UNION OIL CO OF CALIFORNIA
424B2, 1995-05-18
PETROLEUM REFINING
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<PAGE>

                                                FILED PURSUANT TO RULE 424(b)(2)
                                                       REGISTRATION NO. 33-54861

           PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT TO PROSPECTUS DATED FEBRUARY 3, 1995
 
                         [LOGO OF UNOCAL CORPORATION]
 
                                  $200,000,000
 
                        UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA
 
                          7.20% NOTES DUE MAY 15, 2005
 
                PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST GUARANTEED BY
 
                               UNOCAL CORPORATION
 
                               ----------------
 
  Interest on the Notes is payable on May 15 and November 15 of each year,
commencing November 15, 1995. The Notes will not be redeemable prior to
maturity. The Notes will be represented by one or more global Notes registered
in the name of the nominee of The Depository Trust Company. Beneficial
interests in the global Notes will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be
effected only through, records maintained by DTC and its participants. Except
as described herein, Notes in definitive form will not be issued. The Notes
will be issued only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof.
The Notes will trade in DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System until maturity,
and secondary market trading activity for the Notes will therefore settle in
immediately available funds. All payments of principal and interest will be
made by the Company in immediately available funds. See "Description of the
Notes--Same-Day Settlement and Payment".
 
                               ----------------
 
 THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  NOR  HAS  THE
   SECURITIES AND  EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR  ANY STATE  SECURITIES COMMISSION
    PASSED UPON THE  ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF  THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR
     THE  PROSPECTUS  TO  WHICH  IT  RELATES. ANY  REPRESENTATION  TO  THE
      CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                               ----------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                    INITIAL PUBLIC   UNDERWRITING  PROCEEDS TO
                                   OFFERING PRICE(1) DISCOUNT(2)  COMPANY(1) (3)
                                   ----------------- ------------ --------------
<S>                                <C>               <C>          <C>
Per Note..........................      99.926%         .650%        99.276%
Total.............................   $199,852,000     $1,300,000   $198,552,000
</TABLE>
- ----------
(1) Plus accrued interest from May 15, 1995.
(2) The Company and Unocal have agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against
    certain liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of
    1933.
(3) Before deducting estimated expenses of $175,000 payable by the Company.
 
                               ----------------
  The Notes are offered severally by the Underwriters, as specified herein,
subject to receipt and acceptance by them and subject to their right to reject
any order in whole or in part. It is expected that the Notes will be ready for
delivery in book-entry form only through the facilities of DTC in New York, New
York, on or about May 24, 1995 against payment therefor in immediately
available funds.
 
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.

                  J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC.

                                           MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
                                                INCORPORATED

                                                            SALOMON BROTHERS INC
 
                               ----------------
 
            The date of this Prospectus Supplement is May 17, 1995.
<PAGE>
 
  IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE NOTES OFFERED
HEREBY OR OTHER NOTES OR DEBENTURES OF THE COMPANY AT LEVELS ABOVE THAT WHICH
MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN MARKET. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY
BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                               ----------------
 
                            DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES
 
GENERAL
 
  The 7.20% Notes due May 15, 2005 (the "Notes") constitute Senior Debt
Securities described in the accompanying Prospectus and will be issued under
the Senior Indenture referred to in the accompanying Prospectus with Chemical
Trust Company of California, as Senior Trustee. The Notes are unconditionally
guaranteed by Unocal. Please refer to the accompanying Prospectus for a
detailed summary of additional provisions of the Notes and of the Senior
Indenture under which the Notes will be issued.
 
  The Notes will bear interest from May 15, 1995 at the rate of 7.20% per annum
and will mature on May 15, 2005. The Notes will be limited to $200,000,000
aggregate principal amount . The Notes will not be redeemable prior to maturity
and will not be entitled to the benefit of any sinking fund. Interest will be
payable semi-annually on May 15 and November 15 of each year, beginning
November 15, 1995, to the persons in whose names the Notes (or any predecessor
Notes) are registered at the close of business on the preceding April 30 and
October 31, respectively.
 
BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM
 
  Upon issuance, the Notes will be represented by a global security or
securities (the "Global Security"). The Global Security representing the Notes
will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, New
York, New York (the "Depositary" or "DTC"). Upon the issuance of the Global
Security, the Depositary or its nominee will credit the accounts of persons
held with it with the respective principal or face amounts of the Notes
represented by such Global Security. Ownership of beneficial interests in the
Global Security will be limited to persons that have accounts with the
Depositary ("participants") or persons that may hold interests through
participants. Ownership of beneficial interests by participants in the Global
Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected
only through, records maintained by the Depositary. Ownership of beneficial
interests in such Global Security by persons that hold through participants
will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership interest within such
participant will be effected only through, records maintained by such
participant. The laws of some jurisdictions require that certain purchasers of
securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such
limits and such laws may impair the ability to acquire or transfer beneficial
interests in the Global Security.
 
  Payment of principal of and interest on the Notes will be made to the
Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the sole registered owner and
holder of the Global Security for all purposes under the Senior Indenture.
Neither the Company, Unocal, the Senior Trustee nor any agent of the Company,
Unocal or Senior Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any
aspect of the Depositary's records relating to or payments made on account of
beneficial ownership interests in the Global Security or for maintaining,
supervising or reviewing any of the Depositary's records relating to such
beneficial ownership interests.
 
  The Company has been advised by the Depositary that upon receipt of any
payment of principal of or interest on the Global Security, the Depositary will
immediately credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the
accounts of participants with payments in amounts proportionate to their
respective beneficial interests in the principal or face amount of such Global
Security as shown on the
 
                                      S-2
<PAGE>
 
records of the Depositary. Payments by participants to owners of beneficial
interests in the Global Security held through such participants will be
governed by standing instructions and customary practices as is now the case
with securities held for customer accounts registered in "street name" and will
be the sole responsibility of such participants.
 
  The Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the
Depositary to a nominee of the Depositary. The Global Security representing the
Notes is exchangeable for certificated Notes only if (x) the Depositary
notifies the Company that it is unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary
for such Global Security or if at any time the Depositary ceases to be a
clearing agency registered under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as
amended (the "Exchange Act"), and the Company fails within 90 days thereafter
to appoint a successor or (y) the Company in its sole discretion determines
that such Global Security shall be exchangeable. In such event, the Company
will issue Notes in certificated form in exchange for the Global Security. In
any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in the Global Security
will be entitled to physical delivery in certificated form of Notes equal in
principal amount to such beneficial interest and to have such Notes registered
in its name. Notes so issued in certificated form will be issued in
denominations of $1,000 or any larger amount that is an integral multiple
thereof, and will be issued in registered form only, without coupons. Subject
to the foregoing, the Global Security is not exchangeable, except for a Global
Security of like denomination to be registered in the name of the Depositary or
its nominee.
 
  So long as the Depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the
Global Security, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be
considered the sole owner or holder of the Notes represented by such Global
Security for the purposes of receiving payment on the Notes, receiving notices
and for all other purposes under the Senior Indenture and the Notes. Beneficial
interests in Notes will be evidenced only by, and transfer thereof will be
effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary and its
participants. Except as provided herein, owners of beneficial interests in the
Global Security will not be entitled to and will not be considered the holders
thereof for any purposes under the Senior Indenture. Accordingly, each person
owning a beneficial interest in such Global Security must rely on the
procedures of the Depositary, and, if such person is not a participant, on the
procedures of the participant through which such person owns its interest, to
exercise any rights of a Holder under the Senior Indenture. The Depositary will
not consent or vote with respect to the Global Security representing the Notes.
Under its usual procedures, the Depositary mails an Omnibus Proxy to the
Company as soon as possible after the applicable record date. The Omnibus Proxy
assigns Cede & Co.'s (the Depositary's partnership nominee) consenting or
voting rights to those participants to whose accounts the Notes are credited on
the applicable record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus
Proxy).
 
  The Depositary has advised the Company that the Depositary is a limited-
purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking Law, a "banking
organization " within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a member of the
Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the meaning of the New
York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency" registered pursuant to
the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. The Depositary was created
to hold the securities of its participants and to facilitate the clearance and
settlement of securities transactions among its participants through electronic
book-entry changes in accounts of the participants, thereby eliminating the
need for physical movement of securities certificates. The Depositary's
participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies,
clearing corporations, and certain other organizations, some of whom (and/or
their representatives) own the Depositary. Access to the Depositary's book-
entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers and
trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a
participant, either directly or indirectly. The rules applicable to the
Depositary and its participants are on file with the Securities and Exchange
Commission.
 
                                      S-3
<PAGE>
 
SAME-DAY SETTLEMENT AND PAYMENT
 
  Settlement for the Notes will be made by the Underwriters in immediately
available funds. All payments of principal and interest will be made by the
Company in immediately available funds.
 
  Secondary trading in long-term notes and debentures of corporate issuers is
generally settled in clearing-house or next-day-funds. In contrast, the Notes
will trade in the Depositary's Same-Day Funds Settlement System until maturity
or until the Notes are issued in definitive form, and secondary market trading
activity in the Notes will therefore be required by the Depositary to settle in
immediately available funds. No assurances can be given as to the effect, if
any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading-activity in the
Notes.
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement,
the Company has agreed to sell to each of the Underwriters named below, and
each of the Underwriters, for whom Goldman, Sachs & Co., J.P. Morgan Securities
Inc., Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Salomon Brothers Inc are acting as
representatives, has severally agreed to purchase, the principal amount of the
Notes set forth opposite its name below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    PRINCIPAL
                                                                      AMOUNT
                                                                        OF
                              UNDERWRITER                             NOTES
                              -----------                          ------------
      <S>                                                          <C>
      Goldman, Sachs & Co. ....................................... $ 34,000,000
      J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. ................................   34,000,000
      Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated...........................   34,000,000
      Salomon Brothers Inc .......................................   34,000,000
      CS First Boston Corporation.................................   16,000,000
      Lehman Brothers Inc. .......................................   16,000,000
      Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated..........   16,000,000
      UBS Securities Inc. ........................................   16,000,000
                                                                   ------------
          Total................................................... $200,000,000
                                                                   ============
</TABLE>
 
  Under the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the
Underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the Notes, if any are
taken.
 
  The Underwriters propose to offer the Notes in part directly to the public at
the initial public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus Supplement, and in part to certain securities dealers at such price
less a concession of .40% of the principal amount of the Notes. The
Underwriters may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a concession not to
exceed .25% of the principal amount of the Notes to certain brokers and
dealers. After the Notes are released for sale to the public, the offering
price and other selling terms may from time to time be varied by the
representatives.
 
  The Company has agreed to indemnify the several Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended.
 
  The Notes are a new issue of securities with no established trading market.
The representatives have informed the Company that they intend to make a market
in the Notes, but are not obligated to do so and may discontinue market making
at any time without notice. Therefore, no assurance can be given as to the
liquidity of the trading market in the Notes.
 
  Settlement for the Notes will be made in immediately available funds and all
secondary trading in the Notes will settle in immediately available funds. See
"Description of the Notes--Same-Day Settlement and Payment".
 
                                      S-4
<PAGE>
 
                         [LOGO OF UNOCAL CORPORATION]
 
                                $1,188,800,000
 
                                --------------
 
                        Union Oil Company of California
 
           Debt Securities and Warrants to Purchase Debt Securities
 
 With Payment of Principal, Interest and Premium, if any, Guaranteed by Unocal
                                  Corporation
 
                                --------------
 
                              Unocal Corporation
 
            Common Stock, Preferred Stock and Warrants to Purchase
                       Common Stock and Preferred Stock
 
                                --------------
 
  Union Oil Company of California (the "Company") intends to offer from time
to time in one or more series debt securities consisting of unsecured
debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness (the "Debt Securities").
At the option of the Company, the Debt Securities may be offered as Senior
Debt Securities ("Senior Debt Securities") and as Subordinated Debt Securities
("Subordinated Debt Securities"). Unocal Corporation ("Unocal"), the parent
company of the Company, will guarantee the payment of principal, interest and
premium, if any, on the Debt Securities. The Company and Unocal may also offer
from time to time warrants to purchase guaranteed Debt Securities ("Debt
Warrants"), which may be issued independently or together with guaranteed Debt
Securities. Unocal may offer from time to time Common Stock ("Unocal Common
Stock"), Preferred Stock ("Unocal Preferred Stock") and warrants to purchase
Unocal Common or Preferred Stock ("Equity Warrants"), which may be issued
independently or together with Unocal Common Stock or Unocal Preferred Stock.
Such Unocal Common Stock and Unocal Preferred Stock may also be issued upon
conversion or exchange of Debt Securities and such Unocal Common Stock may be
issued upon conversion of Unocal Preferred Stock. The Debt Securities, Debt
Warrants, Unocal Common Stock, Unocal Preferred Stock and Equity Warrants are
referred to collectively as the "Securities." No more than an aggregate of
$1,188,800,000 public offering price of Securities, including the exercise
price of Debt Warrants and Equity Warrants, may be sold pursuant to this
Prospectus. The Securities may be sold for United States dollars, foreign
currency or currency units.
 
