CHASE MANHATTAN CORP /DE/
POS AM, 1997-04-08
NATIONAL COMMERCIAL BANKS
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<PAGE>   1
 
   
     AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON APRIL 8, 1997
    
 
   
      REG. NO. 333-14959, 333-14959-01, 333-14959-02, 333-14959-03 AND 333-16773
    
================================================================================
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
                            ------------------------
   
                                 POST-EFFECTIVE
    
 
   
                                AMENDMENT NO. 1
    
                                       TO
 
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                        UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
                            ------------------------
 
   
<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>
              THE CHASE MANHATTAN CORPORATION                                     CHASE CAPITAL I
   (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)                         CHASE CAPITAL II
                          DELAWARE                                               CHASE CAPITAL III
      (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION OR        (EXACT NAME OF EACH REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS TRUST
                        ORGANIZATION)                                                AGREEMENT)
                         13-2624488                                                   DELAWARE
            (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)                   (STATE OR OTHER JURISDICTION OF INCORPORATION
         270 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017                      OR ORGANIZATION OF EACH REGISTRANT)
                       (212) 270-6000                                                13-3918150
    (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,                              13-3918151
                    INCLUDING AREA CODE,                                             13-3918152
        OF REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)                    (I.R.S. EMPLOYER IDENTIFICATION NO.)
                                                                        C/O THE CHASE MANHATTAN CORPORATION
                                                                     270 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
                                                                                   (212) 270-6000
                                                                (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER,
                                                                                INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                                                                 OF EACH REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
</TABLE>
    
 
                            ------------------------
 
                                ANTHONY J. HORAN
                              CORPORATE SECRETARY
                        THE CHASE MANHATTAN CORPORATION
                   270 PARK AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
                                 (212) 270-6000
 (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE,
                    OF AGENT FOR SERVICE OF EACH REGISTRANT)
                                WITH COPIES TO:
 
<TABLE>
<S>                                                         <C>
                        LEE MEYERSON                                             MARK J. WELSHIMER
                 SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT                                     SULLIVAN & CROMWELL
       425 LEXINGTON AVENUE, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017                125 BROAD STREET, NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10004
                       (212) 455-2000                                              (212) 558-4000
</TABLE>
 
                            ------------------------
 
        APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC:
     From time to time after the Registration Statement becomes effective.
                            ------------------------
 
   If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [ ]
   If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933 other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or interest
reinvestment plans, check the following box. [X]
   If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following box
and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [ ]
   If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to Rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, check the following box and list the Securities Act
registration number of the earlier effective registration statement for the same
offering. [ ]
   If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [ ]
 
                        CALCULATION OF REGISTRATION FEE
================================================================================
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                       PROPOSED              PROPOSED
          TITLE OF EACH CLASS OF               AMOUNT TO BE        MAXIMUM OFFERING     MAXIMUM AGGREGATE         AMOUNT OF
       SECURITIES TO BE REGISTERED              REGISTERED        PRICE PER UNIT(1)     OFFERING PRICE(1)      REGISTRATION FEE
<S>                                       <C>                   <C>                   <C>                   <C>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
  Debentures of The Chase Manhattan
  Corporation(2)..........................       20,000,000              $25               $500,000,000          $151,515.15
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Preferred Securities of Chase Capital I,
  Chase Capital II, Chase Capital III.....      $500,000,000             $25               $500,000,000               NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
The Chase Manhattan Corporation Guarantee
  with respect to Preferred
  Securities(3)(4)........................           NA                   NA                    NA                    NA
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.....................................   $500,000,000(5)(6)          100%            $500,000,000(5)        $151,515.15(7)
==================================================================================================================================
</TABLE>
    
 
(1) Estimated solely for the purpose of computing the registration fee.
(2) The Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures will be purchased by
    Chase Capital I, Chase Capital II and Chase Capital III with the proceeds of
    the sale of the Preferred Securities.
(3) No separate consideration will be received for The Chase Manhattan
    Corporation Guarantee.
(4) This Registration Statement is deemed to cover the Junior Subordinated
    Deferrable Interest Debentures of The Chase Manhattan Corporation, the
    rights of holders of Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures of
    The Chase Manhattan Corporation under the Indenture, the rights of holders
    of Preferred Securities of Chase Capital I, Chase Capital II and Chase
    Capital III under each Trust Agreement, the rights of holders of the
    Preferred Securities under the Guarantees, which, taken together, fully,
    irrevocably and unconditionally guarantee all of the respective obligations
    of Chase Capital I; Chase Capital II and Chase Capital III under the
    Preferred Securities.
(5) Such amount represents the principal amount of Junior Subordinated
    Deferrable Interest Debentures issued at their principal amount and the
    issue price rather than the principal amount of Junior Subordinated
    Deferrable Interest Debentures issued at an original issue discount. Such
    amount also represents the initial public offering price of the Chase
    Capital I, Chase Capital II and Chase Capital III Preferred Securities.
   
(6) This Registration Statement also covers an indeterminate amount of Preferred
    Securities of Chase Capital I, Chase Capital II and Chase Capital III and an
    indeterminate amount of related Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest
    Debentures and Guarantees of The Chase Manhattan Corporation that may be
    offered by affiliates of the Registrant, including Chase Securities Inc., in
    connection with offers and sales related to secondary market transactions in
    such securities.
    
   
(7) Previously paid.
    
                            ------------------------
 
   THE REGISTRANTS HEREBY AMEND THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANTS
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE COMMISSION, ACTING PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a),
MAY DETERMINE.
================================================================================
<PAGE>   2
 
   
                                EXPLANATORY NOTE
    
 
   
     The Prospectus Supplement set forth below will be included with the
Prospectus Supplement and Prospectus, each dated November 25, 1996, relating to
the 7.67% Capital Securities, Series A of Chase Capital I (the "Series A Capital
Securities") and the Junior Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures and the
Guarantee of The Chase Manhattan Corporation registered pursuant to this
Registration Statement for use by direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries
of The Chase Manhattan Corporation, including Chase Securities Inc., in
connection with offers and sales related to secondary market transactions in
such Series A Capital Securities.
    
 
   
                  PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT DATED APRIL 8, 1997 TO
    
   
          PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND PROSPECTUS DATED NOVEMBER 25, 1996
    
 
   
     This Prospectus Supplement and Prospectus, each dated November 25, 1996,
may be used by direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Company,
including Chase Securities Inc., in connection with offers and sales related to
secondary market transactions in the Series A Capital Securities. Such
subsidiaries may act as principal or agent in connection with any such sales.
Such sales will be made at prices related to prevailing market prices at the
time of sale.
    
<PAGE>   3
 
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(To Prospectus Dated November 25, 1996)
                                  $600,000,000
                                Chase Capital I
                       7.67% Capital Securities, Series A
                (Liquidation Amount $1,000 per Capital Security)
         fully and unconditionally guaranteed, as described herein, by
 
                        The Chase Manhattan Corporation
                             ---------------------
 
     The 7.67% Capital Securities, Series A (the "Series A Capital Securities"),
offered hereby represent beneficial ownership interests in Chase Capital I, a
statutory business trust created under the laws of the State of Delaware (the
"Series A Issuer"). The Chase Manhattan Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Corporation"), will be the owner of all the beneficial ownership interests
represented by common securities of the Series A Issuer ("Series A Common
Securities" and, collectively with the Series A Capital Securities, the "Series
A Securities"). The Bank of New York is the Property Trustee of the Series A
Issuer. The Series A Issuer exists for the
                                                        (Continued on next page)
                             ---------------------
 
    SEE "RISK FACTORS" BEGINNING ON PAGE S-5 HEREOF FOR CERTAIN INFORMATION
         RELEVANT TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES.
                             ---------------------
 
  THESE SECURITIES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT
 INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
                                    AGENCY.
                             ---------------------
 
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
   AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS TO WHICH IT
       RELATES. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                             ---------------------
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  UNDERWRITING            PROCEEDS TO
                                              PRICE TO            COMMISSIONS            THE SERIES A
                                              PUBLIC(1)         AND DISCOUNTS(2)         ISSUER(3)(4)
                                         ------------------- ----------------------   -------------------
<S>                                      <C>                 <C>                      <C>
Per Series A Capital Security...........       $1,000                 (3)                   $1,000
Total...................................    $600,000,000              (3)                $600,000,000
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Plus accrued distributions from December 1, 1996.
 
(2) The Series A Issuer and the Corporation have each agreed to indemnify the
    several Underwriters against certain liabilities, including liabilities
    under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended. See "Underwriting."
 
(3) In view of the fact that the proceeds of the sale of the Series A Capital
    Securities will be invested in the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the
    Corporation has agreed to pay to the Underwriters as compensation for their
    arranging the investment therein of such proceeds $10 per Series A Capital
    Security (or $6,000,000 in the aggregate). See "Underwriting."
 
(4) Expenses of the offering which are payable by the Corporation are estimated
    to be $500,000.
                             ---------------------
 
   
     This Prospectus Supplement and Prospectus, each dated November 25, 1996,
may be used by direct or indirect wholly-owned subsidiaries of the Corporation,
including Chase Securities Inc., in connection with offers and sales related to
secondary market transactions in the Series A Capital Securities. Such
subsidiaries may act as principal or agent in connection with any such sales.
Such sales will be made at prices related to prevailing market prices at the
time of sale.
    
 
     The Series A Capital Securities are offered, subject to prior sale, when,
as and if accepted by the Underwriters named herein. It is expected that
delivery of the Series A Capital Securities will be made on or about December 4,
1996 through the book entry facilities of The Depository Trust Company in New
York, New York, against payment therefor in immediately available funds.
                             ---------------------
 
MORGAN STANLEY & CO.                                       CHASE SECURITIES INC.
              Incorporated
 
CS FIRST BOSTON
           GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
                       LEHMAN BROTHERS
                                  MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
                                           SALOMON BROTHERS INC
 
November 25, 1996.
LOGO
<PAGE>   4
 
(cover page continued)
 
     IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE SERIES A
CAPITAL SECURITIES AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE
OPEN MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED IN THE OVER THE COUNTER MARKET OR
OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
                            ------------------------
 
sole purpose of issuing the Series A Capital Securities and the Series A Common
Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in 7.67% Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures,
Series A (the "Series A Subordinated Debentures"), to be issued by the
Corporation. The Series A Subordinated Debentures will mature on December 1,
2026 (the "Stated Maturity"). The Series A Capital Securities will have a
preference under certain circumstances with respect to cash distributions and
amounts payable on liquidation or redemption over the Series A Common
Securities. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Subordination of Common
Securities" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
     Holders of the Series A Capital Securities will be entitled to receive
preferential cumulative cash distributions accruing from the date of original
issuance and payable semi-annually in arrears on the first day of June and
December of each year, commencing June 1, 1997, at the annual rate of 7.67% of
the Liquidation Amount (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus) of $1,000 per
Series A Capital Security ("Distributions"). Subject to certain exceptions, as
described herein, the Corporation has the right to defer payment of interest on
the Series A Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to time for a
period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with respect to each
deferral period (each, an "Extension Period"), provided that no Extension Period
may extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures.
Upon the termination of any such Extension Period and the payment of all
interest then accrued and unpaid (together with interest thereon at the rate of
7.67%, compounded semi-annually, to the extent permitted by applicable law), the
Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension Period subject to the
requirements set forth herein. If interest payments on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures are so deferred, Distributions on the Series A Capital Securities
will also be deferred and the Corporation will not be permitted, subject to
certain exceptions described herein, to declare or pay any cash distributions
with respect to the Corporation's capital stock or debt securities that rank
pari passu with or junior to the Series A Subordinated Debentures. During an
Extension Period, interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures will continue
to accrue (and the amount of Distributions to which holders of the Series A
Capital Securities are entitled will accumulate) at the rate of 7.67% per annum,
compounded semi-annually from the relevant payment date for such interest, and
holders of Series A Capital Securities will be required to accrue interest
income for United States federal income tax purposes. See "Certain Terms of
Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments" and
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue
Discount."
 
     The Series A Subordinated Debentures are unsecured and subordinated to all
Senior Debt (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus). Substantially all of
the Corporation's existing indebtedness constitutes Senior Debt. Because the
Corporation is a holding company, the right of the Corporation to participate in
any distribution of assets of any subsidiary, including The Chase Manhattan
Bank, Chase Manhattan Bank USA, National Association, and Texas Commerce Bank
National Association, upon such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or
otherwise, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary,
except to the extent that the Corporation may itself be recognized as a creditor
of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Series A Subordinated Debentures (and
therefore the Series A Capital Securities) will be effectively subordinated to
all existing and future liabilities of the Corporation's subsidiaries, and
holders thereof should only look to the assets
 
                                       S-2
<PAGE>   5
 
(cover page continued)
 
of the Corporation for payments on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. See
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
 
     The Corporation has, through the Series A Guarantee, the Trust Agreement,
the Series A Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture (each as defined herein),
taken together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally guaranteed all of the
Series A Issuer's obligations under the Series A Capital Securities. See
"Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantees -- Full and Unconditional Guarantee"
in the accompanying Prospectus. The Series A Guarantee of the Corporation
guarantees the payment of Distributions and payments on liquidation of the
Series A Issuer or redemption of the Series A Capital Securities, but only in
each case to the extent of funds held by the Series A Issuer, as described
herein (the "Series A Guarantee"). See "Description of Guarantees" in the
accompanying Prospectus. If the Corporation does not make interest payments on
the Series A Subordinated Debentures held by the Series A Issuer, the Series A
Issuer will have insufficient funds to pay Distributions on the Series A Capital
Securities. The Series A Guarantee does not cover payment of Distributions when
the Series A Issuer has insufficient funds to pay such Distributions. In such
event, a holder of Series A Capital Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation pursuant to the terms of the Indenture to
enforce payment of amounts equal to such Distributions to such holder. See
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Enforcement of Certain Rights
By Holders of Preferred Securities" in the accompanying Prospectus. The
obligations of the Corporation under the Series A Guarantee are subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation.
 
     The Series A Capital Securities are subject to mandatory redemption, in
whole or in part, upon repayment of the Series A Subordinated Debentures at
their Stated Maturity or earlier redemption. Subject to the Corporation having
received prior approval of the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System
(the "Federal Reserve") to do so if then required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies, the Series A Subordinated Debentures are redeemable
prior to their Stated Maturity at the option of the Corporation (i) on or after
December 1, 2006, in whole at any time or in part from time to time, or (ii)
prior to December 1, 2006, in whole (but not in part) within 90 days following
the occurrence of a Tax Event or a Capital Treatment Event (each as defined
herein). For a description of the redemption prices for the Series A Capital
Securities pursuant to clause (i) or (ii) above, see "Certain Terms of Series A
Capital Securities -- Redemption" and "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- Redemption."
 
     The Corporation will have the right at any time to terminate the Series A
Issuer, subject to the Corporation having received prior approval of the Federal
Reserve to do so if then required under applicable capital guidelines or
policies. See "Certain Terms of Series A Capital Securities -- Liquidation of
Series A Issuer and Distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures to
Holders." In the event of the termination of the Series A Issuer, after
satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Series A Issuer as required by
applicable law, the holders of the Series A Capital Securities will be entitled
to receive a Liquidation Amount of $1,000 per Series A Capital Security plus
accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment, which may
be in the form of a distribution of such amount in Series A Subordinated
Debentures in exchange therefor, subject to certain exceptions. See "Description
of Preferred Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
 
     The Series A Capital Securities will be represented by global certificates
registered in the name of The Depository Trust Company ("DTC") or its nominee.
Beneficial interests in the Series A Capital Securities will be shown on, and
transfers thereof will be effected only through, records maintained by
participants in DTC. Except as described in the accompanying Prospectus, Series
A Capital Securities in certificated form will not be issued in exchange for the
global certificates. See "Certain Terms of Series A Capital
Securities -- Registration of Series A Capital Securities."
 
                                       S-3
<PAGE>   6
 
NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER INDIVIDUAL HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED OR
INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS IN
CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER MADE BY THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS
AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED
UPON AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE CORPORATION, THE SERIES A ISSUER OR THE
UNDERWRITERS. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND THE
PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER AND THEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCE CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS
OF THE CORPORATION OR THE SERIES A ISSUER SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. THIS PROSPECTUS
SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS DO NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY
ANYONE IN ANY JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED
OR IN WHICH THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO
SO OR TO ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
 
                               ------------------
 
     The information in this Prospectus Supplement supplements, and should be
read in conjunction with, the information contained in the accompanying
Prospectus. As used herein, (i) the "Indenture" means the Junior Subordinated
Indenture, as amended and supplemented from time to time, between the
Corporation and The Bank of New York, as trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"), and
(ii) the "Trust Agreement" means the Amended and Restated Trust Agreement
relating to the Series A Issuer among the Corporation, as Depositor, The Bank of
New York, as Property Trustee (the "Property Trustee"), The Bank of New York
(Delaware), as Delaware Trustee (the "Delaware Trustee"), and the Administrative
Trustees named therein (collectively, with the Property Trustee and Delaware
Trustee, the "Issuer Trustees"). Each of the other capitalized terms used in
this Prospectus Supplement and not otherwise defined in this Prospectus
Supplement has the meaning set forth in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
                               ------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                 PAGE
                                                                                                 -----
<S>                                                                                              <C>
Risk Factors...................................................................................   S- 4
Chase Capital I................................................................................   S-10
The Chase Manhattan Corporation................................................................   S-10
Consolidated Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges...............................................   S-12
Use of Proceeds................................................................................   S-12
Capitalization.................................................................................   S-13
Accounting Treatment...........................................................................   S-13
Certain Terms of Series A Capital Securities...................................................   S-15
Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures..............................................   S-19
Certain Terms of Series A Guarantee............................................................   S-23
Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences........................................................   S-24
Underwriting...................................................................................   S-28
Validity of Securities.........................................................................   S-29
                                              PROSPECTUS
Available Information..........................................................................      3
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference................................................      4
The Chase Manhattan Corporation................................................................      5
The Issuers....................................................................................      5
Use of Proceeds................................................................................      6
Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures..................................................      6
Description of Preferred Securities............................................................     18
Book-Entry Issuance............................................................................     31
Description of Guarantees......................................................................     33
Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures
  and the Guarantees...........................................................................     35
Plan of Distribution...........................................................................     37
Validity of Securities.........................................................................     38
Experts........................................................................................     38
</TABLE>
    
 
                                       S-4
<PAGE>   7
 
                                  RISK FACTORS
 
     Prospective purchasers of the Series A Capital Securities should carefully
review the information contained elsewhere in this Prospectus Supplement and in
the accompanying Prospectus and should particularly consider the following
matters. In addition, because holders of Series A Capital Securities may receive
Series A Subordinated Debentures in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the
Series A Issuer, prospective purchasers of Series A Capital Securities are also
making an investment decision with regard to the Series A Subordinated
Debentures and should carefully review all the information regarding the Series
A Subordinated Debentures contained herein.
 
RANKING OF SUBORDINATED OBLIGATIONS UNDER THE SERIES A GUARANTEE AND THE SERIES
A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The obligations of the Corporation under the Series A Guarantee issued by
the Corporation for the benefit of the holders of Series A Securities and under
the Series A Subordinated Debentures are unsecured and rank subordinate and
junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation. Substantially
all of the Corporation's existing indebtedness constitutes Senior Debt. Because
the Corporation is a holding company, the right of the Corporation to
participate in any distribution of the assets of any subsidiary, including The
Chase Manhattan Bank, Chase Manhattan Bank USA, National Association, and Texas
Commerce Bank National Association, upon such subsidiary's liquidation or
reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the prior claims of creditors of that
subsidiary, except to the extent that the Corporation may itself be recognized
as a creditor of that subsidiary. There are various legal limitations on the
extent to which certain of the Corporation's subsidiaries may extend credit, pay
dividends or otherwise supply funds to, or engage in transactions with, the
Corporation or certain of its other subsidiaries. Accordingly, the Series A
Subordinated Debentures will be effectively subordinated to all existing and
future liabilities of the Corporation's subsidiaries, and holders of Series A
Subordinated Debentures should look only to the assets of the Corporation for
payments on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. See "The Chase Manhattan
Corporation." None of the Indenture, the Series A Guarantee or the Trust
Agreement places any limitation on the amount of secured or unsecured debt,
including Senior Debt, that may be incurred by the Corporation. See "Description
of Guarantees -- Status of the Guarantees" and "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
     The ability of the Series A Issuer to pay amounts due on the Series A
Capital Securities is solely dependent upon the Corporation making payments on
the Series A Subordinated Debentures as and when required.
 
OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENT; TAX CONSEQUENCES; MARKET PRICE CONSEQUENCES
 
     So long as no event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing, the Corporation has the right under the Indenture to defer payment
of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to
time for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with respect
to each Extension Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond
the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of
any such deferral, semi-annual Distributions on the Series A Capital Securities
by the Series A Issuer will also be deferred (and the amount of Distributions to
which holders of the Series A Capital Securities are entitled will accumulate
additional Distributions thereon at the rate of 7.67% per annum, compounded
semi-annually from the relevant payment date for such Distributions) during any
such Extension Period. During any such Extension Period, the Corporation may
not, and may not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to, (i) declare or pay
any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire, or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Corporation's capital stock,
(ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation (including other
series of Junior Subordinated Debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior in
interest to the Series A Subordinated Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee
payments with respect to any guarantee by the
 
                                       S-5
<PAGE>   8
 
Corporation of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Corporation if such
guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in interest to the Series A
Subordinated Debentures (other than (a) dividends or distributions in capital
stock of the Corporation, (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with
the implementation of a stockholders' rights plan or the redemption or
repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c) payments under the Series A
Guarantee and (d) purchases of common stock related to the issuance of common
stock or rights under any of the Corporation's benefit plans for its directors,
officers or employees, related to the issuance of common stock or rights under a
dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, or related to the issuance of
common stock (or securities convertible into or exchangeable for common stock)
as consideration in an acquisition transaction that was entered into prior to
the commencement of such Extension Period). Prior to the termination of any such
Extension Period, the Corporation may further defer the payment of interest,
provided that no Extension Period may exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods
or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures.
Upon the termination of any Extension Period and the payment of all interest
then accrued and unpaid (together with interest thereon at the annual rate of
7.67%, compounded semi-annually from the interest payment date for such
interest, to the extent permitted by applicable law), the Corporation may elect
to begin a new Extension Period subject to the above requirements. There is no
limitation on the number of times that the Corporation may elect to begin an
Extension Period. See "Certain Terms of Series A Capital
Securities -- Distributions" and "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments."
 
