DRAFT DATED 11/21/96

                             MILLENNIUM AMERICA INC.

                     [ ]% SENIOR NOTES DUE NOVEMBER __, 2006
                  [ ]% SENIOR DEBENTURES DUE NOVEMBER __, 2026

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

                          UNCONDITIONALLY GUARANTEED BY
                            MILLENNIUM CHEMICALS INC.

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                        .................., 1996

Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.,
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated,
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.,
Salomon Brothers Inc
    As representatives of the several Underwriters
    named in Schedule I hereto,
c/o Goldman, Sachs & Co.,
85 Broad Street,
New York, New York 10004

Ladies and Gentlemen:

     Millennium America Inc., a Delaware  corporation (the "Issuer"),  proposes,
subject  to the terms and  conditions  stated  herein,  to issue and sell to the
Underwriters  named in Schedule I hereto (the  "Underwriters")  an  aggregate of
$_______ principal amount of the Issuer's __% Senior Notes due November __, 2006
(the "Notes") and an aggregate of $________ principal amount of the Issuer's __%
Senior Debentures due November __, 2026 (the "Debentures" and, together with the
Notes, the  "Securities").  The Securities are  unconditionally  guaranteed (the
"Guarantees")  by  Millennium   Chemicals  Inc.,  a  Delaware  corporation  (the
"Company").

     1. The  Company  and the Issuer  represent  and warrant to, and agree with,
each of the Underwriters that:





             (a) A  registration  statement on Form S-1 (File No.  333-15975 and
        333-15975-01)  (including all pre-effective  amendments thereto, if any,
        the "Initial  Registration  Statement") in respect of the Securities has
        been  filed  with  the   Securities   and   Exchange   Commission   (the
        "Commission"); the Initial Registration Statement and any post-effective
        amendment  thereto,  each in the form heretofore  delivered to you, and,
        excluding exhibits thereto,  to you for each of the other  Underwriters,
        have been declared  effective by the Commission in such form; other than
        a registration statement, if any, increasing the size of the offering (a
        "Rule 462(b)  Registration  Statement"),  filed  pursuant to Rule 462(b)
        under the  Securities  Act of 1933,  as amended (the "Act"),  which will
        become  effective  upon filing,  no other  document  with respect to the
        Initial  Registration  Statement  has  heretofore  been  filed  with the
        Commission;  and no  stop  order  suspending  the  effectiveness  of the
        Initial Registration Statement,  any post-effective amendment thereto or
        the Rule 462(b) Registration  Statement,  if any, has been issued and no
        proceeding  for that  purpose has been  initiated or  threatened  by the
        Commission  (any   preliminary   prospectus   included  in  the  Initial
        Registration  Statement and incorporated by reference in the Rule 462(b)
        Registration Statement, if any, or filed with the Commission pursuant to
        Rule 424(a) of the rules and  regulations  of the  Commission  under the
        Act, is hereinafter called a "Preliminary Prospectus"; the various parts
        of the Initial  Registration  Statement and the Rule 462(b) Registration
        Statement, if any, including all exhibits thereto but excluding Form T-1
        and including the information  contained in the form of final prospectus
        filed  with the  Commission  pursuant  to Rule  424(b)  under the Act in
        accordance  with  Section  5(a) hereof and deemed by virtue of Rule 430A
        under the Act to be part of the Initial  Registration  Statement  at the
        time  it  was  declared  effective  or  the  Rule  462(b)   Registration
        Statement, if any, at the time it became or hereafter becomes effective,
        each as  amended  at the time  such part of the  registration  statement
        became effective,  are hereinafter collectively called the "Registration
        Statement";  and such final prospectus, in the form first filed pursuant
        to Rule 424(b) under the Act, is hereinafter called the "Prospectus");

             (b) No order  preventing or suspending  the use of any  Preliminary
        Prospectus  has been  issued  by the  Commission,  and each  Preliminary
        Prospectus,  at the time of filing  thereof,  conformed  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 did 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, in the
        light of the  circumstances  under which they were made, 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 or the Issuer by an
        Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co. expressly for use therein;

             (c) The Registration Statement conforms, and the Prospectus 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 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


                                       2



        reliance upon and in conformity with information furnished in writing to
        the Company or the Issuer by an Underwriter through Goldman, Sachs & Co.
        expressly for use therein;

             (d) Neither the Company nor any of its  subsidiaries  has sustained
        since the date of the latest audited  financial  statements  included in
        the  Prospectus  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 or
        such as singly or in the aggregate do not have a material adverse effect
        on  the  financial  position,   stockholders'   equity,  or  results  of
        operations of the Company and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a whole; 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  and  its
        subsidiaries,  taken as a whole, or any material adverse change,  or any
        development  involving a  prospective  material  adverse  change,  in or
        affecting  the  general   affairs,   management,   financial   position,
        stockholders'  equity or results of  operations  of the  Company and its
        subsidiaries,  taken  as  a  whole,  otherwise  than  as  set  forth  or
        contemplated in the Prospectus;

             (e) The Company and each of its Significant  Subsidiaries  (as such
        term is defined in Rule 1-02 of  Regulation  S-X under the Act) has good
        and  marketable  title in fee simple to all real  property  and good and
        marketable title to all personal property owned by it, in each case free
        and clear of all liens,  encumbrances  and  defects  except  such as are
        described in the  Prospectus or such as could not reasonably be expected
        to, singly or in the  aggregate,  have a material  adverse effect on the
        financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the
        Company and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a whole;  and any real property
        and  buildings  held  under  lease by the  Company  and its  Significant
        Subsidiaries  are held by them under valid,  subsisting and  enforceable
        leases with such  exceptions  as are not material to the Company and its
        subsidiaries taken as a whole;

             (f) Each of the Company  and the Issuer has been duly  incorporated
        and is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under the laws
        of the State of Delaware,  with corporate power and authority 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,  except where the failure
        to be so qualified or in good standing  could not reasonably be expected
        to, singly or in the  aggregate,  have a material  adverse effect on the
        financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the
        Company and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a whole;  and each  Significant
        Subsidiary  of the  Company  has been duly  incorporated  and is validly
        existing  as a  corporation  in  good  standing  under  the  laws of its
        jurisdiction of incorporation, with corporate power and authority 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,  except where the failure
        to be so qualified or in good standing  could not reasonably be expected
        to, singly or in the  aggregate,  have a material  adverse effect on the
        financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the
        Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

                                       3



             (g) 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;  and all of the issued shares of capital stock
        of each Significant Subsidiary of the Company have been duly and validly
        authorized and issued, are fully paid and non-assessable and (except for
        directors'  qualifying  shares) are owned  directly or indirectly by the
        Company, free and clear of all liens, encumbrances, equities or claims;

