MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORP/WI/
8-K, 1995-12-27
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>   1





                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                    FORM 8-K

                                 CURRENT REPORT



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

      Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported):  December 27, 1995



                         Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


               Wisconsin                  0-1220           39-0968604 
              (State or other           (Commission      (IRS Employer
              jurisdiction of            File Number)    Identification
              incorporation)                                  No.)


                      770 North Water Street
                      Milwaukee, Wisconsin              53202 
          (Address of principal executive offices)    (Zip Code)

Registrant's telephone number, including area code:  (414) 765-7801
<PAGE>   2

         Item 5.  Other Events.


         Exhibits are filed herewith in connection with the Registration
Statement on Form S-3 (No. 33-64425) of Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
("Company") relating to the offering of up to an aggregate of $250,000,000 of
Debt Securities.  The Exhibits consist of a Distribution Agreement dated
December 27, 1995 between the Company and the Agents named therein and a form
of Underwriting Agreement with respect to the Debt Securities.

         Item 7.  Financial Statements, Pro Forma Financial Information and
Exhibits

(c)      Exhibits

         Exhibit Number           Description

                 1.1              Distribution Agreement dated
                                  December 27, 1995 between Marshall &
                                  Ilsley Corporation and the Agents
                                  named therein.

                 1.2              Form of Underwriting Agreement with
                                  respect to Debt Securities of Marshall & 
                                  Ilsley Corporation.



                                      2
<PAGE>   3

                                   SIGNATURES

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


Dated:  December 27, 1995                 MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORPORATION



                                 By: /s/ M.A. Hatfield                          
                                    --------------------------
                                     M.A. Hatfield





                                       3
<PAGE>   4

                                 EXHIBIT INDEX


         Exhibit No.              Description

                 1.1              Distribution Agreement dated December 27,
                                  1995 between Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
                                  and the Agents named therein.

                 1.2              Form of Underwriting Agreement with respect
                                  to Debt Securities of Marshall & Ilsley 
                                  Corporation.










                                       4

<PAGE>   1
                                                                   Exhibit 1.1




                         MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORPORATION

                                  $150,000,000

                               MEDIUM-TERM NOTES

                             DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENT

                                                               December 27, 1995


Goldman, Sachs & Co.,                           Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
85 Broad Street                                 Two World Trade Center
New York, New York 10004                          Station 8566
                                                New York, New York  10048
Salomon Brothers Inc              
Seven World Trade Center                       Robert W. Baird & Co.
New York, New York  10048                        Incorporated
                                               777 East Wisconsin Ave.
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.                      Milwaukee, WI 53202
6000 Sears Tower                          
Chicago, IL  60606                             First Chicago Capital Markets
                                                 Inc.
Lehman Brothers                                Equitable Building
Lehman Brothers Inc.                           153 West 51st Street
3 World Financial Center                       New York, New York  10019
New York, New York 10286

J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc.
60 Wall Street
New York, New York  10006


Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

           Marshall & Ilsley Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the
"Company"), proposes to issue and sell from time to time its Medium-Term Notes,
Series D (the "Securities") in an aggregate amount up to $150,000,000 and
agrees with each of you (individually, an "Agent", and collectively, the
"Agents") as set forth in this Agreement.

           Subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and to the
reservation by the Company of the right to sell Securities directly on its own
behalf, the Company hereby (i) appoints each Agent as an agent of the Company
for the purpose of soliciting and receiving offers to purchase Securities from
the Company pursuant to Section 2(a) hereof and (ii) agrees that, except as
otherwise contemplated herein, whenever it determines to sell Securities
directly to any Agent as principal, it will enter into a separate agreement
(each a "Terms Agreement"), substantially in the form of Annex I hereto,
relating to such sale in accordance with Section 2(b) hereof.
<PAGE>   2

           The Securities will be issued under an indenture, dated as of
November 15, 1985, as amended (the "Indenture"), between the Company and
Chemical Bank (successor to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company), as Trustee
(the "Trustee").  The Securities shall have the maturity ranges, interest
rates, if any, redemption provisions and other terms set forth in the
Prospectus referred to below as it may be amended or supplemented from time to
time.  The Securities will be issued, and the terms and rights thereof
established, from time to time by the Company in accordance with the Indenture.

           1.  The Company represents and warrants to, and agrees with, each
Agent that:

           (a)  A registration statement on Form S-3 in respect of $250,000,000
     aggregate amount of debt securities of the Company, including the
     Securities, has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
     (the "Commission"); such registration statement and any post-effective
     amendment thereto, each in the form heretofore delivered or to be
     delivered to such Agent and, excluding exhibits to such registration
     statement, but including all documents incorporated by reference in the
     prospectus contained therein, have been declared effective by the
     Commission in such form; no other document with respect to such
     registration statement or document incorporated by reference therein has
     heretofore been filed or transmitted for filing with the Commission; and
     no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such registration statement
     has been issued and no proceeding for that purpose has been initiated or
     threatened by the Commission (any preliminary prospectus included in such
     registration statement or filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule
     424(a) of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the Securities
     Act of 1933, as amended (the "Act"), being hereinafter called a
     "Preliminary Prospectus"; the various parts of such registration
     statement, including all exhibits thereto and the documents incorporated
     by reference in the prospectus contained in the registration statement or
     filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(a) of the rules and
     regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended
     (the "Act"), being hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus"; the
     various parts of such registration statement, including all exhibits
     thereto and the documents incorporated by reference in the prospectus
     contained in the registration statement at the time such part of the
     registration statement became effective but excluding Form T-1 and, if
     applicable, including the information contained in the form of final
     prospectus filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
     Act, each as amended at the time such part of the registration statement
     became effective, being hereinafter called the "Registration Statement";
     the


                                     -2-
<PAGE>   3

     prospectus (including, if applicable, any prospectus supplement) 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, including any supplement to the Prospectus that sets forth
     only the terms of a particular issue of the Securities (a "Pricing
     Supplement"), shall be deemed to 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 therein by reference; any reference to
     any amendment to the Registration Statement shall be deemed to refer to
     and include any annual report of the Company filed pursuant to Section
     13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the effective date of the
     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 and include the Prospectus as
     amended or supplemented (including by the applicable Pricing Supplement
     filed in accordance with Section 4(a) hereof) in relation to Securities
     under the Act and in accordance with Section 4(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





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

     omissions made in reliance upon and in conformity with information
     furnished in writing to the Company by any Agent expressly for use in the
     Prospectus as amended or supplemented to relate to a particular issuance
     of 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 any Agent expressly for use in the Prospectus as
     amended or supplemented to relate to a particular issuance of Securities;

           (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 (other than
     changes in connection with the redemption, conversion or exchange of the
     Corporation's 8.5% Convertible Subordinated Note held by The Northwestern
     Mutual Life Insurance Company (the "NML Note"), or in the principal amount
     of the Corporation's outstanding Medium-Term Series B Notes (the "Series B
     Notes"), the Corporation's outstanding Medium-Term Series C Notes (the
     "Series C Notes"), or the notes issued by subsidiary banks (the "Bank
     Notes"), or any material adverse change, or any development involving a
     prospective material adverse 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;





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

           (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,
     and has been duly qualified as a foreign corporation for the transaction
     of business and is in good standing under the laws of each other
     jurisdiction in which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any
     business so as to require such qualification, or is subject to no material
     liability or disability by reason of the failure to be so qualified in any
     such jurisdiction; M&I Marshall & Ilsley Bank ("M&I Bank") has been duly
     incorporated and is validly existing as a banking corporation in good
     standing under the laws of the State of Wisconsin;

           (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 (except to the extent provided in Section
     180.0622(2)(b) of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law); all of the
     issued shares of capital stock of M&I Bank have been duly and validly
     authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable (except to the
     extent provided in Section 220.07 of the Wisconsin Statute, respectively)
     and are owned directly by the Company, free and clear of all liens,
     encumbrances, equities or claims;

           (g)  The Securities have been duly authorized, and, when issued and
     delivered pursuant to this Agreement and any Terms Agreement, 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 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 conforms and the Securities of any
     particular issuance of Securities will conform to the descriptions thereof
     contained in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented to relate to such
     issuance of Securities;

           (h)  The Company and each of its subsidiaries have conducted their
     businesses and are in compliance in all material respects with all
     applicable federal and state laws and regulations, including, without
     limitation, all laws and





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6

     regulations restricting activities of bank holding companies and banking
     organizations, except for any noncompliance which would not have a
     material adverse effect on the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
     a whole.

           (i)  The issue and sale of the Securities, the compliance by the
     Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Indenture, this
     Agreement and any Terms 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 or any of
     its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property or assets of the
     Company or any of its subsidiaries is subject, nor will such action result
     in any violation of the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of
     Incorporation or the By-Laws, as amended, 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 court or governmental agency or body is required for the
     solicitation of offers to purchase Securities, the issue and sale of the
     Securities or the consummation by the Company of the other transactions
     contemplated by this Agreement, any Terms Agreement or the Indenture,
     except such as have been, or will have been prior to the Commencement Date
     (as defined in Section 3 hereof), obtained under the Act or 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 solicitation by such Agent of offers to
     purchase Securities from the Company and with purchases of Securities by
     such Agent as principal, as the case may be, in each case in the manner
     contemplated hereby;

           (j)  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 to which any property of the Company or any of
     its subsidiaries is subject, which are of a character which are required
     to be disclosed in the Prospectus which have not been properly disclosed
     therein; and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings
     are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened
     by others; and

           (k)  Immediately after any sale of Securities by the Company
     hereunder or under any Terms Agreement, the aggre-





                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7

     gate amount of Securities which shall have been issued and sold by the
     Company hereunder or under any Terms Agreement and of any debt
     securities of the Company (other than such Securities) that shall have
     been issued and sold pursuant to the Registration Statement will not
     exceed the amount of debt securities registered under the Registration
     Statement.

           2.  (a)  On the basis of the representations and warranties, and
subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, each of the Agents hereby
severally and not jointly agrees, as agent of the Company, to use its
reasonable efforts to solicit and receive offers to purchase the Securities
from the Company upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented from time to time.  So long as this Agreement shall
remain in effect with respect to any Agent, the Company shall not, without the
consent of such Agent, solicit or accept offers to purchase, or sell, any of
the Company's debt securities with a maturity at the time of original issuance
of 9 months to 30 years except pursuant to this Agreement, any Terms Agreement,
or except pursuant to a private placement not constituting a public offering
under the Act or except in connection with a firm commitment underwriting
pursuant to an underwriting agreement that does not provide for a continuous
offering of medium-term debt securities.  However, the Company reserves the
right to sell, and may solicit and accept offers to purchase, Securities
directly on its own behalf, and, in the case of any such sale not resulting
from a solicitation made by any Agent, no commission will be payable with
respect to such sale.  These provisions shall not limit Section 4(f) hereof or
any similar provision included in any Terms Agreement.

           Procedural details relating to the issue and delivery of Securities,
the solicitation of offers to purchase Securities and the payment in each case
therefor shall be as set forth in the Administrative Procedures attached hereto
as Annex II as they may be amended from time to time by written agreement
between the Agents and the Company (the "Administrative Procedures").  The
provisions of the Administrative Procedures shall apply to all transactions
contemplated hereunder other than those made pursuant to a Terms Agreement.
Each Agent and the Company agree to perform the respective duties and
obligations specifically provided to be performed by each of them in the
Administrative Procedures.  The Company will furnish to the Trustee a copy of
the Administrative Procedures as from time to time in effect.

