UNIVERSAL FOODS CORP
8-K, 1999-03-25
BEVERAGES
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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549


                                    FORM 8-K

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


                                 MARCH 24, 1999
                Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported)


                           UNIVERSAL FOODS CORPORATION
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


     WISCONSIN                       1-7626                  39-0561070
  (State or other               (Commission File            (IRS Employer
  jurisdiction of                    Number)                 ID Number)
  incorporation)


                            433 EAST MICHIGAN STREET
                           MILWAUKEE, WISCONSIN 53202

                    (Address of principal executive offices)



                                 (414) 271-6755
              (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)


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




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ITEM 5.  OTHER EVENTS

         On November 9, 1998, the Registrant filed Registration Statement No.
333-67015 with the Securities and Exchange Commission relating to the shelf
registration on Form S-3 of up to $300,000,000 of debt securities to be offered
by the Registrant from time to time. On March 22, 1999, the Registrant and
Goldman, Sachs & Co., First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc., and ABN AMRO
Incorporated (the "Underwriters") entered into the underwriting agreement
attached hereto as Exhibit 1.1 relating to the offering of such debt securities.
In connection with the Registrant's offering of $150 million aggregate principal
amount of 6.50% Notes due April 1, 2009, the Registrant and the Underwriters
entered into the pricing agreement attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 on March 22,
1999.

ITEM 7.  FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS

         (c)      Exhibits:

                  1.1      Underwriting Agreement dated as of March 22, 1999, 
                           between the Registrant and Goldman, Sachs & Co., 
                           First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc., and ABN AMRO 
                           Incorporated

                  99.1     Pricing Agreement dated as of March 22, 1999, 
                           between the Registrant and Goldman, Sachs & Co., 
                           First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc., and ABN AMRO 
                           Incorporated


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                                   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.

                                      UNIVERSAL FOODS CORPORATION
                                      (Registrant)

                   
                                      By: /s/ John L. Hammond
                                          -----------------------------------
                                         John L. Hammond
                                         Vice President, Secretary and
                                         General Counsel


Date: March 23, 1999


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                           UNIVERSAL FOODS CORPORATION
                                  EXHIBIT INDEX
                                       TO
                           CURRENT REPORT ON FORM 8-K
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>




                                                                           Incorporated                     
     Exhibit                                                                Herein By            Filed
      Number                     Description                                Reference          Herewith
      ------                     -----------                                ---------          --------


<S>                 <C>                                                                                                      
       1.1          Underwriting Agreement dated as of 
                    March 22, 1999, between the Registrant and
                    Goldman, Sachs & Co., First Chicago Capital
                    Markets, Inc., and ABN AMRO Incorporated                                       X

      99.1          Pricing Agreement dated as of March 22, 1999, 
                    between the Registrant and Goldman, Sachs &
                    Co., First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc., 
                    and ABN AMRO Incorporated                                                      X

</TABLE>









<PAGE>   1

                          UNIVERSAL FOODS CORPORATION

                                DEBT SECURITIES
                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                                                                 MARCH 22, 1999


GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.,
First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc.
ABN AMRO Incorporated

C/O GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
85 BROAD STREET,
NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         From time to time Universal Foods Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation
(the "Company"), proposes to enter into one or more Pricing Agreements (each a
"Pricing Agreement") in the form of Annex I hereto, with such additions and
deletions as the parties thereto may determine, and, subject to the terms and
conditions stated herein and therein, to issue and sell to the firms named in
Schedule I to the applicable Pricing Agreement (such firms constituting the
"Underwriters" with respect to such Pricing Agreement and the securities
specified therein) certain of its debt securities (the "Securities") specified
in Schedule II to such Pricing Agreement (with respect to such Pricing
Agreement, the "Designated Securities").

         The terms and rights of any particular issuance of Designated
Securities shall be as specified in the Pricing Agreement relating thereto and
in or pursuant to the indenture (the "Indenture") identified in such Pricing
Agreement.

     1. Particular sales of Designated Securities may be made from time to time
to the Underwriters of such Securities, for whom the firms designated as
representatives of the Underwriters of such Securities in the Pricing Agreement
relating thereto will act as representatives (the "Representatives"). The term
"Representatives" also refers to a single firm acting as sole representative of
the Underwriters and to an Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm
being designated as its or their representatives. This Underwriting Agreement
shall not be construed as an obligation of the Company to sell any of the
Securities or as an obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase the
Securities. The obligation of the Company to issue and sell any of the
Securities and the obligation of any of the Underwriters to purchase any of the
Securities shall be evidenced by the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
Designated Securities specified therein. Each Pricing Agreement shall specify
the aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities, the initial public
offering price of such Designated Securities, the purchase price to the
Underwriters of such Designated Securities, the names of the Underwriters of
such Designated Securities, the names of the Representatives of such
Underwriters and the principal amount of such Designated Securities to be
purchased by each Underwriter and

<PAGE>   2

shall set forth the date, time and manner of delivery of such Designated
Securities and payment therefor. The Pricing Agreement shall also specify (to
the extent not set forth in the Indenture and the registration statement and
prospectus with respect thereto) the terms of such Designated Securities. A
Pricing Agreement shall be in the form of an executed writing (which may be in
counterparts), and may be evidenced by an exchange of telegraphic communications
or any other rapid transmission device designed to produce a written record of
communications transmitted. The obligations of the Underwriters under this
Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be several and not joint.

     2. The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each of the
Underwriters that:

          (a) A registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-67015) (the
     "Initial Registration Statement") in respect of the Securities has been
     filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"); the
     Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment thereto,
     each in the form heretofore delivered or to be delivered to the
     Representatives and, excluding exhibits to the Initial Registration
     Statement, but including all documents incorporated by reference in the
     prospectus contained therein, to the Representatives for each of the other
     Underwriters, have been declared effective by the Commission in such form;
     other than a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the
     offering (a "Rule 462(b) Registration Statement"), filed pursuant to Rule
     462(b) under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), which
     became effective upon filing, no other document with respect to the Initial
     Registration Statement or document incorporated by reference therein has
     heretofore been filed or transmitted for filing with the Commission (other
     than prospectuses filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) of the rules and
     regulations of the Commission under the Act, each in the form heretofore
     delivered to the Representatives); and no stop order suspending the
     effectiveness of the Initial Registration Statement, any post-effective
     amendment thereto or the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, has
     been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or
     threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in the
     Initial Registration Statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to
     Rule 424(a) under the Act, is hereinafter called a "Preliminary
     Prospectus"; the various parts of the Initial Registration Statement, any
     post-effective amendment thereto and the Rule 462(b) Registration
     Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto and the documents
     incorporated by reference in the prospectus contained in the Initial
     Registration Statement at the time such part of the Initial Registration
     Statement became effective but excluding Form T-1, each as amended at the
     time such part of the Initial Registration Statement became effective or
     such part of the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, if any, became or
     hereafter becomes effective, are hereinafter collectively called the
     "Registration Statement"; the prospectus relating to the Securities, in the
     form in which it has most recently been filed, or transmitted for filing,
     with the Commission on or prior to the date of this Agreement, being
     hereinafter called the "Prospectus"; any reference herein to any
     Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer to and
     include the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to the
     applicable form under the Act, as of the date of such Preliminary
     Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any reference to any
     amendment or supplement to any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus
     shall be deemed to 

                                      -2-

<PAGE>   3


     refer to and include any documents filed after the date of such Preliminary
     Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be, under the Securities Exchange
     Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and incorporated by reference
     in such Preliminary Prospectus or Prospectus, as the case may be; any
     reference to any amendment to the Initial Registration Statement shall be
     deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed
     pursuant to Sections 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective
     date of the Initial Registration Statement that is incorporated by
     reference in the Registration Statement; and any reference to the
     Prospectus as amended or supplemented shall be deemed to refer to the
     Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the applicable
     Designated Securities in the form in which it is filed with the Commission
     pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Act in accordance with Section 5(a)
     hereof, including any documents incorporated by reference therein as of the
     date of such filing);
 
          (b) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, when
     they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case may
     be, conformed in all material respects to the requirements of the Act or
     the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and regulations of the
     Commission thereunder, and none of such documents contained an untrue
     statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required
     to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
     misleading; and any further documents so filed and incorporated by
     reference in the Prospectus or any further amendment or supplement thereto,
     when such documents become effective or are filed with the Commission, as
     the case may be, will conform in all material respects to the requirements
     of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and
     regulations of the Commission thereunder and will not contain an untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact required to
     be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
     misleading; provided, however, that this representation and warranty shall
     not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance upon and in
     conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company by an
     Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly
     for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such
     Securities;
     
          (c) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus conform, and any
     further amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus will conform, in all material respects to the requirements of
     the Act and the Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended (the "Trust
     Indenture Act") and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
     and do not and will not, as of the applicable effective date as to the
     Registration Statement and any amendment thereto and as of the applicable
     filing date as to the Prospectus and any amendment or supplement thereto,
     contain an untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
     fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
     therein not misleading; provided, however, that this representation and
     warranty shall not apply to any statements or omissions made in reliance
     upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to the Company
     by an Underwriter of Designated Securities through the Representatives
     expressly for use in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to
     such Securities; 


                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4


          (d) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has sustained
     since the date of the latest audited financial statements included or
     incorporated by reference in the Prospectus any material loss or
     interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
     calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or
     court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth
     or contemplated in the Prospectus; and, since the respective dates as of
     which information is given in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus, there has not been any change in the capital stock or long-term
     debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any material adverse
     change, or any development involving a prospective material adverse change,
     in or affecting the financial position, shareholders' equity or results of
     operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth
     or contemplated in the Prospectus;

