UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITORY TRUST COMPANY, A NEW YORK CORPORATION ("DTC"), NEW YORK, NEW YORK, TO THE COMPANY OR ITS AGENT FOR REGISTRATION OF TRANSFER, EXCHANGE OR PAYMENT, AND ANY CERTIFICATE ISSUED IS REGISTERED IN THE NAME OF CEDE & CO. OR SUCH OTHER NAME AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) (AND ANY PAYMENT IS MADE TO CEDE & CO., OR TO SUCH OTHER ENTITY AS IS REQUESTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF DTC) ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL INASMUCH AS THE REGISTERED OWNER HEREOF, CEDE & CO., HAS AN INTEREST HEREIN. TRANSFERS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS IN WHOLE, BUT NOT IN PART, TO NOMINEES OF DTC OR TO A SUCCESSOR THEREOF OR SUCH SUCCESSOR'S NOMINEE AND TRANSFERS OF PORTIONS OF THIS GLOBAL SECURITY SHALL BE LIMITED TO TRANSFERS MADE IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE RESTRICTIONS SET FORTH IN THE INDENTURE REFERRED TO ON THE REVERSE HEREOF. THIS SECURITY (OR ITS PREDECESSOR) WAS ORIGINALLY ISSUED IN A TRANSACTION EXEMPT FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE UNITED STATES SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 (THE "SECURITIES ACT"), AND THIS SECURITY MAY NOT BE OFFERED, SOLD OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED IN THE ABSENCE OF SUCH REGISTRATION OR AN APPLICABLE EXEMPTION THEREFROM. EACH PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY IS HEREBY NOTIFIED THAT THE SELLER OF THIS SECURITY MAY BE RELYING ON THE EXEMPTION FROM THE PROVISIONS OF SECTION 5 OF THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144A THEREUNDER. THE HOLDER OF THIS SECURITY AGREES FOR THE BENEFIT OF THE COMPANY THAT (A) THIS SECURITY MAY BE OFFERED, RESOLD, PLEDGED OR OTHERWISE TRANSFERRED ONLY (i) TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QIB (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (ii) IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH RULE 904 UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, (iii) PURSUANT TO AN EXEMPTION FROM REGISTRATION UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT PROVIDED BY RULE 144 THEREUNDER (IF AVAILABLE), (iv) TO THE COMPANY OR (v) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (i) THROUGH (v) IN ACCORDANCE WITH ANY APPLICABLE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY STATE OF THE UNITED STATES, AND (B) THE HOLDER WILL, AND EACH SUBSEQUENT HOLDER IS REQUIRED TO, NOTIFY ANY PURCHASER OF THIS SECURITY FROM IT OF THE RESALE RESTRICTIONS REFERRED TO IN (A) ABOVE. BY ITS ACQUISITION HEREOF, THE HOLDER REPRESENTS THAT (A) IT IS A "QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER" (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) OR (B) IT IS NOT A U.S. 2 PERSON AND IS ACQUIRING THIS SECURITY IN AN OFFSHORE TRANSACTION IN ACCORDANCE WITH REGULATION S. 3 CUSIP 775631AA2 No. C 01 $110,000,000 9 5/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007 ROLLER BEARING COMPANY OF AMERICA, INC., a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of ONE HUNDRED AND TEN MILLION DOLLARS on June 15, 2007. Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15 Record Dates: June 1 and December 1 Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security. Dated: June 23, 1997 ROLLER BEARING COMPANY OF AMERICA, INC. by /s/ Michael J. Hartnett ------------------------------------ President ------------------------------------ Secretary TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, as Trustee, certifies that this is one of [Seal] the Securities referred to in the Indenture. by --------------------------- Authorized Signatory 4 ROLLER BEARING COMPANY OF AMERICA, INC. 9 5/8% Senior Subordinated Note Due 2007 1. Interest Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc., a Delaware corporation (such corporation, and its successors and assigns under the Indenture hereinafter referred to, being herein called the "Company"), promises to pay interest on the principal amount of this Security at the rate per annum shown above; provided, however, that if a Registration Default (as defined in the Registration Rights Agreement) occurs, additional interest will accrue on this Security at a rate of 0.50% per annum from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all Registration Defaults have been cured. The Company will pay interest semiannually on June 15 and December 15 of each year, commencing on December 15, 1997. Interest on the Securities will accrue from the most recent date to which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid, from June 23, 1997. Interest will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate borne by the Securities plus 1% per annum, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful. 2. Method of Payment The Company will pay interest on the Securities (except defaulted interest) to the Persons who are registered holders of Securities at the close of business on the June 1 or December 1 next preceding the interest payment date even if Securities are canceled after the record date and on or before the interest payment date. Holders must surrender Securities to a Paying Agent to collect principal payments. The Company will pay principal and interest in money of the United States that at the time of payment is legal tender for payment of public and private debts. Payments in respect of the Securities represented by a Global Security (including principal, premium and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by The Depository Trust Company. The Company will make all payments in respect of a certificated Security (including principal, premium and interest) by mailing a check to the registered address of each Holder thereof; provided, however, that payments on a certificated Security will be made by wire transfer to a U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States if such Holder elects payment by wire transfer by 5 giving written notice to the Trustee or the Paying Agent to such effect designating such account no later than 30 days immediately preceding the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion). 