EXHIBIT 1(a)


                         FIRST CHICAGO NBD CAPITAL [I]

                          (a Delaware business trust)

                              Preferred Securities

                            %  Preferred Securities
               (Liquidation Amount of $__ Per Preferred Security)

                            UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT








     Dated:  January   , 1997

 
                         FIRST CHICAGO NBD CAPITAL [I]

                          (a Delaware business trust)

                              Preferred Securities

                            %  Preferred Securities
              (Liquidation Amount of $__ Per Preferred Security)

                            UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                            ----------------------
                                                                 January  , 1997


Ladies and Gentlemen:

        FIRST CHICAGO NBD CAPITAL [I] (the "Trust"), a statutory business trust
organized under the Business Trust Act (the "Delaware Act") of the State of
Delaware (Chapter 38, Title 12, of the Delaware Code, 12 Del. C. (S)(S) 3801 et
                                                                             --
seq.) and FIRST CHICAGO NBD CORPORATION, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"
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and, together with the Trust, the "Offerors") confirm their agreement (the
"Agreement") with             and each of the other Underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto (collectively, the "Underwriters", which term shall also
include any underwriter substituted as hereinafter provided in Section 10
hereof), for whom                      are acting as representatives (in such
capacity, the "Representatives"), with respect to the issue and sale by the
Trust and the purchase by the Underwriters, acting severally and not jointly, of
the respective numbers of   % Preferred Securities (liquidation amount of $[  ]
per preferred security) of the Trust (the "Preferred Securities") set forth in
said Schedule A.  The Preferred Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters
are hereinafter called the "Designated Securities."  The Preferred Securities
will be guaranteed by the Company with respect to distributions and payments
upon liquidation, redemption and otherwise (the "Preferred Securities
Guarantee") pursuant to the Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement (the
"Preferred Securities Guarantee Agreement"), dated as of January  , 1997,
between the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as Trustee (the "Guarantee
Trustee").  The Preferred Securities and the related Preferred Securities
Guarantees are referred to herein as the "Securities".

          The Offerors understand that the Underwriters propose to make a public
offering of the Securities as soon as the Representatives deem advisable after
this Agreement has been executed and delivered.  The entire proceeds from the
sale of the Securities will be combined with the entire proceeds from the sale
by the Trust to the Company of its common securities (the "Common Securities")
guaranteed by the Company, to the extent set forth in the Prospectus (as defined
herein), with respect to distributions and payments upon liquidation, and
redemption (the "Common Securities Guarantee" and together with the Preferred
Securities Guarantee, the

                                       1

 
"Guarantees") pursuant to the Common Securities Guarantee Agreement (the "Common
Securities Guarantee Agreement" and, together with the Preferred Securities
Guarantee Agreement, the "Guarantee Agreements"), dated as of January  , 1997,
between the Company and the Guarantee Trustee, and will be used by the Trust to
purchase $          million aggregate principal amount of Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Notes (the "Subordinated Debt Securities") to be issued by
the Company.  The Preferred Securities and the Common Securities will be issued
pursuant to the amended and restated declaration of trust of the Trust, dated as
of January  , 1997 (the "Declaration"), among the Company, as Sponsor, the
trustees named therein (the "Trustees") and the holders from time to time of
undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust.  The Subordinated
Debt Securities will be issued pursuant to an indenture, dated as of January 1,
1997, among the Company and The Chase Manhattan Bank, as trustee (the "Debt
Trustee")(the "Base Indenture"), and a supplement thereto, dated as of January
, 1997 (the "Supplemental Indenture," and together with the Base Indenture and
any other amendments or supplements thereto, the "Indenture"), among the Company
and the Debt Trustee.

          The Offerors have filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission
(the "Commission") a shelf registration statement on Form S-3 (No. 333-15649)
covering the registration of (i) the Preferred Securities, (ii) the Preferred
Securities Guarantee and (iii) the Subordinated Debt Securities under the
Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "1933 Act"), which permits the delayed
or continuous offering of securities pursuant to Rule 415 of the rules and
regulations of the Commission under the 1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations").
Promptly after execution and delivery of this Agreement, the Offerors will
either (i) prepare and file a prospectus in accordance with the provisions of
Rule 430A ("Rule 430A") of the rules and regulations of the Commission under the
1933 Act (the "1933 Act Regulations") and paragraph (b) of Rule 424 ("Rule
424(b)") of the 1933 Act Regulations or (ii) if the Offerors have elected to
rely upon Rule 434 ("Rule 434") of the 1933 Act Regulations, prepare and file a
term sheet (a "Term Sheet") in accordance with the provisions of Rule 434 and
Rule 424(b). The information included in such prospectus or in such Term Sheet,
as the case may be, that was omitted from such registration statement at the
time it became effective but that is deemed to be part of such registration
statement at the time it became effective (a) pursuant to paragraph (b) of Rule
430A is referred to as "Rule 430A Information" or (b) pursuant to paragraph (d)
of Rule 434 is referred to as "Rule 434 Information."  Each prospectus used
before such registration statement became effective, and any prospectus that
omitted, as applicable, the Rule 430A Information or the Rule 434 Information,
that was used after such effectiveness and prior to the execution and delivery
of this Agreement, is herein called a "preliminary prospectus." Such
registration statement, including the exhibits thereto, schedules thereto, if
any, and the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant to Item 12 of
Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, at the time it became effective and including the
Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434 Information, as applicable, is herein
called the "Registration Statement."  Any registration statement filed pursuant
to Rule 462(b) of the 1933 Act Regulations is herein referred to as the "Rule
462(b) Registration Statement" and after such filing the term "Registration
Statement" shall include the Rule 462 (b) Registration Statement.  The final
prospectus, including the documents incorporated by reference therein pursuant
to Item 12 of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act, in the form first furnished to the
Underwriters for use in connection with the offering of

                                       2

 
the Securities is herein called the "Prospectus."  If Rule 434 is relied on, the
term "Prospectus" shall refer to the preliminary prospectus dated January  ,
1997 together with the Term Sheet and all references in this Agreement to the
date of the Prospectus shall mean the date of the Term Sheet.  For purposes of
this Agreement, all references to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus, the Prospectus or any Term Sheet or any amendment or supplement to
any of the foregoing shall be deemed to include the copy filed with the
Commission pursuant to its Electronic Data Gathering, Analysis and Retrieval
system ("EDGAR").

