WILLIAMS COMPANIES INC
S-3, 1998-05-22
NATURAL GAS TRANSMISSION
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<PAGE>   1
 
      AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON MAY 22, 1998
 
                                                     REGISTRATION NO. 333-
================================================================================
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549
                             ---------------------
                                    FORM S-3
            REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                             ---------------------
                          THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)
 

                   DELAWARE                                      73-0569878
       (State or other jurisdiction of                        (I.R.S. Employer
        incorporation or organization)                      Identification No.)
 
                              ONE WILLIAMS CENTER
                             TULSA, OKLAHOMA 74172
                                 (918) 573-2000
         (Address, including zip code, and telephone number, including
             area code of registrant's principal executive offices)
                             ---------------------
                           WILLIAM G. VON GLAHN, ESQ.
                   SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT AND GENERAL COUNSEL
                          THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
                              ONE WILLIAMS CENTER
                             TULSA, OKLAHOMA 74172
                                 (918) 573-2000
           (Name, address, including zip code, and telephone number,
                   including area code, of agent for service)
                             ---------------------
                                    COPY TO:
 
                             KEITH L. KEARNEY, ESQ.
                             DAVIS POLK & WARDWELL
                              450 LEXINGTON AVENUE
                            NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
                                 (212) 450-4000
 
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
     From time to time after this Registration Statement becomes effective.
                             ---------------------
     If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box.  [ ]
 
     If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on
a delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box.  [X]
 
     If this form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering.  [ ]
 
     If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration statement number of the earlier effective registration statement
for the same offering.  [ ]
 
     If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box.  [X]
                             ---------------------
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
=================================================================================================================
                                                        PROPOSED MAXIMUM     PROPOSED MAXIMUM       AMOUNT OF
     TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF           AMOUNT TO          OFFERING PRICE     AGGREGATE OFFERING    REGISTRATION
  SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED       BE REGISTERED           PER UNIT             PRICE(1)              FEE
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                              <C>                  <C>                  <C>                  <C>
Debt Securities; Preferred
  Stock, $1 par value...........         (2)                  (2)              $600,000,000         $181,819
=================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
 
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of determining the registration fee.
(2) Not applicable pursuant to Form S-3 General Instruction II(D) under the
    Securities Act of 1933.
 
                             ---------------------
    THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT SHALL
FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SECTION 8(a), MAY
DETERMINE.
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
 
INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
                   SUBJECT TO COMPLETION, DATED MAY 22, 1998
 
PROSPECTUS
 
                          THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
 
                              DEBT SECURITIES AND
                                PREFERRED STOCK
 
                             ---------------------
 
     The Williams Companies, Inc. (the "Company") may offer and sell from time
to time (a) unsecured debentures, notes or other evidences of indebtedness
("Debt Securities"), and (b) shares of its Preferred Stock, $1.00 par value per
share ("Preferred Stock" and collectively with Debt Securities, the
"Securities") with an initial offering price not to exceed $600,000,000 in the
aggregate (or the equivalent in foreign denominated currency or units based on
or related to currencies, including European Currency Units). All specific terms
of the offering and sale of the Securities, including the specific (a)
designation, rights and restrictions and whether the Debt Securities are senior
or subordinated, the currencies or composite currencies in which the Debt
Securities are denominated, the aggregate principal amount, the maturity, rate
and time of payment of interest, and any conversion, exchange, redemption or
sinking fund provisions, (b) designation, rights, preferences, privileges and
restrictions of Preferred Stock, including dividend rate or rates/or methods of
ascertaining the same, dividend payment dates, voting rights, liquidation
preference, and any conversion, exchange or redemption or sinking fund
provisions, and (c) initial public offering price, listing on any securities
exchange, and the agents, dealers or underwriters, if any, to be utilized in
connection with the sale of the Securities, will be set forth in an accompanying
Prospectus Supplement (the "Prospectus Supplement"). The Securities may be sold
for U.S. dollars, foreign denominated currency or currency units; principal of
and any interest may likewise be payable in U.S. dollars, foreign denominated
currency or currency units -- in each case, as the Company specifically
designates. The managing underwriters with respect to each series sold to or
through underwriters will be named in the Prospectus Supplement.
 
                             ---------------------
 
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE 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 may be offered through dealers, through underwriters or
through agents designated from time to time as set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement. Net proceeds to the Company will be the purchase price in the case
of a dealer, the public offering price less discount in the case of an
underwriter or the purchase price less commission in the case of an agent -- in
each case, less other expenses attributable to issuance and distribution. See
"Plan of Distribution" for possible indemnification arrangements for dealers,
underwriters and agents.
 
     This Prospectus does not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of
an offer to buy any of the securities other than the Securities described in the
accompanying Prospectus Supplement.
 
              The date of this Prospectus is                , 1998
<PAGE>   3
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") in Washington, D.C., a Registration Statement on Form S-3 under
the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to
the Securities offered hereby. Certain portions of the Registration Statement
have not been included in this Prospectus as permitted by the Commission's rules
and regulations. For further information, reference is made to the Registration
Statement and the exhibits thereto. The Company is subject to the informational
requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange
Act"), and in accordance therewith files reports and other information with the
Commission. The Registration Statement (with exhibits), as well as such reports
and other information filed by the Company with the Commission, can be inspected
and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at
its principal offices at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Room 1024,
Washington, D.C. 20549 and its regional offices at Northwest Atrium Center, 500
West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511 and 7 World Trade
Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048, or from the Commission's worldwide
web site at http://www.sec.gov. Copies of such material can be obtained at
prescribed rates from the Public Reference Section of the Commission at its
principal office at Judiciary Plaza, 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Washington, D.C.
20549.
                             ---------------------
     NO DEALER, SALESMAN OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH
INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED
BY THE COMPANY OR ANY UNDERWRITER, DEALER OR AGENT. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE AN
IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS OF THE COMPANY SINCE
THE DATE HEREOF. THIS PROSPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR A
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY THE SECURITIES IN ANY JURISDICTION TO ANY PERSON
TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IN SUCH JURISDICTION.
                             ---------------------
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
     The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December
31, 1997, ("Form 10-K"), the Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
quarterly period ended March 31, 1998, and the Company's Current Reports on Form
8-K dated February 22, 1998, April 27, 1998 and May 18, 1998, filed by the
Company with the Commission under the Exchange Act are incorporated by
reference.
 
     All documents filed by the Company pursuant to Section 13, 14 or 15(d) of
the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the termination
of this offering 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 in a document incorporated by reference in this
Prospectus shall be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this
Prospectus to the extent that a statement in this Prospectus or in any
subsequently filed document that also is or is deemed to be incorporated by
reference modifies or replaces such statement.
 
     The Company undertakes to provide without charge to each person to whom a
copy of this Prospectus has been delivered, upon the written or oral request of
any such person, a copy of any or all of the documents incorporated by reference
herein, other than exhibits to such documents, unless such exhibits are
specifically incorporated by reference into the information that this Prospectus
incorporates. Written or oral requests for such copies should be directed to:
The Williams Companies, Inc., One Williams Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172,
Attention: Corporate Secretary, (918) 573-2000.
 
                     REPORTS TO HOLDERS OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
     The Company is not required to publish annual and quarterly reports to
holders of Debt Securities. The Company's annual report on Form 10-K containing
audited financial statements will be provided to holders of Debt Securities upon
request.
                             ---------------------
 
     CERTAIN PERSONS PARTICIPATING IN THIS OFFERING MAY ENGAGE IN TRANSACTIONS
THAT STABILIZE, MAINTAIN, OR OTHERWISE AFFECT THE PRICE OF THE DEBT SECURITIES.
SPECIFICALLY, THE UNDERWRITERS, IF ANY, MAY OVERALLOT IN CONNECTION WITH THE
OFFERING, AND MAY BID FOR, AND PURCHASE, THE SECURITIES IN THE OPEN MARKET.
                                        2
<PAGE>   4
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     The Company was originally incorporated under the laws of the State of
Nevada in 1949 and was reincorporated under the laws of the State of Delaware in
1987. The Company maintains its principal executive offices at One Williams
Center, Tulsa, Oklahoma 74172 (telephone (918) 573-2000). Unless the context
otherwise requires, references to the Company herein include subsidiaries of the
Company.
 
     The Company, through subsidiaries, engages in the transportation and sale
of natural gas and related activities; natural gas gathering, processing, and
treating activities; the transportation and terminaling of natural gas liquids
("NGLs"), anhydrous ammonia, crude oil and petroleum products; hydrocarbon
exploration and production activities; the production and marketing of ethanol;
the refining of crude oil; NGL storage; energy commodity marketing and trading;
and the marketing of motor fuel and merchandise through convenience store
operations and provides a variety of other products and services, including
price risk management services, to the energy industry. The Company's
communications subsidiaries offer: data-, voice-and video-related products and
services; advertising distribution services-; video services and other
multimedia services for the broadcast industry; enhanced facsimile and audio-
and video-conferencing services for businesses; customer-premise voice and data
equipment, including installation, maintenance, and integration; and network
integration and management services nationwide. The Company also has investments
in the equity of certain other companies.
 
     The Company conducts substantially all of its operations through
subsidiaries. The Company performs management, legal, financial, tax,
consultative, administrative and other services for its subsidiaries. The
Company's principal sources of cash are from external financings, dividends and
advances from its subsidiaries, investments, payments by subsidiaries for
services rendered and interest payments from subsidiaries on cash advances. The
amount of dividends available to the Company from subsidiaries largely depends
upon each subsidiary's earnings and operating capital requirements. The terms of
certain subsidiaries' borrowing arrangements limit the transfer of funds to the
Company.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the net
proceeds from the sale of the Securities will be used for general corporate
purposes, including repayment of outstanding debt. The Company anticipates that
it will raise additional funds from time to time through debt financings,
including borrowings under its bank Credit Agreement.
 
                RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED CHARGES AND
                     PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND REQUIREMENTS
 
     The following table represents the Company's consolidated ratio of earnings
to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements for the
periods shown.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
 THREE MONTHS        YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
    ENDED        --------------------------------
MARCH 31, 1998   1997   1996   1995   1994   1993
- --------------   --------------------------------
<S>              <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>    <C>
     1.82        2.32   2.58   2.15   2.21   2.62
</TABLE>
 
     For the purpose of this ratio: (i) earnings consist of income from
continuing operations before fixed charges, minority interest expense and income
taxes for the Company, its majority-owned subsidiaries and its proportionate
share of 50 percent-owned companies, less undistributed earnings of less than 50
percent-owned companies and (ii) fixed charges consist of interest and debt
expense on all indebtedness (without reduction of interest capitalized) and that
portion of rental payments on operating leases estimated to represent an
interest factor, plus the pretax effect of preferred dividends of the Company
and its subsidiaries.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   5
 
         SELECTED HISTORICAL CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL DATA OF THE COMPANY
 
     The following selected income statement data for the three months ended
March 31, 1998, and balance sheet data for March 31, 1998, have been derived
from the Company's unaudited consolidated financial statements included in the
Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998,
incorporated herein by reference. The following selected income statement data
for the years 1997, 1996, and 1995 and balance sheet data for 1997 and 1996 have
been derived from the Company's audited consolidated financial statements for
the three years ended December 31, 1997 appearing in the Form 8-K dated May 18,
1998, and incorporated herein by reference. The income statement data for the
years 1994 and 1993 and balance sheet data for 1995, 1994 and 1993 have been
derived from the Company's financial records. The selected historical
consolidated financial data shown below reflects the combined operations and
financial position of The Williams Companies, Inc. and MAPCO Inc. as a result of
the March 28, 1998 merger. Such merger was accounted for as a pooling of
interests. The selected historical consolidated financial data shown below
should be read in conjunction with such financial statements of the Company and
related notes.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            THREE
                                           MONTHS
                                            ENDED                        YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                          MARCH 31,    -----------------------------------------------------------
                                            1998        1997(1)       1996        1995(2)       1994        1993
                                          ---------    ---------    ---------    ---------    --------    --------
                                                        (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                       <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>          <C>         <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
Total revenues..........................  $ 1,959.8    $ 8,241.6    $ 6,842.9    $ 5,655.0    $4,357.9    $4,067.3
Income from continuing operations.......       72.9(4)     453.7(5)     492.5(6)     363.6(7)    215.1(8)    277.2(9)
Income from discontinued
  operations(3).........................         --         (6.3)       (32.7)     1,029.3       122.9        81.6
Extraordinary loss(10)..................       (4.8)       (79.1)          --           --       (12.2)         --
Net income..............................       68.1        368.3        459.8      1,392.9       325.8       358.8
PER SHARE DATA:
Diluted earnings per share:
  Income from continuing operations.....        .17         1.05         1.14          .86         .51         .65
  Income from discontinued operations...         --         (.01)        (.08)        2.49         .30         .20
  Extraordinary loss....................       (.01)        (.19)          --           --        (.03)         --
  Net income............................        .16          .85         1.06         3.35         .78         .85
Cash dividends per common share(11).....        .15          .54          .47          .36         .28         .26
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
Property, plant and equipment --
   net..................................   11,750.0     11,536.8     10,743.2      9,326.7     4,324.6     4,771.2
Total assets............................   16,413.3     16,277.6     14,589.5     12,843.9     7,341.7     6,933.2
Long-term debt..........................    5,416.2      5,351.5      4,985.3      3,675.0     2,028.7     2,190.3
Stockholders' equity....................  $ 4,346.6    $ 4,232.6    $ 4,014.8    $ 3,819.6    $2,118.3    $2,288.5
RATIO OF EARNINGS TO COMBINED FIXED
  CHARGES AND PREFERRED STOCK DIVIDEND
  REQUIREMENTS(12)......................       1.82         2.32         2.58         2.15        2.21        2.62
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
 (1) On April 30, 1997, the Company and Northern Telecom combined their customer
     premise operations into a limited liability company, Williams
     Communications Solutions, LLC (the "LLC"). The Company owns a 70 percent
     interest in the LLC. Operating results of the LLC are included in the
     Company's operating results beginning May 1, 1997.
 
 (2) On January 18, 1995, the Company acquired 60 percent of the outstanding
     common stock of Transco Energy Company ("Transco") in a cash tender offer.
     On May 1, 1995, the remaining 40 percent of Transco's outstanding common
     stock was acquired through a merger, which involved the exchange of
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   6
 
     the remaining Transco common stock for approximately 31.2 million shares of
     the Company's common stock.
 
