EXHIBIT 4.01

EXECUTION COPY

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION,
Issuer

FSC SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION,
Guarantor

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA,
Guarantor

10-3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007

INDENTURE

Dated as of April 7, 1999

UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK,
Trustee

    TIA                                                       Indenture
  SECTION                                                      Section
------------                                                  ---------

   310(a)(1)               ..............................       7.10
      (a)(2)               ..............................       7.10
      (a)(3)               ..............................       N.A.
      (a)(4)               ..............................       N.A.
      (b)                  ..............................       7.08; 7.10
      (c)                  ..............................       N.A.
   311(a)                  ..............................       7.11
      (b)                  ..............................       7.11
      (c)                  ..............................       N.A.
   312(a)                  ..............................       2.05
      (b)                  ..............................       13.03
      (c)                  ..............................       13.03
   313(a)                  ..............................       7.06
      (b)(1)               ..............................       N.A.
      (b)(2)               ..............................       7.06
      (c)                  ..............................       13.02
      (d)                  ..............................       7.06
   314(a)                  ..............................       4.02;
                                                                4.11; 13.02
      (b)                  ..............................       N.A.
      (c)(1)               ..............................       13.04
      (c)(2)               ..............................       13.04
      (c)(3)               ..............................       N.A.
      (d)                  ..............................       N.A.
      (e)                  ..............................       13.05
      (f)                  ..............................       4.11
   315(a)                  ..............................       7.01
      (b)                  ..............................       7.05; 13.02
      (c)                  ..............................       7.01
      (d)                  ..............................       7.01
      (e)                  ..............................       6.11
   316(a)(last sentence)   ..............................       13.06
      (a)(1)(A)            ..............................       6.05
      (a)(1)(B)            ..............................       6.04
      (a)(2)               ..............................       N.A.
      (b)                  ..............................       6.07
   317(a)(1)               ..............................       6.08
      (a)(2)               ..............................       6.09
      (b)                  ..............................       2.04
   318(a)                  ..............................       13.01

N.A. means Not Applicable.

Exhibit A - Form of Security
Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix
Exhibit 1 to Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix

SECTION 1.01.     Definitions ..............................................   1
SECTION 1.02.     Other Definitions ........................................  28
SECTION 1.03.     Incorporation by Reference of Trust Indenture Act ........  28
SECTION 1.04.     Rules of Construction ....................................  29

SECTION 2.01.     Form and Dating ..........................................  30
SECTION 2.02.     Execution and Authentication .............................  30
SECTION 2.03.     Registrar and Paying Agent ...............................  31
SECTION 2.04.     Paying Agent To Hold Money in Trust.......................  31
SECTION 2.05.     Securityholder Lists .....................................  32
SECTION 2.06.     Transfer and Exchange ....................................  32
SECTION 2.07.     Replacement Securities ...................................  33
SECTION 2.08.     Outstanding Securities ...................................  33
SECTION 2.09.     Temporary Securities .....................................  34
SECTION 2.10.     Cancellation .............................................  34
SECTION 2.11.     Defaulted Interest .......................................  34
SECTION 2.12.     CUSIP Numbers ............................................  35
SECTION 2.13.     Issuance of Additional Securities.........................  35

SECTION 3.01.     Notices to Trustee .......................................  36
SECTION 3.02.     Selection of Securities To Be Redeemed ...................  36
SECTION 3.03.     Notice of Redemption .....................................  36
SECTION 3.04.     Effect of Notice of Redemption ...........................  37
SECTION 3.05.     Deposit of Redemption Price ..............................  38
SECTION 3.06.     Securities Redeemed in Part ..............................  38

SECTION 4.01.     Payment of Securities ....................................  38
SECTION 4.02.     SEC Reports ..............................................  38
SECTION 4.03.     Limitation on Indebtedness ...............................  39
SECTION 4.04.     Limitation on Restricted Payments ........................  42
SECTION 4.05.     Limitation on Restrictions on
                    Distributions from Restricted Subsidiaries..............  46
SECTION 4.06.     Limitation on Sales of Assets and
                    Subsidiary Stock .......................................  47
SECTION 4.07.     Limitation on Affiliate Transactions .....................  52
SECTION 4.08.     Limitation on the Sale or Issuance of
                    Capital Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries ...............  53
SECTION 4.09.     Change of Control ........................................  54
SECTION 4.10.     Future Guarantors ........................................  55
SECTION 4.11.     Compliance Certificate ...................................  56
SECTION 4.12.     Further Instruments and Acts .............................  56

SECTION 6.01.     Events of Default ........................................  59
SECTION 6.02.     Acceleration .............................................  61
SECTION 6.03.     Other Remedies ...........................................  62
SECTION 6.04.     Waiver of Past Defaults ..................................  62
SECTION 6.05.     Control by Majority ......................................  63
SECTION 6.06.     Limitation on Suits ......................................  63
SECTION 6.07.     Rights of Holders To Receive Payment .....................  64
SECTION 6.08.     Collection Suit by Trustee ...............................  64
SECTION 6.09.     Trustee May File Proofs of Claim .........................  64
SECTION 6.10.     Priorities ...............................................  64
SECTION 6.11.     Undertaking for Costs ....................................  65
SECTION 6.12.     Waiver of Stay or Extension Laws .........................  65

SECTION 7.01.     Duties of Trustee ........................................  65
SECTION 7.02.     Rights of Trustee ........................................  67
SECTION 7.03.     Individual Rights of Trustee .............................  67
SECTION 7.04.     Trustee's Disclaimer .....................................  68
SECTION 7.05.     Notice of Defaults .......................................  68
SECTION 7.06.     Reports by Trustee to Holders ............................  68
SECTION 7.07.     Compensation and Indemnity ...............................  68
SECTION 7.08.     Replacement of Trustee ...................................  69
SECTION 7.09.     Successor Trustee by Merger ..............................  70
SECTION 7.10.     Eligibility; Disqualification ............................  71
SECTION 7.11.     Preferential Collection of Claims Against Company ........  71

SECTION 8.01.     Discharge of Liability on Securities; Defeasance .........  71
SECTION 8.02.     Conditions to Defeasance .................................  73
SECTION 8.03.     Application of Trust Money ...............................  74
SECTION 8.04.     Repayment to Company .....................................  74
SECTION 8.05.     Indemnity for Government Obligations .....................  74
SECTION 8.06.     Reinstatement ............................................  74

SECTION 9.01.     Without Consent of Holders ...............................  75
SECTION 9.02.     With Consent of Holders ..................................  76
SECTION 9.03.     Compliance with Trust Indenture ..........................  77
SECTION 9.04.     Revocation and Effect of Consents and Waivers ............  77
SECTION 9.05.     Notation on or Exchange of Securities ....................  78
SECTION 9.06.     Trustee To Sign Amendments ...............................  78
SECTION 9.07.     Payment for Consent ......................................  78

SECTION 10.01.  Agreement To Subordinate ...................................  79
SECTION 10.02.  Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy .......................  79
SECTION 10.03.  Default on Senior Indebtedness .............................  80
SECTION 10.04.  Acceleration of Payment of Securities ......................  82
SECTION 10.05.  When Distribution Must Be Paid Over ........................  82
SECTION 10.06.  Subrogation ................................................  82
SECTION 10.07.  Relative Rights ............................................  82
SECTION 10.08.  Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company ...............  83
SECTION 10.09.  Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent .........................  83
SECTION 10.10.  Distribution or Notice to Representative ...................  83
SECTION 10.11.  Article 10 Not To Prevent Events of
                  Default or Limit Right To Accelerate .....................  83
SECTION 10.12.  Trust Moneys Not Subordinated ..............................  84
SECTION 10.13.  Trustee Entitled To Rely ...................................  84
SECTION 10.14.  Trustee To Effectuate Subordination ........................  84

SECTION 11.01.  Guaranties .................................................  85
SECTION 11.02.  Limitation on Liability; Contribution ......................  88
SECTION 11.03.  Successors and Assigns .....................................  88
SECTION 11.04.  No Waiver ..................................................  88
SECTION 11.05.  Modification ...............................................  88
SECTION 11.06.  Release of Subsidiary Guarantor ............................  89

SECTION 12.01.  Agreement to Subordinate ...................................  89
SECTION 12.02.  Liquidation, Dissolution, Bankruptcy .......................  89
SECTION 12.03.  Default on Senior Indebtedness of Guarantor ................  90
SECTION 12.04.  Demand for Payment .........................................  91
SECTION 12.05.  When Distribution Must Be Paid Over ........................  91
SECTION 12.06.  Subrogation ................................................  91
SECTION 12.07.  Relative Rights ............................................  92
SECTION 12.08.  Subordination May Not Be Impaired by Company ...............  92
SECTION 12.09.  Rights of Trustee and Paying Agent .........................  92
SECTION 12.10.  Distribution or Notice to Representative ...................  93
SECTION 12.11.  Article 12 Not to Prevent Defaults
                  Under a Guaranty or Limit Right To Demand Payment ........  93
SECTION 12.12.  Trustee Entitled To Rely ...................................  93
SECTION 12.13.  Trustee To Effectuate Subordination ........................  93

SECTION 13.01.  Trust Indenture Act Controls ...............................  94
SECTION 13.02.  Notices ....................................................  94
SECTION 13.03.  Communication by Holders with Other Holders ................  95
SECTION 13.04.  Certificate and Opinion as to Conditions Precedent .........  95
SECTION 13.05.  Statements Required in Certificate or Opinion ..............  96
SECTION 13.06.  When Securities Disregarded ................................  96
SECTION 13.07.  Rules by Trustee, Paying Agent and Registrar ...............  96
SECTION 13.08.  Legal Holidays .............................................  96
SECTION 13.09.  Governing Law ..............................................  97
SECTION 13.10.  No Recourse Against Others .................................  97
SECTION 13.11.  Successors .................................................  97
SECTION 13.12.  Multiple Originals .........................................  97
SECTION 13.13.  Table of Contents; Headings ................................  97


Exhibit A - Form of Security
Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix
Exhibit 1 to Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix

INDENTURE dated as of April 7, 1999, among FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), FSC SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION ("Parent"), as
Guarantor, FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION OF
CALIFORNIA ("Fairchild California"), as Guarantor, and
UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK, a New York banking corporation (the "Trustee").

Each party agrees as follows for the benefit of the other parties and for the equal and ratable benefit of the Holders of (1) the Company's 103/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007 (the "Initial Securities"),
(2) if and when issued pursuant to a registered exchange for Initial Securities, the Company's 103/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007 (the "Exchange Securities"), (3) if and when issued pursuant to a private exchange for Initial Securities, the Company's 103/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007 (the "Private Exchange Securities"), and (4) if and when issued any Additional Securities (as defined herein, and together with the Private Exchange Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Initial Securities, the "Securities"):

ARTICLE 1

DEFINITIONS AND INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE

SECTION 1.01. DEFINITIONS.

"Acquisition Closing Date" means the date the Company consummates the acquisition of the Power Device Business from Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

"Additional Assets" means (1) any property or assets (other than Indebtedness and Capital Stock) in a Related Business; (2) the Capital Stock of a Person that becomes a Restricted Subsidiary as a result of the acquisition of such Capital Stock by the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary; or (3) Capital Stock constituting a minority interest in any Person that at such time is a Restricted Subsidiary; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any such Restricted Subsidiary described in clauses (2) or (3) above is primarily engaged in a Related Business.

"Additional Securities" means, subject to the Company's compliance with Section 4.03, 103/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007 issued from time to time after

the Issue Date under the terms of this Indenture (other than pursuant to Section 2.06, 2.07, 2.09 or 3.06 and other than Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities issued pursuant to an exchange offer for other Securities outstanding under this Indenture).

"Affiliate" of any specified Person means any other Person, directly or indirectly, controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with such specified Person. For the purposes of this definition, "control" when used with respect to any Person means the power to direct the management and policies of such Person, directly or indirectly, whether through the ownership of voting securities, by contract or otherwise; and the terms "controlling" and "controlled" have meanings correlative to the foregoing. For purposes of Sections 4.04, 4.06 and 4.07 only, "Affiliate" shall also mean any beneficial owner of Capital Stock representing 10% or more of the total voting power of the Voting Stock (on a fully diluted basis) of the Company or of rights or warrants to purchase such Capital Stock (whether or not currently exercisable) and any Person who would be an Affiliate of any such beneficial owner pursuant to the first sentence hereof.

"Asset Disposition" means any sale, lease, transfer or other disposition (or series of related sales, leases, transfers or dispositions) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary, including any disposition by means of a merger, consolidation or similar transaction (each referred to for the purposes of this definition as a "disposition"), of (1) any shares of Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary (other than directors' qualifying shares or shares required by applicable law to be held by a Person other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary), (2) all or substantially all the assets of any division or line of business of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or (3) any other assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary outside of the ordinary course of business of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary (other than, in the case of (1), (2) and (3) above, (x) a disposition by a Restricted Subsidiary to the Company or by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to a Wholly Owned Subsidiary, (y) for purposes of Section 4.06 only, a disposition that constitutes a Restricted Payment permitted by Section 4.04 and (z) disposition of assets with a fair market value of less than $100,000).

"Attributable Debt" in respect of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction means, as at the time of determination, the present value (discounted at the interest rate borne by the Securities, compounded annually) of the total obligations of

the lessee for rental payments during the remaining term of the lease included in such Sale/Leaseback Transaction (including any period for which such lease has been extended).

"Average Life" means, as of the date of determination, with respect to any Indebtedness or Preferred Stock, the quotient obtained by dividing (1) the sum of the products of the numbers of years from the date of determination to the dates of each successive scheduled principal payment of such Indebtedness or redemption or similar payment with respect to such Preferred Stock multiplied by the amount of such payment by (2) the sum of all such payments.

"Banks" has the meaning specified in the Credit Agreement.

"Bank Indebtedness" means all Obligations pursuant to the Credit Agreement.

"Board of Directors" means the Board of Directors of the Company or any committee thereof duly authorized to act on behalf of such Board.

"Business Day" means each day which is not a Legal Holiday.

"Capital Lease Obligations" means an obligation that is required to be classified and accounted for as a capital lease for financial reporting purposes in accordance with GAAP, and the amount of Indebtedness represented by such obligation shall be the capitalized amount of such obligation determined in accordance with GAAP; and the Stated Maturity thereof shall be the date of the last payment of rent or any other amount due under such lease prior to the first date upon which such lease may be terminated by the lessee without payment of a penalty.

"Capital Stock" of any Person means any and all shares, interests, rights to purchase, warrants, options, participations or other equivalents of or interests in (however designated) equity of such Person, including any Preferred Stock, but excluding any debt securities convertible into such equity.

"Change of Control" means the occurrence of any of the following events:

(1) prior to the earlier to occur of (A) the first public offering of common stock of Parent or

(B) the first public offering of common stock of the Company, the Permitted Holders cease to be the "beneficial owner" (as defined in Rules 13d-3 and 13d-5 under the Exchange Act), directly or indirectly, of a majority in the aggregate of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company, whether as a result of issuance of securities of the Parent or the Company, any merger, consolidation, liquidation or dissolution of the Parent or the Company, any direct or indirect transfer of securities by Parent or otherwise (for purposes of this clause (1) and clauses (2) and (4) below, the Permitted Holders shall be deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock of a Person (the "specified entity") held by any other Person (the "parent entity") so long as the Permitted Holders beneficially own (as so defined), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock of the parent entity) PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that notwithstanding the foregoing CVC shall be deemed to beneficially own a majority of the voting power of the Voting Stock of Sterling (or any successor) so long as CVC, employees, officers and directors of CVC and corporations, partnerships and other entities at least a majority of the equity in which is held in the aggregate by CVC and its employees, officers and directors hold in the aggregate no less than a majority of the economic interests in Sterling (or such successor);

(2) after the earlier to occur of (A) the first public offering of common stock of Parent or (B) the first public offering of common stock of the Company, any "person" (as such term is used in Sections 13(d) and 14(d) of the Exchange Act), other than one or more Permitted Holders, is or becomes the beneficial owner (as defined in clause (1) above, except that for purposes of this clause (2) such person shall be deemed to have "beneficial ownership" of all shares that any such person has the right to acquire, whether such right is exercisable immediately or only after the passage of time), directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Permitted Holders beneficially own (as defined in clause (1) above), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a lesser percentage of the total voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company than such other person and do not have the right or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election a majority of the Board of Directors (for the purposes of this clause (2), such other person shall be

deemed to beneficially own any Voting Stock of a specified entity held by a parent entity, if such other person is the beneficial owner (as defined in this clause (2)), directly or indirectly, of more than 35% of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity and the Permitted Holders beneficially own (as defined in clause (1) above), directly or indirectly, in the aggregate a lesser percentage of the voting power of the Voting Stock of such parent entity and do not have the right or ability by voting power, contract or otherwise to elect or designate for election a majority of the board of directors of such parent entity);

(3) individuals who on the Issue Date constituted the Board of Directors (together with any new directors (a) whose election by such Board of Directors or whose nomination for election by the stockholders of the Company was approved by a vote of a majority of the directors of the Company then still in office who were either directors on the Issue Date or whose election or nomination for election was previously so approved or (b) who were elected to the Board of Directors pursuant to the Stockholders' Agreement, as amended, modified or supplemented from time to time) cease for any reason to constitute a majority of the Board of Directors then in office; or

(4) the merger or consolidation of the Company with or into another Person or the merger of another Person with or into the Company, or the sale of all or substantially all the assets of the Company to another Person (other than a Person that is controlled by the Permitted Holders), if the securities of the Company that are outstanding immediately prior to such transaction and which represent 100% of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the Company are changed into or exchanged for cash, securities or property, unless pursuant to such transaction such securities are changed into or exchanged for, in addition to any other consideration, securities of the surviving Person or transferee that represent, immediately after such transaction, at least a majority of the aggregate voting power of the Voting Stock of the surviving Person or transferee.

"Code" means the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended.

"Company" means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter,

means the successor and, for purposes of any provision contained herein and required by the TIA, each other obligor on the indenture securities.

"Consolidated Coverage Ratio" as of any date of determination means the ratio of (a) the aggregate amount of EBITDA for the period of the most recent four consecutive fiscal quarters ending at least 45 days (or, if less, the number of days after the end of such fiscal quarter as the consolidated financial statements of the Company shall be provided to the Securityholders pursuant hereto) prior to the date of such determination to (b) Consolidated Interest Expense for such four fiscal quarters; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that:

(1) if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has Incurred any Indebtedness since the beginning of such period that remains outstanding or if the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio is an Incurrence of Indebtedness, or both, EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving effect on a pro forma basis to such Indebtedness as if such Indebtedness had been Incurred on the first day of such period and the discharge of any other Indebtedness repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with the proceeds of such new Indebtedness as if such discharge had occurred on the first day of such period;

(2) if the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary has repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged any Indebtedness since the beginning of such period or if any Indebtedness is to be repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged (in each case other than Indebtedness Incurred under any revolving credit facility unless such Indebtedness has been permanently repaid and has not been replaced) on the date of the transaction giving rise to the need to calculate the Consolidated Coverage Ratio, EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated on a pro forma basis as if such discharge had occurred on the first day of such period and as if the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary has not earned the interest income actually earned during such period in respect of cash or Temporary Cash Investments used to repay, repurchase, defease or otherwise discharge such Indebtedness;

(3) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary shall have made

any Asset Disposition, the EBITDA for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the EBITDA (if positive) directly attributable to the assets which are the subject of such Asset Disposition for such period, or increased by an amount equal to the EBITDA (if negative), directly attributable thereto for such period and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be reduced by an amount equal to the Consolidated Interest Expense directly attributable to any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary repaid, repurchased, defeased or otherwise discharged with respect to the Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries in connection with such Asset Disposition for such period (or, if the Capital Stock of any Restricted Subsidiary is sold, the Consolidated Interest Expense for such period directly attributable to the Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary to the extent the Company and its continuing Restricted Subsidiaries are no longer liable for such Indebtedness after such sale);

(4) if since the beginning of such period the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary (by merger or otherwise) shall have made an Investment in any Restricted Subsidiary (or any person which becomes a Restricted Subsidiary) or an acquisition of assets, including any acquisition of assets occurring in connection with a transaction requiring a calculation to be made hereunder, which constitutes all or substantially all of an operating unit of a business, EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto (including the Incurrence of any Indebtedness) as if such Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of such period; and

(5) if since the beginning of such period any Person (that subsequently became a Restricted Subsidiary or was merged with or into the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary since the beginning of such period) shall have made any Asset Disposition, any Investment or acquisition of assets that would have required an adjustment pursuant to clause (3) or (4) above if made by the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary during such period, EBITDA and Consolidated Interest Expense for such period shall be calculated after giving pro forma effect thereto as if such Asset Disposition, Investment or acquisition occurred on the first day of such period.

For purposes of this definition, whenever pro forma effect is to be given to an acquisition of assets, the amount of income or earnings relating thereto and the amount of Consolidated Interest Expense associated with any Indebtedness Incurred in connection therewith, the pro forma calculations shall be determined in good faith by a responsible financial or accounting Officer of the Company. If any Indebtedness bears a floating rate of interest and is being given pro forma effect, the interest of such Indebtedness shall be calculated as if the rate in effect on the date of determination had been the applicable rate for the entire period (taking into account any Interest Rate Agreement applicable to such Indebtedness if such Interest Rate Agreement has a remaining term in excess of 12 months).

"Consolidated Current Liabilities" as of the date of determination means the aggregate amount of liabilities of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries which may properly be classified as current liabilities (including taxes accrued as estimated), on a consolidated basis, after eliminating (1) all intercompany items between the Company and any Restricted Subsidiary and (2) all current maturities of long-term Indebtedness, all as determined in accordance with GAAP consistently applied.

"Consolidated Interest Expense" means, for any period, the total interest expense of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, plus, to the extent not included in such total interest expense, and to the extent incurred by the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, without duplication:

(1) interest expense attributable to Capital Lease Obligations and the interest expense attributable to leases constituting part of a Sale/Leaseback Transaction;

(2) amortization of debt discount and debt issuance cost;

(3) capitalized interest;

(4) non-cash interest expenses;

(5) commissions, discounts and other fees and charges owed with respect to letters of credit and bankers' acceptance financing;

(6) net costs associated with Hedging Obligations involving any Interest Rate Agreement (including amortization of fees);

(7) Preferred Stock dividends accrued by consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries in respect of all Preferred Stock held by Persons other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(8) interest incurred in connection with Investments in discontinued operations;

(9) interest accruing on any Indebtedness of any other Person to the extent such Indebtedness is Guaranteed by (or secured by the assets of) the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary; and

(10) the cash contributions to any employee stock ownership plan or similar trust to the extent such contributions are used by such plan or trust to pay interest or fees to any Person (other than the Company) in connection with Indebtedness Incurred by such plan or trust.

"Consolidated Net Income" means, for any period, the net income of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that there shall not be included in such Consolidated Net Income:

(1) any net income of any Person (other than the Company) if such Person is not a Restricted Subsidiary, except that (A) subject to the exclusion contained in clause (4) below, the Company's equity in the net income of any such Person for such period shall be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash actually distributed by such Person during such period to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution paid to a Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitations contained in clause (3) below) and (B) the Company's equity in a net loss of any such Person for such period shall be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

(2) any net income (or loss) of any Person acquired by the Company or a Subsidiary in a pooling of interests transaction for any period prior to the date of such acquisition;

(3) any net income of any Restricted Subsidiary if such Restricted Subsidiary is subject to restrictions, directly or indirectly, on the payment of dividends or

the making of distributions by such Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to the Company, except that (A) subject to the exclusion contained in clause (4) below, the Company's equity in the net income of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period shall be included in such Consolidated Net Income up to the aggregate amount of cash that could have been distributed by such Restricted Subsidiary consistent with such restrictions during such period to the Company or another Restricted Subsidiary as a dividend or other distribution (subject, in the case of a dividend or other distribution paid to another Restricted Subsidiary, to the limitation contained in this clause) and (B) the Company's equity in a net loss of any such Restricted Subsidiary for such period shall be included in determining such Consolidated Net Income;

(4) any gain (or loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any assets of the Company or its consolidated Subsidiaries (including pursuant to any sale-and-leaseback arrangement) which is not sold or otherwise disposed of in the ordinary course of business and any gain (or loss) realized upon the sale or other disposition of any Capital Stock of any Person;

(5) extraordinary gains or losses; and

(6) the cumulative effect of a change in accounting principles.

Notwithstanding the foregoing, for the purpose of Section 4.04 only, there shall be excluded from Consolidated Net Income any dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets from Unrestricted Subsidiaries to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such dividends, repayments or transfers increase the amount of Restricted Payments permitted under such
Section pursuant to clause (a)(3)(D) thereof.

"Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" as of any date of determination, means the total amount of assets (less accumulated depreciation and amortization, allowances for doubtful receivables, other applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) which would appear on a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, and after giving effect to purchase accounting and after deducting therefrom

Consolidated Current Liabilities and, to the extent otherwise included, the amounts of:

(1) minority interests in consolidated Subsidiaries held by Persons other than the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary;

(2) excess of cost over fair value of assets of businesses acquired, as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors;

(3) any revaluation or other write-up in book value of assets subsequent to the Issue Date as a result of a change in the method of valuation in accordance with GAAP consistently applied;

(4) unamortized debt discount and expenses and other unamortized deferred charges, goodwill, patents, trademarks, service marks, trade names, copyrights, licenses, organization or developmental expenses and other intangible items;

(5) treasury stock;

(6) cash set apart and held in a sinking or other analogous fund established for the purpose of redemption or other retirement of Capital Stock to the extent such obligation is not reflected in Consolidated Current Liabilities; and

(7) Investments in and assets of Unrestricted Subsidiaries.

"Consolidated Net Worth" means the total of the amounts shown on the balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with GAAP, as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter of the Company ending at least 45 days prior to the taking of any action for the purpose of which the determination is being made, as (1) the par or stated value of all outstanding Capital Stock of the Company plus (2) paid-in capital or capital surplus relating to such Capital Stock plus
(3) any retained earnings or earned surplus less (A) any accumulated deficit and (B) any amounts attributable to Disqualified Stock.

"Credit Agreement" means (1) prior to the Acquisition Closing Date, the Credit Agreement, as amended, dated as of March 11, 1997, by and among Fairchild Holdings, the Company, certain of its Subsidiaries, the lenders referred to therein, Bankers Trust Company, as

Administrative Agent, Credit Suisse First Boston, as Syndication Agent, and Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce, as Documentation Agent, together with the related documents thereto and (2) on or after the Acquisition Closing Date, the Credit Agreement to be entered into by and among Parent, the Company, certain of its Subsidiaries, the lenders referred to therein, Credit Suisse First Boston, as Administrative Agent, together with the related documents thereto (including without limitation the term loans and revolving loans thereunder, any guarantees and security documents), as amended, extended, renewed, restated, supplemented or otherwise modified (in whole or in part, and without limitation as to amount, terms, conditions, covenants and other provisions) from time to time, and any agreement (and related document) governing Indebtedness incurred to refund or refinance, in whole or in part, the borrowings and commitments then outstanding or permitted to be outstanding under such Credit Agreement or a successor Credit Agreement, whether by the same or any other lender or group of lenders.

"Currency Agreement" means in respect of a Person any foreign exchange contract, currency swap agreement or other similar agreement to which such Person is a party or beneficiary.

"CVC" means Citicorp Venture Capital Ltd.

"Default" means any event which is, or after notice or passage of time or both would be, an Event of Default.

"Designated Senior Indebtedness" means (1) the Bank Indebtedness; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Bank Indebtedness outstanding under any Credit Agreement that Refinanced in part, but not in whole, the previously outstanding Bank Indebtedness shall only constitute Designated Senior Indebtedness if it meets the requirements of succeeding clause (2); and (2) any other Senior Indebtedness of the Company which, at the date of determination, has an aggregate principal amount outstanding of, or under which, at the date of determination, the holders thereof are committed to lend up to, at least $10.0 million and is specifically designated by the Company in the instrument evidencing or governing such Senior Indebtedness as "Designated Senior Indebtedness" for purposes of this Indenture.

"Disqualified Stock" means, with respect to any Person, any Capital Stock which by its terms (or by the terms of any security into which it is convertible or for

which it is exchangeable) or upon the happening of any event (1) matures or is mandatorily redeemable pursuant to a sinking fund obligation or otherwise, (2) is convertible or exchangeable for Indebtedness or Disqualified Stock or (3) is redeemable at the option of the holder thereof, in whole or in part, in each case on or prior to the first anniversary of the Stated Maturity of the Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any Capital Stock that would not constitute Disqualified Stock but for provisions thereof giving holders thereof the right to require such Person to repurchase or redeem such Capital Stock upon the occurrence of an "asset sale" or "change of control" occurring prior to the first anniversary of the Stated Maturity of the Securities shall not constitute Disqualified Stock if the "asset sale" or "change of control" provisions applicable to such Capital Stock are not more favorable to the holders of such Capital Stock than the provisions of Sections 4.06 and 4.09.

"EBITDA" for any period means the sum of Consolidated Net Income, plus Consolidated Interest Expense plus the following to the extent deducted in calculating
such Consolidated Net Income:

(1) all income tax expense of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) depreciation expense of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries;

(3) amortization expense of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding amortization expense attributable to a prepaid cash item that was paid in a prior period); and

(4) all other non-cash charges of the Company and its consolidated Restricted Subsidiaries (excluding any such non-cash charge to the extent that it represents an accrual of or reserve for cash expenditures in any future period):

in each case for such period. Notwithstanding the foregoing, the provision for taxes based on the income or profits of, and the depreciation and amortization and non-cash charges of, a Restricted Subsidiary shall be added to Consolidated Net Income to compute EBITDA only to the extent (and in the same proportion) that the net income of such Restricted Subsidiary was included in calculating Consolidated Net Income and only if a corresponding amount would be permitted at the date of determination to be dividended to the Company by such Restricted Subsidiary

without prior approval (that has not been obtained), pursuant to the terms of its charter and all agreements, instruments, judgments, decrees, orders, statutes, rules and governmental regulations applicable to such Restricted Subsidiary or its stockholders.

"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended.

"Foreign Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary not created or organized in the United States of America or any State thereof and that conducts substantially all its operations outside of the United States.

"GAAP" means generally accepted accounting principles in the United States of America as in effect as of the Issue Date, including those set forth in (1) the opinions and pronouncements of the Accounting Principles Board of the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants, (2) statements and pronouncements of the Financial Accounting Standards Board, (3) such other statements by such other entity as approved by a significant segment of the accounting profession and (4) the rules and regulations of the SEC governing the inclusion of financial statements (including pro forma financial statements) in periodic reports required to be filed pursuant to Section 13 of the Exchange Act, including opinions and pronouncements in staff accounting bulletins and similar written statements from the accounting staff of the SEC. All ratios and computations based on GAAP contained in this Indenture shall be computed in conformity with GAAP.

"Guarantee" means any obligation, contingent or otherwise, of any Person directly or indirectly guaranteeing any Indebtedness of any other Person and any obligation, direct or indirect, contingent or otherwise, of such Person (1) to purchase or pay (or advance or supply funds for the purchase or payment of) such Indebtedness or other obligation of such Person (whether arising by virtue of partnership arrangements, or by agreements to keep-well, to purchase assets, goods, securities or services, to take-or-pay or to maintain financial statement conditions or otherwise) or (2) entered into for the purpose of assuring in any other manner the obligee of such Indebtedness of the payment thereof or to protect such obligee against loss in respect thereof (in whole or in part); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the term "Guarantee" shall not include endorsements for collection or deposit in the ordinary course of business. The term "Guarantee" used as a verb has a corresponding meaning.

"Guarantor" means the Parent and each Subsidiary Guarantor.

"Guaranty" means the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guaranty.

"Guaranty Agreement" means a supplemental indenture, in a form satisfactory to the Trustee, pursuant to which a successor to Parent or Fairchild California, or any Subsidiary Guarantor other than Fairchild California, becomes subject to the applicable terms and conditions hereof.

"Hedging Obligations" of any Person means the obligations of such Person pursuant to any Interest Rate Agreement or Currency Agreement.

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

"Incur" means issue, assume, Guarantee, incur or otherwise become liable for; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any Indebtedness or Capital Stock of a Person existing at the time such Person becomes a Subsidiary (whether by merger, consolidation, acquisition or otherwise) shall be deemed to be Incurred by such Subsidiary at the time it becomes a Subsidiary. The term "Incurrence" when used as a noun shall have a correlative meaning. The accretion of principal of a non-interest bearing or other discount security shall not be deemed the Incurrence of Indebtedness.