     Should an Extension Period occur, a holder of Series A Capital Securities
will be required to accrue income (in the form of original issue discount) in
respect of its pro rata share of the Series A Subordinated Debentures held by
the Series A Issuer for United States federal income tax purposes. As a result,
a holder of Series A Capital Securities will be required to include such income
in gross income for United States federal income tax purposes in advance of the
receipt of cash attributable to such income, and will not receive the cash
related to such income from the Series A Issuer if the holder disposes of the
Series A Capital Securities prior to the record date for the payment of
Distributions. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income
and Original Issue Discount" and "-- Sales or Redemption of Series A Capital
Securities."
 
     The Corporation has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. However, should
the Corporation elect to exercise such right in the future, the market price of
the Series A Capital Securities is likely to be affected. A holder that disposes
of its Series A Capital Securities during an Extension Period, therefore, might
not receive the same return on its investment as a holder that continues to hold
its Series A Capital Securities.
 
TAX EVENT OR CAPITAL TREATMENT EVENT -- REDEMPTION
 
     Upon the occurrence and continuation of a Tax Event or Capital Treatment
Event prior to December 1, 2006, the Corporation has the right to redeem the
Series A Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in part) within 90 days
following the occurrence of such Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event and
thereby cause a mandatory redemption of the Series A Capital Securities. Any
such redemption shall be at a price equal to the Make-Whole Amount (as defined
in "Certain Terms of Series A Capital Securities -- Redemption") together with
accrued interest to but excluding the date fixed for redemption. The exercise of
such right is subject to the Corporation having received prior approval of the
Federal Reserve to do so if then required under applicable capital guidelines or
policies.
 
     A "Tax Event" means the receipt by the Series A Issuer of an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any
amendment to, or change (including any announced proposed change) in, the laws
(or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or
applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
such proposed change, pronouncement or decision is
 
                                       S-6
<PAGE>   9
 
announced on or after the date of issuance of the Series A Capital Securities
under the Trust Agreement, there is more than an insubstantial risk that (i) the
Series A Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion,
subject to United States federal income tax with respect to income received or
accrued on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the
Corporation on the Series A Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days of
the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Corporation, in whole
or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes or (iii) the Series A
Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of the date of the opinion, subject to more
than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental charges.
 
     See "Risk Factors -- Possible Tax Law Changes Affecting the Series A
Capital Securities" for a discussion of certain legislative proposals that, if
adopted, could give rise to a Tax Event, which may permit the Corporation to
cause a redemption of the Series A Capital Securities prior to December 1, 2006.
 
     A "Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by the
Corporation that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any
proposed change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official or administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or such proposed change, pronouncement, action or decision is
announced on or after the date of issuance of the Series A Capital Securities
under the Trust Agreement, there is more than an insubstantial risk that the
Corporation will not be entitled to treat an amount equal to the Liquidation
Amount of the Series A Capital Securities as "Tier 1 Capital" (or the then
equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy guidelines of the
Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the Corporation.
 
EXCHANGE OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES FOR SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Corporation will have the right at any time to terminate the Series A
Issuer and, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of the Series A
Issuer as required by applicable law, cause the Series A Subordinated Debentures
to be distributed to the holders of the Series A Capital Securities in exchange
therefor upon liquidation of the Series A Issuer. The exercise of such right is
subject to the Corporation having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve
if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies. See "Certain
Terms of Series A Capital Securities -- Liquidation of Series A Issuer and
Distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures to Holders."
 
     Under current United States federal income tax law and interpretations and
assuming, as expected, the Series A Issuer is classified as a grantor trust for
such purposes, a distribution of the Series A Subordinated Debentures upon a
liquidation of the Series A Issuer should not be a taxable event to holders of
the Series A Capital Securities. However, if a Tax Event were to occur which
would cause the Series A Issuer to be subject to United States federal income
tax with respect to income received or accrued on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures, a distribution of the Series A Subordinated Debentures by the Series
A Issuer could be a taxable event to the Series A Issuer and the holders of the
Series A Capital Securities. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences --
Distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures to Holders of Series A Capital
Securities."
 
MARKET PRICES
 
     There can be no assurance as to the market prices for Series A Capital
Securities or Series A Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed in
exchange for Series A Capital Securities upon liquidation of the Series A
Issuer. Accordingly, the Series A Capital Securities that an investor may
purchase, whether pursuant to the offer made hereby or in the secondary market,
or the Series A Subordinated Debentures that a holder of Series A Capital
Securities may receive on liquidation of the Series A Issuer, may trade at a
discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase the
 
                                       S-7
<PAGE>   10
 
Series A Capital Securities offered hereby. As a result of the existence of the
Corporation's right to defer interest payments, the market price of the Series A
Capital Securities (which represent beneficial ownership interests in the Series
A Issuer) may be more volatile than the market prices of other securities that
are not subject to such optional deferrals. See "Certain Terms of Series A
Subordinated Debentures" and "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures" in the accompanying
Prospectus.
 
RIGHTS UNDER THE SERIES A GUARANTEE
 
     The Series A Guarantee guarantees to the holders of the Series A Securities
the following payments, to the extent not paid by the Series A Issuer: (i) any
accumulated and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on the Series A
Securities, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on hand available
therefor at such time, (ii) the redemption price with respect to any Series A
Securities called for redemption, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has
funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or
involuntary dissolution, winding up or liquidation of the Series A Issuer
(unless the Series A Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of the
Series A Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount
and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of payment, to the
extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on hand available therefor at such
time, and (b) the amount of assets of the Series A Issuer remaining available
for distribution to holders of the Series A Securities after payment of
creditors of the Series A Issuer as required by applicable law. The Series A
Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). The Bank of New York will act as
the indenture trustee under the Series A Guarantee (the "Guarantee Trustee") for
the purpose of compliance with the Trust Indenture Act and will hold the Series
A Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the Series A Securities. The Bank
of New York will also act as Debenture Trustee for the Series A Subordinated
Debentures and as Property Trustee and The Bank of New York (Delaware) will act
as Delaware Trustee under the Trust Agreement.
 
     The Series A Guarantee is subordinate as described under "-- Ranking of
Subordinated Obligations Under the Series A Guarantee and the Series A
Subordinated Debentures."
 
     The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of
the Series A Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in
respect of the Series A Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the Series A Guarantee. Any holder of
the Series A Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Corporation to enforce its rights under the Series A Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Series A Issuer, the Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity. If the Corporation were to default on its
obligation to pay amounts payable under the Series A Subordinated Debentures,
the Series A Issuer would lack funds for the payment of Distributions or amounts
payable on redemption of the Series A Securities or otherwise, and, in such
event, holders of the Series A Securities would not be able to rely upon the
Series A Guarantee for payment of such amounts. Instead, if an event of default
under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing and such event is
attributable to the failure of the Corporation to pay interest or premium, if
any, on or principal of the Series A Subordinated Debentures on the applicable
payment date, then a holder of Series A Capital Securities may institute a legal
proceeding directly against the Corporation pursuant to the terms of the
Indenture for enforcement of payment to such holder of the principal of or
interest or premium, if any, on such Series A Subordinated Debentures having a
principal amount equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Series A
Capital Securities of such holder (a "Direct Action"). In connection with such
Direct Action, the Corporation will have a right of set-off under the Indenture
to the extent of any payment made by the Corporation to such holder of Series A
Capital Securities in the Direct Action. Except as described herein, holders of
Series A Capital Securities will not be able to exercise directly any other
remedy available to the holders of
 
                                       S-8
<PAGE>   11
 
the Series A Subordinated Debentures or assert directly any other rights in
respect of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Enforcement of Certain Rights by Holders of Preferred
Securities," "-- Debenture Events of Default" and "Description of Guarantees" in
the accompanying Prospectus. The Trust Agreement provides that each holder of
Series A Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to the provisions of the Series
A Guarantee and the Indenture.
 
LIMITED VOTING RIGHTS
 
     Holders of Series A Capital Securities generally will have limited voting
rights relating only to the modification of the Series A Capital Securities and
the Series A Guarantee and the exercise of the Series A Issuer's rights as
holder of Series A Subordinated Debentures and the Series A Guarantee. Holders
of Series A Capital Securities will not be entitled to vote to appoint, remove
or replace the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any Administrative
Trustee, and such voting rights are vested exclusively in the holder of the
Series A Common Securities except, with respect to the Property Trustee and the
Delaware Trustee, upon the occurrence of certain events described in the
accompanying Prospectus. The Property Trustee, the Administrative Trustees and
the Corporation may amend the Trust Agreement without the consent of holders of
Series A Capital Securities to ensure that the Series A Issuer will not be
classified for United States federal income tax purposes as an association or
publicly traded partnership subject to taxation as a corporation unless such
action materially and adversely affects the interests of such holders. See
"Description of Preferred Securities -- Voting Rights; Amendment of Each Trust
Agreement" and "-- Removal of Issuer Trustees" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
TRADING CHARACTERISTICS OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     The Corporation does not intend to have the Series A Capital Securities
listed on The New York Stock Exchange or any other securities exchange. The
Series A Capital Securities may trade at prices that do not fully reflect the
value of accrued and unpaid interest with respect to the underlying Series A
Subordinated Debentures. See "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount" and "-- Sales or
Redemption of Series A Capital Securities" for a discussion of the United States
federal income tax consequences that may result from a taxable disposition of
the Series A Capital Securities.
 
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES AFFECTING THE SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill of 1996 (the "Bill") was
introduced in the 104th Congress which would have, among other things, generally
denied interest deductions for interest on an instrument issued by a corporation
that has a maximum weighted average maturity of more than 40 years. The Bill
would have also generally denied interest deductions for interest on an
instrument issued by a corporation that has a maximum term of more than 20 years
and that is not shown as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the
issuer or, where the instrument is issued to a related party (other than a
corporation), where the holder or some other related party issues a related
instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on the issuer's consolidated
balance sheet. The above-described provisions of the Bill were proposed to be
effective generally for instruments issued on or after December 7, 1995. If
either provision were to apply to the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the
Corporation would not be able to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and
House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement (the "Joint Statement")
to the effect that it was their intention that the effective date of the Bill,
if enacted, would be no earlier than the date of appropriate Congressional
action. In addition, subsequent to the publication of the Joint Statement,
Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Representatives Sam M. Gibbons and Charles
B. Rangel wrote letters to Treasury Department officials concurring with the
view expressed in the Joint Statement (the "Democrat Letters"). The 104th
Congress adjourned without enacting the Bill. Moreover, if the principles
contained in the Joint Statement and the Democrat Letters were followed, any
proposed legislation in this area that is subsequently enacted would not apply
to the Series A
 
                                       S-9
<PAGE>   12
 
Subordinated Debentures. Although the 104th Congress adjourned without enacting
the Bill, there can be no assurance that current or future legislative proposals
or final legislation will not adversely affect the ability of the Corporation to
deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures or otherwise affect the
tax treatment of the transaction described herein. Such a change could give rise
to a Tax Event, which would permit the Corporation, upon approval of the Federal
Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, to
cause a redemption of the Series A Capital Securities before December 1, 2006.
See "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption" in this
Prospectus Supplement and "Description of Preferred Securities -- Redemption or
Exchange -- Tax Event Redemption" in the accompanying Prospectus. See also
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Possible Tax Law Changes."
 
                                CHASE CAPITAL I
 
     Chase Capital I (the "Series A Issuer") is a statutory business trust
created under Delaware law pursuant to (i) the Trust Agreement executed by the
Corporation, as Depositor, The Bank of New York, as Property Trustee, The Bank
of New York (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee, and the Administrative Trustees
named therein, and (ii) the filing of a certificate of trust with the Delaware
Secretary of State on October 28, 1996, and a restated certificate of trust with
the Delaware Secretary of State on November 13, 1996. The Series A Issuer's
business and affairs are conducted by the Issuer Trustees: The Bank of New York,
as Property Trustee, and The Bank of New York (Delaware), as Delaware Trustee,
and two individual Administrative Trustees who are employees or officers of or
affiliated with the Corporation. The Series A Issuer exists for the exclusive
purposes of (i) issuing and selling the Series A Capital Securities and Series A
Common Securities, (ii) using the proceeds from the sale of Series A Capital
Securities and Series A Common Securities to acquire Series A Subordinated
Debentures issued by the Corporation and (iii) engaging in only those other
activities necessary or incidental thereto (such as registering the transfer of
the Series A Securities). Accordingly, the Series A Subordinated Debentures will
be the sole assets of the Series A Issuer, and payments under the Series A
Subordinated Debentures will be the sole revenue of the Series A Issuer. All of
the Series A Common Securities will be owned by the Corporation. The Series A
Common Securities will rank pari passu, and payments will be made thereon pro
rata, with the Series A Capital Securities, except that upon the occurrence and
continuance of an event of default under the Trust Agreement resulting from an
event of default under the Indenture, the rights of the Corporation as holder of
the Series A Common Securities to payment in respect of Distributions and
payments upon liquidation, redemption or otherwise will be subordinated to the
rights of the holders of the Series A Capital Securities. See "Description of
Preferred Securities -- Subordination of Common Securities" in the accompanying
Prospectus. The Corporation will acquire Series A Common Securities in an
aggregate Liquidation Amount equal to 3% of the total capital of the Series A
Issuer. The Series A Issuer has a term of 55 years, but may terminate earlier as
provided in the Trust Agreement. The principal executive office of the Series A
Issuer is 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017 and its telephone number is
(212) 270-6000. See "The Issuers" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
     It is anticipated that the Series A Issuer will not be subject to the
reporting requirements under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended
(the "Exchange Act").
 
                        THE CHASE MANHATTAN CORPORATION
 
GENERAL
 
     The Corporation is a bank holding company organized under the laws of
Delaware in 1968 and registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as
amended. On March 31, 1996, The Chase Manhattan Corporation ("Old Chase") merged
with and into Chemical Banking Corporation, and Chemical Banking Corporation,
which was the surviving corporation in the merger, changed its name to "The
Chase Manhattan Corporation." As a result of the merger, the Corporation has
 
                                      S-10
<PAGE>   13
 
become the largest banking institution in the United States, with over $300
billion in assets and $20 billion in stockholders' equity.
 
     The principal bank subsidiaries of the Corporation are The Chase Manhattan
Bank, a New York banking corporation (the "Bank"), Chase Manhattan Bank USA,
National Association ("Chase USA"), headquartered in Wilmington, Delaware, and
Texas Commerce Bank National Association ("Texas Commerce").
 
     The merger of Old Chase with and into Chemical Banking Corporation was
accounted for as a pooling-of-interests and, accordingly, the information
presented in this Prospectus Supplement reflects the combined results of Old
Chase and the Corporation as if the merger had been in effect for all periods
presented.
 
BUSINESS
 
     The activities of the Corporation and its subsidiaries are internally
organized, for management information purposes, into five principal lines of
business. A brief description of each principal line of business is presented
below.
 
Global Bank
 
     The Global Bank provides banking, financial advisory, trading and
investment services to corporations and public-sector clients worldwide through
a network of offices in 52 countries, including major operations in all key
international financial centers. The Global Bank includes: Global Client
Management (focusing on corporate clients, credit and general advisory); Global
Investment Banking (including acquisition finance, syndicated finance, high
yield finance, private placements, leasing, mergers and acquisitions, and other
global investment banking activities); Global Markets (foreign exchange dealing
and trading, derivatives (including equity and commodity derivatives) trading
and structuring, risk management, securities structuring, underwriting, trading
and sales, and the Corporation's funding and securities investment activities)
and Chase Capital Partners, a venture capital subsidiary of the Corporation
(venture capital and mezzanine finance). In addition, the Global Asset
Management and Private Banking group serves high net worth individuals worldwide
with banking and investment services, including the Vista family of mutual funds
and Vista unit trust funds.
 
Regional and Consumer Banking
 
     Regional and Consumer Banking includes: Credit Cards (Chase cardmember
services); Deposits and Investments (consumer banking and commercial and
professional banking); Mortgage Banking; National Consumer Finance (home equity
secured lending, student lending and other consumer lending); International
Consumer (consumer activities in Asia and Latin America); Middle Market and
Community Development (regional commercial banking); Texas Commerce; and the
Corporation's franchise in northeastern New Jersey, where its banking subsidiary
has 39 branches and private banking operations. The Corporation maintains a
leading market share position in serving the financial needs of consumers,
middle market commercial enterprises and small businesses in the New York
metropolitan area. Texas Commerce is a leader in providing financial products
and services to businesses and individuals throughout Texas and is the primary
bank for more large corporations and middle market companies than any other bank
in Texas.
 
Global Services
 
     Global Services includes custody, cash management, payments, trade
services, trust and other fiduciary services. At December 31, 1995, the
Corporation was custodian or trustee for approximately $2.9 trillion of assets.
 
                                      S-11
<PAGE>   14
 
Terminal Businesses; Corporate
 
     Terminal Businesses represent discontinued portfolios, which are primarily
the refinancing country debt portfolio and the Corporation's nonperforming
commercial real estate problem asset and nonperforming portfolio, primarily at
the Bank. Corporate includes the management results attributed to the parent
company; the Corporation's investment in The CIT Group Holdings, Inc.; the
impact of credit card securitizations; and some effects remaining at the
corporate level after the implementation of management accounting policies.
 
     The Corporation is a Delaware corporation with its principal office at 270
Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017. Its telephone number is (212) 270-6000.
 
                CONSOLIDATED RATIOS OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
     The following table sets forth the Corporation's consolidated ratios of
earnings to fixed charges and ratios of earnings to combined fixed charges and
preferred stock dividend requirements for each of the periods indicated:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        NINE MONTHS
                                           ENDED                     YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                       SEPTEMBER 30,       --------------------------------------------
                                            1996           1995      1994      1993      1992      1991
                                       --------------      ----      ----      ----      ----      ----
<S>                                    <C>                 <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>       <C>
Earnings to Fixed Charges:
  Excluding Interest on Deposits.....       1.59           1.90      1.86      1.62      1.50      1.20
  Including Interest on Deposits.....       1.28           1.41      1.42      1.31      1.21      1.07
Earnings to Combined Fixed Charges
  and Preferred Stock Dividend
  Requirements:
  Excluding Interest on Deposits.....       1.53           1.82      1.76      1.52      1.41      1.14
  Including Interest on Deposits.....       1.26           1.38      1.38      1.27      1.18      1.05
</TABLE>
 
     For purposes of computing the ratios of earnings to fixed charges and of
earnings to combined fixed charges and preferred stock dividend requirements,
earnings represent net income from continuing operations plus total taxes based
on income and fixed charges. Fixed charges, excluding interest on deposits,
include interest expense (other than on deposits), one-third (the proportion
deemed representative of the interest factor) of rents, net of income from
subleases, and capitalized interest. Fixed charges, including interest on
deposits, include all interest expense, one-third (the proportion deemed
representative of the interest factor) of rents, net of income from subleases,
and capitalized interest.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     All of the proceeds from the sale of the Series A Capital Securities will
be invested by the Series A Issuer in Series A Subordinated Debentures. The
Corporation intends that the proceeds from the sale of the Series A Subordinated
Debentures will be added to its general corporate funds and will be used for
general corporate purposes, which may include (depending upon the Corporation's
capital requirements, market conditions and other factors) the repurchase or
redemption of shares of its outstanding common and preferred stock.
 
     The Corporation is required by the Federal Reserve to maintain certain
levels of capital for bank regulatory purposes. On October 21, 1996, the Federal
Reserve announced that cumulative preferred securities having the
characteristics of the Series A Capital Securities could be included as Tier 1
Capital for bank holding companies. Such Tier 1 Capital treatment, together with
the Corporation's ability to deduct, for federal income tax purposes, interest
payable on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, will provide the Corporation
with a more cost-effective means of obtaining capital for bank regulatory
purposes than if the Corporation were to issue preferred stock.
 
                                      S-12
<PAGE>   15
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
     The following table sets forth the consolidated capitalization of the
Corporation and its subsidiaries as of September 30, 1996 and as adjusted to
give effect to the consummation of the offering of the Series A Capital
Securities. The following data should be read in conjunction with the
consolidated financial statements and notes thereto of the Corporation and its
subsidiaries incorporated herein by reference.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                  SEPTEMBER 30, 1996
                                                               ------------------------
                                                                                  AS
                                                                ACTUAL         ADJUSTED
                                                               --------        --------
                                                                    (IN MILLIONS)
        <S>                                                    <C>             <C>
             Total long-term debt...........................   $ 12,379        $ 12,379
                                                               --------        --------
               Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in
                  Corporation's Junior Subordinated
                  Deferrable Interest Debentures(a).........         --             600
               Preferred Stock of Subsidiary(b).............        550             550
                                                               --------        --------
             Stockholders' Equity
               Preferred Stock..............................      2,650           2,650
               Common Stock.................................        440             440
               Capital Surplus..............................     10,444          10,444
               Retained Earnings............................      8,091           8,091
               Net Unrealized Loss on Securities Available
                  for Sale Net of Taxes.....................       (480)           (480)
               Treasury Stock, At Cost......................         (5)             (5)
                                                               --------        --------
                  Total Stockholders' Equity................   $ 21,140        $ 21,140
                                                               --------        --------
             Total Capitalization...........................   $ 34,069        $ 34,669
                                                               ========        ========
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
 
     (a) As described herein, the sole assets of the Series A Issuer will be
approximately $618,556,700 principal amount of Series A Subordinated Debentures
issued by the Corporation to the Series A Issuer. The Series A Subordinated
Debentures will bear interest at the rate of 7.67% per annum and will mature on
December 1, 2026. The Corporation will own all of the Series A Common Securities
of the Series A Issuer.
 