 (3) In the third quarter of 1994, the Company signed a definitive agreement to
     enter into the sale of its network services operations (the "WNS Sale"). On
     January 5, 1995, the Company consummated the transaction, and the gain from
     the sale was reported as discontinued operations in the 1995 first quarter
     consolidated financial statements. On September 10, 1996, the Company sold
     substantially all of the net assets of the MAPCO coal business to Alliance
     Coal Corporation (Alliance). The selected historical consolidated financial
     data has been prepared to present operating results of the operations sold
     in the WNS Sale and to Alliance as discontinued operations. For additional
     information see Note 3 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of
     the Company appearing in the Form 8-K dated May 18, 1998, and incorporated
     herein by reference.
 
 (4) Includes pretax merger-related costs of $59 million. For additional
     information see Note 4 of the Notes to Unaudited Consolidated Financial
     Statements of the Company appearing in the Form 10-Q for the quarter ended
     March 31, 1998, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 (5) Includes an after-tax gain on sale of interest in subsidiary of $44.5
     million and a $66 million pretax gain on the sale of assets. See Notes 2
     and 6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements appearing in the
     Form 8-K dated May 18, 1998, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 (6) Includes pretax gains on sales of assets totalling $36.5 million. See Note
     6 of the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company
     appearing in the Form 8-K dated May 18, 1998, and incorporated herein by
     reference. Also includes a pretax gain of $20 million from the property
     insurance coverage associated with construction of replacement gathering
     facilities.
 
 (7) Includes a pretax loss on sale of an investment of $12.6 million and a
     $41.4 million pretax write-off of project costs. See Note 6 of the Notes to
     Consolidated Financial Statements of the Company appearing in the Form 8-K
     dated May 18, 1998, and incorporated herein by reference.
 
 (8) Includes a pretax charge of $68.7 million related to the settlement of a
     dispute with the State of Alaska relative to royalty oil purchase
     agreements.
 
 (9) Includes a pretax gain of $51.6 million from the sale of 6.1 million units
     in the Williams Coal Seam Gas Royalty Trust and a pretax gain of $45.9
     million from the sale of the intrastate natural gas pipeline system and
     other related assets in Louisiana.
 
(10) The extraordinary losses relate to the early extinguishment of debt.
 
(11) Reflects historical per-share dividends of The Williams Companies, Inc.
     without adjustment for the merger with MAPCO in 1998.
 
(12) For the purpose of this ratio (i) earnings consist of income from
     continuing operations before fixed charges, minority interest expense and
     income taxes for the Company, its majority-owned subsidiaries and its
     proportionate share of 50 percent-owned companies, less undistributed
     earnings of less than 50 percent-owned companies; and (ii) fixed charges
     consist of interest and debt expense on all indebtedness (without reduction
     of interest capitalized) and that portion of rental payments on operating
     leases estimated to represent an interest factor, plus the pretax effect of
     preferred dividends of the Company and its subsidiaries.
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   7
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
     The Debt Securities will constitute either senior or subordinated debt of
the Company and will be issued, in the case of Debt Securities that will be
senior debt, under an indenture (the "Senior Debt Indenture"), between the
Company and First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee, and, in the case of Debt
Securities that will be subordinated debt, under an indenture (the "Subordinated
Debt Indenture"), between the Company and First National Bank of Chicago, as
Trustee. The Senior Debt Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Indenture are
sometimes hereinafter referred to individually as an "Indenture" and
collectively as the "Indentures." First National Bank of Chicago is hereinafter
referred to as the "Trustee." The forms of the Indentures are filed as exhibits
to the Registration Statement. The following summaries of certain provisions of
the Indentures and the Debt Securities do not purport to be complete and such
summaries are subject to the detailed provisions of the applicable Indenture to
which reference is hereby made for a full description of such provisions,
including the definition of certain terms used herein, and for other information
regarding the Debt Securities. Numerical references in parentheses below are to
sections in the applicable Indenture. Wherever particular sections or defined
terms of the applicable Indenture are referred to, such sections or defined
terms are incorporated herein by reference as part of the statement made, and
the statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference. The Indentures are
substantially identical, except for the provisions relating to subordination and
the Company's limitation on liens. See "Subordinated Debt" and "Certain
Covenants of the Company." Neither Indenture contains any covenants or
provisions which affords debt holders protection in the event of a highly
leveraged transaction.
 
CERTAIN DEFINITIONS
 
     Certain terms defined in Article One of the Senior Debt Indenture are
summarized as follows:
 
          "Consolidated Funded Indebtedness" means the aggregate of all
     outstanding Funded Indebtedness of the Company and its consolidated
     Subsidiaries, determined on a consolidated basis in accordance with
     generally accepted accounting principles.
 
          "Consolidated Net Tangible Assets" means the total assets appearing on
     a consolidated balance sheet of the Company and its consolidated
     Subsidiaries less, in general: (i) intangible assets; (ii) current and
     accrued liabilities (other than Consolidated Funded Indebtedness and
     capitalized rentals or leases), deferred credits, deferred gains and
     deferred income; (iii) reserves; (iv) advances to finance oil or natural
     gas exploration and development to the extent that the indebtedness related
     thereto is excluded from Funded Indebtedness; (v) an amount equal to the
     amount excluded from Funded Indebtedness representing "production payment"
     financing of oil or natural gas exploration and development; and (vi)
     minority stockholder interests.
 
          "Funded Indebtedness" means any Indebtedness which matures more than
     one year after the date as of which Funded Indebtedness is being determined
     less any such Indebtedness as will be retired through or by means of any
     deposit or payment required to be made within one year from such date under
     any prepayment provision, sinking fund, purchase fund or otherwise;
     provided, however, that such term shall not include Indebtedness of the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries incurred to finance outstanding advances
     to others to finance oil or natural gas exploration and development to the
     extent that the latter are not in default in their obligations to the
     Company or such Subsidiary, nor shall such term include Indebtedness of the
     Company or any of its Subsidiaries incurred to finance oil or natural gas
     exploration and development by means commonly referred to as a "production
     payment" to the extent that the Company or any of its Subsidiaries have not
     guaranteed the repayment of the production payment.
 
          "Holder" means, in general, a Person in whose name the Securities are
     registered, or, if not registered, the bearer thereof.
 
          "Indebtedness" means indebtedness which is for money borrowed from
     others.
 
          "Person" means any individual, corporation, limited liability company,
     limited partnership, partnership, joint venture, association, joint stock
     company, trust, unincorporated organization or government or any agency or
     political subdivision thereof.
                                        6
<PAGE>   8
 
          "Subsidiary" means any corporation at least a majority of the
     outstanding securities of which having ordinary voting power shall be owned
     by the Company and/or another Subsidiary or Subsidiaries.
 
GENERAL
 
     Neither of the Indentures limits the amount of Debt Securities, debentures,
notes or other evidences of indebtedness that may be issued by the Company or
any of its Subsidiaries. The Debt Securities will be unsecured senior or
subordinated obligations of the Company. All of the operating assets of the
Company and its Subsidiaries are owned by its Subsidiaries. Therefore, the
Company's rights and the rights of its creditors, including Holders of Debt
Securities, to participate in the assets of any Subsidiary upon the latter's
liquidation or recapitalization will be subject to the prior claims of the
Subsidiary's creditors, except to the extent that the Company may itself be a
creditor with recognized claims against the Subsidiary. The ability of the
Company to pay principal of and interest on the Debt Securities is, to a large
extent, dependent upon the receipt by it of dividends or other payments from its
Subsidiaries.
 
     The Indentures provide that Debt Securities may be issued from time to time
in one or more series and may be denominated and payable in foreign currencies
or units based on or relating to foreign currencies, including European Currency
Units. Special United States federal income tax considerations applicable to any
Debt Securities so denominated are described in the relevant Prospectus
Supplement.
 
     Reference is made to the Prospectus Supplement for the following terms of
and information relating to the Debt Securities (to the extent such terms are
applicable to such Debt Securities): (i) classification as senior or
subordinated Debt Securities, the specific designation, aggregate principal
amount, purchase price and denomination; (ii) currency or units based on or
relating to currencies in which such Debt Securities are denominated and/or in
which principal, premium, if any, and/or any interest will or may be payable;
(iii) any date of maturity; (iv) interest rate or rates (or method by which such
rate will be determined), if any; (v) the dates on which any such interest will
be payable; (vi) the place or places where the principal of and interest, if
any, on the Debt Securities will be payable; (vii) any redemption or sinking
fund provisions; (viii) whether the Debt Securities will be issuable in
registered or bearer form or both and, if Debt Securities in bearer form are
issuable, restrictions applicable to the exchange of one form for another and to
the offer, sale and delivery of Debt Securities in bearer form; (ix) any
applicable United States federal income tax consequences, including whether and
under what circumstances the Company will pay additional amounts on Debt
Securities held by a Person who is not a U.S. Person (as defined in the
Prospectus Supplement) in respect of any tax, assessment or governmental charge
withheld or deducted, and if so, whether the Company will have the option to
redeem such Debt Securities rather than pay such additional amounts; and (x) any
other specific terms of the Debt Securities, including any additional events of
default or covenants provided for with respect to such Debt Securities, and any
terms which may be required by or advisable under United States laws or
regulations.
 
     Debt Securities may be presented for exchange, and registered Debt
Securities may be presented for transfer in the manner, at the places and
subject to the restrictions set forth in the Debt Securities and the Prospectus
Supplement. Such services will be provided without charge, other than any tax or
other governmental charge payable in connection therewith, but subject to the
limitations provided in the applicable Indenture. Debt Securities in bearer form
and the coupons, if any, appertaining thereto will be transferable by delivery.
 
     Debt Securities that bear interest will do so at a fixed rate or a floating
rate. Debt Securities bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time
of issuance is below the prevailing market rate will be sold at a discount below
their stated principal amount. Special United States federal income tax
considerations applicable to any such discounted Debt Securities or to certain
Debt Securities issued at par which are treated as having been issued at a
discount for United States federal income tax purposes will be described in the
relevant Prospectus Supplement.
 
REGISTERED GLOBAL SECURITIES
 
     The registered Debt Securities of a series may be issued in the form of one
or more fully registered global Securities (a "Registered Global Security") that
will be deposited with a depositary (the "Depositary"), or
                                        7
<PAGE>   9
 
with a nominee for a Depositary identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating
to such series. In such case, one or more Registered Global Securities will be
issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to the portion of the
aggregate principal amount of outstanding registered Debt Securities of the
series to be represented by such Registered Global Security or Securities.
Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for Debt Securities in
definitive registered form, a Registered Global Security may not be transferred
except as a whole by the Depositary for such Registered 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.
 
     The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to any
portion of a series of Debt Securities to be represented by a Registered Global
Security will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series.
The Company anticipates that the following provisions will apply to all
depositary arrangements.
 
     Upon the issuance of a Registered Global Security, the Depositary for such
Registered Global Security will credit, on its book-entry registration and
transfer system, the respective principal amounts of the Debt Securities
represented by such Registered Global Security to the accounts of Persons that
have accounts with such Depositary ("participants"). The accounts to be credited
shall be designated by any underwriters or agents participating in the
distribution of such Debt Securities. Ownership of beneficial interests in a
Registered Global Security will be limited to participants or Persons that may
hold interests through participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in such
Registered Global Security will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership
will be effected only through, records maintained by the Depositary for such
Registered Global Security (with respect to interests of participants) or by
participants or Persons that hold through participants (with respect to
interests of Persons other than participants). So long as the Depositary for a
Registered Global Security, or its nominee, is the registered owner of such
Registered 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 Registered Global Security for all purposes under the applicable
Indenture. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in a
Registered Global Security will not be entitled to have the Debt Securities
represented by such Registered Global Security registered in their names, will
not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of such Debt Securities
in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or Holders thereof
under the applicable Indenture.
 
     Principal, premium, if any, and interest payments on Debt Securities
represented by a Registered Global Security registered in the name of a
Depositary or its nominee will be made to such Depositary or its nominee, as the
case may be, as the registered owner of such Registered Global Security. None of
the Company, the Trustees or any paying agent 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 such Registered
Global Security or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records
relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
     The Company expects that the Depositary for any Debt Securities represented
by a Registered Global Security, upon receipt of any payment of principal,
premium or interest, will immediately credit participants' accounts with
payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in
the principal amount of such Registered 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 Registered Global Security held through
such participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary
practices, as is now the case with the securities held for the accounts of
customers registered in "street names" and will be the responsibility of such
participants.
 
     If the Depositary for any Debt Securities represented by a Registered
Global Security is at any time unwilling or unable to continue as Depositary and
a successor Depositary is not appointed by the Company within ninety days, the
Company will issue such Debt Securities in definitive form in exchange for such
Registered Global Security. In addition, the Company may at any time and in its
sole discretion determine not to have any of the Debt Securities of a series
represented by one or more Registered Global Securities and, in such event, will
issue Debt Securities of such series in definitive form in exchange for all of
the Registered Global Security or Securities representing such Debt Securities.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   10
 
SENIOR DEBT
 
     The Debt Securities and any coupons appertaining thereto (the "Coupons")
that will constitute part of the senior debt of the Company will be issued under
the Senior Debt Indenture and will rank equally and pari passu with all other
unsecured and unsubordinated debt of the Company.
 
