenance of Rating.......................................  24
          (k)  Approval of Listing.........................................  25
          (l)  No Objection................................................  25
          (m)  Additional Documents........................................  25
          (n)  Termination of Agreement....................................  25
 
   SECTION 6.  Indemnification.............................................  25
          (a)  Indemnification of Underwriters.............................  25
          (b)  Indemnification of Company, Trust, Officers, Directors and
               Trustees....................................................  26
          (c)  Actions against Parties; Notification.......................  27
          (d)  Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse..........  28

   SECTION 7.  Contribution................................................  28
 


                                       ii


 

                                                                      
   SECTION 8.   Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive 
                Delivery...................................................  29 
   SECTION 9.   Termination of Agreement...................................  30
          (a)   Termination; General.......................................  30
          (b)   Liabilities................................................  30
 
   SECTION 10.  Default by One or More of the Underwriters.................  30

   SECTION 11.  Notices....................................................  31
 
   SECTION 12.  Parties....................................................  31
 
   SECTION 13.  GOVERNING LAW AND TIME.....................................  32
 
   SECTION 14.  Effect of Headings.........................................  32
 
Schedule A -    List of Underwriters.................................  Sch. A-1
Schedule B -    Pricing Information..................................  Sch. B-1
Schedule C -    List of subsidiaries.................................  Sch. C-1
Schedule D -    Environmental Matters................................  Sch. D-1
 
 
Exhibit A -     Form of Opinion of Offerors' Counsel to be Delivered
                Pursuant to Section 5(b)..................................  A-1
 
Exhibit B -     Form Of Opinion Of Company's General Counsel To Be
                Delivered Pursuant To Section 5(c)........................  B-1
 
Exhibit C -     Form of Opinion of Special Delaware Counsel For The
                Company and The Trust To Be Delivered Pursuant to
                Section 5(d)..............................................  C-1
 
Exhibit D -     Form Of Opinion Of Counsel For Institutional Trustee, 
                Guarantee Trustee And Debt Trustee To Be Delivered 
                Pursuant To Section 5(e)..................................  D-1



                                      iii


 
                             ARVIN INDUSTRIES, INC.
                         (an Indiana corporation); and

                                ARVIN CAPITAL I
                     (a Delaware statutory business trust)
    
                                    100,000
                        ____%  Capital Securities 
               (Liquidation Amount $1,000 Per Capital Security)
                                             



                               PURCHASE AGREEMENT
                               ------------------

                                                               ________ __, 1997


MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
 as Representatives of the several Underwriters
c/o Merrill Lynch & Co.
    Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                Incorporated
North Tower
World Financial Center
New York, New York 10281-1209

Ladies and Gentlemen:
    
    Arvin Capital I (the "Trust"), a statutory business trust created under
the Business Trust Act (the "Delaware Act") of the State of Delaware (Chapter
38, Title 12 of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. (S)(S) 3801 et seq.), and Arvin
Industries, Inc., an Indiana corporation (the "Company" and, together with the
Trust, the "Offerors") confirm their agreement (the "Agreement") with Merrill
     

 
Lynch & Co., Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated ("Merrill
Lynch"), Lehman Brothers Inc., Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., A.G. Edwards & Sons,
Inc., PaineWebber Incorporated, Salomon Brothers Inc and each of the other
Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto (collectively, the "Underwriters," which
term shall also include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in
Section 10 hereof), for whom Merrill Lynch, Lehman Brothers Inc., Dean Witter
Reynolds Inc., A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc., PaineWebber Incorporated and Salomon
Brothers Inc are acting as representatives (in such capacity, the
"Representatives"), with respect to the issue and sale by the Trust, and the
purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of the
respective numbers of __% Capital Securities (liquidation amount $1,000 per
preferred security) of the Trust (the "Capital Securities") set forth in
Schedule A hereto. The Capital Securities are more fully described in the
Prospectus (as defined below).    
   
    The Capital Securities will be guaranteed by the Company, to the extent set
forth in the Prospectus, with respect to distributions and amounts payable upon
liquidation or redemption (the "Capital Securities Guarantee") pursuant to the
Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Capital Securities Guarantee
Agreement") to be dated as of Closing Time (as defined below), executed and
delivered by the Company and Wilmington Trust Company, as trustee (the
"Guarantee Trustee"), for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the
Capital Securities, and entitled to the benefits of certain backup undertakings
described in the Prospectus with respect to the Company's agreement pursuant to
the Supplemental Indenture (as defined below) to pay all expenses relating to
the administration of the Trust. The Offerors each understand that the
Underwriters propose to make a public offering of the Capital Securities as soon
as they deem advisable after this Agreement has been executed and delivered, and
the Declaration (as defined below), the Indenture (as defined below), and the
Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement have been qualified under the Trust
Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "1939 Act"). The entire proceeds from the
sale of the Capital Securities will be combined with the entire proceeds from
the sale by the Trust to the Company of its common securities (the "Common
Securities" and, together with the Capital Securities, the "Trust Securities")
(such Common Securities guaranteed by the Company, to the extent set forth in
the Prospectus, with respect to distributions and amounts payable upon
liquidation or redemption (the "Common Securities Guarantee" and, together with
the Capital Securities Guarantee, the "Guarantees") pursuant to the Common
Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Common Securities Guarantee Agreement" and,
together with the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement, the "Guarantee
Agreements"), to be dated as of Closing Time, executed and delivered by the
Company for the benefit of the holders from time to time of the Common
Securities) and will be used by the Trust to purchase $___ of __% Junior
Subordinated    

                                       2

 
Deferrable Interest Debentures due 2027 (the "Subordinated Debentures") issued
by the Company. The Trust Securities will be issued pursuant to the Amended and
Restated Declaration of Trust of the Trust, to be dated as of Closing Time (the
"Declaration"), among the Company, as sponsor, Wilmington Trust Company, as
institutional trustee (the "Institutional Trustee"), and Richard A. Smith and
A.R. Sales, as administrative trustees (the "Administrative Trustees" and,
together with the Institutional Trustee, the "Trustees"), and the holders from
time to time of undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust. The
Subordinated Debentures will be issued pursuant to an indenture, to be dated as
of Closing Time (the "Base Indenture"), between the Company and Wilmington Trust
Company, as trustee (the "Debt Trustee") and a supplement to the Base Indenture,
to be dated as of Closing Time (the "Supplemental Indenture", and together with
the Base Indenture and any other amendments or supplements thereto, the
"Indenture") between the Company and the Debt Trustee. The Capital Securities,
the Capital Securities Guarantee, and the Subordinated Debentures are
hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Securities."    
   
    The Offerors have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (Nos. 333-18521 and 
333-18521-01) covering the registration of the Securities under the Securities
Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), including the related preliminary
prospectus or prospectuses. Promptly after execution and delivery of this
Agreement, the Offerors will either (i) prepare and file a prospectus in
accordance with the provisions of Rule 430A ("Rule 430A") of the rules and
regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations")
and paragraph (b) of Rule 424 ("Rule 424(b)") of the 1933 Act Regulations or
(ii) if the Offerors have elected to rely upon Rule 434 ("Rule 434") of the 1933
Act Regulations, prepare and file a term sheet (a "Term Sheet") in accordance
with the provisions of Rule 434 and Rule 424(b). The information included in
such prospectus or in such Term Sheet, as the case may be, that was omitted from
such registration statement at the time it became effective but that is deemed
to be part of such registration statement at the time it became effective (A)
pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule 430A is referred to as "Rule 430A Information"
or (B) pursuant to paragraph (d) of Rule 434 is referred to as "Rule 434
Information." Each prospectus used before such registration statement became
effective, and any prospectus that omitted, as applicable, the Rule 430A
Information or the Rule 434 Information, that was used after such effectiveness
and prior to the execution and delivery of this Agreement, is herein called a
"preliminary prospectus." Such registration statement, including the exhibits
thereto, schedules thereto, if any, and the documents incorporated by reference
therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, at the time it
became effective and including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434
Information,    

                                       3

 
as applicable, is herein called the "Registration Statement." Any registration
statement filed pursuant to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein
referred to as the "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement," and after such filing
the term "Registration Statement" shall include the Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement. The final prospectus, including the documents incorporated by
reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, in the
form first furnished to the Underwriters for use in connection with the offering
of the Securities, is herein called the "Prospectus." If Rule 434 is relied on,
the term "Prospectus" shall refer to the preliminary prospectus dated _______,
1997 together with the Term Sheet and all references in this Agreement to the
date of the Prospectus shall mean the date of the Term Sheet. For purposes of
this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus or any Term Sheet or any amendment or supplement to
any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the
Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval
system ("EDGAR").    

    All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules and
other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or other
references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such
financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of
any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") which is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

     SECTION 1.  Representations and Warranties.

     (a) Representations and Warranties by the Offerors. The Offerors jointly
and severally represent and warrant to each Underwriter as of the date hereof,
and as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and agree with
each Underwriter, as follows:

          (i)    Compliance with Registration Requirements. Each of the Offerors
     meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act. Each of the
     Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
     become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the
     effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration
     Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that
     purpose have been instituted or are

                                       4

 
     pending or, to the knowledge of the Offerors, are contemplated by the
     Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for additional
     information has been complied with.

