COOPER INDUSTRIES INC
8-K, 1996-01-26
SWITCHGEAR & SWITCHBOARD APPARATUS
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<PAGE>   1



                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                           Washington, D.C.  20549





                                  FORM 8-K


                           Current Report Pursuant
                        to Section 13 or 15(d) of the
                       Securities Exchange Act of 1934





    Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  January 24, 1996.




                           COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC.
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)



                                    Ohio
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
               (State or other jurisdiction of incorporation)


        1-1175                                            31-4156620 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(Commission File No.)                         (IRS Employer Identification No.)


First City Tower, 1001 Fannin, Suite 4000, Houston, TX         77002 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
  (Address of principal executive offices)                   (Zip Code)


                               (713) 739-5400
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
            (Registrant's Telephone Number, Including Area Code)
<PAGE>   2
Item 5.  Other Events

The purpose of this Form 8-K Report is to file the documents listed as Exhibits
1.1, 4.2 and 99.1 in Item 7.  Exhibits 1.1 and 4.2 relate to the Company's
Registration Statement No. 333-00117 on Form S-3 and specifically relate to the
Company's third series medium-term note program being initiated in January
1996, for the issuance, from time to time thereafter, of up to an aggregate
amount of $300 million of third series medium-term notes under said
Registration Statement.  On January 24, 1995, the Company issued the press
release attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 setting forth the Company's results of
operations for the calendar year and three-month period ended December 31,
1995.

ITEM 7.          FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

(c)      Exhibits

         1.1     Form of Distribution Agreement dated January 26, 1996 among
                 the Company, Goldman, Sachs & Co., CS First Boston
                 Corporation, Chase Securities, Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc.

         4.2     Form of Third Series Medium-Term Notes of the Company.

        99.1     Company Press Release Dated January 24, 1996.
<PAGE>   3
                                   SIGNATURES


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


                                                       COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC.  
                                                             (Registrant)


Date:    January 26, 1996                         /s/Diane K. Schumacher 
- -----------------------------                    ----------------------------
                                                  Diane K. Schumacher 
                                                  Senior Vice President, General
                                                    Counsel and Secretary


                                     - 3 -
<PAGE>   4
                              Index to Exhibits


         1.1     Form of Distribution Agreement dated January 26, 1996 among
                 the Company, Goldman, Sachs & Co., CS First Boston
                 Corporation, Chase Securities, Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc.

         4.2     Form of Third Series Medium-Term Notes of the Company.

         99.1    Company Press Release Dated January 24, 1996.



<PAGE>   1
                                                                    EXHIBIT 1.1


                            Cooper Industries, Inc.

                                  $300,000,000

                         Third Series Medium-Term Notes

                             Distribution Agreement
                             ----------------------


                                                                January 26, 1996


Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street, 26th Floor
New York, New York  10004

CS First Boston Corporation
55 East 52nd St.
Park Avenue Plaza, 35th Floor
New York, New York  10055

Chase Securities, Inc.
One Chase Manhattan Plaza, 15th Floor
New York, New York 10081

Lehman Brothers Inc.
3 World Financial Center
New York, New York  10285


Dear Sirs:

         Cooper Industries, Inc., an Ohio corporation (the "Company"), proposes
to issue and sell up to $300,000,000 aggregate principal amount of its Third
Series Medium-Term Notes (the "Notes").  Subject to the terms and conditions
stated herein and subject to the reservation by the Company of the right to
sell Notes directly to investors on its own behalf or through other agents,
dealers or underwriters on terms substantially identical (including with
respect to commissions) to the terms contained herein, the Company hereby
appoints each of you, as an agent (individually, an "Agent" and collectively,
the "Agents") for the purpose of soliciting and receiving offers to purchase
Notes from the Company by others and, on the basis of the representations and
warranties herein contained but subject to terms and conditions herein set
forth, each of you agrees, severally but not jointly, to use best efforts
consistent with standard industry practice to solicit and receive offers to
purchase Notes upon terms acceptable to the Company at such times and in such
amounts as the Company shall from time to time specify.  If the Company sells


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<PAGE>   2
Notes directly on its own behalf to an investor, no commission will be paid
with respect to such sales.  In addition, any Agent may also purchase Notes as
principal and the Company will enter into a Terms Agreement in the form
attached hereto as Exhibit A relating to such sale (a "Terms Agreement") in
accordance with the provisions of Section 2(b) hereof.  In acting under this
Agreement and in connection with the sale of any Notes by the Company (other
than Notes sold to you as principal), the Agents are acting solely as agents of
the Company and do not assume any obligation towards or relationship of agency
or trust with any purchaser of Notes.

         The terms and rights of the Notes shall be as specified in or
established pursuant to the indenture, dated as of January 15, 1990 (such
indenture, as amended by the Trust Indenture Reform Act of 1990, hereinafter
referred to as the "Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan
Bank (National Association), as Trustee (the "Trustee").  The Notes shall have
the maturities, annual interest rates, redemption provisions and other terms
set forth in a supplement to the Prospectus referred to below.  The Notes will
be issued, and the terms thereof established, from time to time by the Company
in accordance with the Indenture and the Medium-Term Notes Administrative
Procedures attached hereto as Exhibit B (the "Procedures").

         The Company has filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3, including a prospectus,
relating to the Notes.  In connection with the sale of Notes, the Company
proposes to file with the Commission from time to time, pursuant to Rule 424
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and the rules and regulations
thereunder (the "Act"), one or more supplements to the form of prospectus
included in such registration statement relating to the Notes and the plan of
distribution thereof.  Such registration statement, including the exhibits
thereto, as amended or supplemented from time to time, is hereinafter referred
to as the "Registration Statement."  The prospectus in the form in which it
appears in the Registration Statement is hereinafter referred to as the "Basic
Prospectus."  A supplement providing solely for the specification of the
principal amount, the issue price, the maturity date, the issue date, the
interest rate or any other principal term of any Notes is referred to herein as
a "Pricing Supplement."  The term "Prospectus" means the Basic Prospectus
together with any prospectus supplement (including a Pricing Supplement) or
supplements (each a "Prospectus Supplement") specifically relating to Notes, as
filed with or transmitted for filing to the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 or
by such other method deemed appropriate by the Company.  As used herein, the
terms "Registration Statement," Basic Prospectus," "Prospectus Supplement,"
"Pricing Supplement" and "Prospectus" shall include in each case the documents,
if any, incorporated by reference therein.  The terms "supplement" and
"amendment" (and all terms derivative of such terms) as used in this Agreement
shall include all documents that are deemed to be incorporated by reference in
the Registration Statement and Prospectus that are filed subsequent to the date
of the Basic Prospectus by the Company with the Commission pursuant to the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended, (the "Exchange Act").


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<PAGE>   3



               1.       Representations and Warranties.  The Company represents
and warrants to, and agrees with, the Agents that:

               (a)      The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3
         under the Act and has filed with the Commission the Registration
         Statement on such Form (the file number of which is set forth in
         Schedule I hereto), for the registration under the Act of the
         aggregate principal amount of debt securities including the Notes (the
         "Securities") as set forth in Schedule I hereto.  Such Registration
         Statement, as amended at the date of this Agreement, meets the
         requirements set forth in Rule 415(a)(1)(x) under the Act and complies
         in all other material respects with said Rule.  The Registration
         Statement has become effective; no stop order suspending the
         effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect, and no
         proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the
         Commission.

               (b)      As of the date hereof, when any amendment to the
         Registration Statement becomes effective (including the filing of any
         document incorporated by reference in such Registration Statement),
         when any Prospectus Supplement is filed with the Commission, as of the
         date of any Terms Agreement, and at the date of delivery by the
         Company of any Notes sold hereunder, (i) the Registration Statement,
         as amended as of any such time, and the Prospectus as supplemented as
         of any such time, and the Indenture comply or will comply in all
         material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act, the
         Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"),
         and the Exchange Act and the respective rules and regulations
         thereunder and (ii) neither the Registration Statement, as amended as
         of any such time, nor the Prospectus as supplemented as of any such
         time, contain or will contain any untrue statement of a material fact
         or omit or will omit to state any material fact required to be stated
         therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not
         misleading; provided, however, that the Company makes no
         representations or warranties as to (i) that part of the Registration
         Statement which shall constitute the Statement of Eligibility and
         Qualification ("Form T-1") under the Trust Indenture Act of the
         Trustee or (ii) the information contained in or omitted from the
         Registration Statement or Prospectus in reliance upon and in
         conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by or
         on behalf of any Agent specifically for use in connection with the
         preparation of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

               (c)  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
         existing as a corporation, with full corporate power and authority to
         own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
         Prospectus, and is duly qualified to do business as a foreign
         corporation and is in good standing under the laws of each
         jurisdiction which requires such qualification wherein it owns or
         leases material properties or conducts material business, except in
         such jurisdictions where the failure to be





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<PAGE>   4


         so qualified will not have a material effect on the Company and its
         subsidiaries taken as a whole.

               (d)      Each of this Agreement and any applicable Terms
         Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
         Company.

               (e)      The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust
         Indenture Act and has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
         the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the Company,
         enforceable in accordance with its terms except as (i) the
         enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency or
         similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and (ii) rights of
         acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies may be limited
         by equitable principles of general applicability.

               (f)      As of the time any Notes are issued and sold hereunder,
         such Notes will have been duly authorized and, when executed and
         authenticated in accordance with the Indenture and delivered to and
         duly paid for by the purchasers thereof, will be entitled to the
         benefits of the Indenture and will be valid and binding obligations of
         the Company, enforceable in accordance with their respective terms
         except as (i) the enforceability thereof may be limited by bankruptcy,
         insolvency or similar laws affecting creditors' rights generally and
         (ii) rights of acceleration and the availability of equitable remedies
         may be limited by equitable principles of general applicability.

               (g)      As of the settlement date for the sale of any Notes,
         after giving effect to the issuance of such Notes, of any other Notes
         to be issued on or prior to such settlement date and of any other
         Securities to be issued and sold by the Company on or prior to such
         settlement date, the aggregate amount of Securities (including any
         Notes) which have been issued and sold by the Company will not exceed
         the amount of Securities registered pursuant to the Registration
         Statement.

               (h)      During the period from the date of any Terms Agreement
         to the latter of (A) the Closing Date with respect to such Terms
         Agreement and (B) the date, if any, specified in such Terms Agreement,
         the Company shall not, without the prior consent of the purchaser
         thereunder, offer, sell or contract to sell, or announce the offering
         of, any debt securities (other than the Notes to be sold pursuant to
         the Terms Agreement) covered by the Registration Statement or any
         other registration statement filed under the Act.


               2.       Solicitations as Agent; Purchases as Principal.

               (a)      Solicitations as Agent.  In connection with each
         Agent's actions as agent hereunder, each Agent agrees to use best
         efforts consistent with standard industry practice to solicit and
         receive offers





                                       4
<PAGE>   5


         to purchase Notes from the Company upon the terms and conditions set
         forth in the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented.

               The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to
         instruct the Agents to suspend at any time, for any period of time or
         permanently, the solicitation of offers to purchase Notes.  Upon
         receipt of such notice from the Company, each Agent will forthwith
         suspend solicitations of offers to purchase Notes from the Company
         until such time as the Company has advised the Agents that such
         solicitations may be resumed.  While such solicitation is suspended,
         the Company shall not be required to deliver any certificates,
         opinions or letters in accordance with Sections 4 or 5 hereof;
         provided, however, that if the Registration Statement or the
         Prospectus is amended or supplemented during the period of suspension
         (other than by an amendment or supplement providing solely for a
         change in the interest rates, redemption provisions, amortization
         schedules or maturities offered on the Notes or for a change the
         Agents deem to be immaterial), no such Agent shall be required to
         resume soliciting offers to purchase Notes until the Company has
         delivered such certificates, opinions and letters substantially as set
         forth in Section 4 or 5 hereof.

               The Company agrees to pay to each Agent, as consideration for
         the sale of each Note resulting from a solicitation made or an offer
         to purchase received by such Agent, a commission in the form of a
         discount from the purchase price of such Note in an amount and manner
         to be agreed to by the Company and such Agents, which amount shall not
         exceed the percentage of the purchase price of such Note set forth in
         Schedule I.

               Each Agent shall communicate to the Company, orally or in
         writing, each offer to purchase Notes received by it as agent that in
         its judgment should be considered by the Company.  The Company shall
         have the sole right to accept offers to purchase Notes and may reject
         any offer in whole or in part for any reason.  Each Agent shall have
         the right, in its discretion reasonably exercised, to reject any offer
         to purchase Notes that it considers to be unacceptable, and any such
         rejection shall not be deemed a breach of its agreements contained
         herein.

               (b)      Purchases as Principal.  Each sale of Notes to an Agent
         as principal shall be made in accordance with the terms of this
         Agreement, and the Company will enter into a Terms Agreement that will
         provide for the sale of such Notes to and the purchase thereof by such
         Agent.  Each Terms Agreement may be substantially in the form of
         Exhibit A hereto or may take the form of an exchange of any form of
         written telecommunication between an Agent and the Company.

               An Agent's commitment to purchase Notes as principal, whether
         pursuant to a Terms Agreement or otherwise, shall be deemed to have
         been


                                       5
<PAGE>   6


         made on the basis of the representations and warranties of the Company
         herein contained and shall be subject to the terms and conditions
         herein set forth.  Each agreement by an Agent to purchase Notes as
         principal (whether or not set forth in a Terms Agreement) shall
         specify the principal amount of Notes to be purchased by such Agent
         pursuant thereto, the maturity date of such Notes, the price to be
         paid to the Company for such Notes (including any commissions or
         discounts), the interest rate and interest rate formula, if any,
         applicable to such Notes and any other terms of such Notes.  Each such
         agreement shall also specify any requirements for officers'
         certificates, opinions of counsel and letters from the independent
         public accountants of the Company pursuant to Section 4 hereof.  A
         Terms Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the
         offering of such Notes by such Agent.

               Each Terms Agreement shall specify the time and place of
         delivery of and payment for such Notes.  With respect to each sale of
         Notes to an Agent as principal that is not made pursuant to a Terms
         Agreement, the procedural details relating to the issue and delivery
         of such Notes and the payment therefor shall be as set forth in the
         Procedures.  Each date of delivery of and payment for Notes to be
         purchased by an Agent as principal, whether pursuant to a Terms
         Agreement or otherwise, is referred to herein as a "Settlement Date."

                (c)      Administrative Procedures.  Each Agent and the Company
        agree to perform the respective duties and obligations specifically 
        provided to be performed by them in the Procedures, as amended from 
        time to time.  The Procedures may only be amended by written agreement 
        of the Company and the Agents after notice to, and with the approval 
        of, the Trustee.

               (d)      Delivery.  The documents required to be delivered by
         Section 4 of this Agreement as a condition precedent to the Agent's
         obligation to begin soliciting offers to purchase Notes as agent of
         the Company shall be delivered at the office of Cravath, Swaine &
         Moore, Agents' counsel (hereinafter "Agents' Counsel"), not later than
         5:00 p.m., New York time, on the date hereof, or at such other time
         and/or place as each Agent and the Company may agree upon in writing,
         but in no event later than the day prior to the date on which any
         Agent begins soliciting offers to purchase Notes or the first date on
         which the Company accepts any offer by any Agent to purchase Notes as
         principal (the "Commencement Date").