SUBORDINATED DEBT
 
     The Debt Securities and Coupons that will constitute part of the
subordinated debt of the Company will be issued under the Subordinated Debt
Indenture and will be subordinate and junior in right of payment, to the extent
and in the manner set forth in the Subordinated Debt Indenture, to all "Senior
Indebtedness" of the Company. The Subordinated Debt Indenture defines "Senior
Indebtedness" as obligations (other than nonrecourse obligations, the
subordinated Debt Securities or any other obligations specifically designated as
being subordinate in right of payment to Senior Indebtedness) of, or guaranteed
or assumed by, the Company for borrowed money or evidenced by bonds, debentures,
notes or other similar instruments, and amendments, renewals, extensions,
modifications and refundings of any such indebtedness or obligation.
(Subordinated Debt Indenture, Section 1.1)
 
     In general, in the event (a) of any insolvency or bankruptcy proceedings,
or any receivership, liquidation, reorganization or other similar proceedings in
respect of the Company or a substantial part of its property or (b) that (i) a
default shall have occurred with respect to the payment of principal, premium,
if any, or interest on or other monetary amounts due and payable on any Senior
Indebtedness or (ii) there shall have occurred an event of default (other than a
default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest, or other
monetary amounts due and payable) with respect to any Senior Indebtedness, as
defined therein or in the instrument under which the same is outstanding,
permitting the holder or holders thereof to accelerate the maturity thereof
(with notice or lapse of time, or both), and such event of default shall have
continued beyond the period of grace, if any, in respect thereof, and such event
of default shall not have been cured or waived or shall not have ceased to
exist, or (c) that the principal of and accrued interest on any series of the
subordinated Debt Securities shall have been declared due and payable upon an
event of default pursuant to Section 5.1 of the Subordinated Debt Indenture and
such declaration shall not have been rescinded and annulled as provided therein,
then the holders of all Senior Indebtedness shall first be entitled to receive
payment of the full amount unpaid thereon, or provision shall be made for such
payment in money or money's worth, before the Holders of any of the subordinated
Debt Securities or Coupons are entitled to receive a payment on account of the
principal or interest on the indebtedness evidenced by such subordinated Debt
Securities (Subordinated Debt Indenture, Section 13.1) If this Prospectus is
being delivered in connection with a series of subordinated Debt Securities, the
accompanying Prospectus Supplement or the information incorporated herein by
reference will set forth the approximate amount of Senior Indebtedness
outstanding as of the end of the most recent fiscal quarter.
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
 
     Liens. The Senior Debt Indenture provides that, subject to certain
exceptions, the Company will not, nor will it permit any Subsidiary to, issue,
assume or guarantee any Indebtedness secured by a mortgage, pledge, lien,
security interest or encumbrance ("mortgage"), upon any of its properties
without effectively providing that the senior Debt Securities issued thereunder
shall be equally and ratably secured with such Indebtedness. Among the
exceptions are certain purchase money mortgages; certain preexisting mortgages
on any property acquired or constructed by the Company or a Subsidiary and
certain mortgages created within one year after completion of such acquisition
or construction; certain mortgages created on any contract for the sale of
products or services related to the operation or use of any property acquired or
constructed within one year after completion of such acquisition or
construction; mortgages on property of a Subsidiary existing at the time it
became a Subsidiary of the Company; and mortgages, other than as specifically
excepted, in an aggregate amount which, at the time of, and after giving effect
to, the incurrence does not exceed 5 percent of the Consolidated Net Tangible
Assets. (Senior Debt Indenture, Section 3.6)
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   11
 
     Consolidation, Merger, Conveyance of Assets. Each Indenture provides, in
general, that the Company will not consolidate with or merge into any other
entity or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially as
an entirety to any Person, unless the corporation limited liability company,
limited partnership, joint stock company, or trust formed by such consolidation
or into which the Company is merged or the Person which acquires such assets
shall expressly assume the Company's obligations under such Indenture and the
Debt Securities issued thereunder and immediately after giving effect to such
transaction, no event of default, and no event which, after notice or lapse of
time or both, would become an event of default, shall have happened and be
continuing. (Section 9.1)
 
     Event Risk. Except for the limitations on Liens described above, neither
Indenture nor the Debt Securities contains any covenants or other provisions
designed to afford holders of the Debt Securities protection in the event of a
highly leveraged transaction involving the Company.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     In general, an Event of Default is defined under each Indenture with
respect to Debt Securities of any series issued under such Indenture as being:
(a) default in payment of any principal of the Debt Securities of such series,
either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or otherwise; (b)
default for 30 days in payment of any interest on any Debt Securities of such
series unless otherwise provided; (c) default for 90 days after written notice
in the observance or performance of any covenant or warranty in the Debt
Securities of such series or such Indenture other than a covenant a default in
whose performance, or whose breach, is dealt with otherwise below or, if certain
conditions are met, the Events of Default described in this clause (c) are the
result of changes in generally accepted accounting principles; or (d) certain
events of bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the Company. (Section 5.1)
 
     In general, each Indenture provides that, (a) if an Event of Default
described in clauses (a), (b) or (c) above (if the Event of Default under clause
(c) is with respect to less than all series of Debt Securities then outstanding)
occurs, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25 percent in principal
amount of the Debt Securities of each affected series (treated as one class)
issued under such Indenture and then outstanding may then declare the entire
principal of all Debt Securities of each such affected series and interest
accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately and (b) if an Event of Default
due to a default described in clause (c) above which is applicable to all series
of Debt Securities then outstanding or due to certain events of bankruptcy,
insolvency and reorganization of the Company, shall have occurred and be
continuing, the Trustee or the Holders of not less than 25 percent in principal
amount of all Debt Securities issued under such Indenture and then outstanding
(treated as one class) may declare the entire principal of all such Debt
Securities and interest accrued thereon to be due and payable immediately, but
upon certain conditions such declarations may be annulled and past defaults may
be waived (except a continuing default in payment of principal of, premium, if
any, or interest on such Debt Securities) by the holders of a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Debt Securities of all such affected series
then outstanding. (Sections 5.1 and 5.10)
 
     Each Indenture contains a provision entitling the Trustee, subject to the
duty of the Trustee during a default to act with the required standard of care,
to be indemnified by the Holders of Debt Securities (treated as one class)
issued under such Indenture before proceeding, at the request of such Holders,
to exercise any right or power under such Indenture. (Section 6.2) Subject to
such provisions in each Indenture for the indemnification of the Trustee and
certain other limitations, the Holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of each series affected (treated as
one class) issued under such Indenture 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. (Section 5.9)
 
     In general, each Indenture provides that no Holder of Debt Securities
issued under such Indenture may institute any action against the Company under
such Indenture (except actions for payment of principal or interest on or after
the due date provided) unless such Holder previously shall have given to the
Trustee written notice of default and continuance thereof and unless the Holders
of not less than 25 percent in principal amount of the Debt Securities of each
affected series (treated as one class) issued under such
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   12
 
Indenture and then outstanding shall have requested the Trustee to institute
such action and shall have offered the Trustee reasonable indemnity and the
Trustee shall not have instituted such action within 60 days of such request and
the Trustee shall not have received direction inconsistent with such written
request by the Holders of a majority in principal amount of the Debt Securities
of each affected series (treated as one class) issued under such Indenture and
then outstanding. (Sections 5.6, 5.7 and 5.9)
 
     Each Indenture contains a covenant that the Company will file annually with
the Trustee a certificate of no default or a certificate specifying any default
that exists. (Section 3.5)
 
DISCHARGE, DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
 
     The Company can discharge or defease its obligations under each Indenture
as set forth below. (Section 10.1)
 
     Under terms satisfactory to the Trustee, the Company may discharge certain
obligations to Holders of any series of Debt Securities issued under such
Indenture which have not already been delivered to the Trustee for cancellation
and which have either become due and payable or are by their terms due and
payable within one year (or scheduled for redemption within one year) by
irrevocably depositing with the Trustee cash or, in the case of Debt Securities
payable only in U.S. dollars, U.S. Government Obligations (as defined in such
Indenture) as trust funds in an amount certified to be sufficient to pay at
maturity (or upon redemption) the principal of and interest on such Debt
Securities.
 
     The Company may also, upon satisfaction of the conditions listed below,
discharge certain obligations to Holders of any series of Debt Securities issued
under such Indenture at any time ("defeasance"). Under terms satisfactory to the
Trustee, the Company may instead be released with respect to any outstanding
series of Debt Securities issued under the relevant Indenture from the
obligations imposed by Sections 3.6 and 9.1, in the case of the Senior Debt
Indenture, and Section 9.1, in the case of the Subordinated Debt Indenture
(which contain the covenants described above limiting liens and consolidations,
mergers and conveyances of assets), and omit to comply with such Sections
without creating an Event of Default ("covenant defeasance"). Defeasance or
covenant defeasance may be effected only if, among other things: (i) the Company
irrevocably deposits with the Trustee cash or, in the case of Debt Securities
payable only in U.S. dollars, U.S. Government Obligations, as trust funds in an
amount certified to be sufficient to pay at maturity (or upon redemption) the
principal of and interest on all outstanding Debt Securities of such series
issued under such Indenture; (ii) the Company delivers to the Trustee an opinion
of counsel to the effect that the Holders of such series of Debt Securities will
not recognize income, gain or loss for United States federal income tax purposes
as a result of such defeasance or covenant defeasance and will be subject to
United States federal income tax on the same amounts, in the same manner and at
the same times as would have been the case if defeasance or covenant defeasance
had not occurred (in the case of a defeasance, such opinion must be based on a
ruling of the Internal Revenue Service or a change in United States federal
income tax law occurring after the date of such Indenture, since such a result
would not occur under current tax law); and (iii) in the case of the
Subordinated Debt Indenture (a) no event or condition shall exist that, pursuant
to certain provisions described under "Subordinated Debt" above, would prevent
the Company from making payments of principal of or interest on the subordinated
Debt Securities at the date of the irrevocable deposit referred to above or at
any time during the period ending on the 91st day after such deposit date and
(b) the Company delivers to the Trustee for the Subordinated Debt Indenture an
opinion of counsel to the effect that (1) the trust funds will not be subject to
any rights of holders of Senior Indebtedness and (2) after the 91st day
following the deposit, the trust funds will not be subject to the effect of any
applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or similar laws affecting
creditors' rights generally, except that, if a court were to rule under any such
law in any case or proceeding that the trust funds remained property of the
Company, then no opinion is given as to the effect of such laws on the trust
funds except as set forth in the Subordinated Indenture relating to (i)
Trustee's valid and perfected security interest in such trust funds; (ii)
adequate protection of holders of the Subordinated Debt Securities interests in
such trust funds; and (iii) no prior rights of holders of Senior Debt Securities
in property or interests granted to the Trustee or holders of the Subordinated
Debt Securities in exchange for or with respect to such trust funds.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   13
 
MODIFICATION OF THE INDENTURES
 
     Each Indenture provides that the Company and the Trustee may enter into
supplemental indentures (which conform to the provisions of the Trust Indenture
Act of 1939) without the consent of the Holders to, in general: (a) secure any
Debt Securities; (b) evidence the assumption by a successor Person of the
obligations of the Company; (c) add further covenants for the protection of the
Holders; (d) cure any ambiguity or correct any inconsistency in such Indenture,
so long as such action will not adversely affect the interests of the Holders;
(e) establish the form or terms of Debt Securities of any series; and (f)
evidence the acceptance of appointment by a successor trustee. (Section 8.1)
 
     Each Indenture also contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee, with the consent of the Holders of not less than the majority in
principal amount of Debt Securities of each series issued under such Indenture
then outstanding and affected (voting as one class) to, in general, add any
provisions to, or change in any manner or eliminate any of the provisions of,
such Indenture or modify in any manner the rights of the Holders of the Debt
Securities of each series so affected; provided that such changes conform to
provisions of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939 and provided that the Company and
the Trustee may not, without the consent of each Holder of outstanding Debt
Securities affected thereby, (a) extend the final maturity of the principal of
any Debt Securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof or reduce the rate
or extend the time of payment of interest thereon, or reduce any amount payable
on redemption thereof or change the currency in which the principal thereof
(including any amount in respect of original issue discount) or interest thereon
is payable, or reduce the amount of any original issue discount security payable
upon acceleration or provable in bankruptcy or alter certain provisions of such
Indenture relating to Debt Securities not denominated in U.S. dollars or for
which conversion to another currency is required to satisfy the judgment of any
court, or impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment
on any Debt Securities when due or (b) reduce the aforesaid percentage in
principal amount of Debt Securities of any series issued under such Indenture,
the consent of the Holders of which is required for any such modification.
(Section 8.2)
 
     The Subordinated Debt Indenture may not be amended to alter the
subordination of any outstanding subordinated Debt Securities without the
consent of each Holder of Senior Indebtedness then outstanding that would be
adversely affected thereby. (Subordinated Debt Indenture, Section 8.6)
 
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
 
     The Trustee is one of a number of banks with which the Company, its parent
and its Subsidiaries maintain ordinary banking relationships and with which the
Company and its Subsidiaries and Affiliates maintain credit facilities.
 
               LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCE OF BEARER DEBT SECURITIES
 
     Except as may otherwise be provided in the Prospectus Supplement applicable
thereto, in compliance with United States federal income tax laws and
regulations, Debt Securities that are Bearer Debt Securities (including Debt
Securities in global form) will not be offered, sold, resold or delivered,
directly or indirectly, in connection with their original issuance, at any time,
in the United States or to United States persons (as defined below) other than
to offices located outside the United States of United States financial
institutions (as defined in United States Treasury Regulations Section
1.165-12(c)(1)(v)) that are purchasing for their own account or for the account
of a customer and that agree in writing to comply with the requirements of
Sections 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Internal Revenue Code and the
regulations thereunder. Any underwriters, agents and dealers participating in
the offerings of Bearer Debt Securities, directly or indirectly, must agree that
they will not, in connection with the original issuance of any Bearer Debt
Securities or during the period set forth in the Prospectus Supplement following
the original issuance of such Bearer Debt Securities offer, sell, resell or
deliver, directly or indirectly, any Bearer Debt Securities in the United States
or to United States persons (other than the financial institutions described
above). In addition, any such underwriters, agents and dealers must agree to
send a written confirmation to each purchaser from or through it of Bearer Debt
Securities in connection with their original issuance or during the period set
forth in the Prospectus Supplement following the original issuance of such
Bearer Debt Securities in every case confirming
                                       12
<PAGE>   14
 
that such purchaser represents that it is not a United States person or, if it
is a United States person, that it is a financial institution described above
purchasing for its own account or the account of a customer and, if such person
is a dealer, that it will send similar confirmations to purchasers from it.
 
     Bearer Debt Securities (other than temporary global Debt Securities) and
any Coupons appertaining thereto will bear a legend substantially to the
following effect: "Any United States person who holds this obligation will be
subject to limitations under the United States federal income tax laws,
including the limitations provided in Sections 165(j) and 1287(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code." The sections referred to in such legend provide that a
United States person (other than a United States financial institution described
above or United States person holding through such a financial institution) who
holds a Bearer Debt Security or Coupon will not be allowed to deduct any loss
realized on the sale, exchange or redemption of such Bearer Debt 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.
 