3. Paying Agent and Registrar Initially, United States Trust Company of New York, a New York trust company ("Trustee"), will act as Paying Agent and Registrar. The Company may appoint and change any Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar without notice. The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar or co-registrar. 4. Indenture The Company issued the Securities under an Indenture dated as of June 15, 1997 ("Indenture"), among the Company, the Subsidiary Guarantors and the Trustee. The terms of the Securities include those stated in the Indenture and those made part of the Indenture by reference to the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. ss.ss. 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of the Indenture (the "Act"). Terms defined in the Indenture and not defined herein have the meanings ascribed thereto in the Indenture. The Securities are subject to all such terms, and Securityholders are referred to the Indenture and the Act for a statement of those terms. The Securities are general unsecured obligations of the Company limited to $110,000,000 aggregate principal amount (subject to Section 2.07 of the Indenture). The Indenture contains certain covenants which, among other things, limit (a) the incurrence of additional indebtedness by the Company and certain of its subsidiaries, (b) the payment of Restricted Payments (C) certain transactions with affiliates, (d) sales of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries, (e) sales and issuances of capital stock by certain subsidiaries and (f) certain consolidations and mergers. The Indenture also will prohibit certain restrictions on distributions from subsidiaries. In addition, the Company may be obligated, under certain circumstances, to offer to repurchase Securities at a purchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest to the date of repurchase. 6 5. Optional Redemption Except as set forth in the following paragraph, the Securities may not be redeemed prior to June 15, 2002. On and after that date, the Company may redeem the Securities in whole at any time or in part from time to time at the following redemption prices (expressed in percentages of principal amount), plus accrued interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the related interest payment date): if redeemed during the, 12-month period beginning June 15 of the years set forth, below: Percentage -------------------------------- ---------- 2002 ............................................... 104.8125% 2003 ............................................... 103.2083 2004 ............................................... 101.6041 2005 and thereafter ................................ 100.0000 In addition, at any time and from time to time prior to June 15, 2000, the Company may redeem in the aggregate up to $36.0 million principal amount of the Securities with the proceeds of one or more Public Equity Offerings following which there is a Public Market (provided that a portion of the net cash proceeds thereof equal to the amount required to redeem any such Securities is contributed to the equity capital of the Company), at a redemption price (expressed as a percentage of principal amount) of 109.625% plus accrued interest to the redemption date (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date); provided, however, that at least $74.0 million aggregate principal amount of the Securities must remain outstanding after each such redemption. 6. Notice of Redemption Notice of redemption will be mailed by first-class mail at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at his registered address. Securities in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part but only in whole multiples of $1,000. If money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest on all Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed on the redemption date is deposited with the Paying Agent on or before the redemption date and certain other conditions are satisfied, on and after such date interest ceases to accrue on such Securities (or such portions thereof) called for redemption. 7 7. Put Provisions Upon a Change of Control, any Holder of Securities will have the right to cause the Company to repurchase all or any part of the Securities of such Holder at a repurchase price equal to 101% of the principal amount of the Securities to be repurchased plus accrued interest to the date of repurchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the related interest payment date) as provided in, and subject to the terms of, the Indenture. 8. Subordination The Securities are subordinated to Senior Indebtedness, as defined in the Indenture. To the extent provided in the Indenture, Senior Indebtedness must be paid before the Securities may be paid. The Company agrees, and each Securityholder by accepting a Security agrees, to the subordination provisions contained in the Indenture and authorizes the Trustee to give it effect and appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for such purpose. 9. Guarantees The Company's obligations with respect to the Securities are guaranteed, to the extent provided in the Indenture, by the Subsidiary Guarantors. 10. Denominations; Transfer; Exchange The Securities are in registered form without coupons in denominations of $1,000 and whole multiples of $1,000. A Holder may transfer or exchange Securities in accordance with the Indenture. The Registrar may require a Holder, among other things, to furnish appropriate endorsements or transfer documents and to pay any taxes and fees required by law or permitted by the Indenture. The Registrar need not register the transfer of or exchange any Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of a Security to be redeemed in part, the portion of the Security not to be redeemed) or any Securities for a period of 15 days before a selection of Securities to be redeemed or 15 days before an interest payment date. 11. Persons Deemed Owners The registered Holder of this Security may be treated as the owner of it for all purposes. 