     It is anticipated that the Series A Issuer will not be subject to the
reporting requirements under the Exchange Act.
 
     (b) Reflects the issuance of preferred stock in September 1996 by Chase
Preferred Capital Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary of the Bank, which has
elected to be treated for federal income tax purposes as a real estate
investment trust.
 
                              ACCOUNTING TREATMENT
 
     For financial reporting purposes, the Series A Issuer will be treated as a
subsidiary of the Corporation and, accordingly, the accounts of the Series A
Issuer will be included in the consolidated financial statements of the
Corporation. The Series A Capital Securities will be presented as a separate
line item in the consolidated balance sheets of the Corporation under the
caption "Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in Corporation's Junior
Subordinated Deferrable Interest Debentures" and appropriate disclosures about
the Series A Capital Securities, the Series A Guarantee and the Series A
Subordinated Debentures will be included in the notes to the consolidated
financial statements. For financial reporting purposes, the Corporation will
record Distributions payable on the Series A Capital Securities as an expense in
the consolidated statements of income.
 
                                      S-13
<PAGE>   16
 
     The Corporation has agreed that future financial reports of the Corporation
will: (i) present the Preferred Securities issued by other trusts created by the
Corporation on the Corporation's balance sheet as a separate line item entitled
"Guaranteed Preferred Beneficial Interests in Corporation's Junior Subordinated
Deferrable Interest Debentures"; (ii) include in a footnote to the financial
statements disclosure that the sole assets of the trusts are the Junior
Subordinated Debentures (specifying as to each trust the principal amount,
interest rate and maturity date of Junior Subordinated Debentures held); and
(iii) if Staff Accounting Bulletin 53 treatment is sought, include, in an
audited footnote to the financial statements, disclosure that (a) the trusts are
wholly owned, (b) the sole assets of the trusts are the Junior Subordinated
Debentures (specifying as to each trust the principal amount, interest rate and
maturity date of the Junior Subordinated Debentures held), and (c) the
obligations of the Corporation under the Junior Subordinated Debentures, the
relevant indenture, trust agreement and guarantee, in the aggregate, constitute
a full and unconditional guarantee by the Corporation of such trust's
obligations under the Preferred Securities issued by such trust.
 
                                      S-14
<PAGE>   17
 
                  CERTAIN TERMS OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
GENERAL
 
     The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the Series A
Capital Securities supplements the description of the terms and provisions of
the Preferred Securities set forth in the accompanying Prospectus under the
heading "Description of Preferred Securities," to which description reference is
hereby made. This summary of certain terms and provisions of the Series A
Capital Securities, which describes the material provisions thereof, does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by
reference to, the Trust Agreement, to which reference is hereby made. The form
of the Trust Agreement has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and accompanying Prospectus form a
part.
 
DISTRIBUTIONS
 
     The Series A Capital Securities represent beneficial ownership interests in
the Series A Issuer, and Distributions on each Series A Capital Securities will
be payable at the annual rate of 7.67% of the stated Liquidation Amount of
$1,000, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and December 1 of each year,
to the holders of the Series A Capital Securities on the relevant record dates.
The record dates for the Series A Capital Securities will be, for so long as the
Series A Capital Securities remain in book-entry form, one Business Day (as
defined in the accompanying Prospectus) prior to the relevant Distribution
payment date and, in the event the Series A Capital Securities are not in
book-entry form, the 15th day of the month preceding the month in which the
relevant Distribution payment date occurs. Distributions will accumulate from
the date of original issuance. The first Distribution payment date for the
Series A Capital Securities will be June 1, 1997. The amount of Distributions
payable for any period less than a full Distribution period will be computed on
the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event that any date
on which Distributions are payable on the Series A Capital Securities is not a
Business Day, then payment of the Distributions payable on such date will be
made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any
additional Distributions or other payment in respect of any such delay), except
that, if such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment
shall be made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the
same force and effect as if made on the date such payment was originally
payable. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Distributions" in the
accompanying Prospectus.
 
     So long as no event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing, the Corporation has the right under the Indenture to defer payment
of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures at any time or from time to
time for a period not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with respect
to each Extension Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond
the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. As a consequence of
any such deferral of interest payments by the Corporation, semi-annual
Distributions on the Series A Capital Securities by the Series A Issuer will
also be deferred during any such Extension Period. Distributions to which
holders of the Series A Capital Securities are entitled will accumulate
additional Distributions thereon at the rate per annum of 7.67% thereof,
compounded semi-annually from the relevant payment date for such Distributions.
The term "Distributions" as used herein shall include any such additional
Distributions. During any such Extension Period, the Corporation may not, and
may not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to, (i) declare or pay any
dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a
liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Corporation's capital stock,
(ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation (including other
series of Junior Subordinated Debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior in
interest to the Series A Subordinated Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee
payments with respect to any guarantee by the Corporation of the debt securities
of any subsidiary of the Corporation if such guarantee ranks pari
 
                                      S-15
<PAGE>   18
 
passu with or junior in interest to the Series A Subordinated Debentures (other
than (a) dividends or distributions in capital stock of the Corporation, (b) any
declaration of a dividend in connection with the implementation of a
stockholders' rights plan or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights
pursuant thereto, (c) payments under the Series A Guarantee and (d) purchases of
common stock related to the issuance of common stock or rights under any of the
Corporation's benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees, related to
the issuance of common stock or rights under a dividend reinvestment and stock
purchase plan, or related to the issuance of common stock (or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for common stock) as consideration in an
acquisition transaction that was entered into prior to the commencement of such
Extension Period). Prior to the termination of any such Extension Period, the
Corporation may further defer the payment of interest on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, provided that no Extension Period may exceed 10
consecutive semi-annual periods or extend beyond the Stated Maturity of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures. Upon the termination of any such Extension
Period and the payment of all interest then accrued and unpaid (together with
interest thereon at the rate of 7.67%, compounded semi-annually, to the extent
permitted by applicable law), the Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension
Period. There is no limitation on the number of times that the Corporation may
elect to begin an Extension Period. See "Certain Terms of Series A Subordinated
Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments" and "Certain Federal Income Tax
Consequences -- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
 
     The Corporation has no current intention of exercising its right to defer
payments of interest by extending the interest payment period on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures.
 
REDEMPTION
 
     Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in part, of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, whether at Stated Maturity or upon earlier redemption
as provided in the Indenture, the proceeds from such repayment or redemption
shall be applied by the Property Trustee to redeem a Like Amount (as defined in
the accompanying Prospectus) of the Series A Securities, upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days notice prior to the date fixed for redemption, at a
redemption price, with respect to the Series A Securities (the "Redemption
Price"), equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Series A Securities
plus accumulated and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of redemption (the
"Redemption Date") and the related amount of the premium, if any, paid by the
Corporation upon the concurrent redemption of such Series A Subordinated
Debentures. See "Description of Series A Subordinated Debentures -- Redemption."
If less than all of the Series A Subordinated Debentures are to be repaid or
redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the proceeds from such repayment or
redemption shall be allocated to the redemption pro rata of the Series A Capital
Securities and the Series A Common Securities. The amount of premium, if any,
paid by the Corporation upon the redemption of all or any part of Series A
Subordinated Debentures to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption Date shall be
allocated to the redemption pro rata of the Series A Capital Securities and the
Series A Common Securities.
 
     The Corporation has the right to redeem the Series A Subordinated
Debentures (i) on or after December 1, 2006, in whole at any time or in part
from time to time, or (ii) prior to December 1, 2006, in whole (but not in part)
within 90 days following the occurrence of a Tax Event or Capital Treatment
Event. A redemption of the Series A Subordinated Debentures would cause a
mandatory redemption of Series A Capital Securities and Series A Common
Securities.
 
                                      S-16
<PAGE>   19
 
     The Redemption Price, in the case of a redemption under (i) above, shall
equal the following prices expressed in percentages of the Liquidation Amount
together with accrued Distributions to but excluding the Redemption Date. If
redeemed during the 12-month period beginning December 1:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         REDEMPTION
          YEAR                                                             PRICE
          ------------------------------------------------------------  ------------
          <S>                                                           <C>
          2006........................................................      103.835%
          2007........................................................      103.452
          2008........................................................      103.068
          2009........................................................      102.685
          2010........................................................      102.301
          2011........................................................      101.917
          2012........................................................      101.534
          2013........................................................      101.150
          2014........................................................      100.767
          2015........................................................      100.383
</TABLE>
 
and at 100% on or after December 1, 2016.
 
     The Redemption Price, in the case of a redemption following a Tax Event or
Capital Treatment Event as described under (ii) above, shall equal for each
Series A Capital Security the Make-Whole Amount for a corresponding $1,000
principal amount of Series A Subordinated Debentures together with accrued
Distributions to but excluding the Redemption Date. The "Make-Whole Amount"
shall be equal to the greater of (i) 100% of the principal amount of such Series
A Subordinated Debentures or (ii) as determined by a Quotation Agent (as defined
below), the sum of the present values of the principal amount and premium
payable as part of the Redemption Price with respect to an optional redemption
of such Series A Subordinated Debentures on December 1, 2006, together with
scheduled payments of interest from the Redemption Date to December 1, 2006 (the
"Remaining Life"), in each case discounted to the Redemption Date on a
semi-annual basis (assuming a 360-day year consisting of 30-day months) at the
Adjusted Treasury Rate (as defined below).
 
     "Adjusted Treasury Rate" means, with respect to any Redemption Date, the
Treasury Rate (as defined below) plus (i) 1.00% if such Redemption Date occurs
on or before December 1, 1997 or (ii) 0.50% if such Redemption Date occurs after
December 1, 1997.
 
     "Treasury Rate" means (i) the yield, under the heading which represents the
average for the immediately prior week, appearing in the most recently published
statistical release designated "H.15(519)" or any successor publication which is
published weekly by the Federal Reserve and which establishes yields on actively
traded United States Treasury securities adjusted to constant maturity under the
caption "Treasury Constant Maturities," for the maturity corresponding to the
Remaining Life (if no maturity is within three months before or after the
Remaining Life, yields for the two published maturities most closely
corresponding to the Remaining Life shall be determined and the Treasury Rate
shall be interpolated or extrapolated from such yields on a straight-line basis,
rounding to the nearest month) or (ii) if such release (or any successor
release) is not published during the week preceding the calculation date or does
not contain such yields, the rate per annum equal to the semi-annual equivalent
yield to maturity of the Comparable Treasury Issue, calculated using a price for
the Comparable Treasury Issue (expressed as a percentage of its principal
amount) equal to the Comparable Treasury Price for such redemption date. The
Treasury Rate shall be calculated on the third Business Day preceding the
Redemption Date.
 
     "Comparable Treasury Issue" means with respect to any Redemption Date the
United States Treasury security selected by the Quotation Agent as having a
maturity comparable to the Remaining Life that would be utilized, at the time of
selection and in accordance with customary financial practice, in pricing new
issues of corporate debt securities of comparable maturity to the
 
                                      S-17
<PAGE>   20
 
Remaining Life. If no United States Treasury security has a maturity which is
within a period from three months before to three months after December 1, 2006,
the two most closely corresponding United States Treasury securities shall be
used as the Comparable Treasury Issue, and the Treasury Rate shall be
interpolated or extrapolated on a straight-line basis, rounding to the nearest
month using such securities.
 
     "Quotation Agent" means Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and its
successors; provided, however, that if the foregoing shall cease to be a primary
U.S. Government securities dealer in New York City (a "Primary Treasury
Dealer"), the Corporation shall substitute therefor another Primary Treasury
Dealer. "Reference Treasury Dealer" means (i) the Quotation Agent and (ii) any
other Primary Treasury Dealer selected by the Debenture Trustee after
consultation with the Corporation.
 
     "Comparable Treasury Price" means (A) the average of five Reference
Treasury Dealer Quotations for such Redemption Date, after excluding the highest
and lowest such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, or (B) if the Debenture
Trustee obtains fewer than three such Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations, the
average of all such Quotations.
 
     "Reference Treasury Dealer Quotations" means, with respect to each
Reference Treasury Dealer and any Redemption Date, the average, as determined by
the Debenture Trustee, of the bid and asked prices for the Comparable Treasury
Issue (expressed in each case as a percentage of its principal amount) quoted in
writing to the Debenture Trustee by such Reference Treasury Dealer at 5:00 p.m.,
New York City time, on the third Business Day preceding such Redemption Date.
 
LIQUIDATION OF SERIES A ISSUER AND DISTRIBUTION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED
DEBENTURES TO HOLDERS
 
     The Corporation will have the right at any time to terminate the Series A
Issuer and cause the Series A Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the
holders of the Series A Capital Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation
of the Series A Issuer. Such right is subject to the Corporation having received
prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under applicable capital
guidelines or policies.
 
     Under current United States federal income tax law and interpretations and
assuming, as expected, the Series A Issuer is treated as a grantor trust, a
distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures in exchange for the Series A
Capital Securities should not be a taxable event to holders of the Series A
Capital Securities. Should there be a change in law, a change in legal
interpretation, a Tax Event or other circumstances, however, the distribution
could be a taxable event to holders of the Series A Capital Securities. See
"Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Distribution of Series A
Subordinated Debentures to Holders of Series A Capital Securities." If the
Corporation elects neither to redeem the Series A Subordinated Debentures prior
to maturity nor to liquidate the Series A Issuer and distribute the Series A
Subordinated Debentures to holders of the Series A Capital Securities in
exchange therefor, the Series A Capital Securities will remain outstanding until
the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures.
 
LIQUIDATION VALUE
 
     The amount payable on the Series A Capital Securities in the event of any
liquidation of the Series A Issuer is $1,000 per Series A Capital Security plus
accumulated and unpaid Distributions, which amount may be paid in the form of a
distribution of a Like Amount of Series A Subordinated Debentures, subject to
certain exceptions. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Liquidation
Distribution Upon Termination" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
REGISTRATION OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     The Series A Capital Securities will be represented by global certificates
registered in the name of DTC or its nominee. Beneficial interests in the Series
A Capital Securities will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected
only through, records maintained by participants in DTC. Except as
 
                                      S-18
<PAGE>   21
 
described below and in the accompanying Prospectus, Series A Capital Securities
in certificated form will not be issued in exchange for the global certificates.
See "Book-Entry Issuance" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
     A global security shall be exchangeable for Series A Capital Securities
registered in the names of persons other than DTC or its nominee only if (i) DTC
notifies the Series A Issuer that it is unwilling or unable to continue as a
depositary for such global security and no successor depositary shall have been
appointed, or if at any time DTC ceases to be a clearing agency registered under
the Exchange Act at a time when DTC is required to be so registered to act as
such depositary, (ii) the Series A Issuer in its sole discretion determines that
such global security shall be so exchangeable or (iii) there shall have occurred
and be continuing an event of default under the Indenture with respect to the
Series A Subordinated Debentures. Any global security that is exchangeable
pursuant to the preceding sentence shall be exchangeable for definitive
certificates registered in such names as DTC shall direct. It is expected that
such instructions will be based upon directions received by DTC from its
Participants (as defined in the accompanying Prospectus) with respect to
ownership of beneficial interests in such global security. In the event that
Series A Capital Securities are issued in definitive form, such Series A Capital
Securities will be in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof and
may be transferred or exchanged at the offices described below.
 
     Payments on Series A Capital Securities represented by a global security
will be made to DTC, as the depositary for the Series A Capital Securities. In
the event Series A Capital Securities are issued in certificated form, the
Liquidation Amount and Distributions will be payable, the transfer of the Series
A Capital Securities will be registrable, and Series A Capital Securities will
be exchangeable for Series A Capital Securities of other denominations of a like
aggregate Liquidation Amount, at the corporate office of the Property Trustee in
New York, New York, or at the offices of any paying agent or transfer agent
appointed by the Administrative Trustees, provided that payment of any
Distribution may be made at the option of the Administrative Trustees by check
mailed to the address of the persons entitled thereto or by wire transfer. In
addition, if the Series A Capital Securities are issued in certificated form,
the record dates for payment of Distributions will be the 15th day of the month
preceding the month in which the relevant Distribution payment is scheduled to
be paid. For a description of DTC and the terms of the depositary arrangements
relating to payments, transfers, voting rights, redemptions and other notices
and other matters, see "Book-Entry Issuance" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
               CERTAIN TERMS OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
GENERAL
 
     The following summary of certain terms and provisions of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures supplements the description of the terms and provisions
of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures (as defined in the
accompanying Prospectus) set forth in the accompanying Prospectus under the
heading "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures" to which description
reference is hereby made. The summary of certain terms and provisions of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures set forth below, which describes the material
provisions thereof, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and
qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Indenture, to which reference is
hereby made. The form of Indenture has been filed as an exhibit to the
Registration Statement of which this Prospectus Supplement and accompanying
Prospectus form a part.
 
     Concurrently with the issuance of the Series A Capital Securities, the
Series A Issuer will invest the proceeds thereof, together with the
consideration paid by the Corporation for the Series A Common Securities, in the
Series A Subordinated Debentures issued by the Corporation. The Series A
Subordinated Debentures will bear interest at the annual rate of 7.67% of the
principal amount thereof, payable semi-annually in arrears on June 1 and
December 1 of each year (each, an
 
                                      S-19
<PAGE>   22
 
"Interest Payment Date"), commencing June 1, 1997, to the person in whose name
each Series A Subordinated Debenture is registered at the close of business on
the Business Day next preceding such Interest Payment Date. It is anticipated
that, until the liquidation, if any, of the Series A Issuer, each Series A
Subordinated Debenture will be held by the Property Trustee in trust for the
benefit of the holders of the Series A Capital Securities. The amount of
interest payable for any period less than a full interest period will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. In the event
that any date on which interest is payable on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures is not a Business Day, then payment of the interest payable on such
date will be made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without
any interest or other payment in respect of any such delay), except that, if
such Business Day is in the next succeeding calendar year, such payment shall be
made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in each case with the same force
and effect as if made on the date such payment was originally payable. Accrued
interest that is not paid on the applicable Interest Payment Date will bear
additional interest on the amount thereof (to the extent permitted by law) at
the rate per annum of 7.67% thereof, compounded semi-annually from the relevant
Interest Payment Date. The term "interest" as used herein shall include semi-
annual interest payments, interest on semi-annual interest payments not paid on
the applicable Interest Payment Date and Additional Sums (as defined below), as
applicable.
 
     The Series A Subordinated Debentures will be issued as a series of junior
subordinated deferrable interest debentures under the Indenture.
 
     The Series A Subordinated Debentures will mature on December 1, 2026.
 
     The Series A Subordinated Debentures will be unsecured and will rank junior
and be subordinate in right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation.
See "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination" in the
accompanying Prospectus. Substantially all of the Corporation's existing
indebtedness constitutes Senior Debt. Because the Corporation is a holding
company, the right of the Corporation to participate in any distribution of
assets of any subsidiary, including the Bank, Chase USA and Texas Commerce, upon
such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the
prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent that the
Corporation may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary.
Accordingly, the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be effectively
subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the Corporation's
subsidiaries, and holders of Series A Subordinated Debentures should look only
to the assets of the Corporation for payments on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. The Indenture does not limit the incurrence or issuance of other
secured or unsecured debt of the Corporation, including Senior Debt, whether
under the Indenture, any existing indenture or any other indenture that the
Corporation may enter into in the future or otherwise. See "Description of
Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS
 
     So long as no event of default under the Indenture has occurred and is
continuing, the Corporation has the right under the Indenture at any time or
from time to time during the term of the Series A Subordinated Debentures to
defer payment of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures for a period
not exceeding 10 consecutive semi-annual periods with respect to each Extension
Period, provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the Stated Maturity
of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. At the end of such Extension Period,
the Corporation must pay all interest then accrued and unpaid on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures (together with interest on such unpaid interest at the
annual rate of 7.67%, compounded semi-annually from the relevant Interest
Payment Date, to the extent permitted by applicable law). During an Extension
Period, interest will accrue and holders of Series A Subordinated Debentures (or
holders of Series A Capital Securities while such series is outstanding) will be
required to accrue interest income for United States federal income tax
purposes. See "Certain Federal Income Tax Consequences -- Interest Income and
Original Issue Discount."
 
                                      S-20
<PAGE>   23
 
     During any such Extension Period, the Corporation may not, and may not
permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to, (i) declare or pay any dividends or
distributions on, or redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment
with respect to, any of the Corporation's capital stock, (ii) make any payment
of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay, repurchase or redeem any
debt securities of the Corporation (including other series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures) that rank pari passu with or junior in interest to the
Series A Subordinated Debentures or (iii) make any guarantee payments with
respect to any guarantee by the Corporation of the debt securities of any
subsidiary of the Corporation if such guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior
in interest to the Series A Subordinated Debentures (other than (a) dividends or
distributions in capital stock of the Corporation, (b) any declaration of a
dividend in connection with the implementation of a stockholders' rights plan,
or the redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c)
payments under the Series A Guarantee, and (d) purchases of common stock related
to the issuance of common stock or rights under any of the Corporation's benefit
plans for its directors, officers or employees, related to the issuance of
common stock or rights under a dividend reinvestment and stock purchase plan, or
related to the issuance of common stock (or securities convertible into or
exchangeable for common stock as consideration in an acquisition transaction
that was entered into prior to the commencement of such Extension Period). Prior
to the termination of any such Extension Period, the Corporation may further
defer the payment of interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, provided
that no Extension Period may exceed 10 consecutive semi-annual periods or extend
beyond the Stated Maturity of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Upon the
termination of any such Extension Period and the payment of all interest then
accrued and unpaid (together with interest thereon at the rate of 7.67%,
compounded semi-annually, to the extent permitted by applicable law), the
Corporation may elect to begin a new Extension Period subject to the above
requirements. No interest shall be due and payable during an Extension Period,
except at the end thereof. The Corporation must give the Property Trustee, the
Administrative Trustees and the Debenture Trustee notice of its election to
begin such Extension Period at least one Business Day prior to the earlier of
(i) the date Distributions on the Series A Securities would have been payable
except for the election to begin such Extension Period, (ii) the date the
Administrative Trustees are required to give notice to the New York Stock
Exchange, the Nasdaq National Market or other applicable stock exchange or
automated quotation system on which the Series A Capital Securities are then
listed or quoted or to holders of Series A Subordinated Debentures of the record
date for such Distributions or (iii) the date such Distributions are payable,
but in any event not less than one Business Day prior to such record date. The
Debenture Trustee shall give notice of the Corporation's election to begin a new
Extension Period to the holders of the Series A Subordinated Debentures. There
is no limitation on the number of times that the Corporation may elect to begin
an Extension Period. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest Payments" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
ADDITIONAL SUMS
 
     If the Series A Issuer is required to pay any additional taxes, duties or
other governmental charges as a result of a Tax Event, the Corporation will pay
as additional amounts on the Series A Subordinated Debentures such amounts as
shall be required so that the Distributions payable by the Series A Issuer shall
not be reduced as a result of any such additional taxes, duties or other
governmental charges.
 