  Certain specific terms of the particular Securities in respect of which this
Prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in the accompanying Prospectus
Supplement, including, where applicable, (i) in the case of Debt Securities,
the title, aggregate principal amount, authorized denominations, maturity,
interest rate (which may be fixed or variable) and time of payment of
interest, terms for redemption, terms for sinking fund payments, terms for
conversion or exchange into other Securities, currency or currencies of
denomination and payment (if other than U.S. dollars), listing on a securities
exchange and any other terms in connection with the offering and sale of the
Debt Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is delivered, as well as
the initial public offering price; (ii) in the case of Unocal Preferred Stock,
the specific title, number of shares, dividend (including the method of
calculation), seniority, liquidation, redemption, voting and other rights,
terms for any conversion or exchange into other Securities, listing on a
securities exchange, initial public offering price and any other terms; (iii)
in the case of Unocal Common Stock, the number of shares and the terms of the
offering thereof; and (iv) in the case of Debt Warrants and Equity Warrants,
the designation and number, exercise price, any listing of the Debt Warrants,
Equity Warrants or the underlying Securities on a securities exchange and any
other terms in connection with the offering, sale and exercise of the Debt
Warrants and Equity Warrants.
 
  Debt Securities of a series may be issued in registered form, in a form
registered as to principal only, or in bearer form (with or without coupons
attached), or any combination of such forms. In addition, all or a portion of
the Debt Securities may be issued in temporary or definitive global form. Debt
Securities in bearer form are offered only outside the United States to non-
United States persons and to offices located outside the United States of
certain United States financial institutions and other exempt persons. See
"Limitations on the Issuance of Bearer Securities."
 
      THESE SECURITIES  HAVE  NOT BEEN  APPROVED OR  DISAPPROVED  BY THE
      SECURITIES  AND  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION   OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES
       COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY
           STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR
            ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE
                        CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
  The Securities will be sold directly, through agents designated from time to
time or through underwriters or dealers, which may be a group of underwriters.
The Securities may also be exchanged for outstanding securities of the Company
or Unocal or both and resold by the holder pursuant to this Prospectus in the
over-the-counter market, on the New York Stock Exchange, through negotiated
transactions or otherwise, at market prices prevailing at the time of sale or
at prices otherwise negotiated. The terms of any such exchange and the method
of resale by the holder will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. If any
agents of the Company or Unocal or any dealers or underwriters are involved in
the sale of the Securities, the names of such agents, underwriters or dealers
and any applicable commissions or discounts will be set forth in a Prospectus
Supplement.
 
       THIS PROSPECTUS MAY NOT BE USED TO CONSUMMATE SALES OF SECURITIES
                UNLESS ACCOMPANIED BY A PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
 
               THE DATE OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS FEBRUARY 3, 1995.
<PAGE>
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
  Unocal is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and in accordance therewith files
reports, proxy statements and other information with the Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy statements and
other information filed by Unocal may be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following Regional Offices of the
Commission: 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048; and 500
West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511. Copies of such
material may also be obtained by mail from the Public Reference Section of the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed
rates. In addition, such reports, proxy statements and other information
concerning Unocal may be inspected at the offices of the New York Stock
Exchange, 20 Broad Street, 17th Floor, New York, New York 10005, the Chicago
Stock Exchange, 440 South LaSalle Street, Suite 518, Chicago, Illinois 60605-
1070 and the Pacific Stock Exchange, 115 Sansome Street, 3rd Floor, San
Francisco, California 94104.
 
  Prior to the date of this Prospectus, the Company filed reports and other
information with the Commission in accordance with the reporting requirements
of the Exchange Act. Such reports and other information filed by the Company
may be inspected and copied at, and obtained by mail from, the offices of the
Commission listed above. The Company has received advice from the Division of
Corporation Finance of the Commission that it will not object if the Company
ceases to file such reports, since debt securities of the Company are fully and
unconditionally guaranteed as to payment by Unocal. Accordingly, the Company
has ceased to file such reports with the Commission. Notes to the consolidated
financial statements of Unocal included in Unocal reports filed hereafter will
contain summarized financial information regarding the Company.
 
  Unocal and the Company have filed with the Commission registration statements
on Form S-3 (together with all amendments and exhibits thereto, the
"Registration Statements") under the Securities Act of 1933. This Prospectus
and the accompanying Prospectus Supplement do not contain all of the
information set forth in the Registration Statements, certain parts of which
are omitted in accordance with the rules and regulations of the Commission. For
further information, reference is made to the Registration Statements, which
may be examined without charge at the public reference facilities maintained by
the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549. Copies
thereof may be obtained from the Commission upon payment of the prescribed
fees.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
  The following documents filed with the Commission are incorporated into this
Prospectus by reference: (i) the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year
ended December 31, 1993 of Unocal, as amended by Amendments Nos. 1 and 2 on
Form 10-K/A; (ii) the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
December 31, 1993 of the Company, as amended by Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-K/A;
(iii) the Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarterly periods ended March
31, 1994, June 30, 1994 and September 30, 1994, the last as amended by
Amendment No. 1 on Form 10-Q/A, of Unocal and the Company; (iv) the Current
Reports on Form 8-K dated January 12, 1994, January 31, 1994, March 2, 1994,
March 24, 1994, April 25, 1994, June 27, 1994, June 28, 1994, July 22, 1994,
July 25, 1994, August 25, 1994, September 9, 1994, September 30, 1994, October
31, 1994, November 2, 1994, December 5, 1994, January 30, 1995 and January 31,
1995 of Unocal; and (v) the Current Reports on Form 8-K dated March 2, 1994,
June 27, 1994, June 28, 1994, August 25, 1994, September 30, 1994 and December
5, 1994 of the Company. All documents filed by Unocal pursuant to Section
13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this
Prospectus and prior to the termination of the offering of the Securities shall
be deemed to be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part
hereof from the date of filing of such documents. Any statement contained
herein or in a document all or a portion of which is incorporated or deemed to
be incorporated by reference herein shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement
contained herein or in any other subsequently filed document which also is or
is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein modifies or supersedes such
statement. Any such statement so modified or superseded shall not be deemed,
except as so modified or superseded, to constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
  Unocal and the Company will provide without charge to each person to whom a
copy of this Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of any
such person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated herein by
reference (not including the exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits
are specifically incorporated by reference in such documents). Requests for
such copies should be directed to: Unocal Corporation, 1201 West Fifth Street,
Los Angeles, California 90017, Attention: Corporate Secretary, telephone (213)
977-7600.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
  The proceeds received by the Company from the sale of the Debt Securities and
Debt Warrants offered hereby, will be used by the Company and its affiliates
for general corporate purposes. The proceeds received by Unocal from the sale
of the Unocal Preferred Stock, Unocal Common Stock and Equity Warrants offered
hereby will be used for general corporate purposes, which are expected to
include contributions or loans to the Company. The gross proceeds anticipated
to be received by the Company and/or Unocal are estimated to be $1,188,800,000.
 
                             THE COMPANY AND UNOCAL
 
  The Company is principally engaged in the exploration for, and the
production, transportation and sale of, crude oil and natural gas in the United
States and foreign countries; and the manufacture, purchase, transportation and
marketing of petroleum and selected chemical products. The Company is also
engaged in the exploration for, and the production and sale of, geothermal
resources. Other operations include the production and marketing of specialty
minerals, and real estate development and sales.
 
  The Company was incorporated in California in 1890 and in 1983 became a
wholly owned operating subsidiary of Unocal. As of December 31, 1994, the net
assets of the Company represented approximately 100% of the net assets of
Unocal, based on book value. The Company is a California corporation and Unocal
is a Delaware corporation, each with its principal executive office at 1201
West Fifth Street, Los Angeles, California 90017, telephone (213) 977-7600.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                       HISTORICAL CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED
                         SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
  The following historical condensed consolidated financial information of
Unocal and its subsidiaries, including the Company, for the five years ended
December 31, 1994, has been derived from and is qualified in its entirety by
the detailed financial statements and other financial information included in
the documents incorporated by reference herein. See "Incorporation of Certain
Documents by Reference."
 
                    SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION OF UNOCAL
 
                (MILLIONS OF DOLLARS, EXCEPT PER SHARE AMOUNTS)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                        1994      1993   1992    1991    1990
                                     ----------- ------ ------- ------- -------
                                     (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                  <C>         <C>    <C>     <C>     <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA
  Revenues..........................   $7,965    $8,344 $10,061 $10,895 $11,808
  Earnings before cumulative effect
   of accounting changes(1).........      124       343     196      73     401
    Per common share................      .36      1.27     .75     .31    1.71
  Net earnings (loss)...............     (153)      213     220      73     401
    Per common share................     (.78)      .73     .85     .31    1.71
<CAPTION>
                                                  AT DECEMBER 31,
                                     ------------------------------------------
                                        1994      1993   1992    1991    1990
                                     ----------- ------ ------- ------- -------
                                     (UNAUDITED)
<S>                                  <C>         <C>    <C>     <C>     <C>
BALANCE SHEET DATA
    Total assets(2).................   $9,337    $9,706 $ 9,892 $10,345 $10,157
    Long-term debt..................    3,452     3,455   3,530   4,543   4,025
    Stockholders' equity............    2,815     3,129   3,131   2,464   2,550
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) The cumulative effect of accounting changes, which have been excluded,
    consisted of a charge of $277 million ($1.14 per common share) in 1994, a
    charge of $130 million ($.54 per common share) in 1993 and a credit of $24
    million ($.10 per common share) in 1992.
 
(2) Total assets prior to 1994 have been restated to reflect the
    reclassification of the accumulated allowance for future abandonment and
    restoration costs from the property account to a liability account.
 
                        RATIOS OF UNOCAL AND THE COMPANY
 
                                  (UNAUDITED)
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                       YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                       ------------------------
                                                       1994 1993 1992 1991 1990
                                                       ---- ---- ---- ---- ----
      <S>                                              <C>  <C>  <C>  <C>  <C>
      Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges(1)
        Unocal.......................................  1.7  2.5  1.7  1.4  2.0
        Company......................................  1.7  2.5  1.7  1.4  2.2
      Ratio of Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges and
       Preferred Stock Dividends(1)(2)
        Unocal.......................................  1.5  2.2  1.6  1.4  2.0
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) For purposes of this ratio, earnings consist of earnings before the
    cumulative effect of accounting changes, before taxes on income and fixed
    charges. Fixed charges consist of interest on indebtedness (including
    capitalized interest) and capital lease obligations, amortization of debt
    discount, debt premium and issuance expense and that portion of operating
    lease rental expense which is representative of the interest factor
    (assumed to be one-third).
 
(2) For purposes of this ratio, preferred stock dividends are adjusted to a
    pre-tax basis.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                       DESCRIPTION OF THE DEBT SECURITIES
 
  Described below are certain general terms and provisions of the Debt
Securities to which a Prospectus Supplement may relate or for which Debt
Warrants may be exercisable. The particular terms of the Debt Securities and
the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to a particular
series of Debt Securities ("Offered Debt Securities") will be described in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such Offered Debt Securities.
 
  The Senior Debt Securities will be issued under an Indenture dated as of
February 3, 1995 (the "Senior Indenture") among the Company, Unocal and
Chemical Trust Company of California, as trustee (the "Senior Trustee"). The
Subordinated Debt Securities will be issued under a proposed indenture (the
"Subordinated Indenture") among the Company, Unocal and a trustee to be named
in any Prospectus Supplement relating to Subordinated Debt Securities (the
"Subordinated Trustee"). The Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture
are referred to collectively as the "Indentures" and individually as an
"Indenture." The Senior Indenture incorporates, and the Subordinated Indenture
will incorporate, the Standard Multiple-Series Indenture Provisions, January
1991, dated as of January 2, 1991 (the "Standard Provisions"), of the Company
and Unocal, which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement. Neither
of the Indentures will limit the amount of Debt Securities which may be issued
thereunder (Section 2.01). Each of the Indentures will provide that Debt
Securities of any series may be issued thereunder up to the aggregate principal
amount which may be authorized from time to time by the Company.
 
  The following summaries of certain provisions of the Debt Securities and the
Indentures do not purport to be complete and are subject to, and qualified in
their entirety by reference to, all provisions of the Indentures, including the
definitions of certain terms used therein. Wherever particular sections of the
Indentures or terms that are defined in the Indentures are referred to herein
or in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement, it is intended that such sections
or terms will be incorporated by reference as a part of the statements made
herein or therein, and the statements are qualified in their entirety by such
reference. Unless otherwise indicated, references in this Prospectus or in an
accompanying Prospectus Supplement to particular sections of the Indentures are
to the Standard Provisions. Unless otherwise indicated, when used in this
Prospectus the term "principal" will mean principal of, and any premium on, the
Debt Securities.
 
