Exhibit 1.5


                              Owens-Illinois, Inc.

                                13,800,000 Shares

                                  Common Stock
                                ($.01 par value)

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT

                                                              New York, New York
                                                                    May 14, 1998

SMITH BARNEY INC.
BT ALEX. BROWN INCORPORATED
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED
c/o SMITH BARNEY INC.
388 Greenwich Street
New York, New York 10013

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

            Owens-Illinois, Inc., a Delaware corporation (the "Company"),
proposes to sell to the underwriters named in Schedule I hereto (the
"Underwriters"), for whom you, Smith Barney Inc., are acting as representative
(the "Representative"), 13,800,000 shares of Common Stock, $.01 par value per
share ("Common Stock") of the Company (the "Underwritten Securities"). The
Company also proposes to grant to the Underwriters an option to purchase up to
1,890,000 additional shares of Common Stock (the "Option Securities"; the Option
Securities, together with the Underwritten Securities, being hereinafter called
the "Securities").

            The Company has prepared and filed with the Securities and Exchange
Commission (the "Commission") a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No.
333-47519), which registration statement also constitutes, pursuant to Rule 429
under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"), Post-
Effective Amendment No. 1 to the Registration Statement (File No. 333-25175), as
amended, relating to the Securities and the offering thereof from time to time
in accordance with Rule 415 under the Securities Act. Such registration
statements, as amended, have been declared effective by the Commission. In
addition, the Company has prepared and filed with the Commission the Preliminary
Prospectus (as defined herein) pursuant to Rule

                                                                               2


424(b) under the Securities Act in accordance with Rule 424(b) under the
Securities Act.

            The form of prospectus, including any prospectus supplement,
relating to the Securities as first filed pursuant to Rule 424(b) or, if no
filing pursuant to Rule 424(b) is made, such form of prospectus included in the
Registration Statement at the Effective Date, is hereinafter called the
"Prospectus". "Preliminary Prospectus" shall mean any preliminary prospectus,
including any preliminary prospectus supplement, used in connection with the
offer of any Securities prior to the date hereof.

            The term "the Effective Date" shall mean each date that the
Registration Statement and any post-effective amendment or amendments thereto
became or become effective. "Execution Time" shall mean the date and time that
this Agreement is executed and delivered by the parties hereto. "Registration
Statement" shall mean the registration statement referred to above (File No.
333-47519), including incorporated documents and financial statements, as
amended at the Execution Time and, in the event any post-effective amendment
thereto becomes effective prior to the Closing Date (as defined herein), shall
also mean such registration statement as so amended. Any reference herein to the
Registration Statement, Preliminary Prospectuses or the Prospectus shall be
deemed to refer to and include the documents incorporated by reference therein
pursuant to Item 12 of Form S-3 which were filed under the Securities and
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act") on or before the Effective
Date of the Registration Statement or the issue date of such Preliminary
Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be; and any reference herein to
the terms "amend", "amendment" or "supplement" with respect to the Registration
Statement, any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus shall be deemed to refer
to and include the filing of any document under the Exchange Act after the
Effective Date of the Registration Statement, or the issue date of any
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, deemed to be
incorporated therein by reference.

            1. Representations and Warranties. (a) The Company represents and
warrants, as of the date hereof and as of the Closing Date, to and agrees with
each of the Underwriters as follows:

            (i) The Company meets the requirements for use of Form S-3 under the
      Securities Act. The Registration Statement, at the time the Registration
      Statement became effective, as of the Closing Date and as amended or
      supplemented, if applicable, and the Prospectus, when it is first filed in
      accordance with Rule 424(b) under the Securities Act and on the Closing
      Date, complied and will comply, as the case may be, in all material
      respects with the requirements of the

                                                                               3


      Securities Act and the applicable rules and regulations of the Commission
      thereunder.

            (ii) The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order
      suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect
      and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by
      the Commission; and any required filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule
      424(b) under the Securities Act has been made in accordance with Rule
      424(b) under the Securities Act.

            (iii) The Registration Statement, at the time the Registration
      Statement became effective, as amended or supplemented (or, if an
      amendment to the Registration Statement or an annual report on Form 10-K
      has been filed by the Company with the Commission subsequent to the
      Effective Date, then at the time of the most recent such filing) did not
      contain any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state any
      material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
      statements therein not misleading. The Prospectus, at the time the
      Registration Statement became effective, as amended or supplemented and as
      of the Closing Date, did not and will not contain an untrue statement of a
      material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary in order to make
      the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they
      were made, not misleading; provided, however, that the representations and
      warranties in this subsection shall not apply to statements in or
      omissions from the Registration Statement or Prospectus made in reliance
      upon and in conformity with information furnished to the Company in
      writing by any of you expressly for use in the Registration Statement or
      Prospectus.

            (iv) The documents incorporated by reference in the Registration
      Statement and Prospectus, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, at
      the time they were or hereafter are filed with the Commission, complied
      and will comply in all material respects with the requirements of the
      Exchange Act and the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder
      and, when read together with the other information in the Prospectus, at
      the time the Registration Statement and any amendments thereto became or
      become effective and at the Closing Date, did not and will not contain an
      untrue statement of a material fact and will not omit to state a material
      fact required to be stated therein or necessary in order to make the
      statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they are
      made, not misleading.

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            (v) Each of Ernst & Young LLP and Ernst & Young, Melbourne,
      Australia, who are reporting upon the audited financial statements and
      schedules included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
      Statement and the Prospectus, each as amended or supplemented, if
      applicable, are independent public accountants as required by the
      Securities Act.

            (vi) (A) The consolidated financial statements and the related notes
      of the Company included or incorporated by reference in the Registration
      Statement and the Prospectus, or in any supplement thereto or amendment
      thereof, present fairly, in all material respects, the consolidated
      financial position of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as one
      enterprise, as of the dates indicated and the consolidated results of
      operations and cash flows of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered
      as one enterprise, for the periods specified; (B) such financial
      statements and related notes have been prepared in conformity with
      generally accepted accounting principles applied on a consistent basis
      throughout the periods involved; and (C) the financial statement schedule
      incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement presents fairly
      the information required to be stated therein.

            (vii) The pro forma financial statements contained in the
      Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus under the heading "Unaudited Pro
      Forma Condensed Consolidated Financial Information" have been prepared on
      a basis consistent with the historical statements referred to in (vi)
      above, except for the pro forma adjustments specified therein, and (A)
      include all material adjustments to the historical financial data required
      by Rule 11-02 of Regulation S-X necessary to reflect the Acquisition and
      the related financing and the Offerings (each as defined in the
      Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus), (B) give effect to the
      assumptions made on a reasonable basis, (C) present fairly in all material
      respects, the historical and proposed transactions contemplated by the
      Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus and (D) comply in all material
      respects with the requirements of Rules 11-01 and 11-02 of Regulation S-X;
      and the other pro forma financial information and pro forma financial data
      set forth in the Prospectus under the captions "Summary -- Summary
      Historical and Pro Forma Financial Data" and "Consolidated Capitalization"
      are derived from such "Unaudited Pro Forma Condensed Consolidated
      Financial Information."

            (viii) The Company has been duly incorporated, is validly existing
      as a corporation in good standing

                                                                               5


      under the laws of the State of Delaware, has the corporate power and
      authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described in
      the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in good
      standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its
      ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except to
      the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing
      would not, individually or in the aggregate, have a material adverse
      effect on the condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets,
      business or results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries,
      considered as one enterprise (a "Material Adverse Effect").