           The Company reserves the right, in its sole discretion, to instruct
the Agents to suspend at any time, for any period of time or permanently, the
solicitation of offers to purchase the Securities.  As soon as practicable, but
in any event not later than one business day in New York City, after receipt of
notice from the Company, the Agents will suspend solicitation of offers to
purchase Securities from the Company until such time as the





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8

Company has advised the Agents that such solicitation may be resumed.

           The Company agrees to pay each Agent a commission (which may be in
the form of a discount), at the time of settlement of any sale of a Security by
the Company as a result of a solicitation made by such Agent, in an amount
equal to the following applicable percentage of the principal amount of such
Security sold:


<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

                                                      Commission
                                                  (percentage of
                                                      aggregate
                                                 principal amount
     Range of Maturities                        of Securities sold)
     -------------------                        -------------------
<S>                                                   <C>

From 9 months to less than 1 year . . . .             .125%
From 1 year to less than 18 months. . . .             .150%
From 18 months to less than 2 years . . .             .200%
From 2 years to less than 3 years . . . .             .250%
From 3 years to less than 4 years . . . .             .350%
From 4 years to less than 5 years . . . .             .450%
From 5 years to less than 6 years . . . .             .500%
From 6 years to less than 7 years . . . .             .550%
From 7 years to less than 10 years  . . .             .600%
From 10 years to less than 15 years . . .             .625%
From 15 years to less than 20 years . . .             .675%
From 20 years to less than 30 years . . .             .750%
</TABLE>


           (b)  Each sale of Securities to any Agent as principal shall be made
in accordance with the terms of this Agreement and (unless the Company and such
Agent shall otherwise agree) a Terms Agreement which will provide for the sale
of such Securities to, and the purchase thereof by, such Agent.  A Terms
Agreement may also specify certain provisions relating to the reoffering of
such Securities by such Agent.  The commitment of any Agent to purchase
Securities as principal, whether pursuant to any Terms Agreement or otherwise,
shall be deemed to have been made on the basis of the representations and
warranties of the Company herein contained and shall be subject to the terms
and conditions herein set forth.  Each Terms Agreement shall specify the
principal amount of Securities to be purchased by any Agent pursuant thereto,
the price to be paid to the Company for such Securities, any provisions
relating to rights of, and default by, underwriters acting together with such
Agent in the reoffering of the Securities and the time and date and place of
delivery of and payment for such Securities.  Such Terms Agreement shall also
specify any requirements for opinions of counsel, accountants' letters and
officers' certificates pursuant to Section 4 hereof.





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9

           For each sale of Securities to an Agent as principal that is not
made pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the procedural details relating to the
issue and delivery of such Securities and payment therefor shall be as set
forth in the Administrative Procedures.  For each such sale of Securities to an
Agent as principal that is not made pursuant to a Terms Agreement, the Company
agrees to pay such Agent a Commission (or grant an equivalent discount) as
provided in Section 2(a) hereof and in accordance with the schedule set forth
therein.

           Each time and date of delivery of and payment for Securities to be
purchased by an Agent as principal, whether set forth in a Terms Agreement or
in accordance with the Administrative Procedures is referred to herein as a
"Time of Delivery".

           (c)  Each Agent agrees, with respect to any Security denominated in
a currency other than U.S. dollars, as agent, directly or indirectly, not to
solicit offers to purchase, and as principal under any Terms Agreement or
otherwise, directly or indirectly, not to offer, sell or deliver, such Security
in, or to residents of, the country issuing such currency, except as permitted
by applicable law.

           3.  The documents required to be delivered pursuant to Section 6
hereof on the Commencement Date (as defined below) shall be delivered to the
Agents at the offices of the Company, 770 North Water Street, Milwaukee,
Wisconsin, 53202 at 10:00 a.m., Milwaukee time, on the date of this Agreement,
which date and time of such delivery may be postponed by agreement between the
Agents and the Company but in no event shall be later than the day prior to the
date on which solicitation of offers to purchase Securities is commenced or on
which any Terms Agreement is executed (such time and date being referred to
herein as the "Commencement Date").

           4.  The Company covenants and agrees with each Agent:

           (a) (i)  To make no amendment or supplement to the Registration
     Statement or the Prospectus (A) prior to the Commencement Date which shall
     be disapproved by any Agent promptly after reasonable notice thereof or
     (B) after the date of any Terms Agreement or other agreement by an Agent
     to purchase Securities as principal and prior to the related Time of
     Delivery which shall be disapproved by any Agent party to such Terms
     Agreement or so purchasing as principal promptly after reasonable notice
     thereof; (ii) to prepare, with respect to any Securities to be sold
     through or to such Agent pursuant to this Agreement, a Pricing Supplement
     with respect to such Securities in a form previously approved by such
     Agent and to file such Pricing Supplement pursuant to Rule 424(b) within
     the applicable time period prescribed for such filing by the rules and
     regulations under the Act and





                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10

     in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof; (iii) to make no amendment or
     supplement to the Registration Statement or Prospectus, other than any
     Pricing Supplement, at any time prior to having afforded each Agent a
     reasonable opportunity to review and comment; (iv) 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 the
     Securities, and during such same period to advise such Agent, promptly
     after the Company receives notice thereof, of the time when any amendment
     to the Registration Statement has been filed or has become effective or
     any supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus (other than any
     Pricing Supplement that relates to Securities not purchased through or by
     such Agent) 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 the 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 amendment or supplement of the
     Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information; and
     (v) in the event of the issuance of any such stop order or of any such
     order preventing or suspending the use of any such prospectus or
     suspending any such qualification, to use promptly its best efforts to
     obtain its withdrawal;

           (b)  Promptly from time to time to take such action as such Agent
     may reasonably request to qualify the Securities for offering and sale
     under the securities laws of such jurisdictions as such Agent may request
     and to comply with such laws so as to permit the continuance of sales and
     dealings therein for as long as may be necessary to complete the
     distribution or sale of the Securities; provided, however, 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)  To furnish such Agent with copies of the Registration Statement
     and each amendment thereto, with copies of the Prospectus as each time
     amended or supplemented, other than any Pricing Supplement (except as
     provided in the Administrative Procedures), in the form in which it is
     filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, and with
     copies of the documents incorporated by reference therein, all in such
     quantities as such Agent may reasonably request from time to time; and, if
     the delivery of a prospectus is required at any time in connection with
     the offering or sale of the Securities (including Securities





                                      -10-
<PAGE>   11

     purchased from the Company by such Agent as principal) 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 such Agent and
     request such Agent, in its capacity as agent of the Company, to suspend
     solicitation of offers to purchase Securities from the Company (and, if so
     notified, such Agent shall cease such solicitations as soon as
     practicable, but in any event not later than one business day later); and
     if the Company shall decide to amend or supplement the Registration
     Statement or the Prospectus as then amended or supplemented, to so advise
     such Agent promptly by telephone (with confirmation in writing) and to
     prepare and cause to be filed promptly with the Commission an amendment or
     supplement to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus as then amended
     or supplemented that will correct such statement or omission or effect
     such compliance; provided, however, that if during such same period such
     Agent continues to own Securities purchased from the Company by such Agent
     as principal or such Agent is otherwise required to deliver a prospectus
     in respect of transactions in the Securities, the Company shall promptly
     prepare and file with the Commission such an amendment or supplement;

           (d)  To make generally available to its security holders 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)),
     an earning 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);

           (e)  So long as any Securities are outstanding, to furnish to such
     Agent copies of all reports or other communications (financial or other)
     furnished to stockholders, and deliver to such Agent (i) as soon as they
     are available, copies of any reports and financial statements furnished to
     or filed with the Commission or any national securities exchange on which
     any class of securities of the Company is listed; and (ii) such additional
     information concerning the business and financial condition of the Company
     as such Agent may from time to time reasonably request (such finan-





                                      -11-
<PAGE>   12

     cial statements to be on a consolidated basis to the extent the accounts
     of the Company and its subsidiaries are consolidated in reports
     furnished to its stockholders generally or to the Commission);

           (f)  That, from the date of any Terms Agreement with such Agent or
     other agreement by such Agent to purchase Securities as principal and
     continuing to and including the earlier of (i) the termination of the
     trading restrictions for the Securities purchased thereunder, as notified
     to the Company by such Agent and (ii) the related Time of Delivery, not to
     offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any debt securities
     of the Company which both mature more than 9 months after such Time of
     Delivery and are substantially similar to the Securities, without the
     prior written consent of such Agent;

           (g)  That each acceptance by the Company of an offer to purchase
     Securities hereunder (including any purchase by such Agent as principal
     not pursuant to a Terms Agreement), and each execution and delivery by the
     Company of a Terms Agreement with such Agent, shall be deemed to be an
     affirmation to such Agent that the representations and warranties of the
     Company contained in or made pursuant to this Agreement are true and
     correct as of the date of such acceptance or of such Terms Agreement, as
     the case may be, as though made at and as of such date, and an undertaking
     that such representations and warranties will be true and correct as of
     the settlement date for the Securities relating to such acceptance or as
     of the Time of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, as
     though made at and as of such date (except that such representations and
     warranties shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus as amended and supplemented relating to such Securities);

           (h)  That reasonably in advance of each time the Registration
     Statement or the Prospectus shall be amended or supplemented (other than
     by a Pricing Supplement) and each time a document filed under the Act or
     the Exchange Act is incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, and
     each time the Company sells Securities to such Agent as principal pursuant
     to a Terms Agreement and such Terms Agreement specifies the delivery of an
     opinion or opinions by Sidley & Austin, counsel to the Agents, as a
     condition to the purchase of Securities pursuant to such Terms Agreement,
     the Company shall furnish to such counsel such papers and information as
     they may reasonably request to enable them to furnish to such Agent the
     opinion or opinions referred to in Section 6(b) hereof;





                                      -12-
<PAGE>   13

           (i)  That each time the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
     shall be amended or supplemented (other than by a Pricing Supplement),
     each time a document filed under the Act or the Exchange Act is
     incorporated by reference into the Prospectus and each time the Company
     sells Securities to such Agent as principal pursuant to a Terms Agreement
     and such Terms Agreement specifies the delivery of an opinion under this
     Section 4(i) as a condition to the purchase of Securities pursuant to such
     Terms Agreement, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished
     forthwith to such Agent a written opinion of Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., counsel
     for the Company, or other counsel for the Company satisfactory to such
     Agent, dated the date of such amendment, supplement, incorporation or Time
     of Delivery relating to such sale, as the case may be, in form
     satisfactory to such Agent, to the effect that such Agent may rely on the
     opinion of such counsel referred to in Section 6(c) hereof which was last
     furnished to such Agent to the same extent as though it were dated the
     date of such letter authorizing reliance (except that the statements in
     such last opinion shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement
     and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date) or, in lieu
     of such opinion, an opinion of the same tenor as the opinion of such
     counsel referred to in Section 6(c) hereof but modified to relate to the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to
     such date;