          All references in this Agreement to financial statements and schedules
and other information which is "contained," "included" or "stated" in the
Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or other
references of like import) shall be deemed to mean and include all such
financial statements and schedules and other information which is incorporated
by reference in the Registration Statement, any preliminary prospectus or the
Prospectus, as the case may be; and all references in this Agreement to
amendments or supplements to the Registration Statement, any preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to mean and include the filing of
any document under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (the "1934 Act") which is
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement, such preliminary
prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be.

          SECTION I.  Representations and Warranties.  The Offerors jointly and
                      ------------------------------                           
severally represent and warrant to each Underwriter as of the date hereof and
as of the Closing Time referred to in Section 2(c) hereof, and agrees with each
Underwriter, as follows:

          A.  Compliance with Registration Requirements.  The Company meets the
              -----------------------------------------                        
     requirements for use of Form S-3 under the 1933 Act.  Each of the
     Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement has
     become effective under the 1933 Act and no stop order suspending the
     effectiveness of the Registration Statement or any Rule 462(b) Registration
     Statement has been issued under the 1933 Act and no proceedings for that
     purpose have been instituted or are pending or, to the knowledge of the
     Company, are contemplated by the Commission, and any request on the part of
     the Commission for additional information has been complied with.

          At the respective times the Registration Statement, any Rule 462(b)
     Registration Statement and any post-effective amendments thereto became
     effective and at the Closing Time, the Registration Statement, the Rule
     462(b) Registration Statement and any amendments and supplements thereto
     complied and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of
     the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations, the 1934 Act, the regulations of
     the Commission under the 1934 Act (the "1934 Act Regulations"), and the
     Trust Indenture Act of 1939 (the "1939 Act") and the rules and regulations
     of the Commission under the 1939 Act (the "1939 Act Regulations"), and did
     not 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.  Neither the Prospectus nor any
     amendments or supplements thereto, at the time the Prospectus or any such
     amendment or supplement was issued and at the Closing Time, included or
     will

                                       3

 
     include an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or will omit to
     state a material fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in
     the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.
     If Rule 434 is used, the Company will comply with the requirements of Rule
     434.  The representations and warranties in this subsection shall not apply
     to statements in or omissions from the Registration Statement or Prospectus
     made in reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished to the
     Offerors in writing by any Underwriter through               expressly for
     use in the Registration Statement or Prospectus.

          Each preliminary prospectus and the prospectus filed as part of the
     Registration Statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment
     thereto, or filed pursuant to Rule 424 under the 1933 Act, complied when so
     filed in all material respects with the 1933 Act Regulations and each
     preliminary prospectus and the Prospectus delivered to the Underwriters for
     use in connection with this offering was identical to the electronically
     transmitted copies thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR,
     except to the extent permitted by Regulation S-T.

          B.  Incorporated Documents.  The documents incorporated or deemed to
              ----------------------                                          
     be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
     Prospectus, at the time they were or hereafter are filed with the
     Commission, complied and will comply in all material respects with the
     requirements of the 1934 Act and the rules and regulations of the
     Commission thereunder (the "1934 Act Regulations"), and, when read together
     with the other information in the Prospectus, at the time the Registration
     Statement became effective, at the time the Prospectus was issued and at
     the Closing Time, did not 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.

          C.  No Material Adverse Change in Business.  Since the respective
              --------------------------------------                       
     dates as of which information is given in the Registration Statement and
     the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated therein, (A) there has been no
     material adverse change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the
     earnings, business affairs or business prospects of the Company and its
     subsidiaries considered as one enterprise (a "Material Adverse Effect"),
     whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, (B) there have
     been no transactions entered into by the Company or any of its
     subsidiaries, other than those in the ordinary course of business, which
     are material with respect to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
     one enterprise, and (C) except for regular quarterly dividends on the
     common stock, par value $1.00 per share, of the Company (the "Common
     Stock") and the regular quarterly dividends on the Company's Preferred
     Stock with Cumulative and Adjustable Dividends, Series B ($100 stated
     value), no par value, Preferred Stock with Cumulative and Adjustable
     Dividends, Series C ($100 stated value), no par value, 8.45% Cumulative
     Preferred Stock, Series E ($625 stated value), no par value, and 5 3/4%
     Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock, Series B ($5,000 stated value), no
     par value, in amounts per share that are consistent with past practice or
     publicly announced increases prior to the date of the Registration
     Statement, there has

                                       4

 
     been no dividend or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made on any
     class of its Capital Stock.

          D.  Good Standing of the Company and its Subsidiaries.  The Company
              -------------------------------------------------              
     has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as a corporation in good
     standing under the laws of the state of Delaware, 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; and each Significant Subsidiary (as
     defined in Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission) of the Company has
     been duly incorporated chartered or organized and is validly existing as a
     corporation or national banking association, as the case may be, in good
     standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation or
     organization.

          E.  Capitalization.  The authorized, issued and outstanding capital
              --------------                                                 
     stock of the Company is as set forth in the Prospectus in the column
     entitled "Actual" under the caption "Capitalization" (except for subsequent
     issuances, if any, pursuant to this Agreement, pursuant to reservations,
     agreements or employee benefit plans referred to in the Prospectus,
     pursuant to the exercise of convertible securities or options referred to
     in the Prospectus or as otherwise described in the Prospectus).

          F.  Authorization and Description of Designated Securities.  The
              ------------------------------------------------------      
     Designated Securities have been duly authorized for issuance and sale to
     the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement and, when issued and delivered
     by the Company pursuant to this Agreement against payment of the
     consideration set forth herein, will be validly issued and fully paid and
     non-assessable; the Designated Securities conform to the statements
     relating thereto contained in the Prospectus and such description conforms
     to the rights set forth in the instruments defining the same; the holders
     of the Designated Securities (the "Securityholders") will be entitled to
     the same limitation of personal liability extended to stockholders of
     private corporations for profit organized under the General Corporation Law
     of the State of Delaware; and the issuance of the Designated Securities is
     not subject to the preemptive or other similar rights of any securityholder
     of the Company.