GENERAL
 
  The Debt Securities will be direct, unsecured obligations of the Company and
will be fully and unconditionally guaranteed as to payment by Unocal. The
Senior Debt Securities and the related Guarantees will rank on a parity with
all other unsecured and unsubordinated indebtedness of the Company and Unocal,
respectively, and will have a right of payment prior to any Subordinated Debt
Securities, in the case of Senior Debt Securities, and prior to the Guarantees
of Subordinated Debt Securities, in the case of the Guarantees of the Senior
Debt Securities. The indebtedness represented by the Subordinated Debt
Securities and the Guarantees of the Subordinated Debt Securities will be
subordinated in right of payment to the prior payment in full of the Senior
Debt of the Company and Unocal, respectively, as described below under
"Subordination." The Debt Securities may be issued in one or more series with
the same or various maturities at or above par or with an original issue
discount. Offered Debt Securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate
which at the time of issuance is below market rates ("Original Issue Discount
Securities") will be sold at a discount (which may be substantial) below their
stated principal amount. In the event of redemption or acceleration of the
maturity of an Original Issue Discount Security, the amount payable to the
holder of such Security upon such redemption or acceleration will be determined
in accordance with the terms of the Security, but will be an amount less than
the amount payable at the Stated Maturity of such Security.
 
  Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Offered Debt
Securities for the following terms thereof:
 
    (1) the title of the Offered Debt Securities;
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
    (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Offered Debt
  Securities;
 
    (3) the percentage of their principal amount for which the Offered Debt
  Securities will be issued;
 
    (4) the date or dates on which the principal of the Offered Debt
  Securities will be payable;
 
    (5) the rate or rates (which may be fixed or variable) at which the
  Offered Debt Securities will bear interest, if any, or the method by which
  such rate or rates will be determined;
 
    (6) the date or dates from which any such interest will accrue or the
  method by which such date or dates will be determined;
 
    (7) the dates on which payment of any such interest will be payable and
  the record dates for such interest payment dates;
 
    (8) the place or places where the principal of and any interest on the
  Offered Debt Securities (and Coupons, if any) will be payable and the
  offices or agencies of the Company maintained for such purposes and each
  office or agency where the Offered Debt Securities may be presented for
  registration of transfer or exchange;
 
    (9) the period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and
  the terms and conditions upon which, the Offered Debt Securities may be
  redeemed in whole or in part, at the option of the Company;
 
    (10) the obligation of the Company, if any, to redeem, repay or purchase,
  the Offered Debt Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous
  provision or at the option of a holder of an Offered Debt Security and the
  period or periods within which, the price or prices at which, and the terms
  and conditions upon which, the Offered Debt Securities will be redeemed,
  repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation;
 
    (11) any additional restrictive covenants included for the benefit of
  holders of the Offered Debt Securities;
 
    (12) any additional Events of Default with respect to the Offered Debt
  Securities;
 
    (13) the principal amount of the Offered Debt Securities that are
  Original Issue Discount Securities payable upon declaration of acceleration
  of the maturity of the Offered Debt Securities;
 
    (14) the currency or currency unit for which the Offered Debt Securities
  may be purchased, the currency or currency unit in which the payment of
  principal and interest on such Offered Debt Securities will be payable, the
  right of the Company or the holder to elect a currency different from that
  in which the Offered Debt Securities are denominated for payments of
  principal and interest, and the Exchange Rate Agent, if any;
 
    (15) any index used to determine the amount of payments of principal of
  and interest on the Offered Debt Securities;
 
    (16) whether the Offered Debt Securities will be issued in registered
  form, in a form registered only as to principal, or in bearer form, or any
  combination thereof;
 
    (17) whether and on what terms the Offered Debt Securities will be
  convertible or exchangeable into shares of Unocal Preferred Stock or Unocal
  Common Stock;
 
    (18) whether any of the Offered Debt Securities will be issuable
  initially as a temporary Global Security (as defined in "Form, Exchange,
  Registration and Transfer") and whether any of the Offered Debt Securities
  are to be issuable as a permanent Global Security, or any combination
  thereof and, if so, the Depositary (as defined in "Global Securities") or
  Depositaries therefor;
 
    (19) if a temporary Global Security is to be issued with respect to such
  series, the requirements for certification of ownership by non-United
  States persons that will apply prior to (a) the issuance of a definitive
  Bearer Security (as defined in "Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer")
  or (b) the payment of interest on an Interest Payment Date that occurs
  before the issuance of a definitive Bearer Security;
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
    (20) the circumstances under which Offered Debt Securities may be
  exchanged for Debt Securities issued in a different form;
 
    (21) any paying agents, transfer agents, registrars or other agents with
  respect to the Offered Debt Securities;
 
    (22) whether and under what circumstances the Company will pay additional
  amounts to any holder of Offered Debt Securities who is not a United States
  person (as defined under "Limitations on the Issuance of Bearer
  Securities") in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge
  required to be withheld or deducted and, if so, whether the Company will
  have the option to redeem rather than pay any additional amounts;
 
    (23) whether any of the provisions described in "Certain Covenants of
  Unocal," "Events of Default," "Subordination," "Conversion and Exchange,"
  "Form, Exchange, Registration and Transfer," and "Defeasance" will not
  apply to the Offered Debt Securities;
 
    (24) any other terms of the Offered Debt Securities not inconsistent with
  the applicable Indenture; and
 
    (25) a discussion of certain Federal income tax considerations, if
  required.
 
INTEREST AND FOREIGN CURRENCY
 
  Principal and interest will be payable, and the Offered Debt Securities will
be transferable, in the manner described in the Prospectus Supplement relating
to such Offered Debt Securities.
 
  If any of the Offered Debt Securities are sold for any foreign currency or
currency unit or if principal of or any interest on any of the Offered Debt
Securities is payable in any foreign currency or currency unit, the
restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms and other information
with respect to such Offered Debt Securities and such foreign currency or
currency unit will be specified in a Prospectus Supplement.
 
GUARANTEES
 
  Under the terms of the Indentures and subject to the provisions thereof,
Unocal will fully and unconditionally guarantee to the holders from time to
time of the Debt Securities: (i) the full and prompt payment of the principal
of any Debt Securities and Coupons, if any, when and as the same become
payable, whether at the Stated Maturity thereof, by acceleration, call for
redemption or otherwise, and (ii) the full and prompt payment of any interest
on any Debt Securities and Coupons, if any, when and as the same becomes
payable. The Guarantees will remain in effect until the entire principal of and
interest on the Debt Securities has been paid in full or otherwise discharged
in accordance with the provisions of the Indentures (Section 5.01). In the
event of a default in the payment of principal of any Debt Security when and as
the same becomes payable, whether at the Stated Maturity thereof, by
acceleration, call for redemption or otherwise, or in the event of a default in
any sinking fund payment, or in the event of a default in the payment of any
interest on any Debt Security when and as the same becomes payable, the Trustee
has the right to proceed directly against Unocal without first proceeding
against the Company or exhausting any other remedies which the Trustee may have
(Section 5.02). Any right of payment of the holders of Senior Debt Securities
under the related Guarantees will be prior to the right of payment of the
holders of Subordinated Debt Securities under the related Guarantees.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS OF UNOCAL
 
  Limitations on Liens. The Senior Indenture provides that neither Unocal nor
any Restricted Subsidiary will issue, assume or guarantee any indebtedness for
money borrowed ("Debt") that is secured by a Mortgage upon (i) any domestic oil
or gas property of Unocal or a Restricted Subsidiary, (ii) any principal
domestic refining or manufacturing plant of Unocal or a Restricted Subsidiary,
or (iii) shares of stock or indebtedness
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
of any Restricted Subsidiary, unless the Senior Debt Securities will be secured
equally and ratably with or prior to such Debt. This covenant will not apply to
(a) Mortgages on property or securities of a corporation when it becomes a
Restricted Subsidiary, (b) purchase money Mortgages, (c) Mortgages existing at
the time of acquisition of property pursuant to a merger, consolidation or
purchase of substantially all the assets of the Seller, (d) any Mortgage
securing Debt owing by a Restricted Subsidiary to Unocal or to another
Restricted Subsidiary, (e) Mortgages on particular property incurred in
connection with the exploration, drilling, development, repair, alteration or
improvement of such property, (f) Mortgages on current assets or other personal
property to secure Debt maturing in not more than one year, or extensions,
renewals or replacements of Mortgages referred to in (a) through (e).
Notwithstanding the foregoing, Unocal or one or more Restricted Subsidiaries
may issue, assume or guarantee Debt secured by a Mortgage which would otherwise
be subject to the foregoing restrictions if the aggregate amount of such Debt,
together with the aggregate principal amount of all other such Debt of Unocal
and its Restricted Subsidiaries then outstanding, does not at such time exceed
20% of the Consolidated Net Assets of Unocal (Senior Indenture Section 5.04).
 
  The following types of transactions, among others, will not be deemed to
create Debt secured by a Mortgage: (a) the sale or transfer of oil, oil shale,
gas or other minerals in place for a period of time until, or in an amount such
that, the transferee will realize therefrom a specified amount of money
(however determined) or a specified amount of such minerals or the sale or
transfer of any other interest in property of the character commonly referred
to as a "production payment" and (b) the placing of any Mortgage in favor of
domestic or foreign governmental bodies or agencies to secure payment, or the
performance of any other obligations, pursuant to any contract or statute or to
secure any indebtedness incurred for the purpose of financing or refinancing
all or a part of the purchase price or the cost of construction of the property
subject to such Mortgage (Senior Indenture Section 5.04).
 
  The term "Mortgage" is defined as any mortgage, pledge, lien, security
interest, conditional sale or other title retention agreement or other similar
encumbrance (Senior Indenture Section 1.01).
 
  The term "oil or gas property" is defined as any interest owned by Unocal or
a Restricted Subsidiary in land which in the opinion of Unocal's Board of
Directors is capable of producing crude oil, natural gas or other hydrocarbons
in paying quantities and any interest in such substances produced or to be
produced (or the proceeds thereof) from said lands, but not including
exploration or production facilities or other improvements on said lands
(Senior Indenture Section 5.04).
 
  The term "Consolidated Net Assets" is defined as the total amount of assets
(less applicable reserves and other properly deductible items) of Unocal and
its consolidated Subsidiaries after deducting therefrom all liabilities and
liability items except Long-Term Debt, stockholders' equity and deferred income
taxes, which under generally accepted accounting principles would be included
on such consolidated balance sheet (Senior Indenture Section 1.01).
 
  The term "Restricted Subsidiary" is defined as the Company and any other
"Subsidiary" (i) substantially all of the assets and operations of which are
located within any one or more of the States of the United States and (ii)
which has assets in excess of 2% of the total consolidated assets of Unocal and
its consolidated Subsidiaries. The term "Subsidiary" is defined as any
corporation, association, or other business entity of which Unocal, either
directly or indirectly, has either (i) the voting power to elect a majority of
the directors of such corporation or (ii) other ownership interest representing
more than 50% ownership of such entity (Senior Indenture Section 1.01).
 
  Limitations on Sale and Leaseback. Unocal will not, nor will it permit any
Restricted Subsidiary to, enter into any sale and leaseback arrangement (where
the lease runs for a term of more than five years) involving any domestic real
property, unless (i) Unocal or such Restricted Subsidiary is not restricted by
the above provisions from incurring Debt secured by a Mortgage on such property
or (ii) Unocal will apply within 90 days an amount equal to the greater of (a)
the fair value (as determined by the Board of Directors of Unocal) of such
property or (b) the proceeds of the sale of such property, to the retirement
(other than any
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
mandatory retirement) of Long-Term Debt of Unocal or a Restricted Subsidiary
(other than Debt owned by Unocal or a Restricted Subsidiary and Debt
subordinated to the Senior Debt Securities) (Senior Indenture Section 5.05).
The foregoing limitations will not apply to any sale and leaseback between
Unocal and any of its Restricted Subsidiaries or between any of its Restricted
Subsidiaries.
 
  Restrictions on Merger and Sale of Assets. Neither the Company nor Unocal may
consolidate with or merge into any other corporation, or transfer its
properties as an entirety or substantially as an entirety to any person, unless
(i) the person (if other than the Company or Unocal) formed by or resulting
from any such consolidation or merger or which has received the transfer of
such property and assets will be a corporation organized under the laws of the
United States or any state or territory thereof or the District of Columbia and
will assume payment of the principal of, and interest on, the Debt Securities
and the performance and observance of the Indentures and (ii) immediately after
the consolidation, merger, sale or conveyance, the surviving corporation or the
corporation to which the sale or conveyance was made will not be in default
under either Indenture (Section 12.01).
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
  The Senior Indenture defines, and the Subordinated Indenture will define, an
Event of Default with respect to any series of Debt Securities as being any one
of the following events: (i) default in the payment of any interest on any Debt
Security of that series when due, continued for 30 days after written notice
has been given by the Trustee to the Company or Unocal or by a holder to the
Company and the Trustee, (ii) default in the payment of the principal of a Debt
Security of that series when due, (iii) default in the deposit of any sinking
fund payment when and as due by the terms of a Debt Security of such series,
continued for 30 days after written notice has been given by the Trustee to the
Company or Unocal or by a holder to the Company and the Trustee, (iv) default
in any material respect in the performance in any other of the Company's or
Unocal's material covenants in the applicable Indenture (other than a covenant
included in such Indenture solely for the benefit of another series of Debt
Securities), continued for 90 days after written notice has been given by the
Trustee to the Company or Unocal or by holders of at least 25% in principal
amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series to the Company and the
Trustee, (v) a default resulting in acceleration of any other indebtedness for
borrowed money, in an aggregate principal amount exceeding $50,000,000, of the
Company or Unocal under the terms of the instrument or instruments under which
such indebtedness is issued or secured, unless such acceleration is annulled,
or such indebtedness is discharged, or there is deposited in trust a sum of
money sufficient to discharge such indebtedness, within 20 days after written
notice has been given by the Trustee to the Company and Unocal or by holders of
at least 25% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such
series to the Company, Unocal and the Trustee, and (vi) certain events of
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization (Section 7.01).
 