     In the Indenture, the Corporation, as borrower, has agreed to pay all debts
and other obligations (other than with respect to the Series A Capital
Securities) and all costs and expenses of the Series A Issuer (including costs
and expenses relating to the organization of the Series A Issuer, the fees and
expenses of the Trustees and the costs and expenses relating to the operation of
the Series A Issuer) and to pay any and all taxes and all costs and expenses
with respect thereto (other than United States withholding taxes) to which the
Series A Issuer might become subject.
 
                                      S-21
<PAGE>   24
 
REDEMPTION
 
     Subject to the Corporation having received prior approval of the Federal
Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, the
Series A Subordinated Debentures are redeemable prior to maturity at the option
of the Corporation (i) on or after December 1, 2006, in whole at any time or in
part from time to time or (ii) prior to December 1, 2006, in whole (but not in
part) within 90 days following the occurrence of a Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event (each as defined under "Risk Factors -- Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event -- Redemption"), in each case at the Redemption Price described
below. The proceeds of any such redemption will be used by the Series A Issuer
to redeem the Series A Securities.
 
     The Redemption Price in the case of a redemption under (i) above shall
equal the following prices, expressed in percentages of the principal amount,
together with accrued interest to but excluding the Redemption Date. If redeemed
during the 12-month period beginning December 1:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                         REDEMPTION
          YEAR                                                             PRICE
          ------------------------------------------------------------  ------------
          <S>                                                           <C>
          2006........................................................      103.835%
          2007........................................................      103.452
          2008........................................................      103.068
          2009........................................................      102.685
          2010........................................................      102.301
          2011........................................................      101.917
          2012........................................................      101.534
          2013........................................................      101.150
          2014........................................................      100.767
          2015........................................................      100.383
</TABLE>
 
and at 100% on or after December 1, 2016.
 
     The Redemption Price, in the case of a redemption following a Tax Event or
Capital Treatment Event as described under (ii) above, shall equal the
Make-Whole Amount (as defined under "Certain Terms of Series A Capital
Securities--Redemption"), together with accrued interest to but excluding the
Redemption Date.
 
DISTRIBUTION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     As described under "Certain Terms of Series A Capital
Securities -- Liquidation of Series A Issuer and Distribution of Series A
Subordinated Debentures to Holders," under certain circumstances involving the
termination of the Series A Issuer, Series A Subordinated Debentures may be
distributed to the holders of the Series A Capital Securities in exchange
therefor upon liquidation of the Series A Issuer after satisfaction of
liabilities to creditors of the Series A Issuer as provided by applicable law.
If distributed to holders of Series A Capital Securities, the Series A
Subordinated Debentures will initially be issued in the form of one or more
global securities and DTC, or any successor depositary for the Series A Capital
Securities, will act as depositary for the Series A Subordinated Debentures. It
is anticipated that the depositary arrangements for the Series A Subordinated
Debentures would be substantially identical to those in effect for the Series A
Capital Securities. There can be no assurance as to the market price of any
Series A Subordinated Debentures that may be distributed to the holders of
Series A Capital Securities.
 
REGISTRATION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Series A Subordinated Debentures will be registered in the name of the
Series A Issuer. In the event that the Series A Debentures are distributed to
holders of Series A Capital Securities, it is anticipated that the depositary
and other arrangements for the Series A Subordinated Debentures
 
                                      S-22
<PAGE>   25
 
will be substantially identical to those in effect for the Series A Capital
Securities as applicable. See "Certain Terms of Series A Capital
Securities -- Registration of Series A Capital Securities."
 
                      CERTAIN TERMS OF SERIES A GUARANTEE
 
     The Series A Guarantee guarantees to the holders of the Series A Securities
the following payments, to the extent not paid by the Series A Issuer: (i) any
accumulated and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on the Series A
Securities, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on hand available
therefor at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price with respect to any Series A
Securities called for redemption, to the extent that the Series A Issuer has
funds on hand available therefor at such time, and (iii) upon a voluntary or
involuntary dissolution, winding up or liquidation of the Series A Issuer
(unless the Series A Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of the
Series A Securities), the lesser of (a) the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount
and all accumulated and unpaid Distributions to the date of payment, to the
extent that the Series A Issuer has funds on hand available therefor at such
time, and (b) the amount of assets of the Series A Issuer remaining available
for distribution to holders of the Series A Securities after payment of
creditors of the Series A Issuer as required by applicable law. The Series A
Guarantee willl be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act. The
Bank of New York will act as the Guarantee Trustee for the purposes of
compliance with the Trust Indenture Act and will hold the Series A Guarantee for
the benefit of the holders of the Series A Securities. The Bank of New York will
also act as Debenture Trustee for the Series A Subordinated Debentures and as
Property Trustee.
 
     The holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of
the Series A Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place of
conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee in
respect of the Series A Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under the Series A Guarantee. Any holder of
the Series A Securities may institute a legal proceeding directly against the
Corporation to enforce its rights under the Series A Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against the Series A Issuer, the Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity. If the Corporation were to default on its
obligation to pay amounts payable under the Series A Subordinated Debentures,
the Series A Issuer would lack funds for the payment of Distributions or amounts
payable on redemption of the Series A Securities or otherwise, and, in such
event, holders of the Series A Capital Securities would not be able to rely upon
the Series A Guarantee for payment of such amounts. Instead, if an event of
default under the Indenture shall have occurred and be continuing and such event
is attributable to the failure of the Corporation to pay interest or premium, if
any, on or principal of the Series A Subordinated Debentures on the applicable
payment date, then a holder of Series A Securities may institute a Direct Action
against the Corporation pursuant to the terms of the Indenture for enforcement
of payment to such holder of the principal of or interest or premium, if any, on
such Series A Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the
aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Series A Capital Securities of such holder.
In connection with such Direct Action, the Corporation will have a right of
set-off under the Indenture to the extent of any payment made by the Corporation
to such holder of Series A Capital Securities in the Direct Action. Except as
described herein, holders of Series A Capital Securities will not be able to
exercise directly any other remedy available to the holders of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures or assert directly any other rights in respect of the
Series A Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of Guarantees" in the
accompanying Prospectus. The Trust Agreement provides that each holder of Series
A Securities by acceptance thereof agrees to the provisions of the Series A
Guarantee and the Indenture.
 
                                      S-23
<PAGE>   26
 
                    CERTAIN FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
 
GENERAL
 
     In the opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, special tax counsel to the
Corporation and the Series A Issuer ("Tax Counsel"), the following summary
accurately describes the material United States federal income tax consequences
that may be relevant to the purchase, ownership and disposition of Series A
Capital Securities. Unless otherwise stated, this summary deals only with Series
A Capital Securities held as capital assets by United States Persons (defined
below) who purchase the Series A Capital Securities upon original issuance at
their original offering price. As used herein, a "United States Person" means a
person that is (i) a citizen or resident of the United States, (ii) a
corporation, partnership or other entity created or organized in or under the
laws of the United States or any political subdivision thereof, (iii) an estate
the income of which is subject to United States federal income taxation
regardless of its source, or (iv) a trust the income of which is subject to
United States federal income taxation regardless of its source; provided,
however, that for taxable years beginning after December 31, 1996 (or, if a
trustee so elects, for taxable years ending after August 20, 1996), a "United
States Person" shall include any trust if a court is able to exercise primary
supervision over the administration of such trust and one or more United States
fiduciaries have the authority to control all substantial decisions of such
trust. The tax treatment of a holder may vary depending on his, her or its
particular situation. This summary does not address all the tax consequences
that may be relevant to a particular holder or to holders who may be subject to
special tax treatment, such as banks, real estate investment trusts, regulated
investment companies, insurance companies, dealers in securities or currencies,
tax-exempt investors, or foreign investors. In addition, this summary does not
include any description of any alternative minimum tax consequences or the tax
laws of any state, local or foreign government that may be applicable to a
holder of Series A Capital Securities. This summary is based on the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), the Treasury regulations
promulgated thereunder and administrative and judicial interpretations thereof,
as of the date hereof, all of which are subject to change, possibly on a
retroactive basis.
 
     The following discussion does not discuss the tax consequences that might
be relevant to persons that are not United States Persons ("non-United States
Persons"). Non-United States Persons should consult their own tax advisors as to
the specific United States federal income tax consequences of the purchase,
ownership and disposition of Series A Capital Securities.
 
     The authorities on which this summary is based are subject to various
interpretations and the opinions of Tax Counsel are not binding on the Internal
Revenue Service ("IRS") or the courts, either of which could take a contrary
position. Moreover, no rulings have been or will be sought from the IRS with
respect to the transactions described herein. Accordingly, there can be no
assurance that the IRS will not challenge the opinions expressed herein or that
a court would not sustain such a challenge. Nevertheless, Tax Counsel has
advised that it is of the view that, if challenged, the opinions expressed
herein would be sustained by a court with jurisdiction in a properly presented
case.
 
     HOLDERS SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS WITH RESPECT TO THE TAX
CONSEQUENCES TO THEM OF THE PURCHASE, OWNERSHIP AND DISPOSITION OF THE SERIES A
CAPITAL SECURITIES, INCLUDING THE TAX CONSEQUENCES UNDER STATE, LOCAL, FOREIGN,
AND OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN UNITED STATES FEDERAL
OR OTHER TAX LAWS. FOR A DISCUSSION OF THE POSSIBLE REDEMPTION OF THE SERIES A
CAPITAL SECURITIES UPON THE OCCURRENCE OF CERTAIN TAX EVENTS SEE "DESCRIPTION OF
SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES -- "REDEMPTION."
 
                                      S-24
<PAGE>   27
 
CLASSIFICATION OF THE SERIES A ISSUER
 
     In connection with the issuance of the Series A Capital Securities, Tax
Counsel is of the opinion that, under current law and assuming compliance with
the terms of the Trust Agreement, and based on certain facts and assumptions
contained in such opinion, the Series A Issuer will be classified as a grantor
trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation for United States
federal income tax purposes. As a result, each beneficial owner of Series A
Capital Securities (a "Securityholder") will be treated as owning an undivided
beneficial interest in the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Accordingly, each
Securityholder will be required to include in its gross income its pro rata
share of the interest income or original issue discount that is paid or accrued
on the Series A Subordinated Debentures. See "-- Interest Income and Original
Issue Discount."
 
CLASSIFICATION OF THE SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Corporation, the Series A Issuer and the holders of the Series A
Securities (by acceptance of a beneficial interest in a Series A Security) will
agree to treat the Series A Subordinated Debentures as indebtedness for all
United States tax purposes. In connection with the issuance of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures, Tax Counsel is of the opinion that, under current law,
and based on certain representations, facts and assumptions set forth in such
opinion, the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be classified as indebtedness
for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
INTEREST INCOME AND ORIGINAL ISSUE DISCOUNT
 
     Except as set forth below, stated interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures generally will be included in income by a Securityholder at the time
such interest income is paid or accrued in accordance with such Securityholder's
regular method of tax accounting.
 
     The Company believes that, under the applicable Treasury regulations, the
Series A Subordinated Debentures will not be considered to have been issued with
"original issue discount" ("OID") within the meaning of Section 1273(a) of the
Code. If, however, the Corporation exercises its right to defer payments of
interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the Series A Subordinated
Debentures will become OID instruments at such time and all Securityholders will
be required to accrue the stated interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures on a daily basis during the Extension Period, even though the Company
will not pay such interest until the end of the Extension Period, and even
though some Securityholders may use the cash method of tax accounting. Moreover,
thereafter the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be taxed as OID instruments
for as long as they remain outstanding. Thus, even after the end of the
Extension Period, all Securityholders would be required to continue to include
the stated interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures in income on a daily
economic accrual basis, regardless of their method of tax accounting and in
advance of receipt of the cash attributable to such interest income. Under the
OID economic accrual rules, a Securityholder would accrue an amount of interest
income each year that approximates the stated interest payments called for under
the terms of the Series A Subordinated Debentures, and actual cash payments of
interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures would not be reported
separately as taxable income. Any amount of OID included in a Securityholder's
gross income (whether or not during an Extension Period) will increase such
Securityholder's tax basis in its Series A Capital Securities, and the amount of
Distributions received by a Securityholder with respect to such Series A Capital
Securities will reduce the tax basis of such Series A Capital Securities.
 
     The Treasury regulations described above have not yet been addressed in any
rulings or other interpretations by the IRS, and it is possible that the IRS
could take a contrary position. If the IRS were to assert successfully that the
stated interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures was OID regardless of
whether the Corporation exercises its right to defer payments of interest on
such
 
                                      S-25
<PAGE>   28
 
debentures, all Securityholders would be required to include such stated
interest in income on a daily economic accrual basis as described above.
 
     Corporate Securityholders will not be entitled to a dividends-received
deduction with respect to any income recognized with respect to the Series A
Capital Securities.
 
DISTRIBUTION OF SERIES A SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES TO HOLDERS OF SERIES A CAPITAL
SECURITIES
 
     Under current law, a distribution by the Series A Issuer of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures as described under the caption "Certain Terms of Series
A Capital Securities -- Liquidation of Series A Issuer and Distribution of
Series A Subordinated Debentures to Holders" will be non-taxable and will result
in the Securityholder receiving directly its pro rata share of the Series A
Subordinated Debentures previously held indirectly through the Series A Issuer,
with a holding period and aggregate tax basis equal to the holding period and
aggregate tax basis such Securityholder had in its Series A Capital Securities
before such distribution. If, however, the liquidation of the Series A Issuer
were to occur because the Series A Issuer is subject to United States federal
income tax with respect to income accrued or received on the Series A
Subordinated Debentures as a result of a Tax Event or otherwise, the
distribution of Series A Subordinated Debentures to Securityholders by the
Series A Issuer could be a taxable event to the Series A Issuer and each
Securityholder, and a Securityholder would recognize gain or loss as if the
Securityholder had exchanged its Series A Capital Securities for the Series A
Subordinated Debentures it received upon the liquidation of the Series A Issuer.
A Securityholder will accrue interest in respect of Series A Subordinated
Debentures received from the Series A Issuer in the manner described above under
"-- Interest Income and Original Issue Discount."
 
SALES OR REDEMPTION OF SERIES A CAPITAL SECURITIES
 
     Gain or loss will be recognized by a Securityholder on a sale of Series A
Capital Securities (including a redemption for cash) in an amount equal to the
difference between the amount realized by the Securityholder on the sale or
redemption of the Series A Capital Securities (except to the extent that such
amount realized is characterized as a payment in respect of accrued but unpaid
interest on such Securityholder's allocable share of the Series A Subordinated
Debentures that such Securityholder had not included in income previously) and
the Securityholder's adjusted tax basis in the Series A Capital Securities sold
or redeemed. Such gain or loss generally will be taxable as long-term capital
gain or loss if the Securityholder held the Series A Capital Securities that it
sold or redeemed for more than one year. Subject to certain limited exceptions,
capital losses cannot be applied to offset ordinary income for federal income
tax purposes.
 
BACKUP WITHHOLDING TAX AND INFORMATION REPORTING
 
     The amount of OID accrued on the Series A Capital Securities held of record
by United States Persons (other than corporations and other exempt
Securityholders), if any, will be reported to the Internal Revenue Service.
"Backup" withholding at a rate of 31% will apply to payments of interest to
non-exempt United States Persons unless the Securityholder furnishes its
taxpayer identification number in the manner prescribed in applicable Treasury
Regulations, certifies that such number is correct, certifies as to no loss of
exemption from backup withholding and meets certain other conditions.
 
     Payment of the proceeds from the disposition of Series A Capital Securities
to or through the United States office of a broker is subject to information
reporting and backup withholding unless the holder or beneficial owner
establishes an exemption from information reporting and backup withholding.
 
     Any amounts withheld from a Securityholder under the backup withholding
rules will be allowed as a refund or a credit against such Securityholder's
United States federal income tax liability, provided the required information is
furnished to the Internal Revenue Service.
 
                                      S-26
<PAGE>   29
 
     It is anticipated that income on the Series A Capital Securities will be
reported to holders on Form 1099 and mailed to holders of the Series A Capital
Securities by January 31 following each calendar year.
 
POSSIBLE TAX LAW CHANGES
 
     On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation Bill of 1996 (the "Bill") was
introduced in the 104th Congress which would have, among other things, generally
denied interest deductions for interest on an instrument issued by a corporation
that has a maximum weighted average maturity of more than 40 years. The Bill
also would have generally denied interest deductions for interest on an
instrument issued by a corporation that has a maximum term of more than 20 years
and that is not shown as indebtedness on the separate balance sheet of the
issuer or, where the instrument is issued to a related party (other than a
corporation), where the holder or some other related party issues a related
instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on the issuer's consolidated
balance sheet. The above-described provisions of the Bill were proposed to be
effective generally for instruments issued on or after December 7, 1995. If
either provision were to apply to the Series A Subordinated Debentures, the
Corporation would not be able to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated
Debentures. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairmen of the Senate Finance and
House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement (the "Joint Statement")
to the effect that it was their intention that the effective date of the Bill,
if enacted, would be no earlier than the date of appropriate Congressional
action. In addition, subsequent to the publication of the Joint Statement,
Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Representatives Sam M. Gibbons and Charles
B. Rangel wrote letters to Treasury Department officials concurring with the
view expressed in the Joint Statement (the "Democrat Letters"). The 104th
Congress adjourned without enacting the Bill. Moreover, if the principles
contained in the Joint Statement and the Democrat Letters were followed any
similar legislation in this area that is subsequently proposed would not apply
to the Series A Subordinated Debentures. Although the 104th Congress adjourned
without enacting the Bill, there can be no assurance that current or future
legislative proposals or final legislation will not adversely affect the ability
of the Corporation to deduct interest on the Series A Subordinated Debentures or
otherwise affect the tax treatment of the transaction described herein.
Moreover, such a change could give rise to a Tax Event, which would permit the
Corporation, upon approval of the Federal Reserve if then required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies, to cause a redemption of the Series A
Capital Securities, as described more fully in the accompanying Prospectus under
"Description of Preferred Securities -- Redemption or Exchange -- Tax Event or
Capital Event Redemption."
 
                                      S-27
<PAGE>   30
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting
Agreement, the Corporation and the Series A Issuer have agreed that the Series A
Issuer will sell to each of the Underwriters named below, and each of such
Underwriters, for whom Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated and Chase Securities
Inc. are acting as representatives (the "Representatives"), has severally agreed
to purchase from the Series A Issuer, the respective number of Series A Capital
Securities set forth opposite its name below. In the Underwriting Agreement, the
several Underwriters have agreed, subject to the terms and conditions set forth
therein, to purchase all the Series A Capital Securities offered hereby if any
of the Series A Capital Securities are purchased. In the event of default by an
Underwriter, the Underwriting Agreement provides that, in certain circumstances,
the purchase commitments of the nondefaulting Underwriters may be increased or
the Underwriting Agreement may be terminated.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            NUMBER
                                                                              OF
                                                                           SERIES A
                                                                           CAPITAL
                                     NAME                                  SECURITIES
        ---------------------------------------------------------------    --------
        <S>                                                                <C>
        Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated..............................      85,715
        Chase Securities Inc...........................................      85,715
        CS First Boston Corporation....................................      85,714
        Goldman, Sachs & Co............................................      85,714
        Lehman Brothers Inc............................................      85,714
        Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith Incorporated.............      85,714
        Salomon Brothers Inc...........................................      85,714
                                                                           --------
 
                  Total................................................     600,000
                                                                           =========
</TABLE>
 
     The Underwriting Agreement provides that the obligations of the several
Underwriters to pay for and accept delivery of the Series A Capital Securities
are subject to the approval of certain legal matters by their counsel and to
certain other conditions. The Underwriters are committed to take and pay for all
of the Series A Capital Securities if any are taken.
 
     The Underwriters propose initially to offer the Series A Capital Securities
to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover page of this
Prospectus Supplement and to certain dealers at such price less a concession not
in excess of $6.00 per Series A Capital Security. The Underwriters may allow,
and such dealers may reallow, a discount not in excess of $2.50 per Series A
Capital Security to certain other dealers. After the initial public offering,
the public offering price, concession and discount may be changed.
 
     In view of the fact that the proceeds from the sale of the Series A Capital
Securities will be used to purchase the Series A Subordinated Debentures issued
by the Corporation, the Underwriting Agreement provides that the Corporation
will pay as Underwriters' compensation for the Underwriters' arranging the
investment therein of such proceeds an amount of $10.00 per Series A Capital
Security for the accounts of the several Underwriters.
 
     The Corporation and the Series A Issuer have agreed that, during the period
beginning from the date of the Underwriting Agreement and continuing to and
including the earlier of (i) the termination of trading restrictions on the
Series A Capital Securities, as determined by the Representatives, and (ii) the
closing date, they will not offer, sell, contract to sell or otherwise dispose
of any Preferred Securities, any other beneficial interests in the assets of the
Series A Issuer, or any preferred securities or any other securities of the
Series A Issuer or the Corporation which are substantially similar to the Series
A Capital Securities, including any guarantee of such securities, or any
securities convertible into or exchangeable for or representing the right to
receive preferred securities or any such substantially similar securities of
either the Series A Issuer or the Corpora-
 
                                      S-28
<PAGE>   31
 
tion, without the prior written consent of the Underwriters, except for the
Series A Capital Securities offered in connection with this offering.
 