          At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b)
     Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became
     effective and at the Closing Time, the Registration Statement, the Rule
     462(b) Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto
     complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of
     the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and the rules
     and regulations of the Commission under the 1939 Act (the "1939 Act
     Regulations") and did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
     therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading. Neither
     the Prospectus nor any amendments or supplements thereto, at the time the
     Prospectus or any such amendment or supplement was issued and at the
     Closing Time, included or will include an untrue statement of a material
     fact or omitted or will omit to state a material fact necessary in order to
     make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
     they were made, not misleading. If Rule 434 is used, the Offerors will
     comply with the requirements of Rule 434. The representations and
     warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or omissions
     from the Registration Statement or Prospectus made in reliance upon and in
     conformity with information furnished to the Offerors in writing by any
     Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the Registration
     Statement or Prospectus.

          Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectus filed as part of the
     Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment
     thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, complied when so
     filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act Regulations and each
     preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for
     use in connection with the offering of the Securities was identical to the
     electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission
     pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T under
     the 1933 Act Regulations.
   
          (ii)  Incorporated Documents.  The documents incorporated or deemed to
     be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the
     Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the
     requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the
     Commission thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations"), and, when read together
     with the other information in the Prospectus, at the     

                                       5

 
     time the Registration Statement became effective, at the time the
     Prospectus was issued and at the Closing Time, did not and will not contain
     an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
     not misleading.

          (iii)  Independent Accountants.  The accountants who certified the
     financial statements and supporting schedules included in the Registration
     Statement are independent public accountants as required by the 1933 Act
     and the 1933 Act Regulations.
   
          (iv)   Financial Statements. The financial statements included in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus, together with the related
     schedules and notes, present fairly the financial position of the Company
     and its consolidated subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement
     of operations, stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and its
     consolidated subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial
     statements have been prepared in conformity with generally accepted
     accounting principles ("GAAP") applied, except as specifically set forth
     therein, on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The
     supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement
     present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be
     stated therein. The Company's ratios of earnings to fixed charges (actual
     and, if any, pro forma) and ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges
     and preferred dividends (actual and, if any, pro forma) included in the
     Prospectus under the caption "Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
     Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends" and in Exhibit
     12 to the Registration Statement have been calculated in compliance with
     Item 503(d) of Regulation S-K of the Commission. The financial information
     and statistical data set forth in the Prospectus under the captions
     "Summary Financial Information" and "Capitalization" present fairly the
     information shown therein and have been derived from the audited financial
     statements included in the Registration Statement.    

          (v)    No Material Adverse Change in Business.  Since the respective
     dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus (A) there has been no material adverse change in the
     condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or
     business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
     enterprise, or the Trust, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
     business (a "Material Adverse Effect"), (B) there have been no transactions
     entered into (x) by the Trust, or (y) by the Company or any of its other
     subsidiaries, other (in the case of clause (y) only) than those in the

                                       6

 
     ordinary course of business, which are material with respect to the Company
     and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, and (C) except for
     regular quarterly dividends on the Company's Common Stock, par value $2.50
     per share (the "Common Stock"), in amounts per share that are consistent
     with past practice, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind
     declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.

          (vi)   Good Standing of the Company.  The Company has been duly
     organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
     the laws of the State of Indiana and has corporate power and authority to
     own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its business as
     described in the Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations
     under this Agreement, the Declaration, the Indenture and each of the
     Guarantees and the Guarantee Agreements and to purchase, own and hold the
     Common Securities issued by the Trust; and the Company is duly qualified as
     a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each
     other jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by
     reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business,
     except where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not
     result in a Material Adverse Effect.

          (vii)  Good Standing of Subsidiaries.  Each "significant subsidiary"
     of the Company (as such term is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X)
     (each a "Subsidiary," and collectively, the "Subsidiaries") has been duly
     organized and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
     the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has corporate power and
     authority to own, lease and operate its properties and to conduct its
     business as described in the Prospectus and is duly qualified as a foreign
     corporation to transact business and is in good standing in each
     jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason of
     the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except
     where the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result
     in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the
     Registration Statement, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of
     each such Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully
     paid and non-assessable and is owned by the Company, directly or through
     subsidiaries, free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge,
     lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the outstanding shares of
     capital stock of any Subsidiary was issued in violation of the preemptive
     or similar rights of any securityholder of such subsidiary. The only
     subsidiaries of the Company are (A) the subsidiaries listed on Schedule C
     hereto and (B) certain other subsidiaries which, considered in the
     aggregate as a single Subsidiary, do not constitute a

                                       7

 
     "significant subsidiary" as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X.
   
          (viii) Capitalization; Descriptions. The authorized, issued and
     outstanding capital stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus
     in the column entitled "Actual" under the caption "Capitalization" (except
     for subsequent issuances, if any, pursuant to reservations, agreements or
     employee benefit plans referred to in the Prospectus or pursuant to the
     exercise of convertible securities or options referred to in the Prospectus
     or except for the funding of employee benefit plans referred to in the
     Prospectus). The Capital Securities, the Common Securities, the
     Subordinated Debentures and the Declaration conform to all statements
     relating thereto contained in the Prospectus.    

           (ix)   Existence and Good Standing of the Trust. The Trust has been
     duly created and is validly existing in good standing as a business trust
     under the Delaware Act with the power and authority to own property and to
     conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and to enter into and
     perform its obligations under this Agreement, the Trust Securities and the
     Declaration; each of the Administrative Trustees of the Trust is an
     employee of the Company and has been duly authorized by the Company to
     execute and deliver the Declaration; the Trust is duly qualified to
     transact business as a foreign corporation in good standing in each
     jurisdiction in which such qualification is necessary, except to the extent
     that the failure to so qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect on
     the Trust; the Trust is not a party to or otherwise bound by any agreement
     other than those described in the Prospectus; the Trust is and will be
     classified for United State federal income tax purposes as a grantor trust
     and not as an association taxable as a corporation; and the Trust is and
     will be treated as a consolidated subsidiary of the Company pursuant to
     GAAP. The Trust has no subsidiaries.
   
          (x)    Common Securities. The Common Securities have been duly
     authorized by the Declaration and, when issued and delivered by the Trust
     to the Company in accordance with the terms of the Declaration and against
     payment therefor as described in the Prospectus, will be validly issued
     undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust; the issuance of
     the Common Securities is not subject to preemptive of other similar rights;
     no holder of Common Securities will be subject to personal liability by
     reason of being such a holder; and at the Closing Time, all of the issued
     and outstanding Common Securities will be directly owned by the Company
     free and clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien,
     encumbrance, claim or equity.     

                                       8

 
          (xi)   Capital Stock. All of the outstanding shares of capital stock
     of the Company have been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully
     paid and non-assessable; no holder thereof is or will be subject to
     personal liability solely by reason of being such a holder; and none of the
     outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company was issued in violation
     of the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder of the
     Company.    

          (xii)  Authorization of Declaration. The Declaration has been duly
     authorized by the Company and, at the Closing Time, will have been duly
     executed and delivered by the Company and the Administrative Trustees, and
     the Declaration will, at the Closing Time, be a valid and binding
     obligation of the Company and the Administrative Trustees, enforceable
     against the Company and the Administrative Trustees in accordance with its
     terms, except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by
     bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or other similar laws
     affecting creditors rights generally or by general principles of equity
     (regardless of whether enforcement is considered in a proceeding at law or
     in equity) (the "Bankruptcy Exceptions"); and the Declaration has been duly
     qualified under the 1939 Act.
         
          (xiii) Guarantee Agreements. Each of the Guarantee Agreements has been
     duly authorized by the Company and, when validly executed and delivered by
     the Company, and, in the case of the Capital Securities Guarantee by the
     Guarantee Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding obligation of the
     Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms
     except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited by the
     Bankruptcy Exceptions, and each of the Guarantees and the Guarantee
     Agreements conforms to all statements relating thereto contained in the
     Prospectus; and the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement has been duly
     qualified under the 1939 Act.     
         
          (xiv)  Capital Securities. The Capital Securities have been duly
     authorized by the Declaration and, when authenticated in the manner
     provided for in the Declaration and issued and delivered pursuant to this
     Agreement against payment of the consideration set forth herein, will be
     validly issued and (subject to the terms of the Declaration) fully paid and
     nonassessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust;
     the issuance of the Capital Securities is not subject to preemptive or
     other similar rights; and holders of Capital Securities will be entitled to
     the same     

     

                                       9

 
     limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of private
     corporations for profit incorporated under the General Corporation Law of
     the State of Delaware.

          (xv)   Authorization of Indenture. The Indenture has been duly
     authorized by the Company and, when validly executed and delivered by the
     Company, and assuming the due authorization, execution and delivery of the
     Indenture by the Debt Trustee, will constitute a valid and binding
     obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
     with its terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be limited
     by the Bankruptcy Exceptions; the Indenture conforms to all statements
     relating thereto contained in the Prospectus; and the Indenture has been
     duly qualified under the 1939 Act.
              