           (j)  That each time the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
     shall be amended or supplemented and each time that a document filed under
     the Act or the Exchange Act is incorporated by reference into the
     Prospectus, in either case to set forth financial information included in
     or derived from the Company's consolidated financial statements or
     accounting records, and each time the Company sells Securities to such
     Agent as principal pursuant to a Terms Agreement and such Terms Agreement
     specifies the delivery of a letter under this Section 4(i) as a condition
     to the purchase of Securities pursuant to such Terms Agreement, the
     Company shall cause the independent certified public accountants who have
     certified the financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries
     included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement
     forthwith to furnish such Agent a letter, dated the date of such
     amendment, supplement, incorporation or Time of Delivery relating to such
     sale, as the case may be, in form satisfactory to such Agent, of the same
     tenor as the letter referred to in Section 6(d) hereof but modified to
     relate to the Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended or
     supplemented to the date of such letter, with such changes as may be
     necessary to reflect changes in the financial statements and other
     information derived from the accounting records of the Company, to the
     extent such financial statements and other





                                      -13-
<PAGE>   14

     information are available as of a date not more than five business days
     prior to the date of such letter; provided, however, that, with respect to
     any financial information or other matter, such letter may reconfirm as
     true and correct at such date as though made at and as of such date,
     rather than repeat, statements with respect to such financial information
     or other matter made in the letter referred to in Section 6(d) hereof
     which was last furnished to such Agent;

           (k)  That each time the Registration Statement or the Prospectus
     shall be amended or supplemented (other than by a Pricing Supplement),
     each time a document filed under the Act or the Exchange Act is
     incorporated by reference into the Prospectus, and each time the Company
     sells Securities to such Agent as principal and the applicable Terms
     Agreement specifies the delivery of a certificate under this Section 4(k)
     as a condition to the purchase of Securities pursuant to such Terms
     Agreement, the Company shall furnish or cause to be furnished forthwith to
     such Agent a certificate of two executive officers of the Company, dated
     the date of such supplement, amendment, incorporation or Time of Delivery
     relating to such sale, as the case may be, in such form and executed by
     such officers of the Company as shall be satisfactory to such Agent, to
     the effect that the statements contained in the certificate referred to in
     Section 6(g) hereof which was last furnished to such Agent are true and
     correct at such date as though made at and as of such date (except that
     such statements shall be deemed to relate to the Registration Statement
     and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date) or, in lieu
     of such certificate, certificates of the same tenor as the certificates
     referred to in said Section 6(g) but modified to relate to the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to
     such date; and

           (l)  To offer to any person who has agreed to purchase Securities as
     the result of an offer to purchase solicited by such Agent the right to
     refuse to purchase and pay for such Securities if, on the related
     settlement date fixed pursuant to the Administrative Procedures, any
     condition set forth in Section 6(a), 6(e) or 6(f) hereof shall not have
     been satisfied (it being understood that the judgment of such person with
     respect to the impracticability or inadvisability of such purchase of
     Securities shall be substituted, for purposes of this Section 4(1), for
     the respective judgments of an Agent with respect to certain matters
     referred to in such Sections 6(a), 6(e) and 6(f), and that such Agent
     shall have no duty or obligation whatsoever to exercise the judgment
     permitted under such Sections 6(a), 6(e) and 6(f) on behalf of any such
     person).





                                      -14-
<PAGE>   15

           5.  The Company covenants and agrees with each Agent 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, the Prospectus and any
Pricing Supplements and all other amendments and supplements thereto and the
mailing and delivering of copies thereof to such Agent; (ii) the fees,
disbursements and expenses of counsel for the Agents in connection with the
establishment of the program contemplated hereby, any opinions to be rendered
by such counsel hereunder and under any Terms Agreement and the transactions
contemplated hereunder and under any Terms Agreement; (iii) the cost of
printing, producing or reproducing this Agreement, any Terms Agreement, any
Indenture, any Blue Sky and Legal Investment Memoranda and any other documents
in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery of the Securities;
(iv) all expenses in connection with the qualification of the Securities for
offering and sale under state securities laws as provided in Section 4(b)
hereof, including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Agents in
connection with such qualification and in connection with the Blue Sky and
legal investment surveys; (v) any fees charged by securities rating services
for rating the Securities; (vi) any filing fees incident to any required review
by the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of the
sale of the Securities; (vii) the cost of preparing the Securities; (viii) the
fees and expenses of any Trustee and any agent of any Trustee and any transfer
or paying agent of the Company and the fees and disbursements of counsel for
any Trustee or such agent in connection with any Indenture and the Securities;
(ix) any advertising expenses connected with the solicitation of offers to
purchase and the sale of Securities so long as such advertising expenses have
been approved by the Company; and (x) all other costs and expenses incident to
the performance of its obligations hereunder which are not otherwise
specifically provided for in this Section.  Except as provided in Sections 7
and 8 hereof, each Agent shall pay all other expenses it incurs.

           6.  The obligation of any Agent, as agent of the Company, at any
time ("Solicitation Time") to solicit offers to purchase the Securities and the
obligation of any Agent to purchase Securities as principal, pursuant to any
Terms Agreement or otherwise, shall in each case be subject, in such Agent's
discretion, to the condition that all representations and warranties and other
statements of the Company herein (and, in the case of an obligation of an Agent
under a Terms Agreement, in or incorporated in such Terms Agreement by
reference) are true and correct at and as of the Commencement Date and any
applicable date referred to in Section 4(k) hereof that is prior to such
Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, and at





                                      -15-
<PAGE>   16

and as of such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the
condition that prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case
may be, the Company shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder
theretofore to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

           (a)(i)  With respect to any Securities sold at or prior to such
     Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, the Prospectus
     as amended or supplemented (including the Pricing Supplement) with respect
     to such Securities shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to
     Rule 424(b) under the Act within the applicable time period prescribed for
     such filing by the rules and regulations under the Act and in accordance
     with Section 4(a) hereof, (ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness
     of the Registration Statement shall have been issued and no proceeding for
     that purpose shall have been initiated or threatened by the Commission;
     and (iii) all requests for additional information on the part of the
     Commission shall have been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of
     such Agent;

           (b)  Sidley & Austin, counsel to the Agents, shall have furnished to
     such Agent (i) such opinion or opinions, dated the Commencement Date, with
     respect to the incorporation of the Company, this Agreement, the validity
     of the Indenture, the Securities, the Registration Statement, the
     Prospectus as amended or supplemented and other related matters as such
     Agent may reasonably request, and (ii) if and to the extent requested by
     such Agent, with respect to each applicable date referred to in Section
     4(h) hereof that is on or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of
     Delivery, as the case may be, an opinion or opinions, dated such
     applicable date, to the effect that such Agent may rely on the opinion or
     opinions which were last furnished to such Agent pursuant to this Section
     6(b) to the same extent as though it or they were dated the date of such
     letter authorizing reliance (except that the statements in such last
     opinion or opinions shall be deemed to relate to the Registration
     Statement and the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date) or,
     in any case, in lieu of such an opinion or opinions, an opinion or
     opinions of the same tenor as the opinion or opinions referred to in
     clause (i) but modified to relate to the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus as amended and supplemented to such date; and in each case such
     counsel shall have received such papers and information as they may
     reasonably request to enable them to pass upon such matters;

           (c)  Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., counsel for the Company, or other counsel
     for the Company satisfactory to such Agent, shall have furnished to such
     Agent their written opinions, dated the Commencement Date and each
     applicable date





                                      -16-
<PAGE>   17

     referred to in Section 4(1) hereof that is on or prior to such
     Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, in form and
     substance satisfactory to such Agent, to the effect that:

                (i)  The Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
           existing as a corporation in good standing (meaning it has filed its
           most recent annual report and has not filed articles of dissolution)
           under the laws of the State of Wisconsin, 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 (except
           to the extent provided in Section 180.0622(2)(b) of the Wisconsin
           Business Corporation Law);

                (iii)  The Company has been duly qualified as a foreign
           corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing
           under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases
           properties, or conducts any business so as to require such
           qualification or is subject to no material liability or disability
           by reason of the failure to be so qualified in any jurisdiction;

                (iv)  M&I Bank has been incorporated and is validly existing as
           a banking corporation in good standing under the laws of the State
           of Wisconsin; all of the issued shares of capital stock of M&I Bank
           have been duly and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and
           non-assessable (except to the extent provided in Section 220.07 of
           the Wisconsin Statutes), and are owned directly by the Company, free
           and clear of any perfected security interests and, to the knowledge
           of such counsel, after due inquiry, any other liens, encumbrances,
           equities or claims;

                (v)  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 to which any property of the Company or any of its
           subsidiaries is subject, which, if determined adversely to the
           Company or any of its subsidiaries, would individually or in the
           aggregate have a material adverse effect on the consolidated
           financial position, shareholders'





                                      -17-
<PAGE>   18

           equity or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries
           and, to the best of such counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings
           are threatened or contemplated by governmental authorities or
           threatened by others;

                (vi)  This Agreement and any applicable Terms Agreement have
           been duly authorized, executed and delivered by the Company;

                (vii)  The Securities have been duly authorized and, when duly
           executed, authenticated, issued and delivered by the Company, will
           constitute valid, legally binding and enforceable obligations of the
           Company entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture (subject,
           however, as to enforcement of such obligations, to the limitation
           set forth in the following paragraph); and the Indenture conforms
           and the Securities will conform to the descriptions thereof in the
           Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

                (viii)  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;

                (ix)  The issue and sale of the Securities, the compliance by
           the Company with all of the provisions of the Securities, the
           Indenture, this Agreement and any applicable Terms 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 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 action
           result in any violation of the provisions of the Amended and
           Restated Articles of Incorporation of the Company or the By-Laws, as
           amended, 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
           subsidiaries or any of their properties;





                                      -18-
<PAGE>   19

                (x)  No consent, approval, authorization, order, registration
           or qualification of or with any court or governmental agency or body
           is required for the solicitation of offers to purchase Securities,
           the issue and sale of the Securities or the consummation by the
           Company of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement,
           any applicable Terms Agreement, or the Indenture, except such as
           have been 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 solicitation by the Agents of offers to
           purchase Securities from the Company and with purchases of
           Securities by an Agent as principal, as the case may be, in each
           case in the manner contemplated hereby;

                (xi)  The documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus
           (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, and, 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

                (xii)  The Registration Statement and the Prospectus as amended
           and supplemented and any further amendments and supplements thereto
           made by the Company prior to the date of such opinion (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; they have no
           reason to believe that, as of the effective date, the Registration
           Statement or any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the
           Company prior to the





                                      -19-
<PAGE>   20

           date of such opinion (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 the
           date of such opinion, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or
           any further amendment or supplement thereto made by the Company
           prior to the date of such opinion (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 light of the circumstances in 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.

In rendering its opinion, Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., shall be entitled to rely as to
matters involving subsidiaries of the Company on the opinions of local counsel
and as to matters of fact upon certificates of officers of the Company,
provided, in each case, that such counsel shall state that they believe that
both the Agents and they are justified in relying upon such opinions and
certificates.