             (h) (i) The Securities  have been duly  authorized and, when issued
        and delivered pursuant to this Agreement,  will have been duly executed,
        authenticated,  issued  and  delivered  and will  constitute  valid  and
        legally  binding  obligations  of the Issuer,  enforceable in accordance
        with their terms and entitled to the benefits  provided by the indenture
        to be dated as of ___________, 1996 (the "Indenture") among the Company,
        the Issuer and The Bank of New York, as Trustee (the  "Trustee"),  under
        which they are to be issued, 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;  (ii) the Indenture will be  substantially in the form filed
        as an exhibit to the Registration  Statement;  (iii) the Guarantees have
        been  duly  authorized  and,  upon  due  execution,  authentication  and
        delivery  of the  Securities  and  the  endorsement  of  the  Guarantees
        thereon,  the  Guarantees  will  have  been duly  executed,  issued  and
        delivered and will constitute  valid and legally binding  obligations of
        the Company,  enforceable in accordance with their terms and entitled to
        the benefits provided by the Indenture,  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;  (iv) the Indenture has been duly authorized and duly
        qualified under the Trust Indenture Act and, when executed and delivered
        by the Company, the Issuer and the Trustee,  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;  (v) this Agreement
        has been duly authorized,  executed and delivered by the Company and the
        Issuer;  and (vi) the Securities,  the Guarantees and the Indenture will
        conform to the descriptions thereof in the Prospectus;

             (i) The issue and sale of the  Securities,  the  endorsement of the
        Guarantees on the  Securities  by the Company and the  compliance by the
        Company and the Issuer with all of the provisions of the Securities, the
        Guarantees, the Indenture and this Agreement and the consummation of the
        transactions herein and therein  contemplated will not (i) 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  Significant  Subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company
        or any of its  Significant  Subsidiaries is bound or to which any of the
        property or assets of the Company or any of its Significant Subsidiaries
        is  subject,  (ii)  result in any  violation  of the  provisions  of the
        Certificate of  Incorporation or By-laws of the Company or the Issuer or
        (iii)  result in any  violation  of 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 Significant  Subsidiaries or
        any of their properties,  which conflicts,  breach or violations, in the
        case of Clauses (i) and (iii),  could  reasonably be expected to, singly
        or in the  aggregate,  have a material  adverse  effect on the financial
        position,  stockholders'  equity or results of operations of the Company
        and its  subsidiaries,  taken  as a  whole;  and no  consent,  approval,


                                       4



        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 and the Guarantees or the  consummation by the Company
        and the Issuer of the transactions contemplated by this Agreement or the
        Indenture,  except the registration  under the Act of the Securities and
        the Guarantees, such as have been obtained under 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;

             (j) Neither the Company nor any of its Significant  Subsidiaries is
        (i) in violation of its Certificate of  Incorporation or By-laws or (ii)
        in default in the performance or observance of any obligation,  covenant
        or condition contained in any indenture,  mortgage,  deed of trust, loan
        agreement, lease or other agreement or instrument to which it is a party
        or by which it or any of its properties may be bound, which defaults, in
        the case of this Clause (ii), could reasonably be expected to, singly or
        in the  aggregate,  have a  material  adverse  effect  on the  financial
        position,  stockholders'  equity or results of operations of the Company
        and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

             (k) The statements  set forth in the  Prospectus  under the caption
        "Description of the Securities", insofar as they purport to constitute a
        summary  of  the  terms  of  the  Securities,  the  Guarantees  and  the
        Indenture, are accurate, complete and fair;

             (l) 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 could  reasonably be expected
        to, singly or in the  aggregate,  have a material  adverse effect on the
        financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the
        Company and its subsidiaries,  taken as a whole; and, to the best of the
        Company's and the Issuer's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened
        or contemplated by governmental authorities or threatened by others;

             (m) Neither the Company nor the Issuer is and,  after giving effect
        to the  offering  and  sale of the  Securities,  will 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");

             (n) Neither  the  Company,  the Issuer nor any of their  affiliates
        does  business  with  the  government  of  Cuba or with  any  person  or
        affiliate located in Cuba within the meaning of Section 517.075, Florida
        Statutes;

             (o) Price  Waterhouse  LLP, who have  certified  certain  financial
        statements  of the Company and its  subsidiaries,  and Quantum  Chemical
        Corporation  and its  subsidiaries,  and  Ernst & Young  LLP,  who  have
        certified  certain  financial  statements  of HMB Holdings  Inc. and SCM
        Chemicals  Limited,  are each independent public accountants as required
        by the Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder;

             (p) All  intangibles  (including,  but not limited to,  trademarks,
        service  marks,  trade  names,   copyrights,   patents,  patent  rights,
        inventions   and   know-how)   that  the  Company  or  its

                                       5




        Significant Subsidiaries own or have pending, or under which any of them
        are licensed,  and which are material to the business of the Company and
        its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, are in good standing and uncontested
        in all respects material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
        whole,  and not subject to any material liens or  encumbrances or rights
        thereto or  therein by third  parties,  other  than  license  agreements
        entered  into  by the  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries.  All of the
        trademarks and trade names used by the Company and its  subsidiaries and
        their  respective  licensees to identify  their  products and  services,
        which are material to the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole
        ("Trademarks"),  are  protected  by  registration  or  applications  for
        registration  in the  name of the  Company  or its  subsidiaries  on the
        principal  register in the United States Patent and Trademark Office and
        by rights in the United States accorded the Company and its subsidiaries
        by virtue of the common law, as well as, where applicable, by issued and
        existing  registrations  or applications for registration in the name of
        the Company or its  subsidiaries (or their nominees) and rights accorded
        the  Company  and its  subsidiaries  by virtue of common or civil law in
        foreign jurisdictions in which the Company or its subsidiaries currently
        conducts  its or their  business,  except  where  the  failure  to be so
        registered  could  not  reasonably  be  expected  to,  singly  or in the
        aggregate,  result  in a  material  adverse  effect  upon the  financial
        position,  stockholders'  equity or results of operations of the Company
        and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a whole.  To the best of the  Company's
        knowledge,  the  Company  and  its  subsidiaries  and  their  respective
        licensees  have  the  right  to use  the  Trademarks  and  there  are no
        oppositions,  cancellations or other proceedings  challenging such right
        of use which,  singly or in the aggregate,  could reasonably be expected
        to have a material  adverse effect on the Company and its  subsidiaries,
        taken as a whole. To the best of the Company's knowledge,  no claims are
        pending challenging or questioning the use, ownership or validity of any
        intangibles  owned  or used by the  Company  or any of its  subsidiaries
        material to the business of the Company and its subsidiaries  taken as a
        whole;