"Indebtedness" means, with respect to any Person on any date of determination (without duplication):

(1) the principal of and premium (if any) in respect of (A) indebtedness of such Person for money borrowed and (B) indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable;

(2) all Capital Lease Obligations of such Person and all Attributable Debt in respect of Sale/Leaseback Transactions entered into by such Person;

(3) all obligations of such Person issued or assumed as the deferred purchase price of property, all conditional sale obligations of such Person and all obligations of such Person under any title retention agreement (but excluding trade accounts payable arising in the ordinary course of business);

(4) all obligations of such Person for the reimbursement of any obligor on any letter of credit, banker's acceptance or similar credit transaction (other than obligations with respect to letters of credit securing obligations (other than obligations described in clauses (1) through (3) above) entered into in the ordinary course of business of such Person to the extent such letters of credit are not drawn upon or, if and to the extent drawn upon, such drawing is reimbursed no later than the tenth Business Day following payment on the letter of credit);

(5) the amount of all obligations of such Person with respect to the redemption, repayment or other repurchase of any Disqualified Stock or, with respect to any Subsidiary of such Person, the liquidation preference with respect to, any Preferred Stock (but excluding, in each case, any accrued dividends);

(6) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (5) of other Persons and all dividends of other Persons for the payment of which, in either case, such Person is responsible or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor, guarantor or otherwise, including by means of any Guarantee;

(7) all obligations of the type referred to in clauses (1) through (6) of other Persons secured by any Lien on any property or asset of such Person (whether or not such obligation is assumed by such Person), the amount of such obligation being deemed to be the lesser of the value of such property or assets or the amount of the obligation so secured; and

(8) to the extent not otherwise included in this definition, Hedging Obligations of such Person.

The amount of Indebtedness of any Person at any date shall be the outstanding balance at such date of all unconditional obligations as described above and the maximum liability, upon the occurrence of the contingency giving rise to the obligation, of any contingent obligations at such date; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the amount outstanding at any time of any Indebtedness issued with original issue discount shall be deemed to be the face amount of such Indebtedness less the remaining unamortized portion of the original issue discount of such indebtedness at such time as determined in accordance with GAAP.

"Indenture" means this Indenture as amended or supplemented from time to time.

"Interest Rate Agreement" means in respect of a Person any interest rate swap agreement, interest rate cap agreement or other financial agreement or arrangement designed to protect such Person against fluctuations in interest rates.

"Investment" in any Person means any direct or indirect advance, loan (other than advances to customers in the ordinary course of business that are recorded as accounts receivable on the balance sheet of the lender) or other extensions of credit (including by way of Guarantee or similar arrangement) or capital contribution to (by means of any transfer of cash or other property to others or any payment for property or services for the account or use of others), or any purchase or acquisition of Capital Stock, Indebtedness or other similar instruments issued by such Person. For purposes of the definition of "Unrestricted Subsidiary", the definition of "Restricted Payment" and Section 4.04:

(1) "Investment" shall include the portion (proportionate to the Company's equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of any Subsidiary of the Company at the time that such Subsidiary is designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that upon a redesignation of such Subsidiary as a Restricted Subsidiary, the Company shall be deemed to continue to have a permanent "Investment" in an Unrestricted Subsidiary equal to an amount (if positive) equal to (x) the Company's "Investment" in such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation less (y) the portion (proportionate to the Company's equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of such Subsidiary at the time of such redesignation; and

(2) any property transferred to or from an Unrestricted Subsidiary shall be valued at its fair market value at the time of such transfer, in each case as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors.

"Issue Date" means the date on which the Initial Securities are originally issued.

"Lien" means any mortgage, pledge, security interest, encumbrance, lien or charge of any kind (including any conditional sale or other title retention agreement or lease in the nature thereof).

"Net Available Cash" from an Asset Disposition means cash payments received therefrom (including any cash

payments received by way of deferred payment of principal pursuant to a note or installment receivable or otherwise and proceeds from the sale or other disposition of any securities received as consideration, but only as and when received, but excluding any other consideration received in the form of assumption by the acquiring Person of Indebtedness or other obligations relating to such properties or assets or received in any other non-cash form), in each case net of:

(1) all legal, title and recording tax expenses, commissions and other fees and expenses incurred, and all Federal, state, provincial, foreign and local taxes required to be accrued as a liability under GAAP, as a consequence of such Asset Disposition;

(2) all payments made on any Indebtedness which is secured by any assets subject to such Asset Disposition, in accordance with the terms of any Lien upon or other security agreement of any kind with respect to such assets, or which must by its terms, or in order to obtain a necessary consent to such Asset Disposition, or by applicable law, be repaid out of the proceeds from such Asset Disposition;

(3) all distributions and other payments required to be made to minority interest holders in Subsidiaries or joint ventures as a result of such Asset Disposition; and

(4) the deduction of appropriate amounts provided by the seller as a reserve, in accordance with GAAP, against any liabilities associated with the property or other assets disposed in such Asset Disposition and retained by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary after such Asset Disposition.

"Net Cash Proceeds", with respect to any issuance or sale of Capital Stock, means the cash proceeds of such issuance or sale net of attorneys' fees, accountants' fees, underwriters' or placement agents' fees, discounts or commissions and brokerage, consultant and other fees actually incurred in connection with such issuance or sale and net of taxes paid or payable as a result thereof.

"Obligations" means with respect to any Indebtedness all obligations for principal, premium, interest, penalties, fees, indemnifications, reimbursements and other amounts payable pursuant to the documentation governing such Indebtedness.

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

"Officers' Certificate" means a certificate signed by two Officers.

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

"Parent" means FSC Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation.

"Parent Guaranty" means the Guaranty by Parent of the Company's obligations with respect to the Securities contained herein.

"Permitted Holders" means (1) CVC, (2) any officer, employee or director of CVC or any trust, partnership or other entity established solely for the benefit of such officers, employees or directors, (3) any officer, employee or director of Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary or any trust, partnership or other entity established solely for the benefit of such officers, employees or directors, and (4) in the case of any individual, any Permitted Transferee of such individual (as defined in the Stockholders' Agreement), except a Permitted Transferee by virtue of Section 3.4(b)(iv) thereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in no event shall individuals collectively be deemed to be "Permitted Holders" with respect to more than 30% of the total voting power of Parent or the Company.

"Permitted Investment" means an Investment by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in:

(1) a Restricted Subsidiary or a Person that will, upon the making of such Investment, become a Restricted Subsidiary; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the primary business of such Restricted Subsidiary is a Related Business;

(2) another Person if as a result of such Investment such other Person is merged or consolidated with or into, or transfers or conveys all or substantially all its assets to, the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such Person's primary business is a Related Business;

(3) Temporary Cash Investments;

(4) receivables owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary if created or acquired in the ordinary course of business and payable or dischargeable in accordance with customary trade terms; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such trade terms may include such concessionary trade terms as the Company or any such Restricted Subsidiary deems reasonable under the circumstances;

(5) payroll, travel and similar advances to cover matters that are expected at the time of such advances ultimately to be treated as expenses for accounting purposes and that are made in the ordinary course of business;

(6) loans or advances to employees made in the ordinary course of business consistent with past practices of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary;

(7) stock, obligations or securities received in settlement of debts created in the ordinary course of business and owing to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary or in satisfaction of judgments;

(8) any Person to the extent such Investment represents the non-cash portion of the consideration received for an Asset Disposition as permitted pursuant to Section 4.06;

(9) so long as no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or result therefrom), any Person engaged in a Related Business in an aggregate amount which, when added together with the amount of all the Investments made pursuant to this clause (9) which at such time have not been repaid through repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets, does not exceed $30.0 million.

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

"Preferred Stock", as applied to the Capital Stock of any Person, means Capital Stock of any class or classes (however designated) which is preferred as to the payment of dividends or distributions, or as to the distribution of assets upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or

dissolution of such Person, over shares of Capital Stock of any other class of such Person.

"principal" of a Security means the principal of the Security plus the premium, if any, payable on the Security which is due or overdue or is to become due at the relevant time.

"Public Equity Offering" means an underwritten primary public offering of common stock of (1) the Company or (2) the Parent (to the extent the proceeds thereof are contemporaneously contributed to the Company), in each case pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act.

"Purchase Price Note" means the promissory note, not to exceed $455.0 million, of the Company and Fairchild Korea Semiconductor Ltd. to be issued to Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. on the Acquisition Closing Date for the purchase price of the power device business of Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd.

"Refinance" means, in respect of any Indebtedness, to refinance, extend, renew, refund, repay, prepay, redeem, defease or retire, or to issue other Indebtedness in exchange or replacement for, such indebtedness. "Refinanced" and "Refinancing" shall have correlative meanings.

"Refinancing Indebtedness" means Indebtedness that Refinances any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary existing on the Issue Date or Incurred in compliance with this Indenture, including Indebtedness that Refinances Refinancing Indebtedness; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (1) such Refinancing Indebtedness has a Stated Maturity no earlier than the Stated Maturity of the Indebtedness being Refinanced, (2) such Refinancing Indebtedness has an Average Life at the time such Refinancing Indebtedness is Incurred that is equal to or greater than the Average Life of the Indebtedness being Refinanced and (3) such Refinancing Indebtedness has an aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, an aggregate issue price) that is equal to or less than the aggregate principal amount (or if Incurred with original issue discount, the aggregate accreted value) then outstanding or committed (plus fees and expenses, including any premium and defeasance costs) under the Indebtedness being Refinanced; PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER, that Refinancing Indebtedness shall not include (x) Indebtedness of a Subsidiary that Refinances Indebtedness of the Company or (y) Indebtedness

of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary that Refinances Indebtedness of an Unrestricted Subsidiary.

"Related Business" means any business related, ancillary or complementary to the businesses of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries on the Issue Date.

"Representative" means any trustee, agent or representative (if any) for an issue of Senior Indebtedness of the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if and for so long as any Senior Indebtedness lacks such a representative, then the Representative for such Senior Indebtedness shall at all times be the holders of a majority in outstanding principal amount of such Senior Indebtedness.

"Restricted Payment" with respect to any Person means:

(1) the declaration or payment of any dividends or any other distributions of any sort in respect of its Capital Stock (including any payment in connection with any merger or consolidation involving such Person) or similar payment to the direct or indirect holders of its Capital Stock (other than dividends or distributions payable solely in its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) and dividends or distributions payable solely to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary, and other than pro rata dividends or other distributions made by a Subsidiary that is not a Wholly Owned Subsidiary to minority stockholders (or owners of an equivalent interest in the case of a Subsidiary that is an entity other than a corporation));

(2) the purchase, redemption or other acquisition or retirement for value of any Capital Stock of the Company held by any Person or of any Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary held by any Affiliate of the Company (other than a Restricted Subsidiary), including the exercise of any option to exchange any Capital Stock (other than into Capital Stock of the Company that is not Disqualified Stock);

(3) the purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value, prior to scheduled maturity, scheduled repayment or scheduled sinking fund payment of any Subordinated Obligations (other than the purchase, repurchase or other acquisition of Subordinated Obligations purchased in anticipation of satisfying a sinking fund obligation, principal installment or final maturity, in

each case due within one year of the date of acquisition); or

(4) the making of any Investment in any Person (other than a Permitted Investment).

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

"Revolving Credit Facilities" means the revolving credit facility contained in the Credit Agreement and any other facility or financing arrangement that Refinances or replaces, in whole or in part, any such revolving credit facility.

"Sale/Leaseback Transaction" means an arrangement relating to property now owned or hereafter acquired whereby the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary transfers such property to a Person and the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary leases it from such Person.

"SEC" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

"Secured Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness of the Company secured by a Lien.

"Securities" means the Securities issued under this Indenture.

"Senior Indebtedness" of any Person means all (1) Bank Indebtedness of or guaranteed by such Person, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred, and (2) Indebtedness of such Person, whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred, including interest thereon, in respect of (A) Indebtedness for money borrowed, (B) Indebtedness evidenced by notes, debentures, bonds or other similar instruments for the payment of which such Person is responsible or liable and (C) Hedging Obligations, unless, in the case of (1) and (2), in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are subordinate in right of payment to the obligations under the Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Senior Indebtedness shall not include (i) any obligation of such Person to any subsidiary of such Person, (ii) any liability for Federal, state, local or other taxes owed or owing by such Person, (iii) any accounts payable or other liability to trade creditors arising in the ordinary course of business (including guarantees thereof or instruments evidencing such liabilities), (iv) any Indebted

ness of such Person (and any accrued and unpaid interest in respect thereof) which is subordinate or junior by its terms to any other Indebtedness or other obligation of such Person (including, in the case of the Company, the Securities and 10 1/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007 and, in the case of the Parent, its 11.74% Subordinated Note due March 14, 2008 and 12.5% Subordinated PIK Note due February 1, 2008) or (v) that portion of any Indebtedness which at the time of Incurrence is Incurred in violation of this Indenture (but as to any such Indebtedness under the Credit Agreement, no such violation shall be deemed to exist if the Representative of the Lenders thereunder shall have received an officers' certificate of the Company to the effect that the issuance of such Indebtedness does not violate such covenant and setting forth in reasonable detail the reasons therefor).

"Senior Subordinated Indebtedness" means (1) with respect to the Company, the Securities, the 101/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007 and any other Indebtedness of the Company that specifically provides that such Indebtedness is to rank PARI PASSU with the Securities in right of payment and is not subordinated by its terms in right of payment to any Indebtedness or other obligation of the Company which is not Senior Indebtedness of the Company and (2) with respect to the Parent or a Subsidiary Guarantor, their respective Guarantees of the Securities and the 101/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007 and any other indebtedness of such Person that specifically provides that such Indebtedness rank PARI PASSU with such Guarantee in respect of payment and is not subordinated by its terms in respect of payment to any Indebtedness or other obligation of such Person which is not Senior Indebtedness of such Person; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that Senior Subordinated Indebtedness shall not include, in the case of the Parent, the 11.74% Subordinated Note due March 14, 2008.

"Significant Subsidiary" means any Restricted Subsidiary that would be a "Significant Subsidiary" of the Company within the meaning of Rule 1-02 under Regulation S-X promulgated by the SEC.

"Stated Maturity" means, with respect to any security, the date specified in such security as the fixed date on which the final payment of principal of such security is due and payable, including pursuant to any mandatory redemption provision (but excluding any provision providing for the repurchase of such security at the option of the holder thereof upon the happening of any contingency unless such contingency has occurred).

"Sterling" means Sterling Holding Company LLC, a Delaware limited liability company.

"Stockholders' Agreement" means the Securities Purchase and Holders Agreement among the stockholders of Parent, as in effect on the Issue Date.

"Subordinated Obligation" means any Indebtedness of the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor (whether outstanding on the Issue Date or thereafter Incurred) which is subordinate or junior in right of payment to, in the case of the Company, the Securities or, in the case of such Subsidiary Guarantor, its Subsidiary Guaranty, pursuant to a written agreement to that effect.

"Subsidiary" means, in respect of any Person, any corporation, association, partnership or other business entity of which more than 50% of the total voting power of shares of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof is at the time owned or controlled, directly or indirectly, by (1) such Person,
(2) such Person and one or more Subsidiaries of such Person or (3) one or more Subsidiaries of such Person.

"Subsidiary Guarantor" means Fairchild California and any other subsidiary of the Company that guarantees the Company's obligations with respect to the Securities.

"Subsidiary Guaranty" means a Guarantee by a Subsidiary Guarantor of the Company's obligations with respect to the Securities.

"Temporary Cash Investments" means any of the following:

(1) any investment in direct obligations of the United States of America or any agency thereof or obligations guaranteed by the United States of America or any agency thereof;

(2) investments in time deposit accounts, certificates of deposit and money market deposits maturing within 180 days of the date of acquisition thereof issued by a bank or trust company which is organized under the laws of the United States of America, any state thereof or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America, and which bank or trust company has capital, surplus and undivided profits aggregating in excess of $50.0

million (or the foreign currency equivalent thereof) and has outstanding debt that is rated "A" (or such similar equivalent rating) or higher by at least one nationally recognized statistical rating organization (as defined in Rule 436 under the Securities Act) or any money-market fund sponsored by a registered broker dealer or mutual fund distributor;

(3) repurchase obligations with a term of not more than 30 days for underlying securities of the types described in clause (1) above entered into with a bank meeting the qualifications described in clause (2) above;

(4) investments in commercial paper, maturing not more than 90 days after the date of acquisition, issued by a corporation (other than an Affiliate of the Company) organized and in existence under the laws of the United States of America or any foreign country recognized by the United States of America with a rating at the time as of which any investment therein is made of "P-1" (or higher) according to Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or "A-1" (or higher) according to Standard and Poor's Ratings Group; and

(5) investments in securities with maturities of six months or less from the date of acquisition issued or fully guaranteed by any state, commonwealth or territory of the United States of America, or by any political subdivision or taxing authority thereof, and rated at least "A" by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group or "A" by Moody's Investors Service, Inc.

"Term Loan Facilities" means the term loan facilities contained in the Credit Agreement and any other facility or financing arrangement that Refinances in whole or in part any such term loan facility.

"TIA" means the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (15 U.S.C. Sections 77aaa-77bbbb) as in effect on the date of this Indenture.

"Trustee" means the party named as such in this Indenture until a successor replaces it and, thereafter, means the successor.

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

"Uniform Commercial Code" means the New York Uniform Commercial Code as in effect from time to time.

"Unrestricted Subsidiary" means (1) any Subsidiary of the Company that at the time of determination shall be designated an Unrestricted Subsidiary by the Board of Directors in the manner provided below and (2) any Subsidiary of an Unrestricted Subsidiary. The Board of Directors may designate any Subsidiary of the Company (including any newly acquired or newly formed Subsidiary of the Company) to be an Unrestricted Subsidiary unless such Subsidiary or any of its Subsidiaries owns any Capital Stock or Indebtedness of, or owns or holds any Lien on any property of, the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company that is not a Subsidiary of the Subsidiary to be so designated; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that either (A) the Subsidiary to be so designated has total assets of $1,000 or less or (B) if such Subsidiary has assets greater than $1,000, such designation would be permitted under Section
4.04. The Board of Directors may designate any Unrestricted Subsidiary to be a Restricted Subsidiary; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that immediately after giving effect to such designation (x) the Company could Incur $1.00 of additional Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a) and (y) no Default shall have occurred and be continuing. Any such designation by the Board of Directors shall be evidenced to the Trustee by promptly filing with the Trustee a copy of the resolution of the Board of Directors giving effect to such designation and an Officers' Certificate certifying that such designation complied with the foregoing provisions.

"U.S. Government Obligations" means direct obligations (or certificates representing an ownership interest in such obligations) of the United States of America (including any agency or instrumentality thereof) for the payment of which the full faith and credit of the United States of America is pledged and which are not callable or redeemable at the issuer's option.

"Voting Stock" of a Person means all classes of Capital Stock or other interests (including partnership interests) of such Person then outstanding and normally entitled (without regard to the occurrence of any contingency) to vote in the election of directors, managers or trustees thereof.

"Wholly Owned Subsidiary" means a Restricted Subsidiary all the Capital Stock of which (other than directors' qualifying shares) is owned by the Company or one or more Wholly Owned Subsidiaries.

                                               DEFINED IN
                     TERM                      SECTION
                     ----                      ----------

"Affiliate Transaction" ....................    4.08
"Bankruptcy Law" ...........................    6.01
"Blockage Notice" ..........................   10.03
"covenant defeasance option" ...............    8.01(b)
"Custodian" ................................    6.01
"Event of Default" .........................    6.01
"Indenture Obligations" ....................   11.01
"legal defeasance option" ..................    8.01(b)
"Legal Holiday" ............................   13.08
"Offer" ....................................    4.07(b)
"Offer Amount" .............................    4.07(c)(2)
"Offer Period" .............................    4.07(c)(2)
"pay its Guaranty" .........................   12.03
"pay the Securities" .......................   10.03
"Paying Agent" .............................    2.03
"Payment Blockage Period" ..................   10.03
"Payment Default" ..........................   10.03
"Purchase Date" ............................    4.07(c)(1)
"Registrar".................................    2.03
"Successor Company" ........................    5.01

SECTION 1.03. INCORPORATION BY REFERENCE OF TRUST INDENTURE ACT. This Indenture is subject to the mandatory provisions of the TIA which are incorporated by reference in and made a part of this Indenture. The following TIA terms have the following meanings:

"Commission" means the SEC;

"indenture securities" means the Securities and each Guaranty;

"indenture security holder" means a Securityholder;

"indenture to be qualified" means this Indenture;

"indenture trustee" or "institutional trustee" means the Trustee; and

"obligor" on the indenture securities means the Company, each Guarantor and any other obligor on the indenture securities.

All other TIA terms used in this Indenture that are defined by the TIA, defined by TIA reference to another

statute or defined by SEC rule have the meanings assigned to them by such definitions.

SECTION 1.04. RULES OF CONSTRUCTION. Unless the context otherwise requires:

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

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

(3) "or" is not exclusive;

(4) "including" means including without limitation;

(5) words in the singular include the plural and words in the plural include the singular;

(6) unsecured Indebtedness shall not be deemed to be subordinate or junior to Secured Indebtedness merely by virtue of its nature as unsecured Indebtedness;

(7) the principal amount of any noninterest bearing or other discount security at any date shall be the principal amount thereof that would be shown on a balance sheet of the issuer dated such date prepared in accordance with GAAP;

(8) the principal amount of any Preferred Stock shall be (i) the maximum liquidation value of such Preferred Stock or (ii) the maximum mandatory redemption or mandatory repurchase price with respect to such Preferred Stock, whichever is greater;

(9) all references to the date the Securities were originally issued shall refer to the date the Initial Securities were originally issued; and

(10) all references to any amount of interest or any other amount payable on or with respect to any of the Securities shall be deemed to include payment of any additional interest pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement (as defined in the Appendix).

ARTICLE 2

THE SECURITIES

SECTION 2.01. FORM AND DATING. Provisions relating to the Initial Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the Exchange Securities are set forth in the Rule 144A/Regulation S Appendix attached hereto (the "Appendix") which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made part of this Indenture. The Initial Securities and the Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit 1 to the Appendix which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Exchange Securities, the Private Exchange Securities and the Trustee's certificate of authentication shall be substantially in the form of Exhibit A, which is hereby incorporated in and expressly made a part of this Indenture. The Securities may have notations, legends or endorsements required by law, stock exchange rule, agreements to which the Company is subject, if any, or usage (provided that any such notation, legend or endorsement is in a form acceptable to the Company). Each Security shall be dated the date of its authentication. The terms of the Securities set forth in the Appendix and Exhibit A are part of the terms of this Indenture.

SECTION 2.02. EXECUTION AND AUTHENTICATION. Two Officers shall sign the Securities for the Company by manual or facsimile signature. The Company's seal shall be impressed, affixed, imprinted or reproduced on the Securities and may be in facsimile form.

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

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

On the Issue Date, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver $300.0 million of 103/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007 and, at any time and from time to time thereafter, the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver Securities for original issue upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be

authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated and, in the case of an issuance of Additional Securities pursuant to Section 2.13 after the Issue Date, shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.03.

The Trustee may appoint an authenticating agent reasonably acceptable to the Company to authenticate the Securities. Unless limited by the terms of such appointment, an authenticating agent may authenticate Securities whenever the Trustee may do so. Each reference in this Indenture to authentication by the Trustee includes authentication by such agent. An authenticating agent has the same rights as any Registrar, Paying Agent or agent for service of notices and demands.

SECTION 2.03. REGISTRAR AND PAYING AGENT. The Company shall maintain an office or agency where Securities may be presented for registration of transfer or for exchange (the "Registrar") and an office or agency where Securities may be presented for payment (the "Paying Agent"). The Registrar shall keep a register of the Securities and of their transfer and exchange. The Company may have one or more co-registrars and one or more additional paying agents. The term "Paying Agent" includes any additional paying agent.

The Company shall enter into an appropriate agency agreement with any Registrar, Paying Agent or co-registrar not a party to this Indenture, which shall incorporate the terms of the TIA. The agreement shall implement the provisions of this Indenture that relate to such agent. The Company shall notify the Trustee of the name and address of any such agent. If the Company fails to maintain a Registrar or Paying Agent, the Trustee shall act as such and shall be entitled to appropriate compensation therefor pursuant to Section
7.07. The Company or any of its domestically incorporated Wholly Owned Subsidiaries may act as Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or transfer agent.

The Company initially appoints the Trustee as Registrar and Paying Agent in connection with the Securities.

SECTION 2.04. PAYING AGENT TO HOLD MONEY IN TRUST. Prior to each due date of the principal and interest on any Security, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent a sum sufficient to pay such principal and interest when so becoming due. The Company shall require each Paying Agent (other than the Trustee) to agree in writing that the Paying Agent shall hold in trust for the benefit of

Securityholders or the Trustee all money held by the Paying Agent for the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities and shall notify the Trustee of any default by the Company in making any such payment, and while any such default continues, the Trustee may require the Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee. If the Company or a Subsidiary acts as Paying Agent, it shall segregate the money held by it as Paying Agent and hold it as a separate trust fund. The Company at any time may require a Paying Agent to pay all money held by it to the Trustee and to account for any funds disbursed by the Paying Agent. Upon complying with this Section, the Paying Agent shall have no further liability for the money delivered to the Trustee.

SECTION 2.05. SECURITYHOLDER LISTS. The Trustee shall preserve in as current a form as is reasonably practicable the most recent list available to it of the names and addresses of Securityholders. If the Trustee is not the Registrar, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee, in writing at least five Business Days before each interest payment date and at such other times as the Trustee may request in writing, a list in such form and as of such date as the Trustee may reasonably require of the names and addresses of Securityholders.

SECTION 2.06. TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE. The Securities shall be issued in registered form and shall be transferable only upon the surrender of a Security for registration of transfer. When a Security is presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to register a transfer, the Registrar shall register the transfer as requested if the requirements of Section 8-401(1) of the Uniform Commercial Code are met. When Securities are presented to the Registrar or a co-registrar with a request to exchange them for an equal principal amount of Securities of other denominations, the Registrar shall make the exchange as requested if the same requirements are met. To permit registration of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate Securities at the Registrar's or co-registrar's request. The Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to pay all taxes, assessments or other governmental charges in connection with any transfer or exchange pursuant to this Section. The Company shall not be required to make and the Registrar need not register transfers or exchanges of Securities selected for redemption (except, in the case of Securities to be redeemed in part, the portion thereof 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.

Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and (subject to the provisions of the Securities with respect to record dates) interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture will evidence the same debt and will be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

SECTION 2.07. REPLACEMENT SECURITIES. If a mutilated Security is surrendered to the Registrar or if the Holder of a Security claims that the Security has been lost, destroyed or wrongfully taken, the Company shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a replacement Security if the requirements of
Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code are met and the Holder satisfies any other reasonable requirements of the Trustee. If required by the Trustee or the Company, such Holder shall furnish an indemnity bond sufficient in the judgment of the Company and the Trustee to protect the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar and any co-registrar from any loss which any of them may suffer if a Security is replaced. The Company and the Trustee may charge the Holder for their expenses in replacing a Security.

Every replacement Security is an additional obligation of the Company.

SECTION 2.08. OUTSTANDING SECURITIES. Securities outstanding at any time are all Securities authenticated by the Trustee except for those canceled by it, those delivered to it for cancellation and those described in this Section as not outstanding. A Security does not cease to be outstanding because the Company or an Affiliate of the Company holds the Security.

If a Security is replaced pursuant to Section 2.07, it ceases to be outstanding unless the Trustee and the Company receive proof satisfactory to them that the replaced Security is held by a bona fide purchaser, in which case the replacement Security shall cease to be outstanding,

subject to the provisions of Section 8-405 of the Uniform Commercial Code.

If the Paying Agent segregates and holds in trust, in accordance with this Indenture, on a redemption date or maturity date money sufficient to pay all principal and interest payable on that date with respect to the Securities (or portions thereof) to be redeemed or maturing, as the case may be, and the Paying Agent is not prohibited from paying such money to the Securityholders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, then on and after that date such Securities (or portions thereof) cease to be outstanding and interest on them ceases to accrue.

SECTION 2.09. TEMPORARY SECURITIES. Until definitive Securities are ready for delivery, the Company may prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate temporary Securities. Temporary Securities shall be substantially in the form of definitive Securities but may have variations that the Company considers appropriate for temporary Securities. Without unreasonable delay, the Company shall prepare and the Trustee shall authenticate definitive Securities and deliver them in exchange for temporary Securities.

SECTION 2.10 CANCELLATION. The Company at any time may deliver Securities to the Trustee for cancellation. The Registrar and the Paying Agent shall forward to the Trustee any Securities surrendered to them for registration of transfer, exchange or payment. The Trustee and no one else shall cancel and destroy all Securities surrendered for registration of transfer, exchange, payment or cancellation and deliver a certificate of such destruction to the Company unless the Company directs the Trustee to deliver canceled Securities to the Company. The Company may not issue new Securities to replace Securities it has redeemed, paid or delivered to the Trustee for cancellation.

SECTION 2.11. DEFAULTED INTEREST. If the Company defaults in a payment of interest on the Securities, the Company shall pay defaulted interest (plus interest on such defaulted interest to the extent lawful) in any lawful manner. The Company may pay the defaulted interest to the persons who are Securityholders on a subsequent special record date. The Company shall fix or cause to be fixed any such special record date and payment date to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee and shall promptly mail to each Securityholder a notice that states the special record date, the payment date and the amount of defaulted interest to be paid.

SECTION 2.12. CUSIP NUMBERS. The Company in issuing the Securities may use "CUSIP" numbers (if then generally in use) and, if so, the Trustee shall use "CUSIP" numbers in notices of redemption as a convenience to Holders; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any such notice may state that no representation is made as to the correctness of such numbers either as printed on the Securities or as contained in any notice of a redemption and that reliance may be placed only on the other identification numbers printed on the Securities, and any such redemption shall not be affected by any defect in or omission of such numbers.

SECTION 2.13. ISSUANCE OF ADDITIONAL SECURITIES. The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.03, to issue Additional Securities under this Indenture which shall have identical terms as the Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, other than with respect to the date of issuance, issue price and amount of interest payable on the first payment date applicable thereto. The Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, any Additional Securities and all Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities issued in exchange therefor shall be treated as a single class for all purposes under this Indenture.

With respect to any Additional Securities, the Company shall set forth in a resolution of the Board of Directors and an Officers' Certificate, a copy of each which shall be delivered to the Trustee, the following information:

(1) the aggregate principal amount of such Additional Securities to be authenticated and delivered pursuant to this Indenture;

(2) the issue price and the issue date of such Additional Securities and the amount of interest payable on the first payment date applicable thereto; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no Additional Securities may be issued at a price that would cause such Additional Securities to have "original issue discount" within the meaning of Section 1273 of the Code; and

(3) whether such Additional Securities shall be transfer restricted securities and issued in the form of Initial Securities as set forth in the Appendix to this Indenture or shall be issued in the form of Exchange Securities as set forth in Exhibit A.

ARTICLE 3

REDEMPTION

SECTION 3.01. NOTICES TO TRUSTEE. If the Company elects to redeem the Securities pursuant to paragraph 5 of the Securities or is required to redeem the Securities pursuant to paragraph 6 of the Securities, it shall notify the Trustee in writing of the redemption date, the principal amount of Securities to be redeemed and the paragraph of the Securities pursuant to which the redemption will occur.

Except as described under the second paragraph of Section 3.03 the Company shall give each notice to the Trustee provided for in this Section at least 45 days before the redemption date unless the Trustee consents to a shorter period. Such notice shall be accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel from the Company to the effect that such redemption will comply with the conditions herein.

SECTION 3.02. SELECTION OF SECURITIES TO BE REDEEMED. If fewer than all the Securities are to be redeemed, the Trustee shall select the Securities to be redeemed pro rata or by lot or by a method that complies with applicable legal and securities exchange requirements, if any, and that the Trustee in its sole discretion considers to be fair and appropriate. The Trustee shall make the selection from outstanding Securities not previously called for redemption. The Trustee may select for redemption portions of the principal of Securities that have denominations larger than $1,000. Securities and portions of them the Trustee selects shall be in amounts of $1,000 or a whole multiple of $1,000. Provisions of this Indenture that apply to Securities called for redemption also apply to portions of Securities called for redemption. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of the Securities or portions of Securities to be redeemed.