           (d)  Not later than 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on the
     Commencement Date and on each applicable date referred to in Section 4(j)
     hereof that is on or prior to such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery,
     as the case may be, Arthur Andersen & Co. or such other independent
     certified public accountants 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 such Agent a letter,
     dated the Commencement Date or such applicable date, as the case may be,
     in form and substance satisfactory to such Agent, to the effect set forth
     in Annex III 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 or
     supplemented any loss or interference with its business from fire,
     explosion, flood





                                      -20-
<PAGE>   21

     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 or supplemented
     and (ii) since the respective dates as of which information is given in
     the Prospectus as amended or supplemented there shall not have been any
     change in the capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries (other than changes in connection with the redemption,
     conversion or exchange of the NML Note, or in the principal amount of the
     outstanding Series B Notes, the outstanding Series C Notes, or the
     outstanding Bank Notes, 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 or supplemented, the effect of which, in any
     such case described in clause (i) or (ii), is in the judgment of such
     Agent so material and adverse as to make it impracticable or inadvisable
     to proceed with the solicitation by such Agent of offers to purchase
     Securities from the Company or the purchase by such Agent of Securities
     from the Company as principal, as the case may be, on the terms and in the
     manner contemplated in the Prospectus as amended or supplemented;

           (f)  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 general moratorium on commercial
     banking activities in New York declared by either Federal or New York
     State authorities; (iii) 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
     (iii) in the judgment of such Agent makes it impracticable or inadvisable
     to proceed with the solicitation of offers to purchase Securities or the
     purchase of Securities from the Company as principal, pursuant to the
     applicable Terms Agreement or otherwise, as the case may be, on the terms
     and in the manner contemplated by the Prospectus as amended or
     supplemented; (iv) any downgrading in the rating accorded the Company's
     debt securities 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; or (v) 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;
     and

           (g)  The Company shall have furnished or caused to be furnished to
     such Agent certificates of two executive officers of the Company dated the
     Commencement Date and each





                                      -21-
<PAGE>   22

     applicable date referred to in Section 4(k) hereof that is on or prior to
     such Solicitation Time or Time of Delivery, as the case may be, in such
     form and executed by such officers of the Company as shall be satisfactory
     to such Agent, as to the accuracy of the representations and warranties of
     the Company herein at and as of the Commencement Date or such applicable
     date, as the case may be, as to the performance by the Company of all of
     its obligations hereunder to be performed at or prior to the Commencement
     Date or such applicable date, as the case may be, as to the matters set
     forth in subsections (a) and (e) of this Section 6, and as to such other
     matters as such Agent may reasonably request.

           7.  (a)  The Company will indemnify and hold harmless each Agent
against any losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which
such Agent 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, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or 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 such Agent for
any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by it 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, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or 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 Agent expressly for use therein.

           (b)  Each Agent 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, the Registration Statement, the Prospectus, the
Prospectus as amended or supplemented or 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





                                      -22-
<PAGE>   23

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, the Registration
Statement, the Prospectus, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or 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 Agent 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, 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.

           (d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 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 each Agent on
the other from the offering of the 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 indemnify-





                                      -23-
<PAGE>   24

ing 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 each
Agent 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 each Agent on the other
shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net proceeds from the
sale of Securities (before deducting expenses) received by the Company bear to
the total commissions or discounts received by such Agent in respect thereof.
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 required to be stated
therein or necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading
relates to information supplied by the Company on the one hand or by any Agent
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 each Agent agree that it would not be just and equitable if contribution
pursuant to this subsection (d) were determined by per capita allocation (even
if all Agents 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 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), an Agent shall not be required to contribute any amount in
excess of the amount by which the total public offering price at which the
Securities purchased by or through it were sold exceeds the amount of any
damages which such Agent 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 each of the Agents
under this subsection (d) to contribute are several in proportion to the
respective purchases made by or through it to which such loss, claim, damage or
liability (or action in respect thereof) relates and are not joint.

           (e)  The obligations of the Company under this Section 7 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 Agent within the





                                      -24-
<PAGE>   25

meaning of the Act; and the obligations of each Agent under this Section 7
shall be in addition to any liability which such Agent 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.

           8.  Each Agent, in soliciting offers to purchase Securities from the
Company and in performing the other obligations of such Agent hereunder (other
than in respect of any purchase by an Agent as principal, pursuant to a Terms
Agreement or otherwise), is acting solely as agent for the Company and not as
principal.  Each Agent will make reasonable efforts to assist the Company in
obtaining performance by each purchaser whose offer to purchase Securities from
the Company was solicited by such Agent and has been accepted by the Company,
but such Agent shall not have any liability to the Company in the event such
purchase is not consummated for any reason.  If the Company shall default on
its obligation to deliver Securities to a purchaser whose offer it has
accepted, the Company shall (i) hold each Agent harmless against any loss,
claim or damage arising from or as a result of such default by the Company and
(ii) notwithstanding such default, pay to the Agent that solicited such offer
any commission to which it would be entitled in connection with such sale.

           9.  The respective indemnities, agreements, representations,
warranties and other statements by any Agent and the Company set forth in or
made 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 Agent or any controlling person of any Agent, or
the Company, or any officer or director of any controlling person of the
Company, and shall survive each delivery of and payment for any of the
Securities.

           10.  The provisions of this Agreement relating to the solicitation
of offers to purchase Securities from the Company may be suspended or
terminated at any time by the Company as to any Agent or by any Agent as to
such Agent upon the giving of written notice of such suspension or termination
to such Agent or the Company, as the case may be.  In the event of such
suspension or termination with respect to any Agent, (x) this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect with respect to any Agent as to which such
suspension or termination has not occurred, (y) this Agreement shall remain in
full force and effect with respect to the rights and obligations of any party
which have previously accrued or which relate to Securities which are already
issued, agreed to be issued or the subject of a pending offer at the time of
such suspension or termination and (z) in any event, this Agreement shall
remain in full force and effect insofar as the





                                      -25-
<PAGE>   26

fourth paragraph of Section 2(a) and Sections 4(d), 4(e), 5, 7, 8 and 9 hereof
are concerned.

           11.  Except as otherwise specifically provided herein or in the
Administrative Procedure, all statements, requests, notices and advices
hereunder shall be in writing, or by telephone if promptly confirmed in
writing, shall be sufficient in all respects when delivered or sent by
facsimile transmission or registered mail to a party at the address shown on
Exhibit A hereto.
           12.  This Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be binding upon,
and inure solely to the benefit of, each Agent and the Company, and to the
extent provided in Sections 7, 8 and 9 hereof, the officers and directors of
the Company and any person who controls any Agent or the Company, and their
respective personal representatives, successors and assigns, and no other
person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this Agreement or
any Terms Agreement.  No purchaser of any of the Securities through or from any
Agent hereunder shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason of such
purchase.

           13.  Time shall be of the essence in this Agreement and any Terms
Agreement.  As used herein, the term "business day" shall mean any day when the
Commission's office in Washington, D.C. is open for business.

           14.  This Agreement and any Terms Agreement shall be governed by,
and construed in accordance with, the laws of the State of New York.

           15.  This Agreement and any Terms 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 an original, but all of 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 four counterparts hereof, whereupon this letter and the
acceptance by each of you thereof shall constitute a binding agreement between
the Company and each of you in accordance with its terms.

                                Very truly yours,

                                MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORPORATION


                                By: /s/ Michael A. Hatfield       
                                    ----------------------------------
                                    Name:  Michael A. Hatfield
                                    Title: Secretary





                                      -26-
<PAGE>   27





Accepted as of the date
  hereof:


 Goldman, Sachs & Co.                         Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
                                       
                                       
 /s/ Goldman, Sachs & Co.                     By:/s/ Joseph A. Lenihan      
 ------------------------------                  ---------------------------
                                                 Name:  Joseph A. Lenihan
                                                 Title: Senior Vice President
                                       
 Salomon Brothers, Inc                        Robert W. Baird & Co.
                                                 Incorporated
                                       
 By:/s/ Pamela Kendall                 
    ---------------------------        
    Name:  Pamela Kendall                     By:/s/ Bernard E. Adee        
    Title: Vice President                        ---------------------------
                                                 Name:  Bernard E. Adee
                                                 Title: First Vice President
 Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.             
                                              First Chicago Capital
                                                      Markets Inc.
 By:/s/ Jeffrey W. Yingling
    ---------------------------                             
    Name:  Jeffrey W. Yingling                  By:/s/ Kimberly A. Hunter     
    Title: Managing Director-Corporate Finance  ---------------------------
                                                Name:  Kimberly A. Hunter

 Lehman Brothers                                Title: Vice President
 Lehman Brothers Inc.


 By:/s/ Bart McDade
    ---------------------------
    Name:  Bart McDade
    Title: Managing Director

 J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc.


 By:/s/ Robert D. Post         
    ---------------------------
    Name:  Robert D. Post
    Title: Vice President




                                     -27-
                  
<PAGE>   28



                                   EXHIBIT A


 Marshall & Ilsley Corporation
 770 North Water Street
 Milwaukee, Wisconsin   53202
 Fax:  414/765-7788
 Attention:  Secretary


 Goldman, Sachs & Co.                         Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
 85 Broad Street                              Two World Trade Center
 New York, New York 10004                       Station 8566
 Fax 212/357-8680                             New York, New York  10048
 Attention:  Credit Department                Fax:  ___________________
                                              Attention:  _____________
 Salomon Brothers Inc             
 Seven World Trade Center                     Robert W. Baird & Co.
 New York, New York  10048                      Incorporated
 Fax:  ___________________                    777 East Wisconsin Ave.
 Attention:  _____________                    Milwaukee, WI 53202
                                              Fax:  ___________________
 Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.                    Attention:  _____________
 6000 Sears Tower                 
 Chicago, IL  60606                           First Chicago Capital Markets
 Fax:  ___________________                      Inc.
 Attention:  _____________                    Equitable Building
                                              153 West 51st Street
 Lehman Brothers                              New York, New York  10019
 Lehman Brothers Inc.                         Fax:  ___________________
 3 World Financial Center                     Attention:  _____________
 New York, New York 10286
 Fax:  ___________________
 Attention:  _____________

 J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc.
 60 Wall Street
 New York, New York  10006
 Fax:  ___________________
 Attention:  _____________             
                             



                                     -28-
<PAGE>   29

                                                                         ANNEX I


                         MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORPORATION

                               Medium-Term Notes

                                Terms Agreement


                                                                 __________, 199


 [Goldman, Sachs & Co.                        [Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.
 85 Broad Street                              Two World Trade Center
 New York, New York 10004]                      Station 8566
                                              New York, New York  10048]
 [Salomon Brothers Inc               
 Seven World Trade Center                     [Robert W. Baird & Co.
 New York, New York  10048]                     Incorporated
                                              777 East Wisconsin Ave.
 [Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.                   Milwaukee, WI 53202]
 6000 Sears Tower                    
 Chicago, IL  60606]                          [First Chicago Capital Markets
                                                 Inc.
 [Lehman Brothers                             Equitable Building
 Lehman Brothers Inc.                         153 West 51st Street
 3 World Financial Center                     New York, New York  10019]
 New York, New York 10286]

 [J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc.
 60 Wall Street
 New York, New York  10006]


Dear Sirs:

                 Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (the "Company") proposes,
subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in the Distribution
Agreement, dated December 27, 1995 (the "Distribution Agreement"), between the
Company on the one hand and Goldman, Sachs & Co., Salomon Brothers Inc, Dean
Witter Reynolds Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc.,
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., Robert W.  Baird & Co. Incorporated and First
Chicago Capital Markets Inc., and M & I Brokerage Services, Inc. (the "Agents")
on the other, to issue and sell to [Goldman, Sachs & Co., Salomon Brothers Inc,
Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc.,
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., Robert W. Baird & Co. Incorporated and First
Chicago Capital Markets Inc.] the securities specified in the Schedule hereto
(the "Purchased Securities").  Each of the provisions of the Distribution
Agreement not specifically related to the solicitation by the Agents, as agents
of the Company, of offers to purchase Securities is incorporated herein by
reference in its entirety, and shall be deemed to be part of this Terms
Agreement to the same extent as





                                      I-1
<PAGE>   30

if such provisions had been set forth in full herein.  Nothing contained herein
or in the Distribution Agreement shall make any party hereto an agent of the
Company or make such party subject to the provisions therein relating to the
solicitation of offers to purchase securities from the Company, solely by
virtue of its execution of this Terms Agreement.  Each of the representations
and warranties set forth therein shall be deemed to have been made at and as of
the date of this Terms Agreement, except that each representation and warranty
in Section 1 of the Distribution Agreement which makes reference to the
Prospectus shall be deemed to be a representation and warranty as of the date
of the Distribution Agreement in relation to the Prospectus (as therein
defined), and also a representation and warranty as of the date of this Terms
Agreement in relation to the Prospectus as amended and supplemented to relate
to the Purchased Securities.