             (q)  Except  as  disclosed  in  the  Prospectus  or  as  could  not
        reasonably  be  expected  to,  singly or in the  aggregate,  result in a
        material adverse effect on the financial position,  stockholders' equity
        or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a
        whole,  (i)  neither  the  Company  nor  any of its  subsidiaries  is in
        violation of any Environmental Laws (as defined below), (ii) the Company
        and its  subsidiaries  have all permits,  authorizations  and  approvals
        required  under  all  applicable  Environmental  Laws  and  are  each in
        compliance  with their  requirements,  (iii) there are no pending or, to
        the  Company's  knowledge,  threatened  administrative,   regulatory  or
        judicial actions, suits, demands, notices of noncompliance or violation,
        proceedings or, to the Company's knowledge,  investigations  relating to
        any  Environmental  Law against the Company or any of its  subsidiaries,
        and (iv) there have been no releases,  spills or discharges of Hazardous
        Materials  (as defined  below) on or  underneath  any of the  properties
        currently or formerly owned, leased or operated by the Company or any of
        its   subsidiaries.   For   purposes   of  this   Agreement,   the  term
        "Environmental Law" means any federal,  state, local or foreign statute,
        law, rule, regulation, ordinance, code, policy or rule of common law and
        any judicial or  administrative  interpretation  thereof  including  any
        judicial or administrative  order, consent decree or judgment,  relating
        to pollution or protection of human health, the environment  (including,
        without  limitation,  ambient  air,  surface  water,  groundwater,  land
        surface  or   subsurface   strata)  or  wildlife,   including,   without
        limitation,  laws and regulations  relating to the release or threatened
        release  of  Hazardous  Materials  or to  the  manufacture,  processing,
        distribution,  use, treatment,  storage, disposal, transport or handling
        of  Hazardous  Materials.  The  term  "Hazardous  Materials"  means  any
        chemical, pollutants,  contaminants,


                                       6



        wastes, toxic substances,  hazardous substances,  petroleum or petroleum
        products,  asbestos,   polychlorinated  biphenyls,  caustic  substances,
        radioactive  materials,  or any other  substance  defined as  hazardous,
        toxic, or dangerous by, or regulated under, any Environmental Law; and

             (r) The Unaudited Pro Forma  Combined  Financial  Data set forth in
        the  Registration  Statement  and the  Prospectus  with  respect  to the
        Company has been prepared in accordance with the applicable requirements
        of Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X promulgated by the Commission,  has been
        compiled on the pro forma basis described therein, and in the opinion of
        the  Company,  the  assumptions  used in the  preparation  thereof  were
        reasonable at the time made and the  adjustments  used therein are based
        on good faith  estimates and  assumptions  believed by the Company to be
        reasonable at the time made.

        2.  Subject to the terms and  conditions  herein  set forth,  the Issuer
agrees  to  issue  and  sell  to  each  of the  Underwriters,  and  each  of the
Underwriters agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the Issuer, (a)
at a purchase  price of ____% of the  principal  amount  thereof,  plus  accrued
interest, if any, from ____________, 1996 to the Time of Delivery hereunder, the
principal amount of the Notes set forth opposite the name of such Underwriter in
Schedule I hereto under  column (A), and (b) at a purchase  price of ___% of the
principal amount thereof, plus accrued interest, if any from _________,  1996 to
the Time of Delivery hereunder, the principal amount of the Debentures set forth
opposite the name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto under column (B).

        3. Upon the  authorization  by the  Underwriters  of the  release of the
Securities,  the several  Underwriters  propose to offer the Securities for sale
upon the terms and conditions set forth in the Prospectus.

        4. (a) The Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter hereunder will
be represented by one or more  definitive  global  Securities in book-entry form
which will be deposited by or on behalf of the Issuer with The Depository  Trust
Company  ("DTC") or its  designated  custodian.  The  Issuer  will  deliver  the
Securities to Goldman, Sachs & Co., for the account of each Underwriter, against
payment by or on behalf of such  Underwriter  of the purchase  price therefor by
wire  transfer of Federal  (same day) funds,  to the  account  specified  by the
Issuer, by causing DTC to credit the Securities to the account of Goldman, Sachs
& Co. at DTC. The Issuer will cause the certificates representing the Securities
to be made available to Goldman,  Sachs & Co. for checking at least  twenty-four
hours prior to the Time of Delivery  (as defined  below) at the office of DTC or
its designated  custodian (the "Designated  Office").  The time and date of such
delivery and payment shall be 9:30 a.m.,  New York City time,  on  ____________,
1996 or such other time and date as  Goldman,  Sachs & Co.,  the Company and the
Issuer may agree upon in writing. Such time and date are herein called the "Time
of Delivery".

        (b) The  documents  to be  delivered  at the Time of  Delivery  by or on
behalf of the  parties  hereto  pursuant  to  Section 7  hereof,  including  the
cross-receipt for the Securities and any additional  documents  requested by the
Underwriters  pursuant to Section 7(i) hereof,  will be delivered at the offices
of Fried, Frank, Harris,  Shriver & Jacobson,  One New York Plaza, New York, New
York 10004 (the "Closing Location"), and the Securities will be delivered at the
Designated  Office,  all at the Time of Delivery.  A meeting will be held at the
Closing  Location at 2:00 p.m., New York City time, on the New York Business Day
next  preceding  the Time of Delivery,  at which meeting the final drafts of the
documents to be delivered  pursuant to the preceding  sentence will be available
for review by the

                                       7



parties  hereto.  For the  purposes of this Section 4, "New York  Business  Day"
shall mean each Monday, Tuesday,  Wednesday,  Thursday and Friday which is not a
day on which banking  institutions in New York City are generally  authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.

        5.  Each  of  the  Company  and  the  Issuer  agrees  with  each  of the
Underwriters:

        (a) To prepare the Prospectus in a form approved by you 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 this  Agreement,  or, if  applicable,  such  earlier  time as may be
required by Rule 430A(a)(3)  under the Act; to make no further  amendment or any
supplement  to  the   Registration   Statement  or  Prospectus  which  shall  be
disapproved  by you promptly after  reasonable  notice  thereof;  to advise you,
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 and to furnish you with
copies thereof; to advise you, promptly after it receives notice thereof, of the
issuance  by the  Commission  of any stop  order or of any order  preventing  or
suspending  the  use  of  any  Preliminary  Prospectus  or  prospectus,  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 amending or  supplementing
of the Registration Statement or Prospectus or for additional information;  and,
in the event of the  issuance  of any stop order or of any order  preventing  or
suspending the use of any Preliminary Prospectus or prospectus or suspending any
such qualification, to promptly use its best efforts to obtain the withdrawal of
such order;

        (b) Promptly from time to time to take such action as you may reasonably
request to qualify the Securities and the Guarantees for offering and sale under
the securities laws of such  jurisdictions as you 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
the Securities,  provided that in connection  therewith  neither the Company nor
the Issuer  shall be required to qualify as a foreign  corporation  or to file a
general consent to service of process in any jurisdiction;