          (e) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
     a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its
     incorporation, with power and authority (corporate and other) to own its
     properties and conduct its business as described in the Prospectus;

          (f) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
     Prospectus, and all of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company
     have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are fully paid and
     non-assessable subject to the limitation contained in Section
     180.0622(2)(b) of the Wisconsin business corporation law;
     
          (g) The Securities have been duly authorized, and, when Designated
     Securities are issued and delivered pursuant to this Agreement and the
     Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated Securities, such
     Designated Securities will have been duly executed, authenticated, issued
     and delivered and will constitute valid and legally binding obligations of
     the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture, which will
     be substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to the Registration
     Statement; the Indenture has been duly authorized and duly qualified under
     the Trust Indenture Act and, at the Time of Delivery for such Designated
     Securities (as defined in Section 4 hereof), the Indenture will constitute
     a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable in accordance with its
     terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency,
     reorganization and other laws of general applicability relating to or
     affecting creditors' rights and to general equity principles; and the
     Indenture conforms, and the Designated Securities will conform, to the
     descriptions thereof contained in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented
     with respect to such Designated Securities;

          
          (h) The issue and sale of the Securities and the compliance by the
     Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture, this
     Agreement and any Pricing Agreement, and the consummation of the
     transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or
     result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or
     constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan
     agreement or other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party
     or by which the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets
     of the Company is subject, which if determined adversely would have a
     material adverse effect individually or in the aggregate on the current
     consolidated financial position, shareholders' equity or results of
     operations of the 

                                      -4-

<PAGE>   5


     Company and its subsidiaries or be reasonably likely to have a material
     adverse effect on the future consolidated financial position of the Company
     and its subsidiaries (a "Material Adverse Effect"), nor will such action
     result in any violation of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation
     or Bylaws of the Company or any statute or any order, rule or regulation of
     any court or governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the
     Company or any of its properties; and no consent, approval, authorization,
     order, registration or qualification of or with any such court or
     governmental agency or body is required for the issue and sale of the
     Securities or the consummation by the Company of the transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement or any Pricing Agreement or the Indenture,
     except such as have been, or will have been prior to the Time of Delivery,
     obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such consents,
     approvals, authorizations, registrations or qualifications as may be
     required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the
     purchase and distribution of the Securities by the Underwriters;
   
          (i) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the captions
     "DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES" and "DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES", insofar as
     they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities, and
     under the captions "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION" and "UNDERWRITING", insofar as
     they purport to describe the provisions of the documents referred to
     therein, are accurate, complete and fair;
     
          (j) Neither the Company nor any "significant subsidiary" (as such term
     is defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X) of the Company is in violation
     of its Articles or Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws and neither the
     Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in default in the performance or
     observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in
     any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement, lease or other
     agreement or instrument to which it is a party or by which it or any of its
     properties may be bound, which in each case, if determined adversely to the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries, would have a Material Adverse Effect;

          (k) Other than as set forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or
     governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries, would have a Material Adverse Effect;
     and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are
     threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by
     others;

          (l) The Company is not and, after giving effect to the offering and
     sale of the Securities, will not be an "investment company", as such term
     is defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
     "Investment Company Act");

          (m) Deloitte & Touche LLP, who have certified certain financial
     statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, are independent public
     accountants as required by the Act and the rules and regulations of the
     Commission thereunder; and


                                      -5-

<PAGE>   6


          (n) The Company has reviewed its operations and that of its
     subsidiaries and any third parties with which the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries has a material relationship to evaluate the extent to which
     the business or operations of the Company or any of its subsidiaries will
     be affected by the Year 2000 Problem. As a result of such review, the
     Company has no reason to believe, and does not believe, that the Year 2000
     Problem will have a Material Adverse Effect or result in any material loss
     or interference with the Company's business or operations. The "Year 2000
     Problem" as used herein means any significant risk that computer hardware
     or software used in the receipt, transmission, processing, manipulation,
     storage, retrieval, retransmission or other utilization of data or in the
     operation of mechanical or electrical systems of any kind will not, in the
     case of dates or time periods occurring after December 31, 1999, function
     at least as effectively as in the case of dates or time period occurring
     prior to January 1, 2000.
   
     3. Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement applicable to any Designated
Securities and authorization by the Representatives of the release of such
Designated Securities, the several Underwriters propose to offer such Designated
Securities for sale upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented.
     
     4. Designated Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter pursuant to
the Pricing Agreement relating thereto, in the form specified in such Pricing
Agreement, and in such authorized denominations and registered in such names as
the Representatives may request upon at least forty-eight hours' prior notice to
the Company, shall be delivered by or on behalf of the Company to the
Representatives for the account of such Underwriter, against payment by such
Underwriter or on its behalf of the purchase price therefor by wire transfer of
Federal (same-day) funds to the account specified by the Company to the
Representatives at least forty-eight hours in advance or at such other place and
time and date as the Representatives and the Company may agree upon in writing,
such time and date being herein called the "Time of Delivery" for such
Securities.

     5. The Company agrees with each of the Underwriters of any Designated
Securities:

          (a) To prepare the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation
     to the applicable Designated Securities in a form approved by the
     Representatives and to file such Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under
     the Act not later than the Commission's close of business on the second
     business day following the execution and delivery of the Pricing Agreement
     relating to the applicable Designated Securities or, if applicable, such
     earlier time as may be required by Rule 424(b); to make no further
     amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus as
     amended or supplemented after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to
     such Securities and prior to the Time of Delivery for such Securities which
     shall be disapproved by the Representatives for such Securities promptly
     after reasonable notice thereof; to advise the Representatives promptly of
     any such amendment or supplement after such Time of Delivery and furnish
     the Representatives with copies thereof; to file promptly all reports and
     any definitive proxy or information statements required to be filed by the
     Company with the Commission pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or 15(d)
     of the Exchange Act for so long as the delivery of a prospectus is required
     in connection with the offering or sale of such Securities, and during such
     same period to advise the Representatives, 


                                      -6-

<PAGE>   7


     promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment
     to the Registration Statement has been filed or becomes effective or any
     supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus has been filed with
     the Commission, of the issuance by the Commission of any stop order or of
     any order preventing or suspending the use of any prospectus relating to
     the Securities, of the suspension of the qualification of such Securities
     for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, of the initiation or threatening
     of any proceeding for any such purpose, or of any request by the Commission
     for the amending or supplementing of the Registration Statement or
     Prospectus or for additional information; and, in the event of the issuance
     of any such stop order or of any such order preventing or suspending the
     use of any prospectus relating to the Securities or suspending any such
     qualification, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of
     such order;
   
          (b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as the
     Representatives may reasonably request to qualify such Securities for
     offering and sale under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as the
     Representatives may request and to comply with such laws so as to permit
     the continuance of sales and dealings therein in such jurisdictions for as
     long as may be necessary to complete the distribution of such Securities,
     provided that in connection therewith the Company shall not be required to
     qualify as a foreign corporation or to file a general consent to service of
     process in any jurisdiction;
     
          (c) Prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the New York Business
     Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to
     furnish the Underwriters with copies of the Prospectus in New York City as
     amended or supplemented in such quantities as the Representatives may
     reasonably request, and, if the delivery of a prospectus is required at any
     time in connection with the offering or sale of the Securities and if at
     such time any event shall have occurred as a result of which the Prospectus
     as then amended or supplemented would include an untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state any material fact necessary in order to make
     the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
     were made when such Prospectus is delivered, not misleading, or, if for any
     other reason it shall be necessary during such same period to amend or
     supplement the Prospectus or to file under the Exchange Act any document
     incorporated by reference in the Prospectus in order to comply with the
     Act, the Exchange Act or the Trust Indenture Act, to notify the
     Representatives and upon their request to file such document and to prepare
     and furnish without charge to each Underwriter and to any dealer in
     securities as many copies as the Representatives may from time to time
     reasonably request of an amended Prospectus or a supplement to the
     Prospectus which will correct such statement or omission or effect such
     compliance;

          (d) To make generally available to its securityholders as soon as
     practicable, but in any event not later than eighteen months after the
     effective date of the Registration Statement (as defined in Rule 158(c)
     under the Act), an earnings statement of the Company and its subsidiaries
     (which need not be audited) complying with Section 11(a) of the Act and the
     rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (including, at the
     option of the Company, Rule 158);


                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8


          (e) During the period beginning from the date of the Pricing Agreement
     for such Designated Securities and continuing to and including the later of
     (i) the termination of trading restrictions for such Designated Securities,
     as notified to the Company by the Representatives and (ii) the Time of
     Delivery for such Designated Securities, not to offer, sell, contract to
     sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company which
     mature more than one year after such Time of Delivery and which are
     substantially similar to such Designated Securities, without the prior
     written consent of the Representatives; and

          (f) If the Company elects to rely upon Rule 462(b), the Company shall
     file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance
     with Rule 462(b) by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this
     Agreement, and the Company shall at the time of filing either pay to the
     Commission the filing fee for the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement or
     give irrevocable instructions for the payment of such fee pursuant to Rule
     111(b) under the Act.
   
