TENNECO INC /DE
8-K, 1997-06-13
FARM MACHINERY & EQUIPMENT
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<PAGE>   1

                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                            WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


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



                                   FORM 8-K


                                CURRENT REPORT
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                       SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934



Date of Report (Data of earliest event reported):   June 11, 1997
                                                 -----------------


                                 TENNECO INC.
             (Exact name of registrant specified in its charter)


DELAWARE                               1-12387                 76-0515284
(State or other juristiction    (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer
of incorporation)                                          Identification No.)



         1275 KING STREET
      GREENWICH, CONNECTICUT                         06831
(Address of Principal Executive Offices)          (Zip Code)



Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (203) 863-1000
                                                     --------------

<PAGE>   2


ITEM 5. OTHER EVENTS.

        On June 11, 1997, the Registrant sold $300,000,000 aggregate principal
amount of its 7-5/8% Debentures due June 15, 2017 to credit Suisse First Boston
Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Citicorp Securities, Inc. and
UBS Securities LLC Chase Securities Inc. and NationsBanc under the Registrant's
existing shelf Registration Statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-24291) dated
March 31, 1997. 

        The Registrant filed the Prospectus, dated April 4, 1997, and the
Prospectus Supplement, dated April 23, 1997, for such Notes and Debentures 
with the Securities and Exchange Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) 
promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

ITEM 7. FINANCIAL STATEMENTS, PRO FORMA FINANCIAL INFORMATION AND EXHIBITS.

(c)  Exhibits

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

Exhibit No.        Description
- -----------        -----------    
<S>              <C>
  1.1              Underwriting Agreement dated June 11, 1997 among Tenneco Inc. and Credit Suisse 
                   First Boston Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Citicorp Securities, 
                   Inc. and UBS Securities LLC

  4.1              Form of Tenth Supplemental Indenture between Tenneco Inc. and The Chase
                   Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, dated as of June 16, 1997 to Indenture dated
                   as of November 1, 1996, providing for the issuance of 7-5/8% Debentures due June 
                   15, 2017.

  4.2              Form of 7-5/8% Debenture due June 15, 2017 (contained in the Form of Tenth
                   Supplemental Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report).

</TABLE>



                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3


                                  SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
Registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.

                                              TENNECO INC.


DATE: June 13, 1997                           By: /s/ Karl A. Stewart
                                                  -------------------
                                                  Karl A. Stewart
                                                  Vice President and Secretary



                                     -3-
<PAGE>   4

                                EXHIBIT INDEX


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Exhibit No.        Description
- -----------        -----------    
<S>               <C>
  1.1              Underwriting Agreement dated June 11, 1997 among Tenneco Inc. and Credit Suisse
                   First Boston Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Citicorp Securities, 
                   Inc. and UBS Securities LLC

  4.1              Form of Tenth Supplemental Indenture between Tenneco Inc. and The Chase
                   Manhattan Bank, as Trustee, dated as of June 16, 1997 to Indenture
                   dated as of November 1, 1996, providing for the issuance of 7-5/8%
                   Debentures due June 15, 2017.

  4.2              Form of 7-5/8% Debenture due June 15, 2017 (contained in the Form of Tenth
                   Supplemental Indenture filed as Exhibit 4.1 to this Current Report).

</TABLE>


<PAGE>   1
 
                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
 
                                                                   June 11, 1997
 
TENNECO INC.
1275 King Street
Greenwich, Connecticut 06831
 
Dear Sirs:
 
     The undersigned managers (being herein, collectively, called the "Manager")
understand that Tenneco Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), proposes
to issue and sell $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of 7 5/8% Debentures
due June 15, 2017 (the "Debentures"). Subject to the terms and conditions set
forth herein or incorporated by reference herein, the Company hereby agrees to
sell, and the underwriters named below (such underwriters being herein called
the "Underwriters") agree to purchase, severally and not jointly, the principal
amounts of such Debentures set forth below opposite their names at 99.033% of
the principal amount of the Debentures (together with accrued interest, if any,
from June 16, 1997, to the date of payment and delivery):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                  PRINCIPAL
                                                                                  AMOUNT OF
                                      NAME                                        DEBENTURES
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------- ------------
<S>                                                                              <C>
Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation.......................................... $ 75,000,000
Morgan Stanley & Co.
         Incorporated...........................................................   75,000,000
Citicorp Securities, Inc........................................................   75,000,000
UBS Securities LLC..............................................................   75,000,000
                                                                                 ------------
     Total...................................................................... $300,000,000
                                                                                  ===========
</TABLE>
 
     The Underwriters will pay for such Debentures upon delivery thereof at the
office of Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation, New York, N.Y. at 9:00 A.M.,
New York time, on June 16, 1997, or at such other time, not later than June 23,
1997, as shall be designated by the Manager. Payment will be made in immediately
available funds to an account designated by the Company.
 
     The Debentures will have the following terms:
 
     Maturity: June 15, 2017
 
     Interest Rate: 7 5/8%
 
     Redemption provisions: As set forth in the Prospectus.
 