        (c) Prior to 10:00 a.m.,  New York City time,  on the New York  Business
Day next succeeding the date of this Agreement and from time to time, to furnish
the  Underwriters  with  copies  of the  Prospectus  in New  York  City  in such
quantities as you may reasonably  request,  and, if the delivery of a prospectus
is required at any time prior to the expiration of nine months after the time of
issue  of the  Prospectus  in  connection  with  the  offering  or  sale  of the
Securities  and the Guarantees 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  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 in order to comply with the Act or
the Trust  Indenture  Act,  to notify you and upon your  request to prepare  and
furnish  without charge to each  Underwriter  and to any dealer in securities as
many  copies  as you may from  time to time  reasonably  request  of an  amended
Prospectus or a supplement to the  Prospectus  which will correct such statement
or omission or effect such  compliance;  and in case any Underwriter is required
to deliver a prospectus in connection with sales of any of the Securities at any
time nine  months or more after the time of issue of the  Prospectus,  upon your
request but at the expense of


                                       8



such  Underwriter,  to prepare and deliver to such Underwriter as many copies as
you may request of an amended or supplemented  Prospectus complying with Section
10(a)(3) of the Act;

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

        (e) During the period  beginning  from the date hereof and continuing to
and including the later of the Time of Delivery and such earlier time as you may
notify the  Company  and the  Issuer,  not to offer,  sell,  contract to sell or
otherwise dispose of, except as provided hereunder any securities of the Company
or the  Issuer  that  are  substantially  similar  to  the  Securities  and  the
Guarantees;

        (f) To furnish to the  holders of the  Securities  all of the  documents
specified in Section 1010 of the Indenture, all in the manner specified therein;

        (g)  During a  period  of five  years  from  the  effective  date of the
Registration  Statement,  to  furnish  to you  copies  of all  reports  or other
communications  (financial or other)  furnished to  stockholders of the Company,
and to deliver to you (i) as soon as they are  available,  copies of any reports
and financial  statements  which the Company or the Issuer furnishes to or files
with the Commission or any national  securities exchange on which the Securities
or any class of  securities  of the Company or the Issuer are  listed;

        (h) To use  the  net  proceeds  received  by it  from  the  sale  of the
Securities  pursuant to this Agreement in the manner specified in the Prospectus
under the caption "Use of Proceeds;" and

        (i) If the Company  and the Issuer  elect to rely upon Rule  462(b),  to
file a Rule 462(b) Registration Statement with the Commission in compliance with
Rule 462(b) by 10:00 p.m., Washington, D.C. time, on the date of this Agreement,
and at the time of filing either to pay to the Commission the filing fee for the
Rule 462(b) Registration  Statement or to give irrevocable  instructions for the
payment of such fee pursuant to Rule 111(b) under the Act.

        6. The  Company and the Issuer  covenant  and agree with one another and
the several  Underwriters that the Company and the Issuer (without  duplication)
will pay or cause to be paid the  following:  (i) the  fees,  disbursements  and
expenses of the Company's and the Issuer's counsel and accountants in connection
with the registration of the Securities and the Guarantees 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,  the Indenture,  the Blue Sky
and Legal Investment  Memoranda,  closing documents  (including any compilations
thereof) and 


                                       9



any other documents in connection with the offering, purchase, sale and delivery
of the Securities and the Guarantees;  (iii) all expenses in connection with the
qualification  of the  Securities and the Guarantees 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
and the  Guarantees;  (v)  the  filing  fees  incident  to,  and  the  fees  and
disbursements  of counsel for the  Underwriters in connection with, any required
review by the National  Association of Securities Dealers,  Inc. of the terms of
the sale of the  Securities and the  Guarantees;  (vi) the cost of preparing the
Securities  and the  Guarantees;  (vii) the fees and expenses of the Trustee and
any agent of the  Trustee  and the fees and  disbursements  of  counsel  for the
Trustee in connection with the Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantees; and
(viii)  all  other  costs  and  expenses  incident  to  the  performance  of its
obligations hereunder which are not otherwise  specifically provided for in this
Section.  It is understood,  however,  that, except as provided in this Section,
and Sections 8 and 11 hereof,  the Underwriters  will pay all of their own costs
and expenses,  including the fees of their counsel,  transfer taxes on resale of
any of the Securities and the Guarantees by them, and any  advertising  expenses
connected with any offers they may make.

        7. The obligations of the  Underwriters  hereunder shall be subject,  in
their discretion,  to the condition that all  representations and warranties and
other  statements of each of the Company and the Issuer herein are, at and as of
the Time of Delivery,  true and correct,  the condition that each of the Company
and the Issuer shall have performed all of its obligations hereunder theretofore
to be performed, and the following additional conditions:

        (a) The Prospectus shall have been filed with the Commission pursuant to
Rule 424(b) within the applicable time period  prescribed for such filing by the
rules and regulations  under the Act and in accordance with Section 5(a) hereof;
if the Company and the Issuer have  elected to rely upon Rule  462(b),  the Rule
462(b)  Registration  Statement  shall  have  become  effective  by  10:00  p.m.
Washington,  D.C. time on the date of this Agreement;  no stop order  suspending
the  effectiveness of the Registration  Statement or any part thereof shall have
been issued and no  proceeding  for that  purpose  shall have been  initiated or
threatened by the Commission; and all requests for additional information on the
part of the  Commission  shall  have  been  complied  with  to  your  reasonable
satisfaction;

        (b)  Fried,  Frank,  Harris,   Shriver  &  Jacobson,   counsel  for  the
Underwriters,  shall have furnished to you such opinion (a draft of such opinion
is attached as Annex II(a) hereto), dated the Time of Delivery,  with respect to
the valid existence of the Company and the Issuer, this Agreement,  the validity
of the Indenture, the Securities and the Guarantees, the Registration Statement,
the Prospectus and such other related matters as you 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) Weil,  Gotshal & Manges LLP, counsel for the Company and the Issuer,
shall have  furnished to you their  written  opinion (a draft of such opinion is
attached  as  Annex  II(b)  hereto),  dated  the Time of  Delivery,  in form and
substance satisfactory to you, to the effect that:

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

                                       10



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

             (iii) The Company has authorized  capital stock 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;

             (iv)  This  Agreement  has  been  duly  authorized,   executed  and
        delivered by each of the Company and the Issuer;

             (v)  The  Securities  have  been  duly  authorized,   executed  and
        delivered by the Issuer, and, when authenticated by the Trustee and paid
        for by you in accordance with the terms of the  Underwriting  Agreement,
        will  constitute  valid and legally  binding  obligations of the Issuer,
        entitled to the benefits provided by the Indenture,  enforceable against
        the  Issuer in  accordance  with  their  terms,  subject  to  applicable
        bankruptcy,    insolvency,   fraudulent   conveyance,    reorganization,
        moratorium  and other  similar  laws  affecting  creditors'  rights  and
        remedies generally, and, as to enforceability,  to general principles of
        equity,  including principles of commercial  reasonableness,  good faith
        and fair  dealing  (regardless  of  whether  enforcement  is sought in a
        proceeding at law or in equity);