     6. The Company covenants and agrees with the several Underwriters that the
Company will pay or cause to be paid the following: (i) the fees, disbursements
and expenses of the Company's counsel and accountants in connection with the
registration of the Securities under the Act and all other expenses in
connection with the preparation, printing and filing of the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and amendments and
supplements thereto and the mailing and delivering of copies thereof to the
Underwriters and dealers; (ii) the cost of printing or producing any Agreement
among Underwriters, this Agreement, any Pricing Agreement, any Indenture, any
Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda, closing documents (including any
compilations thereof) and any other documents in connection with the offering,
purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities; (iii) all expenses in connection
with the qualification of the Securities for offering and sale under state
securities laws as provided in Section 5(b) hereof, including the fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection with such
qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and Legal Investment Surveys;
(iv) any fees charged by securities rating services for rating the Securities;
(v) any filing fees incident to, and the fees and disbursements of counsel for
the Underwriters in connection with, any required review by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the sale of the
Securities; (vi) the cost of preparing the Securities; (vii) the fees and
expenses of any Trustee and any agent of any Trustee and the fees and
disbursements of counsel for any Trustee in connection with any Indenture and
the Securities; and (viii) all other costs and expenses incident to the
performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise specifically
provided for in this Section. It is understood, however, that, except as
provided in this Section, and Sections 8 and 11 hereof, the Underwriters will
pay all of their own costs and expenses, including the fees of their counsel,
transfer taxes on resale of any of the Securities by them, and any advertising
expenses connected with any offers they may make.

     7. The obligations of the Underwriters of any Designated Securities under
the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities shall be subject,
in the discretion of the Representatives, to the condition that all
representations and warranties and other statements of the Company in or
incorporated by reference in the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated
Securities are, at and as of the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities, true and correct, the condition that the Company shall have


                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9

     performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore to be performed, and
     the following additional conditions:

          (a) The Prospectus as amended or supplemented in relation to the
     applicable Designated Securities shall have been filed with the Commission
     pursuant to Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period prescribed for
     such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance
     with Section 5(a) hereof; if the Company has elected to rely upon Rule
     462(b), the Rule 462(b) Registration Statement shall have become effective
     by 10:00 P.M., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement; no
     stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or
     any part thereof shall have been issued and no proceeding for that purpose
     shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and all requests
     for additional information on the part of the Commission shall have been
     complied with to the Representatives' reasonable satisfaction;
   
          (b) Counsel for the Underwriters shall have furnished to the
     Representatives such written opinion or opinions, dated the Time of
     Delivery for such Designated Securities, with respect to incorporation of
     the Company, the validity of the Indenture, the validity of the Designated
     Securities, the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or
     supplemented, and such other related matters as the Representatives may
     reasonably request, and such counsel shall have received such papers and
     information as they may reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such
     matters;
     
          (c) Counsel for the Company satisfactory to the Representatives shall
     have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion or opinions (a
     draft of such opinions are attached as Annex III(a) and Annex III(b)
     hereto, and if the opinion or opinions delivered at the first Time of
     Delivery are in the form of such Annex III(a) and Annex III(b), such
     opinions shall be acceptable in form and substance to the Representatives),
     dated the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and
     substance satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that:

          (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
          a corporation in good standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of
          its incorporation, with power and authority (corporate and other) to
          own its properties and conduct its business as described in the
          Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

          (ii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
          Prospectus as amended or supplemented and all of the issued shares of
          capital stock of the Company have been duly and validly authorized and
          issued and are fully paid and non-assessable subject to the limitation
          contained in Section 180.0622(2)(b) of the Wisconsin business
          corporation law;

          (iii) To the best of such counsel's knowledge and other than as set
          forth in the Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental
          proceedings pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
          a party or of which any property of the Company or any of its
          subsidiaries is the subject which, if 


                                      -9-

<PAGE>   10


          determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would
          have a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the best of such counsel's
          knowledge, no such proceedings have been threatened by governmental
          authorities or by others;

          (iv) This Agreement and the Pricing Agreement with respect to the
          Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed and
          delivered by the Company;

          (v) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed,
          authenticated, issued and delivered and constitute valid and legally
          binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided
          by the Indenture; and the Designated Securities and the Indenture
          conform to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus as amended or
          supplemented;

          (vi) The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
          the parties thereto and constitutes a valid and legally binding
          instrument, enforceable in accordance with its terms, subject, as to
          enforcement, to bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization and other laws
          of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights
          and to general equity principles; and the Indenture has been duly
          qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;
   
          (vii) The issue and sale of the Designated Securities and the
          compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Designated
          Securities, the Indenture, this Agreement and the Pricing Agreement
          with respect to the Designated Securities and the consummation of the
          transactions herein and therein contemplated will not conflict with or
          result in a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of,
          or constitute a default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust,
          loan agreement or other agreement or instrument known to such counsel
          to which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to
          which any of the property or assets of the Company is subject, nor
          will such actions result in any violation of the provisions of the
          Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of the Company or any statute or
          any order, rule or regulation known to such counsel of any court or
          governmental agency or body having jurisdiction over the Company or
          any of its properties;

          (viii) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
          qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body
          is required for the issue and sale of the Designated Securities or the
          consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by this
          Agreement or such Pricing Agreement or the Indenture, except such as
          have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such
          consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or
          qualifications as may be required under state securities or Blue Sky
          laws in connection with the purchase and distribution of the
          Designated Securities by the Underwriters;

          (ix) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is in violation
          of its Bylaws, Articles or Certificate of Incorporation or in
          default in the 

                                      -10-

<PAGE>   11


          performance or observance of any material obligation, agreement,
          covenant or condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage,
          loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which it is a party
          or by which it or any of its properties may be bound;
                  
          (x) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the captions
          "DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES", and "DESCRIPTION OF THE NOTES"
          insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the
          Securities, and under the caption "PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION" and
          "UNDERWRITING", insofar as they purport to constitute a summary of the
          material provisions of the documents referred to therein, are
          accurate, complete and fair;

          (xi) The Company is not an "investment company", as such term is
          defined in the Investment Company Act;

          (xii) The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as
          amended or supplemented (other than the financial statements and
          related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no
          opinion), when they became effective or were filed with the
          Commission, as the case may be, complied as to form in all material
          respects with the requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as
          applicable, and the rules and regulations of the Commission
          thereunder; and they have no reason to believe that any of such
          documents, when they became effective or were so filed, as the case
          may be, contained, in the case of a registration statement which
          became effective under the Act, an untrue statement of a material fact
          or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
          necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, or, in the
          case of other documents which were filed under the Act or the Exchange
          Act with the Commission, an untrue statement of a material fact or
          omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the
          statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
          were made when such documents were so filed, not misleading; and
    
          (xiii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or
          supplemented and any further amendments and supplements thereto made
          by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery for the Designated
          Securities (other than the financial statements and related schedules
          therein, as to which such counsel need express no opinion) comply as
          to form in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and
          the Trust Indenture Act and the rules and regulations thereunder;
          although they do not assume any responsibility for the accuracy,
          completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the
          Registration Statement or the Prospectus, except for those referred to
          in the opinion in subsection (x) of this Section 7(c), they have no
          reason to believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration
          Statement or any further amendment thereto made by the Company prior
          to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial statements, and
          related schedules therein, as to which such counsel need express no
          opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted
          to state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
          make the statements therein not misleading or that, as of its date,
          the Prospectus as 


                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12


          amended or supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto
          made by the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the
          financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which such
          counsel need express no opinion) contained an untrue statement of a
          material fact or omitted to state a material fact necessary to make
          the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
          they were made, not misleading or that, as of the Time of Delivery,
          either the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or
          supplemented or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by
          the Company prior to the Time of Delivery (other than the financial
          statements and related schedules therein, as to which such counsel
          need express no opinion) contains an untrue statement of a material
          fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the
          statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
          were made, not misleading; and they do not know of any amendment to
          the Registration Statement required to be filed or any contracts or
          other documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to
          the Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by reference
          into the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or required to be
          described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended
          or supplemented which are not filed or incorporated by reference or
          described as required;
    
          (d) On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such Designated
     Securities at a time prior to the execution of the Pricing Agreement with
     respect to such Designated Securities and at the Time of Delivery for such
     Designated Securities, the independent accountants of the Company who have
     certified the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries
     included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement shall
     have furnished to the Representatives a letter, dated the effective date of
     the Registration Statement or the date of the most recent report filed with
     the Commission containing financial statements and incorporated by
     reference in the Registration Statement, if the date of such report is
     later than such effective date, and a letter dated such Time of Delivery,
     respectively, to the effect set forth in Annex II hereto, and with respect
     to such letter dated such Time of Delivery, as to such other matters as the
     Representatives may reasonably request and in form and substance
     satisfactory to the Representatives (the executed copy of the letter
     delivered prior to the execution of this Agreement is attached as Annex
     I(a) hereto and a draft of the form of letter to be delivered on the
     effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration
     Statement and as of each Time of Delivery is attached as Annex I(b)
     hereto);

          (e) (i) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries shall have
     sustained since the date of the latest audited financial statements
     included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus as amended prior to
     the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities any
     loss or interference with its business from fire, explosion, flood or other
     calamity, whether or not covered by insurance, or from any labor dispute or
     court or governmental action, order or decree, otherwise than as set forth
     or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended prior to the date of the
     Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities, and (ii) since the
     respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus as