          G.  Authorization and Description of Common Securities. The Common
              --------------------------------------------------            
     Securities have been duly and validly authorized by the Trust and upon
     delivery by the Trust to the Company against payment therefor as described
     in the Prospectus, will be duly and validly issued and fully paid and non-
     assessable undivided beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust and
     will conform to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus; the
     issuance of the Common Securities is not subject to preemptive or other
     similar rights; and at the Closing Time, all of the issued and outstanding
     Common

                                       5

 
     Securities of the Trust will be directly owned by the Company free and
     clear of any security interest, mortgage, pledge, lien, encumbrance, claim
     or equity.

          H.  Good Standing of the Trust.  The Trust has been duly created and
              --------------------------                                      
     is validly existing as a statutory business trust in good standing under
     the Delaware Business Trust Act with the power and authority to own, lease
     and operate its properties and conduct its business as described in the
     Prospectus, and the Trust has conducted no business to date, and it will
     conduct no business in the future that would be inconsistent with the
     description of the Trust set forth in the Prospectus; the Trust is not a
     party to or bound by any agreement or instrument other than this Agreement,
     the Declaration and the agreements and instruments contemplated by the
     Declaration; the Trust has no liabilities or obligations other than those
     arising out of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement and the
     Declaration and described in the Prospectus; and the Trust is not a party
     to or subject to any action, suit or proceeding of any nature.

          I.  Absence of Defaults and Conflicts.  The issue and sale of the
              ---------------------------------                            
     Preferred Securities and the Common Securities by the Trust, the compliance
     by the Trust with all of the provisions of this Agreement, the purchase of
     the Subordinated Debt Securities by the Trust, and the consummation of the
     transactions herein contemplated will not conflict with or result in a
     breach of any of the terms or provisions of, or constitute a default under,
     any indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, deed of trust or other agreement
     or instrument to which the Trust is a party or by which the Trust is bound
     or to which any of the property or assets of the Trust is subject, nor will
     such action result in any violation of the provisions of the Declaration or
     any statute or any order, rule or regulation of any court or governmental
     agency or body having jurisdiction over the Trust or any of its properties;
     and no consent, approval, authorization, order, license, certificate,
     permit, registration or qualification of or with any such court or other
     governmental agency or body is required to be obtained by the Trust for the
     issue and sale of the Preferred Securities and the Common Securities by the
     Trust, the purchase of the Subordinated Debt Securities by the Trust or the
     consummation by the Trust of the transactions contemplated by this
     Agreement and the Declaration, except for such consents, approvals,
     authorizations, licenses, certificates, permits, registrations or
     qualifications as have already been obtained, or as may be required under
     the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations or state securities laws or under
     the 1939 Act.

          The issuance by the Company of the Guarantees and the Subordinated
     Debt Securities, the compliance by the Company with all of the provisions
     of this Agreement, the execution, delivery and performance by the Company
     of the Declaration, the Subordinated Debt Securities, the Guarantee
     Agreements and the Indenture, 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 material indenture, loan agreement, mortgage, deed of
     trust, or other material 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,

                                       6

 
     nor will such action result in any violation of the provisions of the
     Restated Certificate of Incorporation or by-laws 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, license,
     certificate, permit, registration or qualification of or with any such
     court or other governmental agency or body is required for the issue of the
     Guarantees and the Subordinated Debt Securities or the consummation by the
     Company of the other transactions contemplated by this Agreement, except
     for such consents, approvals, authorizations, licenses, certificates,
     permits, registrations or qualifications as have already been obtained, or
     as may be required under the 1933 Act or the 1933 Act Regulations or state
     securities laws or under the 1939 Act.

          J.  Authorization of Agreements.  This Agreement, the Guarantee
              ---------------------------                                
     Agreements, the Subordinated Debt Securities, the Declaration and the
     Indenture have each been duly authorized and when validly executed and
     delivered by the Company and, in the case of the Guarantee, by the
     Guarantee Trustee, in the case of the Declaration, by the Trustees and, in
     the case of the Indenture, by the Debt Trustee, will constitute valid and
     legally binding obligations of the Company, enforceable in accordance with
     their respective terms, subject, as to enforcement, to bankruptcy,
     insolvency, fraudulent transfer, reorganization, moratorium and similar
     laws of general applicability relating to or affecting creditors' rights
     and to general equity principles (regardless of whether enforcement is
     sought in a proceeding at law or in equity); the Subordinated Debt
     Securities are entitled to the benefits of the Indenture; and the Guarantee
     Agreements, the Subordinated Debt Securities, the Declaration and the
     Indenture conform to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus.

          K.  Accuracy of Exhibits.  There are no contracts or documents which
              --------------------                                            
     are required to be described in the Registration Statement, the Prospectus
     or the documents incorporated by reference therein or to be filed as
     exhibits thereto which have not been so described and filed as required.

          1.  Investment Company Act.  The Trust is not, and after giving effect
              ----------------------                                            
     to the offering and sale of the Securities will not be, an "investment
     company," or an entity "controlled" by an "investment company," as such
     terms are defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the
     "Investment Company Act").

                                       7

 
     SECTION II.  Sale and Delivery to Underwriters; Closing.
                  ------------------------------------------ 

     A.   Securities.  On the basis of the representations and warranties herein
contained and subject to the terms and conditions herein set forth, the Trust
agrees to sell to each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, and each
Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees to purchase from the Trust, at
the price per security set forth in Schedule B, the number of Securities set
forth in Schedule A opposite the name of such Underwriter, plus any additional
number of Securities which such Underwriter may become obligated to purchase
pursuant to the provisions of Section 10 hereof.

     B.   Commission.  As compensation to the Underwriters for their commitments
hereunder and in view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the
Securities will be used to purchase the Subordinated Debt Securities of the
Company, the Company hereby agrees to pay to the Representatives, for the
accounts of the several Underwriters, a commission per security set forth in
Schedule B as compensation to the Underwriters for their commitments under this
Agreement.