             (vi)  The  Guarantees  have  been  duly  authorized,  executed  and
        delivered  by  the  Company   and,   when  the   Securities   have  been
        authenticated  by the Trustee and paid for by you in accordance with the
        terms of the Underwriting  Agreement,  will constitute valid and legally
        binding obligations of the Company, entitled to the benefits provided by
        the Indenture,  enforceable against the Company in accordance with their
        terms,  subject  to  applicable   bankruptcy,   insolvency,   fraudulent
        conveyance, reorganization,  moratorium and other similar laws affecting
        creditors' rights and remedies generally, and, as to enforceability,  to
        general  principles  of  equity,   including  principles  of  commercial
        reasonableness,  good  faith and fair  dealing  (regardless  of  whether
        enforcement is sought in a proceeding at law or in equity);

             (vii)  The  Indenture  has  been  duly  authorized,   executed  and
        delivered  by  the  Company  and  the  Issuer  and   (assuming  its  due
        authorization,  execution  and  delivery by the Trustee)  constitutes  a
        valid and  legally  binding  obligation  of the  Company and the Issuer,
        enforceable  in  accordance  with  its  terms,   subject  to  applicable
        bankruptcy,    insolvency,   fraudulent   conveyance,    reorganization,
        moratorium  and other  similar  laws  affecting  creditors'  rights  and
        remedies generally and, as to  enforceability,  to general principles of
        equity,  including principles of commercial  reasonableness,  good faith
        and fair  dealing  (regardless  of  whether  enforcement  is sought in a
        proceeding  at law or in  equity);  and  the  Indenture  has  been  duly
        qualified under the Trust Indenture Act;

             (viii) The issue and sale of the  Securities  by the Issuer and the
        Guarantees  by the  Company  and the  compliance  by the Company and the
        Issuer with all of the provisions of the Securities, the Guarantees, the
        Indenture  and  this  Agreement  and  the  consummation  by  them 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  us  which is
        material to the Company and its  subsidiaries,  taken as a whole,


                                       11




        to which the Company or the Issuer is a party or by which the Company or
        the Issuer is bound or to which any of the  property  or  assets  of the
        Company or the Issuer is subject,  nor will such  actions result  in any
        violation  of the  provisions  of  the  Certificate  of Incorporation or
        By-laws of the Company or the Issuer or any New York, Delaware corporate
        or federal statute,  rule or regulation  (other  than foreign  and state
        securities  or Blue Sky laws,  as to which such counsel need not express
        an  opinion,  and  other  than federal securities laws, as to which such
        counsel  need  not  express  an  opinion  except  as otherwise set forth
        herein) or any order  of any court or governmental agency or body having
        jurisdiction  over the  Company or the Issuer or any of their properties
        of which we are aware;

             (ix) No consent,  approval,  authorization,  order, registration or
        qualification  of or with any New York,  Delaware  corporate  or federal
        governmental  agency  or body  or,  to our  knowledge,  any New  York or
        federal  court,  is required for the issue and sale of the Securities by
        the Issuer or of the  Guarantees by the Company or the  consummation  by
        the  Company  and the Issuer of the  transactions  contemplated  by this
        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 Securities  and the Guarantees by the  Underwriters
        (as to which such counsel need not express an opinion);

             (x) The statements  set forth in the  Prospectus  under the caption
        "Description of the Securities", insofar as they purport to constitute a
        summary  of the terms of the  Securities  and the  Guarantees  or of the
        Indenture, are accurate summaries in all material respects;

             (xi) Neither the Company nor the Issuer is an "investment  company"
        as such term is defined in the Investment Company Act; and

             (xii) The Registration Statement and the Prospectus and any further
        amendments  and  supplements  thereto made by the Company and the Issuer
        prior to the Time of Delivery  (other than the financial  statements and
        related notes, financial statement schedules and the other financial and
        accounting data therein and Exhibit 25.1 to the Registration  Statement,
        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 rules and
        regulations thereunder.

        In  addition,  Weil,  Gotshal  &  Manges  LLP  shall  state  that it has
participated in conferences with directors,  officers and other  representatives
of the  Company  and  the  Issuer,  representatives  of the  independent  public
accountants for the Company and the Issuer,  representatives of the Underwriters
and  representatives  of counsel for the Underwriters,  at which conferences the
contents of the  Registration  Statement and the Prospectus and related  matters
were  discussed,  and,  although it has not  independently  verified  and is not
passing upon and assumes no  responsibility  for the accuracy,  completeness  or
fairness  of  the  statements  contained  in  the  Registration   Statement  and
Prospectus  (except to the extent  specified in  subsection  (x) of this Section
7(c)),  no facts have come to its  attention  which lead it to believe  that the
Registration  Statement,  on the  effective  date  thereof,  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  contained  therein  not
misleading  or that  the  Prospectus,  on the  date  thereof  or at the  Time of
Delivery,  contained  or  contains  an untrue  statement

                                       12



of a material  fact or omitted or omits to state a material  fact required to be
stated therein or necessary to make the statements  contained therein,  in light
of the  circumstances  under  which they were  made,  not  misleading  (it being
understood  that such counsel  expresses  no view with respect to the  financial
statements  and  related  notes,  financial  statement  schedules  and the other
financial  and  accounting  data  included  in  the  Registration  Statement  or
Prospectus, or with respect to Exhibit 25.1 to the Registration Statement).

        (d) George H.  Hempstead,  III,  Esq.,  Senior  Vice  President-Law  and
Adminstration,  of the Company and the Issuer,  shall have  furnished to you his
written  opinion (a draft of such  opinion is attached  as Annex II(c)  hereto),
dated the Time of Delivery,  in form and substance  satisfactory  to you, to the
effect that:

             (i) Each of the Company and the Issuer 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,  except  where the failure to be so  qualified or in good
        standing  could  not  reasonably  be  expected  to,  singly  or  in  the
        aggregate,  have a material  adverse  effect on the financial  position,
        stockholders'  equity or results of  operations  of the  Company and its
        subsidiaries,  taken as a whole (such counsel being  entitled to rely in
        respect of the opinion in this clause upon opinions of local counsel and
        in  respect  of matters of fact upon  certificates  of  officers  of the
        Company,  provided  that such counsel shall state that they believe that
        both you and they are  justified  in  relying  upon  such  opinions  and
        certificates  and a copy of such opinions and certificates are furnished
        to you);

             (ii)  Each  Significant  Subsidiary  of  the  Company  that  is  an
        operating  company has been duly incorporated and is validly existing as
        a corporation  in good standing  under the laws of its  jurisdiction  of
        incorporation;  and all of the issued  shares of  capital  stock of each
        Significant Subsidiary of the  Company that is an operating company have
        been  duly  and  validly  authorized  and  issued,  are  fully  paid and
        non-assessable,  and (except for directors' qualifying shares) are owned
        directly  or  indirectly  by  the  Company, free and clear of all liens,
        encumbrances,  equities  or claims (such counsel being entitled  to rely
        in respect of the opinion in this clause upon  opinions of local counsel
        and in respect of matters of fact upon  certificates of officers  of the
        Company or its  subsidiaries, provided  that such  counsel  shall  state
        that they believe  that both you and they are  justified in relying upon
        such  opinions  and  certificates  and  a  copy  of  such  opinions  and
        certificates are furnished to you);