                                      -12-

<PAGE>   13


     amended prior to the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
     Designated Securities there shall not have been any change in the capital
     stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any
     change, or any development involving a prospective change, in or affecting
     the general affairs, management, financial position, shareholders' equity
     or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, otherwise
     than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus as amended prior to the
     date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the Designated Securities, the
     effect of which, in any such case described in Clause (i) or (ii), is in
     the judgment of the Representatives so material and adverse as to make it
     impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering or the
     delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner
     contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or supplemented relating to
     the Designated Securities; 

          (f) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
     Designated Securities (i) no downgrading shall have occurred in the rating
     accorded the Company's debt securities or preferred stock by any
     "nationally recognized statistical rating organization", as that term is
     defined by the Commission for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act, and
     (ii) no such organization shall have publicly announced that it has under
     surveillance or review, with possible negative implications, its rating of
     any of the Company's debt securities or preferred stock;

          (g) On or after the date of the Pricing Agreement relating to the
     Designated Securities there shall not have occurred any of the following:
     (i) a suspension or material limitation in trading in securities generally
     on the New York Stock Exchange;(ii) a suspension or material limitation in
     the trading of the Company's securities on the New York Stock Exchange;
     (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities declared by
     either Federal or New York State authorities; or (iv) the outbreak or
     escalation of hostilities involving the United States or the declaration by
     the United States of a national emergency or war, if the effect of any such
     event specified in this Clause (iv) in the judgment of the Representatives
     makes it impracticable or inadvisable to proceed with the public offering
     or the delivery of the Designated Securities on the terms and in the manner
     contemplated in the Prospectus as first amended or supplemented relating to
     the Designated Securities;
    
          (h) The Company shall have complied with the provisions of Section
     5(c) hereof with respect to the furnishing of prospectuses on the New York
     Business Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement; and

          (i) The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to the
     Representatives at the Time of Delivery for the Designated Securities a
     certificate or certificates of officers of the Company satisfactory to the
     Representatives as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of
     the Company herein at and as of such Time of Delivery, as to the
     performance by the Company of all of its obligations hereunder to be
     performed at or prior to such Time of Delivery, as to the matters set forth
     in subsections (a) and (e) of this Section and as to such other matters as
     the Representatives may reasonably request.


                                      -13-

<PAGE>   14


     8. (a) The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Underwriter may become subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such
losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out
of or are based upon an untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary
prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any
amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out of or are based upon the omission
or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to be stated
therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, and will
reimburse each Underwriter for any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
by such Underwriter in connection with investigating or defending any such
action or claim as such expenses are incurred; provided, however, that the
Company shall 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 an untrue statement or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made in any Preliminary
Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus relating to
the Securities, or any such amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in
conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any Underwriter
of Designated Securities through the Representatives expressly for use in the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to such Securities.

     (b) Each Underwriter will indemnify and hold harmless the Company against
any losses, claims, damages or liabilities to which the Company may become
subject, under the Act or otherwise, insofar as such losses, claims, damages or
liabilities (or actions in respect thereof) arise out of or are based upon an
untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in any
Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus supplement, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented and any other prospectus
relating to the Securities, or any amendment or supplement thereto, or arise out
of or are based upon the omission or alleged omission to state therein a
material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not misleading, in each case to the extent, but only to the extent, that
such untrue statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged
omission was made in any Preliminary Prospectus, any preliminary prospectus
supplement, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented and any other prospectus relating to the Securities, or any such
amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in conformity with written
information furnished to the Company by such Underwriter through the
Representatives expressly for use therein; and will reimburse the Company for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by the Company in connection
with investigating or defending any such action or claim as such expenses are
incurred.
    
     (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
shall, if a claim in respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying
party under such subsection, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the
commencement thereof; but the omission so to notify the indemnifying party shall
not relieve it from any liability which it may have to any indemnified party
otherwise than under such subsection. In case any such action shall be brought
against any indemnified party and it shall notify the indemnifying party of the
commencement thereof, the indemnifying party shall be entitled to participate
therein and, 


                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15


to the extent that it shall wish, jointly with any other indemnifying party
similarly notified, to assume the defense thereof, with counsel satisfactory to
such indemnified party (who shall not, except with the consent of the
indemnified party, be counsel to the indemnifying party), and, after notice from
the indemnifying party to such indemnified party of its election so to assume
the defense thereof, the indemnifying party shall not be liable to such
indemnified party under such subsection for any legal expenses of other counsel
or any other expenses, in each case subsequently incurred by such indemnified
party, in connection with the defense thereof other than reasonable costs of
investigation. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent of the
indemnified party, effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to the
entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or threatened action or claim
in respect of which indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder
(whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party to such
action or claim) unless such settlement, compromise or judgment (i) includes an
unconditional release of the indemnified party from all liability arising out of
such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement as to or an admission
of fault, culpability or a failure to act, by or on behalf of any indemnified
party.

     (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable to
or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect thereof) referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result
of such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received
by the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated Securities
on the other from the offering of the Designated Securities to which such loss,
claim, damage or liability (or action in respect thereof) relates. If, however,
the allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is not permitted
by applicable law or if the indemnified party failed to give the notice required
under subsection (c) above, then each indemnifying party shall contribute to
such amount paid or payable by such indemnified party in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters of the Designated
Securities on the other in connection with the statements or omissions which
resulted in such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof), as well as any other relevant equitable considerations. The relative
benefits received by the Company on the one hand and such Underwriters on the
other shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds
from such offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to
the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by such Underwriters.
The relative fault shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or the
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company on the one hand or such Underwriters on the other and
the parties' relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity
to correct or prevent such statement or omission. The Company and the
Underwriters agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by pro rata allocation (even if
the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other
method of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to above in this subsection (d). The amount paid or payable by an
indemnified party as a result of 


                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16


the losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
referred to above in this subsection (d) shall be deemed to include any legal or
other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim. Notwithstanding the
provisions of this subsection (d), no Underwriter shall be required to
contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which
the applicable Designated Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the
public were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission. No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation. The obligations of the Underwriters of Designated
Securities in this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to
their respective underwriting obligations with respect to such Securities and
not joint.
    
     (e) The obligations of the Company under this Section 8 shall be in
addition to any liability which the Company may otherwise have and shall extend,
upon the same terms and conditions, to each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of the Act; and the obligations of the
Underwriters under this Section 8 shall be in addition to any liability which
the respective Underwriters may otherwise have and shall extend, upon the same
terms and conditions, to each officer and director of the Company and to each
person, if any, who controls the Company within the meaning of the Act.

     9. (a) If any Underwriter shall default in its obligation to purchase the
Designated Securities which it has agreed to purchase under the Pricing
Agreement relating to such Designated Securities, the Representatives may in
their discretion arrange for themselves or another party or other parties to
purchase such Designated Securities on the terms contained herein. If within
thirty-six hours after such default by any Underwriter the Representatives do
not arrange for the purchase of such Designated Securities, then the Company
shall be entitled to a further period of thirty-six hours within which to
procure another party or other parties satisfactory to the Representatives to
purchase such Designated Securities on such terms. In the event that, within the
respective prescribed period, the Representatives notify the Company that they
have so arranged for the purchase of such Designated Securities, or the Company
notifies the Representatives that it has so arranged for the purchase of such
Designated Securities, the Representatives or the Company shall have the right
to postpone the Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities for a period of
not more than seven days, in order to effect whatever changes may thereby be
made necessary in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as amended or
supplemented, or in any other documents or arrangements, and the Company agrees
to file promptly any amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement or
the Prospectus which in the opinion of the Representatives may thereby be made
necessary. The term "Underwriter" as used in this Agreement shall include any
person substituted under this Section with like effect as if such person had
originally been a party to the Pricing Agreement with respect to such Designated
Securities.
    
     (b) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of such Designated Securities which remains
unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the 


                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17


aggregate principal amount of the Designated Securities, then the Company shall
have the right to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase the
principal amount of Designated Securities which such Underwriter agreed to
purchase under the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities and,
in addition, to require each non-defaulting Underwriter to purchase its pro rata
share (based on the principal amount of Designated Securities which such
Underwriter agreed to purchase under such Pricing Agreement) of the Designated
Securities of such defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters for which such
arrangements have not been made; but nothing herein shall relieve a defaulting
Underwriter from liability for its default.

     (c) If, after giving effect to any arrangements for the purchase of the
Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters by the
Representatives and the Company as provided in subsection (a) above, the
aggregate principal amount of Designated Securities which remains unpurchased
exceeds one-eleventh of the aggregate principal amount of the Designated
Securities, as referred to in subsection (b) above, or if the Company shall not
exercise the right described in subsection (b) above to require non-defaulting
Underwriters to purchase Designated Securities of a defaulting Underwriter or
Underwriters, then the Pricing Agreement relating to such Designated Securities
shall thereupon terminate, without liability on the part of any non-defaulting
Underwriter or the Company, except for the expenses to be borne by the Company
and the Underwriters as provided in Section 6 hereof and the indemnity and
contribution agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a
defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

     10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations, warranties and
other statements of the Company and the several Underwriters, as set forth in
this Agreement or made by or on behalf of them, respectively, pursuant to this
Agreement, shall remain in full force and effect, regardless of any
investigation (or any statement as to the results thereof) made by or on behalf
of any Underwriter or any controlling person of any Underwriter, or the Company,
or any officer or director or controlling person of the Company, and shall
survive delivery of and payment for the Securities.