                 An amendment to the Registration Statement, or a supplement to
the Prospectus, as the case may be, relating to the Purchased 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 Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference, the Company agrees
to issue and sell to [Agent(s)] and the latter agree[s] to purchase from the
Company the Purchased Securities, at the time and place, in the principal
amount and at the purchase price set forth in the Schedule hereto.





                                      I-2
<PAGE>   31

                 If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding,
please sign and return to us five counterparts hereof, and upon acceptance
hereof by you this letter and such acceptance hereof, including those
provisions of the Distribution Agreement incorporated herein by reference,
shall constitute a binding agreement between you and the Company.



                                                   MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORPORATION


                                             By:________________________________
                                                 Name:  Gordon H. Gunnlaugsson
                                                 Title: Executive Vice President

Accepted as of the date
  hereof:

[Agents]





                                      I-3
<PAGE>   32

                                                             Schedule to Annex I


                         Title of Purchased Securities:

         [  %] Medium-Term Notes

Aggregate Principal Amount:

         $_________________

[Price to Public:]

Purchase Price by [Agent(s)]:

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

Method of and Specified Funds for Payment of Purchase Price:

         [By certified or official bank check or checks, payable to the other
of the Company, in [[New York] Clearing House][immediately available] funds]

         [By wire transfer to a bank account specified by the Company in [next
day] [immediately available] funds]

Indenture:

         Indenture, dated as of November 15, 1985, as amended, between the
Company and Chemical Bank (successor to Manufacturers Hanover Trust Company),
as Trustee

Time of Delivery:

Closing Location for Delivery of Securities:

Maturity:

Interest Rate:

         [  %]

Interest Payment Dates:

         [months and dates]

Documents to be Delivered:

         The following documents referred to in the Distribution Agreement
shall be delivered as a condition to the Closing:





                                      I-4
<PAGE>   33

        [(1) The opinion or opinions of counsel to the Agents referred to in
Section 4(h).]

        [(2) The opinion of counsel to the Company referred to in Section 4(i).]

        [(3) The accountants' letter referred to in Section 4(j).]

        [(4) The officers' certificate referred to in Section 4(k).]

Other Provisions (including Syndicate Provisions, if applicable):





                                      I-5
<PAGE>   34

                                                                        ANNEX II


                         Marshall & Ilsley Corporation

                           Administrative Procedures

                 This Administrative Procedure relates to the Securities
defined in the Distribution Agreement, dated December 27, 1995 (the
"Distribution Agreement"), between Marshall & Ilsley Corporation (the
"Company") and Goldman, Sachs & Co., Salomon Brothers Inc, Dean Witter Reynolds
Inc., Lehman Brothers, Lehman Brothers Inc., J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc.,
Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., Robert W. Baird & Co.  Incorporated and First
Chicago Capital Markets Inc. (together, the "Agents"), to which this
Administrative Procedure is attached as Annex II.  Defined terms used herein
and not defined herein shall have the meanings given such terms in the
Distribution Agreement, the Prospectus as amended or supplemented or the
Indenture.

                 The procedures to be followed with respect to the settlement
of sales of Securities directly by the Company to purchasers solicited by an
Agent, as agent, are set forth below.  The terms and settlement details related
to a purchase of Securities by an Agent, as principal, from the Company will be
set forth in a Terms Agreement pursuant to the Distribution Agreement, unless
the Company and such Agent otherwise agree as provided in Section 2(b) of the
Distribution Agreement, in which case the procedures to be followed in respect
of the settlement of such sale will be as set forth below.  An Agent, in
relation to a purchase of a Security by a purchaser solicited by such Agent, is
referred to herein as the "Selling Agent" and, in relation to a purchase of a
Security by such Agent as principal other than pursuant to a Terms Agreement,
as the "Purchasing Agent".

                 The Company will advise each Agent in writing of those persons
with whom such Agent is to communicate regarding offers to purchase Securities
and the related settlement details.

                 Each Security will be issued only in fully registered form and
will be represented by either a global security (a "Global Security") delivered
to the Trustee, as agent for The Depository Trust Company (the "Depositary")
and recorded in the book-entry system maintained by the Depositary (a
"Book-Entry Security") or a certificate issued in definitive form (a
"Certificated Security") delivered to a person designated by an Agent, as set
forth in the applicable Pricing Supplement.  An owner of a Book-Entry Security
will not be entitled to receive a certificate representing such a Security,
except as provided in the Indenture.

                 Certificated Securities will be issued in accordance with the
Administrative Procedure set forth in Part I hereof, and





                                      II-1
<PAGE>   35

Book-Entry Securities will be issued in accordance with the Administrative
Procedure set forth in Part II hereof.

PART I:  ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR CERTIFICATED SECURITIES

Posting Rates by Company:

                 The Company and the Agents will discuss from time to time the
rates of interest per annum to be borne by and the maturity of Certificated
Securities that may be sold as a result of the solicitation of offers by an
Agent.  The Company may establish a fixed set of interest rates and maturities
for an offering period ("posting").  If the Company decides to change already
posted rates, it will promptly advise the Agents to suspend solicitation of
offers until the new posted rates have been established with the Agents.

Acceptance of Offers by Company:

                 Each Agent will promptly advise the Company by telephone or
other appropriate means of all reasonable offers to purchase Certificated
Securities, other than those rejected by such Agent.  Each Agent may, in its
discretion reasonably exercised, reject any offer received by it in whole or in
part.  Each Agent also may make offers to the Company to purchase Certificated
Securities as a Purchasing Agent.  The Company will have the sole right to
accept offers to purchase Certificated Securities and may reject any such offer
in whole or in part.

                 The Company will promptly notify the Selling Agent or
Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, of its acceptance or rejection of an
offer to purchase Certificated Securities.  If the Company accepts an offer to
purchase Certificated Securities, it will confirm such acceptance in writing to
the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, and the Trustee.

Communication of Sale Information to Company by Selling Agent:

                 After the acceptance of an offer by the Company, the Selling
Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, will communicate the following
details of the terms of such offer (the "Sale Information") to the Company by
telephone (confirmed in writing) or by facsimile transmission or other
acceptable written means:

                 (1)  Principal amount of Certificated Securities to be
purchased;

                 (2)  If a Fixed Rate Certificated Security, the interest rate
and the initial interest payment date;

                 (3)  Maturity Date;





                                      II-2
<PAGE>   36

                 (4)  Specified Currency and, if the Specified Currency is
other than U.S. dollars, the applicable Exchange Rate for such Specified
Currency;

                 (5)  Indexed Currency, the Base Rate and the Exchange Rate
Determination Date, if applicable;

                 (6)  Issue Price;

                 (7)  Selling Agent's commission or Purchasing Agent's
discount, as the case may be;

                 (8)  Net proceeds to the Company;

                 (9)  Settlement Date;

                 (10)  If a redeemable Certificated Security, such of the
following as are applicable:

                      (i)         Redemption Commencement Date,
                     (ii)         Initial Redemption Price (% of par), and
                    (iii)         Amount (% of par) that the Redemption Price
                                  shall decline (but not below par) on each
                                  anniversary of the Redemption Commencement
                                  Date;

                 (11)  If a Floating Rate Certificated Security, such of the
following as are applicable:

                      (i)         Interest Rate Basis,
                     (ii)         Index Maturity,
                    (iii)         Spread or Spread Multiplier,
                     (iv)         Maximum Rate,
                      (v)         Minimum Rate,
                     (vi)         Initial Interest Rate,
                    (vii)         Interest Reset Dates,
                   (viii)         Calculation Dates,
                     (ix)         Interest Determination Dates,
                      (x)         Interest Payment Dates,
                     (xi)         Regular Record Dates, and
                    (xii)         Calculation Agent;

                 (12)  Name, address and taxpayer identification number of the
registered owner(s);

                 (13)  Denomination of certificates to be delivered at
settlement; and

                 (14)  Book-Entry Security or Certificated Security.

Preparation of Pricing Supplement by Company:

                 If the Company accepts an offer to purchase a Certificated
Security, it will prepare a Pricing Supplement.  The





                                      II-3
<PAGE>   37

Company will supply at least ten copies of such Pricing Supplement to the
Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, not later than 5:00
p.m., New York City time, on the business day following the date of acceptance
of such offer, or if the Company and the purchaser agree to settlement on the
date of such acceptance, not later than noon, New York City time, on such date.
The Company will arrange to have ten Pricing Supplements filed with the
Commission not later than the close of business of the Commission on the fifth
business day following the date on which such Pricing Supplement is first used.

Delivery of Confirmation and Prospectus to Purchaser by Selling Agent:

                 The Selling Agent will deliver to the purchaser of a
Certificated Security a written confirmation of the sale and delivery and
payment instructions.  In addition, the Selling Agent will deliver to such
purchaser or its agent the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the
Pricing Supplement) in relation to such Certificated Security prior to or
together with the earlier of the delivery to such purchaser or its agent of (a)
the confirmation of sale or (b) the Certificated Security.

Date of Settlement:

                 All offers solicited by a Selling Agent or made by a
Purchasing Agent and accepted by the Company will be settled on a date (the
"Settlement Date") which is the third business day after the date of acceptance
of such offer, unless the Company and the purchaser agree to settlement (a) on
any other business day after the acceptance of such offer or (b) with respect
to an offer accepted by the Company prior to 10:00 a.m., New York City time, on
the date of such acceptance.

Instruction from Company to Trustee for Preparation of Certificated Securities:

                 After receiving the Sale Information from the Selling Agent or
Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, the Company will communicate such Sale
Information to the Trustee by telephone (confirmed in writing) or by facsimile
transmission or other acceptable written means.

                 The Company will instruct the Trustee by facsimile
transmission or other acceptable written means to authenticate and deliver the
Certificated Securities no later than 2:15 p.m., New York City time, on the
Settlement Date.  Such instruction will be given by the Company prior to 3:00
p.m., New York City time, on the business day prior to the Settlement Date
unless the Settlement Date is the date of acceptance by the Company of the
offer to purchase Certificated Securities in which case such instruction will
be given by the Company by 11:00 a.m., New York City time.