             (iii) To the best of such counsel's  knowledge, (i) the Company and
        each of its Significant  Subsidiaries  have good and marketable title in
        fee  simple to all real  property  owned by them,  in each case free and
        clear  of all  liens,  encumbrances  and  defects,  except  such  as are
        described in the  Prospectus or such as could not reasonably be expected
        to, singly or in the  aggregate,  have a material  adverse effect on the
        financial position, stockholders' equity or results of operations of the
        Company  and its  subsidiaries,  taken  as a  whole;  and  (ii) any real
        property  and  buildings  held  under  lease  by  the  Company  and  its
        Significant  Subsidiaries  are held by them under valid,  subsisting and
        enforceable  leases  with such  exceptions  as are not  material  to the
        Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole (in giving the opinion in
        this clause, such counsel may state that no examination of record titles
        for the purpose of such opinion has been made, and that they are relying
        upon a general review of the titles of the Company and its subsidiaries,
        upon  opinions of local counsel and  abstracts,  reports and


                                       13




        policies of title  companies  rendered or issued at or subsequent to the
        time of acquisition  of such property by the Company or its  Significant
        Subsidiaries,  upon  opinions of counsel to the lessors of such property
        and, in respect of matters of fact, upon certificates of officers of the
        Company or its  Significant  Subsidiaries,  provided  that such  counsel
        shall state that they  believe  that both you and they are  justified in
        relying   upon  such   opinions,   abstracts,   reports,   policies  and
        certificates and copies thereof are furnished to you); and

             (iv) 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  could  reasonably  be  expected  to,  singly  or in  the
        aggregate,  have a material  adverse  effect on the financial  position,
        stockholders'  equity or results of  operations  of the  Company and its
        subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

        In  addition,  such  counsel  shall state that no facts have come to his
attention  which lead him to believe  that the  Registration  Statement,  on the
effective  date  thereof,  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 contained therein not misleading or that the Prospectus,  on
the date  thereof or at the Time of  Delivery,  contained  or contains an untrue
statement  of a  material  fact or  omitted  or omits to state a  material  fact
required to be stated  therein or  necessary  to make the  statements  contained
therein,  in  light  of the  circumstances  under  which  they  were  made,  not
misleading (it being understood that such counsel expresses no view with respect
to the financial statements and related notes, the financial statement schedules
and  the  other  financial  data  included  in  the  Registration  Statement  or
Prospectus, or with respect to Exhibit 25.1 to the Registration Statement).

        (e) On the date of the  Prospectus  at a time prior to the  execution of
this  Agreement,  at 9:30 a.m., New York City time, on the effective date of any
post-effective  amendment to the Registration  Statement filed subsequent to the
date of this  Agreement and also at the Time of Delivery,  Price  Waterhouse LLP
shall have  furnished to you a letter,  dated the  respective  dates of delivery
thereof,  in form and substance  satisfactory to you, to the effect set forth in
Annex I(a) hereto (the executed copy of the letter delivered by Price Waterhouse
LLP prior to the  execution  of this  Agreement is attached as Annex I(b) hereto
and a draft of the form of letter to be delivered by Price Waterhouse LLP on the
effective date of any post-effective amendment to the Registration Statement and
as of each Time of Delivery is attached as Annex I(c) hereto;

        (f) (i)  Neither  the  Company  nor any of its  subsidiaries  shall have
sustained since the date of the latest audited financial  statements included in
the Prospectus 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,  and (ii) since the respective dates as
of which  information is given in the  Prospectus  there shall not have been any
change in the  capital  stock or  long-term  debt of the  Company  or any of its
subsidiaries or any change, or any development  involving a prospective  change,
in  or  affecting  the  general   affairs,   management,   financial   position,
stockholders'   equity  or  results  of   operations  of  the  Company  and  its
subsidiaries, otherwise than as set forth or contemplated in the Prospectus, the
effect of which,  in any such case  described in Clause (i) or (ii),  is in your
judgment so material and adverse as to make it  impracticable  or inadvisable to
proceed  with the public  offering  or the  delivery of the  Securities  and the
Guarantees on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus;

                                       14



        (g) On or after the date hereof (i) no  downgrading  shall have occurred
in the rating  accorded the  Company's or the Issuer'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
or the Issuer's debt securities;

        (h) On or after the date hereof there shall not have occurred any of the
following:  (i) a suspension  or material  limitation  in trading in  securities
generally  on the  New  York  Stock  Exchange;  (ii) a  suspension  or  material
limitation  in  trading  in the  Company's  securities  on the  New  York  Stock
Exchange;  (iii) a general moratorium on commercial banking activities  declared
by  either  Federal  or New York  State  authorities;  or (iv) the  outbreak  or
escalation of hostilities  involving the United States or the declaration by the
United  States of a national  emergency  or war, if the effect of any such event
specified  in this  Clause  (iv) in your  judgment  makes  it  impracticable  or
inadvisable  to  proceed  with  the  public  offering  or  the  delivery  of the
Securities and the Guarantees on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the
Prospectus;

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

        (j) The Company and the Issuer 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 Agreement.

        8. (a) The Issuer 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,   the  Registration
Statement or the Prospectus,  or any amendment or supplement  thereto,  or arise
out of or are based upon the  omission or alleged  omission  to state  therein a
material fact required to be stated  therein or necessary to make the statements
therein not  misleading,  and will reimburse each  Underwriter  for any legal or
other  expenses  reasonably  incurred by such  Underwriter  in  connection  with
investigating  or  defending  any such  action  or claim  as such  expenses  are
incurred;  provided,  however,  that the Issuer  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
or the  Prospectus  or any such  amendment or supplement in reliance upon and in
conformity  with written  information  furnished to the Company or the Issuer by
any Underwriter  through  Goldman,  Sachs & Co.  expressly for use therein.  The
Company  irrevocably and  unconditionally  guarantees the prompt performance and
payment  of the  indemnification  obligations  of the  Issuer  set forth in this
Section  8(a),  when and as the same shall become due and payable in  accordance
with the terms of this  Section  8(a) (and if any  payments 


                                       15



made by the Company  pursuant to such  guarantee are subject to any  withholding
tax, the Company shall gross up the payments for the withholding tax).

        (b) Each  Underwriter  will  indemnify and hold harmless the Company and
the Issuer  against  any losses,  claims,  damages or  liabilities  to which the
Company or the Issuer 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 or the Prospectus,  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,  the Registration Statement or
the  Prospectus  or any such  amendment or  supplement  in reliance  upon and in
conformity  with written  information  furnished to the Company or the Issuer by
such  Underwriter  through Goldman,  Sachs & Co. expressly for use therein;  and
will  reimburse  the  Company  and the  Issuer  for any legal or other  expenses
reasonably   incurred  by  the  Company  and  the  Issuer  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. No indemnifying party shall, without the written consent
of the indemnified party,  effect the settlement or compromise of, or consent to
the entry of any judgment with respect to, any pending or  threatened  action or
claim  in  respect  of  which  indemnification  or  contribution  may be  sought
hereunder  (whether or not the indemnified party is an actual or potential party
to such action or claim)  unless such  settlement,  compromise  or judgment  (i)
includes an  unconditional  release of the indemnified  party from all liability
arising out of such action or claim and (ii) does not include a statement  as to
or an  admission of fault,  culpability  or a failure to act, by or on behalf of
any indemnified party.