SECTION 3.03. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. At least 30 days but not more than 60 days before a date for an optional redemption of Securities, the Company shall mail a notice of redemption by first-class mail to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at such Holder's registered address.

The Issuer will prepare and deliver to the Trustee the notice of the Special Redemption on or prior to the Business Day immediately preceding, and the Trustee will send by first class mail a copy of such notice to the Holders of the Securities on or prior to, April 26, 1999.

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

(1) the redemption date;

(2) the redemption price;

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

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

(5) if fewer than all the outstanding Securities are to be redeemed, the identification and principal amounts of the particular Securities to be redeemed;

(6) that, unless the Company defaults in making such redemption payment or the Paying Agent is prohibited from making such payment pursuant to the terms of this Indenture, interest on Securities (or portion thereof) called for redemption ceases to accrue on and after the redemption date;

(7) the paragraph of the Securities pursuant to which the Securities called for redemption are being redeemed; and

(8) that no representation is made as to the correctness or accuracy of the CUSIP number, if any, listed in such notice or printed on the Securities.

At the Company's request, the Trustee shall give the notice of redemption in the Company's name and at the Company's expense. In such event, the Company shall provide the Trustee with the information required by this Section.

SECTION 3.04. EFFECT OF NOTICE OF REDEMPTION. Once notice of redemption is mailed, Securities called for redemption become due and payable on the redemption date and at the redemption price stated in the notice. Upon surrender to the Paying Agent, such Securities shall be paid at the redemption price stated in the notice, 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). Failure to give notice or any defect in the notice to any Holder shall not affect the validity of the notice to any other Holder.

SECTION 3.05. DEPOSIT OF REDEMPTION PRICE. Prior to the redemption date, the Company shall deposit with the Paying Agent (or, if the Company or a Subsidiary is the Paying Agent, shall segregate and hold in trust) money sufficient to pay the redemption price of and accrued interest (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date) on all Securities to be redeemed on that date other than Securities or portions of Securities called for redemption which have been delivered by the Company to the Trustee for cancellation.

SECTION 3.06. SECURITIES REDEEMED IN PART. Upon surrender of a Security that is redeemed in part, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate for the Holder (at the Company's expense) a new Security equal in principal amount to the unredeemed portion of the Security surrendered.

ARTICLE 4

COVENANTS

SECTION 4.01. PAYMENT OF SECURITIES. The Company shall promptly pay the principal of and interest on the Securities on the dates and in the manner provided in the Securities and in this Indenture. Principal and interest shall be considered paid on the date due if on such date the Trustee or the Paying Agent holds in accordance with this Indenture money sufficient to pay all principal and interest then due and the Trustee or the Paying Agent, as the case may be, is not prohibited from paying such money to the Securityholders on that date pursuant to the terms of this Indenture.

The Company shall pay interest on overdue principal at the rate specified therefor in the Securities, and it shall pay interest on overdue installments of interest at the same rate to the extent lawful.

SECTION 4.02. SEC REPORTS. Whether or not subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, the Company will file with the SEC and provide the Trustee and Securityholders with such annual reports and such information, documents and other reports as are specified in Sections 13 and 15(d) of the Exchange Act and applicable to a U.S. corporation subject to such Sections at the times specified for such filings under such Sections; PROVIDED, HOWEVER that the Company will not be required to file any reports, documents or other information

if the SEC will not accept such a filing. The Company also shall comply with the other provisions of TIA Section 314(a).

SECTION 4.03. LIMITATION ON INDEBTEDNESS. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur, directly or indirectly, any Indebtedness except that the Company may Incur Indebtedness if, after giving effect thereto, the Consolidated Coverage Ratio exceeds 2.0 to 1.0.

(b) Notwithstanding the foregoing paragraph (a), the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries may Incur any or all of the following Indebtedness:

(1) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary Incurred pursuant to the Revolving Credit Facilities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, immediately after giving effect to any such Incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness incurred under this clause (1) and then outstanding does not exceed the greater of (A) $100.0 million and (B) the sum of 50% of the book value of the inventory of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries and 65% of the book value of the accounts receivables of the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries;

(2) Indebtedness of the Company Incurred pursuant to the Term Loan Facilities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, after giving effect to any such Incurrence, the aggregate principal amount of all Indebtedness Incurred under this clause (2) and then outstanding does not exceed $310.0 million less the aggregate sum of all principal payments actually made from time to time after the Issue Date with respect to such Indebtedness (other than principal payments made from any permitted Refinancings thereof);

(3) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owed to and held by the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock which results in any such Wholly Owned Subsidiary ceasing to be a Wholly Owned Subsidiary or any subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (other than to the Company or another Wholly Owned Subsidiary) shall be deemed, in each case, to constitute the Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the issuer thereof;

(4) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary owed to and held by any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Wholly Owned Subsidiary);

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (A) any such Indebtedness shall be unsecured Subordinated Obligations of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary, as applicable, and (B) any subsequent issuance or transfer of any Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary or any subsequent transfer of such Indebtedness (other than to the Company, a Wholly Owned Subsidiary or another Restricted Subsidiary) shall be deemed to constitute the Incurrence of such Indebtedness by the issuer thereof;

(5) the Securities (other than Additional Securities) and the Purchase Price Note;

(6) Indebtedness outstanding on the Issue Date (other than Indebtedness described in clause (1), (2), (3), (4) or (5) of this
Section 4.03(b));

(7) Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03(a) or pursuant to clause (5) or (6) of this Section 4.03(b) or this clause (7);

(8) Hedging Obligations of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary under or with respect to Interest Rate Agreements and Currency Agreements entered into in the ordinary course of business and not for the purpose of speculation;

(9) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in respect of performance bonds and surety or appeal bonds entered into by the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries in the ordinary course of their business;

(10) Indebtedness consisting of the Subsidiary Guaranties and the Guarantees of Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to paragraph (a) or pursuant to clause (1), (2), (5), (6) or (7) above or (15) below;

(11) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary arising from the honoring by a bank or other financial institution of a check, draft or similar instrument inadvertently (except in the case of daylight overdrafts) drawn against insufficient funds in the ordinary course of business, provided that such Indebtedness is satisfied within five business days of Incurrence;

(12) Indebtedness consisting of Capital Lease Obligations in an aggregate principal amount which, when added together with the amount of indebtedness

incurred pursuant to this clause (12) and then outstanding, does not exceed $15.0 million; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the assets subject to the related capital lease are not owned or used by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary on the Issue Date or on the Acquisition Closing Date;

(13) Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary consisting of indemnification, adjustment of purchase price or similar obligations, in each case incurred in connection with the disposition of any assets of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in a principal amount not to exceed the gross proceeds actually received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in connection with such disposition;

(14) Indebtedness of a Foreign Subsidiary Incurred to finance the purchase, lease or improvement of property (real or personal) or equipment, in each case incurred no more than 180 days after such purchase, lease or improvement of such property, and any Refinancing Indebtedness in respect of such Indebtedness; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, except in the case of the Incurrence of any such Refinancing Indebtedness, at the time of the Incurrence of such Indebtedness and after giving effect thereto, (i) the Company would be able to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to paragraph (a) above and
(ii) the aggregate amount of all Indebtedness Incurred pursuant to this clause (14) and then outstanding (including any such Refinancing Indebtedness) shall not exceed 20% of Consolidated Net Tangible Assets as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at least 45 days prior to the date of such Incurrence; and

(15) Indebtedness of the Company in an aggregate principal amount which, together with all other Indebtedness of the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries outstanding on the date of such Incurrence (other than Indebtedness permitted by clauses (1) through (14) of this
Section 4.03(b) or Section 4.03(a)) does not exceed $50.0 million.

(c) Notwithstanding the foregoing, the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, Incur any Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(b) if the proceeds thereof are used, directly or indirectly, to Refinance any Subordinated Obligations unless such Indebtedness shall be subordinated to the Securities or the

relevant Subsidiary Guaranty, as applicable, to at least the same extent as such Subordinated Obligations.

(d) For purposes of determining compliance with this Section 4.03, (1) in the event that an item of Indebtedness meets the criteria of more than one of the types of Indebtedness described herein, the Company, in its sole discretion, will classify such item of Indebtedness and only be required to include the amount and type of such Indebtedness in one of the above clauses and
(2) an item of Indebtedness may be divided and classified in more than one of the types of Indebtedness described herein.

(e) Notwithstanding Section 4.03(a) or 4.03(b), the Company shall not, and shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to, Incur (1) any Indebtedness if such Indebtedness is subordinate or junior in ranking in any respect to any Senior Indebtedness of the Company or such Subsidiary Guarantor, as applicable, unless such Indebtedness is Senior Subordinated Indebtedness or is expressly subordinated in right of payment to Senior Subordinated Indebtedness or (2) any Secured Indebtedness (other than trade payables incurred in the ordinary course of business) that is not Senior Indebtedness unless contemporaneously therewith effective provision is made to secure the Securities or the relevant Subsidiary Guaranty, as applicable, equally and ratably with such Secured Indebtedness for so long as such Secured Indebtedness is secured by a Lien.

SECTION 4.04. LIMITATION ON RESTRICTED PAYMENTS. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to make a Restricted Payment if at the time the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary makes such Restricted Payment:

(1) a Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom);

(2) the Company is not able to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness under Section 4.03(a); or

(3) the aggregate amount of such Restricted Payment and all other Restricted Payments since the Issue Date would exceed the sum of:

(A) 50% of the Consolidated Net Income accrued during the period (treated as one accounting period) from the beginning of the fiscal quarter immediately following the fiscal quarter during which the Securities are originally issued

to the end of the most recent fiscal quarter ending at least 45 days (or, if less, the number of days after the end of such fiscal quarter as the consolidated financial statements of the Company shall be provided to Securityholders hereunder) prior to the date of such Restricted Payment (or, in case such Consolidated Net Income shall be a deficit, minus 100% of such deficit);

(B) the aggregate Net Cash Proceeds received by the Company from the issuance or sale of its Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) subsequent to the Issue Date (other than an issuance or sale to a Subsidiary of the Company and other than an issuance or sale to an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees to the extent that the purchase by such plan or trust is financed by Indebtedness of such plan or trust to the Company or any Subsidiary or Indebtedness Guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary);

(C) the amount by which Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary is reduced on the Company's consolidated balance sheet upon the conversion or exchange (other than by a Subsidiary of the Company) subsequent to the Issue Date of any Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary convertible or exchangeable for Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company (less the amount of any cash, or the fair value of any other property, distributed by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary upon such conversion or exchange); and

(D) an amount equal to the sum of (i) the net reduction in Investments in Unrestricted Subsidiaries resulting from dividends, repayments of loans or advances or other transfers of assets subsequent to the Issue Date, in each case to the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from Unrestricted Subsidiaries, and (ii) the portion (proportionate to the Company's equity interest in such Subsidiary) of the fair market value of the net assets of an Unrestricted Subsidiary at the time such Unrestricted Subsidiary is designated a Restricted Subsidiary; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing sum shall not exceed, in the case of any Unrestricted Subsidiary, the amount of Investments previously made (and treated as a Restricted

Payment) by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary in such Unrestricted Subsidiary.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.04(a) shall not prohibit:

(1) any Restricted Payment made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Capital Stock of the Company (other than Disqualified Stock and other than Capital Stock issued or sold to a Subsidiary of the Company or an employee stock ownership plan or to a trust established by the Company or any of its Subsidiaries for the benefit of their employees to the extent that the purchase by such plan or trust is financed by Indebtedness of such plan or trust to the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company or Indebtedness Guaranteed by the Company or any Subsidiary of the Company); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (A) such Restricted Payment shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments and (B) the Net Cash Proceeds from such sale shall be excluded from the calculation of amounts under clause (3)(B) of Section 4.04(a);

(2) any purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value of Subordinated Obligations made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Indebtedness which is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to
Section 4.03; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such purchase, repurchase, redemption, defeasance or other acquisition or retirement for value shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(3) any purchase or redemption of Disqualified Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary made by exchange for, or out of the proceeds of the substantially concurrent sale of, Disqualified Stock of the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary which is permitted to be Incurred pursuant to Section 4.03; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such purchase or redemption shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(4) any purchase or redemption of Subordinated Obligations from Net Available Cash to the extent permitted by Section 4.06; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such purchase or redemption shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(5) upon the occurrence of a Change of Control and within 60 days after the completion of the offer to repurchase the Securities pursuant to Section 4.09 (including the purchase of the Securities tendered), any purchase or redemption of Subordinated Obligations required pursuant to the terms thereof as a result of such Change of Control at a purchase or redemption price not to exceed the outstanding principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest (if any); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (A) at the time of such purchase or redemption no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom), (B) the Company would be able to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(a) after giving pro forma effect to such Restricted Payment and (C) such purchase or redemption shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(6) dividends paid within 60 days after the date of declaration thereof if at such date of declaration such dividend would have complied with Section 4.04(a)); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that at the time of payment of such dividend, no other Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or result therefrom); PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER, that such dividend shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments;

(7) the repurchase or other acquisition of shares of, or options to purchase shares of, common stock of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries from employees, former employees, directors or former directors of the Company or any of its Subsidiaries (or permitted transferees of such employees, former employees, directors or former directors), pursuant to the terms of the agreements (including employment agreements) or plans (or amendments thereto) approved by the Board of Directors under which such individuals purchase or sell or are granted the option to purchase or sell, shares of such common stock; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the aggregate amount of such repurchases and other acquisitions shall not exceed the sum of $7.0 million and the Net Cash Proceeds from the sale of Capital Stock to members of management or directors of the Company and its Subsidiaries that occurs after the Issue Date (to the extent the Net Cash Proceeds from the sale of such Capital Stock have not otherwise been applied to the payment of Restricted Payments by virtue of clause (3)(B) of Section 4.04(a); PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER, that (A) such repurchases shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments

and (B) the Net Cash Proceeds from such sale shall be excluded from the calculation of amounts under clause (3)(B) of Section 4.04(a);

(8) dividends or advances to Parent in an amount necessary to pay holding company expenses, such amount not to exceed $500,000 in any fiscal year of the Company; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that such dividends and advances shall be excluded in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments; or

(9) Restricted Payments not exceeding $25.0 million in the aggregate; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (A) at the time of such Restricted Payments, no Default shall have occurred and be continuing (or would result therefrom) and (B) such Restricted Payments shall be included in the calculation of the amount of Restricted Payments.

SECTION 4.05. LIMITATION ON RESTRICTIONS ON DISTRIBUTIONS FROM RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES. The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, create or otherwise cause or permit to exist or become effective any consensual encumbrance or restriction on the ability of any Restricted Subsidiary to (a) pay dividends or make any other distributions on its Capital Stock to the Company or a Restricted Subsidiary or pay any Indebtedness owed to the Company, (b) make any loans or advances to the Company or (c) transfer any of its property or assets to the Company, except:

(1) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement in effect at or entered into on the Issue Date or, in the case of the Credit Agreement, as in effect on the Acquisition Closing Date;

(2) any encumbrance or restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary pursuant to an agreement relating to any Indebtedness Incurred by such Restricted Subsidiary on or prior to the date on which such Restricted Subsidiary was acquired by the Company (other than Indebtedness Incurred as consideration in, or to provide all or any portion of the funds or credit support utilized to consummate, the transaction or series of related transactions pursuant to which such Restricted Subsidiary became a Restricted Subsidiary or was acquired by the Company) and outstanding on such date;

(3) any encumbrance or restriction pursuant to an agreement effecting a Refinancing of Indebtedness

Incurred pursuant to an agreement referred to in clause (1) or (2) of this Section 4.05 or this clause (3) or contained in any amendment to an agreement referred to in clause (1) or (2) of this Section 4.05 or this clause (3); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in any such refinancing agreement or amendment are no more restrictive in any material respect than the encumbrances and restrictions with respect to such Restricted Subsidiary contained in such agreements;

(4) any such encumbrance or restriction consisting of customary nonassignment provisions in leases governing leasehold interests to the extent such provisions restrict the transfer of the lease or the property leased thereunder;

(5) in the case of clause (c) above, restrictions contained in security agreements or mortgages securing Indebtedness of a Restricted Subsidiary to the extent such restrictions restrict the transfer of the property subject to such security agreements or mortgages;

(6) any restriction with respect to a Restricted Subsidiary imposed pursuant to an agreement entered into for the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the Capital Stock or assets of such Restricted Subsidiary pending the closing of such sale or disposition; and

(7) any restriction in any agreement that is not more restrictive than the restrictions under the terms of the Credit Agreement as in effect on the Acquisition Closing Date.

SECTION 4.06. LIMITATION ON SALES OF ASSETS AND SUBSIDIARY STOCK. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, consummate any Asset Disposition unless:

(1) the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary receives consideration at the time of such Asset Disposition at least equal to the fair market value (including as to the value of all non-cash consideration), as determined in good faith by the Board of Directors, of the shares and assets subject to such Asset Disposition;

(2) at least 85% of the consideration thereof received by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary is in the form of cash or cash equivalents; and

(3) an amount equal to 100% of the Net Available Cash from such Asset Disposition is applied by the Company (or such Restricted Subsidiary, as the case may be):

(A) FIRST, to the extent the Company elects (or is required by the terms of any Indebtedness), to prepay, repay, redeem or purchase Senior Indebtedness or Indebtedness (other than any Disqualified Stock) of a Wholly Owned Subsidiary (in each case other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company) within one year from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition and the receipt of such Net Available Cash;

(B) SECOND, to the extent of the balance of such Net Available Cash after application in accordance with clause (A), to the extent the Company elects, to acquire Additional Assets within one year from the later of the date of such Asset Disposition and the receipt of such Net Available Cash;

(C) THIRD, to the extent of the balance of such Net Available Cash after application in accordance with clauses (A) and (B), to make an Offer to the holders of the Securities (and to holders of other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness designated by the Company) to purchase Securities (and such other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness) pursuant to and subject to the conditions of Section 4.06(b); and

(D) FOURTH, to the extent of the balance of such Net Available Cash after application in accordance with clauses (A), (B) and (C), to
(x) the acquisition by the Company or any Wholly Owned Subsidiary of Additional Assets or (y) the prepayment, repayment or purchase of Indebtedness (other than any Disqualified Stock) of the Company (other than Indebtedness owed to an Affiliate of the Company) or Indebtedness of any Subsidiary (other than Indebtedness owed to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company),

in each case within one year from the later of the receipt of such Net Available Cash and the date the offer described in Section 4.06(b) is consummated; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in connection with any prepayment, repayment or purchase of Indebtedness pursuant to clause (A), (C) or (D) above, the

Company or such Restricted Subsidiary shall permanently retire such Indebtedness and shall cause the related loan commitment (if any) to be permanently reduced in an amount equal to the principal amount so prepaid, repaid or purchased. Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions of this Section 4.06, the Company and the Restricted Subsidiaries shall not be required to apply any Net Available Cash in accordance with this Section 4.06(a) except to the extent that the aggregate Net Available Cash from all Asset Dispositions which are not applied in accordance with this Section 4.06(a) exceeds $10.0 million. Pending application of Net Available Cash pursuant to this Section 4.06(a), such Net Available Cash shall be invested in Permitted Investments or used to reduce loans outstanding under any revolving credit facility.

For the purposes of this Section 4.06, the following are deemed to be cash or cash equivalents: (x) the assumption of Indebtedness of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary and the release of the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary from all liability on such Indebtedness in connection with such Asset Disposition and (y) securities received by the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary from the transferee that are promptly converted by the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary into cash.

(b) In the event of an Asset Disposition that requires the purchase of Securities (and other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness) pursuant to
Section 4.06(a)(3)(C), the Company shall be required to purchase Securities tendered pursuant to an offer by the Company for the Securities (and other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness) (the "Offer") at a purchase price of 100% of their principal amount (without premium) plus accrued but unpaid interest (or, in respect of such other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness, such lesser price, if any, as may be provided for by the terms of such Senior Subordinated Indebtedness) in accordance with the procedures (including prorating in the event of oversubscription) set forth in Section 4.06(c). If the aggregate purchase price of Securities (and any other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness) tendered pursuant to the Offer is less than the Net Available Cash allotted to the purchase thereof, the Company shall be required to apply the remaining Net Available Cash in accordance with Section 4.06(a)(3)(D). If the aggregate purchase price of the Securities (and any other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness) tendered exceeds the Net Available Cash allotted to the purchase thereof, the Company will select the Securities (and any other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness) to be purchased on a pro rata basis but in denominations of $1,000 or multiples thereof. The Company shall not be required to

make an Offer to purchase Securities (and other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness) pursuant to this Section 4.06 if the Net Available Cash available therefor is less than $10.0 million (which lesser amount shall be carried forward for purposes of determining whether such an Offer is required with respect to the Net Available Cash from any subsequent Asset Disposition).

(c) (1) Promptly, and in any event within 10 days after the Company becomes obligated to make an Offer, the Company shall be obligated to deliver to the Trustee and send, by first-class mail to each Holder, a written notice stating that the Holder may elect to have his Securities purchased by the Company either in whole or in part (subject to prorating as hereinafter described in the event the Offer is oversubscribed) in integral multiples of $1,000 of principal amount, at the applicable purchase price. The notice shall specify a purchase date not less than 30 days nor more than 60 days after the date of such notice (the "Purchase Date") and shall contain such information concerning the business of the Company which the Company in good faith believes will enable such Holders to make an informed decision (which at a minimum will include (i) the most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K (including audited consolidated financial statements) of the Company, the most recent subsequently filed Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q and any Current Report on Form 8-K of the Company filed subsequent to such Quarterly Report, other than Current Reports describing Asset Dispositions otherwise described in the offering materials (or corresponding successor reports or, until such time as the Company shall become subject to the reporting requirements of Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act, a corresponding report prepared pursuant to Section 4.02), (ii) a description of material developments in the Company's business subsequent to the date of the latest of such Reports, and (iii) if material, appropriate pro forma financial information) and all instructions and materials necessary to tender Securities pursuant to the Offer, together with the information contained in clause (3).

(2) Not later than the date upon which written notice of an Offer is delivered to the Trustee as provided above, the Company shall deliver to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate as to (i) the amount of the Offer (the "Offer Amount"), (ii) the allocation of the Net Available Cash from the Asset Dispositions pursuant to which such Offer is being made and (iii) the compliance of such allocation with the provisions of Section 4.06(a). On such date, the Company shall also irrevocably deposit with the Trustee or with a paying agent other than the Company in Temporary Cash

Investments, maturing on the last day prior to the Purchase Date or on the Purchase Date if funds are immediately available by open of business, an amount equal to the Offer Amount to be held for payment in accordance with the provisions of this Section. Upon the expiration of the period for which the Offer remains open (the "Offer Period"), the Company shall deliver to the Trustee for cancellation the Securities or portions thereof which have been properly tendered to and are to be accepted by the Company. The Trustee shall, on the Purchase Date, mail or deliver payment to each tendering Holder in the amount of the purchase price. In the event that the aggregate purchase price of the Securities delivered by the Company to the Trustee is less than the Offer Amount, the Trustee shall deliver the excess to the Company immediately after the expiration of the Offer Period for application in accordance with this Section.

(3) Holders electing to have a Security purchased shall be required to surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the Purchase Date. Holders shall be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Company receives, not later than one Business Day prior to the Purchase Date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Security purchased. If at the expiration of the Offer Period the aggregate principal amount of Securities (and any other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness included in the Offer) surrendered pursuant to the Offer exceeds the Offer Amount, the Company shall select the Securities and other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness to be purchased on a pro rata basis (with such adjustments as may be deemed appropriate by the Company so that only Securities and other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness in denominations of $1,000, or integral multiples thereof, shall be purchased). Holders whose Securities are purchased only in part shall be issued new Securities equal in principal amount to the unpurchased portion of the Securities surrendered.

(4) At the time the Company delivers Securities to the Trustee which are to be accepted for purchase, the Company shall also deliver an Officers' Certificate stating that such Securities are to be accepted by the Company pursuant to and in accordance with the terms of this Section 4.06. A Security shall be deemed to have been accepted for purchase at the time the Trustee, directly or through an

agent, mails or delivers payment therefor to the surrendering Holder.

(d) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.

SECTION 4.07. LIMITATION ON AFFILIATE TRANSACTIONS. (a) The Company shall not, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into or permit to exist any transaction (including the purchase, sale, lease or exchange of any property, employee compensation arrangements or the rendering of any service) with any Affiliate of the Company (an "Affiliate Transaction") unless the terms thereof:

(1) are no less favorable to the Company or such Restricted Subsidiary than those that could be obtained at the time of such transaction in arm's-length dealings with a Person who is not such an Affiliate;

(2) if such Affiliate Transaction involves an amount in excess of $1.0 million, (A) are set forth in writing and (B) have been approved by a majority of the members of the Board of Directors having no personal stake in such Affiliate Transaction; and

(3) if such Affiliate Transaction involves an amount in excess of $10.0 million, have been determined by (A) a nationally recognized investment banking firm to be fair, from a financial standpoint, to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries or (B) an accounting or appraisal firm nationally recognized in making such determinations to be on terms that are not less favorable to the Company and its Restricted Subsidiaries than the terms that could be obtained in an arm's-length transaction from a Person that is not an Affiliate of the Company.

(b) The provisions of Section 4.07(a) shall not prohibit:

(1) any Restricted Payment permitted to be paid pursuant to Section 4.04;

(2) any issuance of securities, or other payments, awards or grants in cash, securities or otherwise pursuant to, or the funding of, employment arrangements, stock options and stock ownership plans approved by the Board of Directors;

(3) the grant of stock options or similar rights to employees and directors of the Company pursuant to plans approved by the Board of Directors;

(4) loans or advances to employees in the ordinary course of business in accordance with the past practices of the Company or its Restricted Subsidiaries, but in any event not to exceed $5.0 million in the aggregate outstanding at any one time;

(5) reasonable fees, compensation or employee benefit arrangements to and indemnity provided for the benefit of directors, officers or employees of the Company or any Subsidiary in the ordinary course of business;

(6) any Affiliate Transaction between the Company and a Wholly Owned Subsidiary or between Wholly Owned Subsidiaries;

(7) any Affiliate Transaction with National Semiconductor Corporation pursuant to written agreements in effect on the Issue Date and as amended, renewed or extended from time to time; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any such amendment, renewal or extension shall not contain terms which are materially less favorable to the Company than those in the agreements in effect on the Issue Date; and

(8) the issuance or sale of any Capital Stock (other than Disqualified Stock) of the Company.

SECTION 4.08. LIMITATION ON THE SALE OR ISSUANCE OF CAPITAL STOCK OF RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES. The Company shall not sell or otherwise dispose of any Capital Stock of a Restricted Subsidiary, and shall not permit any Restricted Subsidiary, directly or indirectly, to issue or sell or otherwise dispose of any of its Capital Stock except:

(1) to the Company or a Wholly Owned Subsidiary;

(2) if, immediately after giving effect to such issuance, sale or other disposition, neither the Company nor any of its Subsidiaries own any Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary;

(3) if, immediately after giving effect to such issuance, sale or other disposition, such Restricted Subsidiary would no longer constitute a Restricted Subsidiary and any Investment in such Person remaining after giving effect thereto would have been permitted to be made under the covenant described in Section 4.04 if made on the date of such issuance, sale or other disposition; or

(4) directors' qualifying shares.

SECTION 4.09. CHANGE OF CONTROL. (a) Upon the occurrence of a Change of Control, each Holder shall have the right to require that the Company repurchase such Holder's Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the date of purchase (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest due on the relevant interest payment date), in accordance with the terms contemplated in Section 4.09(b). In the event that at the time of such Change of Control the terms of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company restrict or prohibit any offer pursuant to this Section or the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section, then prior to the mailing of the notice to Holders provided for in Section 4.09(b) below but in any event within 30 days following any Change of Control, the Company shall (1) repay in full all such Senior Indebtedness or offer to repay in full all such Senior Indebtedness and repay such Senior Indebtedness of each lender who has accepted such offer or (2) obtain the requisite consent under the agreements governing such Senior Indebtedness to permit the repurchase of the Securities as provided for in Section 4.09(b). The Company must first comply with the covenant described in the preceding sentence before it will be required to purchase Securities in the event of a Change of Control; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company's failure to comply with the covenant described in the preceding sentence or to make a Change of Control offer because of any such failure shall constitute a Default described in Section 6.01(4) (and not under Section 6.01(2)).

(b) Within 30 days following any Change of Control but subject to the provisions of Section 4.09(a), the Company shall mail a notice to each Holder with a copy to the Trustee stating:

(1) that a Change of Control has occurred and that such Holder has the right to require the Company to purchase such Holder's Securities at a purchase price in cash equal to 101% of the principal amount thereof

plus accrued and unpaid interest (if any) to the date of purchase (subject to the right of Holders of record on the relevant record date to receive interest on the relevant interest payment date);

(2) the circumstances and relevant facts regarding such Change of Control;

(3) the repurchase date (which shall be no earlier than 30 days nor later than 60 days from the date such notice is mailed); and

(4) the instructions determined by the Company, consistent with this Section, that a Holder must follow in order to have its Securities purchased.

(c) Holders electing to have a Security purchased will be required to surrender the Security, with an appropriate form duly completed, to the Company at the address specified in the notice at least three Business Days prior to the purchase date. Holders will be entitled to withdraw their election if the Trustee or the Company receives not later than one Business Day prior to the purchase date, a telegram, telex, facsimile transmission or letter setting forth the name of the Holder, the principal amount of the Security which was delivered for purchase by the Holder and a statement that such Holder is withdrawing his election to have such Security purchased.

(d) On the purchase date, all Securities purchased by the Company under this Section shall be delivered by the Trustee for cancellation, and the Company shall pay the purchase price plus accrued and unpaid interest, if any, to the Holders entitled thereto.

(e) The Company shall comply, to the extent applicable, with the requirements of Section 14(e) of the Exchange Act and any other securities laws or regulations in connection with the repurchase of Securities pursuant to this Section. To the extent that the provisions of any securities laws or regulations conflict with provisions of this Section, the Company shall comply with the applicable securities laws and regulations and shall not be deemed to have breached its obligations under this Section by virtue thereof.

SECTION 4.10. FUTURE GUARANTORS. In the event that, after the Issue Date, any Restricted Subsidiary (other than a Foreign Subsidiary) (1) Incurs any Indebtedness pursuant to paragraph (a) or pursuant to clause (1) or
(10) of Section 4.03(b) and (2) until the termination of the

Credit Agreement, either has Guaranteed or will as a result of such Incurrence be required to Guarantee any Obligations under the Credit Agreement, the Company shall cause such Restricted Subsidiary to Guarantee the Securities by executing a supplemental indenture hereto and shall cause all Indebtedness of such Restricted Subsidiary owing to the Company or any other Subsidiary of the Company and not previously discharged to be converted into Capital Stock of such Restricted Subsidiary (other than Disqualified Stock).

SECTION 4.11. COMPLIANCE CERTIFICATE. The Company shall deliver to the Trustee within 120 days after the end of each fiscal year of the Company a certificate of the principal executive officer, the principal financial officer or the principal accounting officer of the Company stating that in the course of the performance by the signer of his or her duties as an officer of the Company such officer would normally have knowledge of any Default and whether or not the signer knows of any Default that occurred during such period. If such signer does, the certificate shall describe the Default, its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto. The Company also shall comply with TIA Section 314(a)(4).

SECTION 4.12. FURTHER INSTRUMENTS AND ACTS. Upon request of the Trustee, the Company will execute and deliver such further instruments and do such further acts as may be reasonably necessary or proper to carry out more effectively the purpose of this Indenture.

ARTICLE 5

SUCCESSOR COMPANIES

SECTION 5.01. WHEN COMPANY MAY MERGE OR TRANSFER ASSETS. (a) The Company shall not consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all its assets to, any Person, unless:

(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (the "Successor Company") shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the United States of America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia and the Successor Company (if not the Company) shall expressly assume, by an indenture supplemental hereto, executed and delivered to the Trustee, in form satisfactory to the Trustee, all the obligations of the Company under the Securities and this Indenture;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the Successor Company or any Subsidiary as a result of such transaction as having been Incurred by the Successor Company or such Subsidiary at the time of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing;

(3) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, the Successor Company would be able to Incur an additional $1.00 of Indebtedness pursuant to Section 4.03(a);

(4) immediately after giving effect to such transaction, the Successor Company shall have Consolidated Net Worth in an amount that is not less than the Consolidated Net Worth of the Company immediately prior to such transaction; and

(5) the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such supplemental indenture (if any) comply with this Indenture;

PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that clauses (3) and (4) above shall not apply if, in the good faith determination of the Board of Directors, whose determination shall be evidenced by a resolution of the Board of Directors, the principal purpose and effect of such transaction is to change the jurisdiction of incorporation of the Company.