                                      II-4
<PAGE>   38

Preparation and Delivery of Certificated Securities by Trustee and Receipt of
Payment Therefor:

                 The Trustee will prepare each Certificated Security and
appropriate receipts that will serve as the documentary control of the
transaction.

                 In the case of a sale of Certificated Securities to a
purchaser solicited by an Agent, the Trustee will, by 2:15 p.m., New York City
time, on the Settlement Date, deliver the Certificated Securities to the
Selling Agent for the benefit of the purchaser of such Certificated Securities
against delivery by the Selling Agent of a receipt therefor.  On the Settlement
Date the Selling Agent will deliver payment for such Certificated Securities in
immediately available funds to the Company in an amount equal to the issue
price of the Certificated Securities less the Selling Agent's commission;
provided that the Selling Agent reserves the right to withhold payment for
which it has not received funds from the purchaser.  The Company shall not use
any proceeds advanced by a Selling Agent to acquire securities.

                 In the case of a sale of Certificated Securities to a
Purchasing Agent, the Trustee will, by 2:15 p.m., New York City time, on the
Settlement Date, deliver the Certificated Securities to the Purchasing Agent
against delivery of payment for such Certificated Securities in immediately
available funds to the Company in an amount equal to the issue price of the
Certificated Securities less the Purchasing Agent's discount.

Failure of Purchaser to Pay Selling Agent:

                 If a purchaser (other than a Purchasing Agent) fails to make
payment to the Selling Agent for a Certificated Security, the Selling Agent
will promptly notify the Trustee and the Company thereof by telephone
(confirmed in writing) or by facsimile transmission or other acceptable written
means.  The Selling Agent will immediately return the Certificated Security to
the Trustee.  Immediately upon receipt of such Certificated Security by the
Trustee, the Company will return to the Selling Agent an amount equal to the
amount previously paid to the Company in respect of such Certificated Security.
The Company will reimburse the Selling Agent on an equitable basis for its loss
of the use of funds during the period when they were credited to the account of
the Company.

                 The Trustee will cancel the Certificated Security in respect
of which the failure occurred, make appropriate entries in its records and,
unless otherwise instructed by the Company, destroy the Certificated Security.

PART II:  ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE FOR BOOK-ENTRY SECURITIES

                 In connection with the qualification of the Book-Entry
Securities for eligibility in the book-entry system maintained by





                                      II-5
<PAGE>   39

the Depositary, the Trustee will perform the custodial, document control and
administrative functions described below, in accordance with its respective
obligations under a Letter of Representation from the Company and the Trustee
to the Depositary, dated the date hereof, and a Medium-Term Note Certificate
Agreement between the Trustee and the Depositary, dated as of ___________ (the
"Certificate Agreement"), and its obligations as a participant in the
Depositary, including the Depositary's Same-Day Funds Settlement System
("SDFS").

Posting Rates by the Company:

                 The Company and the Agents will discuss from time to time the
rates of interest per annum to be borne by and the maturity of Book-Entry
Securities that may be sold as a result of the solicitation of offers by an
Agent.  The Company may establish a fixed set of interest rates and maturities
for an offering period ("posting").  If the Company decides to change already
posted rates, it will promptly advise the Agents to suspend solicitation of
offers until the new posted rates have been established with the Agents.

Acceptance of Offers by the Company:

                 Each Agent will promptly advise the Company by telephone or
other appropriate means of all reasonable offers to purchase Securities, other
than those rejected by such Agent.  Each Agent may, in its discretion
reasonably exercised, reject any offer received by it in whole or in part.
Each Agent also may make offers to the Company to purchase Book-Entry
Securities as a Purchasing Agent.  The Company will have the sole right to
accept offers to purchase Book-Entry Securities and may reject any such offer
in whole or in part.

                 The Company will promptly notify the Selling Agent or
Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, of its acceptance or rejection of an
offer to purchase Book-Entry Securities.  If the Company accepts an offer to
purchase Book-Entry Securities, it will confirm such acceptance in writing to
the Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, and the Trustee.

Communication of Sale Information to the Company by Selling Agent and
Settlement Procedures:

                 A.  After the acceptance of an offer by the Company, the
Selling Agent or Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, will communicate
promptly, but in no event later than the time set forth under "Settlement
Procedure Timetable" below, the following details of the terms of such offer
(the "Sale Information") to the Company by telephone (confirmed in writing) or
by facsimile transmission or other acceptable written means:

                 (1)  Principal amount of Book-Entry Securities to be purchased;





                                      II-6
<PAGE>   40


                 (2)  If a Fixed Rate Book-Entry Security, the interest rate
and initial interest payment date;

                 (3)  Maturity Date;

                 (4)  Specified Currency and, if the Specified Currency is
other than U.S. dollars, the applicable Exchange Rate for such Specified
Currency (it being understood that currently the Depositary accepts deposits of
Global Securities denominated in U.S. dollars only);

                 (5)  Indexed Currency, the Base Rate and the Exchange Rate
Determination Date, if applicable;

                 (6)  Issue Price;

                 (7)  Selling Agent's commission or Purchasing Agent's discount
or commission, as the case may be;

                 (8)  Net Proceeds to the Company;

                 (9)  Settlement Date;

                 (10)  If a redeemable Book-Entry Security, such of the
following as are applicable:

                      (i)         Redemption Commencement Date,

                     (ii)         Initial Redemption Price (% of par), and

                    (iii)         Amount (% of par) that the Redemption Price
                                  shall decline (but not below par) on each
                                  anniversary of the Redemption Commencement
                                  Date;

                 (11)  If a Floating Rate Book-Entry Security, such of the
following as are applicable:

                      (i)         Interest Rate Basis,

                     (ii)         Index Maturity,

                    (iii)         Spread or Spread Multiplier,

                     (iv)         Maximum Rate,

                      (v)         Minimum Rate,

                     (vi)         Initial Interest Rate,

                    (vii)         Interest Reset Dates,

                   (viii)         Calculation Dates,





                                      II-7
<PAGE>   41

                     (ix)         Interest Determination Dates,

                      (x)         Interest Payment Dates,

                     (xi)         Regular Record Dates, and

                    (xii)         Calculation Agent;

                 (12)  Name, address and taxpayer identification number of the
registered owner(s);

                 (13)  Denomination of certificates to be delivered at
settlement; and

                 (14)  Book-Entry Security or Certificated Security.

                 B.  After receiving the Sale Information from the Selling
Agent or Purchasing Agent, the Company will communicate such Sale Information
to the Trustee by facsimile transmission or  other acceptable written means.
The Trustee will assign a CUSIP number to the Global Security from a list of
CUSIP numbers previously delivered to the Trustee by the Company representing
such Book-Entry Security and then advise the Company and the Selling Agent or
Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, of such CUSIP number.

                 C.  The Trustee will enter a pending deposit message through
the Depositary's Participant Terminal System, providing the following
settlement information to the Depositary, and the Depositary shall forward such
information to such Agent and Standard & Poor's Corporation:

                 (1)      The applicable Sale Information;

                 (2)      CUSIP number of the Global Security representing such
                          Book-Entry Security;

                 (3)      Whether such Global Security will represent any other
                          Book-Entry Security (to the extent known at such
                          time);

                 (4)      Number of the Participant account maintained by the
                          Depositary on behalf of the Selling Agent or
                          Purchasing Agent, as the case may be;

                 (5)      The interest payment period;

                 (6)      Initial Interest Payment Date for such Book-Entry
                          Security, number of days by which such date succeeds
                          the record date for the Depositary's purposes (which,
                          in the case of Floating Rate Securities which reset
                          weekly shall be the date five calendar days
                          immediately preceding the applicable Interest Payment
                          Date and in the case





                                      II-8
<PAGE>   42

                          of all other Book-Entry Securities shall be the
                          Regular Record Date,  as defined in the Security)
                          and, if calculable at that time, the amount of
                          interest payable on such Interest Payment Date.

                 D.  The Trustee will complete and authenticate the Global
Security previously delivered by the Company representing such Book-Entry
Security.

                 E.  The Depositary will credit such Book-Entry Security to the
Trustee's participant account at the Depositary.

                 F.  The Trustee will enter an SDFS deliver order through the
Depositary's Participant Terminal System instructing the Depositary to (i)
debit such Book-Entry Security to the Trustee's participant account and credit
such Book-Entry Security to such Agent's participant account and (ii) debit
such Agent's settlement account and credit the Trustee's settlement account for
an amount equal to the price of such Book-Entry Security less such Agent's
commission.  The entry of such a deliver order shall constitute a
representation and warranty by the Trustee to the Depositary that (a) the
Global Security representing such Book-Entry Security has been issued and
authenticated and (b) the Trustee is holding such Global Security pursuant to
the Certificate Agreement.

                 G.  Such Agent will enter an SDFS deliver order through
the Depositary's Participant Terminal System instructing the Depositary (i) to
debit such Book-Entry Security to such Agent's participant account and credit
such Book-Entry Security. to the participant accounts of the Participants with
respect to such Book-Entry Security and (ii) to debit the settlement accounts
of such Participants and credit the settlement account of such Agent for an
amount equal to the price of such Book-Entry Security.

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

                 I.  Upon confirmation of receipt of funds, the Trustee will
transfer to the account of the Company maintained at [          ], New York,
New York, or such other account as the Company may have previously specified to
the Trustee, in funds available for immediate use in the amount transferred to
the Trustee in accordance with Settlement Procedure "F".

                 J.  Upon request, the Trustee will send to the Company a
statement setting forth the principal amount of Book-Entry Securities
outstanding as of that date under the Indenture.

                 K.  Such Agent will confirm the purchase of such Book-Entry
Security to the purchaser either by transmitting to





                                      II-9
<PAGE>   43

the Participants with respect to such Book-Entry Security a confirmation order
or orders through the Depositary's institutional delivery system or by mailing
a written confirmation to such purchaser.

                 L.  The Depositary will, at any time upon request of the
Company or the Trustee, promptly furnish to the Company or the Trustee a list
of the names and addresses of the participants for whom the Depositary has
credited Book-Entry Securities.

Preparation of Pricing Supplement:

                 If the Company accepts an offer to purchase a Book-Entry
Security, it will prepare a Pricing Supplement reflecting the terms of such
Book-Entry Security and arrange to have delivered to the Selling Agent or
Purchasing Agent, as the case may be, at least ten copies of such Pricing
Supplement, not later than 5:00 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day
following the receipt of the Sale Information, or if the Company and the
purchaser agree to settlement on the Business Day following the date of
acceptance, not later than noon, New York City time, on such date.  The Company
will arrange to have Pricing Supplements filed with the Commission not later
than the close of business of the Commission on the fifth Business Day
following the date on which such Pricing Supplement is first used, or such
shorter period as prescribed by the rules and regulations under the Act.

Delivery of Confirmation and Prospectus to Purchaser by Selling Agent:

                 The Selling Agent will deliver to the purchaser of a
Book-Entry Security a written confirmation of the sale and delivery and payment
instructions.  In addition, the Selling Agent will deliver to such purchaser or
its agent the Prospectus as amended or supplemented (including the Pricing
Supplement) in relation to such Book-Entry Security prior to or together with
the earlier of the delivery to such purchaser or its agent of (a) the
confirmation of sale or (b) the Book-Entry Security.