        (d) If the indemnification provided for in this Section 8 is unavailable
to or insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party under subsection (a) or
(b) above in respect of any losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities (or actions
in respect  thereof)  referred to therein,  then each  indemnifying  party shall
contribute to the amount paid or payable by such  indemnified  party as a result
of such losses,  claims,  damages or liabilities (or actions in respect thereof)
in such proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative  benefits  received
by the Company and the Issuer on the one hand and the 



                                       16



Underwriters  on  the  other  from  the  offering  of  the  Securities  and  the
Guarantees.  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 and the Issuer on the one hand and
the  Underwriters  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 and the Issuer on the one hand and the
Underwriters  on the other shall be deemed to be in the same  proportion  as the
total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company and the Issuer bear to the total underwriting  discounts and commissions
received  by the  Underwriters,  in each  case as set  forth in the table on the
cover  page of the  Prospectus.  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 and the Issuer on the one hand or
the  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,  the Issuer and the Underwriters agree that it would not
be just and  equitable  if  contribution  pursuant to this  subsection  (d) were
determined by pro rata allocation (even if the Underwriters  were treated as one
entity for such  purpose) or by any other  method of  allocation  which does not
take  account  of  the  equitable  considerations  referred  to  above  in  this
subsection  (d). The amount paid or payable by an indemnified  party as a result
of 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  Securities  and the Guarantees  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 Underwriters' obligations in this subsection
(d) to contribute  are several in proportion  to their  respective  underwriting
obligations and not joint.

        (e) The  obligations  of the Company and the Issuer under this Section 8
shall be in  addition  to any  liability  which the  Company  and the Issuer 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 or the Issuer 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 Securities and the Guarantees which it has agreed to purchase hereunder, you
may in your  discretion  arrange  for you or another  party or other  parties to
purchase such Securities and Guarantees on the terms contained herein. If within
thirty-six  hours after such default by any  Underwriter  you do not arrange for
the purchase of such Securities and Guarantees,  then the Company and the Issuer
shall be  entitled  to a further  period of  thirty-six  hours  within  which to
procure  another  party or other  parties  satisfactory  to

                                       17



you to purchase such Securities and Guarantees on such terms. In the event that,
within the respective  prescribed periods, you notify the Company and the Issuer
that you have so arranged for the purchase of such Securities and Guarantees, or
the  Company  and the  Issuer  notify  you that  they have so  arranged  for the
purchase of such  Securities and  Guarantees,  you or the Company and the Issuer
shall have the right to postpone  the Time of Delivery  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,  or in any other
documents  or  arrangements,  and the  Company  and the  Issuer  agrees  to file
promptly any amendments to the Registration Statement or the Prospectus which in
your opinion 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 this  Agreement  with
respect to such Securities and Guarantees.

        (b) If, after giving effect to any  arrangements for the purchase of the
Securities of a defaulting  Underwriter or  Underwriters by you, the Company and
the Issuer as provided in subsection (a) above,  the aggregate  principal amount
of such Securities which remains unpurchased does not exceed one-eleventh of the
aggregate  principal  amount of all the  Securities,  then the  Company  and the
Issuer  shall  have the right to  require  each  non-defaulting  Underwriter  to
purchase the principal  amount of Securities  which such  Underwriter  agreed to
purchase hereunder and, in addition, to require each non-defaulting  Underwriter
to purchase  its pro rata share  (based on the  principal  amount of  Securities
which such Underwriter  agreed to purchase  hereunder) of the 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
Securities of a defaulting  Underwriter or  Underwriters by you, the Company and
the Issuer as provided in subsection (a) above,  the aggregate  principal amount
of Securities which remains  unpurchased  exceeds  one-eleventh of the aggregate
principal  amount of all the Securities,  or if the Company and the Issuer shall
not  exercise  the  right   described  in   subsection   (b)  above  to  require
non-defaulting  Underwriters to purchase Securities of a defaulting  Underwriter
or  Underwriters,   then  this  Agreement  shall  thereupon  terminate,  without
liability  on the part of any  non-defaulting  Underwriter,  the  Company or the
Issuer,  except for the  expenses  to be borne by the Company and the Issuer and
the  Underwriters  as  provided  in  Section  6  hereof  and the  indemnity  and
contribution  agreements in Section 8 hereof; but nothing herein shall relieve a
defaulting Underwriter from liability for its default.

        10. The respective indemnities, agreements, representations,  warranties
and other statements of the Company, the Issuer 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,  the
Company or the Issuer,  or any officer or director or controlling  person of the
Company  or the  Issuer,  and shall  survive  delivery  of and  payment  for the
Securities.

        11. If this Agreement shall be terminated  pursuant to Section 9 hereof,
the  Company  and the  Issuer  shall  not then be  under  any  liability  to any
Underwriter except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof; but, if for any other
reason,  the  Securities  are not  delivered  by or on behalf  of the  Issuer as
provided  herein,  the Company and the Issuer will  reimburse  the  Underwriters
through you for all out-of-pocket expenses approved in writing by you, including
fees and  disbursements of counsel,  reasonably  incurred by the Underwriters in
making preparations for the purchase,  sale and delivery of


                                       18



the  Securities,  but the Company and the Issuer  shall then be under no further
liability to any Underwriter except as provided in Sections 6 and 8 hereof.

        12. In all  dealings  hereunder,  you shall act on behalf of each of the
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 you  jointly  or by  Goldman,  Sachs  & Co.  on  behalf  of you as the
representatives.

        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 you as the representatives in care of Goldman, Sachs &
Co.,  85 Broad  Street,  New  York,  New  York  10004,  Attention:  Registration
Department;  and if to the Company shall be delivered or sent by mail,  telex or
facsimile  transmission  to  the  address  of  the  Company  set  forth  in  the
Registration Statement, Attention: Secretary; provided, however, that any notice
to an Underwriter  pursuant to Section 8(c) hereof shall be delivered or sent by
mail,  telex or facsimile  transmission  to such  Underwriter at its address set
forth  in  its   Underwriters'   Questionnaire,   or  telex   constituting  such
Questionnaire,  which  address will be supplied to the Company and the Issuer by
you upon request.  Any such  statements,  requests,  notices or agreements shall
take effect upon receipt thereof.

        13.  This  Agreement  shall be  binding  upon,  and inure  solely to the
benefit  of,  the  Underwriters,  the  Company,  the Issuer  and,  to the extent
provided in Sections 8 and 10 hereof,  the officers and directors of the Company
and the Issuer and each  person who  controls  the  Company or the Issuer 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.  No  purchaser  of any of the  Securities  and  the
Guarantees from any Underwriter  shall be deemed a successor or assign by reason
merely of such purchase.