            (ix) Each subsidiary of the Company that is a "Significant
      Subsidiary" (as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X under the
      Securities Act) (hereinafter a "Significant Subsidiary") has been duly
      incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
      the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation, has the corporate power
      and authority to own its property and to conduct its business as described
      in the Prospectus and is duly qualified to transact business and is in
      good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or
      its ownership or leasing of property requires such qualification, except
      to the extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing
      would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (x) All of the issued and outstanding shares of capital stock of the
      Company have been duly authorized and are validly issued, fully paid and
      non-assessable.

            (xi) All of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each
      Significant Subsidiary of the Company (including Owens-Illinois Group,
      Inc., a Delaware corporation and a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company)
      has been duly authorized, is validly issued, fully paid and non-assessable
      and, except as set forth in Schedule II hereto, is owned by the Company,
      directly or through one or more subsidiaries of the Company, free and
      clear of any material lien.

            (xii) There are no holders of securities (debt or equity) of the
      Company, or holders of rights (including preemptive rights), warrants or
      options to obtain securities of the Company, who have the right to request
      the Company to register securities held by them under the Securities Act,
      except for the Registration Rights Agreement dated as of March 17, 1986 by
      and among OII Holdings Corporation (the predecessor in interest to the
      Company), KKR Partners II, L.P., OII

                                                                               6


      Associates, L.P., OII Associates II, L.P. and KKR Associates, L.P.

            (xiii) The Company has the corporate power and authority to execute,
      deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement; the execution
      and delivery of, and the performance by the Company of its obligations
      under, this Agreement have been authorized by all necessary corporate
      action of the Company; and this Agreement has been duly executed and
      delivered by the Company.

            (xiv) The Securities to be issued and sold by the Company pursuant
      to this Agreement have been duly authorized and, when issued to and paid
      for by you in accordance with the terms of this Agreement, will be validly
      issued, fully paid and non-assessable and, to the best of our knowledge,
      free of preemptive rights.

            (xv) Since the respective dates as of which information is given in
      the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, except as otherwise stated
      therein, contemplated thereby or otherwise incorporated by reference
      therein, there has not been (A) any material adverse change in the
      condition (financial or otherwise), properties, assets, business, or
      results of operations of the Company and its subsidiaries, considered as
      one enterprise, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of business
      (a "Material Adverse Change"), (B) any transaction entered into by the
      Company or any of its subsidiaries, other than in the ordinary course of
      business, that could have a Material Adverse Effect, or (C) any dividend
      or distribution of any kind declared, paid or made by the Company on its
      capital stock.

            (xvi) Neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries is (A) in
      violation of its certificate of incorporation or by-laws or in default
      (nor has an event occurred that with notice or passage of time or both
      would constitute such a default) in the performance or observance of any
      obligation, agreement, covenant or condition contained in any indenture,
      mortgage, deed of trust, loan or credit agreement, note, lease or other
      material agreement or instrument to which the Company or its subsidiaries
      is subject or by which any of them or any of their properties or assets
      may be bound or affected, (B) in violation of any existing applicable law,
      ordinance, regulation, judgment, order or decree of any government,
      governmental instrumentality, arbitrator or court, domestic or foreign,
      having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of
      their properties or assets or (C) in each case to the

                                                                               7


      knowledge of the Company, in violation of or has violated any permit,
      certificate, license, order or other approval or authorization required in
      connection with the operation of its business that, with respect to each
      of clause (A), (B) and (C) of this paragraph, would (individually or in
      the aggregate) (I) adversely affect the legality, validity or
      enforceability of this Agreement or the Securities, (II) have a Material
      Adverse Effect or (III) impair the ability of the Company to fully perform
      on a timely basis any obligations that it has under this Agreement, or the
      Securities.

            (xvii) The issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities, the
      execution, delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the
      compliance by the Company with the terms herein and the consummation by
      the Company of the transactions contemplated hereby, and in the
      Registration Statement and the Prospectus, do not and will not result in a
      violation of any of the terms or provisions of the certificate of
      incorporation or by-laws of the Company or any of its subsidiaries, and
      (A) will not, as of the Closing Date, 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 or credit agreement,
      note, lease or other material agreement or instrument to which the Company
      or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which any of them or any of
      their properties or assets is bound, except for such conflicts, breaches,
      violations or defaults that would not have a Material Adverse Effect or
      (B) do not and will not conflict with or result in a breach or violation
      of any existing applicable law, rule, regulation, judgment, order or
      decree of any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic
      or foreign, having jurisdiction over the Company or any of its
      subsidiaries or any of their properties or assets, except for any
      conflict, breach or violation that would not have a Material Adverse
      Effect.

            (xviii) No authorization, approval, consent or order of, or
      qualification with, any governmental body or agency is required to be
      obtained or made by the Company for the due authorization, execution,
      delivery and performance by the Company of this Agreement, the valid
      authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Securities, except (A)
      such as may be required by the securities or blue sky laws of the various
      states (the "Blue Sky laws") in connection with the offer and sale of the
      Securities and (B) for such authorizations, approvals, consents or orders
      of, or qualifications with, any governmental body or agency that are
      required

                                                                               8


      and have been received and are in full force and effect as of the Closing
      Date.

            (xix) There is no action, suit, investigation or proceeding before
      or by any government, governmental instrumentality or court, domestic or
      foreign, now pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened,
      against or affecting the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any of
      their properties and assets that (A) is required to be disclosed in the
      Prospectus and is not so disclosed, (B) except as disclosed in the
      Prospectus, could result in any Material Adverse Change, (C) seeks to
      restrain, enjoin, prevent the consummation of or otherwise challenge the
      issuance and sale of the Securities or the execution and delivery of this
      Agreement or any of the transactions contemplated hereby or (D) questions
      the legality or validity of any such transaction or seeks to recover
      damages or obtain other relief in connection with any such transaction,
      and, in each case to the knowledge of the Company, there is no valid basis
      for any such action, suit, investigation or proceeding; the aggregate of
      all pending legal or governmental proceedings to which the Company or any
      of its subsidiaries is a party or that affect any of their properties and
      assets that are not described in the Registration Statement or the
      Prospectus, including ordinary routine litigation incidental to its
      business, would not have a Material Adverse Effect.

            (xx) There are no statutes, regulations, contracts or other
      documents that are required to be described in the Registration Statement
      or the Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement
      that are not described or filed as required or, in the case of exhibits,
      will not be so filed promptly after the Closing Date.

            (xxi) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has good title to all
      properties owned by them, in each case free and clear of all liens except
      (A) as do not materially interfere with the use made and proposed to be
      made of such properties, (B) as set forth in the Registration Statement
      and the Prospectus or (C) as could not reasonably be expected to have a
      Material Adverse Effect.

            (xxii) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries has all necessary
      consents, authorizations, approvals, orders, certificates and permits of
      and from, and has made all declarations and filings with, all federal,
      state, local, foreign and other governmental authorities, all
      self-regulatory organizations and all courts and other tribunals, to own,
      lease, license and

                                                                               9


      use its properties and assets and to conduct its business in the manner
      described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus, except to the
      extent that the failure to so obtain or file would not have a Material
      Adverse Effect.

            (xxiii) Each of the Company and its subsidiaries owns or possesses,
      or can acquire on reasonable terms, adequate patents, patent rights,
      licenses, inventions, copyrights, know-how (including trade secrets and
      other proprietary or confidential information, systems or procedures,
      whether patented or unpatented), trademarks, service marks and trade names
      (collectively, "Intellectual Property") presently employed by them in
      connection with the business now operated by them, except where the
      failure to own or possess or have the ability to acquire any such
      Intellectual Property would not have a Material Adverse Effect, and
      neither the Company nor any of its subsidiaries has received any notice of
      infringement of or conflict with asserted rights of others with respect to
      any of the foregoing that, individually or in the aggregate, if the
      subject of an unfavorable decision, ruling or finding, would result in any
      Material Adverse Change.