          (xvi)  Authorization of Subordinated Debentures. The Subordinated
     Debentures have been duly authorized by the Company and, at the Closing
     Time, will have been duly executed by the Company and, when authenticated
     in the manner provided for in the Indenture and delivered against payment
     therefor as described in the Prospectus, will constitute valid and binding
     obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in accordance
     with their terms except to the extent that enforcement thereof may be
     limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions, and will be in the form contemplated
     by, and entitled to the benefits of, the Indenture. The Subordinated
     Debentures are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all "senior
     indebtedness" (as defined in the Supplemental Indenture) of the Company.
          
          (xvii) Authorization of Agreement. This Agreement has been duly
     authorized, executed and delivered by each of the Offerors.
         
          (xviii) Absence of Defaults and Conflicts. Neither the Company nor any
     of its subsidiaries is in violation of its charter or by-laws; the Trust is
     not in violation of the Declaration or its certificate of trust filed with
     the State of Delaware December 18, 1996 (the "Certificate of Trust");
     except for such defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse
     Effect, none of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or the Trust is in
     default in the performance or observance of any obligation, agreement,
     covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, joint
     venture agreement, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or
     other agreement or instrument to which the Company, any of its
     subsidiaries, or the Trust is a party or by which it or any of them may be
     bound, or to which any of the property or assets of the Company, any of its
     subsidiaries, or the Trust is subject (collectively, "Agreements and
     Instruments")     

                                      10

 
     and the execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement and the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated herein and in the
     Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the Securities
     and the use of the proceeds from the sale of the Securities as described in
     the Prospectus under the caption "Use of Proceeds"), and compliance by the
     Offerors with their respective obligations hereunder and thereunder have
     been duly authorized by all necessary action (corporate or otherwise) and
     do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or
     passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or
     default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the
     creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property
     or assets of the Company, any of its subsidiaries, or the Trust pursuant to
     the Agreements and Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches or
     defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not result in a
     Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of
     either the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries, or the Declaration or the Certificate of Trust, or any
     applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree
     of any government, government instrumentality or court, domestic or
     foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries,
     or the Trust or any of their assets, properties or operations. As used
     herein, a "Repayment Event" means any event or condition which gives the
     holder of any note, debenture or other evidence of indebtedness (or any
     person acting on such holder's behalf) the right to require (whether with
     or without the giving of notice or passage of time or both) the repurchase,
     redemption or repayment of all or a portion of such indebtedness by the
     Company, any of its subsidiaries, or the Trust.
         
          (xix)  Absence of Work Stoppage or Strike. No work stoppage or strike
     involving the employees of the Company or any of its subsidiaries exists
     or, to the knowledge of the Company, is imminent, and the Company is not
     aware of any existing or imminent labor disturbance involving the employees
     of any of its or any of its subsidiaries' principal suppliers,
     manufacturers, customers or contractors, which, in any such case, may
     reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.     

          (xx)   Absence of Proceedings. There is no action, suit, proceeding,
     inquiry or investigation before or brought by any court or governmental
     agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of
     the Company or the Trust, threatened, against or affecting the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries which is required to be disclosed in the
     Registration Statement (other than as disclosed therein), or which might
     reasonably be expected to result in a Material

                                      11

 
     Adverse Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to materially and
     adversely affect the properties or assets thereof or the consummation of
     the transactions contemplated in this Agreement or the performance by the
     Offerors of their obligations hereunder; the aggregate of all pending legal
     or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries
     is a party or of which any of their respective property or assets is the
     subject which are not described in the Registration Statement, including
     ordinary routine litigation incidental to the business, would not, if
     adversely determined, result in a Material Adverse Effect. There is no
     action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation before or brought by any
     court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, now pending, or,
     to the knowledge of the Company or the Trust, threatened, against or
     affecting the Trust.

          (xxi)  Accuracy of Exhibits. There are no contracts or documents which
     are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
     or the documents incorporated by reference therein or to be filed as
     exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required.

          (xxii) Possession of Intellectual Property. The Company and its
     subsidiaries own or possess, or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate
     patents, patent rights, licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how
     (including trade secrets and other unpatented and/or unpatentable
     proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures),
     trademarks, service marks, trade names or other intellectual property
     (collectively, "Intellectual Property") necessary to carry on the business
     now operated by them, and neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries
     has received any notice or is otherwise aware of any infringement of or
     conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to any Intellectual
     Property or of any facts or circumstances which would render any
     Intellectual Property invalid or inadequate to protect the interest of the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries therein, and which infringement or
     conflict (if the subject of any unfavorable decision, ruling or finding) or
     invalidity or inadequacy, singly or in the aggregate, would result in a
     Material Adverse Effect.

          (xxiii) Absence of Further Requirements. No filing with, or
     authorization, approval, consent, license, order, registration,
     qualification or decree of, any court or governmental authority or agency
     is necessary or required for the performance by the Offerors of their
     obligations hereunder, in connection with the offering, issuance or sale of
     the Securities hereunder or the consummation of the transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement, except such as

                                      12

 
     have been already obtained or as may be required under the 1933 Act, the
     1933 Act Regulations, the 1939 Act, the 1939 Act Regulations or state
     securities laws.

          (xxiv) Possession of Licenses and Permits.  The Company, its
     subsidiaries, and the Trust possess such permits, licenses, approvals,
     consents and other authorizations (collectively, "Governmental Licenses")
     issued by the appropriate federal, state, local or foreign regulatory
     agencies or bodies necessary to conduct the business now operated by them;
     the Company, its subsidiaries, and the Trust are in compliance with the
     terms and conditions of all such Governmental Licenses, except where the
     failure so to comply would not, singly or in the aggregate, have a Material
     Adverse Effect; all of the Governmental Licenses are valid and in full
     force and effect, except when the invalidity of such Governmental Licenses
     or the failure of such Governmental Licenses to be in full force and effect
     would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and neither the Company, nor any
     of its subsidiaries, nor the Trust has received any notice of proceedings
     relating to the revocation or modification of any such Governmental
     Licenses which, singly or in the aggregate, if the subject of an
     unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in a Material Adverse
     Effect.  
          
          (xxv)  Title to Property.  The Company and its subsidiaries have good
     and marketable title to all real property owned by the Company and its
     subsidiaries and good title to all other properties owned by them, in each
     case, free and clear of all mortgages, pledges, liens, security interests,
     claims, restrictions or encumbrances of any kind except such as (A) are
     described in the Prospectus or (B) do not, singly or in the aggregate,
     materially affect the value of or interfere with the use made and proposed
     to be made of the real property of the Company and its subsidiaries;
     considered as one enterprise; and all of the leases and subleases material
     to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
     enterprise, and under which the Company or any of its subsidiaries holds
     properties described in the Prospectus, are in full force and effect, and
     neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has any notice of any
     material claim of any sort that has been asserted by anyone adverse to the
     rights of the Company or any of its subsidiaries under any of the leases or
     subleases mentioned above, or affecting or questioning the rights of the
     Company or its subsidiaries to the continued possession of the leased or
     subleased premises under any such lease or sublease. The Trust does not
     own, lease or sublease any properties and after giving effect to the
     transactions contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement the
     Trust will not lease or      

                                       13

 
     sublease any properties and the only property owned by the Trust will be
     the Subordinated Debentures.

          (xxvi) Compliance with Cuba Act.  Each of the Offerors has complied
     with, and is and will be in compliance with, the provisions of that certain
     Florida act relating to disclosure of doing business with Cuba, codified as
     Section 517.075 of the Florida statutes, and the rules and regulations
     thereunder (collectively, the "Cuba Act") or is exempt therefrom.

          (xxvii) Investment Company Act.  Neither the Company nor the Trust is,
     and upon the issuance and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated and
     the application of the net proceeds therefrom as described in the
     Prospectus will not be, an "investment company" or an entity "controlled"
     by an "investment company" as such terms are defined in the Investment
     Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940 Act").

          (xxviii) Environmental Laws.  Except as described in Schedule D hereto
     and except as would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material
     Adverse Effect, (A) neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in
     violation of any federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule,
     regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial
     or administrative interpretation thereof, including any judicial or
     administrative order, consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or
     protection of human health, the environment (including, without limitation,
     ambient air, surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata)
     or wildlife, including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating
     to the release or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants,
     contaminants, wastes, toxic substances, hazardous substances, petroleum or
     petroleum products (collectively, "Hazardous Materials") or to the
     manufacture, processing, distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal,
     transport or handling of Hazardous Materials (collectively, "Environmental
     Laws"), (B) the Company and its subsidiaries have all permits,
     authorizations and approvals required under any applicable Environmental
     Laws and are each in compliance with their requirements, (C) there are no
     pending or threatened administrative, regulatory or judicial actions,
     suits, demands, demand letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or
     violation, investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law
     against the Company or any of its subsidiaries and (D) there are no events
     or circumstances that might reasonably be expected to form the basis of an
     order for clean-up or remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any
     private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any
     Environmental Laws.