  No holder of any Debt Security of a series will have any right to institute
any proceeding with respect to the applicable Indenture or for any remedy
thereunder, unless such holder previously has given to the Trustee written
notice of an Event of Default with respect to such series and unless the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of
that series at the time outstanding have made written request upon the Trustee,
and have offered reasonable security or indemnity, to institute such proceeding
as trustee under such Indenture, and the Trustee for 60 days shall have failed
to institute such proceeding. However, the right of any holder of any Debt
Security to institute suit for enforcement of any payment of principal of and
interest on such Debt Security on or after the due date expressed in such Debt
Security may not be impaired or affected without such holder's consent (Section
7.04).
 
  The holders of a majority in principal amount of Debt Securities of any
series at the time outstanding may direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Trustee or exercising
any trust or power conferred on the Trustee with respect to Debt Securities of
that series, provided that such holders have offered reasonable security or
indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities which might be incurred
by the Trustee in compliance with any such direction and subject to certain
other restrictions (Sections 7.06 and 8.02(d)).
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
  Unocal and the Company will be required to furnish to the Trustee within 120
days after the end of each fiscal year a statement as to their respective
compliance with all conditions and covenants under the Indentures (Sections
4.06 and 5.07).
 
MANDATORY PREPAYMENT
 
  The provisions of each of (i) the $1,400,000,000 Credit and Guarantee
Agreement, dated as of December 12, 1991, as amended as of July 5, 1994, among
the Company and Unocal Canada Limited, as borrowers, Unocal, as guarantor, and
a syndicate of banks, (ii) the $45,000,000 Credit and Guarantee Agreement,
dated as of April 19, 1993, as amended as of September 14, 1994, among Unocal
Netherlands B.V., as borrower, the Company, Unocal, and others, as guarantors,
and The Bank of Nova Scotia, as agent, and (iii) the $250,000,000 Credit and
Guarantee Agreement, dated as of December 15, 1993, among Unocal Thailand,
Ltd.--Thailand Branch, as borrower, the Company and Unocal, as guarantors, and
a syndicate of banks, provide for the termination of the loan commitments
thereunder and require the prepayment of all outstanding loans and all other
amounts owing thereunder in the event (a) any person or group becomes the
beneficial owner of more than 30% of the then outstanding voting stock of
Unocal, otherwise than in a transaction having the approval of the Board of
Directors of Unocal, at least a majority of which are continuing directors, or
(b) continuing directors shall cease to constitute at least a majority of the
Board of Directors of Unocal. The Company or Unocal may include similar or
different mandatory prepayment provisions in other borrowing instruments
including, without limitation, Debt Securities issued in the future. There can
be no assurance that the Company will have the funds available to prepay such
amounts if required to do so under any of these mandatory prepayment
provisions.
 
SUBORDINATION
 
  The indebtedness represented by the Subordinated Debt Securities and the
Guarantees of Subordinated Debt Securities will be subordinate and junior in
right of payment to the prior payment in full of all Senior Debt of the Company
or Unocal, as the case may be, whether outstanding on the date of the
Subordinated Indenture or thereafter incurred. "Senior Debt" is defined as (i)
all indebtedness of the Company or Unocal, as the case may be, for borrowed
money, (ii) all indebtedness for borrowed money of others guaranteed by the
Company or Unocal and (iii) any obligation of the Company or Unocal under any
interest rate or currency swap agreement, in each case whether outstanding on
the date of the Indenture or incurred thereafter that is not by its terms
subordinate and junior in right of payment to any other indebtedness of the
Company or Unocal, as the case may be, and, in the case of the Company,
includes all indebtedness at any time evidenced by Senior Debt Securities
(Subordinated Indenture Section 16.09).
 
  In the event (i) of any liquidation, dissolution or other winding up of the
Company or Unocal, or of any receivership, insolvency, bankruptcy,
readjustment, reorganization or other similar proceedings relative to the
Company or Unocal or their respective property, all principal of and any
interest due on all Senior Debt will be paid in full, or provided for, before
any principal, sinking fund, if any, or interest payment is made on the
Subordinated Debt Securities, in the case of the Company, or the Guarantees of
Subordinated Debt Securities, in the case of Unocal, or (ii) that the
Subordinated Debt Securities are declared due and payable because of the
occurrence of an Event of Default (under circumstances such that the preceding
clause (i) will not be applicable), the holders of the Subordinated Debt
Securities will be entitled to payment only after all principal of and any
interest due on the Senior Debt has been paid or has been provided for
(Subordinated Indenture Section 16.01).
 
  By reason of such subordination, creditors of the Company who are holders of
Senior Debt Securities may recover more, ratably, than holders of Subordinated
Debt Securities.
 
CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE
 
  The terms, if any, on which Offered Debt Securities are convertible into or
exchangeable for Unocal Preferred Stock or Unocal Common Stock will be set
forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
 
Such terms may include provisions for conversion or exchange, either mandatory,
at the option of the holder or at the option of the Company.
 
FORM, EXCHANGE, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
 
  The Debt Securities may be issued in fully registered form without coupons,
in a form registered as to principal only with or without bearer coupons
("Registered Securities") or in bearer form with or without coupons ("Bearer
Securities") or any combination thereof. Debt Securities may also be issued in
whole or in part, in the form of one or more temporary or permanent global
securities (each a "Global Security"). Unless otherwise specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to the Offered Debt Securities, the
Debt Securities will be only Registered Securities. The Debt Securities
denominated in United States Dollars will be issued, unless otherwise set forth
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating to the Offered Debt
Securities, in denominations of $1,000 for Registered Securities and in
denominations of $5,000 for Bearer Securities, and in any integral multiple of
such denominations (Section 2.02). See, however, "Limitations on the Issuance
of Bearer Securities" below. One or more Global Securities will be issued in a
denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the aggregate principal amount
of Outstanding Debt Securities of the series to be represented by such Global
Security or Securities. The Prospectus Supplement relating to a series of Debt
Securities denominated in a foreign or composite currency will specify the
denomination thereof.
 
  Registered Securities of any series (other than a Global Security, except as
set forth below) will be exchangeable for other Registered Securities of the
same series and of a like aggregate principal amount and tenor of different
authorized denominations. In addition, if Debt Securities of any series are
issuable as both Registered Securities and Bearer Securities, at the written
request of the holder, and subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture,
Bearer Securities (with all unmatured coupons, except as provided below, and
all mature coupons in default) of such series will be exchangeable into
Registered Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of
a like aggregate principal amount and tenor. No Bearer Securities will be
delivered in the United States. Bearer Securities with coupons appertaining
thereto surrendered in exchange for Registered Securities between a Regular
Record Date, or, in certain circumstances a Special Record Date, and the
relevant date for payment of interest must be surrendered without the coupon
relating to such date for payment of interest and such interest will not be
payable in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such
Bearer Security, but will be payable only to the holder of such coupon when due
in accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture. Unless otherwise
stated in a Prospectus Supplement, Registered Securities will not be
exchangeable into Bearer Securities. If a holder elects to receive a definitive
Bearer Security, rather than hold an interest in a permanent global Bearer
Security, then, at the option of the Company, such holder must pay to the
Company a service charge and a proportionate share of the cost of printing such
definitive Bearer Security (Section 2.05).
 
  Debt Securities may be presented for exchange as provided above, and
Registered Securities (other than a Global Security) may be presented for
registration of transfer (with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly
executed), at the office of the Security Registrar or at the office of any
transfer agent designated by the Company for such purpose with respect to any
series of Debt Securities and specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, upon payment of any required service charges and taxes and other
governmental charges. The holders of the Debt Securities will be required to
pay all service charges for the exchange or transfer of any Debt Security,
except the Company shall pay for such service charges (i) for the transfer from
a temporary global Debt Security to any other form of Debt Security, (ii) if
the Debt Securities are listed on a stock exchange that requires the issuer to
pay such charges as a condition to listing or (iii) if the applicable
Prospectus Supplement otherwise specifies. Such transfer or exchange will be
effected once the Security Registrar or such transfer agent, as the case may
be, is satisfied with the document of title and identity of the person making
the request. Bearer Securities will be transferable by delivery.
 
  The Company has appointed the Senior Trustee under the Senior Indenture, and
will appoint the Subordinated Trustee under the Subordinated Indenture, as
Security Registrar (Section 2.05). At the date of
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
 
this Prospectus, the Corporate Trust Office of the Senior Trustee is located at
300 South Grand Avenue, 4th Floor, Los Angeles, California 90071. If the
identity or address of the Senior Trustee changes, the corrected information
will appear in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, as appropriate. The
identity and address of the Subordinated Trustee will appear in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. If the applicable Prospectus Supplement specifies any
transfer agents in addition to the Security Registrar with respect to any
series of Debt Securities, the Company may at any time rescind the designation
of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the location through which
any such transfer agent acts, except that, if Debt Securities of a series are
issuable only as Registered Securities, the Company will be required to
maintain a transfer agent in each Place of Payment for such series and, if Debt
Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the Company will be
required to maintain (in addition to the Security Registrar) a transfer agent
in a Place of Payment for such series located outside the United States. The
Company may at any time designate additional transfer agents with respect to
any series of Debt Securities (Section 4.02).
 
  In the event of any redemption in part, the Company shall not be required to:
(i) issue, register the transfer or exchange of Debt Securities of any series
during a period beginning at the opening of 15 Business Days before any
selection of Debt Securities of that series to be redeemed and ending at the
close of business on (a) the day of mailing of the relevant notice of
redemption, if Debt Securities of the series are issuable only as Registered
Securities, (b) the day of the first publication of the relevant notice of
redemption, if Debt Securities of the series are issuable only as Bearer
Securities, or (c) the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption, if
Debt Securities of the series are issuable as Registered Securities and Bearer
Securities and there is no publication; (ii) register the transfer or exchange
of any Registered Security, or portion thereof, called for redemption, except
the unredeemed portion of any Registered Security being redeemed in part; or
(iii) exchange any Bearer Security called for redemption, except to exchange
such Bearer Security for a Registered Security of that series and like tenor
which is simultaneously surrendered for redemption (Section 2.05).
 
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
 
  Payment of principal of, and any interest on, Registered Securities, unless
otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, will be made at
the office of the Paying Agent or Paying Agents as the Company may designate
from time to time, except that at the option of the Company payment of any
interest may be made by check mailed to the address of the person entitled
thereto as such address shall appear in the Security Register (Section 2.11).
Payment of any installment of interest on Registered Securities will be made to
the person in whose name such Registered Security is registered at the close of
business on the Regular Record Date for such interest (Section 2.09), except as
otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
  Payment of principal of, and any interest on, Bearer Securities will be
payable in United States dollars, unless a different currency is designated in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement, subject to any applicable laws and
regulations, at the offices of such Paying Agents outside the United States as
the Company may designate from time to time. Payment of interest on Bearer
Securities with coupons appertaining thereto on any Interest Payment Date will
be made only against surrender of the coupon relating to such Interest Payment
Date, unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement
(Sections 2.11 and 4.02). No payment with respect to any Bearer Security will
be made at the Corporate Trust Office of the Trustee or any office or agency of
the Company in the United States or by check mailed to any address in the
United States or by transfer to an account maintained in the United States.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, payments of principal of, and any interest on,
Bearer Securities denominated and payable in United States Dollars will be made
at the office of the Company's Paying Agent in New York City, if (but only if)
payment of the full amount thereof in United States Dollars at all offices or
agencies outside the United States is illegal or effectively precluded by
exchange controls or other similar restrictions (Section 4.02).
 
  The Company has designated the New York City Corporate Trust Office of the
Senior Trustee, and will designate the New York City Corporate Trust Office of
the Subordinated Trustee, as the sole Paying Agent
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
 
for payments with respect to Offered Debt Securities that are issuable as
Registered Securities, and as the Paying Agent in New York City for payments
with respect to Offered Debt Securities (subject to the limitations described
above in the case of Bearer Securities) that are issuable solely as Bearer
Securities or as both Registered Securities and Bearer Securities. Any Paying
Agents outside the United States and any other Paying Agents in the United
States initially designated by the Company for the Offered Debt Securities will
be named in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The Company may at any time
designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any Paying
Agent or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent acts.
However, the Company will be required to maintain a Paying Agent in each Place
of Payment for Debt Securities of each series that is issuable solely as
Registered Securities, and the Company will be required to maintain for each
series of Bearer Securities a Paying Agent (i) in New York City for payments
with respect to any Registered Securities of the series (and for payments with
respect to Bearer Securities of the series in the circumstances described
above, but not otherwise), (ii) in a place of payment located outside the
United States where Debt Securities of such series and any coupons appertaining
thereto may be presented and surrendered for payment; and (iii) each place
outside the United States required by any stock exchange on which Debt
Securities of such series are listed (Section 4.02).
 