            (xxiv) Except as disclosed in the Registration Statement and the
      Prospectus, each of the Company and its subsidiaries is in material
      compliance with all applicable existing federal, state, local and foreign
      laws and regulations relating to protection of human health, safety and
      the environment or imposing liability or standards of conduct concerning
      any Hazardous Material (as hereinafter defined) ("Environmental Laws"),
      except, in each case, where such noncompliance, individually or in the
      aggregate, would not have a Material Adverse Effect. The term "Hazardous
      Material" means (A) any "hazardous substance" as defined by the
      Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation and Liability Act of
      1980, as amended, (B) any "hazardous waste" as defined by the Resource
      Conservation and Recovery Act, as amended, (C) any petroleum or petroleum
      product, (D) any polychlorinated biphenyl and (E) any pollutant or
      contaminant or hazardous, dangerous or toxic chemical, material, waste or
      substance regulated under or within the meaning of any other Environmental
      Law.

            (xxv) The Company has not taken and will not take, directly or
      indirectly, any action designed to or that might be reasonably expected
      to, cause or result in stabilization or manipulation of the price of the
      Securities or any action resulting in a violation of Regulation M under
      the Exchange Act.

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            (xxvi) The Securities are, or will be when issued, "excepted
      securities" within the meaning of Rule 101(c) of Regulation M under the
      Exchange Act.

            (xxvii) The Company is not an "investment company" as such term is
      defined in the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "1940
      Act").

            (xxviii) The Company has complied with all provisions of Section
      517.075, Florida Statutes relating to doing business with the Government
      of Cuba or with any person or affiliate located in Cuba.

            (xxix) The Securities have been approved for listing on the New York
      Stock Exchange.

            (b) Any certificate signed by any officer of either the Company or
any of its subsidiaries and delivered to you or to your counsel at the Closing
Date pursuant to this Agreement or the transactions contemplated hereby shall be
deemed a representation and warranty by the Company or such subsidiary of the
Company, as the case may be, to each of you as to the matters covered thereby.

            2. Purchase and Sale. (a) Subject to the terms and conditions and in
reliance upon the representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company
agrees to sell to each Underwriter, and each Underwriter agrees, severally and
not jointly, to purchase from the Company, at a purchase price of $40.4525 per
share, the number of the Underwritten Securities set forth opposite such
Underwriter's name in Schedule I hereto.

            (b) Subject to the terms and conditions and in reliance upon the
representations and warranties herein set forth, the Company hereby grants an
option to the several Underwriters to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to
an aggregate of 1,890,000 shares of Option Securities at the same purchase price
per share as the Underwriters shall pay for the Underwritten Securities. Said
option may be exercised only to cover over-allotments in the sale of the
Underwritten Securities by the Underwriters. Said option may be exercised in
whole or in part at any time on or before the 30th day after the date of the
Prospectus upon written or telegraphic notice by the Representative to the
Company setting forth the number of shares of the Option Securities as to which
the several Underwriters are exercising the option and the settlement date.
Delivery of certificates for the shares of Option Securities, and payment
therefor, shall be made as provided in Section 3 hereof. The number of shares of
the Option Securities to be purchased by each Underwriter shall be the same
percentage of the total number of shares of the Option Securities to be
purchased by the several Underwriters as such Underwriter is

                                                                              11


purchasing of the Underwritten Securities, subject to such adjustments as you in
your absolute discretion shall make to eliminate any fractional shares.

            3. Delivery and Payment. Delivery of and payment for the
Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities (if the option provided for in
Section 2(b) hereof shall have been exercised on or before the business day
prior to the Closing Date) shall be made at 7:00 a.m. New York City time, on May
20, 1998, or such later date (not later than May 26, 1998) as the Representative
shall designate, which date and time may be postponed by agreement between the
Representative and the Company or as provided in Section 11 hereof (such date
and time of delivery and payment for the Securities being herein called the
"Closing Date"). Delivery of the Securities shall be made to the Representative
for the respective accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the
several Underwriters through the Representative of the purchase price thereof to
or upon the order of the Company by means of a wire transfer of immediately
available funds in accordance with written instructions from the Company or
through the facilities of the Depository Trust Company ("DTC"). Delivery of the
Underwritten Securities and the Option Securities shall be made at such location
as the Representative shall reasonably designate at least one business day in
advance of the Closing Date and payment for such Securities shall be made at the
office of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, New York, New York. Certificates for the
Securities shall be registered in such names and in such denominations as the
Representative may request not less than one full business day in advance of the
Closing Date.

            If the option to purchase the Option Securities provided for in
Section 2(b) hereof is exercised by the Underwriters after the business day
prior to the Closing Date, the Company will deliver (at the expense of the
Company) to the Representative, at 388 Greenwich Street, New York, New York, on
the date specified by the Representative (which shall be three business days
after exercise of said option, the "Option Closing Date"), delivery of the
Option Securities shall be made to the Representative for the respective
accounts of the several Underwriters against payment by the several Underwriters
through the Representative of the purchase price thereof to or upon the order of
the Company by means of a wire transfer of immediately available funds in
accordance with written instructions from the Company or through the facilities
of DTC. If settlement for the Option Securities occurs after the Closing Date,
the Company will deliver to the Representative on the settlement date for the
Option Securities, and the obligation of the Underwriter to purchase the Option
Securities shall be conditioned upon receipt of, supplemental opinions,
certificates and letters

                                                                              12


confirming as of such date the opinions, certificates and letters delivered on
the Closing Date pursuant to Section 5 hereof.

            4. Offering by Underwriters. It is understood that the several
Underwriters propose to offer the Securities for sale to the public as set forth
in the Prospectus.

            5. Conditions to the Underwriters' Obligations. The several
obligations of the Underwriters to purchase and pay for the Securities pursuant
to this Agreement are subject to the satisfaction of each of the following
conditions:

            (a) Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
      prior to the Closing Date:

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

                  (ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
            Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for that
            purpose shall have been instituted and shall be pending or, to your
            knowledge or the knowledge of the Company, shall be contemplated by
            the Commission, and any request on the part of the Commission for
            additional information shall have been complied with to the
            satisfaction of your counsel.

            (b) The Company shall have furnished to the Underwriters a
      certificate of the Company, signed by the Chairman of the Board or the
      President or a Vice President and the Treasurer or Controller of the
      Company, dated the Closing Date, to the effect that:

                  (i) the representations and warranties of the Company in this
            Agreement are true and correct in all material respects on and as of
            the Closing Date with the same effect as if made on the Closing Date
            and the Company has complied in all material respects with all the
            agreements and satisfied all the conditions on its part to be

                                                                              13


            performed or satisfied at or prior to the Closing Date;

                  (ii) no stop order suspending the effectiveness of the
            Registration Statement is in effect and no proceedings for that
            purpose have been instituted or, to the Company's knowledge,
            threatened; and

                  (iii) since the date of the most recent financial statements
            included in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there has
            been no Material Adverse Change.