The Successor Company shall be the successor to the Company and shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Company under this Indenture, but the predecessor Company in the case of a conveyance, transfer or lease shall not be released from the obligation to pay the principal of and interest on the Securities.

(b) The Company shall not permit any Subsidiary Guarantor to consolidate with or merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease, in one transaction or series of transactions, all or substantially all of its assets to any Person unless:

(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (if not such Subsidiary) shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction under which such Subsidiary was organized or under the laws of the United States of America, or any State thereof

or the District of Columbia, and such Person shall expressly assume, by executing a Guaranty Agreement, in a form acceptable to the Trustee, all the obligations of such Subsidiary, if any, under its Subsidiary Guaranty;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or transactions on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the resulting, surviving or transferee Person as a result of such transaction as having been issued by such Person at the time of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(3) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such Guaranty Agreement, if any, complies with this Indenture. The provisions of clauses (i) and (ii) above shall not apply to any one or more transactions which constitute an Asset Disposition if the Company has complied with the applicable provisions of Section 4.06.

The Person who shall be the successor to a Subsidiary Guarantor shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the predecessor Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture, but the predecessor Subsidiary Guarantor in the case of a conveyance, transfer or lease shall not be released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guaranty.

(c) Parent will not merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all of its assets to any Person unless:

(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (if not Parent) shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction under which Parent was organized or under the laws of the United States of America, or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and such Person shall expressly assume, by executing a Guaranty Agreement, in a form acceptable to the Trustee, all the obligations of Parent, if any, under the Parent Guaranty;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or transactions on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the resulting, surviving or transferee Person as a

result of such transaction as having been issued by such Person at the time of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(3) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such Guaranty Agreement, if any, complies with this Indenture. The provisions of clauses (i) and (ii) above shall not apply to any one or more transactions which constitute an Asset Disposition if the Company has complied with the applicable provisions of Section 4.06.

The Person who shall be the successor to a Subsidiary Guarantor shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the predecessor Subsidiary Guarantor under this Indenture, but the predecessor Subsidiary Guarantor in the case of a conveyance, transfer or lease shall not be released from its obligations under its Subsidiary Guaranty.

(c) Parent will not merge with or into, or convey, transfer or lease, in one transaction or a series of transactions, all or substantially all of its assets to any Person unless:

(1) the resulting, surviving or transferee Person (if not Parent) shall be a Person organized and existing under the laws of the jurisdiction under which Parent was organized or under the laws of the United States of America, or any State thereof or the District of Columbia, and such Person shall expressly assume, by executing a Guaranty Agreement, in a form acceptable to the Trustee, all the obligations of Parent, if any, under the Parent Guaranty;

(2) immediately after giving effect to such transaction or transactions on a pro forma basis (and treating any Indebtedness which becomes an obligation of the resulting, surviving or transferee Person as a result of such transaction as having been issued by such Person at the time of such transaction), no Default shall have occurred and be continuing; and

(3) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that such consolidation, merger or transfer and such Guaranty Agreement, if any, complies with this Indenture.

The Person who shall be the successor to the Parent shall succeed to, and be substituted for, and may exercise every right and power of, the Parent under this Indenture, but the Parent in the case of a conveyance, transfer or lease shall not be released from its obligations under the Parent Guaranty.

ARTICLE 6

DEFAULTS AND REMEDIES

SECTION 6.01. EVENTS OF DEFAULT. An "Event of Default" occurs if:

(1) the Company defaults in any payment of interest on any Security when the same becomes due and payable, whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by Article 10, and such default continues for a period of 30 days;

(2) the Company (i) defaults in the payment of the principal of any Security when the same becomes due and payable at its Stated Maturity, upon redemption, upon declaration or otherwise, whether or not such payment shall be prohibited by Article 10, or (ii) fails to redeem or purchase Securities when required pursuant to this Indenture or the Securities, whether or not such redemption or purchase shall be prohibited by Article 10;

(3) the Company or Parent fails to comply with Section 5.01;

(4) the Company fails to comply with Section 4.02, 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09 or 4.10 (other than a failure to purchase Securities when required under Section 4.06 or 4.09) and such failure continues for 30 days after the notice specified below;

(5) the Company fails to comply with any of its agreements in the Securities or this Indenture (other than those referred to in clause (1), (2), (3) or (4) above) and such failure continues for 60 days after the notice specified below;

(6) Indebtedness of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary is not paid within any applicable grace period after final maturity or is accelerated by the holders thereof because of a default and the total amount of such Indebtedness unpaid or accelerated exceeds $10.0 million, or its foreign currency equivalent at the time;

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

(A) commences a voluntary case;

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

(C) consents to the appointment of a Custodian of it or for any substantial part of its property; or

(D) makes a general assignment for the benefit of its creditors;

or takes any comparable action under any foreign laws relating to insolvency;

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

(A) is for relief against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary in an involuntary case;

(B) appoints a Custodian of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary or for any substantial part of its property; or

(C) orders the winding up or liquidation of the Company or any Significant Subsidiary;

or any similar relief is granted under any foreign laws and the order or decree remains unstayed and in effect for 60 days;

(9) any judgment or decree for the payment of money in excess of $10.0 million or its foreign currency equivalent at the time is entered against the Company or any Significant Subsidiary, remains outstanding for a period of 60 days following the entry of such judgment or decree and is not discharged, waived or the execution thereof stayed within 10 days after the notice specified below; or

(10) the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guaranty ceases to be in full force and effect (other than in accordance with the terms of such Guaranty) or Parent or any Subsidiary Guarantor denies or disaffirms its obligations under the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guaranty, as applicable.

The foregoing will constitute Events of Default whatever the reason for any such Event of Default and whether it is voluntary or involuntary or is effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment, decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any administrative or governmental body.

The term "Bankruptcy Law" means Title 11, UNITED STATES CODE, or any similar Federal or state law for the relief of debtors. The term "Custodian" means any receiver, trustee, assignee, liquidator, custodian or similar official under any Bankruptcy Law.

A Default under clause (4), (5), or (9) is not an Event of Default until the Trustee or the holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the outstanding Securities notify the Company of the Default and the Company does not cure such Default within the time specified after receipt of such notice. Such notice must specify the Default, demand that it be remedied and state that such notice is a "Notice of Default".

The Company shall deliver to the Trustee, within 30 days after the occurrence thereof, written notice in the form of an Officers' Certificate of any Event of Default under clause (6) or (10) and any event which with the giving of notice or the lapse of time would become an Event of Default under clause (4), (5) or (9), its status and what action the Company is taking or proposes to take with respect thereto.

SECTION 6.02. ACCELERATION. If an Event of Default (other than an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) with respect to the Company) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee by notice to the Company, or

the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities by notice to the Company and the Trustee, may declare the principal of and accrued but unpaid interest on all the Securities to be due and payable. Upon such a declaration, such principal and interest shall be due and payable immediately; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that if upon such declaration there are any amounts outstanding under the Credit Agreement and the amounts thereunder have not been accelerated, such principal and interest shall be due and payable upon the earlier of the time such amounts are accelerated and five Business Days after receipt by the Company and the Representative under the Credit Agreement of such declaration. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) with respect to the Company occurs, the principal of and interest on all the Securities shall IPSO FACTO become and be immediately due and payable without any declaration or other act on the part of the Trustee or any Securityholders. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the outstanding Securities by notice to the Trustee may rescind an acceleration with respect to the Securities and its consequences if the rescission would not conflict with any judgment or decree and if all existing Events of Default have been cured or waived except nonpayment of principal or interest that has become due solely because of acceleration. No such rescission shall affect any subsequent Default or impair any right consequent thereto.

SECTION 6.03. OTHER REMEDIES. If an Event of Default occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may pursue any available remedy to collect the payment of principal of or interest on the Securities or to enforce the performance of any provision of the Securities or this Indenture.

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

SECTION 6.04. WAIVER OF PAST DEFAULTS. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities by notice to the Trustee may waive an existing Default and its consequences except (1) a Default in the payment of the principal of or interest on a Security or (2) a Default in respect of a provision that under Section 9.02 cannot be amended without the consent of each Securityholder affected. When a Default is waived, it is deemed cured, but no such

waiver shall extend to any subsequent or other Default or impair any consequent right.

SECTION 6.05. CONTROL BY MAJORITY. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or of exercising any trust or power conferred on the Trustee. However, the Trustee may refuse to follow any direction that conflicts with law or this Indenture or, subject to Section 7.01, that the Trustee determines is unduly prejudicial to the rights of other Securityholders or would involve the Trustee in personal liability; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Trustee may take any other action deemed proper by the Trustee that is not inconsistent with such direction. Prior to taking any action hereunder, the Trustee shall be entitled to indemnification satisfactory to it in its sole discretion against all losses and expenses caused by taking or not taking such action.

SECTION 6.06. LIMITATION ON SUITS. Except to enforce the right to receive payment of principal, premium (if any) or interest when due, no Securityholder may pursue any remedy with respect to this Indenture or the Securities unless:

(1) the Holder gives to the Trustee written notice stating that an Event of Default is continuing;

(2) the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the Securities make a written request to the Trustee to pursue the remedy;

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

(4) the Trustee does not comply with the request within 60 days after receipt of the request and the offer of security or indemnity; and

(5) the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities do not give the Trustee a direction inconsistent with the request during such 60-day period.

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

' SECTION 6.07. RIGHTS OF HOLDERS TO RECEIVE PAYMENT. Notwithstanding any other provision of this Indenture, the right of any Holder to receive payment of principal of and interest on the Securities held by such Holder, on or after the respective due dates expressed in the Securities, or to bring suit for the enforcement of any such payment on or after such respective dates, shall not be impaired or affected without the consent of such Holder.

SECTION 6.08. COLLECTION SUIT BY TRUSTEE. If an Event of Default specified in Section 6.01(1) or (2) occurs and is continuing, the Trustee may recover judgment in its own name and as trustee of an express trust against the Company for the whole amount then due and owing (together with interest on any unpaid interest to the extent lawful) and the amounts provided for in Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.09. TRUSTEE MAY FILE PROOFS OF CLAIM. The Trustee may file such proofs of claim and other papers or documents as may be necessary or advisable in order to have the claims of the Trustee and the Securityholders allowed in any judicial proceedings relative to the Company, its creditors or its property and, unless prohibited by law or applicable regulations, may vote on behalf of the Holders in any election of a trustee in bankruptcy or other Person performing similar functions. The Trustee shall be entitled and empowered to collect, receive and distribute any money or other property payable or deliverable on any such claims, and any Custodian in any such judicial proceeding is hereby authorized by each Holder to make such payments to the Trustee and, in the event that the Trustee shall consent to the making of such payments directly to the Holders, to pay to the Trustee any amount due it for the reasonable compensation, expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee, its agents and its counsel, and any other amounts due the Trustee under
Section 7.07.

SECTION 6.10. PRIORITIES. If the Trustee collects any money or property pursuant to this Article 6, it shall pay out the money or property in the following order:

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

SECOND: to holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company to the extent required by Article 10;

THIRD: to Securityholders for amounts due and unpaid on the Securities for principal and interest, ratably, without preference or priority of any kind,

according to the amounts due and payable on the Securities for principal and interest, respectively; and

FOURTH: to the Company.

The Trustee may fix a record date and payment date for any payment to Securityholders pursuant to this Section. At least 15 days before such record date, the Company shall mail to each Securityholder and the Trustee a notice that states the record date, the payment date and amount to be paid.

SECTION 6.11. UNDERTAKING FOR COSTS. In any suit for the enforcement of any right or remedy under this Indenture or in any suit against the Trustee for any action taken or omitted by it as Trustee, a court in its discretion may require the filing by any party litigant in the suit of an undertaking to pay the costs of the suit, and the court in its discretion may assess reasonable costs, including reasonable attorneys' fees, against any party litigant in the suit, having due regard to the merits and good faith of the claims or defenses made by the party litigant. This Section does not apply to a suit by the Trustee, a suit by a Holder pursuant to Section 6.07 or a suit by Holders of more than 10% in principal amount of the Securities.

SECTION 6.12. WAIVER OF STAY OR EXTENSION LAWS. The Company (to the extent it may lawfully do so) shall not at any time insist upon, or plead, or in any manner whatsoever claim or take the benefit or advantage of, any stay or extension law wherever enacted, now or at any time hereafter in force, which may affect the covenants or the performance of this Indenture; and the Company (to the extent that it may lawfully do so) hereby expressly waives all benefit or advantage of any such law, and shall not hinder, delay or impede the execution of any power herein granted to the Trustee, but shall suffer and permit the execution of every such power as though no such law had been enacted.

ARTICLE 7

TRUSTEE

SECTION 7.01. DUTIES OF TRUSTEE. (a) If an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Trustee shall exercise such of the rights and powers vested in it by this Indenture, and use the same degree of care and skill in their exercise, as a prudent Person would exercise or use under the circumstances in the conduct of such Person's own affairs.

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

(1) the Trustee undertakes to perform such duties and only such duties as are specifically set forth in this Indenture and no implied covenants or obligations shall be read into this Indenture against the Trustee; and

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

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

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

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

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

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

(e) The Trustee shall not be liable for interest on any money received by it except as the Trustee may agree in writing with the Company.

(f) Money held in trust by the Trustee need not be segregated from other funds except to the extent required by law.

(g) No provision of this Indenture shall require the Trustee to expend or risk its own funds or otherwise incur financial liability in the performance of any of its duties hereunder or in the exercise of any of its rights or powers, if it shall have reasonable grounds to believe that repayment of such funds or adequate indemnity against such risk or liability is not reasonably assured to it.

(h) Every provision of this Indenture relating to the conduct or affecting the liability of or affording protection to the Trustee shall be subject to the provisions of this Section and to the provisions of the TIA.

SECTION 7.02. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE. (a) The Trustee may conclusively rely on any document believed by it to be genuine and to have been signed or presented by the proper Person. The Trustee need not investigate any fact or matter stated in the document.

(b) Before the Trustee acts or refrains from acting, it may require an Officers' Certificate or an Opinion of Counsel. The Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith in reliance on the Officers' Certificate or Opinion of Counsel.

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

(d) Subject to Section 7.01(c), the Trustee shall not be liable for any action it takes or omits to take in good faith which it believes to be authorized or within its rights or powers.

(e) The Trustee may consult with counsel, and the advice or opinion of counsel with respect to legal matters relating to this Indenture and the Securities shall be full and complete authorization and protection from liability in respect to any action taken, omitted or suffered by it here under in good faith and in accordance with the advice or opinion of such counsel.

SECTION 7.03. INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE. The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may become the owner or pledgee of Securities and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. Any Paying Agent, Registrar, co-registrar or co-paying agent may do the same with like rights. However, the Trustee must comply with Sections 7.10 and 7.11.

SECTION 7.04. TRUSTEE'S DISCLAIMER. The Trustee shall not be responsible for and makes no representation as to the validity or adequacy of this Indenture or the Securities, it shall not be accountable for the Company's use of the proceeds from the Securities, and it shall not be responsible for any statement of the Company in the Indenture or in any document issued in connection with the sale of the Securities or in the Securities other than the Trustee's certificate of authentication.

SECTION 7.05. NOTICE OF DEFAULTS. If a Default occurs and is continuing and if it is actually known to the Trustee, or upon written notice from the Company or any Securityholder or upon a Payment Default, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder notice of the Default within 90 days after it occurs. Except in the case of a Default in payment of principal of or interest on any Security (including payments pursuant to the mandatory redemption provisions of such Security, if any), the Trustee may withhold the notice if and so long as a committee of its Trust Officers in good faith determines that withholding the notice is in the interests of Securityholders.

SECTION 7.06. REPORTS BY TRUSTEE TO HOLDERS. By July 15 of each year, beginning with the July 15 following the date of this Indenture, the Trustee shall mail to each Securityholder a brief report dated as of May 15 of each year that complies with TIA Section 313(a). The Trustee also shall comply with TIA Section 313(b).

A copy of each report at the time of its mailing to Securityholders shall be filed with the SEC and each stock exchange (if any) on which the Securities are listed. The Company agrees to notify promptly the Trustee whenever the Securities become listed on any stock exchange and of any delisting thereof.

SECTION 7.07. COMPENSATION AND INDEMNITY. The Company shall pay to the Trustee from time to time reasonable compensation for its services. The Trustee's compensation shall not be limited by any law on compensation of a trustee of an express trust. The Company shall reimburse the Trustee promptly upon request for all reasonable out-of-pocket expenses, disbursements and advances incurred or made by it, including costs of collection, in addition to the compensation for its services. Such expenses shall include the reasonable compensation and expenses, disbursements and advances of the Trustee's agents, counsel, accountants and experts. The Company shall indemnify the Trustee against any and all loss, liability or expense (including attorneys' reasonable fees) incurred by it in

connection with the administration of this trust and the performance of its duties hereunder, including the costs and expenses of enforcing this Indenture (including this Section 7.07) against the Company and defending itself against any claim (whether asserted by any Securityholder or any other Person) or liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or duties hereunder, except to the extent that any such loss, liability or expense is attributable to its negligence or bad faith. The Trustee shall notify the Company promptly of any claim for which it may seek indemnity. Failure by the Trustee to so notify the Company shall not relieve the Company of its obligations hereunder unless such failure prejudices the Company. The Company shall defend the claim and the Trustee may have separate counsel and the Company shall pay the fees and expenses of such counsel. The Company need not reimburse any expense or indemnify against any loss, liability or expense incurred by the Trustee through the Trustee's own wilful misconduct, negligence or bad faith. The Company need not pay for any settlement made by the Trustee without the Company's consent, such consent not to be unreasonably withheld.

To secure the Company's payment obligations in this Section, the Trustee shall have a lien prior to the Securities on all money or property held or collected by the Trustee other than money or property held in trust to pay principal of and interest on particular Securities.

The Company's payment obligations, and the lien granted to the Trustee, pursuant to this Section shall survive the discharge of this Indenture. When the Trustee incurs expenses or renders services after the occurrence of a Default specified in Section 6.01(7) or (8) with respect to the Company, the expenses and the compensation for the services (including the fees and expenses of its agents and counsel) are intended to constitute expenses of administration under the Bankruptcy Law.

SECTION 7.08. REPLACEMENT OF TRUSTEE. The Trustee may resign at any time by so notifying the Company. The Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities may remove the Trustee by so notifying the Trustee and may appoint a successor Trustee. The Company shall remove the Trustee if:

(1) the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10;

(2) the Trustee is adjudged bankrupt or insolvent;

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

(4) the Trustee otherwise becomes incapable of acting.

If the Trustee resigns, is removed by the Company or by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities and such Holders do not reasonably promptly appoint a successor Trustee, or if a vacancy exists in the office of Trustee for any reason (the Trustee in such event being referred to herein as the retiring Trustee), the Company shall promptly appoint a successor Trustee.

A successor Trustee shall deliver a written acceptance of its appointment to the retiring Trustee and to the Company. Thereupon the resignation or removal of the retiring Trustee shall become effective, and the successor Trustee shall have all the rights, powers and duties of the Trustee under this Indenture. The successor Trustee shall mail a notice of its succession to Securityholders. The retiring Trustee shall promptly transfer all property held by it as Trustee to the successor Trustee, provided that the amounts owing to the Trustee hereunder have been paid and subject to the lien provided for in Section 7.07.

If a successor Trustee does not take office within 60 days after the retiring Trustee resigns or is removed, the retiring Trustee or the Holders of 10% in principal amount of the Securities may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the appointment of a successor Trustee.

If the Trustee fails to comply with Section 7.10, any Securityholder may petition any court of competent jurisdiction for the removal of the Trustee and the appointment of a successor Trustee.

Notwithstanding the replacement of the Trustee pursuant to this Section, the Company's obligations under Section 7.07 shall continue for the benefit of the retiring Trustee.

SECTION 7.09. SUCCESSOR TRUSTEE BY MERGER. If the Trustee consolidates with, merges or converts into, or transfers all or substantially all its corporate trust business or assets to, another corporation or banking association, the resulting, surviving or transferee corporation without any further act shall be the successor Trustee PROVIDED that such successor shall be eligible and qualified under Section 7.10.

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

SECTION 7.10. ELIGIBILITY; DISQUALIFICATION. The Trustee shall at all times satisfy the requirements of TIA Section 310(a). The Trustee shall have a combined capital and surplus of at least $50,000,000 as set forth in its most recent published annual report of condition. The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 310(b); provided, however, that there shall be excluded from the operation of TIA Section 310(b)(1) any indenture or indentures under which other securities or certificates of interest or participation in other securities of the Company are outstanding if the requirements for such exclusion set forth in TIA Section 310(b)(1) are met.

SECTION 7.11. PREFERENTIAL COLLECTION OF CLAIMS AGAINST COMPANY. The Trustee shall comply with TIA Section 311(a), excluding any creditor relationship listed in TIA Section 311(b). A Trustee who has resigned or been removed shall be subject to TIA Section 311(a) to the extent indicated therein.

ARTICLE 8

DISCHARGE OF INDENTURE; DEFEASANCE

SECTION 8.01. DISCHARGE OF LIABILITY ON SECURITIES; DEFEASANCE. (a) When (1) the Company delivers to the Trustee all outstanding Securities (other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 2.07) for cancellation or (2) all outstanding Securities have become due and payable, whether at maturity or as a result of the mailing of a notice of redemption pursuant to Article 3 hereof and the Company irrevocably deposits with the Trustee funds sufficient to pay at maturity or upon redemption all outstanding Securities, including interest thereon to maturity or such redemption date (other than Securities replaced pursuant to Section 2.07), and if in either case the Company pays all

other sums payable hereunder by the Company, then this Indenture shall, subject to Sections 8.01(c), cease to be of further effect. The Trustee shall acknowledge satisfaction and discharge of this Indenture on demand of the Company accompanied by an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel and at the cost and expense of the Company.

(b) Subject to Sections 8.01(c) and 8.02, the Company at any time may terminate (1) all its obligations under the Securities and this Indenture ("legal defeasance option") or (2) its obligations under Sections 4.02 (subject to any requirements of the TIA), 4.03, 4.04, 4.05, 4.06, 4.07, 4.08, 4.09 and 4.10 and the operation of Sections 6.01(4), 6.01(6), 6.01(7), 6.01(8) and 6.01(9) (but, in the case of Sections 6.01(7) and (8), with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries) and the limitations contained in Sections 5.01(a)(3) and (4) ("covenant defeasance option"). The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option notwithstanding its prior exercise of its covenant defeasance option.

If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option, payment of the Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default with respect thereto. If the Company exercises its covenant defeasance option, payment of the Securities may not be accelerated because of an Event of Default specified in Sections 6.01(4), 6.01(6), 6.01(7), 6.01(8) and 6.01(9) (but, in the case of Sections 6.01(7) and (8), with respect only to Significant Subsidiaries) or because of the failure of the Company to comply with Section 5.01(a)(3) or (4) or because of the failure of Parent to comply with Section
5.01. If the Company exercises its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option, Parent shall be released from all its obligations with respect to the Parent Guaranty and each Subsidiary Guarantor, if any, shall be released from all its obligations with respect to its Subsidiary Guaranty.

Upon satisfaction of the conditions set forth herein and upon request of the Company, the Trustee shall acknowledge in writing the discharge of those obligations that the Company terminates.

(c) Notwithstanding clauses (a) and (b) above, the Company's obligations in Sections 2.03, 2.04, 2.05, 2.06, 2.07, 2.08, 7.07, 7.08, 8.04, 8.05 and 8.06 shall survive until the Securities have been paid in full. Thereafter, the Company's obligations in Sections 7.07, 8.04 and 8.05 shall survive.

SECTION 8.02. CONDITIONS TO DEFEASANCE. The Company may exercise its legal defeasance option or its covenant defeasance option only if:

(1) the Company irrevocably deposits in trust with the Trustee money or U.S. Government Obligations for the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(2) the Company delivers to the Trustee a certificate from a nationally recognized firm of independent accountants expressing their opinion that the payments of principal and interest when due and without reinvestment on the deposited U.S. Government Obligations plus any deposited money without investment will provide cash at such times and in such amounts as will be sufficient to pay principal and interest when due on all the Securities to maturity or redemption, as the case may be;

(3) 123 days pass after the deposit is made and during the 123-day period no Default specified in Sections 6.01(7) or (8) with respect to the Company occurs which is continuing at the end of the period;

(4) the deposit does not constitute a default under any other agreement binding on the Company and is not prohibited by Article 10;

(5) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the trust resulting from the deposit does not constitute, or is qualified as, a regulated investment company under the Investment Company Act of 1940;

(6) in the case of the legal defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel stating that
(i) the Company has received from, or there has been published by, the Internal Revenue Service a ruling, or (ii) since the date of this Indenture there has been a change in the applicable Federal income tax law, in either case to the effect that, and based thereon such Opinion of Counsel shall confirm that, the Securityholders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such defeasance had not occurred;

(7) in the case of the covenant defeasance option, the Company shall have delivered to the Trustee an Opinion of Counsel to the effect that the Security holders will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax purposes as a result of such covenant defeasance and will be subject to Federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at the same times as would have been the case if such covenant defeasance had not occurred; and

(8) the Company delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel, each stating that all conditions precedent to the defeasance and discharge of the Securities as contemplated by this Article 8 have been complied with.

Before or after a deposit, the Company may make arrangements satisfactory to the Trustee for the redemption of Securities at a future date in accordance with Article 3.

SECTION 8.03. APPLICATION OF TRUST MONEY. The Trustee shall hold in trust money or U.S. Government Obligations deposited with it pursuant to this Article 8. It shall apply the deposited money and the money from U.S. Government Obligations through the Paying Agent and in accordance with this Indenture to the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities. Money and securities so held in trust are not subject to Article 10.

SECTION 8.04. REPAYMENT TO COMPANY. The Trustee and the Paying Agent shall promptly turn over to the Company upon request any excess money or securities held by them at any time.

Subject to any applicable abandoned property law, the Trustee and the Paying Agent shall pay to the Company upon request any money held by them for the payment of principal or interest that remains unclaimed for two years, and, thereafter, Securityholders entitled to the money must look to the Company for payment as general creditors.

SECTION 8.05. INDEMNITY FOR GOVERNMENT OBLIGATIONS. The Company shall pay and shall indemnify the Trustee against any tax, fee or other charge imposed on or assessed against deposited U.S. Government Obligations or the principal and interest received on such U.S. Government Obligations.

SECTION 8.06. REINSTATEMENT. If the Trustee or Paying Agent is unable to apply any money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8 by reason of

any legal proceeding or by reason of any order or judgment of any court or governmental authority enjoining, restraining or otherwise prohibiting such application, the Company's obligations under this Indenture and the Securities shall be revived and reinstated as though no deposit had occurred pursuant to this Article 8 until such time as the Trustee or Paying Agent is permitted to apply all such money or U.S. Government Obligations in accordance with this Article 8; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that, if the Company has made any payment of interest on or principal of any Securities because of the reinstatement of its obligations, the Company shall be subrogated to the rights of the Holders of such Securities to receive such payment from the money or U.S. Government Obligations held by the Trustee or Paying Agent.

ARTICLE 9

AMENDMENTS

SECTION 9.01. WITHOUT CONSENT OF HOLDERS. The Company and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities without notice to or consent of any Securityholder:

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

(2) to comply with Article 5;

(3) to provide for uncertificated Securities in addition to or in place of certificated Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the uncertificated Securities are issued in registered form for purposes of
Section 163(f) of the Code or in a manner such that the uncertificated Securities are described in Section 163(f)(2)(B) of the Code;

(4) to make any change in Article 10 or 12 that would limit or terminate the benefits available to any holder of Senior Indebtedness (or Representatives therefor) under Article 10 or Article 12;

(5) to add guarantees with respect to the Securities, including any Subsidiary Guaranties, or to secure the Securities;

(6) to add to the covenants of the Company for the benefit of the Holders or to surrender any right or power herein conferred upon the Company;

(7) to comply with any requirements of the SEC in connection with qualifying, or maintaining the qualification of, this Indenture under the TIA;

(8) to make any change that does not adversely affect the rights of any Securityholder; or

(9) to release a Subsidiary Guaranty when permitted by the terms of this Indenture.

An amendment under this Section may not make any change that adversely affects the rights under Article 10 or 12 of any holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or any group or representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consent to such change.

After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Securityholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section.

SECTION 9.02. WITH CONSENT OF HOLDERS. The Company and the Trustee may amend this Indenture or the Securities without notice to any Securityholder but with the written consent of the Holders of at least a majority in principal amount of the Securities then outstanding (including consents obtained in connection with a tender offer or exchange for the Securities). However, without the consent of each Securityholder affected thereby, an amendment may not:

(1) reduce the amount of Securities whose Holders must consent to an amendment;

(2) reduce the rate of or extend the time for payment of interest on any Security;

(3) reduce the principal of or extend the Stated Maturity of any Security;

(4) reduce the premium payable upon the redemption of any Security or change the time at which any Security may or shall be redeemed in accordance with Article 3;

(5) make any Security payable in money other than that stated in the Security;

(6) impair the right of any holder of the Securities to receive payment of principal of and interest on such holder's Securities on or after the due dates therefor or to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to such holder's Securities;

(7) make any change in Article 10 that adversely affects the rights of any Securityholder under Article 10;

(8) make any change in Section 6.04 or 6.07 or the second sentence of this Section;

(9) make any change in the Parent Guaranty or any Subsidiary Guaranty (including the subordination provisions of any such Guaranty) that would adversely affect the Securityholders; or

(10) make any change in the provisions described under paragraph 6 of the Securities.

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

An amendment under this Section may not make any change that adversely affects the rights under Article 10 or 12 of any holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding unless the holders of such Senior Indebtedness (or any group or representative thereof authorized to give a consent) consent to such change.

After an amendment under this Section becomes effective, the Company shall mail to Securityholders a notice briefly describing such amendment. The failure to give such notice to all Securityholders, or any defect therein, shall not impair or affect the validity of an amendment under this Section.

SECTION 9.03. COMPLIANCE WITH TRUST INDENTURE ACT. Every amendment to this Indenture or the Securities shall comply with the TIA as then in effect.

SECTION 9.04. REVOCATION AND EFFECT OF CONSENTS AND WAIVERS. A consent to an amendment or a waiver by a Holder of a Security shall bind the Holder and every subsequent Holder of that Security or portion of the Security that evidences the same debt as the consenting Holder's Security, even if notation of the consent or waiver is not

made on the Security. However, any such Holder or subsequent Holder may revoke the consent or waiver as to such Holder's Security or portion of the Security if the Trustee receives the notice of revocation before the date the amendment or waiver becomes effective. After an amendment or waiver becomes effective, it shall bind every Security holder. An amendment or waiver becomes effective upon the execution of such amendment or waiver by the Trustee.

The Company may, but shall not be obligated to, fix a record date for the purpose of determining the Securityholders entitled to give their consent or take any other action described above or required or permitted to be taken pursuant to this Indenture. If a record date is fixed, then notwithstanding the immediately preceding paragraph, those Persons who were Securityholders at such record date (or their duly designated proxies), and only those Persons, shall be entitled to give such consent or to revoke any consent previously given or to take any such action, whether or not such Persons continue to be Holders after such record date. No such consent shall be valid or effective for more than 120 days after such record date.

SECTION 9.05. NOTATION ON OR EXCHANGE OF SECURITIES. If an amendment changes the terms of a Security, the Trustee may require the Holder of the Security to deliver it to the Trustee. The Trustee may place an appropriate notation on the Security regarding the changed terms and return it to the Holder. Alternatively, if the Company or the Trustee so determines, the Company in exchange for the Security shall issue and the Trustee shall authenticate a new Security that reflects the changed terms. Failure to make the appropriate notation or to issue a new Security shall not affect the validity of such amendment.