  All monies paid by the Company to a Paying Agent for the payment of principal
of, and any interest on, any Debt Securities that remain unclaimed at the end
of two years after such principal or interest has become due and payable will
be repaid to the Company and the holder of such Debt Security or any coupon
appertaining thereto will thereafter look only to the Company or Unocal for
payment thereof (Section 13.05).
 
GLOBAL SECURITIES
 
  The Offered Debt Securities may be issued in whole or in part in the form of
one or more Global Securities that will be deposited with, or on behalf of, a
depositary (the "Depositary") identified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. Global Securities may be issued in either registered or bearer form
and in either temporary or definitive form. Unless and until it is exchanged in
whole or in part for Debt Securities in definitive form, a Global Security may
not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such Global Security
to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such
Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such Depositary or any
such nominee to a successor of such Depositary or a nominee of such successor
(Sections 2.03 and 2.05).
 
  The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any Offered
Debt Securities will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. The
Company anticipates that the following provisions will apply to all depositary
arrangements.
 
  Upon the issuance of a Global Security, the Depositary for such Global
Security will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the
respective principal amounts of the Debt Securities represented by such Global
Security to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with such
Depositary ("Participants"). The accounts to be credited shall be designated by
the underwriters of such Debt Securities, by certain agents of the Company or
by the Company, if such Debt Securities are offered and sold directly by the
Company. Ownership of beneficial interests in a Global Security will be limited
to Participants or persons that may hold interests through Participants.
Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Security will be shown on, and
the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records
maintained by the Depositary for such Global Security or by Participants or by
persons that hold through Participants. The laws of some jurisdictions require
that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities
in definitive form. Such ownership limits and such laws may impair the ability
to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Security.
 
  So long as the Depositary for a Global Security, or its nominee, is the owner
of such Global Security, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be,
will be considered the sole owner or holder of the Debt Securities represented
by such Global Security for all purposes under the Indenture governing such
Debt Securities. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a
Global Security will not be
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
 
entitled to have Debt Securities of the series represented by such Global
Security registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of Debt Securities of such series in definitive form and will
not be considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture governing
such Debt Securities.
 
  Subject to the restrictions discussed under "Limitations on the Issuance of
Bearer Securities" below, principal and interest payments on Debt Securities
registered in the name of or held by a Depositary or its nominee will be made
to the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner
or the holder of the Global Security representing such Debt Securities. None of
the Company, Unocal, the Trustee for such Debt Securities, any paying agent or
the Security Registrar for such Debt Securities will have any responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account
of beneficial ownership interests in a Global Security for such Debt Securities
or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to such
beneficial ownership interests.
 
  The Company expects that the Depositary for Debt Securities of a series, upon
receipt of any payment of principal or interest in respect of a definitive
Global Security, will immediately credit Participants' accounts with payments
in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in the
principal amount of such Global Security as shown on the records of such
Depositary. The Company also expects that payments by Participants to owners of
beneficial interests in such Global Security held through such Participants
will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now
the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or
registered in "street name," and will be the responsibility of such
participants.
 
  If a Depositary for Debt Securities of a series is at any time unwilling or
unable to continue as Depositary and a successor Depositary is not appointed by
the Company within 90 days, the Company and Unocal will issue Debt Securities
of such series in definitive form in exchange for the Global Security or
Securities representing the Debt Securities of such series. In addition, the
Company may at any time and in its sole discretion determine not to have any
Debt Securities of a series represented by one or more Global Securities and,
in such event, will issue Debt Securities of such series in definitive form in
exchange for the Global Security or Securities representing such Debt
Securities. Further, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security
representing Debt Securities of such series may, under certain circumstances
and on terms acceptable to the Company and the Depositary for such Global
Security, receive Debt Securities of such series in definitive form. In any
such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security will be
entitled to physical delivery in definitive form of Debt Securities of the
series represented by such Global Security equal in principal amount to such
beneficial interest and to have such Debt Securities registered in its name (if
the Debt Securities of such series are issuable as Registered Securities).
Unless otherwise specified by the Company, Debt Securities of such series so
issued in definitive form will be issued (a) as Registered Securities in
denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof, if the Debt Securities
of such series are issuable as Registered Securities; (b) as Bearer Securities
in the denominations of $5,000, if the Debt Securities of such series are
issuable as Bearer Securities or (c) as either Registered or Bearer Securities
in such denominations, if the Debt Securities of such series are issuable in
either form (Section 2.05). See, however, "Limitations on the Issuance of
Bearer Securities" below for a description of certain restrictions on the
issuance of a Bearer Security in definitive form in exchange for an interest in
a Global Security.
 
MEETINGS, MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
 
  Modification of Indentures. The Senior Indenture provides, and the
Subordinated Indenture will provide, that the Company, Unocal and the Trustee
thereunder may, without the consent of any holders of Debt Securities, enter
into supplemental indentures for the purposes, among other things, of adding to
the Company's or Unocal's covenants, adding additional Events of Default,
establishing the form or terms of Debt Securities or curing ambiguities or
inconsistencies in such Indenture or making other provisions; provided such
action shall not adversely affect the interests of the holders of any series of
Debt Securities in any material respect (Section 11.01). In addition,
modifications and amendments of each Indenture may be made by the Company and
Unocal and the Trustee with the consent of the holders of not less than a
majority
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
 
in aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities then outstanding of each
series affected by such modification or amendment; provided, however, that no
such modification or amendment may, without the consent of the holder of each
Debt Security then outstanding that is affected thereby, (a) change the Stated
Maturity of the principal of, or any installment of principal of or interest on
any Debt Security, (b) reduce the principal amount of or interest on any Debt
Security, (c) change any obligation to pay additional amounts, (d) reduce the
amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security payable upon
acceleration of the Maturity thereof, (e) change the Place of Payment or the
currency or currency unit in which any Debt Security or interest thereon is
payable, (f) impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any
payment on or with respect to any Debt Security, (g) reduce the percentage in
principal amount of Debt Securities then outstanding of any series, the consent
of whose holders is required for modification or amendment of the applicable
Indenture or for any waiver of compliance with certain provisions of the
Indenture or for waiver of certain defaults, (h) change any obligation of the
Company to maintain an office or agency in the places and for the purposes
required by an Indenture, (i) if the Debt Securities are convertible into any
other security of the Company or Unocal, make any change that would materially
adversely affect the right to convert such Debt Securities, or (j) modify any
of the above provisions. If the Debt Securities of any series are issuable upon
the exercise of Debt Warrants, then each holder of a Debt Warrant with respect
to such series shall be treated as a holder of such Debt Securities in the
amount issuable upon exercise of such Debt Warrant for purposes of voting under
Section 11.02 of the Indenture (Sections 9.04 and 11.02).
 
  Waiver of Default. The holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of
the Debt Securities then outstanding of each series may, on behalf of the
holders of all the Debt Securities of that series, waive, insofar as that
series is concerned, compliance by Unocal with certain restrictive provisions
of the applicable Indenture (Section 5.11). The holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities then outstanding of each
series may, on behalf of all holders of Debt Securities of that series and any
coupons appertaining thereto, waive any past default under the Indenture with
respect to Debt Securities of that series, except a default (a) in the payment
of principal of or any interest on any Debt Security of such series and (b) in
respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture which cannot be modified or
amended without the consent of the holder of each Debt Security then
outstanding of such series affected (Section 7.06).
 
  Calculating Outstanding Principal. The Senior Indenture provides, and the
Subordinated Indenture will provide, that in determining whether the holders of
the requisite principal amount of the Debt Securities that are outstanding have
given any request, demand, authorization, direction, notice, consent or waiver
thereunder or are present at a meeting of holders of Debt Securities for quorum
purposes, (i) the principal amount of an Original Issue Discount Security that
will be deemed to be outstanding will be the amount of the principal thereof
that would be due and payable as of the date of such determination upon
acceleration of the Maturity thereof, and (ii) the principal amount of a Debt
Security denominated in a foreign currency or currency unit will be deemed to
be that amount of United States dollars that could be obtained for such
principal amount on the basis of the spot rate of exchange for such foreign
currency or currency unit as determined by the Company or an Exchange Rate
Agent up to ten days before the date of the action by the holders (Section
9.04).
 
  Meetings and Voting. The Senior Indenture contains, and the Subordinated
Indenture will contain, a provision for convening meetings of the holders of
Debt Securities of a series, including Debt Securities issuable as Bearer
Securities (Section 10.01). A meeting may be called at any time by the Trustee,
and upon request, by the Company, Unocal or the holders of at least 25% in
principal amount of the Debt Securities then outstanding of such series, in any
such case upon notice given in accordance with "Notices" below (Sections 10.02
and 10.03). Except as described above under "Modifications of Indentures" and
"Waiver of Default," a resolution presented at a meeting or reconvened meeting
at which a quorum of the holders of Debt Securities then outstanding of the
applicable series is present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the
lesser of (i) the holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt
Securities then outstanding of such series, or (ii) the holders of 66 2/3% in
principal amount of the Debt Securities then outstanding of such series
represented and voting at the meeting; provided, however, that if any consent,
waiver, or other action which the applicable Indenture expressly provides may
be made, given or taken by the holders of a specified
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
 
percentage, which is less than a majority of the principal amount of the Debt
Securities then outstanding of a series, such action may be adopted at a
meeting or reconvened meeting at which a quorum is present by the affirmative
vote of the lesser of (a) the holders of such specified percentage in principal
amount of the Debt Securities then outstanding of that series or (b) a majority
in principal amount of Debt Securities then outstanding of such series
represented and voting at the meeting. Any resolution passed or decision taken
at any meeting of holders of Debt Securities of any series duly held in
accordance with the Indenture will be binding on all holders of Debt Securities
of that series and the related coupons whether or not present or represented at
the meeting.
 
  The quorum at a meeting of the holders of a series of Debt Securities will be
persons holding or representing a majority in principal amount of the Debt
Securities then outstanding of a series, unless otherwise specified in a
Prospectus Supplement (Section 10.08).
 
  The record date for purposes of determining the identity of holders entitled
to vote regarding, or consent to, actions by the Trustee and certain waivers
will be the later of (i) thirty (30) days prior to the first solicitation of
such consent or (ii) the date of the most recent list of holders of securities
furnished to the Trustee prior to such solicitation.
 
NOTICES
 
  Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Indenture, notices to holders
of Bearer Securities will be given by publication at least once in a newspaper
published on a Business Day in New York City and London and in such other city
or cities as may be required with respect to such Bearer Securities and will be
mailed to such persons whose names and addresses were previously filed with the
Trustee under the applicable Indenture, within the time prescribed for the
giving of such notice. Notices to holders of Registered Securities will be
given by mail to the address of such holders as they appear in the Security
Register (Section 1.04).
 
TITLE
 
  Title to any Bearer Securities (including Bearer Securities in permanent
global bearer form) and any coupons appertaining thereto will pass by delivery.
The Company, Unocal, the appropriate Trustee and any agent of the Company or
such Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Securities, the bearer of any
coupon and the registered owner of any Registered Security as the absolute
owner thereof (whether or not such Debt Security or coupon is overdue and
notwithstanding any notice to the contrary) for the purpose of making payment
and for all the other purposes (Section 2.07).
 
DEFEASANCE
 
  Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
obligations of the Company and Unocal with respect to the payment of the
principal of and interest on the Offered Debt Securities and their respective
obligations under Sections 5.01, 5.02, 5.03, 5.04, 5.05, 5.08, 5.09, 5.11,
12.01 and 12.02 of the Indenture will be terminated if: (i) the Company
irrevocably deposits or causes to be deposited with the appropriate Trustee,
under the terms of an escrow trust agreement in form and substance satisfactory
to the appropriate Trustee, as trust funds pledged as security for, and
dedicated solely to, the benefit of the holders of the Offered Debt Securities,
(a) money or (b) in the case of Offered Debt Securities and coupons denominated
in United States Dollars, U.S. Government Obligations (as defined in Section
13.04), and in the case of Debt Securities and coupons denominated in a foreign
currency, Foreign Government Securities (as defined in Section 13.04), which
through the payment of interest thereon and principal thereof in accordance
with their terms will provide money or (c) a combination of (a) and (b), in
each case in an amount sufficient to pay in the currency or currency unit in
which the Offered Debt Securities are payable all the principal of and interest
on the Offered Debt Securities on the dates such payments are due in accordance
with the terms of the Offered Debt Securities; and (ii) the Company furnishes
to the appropriate Trustee a ruling by the
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
 
Internal Revenue Service, in form and substance satisfactory to such Trustee,
or an Opinion of Counsel, in form and substance satisfactory to the appropriate
Trustee, to the effect, in either case, that the holders of such Offered Debt
Securities (a) will not recognize income, gain or loss for Federal income tax
purposes as a result of the Company's exercise of the defeasance provisions of
the Indenture and (b) will be subject to Federal income tax in the same amount,
in the same manner and at the same time as would have been the case if the
Company had not exercised its defeasance rights under the Indenture (Section
13.03).
 