8 12. Unclaimed Money If money for the payment of principal or interest remains unclaimed for two years, the Trustee or Paying Agent shall pay the money back to the Company at its request unless an abandoned property law designates another Person. After any such payment, Holders entitled to the money must look only to the Company and not to the Trustee for payment. 13. Discharge and Defeasance Subject to certain conditions, the Company at any time may terminate some or all of its obligations under the Securities and the Indenture if the Company deposits with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal and interest on the Securities to redemption or maturity, as the case may be. 14. Amendment, Waiver Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, (i) the Indenture or the Securities may be amended with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority (or, in certain cases, 75%) in principal amount outstanding of the Securities and (ii) any default or noncompliance with any provision may be waived with the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount outstanding of the Securities. Subject to certain exceptions set forth in the Indenture, without the consent of any Securityholder, the Company and the Trustee may amend the Indenture or the Securities to cure any ambiguity, omission, defect or inconsistency, or to comply with Article 5 of the Indenture, or to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities, or to add guarantees with respect to the Securities or to secure the Securities, or to add additional covenants or surrender rights and powers conferred on the Company, or to comply with any request of the SEC in connection with qualifying the Indenture under the Act, or to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder. 15. Defaults and Remedies Under the Indenture, Events of Default include (i) default for 30 days in payment of interest on the Securities; (ii) default in payment of principal on the Securities at maturity, upon redemption pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Securities, upon acceleration or otherwise, or failure by the Company to redeem or purchase Securities when required; (iii) failure by the Company to comply with 9 other agreements in the Indenture or the Securities, in certain cases subject to notice and lapse of time; (iv) certain accelerations (including failure to pay within any grace period after final maturity) of other Indebtedness of the Company if the amount accelerated (or so unpaid) exceeds $5 million; (v) certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with respect to the Company and the Significant Subsidiaries; (vi) certain judgments or decrees for the payment of money in excess of $5 million; and (vii) certain events with respect to the guarantees of the Company's obligations under the Securities by the Subsidiary Guarantors. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities may declare all the Securities to be due and payable immediately or, in certain circumstances, after giving notice to the Representative under the Credit Agreement. Certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency are Events of Default which will result in the Securities being due and payable immediately upon the occurrence of such Events of Default. Securityholders may not enforce the Indenture or the Securities except as provided in the Indenture. The Trustee may refuse to enforce the Indenture or the Securities unless it receives reasonable indemnity or security. Subject to certain limitations, Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may direct the Trustee in its exercise of any trust or power. The Trustee may withhold from Securityholders notice of any continuing Default (except a Default in payment of principal or interest) if it determines that withholding notice is in the interest of the Holders. 16. Trustee Dealings with the Company Subject to certain limitations imposed by the Act, the Trustee under the Indenture, in its individual or any other capacity, may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with and collect obligations owed to it by the Company or its Affiliates (including the Subsidiary Guarantors) and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates (including the Subsidiary Guarantors) with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. 17. No Recourse Against Others Any past, present or future director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company, any Subsidiary Guarantor or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor under the Securities or the Indenture 10 or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder waives and releases all such liability. The waiver and release are part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities. 18. Authentication This Security shall not be valid until an authorized signatory of the Trustee (or an authenticating agent) manually signs the certificate of authentication on the other side of this Security. 19. Abbreviations Customary abbreviations may be used in the name of a Securityholder or an assignee, such as TEN COM (=tenants in common), TEN ENT (=tenants by the entireties), JT TEN (=joint tenants with rights of survivorship and not as tenants in common), CUST (=custodian), and U/G/M/A (=Uniform Gift to Minors Act). 20. CUSIP Numbers Pursuant to a recommendation promulgated by the Committee on Uniform Security Identification Procedures the Company has caused CUSIP numbers to be printed on the Securities and has directed the Trustee to use CUSIP numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Securityholders. No representation is made as to the accuracy of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of redemption and reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers placed thereon. 