            (c) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an
      opinion of Latham & Watkins, outside counsel for the Company, dated the
      Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to your
      counsel to the effect that:

                  (i) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus (excluding
            the documents incorporated therein by reference) comply as to form
            in all material respects with the requirements for registration
            statements on Form S-3 under the Securities Act and the rules and
            regulations of the Commission thereunder; it being understood,
            however, that such counsel expresses no opinion with respect to the
            financial statements, schedules and other financial data included or
            incorporated in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or with
            respect to the Statement as to the Eligibility and Qualification of
            the Trustee on Form T-1. In passing upon the compliance as to form
            of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus, such counsel has
            assumed that the statements made therein (or incorporated by
            reference therein) are correct and complete.

                  (ii) the Registration Statement has become effective under the
            Securities Act and, to such counsel's knowledge, no stop order
            suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement has been
            issued under the Securities Act and no proceedings therefor have
            been initiated or threatened by the Commission; and any required
            filing of the Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the
            Securities Act has been made in accordance with Rule 424(b) under
            the Securities Act;

                  (iii) the Company has been duly incorporated and is validly
            existing and in good standing under the laws of the State of
            Delaware, with corporate

                                                                              14


            power and authority to own or lease its property and to conduct its
            business as described in the Registration Statement and the
            Prospectus;

                  (iv) this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
            delivered by the Company;

                  (v) the Securities to be issued and sold by the Company
            pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement, have been duly authorized
            and, when issued to and paid for by you in accordance with the terms
            of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid
            and non-assessable and, to our knowledge, free of preemptive rights.

                  (vi) the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
            issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company pursuant to, this
            Agreement will not result in (A) the violation by the Company of its
            Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, the General Corporation Law
            of the State of Delaware or any federal or New York statute, or any
            rule or regulation that has been issued pursuant to the General
            Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any federal or New York
            statute known to such counsel to be applicable to the Company
            (except that no opinion shall be expressed with respect to federal
            or state securities or "blue sky" laws) or (B) the breach of or a
            default under (I) any indenture or other agreement or instrument
            pertaining to the Company's long-term debt listed in the Prospectus
            Supplement under the caption "Consolidated Capitalization",
            excluding long-term debt listed as "Other," or (II) any court or
            administrative orders, writs, judgments or decrees specifically
            directed to the Company and identified to such counsel by an officer
            of the Company as material to the Company;

                  (vii) to such counsel's knowledge, no authorization, approval,
            consent or order of, or filing or qualification with, any federal or
            New York State court or governmental body or agency is required to
            be obtained or made by the Company for the execution and delivery by
            the Company of this Agreement or the issuance and sale of the
            Securities by the Company, except (A) such as may be required under
            state securities or blue sky laws in connection with the purchase
            and distribution of the Securities and (B) except such as have been
            obtained or made;

                                                                              15


                  (viii) the statements set forth in the "Description of the
            Common Stock" contained in the Company's Registration Statement on
            Form 8-A filed on December 3, 1991, as amended, insofar as such
            statements constitute summaries of the documents referred to
            therein, are accurate in all material respects; and the Securities
            conform in all material respects to the description thereof
            incorporated by reference in the Prospectus;

                  (ix) the statements set forth in the Prospectus under the
            heading "Certain United States Federal Tax Considerations for
            Non-United States Holders," insofar as such statements constitute a
            summary of legal matters, are accurate in all material respects; and

                  (x) the Company is not an "investment company," as such term
            is defined in the 1940 Act.

            In addition, such counsel shall state that, while they did not
      prepare any of the documents incorporated by reference in the Registration
      Statement and the Prospectus, they have participated in conferences with
      officers and other representatives of the Company, representatives of the
      independent public accountants for the Company, and the Underwriters'
      representatives at which the contents of the Registration Statement and
      the Prospectus and related matters were discussed, and although such
      counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any responsibility for the
      accuracy, completeness or fairness of the statements contained in the
      Registration Statement and the Prospectus and have not made any
      independent check or verification thereof (except as set forth in
      paragraphs (viii) and (ix) above), during the course of such
      participation, no facts came to such counsel's attention that caused such
      counsel to believe that the Registration Statement (including the
      incorporated documents), at the time it became effective, contained an
      untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to state a material fact
      required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
      not misleading or that the Prospectus (including the incorporated
      documents), as of its date and as of the Closing Date, contained or
      contains an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted or omits to
      state a material fact necessary to make the statements therein, in the
      light of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading; it
      being understood that such counsel express no belief with respect to the
      financial statements, schedule and other financial data or the Statement
      of Eligibility of the Trustee on Form T-1

                                                                              16


      included or incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement or the
      Prospectus.

            In rendering such opinion, Latham & Watkins may rely as to factual
      matters upon certificates or written statements from officers or other
      appropriate representatives of the Company or upon certificates of public
      officials and need not express any opinion with regard to the laws of any
      jurisdiction other than the federal law of the United States, the law of
      the State of New York and the General Corporation Law of the State of
      Delaware.

            (d) At the Closing Date, each of you shall have received a signed
      opinion of Thomas L. Young, Esq., General Counsel of the Company, dated as
      of the Closing Date, in form and substance reasonably satisfactory to your
      counsel, to the effect that:

                  (i) the Company is duly qualified to transact business and is
            in good standing in each jurisdiction in which the conduct of its
            business or its ownership or leasing of property requires such
            qualification, except to the extent that the failure to be so
            qualified or be in good standing would not have a Material Adverse
            Effect;

                  (ii) each Significant Subsidiary (as defined in Rule 1-02 of
            Regulation S-X under the Securities Act) of the Company has been
            duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good
            standing under the laws of the jurisdiction of its incorporation,
            has the corporate power and authority to own its property and to
            conduct its business as described in the Prospectus and is duly
            qualified to transact business and is in good standing in each
            jurisdiction in which the conduct of its business or its ownership
            or leasing of property requires such qualifications, except to the
            extent that the failure to be so qualified or be in good standing
            would not have a Material Adverse Effect (other than Owens-Illinois
            International B.V. and the following foreign subsidiaries of the
            Company, with respect to which foreign counsel will deliver the
            foregoing opinion: Continental PET Holdings Pty Limited,
            Owens-Illinois (Australia) Pty Limited, ACI Operations Pty Limited,
            BTR Nylex Limited, AVIR S.p.A., Orion S.p.A. and OI Italia S.r.l.);

                  (iii) the Company's capitalization as of March 31, 1998 is as
            set forth in the Prospectus, including any amendment or supplement
            thereto; all

                                                                              17


            of the issued and outstanding capital stock of each Significant
            Subsidiary has been duly authorized and validly issued, is fully
            paid and non-assessable and all of the issued and outstanding
            capital stock of such Significant Subsidiaries, except as set forth
            on Schedule II hereto, is owned of record by the Company, directly
            or through subsidiaries, and is free and clear of any material lien,
            claim, encumbrance or other security interest;

                  (iv) the Company has the corporate power and authority to
            execute, deliver and perform its obligations under this Agreement;
            the execution and delivery of, and the performance by the Company of
            its obligations under, this Agreement have been authorized by all
            necessary corporate action of the Company;

                  (v) the Securities to be issued and sold by the Company
            pursuant to the Underwriting Agreement have been duly authorized
            and, when issued to and paid for by you in accordance with the terms
            of the Underwriting Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid
            and non-assessable and, to the best of our knowledge, free of
            preemptive rights;

                  (vi) the execution and delivery by the Company of, and the
            issuance and sale of the Securities by the Company pursuant to, this
            Agreement will not result in (A) the violation by the Company of its
            Certificate of Incorporation or Bylaws, the General Corporation Law
            of the State of Delaware or any federal or Ohio State Statute, or
            any rule or regulation that has been issued pursuant to the General
            Corporation Law of the State of Delaware or any federal or Ohio
            State Statute known to such counsel to be applicable to the Company
            or any of its subsidiaries (except that no opinion is expressed with
            respect to federal or state securities or "blue sky" laws) or (B)
            the breach of or default under (I) any indenture or other agreement
            or instrument binding upon the Company or any of its subsidiaries
            that is material to the Company and its subsidiaries considered as
            one enterprise or (II) any court or administrative orders, writs,
            judgments or decrees known to such officer;