     Sinking Fund: None
 
     Interest Payment Dates: June 15 and December 15, beginning December 15,
1997
 
     We have advised you that we propose to make a public offering of the
Debentures as soon as in our judgment is advisable. We further advise you that
the Debentures are to be offered to the public initially at 99.908% of the
principal amount thereof (i.e., the public offering price) (together with
accrued interest, if any, from June 16, 1997, to the date of payment and
delivery) and to certain dealers selected by us at a price which represents a
concession not in excess of 0.50% of the principal amount thereof under the
public offering price, and that we may allow, and such dealers may reallow, a
concession, not in excess of 0.25% of the principal amount thereof, to certain
other dealers.
 
     Unless otherwise expressly provided herein, all the provisions contained in
the document entitled Tenneco Inc. Underwriting Agreement Standard Provisions
(Debentures) dated April 4, 1997 (the "Base Underwriting Agreement"), a copy of
which we have previously received, are herein incorporated by reference
<PAGE>   2
 
in their entirety and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to the same
extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein. The term
"Registration Statement" as used in the Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed
to include the registration statement covering the Debentures (including the
material, if any, incorporated by reference therein), and the terms "Basic
Prospectus" and "Prospectus" shall as so used be modified accordingly. All
capitalized terms used but not otherwise defined herein shall have the meanings
ascribed to them in the Base Underwriting Agreement.
 
     In addition to the representations and warranties contained in the Base
Underwriting Agreement, Tenneco represents and warrants to the Underwriters as
follows (and the certificate to be delivered to the Underwriters pursuant to
Section V of the Base Underwriting Agreement shall certify that the following
representations and warranties are true and correct as of the Closing Date):
 
          (i) Since the respective dates as of which information is given or
     incorporated in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as
     otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no material adverse change in
     the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs
     or business prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries considered as one
     enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (B)
     there have been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of the
     Subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which
     are material with respect to the Company and the Subsidiaries considered as
     one enterprise, and (C) except for regular quarterly dividends on the
     common stock of the Company in amounts per share that are consistent with
     past practice, there has been no dividend or distribution of any kind
     declared, paid or made by the Company on any class of its capital stock.
 
          (ii) Neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation
     of its charter or by-laws or in default in the performance or observance of
     any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
     indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease
     or other agreement or instrument to which the Company or any of the
     Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of them may be bound, or to
     which any of the property or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary is
     subject (collectively, "Agreements and Instruments") except for such
     defaults that would not result in a Material Adverse Effect; and the
     execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the supplemental
     indenture governing the Debentures and the consummation of the transactions
     contemplated herein and in the Registration Statement (including the
     issuance and sale of the Debentures and compliance by the Company with its
     obligations hereunder and under the Indenture (as supplemented) and the
     Debentures) have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action and
     do not and will not, whether with or without the giving of notice or
     passage of time or both, conflict with or constitute a breach of, or
     default or Repayment Event (as defined below) under, or result in the
     creation or imposition of any lien, charge or encumbrance upon any property
     or assets of the Company or any Subsidiary pursuant to, the Agreements and
     Instruments (except for such conflicts, breaches or defaults or liens,
     charges or encumbrances that would not result in a Material Adverse
     Effect), nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of
     the charter or by-laws of the Company or any Subsidiary or any applicable
     law, statute, rule regulation, judgment, order, writ or decree of any
     government, instrumentality or court, domestic or foreign, having
     jurisdiction over the Company or any Subsidiary or any of their assets,
     properties, or operations. As used herein, a "Repayment Event" means any
     event or condition which gives the holder of any note, debenture or other
     evidence of indebtedness (or any person acting on such holder's behalf) the
     right to require the repurchase, redemption or repayment of all or a
     portion of such indebtedness by the Company or any Subsidiary, except for
     rights which would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
     Adverse Effect.
 
          (iii) There is no action, suit, proceeding, inquiry or investigation
     before or brought by any court or governmental agency or body, domestic or
     foreign, now pending, or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened,
     against or affecting the Company or any Subsidiary, which is required to be
     disclosed in the Registration Statement (other than as disclosed therein),
     or which might reasonably be expected to result in a Material Adverse
     Effect, or which might reasonably be expected to materially and adversely
     affect the properties or assets of the Company and the Subsidiaries taken
     as a whole or the consummation of the transactions contemplated in this
     Agreement or the performance by the Company of its obligations
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   3
 
     hereunder, the aggregate of all pending legal or governmental proceedings
     to which the Company or any Subsidiary is a party or of which any of their
     respective property or assets is the subject which are not described in the
     Registration Statement, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to
     the business of the Company and the Subsidiaries, could not reasonably be
     expected to result in a Material Adverse Effect.
 