               3.       Agreements.  The Company agrees with the Agents that:

               (a)      Prior to the termination of the offering of the Notes
         pursuant to this Agreement or any Terms Agreement, the Company will
         not file any Prospectus Supplement relating to the Notes or any
         amendment to the Registration Statement unless the Company has
         afforded each Agent a reasonable opportunity to comment on such
         Prospectus Supplement or amendment; provided, however, that the
         foregoing requirement shall not





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<PAGE>   7


         apply to any of the Company's filings with the Commission required to
         be filed pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange
         Act, copies of which filings the Company will cause to be delivered to
         each Agent promptly after being mailed for filing with the Commission;
         and provided, further, that the Company need only provide the
         opportunity to comment on a Pricing Supplement to the particular Agent
         or Agents which, in the judgment of the Company, are involved in the
         solicitation or purchase which leads to the filing of such supplement.
         Subject to the foregoing sentence, the Company will promptly cause
         each Prospectus Supplement to be filed with or transmitted for filing
         to the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Securities
         Act or by such other method as then deemed appropriate by the Company.
         The Company will promptly advise each Agent of (i) the filing of any
         amendment or supplement to the Basic Prospectus other than a Pricing
         Supplement, (ii) the filing and effectiveness of any amendment to the
         Registration Statement other than by virtue of the Company's filing
         any report required to be filed under the Exchange Act or a Pricing
         Supplement, (iii) any request by the Commission for any amendment to
         the Registration Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Basic
         Prospectus or for any additional information, (iv) the issuance by the
         Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
         Registration Statement or the institution or threatening of any
         proceeding for that purpose and (v) the receipt by the Company of any
         notification with respect to the suspension of the qualification of
         the Notes for sale in any jurisdiction or the initiation or
         threatening of any proceeding for such purpose.  The Company will use
         reasonable efforts to prevent the issuance of any such stop order or
         notice of suspension of qualification and, if issued, to obtain as
         soon as possible the withdrawal thereof.  If the Basic Prospectus is
         amended or supplemented other than by virtue of a Pricing Supplement,
         no Agent shall be obligated to solicit offers to purchase Notes so
         long as it is not reasonably satisfied with such document; provided,
         however, that if any Agent is not so satisfied, such Agent shall give
         notice of such dissatisfaction to the Company within five business
         days of such amendment or supplement.

               (b)      If, at any time when a prospectus relating to the Notes
         is required to be delivered under the Act, any event occurs as a
         result of which the Registration Statement, as then amended, or the
         Prospectus, as then supplemented, would include any untrue statement
         of a material fact, or omit to state any material fact necessary to
         make the statements therein in the light of the circumstances under
         which they were made not misleading, or if it shall be necessary to
         amend the Registration Statement or to supplement the Prospectus to
         comply with the Act or the Exchange Act or the respective rules
         thereunder, the Company promptly will (i) notify each Agent to suspend
         solicitation of offers to purchase Notes (and, if so notified by the
         Company, the Agents shall forthwith suspend such solicitation and
         cease using the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented), (ii)
         prepare and file with the


                                       7
<PAGE>   8


         Commission, subject to the first sentence of paragraph (a) of this
         Section 3, an amendment or supplement which will correct such
         statement or omission or an amendment or supplement which will effect
         such compliance and (iii) supply any such amended or supplemented
         Prospectus to each Agent in such quantities as the Agents may
         reasonably request.  If such amendment or supplement, and any
         documents, certificates and opinions furnished to each Agent pursuant
         to Section 4 in connection with the preparation or filing of such
         amendment or supplement are satisfactory in all respects to such
         Agent, such Agent will, upon the filing of such amendment or
         supplement with the Commission and upon the effectiveness of an
         amendment to the Registration Statement if such an amendment is
         required, resume its obligation to solicit offers to purchase Notes
         hereunder.

               (c)      As soon as reasonably practicable, the Company will
         make generally available to its security holders (as defined in Rule
         158 under the Act) and to each Agent an earnings statement or
         statements that satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act and
         Rule 158 as promulgated thereunder.

               (d)      The Company will furnish to each Agent and Agents'
         Counsel, without charge, copies of the Registration Statement
         (including exhibits thereto) and each amendment thereto which shall
         become effective and, so long as delivery of a prospectus may be
         required by the Act, as many copies of the Prospectus and any
         amendments thereof and supplements thereto as the Agents may
         reasonably request.

               (e)      The Company will, with such assistance from the Agents
         as the Company may reasonably request, (i) endeavor to qualify the
         Notes for offer and sale under the laws of such jurisdictions as the
         Agents may reasonably designate and (ii) maintain such qualifications
         in effect so long as reasonably required for the distribution of the
         Notes; provided, however that in connection therewith the Company
         shall not be required to qualify as a foreign corporation or file a
         general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction.

               (f)      During the period when this Agreement is in effect, the
         Company shall furnish to each Agent copies of all reports or other
         communications (financial or other) furnished to its public
         stockholders, and deliver to each Agent as soon as they are available,
         copies of any reports and financial statements (other than reports on
         Form 11-K or any similar reports) furnished to or filed with the
         Commission or any national securities exchange on which any class of
         securities of the Company is listed.

               (g)      The Company shall, whether or not any sale of the Notes
         is consummated and whether or not this Agreement shall be terminated
         pursuant to Section 8, (i) pay all its expenses incident to the
         performance of its obligations under this Agreement, including the
         fees





                                       8
<PAGE>   9


         and disbursements of its accountants and counsel, the cost of printing
         or other production and delivery of the Registration Statement, any
         preliminary Prospectus, the Prospectus, all amendments thereof and
         supplements thereto, the Indenture and this Agreement, the cost of
         preparing, printing, packaging and delivering the Notes, the fees and
         disbursements, including reasonable fees of counsel, incurred in
         connection with the qualification of the Notes for sale and
         determination of eligibility for investment of the Notes under the
         securities or Blue Sky laws of each such jurisdiction as each Agent
         may reasonably designate, the fees and disbursements of the Trustee
         and the fees of any agency that rates the Notes, (ii) reimburse each
         Agent against presentation of receipts on a monthly basis for all
         out-of-pocket expenses (including without limitation advertising
         expenses) incurred by such Agent and approved in writing by the
         Company in advance (it being understood that the Company shall be
         under no obligation to approve any such out-of-pocket expenses and
         that the failure to approve any such out-of-pocket expenses shall not
         relieve the Agents of their obligations hereunder), in connection with
         the offering and the sale of the Notes, and (iii) be responsible for
         the reasonable fees and expenses of Agents' Counsel incurred in
         connection with the offering and sale of the Notes.

               (h)  Each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase
         Notes will be deemed to be an affirmation that its representations and
         warranties contained in this Agreement are true and correct at the
         time of such acceptance, as though made at and as of such time, and a
         covenant that such representations and warranties will be true and
         correct at the time of delivery to the purchaser of the Notes relating
         to such acceptance, as though made at and as of such time (it being
         understood that for purposes of the foregoing affirmation and covenant
         such representations and warranties shall relate to the Registration
         Statement and Prospectus as amended or supplemented at each such
         time).

               (i)      The Company may from time to time offer Notes for sale
         otherwise than through an Agent.  The Company reserves the right to
         solicit or accept offers to purchase Notes through an agent other than
         the Agents; provided, however, that the Company, promptly after making
         any such sale or entering into an agreement with any other agent
         notifies the Agents that it has done so.

               4.       Conditions to the Obligations of the Agents.  Each
         Agent's obligation to solicit offers to purchase Notes as agent of the
         Company, and each Agent's obligation to purchase Notes as principal
         pursuant to any Terms Agreement or otherwise, shall be subject to the
         accuracy of the representations and warranties on the part of the
         Company contained herein, to the accuracy of the statements of the
         Company made in any certificates pursuant to the provisions hereof, to
         the performance by the Company of its obligations hereunder (in the
         case of each Agent's obligation to solicit offers to purchase Notes,
         at the time of such





                                       9
<PAGE>   10


         solicitation, and, in the case of each Agent's obligation to purchase
         Notes as principal, at the time the Company accepts the offer to
         purchase such Notes and at the time of purchase) and to the following
         additional conditions precedent when and as specified (it being
         understood that any judgment to be made by the Agents under this
         Section 4 shall be made by each Agent individually):

                        (a)  At the time of such solicitation:

                                (i)       no stop order suspending the
                        effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended
                        from time to time, shall have been issued and no
                        proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted
                        or threatened;

                                (ii)      there shall not have been any change,
                        or any development involving a prospective change, in
                        or affecting the business or properties of the Company
                        and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the effect of
                        which is, in the reasonable judgment of such Agent, so
                        material and adverse as to make it impractical or
                        inadvisable to proceed with the soliciting of offers to
                        purchase the Notes as contemplated by the Registration
                        Statement and the Prospectus;

                                (iii) the following shall not have occurred:
                        (A) trading in the Company's Common Stock shall have
                        been suspended by the Commission or the New York Stock
                        Exchange or trading in securities generally on the New
                        York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or
                        limited or minimum prices shall have been established
                        on such Exchange, (B) a general banking moratorium
                        shall have been declared either by Federal or New York
                        State authorities, or (C) there shall have occurred any
                        outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or other
                        calamity or crisis the effect of which on the financial
                        markets of the United States is such as to  make it, in
                        the reasonable judgment of such Agent, impracticable to
                        market the Notes.

                        (b)     Between the time the Company accepts an offer
                        from an Agent to purchase Notes as principal and the
                        purchase of the Notes by such Agent:

                                  (i) no stop order suspending the
                        effectiveness of the Registration Statement, as amended
                        from time to time, shall have been issued and no
                        proceedings for that purpose shall have been instituted
                        or threatened;

                                (ii) there shall not have been any change, or
                        any development involving a prospective change, in or
                        affecting





                                       10
<PAGE>   11


                       the business or properties of the Company and its
                       subsidiaries, taken as a whole, the effect of which is,
                       in the reasonable judgment of such Agent, so material
                       and adverse as to make it impractical or inadvisable to
                       proceed with the purchase the Notes as contemplated by
                       the Registration Statement and the Prospectus;

                                (iii) there shall not have been any decreases
                        in the ratings of any of the Company's debt securities
                        by Moody's Investors Service, Inc. or Standard & Poor's
                        Rating Services (each a "Rating Agency"), nor shall
                        either Rating Agency have announced publicly that it
                        has placed any of such debt securities on a watch list
                        with negative implications; and

                                 (iv) the following shall not have occurred:
                        (A) trading in the Company's Common Stock shall have
                        been suspended by the Commission or the New York Stock
                        Exchange or trading in securities generally on the New
                        York Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or
                        limited or minimum prices shall have been established
                        on such Exchange, (B) a general banking moratorium
                        shall have been declared either by Federal or New York
                        State authorities, or (C) there shall have occurred any
                        outbreak or material escalation of hostilities or other
                        calamity or crisis the effect of which on the financial
                        markets of the United States is such as to make it, in
                        the reasonable judgment of such Agent, impracticable to
                        market the Notes.

                        (c)  On the Commencement Date such Agent shall have
               received and, if called for by any agreement by such Agent to
               purchase Notes as principal, on the corresponding Settlement
               Date, such Agent shall have received:

                                (i)      the opinion, dated as of such date, of
                        the General Counsel of the Company to the effect that:

                                        (A)     the Company has been duly
                                incorporated and is validly existing as a
                                corporation, with full corporate power and
                                authority to own its properties and conduct its
                                business as described in the Prospectus, and is
                                duly qualified to do business as a foreign
                                corporation and is in good standing under the
                                laws of each jurisdiction which requires such
                                qualification wherein it owns or leases
                                material properties or conducts material
                                business, except in such jurisdictions where
                                the failure to be so qualified will not have a
                                material effect on the Company and its
                                subsidiaries taken as a whole;





                                       11
<PAGE>   12


                                        (B)     to the best knowledge of such
                                counsel, there is no pending or threatened
                                action, suit or proceeding before any court or
                                governmental agency, authority or body or any
                                arbitrator involving the Company or any of its
                                subsidiaries, of a character required to be
                                disclosed in the Registration Statement which
                                is not adequately disclosed in the Prospectus
                                as amended or supplemented, and there is no
                                franchise, contract or other document of a
                                character required to be described in the
                                Registration Statement or Prospectus, or to be
                                filed as an exhibit, which is not described or
                                filed as required; and the statements included
                                or incorporated in the Prospectus as amended or
                                supplemented describing any legal proceedings
                                or material contracts or agreements relating to
                                the Company fairly summarize such matters;

                                        (C)  the documents incorporated by
                                reference in the Registration Statement, the
                                Prospectus and each amendment thereof or
                                supplement thereto as of their respective dates
                                of filing with the Commission (other than the
                                financial statements and other financial and
                                statistical information contained therein as to
                                which such counsel need express no opinion)
                                complied as to form in all material respects
                                with the applicable requirements of the
                                Exchange Act and the respective rules
                                thereunder;

                                        (D)     each of this Agreement and any
                                applicable Terms Agreement has been duly
                                authorized, executed and delivered by the
                                Company;

                                        (E)     no consent, approval,
                                authorization or order of any court or
                                governmental agency or body is required for the
                                consummation of the transactions contemplated
                                herein, except such as have been obtained under
                                the Act and such as may be required under the
                                blue sky laws of any jurisdiction in connection
                                with the issue and sale of the Notes by the
                                Company and such other approvals (specified in
                                such opinion) as have been obtained; and

                                        (F)     neither the issue and sale of
                                the Notes, nor the consummation of any other of
                                the transactions herein contemplated nor the
                                fulfillment of the terms hereof will conflict
                                with, result in a breach of, or constitute a
                                default under the charter or by-laws of the
                                Company or the terms of any material indenture
                                or other material agreement or instrument known
                                to such





                                       12
<PAGE>   13


                               counsel and to which the Company or any of its
                               subsidiaries is a party or bound, or any
                               material order or regulation known to such
                               counsel to be applicable to the Company or any
                               of its subsidiaries of any court, regulatory
                               body, administrative agency, governmental body
                               or arbitrator having jurisdiction over the
                               Company or any of its subsidiaries.

         Such opinion shall also state that no facts have come to the attention
         of such counsel that lead such counsel to believe that the
         Registration Statement (other than the financial statements and other
         financial information contained therein or incorporated therein by
         reference, the documents incorporated by reference therein and the
         Form T-1, as to which such counsel need not comment), at the time it
         became effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the
         Prospectus, as amended or supplemented (other than the financial
         statements and other financial information contained therein or
         incorporated therein by reference and the documents incorporated by
         reference therein, as to which such counsel need not comment),
         includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
         material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
         the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  In
         rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
         involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other than the
         State of Texas or the United States, to the extent deemed proper and
         specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other counsel of good
         standing believed to be reliable and who are satisfactory to Agents'
         Counsel, and (B) as to matters of fact, to the extent deemed proper by
         such counsel, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company
         and public officials.

               (ii)      the opinion, dated as of such date, of Vinson & Elkins
         L.L.P., counsel for the Company, to the effect that:

                        (A)     the Notes conform in all material respects to
               the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;

                        (B)     the Indenture has been duly authorized,
               executed and delivered, has been duly qualified under the Trust
               Indenture Act, and constitutes a legal, valid and binding
               instrument enforceable against the Company in accordance with
               its terms (subject, as to enforcement of remedies, to applicable
               bankruptcy, reorganization, insolvency, moratorium or other laws
               and judicial decisions affecting creditors' rights generally
               from time to time in effect and subject to the application of
               equitable principles and the availability of equitable
               remedies); and the Notes have been duly authorized and, when
               executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of
               the Indenture and delivered to and paid for by


                                       13
<PAGE>   14

        
               the purchasers thereof, will constitute legal, valid and
               binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of
               the Indenture; and

                   (C)  the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto
               have become effective under the Act; to the best knowledge of
               such counsel, no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
               Registration Statement, as amended, has been issued, no
               proceedings for that purpose have been instituted or threatened,
               and the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and each
               amendment thereof or supplement thereto as of their respective
               effective or issue dates (other than the financial statements
               and other financial information contained therein, the documents
               incorporated by reference therein and the Form T-1 as to which
               such counsel need express no opinion) complied as to form in all
               material respects with the applicable requirements of the Act
               and the respective rules thereunder.