     (c) Payment.  Payment of the purchase price for, and delivery of
certificates for, the Securities shall be made at the offices of Skadden, Arps,
Slate, Meagher & Flom LLP, 919 Third Avenue, New York, New York  10022, or at
such other place as shall be agreed upon by the Representatives and the
Offerors, at 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the third (fourth, if the pricing
occurs after 4:30 P.M. (Eastern time) on any given day) business day after the
date hereof (unless postponed in accordance with the provisions of Section 10),
or such other time not later than ten business days after such date as shall be
agreed upon by the Representatives and the Offerors (such time and date of
payment and delivery being herein called "Closing Time").

     Payment shall be made to the Trust by wire transfer of immediately
available funds to a bank account designated by the Trust, against delivery to
the Representatives for the respective accounts of the Underwriters of
certificates for the Securities to be purchased by them.  It is understood that
each Underwriter has authorized the Representatives, for its account, to accept
delivery of, receipt for, and make payment of the purchase price for, the
Securities which it has agreed to purchase.                 , individually and
not as representative of the Underwriters, may (but shall not be obligated to)
make payment of the purchase price for the Securities to be purchased by any
Underwriter whose funds have not been received by the Closing Time but such
payment shall not relieve such Underwriter from its obligations hereunder.

     At the Closing Time, the Company will pay, or cause to be paid, the
commission payable at such time to the Underwriters under Section 2(b) hereof by
wire transfer of immediately available funds to a bank account designated by
 .

     (d) Denominations; Registration.  Certificates for the Securities shall be
in such denominations and registered in such names as the Representatives may
request in writing at least one full business day before the Closing Time.  The
certificates for the Securities will be

                                       8

 
made available for examination and packaging by the Representatives in The City
of New York not later than 10:00 A.M. (Eastern time) on the business day prior
to the Closing Time.

     SECTION III.   Covenants of the Offerors.  Each of the Offerors jointly and
                    -------------------------                                   
severally covenants with each Underwriter as follows:

          A.  Compliance with Securities Regulations and Commission Requests.
     The Offerors, subject to Section 3(b), will comply with the requirements of
     Rule 430A or Rule 434, as applicable, and will notify the Representatives
     immediately, and confirm the notice in writing, (i) when any post-effective
     amendment to the Registration Statement shall become effective, or any
     supplement to the Prospectus or any amended Prospectus shall have been
     filed, (ii) of the receipt of any comments from the Commission, (iii) of
     any request by the Commission for any amendment to the Registration
     Statement or any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus or for
     additional information, and (iv) of the issuance by the Commission of any
     stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement or of
     any order preventing or suspending the use of any preliminary prospectus,
     or of the suspension of the qualification of the Securities for offering or
     sale in any jurisdiction, or of the initiation or threatening of any
     proceedings for any of such purposes.  The Offerors will promptly effect
     the filings necessary pursuant to Rule 424(b)  and will take such steps as
     they deem necessary to ascertain promptly whether the form of prospectus
     transmitted for filing under Rule 424(b) was received for filing by the
     Commission and, in the event that it was not, it will promptly file such
     prospectus.  The Offerors will make every reasonable effort to prevent the
     issuance of any stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain the
     lifting thereof at the earliest possible moment.

          B.  Filing of Amendments.  The Offerors will give the Representatives
     notice of their intention to file or prepare any amendment to the
     Registration Statement (including any filing under Rule 462(b)), any Term
     Sheet or any amendment, supplement or revision to either the prospectus
     included in the Registration Statement at the time it became effective or
     to the Prospectus, whether pursuant to the 1933 Act, the 1934 Act or
     otherwise, will furnish the Representatives with copies of any such
     documents a reasonable amount of time prior to such proposed filing or use,
     as the case may be, and will not file or use any such document to which the
     Representatives or counsel for the Underwriters shall object.

          C.  Delivery of Registration Statements. The Offerors have furnished
     or will deliver to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters,
     without charge, signed copies of the Registration Statement as originally
     filed and of each amendment thereto (including exhibits filed therewith or
     incorporated by reference therein and documents incorporated or deemed to
     be incorporated by reference therein) and signed copies of all consents and
     certificates of experts, and will also deliver to the Representatives,
     without charge, a conformed copy of the Registration Statement as
     originally filed and of each amendment thereto (without exhibits) for each
     of the Underwriters.  The copies of the

                                       9

 
     Registration Statement and each amendment thereto furnished to the
     Underwriters will be identical to the electronically transmitted copies
     thereof filed with the Commission pursuant to EDGAR, except to the extent
     permitted by Regulation S-T.

          D.  Continued Compliance with Securities Laws.  The Offerors will
     comply with the 1933 Act and the 1933 Act Regulations and the 1934 Act and
     the 1934 Act Regulations and the 1939 Act and the 1939 Act Regulations so
     as to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as
     contemplated in this Agreement and in the Prospectus.  If at any time when
     a prospectus is required by the 1933 Act to be delivered in connection with
     sales of the Securities, any event shall occur or condition shall exist as
     a result of which it is necessary, in the opinion of counsel for the
     Underwriters or the Offerors, to amend the Registration Statement or amend
     or supplement the Prospectus in order that the Prospectus will not include
     any untrue statements of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
     necessary in order to make the statements therein not misleading in the
     light of the circumstances existing at the time it is delivered to a
     purchaser, or if it shall be necessary, in the opinion of such counsel, at
     any such time to amend the Registration Statement or amend or supplement
     the Prospectus in order to comply with the requirements of the 1933 Act or
     the 1933 Act Regulations, the Offerors will promptly prepare and file with
     the Commission, subject to Section 3(b), such amendment or supplement as
     may be necessary to correct such statement or omission or to make the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus comply with such requirements, and
     the Offerors will furnish to the Underwriters such number of copies of such
     amendment or supplement as the Underwriters may reasonably request.

          E.  Blue Sky Qualifications.  The Offerors will use their best
     efforts, in cooperation with the Underwriters, to qualify the Preferred
     Securities and Subordinated Debt Securities for offering and sale under the
     applicable securities laws of such states and other jurisdictions as the
     Representatives may designate and to maintain such qualifications in effect
     for a period of not less than one year from the later of the effective date
     of the Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement;
     provided, however, that each of the Offerors shall not be obligated to file
     any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign
     corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it is
     not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing
     business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject.  In
     each jurisdiction in which the Securities have been so qualified, the
     Offerors will file such statements and reports as may be required by the
     laws of such jurisdiction to continue such qualification in effect for a
     period of not less than one year from the effective date of the
     Registration Statement and any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement.