     As used herein, "United States person" means a citizen, national 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.
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
 
     Under the Company's Certificate of Incorporation, as amended, the Company
is authorized to issue up to 30,000,000 shares of Preferred Stock, par value
$1.00 per share, in one or more series. At March 31, 1998, approximately two
million one hundred thousand (2,100,000) shares of Preferred Stock were
outstanding. The following description of Preferred Stock sets forth certain
general terms and provisions of the series of Preferred Stock to which any
Prospectus Supplement may relate. Certain other terms of a particular series of
Preferred Stock will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such
series of Preferred Stock. If so indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating
thereto, the terms of any such series of Preferred Stock may differ from the
terms set forth below. The description of Preferred Stock set forth below and
the description of the terms of a particular series of Preferred Stock set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement thereto do not purport to be complete and are
qualified in their entirety by reference to the Certificate of Incorporation and
to the certificate of designation relating to that series.
 
     The rights of the holders of each series of Preferred Stock will be
subordinate to those of the Company's general creditors.
 
GENERAL
 
     The designations, preferences and relative, participating, optional and
other special rights, and the qualifications, limitations and restrictions
thereof, of the Preferred Stock of each series shall be such as are stated and
expressed in the Certificate of Incorporation and, to the extent not stated and
expressed therein, shall be such as may be fixed by the certificate of
designation relating to such series. A Prospectus Supplement, relating to each
series, shall specify the terms of the Preferred Stock as follows:
 
          (a) the distinctive designation of such series and the number of
     shares which shall constitute such series;
 
          (b) the rate of dividends, if any, payable on shares of such series,
     the dates, if any, from which such dividends shall accrue, the dates when
     such dividends shall be payable, and whether such dividends shall be
     cumulative or noncumulative;
 
          (c) the amounts which the holders of the Preferred Stock of such
     series shall be entitled to be paid in the event of a voluntary or
     involuntary liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company;
 
          (d) whether or not the Preferred Stock of such series shall be
     redeemable and at what times and under what conditions and the amount or
     amounts payable thereon in the event of redemption; and
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   15
 
          (e) may, in a manner not inconsistent with the provisions of the
     Certificate of Incorporation, (i) limit the number of shares of such series
     which may be issued; (ii) provide for a sinking fund for the purchase or
     redemption or a purchase fund for the purchase of shares of such series and
     the terms and provisions governing the operation of any such fund and the
     status as to reissue of shares of Preferred Stock purchased or otherwise
     reacquired or redeemed or retired through the operation thereof; (iii)
     grant voting rights to the holder of shares of such series, in addition to
     and not inconsistent with those granted by the Certificate of Incorporation
     to the holders of Preferred Stock; (iv) impose conditions or restrictions
     upon the creation of indebtedness of the Company or upon the issue of
     additional Preferred Stock or other capital stock ranking equally therewith
     or prior thereto as to dividends or distribution of assets on liquidation;
     (v) impose conditions or restrictions upon the payment of dividends upon,
     or the making of other distributions to, or the acquisition of, junior
     stock; (vi) grant to the holders of the Preferred Stock of such series the
     right to convert such stock into shares of another series or class of
     capital stock; and (vii) grant such other special rights to the holders of
     shares of such series as the Board of Directors may determine and as shall
     not be inconsistent with the provisions of the Certificate of
     Incorporation.
 
DIVIDENDS
 
     Subject to any limitations specified in the certificate of designation
providing for the issuance thereof, the holders of the Preferred Stock of any
series shall be entitled to receive, when and as declared by the Board of
Directors, preferential dividends in cash, at the rate per annum, if any, fixed
for such series, payable on such dates as may be specified in the certificate of
designation providing for the issuance of Preferred Stock of such series, to
stockholders of record on a date, preceding each such dividend payment date,
fixed for the purpose by the Board of Directors in advance of payment of each
particular dividend. Each share of Preferred Stock shall rank on a parity with
each other share of Preferred Stock, irrespective of series, with respect to
preferential dividends accrued on the shares of such series, and no dividend
shall be declared or paid or set apart for payment for the Preferred Stock of
any series unless at the same time a dividend in like proportion to the
dividends accrued upon the Preferred Stock of each other series shall be
declared or paid or set apart for payment, as the case may be, on Preferred
Stock of each other series then outstanding; but this does not prevent the
authorization or issuance of one or more series of Preferred Stock bearing
dividends subject to contingencies as to the existence or amount of earnings of
the Company during one or more fiscal periods, or as to other events, to which
dividends on other series of Preferred Stock are not subject.
 
     So long as any shares of Preferred Stock shall remain outstanding, in no
event shall any dividends whatsoever, whether in cash, stock or otherwise, be
paid or declared, or any distribution be made on any class of junior stock, nor
shall any shares of Preferred Stock (subject to certain limited exceptions) or
junior stock be purchased, retired or otherwise acquired for a valuable
consideration by the Company, unless all dividends accrued on outstanding shares
of Preferred Stock for all past dividend periods shall have been paid, or
declared and a sum sufficient for the payment thereof set apart.
 
     The ability of the Company, as a holding company, to pay dividends on the
Preferred Stock will depend upon the payment of dividends, interest or other
charges by subsidiaries to it. Debt instruments of certain subsidiaries of the
Company limit the amount of payments to the Company which could affect the
amount of funds available to the Company to pay dividends on the Preferred
Stock.
 
     First Chicago Trust Company of New York is the registrar, transfer agent
and dividend disbursing agent for the shares of the Preferred Stock.
 
REDEMPTION
 
     The Company, at the option of the Board of Directors, may redeem all or any
part of the Preferred Stock of any series which by its terms is redeemable, at
the time or times and on the terms and conditions fixed for such series, upon
notice duly given in the manner provided in the certificate of designation
providing for such series, by paying therefor in cash the sum fixed for such
series, together, in each case, with an amount equal to accrued and unpaid
dividends thereon. The certificate of designation providing for a series subject
to
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   16
 
redemption may provide that when notice of redemption of all or part of the
shares of such series shall have been given, and the redemption price of such
shares, together with accrued dividends to the date fixed as the redemption
date, has been set aside by the Company, or deposited with a suitable
depositary, for the pro rata benefit of the holders of the shares called for
redemption, then the shares so called shall no longer be deemed outstanding, and
all rights with respect to such shares, including the accrual of further
dividends, other than the right to receive the redemption price of such shares
without interest, shall cease.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
 
     Except as stated herein or expressly provided by law or except as may be
provided for any series of Preferred Stock by the certificate of designation
relating thereto, the Preferred Stock shall have no right or power to vote on
any question or in any proceeding or to be represented at or to receive notice
of any meeting of stockholders. On any matters on which the holders of the
Preferred Stock or any series thereof shall be entitled to vote separately as a
class or series, they shall be entitled to one vote for each share held.
 
     So long as any shares of Preferred Stock are outstanding, the Company shall
not, without the consent of the holders of at least a majority of the number of
shares of the Preferred Stock at the time outstanding, given in person or by
proxy, either in writing or by vote at any annual meeting, or any special
meeting called for the purpose, purchase, redeem or otherwise acquire for value
any shares of the Preferred Stock or of any other stock ranking on a parity with
the Preferred Stock in respect of dividends or distribution of assets on
liquidation during the continuance of any default in the payment of dividends on
the Preferred Stock.
 
LIQUIDATION RIGHTS
 
     In the event of any liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the affairs
of the Company, voluntary or involuntary, then, before any distribution or
payment can be made to the holders of any class of stock of the Company ranking
junior to the Preferred Stock as to dividends or distribution of assets on
liquidation, the holders of the Preferred Stock of the respective series shall
be entitled to be paid in full the respective amount fixed, with respect to
liquidation, dissolution or winding up, voluntary or involuntary, as the case
may be, in the certificate of designation providing for the issue of shares of
such series, plus a sum equal to all accrued and unpaid dividends thereon to the
date of payment thereof. After such payment shall have been made in full to the
holders of the Preferred Stock, the remaining assets and funds of the Company
shall be distributed among the holders of the stocks of the Company ranking
junior to the Preferred Stock according to their respective rights. In the event
that the assets of the Company available for distribution to holders of
Preferred Stock shall not be sufficient to make the payment herein required to
be made in full, such assets shall be distributed to the holders of the
respective shares of Preferred Stock pro rata in proportion to the amounts
payable upon each share thereof.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     The Company may sell the Securities in the following ways: (i) through
agents; (ii) through underwriters; (iii) through dealers; and (iv) directly to
purchasers.
 
     Offers to purchase the Securities may be solicited by agents designated by
the Company from time to time. Any such agent, who may be deemed to be an
underwriter as that term is defined in the Securities Act, 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 to such agent set forth, in
the Prospectus Supplement. Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus
Supplement, any such agent will be acting on a best efforts basis for the period
of its appointment.
 
     If any underwriters are utilized in the sale, the Company will enter into
an underwriting agreement with such underwriters at the time of sale to them and
the names of the underwriters and the terms of the transaction will be set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement, which will be used by the underwriters to make
resales to the public of the Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is
delivered.
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   17
 
     If a dealer is utilized in the sale of the Securities in respect of which
this Prospectus is delivered, the Company will sell such Securities to the
dealer, as principal. The dealer may then resell such Securities to the public
at varying prices to be determined by such dealer at the time of resale.
 
     Agents, dealers and underwriters may be entitled under agreements entered
into with the Company to indemnification by the Company against certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution
with respect to payments which such agents, dealers or underwriters may be
required to make in respect thereof. Agents, dealers and underwriters may be
customers of, engage in transactions with, or perform services for the Company
in the ordinary course of business.
 
     The Securities may also be offered and sold, if so indicated in the
Prospectus Supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase, in
accordance with a redemption or repayment pursuant to their terms, or otherwise,
by one or more firms ("remarketing firms"), acting as principals for their own
accounts or as agents for the Company. Any remarketing firm will be identified
and the terms of its agreement, if any, with the Company and its compensation
will be described in the Prospectus Supplement. Remarketing firms may be deemed
to be underwriters in connection with the Securities remarketed thereby.
Remarketing firms may be entitled under agreements which may be entered into
with the Company to indemnification by the Company against certain civil
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act, and may be
customers of, engage in transactions with or perform services for the Company in
the ordinary course of business.
 
     If so indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Company will authorize
agents and underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain purchasers to
purchase the Securities from the Company at the public offering price set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement pursuant to delayed delivery contracts providing
for payment and delivery on a specified date in the future. Such contracts will
be subject to only those conditions set forth in the Prospectus Supplement, and
the Prospectus Supplement will set forth the commission payable for solicitation
of such offers.
 
     Each series of Offered Debt Securities will be a new issue of securities
and will have no established trading market. Such Offered Debt Securities may or
may not be listed on a national securities exchange. No assurance can be given
as to the liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any Offered Debt
Securities.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The consolidated financial statements and schedule of the Company appearing
in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 18, 1998, for the three
years ended December 31, 1997, have been audited by Ernst & Young LLP,
independent auditors, as set forth in their report thereon included therein and
incorporated herein by reference, which is based in part on the report of
Deloitte & Touche LLP, independent auditors (which report expresses an
unqualified opinion and includes explanatory paragraphs relating to certain
litigation to which MAPCO, Inc. is a defendant and the change in its method of
accounting for business process reengineering activities to conform to the
consensus reached by the Emerging Issues Task Force in Issue No. 97-13). Such
consolidated financial statements and schedule are incorporated herein by
reference in reliance upon such reports given upon the authority of such firms
as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
     The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company included
in or incorporated by reference in any documents filed pursuant to Section 13,
14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the termination of the offering will be so included or incorporated by reference
in reliance upon the reports of independent auditors pertaining to such
financial statements (to the extent covered by consents filed with the
Securities and Exchange Commission) given upon the authority of such independent
auditors as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   18
 
                                 LEGAL MATTERS
 
     Certain legal matters in connection with the Securities offered hereby will
be passed upon for the Company by William G. von Glahn, Senior Vice President
and General Counsel of the Company, and for the Underwriters by Davis Polk &
Wardwell, New York, New York. Mr. von Glahn beneficially owns approximately
70,495 shares of the Company's Common Stock and also has exercisable options to
purchase an additional 134,904 shares of the Company's Common Stock. Pursuant to
its By-laws, the Company is required to indemnify Mr. von Glahn to the fullest
extent permitted by Delaware law against any expenses actually and reasonably
incurred by him in connection with any action, suit or proceeding in which he is
made party by reason of his being an officer of the Company. The Company also
maintains directors' and officers' liability insurance under which Mr. von Glahn
is insured against certain expenses and liabilities.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   19
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
     Set forth below is an estimate of the approximate amount of the fees and
expenses payable by the Company in connection with the offering described in
this Registration Statement:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                              APPROXIMATE
                                                                AMOUNT
                                                              -----------
<S>                                                           <C>
Securities and Exchange Commission registration fee.........   $181,819
Printing and engraving expenses.............................     50,000
Accounting fees and expenses................................     25,000
Legal fees and expenses.....................................     30,000
Trustees' fees..............................................     12,000
Fees of rating agencies.....................................     50,000
Miscellaneous expenses......................................     26,181
                                                               --------
          TOTAL.............................................   $375,000
                                                               ========
</TABLE>
 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
 
     The Company, a Delaware corporation, is empowered by Section 145 of the
General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware, subject to the procedures and
limitations stated therein, to indemnify any person against expenses (including
attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in settlement actually and
reasonably incurred by them in connection with any threatened, pending or
completed action, suit or proceeding in which such person is made party by
reason of their being or having been a director, officer, employee or agent of
the Company. The statute provides that indemnification pursuant to its
provisions is not exclusive of other rights of indemnification to which a person
may be entitled under any by-law, agreement, vote of stockholders or
disinterested directors, or otherwise. The By-laws of the Company provide for
indemnification by the Company of its directors and officers to the fullest
extent permitted by the General Corporation Law of the State of Delaware. In
addition, the Company has entered into indemnity agreements with its directors
and certain officers providing for, among other things, the indemnification of
and the advancing of expenses to such individuals to the fullest extent
permitted by law, and to the extent insurance is maintained, for the continued
coverage of such individuals.
 