     11. If any Pricing Agreement shall be terminated pursuant to Section 9
hereof, the Company shall not then be under any liability to any Underwriter
with respect to the Designated Securities covered by such Pricing Agreement
except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other reason
Designated Securities are not delivered by or on behalf of the Company as
provided herein, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters through the
Representatives for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by the
Representatives, including fees and disbursements of counsel, reasonably
incurred by the Underwriters in making preparations for the purchase, sale and
delivery of such Designated Securities, but the Company shall then be under no
further liability to any Underwriter with respect to such Designated Securities
except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.
       
     12. In all dealings hereunder, the Representatives of the Underwriters of
Designated Securities shall act on behalf of each of such Underwriters, and the
parties hereto shall be entitled to act and rely upon any statement, request,
notice or agreement on behalf of any Underwriter made or given by such
Representatives jointly or by such of the Representatives, if any, as may be
designated for such purpose in the Pricing Agreement.


                                      -17-

<PAGE>   18


     All statements, requests, notices and agreements hereunder shall be in
writing, and if to the Underwriters shall be delivered or sent by mail, telex or
facsimile transmission to the address of the Representatives as set forth in the
Pricing Agreement; and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail,
telex or facsimile transmission to the address of the Company set forth in the
Registration Statement: Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice
to an Underwriter pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by
mail, telex or facsimile transmission to such Underwriter at its address set
forth in its Underwriters' Questionnaire, or telex constituting such
Questionnaire, which address will be supplied to the Company by the
Representatives upon request. Any such statements, requests, notices or
agreements shall take effect upon receipt thereof.

     13. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement shall be binding upon, and
inure solely to the benefit of, the Underwriters, the Company and, to the extent
provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof, the officers and directors of the Company
and each person who controls the Company or any Underwriter, and their
respective heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, and no
other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement or any such Pricing Agreement. No purchaser of any of the Securities
from any Underwriter shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason merely of
such purchase.

     14. Time shall be of the essence of each Pricing Agreement. As used herein,
"business day" shall mean any day when the Commission's office in Washington,
D.C. is open for business.
    
     15. THIS AGREEMENT AND EACH PRICING AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

     16. This Agreement and each Pricing Agreement may be executed by any one or
more of the parties hereto and thereto in any number of counterparts, each of
which shall be deemed to be an original, but all such respective counterparts
shall together constitute one and the same instrument.

     IF THE FOREGOING IS IN ACCORDANCE WITH YOUR UNDERSTANDING, PLEASE SIGN AND
RETURN TO US ONE FOR THE COMPANY AND FOR EACH OF THE REPRESENTATIVES PLUS ONE
FOR EACH COUNSEL COUNTERPARTS HEREOF.

                                           Very truly yours,

                                           UNIVERSAL FOODS CORPORATION



                                           By: /s/ John L. Hammond
                                               ----------------------------
                                               Name: John L. Hammond
                                               Title: Vice President, Secretary
                                                      and General Counsel


Accepted as of the date hereof:

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
ABN AMRO INCORPORATED



BY: /s/ Pamela C. Torres
    ----------------------------------
         (GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.)

On behalf of each of the Underwriters                                      





                                      -18-

<PAGE>   19

 


                                                                         ANNEX I

                               PRICING AGREEMENT
                               -----------------


Goldman, Sachs & Co.,


     As Representatives of the several
     Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto,
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
85 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10004

                                                                 MARCH [-], 1999
Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Universal Foods Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"),
proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement, dated March [-], 1999. (the "Underwriting Agreement"),
between the Company on the one hand and Goldman, Sachs & Co. and 
                                                on the other hand, to issue and
sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") the
Securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated Securities"). Each
of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to
the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; and
each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to
have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each
representation and warranty which refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the
Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of
the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein
defined), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing
Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to
the Designated Securities which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each
reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the
Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to
you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting
Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representatives designated to
act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf of each of the Underwriters
of the Designated Securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting
Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in such Section 12
are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto.

     An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the
Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the
form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the
Commission.

     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to
issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees,
severally and not jointly,
<PAGE>   20



to purchase from the Company, at the time and place and at the purchase price to
the Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto, the principal amount of
Designated Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in
Schedule I hereto.

     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign and
return to us counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on behalf
of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof, including
the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference,
shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters and the
Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf of each
of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in a form
of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to the
Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on the part of the
Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.

                                              Very truly yours,

                                              UNIVERSAL FOODS CORPORATION


                                              By:______________________________
                                                 Name:
                                                 Title:


Accepted as of the date hereof:

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.



BY:_______________________________________
         (GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.)


On behalf of each of the Underwriters


                                      -2-

<PAGE>   21


                                   SCHEDULE I






<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF 
                                             DESIGNATED SECURITIES

            UNDERWRITER                        TO BE PURCHASED
            -----------                        ---------------
<S>                                              <C>
Goldman, Sachs & Co.                             $
                                                 $
                                                 $
      Total                                      $
</TABLE>





                                      -3-



<PAGE>   22


                                   SCHEDULE II

TITLE OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:

         [  %] [Floating Rate] [Zero Coupon] [Notes]
         [Debentures] due                   ,

AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:

         [$]

PRICE TO PUBLIC:

         % of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued
         interest[, if any,] from       to        [and accrued amortization
         [, if any,] from     to     ]

PURCHASE PRICE BY UNDERWRITERS:

          % of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus accrued
          interest from       to    [and accrued amortization[, if any,] from 
               to    ]



          Book-entry only form represented by one or more global securities
          deposited with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its designated
          custodian, to be made available for checking by the Representatives at
          least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of
          DTC.

SPECIFIED FUNDS FOR PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE:

         Federal (same day) funds

TIME OF DELIVERY:

         a.m. (New York City time),             , 19

INDENTURE:

         Indenture dated             , 19   , between the Company and 
                , as Trustee

MATURITY:

INTEREST RATE:

         [   %] [Zero Coupon] [See Floating Rate Provisions]

INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:


                                      -4-


<PAGE>   23


          [months and dates, commencing ....................., 19..]

REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:

          [No provisions for redemption]

          [The Designated Securities may be redeemed, otherwise than through the
          sinking fund, in whole or in part at the option of the Company, in the
          amount of [$ ] or an integral multiple thereof,

          [on or after     ,    at the following redemption prices (expressed in
          percentages of principal amount). If [redeemed on or before      ,
          %, and if] redeemed during the 12-month period beginning      ,


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                     REDEMPTION
               YEAR                    PRICE
               ----                    -----
<S>                                  <C>

</TABLE>




          and thereafter at 100% of their principal amount, together in each
          case with accrued interest to the redemption date.]

          [on any interest payment date falling on or after ,      , at the
          election of the Company, at a redemption price equal to the principal
          amount thereof, plus accrued interest to the date of redemption.]]

          [Other possible redemption provisions, such as mandatory redemption
          upon occurrence of certain events or redemption for changes in tax
          law]

          [Restriction on refunding]

SINKING FUND PROVISIONS:

          [No sinking fund provisions]

          [The Designated Securities are entitled to the benefit of a sinking
          fund to retire [$      ] principal amount of Designated Securities on
                 in each of the years       through        at 100% of their 
          principal amount plus accrued interest[, together with [cumulative]
          [noncumulative] redemptions at the option of the Company to retire an
          additional [$      ] principal amount of Designated Securities in the
          years       through        at 100% of their principal amount plus
          accrued interest.]

          [If Designated Securities are extendable debt securities, insert--

EXTENDABLE PROVISIONS:

                                      -5-
<PAGE>   24



          Designated Securities are repayable on        ,        [insert date
          and years], at the option of the holder, at their principal amount
          with accrued interest. The initial annual interest rate will be     %,
          and thereafter the annual interest rate will be adjusted on        ,
          and        to a rate not less than       % of the effective annual 
          interest rate on U.S. Treasury obligations with       -year maturities
          as of the [insert date 15 days prior to maturity date] prior to such
          [insert maturity date].]

          [If Designated Securities are floating rate debt securities, insert--

FLOATING RATE PROVISIONS:
 
          Initial annual interest rate will be       % through [and thereafter
          will be adjusted [monthly] [on each        ,       ,   and ] [to an
          annual rate of % above the average rate for         -year
          [month][securities][certificates of deposit] issued by        and
          [insert names of banks].] [and the annual interest rate [thereafter]
          [from      through      ] will be the interest yield equivalent of the
          weekly average per annum market discount rate for     -month Treasury
          bills plus        % of Interest Differential (the excess, if any, of
          (i) the then current weekly average per annum secondary market yield
          for       -month certificates of deposit over (ii) the then current
          interest yield equivalent of the weekly average per annum market
          discount rate for       -month Treasury bills); [from       and
          thereafter the rate will be the then current interest yield equivalent
          plus       % of Interest Differential].]

DEFEASANCE PROVISIONS:


CLOSING LOCATION FOR DELIVERY OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:


ADDITIONAL CLOSING CONDITIONS:

          Paragraph 7(g) of the Underwriting Agreement should be modified in the
          event that the Securities are denominated in, indexed to, or principal
          or interest are paid in, a currency other than the U.S. dollar, more
          than one currency or in a composite currency. The country or countries
          issuing such currency should be added to the banking moratorium and
          hostilities clauses and the following additional clause should be
          added to the paragraph (the entire paragraph should be restated, as
          amended):

                 "; ( ) the imposition of the proposal of exchange controls by
          any governmental authority in [insert the country or countries issuing
          such currency, currencies or composite currency]".


NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES:

          Designated Representatives:

                                      -6-

<PAGE>   25


          Address for Notices, etc.:

[OTHER TERMS]* :












_________________
*    A description of particular tax, accounting or other unusual features (such
     as the addition of event risk provisions) of the Designated Securities
     should be set forth, or referenced to an attached and accompanying
     description, if necessary, to ensure agreement as to the terms of the
     Designated Securities to be purchased and sold. Such a description might
     appropriately be in the form in which such features will be described in
     the Prospectus Supplement for the offering.


                                      -7-

<PAGE>   26



                                                                        ANNEX II

     Pursuant to Section 7(d) of the Underwriting Agreement, the accountants
shall furnish letters to the Underwriters to the effect that:
   
          (i) They are independent certified public accountants with respect to
     the Company and its subsidiaries within the meaning of the Act and the
     applicable published rules and regulations thereunder;

          (ii) In their opinion, the financial statements and any supplementary
     financial information and schedules audited (and, if applicable, financial
     forecasts and/or pro forma financial information) examined by them and
     included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
     accounting requirements of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and
     the related published rules and regulations thereunder; and, if applicable,
     they have made a review in accordance with standards established by the
     American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of the consolidated
     interim financial statements, selected financial data, pro forma financial
     information, financial forecasts and/or condensed financial statements
     derived from audited financial statements of the Company for the periods
     specified in such letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of
     which have been [separately] furnished to the representative or
     representatives of the Underwriters (the "Representatives") such term to
     include an Underwriter or Underwriters who act without any firm being
     designated as its or their representatives [and are attached hereto];

          (iii) They have made a review in accordance with standards established
     by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of the unaudited
     condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance sheets
     and consolidated statements of cash flows included in the Prospectus and/or
     included in the Company's quarterly report on Form 10-Q incorporated by
     reference into the Prospectus as indicated in their reports thereon copies
     of which][have been separately furnished to the Representatives][are
     attached hereto]; and on the basis of specified procedures including
     inquiries of officials of the Company who have responsibility for financial
     and accounting matters regarding whether the unaudited condensed
     consolidated financial statements referred to in paragraph (vi)(A)(i) below
     comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable accounting
     requirements of the [Act and the Exchange] Act and the related published
     rules and regulations, nothing came to their attention that caused them to
     believe that the unaudited condensed consolidated financial statements do
     not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
     accounting requirements of the [Act and the Exchange] Act and the related
     published rules and regulations;

          (iv) The unaudited selected financial information with respect to the
     consolidated results of operations and financial position of the Company
     for the five most recent fiscal years included in the Prospectus and
     included or incorporated by reference in Item 6 of the Company's Annual
     Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year agrees with the
     corresponding amounts (after


<PAGE>   27


     restatement where applicable) in the audited consolidated financial
     statements for five such fiscal years which were included or incorporated
     by reference in the Company's Annual Reports on Form 10-K for such fiscal
     years;

          (v) They have compared the information in the Prospectus under
     selected captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K and on
     the basis of limited procedures specified in such letter nothing came to
     their attention as a result of the foregoing procedures that caused them to
     believe that this information does not conform in all material respects
     with the disclosure requirements of Items 301, 302, 402 and 503(d),
     respectively, of Regulation S-K;
          
          (vi) On the basis of limited procedures, not constituting an
     examination in accordance with generally accepted auditing standards,
     consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial statements and other
     information referred to below, a reading of the latest available interim
     financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries, inspection of the
     minute books of the Company and its subsidiaries since the date of the
     latest audited financial statements included or incorporated by reference
     in the Prospectus, inquiries of officials of the Company and its
     subsidiaries responsible for financial and accounting matters and such
     other inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter, nothing
     came to their attention that caused them to believe that:

               (A) (i) the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of
          income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of
          cash flows included in the Prospectus and/or included or incorporated
          by reference in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
          incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do not comply as to form
          in all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements
          of the Exchange Act and the related published rules and regulations,
          or (ii) any material modifications should be made to the unaudited
          condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance
          sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in the
          Prospectus or included in the Company's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q
          incorporated by reference in the Prospectus for them to be in
          conformity with generally accepted accounting principles;

               (B) any other unaudited income statement data and balance sheet
          items included in the Prospectus do not agree with the corresponding
          items in the unaudited consolidated financial statements from which
          such data and items were derived, and any such unaudited data and
          items were not determined on a basis substantially consistent with the
          basis for the corresponding amounts in the audited consolidated
          financial statements included or incorporated by reference in the
          Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year;

               (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included in
          the Prospectus but from which were derived the unaudited condensed
          financial statements referred to in clause (A) and any unaudited
          income statement data and balance sheet items included in the
          Prospectus and referred to in Clause (B) were not determined on a
          basis substantially

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   28


          consistent with the basis for the audited financial statements
          included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report
          on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year;
   
               (D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated condensed financial
          statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus do
          not comply as to form in all material respects with the applicable
          accounting requirements of the Act and the published rules and
          regulations thereunder or the pro forma adjustments have not been
          properly applied to the historical amounts in the compilation of those
          statements;
                 
               (E) as of a specified date not more than five days prior to the
          date of such letter, there have been any changes in the consolidated
          capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock upon exercise of
          options and stock appreciation rights, upon earn-outs of performance
          shares and upon conversions of convertible securities, in each case
          which were outstanding on the date of the latest balance sheet
          included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus) or any
          increase in the consolidated long-term debt of the Company and its
          subsidiaries, or any decreases in consolidated net current assets or
          shareholders' equity or other items specified by the Representatives,
          or any increases in any items specified by the Representatives, in
          each case as compared with amounts shown in the latest balance sheet
          included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus, except in
          each case for changes, increases or decreases which the Prospectus
          discloses have occurred or may occur or which are described in such
          letter; and

               (F) for the period from the date of the latest financial
          statements included or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus to
          the specified date referred to in Clause (E) there were any decreases
          in consolidated net revenues or operating profit or the total or per
          share amounts of consolidated net income or other items specified by
          the Representatives, or any increases in any items specified by the
          Representatives, in each case as compared with the comparable period
          of the preceding year and with any other period of corresponding
          length specified by the Representatives, except in each case for
          increases or decreases which the Prospectus discloses have occurred or
          may occur or which are described in such letter; and

          (vii) In addition to the audit referred to in their report(s) included
     or incorporated by reference in the Prospectus and the limited procedures,
     inspection of minute books, inquiries and other procedures referred to in
     paragraphs (iii) and (vi) above, they have carried out certain specified
     procedures, not constituting an audit in accordance with generally accepted
     auditing standards, with respect to certain amounts, percentages and
     financial information specified by the Representatives which are derived
     from the general accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries,
     which appear in the Prospectus (excluding documents incorporated by
     reference), or in Part II of, or in exhibits and schedules to, the
     Registration Statement specified by the Representatives or in documents
     incorporated by reference in the Prospectus specified by the
     Representatives, and

                                      -3-

<PAGE>   29


     have compared certain of such amounts, percentages and financial
     information with the accounting records of the Company and its subsidiaries
     and have found them to be in agreement.
   
     All references in this Annex II to the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer
to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by reference therein) as
defined in the Underwriting Agreement as of the date of the letter delivered on
the date of the Pricing Agreement for purposes of such letter and to the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the documents incorporated by
reference therein) in relation to the applicable Designated Securities for
purposes of the letter delivered at the Time of Delivery for such Designated
Securities.

                                      -4-

<PAGE>   30
                                                                    ANNEX III(a)








                                     [DATE]



Goldman, Sachs & Co.


c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, NY  10004


         Re:   Universal Foods Corporation
               $           % [title of securities] due
               Legal Opinion pursuant to Section 7(c) of the
               Underwriting Agreement dated March --, 1999



Ladies and Gentlemen:

     We have acted as counsel to Universal Foods Corporation, a Wisconsin
corporation (the "Company"), in connection with the negotiation, execution and
delivery of that certain underwriting agreement dated as of March --, 1999
(including any exhibits thereto, the "Underwriting Agreement") among Goldman,
Sachs & Co.,                            , 
(the "Underwriters") and the Company relating to the Company's debt securities
issued or to be issued pursuant to that certain Indenture dated as of November
9, 1998 (the "Indenture") between the Company and The First National Bank of
Chicago (the "Trustee"). We have also acted as counsel to the Company in
connection with the negotiation, execution and delivery of that certain pricing
agreement dated as of        , (the "Pricing Agreement") relating to the
Company's $          % [title of securities] due (the "Designated Securities").
In connection with the offering of the Designated Securities, the Company
prepared the "Registration Statement" (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement)
and the "Prospectus" (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement, and as amended
and supplemented through the date of this opinion, referred to herein as the
"Prospectus").


                                      



                                    -1-

                                      
















                                      
<PAGE>   31


This letter is being delivered to you pursuant to Section 7(c) of the
Underwriting Agreement at the request of the Company.

     In rendering the opinions expressed herein we have reviewed executed copies
of each of the (i) Indenture (including the form of Designated Securities); (ii)
Underwriting Agreement; (iii) Pricing Agreement; and (iv) Registration
Statement, and have reviewed copies of the Prospectus. The Indenture (including
the form of Designated Securities), the Underwriting Agreement, and the Pricing
Agreement are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the "Operative
Documents." Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning
assigned to them in the Operative Documents.