          F.  Rule 158.  The Trust and the Company will make generally available
     to their Securityholders as soon as practicable an earnings statement for
     the purposes of, and to provide the benefits contemplated by, the last
     paragraph of Section 11(a) of the 1933 Act.

                                       10

 
         [G. Listing.  The Offerors will use their best efforts to effect the
     listing of the Preferred Securities on the New York Stock Exchange; if the
     Preferred Securities are exchanged for Subordinated Debt Securities, the
     Company will use its best efforts to effect the listing of the Subordinated
     Debt securities on the exchange on which the Preferred Securities were then
     listed.]

         [H.  Restriction on Sale of Securities.  During a period of    days
     from the date of the Prospectus, neither the Trust nor the Company will,
     without the prior written consent of               , directly or
     indirectly, sell, offer to sell, or otherwise dispose of any Preferred
     Securities, any other beneficial interests in the assets of the Trust, or
     any preferred securities or securities substantially similar to the
     Preferred Securities or any securities convertible into or exercisable or
     exchangeable for Preferred Securities or file any registration statement
     under the 1933 Act with respect to any of the foregoing. The foregoing
     sentence shall not apply to any of the Securities to be sold hereunder.]

          I.  Reporting Requirements.  The Company, during the period when the
     Prospectus is required to be delivered under the 1933 Act or the 1934 Act,
     will file all documents required to be filed with the Commission pursuant
     to the 1934 Act within the time periods required by the 1934 Act and the
     1934 Act Regulations.

     SECTION IV.    Payment of Expenses.  A.  Expenses.  The Company will pay
                    -------------------                                      
all expenses incident to the performance of each Offeror's obligations under
this Agreement, including (i) the preparation, printing and filing of the
Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits) as
originally filed and of each amendment thereto, (ii) the preparation, printing
and delivery to the Underwriters of this Agreement, any Agreement among
Underwriters and such other documents as may be required in connection with the
offering, purchase, sale, issuance or delivery of the Securities, (iii) the
preparation, issuance and delivery of the certificates for the Preferred
Securities to the Underwriters, (iv) the fees and disbursements of the Company's
and the Trust's counsel, accountants and other advisors, (v) the qualification
of the Securities under securities laws in accordance with the provisions of
Section 3(e) hereof, including filing fees and the reasonable fees and
disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in
connection with the preparation of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement
thereto, (vi) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters of copies of each
preliminary prospectus, any Term Sheets and of the Prospectus and any amendments
or supplements thereto, (vii) the preparation, printing and delivery to the
Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Survey and any supplement thereto, 
[(viii) the filing fees incident to, and the reasonable fees and disbursements
of counsel to the Underwriters in connection with, the review, if any, by the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. (the "NASD") of the terms of
the sale of the Securities,] (ix) the fees and expenses of the Debt Trustee,
including the fees and disbursements of counsel for the Debt Trustee, in
connection with the Indenture and the Subordinated Debt Securities; (x) the fees
and expenses of the Institutional Trustee and Delaware Trustee (each as defined
in the Declaration), including the reasonable fees and disbursements of counsel
for the Institutional Trustee and Delaware Trustee, in

                                       11

 
connection with the Declaration and the Certificate of Trust; (xi) any fees
charged by securities rating services for rating the Preferred Securities and
the Subordinated Debt Securities, (xii) the fees and expenses incurred in
connection with the listing of the Preferred Securities and, if applicable, the
Subordinated Debt Securities on the New York Stock Exchange, (xiii) the fees and
expenses of any transfer agent or registrar for the Securities, and (xiv) the
cost of qualifying the Preferred Securities with The Depository Trust Company.

     B.   Termination of Agreement.  If this Agreement is terminated by the
Representatives in accordance with the provisions of Section 5 or Section
9(a)(i) hereof, the Company shall reimburse the Underwriters for all of their
out-of-pocket expenses, including the reasonable fees and disbursements of
counsel for the Underwriters.

     SECTION V.  Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.  The obligations of
                 ---------------------------------------                     
the several Underwriters hereunder are subject to the accuracy of the
representations and warranties of the Offerors contained in Section 1 hereof or
in certificates of any officer of the Offerors or any subsidiary of the Company
delivered pursuant to the provisions hereof, to the performance by the Offerors
of their covenants and other obligations hereunder, and to the following further
conditions:

          A.  Effectiveness of Registration Statement.  The Registration
     Statement, including any Rule 462(b) Registration Statement, has become
     effective and at Closing Time no stop order suspending the effectiveness of
     the Registration Statement shall have been issued under the 1933 Act or
     proceedings therefor initiated or threatened by the Commission, and any
     request on the part of the Commission for additional information shall have
     been complied with to the reasonable satisfaction of counsel to the
     Underwriters. A prospectus containing the Rule 430A Information shall have
     been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b) (or a post-
     effective amendment providing such information shall have been filed and
     declared effective in accordance with the requirements of Rule 430A) or, if
     the Offerors have elected to rely upon Rule 434, a Term Sheet shall have
     been filed with the Commission in accordance with Rule 424(b).

          B.  Opinion of Counsel.  At Closing Time the Representatives shall
     have received:

          a.  The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Sherman I.
          Goldberg, Esq., General Counsel for the Company, in form and substance
          reasonably satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters,
          substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit A.

          b.  The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Skadden, Arps,
          Slate, Meagher & Flom (Delaware), special Delaware counsel for the
          Trust and the Company, in form and substance satisfactory to counsel
          for the Underwriters, substantially in the form set forth in Exhibit
          B.

                                       12

 
          c.  The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Cravath,
          Swaine & Moore, counsel for the Institutional Trustee, in form and
          substance satisfactory to counsel for the Underwriters, substantially
          in the form set forth in Exhibit C.

          d. The favorable opinion, dated as of Closing Time, of Skadden, Arps,
          Slate, Meagher & Flom, LLP ("SASM&F"), counsel for the Underwriters,
          in form and substance satisfactory to the Underwriters.