Date of Settlement:

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





                                     II-10
<PAGE>   44

Settlement Procedure Timetable:

                 For orders of Book-Entry Securities solicited by an Agent as
agent, and accepted by the Company for settlement on the first Business Day
after the sale date, Settlement Procedures "A" through "I" set forth above
shall be completed as soon as possible but not later than the respective times
(New York City time) set forth below:

<TABLE>
<CAPTION>

         Settlement
         Procedure                         Time
         ----------                        ----
                 <S>              <C>
                 A                5:00 p.m. on the Business Day following the acceptance of an offer by the Company to 10:00 a.m. 
                                  on the Business Day prior to the settlement date, whichever is earlier

                 B                12:00 noon on the sale date

                 C                2:00 p.m. on the sale date
<CAPTION>
         Settlement
         Procedure                         Time
         ----------                        ----
                 <S>              <C>
                 D                9:00 a.m. on settlement date

                 E                10:00 a.m. on settlement date

                 F-G              2:00 p.m. on settlement date

                 H                4:45 p.m. on settlement date

                 I                5:00 p.m. on settlement date
</TABLE>

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

                 If settlement of a Book-Entry Security is rescheduled or
cancelled, the Trustee, upon obtaining knowledge thereof, will deliver to the
Depositary, through the Depositary's Participation Terminal System, a
cancellation message to such effect by no later than 2:00 p.m. on the Business
Day immediately preceding the scheduled settlement date.





                                     II-11
<PAGE>   45


Failure to Settle:

                 If the Trustee fails to enter an SDFS deliver order with
respect to a Book-Entry Security pursuant to Settlement Procedure "F", the
Trustee may deliver to the Depositary, through the Depositary's Participant
Terminal System, as soon as practicable a withdrawal message instructing the
Depositary to debit such Book-Entry Security to the Trustee's participant
account, provided that the Trustee's participant account contains a principal
amount of the Global Security representing such Book-Entry Security that is at
least equal to the principal amount to be debited.  If a withdrawal message is
processed with respect to all the Book-Entry Securities represented by a Global
Security, the Trustee will mark such Global Security "cancelled", make
appropriate entries in the Trustee's records and send such cancelled Global
Security to the Company.  The CUSIP number assigned to such Global Security
shall, in accordance with CUSIP Service Bureau procedures, be cancelled and not
immediately reassigned.  If a withdrawal message is processed with respect to
one or more, but not all, of the Book-Entry Securities represented by a Global
Security, the Trustee will exchange such Global Security for two Global
Securities, one of which shall represent such Book-Entry Security or Securities
and shall be cancelled immediately after issuance and the other of which shall
represent the remaining Book-Entry Securities previously represented by the
surrendered Global Security and shall bear the CUSIP number of the surrendered
Global Security.

                 If the purchase price for any Book-Entry Security is not
timely paid to the participants with respect to such Book-Entry Security by the
beneficial purchaser thereof (or a person, including an indirect participant in
the Depositary, acting on behalf of such purchaser), such participants and, in
turn, the Agent for such Book-Entry Security may enter deliver orders through
the Depositary's Participant Terminal System debiting such Book-Entry Security
to such participant's account and crediting such Book-Entry Security to such
Agent's account and then debiting such Book-Entry Security to such Agent's
participant account and crediting such Book-Entry Security to the Trustee's
participant account and shall notify the Company and the Trustee thereof.
Thereafter, the Trustee will (i) immediately notify the Company of such order
and the Company shall transfer to such Agent funds available for immediate use
in an amount equal to the price of such Book-Entry Security which was credited
to the account of the Company maintained at the Trustee in accordance with
Settlement Procedure I, and (ii) deliver the withdrawal message and take the
related actions described in the preceding paragraph.  If such failure shall
have occurred for any reason other than default by the applicable Agent to
perform its obligations hereunder or under the Distribution Agreement, the
Company will reimburse such Agent on an equitable basis for the loss of its use
of funds during the period when the funds were credited to the account of the
Company.





                                     II-12
<PAGE>   46


                 Notwithstanding the foregoing, upon any failure to settle with
respect to a Book-Entry Security, the Depositary may take any actions in
accordance with its SDFS operating procedures then in effect.  In the event of
a failure to settle with respect  to one or more, but not all, of the
Book-Entry Securities to have been represented by a Global Security, the
Trustee will provide, in accordance with Settlement Procedure "D" for the
authentication and issuance of a Global Security representing the other
Book-Entry Securities to have been represented by such Global Security and will
make appropriate entries in its records.  The Company will, from time to time,
furnish the Trustee with a sufficient quantity of Securities.





                                     II-13
<PAGE>   47

                                                                       ANNEX III

                              ACCOUNTANTS' LETTER

                 Pursuant to Section 4(j) and Section 6(d), as the case may be,
of the Distribution Agreement, the Company's independent certified public
accountants shall furnish letters 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 (and, if applicable,
         prospective financial statements 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 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 furnished to the Agents;

                 (iii)  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 1O-K for the most recent fiscal
         year agrees with the corresponding amounts (after restatement where
         applicable) in the audited consolidated financial statements for the
         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;

                 (iv)  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





                                     III-1
<PAGE>   48

         subsidiaries responsible for financial and accounting matters and such
         other inquiries and procedures as may be specified in such letter or
         may be required by Statement of Accounting Standards Nos. 71 and 72,
         nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe that:

                          (A)  the unaudited condensed consolidated statements
                 of income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated
                 statements of cash flows 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 as it applies to Form 10-Q and the related
                 published rules and regulations thereunder or are not in
                 conformity with generally accepted accounting principles
                 applied on a basis substantially consistent with the basis for
                 the audited consolidated statements of income, consolidated
                 balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows
                 included or incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual
                 Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year;

                          (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 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)  the financial information, schedules and
                 statistical data and other information set forth or
                 incorporated by reference under the captions "Capitalization,"
                 "Selected Consolidated Financial Data" and "Ratio of Earnings
                 to Fixed Charges" in the Prospectus, under the captions
                 "Selected Statistical Information," "Common Dividends
                 Declared," "Selected Financial Information," "Management's
                 Discussion and





                                     III-2
<PAGE>   49

                 Analysis of Financial Position and Results of Operations,"
                 "Item 6-Selected Financial Data," "Item 8-Supplementary Data"
                 or in Exhibit 12-Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed
                 Charges in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the
                 most recent fiscal year or under the captions "Summary
                 Compensation Table," "Aggregated Option/SAR Exercises in Last
                 Fiscal Year and Year End Value Table," and "Nonqualified
                 Retirement Plan" in the Company's Proxy Statement for the
                 Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 25, 1995 comply
                 as to form in all material respects with applicable disclosure
                 requirements of Regulation S-K of the Act;

                          (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 assets
                 or other items specified by the Agents, or any increases in
                 any items specified by the Agents, 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 (F)
                 there were any decreases in consolidated interest income,
                 consolidated net interest income or the total or per share
                 amounts of consolidated net income or other items specified by
                 the Agents, or any increases in any items specified by the
                 Agents, in each case as compared with the comparable period of
                 the preceding year and with any other period of corresponding
                 length specified by the Agents, 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

                 (v)  In addition to the examination 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 (iv) above, they
         have carried out certain





                                     III-3
<PAGE>   50

         specified procedures, not constituting an examination in accordance
         with generally accepted auditing standards, with respect to certain
         amounts, percentages and financial information specified by the Agents
         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 Agents
         or in documents incorporated by reference in the Prospectus specified
         by the Agents, and 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 III to the Prospectus shall be
deemed to refer to the Prospectus (including the documents incorporated by
reference therein) as defined in the Distribution Agreement as of the
Commencement Date referred to in Section 6(d) thereof and to the Prospectus as
amended or supplemented (including the documents incorporated by reference
therein) as of the date of the amendment, supplement, incorporation or the Time
of Delivery relating to the Terms Agreement requiring the delivery of such
letter under Section 4(j) thereof.





                                     III-4

<PAGE>   1
                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.2


                         MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORPORATION

                                Debt Securities

                             Underwriting Agreement

                                                                    ______, 199_

To the Representatives of the
  Several Underwriters Named in
  the Respective Pricing Agreements
  Hereinafter Described

Dear Sirs:

                 From time to time Marshall & Ilsley 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 Underwriters who act
without any firm being designated as their representative.  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
<PAGE>   2

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 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 in respect of the Securities
         has been filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
         "Commission"); such 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 such
         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; no other document with respect to such
         registration statement or document incorporated by reference therein
         has heretofore been filed or transmitted for filing with the
         Commission; and no stop order suspending the effectiveness of such
         registration statement has been issued and no proceeding for that
         purpose has been initiated or threatened by the Commission (any
         preliminary prospectus included in such registration statement or
         filed with the Commission pursuant to Rule 424 (a) of the rules and
         regulations of the Commission under the Securities Act of 1933, as
         amended (the "Act"), being hereinafter called a "Preliminary
         Prospectus"; the various parts of such registration statement,
         including all exhibits thereto and the documents incorporated by
         reference in the prospectus contained in the registration statement at
         the time such part of the registration statement became effective but
         excluding Form T-1, each as amended at the time such part of the
         registration statement became effective, being hereinafter called the
         "Registration Statement"; the prospectus relating to the Securities,
         in the form in which it has most recently been filed, or





                                      -2-
<PAGE>   3

         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 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 Registration Statement shall be
         deemed to refer to and include any annual report of the Company filed
         pursuant to Section 13(a) or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the
         effective date of the 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





                                      -3-
<PAGE>   4

         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;

                 (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, other 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 (other than changes in connection with the redemption,
         conversion or exchange of the Corporation's 8.5% Convertible
         Subordinated Note held by The Northwestern Mutual Life Insurance
         Company (the "NML Note"), or in the principal amount of the
         Corporation's outstanding Medium-Term Series B Notes (the "Series B
         Notes"), the Corporation's Outstanding Medium-Term Series C Notes (the
         "Series C Notes"), or outstanding notes of subsidiary banks (the "Bank
         Notes") or any material adverse change, or any development involving a
         prospective material adverse 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;





                                      -4-
<PAGE>   5

                 (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, and has been duly qualified as a foreign
         corporation for the transaction of business and is in good standing
         under the laws of each other jurisdiction in which it owns or leases
         properties, or conducts any business so as to require such
         qualification, or is subject to no material liability or disability by
         reason of the failure to be so qualified in any such jurisdiction; M&I
         Marshall & Ilsley Bank ("M&I Bank") has been duly incorporated and is
         validly existing as a banking corporation in good standing under the
         laws of the State of Wisconsin;

                 (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 (except to the extent provided in
         Section 180.0622(2)(b) of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law);
         all of the issued shares of capital stock of M&I Bank have been duly
         and validly authorized and issued, are fully paid and nonassessable
         (except to the extent provided in Section 220.07 of the Wisconsin
         Statutes) and are owned directly by the Company, free and clear of all
         liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;

                 (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;





                                      -5-
<PAGE>   6

                 (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, nor will such action result in any violation of
         the provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of Incorporation
         or By-laws, as amended, 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)      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 are of a
         character which are required to be disclosed in the Prospectus which
         have not been properly disclosed therein; and, to the best of the
         Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or
         contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others; and

                 (j)      The Company and each of its subsidiaries have
         conducted their businesses and are in compliance in all material
         respects with all applicable federal and state laws and regulations,
         including, without limitation, all laws and regulations restricting
         activities of bank holding companies and banking organizations, except
         for noncompliance which would not have a material adverse effect on
         the Company as a whole and its subsidiaries considered as a whole.

