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                                  UNITED STATES
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             Washington, D.C. 20549

                                    FORM 8-A

                FOR REGISTRATION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF SECURITIES
                    PURSUANT TO SECTION 12(b) OR 12(g) OF THE
                         SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934

         Kerr-McGee Holdco, Inc. (To Be Renamed Kerr-McGee Corporation)
             (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)

              Delaware                                 73-1612389
     (State of incorporation or             (I.R.S. Employer Identification
            organization)                                 No.)
      123 Robert S. Kerr Avenue
      Oklahoma City, Oklahoma                            73102
   (Address of principal executive
              offices)                                 (Zip Code)

        Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(b) of the Act:



                                             Name of each exchange on which
Title of each class to be so registered      each class is to be registered
---------------------------------------      ------------------------------
                                          
Preferred Share Purchase Rights              New York Stock Exchange, Inc.


If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(b) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(c), check the following box. [X]

If this form relates to the registration of a class of securities pursuant to
Section 12(g) of the Exchange Act and is effective pursuant to General
Instruction A.(d), check the following box. [ ]

Securities Act registration statement file number to which this form relates:

        Securities to be registered pursuant to Section 12(g) of the Act:

                                      None
                                (Title of Class)


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ITEM 1. DESCRIPTION OF REGISTRANT'S SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED

            On July 26, 2001 the Board of Directors of Kerr-McGee McGee Holdco,
Inc. (the "Company") directed the issuance of one preferred share purchase right
(a "Right") for each outstanding share of common stock, par value $1.00 per
share, of the Company (the "Common Stock"). Each Right entitles the registered
holder to purchase from the Company one one-hundredth of a share of Series B
Junior Participating Preferred Stock, without par value (the "Preferred Stock"),
of the Company at a price of $215.00 per one one-hundredth of a share of
Preferred Stock (the "Purchase Price"), subject to adjustment. The description
and terms of the Rights are set forth in a Rights Agreement dated as of July 26,
2001, as the same may be amended from time to time (the "Rights Agreement"),
between the Company and UMB Bank, as Rights Agent (the "Rights Agent").

            Until the earlier to occur of (i) 10 days following a public
 announcement that a person or group of affiliated or associated persons (with
 certain exceptions an "Acquiring Person") have acquired beneficial ownership of
 15% or more of the outstanding shares of Common Stock or (ii) 10 business days
 (or such later date as may be determined by action of the Board of Directors
 prior to such time as any person or group of affiliated persons becomes an
 Acquiring Person) following the commencement of, or announcement of an
 intention to make, a tender offer or exchange offer the consummation of which
 would result in the beneficial ownership by a person or group of 15% or more of
 the outstanding shares of Common Stock (the earlier of such dates being called
 the "Distribution Date"), the Rights will be evidenced, with respect to any of
 the Common Stock certificates outstanding as of the effective time of the
 merger of Kerr-McGee Merger Sub, Inc. with and into Kerr-McGee Corporation (the
 "Merger Effective Time"), by such Common Stock certificate together with a copy
 of the Summary of Rights.

            The Rights Agreement provides that, until the Distribution Date (or
earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the Rights will be transferred
with and only with the Common Stock. Until the Distribution Date (or earlier
redemption or expiration of the Rights), new Common Stock certificates issued
after the Merger Effective Time upon transfer or new issuances of Common Stock
will contain a notation incorporating the Rights Agreement by reference. Until
the Distribution Date (or earlier redemption or expiration of the Rights), the
surrender for transfer of any certificates for shares of Common Stock
outstanding as of the Merger Effective Time, even without such notation or a
copy of the Summary of Rights, will also constitute the transfer of the Rights
associated with the shares of Common Stock represented by such certificate. As
soon as practicable following the Distribution Date, separate certificates
evidencing the Rights ("Right Certificates") will be mailed to holders of record
of the Common Stock as of the close of business on the Distribution Date and
such separate Right Certificates alone will evidence the Rights.

            The Rights are not exercisable until the Distribution Date. The
Rights will expire on July 22, 2006 (the "Final Expiration Date"), unless the
Final Expiration Date is advanced or extended or unless the Rights are earlier
redeemed or exchanged by the Company, in each case as described below.


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            The Purchase Price payable, and the number of shares of Preferred
Stock or other securities or property issuable, upon exercise of the Rights are
subject to adjustment from time to time to prevent dilution (i) in the event of
a stock dividend on, or a subdivision, combination or reclassification of, the
Preferred Stock, (ii) upon the grant to holders of the Preferred Stock of
certain rights or warrants to subscribe for or purchase Preferred Stock at a
price, or securities convertible into Preferred Stock with a conversion price,
less than the then-current market price of the Preferred Stock or (iii) upon the
distribution to holders of the Preferred Stock of evidences of indebtedness or
assets (excluding regular periodic cash dividends or dividends payable in
Preferred Stock) or of subscription rights or warrants (other than those
referred to above).