          C.  Officers' Certificate.  At Closing Time, since the date hereof or
     since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
     Prospectus, there shall not have been any material adverse change in the
     condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business affairs or
     business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries con sidered as one
     enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business and
     the Representatives shall have received a certificate, dated as of the
     Closing Time, of the President or a Vice President of the Company and of
     the chief financial officer or chief accounting officer of the Company to
     the effect that (i) there has been no such material adverse change, (ii)
     the representations and warranties in Section 1(a) hereof are true and
     correct with the same force and effect as though expressly made at and as
     of Closing Time, (iii) the Company has complied with all agreements and
     satisfied all conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or
     prior to Closing Time, and (iv) no stop order suspending the effectiveness
     of the Registration Statement has been issued and no proceedings for that
     purpose have been instituted or are pending or are contemplated by the
     Commission.

          D.  Accountant's Comfort Letter.  At the time of the execution of this
     Agreement, the Representatives shall have received from Arthur Andersen LLP
     a letter dated such date, in form and substance satisfactory to the
     Representatives, together with signed or reproduced copies of such letter
     for each of the other Underwriters containing statements and information of
     the type ordinarily included in accountants' "comfort letters" to
     underwriters with respect to the financial statements and certain financial
     information contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

          E.  Bring-down Comfort Letter.  At Closing Time, the Representatives
     shall have received from Arthur Andersen LLP a letter, dated as of Closing
     Time, to the effect that they reaffirm the statements made in their letters
     furnished pursuant to subsection (d) of this Section, except that the
     specified date referred to shall be a date not more than three business
     days prior to Closing Time.

          F.  Maintenance of Rating.  At Closing Time, the Preferred Securities
     and the Subordinated Debt Securities shall be rated in one of the four
     highest rating categories for long term debt ("Investment Grade") by
     Moody's Investor's Service and by Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a
     division of McGraw-Hill, Inc., and the Company shall have delivered to the
     Representatives a letter dated the Closing Time, from each such rating
     agency, or other evidence satisfactory to the Representatives, confirming
     that the

                                       13

 
     Preferred Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities have such
     ratings; and since the date of this Agreement, there shall not have
     occurred a downgrading in the rating assigned to the Securities or any of
     the Company's other securities by any "nationally recognized statistical
     rating agency", as that term is defined by the Commission for purposes of
     Rule 436(g)(2) under the 1933 Act, and no such organization shall have
     publicly announced that it has under surveillance or review its rating of
     the Preferred Securities and the Subordinated Debt Securities or any of the
     Company's other securities.

         [G.  Approval of Listing.  At Closing Time, the Preferred Securities
     shall have been approved for listing on the New York Stock Exchange,
     subject only to official notice of issuance.]

          H.  Additional Documents.  At Closing Time counsel for the
     Underwriters shall have been furnished with such documents and opinions as
     they may require for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance
     and sale of the Preferred Securities as herein contemplated, or in order to
     evidence the accuracy of any of the representations or warranties, or the
     fulfillment of any of the conditions, herein contained; and all proceedings
     taken by the Offerors in connection with the issuance and sale of the
     Preferred Securities as herein contemplated shall be satisfactory in form
     and substance to the Representatives and counsel for the Underwriters.

          I.  Termination of Agreement.  If any condition specified in this
     Section shall not have been fulfilled when and as required to be fulfilled,
     this Agreement may be terminated by the Representatives by notice to the
     Offerors at any time at or prior to Closing Time, and such  termination
     shall be without liability of any party to any other party except as
     provided in Section 4 and except that Sections 1, 6, 7 and 8 shall survive
     any such termination and remain in full force and effect.

     SECTION VI.    Indemnification.
                    --------------- 

     A.   Indemnification of Underwriters.  The Company agrees to indemnify and
hold harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act as follows:

          a.  against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, as incurred, arising out of any untrue statement or alleged
     untrue statement of a material fact contained in the Registration Statement
     (or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information or the Rule
     434 Information, if applicable, or the omission or alleged omission
     therefrom of a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to
     make the statements therein not misleading or arising out of any untrue
     statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact included in any
     preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
     thereto) or the omission or alleged omission therefrom of a material fact
     necessary in order to make the statements

                                       14

 
     therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made, not
     misleading;

          b.  against any and all loss, liability, claim, damage and expense
     whatsoever, as incurred, to the extent of the aggregate amount paid in
     settlement of any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
     governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or of any claim
     whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, or any such
     alleged untrue statement or omis sion, if such settlement is effected with
     the written consent of the Company; and

          c.  against any and all expense whatsoever, as incurred (including,
     subject to Section 6(c) hereof, the fees and disbursements of counsel
     chosen by             ), reasonably incurred in investigating, preparing or
     defending against any litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any
     governmental agency or body, commenced or threatened, or any claim
     whatsoever based upon any such untrue statement or omission, to the extent
     that any such expense is not paid under (i) or (ii) above;

provided, however, that this indemnity agreement shall not apply to any loss,
- --------  -------                                                            
liability, claim, damage or expense to the extent arising out of any untrue
statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or omission made in reliance
upon and in conformity with written information furnished to the Company by any
Underwriter through           expressly for use in the Registration Statement
(or any amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434
Information, if applicable, or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto); and provided, further, that this indemnity
                                          --------  -------                     
agreement with respect to any preliminary prospectus shall not inure to the
benefit of any underwriter from whom the person asserting any such losses,
liabilities, claims, damages or expenses purchased Securities, or any person
controlling such Underwriter, if a copy of the Prospectus (as then amended or
supplemented if the Offerors shall have furnished any such amendments or
supplements thereto), but excluding documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference, was not sent or given by or on behalf of such
Underwriter to such person, if such is required by law, at or prior to the
written confirmation of the sale of such Securities to such person and if the
Prospectus (as so amended or supplemented, but ex cluding documents incorporated
or deemed to be incorporated by reference therein) would have corrected the
defect giving rise to such loss, liability, claim, damage or expense, it being
under stood that this proviso shall have no application if such defect shall
have been corrected in a document which is incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference in the Prospectus.