THE TRUSTEES
 
  A Trustee may resign or be removed with respect to one or more series of Debt
Securities and a successor Trustee may be appointed by the Company to act with
respect to such series (Section 8.10). In the event that two or more Persons
are acting as Trustee with respect to different series of Debt Securities under
one of the Indentures, each such Trustee will be deemed to be a Trustee of a
trust under the applicable Indenture, separate and apart from the trust
administered by any other such Trustee, and any action described herein to be
taken by the "Trustee" may then be taken by each such Trustee with respect to,
and only with respect to, the one or more series of Debt Securities for which
it is Trustee (Section 8.11).
 
  The initial Senior Trustee is Chemical Trust Company of California, Los
Angeles, California. The identity of the initial Subordinated Trustee has yet
to be determined. Chemical Bank, an affiliate of the Senior Trustee, is a
lending bank and one of the agents under the $1,400,000,000 Credit and
Guarantee Agreement, as amended, referred to above under "Mandatory Prepayment"
and the Company maintains various accounts and conducts other normal banking
transactions with Chemical Bank. The Senior Trustee is the transfer agent and
registrar for the Unocal Common Stock and $3.50 Convertible Preferred Stock and
is the Rights Agent under the Rights Agreement, dated as of January 29, 1990,
referred to below under "Description of the Common Stock--Rights to Purchase
Series A Preferred Stock." Chemical Bank is the administrator of the Unocal
Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan. Unocal and the Company
may in the future maintain other banking relationships with the Senior Trustee
and Chemical Bank in the ordinary course of business and may do the same with
the Subordinated Trustee.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
  The Indentures, the Debt Securities, the Guarantees, and the coupons will be
governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New
York (Section 15.05).
 
                       DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED STOCK
 
  The following description of Unocal Preferred Stock sets forth certain
general terms and provisions of the series of Unocal Preferred Stock to which
any Prospectus Supplement may relate. The specific terms of an offered series
of Unocal Preferred Stock will be described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series. If so indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto, the terms of any such series of Unocal Preferred Stock may differ from
the terms set forth below. The description of Unocal Preferred Stock set forth
below and the description of the terms of an offered series of Unocal Preferred
Stock set forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto do not purport to
be complete and are qualified in their entirety by reference to Unocal's
Certificate of Incorporation, as amended (the "Certificate of Incorporation"),
and the Certificate of Designations relating to such offered series of Unocal
Preferred Stock, which will be filed with the Commission and incorporated by
reference as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus
is a part at or prior to the time of the sale of such offered series.
 
  Under Unocal's Certificate of Incorporation, Unocal's Board of Directors is
authorized, without further stockholder action, to provide for the issuance of
up to 100,000,000 shares of preferred stock, $0.10 par value per share, in one
or more series, with or without voting powers, and with such designations,
preferences and relative, participating, optional or other special rights, and
qualifications, limitations or restrictions, as the
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
 
Board of Directors shall determine. As of the date of this Prospectus, Unocal
has outstanding 10,250,000 shares of $3.50 Convertible Preferred Stock ("$3.50
Preferred Stock"). So long as any shares of $3.50 Preferred Stock are
outstanding, the preferences, privileges and voting powers, if any, of the
shares of Unocal Preferred Stock of any series, and the restrictions or
qualifications thereof, shall be subject to the preferences, privileges and
voting powers, if any, of the shares of $3.50 Preferred Stock. See "Description
of Outstanding Preferred Stock." In addition, Unocal has reserved for issuance
and designated 3,000,000 shares of preferred stock as Series A Junior
Participating Cumulative Preferred Stock in connection with the Rights Plan
described below under "Description of the Common Stock--Rights to Purchase
Series A Preferred Stock."
 
GENERAL
 
  The applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth the following specific
terms regarding the series of Unocal Preferred Stock offered thereby: (i) the
designation, number of shares and liquidation preference per share; (ii) the
initial public offering price; (iii) the dividend rate or rates, if any, or the
method of determining the dividend rate or rates; (iv) the index, if any, upon
which the amount of dividends is to be determined; (v) the dates on which
dividends will accrue and be payable and the designated record dates for
determining the holders entitled to such dividends; (vi) any redemption or
sinking fund provisions; (vii) any conversion or exchange provisions; (viii)
any provisions for the issuance of global securities; (ix) the currency (which
may be composite currency) in which liquidation preferences, redemption prices
and dividends shall be payable, if other than United States dollars; (x) voting
rights, if different from those described under "--Voting Rights"; and (xi) any
additional terms, preferences or rights.
 
  The shares of Unocal Preferred Stock will, when issued, be fully paid and
nonassessable and will have no preemptive rights.
 
  The transfer agent, registrar, dividend disbursing agent, redemption agent
and, if applicable, conversion agent for the offered series of Unocal Preferred
Stock will be specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto.
 
DIVIDENDS
 
  The holders of the Unocal Preferred Stock of each series will be entitled to
receive, when, as and if declared by the Board of Directors of Unocal, out of
funds legally available therefor, cumulative or non-cumulative cash or other
dividends at such rate or rates and on such dates as will be set forth in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. Such rates may be fixed or variable or both.
If variable, the formula used for determining the dividend rate for each
dividend period will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement. Dividends will
be payable to the holders of record as they appear on the stock register of
Unocal on such record dates, not more than sixty (60) days nor less than ten
(10) days preceding the payment dates thereof, as will be fixed by the Board of
Directors of Unocal. If the Board of Directors of Unocal fails to declare a
dividend payable on a dividend payment date on any series of Unocal Preferred
Stock for which dividends are noncumulative ("Noncumulative Preferred Stock"),
then the holders of such series of Noncumulative Preferred Stock will have no
right to receive a dividend in respect of the dividend period ending on such
dividend payment date, and Unocal will have no obligation to pay a dividend for
such period, whether or not dividends on such series are declared payable on
any future dividend payment dates. Dividends payable on any series of Unocal
Preferred Stock for any period less than a full dividend period will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
 
  If the offered series of Unocal Preferred Stock ranks junior to or on a
parity with the $3.50 Preferred Stock as to dividends, no full dividends may be
declared or paid or set apart for payment on such offered series of Unocal
Preferred Stock for any period unless full cumulative dividends have been or
contemporaneously are declared and paid, or declared and a sum sufficient for
the payment thereof set apart for such payment, on the $3.50 Preferred Stock
for all dividend payment periods terminating on or prior to the date of the
payment of such full cumulative dividends. If the offered series of Unocal
Preferred Stock
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
 
ranks on a parity with the $3.50 Preferred Stock and dividends are not paid in
full on the $3.50 Preferred Stock, then all dividends declared upon all
outstanding shares of $3.50 Preferred Stock and shares of such offered series
of Unocal Preferred Stock will be declared pro rata so that the amounts of
dividends declared per share on the $3.50 Preferred Stock and such offered
series of Unocal Preferred Stock will in all cases bear to each other the same
ratio that accrued and unpaid dividends per share on the shares of $3.50
Preferred Stock and such offered Unocal Preferred Stock bear to each other.
 
  If the offered series of Unocal Preferred Stock ranks junior to or on a
parity with the $3.50 Preferred Stock, then unless full cumulative dividends on
all outstanding shares of $3.50 Preferred Stock have been paid or declared and
set aside for payment for all past dividend payment periods, no dividend or
distribution (other than a dividend or distribution in Unocal Common Stock or
in any other capital stock of Unocal ranking junior to the $3.50 Preferred
Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation and other than as provided in the
preceding paragraph) may be declared or paid or set apart for payment on the
offered series of Unocal Preferred Stock nor may the offered series of Unocal
Preferred Stock be redeemed, purchased or otherwise acquired for any
consideration (or any moneys be paid to or made available for a sinking fund
for the redemption of any shares of any such stock) by Unocal (except by
conversion into or exchange for capital stock of Unocal ranking junior to the
$3.50 Preferred Stock as to dividends and upon liquidation). These restrictions
will not prevent Unocal from making contributions to, or purchasing capital
stock in connection with, its employee benefit plans and dividend reinvestment
plan or from redeeming rights pursuant to its Rights Plan, described below
under "Description of the Common Stock--Rights to Purchase Series A Preferred
Stock."
 
REDEMPTION
 
  The offered series of Unocal Preferred Stock may be redeemable at the option
of Unocal and may be subject to mandatory redemption pursuant to a sinking fund
or otherwise, in each case upon the terms, on the date or dates and at the
redemption price or prices set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
If fewer than all shares of the offered series of Unocal Preferred Stock are to
be redeemed, the shares to be redeemed will be selected by Unocal pro rata or
by lot, by any other method determined by the Board of Directors to be
equitable, or by any method set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
  If any dividends on shares of the offered series of Unocal Preferred Stock
are in arrears, no shares of Unocal Common Stock or shares of capital stock
ranking junior to or on parity with the offered series of Unocal Preferred
Stock may be redeemed and no shares of such offered series of Unocal Preferred
Stock may be redeemed unless all outstanding shares of such series are
simultaneously redeemed, and Unocal may not purchase or otherwise acquire any
shares of such series; provided, however, that the foregoing shall not prevent
the purchase or acquisition of shares of such series pursuant to a purchase or
exchange offer made on the same terms to holders of all outstanding shares of
such series.
 
  Notice of redemption will be given by mailing the same to each record holder
of the shares to be redeemed to the respective addresses of such holders as the
same shall appear on Unocal's stock register. Each such notice will state: (i)
the redemption date; (ii) the number of shares and series of Unocal Preferred
Stock to be redeemed; (iii) the redemption price and the manner in which such
redemption price is to be paid and delivered; (iv) the place or places where
certificates for such shares of Unocal Preferred Stock are to be surrendered
for payment of the redemption price; and (v) that dividends on the shares to be
redeemed will cease to accrue on such redemption date. If fewer than all shares
of any series of Unocal Preferred Stock held by any holder are to be redeemed,
the notice mailed to such holder will also specify the number of shares to be
redeemed from such holder.
 
  If notice of redemption has been given, from and after the redemption date
for the shares of the series of Unocal Preferred Stock called for redemption
(unless default shall be made by Unocal in providing money for the payment of
the redemption price of the shares so called for redemption), dividends on the
shares of Unocal Preferred Stock so called for redemption will cease to accrue,
any right to convert the shares of
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
 
Unocal Preferred Stock will terminate, such shares will no longer be deemed to
be outstanding, and all rights of the holders thereof as stockholders of Unocal
(except the right to receive the redemption price, without interest) will
cease. Upon surrender in accordance with such notice of the certificates
representing any shares so redeemed (properly endorsed or assigned for
transfer, if the notice shall so state), the redemption price set forth above
will be paid out of funds provided by Unocal. If fewer than all of the shares
represented by any such certificate are redeemed, a new certificate will be
issued representing the unredeemed shares without cost to the holder thereof.
 
LIQUIDATION PREFERENCE
 
  The applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth the specific liquidation
preference of the offered series of Unocal Preferred Stock.
 
  If the offered series of Unocal Preferred Stock ranks on a parity with the
$3.50 Preferred Stock, then upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of Unocal, the holders of shares of such offered
series of Unocal Preferred Stock and of $3.50 Preferred Stock will be entitled
to receive out of the assets of Unocal available for distribution to
stockholders, before any distribution of assets is made to or set apart for the
holders of Unocal Common Stock or of any other shares of capital stock of
Unocal ranking as to such a distribution junior to the shares of such series,
with respect to the offered series of Unocal Preferred Stock, an amount
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such offered series of
Unocal Preferred Stock, and with respect to $3.50 Preferred Stock, an amount
equal to the liquidation value of such shares. See "--Description of
Outstanding Preferred Stock." If the offered series of Unocal Preferred Stock
ranks on a parity with the $3.50 Preferred Stock, and upon any voluntary or
involuntary dissolution, liquidation or winding up of Unocal, the amounts
payable with respect to the liquidation preference of the $3.50 Preferred Stock
and the offered series of Unocal Preferred Stock are not paid in full, then the
holders of $3.50 Preferred Stock and the offered series of Unocal Preferred
Stock will share ratably in any such distribution of assets of Unocal in
proportion to the full distributable amounts to which they are entitled. After
payment of the full amount of the liquidating distributions to which they are
entitled, the holders of $3.50 Preferred Stock and the offered series of Unocal
Preferred Stock will have no right or claim to any of the remaining assets of
Unocal. Neither the sale of all or substantially all of the property or
business of Unocal (other than in connection with the winding up of its
business), nor the merger or consolidation of Unocal into or with any other
corporation will be deemed to be a dissolution, liquidation or winding up,
voluntary or involuntary, of Unocal.
 