     The Series A Capital Securities are a new issue of securities with no
established trading market. The Series A Issuer does not intend to apply for
listing of the Series A Capital Securities on a national securities exchange,
but has been advised by the Underwriters that they presently intend to make a
market in the Series A Capital Securities as permitted by applicable laws and
regulations. The Underwriters are not obligated, however, to make a market in
the Series A Capital Securities and any such market making may be discontinued
at any time at the sole discretion of the Underwriters. Accordingly, no
assurance can be given as to the liquidity of, or trading markets for, the
Series A Capital Securities.
 
     The Corporation and the Series A Issuer have agreed to indemnify the
several Underwriters against, or contribute to payments that the Underwriters
may be required to make in respect of, certain liabilities, including
liabilities under the Securities Act.
 
     Chase Securities Inc., one of the Representatives, is a wholly owned
subsidiary of the Corporation. The underwriting arrangements for this offering
comply with the requirements of Rule 2720 of the Conduct Rules of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD") regarding an NASD member firm's
underwriting securities of an affiliate. In accordance with Rule 2720, no
Underwriter may make sales in this offering to any discretionary account without
the prior written approval of the customer.
 
     Morgan Stanley & Co. Incorporated will serve as Quotations Agent with
respect to the Series A Capital Securities and in certain instances will
calculate the Redemption Price thereof.
 
     Certain of the Underwriters or their affiliates have provided from time to
time, and expect to provide in the future, investment or commercial banking
services to the Corporation and its affiliates, for which such Underwriters or
their affiliates have received or will receive customary fees and commissions.
 
                             VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
 
     Certain matters of Delaware law relating to the validity of the Series A
Capital Securities, the enforceability of the Trust Agreement and the formation
of the Series A Issuer will be passed upon by Richards, Layton & Finger, special
Delaware counsel to the Corporation and the Series A Issuer. The validity of the
Series A Guarantee and the Series A Subordinated Debentures will be passed upon
for the Corporation by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (a partnership which includes
professional corporations) and for the Underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell.
Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Sullivan & Cromwell will rely on the opinion of
Richards, Layton & Finger as to matters of Delaware law. Sullivan & Cromwell
from time to time performs legal services for the Corporation. Certain matters
relating to United States federal income tax considerations described in this
Prospectus Supplement will be passed upon for the Corporation by Simpson Thacher
& Bartlett.
 
                                      S-29
<PAGE>   32
 
                                  $500,000,000
 
                        THE CHASE MANHATTAN CORPORATION
                         JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEFERRABLE
                              INTEREST DEBENTURES
 
                                CHASE CAPITAL I
                                CHASE CAPITAL II
                               CHASE CAPITAL III
                 PREFERRED SECURITIES FULLY AND UNCONDITIONALLY
                      GUARANTEED, AS DESCRIBED HEREIN, BY
 
                        THE CHASE MANHATTAN CORPORATION
 
     The Chase Manhattan Corporation, a Delaware corporation (the
"Corporation"), may from time to time offer in one or more series or issuances
its junior subordinated deferrable interest debentures (the "Junior Subordinated
Debentures"). The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be unsecured and
subordinate and junior in right of payment to Senior Debt (as defined in
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Subordination") of the
Corporation. If provided in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the
Corporation will have the right to defer payments of interest on any series of
Junior Subordinated Debentures by extending the interest payment period thereon
at any time or from time to time for up to such number of consecutive interest
payment periods (which shall not extend beyond the Stated Maturity (as defined
herein) of the Junior Subordinated Debentures) with respect to each deferral
period as may be specified in such Prospectus Supplement (each, an "Extension
Period"). In such circumstance, however, the Corporation would not be permitted,
subject to certain exceptions set forth herein, to declare or pay any dividends,
distributions or other payments with respect to, or repay, repurchase, redeem or
otherwise acquire, the Corporation's capital stock or debt securities that rank
pari passu with or junior to such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures. See
"Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Option to Defer Interest
Payments" and "-- Restrictions on Certain Payments."
 
     Chase Capital I, Chase Capital II and Chase Capital III, each a trust
created under the laws of the State of Delaware (each, an "Issuer," and
collectively, the "Issuers"), may severally offer, from time to time, preferred
securities (the "Preferred Securities") representing beneficial ownership
interests in such Issuer. The Corporation will be the owner of the common
securities (the "Common Securities" and, together with the Preferred Securities,
the "Trust Securities") representing common beneficial ownership interests in
such Issuer. Holders of the Preferred Securities will be entitled to receive
preferential cumulative cash distributions ("Distributions") accumulating from
the date of original issuance and payable periodically as specified in an
accompanying Prospectus Supplement.
     Concurrently with the issuance by an Issuer of its Preferred Securities,
such Issuer will invest the proceeds thereof and of contributions received in
respect of the Common Securities in a corresponding series of the Corporation's
Junior Subordinated Debentures (the "Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures") with terms corresponding to the terms of that Issuer's Preferred
Securities (the "Related Preferred Securities"). Accordingly, if, as provided in
an accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the
                                                        (continued on next page)
 
  THESE SECURITIES ARE NOT DEPOSITS OR OTHER OBLIGATIONS OF A BANK AND ARE NOT
 INSURED BY THE FEDERAL DEPOSIT INSURANCE CORPORATION OR ANY OTHER GOVERNMENTAL
                                    AGENCY.
 
                             ---------------------
 
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
 EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
   AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE
ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                               CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
                             ---------------------
 
   
               The date of this Prospectus is November 25, 1996.
    
<PAGE>   33
 
(cover page continued)
 
Corporation has the right to defer the payment of interest on a series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, then, if interest payments are so
deferred, Distributions on the Related Preferred Securities would also be
deferred, but would continue to accumulate at the rate per annum set forth in
the related Prospectus Supplement. See "Description of Preferred Securities --
Distributions."
 
     Taken together, the Corporation's obligations under each series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Indenture and the related
Trust Agreement and the related Guarantee (each, as defined herein), in the
aggregate, provide a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of payments
of Distributions and other amounts due on the Related Preferred Securities. See
"Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantees -- Full and Unconditional Guarantee".
The payment of Distributions with respect to the Preferred Securities of each
Issuer and payments on liquidation of such Issuer or redemption of such
Preferred Securities, in each case out of funds held by such Issuer, are each
irrevocably guaranteed by the Corporation to the extent described herein (each,
a "Guarantee"). See "Description of Guarantees." The obligations of the
Corporation under each Guarantee will be unsecured and subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation.
 
     The Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be the sole assets of
each Issuer, and payments under the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures
and the related Expense Agreement will be the only revenue of each Issuer. If so
provided in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation may, upon
receipt of approval of the Federal Reserve (if such approval is then required
under the applicable capital guidelines or policies), redeem the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures (and thereby cause the redemption of the Trust
Securities) or may terminate each Issuer and, after satisfaction of liabilities
to the creditors of such Issuer as required by applicable law, cause the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to the holders of
Preferred Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of their interests in
such Issuer. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Liquidation
Distribution Upon Termination."
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures and Preferred Securities may be offered
in amounts, at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of offering;
provided, however, the aggregate initial public offering price of all Junior
Subordinated Debentures (other than Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures) and Preferred Securities (including the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures) issued pursuant to the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus forms a part shall not exceed $500,000,000. Certain specific
terms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities in respect
of which this Prospectus is being delivered will be described in an accompanying
Prospectus Supplement, including without limitation and where applicable and to
the extent not set forth herein, (a) in the case of Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the specific designation, aggregate principal amount, denominations,
Stated Maturity (including any provisions for the shortening or extension
thereof), interest payment dates, interest rate (which may be fixed or variable)
or method of calculating interest, if any, applicable Extension Period or
interest deferral terms, if any, place or places where principal, premium, if
any, and interest, if any, will be payable, any terms of redemption, any sinking
fund provisions, terms for any conversion or exchange into other securities,
initial offering or purchase price, methods of distribution and any other
special terms, and (b) in the case of Preferred Securities, the identity of the
Issuer, specific title, aggregate stated liquidation amount, number of
securities, Distribution rate or method of calculating such rate, Distribution
payment dates, applicable Distribution deferral terms, if any, place or places
where Distributions will be payable, any terms of redemption, exchange, initial
offering or purchase price, methods of distribution and any other special terms.
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   34
 
     The Prospectus Supplement also will contain information, as applicable,
about certain United States federal income tax consequences relating to the
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities.
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures and Preferred Securities may be sold to
or through underwriters, through dealers, remarketing firms or agents or
directly to purchasers. See "Plan of Distribution." The names of any
underwriters, dealers, remarketing firms or agents involved in the sale of
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities in respect of which this
Prospectus is being delivered and any applicable fee, commission or discount
arrangements with them will be set forth in a Prospectus Supplement. The
Prospectus Supplement will state whether the Junior Subordinated Debentures or
Preferred Securities will be listed on any national securities exchange or
automated quotation system. If the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred
Securities are not listed on any national securities exchange or automated
quotation system, there can be no assurance that there will be a secondary
market for the Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities.
 
     This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Preferred Securities unless accompanied by a Prospectus
Supplement.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     The Corporation is subject to the informational requirements of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in
accordance therewith, files reports, proxy statements and other information with
the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports, proxy
statements and other information can be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities of the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549 and at the regional offices of the
Commission located at 7 World Trade Center, 13th Floor, Suite 1300, New York,
New York 10048 and Suite 1400, Citicorp Center, 14th Floor, 500 West Madison
Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of such material can also be obtained at
prescribed rates by writing to the Public Reference Section of the Commission at
450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549. Such material
may also be accessed electronically by means of the Commission's home page on
the Internet at http://www.sec.gov. In addition, such reports, proxy statements
and other information concerning the Corporation can be inspected at the offices
of the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
 
     The Corporation and the Issuers have filed with the Commission a
Registration Statement on Form S-3 (together with all amendments and exhibits
thereto, the "Registration Statement") under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended (the "Securities Act"), with respect to the securities offered hereby.
This Prospectus does not contain all the information set forth in the
Registration Statement, certain portions of which have been omitted as permitted
by the rules and regulations of the Commission. For further information with
respect to the Corporation and the securities offered hereby, reference is made
to the Registration Statement and the exhibits and the financial statements,
notes and schedules filed as a part thereof or incorporated by reference
therein, which may be inspected at the public reference facilities of the
Commission at the addresses set forth above or through the Commission's home
page on the Internet. Statements made in this Prospectus concerning the contents
of any documents referred to herein are not necessarily complete, and in each
instance are qualified in all respects by reference to the copy of such document
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement.
 
     No separate financial statements of any Issuer have been included herein.
The Corporation and the Issuers do not consider that such financial statements
would be material to holders of the Preferred Securities because each Issuer is
a newly formed special purpose entity, has no operating history or independent
operations and is not engaged in and does not propose to engage in any activity
other than holding as trust assets the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures of the
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   35
 
Corporation and issuing the Trust Securities. See "The Issuers," "Description of
Preferred Securities," "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures" and "Description of
Guarantees." In addition, the Corporation does not expect that any of the
Issuers will be filing reports under the Exchange Act with the Commission.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
     The following documents filed by the Corporation with the Commission are
incorporated into this Prospectus by reference:
 
     1. Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1995.
 
     2. Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended March 31, 1996,
        June 30, 1996 and September 30, 1996.
 
     3. Current Reports on Form 8-K dated January 12, 1996, January 18, 1996,
        January 19, 1996, February 5, 1996, March 25, 1996, March 31, 1996,
        April 16, 1996, July 17, 1996, September 30, 1996, October 7, 1996 and
        October 15, 1996.
 
     Each document or report filed by the Corporation pursuant to Section 13(a),
13(c), 14 or 15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date hereof and prior to the
termination of any offering of securities made by this Prospectus shall be
deemed to be incorporated by reference into this Prospectus and to be a part of
this Prospectus from the date of filing of such document. Any statement
contained herein, or in a document all or a portion of which is incorporated or
deemed to be incorporated by reference herein, shall be deemed to be modified or
superseded for purposes of the Registration Statement and this Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of the Registration Statement or this Prospectus.
 
     The Corporation will provide without charge to any person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, on the written or oral request of such person, a copy
of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated by reference herein (other
than exhibits not specifically incorporated by reference into the texts of such
documents). Requests for such documents should be directed to: The Chase
Manhattan Corporation, 270 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017, Attention:
Office of the Secretary, telephone number (212) 270-4040.
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   36
 
                        THE CHASE MANHATTAN CORPORATION
 
     The Corporation is a bank holding company organized under the laws of
Delaware in 1968 and registered under the Bank Holding Company Act of 1956, as
amended. On March 31, 1996, The Chase Manhattan Corporation ("Old Chase") merged
with and into Chemical Banking Corporation, and Chemical Banking Corporation
changed its name to "The Chase Manhattan Corporation."
 
     The Corporation is a Delaware corporation with its principal office at 270
Park Avenue, New York, New York 10017. Its telephone number is (212) 270-6000.
 
                                  THE ISSUERS
 
     Each Issuer is a statutory business trust created under Delaware law
pursuant to (i) a trust agreement executed by the Corporation, as Depositor of
the Issuer, and the Delaware Trustee and two Administrative Trustees (as defined
herein) of such Issuer and (ii) the filing of a certificate of trust and a
restated certificate of trust with the Delaware Secretary of State. Each trust
agreement will be amended and restated in its entirety (each, as so amended and
restated, a "Trust Agreement") substantially in the form filed as an exhibit to
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. Each Trust
Agreement will be qualified as an indenture under the Trust Indenture Act of
1939, as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"). Each Issuer exists for the
exclusive purposes of (i) issuing and selling its Trust Securities, (ii) using
the proceeds from the sale of such Trust Securities to acquire a series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by the Corporation, and
(iii) engaging in only those other activities necessary or incidental thereto
(such as registering the transfer of Trust Securities). Accordingly, the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be the sole assets of each
Issuer, and payments under the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will
be the sole revenue of each Issuer.
 
     All of the Common Securities of each Issuer will be owned by the
Corporation. The Common Securities of an Issuer will rank pari passu, and
payments will be made thereon pro rata, with the Preferred Securities of such
Issuer, except that upon the occurrence and continuance of an event of default
under a Trust Agreement resulting from an event of default under the Indenture,
the rights of the Corporation as holder of the Common Securities to payment in
respect of Distributions and payments upon liquidation or redemption will be
subordinated to the rights of the holders of the Preferred Securities of such
Issuer. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Subordination of Common
Securities." The Corporation will acquire Common Securities in an aggregate
Liquidation Amount equal to not less than 3% of the total capital of each
Issuer.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, each
Issuer has a term of approximately 55 years, but may terminate earlier as
provided in the applicable Trust Agreement. Each Issuer's business and affairs
are conducted by its trustees, each appointed by the
Corporation as holder of the Common Securities. The trustees for each Issuer
will be The Bank of New York, as the Property Trustee (the "Property Trustee"),
The Bank of New York (Delaware), as the Delaware Trustee (the "Delaware
Trustee"), and two individual trustees (the "Administrative Trustees") who are
employees or officers of or affiliated with the Corporation (collectively, the
"Issuer Trustees"). The Bank of New York, as Property Trustee, will act as sole
trustee under each Trust Agreement for purposes of compliance with the Trust
Indenture Act. The Bank of New York will also act as trustee under the
Guarantees and the Indenture. See "Description of Guarantees" and "Description
of Junior Subordinated Debentures." The holder of the Common Securities of an
Issuer, or the holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the Related
Preferred Securities if an event of default under the Trust Agreement for such
Issuer has occurred and is continuing, will be entitled to appoint, remove or
replace the Property Trustee and/or the Delaware Trustee for such Issuer. In no
event will the holders of the Preferred Securities have the right to vote to
appoint, remove or replace the Administrative Trustees; such voting rights are
vested exclusively in the holder of the Common Securities. The duties and
obligations of each Issuer Trustee are governed by the applicable Trust
Agreement. The Corporation will pay all fees and expenses related to each
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   37
 
Issuer and the offering of the Preferred Securities and will pay, directly or
indirectly, all ongoing costs, expenses and liabilities of each Issuer.
 
     The principal executive office of each Issuer is 270 Park Avenue, New York,
New York 10017 and its telephone number is (212) 270-6000.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Except as otherwise set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Corporation intends to use the proceeds from the sale of its Junior Subordinated
Debentures (including Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures issued to the
Issuers in connection with the investment by the Issuers of all of the proceeds
from the sale of Trust Securities) for general corporate purposes, including
investments in or loans to subsidiaries, refinancing of debt, including
outstanding commercial paper and other short-term indebtedness, redemption or
repurchase of shares of its outstanding common and preferred stock, the
satisfaction of other obligations or for such other purposes as may be specified
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
                 DESCRIPTION OF JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be issued in one or more series
under a Junior Subordinated Indenture, as supplemented from time to time (as so
supplemented, the "Indenture"), between the Corporation and The Bank of New
York, as trustee (the "Debenture Trustee"). This summary of certain terms and
provisions of the Junior Subordinated Debentures, Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the Indenture, which summarizes the material
provisions thereof, does not purport to be complete and is subject to, and is
qualified in its entirety by reference to, the Indenture, the form of which is
filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms
a part, and to the Trust Indenture Act, to each of which reference is hereby
made. The Indenture is qualified under the Trust Indenture Act. Whenever
particular defined terms of the Indenture (as supplemented or amended from time
to time) are referred to herein or in a Prospectus Supplement, such defined
terms are incorporated herein or therein by reference.
 
GENERAL
 
     Each series of Junior Subordinated Debentures will rank pari passu with all
other series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and will be unsecured and
subordinate and junior in right of payment to the extent and in the manner set
forth in the Indenture to all Senior Debt (as defined below) of the Corporation.
See "-- Subordination." Because the Corporation is a holding company, the right
of the Corporation to participate in any distribution of assets of any
subsidiary, including The Chase Manhattan Bank, Chase Manhattan Bank USA,
National Association, and Texas Commerce Bank National Association, upon such
subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the prior
claims of creditors of the subsidiary, except to the extent the Corporation may
itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary. Accordingly, the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be effectively subordinated to all existing and
future liabilities of the Corporation's subsidiaries, and holders of Junior
Subordinated Debentures should look only to the assets of the Corporation for
payments on the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Except as otherwise provided in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Indenture does not limit the
incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured debt of the Corporation,
including Senior Debt, whether under the Indenture, any other existing indenture
or any other indenture that the Corporation may enter into in the future or
otherwise. See "-- Subordination" and the applicable Prospectus Supplement
relating to any offering of Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   38
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issuable in one or more series
pursuant to an indenture supplemental to the Indenture or a resolution of the
Corporation's Board of Directors or a committee thereof.
 
     The applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the following terms of
the Junior Subordinated Debentures: (1) the title of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures; (2) any limit upon the aggregate principal amount of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures; (3) the date or dates on which the principal of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures is payable (the "Stated Maturity") or the method
of determination thereof; (4) the rate or rates, if any, at which the Junior
Subordinated Debentures shall bear interest, the dates on which any such
interest shall be payable (the "Interest Payment Dates"), the right, if any, of
the Corporation to defer or extend an Interest Payment Date, and the record
dates for any interest payable on any Interest Payment Date (the "Regular Record
Dates") or the method by which any of the foregoing shall be determined; (5) the
place or places where, subject to the terms of the Indenture as described below
under "-- Payment and Paying Agents," the principal of and premium, if any, and
interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be payable and where,
subject to the terms of the Indenture as described below under "--
Denominations, Registration and Transfer," the Junior Subordinated Debentures
may be presented for registration of transfer or exchange and the place or
places where notices and demands to or upon the Corporation in respect of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Indentures may be made ("Place of
Payment"); (6) any period or periods within which, or date or dates on which,
the price or prices at which and the terms and conditions upon which Junior
Subordinated Debentures may be redeemed, in whole or in part, at the option of
the Corporation or a holder thereof; (7) the obligation or the right, if any, of
the Corporation or a holder thereof to redeem, purchase or repay the Junior
Subordinated Debentures and the period or periods within which, the price or
prices at which, the currency or currencies (including currency unit or units)
in which and the other terms and conditions upon which the Junior Subordinated
Debentures shall be redeemed, repaid or purchased, in whole or in part, pursuant
to such obligation; (8) the denominations in which any Junior Subordinated
Debentures shall be issuable if other than denominations of $25 and any integral
multiple thereof; (9) if other than in U.S. Dollars, the currency or currencies
(including currency unit or units) in which the principal of (and premium, if
any) and interest, if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be
payable, or in which the Junior Subordinated Debentures shall be denominated;
(10) any additions, modifications or deletions in the events of default under
the Indenture or covenants of the Corporation specified in the Indenture with
respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures; (11) if other than the principal
amount thereof, the portion of the principal amount of Junior Subordinated
Debentures that shall be payable upon declaration of acceleration of the
maturity thereof; (12) any additions or changes to the Indenture with respect to
a series of Junior Subordinated Debentures as shall be necessary to permit or
facilitate the issuance of such series in bearer form, registrable or not
registrable as to principal, and with or without interest coupons; (13) any
index or indices used to determine the amount of payments of principal of and
premium, if any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures and the manner in which
such amounts will be determined; (14) the terms and conditions relating to the
issuance of a temporary Global Security representing all of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of such series and the exchange of such temporary Global
Security for definitive Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series; (15)
subject to the terms described herein under "-- Global Junior Subordinated
Debentures," whether the Junior Subordinated Debentures of the series shall be
issued in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global Securities and, in
such case, the depositary for such Global Securities, which depositary shall be
a clearing agency registered under the Exchange Act; (16) the appointment of any
paying agent or agents; (17) the terms and conditions of any obligation or right
of the Corporation or a holder to convert or exchange the Junior Subordinated
Debentures into Preferred Securities; (18) the form of Trust Agreement and
Guarantee Agreement, if applicable; (19) the relative degree, if any, to which
such Junior Subordinated Debentures of the series shall be senior to or be
subordinated to other series of such Junior Subordinated Debentures or other
indebtedness of the Corporation in right of payment, whether such other series
of Junior Subordi-
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   39
 
nated Debentures or other indebtedness are outstanding or not; and (20) any
other terms of the Junior Subordinated Debentures not inconsistent with the
provisions of the Indenture.
 