SECTION 9.06. TRUSTEE TO SIGN AMENDMENTS. The Trustee shall sign any amendment authorized pursuant to this Article 9 if the amendment does not adversely affect the rights, duties, liabilities or immunities of the Trustee. If it does, the Trustee may but need not sign it. In signing any amendment the Trustee shall be entitled to receive indemnity reasonably satisfactory to it and to receive, and (subject to Section 7.01) shall be fully protected in relying upon, an Officers' Certificate and an Opinion of Counsel stating that such amendment is authorized or permitted by this Indenture.

SECTION 9.07. PAYMENT FOR CONSENT. Neither the Company nor any Affiliate of the Company shall, directly or indirectly, pay or cause to be paid any consideration, whether by way of interest, fee or otherwise, to any Holder

for or as an inducement to any consent, waiver or amendment of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture or the Securities unless such consideration is offered to be paid to all Holders that so consent, waive or agree to amend in the time frame set forth in solicitation documents relating to such consent, waiver or agreement.

ARTICLE 10

SUBORDINATION

SECTION 10.01. AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE. The Company agrees, and each Securityholder by accepting a Security agrees, that the Indebtedness evidenced by the Securities is subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article 10, to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to Senior Indebtedness of the Company and that the subordination is for the benefit of and enforceable by the holders of such Senior Indebtedness. The Securities shall in all respects rank PARI PASSU with all other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness of the Company and only Indebtedness of the Company which is Senior Indebtedness shall rank senior to the Securities in accordance with the provisions set forth herein. All provisions of this Article 10 shall be subject to Section 10.12.

SECTION 10.02. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION, BANKRUPTCY. Upon any payment or distribution of the assets of the Company to creditors upon a total or partial liquidation or a total or partial dissolution or winding up of the Company or upon any assignment for the benefit of creditors or marshalling of assets of the Company or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to the Company or its property, whether voluntary or involuntary:

(1) the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to such Senior Indebtedness (including all interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable law) before Securityholders shall be entitled to receive any payment or distribution with respect to the Securities; and

(2) until all Obligations with respect to such Senior Indebtedness are paid in full in cash, any

payment or distribution to which Securityholders would be entitled but for this Article 10 shall be made to holders of such Senior Indebtedness as their interests may appear, except that Securityholders may receive, in exchange for the Securities in any proceeding of the type described above in this Section 10.02, (x) equity securities of the Company which, in any case, do not provide for any mandatory redemption or similar retirement prior to the maturity of the Securities or (y) unsecured debt securities of the Company which are subordinated to at least the same extent as the Securities to the payment of all Senior Indebtedness of the Company and which, in any case, do not mature or become subject to a mandatory redemption obligation prior to the maturity of the Securities.

SECTION 10.03. DEFAULT ON SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. The Company may not pay (in cash, property or other assets) the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on the Securities or make any deposit pursuant to Section 8.01 and may not repurchase, redeem or (except for Securities delivered to the Trustee pursuant to the second sentence of paragraph 6 of the Securities) otherwise retire any Securities (collectively, "pay the Securities") if either of the following occurs (each a "Payment Default"): (1) any Obligations with respect to Senior Indebtedness are not paid in full when due or (2) any other default on Senior Indebtedness occurs and the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness is accelerated in accordance with its terms unless, in either case, (x) the default has been cured or waived and any such acceleration has been rescinded in writing or (y) such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company may pay the Securities without regard to the foregoing if the Company and the Trustee receive written notice approving such payment from the Representative of such Senior Indebtedness. During the continuance of any default (other than a default described in clause (1) or (2) of the preceding sentence) with respect to any Designated Senior Indebtedness pursuant to which the maturity thereof may be accelerated immediately without further notice (except such notice as may be required to effect such acceleration) or the expiration of any applicable grace periods, the Company may not pay the Securities for a period (a "Payment Blockage Period") commencing upon the receipt by the Company and the Trustee of written notice (a "Blockage Notice") of such default from the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness specifying an election to effect a Payment Blockage Period and ending 179 days thereafter or earlier if such Payment Blockage Period is terminated:

(1) by written notice to the Trustee and the Company from the Person or Persons who gave such Blockage Notice;

(2) because no defaults continue in existence which would permit the acceleration of the maturities of any Designated Senior Indebtedness at such time; or

(3) because such Designated Senior Indebtedness has been repaid in full in cash.

Notwithstanding the provisions described above, unless the holders of such Designated Senior Indebtedness or the Representative of such holders shall have accelerated the maturity of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, or any Payment Default otherwise exists, the Company may resume payments on the Securities after termination of such Payment Blockage Period. The Securities shall not be subject to more than one Payment Blockage Period in any consecutive 360-day period, except that if any Blockage Notice is delivered to the Trustee by or on behalf of holders of Designated Senior Indebtedness (other than holders of the Bank Indebtedness), a Representative of holders of Bank Indebtedness may give another Blockage Notice within such period. However, in no event may the total number of days during which any Payment Blockage Period or Periods is in effect exceed 179 days in the aggregate during any 360 consecutive day period, and there must be 181 days during any 360-day consecutive period during which no Payment Blockage Period is in effect.

For purposes of this Section, no default or event of default which existed or was continuing on the date of the commencement of any Payment Blockage Period with respect to the Designated Senior Indebtedness initiating such Payment Blockage Period shall be, or be made, the basis of the commencement of a subsequent Payment Blockage Period by the Representative of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, whether or not within a period of 360 consecutive days, unless such default or event of default shall have been cured or waived for a period of not less than 90 consecutive days (it being acknowledged and agreed that (x) any default or event of default as a result of a continued failure to meet a financial covenant or test for a period ended subsequent to the commencement of a Payment Blockage Period shall constitute a new default or event of default, as the case may be, and shall be deemed not to be a continuing default or event of default, as the case may be, for purposes of this sentence and (y) any subsequent action which would give rise to a default or an event of default pursuant to any provision under which a default or event of

default previously existed or was continuing shall constitute a new default or event of default, as the case may be, for this purpose and shall be deemed not to be a continuing default or event of default, as the case may be, for purposes of this sentence).

SECTION 10.04. ACCELERATION OF PAYMENT OF SECURITIES. If payment of the Securities is accelerated because of an Event of Default, the Company or the Trustee shall promptly notify the holders of the Designated Senior Indebtedness (or their Representatives) of the acceleration. If any Designated Senior Indebtedness is outstanding at the time of such acceleration, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Guarantor may pay the Securities until five Business Days after the Representatives of all the issues of Designated Senior Indebtedness receive notice of such acceleration and, thereafter, may pay the Securities only if the Indenture otherwise permits payment at that time.

SECTION 10.05. WHEN DISTRIBUTION MUST BE PAID OVER. If a distribution is made to Securityholders that because of this Article 10 should not have been made to them, the Securityholders who receive the distribution shall hold it in trust for holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company and pay it over to them as their interests may appear.

SECTION 10.06. SUBROGATION. After all Senior Indebtedness of the Company is paid in full in cash and until the Securities are paid in full, Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights of holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions applicable to such Senior Indebtedness. A distribution made under this Article 10 to holders of such Senior Indebtedness which otherwise would have been made to Securityholders is not, as between the Company and Securityholders, a payment by the Company on such Senior Indebtedness.

SECTION 10.07. RELATIVE RIGHTS. This Article 10 defines the relative rights of Securityholders and holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company. Nothing in this Indenture shall:

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

(2) prevent the Trustee or any Securityholder from exercising its available remedies upon a Default, sub-

ject to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company to receive distributions otherwise payable to Securityholders.

SECTION 10.08. SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED BY COMPANY. No right of any holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company to enforce the subordination of the Indebtedness evidenced by the Securities shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by the Company or by its failure to comply with this Indenture.

SECTION 10.09. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT. Notwithstanding Section 10.03, the Trustee or Paying Agent may continue to make payments on the Securities and shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of facts that would prohibit the making of any such payments unless, not less than two Business Days prior to the date of such payment, a Trust Officer of the Trustee receives notice satisfactory to it that payments may not be made under this Article 10. The Company, the Registrar or co-registrar, the Paying Agent, a Representative or a holder of Senior Indebtedness may give the notice.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Indebtedness of the Company with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee. The Registrar and co-registrar and the Paying Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article 10 with respect to any Senior Indebtedness of the Company which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of such Senior Indebtedness; and nothing in Article 7 shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article 10 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.07.

SECTION 10.10. DISTRIBUTION OR NOTICE TO REPRESENTATIVE. Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative (if any).

SECTION 10.11. ARTICLE 10 NOT TO PREVENT EVENTS OF DEFAULT OR LIMIT RIGHT TO ACCELERATE. The failure to make a payment pursuant to the Securities by reason of any provision in this Article 10 shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of a Default. Nothing in this Article 10 shall have any effect on the right of the Securityholders or the Trustee to accelerate the maturity of the Securities.

SECTION 10.12. TRUST MONEYS NOT SUBORDINATED. Notwithstanding anything contained herein to the contrary, payments from money or the proceeds of U.S. Government Obligations held in trust under Article 8 by the Trustee for the payment of principal of and interest on the Securities shall not be subordinated to the prior payment of any Senior Indebtedness or subject to the restrictions set forth in this Article 10, and none of the Securityholders shall be obligated to pay over any such amount to the Company or any holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company or any other creditor of the Company, so long as the foregoing subordination provisions contained in this Article 10 were not violated at the time the respective amounts were deposited pursuant to the defeasance provisions of Article 8.

SECTION 10.13. TRUSTEE ENTITLED TO RELY. Upon any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article 10, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall be entitled to rely (i) upon any order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in which any proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 10.02 are pending, (ii) upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution to the Trustee or to the Security holders or (iii) upon the Representatives for the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and other Indebtedness of the Company, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 10. In the event that the Trustee determines, in good faith, that evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the Company to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article 10, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of such Senior Indebtedness held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article 10, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment. The provisions of Sections 7.01 and 7.02 shall be applicable to all actions or omissions of actions by the Trustee pursuant to this Article 10.

SECTION 10.14. TRUSTEE TO EFFECTUATE SUBORDINATION. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security author-

izes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination between the Securityholders and the holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company as provided in this Article 10 and appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

SECTION 10.15. TRUSTEE NOT FIDUCIARY FOR HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to Securityholders or the Company or any other Person, money or assets to which any holders of Senior Indebtedness of the Company shall be entitled by virtue of this Article 10 or otherwise.

SECTION 10.16. RELIANCE BY HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS ON SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing subordination provisions are, and are intended to be, an inducement and a consideration to each holder of any Senior Indebtedness of the Company, whether such Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the issuance of the Securities, to acquire and continue to hold, or to continue to hold, such Senior Indebtedness and such holder of such Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold, or in continuing to hold, such Senior Indebtedness.

ARTICLE 11

GUARANTIES

SECTION 11.01. GUARANTIES. Each Guarantor hereby unconditionally and irrevocably guarantees, jointly and severally, on a Senior Subordinated basis, to each Holder and to the Trustee and its successors and assigns (a) the full and punctual payment of principal of and interest on the Securities when due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, and all other monetary obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities and (b) the full and punctual performance within applicable grace periods of all other obligations of the Company under this Indenture and the Securities (all the foregoing being hereinafter collectively called the "Indenture Obligations"). Each Guarantor further agrees that the Indenture Obligations may be extended or renewed, in whole or in part, without notice or further assent from such Guarantor and that such Guarantor will remain bound

under this Article 11 notwithstanding any extension or renewal of any Indenture Obligation.

Each Guarantor waives presentation to, demand of, payment from and protest to the Company of any of the Indenture Obligations and also waives notice of protest for nonpayment. Each Guarantor waives notice of any default under the Securities or the Indenture Obligations. The obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be affected by (a) the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any right or remedy against the Company or any other Person under this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement or other wise; (b) any extension or renewal of any thereof;
(c) any rescission, waiver, amendment or modification of any of the terms or provisions of this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement; (d) the release of any security held by any Holder or the Trustee for the Indenture Obligations or any of them; (e) the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to exercise any right or remedy against any other guarantor of the Indenture Obligations; or (f) any change in the ownership of such Guarantor.

Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guaranty herein constitutes a guarantee of payment, performance and compliance when due (and not a guarantee of collection) and waives any right to require that any resort be had by any Holder or the Trustee to any security held for payment of the Indenture Obligations.

Each Guaranty is, to the extent and in the manner set forth in Article 12, subordinated and subject in right of payment to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to all Senior Indebtedness of the Guarantor giving such Guaranty and each Guaranty is made subject to such provisions of this Indenture.

Except as expressly set forth in Sections 8.01(b), 11.02 and 11.06, the obligations of each Guarantor hereunder shall not be subject to any reduction, limitation, impairment or termination for any reason, including any claim of waiver, release, surrender, alteration or compromise, and shall not be subject to any defense of setoff, counterclaim, recoupment or termination whatsoever or by reason of the invalidity, illegality or unenforceability of the Indenture Obligations or otherwise. Without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the obligations of each Guarantor herein shall not be discharged or impaired or otherwise affected by the failure of any Holder or the Trustee to assert any claim or demand or to enforce any remedy under this Indenture, the Securities or any other agreement, by any waiver or modifi-

cation of any thereof, by any default, failure or delay, willful or otherwise, in the performance of the obligations, or by any other act or thing or omission or delay to do any other act or thing which may or might in any manner or to any extent vary the risk of such Guarantor or would otherwise operate as a discharge of such Guarantor as a matter of law or equity.

Each Guarantor further agrees that its Guarantee herein shall continue to be effective or be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any time payment, or any part thereof, of principal of or interest on any Indenture Obligation is rescinded or must otherwise be restored by any Holder or the Trustee upon the bankruptcy or reorganization of the Company or otherwise.

In furtherance of the foregoing and not in limitation of any other right which any Holder or the Trustee has at law or in equity against any Guarantor by virtue hereof, upon the failure of the Company to pay the principal of or interest on any Indenture Obligation when and as the same shall become due, whether at maturity, by acceleration, by redemption or otherwise, or to perform or comply with any other Indenture Obligation, each Guarantor hereby promises to and will, upon receipt of written demand by the Trustee, forthwith pay, or cause to be paid, in cash, to the Holders or the Trustee an amount equal to the sum of (1) the unpaid amount of such Indenture Obligations, (2) accrued and unpaid interest on such Indenture Obligations (but only to the extent not prohibited by law) and (3) all other monetary Indenture Obligations of the Company to the Holders and the Trustee.

Each Guarantor agrees that it shall not be entitled to any right of subrogation in respect of any Indenture Obligations guaranteed hereby until payment in full of all Indenture Obligations and all obligations to which the Indenture Obligations are subordinated as provided in Article 12. Each Guarantor further agrees that, as between it, on the one hand, and the Holders and the Trustee, on the other hand, (x) the maturity of the Indenture Obligations Guaranteed hereby may be accelerated as provided in Article 6 for the purposes of such Guarantor's Guaranty herein, notwithstanding any stay, injunction or other prohibition preventing such acceleration in respect of the Indenture Obligations guaranteed hereby, and (y) in the event of any declaration of acceleration of such obligations as provided in Article 6, such Indenture Obligations (whether or not due and payable) shall forthwith become due and payable by such Guarantor for the purposes of this Section.

Each Guarantor also agrees to pay any and all costs and expenses (including reasonable attorneys' fees) incurred by the Trustee or any Holder in enforcing any rights under this Section.

SECTION 11.02. LIMITATION ON LIABILITY; CONTRIBUTION. Any term or provision of this Indenture to the contrary notwithstanding, the maximum, aggregate amount of the Indenture Obligations guaranteed hereunder by any Subsidiary Guarantor shall not exceed the maximum amount that can be hereby guaranteed without rendering this Indenture, as it relates to such Subsidiary Guarantor, voidable under applicable law relating to fraudulent conveyance or fraudulent transfer or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally.

Each Subsidiary Guarantor that makes a payment under its Subsidiary Guaranty will be entitled to a contribution from each other Subsidiary Guarantor in an amount equal to such other Subsidiary Guarantor's PRO RATA portion of such payment based on the respective net assets of all the Subsidiary Guarantors at the time of such payment determined in accordance with GAAP.

SECTION 11.03. SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Article 11 shall be binding upon each Guarantor and its successors and assigns and shall inure to the benefit of the successors and assigns of the Trustee and the Holders and, in the event of any transfer or assignment of rights by any Holder or the Trustee, the rights and privileges conferred upon that party in this Indenture and in the Securities shall automatically extend to and be vested in such transferee or assignee, all subject to the terms and conditions of this Indenture.

SECTION 11.04. NO WAIVER. Neither a failure nor a delay on the part of either the Trustee or the Holders in exercising any right, power or privilege under this Article 11 shall operate as a waiver thereof, nor shall a single or partial exercise thereof preclude any other or further exercise of any right, power or privilege. The rights, remedies and benefits of the Trustee and the Holders herein expressly specified are cumulative and not exclusive of any other rights, remedies or benefits which either may have under this Article 11 at law, in equity, by statute or otherwise.

SECTION 11.05. MODIFICATION. No modification, amendment or waiver of any provision of this Article 11, nor the consent to any departure by any Guarantor therefrom, shall in any event be effective unless the same shall be in

writing and signed by the Trustee, and then such waiver or consent shall be effective only in the specific instance and for the purpose for which given. No notice to or demand on any Guarantor in any case shall entitle such Guarantor to any other or further notice or demand in the same, similar or other circumstances.

SECTION 11.06. RELEASE OF SUBSIDIARY GUARANTOR. Upon the sale (including any sale pursuant to any exercise of remedies by a holder of Senior Indebtedness) or other disposition (including by way of consolidation or merger) of a Subsidiary Guarantor or the sale or disposition of all or substantially all the assets of such Subsidiary Guarantor (in each case other than to the Company or an Affiliate of the Company), such Subsidiary Guarantor shall be deemed released from all obligations under this Article 11 without any further action required on the part of the Trustee or any Holder. At the request of the Company, the Trustee shall execute and deliver an appropriate instrument evidencing such release.

ARTICLE 12

SUBORDINATION OF GUARANTIES

SECTION 12.01. AGREEMENT TO SUBORDINATE. Each Guarantor agrees, and each Securityholder by accepting a Security agrees, that the Indenture Obligations (as used in this Article 12, the "Indenture Obligations" of each Guarantor shall mean all Indenture Obligations guaranteed by such Guarantor pursuant to Article 11 hereof) of such Guarantor are subordinated in right of payment, to the extent and in the manner provided in this Article 12, to the prior payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor and that the subordination is for the benefit of and enforceable by the holders of such Senior Indebtedness. The Indenture Obligations of a Guarantor shall in all respects rank PARI PASSU with all other Senior Subordinated Indebtedness of such Guarantor and only Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor (including such Guarantor's Guarantee of Senior Indebtedness of the Company) shall rank senior to the Indenture Obligations of such Guarantor in accordance with the provisions set forth herein.

SECTION 12.02. LIQUIDATION, DISSOLUTION, BANKRUPTCY. Upon any payment or distribution of the assets of any Guarantor to creditors upon a total or partial liqui-

dation or a total or partial dissolution or winding up of such Guarantor or upon any assignment for the benefit of creditors or marshalling of assets for such Guarantor or in a bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, receivership or similar proceeding relating to such Guarantor or its property, whether voluntary or involuntary:

(1) the holders of Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor shall be entitled to receive payment in full in cash of all Obligations with respect to such Senior Indebtedness (including all interest accruing subsequent to the filing of a petition in bankruptcy at the rate provided for in the documentation with respect thereto, whether or not such interest is an allowed claim under applicable law) before Securityholders shall be entitled to receive any payment or distribution with respect to any Indenture Obligations of such Guarantor; and

(2) until all Obligations with respect to the Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor is paid in full in cash, any payment or distribution to which Security holders would be entitled but for this Article 12 shall be made to holders of such Senior Indebtedness as their interests may appear, except that securityholders may, in any proceeding of the type described in Section 10.02 with respect to such Guarantor, receive securities of the Parent and/or the Company as provided in clause (2) of Section 10.02, which, in the case of debt securities of the Company, may be guaranteed by the Guarantors on substantially the same basis as provided in Article 11, so long as such guarantees are expressly subordinated to all Senior Indebtedness at least to the same extent as provided in this Article 12.

SECTION 12.03. DEFAULT ON SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS OF GUARANTOR. No Guarantor may make any payment (in cash, property or other assets) pursuant to any of its Indenture Obligations or repurchase, redeem or otherwise retire or defease any Securities or other Indenture Obligations (collectively, "pay its Guaranty") if either of the following Payment Default occurs: (1) any Obligations with respect to Senior Indebtedness of the Company is not paid in full when due or (2) any other default on Senior Indebtedness of the Company occurs and the maturity of such Senior Indebtedness is accelerated in accordance with its terms unless, in either case, (x) the default has been cured or waived and any such acceleration has been rescinded in writing or (y) such Senior Indebtedness has been paid in full in cash; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that any Guarantor may pay

its Guaranty without regard to the foregoing if such Guarantor and the Trustee receive written notice approving such payment from the Representatives of such Senior Indebtedness. No Guarantor may pay its Guaranty during the continuance of any Payment Blockage Period after receipt by the Company and the Trustee (with a copy to the Company) of a Blockage Notice under Section 10.03. Notwithstanding the provisions described in the immediately preceding sentence (but subject to the provisions contained in the first sentence of this Section), unless the holders of Designated Senior Indebtedness giving such Blockage Notice or the Representative of such holders shall have accelerated the maturity of such Designated Senior Indebtedness, any Guarantor may resume payments pursuant to its Guaranty after termination of such Payment Blockage Period.

SECTION 12.04. DEMAND FOR PAYMENT. If a demand for payment is made on a Guarantor pursuant to Article 11, the Trustee shall promptly notify the holders of the Designated Senior Indebtedness (or their Representatives) of such demand. If any Designated Senior Indebtedness is outstanding at the time of such acceleration, neither the Company nor any Subsidiary Guarantor may pay the Securities until five Business Days after the Representatives of all the issues of Designated Senior Indebtedness receive notice of such acceleration and, thereafter, may pay the Securities only if the Indenture otherwise permits payment at that time.

SECTION 12.05. WHEN DISTRIBUTION MUST BE PAID OVER. If a distribution is made to Securityholders that because of this Article 12 should not have been made to them, the Securityholders who receive the distribution shall hold it in trust for holders of the relevant Senior Indebtedness and pay it over to them or their Representatives as their interests may appear.

SECTION 12.06. SUBROGATION. After all Senior Indebtedness of a Guarantor is paid in full in cash and until the Securities are paid in full, Securityholders shall be subrogated to the rights of holders of such Senior Indebtedness to receive distributions applicable to Senior Indebtedness. A distribution made under this Article 12 to holders of such Senior Indebtedness which otherwise would have been made to Securityholders is not, as between the relevant Guarantor and Securityholders, a payment by such Guarantor on such Senior Indebtedness.

SECTION 12.07. RELATIVE RIGHTS. This Article 12 defines the relative rights of Securityholders and holders of Senior Indebtedness of a Guarantor. Nothing in this Indenture shall:

(1) impair, as between a Guarantor and Security holders, the obligation of such Guarantor, which is absolute and unconditional, to pay the Indenture Obligations to the extent set forth in Article 11 or the relevant Guaranty; or

(2) prevent the Trustee or any Securityholder from exercising its available remedies upon a default by such Guarantor under the Indenture Obligations, subject to the rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor to receive distributions otherwise payable to Securityholders.

SECTION 12.08. SUBORDINATION MAY NOT BE IMPAIRED BY COMPANY. No right of any holder of Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor to enforce the subordination of the Indenture Obligations of such Guarantor shall be impaired by any act or failure to act by such Guarantor or by its failure to comply with this Indenture.

SECTION 12.09. RIGHTS OF TRUSTEE AND PAYING AGENT. Notwithstanding Section 12.03, the Trustee or Paying Agent may continue to make payments on any Guaranty and shall not be charged with knowledge of the existence of facts that would prohibit the making of any such payments unless, not less than two Business Days prior to the date of such payment, a Trust Officer of the Trustee receives written notice satisfactory to it that payments may not be made under this Article 12. The Company, the relevant Guarantor, the Registrar or co-registrar, the Paying Agent, a Representative or a holder of Senior Indebtedness of the relevant Guarantor may give the notice.

The Trustee in its individual or any other capacity may hold Senior Indebtedness with the same rights it would have if it were not the Trustee. The Registrar and co-registrar and the Paying Agent may do the same with like rights. The Trustee shall be entitled to all the rights set forth in this Article 12 with respect to any Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor which may at any time be held by it, to the same extent as any other holder of Senior Indebtedness; and nothing in Article 7 shall deprive the Trustee of any of its rights as such holder. Nothing in this Article 12 shall apply to claims of, or payments to, the Trustee under or pursuant to Section 7.07.

SECTION 12.10. DISTRIBUTION OR NOTICE TO REPRESENTATIVE. Whenever a distribution is to be made or a notice given to holders of Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor, the distribution may be made and the notice given to their Representative (if any).

SECTION 12.11. ARTICLE 12 NOT TO PREVENT DEFAULTS UNDER A GUARANTY OR LIMIT RIGHT TO DEMAND PAYMENT. The failure to make a payment pursuant to a Guaranty by reason of any provision in this Article 12 shall not be construed as preventing the occurrence of a default under such Guaranty. Nothing in this Article 12 shall have any effect on the right of the Securityholders or the Trustee to make a demand for payment on any Guarantor pursuant to Article 11 or the relevant Guaranty.

SECTION 12.12. TRUSTEE ENTITLED TO RELY. Upon any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article 12, the Trustee and the Securityholders shall be entitled to rely (1) upon any order or decree of a court of competent jurisdiction in which any proceedings of the nature referred to in Section 12.02 are pending, (2) upon a certificate of the liquidating trustee or agent or other Person making such payment or distribution to the Trustee or to the Security holders or (3) upon the Representatives for the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor for the purpose of ascertaining the Persons entitled to participate in such payment or distribution, the holders of such Senior Indebtedness and other indebtedness of such Guarantor, the amount thereof or payable thereon, the amount or amounts paid or distributed thereon and all other facts pertinent thereto or to this Article 12. In the event that the Trustee determines, in good faith, that evidence is required with respect to the right of any Person as a holder of Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor to participate in any payment or distribution pursuant to this Article 12, the Trustee may request such Person to furnish evidence to the reasonable satisfaction of the Trustee as to the amount of Senior Indebtedness of such Guarantor held by such Person, the extent to which such Person is entitled to participate in such payment or distribution and other facts pertinent to the rights of such Person under this Article 12, and, if such evidence is not furnished, the Trustee may defer any payment to such Person pending judicial determination as to the right of such Person to receive such payment. The provisions of Sections 7.01 and 7.02 shall be applicable to all actions or omissions of actions by the Trustee pursuant to this Article 12.

SECTION 12.13. TRUSTEE TO EFFECTUATE SUBORDINATION. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security author-

izes and directs the Trustee on his behalf to take such action as may be necessary or appropriate to acknowledge or effectuate the subordination between the Securityholders and the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor as provided in this Article 12 and appoints the Trustee as attorney-in-fact for any and all such purposes.

SECTION 12.14. TRUSTEE NOT FIDUCIARY FOR HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS OF GUARANTOR. The Trustee shall not be deemed to owe any fiduciary duty to the holders of Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor and shall not be liable to any such holders if it shall mistakenly pay over or distribute to Securityholders or the Company or any other Person, money or assets to which any holders of such Senior Indebtedness shall be entitled by virtue of this Article 12 or otherwise.

SECTION 12.15. RELIANCE BY HOLDERS OF SENIOR INDEBTEDNESS ON SUBORDINATION PROVISIONS. Each Securityholder by accepting a Security acknowledges and agrees that the foregoing subordination provisions are, and are intended to be, an inducement and a consideration to each holder of any Senior Indebtedness of any Guarantor, whether such Senior Indebtedness was created or acquired before or after the issuance of the Securities, to acquire and continue to hold, or to continue to hold, such Senior Indebtedness and such holder of Senior Indebtedness shall be deemed conclusively to have relied on such subordination provisions in acquiring and continuing to hold, or in continuing to hold, such Senior Indebtedness.

ARTICLE 13

MISCELLANEOUS

SECTION 13.01. TRUST INDENTURE ACT CONTROLS. If any provision of this Indenture limits, qualifies or conflicts with another provision which is required to be included in this Indenture by the TIA, the required provision shall control.

SECTION 13.02. NOTICES. Any notice or communication shall be in writing and delivered in person or mailed by first-class mail addressed as follows:

if to Parent, the Company or any Subsidiary Guarantor:

Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
333 Western Avenue, Mail Stop 01-00
South Portland, Maine 04106

Attention of General Counsel

if to the Trustee:

United States Trust Company of New York 114 West 47th Street
New York, New York 10036 Attention: Corporate Trust Division

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

Any notice or communication mailed to a Security holder shall be mailed to the Securityholder at the Securityholder's address as it appears on the registration books of the Registrar and shall be sufficiently given if so mailed within the time prescribed.

Failure to mail a notice or communication to a Securityholder or any defect in it shall not affect its sufficiency with respect to other Securityholders. If a notice or communication is mailed in the manner provided above, it is duly given, whether or not the addressee receives it.

SECTION 13.03. COMMUNICATION BY HOLDERS WITH OTHER HOLDERS. Securityholders may communicate pursuant to TIA Section 312(b) with other Securityholders with respect to their rights under this Indenture or the Securities. The Company, the Trustee, the Registrar and anyone else shall have the protection of TIA Section 312(c).

SECTION 13.04. CERTIFICATE AND OPINION AS TO CONDITIONS PRECEDENT. Upon any request or application by the Company to the Trustee to take or refrain from taking any action under this Indenture, the Company shall furnish to the Trustee:

(1) an Officers' Certificate in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of the signers, all conditions precedent, if any, provided for in this Indenture relating to the proposed action have been complied with; and

(2) an Opinion of Counsel in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to the Trustee stating that, in the opinion of such counsel, all such conditions precedent have been complied with.

SECTION 13.05. STATEMENTS REQUIRED IN CERTIFICATE OR OPINION. Each certificate or opinion with respect to compliance with a covenant or condition provided for in this Indenture shall include:

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

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

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

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

SECTION 13.06. WHEN SECURITIES DISREGARDED. In determining whether the Holders of the required principal amount of Securities have concurred in any direction, waiver or consent, Securities owned by the Company or by any Person directly or indirectly controlling or controlled by or under direct or indirect common control with the Company shall be disregarded and deemed not to be outstanding, except that, for the purpose of determining whether the Trustee shall be protected in relying on any such direction, waiver or consent, only Securities which the Trustee knows are so owned shall be so disregarded. Also, subject to the fore going, only Securities outstanding at the time shall be considered in any such determination.

SECTION 13.07. RULES BY TRUSTEE, PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR. The Trustee may make reasonable rules for action by or a meeting of Securityholders. The Registrar and the Paying Agent may make reasonable rules for their functions.

SECTION 13.08. LEGAL HOLIDAYS. A "Legal Holiday" is a Saturday, a Sunday or a day on which banking institutions are not required to be open in the State of New York. If a payment date is a Legal Holiday, payment shall be made on the next succeeding day that is not a Legal Holiday, and no interest shall accrue for the intervening period. If a regular record date is a Legal Holiday, the record date shall not be affected.

SECTION 13.09. GOVERNING LAW. This Indenture and the Securities 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.

SECTION 13.10. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS. A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company or any Guarantor shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company or any Guarantor under the Securities, any Guaranty or this Indenture or for any claim based on, in respect of or by reason of such obligations or their creation. By accepting a Security, each Securityholder shall waive and release all such liability. The waiver and release shall be part of the consideration for the issue of the Securities.

SECTION 13.11. SUCCESSORS. All agreements of the Company in this Indenture and the Securities shall bind its successors. All agreements of the Trustee in this Indenture shall bind its successors.

SECTION 13.12. MULTIPLE ORIGINALS. The parties may sign any number of copies of this Indenture. Each signed copy shall be an original, but all of them together represent the same agreement. One signed copy is enough to prove this Indenture.

SECTION 13.13. TABLE OF CONTENTS; HEADINGS. The table of contents, cross-reference sheet and headings of the Articles and Sections of this Indenture have been inserted for convenience of reference only, are not intended to be considered a part hereof and shall not modify or restrict any of the terms or provisions hereof.