     We have also examined the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Company, certain corporate resolutions of the Company, and such other documents,
records, certificates and agreements, and have made such legal and factual
investigations, as we have deemed necessary to enable us to render the opinions
expressed below. As to the corporate status of the Company, we have relied on
written certifications from the applicable governmental agencies and of public
officials, and we have no reason to believe such certifications are inaccurate.
As to the various matters (including, without limitation, the question of
whether the effect on the Company or any Significant Subsidiary of certain
matters referred to in subparagraphs (iii) or (ix) would constitute a "Material
Adverse Effect") of a factual nature forming the basis for our opinions herein,
we have relied, to the extent we deemed appropriate, upon various
representations made and information furnished to us by various representatives
of the Company, and we believe you and we are justified in relying on such
representations so made and information so furnished. We have assumed the
authenticity of all documents and instruments represented to us to be originals
and the conformity to originals of all documents and instruments represented to
us to be copies of originals. We have also assumed that the Indenture is valid
and enforceable in accordance with its terms against the parties thereto (other
than the Company).

     Based upon the foregoing and subject to any limitations hereinafter
expressed, we are pleased to render our opinion as follows:

          (i) The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
     a corporation under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, with corporate
     power and authority to own its properties and conduct its business as
     described in the Prospectus;

          (ii) The Company has an authorized capitalization as set forth in the
     Prospectus; nothing has come to our attention that would cause us to
     conclude that any of the issued shares of capital stock of the Company

                                      -2-
<PAGE>   32


     have not been duly and validly authorized and issued; and all of the
     validly authorized and issued shares of capital stock of the Company are
     fully paid and non-assessable, provided, however, that our opinion as to
     the nonassessability of such shares is subject to the limitation contained
     in Section 180.0622(2)(b), Wisconsin Statutes, which makes shareholders
     personally liable for debts owing to employees for services performed for
     Wisconsin corporations not exceeding six months service, up to the par
     value of the shares they own (we note that "par value" has been construed
     by a Wisconsin court for this purpose to mean the initial purchase price of
     the stock);

          (iii) To the best of our knowledge, other than as set forth in the
     Prospectus, there are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which
     the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property
     of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if
     determined adversely to the Company or any of its subsidiaries, would have
     a Material Adverse Effect; and, to the best of our knowledge, no such
     proceedings have been threatened by governmental authorities or by others;

          (iv) The Underwriting Agreement and the Pricing Agreement have been
     duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

          (v) The Designated Securities have been duly authorized, executed,
     authenticated, issued and delivered and constitute valid and legally
     binding obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the
     Indenture; and the Designated Securities and the Indenture conform to the
     descriptions thereof in the Prospectus;

          (vi) The Indenture has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture
     Act. The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the
     Company and constitutes a valid and legally binding instrument, enforceable
     in accordance with its terms, subject, as to enforcement to (a) bankruptcy,
     insolvency, reorganization, arrangement, moratorium, and other laws
     affecting or relating to the rights of creditors generally; and (b) rules
     of law governing specific performance, injunctive relief, or other
     equitable remedies and general principles of equity;

          (vii) The issuance and sale of the Designated Securities and the
     compliance by the Company with all of the provisions of the Designated
     Securities and the Operative Documents and the consummation of the

                                      -3-

<PAGE>   33


     transactions therein contemplated will not: (A) conflict with or result in
     a breach or violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a
     default under, any indenture, mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or
     other agreement or instrument to which the Company is a party or by which
     the Company is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the
     Company is subject which is listed on Schedule A hereto; (B) result in any
     violation of the provisions of the Articles of Incorporation or Bylaws of
     the Company; (C) result in any violation of any statute, rule or
     regulation; or (D) to our knowledge, conflict with or result in a breach or
     violation of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default
     under, any order of any governmental agency or body or any court, domestic
     or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its properties;

          (viii) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
     qualification of or with any such court or governmental agency or body is
     required for the issuance and sale of the Designated Securities or the
     consummation by the Company of the transactions contemplated by the
     Operative Documents, except such as have been obtained under the Act and
     the Trust Indenture Act and such consents, approvals, authorizations,
     orders, registrations or qualifications as may be required under state
     securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the purchase and
     distribution of the Designated Securities by the Underwriters;

          (ix) To our knowledge (A) neither the Company nor any "Significant
     Subsidiary" of the Company identified in Schedule B hereto is in violation
     of its Articles or Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws and (B) neither
     the Company nor any subsidiary of the Company is in default in the
     performance or observance of any obligation, agreement, covenant or
     condition contained in any contract, indenture, mortgage, loan agreement,
     note, lease or other instrument to which it is a party or by which it or
     any of its properties may be bound, except where any such default would not
     have a Material Adverse Effect;

          (x) The statements set forth in the Prospectus under the captions
     "Description of Debt Securities", and "Description of the Notes" insofar as
     they purport to constitute a summary of the terms of the Securities, and
     under the caption "Plan of Distribution" and "Underwriting", insofar as
     they purport to constitute a summary of the material provisions of the
     documents referred to therein, are accurate and complete;
   
                                       -4-

<PAGE>   34




          (xi) The Company is not an "investment company", as such term is
     defined in the Investment Company Act;

          (xii) We have participated in conferences with officers and other
     representatives of the Company and representatives of the independent
     public accountants for the Company, at which conferences the contents of
     the documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus (other than the
     financial statements and related schedules therein, as to which we express
     no opinion, collectively the "Incorporated Documents") were discussed, but
     we have not independently verified and are not passing upon and assume no
     responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or fairness of the
     statements contained in the Incorporated Documents. In addition, we have
     provided legal representation to the Company on a non-exclusive basis
     during all periods relevant to the inclusion of information in the
     Incorporated Documents. Based on such conferences and on our knowledge
     derived during the course of such representation, nothing has come to our
     attention which would give us reason to believe that the Incorporated
     Documents, when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as
     the case may be: (A) contained, in the case of a registration statement
     which became effective under the Act, an untrue statement of a material
     fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be stated therein or
     necessary to make the statements therein not misleading; or, (B) contained,
     in the case of other documents which were filed with the Commission under
     the Act or the Exchange Act, an untrue statement of a material fact or
     omitted to state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements
     therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made when
     such documents were so filed, not misleading. The Incorporated Documents,
     when they became effective or were filed with the Commission, as the case
     may be, complied as to form in all material respects with the requirements
     of the Act or the Exchange Act, as applicable, and the rules and
     regulations of the Commission thereunder; and

          (xiii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply as to form
     in all material respects with the requirements of the Act and the Trust
     Indenture Act and the rules and regulations thereunder. We have
     participated in conferences with officers and other representatives of the
     Company, representatives of the independent public accountants for the
     Company, and representatives and counsel to the Underwriters, at which
     conferences the contents of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus
     were discussed. We have not independently verified and are not passing


                                      -5-

<PAGE>   35


     upon and assume no responsibility for the accuracy, completeness, or
     fairness of the statements contained in the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus (except as described in paragraph (x) of this opinion). In
     addition, we have provided legal representation to the Company on a
     non-exclusive basis during all periods relevant to the inclusion of
     information in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus. Based on such
     conferences and on our knowledge derived during the course of such
     representation, nothing has come to our attention which would give us
     reason to believe that, as of its effective date, the Registration
     Statement or any further amendment thereto made by the Company prior to the
     date hereof (other than the financial statements, and related schedules
     therein, as to which we express no opinion) contained an untrue statement
     of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact required to be
     stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading
     or that, as of its date, the Prospectus (other than the financial
     statements and related schedules therein, as to which we express no
     opinion) contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
     state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
     light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading or
     that, as of the date hereof either the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus (other than the financial statements and related schedules
     therein, as to which we express no opinion) contains an untrue statement of
     a material fact or omits to state a material fact necessary to make the
     statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading; and we do not know of any amendment to the
     Registration Statement required to be filed or any contracts or other
     documents of a character required to be filed as an exhibit to the
     Registration Statement or required to be incorporated by reference into the
     Prospectus or required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus which are not filed or incorporated by reference or described as
     required.

     All references to "our knowledge" or "known to us" refer to the actual
knowledge, after due inquiry, of the attorneys at our firm who have worked on or
have been consulted with respect to matters involving the Company or any of its
subsidiaries.

     The foregoing opinions herein are limited to the federal laws of the United
States and the laws of the States of Wisconsin and, subject to the following
sentence, New York, and we are expressing no opinion as to the effect of the
laws of any other state or jurisdiction. We are not admitted to practice in New
York and with respect to all matters of New York law we have relied solely on
the opinion, dated the date hereof, of Sullivan and Cromwell, and our opinions
with respect to such matters are subject to the same


                                      -6-
<PAGE>   36


assumptions, limitations, and qualifications as are contained in such opinion of
Sullivan and Cromwell.

     This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to your request in connection
with this transaction and is solely for your use, and may not be relied upon by
any other person or for any other purpose without our prior written consent;
provided, however, that the opinions expressed herein may be relied upon by the
Trustee under the Indenture and, with respect to all matters of Wisconsin law,
our opinion as to the due incorporation of the Company, and the due execution of
the Indenture, the Designated Securities and the Operative Documents on the part
of the Company, by your counsel, Sullivan and Cromwell.

                                          Very truly yours,

                                          WHYTE HIRSCHBOECK DUDEK S.C.


                                     By:  ____________________________________
                                          Frederick A. Muth, Jr.