                                       14

 
          (xxix) Price Stabilization. The Offerors have not taken and will not
     take, directly or indirectly, any action designed to, or that might be
     reasonably expected to, cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of
     the price of the Securities.

          (xxx)  Taxes.  The Company and each of its subsidiaries have filed all
     federal, foreign, state and local income and franchise tax returns required
     to be filed and have paid all taxes shown thereon as due, and there is no
     material tax deficiency which has been or is reasonably likely to be
     asserted against the Company or any of its subsidiaries; all material tax
     liabilities of the Company and its subsidiaries are adequately provided for
     on the books of the Company and its subsidiaries.

          (xxxi)  Registration Rights.  There are no contracts, agreements or
     understandings between the Trust or the Company and any person granting
     such person the right to require the Trust or the Company to file a
     registration statement under the 1933 Act with respect to any securities of
     the Trust or the Company owned or to be owned by such person or to require
     the Trust or  the Company to include such securities in the securities
     registered pursuant to the Registration Statement or in any securities
     being registered pursuant to any other registration statement filed by the
     Trust or the Company under the 1933 Act.
         
     (b) Officer and Trustee Certificates.  Any certificate signed by any
officer of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, or by a Trustee of the Trust
that is delivered to the Representatives or to counsel for the Underwriters
shall be deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or the Trust, as
the case may be, to each Underwriter as to the matters stated therein.      

     SECTION 2.  Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
    
     (a) Capital Securities.  On the basis of the representations and warranties
herein contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the
Trust agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Trust, at
the price per security set forth in Schedule B, the number of Capital Securities
set forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter (except as
otherwise provided in Schedule B), plus any additional number of Capital
Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase pursuant to
the provisions of Section 10 hereof.      
    
     The purchase price per security to be paid by the several Underwriters for
the Capital Securities shall be an amount equal     

                                       15

 
to the initial public offering price per security. The initial public offering
price per Capital Security shall be a fixed price to be determined by agreement
between the Representatives and the Offerors. The initial public offering price
per security and the purchase price per security are set forth in Schedule B.
     
    
     (b) Commission.  As compensation to the Underwriters for their commitments
hereunder and in view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Capital
Securities will be used to purchase the Subordinated Debentures of the Company,
the Company hereby agrees to pay at Closing Time (as defined below) to the
Representatives, for the accounts of the several Underwriters, a commission per
Capital Security determined by agreement between the Representatives and the
Company for the Capital Securities to be delivered by the Trust hereunder at
Closing Time. The commission is set forth in Schedule B.     

    
     (c) Payment.  Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, the Capital Securities shall be made at the offices of
Mayer, Brown & Platt, 190 South LaSalle Street, Chicago, Illinois 60603, or at
such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives, the Company,
and the Trust, at 9:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing
occurs after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given day) business day after the
date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10),
or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be
agreed upon by the Representatives, the Company, and the Trust (such time and
date of payment and delivery being herein called the "Closing Time").     

    
     Payment shall be made to the Trust by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to a bank account designated by the Trust, against delivery to
the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of
certificates for the Capital Securities to be purchased by them. It is
understood that each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its
account, to accept delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase
price for, the Capital Securities which it has agreed to purchase. Merrill
Lynch, individually and not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but
shall not be obligated to) make payment of the purchase price for the Capital
Securities to be purchased by any Underwriter whose funds have not been received
by the Closing Time but such payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its
obligations hereunder.     

     At Closing Time the Company will pay, or cause to be paid, the commission
payable at such time under this Section 2 to the Representatives on behalf of
the Underwriters by wire transfer of immediately available funds.

                                       16

 
     (d) Denominations; Registration.  Global certificates for the Capital
Securities shall be in such denominations and registered in such names as the
Representatives may request in writing at least one full business day before the
Closing Time. The certificates for the Capital Securities will be made available
at the facilities of the Depository Trust Company in The City of New York not
later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the business day prior to the Closing
Time.     

    SECTION 3.  Covenants of the Offerors.  Each of the Offerors jointly and
severally covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

          (a)  Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests.
     The Offerors, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of
     Rule 430A or Rule 434, as applicable, and will notify the Representatives
     immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective
     amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any
     supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been
     filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of
     any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration
     Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for
     additional information, and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any
     stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of
     any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus,
     or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or
     sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any
     proceedings for any of such purposes.  The Offerors will promptly effect
     the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424(b) and will take such steps as
     they deem necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus
     transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the
     Commission and, in the event that it was not, they will promptly file such
     prospectus.  The Offerors will make every reasonable effort to prevent the
     issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the
     lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

          (b)  Filing of Amendments.  The Offerors will give the Representatives
     notice of their intention to file or prepare any amendment to the
     Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)), any Term
     Sheet or any amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus
     included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective or
     to the Prospectus, whether pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or
     otherwise, will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such
     documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use,
     as the case may be, and will not

                                       17

 
     file or use any such document to which the Representatives or counsel for
     the Underwriters shall object.

          (c)  Delivery of Registration Statements.  The Offerors have furnished
     or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters,
     without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally
     filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or
     incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to
     be incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and
     certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives,
     without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as
     originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each
     of the Underwriters.  The copies of the Registration Statement and each
     amendment thereto furnished to the Underwriters will be identical to the
     electronically transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission
     pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

          (d)  Delivery of Prospectuses.  The Offerors have delivered to each
     Underwriter, without charge, as many copies of each preliminary prospectus
     as such Underwriter reasonably requested, and the Offerors hereby consent
     to the use of such copies for purposes permitted by the 1933 Act.  The
     Offerors will furnish to each Underwriter, without charge, during the
     period when the Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act
     or the 1934 Act, such number of copies of the Prospectus (as amended or
     supplemented) as such Underwriter may reasonably request.  The Prospectus
     and any amendments or supplements thereto furnished to the Underwriters
     will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies thereof filed
     with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent permitted by
     Regulation S-T.

          (e)  Continued Compliance with Securities Laws.  The Offerors will
     comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1934 Act and
     the 1934 Act Regulations so as to permit the completion of the distribution
     of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus.
     If at any time when a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be
     delivered in connection with sales of the Securities, any event shall occur
     or condition shall exist as a result of which it is necessary, in the
     opinion of counsel for the Underwriters or for the Offerors, to amend the
     Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order that
     the Prospectus will not include any untrue statements of a material fact or
     omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
     therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances existing at the
     time it is delivered to a purchaser, or if it shall be

                                       18

 
     necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at any such time to amend the
     Registration Statement or amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to
     comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations,
     the Offerors will promptly prepare and file with the Commission, subject to
     Section 3(b), such amendment or supplement as may be necessary to correct
     such statement or omission or to make the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus comply with such requirements, and the Offerors will furnish to
     the Underwriters such number of copies of such amendment or supplement as
     the Underwriters may reasonably request.
    
          (f) Blue Sky Qualifications. The Offerors will use their reasonable
     best efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the
     Securities for offering and sale under the applicable securities laws of
     such states and other jurisdictions as the Representatives may designate
     and to maintain such qualifications in effect for a period of not less than
     one year from the later of the effective date of the Registration Statement
     and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement; provided, however, that neither
     the Company nor the Trust shall be obligated to file any general consent to
     service of process or to qualify as a foreign corporation or as a dealer in
     securities in any jurisdiction in which it is not so qualified or to
     subject itself to taxation in respect of doing business in any jurisdiction
     in which it is not otherwise so subject. In each jurisdiction in which the
     Securities have been so qualified, the Offerors will file such statements
     and reports as may be required by the laws of such jurisdiction to continue
     such qualification in effect for a period of not less than one year from
     the effective date of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b)
     Registration Statement.     

          (g)  Rule 158.  The Company and the Trust will each timely file such
     reports pursuant to the 1934 Act as are necessary in order to make
     generally available to their respective securityholders as soon as
     practicable an earnings statement for the purposes of, and to provide the
     benefits contemplated by, the last paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933
     Act.

          (h)  Use of Proceeds.  The Trust will use the proceeds received by it
     from the sale of the Trust Securities in the manner specified in the
     Prospectus under "Use of Proceeds."  The Company will use the proceeds
     received by it from the sale of the Subordinated Debentures in the manner
     specified in the Prospectus under "Use of Proceeds".

                                      19

 
          (i) Restriction on Sale of Securities. During a period of 30 days from
     the date hereof, neither the Trust nor the Company will, without the prior
     written consent of Merrill Lynch, directly or indirectly, sell, offer to
     sell, grant any option for the sale of, or otherwise dispose of, any
     Capital Securities, any security convertible into or exchangeable into or
     exercisable for Capital Securities or the Subordinated Debentures or any
     subordinated debt securities substantially similar to the Subordinated
     Debentures or equity securities substantially similar to the Capital
     Securities (except for the Subordinated Debentures and the Capital
     Securities issued pursuant to this Agreement).