         Such opinion shall also state that no facts have come to the attention
         of such counsel that lead such counsel to believe that the
         Registration Statement (other than the financial statements and other
         financial information contained therein or incorporated therein by
         reference, the documents incorporated by reference therein and the
         Form T-1, as to which such counsel need not comment), at the time it
         became effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the
         Prospectus, as amended or supplemented (other than the financial
         statements and other financial information contained therein and the
         documents incorporated by reference therein, as to which such counsel
         need not comment), includes any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omits to state a material fact necessary to make the statements
         therein, in light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
         misleading.  In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as
         to matters involving the application of laws of any jurisdiction other
         than the State of Texas or the United States, to the extent deemed
         proper and specified in such opinion, upon the opinion of other
         counsel of good standing believed to be reliable and who are
         satisfactory to Agents' Counsel and (B) as to matters of fact, to the
         extent deemed proper by such counsel, on certificates of responsible
         officers of the Company and public officials.

               (iii)  an opinion, dated as of such date, of Cravath, Swaine &
         Moore, Agents' Counsel, to the effect set forth in subparagraphs (A),
         (B) and (C) of the foregoing paragraph (b)(ii) and to the further
         effect that the opinions delivered pursuant to the foregoing
         paragraphs (b)(i) and (b)(ii) are satisfactory in form and scope.
         Such opinion shall also state that such counsel has no reason to
         believe that the Registration Statement (other than the financial
         statements and other financial


                                       14
<PAGE>   15


         information contained therein or incorporated therein by reference,
         the documents incorporated by reference therein and the Form T-1, as
         to which such counsel need express no opinion), at the time it became
         effective, contained any untrue statement of a material fact or
         omitted to state any material fact required to be stated therein or
         necessary to make the statements therein not misleading or that the
         Prospectus, as amended or supplemented (other than the financial
         statements and other financial information contained therein or
         incorporated therein by reference and the documents incorporated by
         reference therein, as to which such counsel need not comment),
         includes any untrue statement of a material fact or omits to state a
         material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in light of
         the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.  In
         rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely (A) as to matters
         involving the application of laws of the State of Texas, upon the
         opinions delivered pursuant to the foregoing paragraphs (b)(i) and
         (b)(ii), (B) as to matters involving the application of laws of any
         other jurisdiction, other than the State of New York or the United
         States, to the extent deemed proper and specified in such opinion,
         upon the opinion of other counsel of good standing believed to be
         reliable and (C) as to matters of fact, to the extent deemed proper by
         such counsel, on certificates of responsible officers of the Company
         (which the Company shall have furnished to such counsel upon the
         request of such counsel) and public officials.

               (d)      On the Commencement Date and, if called for by any
         agreement to purchase Notes as principal to which any Agent is a
         party, on the corresponding Settlement Date, the Agents shall have
         received a certificate, dated such Commencement Date or Settlement
         Date, as the case may be, signed by the Treasurer or other financial
         executive  officer of the Company to the effect that the
         representations and warranties of the Company contained herein are
         true and correct as of such date and the Company has complied with all
         of the agreements and satisfied all of the conditions on its part to
         be performed or satisfied on or before such date.

               The officer signing and delivering such certificate may rely
         upon the best of his knowledge as to proceedings threatened.

               (e)      On the Commencement Date and, if called for by an
         agreement to purchase Notes as principal to which any Agent is a
         party, on the corresponding Settlement Date, the Company's independent
         public accountants shall have furnished to the Agents a letter or
         letters (which may refer to letters previously delivered to the
         Agents), dated as of such Commencement Date or Settlement Date, as the
         case may be, substantially in the form attached hereto as Exhibit C.

               (f)      On the Commencement Date and on each Settlement Date,
         as the case may be, the Company shall have furnished to each Agent
         such further





                                       15
<PAGE>   16


         information, certificates and documents as the Agents may reasonably
         request.

               If any of the conditions specified in this Section 4 shall not
have been fulfilled in all material respects when and as provided in this
Agreement, this Agreement and all obligations of an Agent hereunder may be
canceled by such Agent.  Notice of such cancellation shall be given to the
Company in writing or by telephone or telefax confirmed in writing.

               5.       Additional Agreements of the Company.  (a) Each time
the Registration Statement or Prospectus is amended or supplemented by the
Company's periodic filings pursuant to the Exchange Act, the Company will
deliver or cause to be delivered forthwith to each Agent the certificate
described in the third sentence of this Section 5(a).  Except as provided in
the immediately preceding sentence, each time the Registration Statement or
Prospectus is amended or supplemented (other than by a Pricing Supplement or
for a change the Agents deem to be immaterial), the Company will, upon the
reasonable request of the Agents, deliver or cause to be delivered forthwith to
each Agent the certificate referred to in the third sentence of this Section
5(a).  The certificate to be delivered pursuant to this Section 5(a) shall be
signed by the Treasurer or other financial executive officer of the Company,
dated the date of such amendment or supplement, as the case may be, in form
reasonably satisfactory to the Agents, and of the same tenor as the certificate
referred to in Section 4(d) relating to the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such
certificate.

               (b)      Each time the Company furnishes a certificate pursuant
to Section 5(a), the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith
to each Agent a written opinion of counsel for the Company.  Any such opinion
shall be dated the date of such amendment or supplement, as the case may be,
shall be in a form satisfactory to the Agents and shall be of the same tenor as
the opinion referred to in Section 4(c)(i), but modified to relate to the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the
time of delivery of such opinion.  In lieu of such opinion, counsel last
furnishing such an opinion to the Agents may furnish to the Agents a letter to
the effect that the Agents may rely on such last opinion to the same extent as
though it were dated the date of such letter (except that statements in such
last opinion will be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the
Prospectus as amended and supplemented to the time of delivery of such letter).

               (c)      Each time the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
is amended or supplemented to set forth amended or supplemental financial
information or such amended or supplemental financial information is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, the
Company shall cause its independent public accountants forthwith to furnish the
Agents with a letter, dated the date of such amendment or supplement, as the
case may be, and of the same tenor as the letter referred to in Section





                                       16
<PAGE>   17


4(e), with regard to the amended or supplemental financial information included
or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented to the date of such letter.

               6.       Indemnification.  (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify
and hold harmless each Agent and each person who controls such Agent within the
meaning of either the Act or the Exchange Act against any and all losses,
claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they or any of them
may become subject under the Act, the Exchange Act or other Federal or state
statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise
out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, or in
any amendment or supplement thereto, or any preliminary prospectus, or arise
out of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, and agrees to reimburse each such indemnified party, as
incurred, for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by them in
connection with investigating or defending any such loss, claim, damage,
liability or action; provided, however, that the Company will not be liable in
any such case to the extent that any such loss, claim, damage or liability
arises out of or is based upon any such untrue statement or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission made therein in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
any Agent specifically for use in connection with the preparation thereof.
This  indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which the
Company may otherwise have.

               (b)      Each Agent agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the
Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the Registration
Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of
either the Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the foregoing
indemnity from the Company to the Agents, but only with reference to written
information relating to such Agent furnished to the Company by or on behalf of
such Agent specifically for use in the preparation of the documents referred to
in the foregoing indemnity.  This indemnity agreement will be in addition to
any liability which such Agent may otherwise have.

               (c)      Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under
this Section 6 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified
party will, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the
indemnifying party under this Section 6, notify the indemnifying party in
writing of the commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the
indemnifying party will not relieve it from any liability which it may have to
any indemnified party otherwise than under this Section 6.  In case any such
action is brought against any indemnified party, and it notifies the
indemnifying party of the commencement thereof, the indemnifying party will be
entitled to participate therein, and to the extent that it may elect by written
notice delivered to the indemnified party promptly after receiving the
aforesaid notice from such





                                       17
<PAGE>   18


indemnified party, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to
such indemnified party; provided, however, that if the defendants in any such
action include both the indemnified party and the indemnifying party and the
indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded that there may be legal
defenses available to it and/or other indemnified parties which are different
from or additional to those available to the indemnifying party, the
indemnified party or parties shall have the right to select separate counsel to
assert such legal defenses and to otherwise participate in the defense of such
action on behalf of such indemnified party or parties.  Upon receipt of notice
from the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to
assume the defense of such action and approval by the indemnified party of
counsel, the indemnifying party will not be liable to such indemnified party
under this Section 6 for any legal or other expenses subsequently incurred by
such indemnified party in connection with the defense thereof unless (i) the
indemnified party shall have employed separate counsel in connection with the
assertion of legal defenses in accordance with the proviso to the next
preceding sentence (it being understood, however, that the indemnifying party
shall not be liable for the expenses of more than one separate counsel,
approved by the Agents in the case of paragraph (a) of this Section 6,
representing the indemnified parties under such paragraph (a) who are parties
to such action), (ii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within
a reasonable time after notice of commencement of the action or  (iii) the
indemnifying party has authorized the employment of counsel for the indemnified
party at the expense of the indemnifying party; and except that, if clause (i)
or (iii) is applicable, such liability shall be only in respect of the counsel
referred to in such clause (i) or (iii).  Notwithstanding anything in this
Section 6 to the contrary, the indemnifying party shall not be liable for any
settlement of any claim or action effected without its written consent.

               (d)      In order to provide for just and equitable contribution
in circumstances in which the indemnification provided for in paragraph (a) of
this Section 6 is unavailable, the Company and the Agents shall contribute to
the aggregate losses, claims, damages and liabilities (including legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred in connection with investigating or defending
same) to which the Company and the Agents may be subject in such proportion so
that each Agent is responsible for that portion represented by the percentage
that the aggregate commissions received by such Agent pursuant to Section 2
bears to the aggregate principal amount of the Notes sold and the Company is
responsible for the balance.  If the allocation provided by the immediately
preceding sentence is unavailable for any reason, the Company and the Agents
shall contribute in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only such
relative benefits but also the relative fault of the Company and of the Agents
in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted in such losses,
claims, damages and liabilities as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations.  Relative fault shall be determined by, among other things,
reference to whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to
information provided by the Company or the Agents.  Notwithstanding the





                                       18
<PAGE>   19


foregoing provisions of this subsection (d), (y) in no case shall an Agent be
responsible for any amount in excess of the commissions received by such Agent
and (z) no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of
Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any person who
was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  For purposes of this
Section 6, each person who controls an Agent within the meaning of either the
Act or the Exchange Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such
Agent, and each person who controls the Company within the meaning of either
the Act or the Exchange Act, each officer of the Company who shall have signed
the Registration Statement and each director of the Company shall have the same
rights to contribution as the Company, subject in each case to clause (y) of
this paragraph (d).  Any party entitled to contribution will, promptly after
receipt of notice of commencement of any action, suit or proceeding against
such party in respect of which a claim for contribution may be made against
another party or parties under this paragraph (d), notify such party or parties
from whom contribution may be sought, but the omission to so notify such party
or parties shall not relieve the party or parties from whom contribution may be
sought from any other obligation it or they may have hereunder or otherwise
than under this paragraph (d).

               7.       Position of the Agents.  In soliciting offers to
purchase the Notes pursuant to Section 2(a), the Agents are acting solely as
agent for the Company, and not as principal, and do not assume any obligation
towards or relationship of agency or trust with any purchaser of Notes.  Each
Agent shall use its best efforts consistent with standard industry practice to
assist the Company in obtaining performance by each purchaser whose offer to
purchase Notes has been solicited by it and accepted by the Company, but no
Agent shall have any liability to the Company in the event any such purchase is
not consummated for any reason.  If the Company shall default in its
obligations to deliver Notes to an Agent after accepting an offer from such
Agent, the Company shall hold the Agent harmless against any loss, claim,
damage or liability arising from or as a result of such default and shall, in
particular, pay to the Agent the commission the Agent would have received had
such sale been consummated, provided such default is not due to the Agent's
failure to perform.

               8.       Termination.  This Agreement will continue in effect
until terminated as provided in this Section 8.  This Agreement may be
terminated by either the Company as to any Agent or an Agent insofar as this
Agreement relates to such Agent, giving written notice of such termination to
the other party hereto.  This Agreement shall so terminate at the close of
business on the first business day following the receipt of such notice by the
party to whom such notice is given.  In the event of such termination, no party
shall have any liability to any other party hereto, except as provided in the
third paragraph of Section 2(a), Section 3(g), Section 6, and Section 9.  The
provisions of this Agreement applicable to any purchase of a Note for which
agreement to purchase exists prior to the termination hereof shall survive any
termination of this Agreement.





                                       19
<PAGE>   20


               9.       Representations and Indemnities to Survive.  The
respective agreements, representations, warranties, indemnities and other
statements of the Company or its officers and of the Agents set forth in or
made pursuant to this Agreement will remain in full force and effect,
regardless of any investigation made by or on behalf of the Agents or the
Company or any of the officers, directors or controlling persons referred to in
Section 6 hereof, and will survive delivery of and payment for the Notes.  The
provisions of Section 6 hereof shall survive the termination or cancellation of
this Agreement.

             10.        Notices.  All communications hereunder will be in
writing and effective only on receipt, and, if sent to the Agents, will be
mailed, delivered or telefaxed and confirmed to the Agents, at the addresses
specified in Schedule I hereto; or, if sent to the Company, will be mailed,
delivered or telefaxed and confirmed to it as follows: (i) if delivered by
hand, to it at 1001 Fannin, Suite 4000, Houston, Texas  77002, (ii) if sent by
mail, to it at P.O.  Box 4446, Houston, Texas  77210, and (iii) if telefaxed,
to it at (713) 739-5555, in each case marked to the attention of the Secretary.

             11.        Successors.  This Agreement will inure to the benefit
of and be binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and
(in the case of the benefits of Section 6) the officers and directors and
controlling persons referred to in Section 6 hereof, and no other person will
have any right or obligation hereunder.

             12.        Applicable Law.  This Agreement will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.





                                       20
<PAGE>   21


               If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our
agreement, please sign and return to us the enclosed duplicate hereof,
whereupon this letter and your acceptance shall represent a binding agreement
among the Company and the Agents.

                                        Very truly yours,

                                        COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC.,

                                        By:  
                                              _____________________________ 
                                              Alan J. Hill 
                                              Vice President and
                                               Treasurer


Accepted in New York, New York
as of the date hereof:

                                         CHASE SECURITIES, INC.

______________________________           By:  ______________________________
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.


CS FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION                      LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.


By: __________________________           By:_______________________________


                                       21
<PAGE>   22


                                   SCHEDULE I


Distribution Agreement dated January 26, 1996

Registration Statement No. 333-00117

Amount of the Notes: $300,000,000

Amount of the Securities: $300,000,000


               The Company agrees to pay each Agent a commission not in excess
of the following percentage of the purchase price of each Note sold by such
Agent:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                Range of Maturities                                            Commission
                -------------------                                            ----------
         <S>                                                                      <C>
         From nine months through one year                                        .125% 
         More than one year through 18 months                                     .150% 
         More than 18 months through two years                                    .200% 
         More than 2 years through 3 years                                        .250% 
         More than 3 years through 4 years                                        .350% 
         More than 4 years through 5 years                                        .450% 
         More than 5 years through 6 years                                        .500% 
         More than 6 years through 7 years                                        .5125% 
         More than 7 years through 9 years                                        .525% 
         More than 9 years through 10 years                                       .550% 
         More than 10 years through 15 years                                      .600%
</TABLE>

Addresses for Notice to Agents:

Goldman, Sachs & Co.                             Chase Securities, Inc.
85 Broad Street, 26th Floor                      One Chase Manhattan Plaza,
New York, New York  10004                        15th Floor
                                                 New York, New York 10081
                                                 Attn: Medium Term Note Dept.
                                                 Fax: 212-552-1507         

CS First Boston Corporation                      Lehman Brothers Inc.
55 East 52nd St.                                 3 World Financial Center
Park Avenue Plaza, 35th Floor                    New York, New York  10285
New York, New York  10055                        
Attn: Short & Medium Term Finance Dept.
Fax:  212-318-1498


                                       22
<PAGE>   23



                                                                       Exhibit A


                            COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC.