     Policies of insurance are maintained by the Company under which the
directors and officers of the Company are insured, within the limits and subject
to the limitations of the policies, against certain expenses in connection with
the defense of actions, suits or proceedings, and certain liabilities which
might be imposed as a result of such actions, suits or proceedings, to which
they are parties by reason of being or having been such directors or officers.
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
     (a) Exhibits:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
        -------                                  -----------
<C>                      <S>
         *1.1            -- Form of Underwriting Agreement (filed as Exhibit 1.1 to
                            the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated September 8,
                            1997).
         *1.2            -- Form of Distribution Agreement (filed as Exhibit 1.2 to
                            the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated September 8,
                            1997).
         *4.1            -- Form of Senior Debt Indenture (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to
                            the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated September 8,
                            1997).
         *4.2            -- Form of Subordinated Debt Indenture (filed as Exhibit 4.2
                            to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated September
                            8, 1997).
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   20
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
        -------                                  -----------
<C>                      <S>
         *4.3            -- Form of Floating Rate Senior Note (filed as Exhibit 4.3
                            to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated September
                            8, 1997).
         *4.4            -- Form of Fixed Rate Senior Note (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to
                            the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated September 8,
                            1997).
         *4.5            -- Form of Floating Rate Subordinated Note (filed as Exhibit
                            4.5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated
                            September 8, 1997).
         *4.6            -- Form of Fixed Rate Subordinated Note (filed as Exhibit
                            4.6 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated
                            September 8, 1997).
         *4.7            -- Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
                            (filed as Exhibit 4(a) to Form 8-B Registration
                            Statement, filed August 20, 1987).
         *4.8            -- Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of
                            Incorporation, dated February 26, 1998 (filed as Exhibit
                            3(d) to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
                            1997).
         *4.9            -- Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of
                            Incorporation, dated May 16, 1997 (filed as Exhibit 4.3
                            to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed November
                            21, 1997).
         *4.10           -- Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of
                            Incorporation, dated May 20, 1994 (filed as Exhibit 3(d)
                            to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
                            1994).
         *4.11           -- Certificate of Designation with respect to the $3.50
                            Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (filed as Exhibit
                            3.1(c) to the Prospectus and Information Statement to
                            Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form
                            S-4, filed March 30, 1995).
         *4.12           -- Certificate of Increase of Authorized Number of Shares of
                            Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (filed as
                            Exhibit 3(f) to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
                            December 31, 1995).
         *4.13           -- Certificate of Increase of Authorized Number of Shares of
                            Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, dated
                            December 31, 1997, (filed as Exhibit 3(g) to Form 10-K
                            for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997).
         *4.14           -- Rights Agreement, dated as of February 6, 1996, between
                            the Company and First Chicago Trust Company of New York
                            (filed as Exhibit 4 to the Company's
                            Form 8-K, filed January 24, 1996).
         *4.15           -- By-laws of the Company, as amended (filed, as amended, as
                            Exhibit 3 to
                            Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996).
         *4.16           -- Form of Senior Debt Indenture between the Company and
                            Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly Chemical Bank), Trustee,
                            relating to the 10 1/4% Debentures, due 2020; the 9 3/8%
                            Debentures, due 2021; the 8 1/4% Notes, due 1998;
                            Medium-Term Notes (9.10%-9.31%), due 2001; the 7 1/2%
                            Notes, due 1999, and the 8 7/8% Debentures, due 2012
                            (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Form S-3 Registration Statement
                            No. 33-33294, filed February 2, 1990).
         *4.17           -- U.S. $1,000,000,000 Second Amended and Restated Credit
                            Agreement, dated as of July 23, 1997, among the Company
                            and certain of its subsidiaries, and the lenders named
                            therein and Citibank, N.A., as agent (filed as Exhibit
                            4.16 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated
                            September 8, 1997).
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   21
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
        -------                                  -----------
<C>                      <S>
         *4.18           -- Form of Senior Debt Indenture between the Company and The
                            First National Bank of Chicago, Trustee, relating to
                            6.50% Notes due 2002; 6.625% Notes due 2004; floating
                            rate notes due 2000; 6 1/8% Notes due 2001; and 6 1/8%
                            Mandatory Putable/ Remarketable Securities due 2012
                            (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement on Form
                            S-3 filed September 8, 1997).
         *4.19           -- Form of Debenture representing $360,000,000 principal
                            amount of 6% Convertible Subordinated Debenture Due 2005
                            (filed as Exhibit 4.7 to the Registration Statement on
                            Form S-8, filed August 30, 1996).
          5              -- Opinion and consent of counsel of the Company, relating
                            to the validity of the Securities.
        *12              -- Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (filed
                            as Exhibit 12 in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
                            dated May 18, 1998, and as Exhibit 12 to the Company's
                            Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998).
         23.1            -- Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
         23.2            -- Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
         23.3            -- Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5).
         24.1            -- Power of Attorney.
         24.2            -- Certified copy of resolution authorizing signatures
                            pursuant to power of attorney.
         25.1            -- Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1
                            for Senior Debt Indenture.
         25.2            -- Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1
                            for Subordinated Debt Indenture.
         27              -- Financial Data Schedule
         27.1            -- Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
* Such exhibit has heretofore been filed with the Securities and Exchange
  Commission as part of the filing indicated and is incorporated herein by
  reference.
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
     The Company hereby undertakes that, for purposes of determining any
liability under the Securities Act, each filing of the Company's annual report
pursuant to Section 13(a) of 15(d) of the Exchange Act that is incorporated by
reference in the registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
 
     The undersigned Registrant hereby undertakes:
 
          (1) To file, during any period in which offers or sales are being
     made, a post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
 
             (i) To include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
        Securities Act;
 
             (ii) To reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
        the effective date of the Registration Statement (or the most recent
        post-effective amendment thereto) which, individually or in the
        aggregate, represent a fundamental change in the information set forth
        in the Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any
        increase or decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total
        dollar value of securities offered would not exceed that which was
        registered) and any deviation from the low or high end of the estimated
        maximum offering range may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed
        with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) (sec.230,424(b) of this
        chapter) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and price represent
        no more than a 20 percent
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   22
 
        change in the maximum aggregate offering price set forth in the
        "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the effective registration
        statement;
 
             (iii) To include any material information with respect to the plan
        of distribution not previously disclosed in the Registration Statement
        or any material change to such information in the Registration
        Statement;
 
     provided, however, that paragraphs (i) and (ii) above do not apply if the
     information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
     paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by the Registrant
     pursuant to Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Exchange Act that are
     incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement.
 
          (2) That, for the purpose of determining any liability under the
     Securities Act, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a
     new registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and
     the offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the
     initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
          (3) To remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment
     any of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the
     termination of the offering.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of the Company
pursuant to the foregoing provisions, or otherwise, the Company has been advised
that in the opinion of the Securities and Exchange Commission such
indemnification is against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and
is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event a claim for indemnification against
such liabilities (other than the payment by the Company of expenses incurred or
paid by a director, officer or controlling person of the Company in a successful
defense of any action, suit or proceeding) is asserted against the Company by
such director, officer or controlling person in connection with the securities
being registered, the Company will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the
matter has been settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of
appropriate jurisdiction the question whether such indemnification by it is
against public policy as expressed in the Securities Act and will be governed by
the final adjudication of such issue.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   23
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, the registrant
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all of the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this registration
statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly
authorized in the City of Tulsa and State of Oklahoma on the 22nd day of May,
1998.
 
                                            THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
                                                    (Registrant)
 
                                    By:         /s/ SHAWNA L. GEHRES
                                       -----------------------------------------
                                                   Shawna L. Gehres
                                                   Attorney-in-Fact
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this
registration statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the date indicated:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                  TITLE                     DATE
                      ---------                                  -----                     ----
<C>                                                    <S>                          <C>
                 /s/ KEITH E. BAILEY                   Chairman of the Board &
- -----------------------------------------------------    President (principal
                  Keith E. Bailey*                       executive officer)
 
                /s/ JACK D. MCCARTHY                   Senior Vice President,
- -----------------------------------------------------    Treasurer & Assistant
                  Jack D. McCarthy*                      Secretary (principal
                                                         financial officer)
 
                 /s/ GARY R. BELITZ                    Controller (principal
- -----------------------------------------------------    accounting officer)
                   Gary R. Belitz*
 
                  /s/ GLENN A. COX                     Director                            May 22, 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------
                    Glenn A. Cox
 
                                                       Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
                Thomas H. Cruikshank
 
                /s/ WILLIAM E. GREEN                   Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
                  William E. Green
 
               /s/ PATRICIA L. HIGGINS                 Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
                 Patricia L. Higgins
 
                  /s/ W. R. HOWELL                     Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
                    W. R. Howell
 
               /s/ ROBERT J. LAFORTUNE                 Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
                 Robert J. Lafortune
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>   24
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                      SIGNATURE                                  TITLE                     DATE
                      ---------                                  -----                     ----
<C>                                                    <S>                          <C>
                 /s/ JAMES C. LEWIS                    Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
                   James C. Lewis
 
               /s/ JACK A. MACALLISTER                 Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
                 Jack A. MacAllister
 
                /s/ FRANK T. MACINNIS                  Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
                  Frank T. MacInnis
 
                 /s/ PETER C. MEINIG                   Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
                   Peter C. Meinig
 
                   /s/ KAY A. ORR                      Director                            May 22, 1998
- -----------------------------------------------------
                     Kay A. Orr
 
                /s/ GORDON R. PARKER                   Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
                  Gordon R. Parker
 
               /s/ JOSEPH H. WILLIAMS                  Director
- -----------------------------------------------------
                 Joseph H. Williams
 
              *By /s/ SHAWNA L. GEHRES
  -------------------------------------------------
                  Shawna L. Gehres
                  Attorney-in-Fact
</TABLE>
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>   25
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
        -------                                  -----------
<C>                      <S>
         *1.1            -- Form of Underwriting Agreement (filed as Exhibit 1.1 to
                            the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated September 8,
                            1997).
         *1.2            -- Form of Distribution Agreement (filed as Exhibit 1.2 to
                            the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated September 8,
                            1997).
         *4.1            -- Form of Senior Debt Indenture (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to
                            the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated September 8,
                            1997).
         *4.2            -- Form of Subordinated Debt Indenture (filed as Exhibit 4.2
                            to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated September
                            8, 1997).
         *4.3            -- Form of Floating Rate Senior Note (filed as Exhibit 4.3
                            to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated September
                            8, 1997).
         *4.4            -- Form of Fixed Rate Senior Note (filed as Exhibit 4.4 to
                            the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated September 8,
                            1997).
         *4.5            -- Form of Floating Rate Subordinated Note (filed as Exhibit
                            4.5 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated
                            September 8, 1997).
         *4.6            -- Form of Fixed Rate Subordinated Note (filed as Exhibit
                            4.6 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated
                            September 8, 1997).
         *4.7            -- Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Company
                            (filed as Exhibit 4(a) to Form 8-B Registration
                            Statement, filed August 20, 1987).
         *4.8            -- Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of
                            Incorporation, dated February 26, 1998 (filed as Exhibit
                            3(d) to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
                            1997).
         *4.9            -- Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of
                            Incorporation, dated May 16, 1997 (filed as Exhibit 4.3
                            to the Registration Statement on Form S-8 filed November
                            21, 1997).
         *4.10           -- Certificate of Amendment of Restated Certificate of
                            Incorporation, dated May 20, 1994 (filed as Exhibit 3(d)
                            to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended December 31,
                            1994).
         *4.11           -- Certificate of Designation with respect to the $3.50
                            Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock (filed as Exhibit
                            3.1(c) to the Prospectus and Information Statement to
                            Amendment No. 2 to the Registration Statement on Form
                            S-4, filed March 30, 1995).
         *4.12           -- Certificate of Increase of Authorized Number of Shares of
                            Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock (filed as
                            Exhibit 3(f) to Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
                            December 31, 1995).
         *4.13           -- Certificate of Increase of Authorized Number of Shares of
                            Series A Junior Participating Preferred Stock, dated
                            December 31, 1997, (filed as Exhibit 3(g) to Form 10-K
                            for the fiscal year ended December 31, 1997).
         *4.14           -- Rights Agreement, dated as of February 6, 1996, between
                            the Company and First Chicago Trust Company of New York
                            (filed as Exhibit 4 to the Company's
                            Form 8-K, filed January 24, 1996).
         *4.15           -- By-laws of the Company, as amended (filed, as amended, as
                            Exhibit 3 to
                            Form 10-Q for the quarter ended September 30, 1996).
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   26
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
        EXHIBIT
         NUMBER                                  DESCRIPTION
        -------                                  -----------
<C>                      <S>
         *4.16           -- Form of Senior Debt Indenture between the Company and
                            Chase Manhattan Bank (formerly Chemical Bank), Trustee,
                            relating to the 10 1/4% Debentures, due 2020; the 9 3/8%
                            Debentures, due 2021; the 8 1/4% Notes, due 1998;
                            Medium-Term Notes (9.10%-9.31%), due 2001; the 7 1/2%
                            Notes, due 1999, and the 8 7/8% Debentures, due 2012
                            (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Form S-3 Registration Statement
                            No. 33-33294, filed February 2, 1990).
         *4.17           -- U.S. $1,000,000,000 Second Amended and Restated Credit
                            Agreement, dated as of July 23, 1997, among the Company
                            and certain of its subsidiaries, and the lenders named
                            therein and Citibank, N.A., as agent (filed as Exhibit
                            4.16 to the Registration Statement on Form S-3 dated
                            September 8, 1997).
         *4.18           -- Form of Senior Debt Indenture between the Company and The
                            First National Bank of Chicago, Trustee, relating to
                            6.50% Notes due 2002; 6.625% Notes due 2004; floating
                            rate notes due 2000; 6 1/8% Notes due 2001; and 6 1/8%
                            Mandatory Putable/ Remarketable Securities due 2012
                            (filed as Exhibit 4.1 to Registration Statement on Form
                            S-3 filed September 8, 1997).
         *4.19           -- Form of Debenture representing $360,000,000 principal
                            amount of 6% Convertible Subordinated Debenture Due 2005
                            (filed as Exhibit 4.7 to the Registration Statement on
                            Form S-8, filed August 30, 1996).
          5              -- Opinion and consent of counsel of the Company, relating
                            to the validity of the Securities.
        *12              -- Computation of Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (filed
                            as Exhibit 12 in the Company's Current Report on Form 8-K
                            dated May 18, 1998, and as Exhibit 12 to the Company's
                            Form 10-Q for the quarter ended March 31, 1998).
         23.1            -- Consent of Ernst & Young LLP.
         23.2            -- Consent of Deloitte & Touche LLP.
         23.3            -- Consent of counsel (contained in Exhibit 5).
         24.1            -- Power of Attorney.
         24.2            -- Certified copy of resolution authorizing signatures
                            pursuant to power of attorney.
         25.1            -- Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1
                            for Senior Debt Indenture.
         25.2            -- Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1
                            for Subordinated Debt Indenture.
         27              -- Financial Data Schedule
         27.1            -- Financial Data Schedule
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
* Such exhibit has heretofore been filed with the Securities and Exchange
  Commission as part of the filing indicated and is incorporated herein by
  reference.