21. Holders' Compliance with Registration Rights Agreement. Each Holder of a Security, by acceptance hereof, acknowledges and agrees to the provisions of the Registration Rights Agreement, including, without limitation, the obligations of the Holders with respect to a registration and the indemnification of the Company to the extent provided therein. 22. Governing Law. THIS SECURITY SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK BUT WITHOUT GIVING EFFECT TO APPLICABLE PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAW TO THE EXTENT THAT THE APPLICATION OF THE LAWS OF ANOTHER JURISDICTION WOULD BE REQUIRED THEREBY. 11 The Company will furnish to any Securityholder upon written request and without charge to the Securityholder a copy of the Indenture which has in it the text of this Security in larger type. Requests may be made to: Roller Bearing Company of America, Inc. 60 Round Hill Road P.O. Box 430 Fairfield, Connecticut 06430-0430 Attention of: Secretary ________________________________________________________________________________ ASSIGNMENT FORM To assign this Security, fill in the form below: I or we assign and transfer this Security to (Print or type assignee's name, address and zip code) (Insert assignee's soc. sec. or tax I.D. No.) and irrevocably appoint agent to transfer this Security on the books of the Company. The agent may substitute another to act for him. ________________________________________________________________________________ Date: _____________________ Your Signature:_____________________________________ ________________________________________________________________________________ Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security. In connection with any transfer of any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate occurring prior to the expiration of the period referred to in Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act after the later of the date of original issuance of such Securities and the last date, if any, on which such Securities were owned by the Company or any Affiliate of the Company, the undersigned confirms that such 12 Securities are being transferred in accordance with its terms: CHECK ONE BOX BELOW (1) |_| to the Company; or (2) |_| pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act of 1933; or (3) |_| inside the United States to a "qualified institutional buyer" (as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933) that purchases for its own account or for the account of a qualified institutional buyer to whom notice is given that such transfer is being made in reliance on Rule 144A, in each case pursuant to and in compliance with Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933; or (4) |_| outside the United States in an offshore transaction within the meaning of Regulation S under the Securities Act in compliance with Rule 904 under the Securities Act of 1933; or (5) |_| pursuant to another available exemption from registration provided by Rule 144 under the Securities Act of 1933. Unless one of the boxes is checked, the Trustee will refuse to register any of the Securities evidenced by this certificate in the name of any person other than the registered holder thereof; provided, however, that if box (4) or (5) is checked, the Trustee may require, prior to registering any such transfer of the Securities, such legal opinions, certifications and other information as the Company has reasonably requested to confirm that such transfer is being made 13 pursuant to an exemption from, or in a transaction not subject to, the registration requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, such as the exemption provided by Rule 144 under such Act. --------------------------------- Signature Signature Guarantee: - ---------------------- --------------------------------- Signature must be guaranteed Signature - -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- TO BE COMPLETED BY PURCHASER IF (3) ABOVE IS CHECKED. The undersigned represents and warrants that it is purchasing this Security for its own account or an account with respect to which it exercises sole investment discretion and that it and any such account is a "qualified institutional buyer" within the meaning of Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933, and is aware that the sale to it is being made in reliance on Rule 144A and acknowledges that it has received such information regarding the Company as the undersigned has requested pursuant to Rule 144A or has determined not to request such information and that it is aware that the transferor is relying upon the undersigned's foregoing representations in order to claim the exemption from registration provided by Rule 144A. Dated: -------------------------- ----------------------------------------- NOTICE: To be executed by an executive officer 14 SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY The following increases or decreases in this Global Security have been made: Date of Amount of decrease Amount of increase Principal amount Signature of Exchange in Principal in Principal of this Global authorized officer Amount of this Amount of this Security following of Trustee or Global Security Global Security such decrease or Securities increase Custodian 15 OPTION OF HOLDER TO ELECT PURCHASE If you want to elect to have this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture, check the box: |__| If you want to elect to have only part of this Security purchased by the Company pursuant to Section 4.06 or 4.09 of the Indenture, state the amount in principal amount: $ Dated: Your Signature: ------------------------ ----------------------------- (Sign exactly as your name appears on the other side of this Security.) Signature Guarantee: ------------------------------------------------------------ (Signature must be guaranteed)