          (j) Existence and Good Standing of the Trust. So long as any Capital
     Securities are outstanding, the Trust will continue its existence in good
     standing as a business trust under the Delaware Act with power and
     authority to own property and conduct its business as described in the
     Prospectus and the Trust will remain duly qualified to transact business as
     a foreign corporation in good standing in each jurisdiction in which such
     qualification is necessary, except to the extent that the failure to so
     qualify would not have a Material Adverse Effect on the Trust.

          (k) Reporting Requirements. The Offerors, during the period when the
     Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act,
     will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant
     to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the
     1934 Act Regulations.     

     SECTION 4.  Payment of Expenses.  (a) Expenses.  The Company will pay all
expenses incident to the performance of each Offerors'

                                      20

 
obligations under this Agreement, including, but not limited to, (i) the
preparation, printing and filing of the Registration Statement (including
financial statements and exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment
thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing, and delivery to the Underwriters of
this Agreement, any Agreement among Underwriters and such other documents as may
be required in connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or
delivery of the Securities, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the
certificates for the Capital Securities to the Underwriters, the Common
Securities to the Company, and the Subordinated Debentures to the Trust,
including any stock or other transfer taxes and any stamp or other duties
payable upon the sale, issuance, or delivery of the Securities, (iv) the fees
and disbursements of the Offeror's counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v)
the qualification of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the
provisions of Section 3(f) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees
and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in
connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement
thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each
preliminary prospectus, any Term Sheets and of the Prospectus and any amendments
or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, (viii)
the fees and expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities,
(ix) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities,
(x) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") of the terms of the sale of
the Securities, (xi) the fees and expenses of the Debt Trustee, including the
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Debt Trustee in connection with the
Indenture and the Subordinated Debentures, (xiii) the fees and expenses of the
Institutional Trustee, and the Guarantee Trustee, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Institutional Trustee in connection with the
Declaration and the Certificate of Trust, and (xiv) the cost of qualifying the
Capital Securities with The Depository Trust Company.     
    
     (b) Termination of Agreement. If this Agreement is terminated by the
Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section
9(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their
reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, including the fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters.     

                                      21

 
     SECTION 5.  Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.  The obligations of
the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Offerors contained in Section 1 hereof or
in certificates of any officer of the Company or any subsidiary, or any Trustee
of the Trust delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by
the Offerors of their covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the
following further conditions:

          (a)  Effectiveness of Registration Statement.  The Registration
     Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become
     effective and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
     the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or
     proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any
     request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have
     been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the
     Underwriters.  A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have
     been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) (or a post-
     effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and
     declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A) or, if
     the Offerors have elected to rely upon Rule 434, a Term Sheet shall have
     been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b).
    
          (b)  Opinion of Counsel for Offerors.  At Closing Time, the
     Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of
     Closing Time, of Schiff Hardin & Waite, counsel for the Offerors, in form
     and substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, together with
     signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the other
     Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibit A hereto.     
    
          (c) Opinion of General Counsel for Company. At Closing Time, the
     Underwriters shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing
     Time, of Ronald R. Snyder, Vice President, General Counsel, and Secretary
     for the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for the
     Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for
     each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibit B 
     hereto.
     
          (d)  Opinion of Special Delaware Counsel for Offerors.  At Closing
     Time, the Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated
     as of Closing Time, of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware
     counsel for the Offerors, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel for
         
                                      22

 
     the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter
     for each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth in Exhibit C
     hereto.     
    
          (e)  Opinion of Counsel for Institutional Trustee, Debt Trustee and
     Guarantee Trustee.  At Closing Time, the Representatives shall have
     received the favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Richards,
     Layton & Finger, P.A., counsel for the Institutional Trustee, the Debt
     Trustee, and the Guarantee Trustee, in form and substance satisfactory to
     counsel for the Underwriters, together with signed or reproduced copies of
     such letter for each of the other Underwriters to the effect set forth in
     Exhibit D hereto.     
    
          (f) Opinion of Counsel for Underwriters. At Closing Time, the
     Representatives shall have received the favorable opinion, dated as of
     Closing Time, of Mayer, Brown & Platt, counsel for the Underwriters,
     together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter for each of the
     other Underwriters with respect to the validity of the Capital Securities,
     the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and other related matters as the
     Underwriters may reasonably request. In giving such opinion such counsel
     may rely, as to all matters governed by the laws of jurisdictions other
     than the law of the State of New York and the federal law of the United
     States and the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, upon the
     opinions of counsel satisfactory to the Representatives. Such counsel may
     also state that, insofar as such opinion involves factual matters, they
     have relied, to the extent they deem proper, upon certificates of officers
     of the Company and its subsidiaries, and of Trustees of the Trust, and
     certificates of public officials.     

          (g)  Officer and Trustee Certificates.  At Closing Time, there shall
     not have been, since the date hereof or since the respective dates as of
     which information is given in the Prospectus, (i) any material adverse
     change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings,
     business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries
     considered as one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course
     of business, and the Representatives shall have received a certificate of
     the President or a Vice President of the Company and of the chief financial
     or chief accounting officer of the Company, dated as of Closing Time, to
     the effect that (A) there has been no such material adverse change, (B) the
     representations and warranties in Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct
     with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as of
     Closing Time, (C) the

                                       23

 
     Company has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on
     its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (D)
     no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
     has been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or
     are pending or are contemplated by the Commission; or (ii) any material
     adverse  change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
     earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Trust, and the
     Representatives shall have received a certificate of an Administrative
     Trustee of the Trust, dated as of Closing Time, to the effect that (A)
     there has been no such material adverse change, (B) the representations and
     warranties in Section 1(a) hereof are true and correct with the same force
     and effect as though expressly made at and as of Closing Time, (C) the
     Trust has complied with all agreements and satisfied all conditions on its
     part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to Closing Time, and (D) no
     stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has
     been issued and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are
     pending or are contemplated by the Commission.

          (h)  Accountant's Comfort Letter.  At the time of the execution of
     this Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from Price
     Waterhouse L.L.P. a letter dated such date, in form and substance
     satisfactory to the Representatives, together with signed or reproduced
     copies of such letter for each of the other Underwriters containing
     statements and information of the type ordinarily included in accountants'
     "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the financial statements
     and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement
     and the Prospectus.

          (i)  Bring-down Comfort Letter.  At Closing Time, the Representatives
     shall have received from Price Waterhouse L.L.P. a letter, dated as of
     Closing Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in the
     letter furnished pursuant to subsection (h) of this Section, except that
     the specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three calendar
     days prior to Closing Time.
    
          (j) Maintenance of Rating. At Closing Time, the Capital Securities
     shall be rated at least ___ by Moody's Investor's Service and __ by
     Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a division of McGraw-Hill, Inc., and the
     Company shall have delivered to the Representatives a letter dated the
     Closing Time, from each such rating agency, or other evidence satisfactory
     to the Representatives, confirming that the Capital Securities have such
     ratings; and since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have
     occurred a downgrading in the rating assigned to the Capital Securities or
     any of the     

                                      24

 
     Company's other securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating
     agency", as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule
     436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act, and no such organization shall have publicly
     announced that it has under surveillance or review its rating of the
     Capital Securities or any of the Company's other securities.     

          (k)  No Objection. The NASD has confirmed that it has not raised any
     objection with respect to the fairness and reasonableness of the
     underwriting terms and arrangements.
    
          (l)  Additional Documents.  At Closing Time counsel for the
     Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as
     they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance
     and sale of the Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to evidence
     the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the
     fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings
     taken by the Offerors in connection with the issuance and sale of the
     Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form and
     substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.

          (m)  Termination of Agreement.  If any condition specified in this
     Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled,
     this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the
     Offerors at any time at or prior to Closing Time and such termination shall
     be without liability of any party to any other party, except as provided in
     Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive any such
     termination and remain in full force and effect.     

     SECTION 6.  Indemnification.
                 --------------- 

     (a) Indemnification of Underwriters.  The Offerors jointly and severally
agree to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any,
who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or
Section 20 of the 1934 Act as follows:

          (i)  against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
     untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
     (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and the
     Rule 434

                                       25

 
     Information, if applicable, or the omission or alleged omission therefrom
     of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or
     alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary
     prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto), or
     the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact necessary in
     order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances
     under which they were made, not misleading;

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

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

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
Underwriter through Merrill Lynch expressly for use in the Registration
Statement (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and
the Rule 434 Information, if applicable, or any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).

     (b) Indemnification of Company, Trust, Officers, Directors and Trustees.
Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Trust, each
of the Trustees of the Trust, the Company, the Company's directors, each of the
Company's officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if
any, who controls the Trust or the Company within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a)
of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or
omissions, or alleged

                                       26

 
untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434
Information, if applicable, or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through Merrill
Lynch expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto)
or such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto).

     (c) Actions against Parties; Notification.  Each indemnified party shall
give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of
any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought
hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such
indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not
materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it
from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity
agreement.  In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above,
counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by Merrill Lynch, and, in
the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the
indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company.  An indemnifying party may
participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided,
however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the
consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party.  In
no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more
than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own
counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or
separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of
the same general allegations or circumstances.  No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which
indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section
7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties
thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out
of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include
a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by
or on behalf of any indemnified party.