<PAGE>   1

                                                                       Exhibit 5
                                                                    May 22, 1998




The Williams Companies, Inc.
One Williams Center
Tulsa, OK  74172

Gentlemen:

         You have requested me, as General Counsel of The Williams Companies,
Inc., to render my opinion regarding certain matters in connection with the
preparation and filing of a registration statement by The Williams Companies,
Inc. (the "Company") on Form S-3 (the "Registration Statement") under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended, with respect to $600,000,000 aggregate
initial offering price of debt securities (the "Debt Securities") or preferred
stock (the "Preferred Stock" and collectively with the Debt Securities, the 
"Securities").  The Debt Securities are to be issued from time to time as
senior indebtedness of the Company under an indenture between the Company and
First Chicago Trust Company, as trustee (the "Indenture").  The form of the
Indenture and the Debt Securities are filed as exhibits to the Registration
Statement.

         I am familiar with the Certificate of Incorporation and the By-laws,
each as amended to date, of the Company and have examined the originals, or
copies certified or otherwise identified to my satisfaction, of corporate
records of the Company, statutes and other instruments and documents as the
basis for the opinion expressed herein.  In addition, I am, or someone under my
supervision is, familiar with the forms of the Indenture and the Debt 
Securities.

         Based upon the foregoing, and having regard for such legal
considerations as I have deemed relevant, I am of the opinion that, with
respect to the Debt Securities, when the remaining terms are set by an officer
of the Company pursuant to the authority granted such officer by the Board of
Directors of the Company, the Indenture has been duly executed and delivered
and the Securities have been duly issued in accordance with the provisions of
the Indenture and duly paid for by the purchasers thereof and, with respect to
the Preferred Stock, when the remaining terms are set by an officer of the
Company pursuant to the authority granted such officer by the Board of
Directors of the Company and have been duly issued and delivered by the
Company, all required corporate action will have been taken with respect to the
issuance and sale of the Securities, and the Securities will have been validly
issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the Company
enforceable in accordance with their terms, except as enforceability may be

<PAGE>   2
The Williams Companies
Page 2




limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization or other laws relative to or
affecting generally the enforcement of creditor's rights and by principles of
equity.

         I hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement and to the reference to the undersigned appearing under
the caption "Legal Matters" in the related Prospectus.

                                            Very truly yours,



                                            William G. von Glahn

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.1

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT AUDITORS

We consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts" in the
Registration Statement (Form S-3) and related Prospectus of The Williams
Companies, Inc. for the registration of $600 million of debt securities and/or  
preferred stock and to the incorporation by reference therein of our report
dated  April 3, 1998, with respect to the consolidated financial statements and
schedule of The Williams Companies, Inc. for the three years ended December 31,
1997, which have been restated to reflect the combined operations of The
Williams Companies, Inc. and MAPCO Inc., included in The Williams Companies,
Inc. Current Report on Form 8-K dated May 18, 1998, filed with the Securities
and Exchange Commission.

                                                ERNST & YOUNG LLP

Tulsa, Oklahoma
May 18, 1998



<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 23.2

                         INDEPENDENT AUDITORS' CONSENT

We consent to the incorporation by reference in this Registration Statement of
The Williams Companies, Inc. on Form S-3 of our report dated January 27, 1998
(March 3, 1998, as to Notes 2 and 16 to the MAPCO Inc. consolidated financial
statements) with respect to the consolidated financial statements of MAPCO
Inc., which report includes explanatory paragraphs relating to certain
litigation to which MAPCO Inc. is a defendant and the change in its method of
accounting for business process reengineering activities to conform to the
consensus reached by the Emerging Issues Task Force in Issue No. 97-13,
appearing in the Current Report on Form 8-K of The Williams Companies, Inc.
dated May 18, 1998 and to the reference to us under the heading "Experts" in
the Prospectus, which is part of this Registration Statement.


Deloitte & Touche LLP
Tulsa, Oklahoma
May 18, 1998


<PAGE>   1
                                                                    Exhibit 24.1

                          THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.

                               POWER OF ATTORNEY


                 KNOW ALL MEN BY THESE PRESENTS that each of the undersigned
individuals, in their capacity as a director or officer, or both, as
hereinafter set forth below their signature, of THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC., a
Delaware corporation ("Williams"), does hereby constitute and appoint WILLIAM
G. von GLAHN, DAVID M. HIGBEE and SHAWNA L. GEHRES their true and lawful
attorneys and each of them (with full power to act without the others) their
true and lawful attorneys for them and in their name and in their capacity as a
director or officer, or both, of Williams, as hereinafter set forth below their
signature, to sign a registration statement on Form S-3 for the registration of
debt securities of Williams with an initial aggregate offering price not to
exceed one billion dollars ($1,000,000,000) and/or not more than eight hundred
million ($800,000,000) aggregate principal amount of preferred securities of
Williams, and any and all amendments to said registration statement and any and
all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith; and

                 THAT the undersigned Williams does hereby constitute and
appoint WILLIAM G. von GLAHN, DAVID M. HIGBEE and SHAWNA L. GEHRES its true
and lawful attorneys and each of them (with full power to act without the
others) its true and lawful attorney for it and in its name and on its behalf
to sign said registration statement and any and all amendments thereto and any
and all instruments necessary or incidental in connection therewith.

                 Each of said attorneys shall have full power of substitution
and resubstitution, and said attorneys or any of them or any substitute
appointed by any of them hereunder shall have full power and authority to do
and perform in the name and on behalf of each of the undersigned, in any and
all capacities, every act whatsoever requisite or necessary to be done in the
premises, as fully to all intents and purposes as each of the undersigned might
or could do in person, the undersigned hereby ratifying and approving the acts
of said attorneys or any of them or of any such substitute pursuant hereto.

                 IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the undersigned have executed this
instrument, all as of the 21st day of May, 1998.




      /s/ KEITH E. BAILEY                       /s/ JACK D. MCCARTHY     
- -------------------------------            ------------------------------
       Keith E. Bailey                            Jack D. McCarthy
    Chairman of the Board,                     Senior Vice President
        President and                      (Principal Financial Officer)
   Chief Executive Officer
  (Principal Executive Officer)


                               /s/ GARY R. BELITZ
                         ------------------------------
                                 Gary R. Belitz
                                   Controller
                         (Principal Accounting Officer)
<PAGE>   2
                                                                          Page 2



      /s/ GLENN A. COX                          
- -------------------------------        -------------------------------       
        Glenn A. Cox                        Thomas H. Cruikshank
          Director                                Director


    /s/ WILLIAM E. GREEN                   /s/ PATRICIA L. HIGGINS    
- -------------------------------        -------------------------------
       William E. Green                      Patricia L. Higgins       
          Director                                Director             
                                       

      /s/ W. R. HOWELL                     /s/ ROBERT J. LAFORTUNE    
- -------------------------------        -------------------------------
         W. R. Howell                        Robert J. LaFortune       
           Director                               Director             
                                                                      
                                                                      
     /s/   JAMES C. LEWIS                  /s/ JACK A. MACALLISTER     
- -------------------------------        -------------------------------
         James C. Lewis                      Jack A. MacAllister       
           Director                               Director             
                                                                      
                                                                      
    /s/  FRANK T. MACINNIS                    /s/ PETER C. MEINIG     
- -------------------------------        -------------------------------
       Frank T. MacInnis                        Peter C. Meinig       
           Director                                Director            
                                                                      
                                                                      
      /s/ KAY A. ORR                         /s/ GORDON R. PARKER       
- -------------------------------        -------------------------------
         Kay A. Orr                            Gordon R. Parker       
          Director                                 Director            
                               
                               
                             /s/ JOSEPH H. WILLIAMS
                        -------------------------------
                               Joseph H. Williams
                                    Director
                               
                               
                               
                                     THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.



                                     By   /s/ WILLIAM G. VON GLAHN  
                                       -------------------------------       
                                            William G. von Glahn
ATTEST:                                     Senior Vice President


    /s/ DAVID M. HIGBEE   
- ----------------------------
      David M. Higbee
         Secretary

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 24.2


                        THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.

    I, the undersigned, SHAWNA L. GEHRES, Assistant Secretary of THE WILLIAMS
COMPANIES, Inc., a Delaware company (hereinafter called the "Company"), do
hereby certify that at a meeting of the Board of Directors of the Company, duly
convened and held on May 21, 1998, at which a quorum of said Board was present
and acting throughout, the following resolutions were duly adopted:

         RESOLVED that the officers of the Company be, and each hereby is,
    authorized to execute and file with the Securities and Exchange Commission
    under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, a shelf Registration
    Statement on Form S-3, and all amendments and supplements thereto and all
    required exhibits and documents in connection therewith, and the Prospectus
    contained therein, and all amendments or supplements thereto (the
    "Registration Statement"), with respect to not more than six hundred and
    forty million dollars ($640,000,000) aggregate principal amount of Debt
    Securities and/or not more than eight hundred million dollars ($800,000,000)
    aggregate principal amount of Preferred Securities (collectively the
    "Securities"), which Securities may contain exchangeability, convertibility,
    and/or redemption provisions, and to do, or cause to be done, all such other
    acts and things as, in their opinion or in the opinion of any of them, may
    be necessary or desirable and proper in order to effect such filing or in
    order that such Registration Statement and any such amendment or amendments
    may become effective and may remain in effect as long as shall be required.

         RESOLVED that the form of power of attorney submitted to this meeting
    for use in connection with the execution and filing, for and on behalf of
    the Company, of the Registration Statement and any such amendments thereto
    referred to in the preceding resolution, is hereby approved, and the
    Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President or the Treasurer
    of the Company is hereby authorized to execute said power of attorney in
    the form so presented for and on behalf of the Company.

         RESOLVED that Mr. William G. von Glahn, Senior Vice President and
    General Counsel of The Williams Companies, Inc., be, and he hereby is,
    designated as the person authorized to receive notices and communications
    from the Securities and Exchange Commission with respect to the
    Registration Statement and any amendments thereto and that he be, and he
    hereby is, designated the agent for service in connection with any and all
<PAGE>   2
    matters relating to the Registration Statement; and that there hereby is
    conferred upon him the powers enumerated in Rule 478 of the Rules and
    Regulations promulgated under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.

         RESOLVED that the officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby
    is, authorized and directed in the name and on behalf of the Company to take
    any and all actions which such officers deem necessary or appropriate in
    order to obtain a permit, register or qualify the Securities for issuance
    and sale or to request an exemption from registration of the Securities or
    to register or to obtain a license for the Company as a dealer or broker
    under the securities laws of such of the states of the United States of
    America and of such foreign jurisdictions as such officers may deem
    necessary or appropriate; and that in connection with such registrations,
    permits, licenses, qualifications and exemptions, such officers are
    authorized and directed to execute, acknowledge, verify, deliver, file and
    publish all such applications, reports, resolutions, irrevocable consents to
    service of process, powers of attorney and other papers and instruments as
    may be required under such laws, and to take any and all further action
    which such officers deem necessary or appropriate in order to maintain the
    registration in effect for such time period as they may deem to be in the
    best interests of the Company.

         RESOLVED that if an officer of the Company shall so elect application
    may be made to the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. and to the Pacific Stock
    Exchange for the listing upon notice of issuance of the Securities and that
    the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice President, the Secretary
    or the Treasurer of the Company be, and each of them hereby is, authorized
    and directed by the Company to prepare, execute and file the applications
    required by such stock exchange and to make such changes as may be necessary
    to conform with requirements for the listing of the Securities, to appear
    (if requested) before officials of such exchange, to pay any fees required
    for such additional listing and to perform all other acts and things as may
    be deemed necessary to effect such listing.

         RESOLVED that the Chairman of the Board, the President, any Vice
    President, or the Treasurer of the Company (a "Designated Officer")
<PAGE>   3
    be, and each of them hereby is, authorized and empowered to execute,
    acknowledge and deliver, for and on behalf of the Company, and under its
    corporate seal, which its Secretary or any Assistant Secretary is hereby
    authorized to affix and attest, one or more indentures, including  a
    subordinate indenture, between the Company and a trustee to be determined by
    the officer executing such indenture (the "Indenture") for the purpose of
    providing for the issuance, registration, transfer, exchange and payment of
    the Securities to be issued pursuant thereto, each such Indenture to be in
    the form as the officers executing and delivering the same on behalf of the
    Company shall approve, such approval to be conclusively evidenced by such
    officer's execution, acknowledgment and delivery of the Indenture.