          (iv) Except as described in the Registration Statement and except as
     would not, singly or in the aggregate, result in a Material Adverse Effect,
     (A) neither the Company nor any of the Subsidiaries is in violation of any
     federal, state, local or foreign statute, law, rule, regulation, ordinance,
     code, policy or rule of common law or any judicial or administrative
     interpretation thereof, including any judicial or administrative order,
     consent, decree or judgment, relating to pollution or protection of human
     health, the environment (including, without limitation, ambient air,
     surface water, groundwater, land surface or subsurface strata) or wildlife,
     including, without limitation, laws and regulations relating to the release
     or threatened release of chemicals, pollutants, contaminants, wastes, toxic
     substance, hazardous substances, petroleum or petroleum products
     (collectively, "Hazardous Materials") or to the manufacture, processing,
     distribution, use, treatment, storage, disposal, transport or handling or
     Hazardous Materials (collectively, "Environmental Laws"), (B) the Company
     and the Subsidiaries have all permits, authorizations and approvals
     required under any applicable Environmental Laws and are each in compliance
     with their requirements, (C) there are no pending or threatened
     administrative, regulatory or judicial actions, suits, demands, demand
     letters, claims, liens, notices of noncompliance or violation,
     investigation or proceedings relating to any Environmental Law against the
     Company or any of the Subsidiaries and (D) there are no events or
     circumstances that might reasonably be expected to form the basis of an
     order for clean-up remediation, or an action, suit or proceeding by any
     private party or governmental body or agency, against or affecting the
     Company or any of the Subsidiaries relating to Hazardous Materials or any
     Environmental Laws.
 
          (v) The accountants who certified the financial statements and
     supporting schedules included in the Registration Statement are independent
     public accountants as required by the Securities Act.
 
          (vi) The financial statements included in the Registration Statement
     and the Prospectus, together with the related schedules and notes, present
     fairly the financial position of the Company and its consolidated
     subsidiaries at the dates indicated and the statement of operations,
     stockholders' equity and cash flows of the Company and its consolidated
     subsidiaries for the periods specified; said financial statements have been
     prepared in conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
     ("GAAP") applied on a consistent basis throughout the periods involved. The
     supporting schedules, if any, included in the Registration Statement
     present fairly in accordance with GAAP the information required to be
     stated therein. The selected financial data included in the Prospectus
     present fairly the information shown therein and have been compiled on a
     basis consistent with that of the audited financial statements included in
     the Registration Statement.
 
     In lieu of the last paragraph of Section V.(b) of the Base Underwriting
Agreement, the Company and the Underwriters agree that the obligations of the
several Underwriters hereunder and under the Base Underwriting Agreement are
subject to receipt of a letter from counsel to the Company, to the effect that:
 
          Such counsel has participated in conferences with certain officers and
     other representatives of the Company and representatives of the
     Underwriters and representatives of the independent auditors for the
     Company at which the contents of the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus and related matters were discussed and, although such counsel
     does not pass upon, and does not assume any responsibility for, the
     accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus, such counsel advises you that, on
     the basis of the foregoing (relying upon the opinions of officers and other
     representatives of the Company), no facts have come to such counsel's
     attention that lead such counsel to believe that the Registration
     Statement, when such Registration Statement became effective, or the
     Prospectus as of its date and as of the Closing Date, contained or contains
     an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a
     material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein (in the case of the Prospectus, in the light of the
     circumstances
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   4
 
     under which they are being made) not misleading (it being understood such
     counsel is not being requested to and need not make any comment with
     respect to (i) the Trustee's Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1, (ii) the
     exhibits to the Registration Statement, (iii) the financial statements, and
     the notes thereto and related schedules, (iv) other financial, accounting
     or statistical data found in or derivable from the financial or internal
     records of the Company and the Subsidiaries and (v) any forward-looking or
     projected financial or statistical data relating to the Company and the
     Subsidiaries, included in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus).
 
     In lieu of the provisions of the second through seventh paragraphs of
Section VII of the Base Underwriting Agreement, the Company and the Underwriters
agree as follows:
 
     The Company agrees to indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter and each
person, if any, who controls any Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of
the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the extent and in the
manner set forth in clauses (i), (ii) and (iii) below.
 
          (i) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
     untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
     (or any amendment thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of
     a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
     statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue statement or
     alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any preliminary
     prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto if
     used within the period set forth in paragraph (c) of Article VI of the Base
     Underwriting Agreement), or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a
     material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the
     light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading;
 
          (ii) against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
     settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
     governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim
     whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
     alleged untrue statement or omission; provided that any such settlement is
     effected with the written consent of the indemnifying party or parties; and
 
          (iii) against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including
     the fees and disbursements of counsel chosen by Credit Suisse First Boston
     Corporation in accordance with and subject to the other terms of this
     Section VII), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or defending
     against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
     governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
     whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
     alleged untrue statement or omission to the extent that any such expense is
     not paid under (i) or (ii) above;
 
provided, however, that (A) this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any
loss, liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent based upon any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
Underwriter through the Manager expressly for use in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto) or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto).
 
     Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, its directors, each of its officers who signed the Registration
Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning
of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, against
any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense described in the
indemnity contained in the preceding paragraph, as incurred, but only with
respect to untrue statements or omissions, or alleged untrue statements or
omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or any
preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished
to the Company by such Underwriter through the Manager expressly for use in the
Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or such preliminary prospectus
or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement thereto).
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   5
 
     Each indemnified party shall give notice as promptly as reasonably
practicable to each indemnifying party of any action commenced against it in
respect of which indemnity may be sought hereunder, but failure to so notify an
indemnifying party shall not relieve such indemnifying party from any liability
hereunder to the extent it is not materially prejudiced as a result thereof and
in any event shall not relieve it from any liability which it may have otherwise
than on account of this indemnity agreement. In the case of Underwriters and
their controlling persons, counsel to such indemnified parties shall be selected
by Credit Suisse First Boston Corporation; and, in the case of the Company and
its controlling persons, directors and officers who signed the Registration
Statement indemnified pursuant to this Section VII, counsel to such indemnified
parties shall be selected by the Company. An indemnifying party may participate
at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided, however, that
counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the consent of the
indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party. In no event shall
the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more than one
counsel (in addition to one local counsel, if necessary, in the applicable
jurisdiction) separate from their own counsel for all indemnified parties in
connection with any one action or separate but similar or related actions in the
same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or circumstances,
unless the indemnified party reasonably concludes (on the basis of advice of
counsel) that there is a substantial likelihood of a material conflict of
interest between or among the indemnified parties and/or indemnifying parties on
the conduct of the defense of any such action. No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which
indemnification or contribution could be sought hereunder (whether or not the
indemnified parties are actual or potential parties thereto), unless such
settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an unconditional release of such
indemnified party from all liability arising out of such litigation,
investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to
or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by or on behalf of any
indemnified party.
 
     If at any time an indemnified party shall have requested (in writing) an
indemnifying party to reimburse the indemnified party for fees and expenses of
its counsel and the indemnified party is entitled to such reimbursement in
accordance with the terms of this Section VII, such indemnifying party agrees
that it shall be liable for any settlement of the nature contemplated by the
preceding paragraph effected without its written consent if (i) such settlement
is entered into more than 45 days after receipt by such indemnifying party of
the aforesaid written request, (ii) such indemnifying party shall have received
written notice of the terms of such settlement at least 30 days prior to such
settlement being entered into and (iii) such indemnifying party shall not have
reimbursed such indemnified party in accordance with such request prior to the
date of such settlement.
 
     If the indemnification provided for herein is for any reason unavailable to
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses,
liabilities, claims, damages or expenses referred to herein, then each
indemnifying party shall contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses,
liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as
incurred, (i) in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the
other hand from the offering of the Debentures pursuant to this Agreement or
(ii) if the allocation provided by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable
law, in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative
benefits referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the
Company on the one hand and of the Underwriters on the other hand in connection
with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, liabilities,
claims, damages or expenses, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations.
 
     The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Debentures
pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Debentures
pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the Company
and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each case
as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus bear to the aggregate public
offering price of the Debentures as set forth on such cover.
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   6
 
     The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on
the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things, whether
any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or omission or
alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by the
Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.
 
     The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant hereto were determined by pro rata allocation
(even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any
other method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable
considerations referred to above. The aggregate amount of losses, liabilities,
claims, damages and expenses incurred by an indemnified party and referred to
above in this Agreement shall be deemed to include any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in investigating, preparing or
defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever
based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission.
 
     Notwithstanding the provisions of this Agreement, no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Debentures underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of any such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.
 
     No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any
person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.
 
     For purposes of this Agreement, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20
of the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such
Underwriter, and each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who
signed the Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the
Company within the meaning of Section 15 of the Securities Act or Section 20 of
the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as the Company. The
Underwriters' respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Agreement
are several in proportion to the principal amount of Debentures set forth
opposite their respective names above (as adjusted pursuant to the Defaulted
Securities provision of this Agreement).
 
     All representations, warranties and agreements of the Company and the
Underwriters contained in this Agreement or in certificates of officers of the
Company submitted pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and
effect, regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter
or controlling person of any Underwriter, or by or on behalf of the Company or
any director, officer or controlling person of the Company, as the case may be,
and shall survive delivery of the Debentures to the Underwriters.
 
     This Agreement shall be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.
 
     Except as otherwise expressly provided herein, the Company will pay or
cause to be paid all expenses incident to the performance of the Company's
obligations under this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and
filing of the Registration Statement (including financial statements and
exhibits) as originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the
preparation, printing and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, any
Agreement among Underwriters and such other documents as may be required in
connection with the offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the
Debentures, (iii) the preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for
the Debentures to the Underwriters, including any transfer taxes and any stamp
or other duties payable upon the sale, issuance or delivery of the Debentures to
the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company's counsel,
accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification of the Debentures under
state securities or "blue sky" laws, including filing fees and the reasonable
fees and disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith
and in connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement
thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the
Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation,
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   7
 
printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and
any supplement thereto and (viii) the fees and expenses of any trustee for the
Debentures.
 