     (d) Settlement without Consent if Failure to Reimburse.  If at any time an
indemnified party shall have requested an indemnifying party to reimburse the
indemnified party for fees and expenses of counsel, such indemnifying party
agrees that it shall

                                       27

 
be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by Section 6(a)(ii)
effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement is entered into more
than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of the aforesaid request,
(ii) such indemnifying party shall have received notice of the terms of such
settlement at least 30 days prior to such settlement being entered into and
(iii) such indemnifying party shall not have reimbursed such indemnified party
in accordance with such request prior to the date of such settlement.

     SECTION 7.  Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in Section 6
hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold harmless an
indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims, damages or
expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses
incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Offerors on the one
hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is
not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect
not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the
relative fault of the Offerors on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the
other hand in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such
losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations.

     The relative benefits received by the Offerors on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Trust and
the total underwriting commission received by the Underwriters, in each case as
set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, or, if Rule 434 is used, the
corresponding location on the Term Sheet, bear to the aggregate initial public
offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover.

     The relative fault of the Offerors on the one hand and the Underwriters on
the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Offerors or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.

                                       28

 
     The Offerors and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 were determined by pro rata
allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above in this Section 7. The aggregate
amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an
indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.

     Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.

     No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person
who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
    
     For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the
Registration Statement, and each Trustee of the Trust, and each person, if any,
who controls the Company or the Trust, within the meaning of Section 15 of the
1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to
contribution as the Company and the Trust.  The Underwriters' respective
obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in proportion
to the number of Capital Securities set forth opposite their respective names
in Schedule A hereto and not joint.     
    
     SECTION 8.  Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive Delivery.
All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this Agreement or in
certificates of officers of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or in
certificates of Trustees of the Trust submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain
operative and in full force and effect, regardless of any investigation made by
or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling person, or by or on behalf of the
Company or the Trust, and shall survive delivery of the Capital Securities to
the Underwriters.     

                                      29

 
     SECTION 9.  Termination of Agreement.
                 ------------------------ 
    
     (a) Termination; General. The Representatives may terminate this Agreement,
by notice to the Offerors, at any time at or prior to Closing Time (i) if there
has been, since the time of execution of this Agreement or since the respective
dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business
affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
one enterprise, or the Trust, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
business, or (ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the
financial markets in the United States, any outbreak of hostilities or
escalation thereof or other calamity or crisis or any change or development
involving a prospective change in national or international political, financial
or economic conditions, in each case the effect of which is such as to make it,
in the judgment of the Representatives, impracticable to market the Capital
Securities or to enforce contracts for the sale of the Capital Securities, or
(iii) if trading in any securities of the Company or the Trust has been
suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the New York Stock
Exchange, or if trading generally on the American Stock Exchange or the New York
Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq National Market has been suspended or materially
limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum
ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system
or by order of the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. or any other governmental authority, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has
been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.     

     (b) Liabilities.  If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section,
such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party
except as provided in Section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6,
7 and 8 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.
    
     SECTION 10.  Default by One or More of the Underwriters.  If one or more of
the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time to purchase the Capital Securities
which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the "Defaulted
Securities"), the Representatives  shall have the right, within 24 hours
thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting
Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all,
of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the
terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives  shall not have
completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:     
    
          (a)  if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the
     number of Capital Securities to be     

                                      30

 
     purchased on such date, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be
     obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof
     in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations hereunder
     bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or
    
          (b)  if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number
     of Capital Securities to be purchased on such date, this Agreement shall
     terminate without liability on the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.
     
     No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

     In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of
this Agreement either the Representatives or the Offerors shall have the right
to postpone Closing Time for a period not exceeding seven days in order to
effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in
any other documents or arrangements.  As used herein, the term "Underwriter"
includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

     SECTION 11.  Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication.  Notices to the
Underwriters shall be directed to the Representatives at North Tower, World
Financial Center, New York, New York 10281-1201, attention of ________________;
and notices to the Trust and the Company shall be directed to them at One
Noblitt Plaza, Post Office Box 3000, Columbus, Indiana, 47202, attention of
Ronald R. Snyder, Esq., Vice President, General Counsel and Secretary, with a
copy to Schiff Hardin & Waite, 7200 Sears Tower, Chicago, Illinois  60606,
attention of Frederick L. Hartmann, Esq.

     SECTION 12.  Parties.  This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of
and be binding upon the Underwriters, the Company and the Trust, and their
respective successors.  Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is
intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other
than the Underwriters, the Company and the Trust, and their respective
successors and the controlling persons and officers, directors and trustees
referred to in Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any
legal or equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement
or any provision herein contained.  This Agreement and all conditions and
provisions hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the
Underwriters, the Company, and the Trust, and their respective successors, and
said controlling persons and officers, directors and trustees and their heirs
and legal representatives, and for the benefit of no other

                                      31

 
person, firm or corporation. No purchaser of Capital Securities from any
Underwriter shall be deemed to be a successor by reason merely of such purchase.
     
     SECTION 13.  GOVERNING LAW AND TIME.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.  SPECIFIED
TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

     SECTION 14.  Effect of Headings.  The Article and Section headings herein
and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.

                                      32

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


                                       Very truly yours,

                                       ARVIN INDUSTRIES, INC.


                                       By:_____________________________
                                          Name:
                                          Title:

                                       ARVIN CAPITAL I

    
                                       By: Arvin Industries, Inc.
                                          _____________________________     

           

                                      33

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


MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
            INCORPORATED
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
DEAN WITTER REYNOLDS INC.
A.G. EDWARDS & SONS, INC.
PAINEWEBBER INCORPORATED
SALOMON BROTHERS INC

By: MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH
                INCORPORATED

By: _____________________________________
              Authorized Signatory

For themselves and as Representatives of the
other Underwriters named in Schedule A hereto.


                                       34

 
                                   SCHEDULE A

                              List of Underwriters

                                                                  Number of
                                                                   Capital   
     Name of Underwriter                                          Securities
     -------------------                                          ----------

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Lehman Brothers Inc.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
A.G. Edwards & Sons, Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
PaineWebber Incorporated  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Salomon Brothers Inc  . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
                                                                    _______
Total . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .     100,000
     

                                    Sch A-1

 
                                   SCHEDULE B

                             Arvin Industries, Inc.

                                Arvin Capital I
    
                                    100,000
                           ____% Capital Securities


     1.   The initial public offering price per security for the Capital
Securities, determined as provided in Section 2, shall be $____________.

     2.   The purchase price per security for the Capital Securities to be paid
by the several Underwriters shall be $____________.

     3.   The compensation per Capital Securities to be paid by the Company to
the several Underwriters in respect of their commitments hereunder shall be
$____________.     



                                    Sch B-1

 
                                   SCHEDULE C


                              List of Subsidiaries


                                                 State or Other
                                                 Jurisdiction of
Company Name                                     Incorporation
- ------------                                     ---------------

Maremont Corporation                             Delaware
Maremont Exhaust Products, Inc.                  Delaware
Gabriel Europe, Inc.                             Delaware
Q International, Inc.                            Delaware
Gabriel Ride Control Products, Inc.              Delaware
Roll Coater, Inc.                                Indiana
Arvin International Holdings, Inc.               Indiana
AVM, Inc.                                        South Carolina
Arvin Automotive of Canada                       Canada
Arvin Ride Control Products, Inc.                Canada
Arvin Finance Company of Canada                  Canada
Arvin Canada Holding, Ltd.                       Canada
Arvin de Mexico S.A. de C.V.                     Mexico
Arvin-Exhaust B.V.                               The Netherlands
Arvin International Holland B.V.                 The Netherlands
Arvin-Exhaust S.A.                               Spain
A.P. Amortiguadores, S.A.                        Spain
Arvin France S.A.                                France
Arvin International U.K., PLC                    United Kingdom
Arvin Exhaust Ltd.                               United Kingdom
Arvin Investment U.K., Ltd.                      United Kingdom
Timax U.K., Ltd.                                 United Kingdom
Gabriel S.A. (Pty.) Ltd.                         South Africa

         

                                    Sch C-1

 
                                   SCHEDULE D

                             Environmental Matters

    
     










                                    Sch D-1

 
                                   Exhibit A


                      FORM OF OPINION OF OFFERORS' COUNSEL
                          TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
                                  SECTION 5(b)
    
     (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation under the laws of the State of Indiana and a certificate of
existence has been issued with respect thereto as of a recent date pursuant to
Section 23-1-18-9 of the Indiana Business Corporation Law.      

     (ii) The Company has corporate power and authority to own, lease and
operate its properties and to conduct its business as described in the
Prospectus and to enter into and perform its obligations under the Purchase
Agreement.

     (iii)   To the best of our knowledge and information, the Company is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing
in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether by reason
of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business, except where
the failure so to qualify or to be in good standing would not result in a
Material Adverse Effect.
    