  Unocal conducts substantially all of its operations through the Company. The
right of Unocal, and hence the right of creditors and stockholders of Unocal,
to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary (including the
Company) upon its liquidation or reorganization or otherwise is necessarily
subject to the prior claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the
extent that claims of Unocal itself as a creditor of the subsidiary may be
recognized.
 
CONVERSION AND EXCHANGE
 
  The terms, if any, on which shares of any offered series of Unocal Preferred
Stock are convertible into or exchangeable for Unocal Common Stock will be set
forth in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto. Such terms may include
provisions for conversion or exchange, either mandatory, at the option of the
holder, or at the option of Unocal.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
 
  Except as indicated below or in the Prospectus Supplement relating to a
particular offered series of Unocal Preferred Stock, or except as expressly
required by applicable law, the holders of Unocal Preferred Stock will not be
entitled to vote.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
 
  On matters on which holders of such offered series and holders of any other
series of Unocal Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as a single class, each
full share of any series of Unocal Preferred Stock shall be entitled to one
vote. Therefore, the voting power of such series will depend on the number of
shares in such series, not the liquidation preference or initial offering price
of the shares of such series of the Unocal Preferred Stock.
 
  If the equivalent of six quarterly dividends (whether or not consecutive)
payable on any offered series of Unocal Preferred Stock, $3.50 Preferred Stock
or any other series of Unocal Preferred Stock are in default, the number of
directors of Unocal will be increased by two and the holders of all outstanding
shares of Unocal Preferred Stock, $3.50 Preferred Stock, and all other
outstanding shares of preferred stock having similar voting rights, voting as a
single class without regard to series and with no cumulative voting, to the
exclusion of the holders of Unocal Common Stock, will be entitled to elect
those two additional directors, who shall serve until all dividends in default
have been paid or declared and set apart for payment.
 
  So long as any shares of Unocal Preferred Stock and $3.50 Preferred Stock
remain outstanding, Unocal shall not, without the consent of the holders of at
least two-thirds of the shares of the affected series of Unocal Preferred Stock
and $3.50 Preferred Stock outstanding at the time (voting separately as a class
with all other affected series of preferred stock ranking on a parity with the
affected series of Unocal Preferred Stock and $3.50 Preferred Stock), (i)
authorize, create or issue, or increase the authorized amount of, any class or
series of capital stock ranking prior to the affected series of Unocal
Preferred Stock and $3.50 Preferred Stock as to dividends or upon liquidation;
or (ii) amend, alter or repeal the provisions of Unocal's Certificate of
Incorporation, whether by merger, consolidation or otherwise, so as to
materially and adversely affect any right, preference, privilege or voting
power of the affected series of Unocal Preferred Stock or $3.50 Preferred Stock
or the holders thereof; provided, however, that any increase in the amount of
the authorized Common Stock or authorized Preferred Stock or the creation and
issuance of other series of capital stock ranking on a parity with or junior to
the affected series of Unocal Preferred Stock or $3.50 Preferred Stock as to
dividends and upon liquidation shall not be deemed to materially and adversely
affect such rights, preferences, privileges or voting powers.
 
DESCRIPTION OF OUTSTANDING PREFERRED STOCK
 
  As of the date of this Prospectus, Unocal has issued and outstanding
10,250,000 shares of the $3.50 Preferred Stock, which is senior to the Unocal
Common Stock as to payment of dividends and distribution of assets on
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of Unocal.
 
  Holders of $3.50 Preferred Stock are entitled to receive, when and as
declared by Unocal's Board of Directors, out of Unocal's funds legally
available for payment, quarterly cash dividends at an annual rate of $3.50 per
share payable in arrears. Dividends are cumulative.
 
  In the event of any voluntary or involuntary dissolution, liquidation or
winding up of Unocal, the holders of $3.50 Preferred Stock will be entitled to
receive and to be paid out of Unocal's assets available for distribution to its
stockholders, before any payment or distribution is made to holders of Unocal
Common Stock or any other class of capital stock of Unocal ranking junior to
the $3.50 Preferred Stock upon liquidation, a liquidation preference in the
amount of $50 per share of the Unocal Preferred Stock plus accrued and unpaid
dividends.
 
  The $3.50 Preferred Stock is not subject to any mandatory redemption, sinking
fund or other similar provisions. At any time on or after July 15, 1996, the
$3.50 Preferred Stock is redeemable in whole or in part, at Unocal's option, at
redemption prices declining from 104.2% at July 15, 1996 to 100% at July 15,
2002.
 
  The $3.50 Preferred Stock is convertible at the option of the holder at any
time, unless previously redeemed, into Unocal Common Stock at the rate of
1.6260 shares of Unocal Common Stock for each share
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
 
of $3.50 Preferred Stock (equivalent to a conversion price of $30.75 per share
of Unocal Common Stock). The conversion price is subject to adjustment in
certain events, including a Non-Stock Fundamental Change or a Common Stock
Fundamental Change (as such terms are defined in the Certificate of
Designations relating thereto).
 
  Holders of $3.50 Preferred Stock have no right to require redemption of the
$3.50 Preferred Stock.
 
                        DESCRIPTION OF THE COMMON STOCK
 
  Unocal's Board of Directors is authorized to issue a maximum of 750,000,000
shares of Unocal Common Stock, $1.00 par value per share, under Unocal's
Certificate of Incorporation. As of December 31, 1994, 244,198,701 shares of
Unocal Common Stock were outstanding and 32,925,005 shares were reserved for
issuance upon the conversion of the $3.50 Preferred Stock and in connection
with Unocal's employee benefit plans, its Directors' Restricted Stock Plan and
its Dividend Reinvestment and Common Stock Purchase Plan.
 
  The following summary of the rights of the Unocal Common Stock does not
purport to be complete and is subject in all respects to the applicable
provisions of the Delaware General Corporation Law and the Certificate of
Incorporation.
 
  Dividend Rights: Subject to the prior rights, if any, of the holders of $3.50
Preferred Stock and Unocal Preferred Stock, holders of Unocal Common Stock are
entitled to receive such dividends as are declared by Unocal's Board of
Directors out of funds legally available therefor.
 
  Voting Rights: Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of $3.50
Preferred Stock and Unocal Preferred Stock, all voting rights are vested in the
holders of shares of Unocal Common Stock, each share being entitled to one vote
on all matters presented for a vote (except for those matters for which a
separate class vote is required under Delaware law). The holders of one-third
of the shares entitled to vote constitute a quorum at any meeting of
stockholders.
 
  Liquidation Rights: Subject to the rights, if any, of the holders of $3.50
Preferred Stock and Unocal Preferred Stock, in the event of liquidation of
Unocal, holders of Unocal Common Stock will share pro rata in all assets
distributable to stockholders in respect of shares held by them.
 
  Preemptive Rights: Holders of Unocal Common Stock are not entitled to any
preemptive rights to subscribe for any additional securities that may be
issued.
 
  Non-Cumulative Voting: Holders of shares of Unocal Common Stock have non-
cumulative voting rights, which means that holders of more than 50% of the
shares voting for the election of directors can elect 100% of the directors
standing for election if they choose to do so, and, in such event, the holders
of the remaining less than 50% of the shares voting for the election of
directors will not be able to elect any person or persons to the Board of
Directors of Unocal. Unocal's Board of Directors is divided into three classes,
and directors are normally elected for three-year terms. One of the classes is
presented for election at each annual meeting, so that the entire Board of
Directors is never presented for election in any one year.
 
  Chemical Trust Company of California, Los Angeles, California, is the
transfer agent and registrar for the Unocal Common Stock. The Unocal Common
Stock may also be presented for transfer at the office of Chemical Bank, New
York, New York.
 
RIGHTS TO PURCHASE SERIES A PREFERRED STOCK
 
  In January 1990, the Board of Directors of Unocal adopted a stockholder
rights plan (the "Rights Plan") and declared a dividend of one right (a
"Right"; collectively, the "Rights") for, and to be attached to, each
outstanding share of Common Stock. The resolutions creating the Rights Plan
provide that as long as the
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
 
Rights are attached to shares of Common Stock, as provided in the "Rights
Agreement" referred to below, one additional Right will be issued and delivered
with each share of Common Stock that becomes outstanding after February 12,
1990. Each Right entitles the holder thereof to purchase one one-hundredth of a
share of preferred stock designated as the Series A Junior Participating
Cumulative Preferred Stock ("Series A Preferred Stock"). The Rights will expire
on January 29, 2000, unless redeemed earlier, and will not be exercisable or
transferable separately from the shares of Common Stock until the close of
business on the Distribution Date, which will occur on the earlier of (i) the
tenth day following a public announcement that a person or group of affiliated
or associated persons (a "15% Stockholder") has acquired, or obtained the right
to acquire, beneficial ownership of 15% or more of the outstanding Common Stock
or (ii) the date of the commencement or the announcement of an intention to
make a tender or exchange offer that would cause any person or group to become
a 15% Stockholder.
 
  Pursuant to the Rights Plan, 3,000,000 shares of Series A Preferred Stock
have been designated and reserved for issuance upon exercise of the Rights. An
additional number of shares of Series A Preferred Stock equal to one one-
hundredth of the number of shares of Unocal Common Stock will be reserved for
issuance in connection with an issuance of Preferred Stock or Unocal Common
Stock, whether issued directly, upon exercise of Equity Warrants or upon
conversion of Preferred Stock or Debt Securities.
 
  A description of the Rights and the Series A Preferred Stock is set forth in
the Rights Agreement, dated January 29, 1990, between Unocal and Chemical Trust
Company of California, as Rights Agent, which is included as exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
 
CERTAIN PROVISIONS OF THE CERTIFICATE OF INCORPORATION AND BYLAWS OF UNOCAL
 
  The Certificate of Incorporation and Bylaws of Unocal contain certain
provisions which may have the effect of rendering a change of control of Unocal
more difficult. The Certificate of Incorporation provides that the Board of
Directors is divided into three classes, with the directors serving three-year
staggered terms. Special meetings of Unocal's stockholders generally may be
called only by the Board of Directors, and any action required or permitted to
be taken by the stockholders must be taken at an annual or special meeting and
may not be effected by written consent. The vote of 75% of the outstanding
stock of Unocal entitled to vote is required for the stockholders to adopt,
amend or repeal bylaws. Such a 75% vote is also required for approval of a
merger or consolidation of Unocal with, and certain other transactions with,
another corporation which, with its affiliates, owns beneficially more than 10%
of the total voting power of all outstanding shares of Unocal voting stock (a
"Related Corporation"), unless such a transaction was approved by 75% of the
directors of Unocal prior to the Related Corporation becoming such. The
Certificate of Incorporation also require such a 75% vote to repeal or amend
any of the foregoing provisions.
 
  The Bylaws of Unocal require 30 days' advance notice of, and specified
information with respect to, nominations by stockholders of persons for
election as directors and other business to be brought before an annual meeting
by a stockholder.
 
  As set forth above under "Description of the Preferred Stock," the Board of
Directors has the authority, without further stockholder action, to provide for
the issuance of Unocal Preferred Stock and to fix the terms thereof. Provisions
which could render a change of control of Unocal more difficult, such as
extraordinary voting, dividend, redemption or conversion rights, could be
included in such Unocal Preferred Stock.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF THE WARRANTS
 
  The following description sets forth certain general terms and provisions of
the Debt Warrants and Equity Warrants to which a Prospectus Supplement may
relate. The particular terms of any Debt Warrants and Equity Warrants offered
will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Debt Warrants
or Equity Warrants.
 
  The following summaries of certain provisions of the Debt Warrants and Equity
Warrants and of one or more separate Warrant Agreements (each a "Warrant
Agreement") between the Company and Unocal and one or more banking institutions
or trust companies, as Warrant Agent (each a "Warrant Agent"), do not purport
to be complete and are subject to and qualified in their entirety by reference
to all provisions of the applicable Warrant Agreement. Forms of Warrant
Agreements are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement. Each Warrant
Agreement will be governed by, and construed in accordance with, the laws of
the State of New York.
 