                               MEDIUM-TERM NOTES

                                TERMS AGREEMENT


                                        ______________, 19 ___

Cooper Industries, Inc.
P.O. Box 4446
Houston, Texas  77210

Attention:  Treasurer

Re:            Distribution Agreement dated January ____, 1996
               (the "Distribution Agreement)"                   
               ---------------------------------------------------

               The undersigned agrees to purchase the following principal
amount of your Third Series Medium-Term Notes: $

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                          Floating
                        Fixed Rate                        Rate
All Notes:              Notes:                            Notes:  
- ----------              ----------                        --------
<S>                     <C>                               <C>
Purchase                Interest                          Base rate:
 price:                  rate:

Price to                Applicability                     Index
 public:                 of modified                       maturity:
                         payment upon
Settlement               acceleration:                    Spread or Spread
 date and time:                                            multiplier:

Place of                Amortization                      Alternate rate
 delivery:              schedule:                          event spread:

Specified                                                 Initial interest
 currency:                                                 rate:

Maturity                                                  Interest reset
 date:                                                     dates:

Initial accrual                                           Maximum interest
 period OID:                                               rate:


</TABLE>


                                       23
<PAGE>   24
<TABLE>
<S>                                      <C>
Original yield
 to maturity:

Optional redemption                      Minimum interest
 dates(s):                               rate:

Initial redemption                       Interest payment
 date:                                   period:

Initial redemption                       Interest reset
 percentage:                             period:

Annual redemption                        Interest payment
 percentage                              dates:
 decrease:
                                         Calculation agent:

                                         Other terms:
</TABLE>


                        The provisions of Sections 1, 2(b), 2(c), 3 through 6
and 8 through 12 of the Distribution Agreement and the related definitions are
incorporated by reference herein and shall be deemed to have the same force and
effect as if set forth in full herein.

                        The opinions, certificates, letters and documents
referred to in Section 4 of the Distribution Agreement will be required if, and
to the extent, set forth below:

[Agent]


By:__________________________________
Name:
Title:


                                       24
<PAGE>   25


                                   EXHIBIT B


                            COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC.

           THIRD SERIES MEDIUM-TERM NOTES, ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES

                        ________________________________

           Explained below are the administrative procedures and specific terms
of the offering of Third Series Medium-Term Notes (the "Notes") on a
continuous basis by Cooper Industries, Inc. (the "Company") pursuant to the
Distribution Agreement, dated January 26, 1996 (the "Distribution Agreement")
between the Company and Goldman, Sachs & Co., CS First Boston Corporation, Chase
Securites, Inc. and Lehman Brothers Inc. (each an "Agent" and collectively the
"Agents").  In the Distribution Agreement, each Agent has agreed to use its
best efforts consistent with standard industry practice to solicit purchases of
the Notes.  Each Agent, as principal, may purchase Notes for its own account
and the Company and such Agent may enter into a Terms Agreement, as
contemplated by the Distribution Agreement.

           The Notes will be issued pursuant to the provisions of an indenture
dated as of January 15, 1990 (as amended by the Trust Indenture Reform Act of
1990 and as it may be further supplemented or amended from time to time, the
"Indenture"), between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association) ("Chase"), as trustee.  Chase will be the Registrar,
Authentication Agent, and Paying Agent for the Notes and will perform the
duties specified herein.  Notes will bear interest at a fixed rate (the "Fixed
Rate Notes"), which may be zero in the case of certain original issue discount
notes (the "OID Notes"), or at floating rates (the "Floating Rate Notes").
Fixed Rate Notes may pay a level amount in respect of both interest and
principal amortized over the life of the Notes (the "amortizing notes").  The
Notes will be issued in U.S. dollars or other currencies, including composite
currencies such as the European Currency Unit (the "Specified Currency").  Each
Note will be represented by either a Global Security (as defined below)
delivered to Chase, as agent for the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"), and
recorded in the book-entry system maintained by DTC (a "Book-Entry Note") or a
certificate delivered to the holder thereof or a person designated by such
holder (a "Certificated Note").  Except in limited circumstances, an owner of a
Book-Entry Note will not be entitled to receive a Certificated Note.

           Book-Entry Notes, which may only be denominated and payable in U.S.
dollars, will be issued in accordance with the administrative procedures set
forth in Part I hereof as they may subsequently be amended as the result of
changes in DTC's operating procedures, and Certificated Notes will be issued in
accordance with the administrative procedures set forth in  Part II hereof.
Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Distribution Agreement,
Indenture or the Notes shall be used herein as therein defined.
<PAGE>   26
                                              - 2 -

           PART I:  ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR BOOK-ENTRY NOTES

           In connection with the qualification of the Book-Entry Notes for
eligibility in the book-entry system maintained by DTC, Chase will perform the
custodial, document control and administrative functions described below, in
accordance with its respective obligations under a Letter of Representation
from the Company and Chase to DTC, dated as of January 24, 1996 (the "Letter of
Representation"), and a Medium Term Note Certificate Agreement between Chase
and DTC, dated as of March 10, 1989, and its obligations as a participant in
DTC, including DTC's Same-Day Funds Settlement System ("SDFS").

Issuance:               On any date of Settlement (as defined under
                        "Settlement" below) for one or more Book-Entry Notes,
                        the Company will issue a single global security in
                        fully registered form without coupons (a "Global
                        Security") representing up to $200,000,000 principal
                        amount of all such Notes that have the same maturity
                        date, redemption provisions, ranking, interest payment
                        dates, interest period, original issue date, original
                        issue discount provisions (if any) and, in the case of
                        Fixed Rate Notes, interest rate and amortization
                        schedule (if any) or, in the case of Floating Rate
                        Notes, initial interest rate, base rate, index
                        maturity, interest reset period, interest reset dates,
                        spread or spread multiplier (if any), minimum interest
                        rate (if any) and maximum interest rate (if any) and,
                        in each case, any other relevant terms (collectively,
                        "Terms").  Each Global Security will be dated and
                        issued as of the date of its authentication by Chase.
                        Each Global Security will bear an "Interest Accrual
                        Date," which will be (i) with respect to an original
                        Global Security (or any portion thereof), its original
                        issuance date and (ii) with respect to any Global
                        Security (or any portion  thereof) issued subsequently
                        upon exchange of a Global Security, or in lieu of a
                        destroyed, lost or stolen Global Security, the most
                        recent interest payment date to which interest has been
                        paid or duly provided for on the predecessor Global
                        Security or Securities (or if no such payment or
                        provision has been made, the original issuance date of
                        the predecessor Global Security), regardless of the
                        date of authentication of such subsequently issued
                        Global Security.  Book-Entry Notes may only be
                        denominated and payable in U.S. dollars.  No Global
                        Security will represent any Certificated Note.
<PAGE>   27
                                     - 3 -

Identification          The Company will arrange with the CUSIP Service Bureau
Numbers:                of Standard & Poor's Corporation (the "CUSIP Service
                        Bureau") for the reservation of a series of CUSIP
                        numbers (including tranche numbers) for the Notes which
                        series consists of approximately 900 CUSIP numbers and
                        relates to Global Securities representing the
                        Book-Entry Notes.  The Company will obtain from the
                        CUSIP Service Bureau a written list of such series of
                        reserved CUSIP numbers and will deliver to Chase and
                        DTC the written list of 900 CUSIP numbers of such
                        series.  Chase will assign CUSIP numbers to Global
                        Securities as described below under Settlement
                        Procedure "B".  DTC will notify the CUSIP Service
                        Bureau periodically of the CUSIP numbers that Chase has
                        assigned to Global Securities.  At any time when fewer
                        than 100 of the reserved CUSIP numbers of such series
                        remain unassigned to Global Securities, Chase shall so
                        advise the Company and, if it deems necessary, the
                        Company will reserve additional CUSIP numbers for
                        assignment to Global Securities  representing
                        Book-Entry Notes.  Upon obtaining such additional CUSIP
                        numbers, the Company shall deliver a list of such
                        additional CUSIP numbers to Chase and DTC.

Registration:           Each Global Security will be registered in the name of
                        CEDE & Co., as nominee for DTC, on the Security 
                        register maintained under the Indenture.  The 
                        beneficial owner of a Book-Entry Note (or one or more 
                        indirect participants in DTC designated by such owner)
                        will designate one or more participants in DTC (with 
                        respect to such Note, the "Participants") to act as 
                        agent or agents for such owner in connection with the 
                        book-entry system maintained by DTC, and DTC will 
                        record in book-entry form, in accordance with
                        instructions provided by such Participants, a credit
                        balance with respect to such beneficial owner in such
                        Note in the account of such Participants.  The
                        ownership interest of such beneficial owner in such
                        Note will be recorded through the records of such
                        Participants or through the separate records of such
                        Participants and one or more indirect participants in
                        DTC.

Transfers:              Transfers of a Book-Entry Note will be accompanied by 
                        book entries made by DTC and, in turn, by Participants 
                        (and in certain cases, one or more indirect 
                        participants in DTC) acting on behalf of beneficial 
                        transferors and transferees of such Note.
<PAGE>   28
                                     - 4 -

Exchanges:              Chase may deliver to DTC and the CUSIP Service
                        Bureau and Interactive Data Corporation at any
                        time a written notice of consolidation specifying (i) 
                        the CUSIP numbers of two or more outstanding Global 
                        Securities that represent Book-Entry Notes having the  
                        same Terms and for which interest has been paid to the 
                        thirty days after such written notice is delivered and
                        at least thirty days before the next interest
                        payment date for such Book-Entry Notes, on which such
                        Global Securities shall be exchanged for a single
                        replacement Global Security and (iii) a new CUSIP
                        number to be assigned by the Company to such
                        replacement Global Security. Upon receipt of such a
                        notice, DTC will send to its Participants (including
                        Chase) a written reorganization notice to the effect
                        that such exchange will occur on such date.  Prior to
                        the specified exchange date, Chase will deliver to the
                        CUSIP Service Bureau a written notice setting forth
                        such exchange date and the new CUSIP number and stating
                        that, as of such exchange date, the CUSIP numbers of
                        the Global Securities to be exchanged will no longer be
                        valid.  On the specified exchange date, Chase will
                        exchange such Global Securities for a single Global
                        Security bearing the new CUSIP number and a new
                        Interest Accrual Date, and the CUSIP numbers of the
                        exchanged Global Securities will, in accordance with
                        CUSIP Service Bureau procedures, be cancelled and not
                        immediately reassigned.  Notwithstanding the foregoing,
                        if the Global Securities to be exchanged exceed
                        $200,000,000 in aggregate principal amount, one Global
                        Security will be authenticated and issued to represent
                        each $200,000,000 principal amount of the exchanged
                        Global Security and an additional Global Security will
                        be authenticated and issued to represent any remaining
                        principal amount of such Global Securities (see
                        "Denominations" below).

 Maturities:            Each Book-Entry Note will mature on a date not less 
                        than nine months after the Settlement date for such 
                        Note.

Notice of               Chase will give notice to DTC prior to each redemption
Redemption Dates:       date (as specified in the Note), if any, at the time
                        and in the manner set forth in the Letter of
                        Representation from the Company and Chase to DTC dated
                        January 24, 1996.

Denominations:          Book-Entry Notes will be issued in principal amounts of
                        $100,000 or any amount in excess thereof that is an
<PAGE>   29
                                     - 5 -

                        integral multiple of $1,000.  Global Securities will be
                        denominated in principal amounts not in excess of
                        $200,000,000.  If one or more Book-Entry Notes having
                        an aggregate principal amount in excess of $200,000,000
                        would, but for the preceding sentence, be represented
                        by a single Global Security, then one Global Security
                        will be issued to represent each $200,000,000 principal
                        amount of such Book-Entry Note or Notes and an
                        additional Global Security will be issued to represent
                        any remaining principal amount of such Book-Entry Note
                        or Notes.  In such a case, each of the Global
                        Securities representing such Book-Entry Note or Notes
                        shall be assigned the same CUSIP number.

Interest:               General.  Interest on each Book-Entry Note will accrue
                        from the Interest Accrual Date of the Global Security
                        representing such Note. Each payment of interest on a
                        Book-Entry Note will include interest accrued to but
                        excluding the interest payment date; provided that in
                        the case of Floating Rate Notes that reset daily or
                        weekly, interest payments will include interest accrued
                        to and including the Record Date immediately preceding
                        the interest payment date, except that at maturity or
                        earlier redemption, the interest payable will include
                        interest accrued to, but excluding, the maturity date or
                        the date of redemption, as the case may be.  Interest
                        payable at the maturity or upon redemption of a
                        Book-Entry Note will be payable to the person to whom
                        the principal of such Note is payable.

                        Record Dates.  The Record Date with respect to any
                        interest payment date shall be the date 15 calendar
                        days immediately preceding such interest payment date.

                        Fixed Rate Book-Entry Notes.  Unless otherwise agreed
                        upon, interest payments on Fixed Rate Book-Entry
                        Notes other than amortizing notes will be made
                        semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each year
                        and at maturity and Book-Entry amortizing notes will
                        pay principal and interest semi-annually each March 1
                        and September 1, or quarterly each March 1, June 1,
                        September 1, and December 1, and at maturity; provided,
                        however, that if any interest payment date for a Fixed
                        Rate Book-Entry Note is not a business day, the payment
                        due on such day shall be made on the next succeeding
                        business day and no interest shall accrue on such
                        payment for the period from and after such interest
                        payment date; and provided, further, that in the case
                        of a Fixed Rate
<PAGE>   30
                                     - 6 -

                        Book-Entry Note issued between a Record Date and an
                        interest payment date, the first interest payment
                        will be made on the interest payment date following the
                        next succeeding Record Date.

                        Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes.  Interest payments will
                        be made on Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes  monthly,
                        quarterly, semi-annually or annually.  Unless
                        otherwise agreed upon, interest will be payable, in the
                        case of Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes with a daily,
                        weekly or monthly interest reset date, on the third
                        Wednesday of each month or on the third Wednesday of
                        March, June, September and December, as specified
                        pursuant to Settlement Procedure "A" below; in the case
                        of Notes with a quarterly interest reset date, on the
                        third Wednesday of March, June, September and December
                        of each year; in the case of Notes with a semi-annual
                        interest reset date, on the third Wednesday of the two
                        months specified pursuant to Settlement Procedure "A"
                        below; and in the case of Notes with an annual interest
                        reset date, on the third Wednesday of the month
                        specified pursuant to Settlement Procedure "A" below;
                        provided, however, that if an interest payment date for
                        Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes would otherwise be a day
                        that is not a business day with respect to such
                        Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes, such interest payment
                        date will be the next succeeding business day with
                        respect to such Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes, except
                        in the case of a LIBOR Note if such business day is in
                        the next succeeding calendar month, such interest
                        payment date will be the immediately preceding business
                        day; and provided, further, that in the case of a
                        Floating Rate Book-Entry Note issued between a Record
                        Date and an interest payment date, the first interest
                        payment will be made on the interest payment date
                        following the next succeeding Record Date.

                        Notice of Interest Payment and Record Dates. On the
                        first business day of January, April, July and
                        October of each year, Chase will deliver to the 
                        Company and DTC a written list of Record Dates and
                        interest payment dates that will occur with respect to
                        Book-Entry Notes during the six-month period beginning
                        on such first business day.

Calculation of          Fixed Rate Book-Entry Notes.
Interest:               Interest on Fixed Rate Book-Entry
<PAGE>   31
                                     - 7 -

                        Notes (including interest for partial periods)  will be
                        calculated on the basis of a year of twelve thirty-day
                        months.

                        Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes. Interest rates on
                        Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes will be determined as
                        set forth in the form of Notes.  Unless otherwise
                        agreed upon, interest on Floating Rate Book-Entry
                        Notes will be calculated on the basis of actual days
                        elapsed and a year of 360 days except that in the case
                        of treasury rate notes, interest will be calculated on
                        the basis of the actual number of days in the year.