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

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR
CORPORATION,

FSC SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION,
as Guarantor,

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR
CORPORATION OF CALIFORNIA, as
Guarantor

UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF
NEW YORK, as Trustee,

Title:

RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

FOR OFFERINGS TO QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYERS PURSUANT TO
RULE 144A AND TO CERTAIN PERSONS IN OFFSHORE TRANSACTIONS IN
RELIANCE ON REGULATION S.

PROVISIONS RELATING TO INITIAL SECURITIES,
PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITIES
AND EXCHANGE SECURITIES

1. DEFINITIONS

1.1 DEFINITIONS

For the purposes of this Appendix the following terms shall have the meanings indicated below:

"Depository" means The Depository Trust Company, its nominees and their respective successors.

"Exchange Securities" means(i) the 10-3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007 to be issued pursuant to this Indenture in connection with a Registered Exchange Offer pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement and (ii) Additional Securities, if any, issued pursuant to a registration statement filed with the SEC under the Securities Act.

"Initial Purchasers" means (i) with respect to the Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and Fleet Securities, Inc. and (ii) with respect to each issuance of Additional Securities, the Persons purchasing such Additional Securities under the related Purchase Agreement.

"Initial Securities" means (i) $300,000,000 10-3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007, issued under this Indenture on the Issue Date and
(ii) Additional Securities, if any, issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act.

"Private Exchange" means the offer by the Company, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, to the Initial Purchasers to issue and deliver to the relevant Initial Purchaser, in exchange for the Initial Securities held by the Initial Purchaser as part of its initial distribution, if any, a like aggregate principal amount of Private Exchange Securities.

"Private Exchange Securities" means any 10-3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007 issued in connection with a Private Exchange.

"Purchase Agreement" means (i) with respect to the Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date the Purchase Agreement dated March 30, 1999, among the Company, the Guarantors named therein and the Initial Purchasers and
(ii) with respect to each issuance of Additional Securities, the purchase agreement or underwriting agreement among the Company and the Persons purchasing such Additional Securities.

"QIB" means a "qualified institutional buyer" as defined in Rule 144A.

"Registered Exchange Offer" means the offer by the Company, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, to certain Holders of Initial Securities, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of Exchange Securities registered under the Securities Act.

"Registration Rights Agreement" means (i) with respect to the Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, the Registration Rights Agreement dated March 30, 1999, among the Company, the Guarantors named therein and the Initial Purchasers and (ii) with respect to each issuance of Additional Securities issued in a transaction exempt from the registration requirements of the Securities Act, the registration rights agreement, if any, among the Company and the Persons purchasing such Additional Securities under the related Purchase Agreement.

"Securities" means the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities, treated as a single class.

"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933.

"Securities Custodian" means the custodian with respect to a Global Security (as appointed by the Depository), or any successor person thereto and shall initially be the Trustee.

"Shelf Registration Statement" means the registration statement issued by the Company, in connection with the offer and sale of Initial Securities or Private

Exchange Securities, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement.

"Transfer Restricted Securities" means Securities that bear or are required to bear the legend set forth in Section 2.3(b) hereto.

                                                                      DEFINED IN
                        TERM                                           SECTION:
                        ----                                        ------------
"Agent Members"............................................................2.1(b)
"Global Security"..........................................................2.1(a)
"Regulation S".............................................................2.1(a)
"Rule 144A"................................................................2.1(a)

2. THE SECURITIES.

2.1 FORM AND DATING.

The Initial Securities are being offered and sold by the Company pursuant to the Purchase Agreement.

(a) GLOBAL SECURITIES. Initial Securities offered and sold to a QIB in reliance on Rule 144A under the Securities Act ("Rule 144A") or in reliance on Regulation S under the Securities Act ("Regulation S"), in each case as provided in the Purchase Agreement, shall be issued initially in the form of one or more permanent global Securities in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons with the global securities legend and restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto (each, a Global Security"), which shall be deposited on behalf of the purchasers of the Initial Securities represented thereby with the Trustee, at its New York office, as custodian for the Depository (or with such other custodian as the Depository may direct), and registered in the name of the Depository or a nominee of the Depository, duly executed by the Company and authenticated by the Trustee as hereinafter provided. The aggregate principal amount of the Global Securities may from time to time be increased or decreased by adjustments made on the records of the Trustee and the Depository or its nominee as hereinafter provided.

(b) BOOK-ENTRY PROVISIONS. This Section 2.1(b) shall apply only to a Global Security deposited with or on behalf of the Depository.

The Company shall execute and the Trustee shall, in accordance with this Section 2.1(b), authenticate and deliver initially one or more Global Securities that (a) shall be registered in the name of the Depository for such Global Security or Global Securities or the nominee of

such Depository and (b) shall be delivered by the Trustee to such Depository or pursuant to such Depository's instructions or held by the Trustee as custodian for the Depository.

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

(c) CERTIFICATED SECURITIES. Except as provided in this
Section 2.1 or Section 2.3 or 2.4, owners of beneficial interests in Global Securities will not be entitled to receive physical delivery of certificated Securities.

2.2 AUTHENTICATION. The Trustee shall authenticate and deliver: (1) On the Issue Date, $300.0 million 10 3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007, (2) Any Additional Securities for an original issue in an aggregate principal amount specified in the written order of the Company pursuant to Section 2.02 of the Indenture and (3) Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities in exchange therefor for issue only in a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange, respectively, pursuant to the Registration Rights Agreement, for a like principal amount of Initial Securities, in each case upon a written order of the Company signed by two Officers or by an Officer and either an Assistant Treasurer or an Assistant Secretary of the Company. Such order shall specify the amount of the Securities to be authenticated and the date on which the original issue of Securities is to be authenticated and whether the Securities are to be Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities. In addition, in the case of an issuance of Additional Securities pursuant to
Section 2.13 of the Indenture, such

order shall certify that such issuance is in compliance with Section 4.03 of the Indenture.

2.3 TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE. (a) TRANSFER AND EXCHANGE OF GLOBAL SECURITIES. (i) The transfer and exchange of Global Securities or beneficial interests therein shall be effected through the Depository, in accordance with this Indenture (including applicable restrictions on transfer set forth herein, if any) and the procedures of the Depository therefor. A transferor of a beneficial interest in a Global Security shall deliver to the Registrar a written order given in accordance with the Depositary's procedures containing information regarding the participant account of the Depositary to be credited with a beneficial interest in the Global Security. The Registrar shall, in accordance with such instructions instruct the Depositary to credit to the account of the Person specified in such instructions a beneficial interest in the Global Security and to debit the account of the Person making the transfer the beneficial interest in the Global Security being transferred.

(ii) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Appendix (other than the provisions set forth in Section 2.4), a Global Security may not be transferred as a whole except by the Depository to a nominee of the Depository or by a nominee of the Depository to the Depository or another nominee of the Depository or by the Depository or any such nominee to a successor Depository or a nominee of such successor Depository.

(iii) In the event that a Global Security is exchanged for Securities in definitive registered form pursuant to Section 2.4 or
Section 2.09 of the Indenture, prior to the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer or the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Securities, such Securities may be exchanged only in accordance with such procedures as are substantially consistent with the provisions of this Section 2.3 (including the certification requirements set forth on the reverse of the Initial Securities intended to ensure that such transfers comply with Rule 144A or Regulation S, as the case may be) and such other procedures as may from time to time be adopted by the Company.

(b) LEGEND.

(i) Except as permitted by the following paragraphs (ii),
(iii) and (iv), each Security certificate evidencing the Global Securities (and all Securities issued in exchange therefor or in substitution thereof) shall bear a legend in substantially the following form:

"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) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES 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) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) 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."

(ii) Upon any sale or transfer of a Transfer Restricted Security represented by a Global Security pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act, the Registrar shall permit the Holder thereof to exchange such Transfer Restricted Security for a certificated

Security that does not bear the legend set forth above and rescind any restriction on the transfer of such Transfer Restricted Security, if the Holder certifies in writing to the Registrar that its request for such exchange was made in reliance on Rule 144 (such certification to be in the form set forth on the reverse of the Security).

(iii) After a transfer of any Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities during the period of the effectiveness of a Shelf Registration Statement with respect to such Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, all requirements pertaining to legends on such Initial Security or such Private Exchange Security will cease to apply, the requirements requiring any such Initial Security or such Private Exchange Security issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will cease to apply, and a certificated Initial Security or Private Exchange Security without legends will be available to the transferee of the Holder of such Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities upon exchange of such transferring Holder's certificated Initial Security or Private Exchange Security or directions to transfer such Holder's interest in the Global Security, as applicable.

(iv) Upon the consummation of a Registered Exchange Offer with respect to the Initial Securities pursuant to which Holders of such Initial Securities are offered Exchange Securities in exchange for their Initial Securities, all requirements pertaining to such Initial Securities that Initial Securities issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will cease to apply and certificated Initial Securities with the restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto will be available to Holders of such Initial Securities that do not exchange their Initial Securities, and Exchange Securities in certificated or global form will be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Securities in such Registered Exchange Offer.

(v) Upon the consummation of a Private Exchange with respect to the Initial Securities pursuant to which Holders of such Initial Securities are offered Private Exchange Securities in exchange for their Initial Securities, all requirements pertaining to such

Initial Securities that Initial Securities issued to certain Holders be issued in global form will still apply, and Private Exchange Securities in global form with the Restricted Securities Legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto will be available to Holders that exchange such Initial Securities in such Private Exchange.

(C) CANCELLATION OR ADJUSTMENT OF GLOBAL SECURITY. At such time as all beneficial interests in a Global Security have been exchanged for certificated Securities, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, such Global Security shall be returned to the Depository for cancellation or retained and canceled by the Trustee. At any time prior to such cancellation, if any beneficial interest in a Global Security is exchanged for certificated Securities, redeemed, repurchased or canceled, the principal amount of Securities represented by such Global Security shall be reduced and an adjustment shall be made on the books and records of the Trustee (if it is then the Securities Custodian for such Global Security) with respect to such Global Security, by the Trustee or the Securities Custodian, to reflect such reduction.

(D) OBLIGATIONS WITH RESPECT TO TRANSFERS AND
EXCHANGES OF SECURITIES.

(i) To permit registrations of transfers and exchanges, the Company shall execute and the Trustee shall authenticate certificated Securities and Global Securities at the Registrar's or co-registrar's request.

(ii) No service charge shall be made for any registration of transfer or exchange, but the Company may require payment of a sum sufficient to cover any transfer tax, assessments, or similar governmental charge payable in connection therewith (other than any such transfer taxes, assessments or similar governmental charge payable upon exchange or transfer pursuant to Sections 3.06, 4.09 and 9.05).

(iii) The Registrar or co-registrar shall not be required to register the transfer of or exchange of (a) any certificated Security selected for redemption in whole or in part pursuant to Article 3 of this Indenture, except the unredeemed portion of any certificated Security being redeemed in part, or

(b) any Security for a period beginning 15 Business Days before the mailing of a notice of an offer to repurchase or redeem Securities or 15 Business Days before an interest payment date.

(iv) Prior to the due presentation for registration of transfer of any Security, the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar may deem and treat the person in whose name a Security is registered as the absolute owner of such Security for the purpose of receiving payment of principal of and interest on such Security and for all other purposes whatsoever, whether or not such Security is overdue, and none of the Company, the Trustee, the Paying Agent, the Registrar or any co-registrar shall be affected by notice to the contrary.

(v) All Securities issued upon any transfer or exchange pursuant to the terms of this Indenture shall evidence the same debt and shall be entitled to the same benefits under this Indenture as the Securities surrendered upon such transfer or exchange.

(E) NO OBLIGATION OF THE TRUSTEE.

(i) The Trustee shall have no responsibility or obligation to any beneficial owner of a Global Security, a member of, or a participant in the Depository or other Person with respect to the accuracy of the records of the Depository or its nominee or of any participant or member thereof, with respect to any ownership interest in the Securities or with respect to the delivery to any participant, member, beneficial owner or other Person (other than the Depository) of any notice (including any notice of redemption) or the payment of any amount, under or with respect to such Securities. All notices and communications to be given to the Holders and all payments to be made to Holders under the Securities shall be given or made only to or upon the order of the registered Holders (which shall be the Depository or its nominee in the case of a Global Security). The rights of beneficial owners in any Global Security shall be exercised only through the Depository subject to the applicable rules and procedures of the Depository. The Trustee may rely and shall be fully protected in relying upon information furnished by the Depository with respect to its members, participants and any beneficial owners.

(ii) The Trustee shall have no obligation or duty to monitor, determine or inquire as to compliance with any restrictions on transfer imposed under this Indenture or under applicable law with respect to any transfer of any interest in any Security (including any transfers between or among Depository participants, members or beneficial owners in any Global Security) other than to require delivery of such certificates and other documentation or evidence as are expressly required by, and to do so if and when expressly required by, the terms of this Indenture, and to examine the same to determine substantial compliance as to form with the express requirements hereof.

2.4 CERTIFICATED SECURITIES.

(a) A Global Security deposited with the Depository or with the Trustee as custodian for the Depository pursuant to Section 2.1 shall be transferred to the beneficial owners thereof in the form of certificated Securities in an aggregate principal amount equal to the principal amount of such Global Security, in exchange for such Global Security, only if such transfer complies with Section 2.3 and (i) the Depository notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depository for such Global Security or if at any time such Depository ceases to be a "clearing agency" registered under the Exchange Act and, in either case, a successor depositary is not appointed by the Company within 90 days of such notice, or (ii) an Event of Default has occurred and is continuing or (iii) the Company, in its sole discretion, notifies the Trustee in writing that it elects to cause the issuance of certificated Securities under this Indenture.

(b) Any Global Security that is transferable to the beneficial owners thereof pursuant to this Section shall be surrendered by the Depository to the Trustee located in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, to be so transferred, in whole or from time to time in part, without charge, and the Trustee shall authenticate and deliver, upon such transfer of each portion of such Global Security, an equal aggregate principal amount of certificated Initial Securities of authorized denominations. Any portion of a Global Security transferred pursuant to this Section shall be executed, authenticated and delivered only in denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof and registered in such names as the Depository shall direct. Any certificated Initial Security delivered in exchange for

an interest in the Global Security shall, except as otherwise provided by
Section 2.3(b), bear the restricted securities legend set forth in Exhibit 1 hereto.

(c) Subject to the provisions of Section 2.4(b), the registered Holder of a Global Security may grant proxies and otherwise authorize any Person, including Agent Members and Persons that may hold interests through Agent Members, to take any action which a Holder is entitled to take under this Indenture or the Securities.

(d) In the event of the occurrence of any of the events specified in Section 2.4(a), the Company will promptly make available to the Trustee a reasonable supply of certificated Securities in definitive, fully registered form without interest coupons.

EXHIBIT 1
to
RULE 144A/REGULATION S APPENDIX

[FORM OF FACE OF INITIAL SECURITY]

[Global Securities Legend]

UNLESS THIS CERTIFICATE IS PRESENTED BY AN AUTHORIZED REPRESENTATIVE OF THE DEPOSITARY 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.

[Restricted Securities Legend]

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 OTHER WISE TRANSFERRED, ONLY (I) IN THE UNITED STATES TO A PERSON WHOM THE SELLER REASONABLY BELIEVES IS A QUALIFIED INSTITUTIONAL BUYER (AS DEFINED IN RULE 144A UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT) IN A TRANSACTION MEETING THE REQUIREMENTS OF RULE 144A, (II) OUTSIDE THE UNITED STATES 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) OR (IV) PURSUANT TO AN EFFECTIVE REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT, IN EACH OF CASES (I) THROUGH (IV) 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.

CUSIP NO.

No. ________ $___________

10-3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007

Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of __________ Dollars on October 1, 2007.

Interest Payment Dates: April 1 and October 1

Record Dates: March 15 and September 15

Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.

Dated: April 7, 1999

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR
CORPORATION,

Title:

Title:

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION

UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK,
as Trustee, certifies that
this is one of the Securities
referred to in the Indenture.

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF INITIAL SECURITY]

10-3/8% Senior Subordinated Note Due October 1, 2007

1. INTEREST

Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, 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, increasing by 0.50% per annum on the 90th day after such Registration Default and on every 90th day thereafter during the continuation of any such Registration Default, from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured. The Company will pay interest semiannually on April 1 and October 1 of each year. 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 [April 7, 1999] [date of issuance of any Additional Securities]. 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 March 15 or September 15 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 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 banking corporation ("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 April 7, 1999 ("Indenture"), among the Company, FSC Semiconductor Corporation, Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation of California 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. Sections 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 Company's obligations under the Securities are guaranteed by the Parent and certain Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

The Securities are general unsecured obligations of the Company. The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.03 of the Indenture, to issue Additional Securities pursuant to Section 2.13 of the Indenture. The Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date,

any Additional Securities and all Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities issued in exchange therefor will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture. The Indenture limits, among other things (i) the incurrence of additional debt by the Company and its subsidiaries, (ii) the payment of dividends on capital stock of the Company and the purchase, redemption or retirement of capital stock or subordinated indebtedness, (iii) certain transactions with affiliates, (iv) sales of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries, and (v) certain consolidations, mergers and transfers of assets. The Indenture also prohibits certain restrictions on distributions from subsidiaries. All of these limitations and prohibitions, however, are subject to a number of important qualifications contained in the Indenture.

5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION

Except as set forth in the next paragraph, the Securities may not be redeemed prior to April 1, 2003. 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 April 1,

    PERIOD                                                 PERCENTAGE
    ------                                                 ----------

2003.........................................................105.188%
2004.........................................................103.458
2005.........................................................101.729
2006 and thereafter..........................................100.000

In addition, at any time prior to April 1, 2002, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities (which includes Additional Securities, if any) with the proceeds of a Public Equity Offering, at any time or from time to time, at a redemption price of 110.375% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest to 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); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that:

(1) at least 65% of such aggregate principal amount of Securities (which includes Additional Securities, if any) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (other than the Securities held, directly or indirectly, by the Company or its Affiliates); and

(2) each such redemption occurs within 90 days after the date of the related Public Equity Offering.

6. SPECIAL REDEMPTION

In the event that (1) the Acquisition of the Power Device Business is not consummated or (2) Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has not received in cash the full purchase price for the Acquisition, in each case on or prior to April 23, 1999, the Company shall redeem the Securities (the "Special Redemption") at a redemption price of 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant date to receive interest due on such date) to the date of redemption. The Company shall prepare and deliver to the Trustee the notice of the Special Redemption on or prior to the Business Day immediately preceding, and the Trustee will send by first class mail a copy of such notice to the holders of Securities on or prior to, April 26, 1999. The Company shall redeem the Securities on or prior to May 3, 1999 or, in the event that the Company does not have sufficient cash to redeem the Securities as a result of any restriction imposed by Korean law, the Company shall redeem the Securities on the earlier of (1) the fifth Business Day immediately following the date such restriction is no longer applicable and (2) July 1, 1999.

7. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION

Except as set forth in paragraph 6 above, notice of optional redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at his registered address. Securities in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part 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.

8. PUT PROVISIONS

Upon a Change of Control, any Holder of Securities will have the right, subject to certain conditions, 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.

9. 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.

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.

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 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 certain changes in the subordination provisions, or to release a Subsidiary Guaranty when permitted by the Indenture, 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 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 $10.0 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 $10.0 million; and (vii) certain events with respect to the guarantees of the Securities by the Parent and certain Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company. 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, subject to certain conditions. 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 and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

17. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS

A director, officer, employee or stockholder, as such, of the Company or the Trustee shall not have any liability for any obligations of the Company under the Securities or the Indenture 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), TENENT (=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. 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.

21. 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.

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:

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
333 WESTERN AVENUE
SOUTH PORTLAND, ME 04106
ATTENTION: GENERAL COUNSEL

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.

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 Securities are being transferred in accordance with its terms:

(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

                              14

                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 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

[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES]

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

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: $

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

                       [FORM OF FACE OF EXCHANGE SECURITY
                          OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITY]

[*/]
[**/]

No. _______                                                         $__________

                   10-3/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due 2007

Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation, promises to pay to CEDE & CO., or registered assigns, the principal sum of _________ Dollars on October 1, 2007.

Interest Payment Dates: April 1 and October 1

Record Dates: March 15 and September 15

*/ If the Security is to be issued in global form add the Global Securities Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and the attachment from such Exhibit 1 captioned "[TO BE ATTACHED TO GLOBAL SECURITIES] - SCHEDULE OF INCREASES OR DECREASES IN GLOBAL SECURITY".

**/ If the Security is a Private Exchange Security issued in a Private Exchange to an Initial Purchaser holding an unsold portion of its initial allotment, add the Restricted Securities Legend from Exhibit 1 to Appendix A and replace the Assignment Form included in this Exhibit A with the Assignment Form included in such Exhibit 1.

Additional provisions of this Security are set forth on the other side of this Security.

Dated: April 7, 1999

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR
CORPORATION,

Title:

Title:

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION

UNITED STATES TRUST COMPANY OF NEW YORK,
as Trustee, certifies that
this is one of the Securities
referred to in the Indenture.

[FORM OF REVERSE SIDE OF EXCHANGE SECURITY OR PRIVATE EXCHANGE
SECURITY]

10-3/8% Senior Subordinated Note Due October 1, 2007

1. INTEREST

Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, 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, increasing by 0.50% per annum on the 90th day after such Registration Default and on every 90th day thereafter during the continuation of any such Registration Default, from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured]***/. The Company will pay interest semiannually on April 1 and October 1 of each year. 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 [April 7, 1999] [date of issuance of any Additional Securities]. 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

March 15 or September 15 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 Securities (including principal, premium and interest) will be made by wire transfer of immediately available funds to the accounts specified by the holders thereof or, if no U.S. dollar account maintained by the payee with a bank in the United States is designated by any holder to the Trustee or the Paying Agent at least 30 days prior to the relevant due date for payment (or such other date as the Trustee may accept in its discretion), by mailing a check to the registered address of such holder.

3. PAYING AGENT AND REGISTRAR

Initially, United States Trust Company of New York, a New York banking corporation ("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 April 7, 1999 ("Indenture"), among the Company, FSC Semiconductor Corporation, Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation of California 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. Sections 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 Company's obligations under the Securities are guaranteed by the Parent and certain Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company.

The Securities are general unsecured obligations of the Company. The Company shall be entitled, subject to its compliance with Section 4.03 of the Indenture, to issue

Additional Securities pursuant to Section 2.13 of the Indenture. The Initial Securities issued on the Issue Date, any Additional Securities and all Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities issued in exchange therefor will be treated as a single class for all purposes under the Indenture. The Indenture limits, among other things (i) the incurrence of additional debt by the Company and its subsidiaries, (ii) the payment of dividends on capital stock of the Company and the purchase, redemption or retirement of capital stock or subordinated indebtedness, (iii) certain transactions with affiliates, (iv) sales of assets, including capital stock of subsidiaries, and (v) certain consolidations, mergers and transfers of assets. The Indenture also prohibits certain restrictions on distributions from subsidiaries. All of these limitations and prohibitions, however, are subject to a number of important qualifications contained in the Indenture.

5. OPTIONAL REDEMPTION

Except as set forth in the next paragraph, the Securities may not be redeemed prior to April 1, 2003. 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 April 1,

PERIOD                                                  PERCENTAGE
------                                                  ----------
2003......................................................105.188%
2004......................................................103.458
2005......................................................101.729
2006 and thereafter.......................................100.000

In addition, at any time prior to April 1, 2002, the Company may redeem up to 35% of the aggregate principal amount of Securities (which includes Additional Securities, if any,) with the proceeds of a Public Equity Offering, at any time or from time to time, at a redemption price of 110.375% of the principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest to 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); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that:

(1) at least 65% of such aggregate principal amount of Securities (which includes Additional Securities, if any) remains outstanding immediately after the occurrence of each such redemption (other than the Securities held, directly or indirectly, by the Company or its Affiliates); and

(2) each such redemption occurs within 90 days after the date of the related Public Equity Offering.

6. SPECIAL REDEMPTION

In the event that (1) the Acquisition of the Power Device Business is not consummated or (2) Samsung Electronics Co., Ltd. has not received in cash the full purchase price for the Acquisition, in each case on or prior to April 23, 1999, the Company shall redeem the Securities (the "Special Redemption") at a redemption price of 100% of the aggregate principal amount thereof, plus accrued and unpaid interest thereon (subject to the right of holders of record on the relevant date to receive interest due on such date) to the date of redemption. The Company shall prepare and deliver to the Trustee the notice of the Special Redemption on or prior to the Business Day immediately preceding, and the Trustee will send by first class mail a copy of such notice to the Holders of Securities on or prior to, April 26, 1999. The Company shall redeem the Securities on or prior to May 3, 1999 or, in the event that the Company does not have sufficient cash to redeem the Securities as a result of any restriction imposed by Korean law, the Company shall redeem the Securities on the earlier of (1) the fifth Business Day immediately following the date such restriction is no longer applicable and (2) July 1, 1999.

7. NOTICE OF REDEMPTION

Except as set forth in paragraph 6 above, notice of optional redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than 60 days before the redemption date to each Holder of Securities to be redeemed at his registered address. Securities in denominations larger than $1,000 may be redeemed in part 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.

8. PUT PROVISIONS

Upon a Change of Control, any Holder of Securities will have the right, subject to certain conditions, 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.

9. 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.

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.

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 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 certain changes in the subordination provisions, or to release a Subsidiary Guaranty when permitted by the Indenture, 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 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 $10.0 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 $10.0 million; and (vii) certain events with respect to the guarantees of the Securities by the Parent and certain Restricted Subsidiaries of the Company. 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, subject to certain conditions. 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 and may otherwise deal with the Company or its Affiliates with the same rights it would have if it were not Trustee.

17. NO RECOURSE AGAINST OTHERS

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

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:

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION
333 WESTERN AVENUE
SOUTH PORTLAND, ME 04106
ATTENTION: GENERAL COUNSEL

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.

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: $

EXCHANGE OR A COMMERCIAL BANK OR TRUST

Exhibit 4.03

EXECUTION COPY

$300,000,000

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

10 3/8% SENIOR SUBORDINATED NOTES DUE OCTOBER 1, 2007

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

March 30, 1999

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.
FLEET SECURITIES, INC.
c/o CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
Eleven Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10010-3629

Ladies and Gentlemen:

Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("FAIRCHILD"), proposes to issue and sell to Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Salomon Smith Barney Inc. and Fleet Securities, Inc. (collectively, the "INITIAL PURCHASERS"), upon the terms set forth in a purchase agreement dated March 30, 1999 (the "PURCHASE AGREEMENT"), $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its 103/8% Senior Subordinated Notes Due October 1, 2007 (the "INITIAL SECURITIES"). The Initial Securities will be unconditionally guaranteed on a senior subordinated basis by FSC Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("FSC SEMICONDUCTOR"), and each existing and subsequently organized domestic subsidiary of Fairchild who become guarantors under the Credit Agreement (as defined in the Purchase Agreement) (together with FSC Semiconductor, the "GUARANTORS" and, together with Fairchild, the "COMPANY"). The Initial Securities will be issued pursuant to an Indenture, dated as of April 1999 (the "INDENTURE"), among Fairchild, the Guarantors and United States Trust Company of New York, as trustee (the "TRUSTEE"). As an inducement to the Initial Purchasers to enter into the Purchase Agreement, the Company agrees with the several Initial Purchasers, for the benefit of the holders of the Initial Securities (including, without limitation, the Initial Purchasers), the Exchange Securities (as defined below) and the Private Exchange Securities (as defined below) (collectively the "HOLDERS"), as follows:

1. REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER. The Company shall, at its own cost, prepare and, not later than 60 days after (or if the 60th day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) the date of original issue of the Initial Securities (the "ISSUE DATE"), file with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "COMMISSION") a registration statement (the "EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION STATEMENT") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act of 1933 (the "SECURITIES ACT"), with respect to a proposed offer (the "REGISTERED EXCHANGE OFFER") to the Holders of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in
Section 7 hereof), who are not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer, to issue and deliver to such Holders, in exchange for the Initial Securities, a like aggregate principal amount of debt securities (the "EXCHANGE SECURITIES") issued by Fairchild and guaranteed by the Guarantors under the Indenture and identical in all material respects to the Initial Securities (except for the transfer restrictions relating to the Initial Securities and the provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) that would be registered under the Securities Act. The Company shall use its best efforts to cause such Exchange Offer Registration Statement to become effective under the Securities Act within 150 days (or if the 150th day is not a business day, the first business day thereafter) after the Issue Date of the Initial Securities and shall keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement

effective for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice of the Registered Exchange Offer is mailed to the Holders (such period being called the "EXCHANGE OFFER REGISTRATION PERIOD").

If the Company effects the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company will be entitled to close the Registered Exchange Offer 30 days after the commencement thereof provided that the Company has accepted all the Initial Securities theretofore validly tendered in accordance with the terms of the Registered Exchange Offer.

Following the declaration of the effectiveness of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly commence the Registered Exchange Offer, it being the objective of such Registered Exchange Offer to enable each Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) electing to exchange the Initial Securities for Exchange Securities (assuming that such Holder is not an affiliate of the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act, acquires the Exchange Securities in the ordinary course of such Holder's business and has no arrangements with any person to participate in the distribution of the Exchange Securities and is not prohibited by any law or policy of the Commission from participating in the Registered Exchange Offer) to trade such Exchange Securities from and after their receipt without any limitations or restrictions under the Securities Act and without material restrictions under the securities laws of the several states of the United States.

The Company acknowledges that, pursuant to current interpretations by the Commission's staff of Section 5 of the Securities Act, in the absence of an applicable exemption therefrom, (i) each Holder which is a broker-dealer electing to exchange Initial Securities, acquired for its own account as a result of market making activities or other trading activities, for Exchange Securities (an "EXCHANGING DEALER"), is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information set forth in (a) Annex A hereto on the cover, (b) Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section, and (c) Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of such prospectus in connection with a sale of any such Exchange Securities received by such Exchanging Dealer pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and (ii) an Initial Purchaser that elects to sell Securities (as defined below) acquired in exchange for Initial Securities constituting any portion of an unsold allotment is required to deliver a prospectus containing the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in connection with such sale.

The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Exchange Offer Registration Statement effective and to amend and supplement the prospectus contained therein, in order to permit such prospectus to be lawfully delivered by all persons subject to the prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act for such period of time as such persons must comply with such requirements in order to resell the Exchange Securities; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that (i) in the case where such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto must be delivered by an Exchanging Dealer or an Initial Purchaser, such period shall be the lesser of 180 days after the expiration date of the Registered Exchange Offer and the date on which all Exchanging Dealers and the Initial Purchasers have sold all Exchange Securities held by them (unless such period is extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) and (ii) the Company shall make such prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any resale of any Exchange Securities for a period not less than 90 days after the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer.

If, upon consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer, any Initial Purchaser holds Initial Securities acquired by it as part of its initial distribution, the Company, simultaneously with the delivery of the Exchange Securities pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, shall issue and deliver to such Initial Purchaser upon the written request of such Initial Purchaser, in exchange (each, a "PRIVATE EXCHANGE" and collectively, the "PRIVATE EXCHANGES") for the Initial Securities held by such Initial Purchaser, a like principal amount of debt securities issued by Fairchild and guaranteed by the Guarantors under the Indenture and identical in all material respects (including the existence of restrictions on transfer under the

Securities Act and the securities laws of the several states of the United States, but excluding provisions relating to the matters described in Section 6 hereof) to the Initial Securities (the "PRIVATE EXCHANGE SECURITIES"). The Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities and the Private Exchange Securities are herein collectively called the "SECURITIES".

In connection with the Registered Exchange Offer, the Company shall:

(a) mail to each Holder a copy of the prospectus forming part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, together with an appropriate letter of transmittal and related documents;

(b) keep the Registered Exchange Offer open for not less than 30 days (or longer, if required by applicable law) after the date notice thereof is mailed to the Holders;

(c) utilize the services of a depositary for the Registered Exchange Offer with an address in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, which may be the Trustee or an affiliate of the Trustee;

(d) permit Holders to withdraw tendered Initial Securities at any time prior to the close of business, New York time, on the last business day on which the Registered Exchange Offer shall remain open; and

(e) otherwise comply with all applicable laws.

As soon as practicable after the close of the Registered Exchange Offer or the Private Exchange, as the case may be, the Company shall:

(x) accept for exchange all the Initial Securities validly tendered and not withdrawn pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and the Private Exchange;

(y) deliver to the Trustee for cancellation all the Initial Securities so accepted for exchange; and

(z) cause the Trustee to authenticate and deliver promptly to each Holder of the Initial Securities, Exchange Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, equal in principal amount to the Initial Securities of such Holder so accepted for exchange.