     Junior Subordinated Debentures may be sold at a substantial discount below
their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate which
at the time of issuance is below market rates. Certain United States federal
income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any such Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be described in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
 
     If the purchase price of any of the Junior Subordinated Debentures is
payable in one or more foreign currencies or currency units or if any Junior
Subordinated Debentures are denominated in one or more foreign currencies or
currency units or if the principal of, premium, if any, or interest on any
Junior Subordinated Debentures is payable in one or more foreign currencies or
currency units, the restrictions, elections, certain United States federal
income tax consequences, specific terms and other information with respect to
such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and such foreign currency or
currency units will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     If any index is used to determine the amount of payments of principal of,
premium, if any, or interest on any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures,
special United States federal income tax, accounting and other considerations
applicable thereto will be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
DENOMINATIONS, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be issuable only in registered form without
coupons in denominations of $25 and any integral multiple thereof. Junior
Subordinated Debentures of any series will be exchangeable for other Junior
Subordinated Debentures of the same issue and series, of any authorized
denominations, of a like aggregate principal amount, of the same original issue
date and stated maturity and bearing the same interest rate.
 
     Junior Subordinated Debentures may be presented for exchange as provided
above, and may be presented for registration of transfer (with the form of
transfer endorsed thereon, or a satisfactory written instrument of transfer,
duly executed), at the office of the appropriate securities registrar or at the
office of any transfer agent designated by the Corporation for such purpose with
respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures and referred to in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, without service charge and upon payment of any
taxes and other governmental charges as described in the Indenture. The
Corporation will appoint the Trustee as securities registrar under the
Indenture. If the applicable Prospectus Supplement refers to any transfer agents
(in addition to the securities registrar) initially designated by the
Corporation with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures, the
Corporation may at any time rescind the designation of any such transfer agent
or approve a change in the location through which any such transfer agent acts,
provided that the Corporation maintains a transfer agent in each place of
payment for such series. The Corporation may at any time designate additional
transfer agents with respect to any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
     In the event of any redemption, neither the Corporation nor the Debenture
Trustee shall be required to (i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange
Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series during a period beginning at the
opening of business 15 days before the day of selection for redemption of Junior
Subordinated Debentures of that series and ending at the close of business on
the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption or (ii) transfer or
exchange any Junior Subordinated Debentures so selected for redemption, except,
in the case of any Junior Subordinated Debentures being redeemed in part, any
portion thereof not to be redeemed.
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   40
 
GLOBAL JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures of a series may be issued in whole or in
part in the form of one or more Global Junior Subordinated Debentures that will
be deposited with, or on behalf of, a depositary (the "Depositary") identified
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series. Global Junior Subordinated
Debentures may be issued only in fully registered form and in either temporary
or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the
individual Junior Subordinated Debentures represented thereby, a Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture may not be transferred except as a whole by the
Depositary for such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture to a nominee of such
Depositary or by a nominee of such Depositary to such Depositary or another
nominee of such Depositary or by the Depositary or any nominee to a successor
Depositary or any nominee of such successor.
 
     The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series
of Junior Subordinated Debentures will be described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such series. The Corporation anticipates that the following
provisions will generally apply to depositary arrangements.
 
     Upon the issuance of a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture, and the
deposit of such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture with or on behalf of the
Depositary, the Depositary for such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture or its
nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the
respective principal amounts of the individual Junior Subordinated Debentures
represented by such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture to the accounts of
persons that have accounts with such Depositary ("Participants"). Such accounts
shall be designated by the dealers, underwriters or agents with respect to such
Junior Subordinated Debentures or by the Corporation if such Junior Subordinated
Debentures are offered and sold directly by the Corporation. Ownership of
beneficial interests in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture will be limited
to Participants or persons that may hold interests through Participants.
Ownership of beneficial interests in such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture
will be shown on, and the transfer of that ownership will be effected only
through, records maintained by the applicable Depositary or its nominee (with
respect to interests of Participants) and the records of Participants (with
respect to interests of persons who hold through Participants). The laws of some
states require that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of
such securities in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the
ability to transfer beneficial interests in a Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture.
 
     So long as the Depositary for a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture, or
its nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case may be, will be
considered the sole owner or holder of the Junior Subordinated Debentures
represented by such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture for all purposes under
the Indenture governing such Junior Subordinated Debentures. Except as provided
below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture
will not be entitled to have any of the individual Junior Subordinated
Debentures of the series represented by such Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of any such Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in
definitive form and will not be considered the owners or holders thereof under
the Indenture.
 
     Payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on individual
Junior Subordinated Debentures represented by a Global Junior Subordinated
Debenture registered in the name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to
the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of
the Global Junior Subordinated Debenture representing such Junior Subordinated
Debentures. None of the Corporation, the Debenture Trustee, any Paying Agent, or
the Securities Registrar for such Junior Subordinated Debentures will have any
responsibility or liability for any aspect of the records relating to or
payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests of the Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture representing such Junior Subordinated
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   41
 
Debentures or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to
such beneficial ownership interests.
 
     The Corporation expects that the Depositary for a series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of
principal, premium, if any, or interest in respect of a permanent Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture representing any of such Junior Subordinated Debentures,
immediately will credit Participants' accounts with payments in amounts
proportionate to their respective beneficial interest in the principal amount of
such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture for such Junior Subordinated
Debentures as shown on the records of such Depositary or its nominee. The
Corporation also expects that payments by Participants to owners of beneficial
interests in such Global Junior Subordinated Debenture held through such
Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices,
as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer
form or registered in "street name." Such payments will be the responsibility of
such Participants.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Depositary for a series of Junior Subordinated Debentures is at any time
unwilling, unable or ineligible to continue as depositary and a successor
depositary is not appointed by the Corporation within 90 days, the Corporation
will issue individual Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in exchange
for the Global Junior Subordinated Debenture representing such series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures. In addition, the Corporation may at any time and in its
sole discretion, subject to any limitations described in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such Junior Subordinated Debentures, determine not to
have any Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series represented by one or
more Global Junior Subordinated Debentures and, in such event, will issue
certificated Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series in exchange for the
Global Junior Subordinated Debenture. Further, if the Corporation so specifies
with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures of a series, an owner of a
beneficial interest in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture representing
Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series may, on terms acceptable to the
Corporation, the Debenture Trustee and the Depositary for such Global Junior
Subordinated Debenture, receive certificated Junior Subordinated Debentures of
such series in exchange for such beneficial interests, subject to any
limitations described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Junior
Subordinated Debentures. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest
in a Global Junior Subordinated Debenture will be entitled to physical delivery
of certificated Junior Subordinated Debentures of the series represented by such
Global Junior Subordinated Debenture equal in principal amount to such
beneficial interest and to have such Junior Subordinated Debentures registered
in its name. Individual Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series so issued
will be issued in denominations, unless otherwise specified by the Corporation,
of $25 and integral multiples thereof.
 
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of principal of (and premium, if any) and any interest on Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be made at the office of the Debenture Trustee in the City of
New York or at the office of such paying agent or paying agents as the
Corporation may designate from time to time in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, except that at the option of the Corporation payment of any interest
may be made (i) except in the case of Global Junior Subordinated Debentures, by
check mailed to the address of the person entitled thereto as such address shall
appear in the securities register or (ii) by transfer to an account maintained
by the person entitled thereto as specified in the securities register, provided
that proper transfer instructions have been received by the Regular Record Date.
Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment of
any interest on Junior Subordinated Debentures will be made to the person in
whose name such Junior Subordinated Debenture is registered at the close of
business on the Regular Record Date for such interest, except in the case of
defaulted interest. The Corporation may at any time designate additional paying
agents or rescind
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   42
 
the designation of any paying agent; however the Corporation will at all times
be required to maintain a paying agent in each place of payment for each series
of Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
     Any moneys deposited with the Debenture Trustee or any paying agent, or
then held by the Corporation in trust, for the payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) or interest on any Junior Subordinated Debenture and remaining
unclaimed for two years after such principal (and premium, if any) or interest
has become due and payable shall, at the request of the Corporation, be repaid
to the Corporation and the holder of such Junior Subordinated Debenture shall
thereafter look, as a general unsecured creditor, only to the Corporation for
payment thereof.
 
OPTION TO DEFER INTEREST PAYMENTS
 
     If provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation will
have the right at any time and from time to time during the term of any series
of Junior Subordinated Debentures to defer payment of interest for up to such
number of consecutive interest payment periods as may be specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement (each, an "Extension Period"), subject to the
terms, conditions and covenants, if any, specified in such Prospectus
Supplement, provided that such Extension Period may not extend beyond the Stated
Maturity of such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures. Certain United States
federal income tax consequences and special considerations applicable to any
such Junior Subordinated Debentures will be described in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement.
 
REDEMPTION
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, Junior
Subordinated Debentures will not be subject to any sinking fund.
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Corporation may, at its option and subject to receipt of prior approval by the
Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System (the "Federal Reserve") if then
required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, redeem the Junior
Subordinated Debentures of any series in whole at any time or in part from time
to time. If the Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series are so redeemable
only on or after a specified date or upon the satisfaction of additional
conditions, the applicable Prospectus Supplement will specify such date or
describe such conditions. Junior Subordinated Debentures in denominations larger
than $25 may be redeemed in part but only in integral multiples of $25. Except
as otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the redemption
price for any Junior Subordinated Debenture so redeemed shall equal any accrued
and unpaid interest thereon to the redemption date, plus 100% of the principal
amount thereof.
 
     Except as otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Debenture Tax Event (as defined below) in respect of a series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures or a Capital Treatment Event (as defined herein) shall
occur and be continuing, the Corporation may, at its option and subject to
receipt of prior approval by the Federal Reserve if then required under
applicable capital guidelines or policies, redeem such series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in part) at any time within 90 days
following of the occurrence of such Debenture Tax Event or Capital Treatment
Event, at a redemption price equal to 100% of the principal amount of such
Junior Subordinated Debentures then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest
to the date fixed for redemption, except as otherwise specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     "Debenture Tax Event" means the receipt by the Corporation of an opinion of
counsel experienced in such matters to the effect that, as a result of any
amendment to, or change (including any announced proposed change) in, the laws
(or any regulations thereunder) of the United States or any political
subdivision or taxing authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official administrative pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or
applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is effective or
which proposed change, pronouncement or
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   43
 
decision is announced on or after the date of issuance of the applicable series
of Junior Subordinated Debentures under the Indenture, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that interest payable by the Corporation on such series of
Junior Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days of the date of such
opinion will not be, deductible by the Corporation, in whole or in part, for
United States federal income tax purposes.
 
     A "Capital Treatment Event" means the reasonable determination by the
Corporation that, as a result of any amendment to, or change (including any
proposed change) in, the laws (or any regulations thereunder) of the United
States or any political subdivision thereof or therein, or as a result of any
official or administrative pronouncement or action or judicial decision
interpreting or applying such laws or regulations, which amendment or change is
effective or such proposed change, pronouncement, action or decision is
announced on or after the date of issuance of the applicable Preferred
Securities under the applicable Trust Agreement, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that the Corporation will not be entitled to treat an amount
equal to the Liquidation Amount of the applicable Preferred Securities as "Tier
I Capital" (or the then equivalent thereof) for purposes of the capital adequacy
guidelines of the Federal Reserve, as then in effect and applicable to the
Corporation.
 
     Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the redemption date to each holder of Junior Subordinated
Debentures to be redeemed at its registered address. Unless the Corporation
defaults in payment of the redemption price, on and after the redemption date
interest ceases to accrue on such Junior Subordinated Debentures or portions
thereof called for redemption.
 
RESTRICTIONS ON CERTAIN PAYMENTS
 
     The Corporation will also covenant, as to each series of Junior
Subordinated Debentures, that it will not, and will not permit any subsidiary of
the Corporation to, (i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or
redeem, purchase, acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of
the Corporation's capital stock, (ii) make any payment of principal, interest or
premium, if any, on or repay or repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the
Corporation (including other series of Junior Subordinated Debentures) that rank
pari passu with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated Debentures or
(iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the
Corporation of the debt securities of any subsidiary of the Corporation if such
guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in interest to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures (other than (a) dividends or distributions in capital stock of the
Corporation, (b) any declaration of a dividend in connection with the
implementation of a stockholders' rights plan, or the redemption or repurchase
of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c) payments under any Guarantee with
respect to the series of Related Preferred Securities and (d) purchases of
common stock related to the issuance of common stock or rights under any of the
Corporation's benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees, related to
the issuance of common stock or rights under a dividend reinvestment and stock
purchase plan, or related to the issuance of common stock (or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for common stock) as consideration in an
acquisition transaction that was entered into prior to the commencement of such
Extension Period) if at such time (i) there shall have occurred any event of
which the Corporation has actual knowledge (a) that with the giving of notice or
the lapse of time, or both, would constitute an "Event of Default" under the
Indenture with respect to the Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series and
(b) in respect of which the Corporation shall not have taken reasonable steps to
cure, (ii) if such Junior Subordinated Debentures are held by an Issuer of a
series of Related Preferred Securities, the Corporation shall be in default with
respect to its payment of any obligations under the Guarantee relating to such
Related Preferred Securities or (iii) the Corporation shall have given notice of
its selection of an Extension Period as provided in the Indenture with respect
to the Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series and shall not have
rescinded such notice, or such Extension Period, or any extension thereof, shall
be continuing.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   44
 
MODIFICATION OF INDENTURE
 
     From time to time the Corporation and the Debenture Trustee may, without
the consent of the holders of any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures,
amend, waive or supplement the Indenture for specified purposes, including,
among other things, curing ambiguities, defects or inconsistencies (provided
that any such action does not materially adversely affect the interest of the
holders of any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures or, in the case of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the holders of the Related
Preferred Securities so long as they remain outstanding) and qualifying, or
maintaining the qualification of, the Indenture under the Trust Indenture Act.
The Indenture contains provisions permitting the Corporation and the Debenture
Trustee, with the consent of the holders of not less than a majority in
principal amount of each outstanding series of Junior Subordinated Debentures
affected, to modify the Indenture in a manner adversely affecting the rights of
the holders of such series of the Junior Subordinated Debentures in any material
respect; provided, that no such modification may, without the consent of the
holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Debenture so affected, (i) change
the Stated Maturity of any series of Junior Subordinated Debentures (except as
otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement), or reduce the
principal amount thereof, or reduce the rate or extend the time of payment of
interest thereon or (ii) reduce the percentage of principal amount of Junior
Subordinated Debentures of any series, the holders of which are required to
consent to any such modification of the Indenture, provided further that, in the
case of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, so long as any Related
Preferred Securities remain outstanding, (a) no such modification may be made
that adversely affects the holders of such Preferred Securities in any material
respect, and no termination of the Indenture may occur, and no waiver of any
event of default or compliance with any covenant under the Indenture may be
effective, without the prior consent of the holders of at least a majority of
the aggregate Liquidation Amount of all outstanding Related Preferred Securities
affected unless and until the principal of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures and all accrued and unpaid interest thereon have been paid in full
and certain other conditions have been satisfied, and (b) where a consent under
the Indenture would require the consent of each holder of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, no such consent shall be given by the Property Trustee
without the prior consent of each holder of Related Preferred Securities.
 
     In addition, the Corporation and the Debenture Trustee may execute, without
the consent of any holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures, any supplemental
Indenture for the purpose of creating any new series of Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
 
DEBENTURE EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     The Indenture provides that any one or more of the following described
events with respect to a series of Junior Subordinated Debentures that has
occurred and is continuing constitutes a "Debenture Event of Default" with
respect to such series of Junior Subordinated Debentures:
 
          (i) failure for 30 days to pay any interest on such series of Junior
     Subordinated Debentures when due (subject to the deferral of any interest
     payment in the case of an Extension Period); or
 
          (ii) failure to pay any principal or premium, if any, on such series
     of Junior Subordinated Debentures when due whether at maturity or upon
     redemption; or
 
          (iii) failure to observe or perform in any material respect certain
     other covenants contained in the Indenture for 90 days after written notice
     to the Corporation from the Debenture Trustee or the holders of at least
     25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of such affected series of
     outstanding Junior Subordinated Debentures; or
 
          (iv) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization of the
     Corporation.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   45
 
     The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of
Junior Subordinated Debentures of each series affected have the right to direct
the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available
to the Debenture Trustee. The Debenture Trustee or the holders of not less than
25% in aggregate outstanding principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures
of each series affected may declare the principal due and payable immediately
upon a Debenture Event of Default, and, in the case of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, should the Debenture Trustee or such holders of such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures fail to make such declaration, the
holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred
Securities shall have such right. The holders of a majority in aggregate
outstanding principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures of each series
affected may annul such declaration. In the case of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, should the holders of such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures fail to annul such declaration and waive such default,
the holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Related
Preferred Securities affected shall have such right.
 
     The holders of a majority in aggregate outstanding principal amount of each
series of the Junior Subordinated Debentures affected thereby may, on behalf of
the holders of all the Junior Subordinated Debentures, waive any default, except
a default in the payment of principal or interest (unless such default has been
cured and a sum sufficient to pay all matured installments of interest and
principal due otherwise than by acceleration has been deposited with the
Debenture Trustee) or a default in respect of a covenant or provision which
under the Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the
holder of each outstanding Junior Subordinated Debenture. In the case of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, should the holders of such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures fail to waive such default, the
holders of a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred
Securities affected shall have such right. The Corporation is required to file
annually with the Debenture Trustee a certificate as to whether or not the
Corporation is in compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to
it under the Indenture.
 
     In case a Debenture Event of Default shall occur and be continuing as to a
series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee
will have the right to declare the principal of and the interest on such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, and any other amounts payable
under the Indenture, to be forthwith due and payable and to enforce its other
rights as a creditor with respect to such Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures.
 
ENFORCEMENT OF CERTAIN RIGHTS BY HOLDERS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
     If a Debenture Event of Default with respect to a series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures has occurred and is continuing and such event is
attributable to the failure of the Corporation to pay interest or principal on
such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures on the date such interest or
principal is due and payable, a holder of Preferred Securities may institute a
legal proceeding directly against the Corporation for enforcement of payment to
such holder of the principal of or interest on such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred Securities of such holder (a "Direct
Action"). The Corporation may not amend the Indenture to remove the foregoing
right to bring a Direct Action without the prior written consent of the holders
of all of the Preferred Securities outstanding. If the right to bring a Direct
Action is removed, the applicable Issuer may become subject to the reporting
obligations under the Exchange Act. The Corporation shall have the right under
the Indenture to set-off any payment made to such holder of Preferred Securities
by the Corporation in connection with a Direct Action.
 
     The holders of the Preferred Securities will not be able to exercise
directly any remedies other than those set forth in the preceding paragraph
available to the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures unless there
shall have been an event of default under the Trust Agreement. See "Description
of Preferred Securities -- Events of Default; Notice."
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   46
 
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OF ASSETS AND OTHER TRANSACTIONS
 
     The Indenture provides that the Corporation shall not consolidate with or
merge into any other Person or convey, transfer or lease its properties and
assets substantially as an entirety to any Person, and no Person shall
consolidate with or merge into the Corporation or convey, transfer or lease its
properties and assets substantially as an entirety to the Corporation, unless
(i) in case the Corporation consolidates with or merges into another Person or
conveys or transfers its properties and assets substantially as an entirety to
any Person, the successor Person is organized under the laws of the United
States or any state or the District of Columbia, and such successor Person
expressly assumes the Corporation's obligations on the Junior Subordinated
Debentures issued under the Indenture; (ii) immediately after giving effect
thereto, no Debenture Event of Default, and no event which, after notice or
lapse of time or both, would become a Debenture Event of Default, shall have
occurred and be continuing; (iii) in the case of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, such transaction is permitted under the related Trust
Agreement and Guarantee and does not give rise to any breach or violation of the
related Trust Agreement or Guarantee, and (iv) certain other conditions as
prescribed by the Indenture are met.
 
     The general provisions of the Indenture do not afford holders of the Junior
Subordinated Debentures protection in the event of a highly leveraged or other
transaction involving the Corporation that may adversely affect holders of the
Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
 
     The Indenture provides that when, among other things, all Junior
Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the Debenture Trustee for
cancellation (i) have become due and payable or (ii) will become due and payable
at their Stated Maturity within one year, and the Corporation deposits or causes
to be deposited with the Debenture Trustee funds, in trust, for the purpose and
in an amount in the currency or currencies in which the Junior Subordinated
Debentures are payable sufficient to pay and discharge the entire indebtedness
on the Junior Subordinated Debentures not previously delivered to the Debenture
Trustee for cancellation, for the principal (and premium, if any) and interest
to the date of the deposit or to the Stated Maturity, as the case may be, then
the Indenture will cease to be of further effect (except as to the Corporation's
obligations to pay all other sums due pursuant to the Indenture and to provide
the officers' certificates and opinions of counsel described therein), and the
Corporation will be deemed to have satisfied and discharged the Indenture.
 
CONVERSION OR EXCHANGE
 
     If and to the extent indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Junior Subordinated Debentures of any series may be convertible or exchangeable
into Junior Subordinated Debentures of another series or into Preferred
Securities of another series. The specific terms on which Junior Subordinated
Debentures of any series may be so converted or exchanged will be set forth in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Such terms may include provisions for
conversion or exchange, either mandatory, at the option of the holder, or at the
option of the Corporation, in which case the number of shares of Preferred
Securities or other securities to be received by the holders of Junior
Subordinated Debentures would be calculated as of a time and in the manner
stated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
SUBORDINATION
 
     In the Indenture, the Corporation has covenanted and agreed that any Junior
Subordinated Debentures issued thereunder will be subordinate and junior in
right of payment to all Senior Debt to the extent provided in the Indenture.
Upon any payment or distribution of assets of the Corporation upon any
liquidation, dissolution, winding up, reorganization, assignment for the benefit
of creditors, marshaling of assets or any bankruptcy, insolvency, debt
restructuring or similar proceedings in
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   47
 
connection with any insolvency or bankruptcy proceeding of the Corporation, the
holders of Senior Debt will first be entitled to receive payment in full of
principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if any, on such Senior Debt
before the holders of Junior Subordinated Debentures or, in the case of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee, on behalf of
the holders of Trust Securities, will be entitled to receive or retain any
payment in respect of the principal of (and premium, if any) or interest, if
any, on the Junior Subordinated Debentures; provided, however, that holders of
Senior Debt shall not be entitled to receive payment of any such amounts to the
extent that such holders would be required by the subordination provisions of
such Senior Debt to pay such amounts over to the obligees on trade accounts
payable or other liabilities arising in the ordinary course of the Corporation's
business.
 