         RESOLVED that the Chairman of the Board, the President, the Chief
    Financial Officer, or the Treasurer of the Company be, and each hereby is,
    in accordance with the foregoing resolutions and the limitations previously
    approved, authorized to cause the Company to issue and sell one or more
    series of the Securities and, in connection with any such series, determine,
    approve or appoint, as the case may be:

    (a)  the exact aggregate principal amount of the series of Securities,
         whether Securities of such series are to be issued as debentures, as
         notes or as any other evidences of indebtedness or in any combination
         thereof;

    (b)  the designation of the Securities as senior or subordinated
         indebtedness of the Company;

    (c)  whether each series of Securities shall be sold with or without
         competitive bidding, whether through a public offering or by private
         placement, or a combination thereof;

    (d)  the terms and rights of the Securities, consistent with the terms of
         the respective Indenture and the Registration Statements; provided,
         however, that no such Securities shall be secured or convertible into
         any equity securities of the Company;
<PAGE>   4
   (e)   the maturity or maturities of the Debt Securities;

   (f)   the price to be received by the Company in any offering or sale of any
         of the Securities (which may be at a discount from the principal
         amount payable at maturity of such Securities), any public
         offering price and any discount received by, or commission paid to,
         any underwriters or agents;

   (g)   the rate or rates at which the Securities shall bear interest, if
         any, which rate or rates may vary from time to time in accordance with
         a formula to be approved by any such officer;

   (h)   the date or dates from which such interest shall accrue, the dates on
         which such interest shall be payable and the record date for the
         interest payable on any interest payment date and/or the method by
         which such rate or rates or date or dates shall be determined;

   (i)   the place or places, where the principal of (premium, if any) and
         interest, if any, on the Securities shall be payable;

   (j)   the option, if any, of the Company to redeem the Securities in
         whole or in part and the period or periods within which, the price or
         prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which, Securities 
         may be redeemed, in whole or in part, pursuant to such option or any 
         sinking fund or otherwise;

   (k)   the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem, purchase or repay
         Securities pursuant to any mandatory redemption, sinking fund or
         analogous provisions or at the option of a holder thereof and the
         period or periods within which, the price or prices at which and the
         terms and conditions upon which, Securities shall be redeemed,
         purchased or repaid, in whole or in part, pursuant to such obligation
         or option;
<PAGE>   5
    (l)  the denominations and currencies, including U.S. dollars, foreign
         currencies and composite currencies, in which the Securities
         shall be issuable and payable and the election, if any, of holders of
         Securities to receive payment of principal (and premium, if any)
         and interest in a currency other than the currency in which such 
         Securities were issued;

    (m)  such other terms, conditions and provisions as any such officer shall
         deem appropriate;

    (n)  the forms of the Securities; and

    (o)  whether the Securities will be listed on the New York Stock
         Exchange.

         RESOLVED that any Designated Officer be, and each hereby is,
    authorized to appoint one or more transfer agents or registrars,
    depositories, authenticating or paying agents, calculation agents, exchange
    rate agents and any other agents with respect to the Securities, and
    to execute and deliver, in the name and on behalf of the Company, any
    agreement, instrument or document relating to any such appointment, for the
    purpose of implementing and giving effect to the provisions of each
    Indenture; provided, however, that the Company may at any time elect to act
    in the capacity of paying agent.

         RESOLVED that any Designated Officer be, and each hereby is,
    authorized and directed to execute and deliver to the trustee for each
    Indenture an Issuer Order or Officer's Certificate, as appropriate,
    referred to in the Indenture and to perform on behalf of the Company such
    other procedures acceptable to such trustee as may be necessary in order to
    authorize the authentication and delivery by such trustee of the Securities.

         RESOLVED that any Designated Officer be, and each hereby is,
    authorized and directed to cause the Company to enter into agreements (the
    "Underwriting Agreement" or "Distribution Agreements"), with such
    investment banking company or companies as any such Designated Officer may
    choose (the "Agents"), and with such additional or successor Agents as any
    Designated Officer shall select, in the form as the Designated Officers
<PAGE>   6
    executing and delivering the same on behalf of the Company shall approve,
    such approval to be conclusively evidenced by such officers execution,
    acknowledgment and delivery of the Underwriting Agreement or Distribution
    Agreements.

         RESOLVED that any Designated Officer be, and each hereby is,
    authorized and directed to take, or cause to be taken, any and all action
    which any such Designated Officer may deem necessary or desirable to carry
    out the purpose and intent of the foregoing resolutions (hereby ratifying
    and confirming any and all actions taken heretofore or hereafter to
    accomplish such purposes, all or singular), and to make, execute and
    deliver, or cause to be made executed and delivered, all agreements,
    undertakings, documents, instruments or certificates in the name and on
    behalf of the Company as any such Designated Officer may deem necessary or
    desirable in connection therewith, and to perform, or cause to be
    performed, the obligations of the Company under the Securities, the
    Indenture, the Underwriting Agreement and the Distribution Agreement (and
    any terms agreement thereunder) and the Registration Statements, and to pay
    such fees and expenses as, in their judgment, shall be proper or advisable.

         RESOLVED that the officers of the Company be, and each of them hereby
    is, authorized to take all such further action and to execute and deliver
    all such further instruments and documents in the name and on behalf of the
    Company with its corporate seal or otherwise and to pay such fees and
    expenses as, in their judgment, shall be proper or advisable in order to
    carry out the intent and to accomplish the purposes of the foregoing
    resolutions.

    I further certify that the foregoing resolutions have not been modified,
revoked or rescinded and are in full force and effect.

    IN WITNESS WHEREOF, I have hereunto set my hand and affixed the corporate 
seal of THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, this 22nd day of May, 1998.


                                        /s/ SHAWNA L. GEHRES
                                        --------------------------
                                            Shawna L. Gehres
                                           Assistant Secretary

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 25.1



                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM T-1

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                      UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
                  OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
                   OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(b)(2)

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

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
               (EXACT NAME OF TRUSTEE AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION                                36-0899825
                                                          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
                                                         IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

         ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS           60670-0126
         (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)              (ZIP CODE)

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                      ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 0286
                          CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60670-0286
             ATTN: LYNN A. GOLDSTEIN, LAW DEPARTMENT (312) 732-6919
            (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

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

                          THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
               (EXACT NAME OF OBLIGOR AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

         DELAWARE                                       73-0569878
         (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
         INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                 IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)


         ONE WILLIAMS CENTER
         TULSA, OKLAHOMA                                74172
         (ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)       (ZIP CODE)


                                 DEBT SECURITIES
                         (TITLE OF INDENTURE SECURITIES)


<PAGE>   2

ITEM 1.           GENERAL INFORMATION.  FURNISH THE FOLLOWING
                  INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

                  (a)      NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR
                  SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.

                  Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C., 
                  Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation,
                  Washington, D.C., The Board of Governors of
                  the Federal Reserve System, Washington D.C.

                  (b)      WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE
                  CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

                  The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

ITEM 2.           AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.  IF THE OBLIGOR
                  IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH
                  SUCH AFFILIATION.

                  No such affiliation exists with the trustee.


ITEM 16.          LIST OF EXHIBITS. LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS A PART
                  OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.

                  1.  A copy of the articles of association of the
                      trustee now in effect.*

                  2.  A copy of the certificates of authority of the trustee to
                      commence business.*

                  3.  A copy of the authorization of the trustee to exercise
                      corporate trust powers.*

                  4.  A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*

                  5.  Not Applicable.

                  6.  The consent of the trustee required by Section 321(b) of
                      the Act.

                  7.  A copy of the latest report of condition of the trustee
                      published pursuant to law or the requirements of its
                      supervising or examining authority.

<PAGE>   3


                  8.  Not Applicable.

                  9.  Not Applicable.


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking
association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago
and the State of Illinois, on this 20th day of May, 1998.


                      THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
                      TRUSTEE

                      By  /s/ JOHN R. PRENDIVILLE

                              John R. Prendiville
                              Vice President



* EXHIBIT 1, 2, 3 AND 4 ARE HEREIN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE TO EXHIBITS BEARING
IDENTICAL NUMBERS IN ITEM 16 OF THE FORM T-1 OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
CHICAGO, FILED AS EXHIBIT 25.1 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 OF
SUNAMERICA, INC., FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER
25, 1996 (REGISTRATION NO. 333-14201).

<PAGE>   4

                                    EXHIBIT 6



                       THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
                          BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT



                                                                  May 20, 1998


Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C. 20549

Gentlemen:

                In connection with the qualification of an indenture between The
Williams Companies, Inc. and The First National Bank of Chicago, the
undersigned, in accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended, hereby consents that the reports of examinations of the
undersigned, made by Federal or State authorities authorized to make such
examinations, may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and
Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.


                         Very truly yours,

                         THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

                         By      /s/ JOHN R. PRENDIVILLE

                                     John R. Prendiville
                                     Vice President

<PAGE>   5

                                    EXHIBIT 7

<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>                                 
Legal Title of Bank:                The First National Bank of Chicago Call Date: 12/31/97  ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                            One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                         Page RC-1
City, State  Zip:                   Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:      0/3/6/1/8
                           ---------
</TABLE>

CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION FOR INSURED COMMERCIAL
AND STATE-CHARTERED SAVINGS BANKS FOR DECEMBER 31,1997

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the
quarter.

SCHEDULE RC--BALANCE SHEET

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                              DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN               C400
                                                                                              ----
<S>                                                           <C>                          <C>       <C>               <C>
ASSETS
 1.  Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule RC-A):
     a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1)                                0081      4,267,336         1.a.
     b. Interest-bearing balances(2)                                                         0071      6,893,837         1.b.
 2.  Securities
     a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A)                            1754              0         2.a.
     b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D)............             1773      5,691,722         2.b.
 3.  Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to
     resell                                                                                  1350      6,339,940         3.
 4.  Loans and lease financing receivables:
     a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule
        RC-C)                                                           RCFD 2122 25,202,984                             4.a.
     b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses                       RCFD 3123    419,121                             4.b.
     c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve                           RCFD 3128          0                             4.c.
     d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and
        reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)                                                 2125     24,783,863         4.d.
 5.  Trading assets (from Schedule RD-D)                                                     3545      6,703,332         5.
 6.  Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)                                2145        743,426         6.
 7.  Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)                                            2150          7,727         7.
 8.  Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated
     companies (from Schedule RC-M)                                                          2130        134,959         8.
 9.  Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding                            2155        644,340         9.
10.  Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)                                                  2143        268,501        10.
11.  Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)                                                       2160      2,004,432        11.
12.  Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)                                                2170     58,483,415        12.
</TABLE>

- -------------
(1) Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.

<PAGE>   6

<TABLE>
<S>                                <C>    
Legal Title of Bank:                The First National Bank of Chicago Call Date:  09/30/97 ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                            One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                             Page RC-2
City, State  Zip:                   Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:               0/3/6/1/8
</TABLE>

SCHEDULE RC-CONTINUED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
                                                                           THOUSANDS                      BIL MIL THOU
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                   <C>                 <C>   <C>          <C>          <C>
LIABILITIES
13. Deposits:
    a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C
       from Schedule RC-E, part 1)                                                               RCON 2200    21,756,846   13.a
       (1) Noninterest-bearing(1)                                      RCON 6631   9,197,227                               13.a.1
       (2) Interest-bearing                                            RCON 6636     559,619                               13.a.2
    b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and
       IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)                                                        RCFN 2200    14,811,410   13.b.
       (1) Noninterest bearing                                         RCFN 6631     332,801                               13.b.1
       (2) Interest-bearing                                            RCFN 6636  14,478,609                               13.b.2
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements
    to repurchase:                                                                               RCFD 2800     4,535,422   14
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury                                                  RCON 2840        43,763   15.a
    b. Trading Liabilities(from Schedule RC-D).........................                          RCFD 3548     6,523,239   15.b
16. Other borrowed money:
    a. With a remaining  maturity of one year or less                                            RCFD 2332     1,360,165   16.a
    b. With a remaining  maturity of than one year through three years                                A547       576,492   16.b
 .   c.  With a remaining maturity of more than three years ............                               A548       703,981   16.c
17. Not applicable
18. Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding                                      RCFD 2920       644,341   18
19. Subordinated notes and debentures (2)                                                        RCFD 3200     1,700,000   19
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)                                                       RCFD 2930     1,322,077   20
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)                                               RCFD 2948    53,987,736   21
22. Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus                                                RCFD 3838             0   23
24. Common stock                                                                                 RCFD 3230       200,858   24
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)                                     RCFD 3839     2,999,001   25
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves                                                    RCFD 3632     1,273,239   26.a.
    b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale
       securities                                                                                RCFD 8434        24,096   26.b.
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments                                          RCFD 3284        (1,515)  27
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)                                            RCFD 3210     4,495,679   28
29. Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28)                                RCFD 3300    58,483,415   29
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                   <C>                <C>                          <C>    <C>
Memorandum
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.
1.  Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most
    comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external                               Number
    auditors as of any date during 1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .RCFD 6724 ...................N/A    M.1
1 =  Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance             4 =   Directors' examination of the bank performed by other
     with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified               external auditors (may be required by state chartering
     public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank               authority)
2 =  Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company            5 =   Review of the bank's financial statements by
     external conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing       auditors
     standards by a certified public accounting firm which             6 =   Compilation of the bank's financial statements by 
     submits a report on the consolidated holding company                    external auditors
     (but not on the bank separately)                                  7 =   Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
3 =  Directors' examination of the bank conducted in                   8 =   No external audit work
     accordance with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified public
     accounting firm (may be required by state chartering authority)
</TABLE>

- --------------------
(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings
    deposits. 
(2) Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.



<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 25.2

                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM T-1

                            STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY
                      UNDER THE TRUST INDENTURE ACT OF 1939
                  OF A CORPORATION DESIGNATED TO ACT AS TRUSTEE

                CHECK IF AN APPLICATION TO DETERMINE ELIGIBILITY
                   OF A TRUSTEE PURSUANT TO SECTION 305(B)(2)

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

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
               (EXACT NAME OF TRUSTEE AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

A NATIONAL BANKING ASSOCIATION                            36-0899825
                                                          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
                                                          IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)

ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, CHICAGO, ILLINOIS               60670-0126
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                  (ZIP CODE)

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO
                      ONE FIRST NATIONAL PLAZA, SUITE 0286
                          CHICAGO, ILLINOIS 60670-0286
             ATTN: LYNN A. GOLDSTEIN, LAW DEPARTMENT (312) 732-6919
            (NAME, ADDRESS AND TELEPHONE NUMBER OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)

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

                          THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
               (EXACT NAME OF OBLIGOR AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)

DELAWARE                                                 73-0569878
(STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF                          (I.R.S. EMPLOYER
INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)                           IDENTIFICATION NUMBER)


ONE WILLIAMS CENTER
TULSA, OKLAHOMA                                          74172
(ADDRESS OF PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                 (ZIP CODE)


                                 DEBT SECURITIES
                         (TITLE OF INDENTURE SECURITIES)


<PAGE>   2



ITEM 1.  GENERAL INFORMATION.  FURNISH THE FOLLOWING
         INFORMATION AS TO THE TRUSTEE:

         (a)      NAME AND ADDRESS OF EACH EXAMINING OR
         SUPERVISING AUTHORITY TO WHICH IT IS SUBJECT.