     (iv) Each of Maremont Corporation, Roll Coater, Inc. and Arvin
International, Inc. has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a
corporation under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has
corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its properties and
conduct its business as described in the Prospectus; all of the issued and
outstanding capital stock of each such Subsidiary which is held by the Company
or by any direct or indirect subsidiary of the Company has been duly authorized
and validly issued.      
         
    
     (v) The Purchase Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
delivered by each of the Company and the Trust.      
  
                                      A-1

 
    
     (vi)   The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company and has been duly qualified under the 1939 Act and constitutes a
valid and binding obligation of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by the
Bankruptcy Exceptions. The Indenture conforms as to legal matters to the
description thereof in the Prospectus.      
     
     (vii)  The issuance and delivery of the Subordinated Debentures have been
duly authorized and the Subordinated Debentures have been duly executed and
delivered by the Company and, when authenticated by the Trustee in the manner
provided in the Indenture and delivered against payment therefor as provided
in the Purchase Agreement, the Subordinated Debentures will constitute valid and
binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and
enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms, except as
enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy Exceptions. The
Subordinated Debentures conform as to legal matters to the description thereof
in the Prospectus.      
    
     (viii) The issuance and delivery of the Capital Securities have been duly
authorized and when delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters pursuant to
the Purchase Agreement will be validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust; the holders of the
Capital Securities will be entitled to the same limitation of personal liability
under Delaware law as is extended to stockholders of private corporations for
profit; and under the Declaration and the Delaware Act the issuance of the
Capital Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights. We
bring to your attention that the Capital Security holders may be obligated,
pursuant to the Declaration, to (a) provide indemnity and/or security in
connection with, and pay taxes or governmental charges arising from, transfers
or exchanges of the Capital Securities certificates and the issuance of
replacement Capital Securities certificates, and (b) provide security and
indemnity in connection with requests of or directions to the Institutional
Trustee to exercise its rights and remedies under the Declaration. The Capital
Securities conform as to legal matters to the descriptions thereof in the
Prospectus.    
    
     (ix) All of the Common Securities have been duly authorized by the
Declaration and are duly and validly issued undivided beneficial interests in
the assets of the Trust and are owned by the Company, free and clear of all
liens, encumbrances, equities or claims; the Common Securities conform as to
legal matters to the description thereof in the Prospectus; under the
Declaration and the Delaware Act the issuance of the Common Securities is not
subject to      

                                      A-2
 

 
     
preemptive or other similar rights.      
    
     (x) The Declaration has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
the Company and the Administrative Trustees, and constitutes a valid and binding
obligation of the Company and each of the Administrative Trustees and is
enforceable against the Company and each of the Administrative Trustees in
accordance with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by the
Bankruptcy Exceptions. The Declaration conforms as to legal matters to the
description thereof in the Prospectus. The Declaration has been duly qualified
under the 1939 Act.      
    
     (xi)   Each of the Guarantee Agreements has been duly authorized, executed
and delivered, and the Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement constitutes a
valid and legally binding obligation of the Company, enforceable in accordance
with its terms, except as enforcement thereof may be limited by the Bankruptcy
Exceptions. The Capital Securities Guarantee Agreement has been duly qualified
under the 1939 Act. The Guarantees and the Guarantee Agreements conform as to
legal matters to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus.    
    
     (xii)    The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good
standing as a business trust under the Delaware Act; all filings required under
the laws of the State of Delaware with respect to the creation and valid
existence of the Trust as a business trust have been made; and the Trust is duly
qualified for the transaction of business and is in good standing under the laws
of each jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties or conducts any
business, except to the extent that the failure to so qualify or be in good
standing would not have a Material Adverse Effect.      
    
     (xiii)   Under the Delaware Act and the Declaration, the Trust has the
trust power and authority to (a) execute and deliver, and to perform
its obligations under, the Purchase Agreement, (b) issue and perform its
obligations under the Trust Securities and (c) purchase and hold the
Subordinated Debentures.      
    
     (xiv) Under the Delaware Act, the Certificate attached to the Declaration
as Exhibit A-1 is an appropriate form of certificate to evidence ownership of
Capital Securities.     

                                      A-3

 
         
     (xviii)  Neither the Company nor the Trust is an "investment company" or an
entity "controlled" by an "investment company", as such terms are defined in the
1940 Act.
          
     (xx)  The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, has been declared effective under the 1933 Act; any required filing
of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) has been made in the manner and within
the time period required by Rule 424(b); and, to the best of our knowledge and
information, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has been issued under the
1933 Act and no proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or are pending
or threatened by the Commission.

     (xxi) The Registration Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration
Statement, the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, as
applicable, the Prospectus, excluding the documents incorporated by reference
therein, and each amendment or supplement to the Registration Statement and
Prospectus, excluding the documents incorporated by reference therein, as of
their respective effective or issue dates (other than the financial statements
and supporting schedules included therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we
need express no opinion) complied as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1939 Act and the
1939 Act Regulations.

     (xxii)  The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (other
than the financial statements and supporting schedules included therein or
omitted therefrom, as to which we need express no opinion), when they were filed
with the Commission complied as to form in all material respects with the
requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission
thereunder.

     (xxiii) To the best of our knowledge and information, there are no legal or
governmental proceedings pending or threatened which are required to be
disclosed in the Registration Statement,

                                      A-4

 
other than those disclosed in the Prospectus or in any document incorporated by
reference therein.

     (xxiv)   Our opinion set forth under "United States Federal Income
Taxation" is confirmed.

    
     (xxv)    All descriptions in the Registration Statement of contracts and
other documents to which the Company, its subsidiaries, or the Trust are a party
are accurate in all material respects; to the best of our knowledge and 
information, there are no franchises, contracts, indentures, mortgages, loan 
agreements, notes, leases or other instruments required to be described or 
referred to in the Registration Statement or to be filed as exhibits thereto 
other than those described or referred to therein or filed or incorporated by 
reference as exhibits thereto, and the descriptions thereof are correct in all
material respects.

     (xxvi)   To the best of our knowledge and information, neither the Company
nor any Subsidiary is in violation of its charter or by-laws, the Trust is not 
in violation of the Declaration and no default by the Company, any Subsidiary,
or the Trust exists in the due performance or observance of any material
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other agreement or
instrument that is described or referred to in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus or filed or incorporated by reference as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement.

     (xxvii)  To the best of our knowledge and information, there are no 
persons with registration or other similar rights to have any securities 
registered by the Company or the Trust under the Registration Statement.

     (xxviii) No filing with, or authorization, approval, consent, license,
order, registration, qualification or decree of, any court or governmental
authority or agency (other than under the 1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations,
the 1939 Act and the 1939 Act Regulations, which have been obtained, or as may
be required under the securities or blue sky laws of the various states, as to
which we express no opinion) is necessary or required in connection with the due
authorization, execution and delivery of the Purchase Agreement, the offering,
issuance, sale or delivery of the Securities, the issuance and sale of the
Common Securities, or the performance by the Company and the Trust of their
respective obligations pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

     (xxix)  The execution, delivery and performance of the Purchase Agreement, 
the Declaration, the Indenture, and the Guarantee Agreements, the consummation
by the Company and the Trust of the transactions contemplated thereby and in the
Registration Statement (including the issuance and sale of the Securities), the
filing of the

                                      A-5

      
Certificate of Trust with the Secretary of State of the State of Delaware, and
compliance by the Company and the Trust with the terms of the foregoing do not
and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or lapse of time or
both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or a default or Repayment Event
(as defined in Section 1(a)(xviii) of the Purchase Agreement) under, or result
in the creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any
property or assets of the Company or the Trust pursuant to, any contract,
indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or any
other agreement or instrument known to us to which the Company or the Trust is
a party or by which it or either of them may be bound, or to which any of the
property or assets of the Company or the Trust is subject (except for such
conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens, charges or encumbrances that would not
have a Material Adverse Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of
the provisions of the charter or by-laws of the Company, or the Declaration, or
any applicable law, statute, rule, regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree,
known to us, of any government, government instrumentality, or court (other
than the securities or blue sky laws of the various states, as to which we 
express no opinion) (except for the indemnification provisions which may be
unenforceable as against public policy under certain circumstances), having
jurisdiction over the Company or the Trust or any of their respective
properties, assets or operations.     
 
     Nothing has come to our attention that leads us to believe that the
Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, including the Rule 430A
Information and Rule 434 Information (if applicable), (except for financial
statements and schedules and other financial data included or incorporated by
reference therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we need make no statement),
at the time such Registration Statement or any such amendment became effective,
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading or that the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
(except for financial statements and schedules and other financial data included
or incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom, as to which we need
make no statement), at the time the Prospectus was issued, at the time any such
amended or supplemented prospectus was issued or at the Closing Time, included
or includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state
a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
    
     In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters of
Delaware law relating to the Trust, the Capital Securities and the Declaration,
upon the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger, P.A., special Delaware counsel to
the Company and the Trust, which shall be delivered in accordance with Section
5(d)     


                                      A-6

 
of the Purchase Agreement, and (B), as to matters of fact (but not as to legal
conclusions), to the extent they deem proper, on certificates of responsible
officers of the Company, the Trustees and public officials. Such opinion shall
not state that it is to be governed or qualified by, or that it is otherwise
subject to, any treatise, written policy or other document relating to legal
opinions, including, without limitation, the Legal Opinion Accord of the ABA
Section of Business Law (1991).