The Indenture will provide that the Exchange Securities will not be subject to the transfer restrictions set forth in the Indenture and that all the Securities will vote and consent together on all matters as one class and that none of the Securities will have the right to vote or consent as a class separate from one another on any matter.

Interest on each Exchange Security and Private Exchange Security issued pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer and in the Private Exchanges will accrue from the last interest payment date on which interest was paid on the Initial Securities surrendered in exchange therefor or, if no interest has been paid on the Initial Securities, from the date of original issue of the Initial Securities.

Each Holder participating in the Registered Exchange Offer shall be required to represent to the Company in writing that at the time of the consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer (i) any Exchange Securities received by such Holder will be acquired in the ordinary course of business,
(ii) such Holder will have no arrangements or understanding with any person to participate in the distribution of the Securities within the meaning of the Securities Act, (iii) such Holder is not an "AFFILIATE", as defined in Rule 405 of the Securities Act, of the Company or if it is an affiliate, such Holder will comply with the registration and prospectus delivery requirements of the Securities Act to the extent applicable, (iv) if such

Holder is not a broker-dealer, that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, the distribution of the Exchange Securities and (v) if such Holder is a broker-dealer, that it will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities and that it will be required to acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities.

Notwithstanding any other provisions hereof, the Company will ensure that (i) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and any prospectus forming part thereof and any supplement thereto complies in all material respects with the Securities Act and the rules and regulations thereunder, (ii) any Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment thereto does not, when it becomes effective, 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 and (iii) any prospectus forming part of any Exchange Offer Registration Statement, and any supplement to such prospectus, does not include an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

2. SHELF REGISTRATION. If, (i) because of any change in law or in applicable interpretations thereof by the staff of the Commission, the Company is not permitted to effect a Registered Exchange Offer, as contemplated by
Section 1 hereof, (ii) the Registered Exchange Offer is not consummated within 180 days of the date of this Agreement, (iii) any Initial Purchaser so requests with respect to the Initial Securities (or the Private Exchange Securities) not eligible to be exchanged for Exchange Securities in the Registered Exchange Offer and held by it following consummation of the Registered Exchange Offer or
(iv) any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) is not eligible to participate in the Registered Exchange Offer or, in the case of any Holder (other than an Exchanging Dealer) that participates in the Registered Exchange Offer, such Holder does not receive freely tradeable Exchange Securities on the date of the exchange, the Company shall take the following actions:

(a) The Company shall, at its cost, as promptly as practicable (but in no event more than 30 days after so required or requested pursuant to this Section 2) file with the Commission and thereafter shall use its best efforts to cause to be declared effective a registration statement (the "SHELF REGISTRATION STATEMENT" and, together with the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, a "REGISTRATION STATEMENT") on an appropriate form under the Securities Act relating to the offer and sale of the Transfer Restricted Securities (as defined in Section 6 hereof) by the Holders thereof from time to time in accordance with the methods of distribution set forth in the Shelf Registration Statement and Rule 415 under the Securities Act (hereinafter, the "SHELF REGISTRATION"); PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that no Holder (other than an Initial Purchaser) shall be entitled to have the Securities held by it covered by such Shelf Registration Statement unless such Holder agrees in writing to be bound by all the provisions of this Agreement applicable to such Holder.

(b) The Company shall use its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement continuously effective in order to permit the prospectus included therein to be lawfully delivered by the Holders of the relevant Securities, for a period of two years (or for such longer period if extended pursuant to Section 3(j) below) from the date of its effectiveness or such shorter period that will terminate when all the Securities covered by the Shelf Registration Statement (i) have been sold pursuant thereto or (ii) are no longer restricted securities (as defined in Rule 144 under the Securities Act, or any successor rule thereof). The Company shall be deemed not to have used its best efforts to keep the Shelf Registration Statement effective during the requisite period if it voluntarily takes any action that would result in Holders of Securities covered thereby not being able to offer and sell such Securities during that period, unless such action is required by applicable law.

(c) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this Agreement to the contrary, the Company shall cause the Shelf Registration Statement and the related prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto, as of the effective date of the Shelf Registration Statement, amendment or supplement, (i) to comply in all material respects with the applicable requirements of the Securities Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission and (ii) not to contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

3. REGISTRATION PROCEDURES. In connection with any Shelf Registration contemplated by Section 2 hereof and, to the extent applicable, any Registered Exchange Offer contemplated by Section 1 hereof, the following provisions shall apply:

(a) The Company shall (i) furnish to each Initial Purchaser, prior to the filing thereof with the Commission, a copy of the Registration Statement and each amendment thereof and each supplement, if any, to the prospectus included therein and, in the event that an Initial Purchaser (with respect to any portion of an unsold allotment from the original offering) is participating in the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration Statement, the Company shall use its best efforts to reflect in each such document, when so filed with the Commission, such comments as such Initial Purchaser reasonably may propose; (ii) include the information set forth in Annex A hereto on the cover, in Annex B hereto in the "Exchange Offer Procedures" section and the "Purpose of the Exchange Offer" section and in Annex C hereto in the "Plan of Distribution" section of the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and include the information set forth in Annex D hereto in the Letter of Transmittal delivered pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer; (iii) if requested by an Initial Purchaser, include the information required by Items 507 or 508 of Regulation S-K under the Securities Act, as applicable, in the prospectus forming a part of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement; (iv) include within the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement a section entitled "Plan of Distribution", reasonably acceptable to the Initial Purchasers, which shall contain a summary statement of the positions taken or policies made by the staff of the Commission with respect to the potential "underwriter" status of any broker-dealer that is the beneficial owner (as defined in Rule 13d-3 under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "EXCHANGE ACT")) of Exchange Securities received by such broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (a "PARTICIPATING BROKER-DEALER"), whether such positions or policies have been publicly disseminated by the staff of the Commission or such positions or policies, in the reasonable judgment of the Initial Purchasers based upon advice of counsel (which may be in-house counsel), represent the prevailing views of the staff of the Commission; and (v) in the case of a Shelf Registration Statement, include the names of the Holders who propose to sell Securities pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement as selling securityholders.

(b) The Company shall advise (and confirm such advice in writing if requested by the recipient of the advice) the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the Company has received prior written notice that it will be a Participating Broker-Dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer (which notice pursuant to clauses (ii)-(v) hereof shall be accompanied by an instruction to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes have been made):

(i) when the Registration Statement or any amendment thereto has been filed with the Commission and when the Registration Statement or any post-effective amendment thereto has become effective;

(ii) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the prospectus included therein or for additional information;

(iii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose;

(iv) of the receipt by the Company or its legal counsel of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose; and

(v) of the happening of any event that requires the Company to make changes in the Registration Statement or the prospectus in order that the Registration Statement or the prospectus does not contain an untrue statement of a material fact nor omit to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein (in the case of the prospectus, in light of the circumstances under which they were made) not misleading.

(c) The Company shall make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal, at the earliest possible time, of any order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement.

(d) The Company shall furnish to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, at least one copy of the Shelf Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if the Holder so requests in writing, all exhibits thereto (including those, if any, incorporated by reference).

(e) The Company shall deliver to each Exchanging Dealer and each Initial Purchaser, and to any other Holder who so requests, without charge, at least one copy of the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto, including financial statements and schedules, and, if any Initial Purchaser or any such Holder requests, all exhibits thereto (including those incorporated by reference).

(f) The Company shall, during the Shelf Registration Period, deliver to each Holder of Securities included within the coverage of the Shelf Registration, without charge, as many copies of the prospectus (including each preliminary prospectus) included in the Shelf Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such person may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by each of the selling Holders of the Securities in connection with the offering and sale of the Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in the Shelf Registration Statement.

(g) The Company shall deliver to each Initial Purchaser, any Exchanging Dealer, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer, without charge, as many copies of the final prospectus included in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement and any amendment or supplement thereto as such persons may reasonably request. The Company consents, subject to the provisions of this Agreement, to the use of the prospectus or any amendment or supplement thereto by any Initial Purchaser, if necessary, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such other persons required to deliver a prospectus following the Registered Exchange Offer in connection with the offering and sale of the Exchange Securities covered by the prospectus, or any amendment or supplement thereto, included in such Exchange Offer Registration Statement.

(h) Prior to any public offering of the Securities pursuant to any Registration Statement, the Company shall register or qualify or cooperate with the Holders of the Securities included therein and their respective counsel in connection with the registration or qualification of the

Securities for offer and sale under the securities or "blue sky" laws of such states of the United States as any Holder of the Securities reasonably requests in writing and do any and all other acts or things necessary or advisable to enable the offer and sale in such jurisdictions of the Securities covered by such Registration Statement; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the Company shall not be required to (i) qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or (ii) take any action which would subject it to general service of process or to taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject.

(i) The Company shall cooperate with the Holders of the Securities to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing the Securities to be sold pursuant to any Registration Statement free of any restrictive legends and in such denominations and registered in such names as the Holders may request a reasonable period of time prior to sales of the Securities pursuant to such Registration Statement.

(j) Upon the occurrence of any event contemplated by paragraphs (ii) through (v) of Section 3(b) above during the period for which the Company is required to maintain an effective Registration Statement, the Company shall promptly prepare and file a post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement or a supplement to the related prospectus and any other required document so that, as thereafter delivered to Holders of the Securities or purchasers of Securities, the prospectus will not contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading. If the Company notifies the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer in accordance with paragraphs (ii) through
(v) of Section 3(b) above to suspend the use of the prospectus until the requisite changes to the prospectus have been made, then the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any such Participating Broker-Dealers shall suspend use of such prospectus, and the period of effectiveness of the Shelf Registration Statement provided for in Section 2(b) above and the Exchange Offer Registration Statement provided for in Section 1 above shall each be extended by the number of days from and including the date of the giving of such notice to and including the date when the Initial Purchasers, the Holders of the Securities and any known Participating Broker-Dealer shall have received such amended or supplemented prospectus pursuant to this
Section 3(j).

(k) Not later than the effective date of the applicable Registration Statement, the Company will provide a CUSIP number for the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, and provide the applicable trustee with printed certificates for the Initial Securities, the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, in a form eligible for deposit with The Depository Trust Company.

(l) The Company will comply with all rules and regulations of the Commission to the extent and so long as they are applicable to the Registered Exchange Offer or the Shelf Registration and will make generally available to its security holders copies of such reports which it is required to file with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act.

(m) The Company shall cause the Indenture to be qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, in a timely manner and containing such changes, if any, as shall be necessary for such qualification. In the event that such qualification would require the appointment of a new trustee under the Indenture, the Company shall appoint a new trustee thereunder pursuant to the applicable provisions of the Indenture.

(n) The Company may require each Holder of Securities to be sold pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement to furnish to the Company such information regarding the Holder and the distribution of the Securities as the Company may from time to time reasonably require for

inclusion in the Shelf Registration Statement, and the Company may exclude from such registration the Securities of any Holder that unreasonably fails to furnish such information within a reasonable time after receiving such request.

(o) The Company shall enter into such customary agreements
(including, if requested, an underwriting agreement in customary form) and take all such other action, if any, as any Holder of the Securities shall reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Securities pursuant to any Shelf Registration.

(p) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company shall
(i) make reasonably available for inspection by the Holders of the Securities, any underwriter participating in any disposition pursuant to the Shelf Registration Statement and any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter all relevant financial and other records, pertinent corporate documents and properties of the Company and (ii) cause the Company's officers, directors, employees, accountants and auditors to supply all relevant information reasonably requested by the Holders of the Securities or any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with the Shelf Registration Statement, in each case, as shall be reasonably necessary to enable such persons, to conduct a reasonable investigation within the meaning of Section 11 of the Securities Act; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the foregoing inspection and information gathering shall be coordinated, on behalf of the Initial Purchasers by you and on behalf of the other parties, by one counsel designated by and on behalf of such other parties as described in
Section 4 hereof and provided, further, that as to any information that is designated in writing by the Company, in good faith, as confidential at the time of delivery, such information shall be kept confidential by the Holder or by any such underwriter, attorney, accountant or other agent.

(q) In the case of any Shelf Registration, the Company, if requested by any Holder of Securities covered thereby, shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver an opinion and updates thereof relating to the Securities in customary form addressed to such Holders and the managing underwriters, if any, thereof and dated, in the case of the initial opinion, the effective date of such Shelf Registration Statement (it being agreed that the matters to be covered by such opinion shall include such matters as are customarily included in opinions requested in underwritten offerings of such type); (ii) its officers to execute and deliver all customary documents and certificates and updates thereof reasonably requested by any underwriters of the applicable Securities and (iii) its independent public accountants and the independent public accountants with respect to any other entity for which financial information is provided in the Shelf Registration Statement to provide to the selling Holders of the applicable Securities and any underwriter therefor a comfort letter in customary form and covering matters of the type customarily covered in comfort letters in connection with primary underwritten offerings, subject to receipt of appropriate documentation as contemplated, and only if permitted, by Statement of Auditing Standards No. 72.

(r) In the case of the Registered Exchange Offer, if requested by any Initial Purchaser or any known Participating Broker-Dealer, the Company shall cause (i) its counsel to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a signed opinion in the form set forth in Sections 6(g) and 6(i) of the Purchase Agreement with such changes as are customary in connection with the preparation of a Registration Statement and (ii) its independent public accountants and the independent public accountants with respect to any other entity for which financial information is provided in the Registration Statement to deliver to such Initial Purchaser or such Participating Broker-Dealer a comfort letter, in customary form, meeting the requirements as to the substance thereof as set forth in Section 6(a) of the Purchase Agreement, with appropriate date changes.

(s) If a Registered Exchange Offer or a Private Exchange is to be consummated, upon delivery of the Initial Securities by Holders to the Company (or to such other Person as directed by the Company) in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, the Company shall mark, or cause to be marked, on the Initial Securities so exchanged that such Initial Securities are being canceled in exchange for the Exchange Securities or the Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be; in no event shall the Initial Securities be marked as paid or otherwise satisfied.

(t) The Company will use its best efforts to (a) if the Initial Securities have been rated prior to the initial sale of such Initial Securities, confirm such ratings will apply to the Securities covered by a Registration Statement or (b) if the Initial Securities were not previously rated, cause the Securities covered by a Registration Statement to be rated with the appropriate rating agencies, if so requested by Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of Securities covered by such Registration Statement, or by the managing underwriters, if any.

(u) In the event that any broker-dealer registered under the Exchange Act shall underwrite any Securities or participate as a member of an underwriting syndicate or selling group or "assist in the distribution" (within the meaning of the Conduct Rules (the "RULES") of the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD")) thereof, whether as a Holder of such Securities or as an underwriter, a placement or sales agent or a broker or dealer in respect thereof, or otherwise, the Company shall use its best efforts to assist such broker-dealer in complying with the requirements of such Rules, including, without limitation, by (i) if such Rules, including Rule 2720, shall so require, engaging a "qualified independent underwriter" (as defined in Rule 2720) to participate in the preparation of the Registration Statement relating to such Securities, to exercise usual standards of due diligence in respect thereto and, if any portion of the offering contemplated by such Registration Statement is an underwritten offering or is made through a placement or sales agent, to recommend the yield of such Securities, (ii) indemnifying any such qualified independent underwriter to the extent of the indemnification of underwriters provided in Section 5 hereof and (iii) providing such information to such broker-dealer as may be required in order for such broker-dealer to comply with the requirements of the Rules.

(v) The Company shall use its best efforts to take all other steps necessary to effect the registration of the Securities covered by a Registration Statement contemplated hereby.

4. REGISTRATION EXPENSES. The Company shall bear all fees and expenses incurred in connection with the performance of its obligations under Sections 1 through 3 hereof (including the reasonable fees and expenses, if any, of Cravath, Swaine & Moore, counsel for the Initial Purchasers, incurred in connection with the Registered Exchange Offer), whether or not the Registered Exchange Offer or a Shelf Registration is filed or becomes effective, and, in the event of a Shelf Registration, shall bear or reimburse the Holders of the Securities covered thereby for the reasonable fees and disbursements of one firm of counsel designated by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities covered thereby to act as counsel for the Holders of the Securities in connection therewith.

5. INDEMNIFICATION. (a) The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Holder of the Securities, any Participating Broker-Dealer and each person, if any, who controls such Holder or such Participating Broker-Dealer within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act (each Holder, any Participating Broker-Dealer and such controlling persons are referred to collectively as the "Indemnified Parties") from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, or any actions in respect thereof (including, but not limited to, any losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions relating to purchases and sales of the Securities) to which each Indemnified Party may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon (i) any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in

any prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or (ii) the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and shall reimburse, as incurred, the Indemnified Parties for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that
(i) the Company shall not be liable in any such case to the extent that such loss, claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein and (ii) with respect to any untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration Statement, the indemnity agreement contained in this subsection (a) shall not inure to the benefit of any Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer from whom the person asserting any such losses, claims, damages or liabilities purchased the Securities concerned, to the extent that a prospectus relating to such Securities was required to be delivered by such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer under the Securities Act in connection with such purchase and any such loss, claim, damage or liability of such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer results from the fact that there was not sent or given to such person, at or prior to the written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person, a copy of the amended, supplemented or final prospectus if the Company had previously furnished copies thereof to such Holder or Participating Broker-Dealer; PROVIDED FURTHER, HOWEVER, that this indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have to such Indemnified Party. The Company shall also indemnify underwriters, their officers and directors and each person who controls such underwriters within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act to the same extent as provided above with respect to the indemnification of the Holders of the Securities if requested by such Holders.

(b) Each Holder of the Securities, severally and not jointly, will indemnify and hold harmless (i) the Company and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, (ii) each of their respective directors and (iii) each of their respective officers who signs a Registration Statement from and against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities or any actions in respect thereof, to which the Company or any such controlling person, director or officer may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or actions arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in a Registration Statement or prospectus or in any amendment or supplement thereto or in any preliminary prospectus relating to a Shelf Registration, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, but in each case only to the extent that the untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission was made in reliance upon and in conformity with written information pertaining to such Holder and furnished to the Company by or on behalf of such Holder specifically for inclusion therein; and, subject to the limitation set forth immediately preceding this clause, shall reimburse, as incurred, the Company for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company or any such controlling person in connection with investigating or defending any loss, claim, damage, liability or action in respect thereof. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which such Holder may otherwise have to the Company or any of its controlling persons.

(c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this Section 5 of notice of the commencement of any action or proceeding (including a governmental investigation), such indemnified party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section 5, notify the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified party other than the indemnification obligation provided in

paragraph (a) or (b) above. In case any such action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be entitled to participate therein and, to the extent that it may wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel reasonably satisfactory to such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and after notice from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume the defense thereof the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party under this Section 5 for any legal or other expenses, other than reasonable costs of investigation, subsequently incurred by such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof. No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened action in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from all liability on any claims that are the subject matter of such action. No indemnifying party shall be liable for any settlement of any such action effected without its written consent (which consent shall not be unreasonably withheld), but if settled with its written consent or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff in any such action, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless any indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or judgment.

(d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 5 is unavailable or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsections (a) or (b) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) referred to in subsection (a) or (b) above (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other from the exchange of the Securities, pursuant to the Registered Exchange Offer, or (ii) if the allocation provided by the foregoing 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 indemnifying party or parties on the one hand and the indemnified party on the other in connection with the statements or omissions that resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of the parties shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Holder or such other indemnified party, as the case may be, on the other, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The amount paid by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages or liabilities referred to in the first sentence of this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with investigating or defending any action or claim which is the subject of this subsection (d). Notwithstanding any other provision of this
Section 5(d), the Holders of the Securities shall not be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the net proceeds received by such Holders from the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement exceeds the amount of damages which such Holders have 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 Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation. For purposes of this paragraph (d), each person, if any, who controls such indemnified party within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such indemnified party and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company.

(e) The agreements contained in this Section 5 shall survive the sale of the Securities pursuant to a Registration Statement and shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any termination or cancellation of this Agreement or any investigation made by or on behalf of any indemnified party.

6. ADDITIONAL INTEREST UNDER CERTAIN CIRCUMSTANCES. (a) Additional interest (the "ADDITIONAL INTEREST") with respect to the Initial Securities and the Private Exchange Securities shall be assessed as follows if any of the following events occur (each such event in clauses (i) through (iii) below a "REGISTRATION DEFAULT"):

(i) If by June 7, 1999, neither the Exchange Offer Registration Statement nor a Shelf Registration Statement has been filed with the Commission;

(ii) If by October 5, 1999, neither the Registered Exchange Offer is consummated nor, if required in lieu thereof, the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective by the Commission; or

(iii) If after either the Exchange Offer Registration Statement or the Shelf Registration Statement is declared effective (A) such Registration Statement thereafter ceases to be effective or (B) such Registration Statement or the related prospectus ceases to be usable (except as permitted in paragraph (b)) in connection with resales of Transfer Restricted Securities during the periods specified herein because either (1) any event occurs as a result of which the related prospectus forming part of such Registration Statement would include any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary to make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under which they were made not misleading, or (2) it shall be necessary to amend such Registration Statement or supplement the related prospectus, to comply with the Securities Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules thereunder.

Additional Interest shall accrue on the Initial Securities and the Private Exchange Securities over and above the interest set forth in the title of the Initial Securities from and including the date on which any such Registration Default shall occur to but excluding the date on which all such Registration Defaults have been cured, at a rate of 0.50% per annum (the "ADDITIONAL INTEREST RATE") for the first 90-day period immediately following the occurrence of such Registration Default. The Additional Interest Rate shall increase by an additional 0.50% per annum with respect to each subsequent 90-day period until all Registration Defaults have been cured, up to a maximum Additional Interest Rate of 2.0% per annum.

(b) A Registration Default referred to in Section 6(a)(iii) hereof shall be deemed not to have occurred and be continuing in relation to a Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus if (i) such Registration Default has occurred solely as a result of (x) the filing of a post-effective amendment to such Shelf Registration Statement to incorporate annual audited financial information with respect to the Company where such post-effective amendment is not yet effective and needs to be declared effective to permit Holders to use the related prospectus or (y) other material events, with respect to the Company that would need to be described in such Shelf Registration Statement or the related prospectus and (ii) in the case of clause (y), the Company is proceeding promptly and in good faith to amend or supplement such Shelf Registration Statement and related prospectus to describe such events; PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that in any case if such Registration Default occurs for a continuous period in excess of 30 days, Additional Interest shall be payable in accordance with the above paragraph from the day following such 30 day period until the date on which such Registration Default is cured.

(c) Any amounts of Additional Interest due pursuant to clause (i), (ii) or (iii) of Section 6(a) above will be payable in cash on the regular interest payment dates with respect to the Securities. The amount of Additional Interest will be determined by multiplying the applicable Additional Interest rate by the principal amount of the Initial Securities or Private Exchange Securities, as the case may be, multiplied by a fraction, the numerator of which is the number of days such Additional Interest rate was applicable during such period (determined on the basis of a 360-day year comprised of twelve 30-day months), and the denominator of which is 360.

(d) "TRANSFER RESTRICTED SECURITIES" means each Security until (i) the date on which such Security has been exchanged by a person other than a broker-dealer for a freely transferable Exchange Security in the Registered Exchange Offer, (ii) following the exchange by a broker-dealer in the Registered Exchange Offer of an Initial Security for an Exchange Note, the date on which such Exchange Note is sold to a purchaser who receives from such broker-dealer on or prior to the date of such sale a copy of the prospectus contained in the Exchange Offer Registration Statement, (iii) the date on which such Security has been effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Shelf Registration Statement or (iv) the date on which such Security is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act or is saleable pursuant to Rule 144(k) under the Securities Act.

7. RULES 144 AND 144A. The Company shall use its best efforts to file the reports required to be filed by it under the Securities Act and the Exchange Act in a timely manner and, if at any time the Company is not required to file such reports, it will, upon the request of any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities, make publicly available other information so long as necessary to permit sales of their securities pursuant to Rules 144 and 144A. The Company covenants that it will take such further action as any Holder of Transfer Restricted Securities may reasonably request, all to the extent required from time to time to enable such Holder to sell Transfer Restricted Securities without registration under the Securities Act within the limitation of the exemptions provided by Rules 144 and 144A (including the requirements of Rule 144A(d)(4)). The Company will provide a copy of this Agreement to prospective purchasers of Initial Securities identified to the Company by the Initial Purchasers upon request. Upon the request of any Holder of Initial Securities, the Company shall deliver to such Holder a written statement as to whether it has complied with such requirements. Notwithstanding the foregoing, nothing in this Section 7 shall be deemed to require the Company to register any of its securities pursuant to the Exchange Act.

8. UNDERWRITTEN REGISTRATIONS. If any of the Transfer Restricted Securities covered by any Shelf Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering ("MANAGING UNDERWRITERS") will be selected by the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of such Transfer Restricted Securities to be included in such offering.

No person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such person (i) agrees to sell such person's Transfer Restricted Securities on the basis reasonably provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangements and (ii) completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, underwriting agreements and other documents reasonably required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

9. MISCELLANEOUS.

(a) AMENDMENTS AND WAIVERS. The provisions of this Agreement may not be amended, modified or supplemented, and waivers or consents to departures from the provisions hereof may not be given, except by the Company and the written consent of the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Securities affected by such amendment, modification, supplement, waiver or consents.

(b) NOTICES. All notices and other communications provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand delivery, first-class mail, facsimile transmission, or air courier which guarantees overnight delivery:

(1) if to a Holder of the Securities, at the most current address given by such Holder to the Company.

(2) if to the Initial Purchasers;

                  Eleven Madison Avenue
                  New York, NY 10010-3629
                  Fax No.:  (212) 325-8278
                  Attn.:  Transactions Advisory Group

with a copy to:   Cravath, Swaine & Moore
                  Worldwide Plaza
                  825 Eighth Avenue
                  New York, NY 10019-7475
                  Fax No.:  (212) 474-3700
                  Attn.: Kris F. Heinzelman, Esq.

         (3)      if to the Company, at its address as follows:

                  Fairchild Semiconductor Corporation
                  333 Western Avenue, Mail Stop 01-00
                  South Portland, ME 04106
                  Fax No. (207) 761-6020
                  Attn.: Daniel E. Boxer, Esq.

with copies to:   Dechert Price & Rhoads
                  4000 Bell Atlantic Tower
                  1717 Arch Street
                  Philadelphia, PA 19103-2793
                  Fax No.: (215) 994-2222
                  Attn.: G. Daniel O'Donnell, Esq.

                  Dechert Price & Rhoads
                  30 Rockefeller Plaza
                  New York, NY 10112
                  Fax No.: (212) 698-3599
                  Attn.: Nina Grayson, Esq.

All such notices and communications shall be deemed to have been duly given: at the time delivered by hand, if personally delivered; three business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when receipt is acknowledged by recipient's facsimile machine operator, if sent by facsimile transmission; and on the day delivered, if sent by overnight air courier guaranteeing next day delivery.

(c) NO INCONSISTENT AGREEMENTS. The Company has not, as of the date hereof, entered into, nor shall it, on or after the date hereof, enter into, any agreement with respect to its securities that is inconsistent with the rights granted to the Holders herein or otherwise conflicts with the provisions hereof.

(d) SUCCESSORS AND ASSIGNS. This Agreement shall be binding upon the successors and assigns of each of the parties.

(e) COUNTERPARTS. This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same agreement.

(f) HEADINGS. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not limit or otherwise affect the meaning hereof.

(g) GOVERNING LAW. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY, AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH, THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.

(h) SEVERABILITY. If any one or more of the provisions contained herein, or the application thereof in any circumstance, is held invalid, illegal or unenforceable, the validity, legality and enforceability of any such provision in every other respect and of the remaining provisions contained herein shall not be affected or impaired thereby.

(i) SECURITIES HELD BY THE COMPANY. Whenever the consent or approval of Holders of a specified percentage of principal amount of Securities is required hereunder, Securities held by the Company or its affiliates (other than subsequent Holders of Securities if such subsequent Holders are deemed to be affiliates solely by reason of their holdings of such Securities) shall not be counted in determining whether such consent or approval was given by the Holders of such required percentage.

If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement, please sign and return to Fairchild a counterpart hereof, whereupon this instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement among the several Initial Purchasers, Fairchild and the Guarantors in accordance with its terms.

Very truly yours,

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION,

Title:

FSC SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION,

Title:

FAIRCHILD SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION OF
CALIFORNIA,

Title:

The foregoing Registration Rights Agreement is hereby confirmed and accepted as of the date first above written.

CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
SALOMON SMITH BARNEY INC.
FLEET SECURITIES, INC.

by: CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION

ANNEX A

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. The Letter of Transmittal states that by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 90 days after the Expiration Date (as defined herein), it will make this Prospectus available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. See "Plan of Distribution."

ANNEX B

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities, where such Initial Securities were acquired by such broker-dealer as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. See "Plan of Distribution."

ANNEX C

PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION

Each broker-dealer that receives Exchange Securities for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer must acknowledge that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities. This Prospectus, as it may be amended or supplemented from time to time, may be used by a broker-dealer in connection with resales of Exchange Securities received in exchange for Initial Securities where such Initial Securities were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities. The Company has agreed that, for a period of 90 days after the Expiration Date, it will make this prospectus, as amended or supplemented, available to any broker-dealer for use in connection with any such resale. In addition, until , 199 , all dealers effecting transactions in the Exchange Securities may be required to deliver a prospectus.1

The Company will not receive any proceeds from any sale of Exchange Securities by broker-dealers. Exchange Securities received by broker-dealers for their own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer may be sold from time to time in one or more transactions in the over-the-counter market, in negotiated transactions, through the writing of options on the Exchange Securities or a combination of such methods of resale, at market prices prevailing at the time of resale, at prices related to such prevailing market prices or negotiated prices. Any such resale may be made directly to purchasers or to or through brokers or dealers who may receive compensation in the form of commissions or concessions from any such broker-dealer or the purchasers of any such Exchange Securities. Any broker-dealer that resells Exchange Securities that were received by it for its own account pursuant to the Exchange Offer and any broker or dealer that participates in a distribution of such Exchange Securities may be deemed to be an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act and any profit on any such resale of Exchange Securities and any commission or concessions received by any such persons may be deemed to be underwriting compensation under the Securities Act. The Letter of Transmittal states that, by acknowledging that it will deliver and by delivering a prospectus, a broker-dealer will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

For a period of 90 days after the Expiration Date the Company will promptly send additional copies of this Prospectus and any amendment or supplement to this Prospectus to any broker-dealer that requests such documents in the Letter of Transmittal. The Company has agreed to pay all expenses incident to the Exchange Offer (including the expenses of one counsel for the Holders of the Securities) other than commissions or concessions of any brokers or dealers and will indemnify the Holders of the Securities (including any broker-dealers) against certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act.

ANNEX D

/ / CHECK HERE IF YOU ARE A BROKER-DEALER AND WISH TO RECEIVE 10 ADDITIONAL COPIES OF THE PROSPECTUS AND 10 COPIES OF ANY AMENDMENTS OR SUPPLEMENTS THERETO.

If the undersigned is not a broker-dealer, the undersigned represents that it is not engaged in, and does not intend to engage in, a distribution of Exchange Securities. If the undersigned is a broker-dealer that will receive Exchange Securities for its own account in exchange for Initial Securities that were acquired as a result of market-making activities or other trading activities, it acknowledges that it will deliver a prospectus in connection with any resale of such Exchange Securities; however, by so acknowledging and by delivering a prospectus, the undersigned will not be deemed to admit that it is an "underwriter" within the meaning of the Securities Act.

EXHIBIT 4.04

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT

FOR

COMMON STOCK

Dated March 11, 1997

by and among

FSC SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION,

STERLING HOLDING COMPANY, LLC,

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION,

and

THE INVESTORS LISTED ON SCHEDULE A

REGISTRATION RIGHTS AGREEMENT FOR COMMON STOCK

This Registration Rights Agreement for Common Stock (the "Agreement") is made and entered into March 11, 1997, by and among FSC Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), Sterling Holding Company, LLC, a Delaware limited liability company ("Sterling"), National Semiconductor Corporation, a Delaware corporation ("NSC"), and the investors (the "Additional Investors") listed on Schedule A hereto. Sterling, NSC and the Additional Investors are sometimes referred to herein collectively as the "Investors" and each individually as the "Investor".