                  (vii) Such counsel has no knowledge of any legal or
            governmental proceeding pending or threatened to which the Company
            or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of the

                                                                              18


            properties or assets of the Company or any of its subsidiaries is
            subject that is required to be described in the Registration
            Statement or the Prospectus and is not so described therein; or of
            any statutes, regulations, contracts or other documents that are
            required to be described in the Registration Statement or the
            Prospectus or to be filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement
            that are not described or filed as required, except such exhibits
            which are permitted, pursuant to the Securities Act, to be filed
            subsequently on a Current Report on Form 8-K; and

                  (viii) each of the documents incorporated or deemed to be
            incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement and the
            Prospectus, at the time it was filed with the Commission, complied
            as to form in all material respects with the requirements for such
            document under the Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder; it
            being understood, however, that such counsel expresses no opinion
            with respect to the financial statements, schedules and other
            financial data included or incorporated in the Registration
            Statement or the Prospectus or with respect to the Statement as to
            the Eligibility of the Trustee on Form T-1. In passing upon the
            compliance as to form of the Registration Statement and the
            Prospectus, such counsel has assumed that the statements made
            therein (or incorporated by reference therein) are correct and
            complete.

            In addition, such counsel shall state that he has participated in
      conferences with representatives of the Company, representatives of the
      independent public accountants for the Company, and the Underwriters'
      representatives and counsel at which the contents of the Registration
      Statement and the Prospectus and related matters were discussed, and
      although such counsel is not passing upon and does not assume any
      responsibility for the accuracy, completeness or fairness of the
      statements contained in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus,
      during the course of such participation no facts came to such counsel's
      attention that caused such counsel to believe that the Registration
      Statement (including the incorporated documents), at the time it became
      effective, contained an untrue statement of a material fact or omitted to
      state a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make
      the statements therein not misleading or that the Prospectus, as of its
      date and as of the Closing Date, contained or contains an untrue statement
      of a material fact or omitted or omits to state a material fact necessary
      to

                                                                              19


      make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
      they were made, not misleading; it being understood that such counsel
      expresses no belief with respect to the financial statements, schedules
      and other financial data included or incorporated by reference in the
      Registration Statement or the Prospectus.

            In rendering such opinion, such counsel may rely as to factual
      matters upon certificates or written statements from officers or other
      appropriate representatives of the Company or upon certificates of public
      officials, and need not express any opinion with respect to the laws of
      any jurisdiction other than the federal law of the United States, the law
      of the State of Ohio and the General Corporation Law of the State of
      Delaware.

            (e) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date an
      opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, counsel for the Underwriters, dated
      the Closing Date, covering certain matters requested by the Underwriters.

            (f) At the Closing Date, (i) the Registration Statement and the
      Prospectus, as they may then be amended or supplemented, shall contain all
      statements that are required to be stated therein under the Securities Act
      and the regulations thereunder and in all material respects shall conform
      to the requirements of the Securities Act and the regulations thereunder,
      and neither the Registration Statement nor the Prospectus, as they may
      then be amended or supplemented, shall 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 case of the
      Prospectus, in the light of the circumstances under which they were made,
      not misleading; (ii) there shall not have been, since the respective dates
      as of which information is given in the Registration Statement, any
      Material Adverse Change, or any development involving a prospective
      Material Adverse Change, whether or not arising in the ordinary course of
      business; (iii) no action, suit or proceeding at law or in equity shall be
      pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against the
      Company or any of its subsidiaries that would be required to be set forth
      in the Prospectus other than as set forth therein and no proceedings shall
      be pending or, to the knowledge of the Company, threatened against it or
      any of its subsidiaries before or by any federal, state or other
      commission, board or administrative agency wherein an unfavorable
      decision, ruling or finding could have a Material Adverse Effect, other
      than as set forth in the Prospectus; (iv) the

                                                                              20


      Company shall have complied with all material agreements and satisfied all
      conditions on its part to be performed or satisfied at or prior to the
      Closing Date; and (v) the other representations and warranties of the
      Company set forth in Section 1(a) shall be accurate in all material
      respects as though expressly made at and as of the Closing Date.

            (g) The Underwriters shall have received on the Closing Date letters
      dated the date hereof and the Closing Date, in form and substance
      reasonably satisfactory to the Underwriters, from Ernst & Young LLP and
      Ernst & Young, Melbourne, Australia, independent public accountants,
      containing statements and information of the type ordinarily included in
      accountants' "comfort letters" to underwriters with respect to the
      financial statements and certain financial information contained in the
      Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

            (h) By the Closing Date, your counsel shall have been furnished with
      all such documents (including any consents under any agreements to which
      the Company is a party), certificates and opinions as they may reasonably
      request for the purpose of enabling them to pass upon the issuance and
      sale of the Securities as contemplated in this Agreement and in Section
      5(e) herein and in order to evidence the accuracy and completeness of any
      of the representations, warranties or statements of the Company, the
      performance of any of the covenants of the Company, or the fulfillment of
      any of the conditions herein; and all proceedings taken by the Company at
      or prior to the Closing Date in connection with the authorization,
      issuance and sale of the Securities, and by the Company at or prior to the
      Closing Date in connection with the authorization and delivery of this
      Agreement shall be reasonably satisfactory in form and substance to you
      and to your counsel.

            (i) The Securities shall have been duly authorized for listing on
      the New York Stock Exchange (the "NYSE"), at or by the Closing Date,
      subject only to official notice of issuance thereof and notice of a
      satisfactory distribution of the Securities.

            (j) Prior to the Closing Date, the Company shall have furnished to
      Smith Barney Inc. such further information, certificates and documents as
      Smith Barney Inc. may reasonably request.

            (k) The Lock-Up Agreements executed by (i) each of the Company's
      executive officers and directors listed in Schedule III hereto and (ii) by
      each of OII

                                                                              21


      Associates, L.P., OII Associates II, L.P. and KKR Partners II, L.P. in
      favor of the Underwriters relating to sales of shares of Common Stock of
      the Company shall have been delivered to Smith Barney Inc. and shall be in
      full force and effect on the Closing Date.

            If any of the conditions specified in this Section 5 shall not have
been fulfilled when and as required by this Agreement, this Agreement may be
terminated by you on notice to the Company at any time at or prior to the
Closing Date, and such termination shall be without liability of any party to
any other party, except as provided in Section 6 herein. Notwithstanding any
such termination, the provisions of Sections 1(a) and 8 herein shall remain in
effect. Notice of such termination shall be given to the Company in writing or
by telephone confirmed in writing.

            The documents required to be delivered by this Section 5 shall be
delivered at the office of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, counsel for the
Underwriters, at 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York 10017, on the Closing
Date.

            6. Reimbursement of Underwriters' Expenses. If the sale of the
Securities provided for herein is not consummated because any condition to the
obligations of the Underwriters set forth in Section 5 herein is not satisfied,
because of any termination pursuant to Section 10(a) herein or because of any
refusal, inability or failure on the part of the Company to perform any
agreement herein or comply with any provision herein other than by reason of a
default by any of the Underwriters, the Company will reimburse the Underwriters
severally upon demand for all documented out-of-pocket expenses (including fees
and disbursements of counsel) that shall have been incurred by them in
connection with the proposed purchase and sale of the Securities.

