8-K

                     SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                           Washington, D.C. 20549



                                  Form 8-K
                               CURRENT REPORT



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




     Date of Report (Date of earliest event reported) December 3, 1996





                   ULTRAMAR DIAMOND SHAMROCK CORPORATION
           (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)






        Delaware              1-11154                   13-3663331
(State of incorporation)    (Commission      (IRS Employer Identification No.)
                            File Number)



9830 Colonnade Boulevard, San Antonio, Texas                          78230
  (Address of principal executive offices)                          (Zip Code)




     Registrant's telephone number, including area code (210) 641-6800





Item 5.  Other Events.

         The merger of Diamond Shamrock, Inc. ("Diamond Shamrock") with and
into Ultramar Corporation (the "Company") was approved by the stockholders
of both Diamond Shamrock and the Company and consummated on December 3,
1996. As a result of the merger, (i) each share of common stock of Diamond
Shamrock was converted into the right to receive 1.02 shares of common
stock of the Company, with cash to be paid in lieu of fractional shares,
and (ii) each share of 5% cumulative convertible preferred stock of Diamond
Shamrock was converted into the right to receive one share of a newly
created issue of 5% cumulative convertible preferred stock of the Company.
In addition, the Company was renamed Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation
and its New York Stock Exchange stock ticker symbol was changed to "UDS". A
copy of the press release dated December 3, 1996, announcing the
consummation of the merger is attached hereto as Exhibit 99.1 and by this
reference made a part hereof.

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

         1.  Financial Statements of Business Acquired. Not Applicable.

         2.  Pro Forma Financial Information. Not Applicable.

         3.  Exhibits. See the Index to Exhibits attached hereto.





                                  SIGNATURES

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



                                                 ULTRAMAR DIAMOND
                                                SHAMROCK CORPORATION
                                                   (Registrant)

Dated:  December 4, 1996

                                           By:  /s/ H. Pete Smith
                                                -------------------------------
                                                Name:  H. Pete Smith
                                                Title: Executive Vice President
                                                       and Chief Financial
                                                       Officer





                               EXHIBIT INDEX




     Exhibit   Description                                      Page



      99.1     Press Release dated December 3, 1996.              4

EX-99.1

                                                               EXHIBIT 99.1



                                             For more information contact:
                                             Katherine Hughes, Public Relations
                                             210/641-8846
                                             or
                                             Mary Hartman, Investor Relations
                                             210/641-8840



ULTRAMAR DIAMOND SHAMROCK MERGER COMPLETE;
GROWTH OPPORTUNITIES CITED

NEW YORK -- Dec. 3, 1996 -- In separate meetings this morning in New York,
shareholders of Diamond Shamrock Inc. and Ultramar Corporation approved the
previously announced merger agreement of the two companies, finalizing the
formation of a new $4 billion corporation, Ultramar Diamond Shamrock
Corporation, which will trade on the New York Stock Exchange under the
ticker symbol "UDS."

In the merger, each share of Diamond Shamrock Common Stock is being
converted into 1.02 shares of Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Common Stock;
shares of Ultramar Common Stock outstanding prior to the merger remain
outstanding after the merger. Diamond Shamrock 5 percent Convertible
Preferred Stock outstanding prior to the merger is being converted into a
new series of Preferred Stock of Ultramar Diamond Shamrock having identical
terms, except that the conversion ratio is being adjusted to reflect the
Common Stock exchange ratio in the merger.

Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Roger
Hemminghaus expressed confidence in the future success of the new
corporation: "Since the Sept. 23 announcement of the merger, the management
of both companies have worked closely together to develop a strategy and
structure an organization that is postured for growth.

"We are focusing on providing an attractive total shareholder return
through operating excellence and strategic expansion. Growth is essential
to the success of the company," Hemminghaus continued. "With its strong
balance sheet and significant management expertise, Ultramar Diamond
Shamrock is positioned to aggressively pursue value-adding, high-return
acquisitions and partnership opportunities in our consolidating industry."





KEY STRATEGIES

Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Vice Chairman, President, and Chief Operating
Officer Jean Gaulin points out that the new corporation's emphasis will be
on its refining and marketing business. "We will continue to strengthen our
core refining and marketing systems. In the Southwest, we expect to be able
to increase sales of both wholesale and retail petroleum products in our
key Arizona markets. Ultramar Diamond Shamrock has a unique strategic
advantage in being able to supply growing Southwest markets from either its
California or Texas refineries," Gaulin explained.

"In Eastern Canada, we plan to continue to strengthen our market position
as we convert more gasoline outlets to company operated stores that will
also market a wide variety of convenience store merchandise and services.
Our objective is to grow both systems smartly, applying technology, and
developing high-return, timely projects."

Gaulin continued, "Ultramar Diamond Shamrock will also continue to leverage
our resources and expertise to profit from related businesses, such as
merchandising of goods and services in our stores, petrochemicals, and our
growing home heating oil business in the Northeast."

Hemminghaus emphasized that a top priority of management will be to achieve
at least $75 million of annual savings that has been projected for the
merger. "As we learn more about each other's operations, we see increased
synergies in areas such as gasoline marketing, purchasing and product
merchandising, crude oil purchasing, and technology application that will
enable us to achieve this goal."

NEW BOARD

Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation Board of Directors will consist of 12
persons, six from each of the two predecessor Boards. Hemminghaus, 60, will
serve as Chairman of the Board, and Gaulin, 54, will be the Vice Chairman.

Others named to the Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Board of Directors are Byron
Allumbaugh, 64, Chairman of the Board of Ralphs Grocery Company; E. Glenn
Biggs, 63, President of Biggs & Co. and former chief executive of the Gill
Companies and other banking institutions; W. E.





Bradford, 61, Chairman and CEO of Dresser Industries; H. Frederick
Christie, 63, retired Chairman and CEO of The Mission Group and past
President of Southern California Edison Company; W. H. Clark, 64, retired
CEO and Chairman of Nalco Chemical Company; Russel H. Herman, 66, owner and
principal of International Energy Consultants and formerly President and
CEO for Exxon's Asia-Pacific area and Executive Vice President for its
European petroleum business; Bob Marbut, 61, Chairman and CEO of Argyle
Communications, Inc. and past President and CEO of Harte-Hanks
Communications; Katherine D. Ortega, 62, former Alternate Representative of
the United States to the United Nations and 38th Treasurer of the United
States; Madeleine Saint-Jacques, 61, Chairman of the Board of Saint-Jacques
Vailee, Young & Rubicam, Inc., Montreal; and C. Barry Schaefer, 57,
Managing Director, The Bridgeford Group and former executive with Dillon
Read & Co. and Union Pacific Corporation.

With estimated revenues of $9 billion and approximately 17,000 employees,
Ultramar Diamond Shamrock Corporation is the fourth largest independent
refining and marketing company in North America. The corporation owns four
modern refineries in Texas, California, and Quebec with a total throughput
capacity of 465,000 barrels per day and has approximately 4,400 retail
gasoline outlets, the majority of which are branded Diamond Shamrock,
Ultramar, or Beacon. The corporation also has growing petrochemicals, home
heating oil, and convenience store merchandising businesses.

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