                                      -7-

<PAGE>   37
                                                                   ANNEX III (b)

                       OPINION OF COMPANY GENERAL COUNSEL
                                (UFC Letterhead)


                                     [DATE]


Goldman, Sachs & Co.


c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
85 Broad Street
New York, NY  10004


         Re:  Universal Foods Corporation
              $         % [title of securities] due
              Legal Opinion pursuant to Section 7(c) of the
              Underwriting Agreement dated March --, 1999



Ladies and Gentlemen:

     I am Vice President, Secretary and General Counsel to Universal Foods
Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"), and have represented the
Company in that capacity in connection with the negotiation, execution and
delivery of that certain underwriting agreement dated as of March --, 1999
(including any exhibits thereto, the "Underwriting Agreement") among Goldman,
Sachs & Co.,                            
(collectively, the "Underwriters") and the Company relating to the Company's
debt securities issued or to be issued pursuant to that certain Indenture dated
as of November 9, 1998 (the "Indenture") between the Company and the First
National Bank of Chicago (the "Trustee"). I have also acted as general counsel
to the Company in connection with the negotiation, execution and delivery of
that certain pricing agreement dated as of       , (the "Pricing Agreement")
relating to the Company's $        % [title of securities] due (the "Designated
Securities"). In connection with the offering of the Designated Securities, the
Company prepared the "Registration Statement" (as defined in the Underwriting
Agreement) and the "Prospectus" (as defined in the Underwriting Agreement, and
as amended and supplemented through the date of this opinion, referred



<PAGE>   38


to herein as the "Prospectus"). This letter is being delivered to you pursuant
to Section 7(c) of the Underwriting Agreement.

     In rendering the opinions expressed herein I have reviewed executed copies
of each of the (i) Indenture (including the form of Designated Securities); (ii)
Underwriting Agreement; (iii) Pricing Agreement; and (iv) Registration
Statement, and have reviewed copies of the Prospectus. The Indenture (including
the form of Designated Securities), the Underwriting Agreement, and the Pricing
Agreement are sometimes collectively referred to herein as the "Operative
Documents." Capitalized terms used but not defined herein shall have the meaning
assigned to them in the Operative Documents.

     I have also examined the Articles of Incorporation and Bylaws of the
Company, certain corporate resolutions of the Company, and such other documents,
records, certificates and agreements, and have made such legal and factual
investigations, as I have deemed necessary to enable me to render the opinions
expressed below.

     Based upon the foregoing and subject to any limitations hereinafter
expressed, I am pleased to render my opinion as follows:


     (i) The issuance and sale of the Designated Securities and the compliance
by the Company with all of the provisions of the Designated Securities and the
Operative Documents and the consummation of the transactions therein
contemplated will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation of any of
the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under, any indenture,
mortgage, deed of trust, loan agreement or other agreement or instrument to
which the Company is a party or by which the Company is bound or to which any of
the property or assets of the Company is subject, except where any such default
would not have a Material Adverse Effect; and

     (ii) (A) Neither the Company nor any "Significant Subsidiary" of the
Company identified in Schedule A hereto is in violation of its Articles or
Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws and (B) neither the Company nor any
subsidiary of the Company is in default in the performance or observance of any
obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any contract,
indenture, mortgage, loan agreement, note, lease or other instrument to which it
is a party or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, except where
any such default would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a Material
Adverse Effect;

     (iii) There are no legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the
Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any property of the
Company or




<PAGE>   39


any of its subsidiaries is the subject which, if determined adversely to the
Company or any of its subsidiaries, would have a Material Adverse Effect; and,
to the best of my knowledge, no such proceedings have been threatened by
governmental authorities or by others; and

     (viii) No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration or
qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body is required
for the issuance and sale of the Designated Securities or the consummation by
the Company of the transactions contemplated by the Operative Documents, except
such as have been obtained under the Act and the Trust Indenture Act and such
consents, approvals, authorizations, orders, registrations or qualifications as
may be required under state securities or Blue Sky laws in connection with the
purchase and distribution of the Designated Securities by the Underwriters.

     This opinion is furnished to you pursuant to your request in connection
with this transaction and is solely for your use, and may not be relied upon by
any other person or for any other purpose without our prior written consent;
provided, however, that the opinions expressed herein may be relied upon by the
Company's outside counsel, Whyte Hirschboeck Dudek S.C., by the Trustee under
the Indenture and by your counsel, Sullivan and Cromwell.

                                      Very truly yours,

                                      UNIVERSAL FOODS CORPORATION



                                      By:      ______________________________
                                               John L. Hammond, Vice President,
                                               Secretary and General Counsel

<PAGE>   1


                                PRICING AGREEMENT


Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc.
ABN AMRO Incorporated,
         As Representatives of the several
         Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto,
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
85 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10004.

                                                                  MARCH 22, 1999

Ladies and Gentlemen:

         Universal Foods Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the "Company"),
proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement, dated March 22, 1999 (the "Underwriting Agreement"),
between the Company on the one hand and Goldman, Sachs & Co. and First Chicago
Capital Markets, Inc. and ABN AMRO Incorporated on the other hand, to issue and
sell to the Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the "Underwriters") the
Securities specified in Schedule II hereto (the "Designated Securities"). Each
of the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be a part of this Agreement to
the same extent as if such provisions had been set forth in full herein; and
each of the representations and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to
have been made at and as of the date of this Pricing Agreement, except that each
representation and warranty which refers to the Prospectus in Section 2 of the
Underwriting Agreement shall be deemed to be a representation or warranty as of
the date of the Underwriting Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein
defined), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Pricing
Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended or supplemented relating to
the Designated Securities which are the subject of this Pricing Agreement. Each
reference to the Representatives herein and in the provisions of the
Underwriting Agreement so incorporated by reference shall be deemed to refer to
you. Unless otherwise defined herein, terms defined in the Underwriting
Agreement are used herein as therein defined. The Representatives designated to
act on behalf of the Representatives and on behalf of each of the Underwriters
of the Designated Securities pursuant to Section 12 of the Underwriting
Agreement and the address of the Representatives referred to in such Section 12
are set forth at the end of Schedule II hereto.

         An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to the
Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Designated Securities, in the
form heretofore delivered to you is now proposed to be filed with the
Commission.

         Subject to the terms and conditions set forth herein and in the
Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees to
issue and sell to each of the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters agrees,
severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at the time and place
and at the purchase price to the
<PAGE>   2


Underwriters set forth in Schedule II hereto, the principal amount of Designated
Securities set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.








                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3


         If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding, please sign
and return to us counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance hereof by you, on
behalf of each of the Underwriters, this letter and such acceptance hereof,
including the provisions of the Underwriting Agreement incorporated herein by
reference, shall constitute a binding agreement between each of the Underwriters
and the Company. It is understood that your acceptance of this letter on behalf
of each of the Underwriters is or will be pursuant to the authority set forth in
a form of Agreement among Underwriters, the form of which shall be submitted to
the Company for examination upon request, but without warranty on the part of
the Representatives as to the authority of the signers thereof.




                                    Very truly yours,

                                    UNIVERSAL FOODS CORPORATION

                                    By: /s/ John L. Hammond
                                        ----------------------------------
                                          Name:  John L. Hammond
                                          Title: Vice President, Secretary
                                                 and General Counsel



Accepted as of the date hereof:

GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
FIRST CHICAGO CAPITAL MARKETS, INC.
ABN AMRO INCORPORATED


BY: /s/ Pamela C. Torres
    --------------------------------------
       (GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.)

On behalf of each of the Underwriters






                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4



                                   SCHEDULE I







<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                  PRINCIPAL AMOUNT OF DESIGNATED
                                                            SECURITIES

                         UNDERWRITER                     TO BE PURCHASED
                         -----------                     ---------------

<S>                                                        <C>         
Goldman, Sachs & Co.                                       $ 90,000,000

First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc.                        $ 37,500,000

ABN AMRO Incorporated                                      $ 22,500,000
                                                           ------------

         TOTAL                                             $150,000,000
                                                           ============
</TABLE>
<PAGE>   5



                                   SCHEDULE II

TITLE OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:
         6.50% Notes due April 1, 2009

AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:
         $150,000,000

PRICE TO PUBLIC:
         99.252% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus
         accrued interest, if any, from March 25, 1999.

PURCHASE PRICE BY UNDERWRITERS:
         98.602% of the principal amount of the Designated Securities, plus
         accrued interest, if any, from March 25, 1999.

FORM OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:
         Book-entry only form represented by one or more global securities
         deposited with The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its designated
         custodian, to be made available for checking by the Representatives at
         least twenty-four hours prior to the Time of Delivery at the office of
         DTC or its designated custodian.

SPECIFIED FUNDS FOR PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE:
         Federal (same day) funds

TIME OF DELIVERY:
         9:30 a.m. (New York City time), March 25, 1999.

INDENTURE:
         Indenture dated November 9, 1998, between the Company and The First
         National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee.

MATURITY:
         April 1, 2009

INTEREST RATE:
         6.50%

INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:
         April 1 and October 1 of each year commencing October 1, 1999

REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:
         No provisions for redemption.

SINKING FUND PROVISIONS:
         No sinking fund provisions.
<PAGE>   6



DEFEASANCE PROVISIONS:
         As set forth in Article Thirteen of the Indenture dated November 9,
         1998, between the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago, as
         Trustee.

CLOSING LOCATION FOR DELIVERY OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:
         Sullivan & Cromwell
         125 Broad Street
         New York, New York 10004.


NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES:
         Designated Representatives:

         Goldman, Sachs & Co.
         First Chicago Capital Markets, Inc.
         ABN AMRO Incorporated

         Address for Notices, etc.:

         c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.
         85 Broad Street
         New York, New York 10004






                                      -2-


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