            7. Covenants of the Company. In further consideration of the
agreements of the Underwriters herein contained, the Company covenants with each
Underwriter as follows:

            (a) To prepare the Prospectus, including any amendment or supplement
      thereto, in a form approved by the Underwriters and to file such
      Prospectus pursuant to Rule 424(b) under the Securities 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 under the Securities Act; to make no
      further amendment or any supplement to the Registration Statement or to
      the Prospectus except as permitted herein;

                                                                              22


            (b) To furnish to each of Smith Barney Inc. and its counsel, without
      charge, one signed copy of the Registration Statement (including exhibits
      thereto) and for delivery to each other Underwriter a conformed copy of
      the Registration Statement (without exhibits thereto) and, during the
      period mentioned in paragraph (d) below, as many copies of the Preliminary
      Prospectus and the Prospectus and any supplements and amendments thereto
      or to the Registration Statement as you may reasonably request.

            (c) Before amending or supplementing the Registration Statement or
      the Prospectus, to furnish to you a copy of each such proposed amendment
      or supplement and not to file any such proposed amendment or supplement to
      which you reasonably object.

            (d) If, during such period after the first date of the public
      offering of the Securities, as in the opinion of counsel for the
      Underwriters, the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus is required by
      law to be delivered in connection with sales by an Underwriter or a
      dealer, any event shall occur or condition exist as a result of which it
      is necessary to amend or supplement the Preliminary Prospectus or the
      Prospectus, as the case may be, in order to make the statements therein,
      in the light of the circumstances when the Preliminary Prospectus or the
      Prospectus, as the case may be, is delivered to a purchaser, not
      misleading, or if, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters, it is
      necessary to amend or supplement the Preliminary Prospectus or the
      Prospectus to comply with applicable law, forthwith to prepare, file with
      the Commission and furnish, at its own expense, to the Underwriters and to
      the dealers (whose names and addresses you will furnish to the Company) to
      which Securities may have been sold by you on behalf of the Underwriters
      and to any other dealers upon request, either amendments or supplements to
      the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as the case may be, so that
      the statements therein as so amended or supplemented will not, in the
      light of the circumstances when the Preliminary Prospectus or the
      Prospectus, as the case may be, is delivered to a purchaser, be misleading
      or so that the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, as amended or
      supplemented, as the case may be, will comply with law.

            (e) From the date of this Agreement, and for so long as a
      Preliminary Prospectus or a Prospectus is required to be delivered in
      connection with the sale of Securities covered by this Agreement, the
      Company will notify you immediately, and confirm the notice in writing,
      (i) of the effectiveness of any amendment to

                                                                              23


      the Registration Statement, (ii) of the mailing or the delivery to the
      Commission for filing of any supplement to the Preliminary Prospectus or
      the Prospectus or any document to be filed pursuant to the Exchange Act
      which will be incorporated by reference into the Registration Statement,
      Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, (iii) of the receipt of any
      comments from the Commission with respect to the Registration Statement,
      the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, (iv) of any request by the
      Commission for any amendment to the Registration Statement or any
      amendment or supplement to the Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus or
      for additional information and (v) of the issuance by the Commission of
      any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement
      or the initiation of any proceedings for that purpose. The Company will
      make every commercially reasonable effort to prevent the issuance of any
      stop order and, if any stop order is issued, to obtain, as soon as
      possible, the lifting thereof.

            (f) The Company will comply to the best of its ability with the
      Securities Act and the Exchange Act and the regulations thereunder so as
      to permit the completion of the distribution of the Securities as
      contemplated in this Agreement and the Prospectus; and the Company, during
      the period when the Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus is required
      to be delivered under the Securities Act, will file promptly all documents
      required to be filed with the Commission pursuant to Section 13 or 14 of
      the Exchange Act within the time periods required under the Exchange Act.

            (g) The Company will endeavor to qualify the Securities for offer
      and sale under the state securities or blue sky laws of such jurisdictions
      as you shall reasonably request and to maintain such qualifications in
      effect for as long as may be required for the distribution of the
      Securities; provided, however, that the Company shall not be obligated to
      file any general consent to service of process or to qualify as a foreign
      corporation or as a dealer in securities in any jurisdiction in which it
      is not so qualified or to subject itself to taxation in respect of doing
      business in any jurisdiction in which it is not otherwise so subject. The
      Company will file such statements and reports as may be required by the
      laws of each jurisdiction in which the Securities have been qualified as
      above provided.

            (h) With respect to each sale of Securities, the Company will make
      generally available to its security holders as soon as practicable but in
      any event not later than 90 days after the close of the period

                                                                              24


      covered thereby a consolidated earnings statement for a twelve-month
      period beginning after the effective date (as defined in Rule 158(c) under
      the Securities Act) of the Registration Statement relating to such
      Securities, but not later than the first day of the Company's fiscal
      quarter next following such effective date and that otherwise satisfies
      the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Securities Act and the regulations
      thereunder.

            (i) The Company will use the proceeds received from the sale of the
      Securities in the manner specified in the Prospectus under the heading
      "Use of Proceeds."

            (j) For a period of five years after the Closing Date, if so
      requested, the Company will furnish to each of you copies of all annual
      reports, quarterly reports and current reports filed with the Commission
      on Forms 10-K, 10-Q and 8-K, or such other similar forms as may be
      designated by the Commission, and such other documents, reports and
      information as shall be furnished by the Company to the holders of the
      Securities or to security holders of its respective publicly issued
      securities generally.

            (k) To pay all expenses incident to the performance of its
      obligations under this Agreement, including: (i) the preparation and
      filing of the Registration Statement including all financial statements,
      schedules and exhibits and the Prospectus and all amendments and
      supplements thereto; (ii) the preparation, issuance and delivery to you of
      the Securities; (iii) the fees and disbursements of the Company's counsel
      and accountants; (iv) the qualification of the Securities under the state
      securities or blue sky laws in accordance with the provisions of Section
      6(g) herein, including filing fees and the fees and disbursements of
      counsel for the Underwriters in connection therewith and in connection
      with the preparation of the preliminary and final state securities laws or
      blue sky surveys (the "Blue Sky Surveys") or any Legal Investment
      Memoranda; (v) the printing and delivery to the Underwriters in quantities
      as hereinabove stated of copies of the Registration Statement and all
      amendments thereto and of each Preliminary Prospectus and the Prospectus
      and any amendments or supplements thereto; (vi) the printing and delivery
      to the Underwriters of copies of the Blue Sky Surveys or any Legal
      Investment Memoranda; (vii) any fees charged by rating agencies for the
      rating of the Securities or the listing, if any, of the Securities on the
      NYSE; (viii) the filing fees and expenses, if any, incurred with respect
      to any filing with the National Association of Securities Dealers,

                                                                              25


      Inc. (the "NASD") made in connection with the offering of the Securities;
      and (ix) any expenses incurred by the Company in connection with a "road
      show" presentation to potential investors.