     The Manager may terminate this Agreement, by notice to the Company, at any
time at or prior to the Closing Date (i) if there has been, since the time of
execution of this Agreement or since the respective dates as of which
information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse change in the
condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or
prospects of the Company and the Subsidiaries considered as one enterprise,
whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or (ii) if there has
occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets in the United
States, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other calamity or
crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change in national
or international political, financial or economic conditions, in each case the
effect of which is such as to make it, in the reasonable judgment of the
Manager, impracticable to market the Debentures or to enforce contracts for the
sale of the Debentures, or (iii) if trading in any securities of the Company has
been suspended or materially limited by the Commission or the New York Stock
Exchange, or if trading generally on the American Stock Exchange or the New York
Stock Exchange or in the Nasdaq National Market has been suspended or materially
limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed, or maximum
ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by such system
or by order of the Commission, the National Association of Securities Dealers,
Inc. or any other governmental authority, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has
been declared by either Federal or New York authorities.
 
     If one or more of the Underwriters shall fail on the Closing Date to
purchase the Debentures which it or they are obligated to purchase under this
Agreement (the "Defaulted Securities"), the Manager shall have the right, within
24 hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting
Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all,
of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the
terms herein set forth; if, however, the Manager shall not have completed such
arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:
 
          (a) if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the
     aggregate principal amount of the Debentures to be purchased on such date,
     each of the non-defaulting Underwriters shall be obligated, severally and
     not jointly, to purchase the full amount thereof in the proportions that
     their respective underwriting obligations of Debentures hereunder bear to
     such underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting Underwriters, or
 
          (b) if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the aggregate
     principal amount of the Debentures to be purchased on such date, this
     Agreement shall terminate without liability on the part of any
     non-defaulting Underwriter.
 
No action taken pursuant to this paragraph shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default. In the event of any such
default which does not result in a termination of this Agreement, either the
Manager or the Company shall have the right to postpone the Closing Date for a
period not exceeding seven days in order to effect, at their expense, any
required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in any other
documents or arrangements. As used herein, the term "Underwriter" includes any
person substituted for an Underwriter under this paragraph.
 
     This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which
so executed shall be deemed to be an original, but all such counterparts shall
together constitute one and the same instrument. All notices to any party hereto
given or required to be given pursuant to or in connection with this Agreement
shall be given in writing.
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   8
 
     Please confirm your agreement by having an authorized officer sign a copy
of this Agreement in the space set forth below and returning the signed copy to
us.
 
                                          Very truly yours,
 
                                          CREDIT SUISSE
                                            FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
                                          MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
                                          CITICORP SECURITIES, INC.
                                          UBS SECURITIES LLC
 
                                          By: CREDIT SUISSE
                                              FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
 
                                          By: /s/ JAMES M. DUNPHY
 
                                            ------------------------------------
                                            Name: James M. Dunphy
                                            Title: Director
 
Accepted: June 11, 1997
 
TENNECO INC.
 
By: /s/ KAREN R. OSAR
 
    --------------------------------------------------------
    Name: Karen R. Osar
    Title: Vice President and Treasurer
 
                                        8

<PAGE>   1
================================================================================



                                  TENNECO INC.



                                      AND



                           THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK,


                                                                as Trustee



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


                          TENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE

                           Dated as of June 16, 1997

                                       TO

                                   INDENTURE

                          Dated as of November 1, 1996



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


                         Providing for the issuance of
                      7 5/8% Debentures due June 15, 2017



===============================================================================
<PAGE>   2
        TENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE dated as of June 16, 1997 between TENNECO
INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the laws of the State of
Delaware and formerly known as New Tenneco Inc. (hereinafter called the
"Company"), and THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, a New York banking corporation, as
trustee (hereinafter called the "Trustee").

        WHEREAS, the Company has heretofore executed and delivered to the
Trustee an indenture dated as of November 1, 1996 (as amended, hereinafter
called the "Original Indenture"), to provide for the issue of an unlimited
amount of debentures, notes and/or other debt obligations of the Company
(hereinafter referred to as the "Securities"), the terms of which are to be
determined as set forth in Section 2.3 of the Original Indenture; and

        WHEREAS, Section 8.1 of the Original Indenture provides, among other
things, that the Company and the Trustee may enter into indentures supplemental
to the Original Indenture for, among other things, the purpose of setting forth
the terms of Securities of any series; and

        WHEREAS, the Company desires to create a series of the Securities in an
aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000 to be designated the "7 5/8%
Debentures due June 15, 2017" (the "Debentures"), and all action on the part of
the Company necessary to authorize the issuance of the Debentures under the
Original Indenture and this Tenth Supplemental Indenture has been duly taken; 
and