                 3.       Upon the execution of the Pricing Agreement
applicable to any Designated Securities and authorization by the





                                      -6-
<PAGE>   7

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 definitive
form to the extent practicable, 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 in immediately available funds or such other funds as
specified in such Pricing Agreement, all at the place and time and date
specified in such Pricing Agreement 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 and 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,
         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





                                      -7-
<PAGE>   8

         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 use
         promptly its best efforts to obtain its withdrawal;

                 (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 the applicable Pricing
         Agreement and from time to time, to furnish the Underwriters with
         copies of the Prospectus as amended or supplemented in such quantities
         as the Representatives may from time to time 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





                                      -8-
<PAGE>   9

         correct such statement or omission or effect such compliance;

                 (d)      To make generally available to its security holders
         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)), an earning 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); and

                 (e)      During the period beginning from the date hereof and
         continuing to and including the date five days after the date of the
         Prospectus, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose
         of any securities of the Company (other than pursuant to employee
         stock option plans existing, or on the conversion or exchange of
         convertible or exchangeable securities outstanding, on the date of
         this Agreement) which are substantially similar to the Securities or
         which are convertible or exchangeable into securities which are
         substantially similar to the Securities, without your prior written
         consent.

                 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 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 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





                                      -9-
<PAGE>   10

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, Section 8 and Section 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 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; 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 opinion or opinions, dated the Time of
         Delivery for such Designated Securities, with respect to the
         incorporation of the Company, this Agreement, the validity of the
         Indenture, the Designated Securities, the Registration Statement, the
         Prospectus as amended or supplemented and 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)      Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., counsel for the Company shall
         have furnished to the Representatives their written opinion, dated the
         Time of Delivery for such Designated Securities, in form and substance
         satisfactory to the Representatives, to the effect that:





                                    -10-
<PAGE>   11

                          (i)     The Company has been duly incorporated and is
                 validly existing as a corporation in good standing (meaning it
                 has filed its most recent annual report and has not filed
                 articles of dissolution) under the laws of the State of
                 Wisconsin, 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 (except to the extent provided in Section
                 180.0622 (2)(b) of the Wisconsin Business Corporation Law);

                          (iii)   The Company has been duly qualified as a
                 foreign corporation for the transaction of business and is in
                 good standing under the laws of each other jurisdiction in
                 which it owns or leases properties, or conducts any business
                 so as to require such qualification or is subject to no
                 material liability or disability by reason of the failure to
                 be so qualified in any jurisdiction;

                          (iv)    M&I Bank has been incorporated and is validly
                 existing as a banking corporation in good standing under the
                 laws of the State of Wisconsin; all of the issued shares of
                 capital stock of M&I Bank have been duly and validly
                 authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable
                 (except to the extent provided in Section 220.07 of the
                 Wisconsin Statutes), and are owned directly by the Company,
                 free and clear of any perfected security interests and, to the
                 knowledge of such counsel, after due inquiry, any other liens,
                 encumbrances, equities or claims;

                          (v)     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 determined adversely to the Company or any of its
                 subsidiaries, would individually or in the aggregate have a
                 material adverse effect on the consolidated financial
                 position, shareholders' equity or results of operations of the
                 Company and its subsidiaries; and, to the best of such
                 counsel's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened





                                    -11-
<PAGE>   12

                 or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by
                 others;

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

                          (vii)   The Designated Securities have been duly
                 authorized, executed, authenticated, issued and delivered and
                 constitute valid, legally binding and enforceable obligations
                 of the Company entitled to the benefits provided by the
                 Indenture (subject, however, as to the enforcement of such
                 obligations to the limitation set forth in the following
                 paragraph), and the Designated Securities and the Indenture
                 conform to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus as
                 amended or supplemented;

                          (viii)  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;

                          (ix)    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 or any
                 of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any
                 of its subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the property
                 or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
                 subject, nor will such actions result in any violation of the
                 provisions of the Amended and Restated Articles of
                 Incorporation or By-laws, as amended, 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 subsidiaries or
                 any of its properties;





                                    -12-
<PAGE>   13

                          (x)     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, 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;

                          (xi)    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

                          (xii)   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; 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





                                    -13-
<PAGE>   14

                 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 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 light of the circumstances in 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 light of the circumstances in 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;

In rendering its opinion, Godfrey & Kahn, S.C., shall be entitled to rely as to
matters involving subsidiaries of the Company on the opinions of local counsel
and as to matters of fact upon certificates of officers of the Company,
provided, in each case, that such counsel shall state that they believe that
both the Underwriters and they are justified in relying upon such opinions and
certificates.

                 (d)      On the date of the Pricing Agreement for such
         Designated Securities and at the Time of Delivery for such Designated
         Securities, Arthur Andersen & Co. and such other 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





                                    -14-
<PAGE>   15

         Statement or the date of the most recent report filed with the
         Commission concerning 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;

                 (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 or supplemented 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 or supplemented, and (ii) since the
         respective dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus as
         amended or supplemented there shall not have been any change in the
         capital stock or long-term debt of the Company or any of its
         subsidiaries (other than changes in connection with the redemption,
         conversion or exchange of the NML Note, or in the principal amount of
         the Series B Notes, the Series C Notes or the Bank Notes) 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 or supplemented, 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 amended or supplemented;

                 (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 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;





                                    -15-
<PAGE>   16

                 (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
         general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York
         declared by either Federal or New York State authorities; or (iii) 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 (iii) 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 amended or supplemented;

                 (h)      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 two executive
         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; and

                 (i)      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 the
         applicable Pricing Agreement.

                 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 as such expenses are incurred; provided,





                                    -16-
<PAGE>   17

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, to the extent that it shall





                                     -17-
<PAGE>   18

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.

         (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 deducing 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





                                     -18-
<PAGE>   19

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 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





                                    -19-
<PAGE>   20

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 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





                                    -20-
<PAGE>   21

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 Section 6 and Section 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 Section 6 and Section 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.

                 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





                                    -21-
<PAGE>   22

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 Section 8 and Section 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.





                                    -22-
<PAGE>   23

                 If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding,
please sign and return to us four counterparts hereof.

                                       Very truly yours,
                                       
                                       MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORPORATION

                                       By:________________________________
                                          Name:
                                          Title:

Accepted as of the date
   hereof:

Goldman, Sachs & Co.

By:  ______________________
     Name:
     Title:

Salomon Brothers Inc                    Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc.


By:  ______________________             By:  ______________________  
     Name:                                   Name:
     Title:                                  Title:

Dean Witter Reynolds Inc.               Robert W. Baird & Co.
                                             Incorporated

By:  ______________________             
     Name:                              By:  ______________________   
     Title:                                  Name:
                                             Title:
Lehman Brothers Inc.
                                        First Chicago Capital
                                             Markets Inc.
By:  ______________________                       
     Name:
     Title:                             By:  ______________________   
                                             Name:
J.P. Morgan Securities, Inc.                 Title:

By:  ______________________                       
     Name:
     Title:






                                    -23-
<PAGE>   24

                                                                         ANNEX I


                               Pricing Agreement



[Names of Representatives]
As Representatives of the several 
   Underwriters named in Schedule I hereto, 
c/o (Address]


Dear Sirs:

         Marshall & Ilsley Corporation, a Wisconsin corporation (the
"Company"), proposes, subject to the terms and conditions stated herein and in
the Underwriting Agreement, dated ________,199__ (the "Underwriting
Agreement"), between the Company on the one hand and Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
Salomon Brothers Inc, Dean Witter Reynolds Inc., Lehman Brothers Inc., J.P.
Morgan Securities, Inc., Keefe, Bruyette & Woods, Inc., Robert W. Baird & Co.
Incorporated and First Chicago Capital Markets Inc. 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.





<PAGE>   25

         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 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 four 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,

                                            MARSHALL & ILSLEY CORPORATION

                                            
                                            By: ____________________________
                                                Name:
                                                Title:

Accepted as of the date
   hereof:


[Representatives)

_______________________________
By: [Lead Representative]




                                     -2-

<PAGE>   26

                             SCHEDULE I TO ANNEX I


                                                   Principal Amount of
                                                   Designated Securities
Underwriter                                          to be Purchased
- -----------                                        ---------------------




Total...........................................       $ __________






<PAGE>   27

                                    SCHEDULE II TO ANNEX I


TITLE OF DESIGNATED SECURITIES:



AGGREGATE PRINCIPAL AMOUNT:



PRICE TO PUBLIC:

         ________% of the principal amount of the Designated
Securities

PURCHASE PRICE BY UNDERWRITERS:

         _______% of the principal amount of the Designated
         Securities
SPECIFIED FUNDS FOR PAYMENT OF PURCHASE PRICE:

INDENTURE:


MATURITY:


INTEREST RATE:


INTEREST PAYMENT DATES:


REDEMPTION PROVISIONS:


SINKING FUND PROVISIONS:


TIME OF DELIVERY:


CLOSING LOCATION:





<PAGE>   28

                                                             SCHEDULE II ANNEX I
                                                                          Page 2

NAMES AND ADDRESSES OF REPRESENTATIVES:

         Designated Representatives:

         Address for Notices, etc.:





<PAGE>   29

                                                                        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 (and, if applicable,
         prospective financial statements 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, prospective financial
         statements 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 furnished to the representatives of the Underwriters (the
         "Representatives");

                 (iii)    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 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;

                 (iv)     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





<PAGE>   30

                                                                        ANNEX II
                                                                          Page 2

specified in such letter or may be required by Statement on Auditing Standards
Nos. 71 and 72, nothing came to their attention that caused them to believe
that:

                 (A)      the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of
         income, consolidated balance sheets and consolidated statements of
         cash flows 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 as it applies
         to Form 10-Q and the related published rules and regulations
         thereunder or are not in conformity with generally accepted accounting
         principles applied on a basis substantially consistent with the basis
         for the audited consolidated statements of income, consolidated
         balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included or
         incorporated by reference in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K
         for the most recent fiscal year;

                 (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 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)      the financial information, schedules, statistical
         data and other information set forth or incorporated by reference
         under the captions "Capitalization," "Selected Consolidated
         Financial Data" and "Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges" in the
         Prospectus, under the captions "Selected Statistical Information,"
         "Common Dividends Declared," "Selected





<PAGE>   31

                                                                        ANNEX II
                                                                          Page 3

         Financial Information," Management's Discussion and Analysis of
         Financial Position and Results of Operations," "Item 6 - Selected
         Financial Data" and "Item 8 - Supplementary Data" or in Exhibit 12 -
         Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges in the Company's
         Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recent fiscal year or under
         the captions "Summary Compensation Table", "Aggregated Option/SAR
         Exercises in Last Fiscal Year and Year-End Value Table," and
         "Nonqualified Retirement Plan" in the Company's Proxy Statement for
         the Annual Meeting of Shareholders held on April 25, 1995 comply as to
         form in all material respects with the applicable disclosure
         requirements of Regulation S-K of the Act;

                 (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 assets, 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 interest income, consolidated net interest income 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





<PAGE>   32

                                                                        ANNEX II
                                                                          Page 4

                 (v)      In addition to the examination 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 (iv) above, they
         have carried out certain specified procedures, not constituting an
         examination 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 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.







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