            (l) For a period of 90 days after the date of this Agreement, the
      Company will not offer, sell, contract to sell, pledge, hypothecate, grant
      any option to purchase or otherwise dispose of, directly or indirectly, or
      file with the Commission a registration statement under the Securities Act
      (other than on Form S-8 relating to resales of securities as described in
      the general instructions to Form S-8) relating to any shares of Common
      Stock or securities convertible or exchangeable into or exercisable for
      any shares of Common Stock, without the prior written consent of Smith
      Barney Inc., except (i) grants of employee stock options and other awards
      pursuant to the terms of stock option plans in effect on the date hereof
      or described in the Prospectus, (ii) sales and issuances of securities
      pursuant to the exercise of any such options or awards or the exercise of
      any other stock options or awards outstanding on the date hereof, (iii)
      the issuance and/or sale of Common Stock pursuant to existing employee
      benefit plans of the Company, (iv) the issuance and/or sale of Common
      Stock upon the exercise of the respective rights of the holders of the
      Company's Series A Exchangeable Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share,
      Series B Exchangeable Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, Series C
      Exchangeable Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, and Convertible
      Preferred Stock, par value $.01 per share, to exchange their shares of
      Exchangeable or Convertible Preferred Stock, as the case may be, into
      shares of Common Stock, (v) the issuance and/or sale of Common Stock upon
      the exercise of any of the Company's warrants or options outstanding on
      the date hereof and (vi) in connection with a bona fide loan transaction
      which does not permit the pledgee, directly or indirectly, to offer, sell,
      contract to sell or otherwise dispose of any interest in such shares or
      securities during such 90 day period.

            8. Indemnification and Contribution. (a) The Company agrees to
indemnify and hold harmless each Underwriter, the directors, officers and
employees of each Underwriter and each person who controls any Underwriter
within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act against any
and all losses, claims, damages or liabilities, joint or several, to which they
or any of them may become subject under the Securities Act, the Exchange Act or
other federal or state statutory law or regulation, at common law or otherwise,
insofar as such losses, claims, damages or liabilities (or actions in respect
thereof) arise

                                                                              26


out of or are based upon any untrue statement or alleged untrue statement of a
material fact contained in the registration statement for the registration of
the Securities as originally filed or in any amendment thereof, or in the
Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, or in any amendment thereof 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 agrees to reimburse
each such indemnified party, as incurred, for any legal or other expenses
reasonably incurred by them in connection with investigating or defending any
such loss, claim, damage, liability or action; provided, however, that the
Company will not be liable in any such case to the extent that any such loss,
claim, damage or liability arises out of or is based upon any such untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission made
therein in reliance upon and in conformity with written information furnished to
the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter through the Representative
specifically for inclusion therein. This indemnity agreement will be in addition
to any liability which the Company may otherwise have.

            (b) Each Underwriter severally agrees to indemnify and hold harmless
the Company, each of its directors, each of its officers who signs the
Registration Statement, and each person who controls the Company within the
meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act, to the same extent as
the foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter, but only with
reference to written information relating to such Underwriter furnished to the
Company by or on behalf of such Underwriter through the Representative
specifically for inclusion in the documents referred to in the foregoing
indemnity. This indemnity agreement will be in addition to any liability which
any Underwriter may otherwise have. The Company acknowledges that the statements
set forth in (i) the first sentence of the last paragraph of text on the cover
page of the Prospectus concerning the terms of the offering by the Underwriters,
(ii) the last paragraph on page S-2 of the Prospectus, concerning stabilization
and over-allotment by the Underwriters and (iii) the second paragraph of text
under the caption "Underwriters" in the Prospectus Supplement, concerning the
terms of the offering by the Underwriters in the Prospectus constitute the only
information furnished in writing by or on behalf of the several Underwriters for
inclusion in any Preliminary Prospectus or the Prospectus, and you, as the
Representative, confirm that such statements are correct.

            (c) Promptly after receipt by an indemnified party under this
Section 8 of notice of the commencement of any action, such indemnified party
will, if a claim in

                                                                              27


respect thereof is to be made against the indemnifying party under this Section
8, notify the indemnifying party in writing of the commencement thereof; but the
failure so to notify the indemnifying party (i) will not relieve it from
liability under paragraph (a) or (b) above unless and to the extent it did not
otherwise learn of such action and such failure results in the forfeiture by the
indemnifying party of substantial rights and defenses and (ii) will not, in any
event, relieve the indemnifying party from any obligations to any indemnified
party other than the indemnification obligation provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
above. The indemnifying party shall be entitled to appoint counsel of the
indemnifying party's choice at the indemnifying party's expense to represent the
indemnified party in any action for which indemnification is sought (in which
case the indemnifying party shall not thereafter be responsible for the fees and
expenses of any separate counsel retained by the indemnified party or parties
except as set forth below); provided, however, that such counsel shall be
satisfactory to the indemnified party. Notwithstanding the indemnifying party's
election to appoint counsel to represent the indemnified party in an action, the
indemnified party shall have the right to employ separate counsel (including
local counsel), and the indemnifying party shall bear the reasonable fees, costs
and expenses of such separate counsel if (i) the use of counsel chosen by the
indemnifying party to represent the indemnified party would present such counsel
with a conflict of interest, (ii) the actual or potential defendants in, or
targets of, any such action include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and the indemnified party shall have reasonably concluded
that there may be legal defenses available to it and/or other indemnified
parties which are different from or additional to those available to the
indemnifying party, (iii) the indemnifying party shall not have employed counsel
satisfactory to the indemnified party to represent the indemnified party within
a reasonable time after notice of the institution of such action or (iv) the
indemnifying party shall authorize the indemnified party to employ separate
counsel at the expense of the indemnifying party. An indemnifying party will
not, without the prior written consent of the indemnified parties, settle or
compromise or consent to the entry of any judgment with respect to any pending
or threatened claim, action, suit or proceeding in respect of which
indemnification or contribution may be sought hereunder (whether or not the
indemnified parties are actual or potential parties to such claim or action)
unless such settlement, compromise or consent includes an unconditional release
of each indemnified party from all liability arising out of such claim, action,
suit or proceeding.

            (d) In the event that the indemnity provided in paragraph (a) or (b)
of this Section 8 is unavailable to or

                                                                              28


insufficient to hold harmless an indemnified party for any reason, the Company
and the Underwriters agree to contribute to the aggregate losses, claims,
damages and liabilities (including legal or other expenses reasonably incurred
in connection with investigating or defending same) (collectively "Losses") to
which the Company and one or more of the Underwriters may be subject in such
proportion as is appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the
Company and by the Underwriters from the offering of the Securities; provided,
however, that in no case shall any Underwriter (except as may be provided in any
agreement among underwriters relating to the offering of the Securities) be
responsible for any amount in excess of the underwriting discount or commission
applicable to the Securities purchased by such Underwriter hereunder. If the
allocation provided by the immediately preceding sentence is unavailable for any
reason, the Company and the Underwriters shall contribute in such proportion as
is appropriate to reflect not only such relative benefits but also the relative
fault of the Company and of the Underwriters in connection with the statements
or omissions which resulted in such Losses as well as any other relevant
equitable considerations. Benefits received by the Company shall be deemed to be
equal to the total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses),
and benefits received by the Underwriters shall be deemed to be equal to the
total underwriting discounts and commissions, in each case as set forth on the
cover page of the Prospectus. Relative fault shall be determined by reference to
whether any alleged untrue statement or omission relates to information provided
by the Company or the Underwriters. The Company and the Underwriters agree that
it would not be just and equitable if contribution were determined by pro rata
allocation or any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to above. Notwithstanding the provisions of
this paragraph (d), no person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within the
meaning of Section 11(f) of the Securities Act) shall be entitled to
contribution from any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent
misrepresentation. For purposes of this Section 8, each person who controls an
Underwriter within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act
and each director, officer, employee and agent of an Underwriter shall have the
same rights to contribution as such Underwriter, and each person who controls
the Company within the meaning of either the Securities Act or the Exchange Act,
each officer of the Company who shall have signed the Registration Statement and
each director of the Company shall have the same rights to contribution as the
Company, subject in each case to the applicable terms and conditions of this
paragraph (d).