        WHEREAS, all acts and things necessary to make the Debentures, when
executed by the Company and authenticated and delivered by the Trustee as in
the Original Indenture provided, the valid and binding obligations of the
Company, and to constitute these presents a valid and binding supplemental
indenture and agreement according to its terms, have been done and performed;

        NOW, THEREFORE, in consideration of the premises and of the mutual
covenants herein contained, and of the acceptance of this trust by the Trustee,
and of the sum of one dollar to the Company duly paid by the Trustee at the
execution and delivery of these presents, and of other valuable consideration
the receipt whereof is hereby acknowledged and in order to authorize the
authentication and delivery of and to set forth the terms of the Debentures,

        IT IS HEREBY COVENANTED, DECLARED AND AGREED, by and between the
parties hereto, for the benefit of holders of the Debentures issued under the
Original Indenture, as follows:


                                   ARTICLE 1.

            TERMS AND ISSUANCE OF 7 5/8% DEBENTURES DUE JUNE 15, 2017

        Section 1.1. Issue of Debentures.  A series of Securities which shall
be designated the "7 5/8% Debentures due June 15, 2017" shall be executed,
authenticated and delivered in accordance with the provisions of, and shall in
all respects be subject to, the terms, conditions and covenants of the Original
Indenture, including without limitation the terms set forth in this Tenth
Supplemental Indenture (including the form of Debentures set forth in Section
1.2 hereof).  The aggregate principal amount of Debentures which may be
authenticated and delivered under the Original Indenture shall not, except as
permitted by the provisions of Sections 2.8, 2.9, 2.11, 8.5 and 12.3 of the
Original Indenture, exceed $300,000,000. The entire amount of Debentures may
forthwith be executed by the Company and delivered to the Trustee and shall be
authenticated by the Trustee and delivered to or upon the order of the
Company pursuant to Section 2.4 of the Original Indenture.  The Debentures
shall be issued as Registered Global Securities (as defined in the Original
Indenture), the depositary for which shall be The Depository Trust Company.
<PAGE>   3
                                      2



        Section 1.2. Forms of Debentures and Authentication Certificate.  The
forms of the Debentures and the Trustee's certificate of authentication shall
be substantially as follows:

                         [FORM OF FACE OF DEBENTURE]


                                 TENNECO INC.


                      7 5/8% DEBENTURE DUE JUNE 15, 2017


No. 
CUSIP

          Tenneco Inc., a corporation organized and existing under the laws of
the State of Delaware (hereinafter called the "Company," which term shall
include any successor corporation as defined in the Indenture hereinafter
referred to), for value received, hereby promises to pay to ___________ or
registered assigns, the sum of     Dollars on June 15, 2017, in any coin or
currency of the United States of America which at the time of payment is legal
tender for the payment of public and private debts, and to pay to the registered
holder hereof as hereinafter provided interest thereon at the rate per annum
specified in the title hereof in like coin or currency, from the June 15 or
December 15 next preceding the date hereof to which interest has been paid,
unless the date hereof is a June 15 or December 15 to which interest on the
Debentures has been paid, in which case from the date hereof, or unless no
interest has been paid on the Debentures since the original issue date
(hereinafter referred to) of this Debenture, in which case from the original
issue date, semi-annually on June 15 and December 15 in each year commencing
December 15, 1997, until payment of said principal sum has been made or duly
provided for, and to pay interest on any overdue principal and (to the extent
permitted by law) on any overdue installment of interest at the rate of 7 5/8%
per annum. Notwithstanding the foregoing, when there is no existing default in
the payment of interest on the Debentures, if the date hereof is after June 1 or
December 1 and prior to the following June 15 or December 15, as the case may
be, this Debenture shall bear interest from such June 15 or December 15, or, if
no interest has been paid on the Debentures since the original issue date of
this Debenture, from the original issue date; provided, however, that if the
Company shall default in the payment of interest due on such June 15 or December
15, then this Debenture shall bear interest from the June 15 or December 15 to
which interest has been paid or, if no interest has been paid on the Debentures
since the original issue date of this Debenture, from the original issue date.
The interest so payable on any June 15 or December 15 will, subject to certain
exceptions provided in the Indenture hereinafter referred to, be paid to the
person in whose name this Debenture is registered at the close of business on
the June 1 or December 1, as the case may be, next preceding such June 15 or
December 15, or if such June 1 or December 1 is not a business day, the business
day next preceding such June 1 or December 1. Interest on this Debenture shall
be computed on the basis of a 360-day year consisting of twelve 30-day months.
Both principal of and interest on this Debenture are payable at the principal
office of the Trustee in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, New
York; provided, however, that payment of interest may be made, at the option of
the Company, by check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as 
such address shall appear on the Debenture register.  The original issue date in
respect of the Debentures is June 16, 1997.
        