Reporting of            General.  The Company and Chasewill take all steps 
Interest                necessary in order for any interest payment date
Information:            interest payment date on any issue of Notes together 
                        with the amount of interest payable, as well as changes
                        in the interest rates of Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes
                        as they occur from time to time, to be listed in the 
                        appropriate daily bond report published by Standard & 
                        Poor's Corporation.

                        Fixed Rate Book-Entry Notes.  Standard & Poor's
                        Corporation will use the information received in the
                        pending deposit message described under Settlement
                        Procedure "C" below in order to include the amount of
                        any interest payable and certain other information
                        regarding the related Global Security in the
                        appropriate weekly bond report published by Standard &
                        Poor's Corporation.

                        Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes.  With regard to
                        Floating Rate Book-Entry Notes on which the     
                        interest rate is reset weekly or daily, Chase will
                        deliver to Standard & Poor's Corporation and
                        Interactive Data Corporation on each day on which the
                        amount of interest to be paid on the following payment
                        date (including the Floating Rate Book-Entry Note's
                        first interest payment date) is determined (at least 15
                        days prior to each monthly payment date) a listing of
                        the CUSIP number assigned to each such note along with
                        corresponding specifications of the next Record Date,
                        payment date, and dollar amount of interest per $1,000
                        note to be paid on such payment date.  For Floating
                        Rate Book-Entry Notes on which the interest is reset
                        monthly, quarterly, semi-annually or annually, Chase
                        will deliver a similar listing to Standard & Poor's
                        Corporation and Interactive Data Corporation on the day
<PAGE>   32
                                     - 8 -

                        interest payment amounts are determined (at least 30
                        calendar days prior to the payment date).

Payments of             Payments of Interest.  Promptly after each Record Date,
Principal and           Chase will deliver to the Company and DTC a written
Interest:               notice specifying by CUSIP number the amount of
                        interest to be paid on each Global Security (other than
                        an amortizing note) on the following interest payment
                        date (other than an interest payment date coinciding
                        with maturity) and the total of such amounts.  DTC will
                        confirm the amount payable on each such Global Security
                        on such interest payment date by reference to the daily
                        bond reports published by Standard & Poor's
                        Corporation.  In the case of  amortizing notes, Chase
                        will provide separate written notice to DTC prior to
                        each interest payment date at the times and in the
                        manner set forth in the Letter of Representation.  The
                        Company will pay to Chase, as paying agent, the total
                        amount of interest due on such interest payment date
                        (and, in the case of an amortizing note, principal and
                        interest) (other than at maturity), and Chase will pay
                        such amount to DTC at the times and in the manner set
                        forth below under "Manner of Payment."

                        Payments at Maturity or Upon Redemption.  On or about
                        the first business day of each month Chase will
                        deliver to the Company and DTC a written list of
                        principal and interest to be paid on each Global
                        Security (other than an amortizing note) maturing
                        either at maturity or on a redemption date in the
                        following month. The Company and DTC will confirm the
                        amounts of such principal and interest payments with
                        respect to each such Global Security on or about the
                        fifth business day preceding the maturity date or
                        redemption date of such Global Security.  In the case
                        of amortizing notes, Chase will provide separate
                        written notice to DTC prior to each interest payment
                        date at the times and in the manner set forth in the
                        Letter of Representation.  The Company will pay to
                        Chase, as the paying agent, the principal amount of
                        such Global Security, together with interest due at
                        such maturity date or redemption date.  Chase will pay
                        such amounts to DTC at the times and in the manner set
                        forth below under "Manner of Payment."  If any maturity
                        date or redemption date of a Global Security
                        representing Book-Entry Notes is not a business day,
                        the payment due on such day shall be made on the next 
                        succeeding business day and, in the case of Fixed Rate
                        Notes, no interest shall accrue on such payment for the
                        period from and after such maturity
<PAGE>   33
                                     - 9 -

                        date or redemption date.  Promptly after payment to DTC
                        of the  principal and interest due on the maturity date
                        or redemption date of such Global Security, Chase will
                        cancel such Global Security in accordance with the
                        terms of the Indenture and deliver it to the Company
                        with a certificate of cancellation.

                        Manner of Payment.  The total amount of any     
                        principal and interest due on Global Securities on any
                        interest payment date or at maturity or upon redemption
                        shall be paid by the Company to Chase in funds
                        available for immediate use by Chase as of 9:30 A.M. 
                        (New York City time), or as soon as possible
                        thereafter, on such date. The Company will make such
                        payment on such Global Securities by wire transfer
                        (using Fedwire message entry instructions in a form
                        previously specified by Chase) to an account at Chase
                        previously specified by Chase, in funds available for
                        immediate use by Chase, or by instructing Chase to
                        withdraw funds from an account maintained by the
                        Company at Chase. The Company will confirm such
                        instructions in writing to Chase.  Prior to 10 A.M.
                        (New York City time), or as soon as possible
                        thereafter, on each maturity date or redemption date,
                        Chase will pay by separate wire transfer (using Fedwire
                        message entry instructions in a form previously
                        specified by DTC) to an account at the Federal Reserve
                        Bank of New York previously specified by DTC, in funds
                        available for immediate use by DTC, each payment of
                        interest or principal (together with interest thereon)
                        due on Global Securities on any maturity  date or
                        redemption date.  On each interest payment date,
                        interest payments (and, in the case of amortizing
                        notes, interest and principal payments) shall be made
                        to DTC in same day funds in accordance with existing
                        arrangements between Chase and DTC.  Thereafter on each
                        such date, DTC will pay, in accordance with its SDFS
                        operating procedures then in effect, such amounts in
                        funds available for immediate use to the respective
                        Participants in whose names the Book-Entry Notes
                        represented by such Global Securities are recorded in
                        the book-entry system maintained by DTC.  Neither the
                        Company nor Chase shall have any responsibility or
                        liability for the payment by DTC to such Participants
                        of the principal of and interest on the Book-Entry
                        Notes.

                        Withholding Taxes.  The amount of any taxes     
                        required under applicable law to be withheld from any
                        interest payment on a Book-Entry Note will be
                        determined and
<PAGE>   34
                                     - 10 -

                        withheld by the Participant, indirect participant in
                        DTC or other person responsible for forwarding
                        payments directly to the beneficial owner of such Note.

Preparation of          If any order to purchase a Book-Entry Note is accepted
Pricing                 by or on behalf of the Company, the Company will
Supplement:             prepare a pricing supplement (a "Pricing Supplement") 
                        to the prospectus (as amended or supplemented) relating
                        to such Notes (the "Prospectus") reflecting the
                        terms of such Note and will arrange to file such
                        Pricing Supplement with the Commission in accordance
                        with Regulation S-T and the applicable paragraph of
                        Rule 424(b) under the Act, will deliver the number of
                        copies of such Pricing Supplement to the selling Agent
                        as the Agent shall reasonably request by the close of
                        business on the following business day.  The Agent will
                        cause such Pricing Supplement to be delivered to the
                        purchaser of the Note.

                        In each instance that a Pricing Supplement is   
                        prepared, the Agent will affix the Pricing Supplement
                        to Prospectuses prior to their use. Outdated Pricing
                        Supplements, and the Prospectuses to which they are
                        attached (other than those retained for files), will be
                        destroyed.

Settlement:             The receipt by the Company of immediately available
                        funds in payment for a Book-Entry Note and the
                        authentication and issuance of the Global Security
                        representing such Note shall constitute "Settlement"
                        with respect to such Note.  All orders accepted by the
                        Company will be settled on the third business day
                        pursuant to the timetable for Settlement set forth below
                        unless the Company and the purchaser agree to Settlement
                        on another day which shall be no earlier than the next
                        business day.

Settlement              Settlement Procedures with regard to each Book-Entry
Procedures:             Note sold by the Company to or through the Agent, 
                        (except pursuant to a Terms Agreement, as defined in 
                        the Distribution Agreement), shall be as follows:

                              A.  The Agent will advise the Company by
                                  telephone that such Note is a Book-Entry
                                  Note and of the following Settlement
                                  information:

                                       1.  Order number.

                                       2.  Principal amount.
<PAGE>   35
                                     - 11 -


                                       3.  Maturity date.

                                       4.  In the case of a Fixed Rate
                                      Book-Entry Note, the interest rate and
                                      whether such Note is an amortizing note,
                                      or in the case of a Floating Rate
                                      Book-Entry Note, the initial interest
                                      rate (if known at such time), base rate,
                                      index maturity, interest reset period,
                                      initial interest reset date, interest
                                      reset dates, interest period, spread or
                                      spread multiplier (if any), minimum
                                      interest rate (if any), maximum interest
                                      rate (if any), the alternate rate event
                                      spread (if any) and the applicability of
                                      the modified following banking day
                                      convention.

                                       5.  Interest payment dates.

                                       6.  Record Date.

                                       7.  Redemption and/or repayment
                                       provisions, if any.

                                       8.  Trade date.

                                       9.  Settlement date.

                                      10.  Price.

                                      11.  Agent's commission, if any,
                                      determined as provided in the
                                      Distribution Agreement.

                                      12.  Whether the Note is an OID Note, and
                                      if it is an OID Note, the total amount of
                                      OID, the yield to maturity, the initial
                                      accrual period OID and the applicability
                                      of modified payment upon acceleration.

                                      13.  Net proceeds to Company.

                                      14.  Agent name.

                                      15.  Any other applicable Terms.

                             B.       The Company will advise Chase by
                                      telephone or electronic transmission
                                      (confirmed in writing at any time on the
                                      same date) of the information set forth
                                      in Settlement Procedure "A" above.  The
                                      Company and Chase will mutually then
                                      assign a CUSIP number to the Global
                                      Security representing such
<PAGE>   36
                                     - 12 -

                                      Note and will notify the Agent of such 
                                      CUSIP number by telephone as soon as 
                                      practicable.

                             C.       Chase will enter a pending deposit
                                      message through DTC's Participant
                                      Terminal System, providing the following
                                      Settlement information to DTC, the Agent
                                      and Standard & Poor's Corporation:

                                      1.  The information set forth in
                                      Settlement Procedure "A".

                                      2.  The initial interest payment date for
                                      such Note, the number of days by which
                                      such date succeeds the related DTC Record
                                      Date (which in the case of Floating Rate
                                      Notes which reset daily or weekly, shall
                                      be the date five calendar days
                                      immediately preceding the applicable
                                      interest payment date and, in the case of
                                      all other Notes, shall be the Record Date
                                      as defined in the Note) and amount of
                                      interest payable on such initial interest
                                      payment date.

                                      3.  The CUSIP number of the Global 
                                      Security representing such Note.

                                      4.  Whether such Global Security will
                                      represent any other Book-Entry Note (to
                                      the extent known at such time).

                                      5.  Whether such Note is an amortizing
                                      note (by appropriate notation in the
                                      comments field of DTC's Participant
                                      Terminal System).

                             D.       Chase will complete and authenticate the
                                      Global Security representing such Note.

                             E.       DTC will credit such Note to Chase's 
                                      participant account at DTC.

                             F.       Chase will enter a Same Day Funds
                                      Settlement ("SDFS") deliver order through
                                      DTC's Participant Terminal System
                                      instructing DTC to (i) debit such Note to
                                      Chase's participant account and credit
                                      such Note to the Agent's participant
                                      account and (ii) debit the Agent's
                                      Settlement account and credit Chase's
                                      Settlement account for an amount equal to
                                      the price of such Note less the Agent's
                                      commission, if any.  The entry of such a
                                      deliver order shall constitute a
                                      representation and warranty by Chase
<PAGE>   37
                                     - 13 -

                                      to DTC that (a) the Global Security 
                                      representing such Book-Entry Note has 
                                      been issued and authenticated and (b) 
                                      Chase is holding such Global Security 
                                      pursuant to the Medium Term Note
                                      Certificate Agreement between Chase and 
                                      DTC.

                             G.       Unless the Agent purchased such Note as
                                      principal, the Agent will enter an SDFS
                                      deliver order through DTC's Participant
                                      Terminal System instructing DTC (i) to
                                      debit such Note to the Agent's
                                      participant account and credit such Note
                                      to the participant accounts of the
                                      Participants with respect to such Note
                                      and (ii) to debit the Settlement accounts
                                      of such Participants and credit the
                                      Settlement account of the Agent for an
                                      amount equal to the price of such Note.

                             H.       Transfers of funds in accordance with
                                      SDFS deliver orders described in
                                      Settlement Procedures "F" and "G" will be
                                      settled in accordance with SDFS operating
                                      procedures in effect on the Settlement
                                      date.

                             I.       Chase will credit to the account of the
                                      Company maintained at Chase, New York,
                                      New York, in funds available for
                                      immediate use in the amount transferred
                                      to Chase in accordance with Settlement
                                      Procedure "F".

                             J.       Unless the Agent purchased such Note as
                                      principal, the Agent will confirm the
                                      purchase of such Note to the purchaser
                                      either by transmitting to the
                                      Participants with respect to such Note a
                                      confirmation order or orders through
                                      DTC's institutional delivery system or by
                                      mailing a written confirmation to such
                                      purchaser.

                             K.       Monthly, Chase will send to the Company a
                                      statement setting forth the principal
                                      amount of Notes outstanding as of that
                                      date under the Indenture and setting
                                      forth a brief description of any sales of
                                      which the Company has advised Chase but
                                      which have not yet been settled.

Settlement          For sales by the Company of Book-Entry
Procedures          Notes to or through the Agent (except
Timetable:          pursuant to a Terms Agreement) for
                    Settlement on the first business day 
                    after the sale date, Settlement Procedures 
                    "A" through "J" set forth
<PAGE>   38
                                     - 14 -

                    above shall be completed as soon as possible but not later
                    than the respective times (New York City time) set forth 
                    below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                           Settlement
                           Procedure                                         Time
                                                                             ----
                           <S>                         <C>
                           A                           11:00 A.M. on the sale date
                           B                           12:00 Noon on the sale date
                           C                            2:00 P.M. on the sale date
                           D                            9:00 A.M. on Settlement date
                           E                           10:00 A.M. on Settlement date
                           F-G                          2:00 P.M. on Settlement date
                           H                            4:45 P.M. on Settlement date
                           I-J                          5:00 P.M. on Settlement date
</TABLE>

                           If a sale is to be settled more than one business day
                           after the sale date, Settlement Procedures "A", "B"
                           and "C" shall be completed as soon as practicable but
                           no later than 11:00 A.M., 12 Noon and 2:00 P.M.,
                           respectively, on the first business day after the
                           sale date.  If the initial interest rate for a
                           Floating Rate Book-Entry Note has not been determined
                           at the time that Settlement Procedure "A" is
                           completed, Settlement Procedures "B" and "C" shall be
                           completed as soon as such rate has been determined
                           but no later than 12 Noon and 2:00 P.M.,
                           respectively, on the second business day before the
                           Settlement date.  Settlement Procedure "H" is subject
                           to extension in accordance with  any extension of
                           Fedwire closing deadlines and in the other events
                           specified in the SDFS operating procedures in effect
                           on the Settlement date.

                           If Settlement of a Book-Entry Note is rescheduled or
                           cancelled, Chase, after receiving notice from the
                           Company or the Agent, will deliver to DTC, through
                           DTC's Participant Terminal System, a cancellation
                           message to such effect by no later than 2:00 P.M. on
                           the business day immediately preceding the scheduled
                           Settlement date.