            The number of outstanding Rights is also subject to adjustment in
the event of a stock split of the Common Stock or a stock dividend on the Common
Stock payable in shares of Common Stock or subdivisions, consolidations or
combinations of the Common Stock occurring, in any such case, prior to the
Distribution Date.

            Shares of Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of the Rights
will not be redeemable. Each share of Preferred Stock will be entitled, when, as
and if declared, to a minimum preferential quarterly dividend payment of $1 per
share but will be entitled to an aggregate dividend of 100 times the dividend
declared per share of Common Stock. In the event of liquidation, dissolution or
winding up of the Company, the holders of the Preferred Stock will be entitled
to a minimum preferential liquidation payment of $100 per share (plus any
accrued but unpaid dividends) but will be entitled to an aggregate payment of
100 times the payment made per share of Common Stock. Each share of Preferred
Stock will have 100 votes, voting together with the Common Stock. Finally, in
the event of any merger, consolidation or other transaction in which shares of
Common Stock are converted or exchanged, each share of Preferred Stock will be
entitled to receive 100 times the amount received per share of Common Stock.
These rights are protected by customary antidilution provisions.

            Because of the nature of the Preferred Stock's dividend, liquidation
and voting rights, the value of the one one-hundredth interest in a share of
Preferred Stock purchasable upon exercise of each Right should approximate the
value of one share of Common Stock.

            In the event that any person or group of affiliated or associated
persons becomes an Acquiring Person, each holder of a Right, other than Rights
beneficially owned by the Acquiring Person (which will thereupon become void),
will thereafter have the right to receive upon exercise of a Right at the then
current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of Common Stock
having a market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.

            In the event that, after a person or group has become an Acquiring
Person, the Company is acquired in a merger or other business combination
transaction or 50% or more of its consolidated assets or earning power are sold,
proper provision will be made so that each holder of a Right (other than Rights
beneficially owned by an Acquiring Person which will have become void) will
thereafter have the right to receive, upon the exercise thereof at the then
current exercise price of the Right, that number of shares of common stock of
the person with whom the Company has engaged in the foregoing transaction (or
its parent), which number of shares at the time of such transaction will have a
market value of two times the exercise price of the Right.


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            At any time after any person or group becomes an Acquiring Person
and prior to the acquisition by such person or group of 50% or more of the
outstanding shares of Common Stock or the occurrence of an event described in
the prior paragraph, the Board of Directors of the Company may exchange the
Rights (other than Rights owned by such person or group which will have become
void), in whole or in part, at an exchange ratio of one share of Common Stock,
or one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock (or of a share of a class or
series of the Company's preferred stock having equivalent rights, preferences
and privileges), per Right (subject to adjustment). With certain exceptions, no
adjustment in the Purchase Price will be required until cumulative adjustments
require an adjustment of at least 1% in such Purchase Price. No fractional
shares of Preferred Stock will be issued (other than fractions which are
integral multiples of one one-hundredth of a share of Preferred Stock, which
may, at the election of the Company, be evidenced by depositary receipts) and in
lieu thereof, an adjustment in cash will be made based on the market price of
the Preferred Stock on the last trading day prior to the date of exercise.

            At any time prior to the time an Acquiring Person becomes such, the
Board of Directors of the Company may redeem the Rights in whole, but not in
part, at a price of $.01 per Right (the "Redemption Price"). The redemption of
the Rights may be made effective at such time, on such basis and with such
conditions as the Board of Directors in its sole discretion may establish.
Immediately upon any redemption of the Rights, the right to exercise the Rights
will terminate and the only right of the holders of Rights will be to receive
the Redemption Price.

            For so long as the Rights are then redeemable, the Company may,
except with respect to the redemption price, amend the Rights in any manner.
After the Rights are no longer redeemable, the Company may, except with respect
to the redemption price, amend the Rights in any manner that does not adversely
affect the interests of holders of the Rights.

            Until a Right is exercised, the holder thereof, as such, will have
no rights as a stockholder of the Company, including, without limitation, the
right to vote or to receive dividends.

ITEM 2.     EXHIBITS.

4.1         Rights Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2001 between the Company and
            UMB BANK, N.A., which includes the Certificate of Designations for
            the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A,
            the form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of
            Rights to Purchase Preferred Shares as Exhibit C.


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                                    SIGNATURE

            Pursuant to the requirements of Section 12 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, the registrant has duly caused this registration statement
to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereto duly authorized.

                                    Kerr-McGee Holdco, Inc.
                                    (To Be Renamed Kerr-McGee Corporation)
DATED:      July 27, 2001
                                            /s/ GREGORY F. PILCHER
                                    By: _______________________________
                                        Name:   Gregory F. Pilcher
                                        Title:  Senior Vice President,
                                                General Counsel and Secretary


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                                  EXHIBIT INDEX



Exhibit No.                         Description
-----------                         -----------
          
4.1          Rights Agreement, dated as of July 26, 2001 between the Company and
             UMB BANK, N.A., which includes the Certificate of Designations for
             the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock as Exhibit A, the
             form of Right Certificate as Exhibit B and the Summary of Rights to
             Purchase Preferred Shares as Exhibit C.



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