     In the event of the acceleration of the maturity of any Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the holders of all Senior Debt outstanding at the time of such
acceleration will first be entitled to receive payment in full of all amounts
due thereon (including any amounts due upon acceleration) before the holders of
Junior Subordinated Debentures will be entitled to receive or retain any payment
in respect of the principal of (or premium, if any) or interest, if any, on the
Junior Subordinated Debentures; provided, however, that holders of Senior Debt
shall not be entitled to receive payment of any such amounts to the extent that
such holders would be required by the subordination provisions of such Senior
Debt to pay such amounts over to the obligees on trade accounts payable or other
liabilities arising in the ordinary course of the Corporation's business.
 
     No payments on account of principal (or premium, if any) or interest in
respect of the Junior Subordinated Debentures may be made if there shall have
occurred and be continuing a default in any payment with respect to Senior Debt
or an event of default with respect to any Senior Debt resulting in the
acceleration of the maturity thereof, or if any judicial proceeding shall be
pending with respect to any such default.
 
     "Debt" means with respect to any Person, whether recourse is to all or a
portion of the assets of such Person and whether or not contingent, (i) every
obligation of such Person for money borrowed; (ii) every obligation of such
Person evidenced by bonds, debentures, notes or other similar instruments,
including obligations incurred in connection with the acquisition of property,
assets or businesses; (iii) every reimbursement obligation of such Person with
respect to letters of credit, bankers' acceptances or similar facilities issued
for the account of such Person; (iv) every obligation of such Person issued or
assumed as the deferred purchase price of property or services (but excluding
trade accounts payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of
business); (v) every capital lease obligation of such Person; (vi) every
obligation of such Person for claims in respect of derivative products such as
interest and foreign exchange rate contracts, commodity contracts and similar
arrangements; and (vii) and every obligation of the type referred to in clauses
(i) through (vi) of another Person and all dividends of another Person the
payment of which, in either case, such Person has guaranteed or is responsible
or liable, directly or indirectly, as obligor or otherwise.
 
     "Senior Debt" means the principal of (and premium, if any) and interest, if
any (including interest accruing on or after the filing of any petition in
bankruptcy or for reorganization relating to the Corporation whether or not such
claim for post-petition interest is allowed in such proceeding), on Debt,
whether incurred on or prior to the date of the Indenture or thereafter
incurred, unless, in the instrument creating or evidencing the same or pursuant
to which the same is outstanding, it is provided that such obligations are not
superior in right of payment to the Junior Subordinated Debentures or to other
Debt which is pari passu with, or subordinated to, the Junior Subordinated
Debentures; provided, however, that Senior Debt shall not be deemed to include
(i) any Debt of the Corporation which when incurred and without respect to any
election under Section 1111(b) of the United States Bankruptcy Code of 1978, as
amended, was without recourse to the Corporation, (ii) any Debt of the
Corporation to any of its subsidiaries, (iii) Debt to any employee of the
Corporation, (iv) Debt which by its terms is subordinated to trade accounts
payable or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business to the
extent that payments made to the holders
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   48
 
of such Debt by the holders of the Junior Subordinated Debentures as a result of
the subordination provisions of the Indenture would be greater than such
payments otherwise would have been as a result of any obligation of such holders
of such Debt to pay amounts over to the obligees on such trade accounts payable
or accrued liabilities arising in the ordinary course of business as a result of
subordination provisions to which such Debt is subject, and (v) any other debt
securities issued pursuant to the Indenture.
 
     The Indenture places no limitation on the amount of Senior Debt that may be
incurred by the Corporation. The Corporation expects from time to time to incur
additional indebtedness and other obligations constituting Senior Debt.
 
     The Indenture provides that the foregoing subordination provisions, insofar
as they relate to any particular issue of Junior Subordinated Debentures, may be
changed prior to such issuance. Any such change would be described in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
TRUST EXPENSES
 
     Pursuant to the Indenture, the Corporation will irrevocably and
unconditionally agree with each Issuer that holds Junior Subordinated Debentures
that the Corporation will pay to such Issuer, and reimburse such Issuer for, the
full amount of any costs, expenses or liabilities of the Issuer, other than
obligations of the Issuer to pay to the holders of any Preferred Securities or
other similar interests in the Issuer the amounts due such holders pursuant to
the terms of the Preferred Securities or such other similar interests, as the
case may be. Such payment obligation will include any such costs, expenses or
liabilities of the Issuer that are required by applicable law to be satisfied in
connection with a termination of such Issuer.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
     The Indenture and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be governed by
and construed in accordance with the laws of the State of New York.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE DEBENTURE TRUSTEE
 
     The Debenture Trustee shall have and be subject to all the duties and
responsibilities specified with respect to an indenture trustee under the Trust
Indenture Act. Subject to such provisions, the Debenture Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by the Indenture at the
request of any holder of Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless offered
reasonable indemnity by such holder against the costs, expenses and liabilities
which might be incurred thereby. The Debenture Trustee is not required to expend
or risk its own funds or otherwise incur personal financial liability in the
performance of its duties if the Debenture Trustee reasonably believes that
repayment or adequate indemnity is not reasonably assured to it.
 
CORRESPONDING JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
 
     The Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures may be issued in one or
more series of Junior Subordinated Debentures under the Indenture with terms
corresponding to the terms of a series of Related Preferred Securities. In that
event, concurrently with the issuance of each Issuer's Preferred Securities,
such Issuer will invest the proceeds thereof and the consideration paid by the
Corporation for the Common Securities of such Issuer in such series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures issued by the Corporation to such
Issuer. Each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be in
the principal amount equal to the aggregate stated Liquidation Amount of the
Related Preferred Securities and the Common Securities of such Issuer and will
rank pari passu with all other series of Junior Subordinated Debentures. Holders
of the Related Preferred Securities for a series of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures will have the rights, in connection with modifications
to the Indenture or upon occurrence of Debenture Events of Default, as described
under "-- Modification of Indenture" and " -- Debenture Events of
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   49
 
Default," unless provided otherwise in the Prospectus Supplement for such
Related Preferred Securities.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Tax Event in respect of an Issuer shall occur and be continuing, the Corporation
may, at its option and subject to prior approval of the Federal Reserve if then
so required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, redeem the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures at any time within 90 days of the
occurrence of such Tax Event, in whole but not in part, subject to the
provisions of the Indenture and whether or not such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures are then otherwise redeemable at the option of the
Corporation. The redemption price for any Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures shall be equal to 100% of the principal amount of such Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures then outstanding plus accrued and unpaid interest
to the date fixed for redemption. For so long as the applicable Issuer is the
holder of all the outstanding Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures of
such series, the proceeds of any such redemption will be used by the Issuer to
redeem the corresponding Trust Securities in accordance with their terms. The
Corporation may not redeem a series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures in part unless all accrued and unpaid interest has been paid in full
on all outstanding Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures of such series
for all interest periods terminating on or prior to the Redemption Date.
 
     The Corporation will covenant in the Indenture, as to each series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, that if and so long as (i) the
Issuer of the related series of Trust Securities is the holder of all such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) a Tax Event in respect of
such Issuer has occurred and is continuing and (iii) the Corporation has
elected, and has not revoked such election, to pay Additional Sums (as defined
under "Description of Preferred Securities -- Redemption or Exchange") in
respect of such Trust Securities, the Corporation will pay to such Issuer such
Additional Sums. The Corporation will also covenant, as to each series of
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (i) to maintain directly or
indirectly 100% ownership of the Common Securities of the Issuer to which such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures have been issued, provided that
certain successors which are permitted pursuant to the Indenture may succeed to
the Corporation's ownership of the Common Securities, (ii) not to voluntarily
terminate, wind up or liquidate any Issuer, except (a) in connection with a
distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders of
the Preferred Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of such Issuer,
or (b) in connection with certain mergers, consolidations or amalgamations
permitted by the related Trust Agreement, in either such case, if so specified
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement upon prior approval of the Federal
Reserve if then so required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, and
(iii) to use its reasonable efforts, consistent with the terms and provisions of
the related Trust Agreement, to cause such Issuer to remain classified as a
grantor trust and not as an association taxable as a corporation for United
States federal income tax purposes.
 
                      DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
     Pursuant to the terms of the Trust Agreement for each Issuer, the Issuer
Trustees on behalf of such Issuer will issue the Preferred Securities and the
Common Securities. The Preferred Securities of a particular issue will represent
beneficial ownership interests in the Issuer and the holders thereof will be
entitled to a preference in certain circumstances with respect to Distributions
and amounts payable on redemption or liquidation over the Common Securities of
such Issuer, as well as other benefits as described in the corresponding Trust
Agreement. This summary of certain provisions of the Preferred Securities and
each Trust Agreement, which summarizes the material terms thereof, does not
purport to be complete and is subject to, and is qualified in its entirety by
reference to, all the provisions of each Trust Agreement, including the
definitions therein of certain terms, and the Trust Indenture Act, to each of
which reference is hereby made. Wherever particular defined terms of a Trust
Agreement (as amended or supplemented from time to time) are referred
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   50
 
to herein or in a Prospectus Supplement, such defined terms are incorporated
herein or therein by reference. The form of the Trust Agreement has been filed
as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a
part. Each of the Issuers is a legally separate entity and the assets of one are
not available to satisfy the obligations of any of the others.
 
GENERAL
 
     The Preferred Securities of an Issuer will rank pari passu, and payments
will be made thereon pro rata, with the Common Securities of that Issuer except
as described under "-- Subordination of Common Securities." Legal title to the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be held by the Property
Trustee in trust for the benefit of the holders of the related Preferred
Securities and Common Securities. Each Guarantee Agreement executed by the
Corporation for the benefit of the holders of an Issuer's Trust Securities (the
"Guarantee") will be a guarantee on a subordinated basis with respect to the
related Trust Securities but will not guarantee payment of Distributions or
amounts payable on redemption or liquidation of such Trust Securities when the
related Issuer does not have funds on hand available to make such payments. See
"Description of Guarantees."
 
DISTRIBUTIONS
 
     Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be cumulative, will
accumulate from the date of original issuance and will be payable on such dates
as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. In the event that any date
on which Distributions are payable on the Preferred Securities is not a Business
Day (as defined below), payment of the Distribution payable on such date will be
made on the next succeeding day that is a Business Day (and without any interest
or other payment in respect to any such delay) except that, if such Business Day
is in the next succeeding calendar year, payment of such Distribution shall be
made on the immediately preceding Business Day, in either case with the same
force and effect as if made on such date (each date on which Distributions are
payable in accordance with the foregoing, a "Distribution Date"). A "Business
Day" shall mean any day other than a Saturday or a Sunday, or a day on which
banking institutions in The City of New York are authorized or required by law
or executive order to remain closed or a day on which the corporate trust office
of the Property Trustee or the Debenture Trustee is closed for business.
 
     Each Issuer's Preferred Securities represent beneficial ownership interests
in the applicable Issuer, and the Distributions on each Preferred Security will
be payable at a rate specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement for such
Preferred Securities. The amount of Distributions payable for any period will be
computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months unless otherwise
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Distributions to which
holders of Preferred Securities are entitled will accumulate additional
Distributions at the rate per annum if and as specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. The term "Distributions" as used herein includes any such
additional Distributions unless otherwise stated.
 
     If provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Corporation has
the right under the Indenture, pursuant to which it will issue the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures, to defer the payment of interest at any time or
from time to time on any series of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures for up to such number of consecutive interest payment periods which
will be specified in such Prospectus Supplement relating to such series (each,
an "Extension Period"), provided that no Extension Period may extend beyond the
Stated Maturity of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. As a
consequence of any such deferral, Distributions on the Related Preferred
Securities would be deferred (but would continue to accumulate additional
Distributions thereon at the rate per annum set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement for such Preferred Securities) by the Issuer of such Preferred
Securities during any such Extension Period. During such Extension Period, the
Corporation may not, and may not permit any subsidiary of the Corporation to,
(i) declare or pay any dividends or distributions on, or redeem, purchase,
acquire or make a liquidation payment with respect to, any of the Corporation's
capital stock,
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   51
 
(ii) make any payment of principal, interest or premium, if any, on or repay,
repurchase or redeem any debt securities of the Corporation that rank pari passu
with or junior in interest to the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures
or (iii) make any guarantee payments with respect to any guarantee by the
Corporation of debt securities of any subsidiary of the Corporation if such
guarantee ranks pari passu with or junior in interest to the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures (other than (a) dividends or distributions in
capital stock of the Corporation, (b) any declaration of a dividend in
connection with the implementation of a stockholders' rights plan, the
redemption or repurchase of any such rights pursuant thereto, (c) payments under
the Guarantee with respect to such Preferred Securities and (d) purchases of
common stock related to the issuance of common stock or rights under any of the
Corporation's benefit plans for its directors, officers or employees related to
the issuance of common stock or rights under a dividend reinvestment and stock
purchase plan, or related to the issuance of common stock (or securities
convertible into or exchangeable for common stock) as consideration in an
acquisition transaction that was entered into prior to the commencement of such
Extension Period).
 
     The revenue of each Issuer available for distribution to holders of its
Preferred Securities will be limited to payments under the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures in which the Issuer will invest the proceeds from the
issuance and sale of its Trust Securities. See "Description of Junior
Subordinated Debentures -- Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures." If the
Corporation does not make interest payments on such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, the Property Trustee will not have funds available to
pay Distributions on the Related Preferred Securities. The payment of
Distributions (if and to the extent the Issuer has funds legally available for
the payment of such Distributions and cash sufficient to make such payments) is
guaranteed by the Corporation on the basis set forth herein under "Description
of Guarantees."
 
     Distributions on the Preferred Securities will be payable to the holders
thereof as they appear on the register of such Issuer on the relevant record
dates, which, as long as the Preferred Securities remain in book-entry form,
will be one Business Day prior to the relevant Distribution Date. Subject to any
applicable laws and regulations and the provisions of the applicable Trust
Agreement, each such payment will be made as described under "Book-Entry
Issuance." In the event any Preferred Securities are not in book-entry form, the
relevant record date for such Preferred Securities shall be the date at least 15
days prior to the relevant Distribution Date, as specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement.
 
REDEMPTION OR EXCHANGE
 
     Mandatory Redemption.  Upon the repayment or redemption, in whole or in
part, of any Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, whether at maturity
or upon earlier redemption as provided in the Indenture, the proceeds from such
repayment or redemption shall be applied by the Property Trustee to redeem a
Like Amount (as defined below) of the Trust Securities, upon not less than 30
nor more than 60 days notice, at a redemption price (the "Redemption Price")
equal to the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such Trust Securities plus
accumulated but unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of redemption (the
"Redemption Date") and the related amount of the premium, if any, paid by the
Corporation upon the concurrent redemption of such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures. See "Description of Junior Subordinated
Debentures -- Redemption." If less than all of any series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures are to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption
Date, then the proceeds from such repayment or redemption shall be allocated to
the redemption pro rata of the related Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities. The amount of premium, if any, paid by the Corporation upon the
redemption of all or any part of any series of any Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures to be repaid or redeemed on a Redemption Date shall be
allocated to the redemption pro rata of the related Preferred Securities and the
Common Securities.
 
     The Corporation will have the right to redeem any series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures (i) on or after such date as may be specified in
the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   52
 
in whole at any time or in part from time to time, or (ii) at any time, in whole
(but not in part), upon the occurrence of a Tax Event or Capital Treatment
Event, in either case subject to receipt of prior approval by the Federal
Reserve if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies.
 
     Distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures.  Subject to
the Corporation having received prior approval of the Federal Reserve to do so
if then required under applicable capital guidelines or policies, the
Corporation has the right at any time to liquidate the related Issuer and, after
satisfaction of the liabilities of creditors of such Issuer as provided by
applicable law, cause such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures in
respect of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities issued by such issuer
to be distributed to the holders of such Preferred Securities and Common
Securities in exchange therefor upon liquidation of the Issuer.
 
     Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event Redemption.  If a Tax Event or Capital
Treatment Event in respect of a series of Preferred Securities and Common
Securities shall occur and be continuing, the Corporation has the right to
redeem the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures in whole (but not in
part) and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of such Preferred Securities and
Common Securities in whole (but not in part) at the Redemption Price within 90
days following the occurrence of such Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event. In
the event a Tax Event or Capital Treatment Event in respect of a series of
Preferred Securities and Common Securities has occurred and is continuing and
the Corporation does not elect to redeem the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures and thereby cause a mandatory redemption of such Preferred Securities
and Common Securities or to liquidate the related Issuer and cause the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to be distributed to holders of
such Preferred Securities and Common Securities in exchange therefor upon
liquidation of the Issuer as described above, such Preferred Securities will
remain outstanding and Additional Sums (as defined below) may be payable on the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
     Possible Tax Law Changes.  On March 19, 1996, the Revenue Reconciliation
Bill of 1996 (the "Bill"), was introduced in the 104th Congress which would
have, among other things, generally denied interest deductions for interest on
an instrument issued by a corporation that has a maximum weighted average
maturity of more than 40 years. The Bill also would generally have denied
interest deductions for interest on an instrument issued by a corporation that
has a maximum term of more than 20 years and that is not shown as indebtedness
on the separate balance sheet of the issuer or, where the instrument is issued
to a related party (other than a corporation), where the holder or some other
related party issues a related instrument that is not shown as indebtedness on
the issuer's consolidated balance sheet. For purposes of determining the
weighted average maturity or the term of an instrument, any right to extend
would be treated as exercised. The above-described provisions of the Bill were
proposed to be effective generally for instruments issued on or after December
7, 1995. If either provision were to apply to the Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the Corporation would not be able to deduct interest on the Junior
Subordinated Debentures. However, on March 29, 1996, the Chairmen of the Senate
Finance and House Ways and Means Committees issued a joint statement (the "Joint
Statement") to the effect that it was their intention that the effective date of
the Bill, if enacted, would be no earlier than the date of appropriate
Congressional action. In addition, subsequent to the publication of the Joint
Statement, Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan and Representatives Sam M. Gibbons
and Charles B. Rangel wrote letters to Treasury Department officials concurring
with the view expressed in the Joint Statement (the "Democrat Letters"). The
104th Congress adjourned without enacting the Bill. Moreover, if the principles
contained in the Joint Statement and the Democrat Letters were followed, any
similar legislation in this area that is subsequently proposed would not apply
to the Junior Subordinated Debentures. Although the 104th Congress adjourned
without enacting the Bill, there can be no assurance that current or future
legislative proposals or final legislation will not adversely affect the ability
of the Corporation to deduct interest on the Junior Subordinated Debentures or
otherwise affect the tax treatment of the transaction described herein.
Moreover, such a change could give rise to a Tax Event, which may permit the
Corporation to cause a redemption of the Related Preferred Securities.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   53
 
     "Additional Sums" means the additional amounts as may be necessary in order
that the amount of Distributions then due and payable by an Issuer on the
outstanding Preferred Securities and Common Securities of the Issuer shall not
be reduced as a result of any additional taxes, duties and other governmental
charges to which such Issuer has become subject as a result of a Tax Event.
 
     "Like Amount" means (i) with respect to a redemption of any series of Trust
Securities, Trust Securities of such series having a Liquidation Amount (as
defined below) equal to that portion of the principal amount of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures to be contemporaneously redeemed in accordance
with the Indenture, allocated to the Common Securities and to the Preferred
Securities pro rata based upon the relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes
and the proceeds of which will be used to pay the Redemption Price of such Trust
Securities, and (ii) with respect to a distribution of Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures to holders of any series of Trust Securities in exchange
therefor in connection with a dissolution or liquidation of the related Issuer,
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal to
the Liquidation Amount of the Trust Securities of the holder to whom such
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures would be distributed.
 
     "Liquidation Amount" means the stated amount of $25 per Trust Security.
 
     "Tax Event" with respect to an Issuer means the receipt by the Issuer of a
series of Preferred Securities of an opinion of counsel experienced in such
matters to the effect that, as a result of any amendment to, or change
(including any announced proposed change) in, the laws (or any regulations
thereunder) of the United States or any political subdivision or taxing
authority thereof or therein, or as a result of any official administrative
pronouncement or judicial decision interpreting or applying such laws or
regulations, which amendment or change is effective or which proposed change,
pronouncement or decision is announced on or after the date of issuance of such
Preferred Securities under the Trust Agreement, there is more than an
insubstantial risk that (i) such Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of the
date of such opinion, subject to United States federal income tax with respect
to income received or accrued on the corresponding series of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) interest payable by the Corporation on such
series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures is not, or within 90 days
of the date of such opinion, will not be, deductible by the Corporation, in
whole or in part, for United States federal income tax purposes, or (iii) such
Issuer is, or will be within 90 days of the date of such opinion, subject to
more than a de minimis amount of other taxes, duties or other governmental
charges.
 
     After the liquidation date fixed for any distribution of Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures for any series of Preferred Securities (i) such
series of Preferred Securities will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, (ii)
the depository or its nominee, as the record holder of such series of Preferred
Securities, will receive a registered global certificate or certificates
representing the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to be delivered
upon such distribution and (iii) any certificates representing such series of
Preferred Securities not held by DTC or its nominee will be deemed to represent
the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures having a principal amount equal
to the stated Liquidation Amount of such series of Preferred Securities, and
bearing accrued and unpaid interest in an amount equal to the accrued and unpaid
Distributions on such series of Preferred Securities until such certificates are
presented to the Administrative Trustees or their agent for transfer or
reissuance.
 