        14. Time shall be of the essence of this 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.

        15. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH
THE LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

        16.  This  Agreement  may be  executed by any one or more of the parties
hereto 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.



                                       19




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

                                     Very truly yours,

                                     MILLENNIUM AMERICA INC.

                                     By:  ......................................
                                            Name:
                                            Title:



                                     MILLENNIUM CHEMICALS INC.

                                     By:  ......................................
                                            Name:
                                            Title:

Accepted as of the date hereof:

Goldman, Sachs & Co.
Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc.
Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
            Incorporated
J.P. Morgan Securities Inc.
Salomon Brothers Inc

By:     ...........................................
                  (Goldman, Sachs & Co.)

           On behalf of each of the Underwriters



                                       20








                                   SCHEDULE I




                                                                              (A)              (B)
                                                                           PRINCIPAL        PRINCIPAL
                                                                           AMOUNT OF        AMOUNT OF
                                                                             NOTES          DEBENTURES
                                                                             TO BE            TO BE
                             UNDERWRITER                                   PURCHASED        PURCHASED
                                                                           ---------        ---------
                                                                                     
         Goldman, Sachs & Co. .....................................       $                $
         Bear, Stearns & Co. Inc. .................................
         Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
                     Incorporated..................................
         J.P. Morgan Securities Inc. ..............................
         Salomon Brothers Inc .....................................
                        Total......................................       ------------     ------------ 
                                                                          $                $
                                                                          ============     ============




                                       21





                                                                      ANNEX I(a)

        Pursuant to Section 7(e) 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,
        financial forecasts and/or pro forma financial  information) examined by
        them and included in the Prospectus or the Registration Statement comply
        as to form in all  material  respects  with  the  applicable  accounting
        requirements of the Act 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 unaudited  consolidated interim financial statements,
        selected  financial  data, pro forma  financial  information,  financial
        forecasts and/or  condensed  financial  statements  derived from audited
        financial  statements  of the Company for the periods  specified in such
        letter, as indicated in their reports thereon, copies of which have been
        separately furnished to the Underwriters;

             (iii)  They have  made  a  review  in  accordance   with  standards
        established by the American Institute of Certified Public Accountants of
        the unaudited condensed consolidated statements of income,  consolidated
        balance sheets and consolidated statements of cash flows included in the
        Prospectus  as indicated in their reports  thereon  copies of which have
        been  separately  furnished  to the  Underwriters  and on the  basis  of
        specified procedures including inquiries of officials of the Company who
        have  responsibility  for financial  and  accounting  matters  regarding
        whether  the  unaudited  condensed   consolidated  financial  statements
        referred  to in  paragraph  (vi)(A)(i)  below  comply  as to form in all
        material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act
        and the related  published rules and regulations,  nothing came to their
        attention  that  cause  them to  believe  that the  unaudited  condensed
        consolidated  financial  statements  do not  comply  as to  form  in all
        material respects with the applicable accounting requirements of the Act
        and the related published rules and regulations;

             (iv) The unaudited selected  financial  information with respect to
        the  consolidated  results of operations  and financial  position of the
        Company for the five most recent fiscal years included in the Prospectus
        agrees  with  the  corresponding   amounts  (after   restatements  where
        applicable) in the audited  consolidated  financial  statements for such
        five fiscal years;

             (v) They have  compared the  information  in the  Prospectus  under
        selected captions with the disclosure requirements of Regulation S-K and
        on the basis of limited procedures specified in such letter nothing came
        to their  attention as a result of the foregoing  procedures that caused
        them to believe that this  information  does not conform in all material
        respects  with the  disclosure  requirements  of Items 301, 302, 402 and
        503(d), respectively, of Regulation S-K;




             (vi) On the  basis  of  limited  procedures,  not  constituting  an
        examination in accordance with generally  accepted  auditing  standards,
        consisting of a reading of the unaudited financial  statements and other
        information referred to below, a reading of the latest available interim
        financial statements of the Company and its subsidiaries,  inspection of
        the minute books of the Company and its  subsidiaries  since the date of
        the latest  audited  financial  statements  included in the  Prospectus,
        inquiries of officials of the Company and its  subsidiaries  responsible
        for  financial  and  accounting  matters  and such other  inquiries  and
        procedures  as may be specified  in such  letter,  nothing came to their
        attention that caused them to believe that:

                  (A) (i)  the  unaudited  consolidated  statements  of  income,
               consolidated  balance sheets and consolidated  statements of cash
               flows  included in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in all
               material respects with the applicable accounting  requirements of
               the Act and the related published rules and regulations,  or (ii)
               any  material  modifications  should  be  made  to the  unaudited
               condensed consolidated statements of income, consolidated balance
               sheets and consolidated  statements of cash flows included in the
               Prospectus for them to be in conformity  with generally  accepted
               accounting principles;

                  (B) any other  unaudited  income  statement  data and  balance
               sheet  items  included  in the  Prospectus  do not agree with the
               corresponding  items  in  the  unaudited  consolidated  financial
               statements  from which such data and items were derived,  and any
               such  unaudited  data and items  were not  determined  on a basis
               substantially  consistent  with the basis  for the  corresponding
               amounts in the audited consolidated financial statements included
               in the Prospectus;

                  (C) the unaudited financial statements which were not included
               in the  Prospectus  but from which  were  derived  any  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  consolidated  financial  statements  included in the
               Prospectus;

                  (D) any unaudited pro forma consolidated  condensed  financial
               statements included in the Prospectus do not comply as to form in
               all material respects with the applicable accounting requirements
               of the Act and the published rules and regulations  thereunder or
               the pro forma  adjustments  have not been properly applied to the
               historical amounts in the compilation of those statements;

                  (E) as of a  specified  date not more than five days  prior to
               the date of such  letter,  there  have  been any  changes  in the
               consolidated capital stock (other than issuances of capital stock
               upon  exercise of options  and stock  appreciation  rights,  upon
               earn-outs  of   performance   shares  and  upon   conversions  of
               convertible  securities,  in each case which were  outstanding on
               the  date of the  latest  financial  statements  included  in the
               Prospectus) or any increase in the consolidated long-term debt of
               the  Company  and  its   subsidiaries,   or  any   decreases   in
               consolidated net current assets or stockholders'  equity or other
               items  specified  by the  Underwriters,  or any  increases in any
               items  specified  by the  Underwriters,  in each case as compared
               with amounts shown in the




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

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







                                                                      ANNEX I(b)

                        [Executed Comfort Letter to Come]







                                                                      ANNEX I(c)

                   [Form of Bring-Down Comfort Letter to Come]







                                                                     ANNEX II(a)

                         [Fried, Frank Opinion to Come]







                                                                     ANNEX II(b)

                         [Weil, Gotshal Opinion to Come]







                                                                     ANNEX II(c)

                           [Hempstead Opinion to Come]