          ADDITIONAL PROVISIONS OF THIS DEBENTURE ARE CONTAINED ON THE REVERSE
HEREOF AND SUCH PROVISIONS SHALL FOR ALL PURPOSES HAVE THE SAME EFFECT AS THOUGH
FULLY SET FORTH AT THIS PLACE.

          This Debenture shall not be entitled to any benefit under the
Indenture hereinafter referred to, or become valid or obligatory for any
purpose, until the Trustee under the Indenture shall have signed the form of
certificate of authentication endorsed hereon.
<PAGE>   4
                                      3


        In Witness Whereof, Tenneco Inc. has caused this Instrument to be signed
in its name by its Chairman of the Board or its President or a Vice President,
and its corporate seal (or a facsimile thereof) to be hereto affixed and
attested by its Secretary or an Assistant Secretary.

Dated............................



                                                        Tenneco Inc.

                                        By.....................................
                                                                 Vice President


Attest:



 .................................
              Assistant Secretary


                        [FORM OF REVERSE OF DEBENTURE]


                                 TENNECO INC.


                      7 5/8 DEBENTURE DUE JUNE 15, 2017


        This Debenture is one of a duly authorized issue of Debentures of the
Company known as its 7 5/8% Debentures due June 15, 2017 (herein called the
"Debentures"), limited to the aggregate principal amount of $300,000,000, all
issued under and equally entitled to the benefits of an Indenture (herein,
together with any amendments and supplements thereto, including without
limitation the form and terms of Securities issued pursuant thereto, called the
"Indenture"), dated as of November 1, 1996, executed by the Company to The
Chase Manhattan Bank (herein, together with any successor thereto, called the
"Trustee"), as Trustee, to which Indenture reference is hereby made for a
statement of the rights thereunder of the Trustee and of the registered holders
of the Debentures and of the duties thereunder of the Trustee and the Company.

        The Debentures will be redeemable as a whole or in part, at the option
of the Company at any time, at a redemption price equal to the greater of (i)
100% of their principal amount and (ii) the sum of the present values of the
remaining scheduled payments of principal and interest thereon discounted to the
date of redemption on a semiannual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting
of twelve 30-day months) at the Treasury Yield plus 20 basis points, plus
accrued interest to the date of redemption.

        "Treasury Yield" means, with respect to any redemption date, the rate
per annum equal to the semiannual equivalent yield to maturity of the
Comparable Treasury Issue, assuming a price for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed as a percentage of its principal amount) equal to the Comparable
Treasury Price for such redemption date.

        "Comparable Treasury Issue" means the United States Treasury security
selected by an Independent Investment Banker as having a maturity comparable to
the remaining term of the Debentures that would be utilized, at the time of
selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new
issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the remaining
term of the Debentures.  "Independent Investment Banker" means Credit Suisse
First Boston Corporation or, if such firm is unwilling or unable to select the
Comparable Treasury Issue, an independent investment banking institution of
national standing appointed by the Trustee.

        "Comparable Treasury Price" means, with respect to any redemption
date, (i) the average of the Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations for such
redemption date, after excluding the highest and lowest such

<PAGE>   5

                                       4

Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (ii) if the Trustee obtains fewer than
four such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the average of all such
Quotations.  "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any redemption date, the average, as determined
by the Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury Issue
(expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in
writing to the Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m. on the
third business day preceding such redemption date.

        "Reference Treasury Dealer" means each of Credit Suisse First Boston
Corporation, Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated, Citicorp Securities, Inc. and
UBS Securities LLC; provided however, that if any of the foregoing shall cease
to be a primary U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary
Treasury Dealer"), the Company shall substitute therefor another Primary
Treasury dealer.

        Holders of Debentures to be redeemed will receive notice thereof by
first-class mail at least 30 and not more than 60 days prior to the date fixed
for redemption.

        The Indenture permits the Company to issue unsecured debentures, notes,
and/or other evidences of indebtedness in one or more series ("Securities") up
to such principal amount or amounts as may be authorized in accordance with the
terms of the Indenture.

        To the extent permitted by, and as provided in, the Indenture,
modifications or alterations of the Indenture and of the rights and obligations
of the Company and of the holders of the Debentures may be made with the
consent of the Company and with the consent of the holders of not less than a
majority in principal amount of the Securities of all series then outstanding
under the Indenture (treated as a single class) which are affected by the
modification or amendment thereto; provided, however, that without the consent
of the holder hereof no such modification or alteration shall be made which
will affect the terms of payment of the principal of or interest on this 
Debenture.

        In case a default, as defined in the Indenture, shall occur, the
principal of all the Debentures at any such time outstanding under the
Indenture may be declared or may become due and payable, upon the conditions
and in the manner and with the effect provided in the Indenture.  The Indenture
provides that such declaration may in certain events be waived by the holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Debentures outstanding in the case of
payment defaults on the Debentures and in certain other events by the holders
of a majority in principal amount of the Securities of all series then 
outstanding under the Indenture (treated as a single class) which are affected
thereby.