This Agreement is made pursuant to the Securities Purchase and Holders Agreement (as hereinafter defined). In order to induce the Investors to enter into the Securities Purchase and Holders Agreement, the Company has agreed to provide the registration rights set forth in this Agreement.

The parties hereby agree as follows:

1. Definitions

As used in this Agreement, the following capitalized terms shall have the following meanings:

"Affiliate" has the meaning set forth in Rule 12b-2 promulgated under the Exchange Act.

"Commission" means the Securities and Exchange Commission.

"Common Stock" means the Class A Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, of the Company, including shares of Class A Common Stock issuable upon the conversion of shares of Class B Common Stock, par value $.01 per share, and as adjusted for any stock dividend or distribution payable thereon or stock split, reverse stock split, recapitalization, reclassification, reorganization, exchange, subdivision or combination thereof.

"Demand Registration" has the meaning set forth in
Section 4(a) of this Agreement.

"Exchange Act" means the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended from time to time.

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

"Prospectus" means the prospectus included in any Registration Statement, including any prospectus subject to completion, and any prospectus as amended or supplemented by any prospectus supplement with respect to the terms of the offering of any portion of the Registrable Securities covered by such Registration Statement and all other amendments and supplements to the Prospectus, including post-effective amendments, and all material incorporated by reference in such Prospectus.

"Public Offering" means a successfully completed underwritten public offering pursuant to an effective registration statement under the Securities Act (other than a Special Registration Statement) in respect of the offer and sale of shares of Common Stock.

"Registration Expenses" means the costs and expenses of all registrations and qualifications under the Securities Act, and of all other actions the Company is required to take in order to effect the registration of Registrable Securities under the Securities Act pursuant to this Agreement (including all federal and state registration and filing fees, printing expenses, fees and disbursements of counsel for the Company, the fees and expenses of the Company's independent public accountants (including the expenses of any special audit and "cold comfort" letters required by or incident to such registration) and Securities and Exchange Commission, securities exchange and NASD fees, fees and expenses to prepare and distribute the applicable registration statement and fees and disbursements of one counsel selected by the holder demanding registration if the registration is a Demand Registration or otherwise by the holders of a majority of the Registrable Securities to be registered) other than the costs and expenses of any Investors whose Registrable Securities are to be registered pursuant to this Agreement comprising underwriters' commissions, brokerage fees, transfer taxes or the fees and expenses of any accountants or other representatives (including counsel except as provided above) retained by any Investor.

"Registration Statement" means any registration statement of the Company which covers any of the Registrable Securities

pursuant to the provisions of this Agreement, including the Prospectus, amendments and supplements to such Registration Statement, including post-effective amendments, all exhibits thereto and all material incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement.

"Registrable Securities" has the meaning set forth in
Section 2 of this Agreement.

"Securities Act" means the Securities Act of 1933, as amended from time to time.

"Securities Purchase and Holders Agreement" means the Securities Purchase and Holders Agreement dated March 11, 1997 among the Company, Sterling, the Additional Investors and the other signatories thereto.

"Special Registration Statement" means (i) a registration statement on Forms S-8 or S-4 or any similar or successor form or any other registration statement relating to an exchange offer or an offering of securities solely to the Company's employees or security holders or (ii) a registration statement registering a Unit Offering.

"Unit Offering" means a public offering of a combination of debt and equity securities of the Company in which (i) not more than 20% of the gross proceeds received for the sale of such securities is attributed to such equity securities, and (ii) after giving effect to such offering, the Company does not have a class of equity securities required to be registered under the Exchange Act.

"underwritten registration or underwritten offering" means a registration in which securities of the Company are sold to an underwriter for reoffering to the public.

2. Registrable Securities. The securities entitled to the benefits of this Agreement are the Registrable Securities. As used herein, "Registrable Securities" means the shares of Common Stock that are issued and outstanding on the date hereof and the shares of Common Stock that become issued and outstanding after the date hereof; provided, however, that each share of Common Stock shall cease to be a Registrable Security when (i) it has been

effectively registered under the Securities Act and disposed of in accordance with the Registration Statement covering it; (ii) it is distributed to the public pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act or otherwise if, as a result of or following any sale referred to in this clause (ii), such shares become represented by a new certificate or other evidence of ownership not bearing a legend as set forth in Section 3.3 of the Securities Purchase and Holders Agreement (or other legend of similar import) and not subject to any stop transfer order and no other restriction on transfer exists under the Securities Act or (iii) it is eligible for resale under Rule 144 (or other similar provisions then in force) under the Securities Act and the aggregate number of shares held by the holder thereof constitutes less than 1% of the shares of Common Stock then outstanding.

3. Incidental Registration.

(a) Right to Include Common Stock. If the Company at any time proposes to register any of its Common Stock, or securities convertible into or exchangeable for Common Stock under the Securities Act (other than on a Special Registration Statement), whether or not for sale for its own account, it will each such time give at least 40 days prior written notice (the "Notice") to all holders of Registrable Securities of its intention to file a registration statement under the Securities Act and of such holders' rights under this
Section 3. Upon the written request of any such holders of Registrable Securities made within 20 days of the date of the Notice (which request shall specify the aggregate number of the Registrable Securities to be registered and will also specify the intended method of disposition thereof), the Company will effect the registration under the Securities Act of all Registrable Securities which the Company has been so requested to register by the holders thereof (an "Incidental Registration"), to the extent required to permit the public disposition (in accordance with such intended methods thereof) of the Registrable Securities to be so registered; provided, that (i) if, any time after giving written notice of its intention to register shares of Common Stock and prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, the Company shall determine for any reason not to register the Company's Common Stock, the Company shall give written notice of such determination to each holder of Registrable Securities and, thereupon, shall be

relieved of its obligation to register any Registrable Securities in connection with such registration (but not from its obligation to pay the Registration Expenses in connection therewith); (ii) if a registration requested pursuant to this Section 3 shall involve an underwritten public offering, any holder of Registrable Securities requesting to be included in such registration may elect, in writing at least 15 days prior to the effective date of the registration statement filed in connection with such registration, not to register such securities in connection with such registration; and (iii) if, at any time after the 180-day or shorter period specified in Section 3(b), the sale of the securities has not been completed, the Company may withdraw from the registration on a pro rata basis (based on the number of Registrable Securities requested by each holder of Registrable Securities to be so registered) the Registrable Securities which the Company has been requested to register and which have not been sold.

(b) Priority in Incidental Registrations. With respect to Incidental Registrations that do not involve a Demand Registration which is covered by Section 4 below, if a registration pursuant to Section 3(a) involves an underwritten offering and the managing underwriter advises the Company in writing that, in its opinion, the total number of shares of Common Stock to be included in such registration, including the Registrable Securities requested to be included pursuant to this Section 3, exceeds the maximum number of shares of Common Stock specified by the managing underwriter that may be distributed without adversely affecting the price, timing or distribution of such shares of Common Stock, then the Company shall include in such registration only such maximum number of Registrable Securities which, in the reasonable opinion of such underwriter or underwriters, can be sold in the following order of priority: (i) first, all of the shares of Common Stock that the Company proposes to sell for its own account, if any, and (ii) second, the Registrable Securities of the holder(s) of Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Incidental Registration. To the extent that shares of Common Stock to be included in the Incidental Registration must be allocated among the holders(s) of Registrable Securities pursuant to clause (ii) above, such shares shall be allocated pro rata among the holders(s) of Registrable Securities based on the number of shares of Common Stock that such holders(s) of Registrable Securities shall have requested to be included therein. Notwithstanding the foregoing,

if an Incidental Registration (whether or not it is a Demand Registration) is an underwritten offering, the managing underwriter or underwriters may select shares for inclusion, or exclude shares completely, in such Incidental Registration on a basis other than a pro rata basis if, in the reasonable opinion of such underwriter or underwriters, selection on such other basis, or inclusion of such shares, would be material to the success of the offering.

(c) Expenses. The Company will pay all Registration Expenses in connection with any registration of Registrable Securities requested pursuant to this Section 3.

(d) Liability for Delay. The Company shall not be held responsible for any delay in the filing or processing of a registration statement which includes any Registrable Securities due to requests by holders of Registrable Securities pursuant to this Section 3 nor for any delay in requesting the effectiveness of such registration statement.

(e) Participation in Underwritten Registrations. No holder of Registrable Securities may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such holder (i) agrees to sell his or its Common Stock on the basis provided in any underwriting arrangements approved by the persons who have selected the underwriter and (ii) accurately completes in a timely manner and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, underwriting agreements, opinions of counsel, escrow agreements, indemnification agreements and other documents customarily required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

4. Demand Registration

(a) Right to Demand Registration. Subject to Section 4(b) below, each of Sterling and NSC shall be entitled to make a written request ("Demand Registration Request") to the Company for registration with the Commission under and in accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of all or part of the Registrable Securities owned by it (a "Demand Registration") (which Demand Registration Request shall specify the intended number of Registrable Securities to be disposed of by such holder and the intended method of disposition thereof); provided, that (i) the Company may, if the Board of Directors so determines in the exercise of its reasonable judgment that due to a pending or

contemplated acquisition or disposition or public offering or other similar transaction involving the Company it would be inadvisable to effect such Demand Registration at such time, defer such Demand Registration for a single period not to exceed 180 days, and (ii) if the Company elects not to effect the Demand Registration pursuant to the terms of this sentence, no Demand Registration shall be deemed to have occurred for purposes of this Agreement.

(b) Number of Demand Registrations. Sterling shall be entitled to make one or more Demand Registration Requests at any time and from time to time. NSC shall be entitled to make up to two Demand Registration Requests at any time and from time to time beginning 180 days after the Company has consummated a Public Offering (or otherwise has a class of equity securities registered pursuant to Section 12 of the Exchange Act) provided that the Company need not effect the Demand Registration unless such Demand Registration includes at least 33% of the aggregate Registrable Securities held by NSC on the date hereof (adjusted for any stock dividend, stock distribution, stock split, reverse stock split, stock combination, recapitalization, reclassification, subdivision, conversion or similar transaction). The Registration Expenses shall be borne by the Company.

(c) Priority on Demand Registration. If any of the Registrable Securities proposed to be registered pursuant to a Demand Registration are to be sold in a firm commitment underwritten offering and the managing underwriter or underwriters of a Demand Registration advise the Company and the holders of such Registrable Securities in writing that in its or their reasonable opinion the number of shares of Common Stock proposed to be sold in such Demand Registration exceeds the maximum number of shares specified by the managing underwriter that may be distributed without adversely affecting the price, timing or distribution of the Common Stock, the Company shall include in such registration only such maximum number of Registrable Securities which, in the reasonable opinion of such underwriter or underwriters can be sold in the following order of priority: (i) first, the Registrable Securities requested to be included in such Demand Registration held by the party requesting such Demand Registration; (ii) second, shares of Common Stock to be offered by the Company in such Demand Registration and (iii) third, shares of Common Stock held by other holders requested to be included in such Demand Registration, provided that such amount shall be allocated among such other

holders on a pro rata basis based upon their respective percentage of ownership of the total number of shares of Common Stock then outstanding.

5. Registration Procedures. If and whenever the Company is required to effect or cause the registration of any Registrable Securities under the Securities Act as provided in this Agreement, the Company will, as expeditiously as reasonably possible:

(a) prepare and file with the Commission a registration statement with respect to such Registrable Securities (with respect to a Demand Registration, within 90 days of such demand (subject to Section
4(a))), and use its best efforts to cause such registration statement to become effective, provided, however, that, subject to the provisions of Sections 3 or 4, as applicable, the Company may discontinue any registration of its securities which is being effected pursuant to Sections 3 or 4 herein at any time prior to the effective date of the registration statement relating thereto;

(b) prepare and file with the Commission such amendments and supplements to such registration statement and the prospectus used in connection therewith as may be necessary to keep such registration statement effective for a period of not less than 180 days or such shorter period which will terminate when all Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement have been sold (but not before the expiration of the 90-day period referred to in Section 4(3) of the Securities Act and Rule 174 thereunder, if applicable) and comply with the provisions of the Securities Act with respect to the disposition of all securities covered by such registration statement during such period in accordance with the intended methods of disposition by the seller or sellers thereof set forth in such registration statement;

(c) furnish to each seller of such Registrable Securities such number of copies of such registration statement and of each such amendment and supplement thereof (in each case including all exhibits), such number of copies of the prospectus included in such registration statement (including each preliminary prospectus and summary prospectus), in conformity with the requirements of the Securities Act, and such other documents as

such seller may reasonably request in order to facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities by such seller;

(d) use its best efforts to register or qualify such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement under such other securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions as each seller shall request, and do any and all other acts and things which may be necessary or advisable to enable such seller to consummate the disposition in such jurisdictions of the Registrable Securities owned by such seller in accordance with the intended method of disposition; provided, however, that the Company shall not be required to qualify generally to do business in any jurisdiction where it is not then so qualified or to take any action which would subject it to general service of process in any such jurisdiction where it is not then so subject or subject itself to general taxation in any jurisdiction where it is not then so subject;

(e) immediately notify each seller of any Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement, at any time when a prospectus relating thereto is required to be delivered under the Act within the appropriate period mentioned in clause (b) of this Section 5, of the Company becoming aware that the prospectus included in such registration statement, as then in effect, includes an untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading in the light of the circumstances then existing, and as promptly as practicable, but in any event within ten days prepare, file and furnish to all sellers a reasonable number of copies of an amended or supplemental prospectus as may be necessary so that, as thereafter delivered to the purchasers of such Registrable Securities, such prospectus shall not include 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 in the light of the circumstances then existing and use its best efforts to have any amended or supplemental prospectus declared effective (if necessary);

(f) use its best efforts to list such Registrable Securities on any securities exchange on which the Common Stock is then listed or on NASDAQ if the Common Stock is then quoted on NASDAQ, if such Registrable Securities are not already so listed or

quoted and if such listing is then permitted under the rules of such exchange or NASDAQ, and provide an independent transfer agent and registrar for such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement not later than the effective date of such registration statement;

(g) furnish to each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement on the effective date of such registration statement (or, if such registration involves an underwritten public offering, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement) a signed counterpart, addressed to such seller (and the underwriters, if any) of:

(i) an opinion of counsel for the Company, dated the effective date of such registration statement (or, if such registration involves an underwritten public offering, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement), in form and substance as is customarily given by company counsel to the underwriter in an underwritten public offering addressed to the seller of the Registrable Securities and the managing underwriter, if any; and

(ii) a "comfort" letter, dated the effective date of such registration statement (or, if such registration involves an underwritten public offering, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement), signed by the independent public accountants who have certified the Company's financial statements included in such registration statement, covering such matters with respect to such registration statement as are customarily covered in accountants' letters delivered to the underwriters in underwritten offerings of securities (addressed to the sellers of the Registrable Securities and the managing underwriter, if any);

(h) make available for inspection by any seller of such Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement, by any underwriter participating in any disposition to be effected pursuant to such registration statement and by any attorney, accountant or other agent retained by any such seller or any such underwriter (individually, an "Inspector" and collectively, the "Inspectors"), all pertinent financial and other records, pertinent

corporate documents and properties of the Company as shall be reasonably necessary to enable them to exercise their due diligence responsibility (collectively, the "Records"), and cause all of the Company's officers, directors and employees to supply all information reasonably requested by any such seller, underwriter, attorney, accountant or agent in connection with such registration; provided that any Records that are designated by the Company in writing as confidential shall be kept confidential by the Inspectors unless (A) the disclosure of such Records is necessary to avoid or correct a misstatement or omission in such registration statement or (B) the release of such Records is required by law or legal process in the written opinion of counsel. Each Investor agrees that non-public information obtained by it as a result of such Inspections shall be deemed confidential and acknowledges its obligations under the Federal securities laws not to trade any securities of the Company on the basis of material non-public information;

(i) in the event of any underwritten offering, enter into and perform its obligations under an underwriting or placement agreement, in usual and customary form, with the lead underwriter(s) of such offering and take all such other actions in connection therewith in order to expedite or facilitate the disposition of the Registrable Securities being sold in such underwritten offering and in connection therewith (i) make such representations and warranties to the lead underwriter(s) in form, substance and scope as are customarily made by issuers to lead underwriter(s) in secondary offerings; and
(ii) deliver such documents and certificates as may be reasonably requested by the selling holders and the lead underwriter(s) to evidence compliance with clause (i) above and with any customary conditions contained in the underwriting or placement agreement or other agreement entered into by the Company, as the case may be. The above shall be done at each closing under such underwriting or other agreement or as and to the extent required thereunder. The selling holders participating in such underwriting shall also enter into and perform its obligations under such an agreement, including furnishing any opinion of counsel or entering into a hold-back agreement pursuant to Section 7;

(j) notify in writing the selling holders and the lead underwriter(s), if any, promptly (i) of any request by the Commission for amendments or supplements to any registration

statement or prospectus or for additional information, (ii) of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of any registration statement or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose,
(iii) in the case of an underwritten offering, if at any time the representations and warranties of the Company contemplated by Section 5(i) cease to be true and correct, and (iv) of the receipt by the Company, as the case may be, of any notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of the Registrable Securities for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or threatening of any proceeding for such purpose;

(k) if reasonably requested by the lead underwriter(s) or a selling holder in connection with an underwritten offering and if reasonably acceptable to the Company, promptly incorporate in a prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment such information as the lead underwriter(s) and the holders of a majority in interest of the Registrable Securities being sold agree should be included therein, which such information relates to the sale of the Registrable Securities, including, without limitation, information with respect to the amount of Registrable Securities being sold to or through such underwriter(s) and the purchase price being paid therefor by such underwriter(s); and promptly make all required filings of such prospectus supplement or post-effective amendment;

(l) cooperate with the selling holders and the lead underwriter(s), if any, to facilitate the timely preparation and delivery of certificates representing such securities and not bearing any restrictive legends; and enable such securities to be in such denominations and registered in such names as such holders or lead underwriter(s) may request at least two business days prior to any sale of Registrable Securities to the underwriters;

(m) otherwise use its best efforts to comply with all applicable rules and regulations of the Commission, and make generally available to its security holders earnings statements satisfying the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act;

(n) make reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any order suspending the effectiveness of a Registration Statement or of any order preventing or suspending the qualification (or exemption from qualification) of any of the

securities covered thereby for sale in any jurisdiction, and, if any such other is issued, to obtain the withdrawal thereof as promptly as reasonably practicable; and

(o) cooperate and assist in any filings to be made with the NASD and (subject to compliance with clause (h)) in any reasonable due diligence investigation by any "underwriter" (including any "qualified independent underwriter" required to be retained in accordance with the rules and regulations of the NASD).

The Company may require each seller of Registrable Securities as to which any registration is being effected promptly to furnish to the Company (i) an opinion of counsel for such seller dated the effective date of the registration statement relating to such seller's Registrable Securities (or if such registration involves an underwritten public offering, dated the date of the closing under the underwriting agreement), reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to the Company (and the managing underwriter, if any) and (ii) such information regarding the distribution of such Registrable Securities as may be legally required. Such information shall be furnished in writing and shall state that it is being furnished for use in the registration statement.

Each holder of Registrable Securities agrees by acquisition of such Registrable Securities that, upon receipt of any notice from the Company of the happening of any event of the kind described in clause (e) of this Section 5, such holder will forthwith discontinue disposition of Registrable Securities pursuant to the registration statement covering such Registrable Securities until such holder's receipt of the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by clause (e) of this Section 5 (if required or until receipt of notice from the Company that a supplemental or amended prospectus is not required), and, if so directed by the Company, such holder will deliver to the Company (at the Company's expense) all copies, other than permanent file copies then in such holder's possession, of the prospectus covering such Registrable Securities current at the time of receipt of the Company's notice. In the event the Company shall give any such notice, the period mentioned in clause (b) of this Section 5 shall be extended by the number of days during the period from and including the date of the giving of such notice pursuant to clause (e) of this Section 5 and including the date when each seller of Registrable Securities covered by such registration statement shall

have received the copies of the supplemented or amended prospectus contemplated by clause (e) of this Section 5.

6. Indemnification.

(a) Indemnification by the Company. The Company hereby agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each holder of Registrable Securities which shall have been registered under the Securities Act, and such holder's officers, directors, shareholders, partners and agents, each other Person, if any, who controls such holder within the meaning of the Securities Act and each other Person (including underwriters) who participates in the offering of such Registrable Securities against any losses, claims, damages, liabilities, reasonable attorneys' fees, costs or expenses (collectively, the "Damages"), joint or several, to which such holder or controlling Person or participating Person may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, insofar as such Damages (or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of any material fact made by the Company or its agents contained in any registration statement under which such Registrable Securities are registered under the Securities Act, in any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein, or in any amendment or supplement thereof, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will reimburse such holder of Registrable Securities or such controlling Person or participating Person in connection with investigating or defending any such Damages or proceeding; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such Damages arise out of or are based upon (i) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in such registration statement, said preliminary or final prospectus or said amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by such holder or such controlling or participating Person, as the case may be, specifically and expressly for use in the preparation thereof; or (ii) an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission in a prospectus if such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement, omission or alleged omission is corrected in an amendment or supplement to the prospectus which amendment or supplement is delivered to such holder in a timely manner and such

holder thereafter fails to deliver such prospectus as so amended or supplemented prior to or concurrently with the sale of such Registrable Securities to the Person asserting such Damages; provided, further, that in no event shall the indemnification included under this clause (a) be at a level less than that provided by the Company to the underwriters of the applicable offering.

(b) Indemnification by the Holders of Registrable Securities Which Are Registered. Each holder, by its exercise of any benefit of this Agreement, agrees that it will indemnify and hold harmless the Company, its directors, officers and agents and each other Person, if any, which controls the Company within the meaning of the Securities Act against any Damages, joint or several, to which the Company, or such other Person or such Person controlling the Company may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or otherwise, but only to the extent that such Damages (or proceedings in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon any untrue statements or alleged untrue statement of any material fact contained, on the effective date thereof, in any registration statement under which such Registrable Securities are registered under the Securities Act, in any preliminary prospectus or final prospectus contained therein or in any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, which, in each such case, has been made in or omitted from such registration statement, said preliminary or final prospectus or said amendment or supplement in reliance upon, and in conformity with, written information furnished to the Company by such holder of Registrable Securities specifically and expressly for use in the preparation thereof; provided, however, that in no event shall the indemnification included under this clause (b) be at a level greater than that provided by the Company to the underwriters of the applicable offering in proportion to the proceeds to the Company and to such selling holder of such offering. The Company shall be entitled to receive indemnities from underwriters, selling brokers, dealer managers and similar securities industry professionals participating in the distribution, to the same extent as provided above, with respect to information furnished in writing by such Persons specifically for inclusion in any prospectus or registration statement.

(c) Conduct of Indemnification Proceedings. Any Person entitled to indemnification hereunder shall (i) give prompt written notice to the indemnifying party of the commencement of any action or proceeding involving a claim referred to in the preceding paragraphs of this Section 6; and
(ii) unless the indemnified party has been advised by its counsel that a conflict of interest exists between such indemnified and indemnifying parties under applicable standards of professional responsibility, with respect to such claim, permit such indemnifying party to assume the defense of such claim with counsel reasonably satisfactory to the indemnified party. Whether or not such defense is assumed by the indemnifying party, the indemnifying party will not be subject to any liability for any settlement made without its consent (but such consent will not be unreasonably withheld). No indemnifying party will consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement which does not include as an unconditional term thereof the giving by the claimant or plaintiff to such indemnified party of a release from all liability in respect of such claim or litigation; provided, however, that no indemnifying party will consent to the entry of any judgment or enter into any settlement (other than for the payment of money only) without the consent of the indemnified party (which consent will not be unreasonably withheld). An indemnifying party who is not entitled to, or elects not to, assume the defense of the claim, will not be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of more than one counsel for all parties indemnified by such indemnifying party with respect to such claim, unless in the reasonable judgment of any indemnified party a conflict of interest may exist between such indemnified party and any other such indemnified parties with respect to such claim, in which event the indemnifying party shall be obligated to pay the fees and expenses of such additional counsel or counsels.

(d) Contribution. If for any reason the indemnification provided for in the preceding Sections 6(a) or 6(b) is unavailable to an indemnified party in respect of any Damages referred to therein, the indemnifying party shall contribute to the amount paid or payable by the indemnified party as a result of such Damages in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits received by the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, but also the relative fault of the indemnified party and the indemnifying party, as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative fault of such indemnifying party and indemnified parties shall be determined by reference to,

among other things, whether any action in question, including any untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or alleged omission to state a material fact, has been made by, or relates to information supplied by, such indemnifying party or indemnified parties, and the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such action; provided, however, that in no event shall the liability of any selling holder of Registrable Securities hereunder be greater in amount than the difference between the dollar amount of the proceeds received by such holder upon the sale of the Registrable Securities giving rise to such contribution obligation and all amounts previously contributed by such holder with respect to such Damages. No Person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any Person who was not guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation. It is agreed that it would not be just and equitable if contributions pursuant to this subsection 6(d) were determined by pro rata allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations referred to above in this subsection 6(d).

7. Hold-Back Agreements

(a) Restrictions on Public Sale by Holder of Registrable Securities. Each holder of Registrable Securities whose Registrable Securities are eligible for inclusion in a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Sections 3 or 4 agrees, if requested by the managing underwriter or underwriters in an underwritten offering of any Registrable Securities, not to effect any public sale or distribution of Registrable Securities, including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 (or any similar provision then in force) under the Securities Act (except as part of such underwritten registration), during the 10-day period prior to, and during the 180-day period (or such shorter period as may be agreed to by the parties hereto) beginning on the effective date of such Registration Statement, to the extent timely notified in writing by the Company or the managing underwriter or underwriters.

The foregoing provisions shall not apply to any holder of Registrable Securities if such holder is prevented by applicable statute or regulation from entering into any such agreement; provided, however, that any such holder shall undertake, in its request to participate in any such underwritten offering, not to

effect any public sale or distribution of Registrable Securities (except as part of such underwritten registration) during such period unless it has provided 45 days prior written notice of such sale or distribution to the managing underwriter or underwriter.

(b) Restrictions on Public Sale by the Company and Others. The Company shall (i) not effect any public sale or distribution of any of its Common Stock for its own account during the 10-day period prior to, and during the 180-day period beginning on, the effective date of a Registration Statement filed pursuant to Sections 3 or 4 (except as part of a Special Registration Statement), and (ii) use reasonable efforts to cause each holder of Common Stock purchased from the Company at any time after the date of this Agreement (other than in a registered public offering) to agree not to effect any public sale or distribution of any such securities during such period, including a sale pursuant to Rule 144 under the Securities Act (except as part of such underwritten registration, if permitted).

8. Underwritten Registration

If any of the Registrable Securities covered by any Incidental Registration are to be sold in an underwritten offering, the investment banker or investment bankers and manager or managers that will administer the offering will be selected by the Company and, in the case of a Demand Registration, approved by the party making the Demand Registration Request.

Notwithstanding anything herein to the contrary, no Person may participate in any underwritten registration hereunder unless such Person (a) agrees to sell such Person's securities on the basis provided in any underwritten arrangements approved by the Persons entitled hereunder to approve such arrangement and (b) accurately completes and executes all questionnaires, powers of attorney, indemnities, custody agreements, underwriting agreements and other documents required under the terms of such underwriting arrangements.

9. Miscellaneous

(a) Amendment and Modification. This Agreement may be amended or modified, or any provision hereof may be waived, provided that such amendment or waiver is set forth in a writing executed by (i) the Company, (ii) Sterling (so long as Sterling and its Affiliates own in the aggregate at least 25% of the outstanding Common Stock on a fully diluted basis), (iii) NSC (so long as NSC and its Affiliates own in the aggregate at least 5% of the outstanding Common Stock on a fully-diluted basis), (iv) the holders of a majority of the shares of the Registrable Securities held by Investors other than Sterling, and (v) in the case of any amendment which materially and adversely affects any Investor differently from any other Investor, such Investor. No course of dealing between or among any persons having any interest in this Agreement will be deemed effective to modify, amend or discharge any part of this Agreement or any rights or obligations of any person under or by reason of this Agreement.

(b) Survival of Representations and Warranties. All representations, warranties, covenants and agreements set forth in this Agreement will survive the execution and delivery of this Agreement and the consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby, regardless of any investigation made by an Investor or on its behalf.

(c) Successors and Assigns; Entire Agreement. This Agreement and all of the provisions hereof shall be binding upon and inure to the benefit of the parties hereto and their respective successors and permitted assigns (including any Permitted Transferee under the Securities Purchase and Holders Agreement) and executors, administrators and heirs. This Agreement sets forth the entire agreement and understandings among the parties as to the subject matter hereof and merges and supersedes all prior discussions and understandings of any and every nature among them.

(d) Separability. In the event that any provision of this Agreement or the application of any provision hereof is declared to be illegal, invalid or otherwise unenforceable by a court of competent jurisdiction, the remainder of this Agreement shall not be affected except to the extent necessary to delete such illegal, invalid or unenforceable provision unless that provision

held invalid shall substantially impair the benefits of the remaining portions of this Agreement.

(e) Notices. All notices provided for or permitted hereunder shall be made in writing by hand-delivery, registered or certified first-class mail, telex, telecopier or air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery to the other party at the following addresses (or at such other address as shall be given in writing by any party to the others):

If to the Company to:

FSC Semiconductor Corporation
333 Western Avenue
Portland, ME 04106

Attention: General Counsel, mail stop 01-00 Fax No.: (207) 761-6020

with required copies to:

If to Sterling, to:

Citicorp Venture Capital Ltd.
399 Park Avenue
14th Floor
New York, New York 10043

Attention: Richard M. Cashin, James A. Urry and Paul Schorr

with a required copy to:

Dechert Price & Rhoads 4000 Bell Atlantic Tower 1717 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103 Attention: G. Daniel O'Donnell

If to an Individual Investor, at the most current address given by such Individual Investor to the Company in accordance with this Section 10(e), which address initially is, with respect to each Additional Investor, the address set forth on Schedule A hereto.

All such notices shall be deemed to have been duly given: when delivered by hand, if personally delivered; five business days after being deposited in the mail, postage prepaid, if mailed; when confirmed, if telexed; when receipt acknowledged, if telecopied; and on the next business day, if timely delivered to an air courier guaranteeing overnight delivery.

(f) Governing Law. The validity, performance, construction and effect of this Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the internal law of Delaware, without giving effect to principles of conflicts of law.

(g) Headings. The headings in this Agreement are for convenience of reference only and shall not constitute a part of this Agreement, nor shall they affect its meaning, construction or effect.

(h) Counterparts. This Agreement may be executed in two or more counterparts and by the parties hereto in separate counterparts, each of which when so executed shall be deemed to be an original, and all of which taken together shall constitute one and the same instrument.

(i) Further Assurances. Each party shall cooperate and take such action as may be reasonably requested by another party in order to carry out the provisions and purposes of this Agreement and the transactions contemplated hereby.

(j) Termination. Unless sooner terminated in accordance with its terms, this Agreement shall terminate on the fifteenth anniversary of the date of this Agreement; provided that the indemnification rights and obligations set forth in Section 6 hereof shall survive the termination of this Agreement.

(k) Remedies. In the event of a breach or a threatened breach by any party to this Agreement of its obligations under this Agreement, any party injured or to be injured by such breach, in addition to being entitled to exercise all rights granted by law, including recovery of damages, will be entitled to specific performance of its rights under this Agreement, it being agreed by the parties that the remedy at law, including monetary damages, for breach of such provision will be inadequate compensation for any loss and that any defense in any action for

specific performance that a remedy at law would be adequate is waived.

(l) Party No Longer Owning Securities. If a party hereto ceases to own any Securities, such party will no longer be deemed to be an Investor for purposes of this Agreement; provided that the indemnification rights and obligations set forth in Section 6 hereof shall survive any such cessation of ownership.

(m) Pronouns. Whenever the context may require, any pronouns used herein shall be deemed also to include the corresponding neuter, masculine or feminine forms.

(n) No Effect on Employment. Nothing herein contained shall confer on any Investor the right to remain in the employ of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or Affiliates.

IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the parties have executed this Registration Rights Agreement as of the date first written above.

FSC SEMICONDUCTOR CORPORATION

By:__________________________

Title: ______________________

STERLING HOLDING COMPANY, LLC

By:__________________________

Title:_______________________

NATIONAL SEMICONDUCTOR
CORPORATION

By:__________________________

Title:_______________________

ADDITIONAL INVESTORS:

SCHEDULE A

Name of Additional Investors Address