     B.   Indemnification of Offerors, Directors and Officers.  Each Underwriter
severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the Offerors, their directors,
trustees, each of its officers who signed the Registration Statement, and each
person, if any, who controls the Offerors within the meaning of Section 15 of
the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act against any and all loss, liability,
claim, damage and expense described in the indemnity contained in subsection (a)
of this Section, as incurred, but only with respect to untrue statements or
omissions, or alleged

                                       15

 
untrue statements or omissions, made in the Registration Statement (or any
amendment thereto), including the Rule 430A Information and the Rule 434
Information, if applicable, or any preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or
any amendment or supplement thereto) in reliance upon and in conformity with
written information furnished to the Offerors by such Underwriter through
expressly for use in the Registration Statement (or any amendment thereto) or
such preliminary prospectus or the Prospectus (or any amendment or supplement
thereto).

     C.   Actions against Parties; Notification. Each indemnified party shall
give notice as promptly as reasonably practicable to each indemnifying party of
any action commenced against it in respect of which indemnity may be sought
hereunder, but failure to so notify an indemnifying party shall not relieve such
indemnifying party from any liability hereunder to the extent it is not
materially prejudiced as a result thereof and in any event shall not relieve it
from any liability which it may have otherwise than on account of this indemnity
agreement.    In the case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(a) above,
counsel to the indemnified parties shall be selected by           , and, in the
case of parties indemnified pursuant to Section 6(b) above, counsel to the
indemnified parties shall be selected by the Company.  An indemnifying party may
participate at its own expense in the defense of any such action; provided,
however, that counsel to the indemnifying party shall not (except with the
consent of the indemnified party) also be counsel to the indemnified party.  In
no event shall the indemnifying parties be liable for fees and expenses of more
than one counsel (in addition to any local counsel) separate from their own
counsel for all indemnified parties in connection with any one action or
separate but similar or related actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of
the same general allegations or circumstances.  No indemnifying party shall,
without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any
litigation, or any investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or
body, commenced or threatened, or any claim whatsoever in respect of which
indemnification or contribution could be sought under this Section 6 or Section
7 hereof (whether or not the indemnified parties are actual or potential parties
thereto), unless such settlement, compromise or consent (i) includes an
unconditional release of each indemnified party from all liability arising out
of such litigation, investigation, proceeding or claim and (ii) does not include
a statement as to or an admission of fault, culpability or a failure to act by
or on behalf of any indemnified party.


                                       16

 
     SECTION VII.   Contribution.  If the indemnification provided for in
                    ------------                                         
Section 6 hereof is for any reason unavailable to or insufficient to hold
harmless an indemnified party in respect of any losses, liabilities, claims,
damages or expenses referred to therein, then each indemnifying party shall
contribute to the aggregate amount of such losses, liabilities, claims, damages
and expenses incurred by such indemnified party, as incurred, (i) in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company on the one hand and the Underwriters on the other hand from the offering
of the Securities pursuant to this Agreement or (ii) if the allocation provided
by clause (i) is not permitted by applicable law, in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits referred to in clause (i)
above but also the relative fault of the Company on the one hand and of the
Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the statements or omissions
which resulted in such losses, liabilities, claims, damages or expenses, as well
as any other relevant equitable considerations.

          The relative benefits received by the Company on the one hand and the
Underwriters on the other hand in connection with the offering of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement shall be deemed to be in the same respective
proportions as the total net proceeds from the offering of the Securities
pursuant to this Agreement (before deducting expenses) received by the  Company
and the total underwriting discount received by the Underwriters, in each case
as set forth on the cover of the Prospectus, or, if Rule 434 is used, the
corresponding location on the Term Sheet, bear to the aggregate initial public
offering price of the Securities as set forth on such cover.

          The relative fault of the Company on the one hand and the Underwriters
on the other hand shall be determined by reference to, among other things,
whether any such untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material fact or
omission or alleged omission to state a material fact relates to information
supplied by the Company or by the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent,
knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such
statement or omission.

          The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7 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 Section 7.  The aggregate
amount of losses, liabilities, claims, damages and expenses incurred by an
indemnified party and referred to above in this Section 7 shall be deemed to
include any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in investigating, preparing or defending against any litigation, or any
investigation or proceeding by any governmental agency or body, commenced or
threatened, or any claim whatsoever based upon any such untrue or alleged untrue
statement or omission or alleged omission.

          Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall
be required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount

                                       17

 
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 1933 Act) shall be entitled to contribution from any
person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.

          For purposes of this Section 7, each person, if any, who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of
the 1934 Act shall have the same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and
each director of the Company, each officer of the Company who signed the
Registration Statement, and each person, if any, who controls the Company within
the meaning of Section 15 of the 1933 Act or Section 20 of the 1934 Act shall
have the same rights to contribution as the Company.  The Underwriters'
respective obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7 are several in
proportion to the number of Initial Securities set forth opposite their
respective names in Schedule A hereto and not joint.

     SECTION VIII.  Representations, Warranties and Agreements to Survive
                    -----------------------------------------------------
Delivery.  All representations, warranties and agreements contained in this
- --------                                                                   
Agreement or in certificates of officers or Trustees of the Offerors submitted
pursuant hereto, shall remain operative and in full force and effect, regardless
of any investigation made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or controlling
person, or by or on behalf of the Offerors, and shall survive delivery of the
Preferred Securities to the Underwriters.

     SECTION IX.    Termination of Agreement.
                    ------------------------ 

     A.   Termination; General.  The Representatives may terminate this
Agreement, by notice to the Offerors, at any time at or prior to Closing Time
(i) if there has been, since the date of this Agreement or since the respective
dates as of which information is given in the Prospectus, any material adverse
change in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in the earnings, business
affairs or business prospects of the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business, or
(ii) if there has occurred any material adverse change in the financial markets
in the United States, any outbreak of hostilities or escalation thereof or other
calamity or crisis or any change or development involving a prospective change
in national or international political, financial or economic conditions, in
each case the effect of which is such as to make it, in the judgment of the
Representatives, impracticable to market the Designated Securities or to enforce
contracts for the sale of the Designated Securities, or (iii) if trading in any
securities of the Company has been suspended by the Commission or the New York
Stock Exchange, or if trading generally on the American Stock Exchange or the
New York Stock Exchange or in the NASDAQ National Market System has been
suspended or limited, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been fixed,
or maximum ranges for prices have been required, by any of said exchanges or by
such system or by order of the Commission, the NASD or any other governmental
authority, or (iv) if a banking moratorium has been declared by either Federal
or New York or Illinois State authorities.