Failure to          If Chase fails to enter an SDFS deliver order with respect
Settle:             to a Book-Entry Note pursuant to Settlement Procedure "F", 
                    Chase may deliver to DTC, through DTC's Participant 
                    Terminal System, as soon as practicable a withdrawal 
                    message instructing DTC to debit such Note to Chase's 
                    participant account, provided tha Chase's participant 
                    account contains a principal amount of the
<PAGE>   39
                                     - 15 -

                    Global Security representing such Note that is at least
                    equal to the principal amount to be debited.  If a
                    withdrawal message is processed with respect to all the
                    Book-Entry Notes represented by a Global Security, Chase
                    will mark such Global Security "cancelled," make appropriate
                    entries in Chase's records and send such cancelled Global
                    Security to the Company.  The CUSIP number assigned to such
                    Global Security shall, in accordance with CUSIP Service
                    Bureau procedures, be cancelled and not immediately
                    reassigned.  If a withdrawal message is processed with
                    respect to one or more, but not all, of the Book-Entry
                    Notes represented by a Global Security, Chase will exchange
                    such Global Security for two Global Securities, one of which
                    shall represent such Book-Entry Note or Notes and shall be
                    cancelled immediately after issuance and the other of which
                    shall represent the remaining Book-Entry Notes previously
                    represented by the surrendered Global Security and shall
                    bear the CUSIP number of the surrendered Global Security.

                    If the purchase price for any Book-Entry Note is not timely
                    paid to the Participants with respect to such Note by the
                    beneficial purchaser thereof (or a person, including an
                    indirect participant in DTC, acting on behalf of such
                    purchaser), such Participants and, in turn, the Agent may
                    enter SDFS deliver orders through DTC's Participant Terminal
                    System reversing the orders entered pursuant to Settlement
                    Procedures "F" and "G", respectively.  Thereafter, Chase
                    will deliver the withdrawal message and take the related
                    actions described in the preceding paragraph. If the failure
                    shall have occurred for any reason other than a default by
                    the Agent in the performance of its obligations hereunder
                    and under the Distribution Agreement, then the Company will
                    reimburse the Agent or Chase, as appropriate, on an
                    equitable basis for its loss of the use of the funds during
                    the period when they were credited to the account of the
                    Company.

                    Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any failure to settle
                    with respect to a Book-Entry Note, DTC may take any
                    actions in accordance with its SDFS operating procedures
                    then in effect.

                    In the event of a failure to settle with respect to one or  
                    more, but not all, of the Book-Entry Notes to have been
                    represented by a Global Security, Chase will provide, in
                    accordance with Settlement Procedures "D"
<PAGE>   40
                                     - 16 -

                    and "F", for the authentication and issuance of a Global    
                    Security representing the Book-Entry Notes to be represented
                    by such Global Security and will make appropriate entries in
                    its records.

Chase Not to        Nothing herein shall be deemed to require Chase to risk
Risk Funds:         or expend its own funds in connection with any payment to 
                    the Company, or the Agent, it being understood by all
                    parties that payments made by Chase to either the
                    Company or the Agent shall be made only to the extent that
                    funds are provided to Chase for such purpose.

Authenticity of     The Company will cause Chase to furnish the Agents from
Signatures:         time to time with the specimen signatures of such of 
                    Chase's officers, employees or agents who have been 
                    authorized by Chase to authenticate Notes, but the Agents
                    will have no obligation or liability to the Company or Chase
                    in respect of the authenticity of the signature of any
                    officer, employee or agent.


          PART II:  ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURES FOR CERTIFICATED NOTES

Chase will serve as registrar in connection with the Certificated Notes.

Issuance:           Each Certificated Note will be dated               
                    and issued as of the date of its authentication by     
                    Chase.  Each Certificated Note will bear an original
                    issue date, which will be (i) with respect to an
                    original Certificated Note (or any portion thereof),
                    its original issuance date (which will be the
                    Settlement date) and (ii) with respect to any
                    Certificated Note (or portion thereof) issued
                    subsequently upon transfer or exchange of a
                    Certificated Note or in lieu of a destroyed, lost or
                    stolen Certificated Note, the original issuance date of
                    the predecessor Certificated Note, regardless of the
                    date of authentication of such subsequently issued
                    Certificated Note.

Registration:       Certificated Notes will be issued only in fully registered
                    form.

Transfers and       A Certificated Note may be presented for transfer or
Exchanges:          exchange at the corporate trust office of Chase or as set 
                    forth in the Notes.  Certificated Notes will be 
                    exchangeable for other Certificated Notes having identical
                    terms but different denominations without

<PAGE>   41
                                     - 17 -

                    service charge.  Certificated Notes will not be 
                    exchangeable for Book-Entry Notes.

Maturities:         Each Certificated Note will mature on a date not less than 
                    nine months from the Settlement date for such Note.

Currency:           The currency denomination with respect to any Certificated 
                    Note and the payment of interest and repayment of
                    principal with respect to any such Certificated Note shall
                    be as set forth therein and in the applicable Pricing
                    Supplement.

Denominations:      Except as otherwise specified in any Note, the 
                    denomination of any Certificated Note will be a minimum of
                    U.S. $100,000 or any amount in excess thereof that is an
                    integral multiple of U.S. $1,000 or the equivalent, as
                    determined pursuant to the provisions of the applicable
                    Prospectus Supplement, of U.S. $100,000 (rounded down to an
                    integral multiple of 1,000 units of such Specified Currency)
                    and any amount in excess thereof which is an integral
                    multiple of 1,000 units of such Specified Currency.

Interest:           General.  Interest on each Certificated Note will accrue 
                    from the original issue date of such Note for the first
                    interest period and from the most recent date to which
                    interest has been paid for all subsequent interest periods. 
                    Each payment of interest on a Certificated Note will include
                    interest accrued to but excluding the interest payment date;
                    provided that in the case of Floating Rate Notes which reset
                    daily or weekly, interest payments will include the Record
                    Date immediately preceding the interest payment date, except
                    that at maturity or earlier redemption, the interest payable
                    will include interest accrued to, but excluding, the
                    maturity date or the date of redemption, as the case may be.

                    Fixed Rate Certificated Notes.  Unless otherwise specified
                    pursuant to Settlement Procedure "A" below or unless
                    otherwise specified in any Note, interest payments on Fixed
                    Rate Certificated Notes other than amortizing notes will be
                    made semi-annually on March 1 and September 1 of each       
                    year and at maturity and Certificated amortizing  notes will
                    pay principal and interest semi-annually each March 1 and
                    September 1, or quarterly each March 1, June 1, September 1,
                    and December 1, and at maturity; provided, however, that if
<PAGE>   42
                                     - 18 -

                    any interest payment date for a Fixed Rate Certificated Note
                    is not a business day, the payment due on such day shall be
                    made on the next succeeding business day and no interest
                    shall accrue on such payment for the period from and after
                    such interest payment date; and provided, further, that in
                    the case of Certificated Fixed Rate Notes issued between a
                    Record Date and an interest payment date, the first interest
                    payment will be made on the interest payment date following
                    the next succeeding Record Date.

                    Floating Rate Certificated Notes. Interest payments will be
                    made on Floating Rate Certificated Notes monthly, quarterly,
                    semi-annually or annually.  Unless otherwise agreed upon,
                    interest will be payable, in the case of Floating Rate
                    Certificated Notes with a daily, weekly or monthly interest
                    reset date, on the third Wednesday of each month or on the
                    third Wednesday of March, June, September and December, as
                    specified pursuant to Settlement Procedure "A" below; in the
                    case of Notes with a quarterly interest payment reset date,
                    on the third Wednesday of March, June, September and
                    December of each year; in the case of Notes with a
                    semi-annual interest reset date, on the third Wednesday of
                    the two months specified pursuant to Settlement Procedure
                    "A" below; and in the case of Notes with an annual interest
                    reset date, on the third Wednesday of the month specified
                    pursuant to Settlement Procedure "A" below; provided,
                    however, that if an interest payment date for Floating Rate
                    Certificated Notes would otherwise be a day that is not a
                    business day with respect to such Floating Rate Certificated
                    Notes, such interest payment date will be the next
                    succeeding business day with respect to such Floating Rate
                    Certificated Notes, except in the case of a LIBOR Note if
                    such business day is in the next succeeding calendar month,
                    such interest payment date will be the immediately preceding
                    business day; and provided, further, that in the case of a
                    Floating Rate Certificated Note issued between a Record Date
                    and an interest payment date, the first interest payment
                    will be made on the interest payment date following the next
                    succeeding Record Date.

Calculation of      Fixed Rate Certificated Notes.
Interest:           Interest on Fixed Rate Certificated Notes (including 
                    interest for partial periods) will be calculated on the 
                    basis of a year of twelve thirty-day months.

<PAGE>   43
                                     - 19 -

                    Floating Rate Certificated Notes.  Interest rates on
                    Floating Rate Certificated Notes will be determined as set
                    forth in the form of Notes.  Unless otherwise agreed
                    upon, Interest on Floating Rate Certificated Notes will be
                    calculated on the basis of actual days elapsed and a year of
                    360 days except that in the case of treasury rate notes,
                    interest will be calculated on the basis of the actual
                    number of days in the year.

Payments of         Chase will pay the principal amount of each Certificated
Principal and       Note at maturity or upon redemption upon maturity or
Interest:           upon redemption upon presentation and surrender of such 
                    Note to Chase.  Such payment, together with payment of
                    interest due at maturity or upon redemption of such Note,
                    will be made in funds available for immediate use by Chase
                    and in turn by the holder of such Note. Certificated Notes
                    presented to Chase at maturity or upon redemption for
                    payment will be cancelled by Chase and delivered to the
                    Company with a certificate of cancellation.  All interest
                    payments on a Certificated U.S. dollar Note (other than
                    interest due at maturity or upon redemption) will be made by
                    U.S. dollar check drawn on Chase (or another person
                    appointed by Chase) and mailed by Chase to the person
                    entitled thereto as provided in such Note and the Indenture;
                    provided, however, that, if so provided in the Notes, the
                    holder of $5,000,000 or more of Notes having the same
                    interest payment date will, be entitled to receive payment
                    by wire transfer of immediately available funds. Following
                    each Record Date, Chase will furnish the Company with a list
                    of interest payments to be made on the following interest
                    payment date for each Certificated Note and in total for all
                    Certificated Notes.  Interest at maturity or upon redemption
                    will be payable to the person to whom the payment of
                    principal is payable.  Chase will provide monthly to the
                    Company lists of principal and interest, to the extent
                    ascertainable, to be paid on Certificated Notes maturing or
                    to be redeemed in the next month.  Chase will be responsible
                    for withholding taxes on interest paid on Certificated Notes
                    as required by applicable law.

                    If any maturity date or redemption date of a Certificated
                    Note is not a business day, the payment due on such day
                    shall be made on the next succeeding business day and, in
                    the case of Fixed Rate Notes, no interest shall accrue on
                    such payment for the period from and after such maturity
                    date or redemption date. 
<PAGE>   44
                                     - 20 -

Preparation of      If any order to purchase a Certificated Note is
Pricing Supplement: accepted by or on behalf of the Company, the Company will
                    prepare a pricing supplement (a "Pricing Supplement")
                    to the Prospectus reflecting the terms of such Note and will
                    arrange to file such Pricing Supplement with the Commission
                    in accordance with Regulation S-T and the applicable
                    paragraph of Rule 424(b) under the Act, will deliver the
                    number of copies of such Pricing Supplement to the selling
                    Agent as the Agent shall reasonably request by the close of
                    business on the following business day.  The Agent will
                    cause such Pricing Supplement to be delivered to the
                    purchaser of the Note.

                    In each instance that a Pricing Supplement is prepared, the
                    Agent will affix the Pricing Supplement to Prospectuses
                    prior to their use.  Outdated Pricing Supplements, and the  
                    Prospectuses to which they are attached (other than those
                    retained for files), will be destroyed.

Settlement:         The receipt by the Company of immediately available funds 
                    in exchange for an authenticated Certificated Note 
                    delivered to the Agent and the Agent's delivery of 
                    such Note against receipt of immediately available funds
                    shall constitute "Settlement" with respect to such Note. 
                    All orders accepted by the Company will be settled on or
                    before the third business day next succeeding the date of
                    acceptance pursuant to the timetable for Settlement set
                    forth below, unless the Company and the purchaser agree to
                    Settlement on another date.

Settlement          Settlement Procedures with regard to each Certificated
Procedures:         Note sold by the Company to or through the Agent (except 
                    pursuant to a Terms Agreement) shall be as follows:

                         A.  The Agent will advise the Company by telephone that
                         such Note is a Certificated Note and of the following
                         Settlement information:  

                         1.  Order number.

                         2.  Name in which such Note is to be registered
                         ("Registered Owner").   

                         3. Address of the Registered Owner and address for
                         payment of principal and interest.
<PAGE>   45
                                     - 21 -


                         4.  Taxpayer identification number of the      
                         Registered Owner (if available).

                         5.  Principal amount.

                         6.  Maturity date.

                         7.  In the case of a Fixed Rate Certificated Note, the
                         interest rate and whether such Note is an      
                         amortizing note or, in the case of a Floating Rate
                         Certificated Note, the initial interest rate (if known
                         at such time), base rate, index maturity, interest
                         reset period, initial interest reset date, interest
                         reset dates, spread or spread multiplier (if any),
                         minimum interest rate (if any), maximum interest rate
                         (if any), the alternate rate event spread (if any) and
                         the applicability of the modified following banking day
                         convention.

                         8.  Interest payment dates.

                         9.  Record Dates.

                         10.  Redemption and/or repayment provisions, if any.

                         11.  Trade date.
        
                         12.  Settlement date. 

                         13.  Price.

                         14.  Agent's commission, if any, determined as 
                         provided in the Distribution Agreement between the 
                         Company and the Agent.

                         15.  Whether the Note is an OID Note, and if it is an
                         OID Note, the total amount of the OID, the yield to
                         maturity, the initial accrual period OID and the
                         applicability of modified payment upon acceleration.

                         16.  Net proceeds to Company.

                         17.  Agent name.

                         18.  Any other applicable Terms.
<PAGE>   46
                                     - 22 -

                           B.  The Company will advise Chase by telephone or
                               electronic transmission (confirmed in writing at
                               any time on the sale date) of the information set
                               forth in Settlement Procedure "A" above.

                           C.  The Company will have delivered to Chase a
                               pre-printed four-ply packet for such Note, which
                               packet will contain the following documents in
                               forms that have been approved by the Company, the
                               Agent and Chase:

                              1.  Note with customer confirmation.

                              2.  Stub One - For Chase.

                              3.  Stub Two - For Agent.

                              4.  Stub Three - For the Company.

                          D.  Chase will complete such Note and authenticate 
                              such Note and deliver it (with the confirmation)
                              and Stubs One and Two to the Agent, and the
                              Agent will acknowledge receipt of the Note        
                              by stamping or otherwise marking Stub One and
                              return it to Chase.  Such delivery will be made
                              only against such acknowledgment of receipt and
                              evidence that instructions have been given by the
                              Agent for payment to the account of the Company at
                              The Chase Manhattan Bank (National Association),
                              New York, New York, in funds available for
                              immediate use, of an amount equal to the price of
                              such Note less the Agent's  commission, if any. 
                              In the event that the instructions given by the
                              Agent for payment to the account of the Company
                              are revoked, the Company will as promptly as
                              possible wire transfer to the account of the Agent
                              an amount of immediately available funds equal to
                              the amount of such payment made.

                           E.    Unless the Agent purchased such Note as
                               principal, the Agent will deliver such Note (with
                               confirmation) to the customer against payment in
                               immediately payable funds.  The Agent will also
                               send a copy of the confirmation to the Company.
                               The Agent will obtain the acknowledgment of
                               receipt of such Note by retaining Stub Two.

                        F.    Chase will send Stub Three to the Company by 
                              first-class mail.  Monthly, Chase will also send 
                              to the
<PAGE>   47
                                     - 23 -

                              Company a statement setting forth the principal
                              amount of the Notes outstanding as of that
                              date under each Indenture and setting forth a
                              brief description of any sales of which the
                              Company has advised Chase but which have not yet
                              been settled.