         Comptroller of Currency, Washington, D.C., Federal Deposit
         Insurance Corporation, Washington, D.C., The Board of
         Governors of the Federal Reserve System, Washington D.C.

         (b)      WHETHER IT IS AUTHORIZED TO EXERCISE
         CORPORATE TRUST POWERS.

         The trustee is authorized to exercise corporate trust powers.

ITEM 2.  AFFILIATIONS WITH THE OBLIGOR.  IF THE OBLIGOR
         IS AN AFFILIATE OF THE TRUSTEE, DESCRIBE EACH
         SUCH AFFILIATION.

         No such affiliation exists with the trustee.


ITEM 16. LIST OF EXHIBITS. LIST BELOW ALL EXHIBITS FILED AS A 
         PART OF THIS STATEMENT OF ELIGIBILITY.

         1.  A copy of the articles of association of the
             trustee now in effect.*

         2.  A copy of the certificates of authority of the 
             trustee to commence business.*

         3.  A copy of the authorization of the trustee to
             exercise corporate trust powers.*

         4.  A copy of the existing by-laws of the trustee.*

         5.  Not Applicable.

         6.  The consent of the trustee required by 
             Section 321(b) of the Act.

         7.  A copy of the latest report of condition of the
             trustee published pursuant to law or the
             requirements of its supervising or examining
             authority.


<PAGE>   3


         8.  Not Applicable.

         9.  Not Applicable.


         Pursuant to the requirements of the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as
amended, the trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, a national banking
association organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, has duly caused this Statement of Eligibility to be signed on its
behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, all in the City of Chicago
and the State of Illinois, on this 20th day of May, 1998.


             THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO,
             TRUSTEE

             By  /s/ John R. Prendiville
                 John R. Prendiville
                 Vice President

* EXHIBIT 1, 2, 3 AND 4 ARE HEREIN INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE TO EXHIBITS BEARING
IDENTICAL NUMBERS IN ITEM 16 OF THE FORM T-1 OF THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF
CHICAGO, FILED AS EXHIBIT 25.1 TO THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON FORM S-3 OF
SUNAMERICA, INC., FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON OCTOBER
25, 1996 (REGISTRATION NO. 333-14201).


<PAGE>   4


                                    EXHIBIT 6



                       THE CONSENT OF THE TRUSTEE REQUIRED
                          BY SECTION 321(b) OF THE ACT



                                                            May 20, 1998


Securities and Exchange Commission
Washington, D.C.  20549

Gentlemen:

         In connection with the qualification of an indenture between The
Williams Companies, Inc. and The First National Bank of Chicago, the
undersigned, in accordance with Section 321(b) of the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended, hereby consents that the reports of examinations of the
undersigned, made by Federal or State authorities authorized to make such
examinations, may be furnished by such authorities to the Securities and
Exchange Commission upon its request therefor.


                       Very truly yours,

                       THE FIRST NATIONAL BANK OF CHICAGO

                       By  /s/ John R. Prendiville
                           John R. Prendiville
                           Vice President

<PAGE>   5


                                    EXHIBIT 7
<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>                                     <C>
Legal Title of Bank:                The First National Bank of Chicago      Call Date: 12/31/97  ST-BK:  17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                            One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                         Page RC-1
City, State  Zip:                   Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:    0/3/6/1/8
</TABLE>

CONSOLIDATED REPORT OF CONDITION FOR INSURED COMMERCIAL
AND STATE-CHARTERED SAVINGS BANKS FOR DECEMBER 31,1997

All schedules are to be reported in thousands of dollars. Unless otherwise
indicated, report the amount outstanding as of the last business day of the
quarter.

SCHEDULE RC--BALANCE SHEET
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                             DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN                                    C400
                                                                                                  -----   
<S>                                                                                               <C>       <C>             <C>
ASSETS
1.  Cash and balances due from depository institutions (from Schedule RC-A):
    a. Noninterest-bearing balances and currency and coin(1)                                       0081      4,267,336         1.a.
    b. Interest-bearing balances(2)                                                                0071      6,893,837         1.b.
2.  Securities
    a. Held-to-maturity securities(from Schedule RC-B, column A)                                   1754              0         2.a.
    b. Available-for-sale securities (from Schedule RC-B, column D).........                       1773      5,691,722         2.b.
3.  Federal funds sold and securities purchased under agreements to
    resell                                                                                         1350      6,339,940         3.
4.  Loans and lease financing receivables:
    a. Loans and leases, net of unearned income (from Schedule
    RC-C)                                                                   RCFD 2122 25,202,984                               4.a.
    b. LESS: Allowance for loan and lease losses                            RCFD 3123    419,121                               4.b.
    c. LESS: Allocated transfer risk reserve                                RCFD 3128          0                               4.c.
    d. Loans and leases, net of unearned income, allowance, and
       reserve (item 4.a minus 4.b and 4.c)                                                        2125      24,783,863        4.d.
5.  Trading assets (from Schedule RD-D)                                                            3545       6,703,332        5.
6.  Premises and fixed assets (including capitalized leases)                                       2145         743,426        6.
7.  Other real estate owned (from Schedule RC-M)                                                   2150           7,727        7.
8.  Investments in unconsolidated subsidiaries and associated
    companies (from Schedule RC-M)                                                                 2130         134,959        8.
9.  Customers' liability to this bank on acceptances outstanding                                   2155         644,340        9.
10. Intangible assets (from Schedule RC-M)                                                         2143         268,501       10.
11. Other assets (from Schedule RC-F)                                                              2160       2,004,432       11.
12. Total assets (sum of items 1 through 11)                                                       2170      58,483,415       12.
 
- -------------
(1) Includes cash items in process of collection and unposted debits.
(2) Includes time certificates of deposit not held for trading.
</TABLE>


<PAGE>   6

<TABLE>
<S>                                 <C>                                     <C>
Legal Title of Bank:                The First National Bank of Chicago      Call Date:  09/30/97 ST-BK:          17-1630 FFIEC 031
Address:                            One First National Plaza, Ste 0303                                                Page RC-2
City, State  Zip:                   Chicago, IL  60670
FDIC Certificate No.:               0/3/6/1/8
</TABLE>

SCHEDULE RC-CONTINUED
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       DOLLAR AMOUNTS IN
                                                                           Thousands                      BIL MIL THOU
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                                                    <C>                   <C>            <C>             <C>
LIABILITIES
13. Deposits:
    a. In domestic offices (sum of totals of columns A and C
       from Schedule RC-E, part 1)                                                            RCON 2200     21,756,846       13.a
       (1) Noninterest-bearing(1)                                      RCON 6631  9,197,227                                  13.a.1
       (2) Interest-bearing                                            RCON 6636    559,619                                  13.a.2
    b. In foreign offices, Edge and Agreement subsidiaries, and
       IBFs (from Schedule RC-E, part II)                                                     RCFN 2200     14,811,410       13.b.
       (1) Noninterest bearing                                         RCFN 6631     332,801                                 13.b.1
       (2) Interest-bearing                                            RCFN 6636  14,478,609                                 13.b.2
14. Federal funds purchased and securities sold under agreements
    to repurchase:                                                                            RCFD 2800     4,535,422        14
15. a. Demand notes issued to the U.S. Treasury                                               RCON 2840        43,763        15.a
    b. Trading Liabilities(from Schedule RC-D)........................                        RCFD 3548     6,523,239        15.b
16. Other borrowed money:
    a. With a remaining  maturity of one year or less                                         RCFD 2332     1,360,165        16.a
    b. With a remaining  maturity of than one year through three years                             A547       576,492        16.b
    c.  With a remaining maturity of more than three years ...........                             A548       703,981        16.c
17. Not applicable
18. Bank's liability on acceptance executed and outstanding                                   RCFD 2920       644,341        18
19. Subordinated notes and debentures (2)                                                     RCFD 3200     1,700,000        19
20. Other liabilities (from Schedule RC-G)                                                    RCFD 2930     1,322,077        20
21. Total liabilities (sum of items 13 through 20)                                            RCFD 2948    53,987,736        21
22. Not applicable
EQUITY CAPITAL
23. Perpetual preferred stock and related surplus                                             RCFD 3838             0        23
24. Common stock                                                                              RCFD 3230       200,858        24
25. Surplus (exclude all surplus related to preferred stock)                                  RCFD 3839     2,999,001        25
26. a. Undivided profits and capital reserves                                                 RCFD 3632     1,273,239        26.a.
    b. Net unrealized holding gains (losses) on available-for-sale
       securities                                                                             RCFD 8434        24,096        26.b.
27. Cumulative foreign currency translation adjustments                                       RCFD 3284        (1,515)       27
28. Total equity capital (sum of items 23 through 27)                                         RCFD 3210     4,495,679        28
29. Total liabilities and equity capital (sum of items 21 and 28)                             RCFD 3300    58,483,415        29
</TABLE>

<TABLE>
<S>                                                                 <C>
Memorandum
To be reported only with the March Report of Condition.
1.  Indicate in the box at the right the number of the statement below that best describes the most
    comprehensive level of auditing work performed for the bank by independent external                         Number
    auditors as of any date during 1996 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . RCFD 6724 ............N/A          M.1
1 =  Independent audit of the bank conducted in accordance         4 =  Directors' examination of the bank performed by other
     with generally accepted auditing standards by a certified          external auditors (may be required by state chartering
     public accounting firm which submits a report on the bank          authority)
2 =  Independent audit of the bank's parent holding company        5 =  Review of the bank's financial statements by external
     conducted in accordance with generally accepted auditing           auditors
     standards by a certified public accounting firm which         6 =  Compilation of the bank's financial statements by external
     submits a report on the consolidated holding company               auditors
     (but not on the bank separately)                              7 =  Other audit procedures (excluding tax preparation work)
3 =  Directors' examination of the bank conducted in               8 =  No external audit work
     accordance with generally accepted auditing standards
     by a certified public accounting firm (may be required by
     state chartering authority)
</TABLE>

- --------------------
(1) Includes total demand deposits and noninterest-bearing time and savings
    deposits. 
(2) Includes limited-life preferred stock and related surplus.



<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THESE AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN RESTATED FOR THE ACQUISITION OF MAPCO, INC., WHICH WAS
ACCOUNTED FOR AS A POOLING OF INTERESTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000107263
<NAME> THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997             DEC-31-1997
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997             JAN-01-1997
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1997             JUN-30-1997             SEP-30-1997
<CASH>                                             193                     185                     139
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      878                   1,050                   1,218
<ALLOWANCES>                                        11                      12                      11
<INVENTORY>                                        367                     425                     451
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 1,993                   2,229                   2,457
<PP&E>                                          13,502                  13,837                  14,281
<DEPRECIATION>                                   2,724                   2,847                   2,973
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  14,268                  14,964                  15,602
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            2,365                   2,379                   3,605
<BONDS>                                          4,935                   5,414                   4,807
                                0                       0                       0
                                        161                     161                     143
<COMMON>                                           427                     428                     429
<OTHER-SE>                                       3,538                   3,610                   3,604
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    14,268                  14,964                  15,602
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 1,929                   3,800                   5,899
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    1,593                   3,208                   5,031
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     1                       2                       6
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                 109                     226                     345
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    284                     443                     588
<INCOME-TAX>                                       105                     146                     203
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                179                     297                     385
<DISCONTINUED>                                       0                       0                       0
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                    (74)
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                       179                     297                     311
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.43                    0.71                    0.74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.42                    0.70                    0.73
        

</TABLE>

<TABLE> <S> <C>

<ARTICLE> 5
<LEGEND>
THESE AMOUNTS HAVE BEEN RESTATED FOR THE ACQUISITION OF MAPCO, INC., WHICH WAS
ACCOUNTED FOR AS A POOLING OF INTERESTS.
</LEGEND>
<RESTATED> 
<CIK> 0000107263
<NAME> THE WILLIAMS COMPANIES, INC.
<MULTIPLIER> 1,000,000
       
<S>                             <C>                     <C>                     <C>
<PERIOD-TYPE>                   3-MOS                   6-MOS                   9-MOS
<FISCAL-YEAR-END>                          DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996             DEC-31-1996
<PERIOD-START>                             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996             JAN-01-1996
<PERIOD-END>                               MAR-31-1996             JUN-30-1996             SEP-30-1996
<CASH>                                             135                     114                      99
<SECURITIES>                                         0                       0                       0
<RECEIVABLES>                                      953                     909                     931
<ALLOWANCES>                                        16                      17                      18
<INVENTORY>                                        315                     362                     346
<CURRENT-ASSETS>                                 2,305                   2,210                   1,974
<PP&E>                                          12,704                  12,902                  13,154
<DEPRECIATION>                                   2,402                   2,511                   2,602
<TOTAL-ASSETS>                                  13,752                  13,891                  13,908
<CURRENT-LIABILITIES>                            2,571                   2,386                   2,347
<BONDS>                                          4,483                   4,695                   4,755
                                0                       0                       0
                                        162                     161                     161
<COMMON>                                           423                     424                     424
<OTHER-SE>                                       3,350                   3,374                   3,365
<TOTAL-LIABILITY-AND-EQUITY>                    13,752                  13,891                  13,908
<SALES>                                              0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-REVENUES>                                 1,624                   3,233                   4,861
<CGS>                                                0                       0                       0
<TOTAL-COSTS>                                    1,291                   2,645                   4,016
<OTHER-EXPENSES>                                     0                       0                       0
<LOSS-PROVISION>                                     1                       1                       1
<INTEREST-EXPENSE>                                  97                     202                     311
<INCOME-PRETAX>                                    242                     379                     522
<INCOME-TAX>                                        90                     129                     178
<INCOME-CONTINUING>                                152                     250                     344
<DISCONTINUED>                                       8                    (31)                    (33)
<EXTRAORDINARY>                                      0                       0                       0
<CHANGES>                                            0                       0                       0
<NET-INCOME>                                       160                     219                     311
<EPS-PRIMARY>                                     0.38                    0.52                    0.74
<EPS-DILUTED>                                     0.37                    0.51                    0.72
        

</TABLE>


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