                                      A-7


 
                                   Exhibit B

                 FORM OF OPINION OF COMPANY'S GENERAL COUNSEL
                          TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
                                 SECTION 5(c)

     (i)  To the best of my knowledge and information, the Company is duly
qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good standing
in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, except where the
failure to so qualify would not in the aggregate have a material adverse effect
on the business or assets of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as one
enterprise.

     (ii)  Each Subsidiary has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
incorporation, has corporate power and authority to own, lease and operate its
properties and to conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is
duly qualified as a foreign corporation to transact business and is in good
standing in each jurisdiction in which such qualification is required, whether
by reason of the ownership or leasing of property or the conduct of business,
except where the failure to so qualify or to be in good standing would not
result in a Material Adverse Effect; except as otherwise disclosed in the
Registration Statement, all of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each
Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully paid and non-
assessable and, to the best of my knowledge and information, is owned by the
Company directly or through subsidiaries, free and clear of any security
interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim or equity; none of the
outstanding shares of capital stock of any Subsidiary was issued in violation of
the preemptive or similar rights of any securityholder of such Subsidiary.

     (iii)  Nothing has come to my attention that would lead me to believe that
the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto, including the Rule 430A
Information and Rule 434 Information (if applicable), (except for financial
statements and schedules and other financial data included or incorporated by
reference therein or omitted therefrom, as to which I need make no statement),
at the time such Registration Statement or any such amendment became effective,
contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material
fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
not misleading or that the Prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto
(except for financial statements and schedules and other financial data included
or incorporated by reference therein or omitted therefrom, as to which I need
make no statement), at the time the Prospectus was issued, at the time any such
amended or supplemented prospectus was issued or at the Closing Time, included
or includes an untrue

                                      B-1

 
statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact
necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

     (iv)  To the best of my knowledge and information, no authorization,
approval consent or order of any court or governmental authority or agency is
required in connection with the consummation by the Company of the transactions
contemplated by the Purchase Agreement, except such as may be required under the
1933 Act, the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1939 Act and the 1939 Act Regulations or
state securities laws.

     (v)  To the best of my knowledge and information, there is not pending or
threatened any action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation, to which the
Company or any subsidiary, or the Trust is a party, or to which the property of
the Company or any subsidiary, or the Trust is subject, before or brought by any
court or governmental agency or body, domestic or foreign, which might
reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect, or which might
reasonably be expected to materially and adversely affect the properties or
assets thereof or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in the
Purchase Agreement or the performance by the Company or the Trust of their
respective obligations thereunder.

     (vi)  To the best of my knowledge and information, no default exists in the
due performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement, covenant or
condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note,
lease or other instrument described, referred to, or filed or incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement, at the time it became effective or at
the Closing Time, which defaults in the aggregate are material to the Company
and its subsidiaries considered as one enterprise, or to the Trust.

                                      B-2

 
                                   Exhibit C


                      FORM OF OPINION OF SPECIAL DELAWARE
                        COUNSEL FOR THE COMPANY AND THE
                        TRUST TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT
                                TO SECTION 5(d)

     (i)  The Trust has been duly created and is validly existing in good
standing as a business trust under the Delaware Act, and all filings required
under the laws of the State of Delaware with respect to the creation and valid
existence of the Trust as a business trust have been made.
    
     (ii)  Under the Delaware Act and the Declaration, the Trust has the trust 
power and authority to own property and conduct its business, all as described
in the Prospectus.

     (iii)  The Declaration constitutes a valid and binding obligation of the
Company and the Trustees, and is enforceable against the Company and the 
Trustees, in accordance with its terms, subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy,
insolvency, reorganization, liquidation, moratorium, receivership, fraudulent
conveyance or transfer and other similar laws relating to or affecting the
rights and remedies of creditors generally, (ii) principles of equity, including
applicable law relating to fiduciary duties (regardless of whether considered
and applied in a proceeding in equity or at law), and (iii) the effect of
applicable public policy on the enforceability of provisions relating to
indemnification or contribution.

     (iv)  Under the Delaware Act and the Declaration, the Trust has the trust
power and authority to (a) execute and deliver, and to perform its obligations
under the Purchase Agreement, (b) issue, and perform its obligations under, the
Trust Securities and (c) purchase and hold the Subordinated Debentures.

     (v)  Under the Delaware Act and the Declaration, the execution and delivery
by the Trust of the Purchase Agreement and the performance by the Trust of its
obligations thereunder, have been duly authorized by all necessary trust action
on the part of the Trust.

     (vi)  Under the Delaware Act, the Certificate attached to the Declaration 
as Exhibit A-1 is an appropriate form of certificate to evidence ownership of 
Capital Securities; the Capital Securities have been duly authorized by the
Declaration and are duly and validly issued, subject to the qualifications set
forth herein, and fully paid and nonassessable undivided beneficial interests
in the assets of the Trust; the holders of the Capital Securities, as beneficial
owners of the Trust, will be entitled to the same limitation of personal
liability extended to stockholders of private corporations for profit organized
under the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware; we note that the
holders of the Capital Securities may be obligated, pursuant to the Declaration,
to (i) provide indemnity and/or security in connection with, and pay taxes or
governmental charges arising from, transfers or exchanges of Capital Securities
certificates and the issuance of replacement Capital Securities certificates and
(ii) provide security and indemnity in connection with requests of or
directions    

                                      C-1

 
to the Institutional Trustee to exercise its rights and remedies under the
Declaration.
    
     (vii)   The Common Securities have been duly authorized by the Declaration
and are duly and validly issued undivided beneficial interests in the assets of
the Trust.     

     (viii)  Under the Delaware Act and the Declaration, the issuance of the
Trust Securities is not subject to preemptive or other similar rights.
    
     (ix) The issuance and sale by the Trust of the Trust Securities, the
purchase by the Trust of the Subordinated Debentures, the execution, delivery
and performance by the Trust of the Purchase Agreement, the consummation by the
Trust of the transactions contemplated thereby and compliance by the Trust with
its obligations thereunder do not violate (i) any of the provisions of the
Certificate of Trust or the Declaration or (ii) any applicable Delaware law or
administrative regulation.        


                                      C-2

 
                                   Exhibit D



                        FORM OF OPINION OF COUNSEL FOR
                       INSTITUTIONAL TRUSTEE, GUARANTEE
                           TRUSTEE AND DEBT TRUSTEE
                          TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
                                 SECTION 5(e)

     (i)  Wilmington Trust Company is a Delaware banking corporation with trust
powers, duly organized, validly existing and in good standing under the laws of
the State of Delaware with all necessary power and authority to execute and
deliver, and to carry out and perform its obligations under the terms of the
Declaration, the Guarantee Agreements and the Indenture.
    
     (ii)  The execution, delivery and performance by the Institutional Trustee
of the Declaration, the execution, delivery and performance by the Guarantee
Trustee of the Guarantee Agreements and the execution, delivery and performance
by the Debt Trustee of the Indenture have been duly authorized by all necessary
corporate action on the part of the Institutional Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee
and the Debt Trustee, respectively. The Declaration, the Guarantee Agreements
and the Indenture have been duly executed and delivered by the Institutional
Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee and the Debt Trustee, respectively, and the
Declaration constitutes a legal, valid and binding obligation of the
Institutional Trustee, and is enforceable against the Institutional Trustee
with its terms, subject to (i) applicable bankruptcy, insolvency,
reorganization, liquidation, moratorium, receivership, fraudulent conveyance or
transfer and other similar laws relating to or affecting the rights and remedies
of creditors generally, (ii) principles of equity, including applicable law
relating to fiduciary duties (regardless of whether considered and applied in a
proceeding in equity or at law), and (iii) the effect of applicable public
policy on the enforceability of provisions relating to indemnification or
contribution.

     (iii)  The execution, delivery and performance of the Declaration, the
Guarantee Agreement and the Indenture by the Institutional Trustee, the
Guarantee Trustee and the Debt Trustee, respectively, do not conflict with or
constitute a breach of the charter or bylaws of the Institutional Trustee, the
Guarantee Trustee or the Debt Trustee, respectively, or, to the best of our
knowledge, without independent investigation, the terms of any indenture or
other agreement or instrument to which the Institutional Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee or the Debt Trustee, respectively, is a party or is bound or any
judgment, order or decree to be applicable to the Institutional Trustee, the
Guarantee Trustee or the Debt Trustee, respectively, of any court, regulatory
body, administrative agency, governmental body or arbitrator having jurisdiction
over the Institutional Trustee, the Guarantee Trustee or the Debt Trustee,
respectively.
     
                                      D-1

 
     (iv)  No consent, approval or authorization of, or registration with or
notice to, any federal or Delaware State banking authority is required for the
execution, delivery or performance by the Institutional Trustee, the Guarantee
Trustee or the Debt Trustee of the Declaration, the Guarantee Agreements or the
Indenture, respectively.

                                      D-2