                                       18

 
     B.  Liabilities.  If this Agreement is terminated pursuant to this Section,
such termination shall be without liability of any party to any other party
except as provided in section 4 hereof, and provided further that Sections 1, 6,
7 and 8 shall survive such termination and remain in full force and effect.

     SECTION X.  Default by One or More of the Underwriters.  If one or more of
                 ------------------------------------------                    
the Underwriters shall fail at Closing Time to purchase the Designated
Securities which it or they are obligated to purchase under this Agreement (the
"Defaulted Securities"), the Representatives shall have the right, within 24
hours thereafter, to make arrangements for one or more of the non-defaulting
Underwriters, or any other underwriters, to purchase all, but not less than all,
of the Defaulted Securities in such amounts as may be agreed upon and upon the
terms herein set forth; if, however, the Representatives shall not have
completed such arrangements within such 24-hour period, then:

          A.  if the number of Defaulted Securities does not exceed 10% of the
     number of Designated Securities, each of the non-defaulting Underwriters
     shall be obligated, severally and not jointly, to purchase the full amount
     thereof in the proportions that their respective underwriting obligations
     hereunder bear to the underwriting obligations of all non-defaulting
     Underwriters, or

          B.  if the number of Defaulted Securities exceeds 10% of the number of
     Designated Securities, this Agreement shall terminate without liability on
     the part of any non-defaulting Underwriter.

     No action taken pursuant to this Section shall relieve any defaulting
Underwriter from liability in respect of its default.

     In the event of any such default which does not result in a termination of
this Agreement, either the Representatives or the Offerors shall have the right
to postpone Closing Time for a period not exceeding seven days in order to
effect any required changes in the Registration Statement or Prospectus or in
any other documents or arrangements.  As used herein, the term "Underwriter"
includes any person substituted for an Underwriter under this Section 10.

     SECTION XI.  Notices.  All notices and other communications hereunder shall
                  -------                                                       
be in writing and shall be deemed to have been duly given if mailed or
transmitted by any standard form of telecommunication.  Notices to the
Underwriters shall be directed to the Representatives at                       ;
notices to the Trust and the Company shall be directed to them at One First
National Plaza, Chicago, Illinois 60670, Attention: Secretary.

     SECTION XII.  Parties.  This Agreement shall each inure to the benefit of
                   -------                                                    
and be binding upon the Underwriters and the Trust and the Company and their
respective successors.  Nothing expressed or mentioned in this Agreement is
intended or shall be construed to give any person, firm or corporation, other
than the Underwriters and the Trust and the Company and their respective
successors and the controlling persons and officers and directors referred to in

                                       19

 
Sections 6 and 7 and their heirs and legal representatives, any legal or
equitable right, remedy or claim under or in respect of this Agreement or any
provision herein contained.  This Agreement and all conditions and provisions
hereof are intended to be for the sole and exclusive benefit of the Underwriters
and the Trust and the Company and their respective successors, and said
controlling persons and officers and directors and their heirs and legal
representatives, and for the benefit of no other person, firm or corporation.
No purchaser of Securities from any Underwriter shall be deemed to be a
successor by reason merely of such purchase.

     SECTION XIII.  GOVERNING LAW AND TIME.  THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY
                    ----------------------                                      
AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.  EXCEPT AS
OTHERWISE SET FORTH HEREIN, SPECIFIED TIMES OF DAY REFER TO NEW YORK CITY TIME.

     SECTION XIV.  Effect of Headings.  The Article and Section headings herein
                   ------------------                                          
and the Table of Contents are for convenience only and shall not affect the
construction hereof.

                                       20

 
     If the foregoing is in accordance with your understanding of our agreement,
please sign and return to the Trust a counterpart hereof, whereupon this
instrument, along with all counterparts, will become a binding agreement between
the Underwriters and the Trust and the Company in accordance with its terms.

                              Very truly yours,

                              FIRST CHICAGO NBD CAPITAL [I]



                              By__________________________________________
                                Name:
                                Title:


                              FIRST CHICAGO NBD CORPORATION



                              By__________________________________________
                                Name:
                                Title:

CONFIRMED AND ACCEPTED,
 as of the date first above written:



By:


By__________________________________________
          Authorized Signatory


For themselves and as Representatives of the other Underwriters named in
Schedule A hereto.

                                       21

 
                                   SCHEDULE A


                                                          Number
           Name of Underwriter                         of Securities
           -------------------                         -------------



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



Total ...............................
                                                      ==================








                                    Sch A-1



 
                                   SCHEDULE B

                         FIRST CHICAGO NBD CAPITAL [I]
                              Preferred Securities
                            %   Preferred Securities
              (Liquidation Amount of $__ Per Preferred Security)



          1.  The initial public offering price per security for the Preferred
Securities, determined as provided in said Section 2, shall be $  .

               2.  The purchase price per security for the Preferred Securities
to be paid by the several Underwriters shall be $  .

          3.  The commission per Preferred Security to be paid by the Company to
the Underwriters for their commitments hereunder shall be $  per Preferred
Security.
















                                    Sch B-1

                                      

 
                                                                       Exhibit A



                  FORM OF OPINION OF SHERMAN I. GOLDBERG, ESQ.
                          TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
                                SECTION 5(b)(i)











                                      A-1



 
                                                                       Exhibit B



            FORM OF OPINION OF SKADDEN, ARPS, SLATE, MEAGHER & FLOM
                     (DELAWARE) TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
                                SECTION 5(b)(ii)











                                      B-1



 
                                                                       Exhibit C



     FORM OF OPINION OF CRAVATH, SWAINE & MOORE TO BE DELIVERED PURSUANT TO
                               SECTION 5(b)(iii)


 













                                     C-1