Settlement           For sales by the Company of Certified Notes to or
Procedures           through the Agent (except pursuant to a Terms
Timetable:           Agreement), Settlement Procedures "A" through "F" set forth
                     above shall be completed on or before the respective 
                     times (New York City time) set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                     Procedure           Time
                     ---------           ----
                         <S>             <C>
                         A               2:00 P.M. on day before
                                         Settlement date
                         B               3:00 P.M. on day before
                                         Settlement date
                         C-D             2:15 P.M. on Settlement date
                         E               3:00 P.M. on Settlement date
                         F               5:00 P.M. on Settlement date
</TABLE>

Failure to          If a purchaser fails to accept delivery of and make
Settle:             payment for any Certificated Note, the Agent will notify 
                    the Company and Chase by telephone and in writing and return
                    such Note to Chase.  Upon receipt of such notice, the
                    Company will immediately wire transfer to the account of the
                    Agent an amount equal to the amount previously credited
                    thereto in respect of such Note.  Such wire transfer will be
                    made on the Settlement date, if possible, and in any event
                    not later than the business day following the Settlement
                    date.  If the failure shall have occurred for any reason
                    other than a default by the Agent in the performance of its
                    obligations hereunder and under the Distribution Agreement,
                    then the Company will reimburse the Agent or Chase, as
                    appropriate, on an equitable basis for its loss of the use
                    of the funds during the period when they were credited to
                    the account of the Company.  Immediately upon receipt of the
                    Certificated Note in respect of which such failure occurred,
                    Chase will mark such Note "cancelled," make appropriate
                    entries in Chase's records and send such Note to the
                    Company.

Chase Not to        Nothing herein shall be deemed to require Chase to risk
Risk Funds          or expend its own funds in connection with any payment to 
                    the Company, or the Agent or the purchaser, it being 
                    understood by all parties that payments made by Chase
<PAGE>   48
                                     - 24 -

                    to either the Company or the Agent shall be made only to 
                    the extent that funds are provided to Chase for such 
                    purpose.

Authenticity of     The Company will cause Chase to furnish the Agents
Signatures:         from time to time with the specimen signatures of each of 
                    Chase's officers, employees or agents who have been
                    authorized by Chase to authenticate Notes, but the Agents
                    will have no obligation or liability to the Company or Chase
                    in respect of the authenticity of the signature of any
                    officer, employee or agent.


<PAGE>   49


                                                                       Exhibit C



Dear Sirs:

We have audited the consolidated balance sheet of Cooper Industries, Inc. (the
"Company") as of ________________________, and the related statements of
consolidated results of operations, changes in shareholders' equity and cash
flows for each of the three years in the period ended
_____________________________ and the related financial statement schedules for
each of the three years in the period ended ________________________, all
included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form
10-K for the year ended ________________ and incorporated by reference in the
Registration Statement (No. 333-00117) on Form S-3 (referred to as
"Registration Statement") filed by the Company, under the Securities Act of
1933 (the "Act"); our report with respect thereto is also incorporated by
reference in such Registration Statement, herein referred to as the
"Registration Statement."

In connection with the Registration Statement:

1.       We are independent auditors with respect to the Company within the
meaning of the Act and the applicable published rules and regulations
thereunder.

2.       In our opinion, the consolidated financial statements and schedules
audited by us and (included) or (incorporated by reference) in the Company's
Annual Report on Form 10-K at ______________________ and incorporated by
reference in the Registration Statement comply as to form in all material
respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act and the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and the published rules
and regulations thereunder.

3.       We have not audited any financial statements of the Company as of any
date or for any period subsequent to _________________________.  The purpose
(and therefore the scope) of our examination for the year ended ____________
was to enable us to express our opinion on the consolidated financial
statements at __________________ and for the year then ended, but not on the
financial statements for any interim period within such year.  Therefore, we
are unable to express and do not express an opinion on:  the unaudited
consolidated balance sheet at _______________, and _____________ or the
unaudited statements of consolidated results of operations and cash flows for
the three-month period ended ____________________________, the six-month
period ended ________________________, and the nine-month period ended
____________________________, incorporated by reference in the
<PAGE>   50
Registration Statement from the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for
the quarters ended ___________________, _____________________ and
______________________, or the financial position, results of operations or
cash flows as of any date or for any period subsequent to
__________________________________________________.

4.       For the purpose of this letter, we have read the minutes of meetings
of the shareholders, Board of Directors and executive, finance and audit
committees of the Company as set forth in the minute books, through
______________, officials of the Company having advised us that the minutes of
all such meetings through _________________ were set forth therein, and we are
provided with a summary of minutes of meetings from that date through
______________________, and have carried out other procedures to
_____________________, as follows (our work did not extend to the period from
___________________ to ______________________ inclusive):

         a.      With respect to the three-month periods ended
         _________________ and ___________________, six-month periods ended
         _______________ and _________________, and the nine-month periods
         ended ____________________ and __________________________we have:

                 (1)      performed the procedures specified by the American
                          Institute of Certified Public Accountants for a
                          review of interim financial information as described
                          in SAS 71, Interim Financial Information, on the
                          unaudited consolidated financial statements for these
                          periods, described in 3. above, included in the
                          Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for the
                          quarter ended _____________, incorporated by
                          reference in the Registration Statement; and

                 (2)      made inquiries of certain officials of the Company
                          who have responsibility for financial and accounting
                          matters as to whether the unaudited consolidated
                          financial statements referred to under 4.a.(1) comply
                          as to form in all material respects with the
                          applicable accounting requirements of the Exchange
                          Act as it applies to Form 10-Q and the published
                          rules and regulations thereunder.

         b.      With respect to the period from ________________ to _________,
         we have:

                 (1)      read the unaudited operating results for the
                          _______________ period ended ________________, a copy
                          of which is not attached, officials of the Company
                          having advised us that no consolidated financial
                          statements as of any date or for any period subsequent
                          to _________________ were available except for the
                          unaudited operating results for the ________________
                          period ended ____________________;

                 (2)      made inquiries of certain officials of the Company
                          who have responsibility for financial and accounting
                          matters
<PAGE>   51
                          as to whether the unaudited operating results 
                          referred to under b.(1) are stated on a basis 
                          substantially consistent with that of the audited 
                          consolidated financial statements incorporated by 
                          reference in the Registration Statement; and

                 (3)      inquired of certain officials of the Company who have
                          responsibility for financial and accounting matters
                          as to whether: (i) at __________, there were any
                          increases in the long-term debt of the Company and
                          subsidiaries consolidated (except for any increase
                          which occurs as a result of changes in the
                          classification of outstanding short-term debt or the
                          issuance of any Notes) or any decreases in the
                          aggregate amount of the shareholders' equity of the
                          Company (calculated exclusive of the translation
                          component) as compared with the amounts shown in the
                          __________ unaudited consolidated balance sheet
                          incorporated by reference in the Registration
                          Statement (except in each case, as applicable, for
                          any decrease which occurs as a result of the
                          declaration of dividends on common stock not in
                          excess of $__________ per share per quarter) or (ii)
                          for the period from __________ to __________, there
                          was any decrease, as compared with the corresponding
                          period in the preceding year, in consolidated
                          revenues from continuing operations, income from
                          continuing operations before federal income taxes, or
                          in net income of the Company.

The foregoing procedures do not constitute an audit made in accordance with
generally accepted auditing standards.  Also, they would not necessarily reveal
matters of significance with respect to the comments in the following
paragraph.  Accordingly, we make no representations as to the sufficiency of
the foregoing procedures for your purposes.

5.       Nothing came to our attention as a result of the foregoing procedures
         that caused us to believe that:

         a.      any material modifications should be made to the unaudited
                 consolidated financial statements described in 4.a(1) above,
                 incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, for
                 them to be in conformity with generally accepted accounting
                 principles.

         b.      (i) the unaudited consolidated financial statements described
                 in 4.a.(1) above included in the Company's Quarterly Reports
                 on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended ____________,
                 ____________, and ______________ and incorporated by reference
                 in the Registration Statement, do not comply as to form in all
                 material respects with the applicable accounting requirements
                 of the Exchange Act as they apply to Form 10-Q, and the
                 published rules and regulations thereunder; or

         c.      (i) at ______________________ (the date of most recent
                 unaudited operating results of the Company), there were any
<PAGE>   52
                 increases in the long-term debt of the Company and
                 subsidiaries consolidated (except for any increase which
                 occurs as a result of changes in the classification of
                 outstanding short-term debt or the issuance of any Notes) or
                 any decreases in the aggregate amount of shareholders'
                 equity of the Company (calculated exclusive of the translation
                 component) as compared with the amounts shown in the
                 __________ unaudited consolidated balance sheet incorporated
                 by reference in the Registration Statement (except in each
                 case, as applicable, for any decrease which occurs as a result
                 of the declaration of dividends on common stock not in excess
                 of $________ per share per quarter) or (ii) for the period
                 from _________________ to ______________________, there was
                 any decrease, as compared with the corresponding period in the
                 preceding year, in consolidated revenues from continuing
                 operations, income from continuing operations before federal
                 income taxes, or in net income of the Company, except that [to
                 be completed as applicable].

6.       For purposes of this letter, we have read the following as set forth
in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus included therein on the
indicated page.

Item No.         Page No.    Description
- --------         --------    -----------

   a.                        "Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Unaudited)."
                             The amounts in the table.

7.       Our audits of the consolidated financial statements for the periods
referred to in the introductory paragraph of this letter were comprised of
audit tests and procedures deemed necessary for the purpose of expressing an
opinion on such financial statements taken as a whole.  For neither the periods
referred to therein nor any other period did we perform audit tests for the
purpose of expressing an opinion on individual balances of accounts or
summaries of selected transactions such as enumerated above and, accordingly,
we do not express an opinion thereon.

8.       For purposes of this letter, we have performed the procedure
enumerated below which was applied as indicated with respect to the information
identified in 6. above.

Item in 6.
  above                             Procedures and Findings
- ----------                          -----------------------

    a.                    Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges (Unaudited)

                          We compared the amounts in the table to a schedule
                          prepared by the Company and found them to be in
                          agreement.

 9.      It should be understood that we make no representations as to
questions of legal interpretation or as to the sufficiency for your purposes of
the procedure enumerated in the preceding paragraph; also, such procedure would
not necessarily reveal any material misstatement of the information identified
in 6. above.  Further, we have addressed ourselves
<PAGE>   53
solely to the foregoing data as set forth in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus included therein, and make no representations as to the adequacy of
disclosure or as to whether any material facts have been omitted.

10.      This letter is solely for the information of, and to assist the agents
in conducting and documenting their investigation of the affairs of the Company
in connection with the offering of the securities covered by the Registration
Statement, and it is not to be used, circulated, quoted, or otherwise referred
to within or without the group of agents for any other purpose, including but
not limited to the registration, purchase or sale of securities, nor is it to
be filed with or referred to in whole or in part in the Registration Statement
or any other document, except that reference may be made to it in the
distribution agreement or in any list of closing documents pertaining to the
offering of the securities covered by the Registration Statement.

Very truly yours,

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 4.2


                             [Form of face of Note]
                              (Certificated Note)

Registered                                                           Registered
No. SS-                                                        Principal Amount
                                                   $____________________________

                                               CUSIP ___________________________


                            COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC.
                         THIRD SERIES MEDIUM-TERM NOTE

         (Due from nine months to 15 years from date of original issue)

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
Issue Price:     Original Issue Date:      Interest Rate:   Maturity Date:
<S>              <C>                       <C>              <C>
                                                        %                  
- ------------     --------------------      --------------   ---------------

                                                            Annual
Interest         Initial                   Initial          Redemption
Accrual          Redemption                Redemption       Percentage
Date:            Date:                     Percentage:      Reduction:

                                                           
- ---------        -----------               ----------       -------------
</TABLE>

COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC., a corporation duly organized and existing under the
laws of the State of Ohio (herein called the "Company", which term includes any
successor corporation under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof),
for value received, hereby promises to pay to _________________________________
____________________________________________________________________________ or 
registered assigns the principal amount of ____________________________________
___________________________________ Dollars, on the Maturity Date specified
above and to pay interest (computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve
30-day months) on March 1 and September 1 ("Interest Payment Date") in each
year and at the Maturity Date specified above on said principal amount, at the
Interest Rate per annum specified above, from the Interest Payment Date next
preceding the date of authentication of this Note to which interest has been
paid, unless the date of authentication of this Note is a date to which
interest has been paid, in which case from the date of authentication of this
Note, or unless no interest has been paid on this Note, in which case from the
Original Issue Date specified above, until payment of said principal amount has
been made or duly provided for.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, if the date of
authentication of this Note is on or after a Regular Record Date (as
hereinafter defined) and before the next following Interest Payment Date, this
Note shall bear interest from such Interest Payment Date, unless the Company
shall default in the payment of interest due on such Interest Payment Date, in
which case this Note shall bear interest from the next preceding Interest
Payment Date to which interest has been paid, or unless no interest has been
paid on this Note, in which case this Note shall bear interest from the
Original Issue Date.  Interest payments on this Note will include interest 
accrued to but excluding the Interest Payment Date.  The
<PAGE>   2
interest so payable on any Interest Payment Date (other than at maturity) will
be paid to the person in whose name this Note is registered at the close of
business on the date 15 calendar days prior to such Interest Payment Date
(whether or not a Business Day) (each such date, a "Regular Record Date"),
unless the Original Issue Date is after a Regular Record Date and before the
next following Interest Payment Date, in which case the first payment of
interest will be made on the Interest Payment Date following the next
succeeding Regular Record Date to the person in whose name this Note is
registered on such next succeeding Regular Record Date or unless the Company
shall default in the payment of interest due on any such Interest Payment Date,
in which case such defaulted interest shall be paid to the person in whose name
this Note is registered at the close of business on a special record date for
the payment of such defaulted interest established by notice to the holders of
Notes not less than ten days preceding such special record date. Notwithstanding
the foregoing, interest payable at maturity shall be payable to the person to
whom the principal is payable.  In any case where the date for any payment on
the Notes is not a Business Day, such payment shall be made on the next
succeeding Business Day, and no interest shall accrue for the period from and
after such date to such next succeeding Business Day.  A Business Day is any day
that is not a Saturday or Sunday and that, in New York, New York, is not a day
on which banking institutions are authorized by law to close.

         Principal of, premium, if any, and interest on this Note are payable
in immediately available funds of the United States of America which at the
time of payment is legal tender for the payment of public and private debts.
Payments of principal, premium, if any, and interest will be made in New York,
New York at the corporate trust office of The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association), or at such other office or agency of the Company (the "Paying
Agent") as the Company shall designate pursuant to the Indenture referred to on
the reverse hereof; provided, however, that payment of interest (other than
interest payable at maturity) will be made by check mailed to the registered
address of the person entitled thereto.  A holder of $5,000,000 or more in the
aggregate principal amount of Notes having the same Interest Payment Date will
be entitled to receive payments of interest, other than interest due at
maturity, by wire transfer of immediately available funds provided appropriate
wire transfer instructions have been received by the Paying Agent in writing
not less than 15 days prior to the applicable Interest Payment Date.

         If so indicated above, this Note may be redeemed in whole or in part
at the option of the Company on or after the Initial Redemption Date specified
above, at a redemption price equal to the Initial Redemption Percentage
specified above of the principal amount hereof to be redeemed, together with
interest accrued and unpaid on such principal amount to the date of redemption.
If this Note is subject to "Annual Redemption Percentage Reduction," the
initial Redemption Percentage indicated above will be reduced on each
anniversary of the Initial Redemption Date by the Annual Redemption Percentage
Reduction specified above until the redemption price is equal to 100% of the
principal amount hereof to be redeemed.

         Reference is made to the further provisions of this Note set forth on
the reverse hereof.  Such further provisions shall for all purposes have the
same effect as though fully set forth at this place.
<PAGE>   3
         This Note shall not be valid or become obligatory for any purpose
until the certificate of authentication hereon shall have been signed by the
Trustee under the Indenture referred to on the reverse hereof.
<PAGE>   4
         IN WITNESS WHEREOF, the Company has caused this instrument to be duly
executed under its corporate seal.

Dated:  __________________________________________________

TRUSTEE'S CERTIFICATE OF
AUTHENTICATION

This Note is one of the series of
Debentures referred to in the
within-mentioned Indenture.