GENERAL
 
  Debt Warrants and Equity Warrants, evidenced by Warrant Certificates (the
"Warrant Certificates"), may be issued under a Warrant Agreement independently
or together with any Debt Securities, Unocal Preferred Stock or Unocal Common
Stock and may be transferable with or separate from such Securities. If Debt
Warrants to purchase Debt Securities are offered, the applicable Prospectus
Supplement will describe the terms of the Debt Warrants, including the
following: (i) the offering price, if any, including the currency, or currency
unit in which such price will be payable; (ii) the designation, aggregate
principal amount and terms of the Offered Debt Securities with which the Debt
Warrants are issued and the number of Debt Warrants issued with each such
Offered Debt Security; (iii) if applicable, the date on or after which the Debt
Warrants and the related Offered Debt Securities will be separately
transferable; (iv) the designation, aggregate principal amount and terms of
Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of one Debt Warrant and the price or
prices at which, and the currency, or currency unit in which such principal
amount of Debt Securities may be purchased upon exercise; (v) the date on which
the right to exercise the Debt Warrants commences and the date on which such
right expires; (vi) any United States Federal income tax consequences; (vii)
whether the Debt Warrants represented by the Warrant Certificates will be
issued in registered or bearer form or both; and (viii) any other material
terms of the Debt Warrants. If Equity Warrants are offered, the applicable
Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of the Equity Warrants, including
the following: (i) the offering price, if any, including the currency or
currency unit in which such price will be payable; (ii) the designation of any
series of Unocal Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Equity
Warrants; (iii) the number of shares of Unocal Preferred Stock or Unocal Common
Stock purchasable upon exercise of one Equity Warrant, and the price or prices
at which, and the currency, or currency unit in which such shares may be
purchased upon exercise; (iv) the date on which the right to exercise the
Equity Warrants commences and the date on which such right expires; (v) any
United States Federal income tax consequences; (vi) whether the Equity Warrants
represented by the Warrant Certificate will be issued in registered or bearer
form or both; (vii) whether the Equity Warrants or the underlying Unocal
Preferred Stock or Unocal Common Stock will be listed on any national
securities exchange; and (viii) any other material terms of the Equity
Warrants. In addition, if any Debt Warrants or Equity Warrants are sold for any
foreign currency or currency units, the restrictions, elections, tax
consequences, specific terms and other information with respect to such issue
will be specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
  Warrant Certificates, if any, may be exchanged for new Warrant Certificates
of different denominations and may (if in registered form) be presented for
registration of transfer at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent,
which will be listed in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, or at such other
office as may be set forth therein. Warrantholders do not have any of the
rights of holders of Debt Securities (except to the extent that the consent of
Warrantholders may be required for certain modifications of the terms of the
Indenture under which the series of Offered Debt Securities issuable upon
exercise of the Warrants are to be
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
 
issued) or Unocal Preferred or Common stockholders and are not entitled to
payments of principal and interest, if any, on Debt Securities or to dividends
or other distributions made with respect to Unocal Preferred Stock or Unocal
Common Stock.
 
EXERCISE OF WARRANTS
 
  Warrants may be exercised by surrendering the Warrant Certificate, if any, at
the corporate trust office or other designated office of the Warrant Agent,
with (i) the form of election to purchase on the reverse side of the Warrant
Certificate, if any, properly completed and executed, and (ii) payment in full
of the exercise price, as set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Upon exercise of Warrants, the Warrant Agent will, as soon as practicable,
deliver the Debt Securities, Unocal Preferred Stock or Unocal Common Stock
issuable upon the exercise of the Warrants in authorized denominations in
accordance with the instructions of the exercising Warrantholder and at the
sole cost and risk of such holder. If less than all of the Warrants evidenced
by the Warrant Certificate are exercised, a new Warrant Certificate will be
issued for the remaining amount of unexercised Warrants, if sufficient time
exists prior to the expiration date.
 
                LIMITATIONS ON THE ISSUANCE OF BEARER SECURITIES
 
  In compliance with United States Federal tax laws and regulations, Bearer
Securities may not, in general, be offered or sold during the Restricted Period
(as defined below) to a person within the United States or to, or for the
account or benefit of, a United States person. However, offers or sales can be
made to (i) the United States office of international organizations (as defined
in Section 7701(a)(18) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the
"Code") and the regulations thereunder), (ii) the United States office of
foreign central banks (as defined in Section 895 of the Code and the
regulations thereunder) and (iii) foreign branches of United States financial
institutions which are purchasing for their own account or for resale, and
which have agreed to comply with the reporting requirements of Section
165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Code and the regulations thereunder. In
addition, sales can be made to a United States person acquiring a Bearer
Security through a financial institution described in clause (iii) of the
preceding sentence if certain certification requirements and other conditions
are satisfied. Definitive Bearer Securities will not be delivered within the
United States, or in any event unless the beneficial owner of the Securities
has complied with the certification requirements to be described in the
relevant Prospectus Supplement.
 
  Each underwriter, dealer and agent (or other "distributor" within the meaning
of the regulations under Section 163 of the Code) participating in the
distribution of any Bearer Securities will agree that (i) it will not offer,
sell or deliver Bearer Debt Securities within the United States or to, or for
the account or benefit of, United States persons (other than qualifying
financial institutions) (a) until 40 days after the closing date or (b) at any
time if the obligation is held as part of an unsold allotment or subscription
(the "Restricted Period"), and (ii) it has in effect procedures reasonably
designed to ensure that its employees and agents who are directly engaged in
selling the Bearer Securities are aware of the restrictions described in clause
(i) of this sentence. Bearer Securities will bear a legend on their face and on
any interest coupons that may be detached therefrom or, if the obligation is
evidenced by a book entry, a legend will appear in the book of record in which
the book entry is made substantially to the following effect: "Any United
States person who holds this obligation will be subject to limitations under
the United States income tax laws, including the limitations provided in
Section 165(j) and 1287(a) of the Internal Revenue Code." The Code Sections
referred to in such legend provide that a United States person who holds a
Bearer Security will not be allowed to deduct any loss realized on the sale,
exchange or redemption of such Bearer Security and any gain (which might
otherwise be characterized as capital gain) recognized on such sale, exchange
or redemption will be treated as ordinary income. If the Company or Unocal
issue Warrants in bearer form, they will specify in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement what, if any, restrictions or certification requirements will be
applicable to the issuance and delivery of such bearer Warrants.
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
 
  As used herein, "United States person" means an individual who is a citizen
or resident of the United States, a corporation, partnership or other entity
created or organized in or under the laws of the United States or any political
subdivision thereof, or an estate or trust the income of which is subject to
United States Federal income taxation regardless of its source; and "United
States" means the United States of America (including the States and the
District of Columbia) and its possessions, which include, as of the date
hereof, Puerto Rico, the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake
Island, and Northern Mariana Islands.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
  The Company and Unocal may offer and sell the Securities in any of three
ways: (i) directly to investors; (ii) to investors through agents; or (iii)
through underwriters or dealers. The Securities may also be exchanged for
outstanding securities of the Company or Unocal or both and resold by the
holder pursuant to this Prospectus in the over-the-counter market, on the New
York Stock Exchange, through negotiated transactions or otherwise, at market
prices prevailing at the time of sale or at prices otherwise negotiated. The
terms of any such exchange and the method of resale by the holder will be set
forth in a Prospectus Supplement. The applicable Prospectus Supplement with
respect to the Securities will set forth the terms of the offering of the
Securities, including the name or names of any underwriters, the purchase price
of the Securities and the proceeds to the Company or Unocal, as the case may
be, from such sale, any underwriting discounts and other items constituting
underwriters' compensation, any initial public offering price and any discounts
or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers and any securities
exchanges on which such Securities may be listed.
 
  If underwriters are used in the sale, the Securities will be acquired by the
underwriters for their own account and may be resold from time to time in one
or more transactions, including negotiated transactions, at a fixed public
offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale. The
Securities may be either offered to the public through underwriting syndicates
represented by managing underwriters, or directly by one or more underwriters.
Unless otherwise set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
obligations of the underwriters to purchase the Securities will be subject to
certain conditions precedent and the underwriters will be obligated to purchase
all the Securities if any are purchased. Any initial public offering price and
any discounts or concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be
changed from time to time.
 
  Except for Unocal Common Stock, each issue of Securities sold will be a new
issue of securities with no established trading market. Any underwriters or
agents with respect to an issue of Securities may make a market in such
Securities, but such underwriters or agents will not be obligated to do so and
may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. No assurance can
be given as to the liquidity of any Securities in the secondary market.
 
  If the Securities are issued in exchange for outstanding securities of the
Company or Unocal, the applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth the
terms of the exchange, the identity of and the terms of sale of the Securities
by the selling security holders.
 
  Securities may be sold directly by the Company or Unocal or through agents
designated by the Company or Unocal from time to time. Any agent involved in
the offer or sale of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is
delivered will be named, and any commissions payable by the Company or Unocal
to such agent will be set forth, in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, any such
agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period of its appointment.
 
  If so indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Company or
Unocal will authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by
certain specified institutions to purchase the Securities from the Company at
the public offering price set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement
pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing for payment and delivery on a
specified date in the future. Such contracts will be subject only to those
conditions set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and the applicable
Prospectus Supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation of
such contracts.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
 
  Agents, selling security holders and underwriters may be entitled under
agreements entered into with the Company and Unocal to indemnification by the
Company and Unocal against certain civil liabilities, including certain
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, or to contribution with respect
to payments which the agents, selling security holders or underwriters may be
required to make in respect thereof. Agents, selling security holders and
underwriters may be customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform
services for the Company or Unocal in the ordinary course of business.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
  The consolidated financial statements and financial statement schedules of
the Company and Unocal as of December 31, 1993 and 1992, and for each of the
three years in the period ended December 31, 1993, included in the 1993 Annual
Reports on Form 10-K of the Company and of Unocal incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus, have been incorporated herein in reliance on the reports of
Coopers & Lybrand, independent accountants, which reports are incorporated by
reference herein, and on the authority of that firm as experts in accounting
and auditing. Each of such reports includes an explanatory paragraph with
respect to the changes in methods of accounting for income taxes in 1992 and
for postretirement benefits other than pensions and for postemployment benefits
in 1993.
 
  The information concerning estimates of proved oil and gas and geothermal
reserves attributable to the Company and Unocal, included in the 1993 Annual
Reports on Form 10-K of the Company and Unocal incorporated by reference in
this Prospectus, has been prepared by the Company's petroleum engineering staff
and certified by John F. Imle, Jr., a director and President of Unocal and the
Company and formerly President of the Energy Resources Division of Unocal and
the Company, and has been incorporated by reference herein in reliance upon the
authority of Mr. Imle as an expert in the field of petroleum engineering. As of
December 31, 1994, Mr. Imle owned 60,296 shares of Unocal Common Stock, which
included 7,149 restricted shares that vest in 1997 and 1998. Mr. Imle also held
options to purchase 150,162 shares of Unocal Common Stock at prices ranging
from $11.1563 to $30.0625, with expiration dates ranging from 1996 to 2004. In
addition, he held 27,157 performance share units initially awarded to him in
1992 through 1994, payable four years after the award dates. Each unit is the
equivalent of one share of Unocal Common Stock. The number of units actually
paid out at the end of each four-year term could be between 0% and 200% of the
units initially awarded, depending upon Unocal's total return to stockholders
compared to that of a peer group of companies. However, the value of the units
paid out may not exceed 400% of the value of the units initially awarded. The
units are paid out in a combination of cash and shares of Unocal Common Stock,
as determined by the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors.
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
  Legal matters in connection with the issuance and sale of the Securities
offered hereby will be passed upon for the Company and Unocal by Dennis P. R.
Codon, Esq., Vice President and General Counsel of the Company and Unocal, and
for any underwriters, selling security holders or agents by Brobeck, Phleger &
Harrison, Los Angeles, California. As of December 31, 1994, Mr. Codon owned
11,212 shares of Unocal Common Stock, which included 7,002 restricted shares
that vest in 1995 through 1999. He also held options to purchase 30,267 shares
of Unocal Common Stock at prices ranging from $20.5313 to $30.0625, with
expiration dates ranging from 2000 to 2004. In addition, Mr. Codon held 10,679
performance share units awarded to him in 1992 through 1994, payable as
explained in the preceding paragraph. Brobeck, Phleger & Harrison also
represents the Company and Unocal in certain legal matters.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
 
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  NO PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY
REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR
THE PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST
NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED. THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND
THE PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN
OFFER TO BUY ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THE SECURITIES DESCRIBED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO
BUY SUCH SECURITIES IN ANY CIRCUMSTANCES IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION
IS UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN OR
THEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE OF SUCH INFORMATION.
 
                                ---------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            PAGE
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Description of the Notes................................................... S-2
Underwriting............................................................... S-4
 
                                  PROSPECTUS
 
Available Information......................................................   2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................   2
Use of Proceeds............................................................   3
The Company and Unocal.....................................................   3
Historical Condensed Consolidated
 Selected Financial Information............................................   4
Description of the Debt Securities.........................................   5
Description of the Preferred Stock.........................................  17
Description of the Common Stock............................................  22
Description of the Warrants................................................  24
Limitations on the Issuance of Bearer
 Securities................................................................  25
Plan of Distribution.......................................................  26
Experts....................................................................  27
Legal Matters..............................................................  27
</TABLE>
 
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                         [LOGO OF UNOCAL CORPORATION]
 
                                 $200,000,000
 
                        UNION OIL COMPANY OF CALIFORNIA
 
                         7.20% NOTES DUE MAY 15, 2005
 
                PAYMENT OF PRINCIPAL AND INTEREST GUARANTEED BY
 
                              UNOCAL CORPORATION
 
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                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
 
                                ---------------
 
                             GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO. 

                         J.P. MORGAN SECURITIES INC. 

                             MORGAN STANLEY & CO.
                                 INCORPORATED

                             SALOMON BROTHERS INC
 
                      REPRESENTATIVES OF THE UNDERWRITERS
 
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