            9. Survival. The indemnity and contribution provisions contained in
Section 8 herein and the

                                                                              29


representations, warranties and other statements of the Company contained in
this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and effect regardless of
(a) any termination of this Agreement, (b) any investigation made by or on
behalf of any Underwriter or any person controlling any Underwriter or by or on
behalf of the Company, its officers or directors or any person controlling the
Company and (c) acceptance of and payment for any of the Securities.

            10. Termination. Smith Barney Inc. may terminate this Agreement by
notice to the Company, at any time at or prior to the Closing Date (a) if there
has been, since the respective dates as of which information is given in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus, any Material Adverse Change, or any
development involving a prospective Material Adverse Change or (b) if there has
occurred any new outbreak of hostilities or escalation of existing hostilities
or other calamity or crisis the effect of which on the financial markets in the
United States is such as to make it, in your judgment, impracticable to market
the Securities or enforce contracts for the sale of the Securities, or (c) if
trading in any securities of the Company has been suspended on any exchange or
in any over-the-counter market or by the Commission, or if trading generally on
the NYSE has been suspended, or minimum or maximum prices for trading have been
fixed, or maximum ranges for prices for securities have been required, by such
exchange or by order of the Commission or any other governmental authority or
(d) if a general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York State
has been declared by either federal or New York State authorities.

            11. Default by an Underwriter. If any one or more Underwriters shall
fail to purchase and pay for any of the Securities agreed to be purchased by
such Underwriter or Underwriters hereunder and such failure to purchase shall
constitute a default in the performance of its or their obligations under this
Agreement, the remaining Underwriters shall be obligated severally to take up
and pay for (in the respective proportions which the amount of Securities set
forth opposite their names in Schedule I hereto bears to the aggregate amount of
Securities set forth opposite the names of all the remaining Underwriters) the
Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to
purchase; provided, however, that in the event that the aggregate amount of
Securities which the defaulting Underwriter or Underwriters agreed but failed to
purchase shall exceed 10% of the aggregate amount of Securities set forth in
Schedule I hereto, the remaining Underwriters shall have the right to purchase
all, but shall not be under any obligation to purchase any, of the Securities,
and if such nondefaulting Underwriters do not purchase all the Securities, this
Agreement will terminate without liability to any nondefaulting Underwriter or
the Company. In the

                                                                              30


event of a default by any Underwriter as set forth in this Section 11, the
Closing Date shall be postponed for such period, not exceeding seven days, as
the Representative shall determine in order that the required changes in the
Registration Statement and the Prospectus or in any other documents or
arrangements may be effected. Nothing contained in this Agreement shall relieve
any defaulting Underwriter of its liability, if any, to the Company and any
nondefaulting Underwriter for damages occasioned by its default hereunder.

            12. Notices. 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 Smith Barney Inc..

            All notices and other communications required or permitted to be
given under this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be given (and shall be
deemed to have been given upon receipt) by delivery in person, by cable, by
telecopy, ny telegram, by telex or by registered or certified mail (postage
prepaid, return receipt requested) to the applicable party at the addresses
indicated below:

            (a)   if to the Underwriters:
                  Smith Barney Inc.
                  388 Greenwich Street
                  New York, New York 10013
                  Facsimile No.: (212) 816-7912
                  Attention: General Counsel, Investment
                             Banking Division

                  with a copy to:
                  Simpson Thacher & Bartlett
                  425 Lexington Avenue
                  New York, New York 10017
                  Facsimile No.: (212) 455-2502
                  Attention: John B. Tehan, Esq.

            (b)   if to the Company:
                  Owens-Illinois, Inc.
                  One SeaGate
                  Toledo, Ohio 43666
                  Facsimile No.: (419) 247-2226
                  Attention: Thomas L. Young
                             General Counsel

                                                                              31


                  with a copy to:
                  Kohlberg Kravis & Roberts & Co.
                  2800 Sand Hill Road, Suite 200
                  Menlo Park, California  94025
                  Facsimile No.: (415) 233-6561
                  Attention: Edward A. Gilhuly
                             Partner

                  and with a copy to:
                  Latham & Watkins
                  505 Montgomery Street, Suite 1900
                  San Francisco, California 94111
                  Facsimile No.: (415) 395-8095
                  Attention: Tracy K. Edmonson, Esq.

            13. Successors. This Agreement will inure to the benefit of and be
binding upon the parties hereto and their respective successors and the officers
and directors and controlling persons referred to in Section 8 herein, and no
other person will have any right or obligation hereunder.

            14. Counterparts. This Agreement may be signed in two or more
counterparts, each of which shall be an original, with the same effect as if the
signatures thereto and hereto were upon the same instrument.

            15. Time of the Essence. Time shall be of the essence of this
Agreement.

            16. Applicable Law. THIS AGREEMENT SHALL BE GOVERNED BY AND
CONSTRUED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE INTERNAL LAWS OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK.

            17. Headings. The headings of the sections of this Agreement have
been inserted for convenience of reference only and shall not be deemed a part
of this Agreement.


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

                                    Very truly yours,

                                    OWENS-ILLINOIS, INC.


                                    By: /s/ David G. Van Hooser
                                        ----------------------------------------
                                        Name: David G. Van Hooser
                                        Title: Senior Vice President,
                                               Director of Corporate
                                               Strategy

The foregoing Agreement is hereby 
confirmed and accepted as of the 
date first above written.

SMITH BARNEY INC.
BT ALEX. BROWN INCORPORATED
CREDIT SUISSE FIRST BOSTON CORPORATION
GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
MERRILL LYNCH, PIERCE, FENNER & SMITH INCORPORATED
MORGAN STANLEY & CO. INCORPORATED

By:  Smith Barney Inc.


By: /s/ Jeffrey McDermott
    ----------------------------------
    Name: Jeffrey McDermott
    Title: Managing Director

For itself and the other 
several Underwriters named in 
Schedule I to the foregoing 
Agreement.


                                   SCHEDULE I

                                   Number of          Number of Option         
                                   Underwritten       Securities to be Purchased
                                   Securities to be   if Maximum Option
           Underwriters            Purchased          Securities Exercised
           ------------            ----------------   --------------------------

Smith Barney Inc...................    1,971,432             270,000

BT Alex. Brown Incorporated........    1,971,428             270,000

Credit Suisse First Boston                               
Corporation........................    1,971,428             270,000

Goldman, Sachs & Co................    1,971,428             270,000

Lehman Brothers Inc................    1,971,428             270,000

Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner &                          
Smith Incorporated.................    1,971,428             270,000

Morgan Stanley & Co.                                     
Incorporated.......................    1,971,428             270,000
                                      ----------           ---------

Total..............................   13,800,000           1,890,000
                                      ==========           =========


                                   Schedule II

            Upon the consummation of the Offerings (as defined in the
Prospectus), 100% of the shares of capital stock of each Significant Subsidiary
will be, directly or indirectly, owned by the Company free and clear of any
material lien, except that the Company owns approximately 99% of the outstanding
shares of AVIR S.p.A.


                                  SCHEDULE III

                        Executive Officers and Directors
                      Who Have Executed Lock-Up Agreements

Robert J. Dineen
Edward A. Gilhuly
James H. Greene, Jr.
John L. Hodges
Henry R. Kravis
Robert J. Lanigan
Joseph H. Lemieux
Robert I. MacDonnell
John J. McMackin, Jr.
Michael W. Michelson
George R. Roberts
R. Scott Trumbull
David G. Van Hooser
Lee A. Wesselmann
Thomas L. Young