THE CHASE MANHATTAN BANK                   COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC.
(NATIONAL ASSOCIATION), as Trustee


By:  ________________________              By:  ____________________________
Authorized Signature                            Vice President and
                                                 Treasurer


                                           Attest: _________________________
                                                   Assistant Secretary
<PAGE>   5

                           [Form of reverse of Note]

                            COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC.

                         THIRD SERIES MEDIUM-TERM NOTE

         This Note is one of a duly authorized issue of debentures, notes,
bonds or other evidences of indebtedness of the Company (hereinafter called the
"Securities"), of the series hereinafter specified, all issued or to be issued
under an indenture dated as of January 15, 1990, as amended by the Trust
Indenture Reform Act of 1990 (hereinafter called the "Indenture"), duly
executed and delivered by the Company to The Chase Manhattan Bank (National
Association), a national banking association existing under the laws of the
United States of America, as trustee (hereinafter called the "Trustee"), to
which Indenture and all indentures supplemental thereto reference is hereby
made for a description of the respective rights and duties thereunder of the
Trustee, the Company and the holders of the Securities.  The Securities may be
issued in one or more series, which different series may be issued in various
aggregate principal amounts, may mature at different times, may bear interest
(if any) at different rates, may be subject to different redemption provisions
(if any), may be subject to different sinking, purchase or analogous funds (if
any), may be subject to different covenants and Events of Default and may
otherwise vary as permitted in the Indenture.  This Note is one of a series
designated as the "Third Series Medium-Term Notes" of the Company (hereinafter
called the "Notes") issued under the Indenture.  Unless otherwise provided
herein, all terms used in this Note which are defined in the Indenture shall
have the meanings assigned to them in the Indenture.

         The Notes will not have a sinking fund.  If so specified on the face
hereof, the Notes are subject to redemption at the option of the Company as a
whole or in part (in multiples of $1,000) on or after the Initial Redemption
Date specified on the face hereof on the terms set forth on the face hereof,
together with interest accrued and unpaid on the principal amount redeemed to
the date of redemption.  Notice of each redemption of any Note shall be given
to the holders of the Notes to be redeemed not less than 30 nor more than 60
days prior to the date fixed for redemption.  If this Note, or any portion
hereof, is called for redemption and payment thereof is duly provided for as
specified in the Indenture, interest shall cease to accrue hereon or on such
portion, as the case may be, from and after the date fixed for redemption.  As
provided in the Indenture, upon presentation of this Note for redemption of a
portion of the principal amount hereof, this Note shall be surrendered and
exchanged, at the expense of the Company, for one or more new Notes of the same
series and tenor, registered in the name of the holder hereof in an aggregate
principal amount equal to the unredeemed principal amount of this Note.

         In case an Event of Default with respect to the Notes, as defined in
the Indenture, shall have occurred and be continuing, the principal hereof may
be declared, and upon such declaration shall become, due and payable, in the
manner, with the effect and subject to the conditions provided in the
Indenture.
<PAGE>   6
         The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Company and the
Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of the Securities at the time outstanding of each
series to be affected, evidenced as provided in the Indenture, to execute
supplemental indentures adding any provisions to or changing in any manner or
eliminating any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental
indenture or Securities of a series or modifying in any manner the rights of
the holders of the Securities of such series to be affected; provided, however,
that no such supplemental indenture shall (i) change the fixed maturity (which
term shall not include payments due pursuant to any sinking, purchase or
analogous fund) of any Securities, or reduce the principal amount thereof, or
reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of any interest thereon, or
reduce any premium payable upon the redemption thereof, without the consent of
the holder of each Security so affected, or (ii) reduce the aforesaid
percentage of Securities of any series, the consent of the holders of which is
required for any such supplemental indenture, without the consent of the
holders of all Securities of such series then outstanding.  In addition, and
subject to the foregoing limitations, the Indenture contains provisions
permitting the Company and the Trustee, without the consent of the holders of
any of the Securities at the time outstanding, to execute supplemental
indentures for certain purposes, including, but not limited to, the following
purposes: (i) to cure any ambiguity or to correct or supplement any provision
contained in the Indenture or in any supplemental indenture or Securities of a
series which may be defective or inconsistent with any other provision of the
Indenture or any supplemental indenture or Securities of a series; or (ii) to
make such other provisions in regard to matters or questions arising under the
Indenture or any supplemental indenture or Securities of a series which shall
not adversely affect the interests of the holders of the Securities.  The
Indenture also provides that, prior to any declaration accelerating the
maturity of the Securities of a series, the holders of a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the Securities of such series at the time outstanding may,
on behalf of the holders of all of the Securities of such series, waive any
past default or Event of Default with respect to the Securities of such series
and its consequences, except a default in the payment of the principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on any of the Securities of such series, or in
respect of a covenant or provision of the Indenture which thereunder cannot be
modified or amended without the consent of the holder of each outstanding
Security of such series affected.  Any such consent or waiver by the holder of
this Note (unless revoked as provided in the Indenture) shall be conclusive and
binding upon such holder and upon all future holders and owners of this Note
and any Notes which may be issued in exchange or substitution herefor,
irrespective of whether or not any notation thereof is made upon this Note or
such other Notes.

         No reference herein to the Indenture and no provision of this Note or
of the Indenture shall alter or impair the obligation of the Company, which is
absolute and unconditional, to pay the principal of, premium, if any, and
interest on this Note at the place, at the respective times, at the rate and in
the coin or currency herein prescribed; provided, however, this Note is subject
in all respects to the provisions of Article Thirteen of the Indenture
providing under the circumstances set forth therein for discharge of certain of
the Company's obligations under the Indenture.

         The Notes are issuable in registered form without coupons in
<PAGE>   7
denominations of $100,000 and any integral multiple of $1,000 in excess
thereof, in the manner and subject to the limitations provided in the
Indenture, but without the payment of any service charge.  Notes may be
exchanged for an equal aggregate principal amount of Notes of other authorized
denominations having the same tenor at the office or agency of the Company
maintained for such purpose in New York, New York.  Upon due presentment for
registration of transfer of this Note at the office or agency of the Company
for such registration in New York, New York, a new Note or Notes of authorized
denominations for an equal aggregate principal amount having the same tenor as
the Note so presented will be issued to the transferee in exchange herefor,
subject to the limitations provided in the Indenture, without charge except for
any tax or other governmental charge imposed in connection therewith.

         Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer of this Note,
the Company, the Trustee, any Paying Agent and any Security registrar may deem
and treat the registered holder hereof as the absolute owner of this Note
(whether or not this Note shall be overdue and notwithstanding any notation of
ownership or other writing hereon), for the purpose of receiving payment hereof
or on account hereof, as herein provided, and for all other purposes, and
neither the Company nor the Trustee nor any Paying Agent nor any Security
registrar shall be affected by any notice to the contrary.  All payments made
to or upon the order of such holder shall be valid, and, to the extent of the
sum or sums so paid, effectual to satisfy and discharge the liability for
moneys payable on this Note.

         No recourse for the payment of the principal of, premium, if any, or
interest on this Note, or for any claim based hereon or otherwise in respect
hereof, and no recourse under or upon any obligation, covenant or agreement of
the Company in the Indenture or any indenture supplemental thereto or in any
Note or because of the creation of any indebtedness represented thereby, shall
be had against any incorporator, stockholder, officer or director, as such,
past, present or future, of the Company, whether by virtue of any constitution,
statute or rule of law or by the enforcement of any assessment or penalty or
otherwise, all such liability being, by the acceptance hereof and as part of
the consideration for the issue hereof, expressly waived and released.

         The Indenture and this Note shall be governed by and construed in
accordance with the laws of the State of New York.






<PAGE>   1
                                                                   EXHIBIT 99.1

COOPER INDUSTRIES
P.O. Box 4446
Houston, Texas 77210

                                                       [COOPER INDUSTRIES LOGO]

NEWS
RELEASE


FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
January 24, 1996

Contact:    Phyllis Piano              Sharon Newquist
            (713) 739-5415             (713) 739-5578


COOPER INDUSTRIES REPORTS 15% INCREASE IN SHARE EARNINGS FOR 1995

HOUSTON, TX, Jan. 24 -- Fully diluted share earnings from continuing operations
of Cooper Industries, Inc. (NYSE-CBE) for 1995 rose 15% to $2.41 from $2.10 in
1994.  Revenues from continuing operations were $4.9 billion, up from $4.6
billion the previous year.  Operating income (income before interest expense
and income taxes) for the year increased 9% to $629 million from $578 million
in 1994.
         For the three months ended December 31, 1995, fully diluted share
earnings from continuing operations rose to 65 cents, up 3% from 63 cents in
the same quarter of 1994.  Fourth-quarter revenues were up 4% to $1.29 billion
from $1.24 billion in the comparable 1994 period.  Operating income was $162.6
million, compared with $169.6 million in 1994.
         Interest expense for the fourth quarter and full year increased
significantly over the comparable 1994 periods, primarily because of the
exchange of convertible preferred stock for debt at the beginning of 1995.  As
a result, income from continuing operations for 1995's fourth quarter totaled
$73.2 million, compared with $85.5 million in 1994, and was $280.6 million in
1995, compared with $292.8 million the previous year.
         Cooper's 1995 share earnings and quarterly share earnings include a
5-cent and 1-cent contribution from the sale of securities, respectively.
Earnings per share were further affected by the Cooper Cameron Exchange Offer
completed mid-year 1995, which reduced Cooper's outstanding shares by 9.5
million shares.
         President and Chief Executive Officer H. John Riley, Jr., said
Cooper's fourth-quarter performance was in line with recent expectations.
"Despite a noticeable slowing in the economy, we were able to achieve modest
revenue gains in all three of our business segments," he said.
                                    - more -
<PAGE>   2
COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC.                                                 PAGE 2



         Some growth in spending for industrial maintenance and repair, plant
upgrades and non-residential construction boosted sales for certain of Cooper's
electrical products and power tools.  Lackluster consumer spending and weak
residential construction affected sales of hand tools and drapery hardware.
         The domestic automotive aftermarket remained depressed during the
fourth quarter.  The segment's fourth-quarter revenue increase is due chiefly
to the contributions of the Abex and Zanxx operations, which were acquired in
late-1994.
         In general, international markets for Cooper's businesses continued to
grow at a steady pace.  However, difficult conditions persisted in Mexico -- an
important market for Cooper's electrical and automotive products.  These
conditions, along with the weakness in the North American automotive
aftermarket and the transitional effects of some major relocation projects of
prior periods, were the primary reasons for the slight earnings decline in the
fourth quarter.
         "Overall, Cooper had a solid performance in 1995, achieving gains in
sales and operating earnings.  Equally important, we accomplished a number of
key strategic objectives, including successfully completing the Cooper Cameron
Exchange Offer; integrating the two automotive businesses acquired in late
1994; and strengthening our international presence with the acquisitions of the
CEAG electrical products operation in Germany, the Cutler-Hammer electrical
recloser business in Brazil and the Trichamp automotive operation in South
Africa," Riley explained.
         "In addition, we have realized significant value from the sale of the
former Cameron Forged Products Division through our successful offering of
notes mandatorily convertible into Wyman-Gordon stock on January 1, 1999.
         "We do not see the fourth quarter as an indicator of our future
potential," said Riley.  "Throughout 1995, Cooper incurred costs for
consolidation projects, product introductions and other marketing and sales
programs, all directed at improving our competitive advantage.  These actions
have positioned Cooper well for the future," he concluded.
         Comparisons of 1995 and 1994 fourth-quarter and full-year results
appear on the following pages.

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

         Cooper Industries is a diversified, worldwide manufacturer of
electrical products, tools and hardware, and automotive products.
                                    - more -
<PAGE>   3
COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC.                                                 PAGE 3



                      CONSOLIDATED RESULTS OF OPERATIONS


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                 Three Months Ended December 31,
                                                 -------------------------------
                                                     1995              1994
                                                   --------          ---------
                                                    (millions except shares)
<S>                                             <C>                <C>
Revenues:

    Electrical Products                            $  550.9          $   546.6
    Tools & Hardware                                  257.3              246.7
    Automotive Products                               469.5              439.7
    Other                                              10.5                6.9
                                                   --------          ---------
                                                    1,288.2            1,239.9
                                                   --------          ---------
Costs and Expenses:

    Cost of sales                                     849.4              814.8
    Depreciation and amortization                      57.6               52.3
    Selling and administrative                        218.6              203.2
                                                   --------          ---------
                                                    1,125.6            1,070.3
                                                   --------          ---------

Income before Interest Expense and Income Taxes       162.6              169.6

Interest Expense                                       36.2               21.4
Income Taxes                                           53.2               62.7
                                                   --------           --------

Net Income                                             73.2               85.5

Preferred Dividends                                       -               13.4
                                                   --------           --------

Net Income Applicable to Common Stock              $   73.2           $   72.1
                                                   ========           ========

Income Per Common Share:

    Primary                                          $  .68             $  .63
    Fully Diluted(1)                                    .65                .63


Shares Utilized in Computation of
   Net Income Per Common Share:

    Primary                                     107,592,000        114,201,000
    Fully Diluted                               124,358,000        114,201,000
</TABLE>

- --------------
(1)  The calculations for 1994 utilize primary shares.  The use of fully
     diluted shares results in antidilution.  The calculations for 1995 assume
     conversion of the 7.05% Convertible Subordinated Debentures to Common 
     Stock, effective January 1, 1995.  As a result, interest on the debentures
     ($7.3 million, net of tax) was added back to income in the computation of
     fully diluted earnings per share.



                                     -more-
<PAGE>   4
COOPER INDUSTRIES, INC.                                                 PAGE 4



<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                Twelve Months Ended December 31,
                                                --------------------------------
                                                     1995               1994   
                                                   --------           --------
                                                    (millions except shares)
<S>                                             <C>                <C>
Revenues:                                        

    Electrical Products                            $2,089.7           $2,034.8
    Tools & Hardware                                  962.4              897.9
    Automotive Products                             1,796.6            1,622.1
    Other                                              37.2               33.2
                                                   --------           --------
                                                    4,885.9            4,588.0
                                                   --------           --------
Costs and Expenses:

    Cost of sales                                   3,232.9            3,026.4
    Depreciation and amortization                     218.8              199.0
    Selling and administrative                        805.2              784.6
                                                   --------           --------
                                                    4,256.9            4,010.0
                                                   --------           --------

Income before Interest Expense and Income Taxes       629.0              578.0

Interest Expense                                      151.0               73.3
Income Taxes                                          197.4              211.9
                                                   --------           --------

Income from Continuing Operations                     280.6              292.8
Income from Discontinued Operations                       -                 .3
Charge for Discontinued Operations                   (186.6)            (313.0)
                                                   --------           --------

Net Income (Loss)                                      94.0              (19.9)

Preferred Dividends                                       -               53.3
                                                   --------           --------

Net Income (Loss) Applicable to Common Stock       $   94.0           $  (73.2)
                                                   ========           ========

Income (Loss) Per Common Share:
    Primary -
      Continuing Operations                           $2.51              $2.10
      Net Income (Loss)                               $ .84              $(.64)

    Fully Diluted(1) -
      Continuing Operations                           $2.41              $2.10
      Net Income (Loss)                               $ .84              $(.64)

Shares Utilized in Computation of
   Income (Loss) Per Common Share:
     Primary                                    111,952,000        114,218,000
     Fully Diluted                              128,683,000        114,218,000
</TABLE>

- ------------
(1)  The calculations for 1994 and the net income calculation for 1995 utilize
     primary shares.  The use of fully diluted shares results in
     antidilution.  The continuing operations calculation for 1995 assumes
     conversion of the 7.05% Convertible Subordinated Debentures to Common 
     Stock, effective January 1, 1995.  As a result, interest on the debentures 
     ($29.2 million, net of tax) was added back to income in the computation of
     fully diluted earnings per share.

                                     # # #


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