        The Indenture provides that no holder of any Debenture may enforce any
remedy under the Indenture except in the case of refusal or neglect of the
Trustee to act after notice of default and after request by the holders of a
majority in principal amount of the outstanding Debentures in certain events
(and in certain other events by the holders of a majority in principal amount
of the Securities of all series then outstanding under the Indenture, treated
as a single class, which are affected thereby) and the offer to the Trustee of
security and indemnity satisfactory to it; provided, however, that such
provision shall not prevent the holder hereof from enforcing payment of the
principal of or interest on this Debenture.

        Unless this certificate is presented by an authorized representative of
a Depositary to the Issuer or its agent for registration of transfer, exchange
or payment, and any certificate issued is registered in the name of the nominee
of such Depositary or such other name as requested by an authorized
representative of such Depositary and any payment is made to the nominee of
such Depositary, ANY TRANSFER, PLEDGE OR OTHER USE HEREOF FOR VALUE OR
OTHERWISE BY OR TO ANY PERSON IS WRONGFUL since the registered owner hereof,
the nominee, has an interest herein.

        The Company, the Trustee, any paying agent and any Registrar of the
Debentures may deem and treat the person in whose name this Debenture is
registered as the absolute owner hereof for all purposes whatsoever, and
neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any paying agent nor any Registrar of
the Debentures shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.
<PAGE>   6
                                       5



        No recourse shall be had for the payment of the principal of or the
interest on, this Debenture, or for any claim based hereon or on the Indenture,
against any incorporator or against any stockholder, director or officer, as
such, past, present or future, of the Company, or of any predecessor or
successor corporation, either directly or through the Company or any such
predecessor or successor corporation, whether by virtue of any constitution,
statute or rule of law, or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or
otherwise, all such liability, whether at common law, in equity, by any
constitution, statute or otherwise, of incorporators, stockholders, directors
or officers being released by every owner hereof by the acceptance of this
Debenture and as part of the consideration for the issue hereof, and being
likewise released by the terms of the Indenture; provided, however, that
nothing herein or in the Indenture contained shall be taken to prevent recourse
to and the enforcement of the liability, if any, of any stockholder or
subscriber to capital stock of the Company upon or in respect of shares of
capital stock not fully paid up.

        All terms used in this Debenture which are defined in the Indenture
shall have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

              [FORM OF TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF AUTHENTICATION]


        This Debenture is one of 7 5/8% Debentures due June 15, 2017 described
in the within-mentioned Indenture.

                                                      THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK, 
                                                                       TRUSTEE,



                                                By.............................
                                                            Authorized Officer.



                                  ARTICLE 2.


                                MISCELLANEOUS


        Section 2.1. Execution as Supplemental Indenture. This Tenth
Supplemental Indenture is executed and shall be construed as an Indenture
supplemental to the Original Indenture and, as provided in the Original
Indenture, this Tenth Supplemental Indenture forms a part thereof. Except as
herein expressly otherwise defined, the use of the terms and expressions herein
is in accordance with the definitions, uses and constructions contained in
the Original Indenture.

        Section 2.2. Responsibility for Recitals, Etc. The recitals herein and
in the Debentures (except in the Trustee's certificate of authentication) shall
be taken as the statements of the Company, and the Trustee assumes no
responsibility for the correctness thereof. The Trustee makes no 
representations as to the validity or sufficiency of this Tenth Supplemental
Indenture or of the Debentures.  The Trustee shall not be accountable for the
use or application by the Company of the Debentures or of the proceeds thereof.
        
        Section 2.3. Provisions Binding on Company's Successors.  All the       
covenants, stipulations, promises and agreements in this Tenth Supplemental
Indenture contained by the Company shall bind its successors and assigns
whether so expressed or not.

        SECTION 2.4. NEW YORK CONTRACT. THIS TENTH SUPPLEMENTAL INDENTURE AND
EACH DEBENTURE SHALL BE DEEMED TO BE A CONTRACT MADE UNDER THE LAWS OF THE
STATE OF NEW YORK, AND FOR ALL PURPOSES SHALL BE CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF SAID STATE WITHOUT REGARD TO PRINCIPLES OF CONFLICTS OF LAWS.
<PAGE>   7
                                      6

        Section 2.5. Execution and Counterparts.  This Tenth Supplemental
Indenture may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be
an original but such counterparts shall constitute but one and the same
instrument.

        IN WITNESS WHEREOF, said TENNECO INC. has caused this Tenth
Supplemental Indenture to be executed in its corporate name by its Chairman of
the Board or its President or one of its Vice Presidents, and said THE CHASE
MANHATTAN BANK has caused this Tenth Supplemental Indenture to be executed in
its corporate name by one of its Vice Presidents as of June 16, 1997.


                                                        
                                                TENNECO INC.


                                                By
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                       KAREN A. OSAR
                                                   Vice President and Treasurer




                                                THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK



                                                By
                                                   ----------------------------
                                                      RONALD J. HALLERAN
                                                    Second Vice President


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