     There can be no assurance as to the market prices for the Preferred
Securities or the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures that may be
distributed in exchange for Preferred Securities if a dissolution and
liquidation of an Issuer were to occur. Accordingly, the Preferred Securities
that an investor may purchase, or the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures that the investor may receive on dissolution and liquidation of an
Issuer, may trade at a discount to the price that the investor paid to purchase
the Preferred Securities offered hereby.
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   54
 
REDEMPTION PROCEDURES
 
     Preferred Securities redeemed on each Redemption Date shall be redeemed at
the Redemption Price with the applicable proceeds from the contemporaneous
redemption of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. Redemptions of
the Preferred Securities shall be made and the Redemption Price shall be payable
on each Redemption Date only to the extent that the related Issuer has funds on
hand available for the payment of such Redemption Price. See also
"-- Subordination of Common Securities."
 
     If an Issuer gives a notice of redemption in respect of its Preferred
Securities, then, by 12:00 noon, New York City time, on the Redemption Date, to
the extent funds are available, the Property Trustee will deposit irrevocably
with DTC funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption Price and will give
DTC irrevocable instructions and authority to pay the Redemption Price to the
holders of such Preferred Securities. See "Book-Entry Issuance." If such
Preferred Securities are no longer in book-entry form, the Property Trustee, to
the extent funds are available, will irrevocably deposit with the paying agent
for such Preferred Securities funds sufficient to pay the applicable Redemption
Price and will give such paying agent irrevocable instructions and authority to
pay the Redemption Price to the holders thereof upon surrender of their
certificates evidencing such Preferred Securities. Notwithstanding the
foregoing, Distributions payable on or prior to the Redemption Date for any
Preferred Securities called for redemption shall be payable to the holders of
such Preferred Securities on the relevant record dates for the related
Distribution Dates. If notice of redemption shall have been given and funds
deposited as required, then upon the date of such deposit, all rights of the
holders of such Preferred Securities so called for redemption will cease, except
the right of the holders of such Preferred Securities to receive the Redemption
Price, but without interest on such Redemption Price, and such Preferred
Securities will cease to be outstanding. In the event that any date fixed for
redemption of Preferred Securities is not a Business Day, then payment of the
Redemption Price payable on such date will be made on the next succeeding day
which is a Business Day (and without any interest or other payment in respect of
any such delay), except that, if such Business Day falls in the next calendar
year, such payment will be made on the immediately preceding Business Day. In
the event that payment of the Redemption Price in respect of Preferred
Securities called for redemption is improperly withheld or refused and not paid
either by the Issuer or by the Corporation pursuant to the Guarantee as
described under "Description of Guarantees," Distributions on such Preferred
Securities will continue to accrue at the then applicable rate, from the
Redemption Date originally established by the Issuer for such Preferred
Securities to the date such Redemption Price is actually paid, in which case the
actual payment date will be the date fixed for redemption for purposes of
calculating the Redemption Price.
 
     Subject to applicable law (including, without limitation, United States
federal securities law), the Corporation or its subsidiaries may at any time and
from time to time purchase outstanding Preferred Securities by tender, in the
open market or by private agreement.
 
     Payment of the Redemption Price on the Preferred Securities and any
distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to holders of
Preferred Securities shall be made to the applicable recordholders thereof as
they appear on the register for such Preferred Securities on the relevant record
date, which shall be one Business Day prior to the relevant Redemption Date or
liquidation date, as applicable; provided, however, that in the event that any
Preferred Securities are not in book-entry form, the relevant record date for
such Preferred Securities shall be a date at least 15 days prior to the
Redemption Date or liquidation date, as applicable, as specified in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
     If less than all of the Preferred Securities and Common Securities issued
by an Issuer are to be redeemed on a Redemption Date, then the aggregate
Liquidation Amount of such Preferred Securities and Common Securities to be
redeemed shall be allocated pro rata to the Preferred Securities and the Common
Securities based upon the relative Liquidation Amounts of such classes. The
particular Preferred Securities to be redeemed shall be selected on a pro rata
basis not more
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   55
 
than 60 days prior to the Redemption Date by the Property Trustee from the
outstanding Preferred Securities not previously called for redemption, by such
method as the Property Trustee shall deem fair and appropriate and which may
provide for the selection for redemption of portions (equal to $25 or an
integral multiple of $25 in excess thereof) of the Liquidation Amount of
Preferred Securities of a denomination larger than $25. The Property Trustee
shall promptly notify the trust registrar in writing of the Preferred Securities
selected for redemption and, in the case of any Preferred Securities selected
for partial redemption, the Liquidation Amount thereof to be redeemed. For all
purposes of each Trust Agreement, unless the context otherwise requires, all
provisions relating to the redemption of Preferred Securities shall relate, in
the case of any Preferred Securities redeemed or to be redeemed only in part, to
the portion of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of Preferred Securities which
has been or is to be redeemed.
 
     Notice of any redemption will be mailed at least 30 days but not more than
60 days before the Redemption Date to each holder of Trust Securities to be
redeemed at its registered address.
 
SUBORDINATION OF COMMON SECURITIES
 
     Payment of Distributions on, and the Redemption Price of, each Issuer's
Preferred Securities and Common Securities, as applicable, shall be made pro
rata based on the Liquidation Amount of such Preferred Securities and Common
Securities; provided, however, that if on any Distribution Date or Redemption
Date a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, no
payment of any Distribution on, or Redemption Price of, any of the Issuer's
Common Securities, and no other payment on account of the redemption,
liquidation or other acquisition of such Common Securities, shall be made unless
payment in full in cash of all accumulated and unpaid Distributions on all of
the Issuer's outstanding Preferred Securities for all Distribution periods
terminating on or prior thereto, or in the case of payment of the Redemption
Price the full amount of such Redemption Price on all of the Issuer's
outstanding Preferred Securities then called for redemption, shall have been
made or provided for, and all funds available to the Property Trustee shall
first be applied to the payment in full in cash of all Distributions on, or
Redemption Price of, the Issuer's Preferred Securities then due and payable.
 
     In the case of any event of default under the applicable Trust Agreement
resulting from a Debenture Event of Default, the Corporation as holder of such
Issuer's Common Securities will be deemed to have waived any right to act with
respect to any such event of default under the applicable Trust Agreement until
the effect of all such events of default with respect to such Preferred
Securities have been cured, waived or otherwise eliminated. Until all events of
default under the applicable Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred
Securities have been so cured, waived or otherwise eliminated, the Property
Trustee shall act solely on behalf of the holders of such Preferred Securities
and not on behalf of the Corporation as holder of the Issuer's Common
Securities, and only the holders of such Preferred Securities will have the
right to direct the Property Trustee to act on their behalf.
 
LIQUIDATION DISTRIBUTION UPON TERMINATION
 
     Pursuant to each Trust Agreement, each Issuer shall automatically terminate
upon expiration of its term and shall terminate on the first to occur of: (i)
certain events of bankruptcy, dissolution or liquidation of the Corporation;
(ii) the distribution of a Like Amount of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures to the holders of its Trust Securities, if the Corporation, as
Depositor, has given written direction to the Property Trustee to terminate such
Issuer (subject to the Corporation having received prior approval of the Federal
Reserve if so required under applicable capital guidelines or policies); (iii)
redemption of all of the Issuer's Preferred Securities as described under
 -- Redemption or Exchange -- Mandatory Redemption"; and (iv) the entry of an
order for the dissolution of the Issuer by a court of competent jurisdiction.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   56
 
     If an early termination occurs as described in clause (i), (ii) or (iv)
above, the Issuer shall be liquidated by the Issuer Trustees as expeditiously as
the Issuer Trustees determine to be possible by distributing, after satisfaction
of liabilities to creditors of such Issuer as provided by applicable law, to the
holders of such Trust Securities in exchange therefor a Like Amount of the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless such distribution is
determined by the Property Trustee not to be practical, in which event such
holders will be entitled to receive out of the assets of the Issuer available
for distribution to holders, after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of
such Issuer as provided by applicable law, an amount equal to, in the case of
holders of Preferred Securities, the aggregate of the Liquidation Amount plus
accrued and unpaid Distributions thereon to the date of payment (such amount
being the "Liquidation Distribution"). If such Liquidation Distribution can be
paid only in part because such Issuer has insufficient assets available to pay
in full the aggregate Liquidation Distribution, then the amounts payable
directly by such Issuer on its Preferred Securities shall be paid on a pro rata
basis. The holder(s) of such Issuer's Common Securities will be entitled to
receive distributions upon any such liquidation pro rata with the holders of its
Preferred Securities, except that if a Debenture Event of Default has occurred
and is continuing, the Preferred Securities shall have a priority over the
Common Securities.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT; NOTICE
 
     Any one of the following events constitutes an "Event of Default" under
each Trust Agreement with respect to the Preferred Securities issued thereunder
(whatever the reason for such Event of Default and whether it shall be voluntary
or involuntary or be effected by operation of law or pursuant to any judgment,
decree or order of any court or any order, rule or regulation of any
administrative or governmental body):
 
          (i) the occurrence of a Debenture Event of Default under the Indenture
     (see "Description of Junior Subordinated Debentures -- Debenture Events of
     Default"); or
 
          (ii) default by the Property Trustee in the payment of any
     Distribution when it becomes due and payable, and continuation of such
     default for a period of 30 days; or
 
          (iii) default by the Property Trustee in the payment of any Redemption
     Price of any Trust Security when it becomes due and payable; or
 
          (iv) default in the performance, or breach, in any material respect,
     of any covenant or warranty of the Issuer Trustees in such Trust Agreement
     (other than a covenant or warranty a default in the performance of which or
     the breach of which is dealt with in clause (ii) or (iii) above), and
     continuation of such default or breach for a period of 90 days after there
     has been given, by registered or certified mail, to the defaulting Issuer
     Trustee or Trustees by the holders of at least 25% in aggregate Liquidation
     Amount of the outstanding Preferred Securities of the applicable Issuer, a
     written notice specifying such default or breach and requiring it to be
     remedied and stating that such notice is a "Notice of Default" under such
     Trust Agreement; or
 
          (v) the occurrence of certain events of bankruptcy or insolvency with
     respect to the Property Trustee and the failure by the Corporation to
     appoint a successor Property Trustee within 90 days thereof.
 
     Within five Business Days after the occurrence of any Event of Default
actually known to the Property Trustee, the Property Trustee shall transmit
notice of such Event of Default to the holders of such Issuer's Preferred
Securities, the Administrative Trustees and the Corporation, as Depositor,
unless such Event of Default shall have been cured or waived. The Corporation,
as Depositor, and the Administrative Trustees are required to file annually with
the Property Trustee a certificate as to whether or not they are in compliance
with all the conditions and covenants applicable to them under each Trust
Agreement.
 
     If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Preferred Securities shall have a preference over the Common Securities as
described above. See "Subordination of
 
                                       25
<PAGE>   57
 
Common Securities" and "-- Liquidation Distribution Upon Termination." The
existence of an Event of Default does not entitle the holders of Preferred
Securities to accelerate the maturity thereof.
 
REMOVAL OF ISSUER TRUSTEES
 
     Unless a Debenture Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing,
any Issuer Trustee may be removed at any time by the holder of the Common
Securities. If a Debenture Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the
Property Trustee and the Delaware Trustee may be removed at such time by the
holders of a majority in Liquidation Amount of the outstanding Preferred
Securities. In no event will the holders of the Preferred Securities have the
right to vote to appoint, remove or replace the Administrative Trustees, which
voting rights are vested exclusively in the Corporation as the holder of the
Common Securities. No resignation or removal of an Issuer Trustee and no
appointment of a successor trustee shall be effective until the acceptance of
appointment by the successor trustee in accordance with the provisions of the
applicable Trust Agreement.
 
CO-TRUSTEES AND SEPARATE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
 
     Unless an Event of Default shall have occurred and be continuing, at any
time or from time to time, for the purpose of meeting the legal requirements of
the Trust Indenture Act or of any jurisdiction in which any part of the Trust
Property may at the time be located, the Corporation, as the holder of the
Common Securities, and the Administrative Trustees shall have power to appoint
one or more persons either to act as a co-trustee, jointly with the Property
Trustee, of all or any part of such Trust Property, or to act as separate
trustee of any such property, in either case with such powers as may be provided
in the instrument of appointment, and to vest in such person or persons in such
capacity any property, title, right or power deemed necessary or desirable,
subject to the provisions of the applicable Trust Agreement. In case a Debenture
Event of Default has occurred and is continuing, the Property Trustee alone
shall have power to make such appointment.
 
MERGER OR CONSOLIDATION OF ISSUER TRUSTEES
 
     Any Person into which the Property Trustee, the Delaware Trustee or any
Administrative Trustee that is not a natural person may be merged or converted
or with which it may be consolidated, or any Person resulting from any merger,
conversion or consolidation to which such Trustee shall be a party, or any
Person succeeding to all or substantially all the corporate trust business of
such Trustee, shall be the successor of such Trustee under each Trust Agreement,
provided such Person shall be otherwise qualified and eligible.
 
MERGERS, CONSOLIDATIONS, AMALGAMATIONS OR REPLACEMENTS OF THE ISSUERS
 
     An Issuer may not merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to any corporation or other Person, except as
described below. An Issuer may, at the request of the Corporation, with the
consent of the Administrative Trustees and without the consent of the holders of
the Preferred Securities, merge with or into, consolidate, amalgamate, or be
replaced by, or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets
substantially as an entirety to, a trust organized as such under the laws of any
State; provided, that (i) such successor entity either (a) expressly assumes all
of the obligations of such Issuer with respect to the Preferred Securities or
(b) substitutes for the Preferred Securities other securities having
substantially the same terms as the Preferred Securities (the "Successor
Securities") so long as the Successor Securities rank the same as the Preferred
Securities in priority with respect to distributions and payments upon
liquidation, redemption and otherwise, (ii) the Corporation expressly appoints a
trustee of such successor entity possessing the same powers and duties as the
Property Trustee as the holder of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, (iii) the Successor Securities are listed, or any Successor
Securities will be listed upon notification of issuance, on any national
securities exchange or other organization on which the Preferred Securities are
then listed, if any, (iv) such merger, consolidation, amalgama-
 
                                       26
<PAGE>   58
 
tion, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not cause the Preferred
Securities to be downgraded by any nationally recognized statistical rating
organization which gives ratings on the Preferred Securities, (v) such merger,
consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease does not
adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the holders of the
Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any material
respect, (vi) such successor entity has a purpose identical to that of the
Issuer, (vii) prior to such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement,
conveyance, transfer or lease, the Corporation has received an opinion from
independent counsel to the Issuer experienced in such matters to the effect that
(a) such merger, consolidation, amalgamation, replacement, conveyance, transfer
or lease does not adversely affect the rights, preferences and privileges of the
holders of the Preferred Securities (including any Successor Securities) in any
material respect, and (b) following such merger, consolidation, amalgamation,
replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease, neither the Issuer nor such
successor entity will be required to register as an investment company under the
Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended (the "Investment Company Act"), and
(viii) the Corporation or any permitted successor or assignee owns all of the
Common Securities of such successor entity and guarantees the obligations of
such successor entity under the Successor Securities at least to the extent
provided by the Guarantee. Notwithstanding the foregoing, an Issuer shall not,
except with the consent of holders of 100% in Liquidation Amount of the
Preferred Securities, consolidate, amalgamate, merge with or into, or be
replaced by or convey, transfer or lease its properties and assets substantially
as an entirety to any other entity or permit any other entity to consolidate,
amalgamate, merge with or into, or replace it if such consolidation,
amalgamation, merger, replacement, conveyance, transfer or lease would cause the
Issuer or the successor entity to be classified as other than a grantor trust
for United States federal income tax purposes.
 
VOTING RIGHTS; AMENDMENT OF EACH TRUST AGREEMENT
 
     Except as provided below and under "Description of Guarantees -- Amendments
and Assignment" and as otherwise required by law and the applicable Trust
Agreement, the holders of the Preferred Securities will have no voting rights.
 
     Each Trust Agreement may be amended from time to time by the Corporation,
the Property Trustee and the Administrative Trustees, without the consent of the
holders of the Preferred Securities (i) to cure any ambiguity, correct or
supplement any provisions in such Trust Agreement that may be inconsistent with
any other provision, or to make any other provisions with respect to matters or
questions arising under such Trust Agreement, which shall not be inconsistent
with the other provisions of such Trust Agreement, or (ii) to modify, eliminate
or add to any provisions of such Trust Agreement to such extent as shall be
necessary to ensure that the Issuer will be classified for United States federal
income tax purposes as a grantor trust at all times that any Trust Securities
are outstanding or to ensure that the Issuer will not be required to register as
an "investment company" under the Investment Company Act; provided, however,
that in the case of either clause (i) or clause (ii), such action shall not
adversely affect in any material respect the interests of any holder of
Preferred Securities, and any amendments of such Trust Agreement shall become
effective when notice thereof is given to the holders of Trust Securities. Each
Trust Agreement may be amended by the Issuer Trustees and the Corporation with
(i) the consent of holders representing not less than a majority (based upon
Liquidation Amounts) of the outstanding Trust Securities, and (ii) receipt by
the Issuer Trustees of an opinion of counsel to the effect that such amendment
or the exercise of any power granted to the Issuer Trustees in accordance with
such amendment will not affect the Issuer's status as a grantor trust for United
States federal income tax purposes or the Issuer's exemption from status as an
"investment company" under the Investment Company Act, provided that without the
consent of each holder of Trust Securities, such Trust Agreement may not be
amended to (i) change the amount or timing of any Distribution on the Trust
Securities or otherwise adversely affect the amount of any Distribution required
to be made in respect of the Trust Securities as of a specified date or (ii)
restrict the right of a holder of Trust Securities to institute suit for the
enforcement of any such payment on or after such date.
 
                                       27
<PAGE>   59
 
     So long as any Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures are held by the
Property Trustee, the Issuer Trustees shall not (i) direct the time, method and
place of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Debenture
Trustee, or executing any trust or power conferred on the Property Trustee with
respect to such Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, (ii) waive any
past default that is waivable under the Indenture, (iii) exercise any right to
rescind or annul a declaration that the principal of all the Junior Subordinated
Debentures shall be due and payable or (iv) consent to any amendment,
modification or termination of the Indenture or such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, where such consent shall be required, without, in each
case, obtaining the prior approval of the holders of a majority in aggregate
Liquidation Amount of all outstanding Preferred Securities; provided, however,
that where a consent under the Indenture would require the consent of each
holder of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures affected thereby, no such
consent shall be given by the Property Trustee without the prior consent of each
holder of the corresponding Preferred Securities. The Issuer Trustees shall not
revoke any action previously authorized or approved by a vote of the holders of
the Preferred Securities except by subsequent vote of the holders of the
Preferred Securities. The Property Trustee shall notify each holder of Preferred
Securities of any notice of default with respect to the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures. In addition to obtaining the foregoing approvals of the
holders of the Preferred Securities, prior to taking any of the foregoing
actions, the Issuer Trustees shall obtain an opinion of counsel experienced in
such matters to the effect that such action would not cause the Issuer to be
classified as other than a grantor trust for United States federal income tax
purposes.
 
     Any required approval of holders of Preferred Securities may be given at a
meeting of holders of Preferred Securities convened for such purpose or pursuant
to written consent. The Property Trustee will cause a notice of any meeting at
which holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote, or of any matter
upon which action by written consent of such holders is to be taken, to be given
to each holder of record of Preferred Securities in the manner set forth in each
Trust Agreement.
 
     No vote or consent of the holders of Preferred Securities will be required
for an Issuer to redeem and cancel its Preferred Securities in accordance with
the applicable Trust Agreement.
 
     Notwithstanding that holders of Preferred Securities are entitled to vote
or consent under any of the circumstances described above, any of the Preferred
Securities that are owned by the Corporation, the Issuer Trustees or any
affiliate of the Corporation or any Issuer Trustees, shall, for purposes of such
vote or consent, be treated as if they were not outstanding.
 
GLOBAL PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
     The Preferred Securities of a series may be issued in whole or in part in
the form of one or more Global Preferred Securities that will be deposited with,
or on behalf of, the Depositary identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating
to such series. Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement for such series, the Depositary will be DTC. Global Preferred
Securities may be issued only in fully registered form and in either temporary
or permanent form. Unless and until it is exchanged in whole or in part for the
individual Preferred Securities represented thereby, a Global Preferred Security
may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary for such Global
Preferred Security to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such
Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by the
Depositary or any nominee to a successor Depositary or any nominee of such
successor.
 
     The specific terms of the depositary arrangement with respect to a series
of Preferred Securities will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating
to such series. The Corporation anticipates that the following provisions will
generally apply to depositary arrangements.
 
     Upon the issuance of a Global Preferred Security, and the deposit of such
Global Preferred Security with or on behalf of the Depositary, the Depositary
for such Global Preferred Security or its
 
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<PAGE>   60
 
nominee will credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the
respective aggregate Liquidation Amounts of the individual Preferred Securities
represented by such Global Preferred Securities to the accounts of Participants.
Such accounts shall be designated by the dealers, underwriters or agents with
respect to such Preferred Securities or by the Corporation if such Preferred
Securities are offered and sold directly by the Corporation. Ownership of
beneficial interests in a Global Preferred Security will be limited to
Participants or persons that may hold interests through Participants. Ownership
of beneficial interests in such Global Preferred Security will be shown on, and
the transfer of that ownership will be effected only through, records maintained
by the applicable Depositary or its nominee (with respect to interests of
Participants) and the records of Participants (with respect to interests of
persons who hold through Participants). The laws of some states require that
certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities in
definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability to transfer
beneficial interests in a Global Preferred Security.
 
     So long as the Depositary for a Global Preferred Security, or its nominee,
is the registered owner of such Global Preferred Security, such Depositary or
such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of
the Preferred Securities represented by such Global Preferred Security for all
purposes under the Indenture governing such Preferred Securities. Except as
provided below, owners of beneficial interests in a Global Preferred Security
will not be entitled to have any of the individual Preferred Securities of the
series represented by such Global Preferred Security registered in their names,
will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any such
Preferred Securities of such series in definitive form and will not be
considered the owners or holders thereof under the Indenture.
 
     Payments of principal of (and premium, if any) and interest on individual
Preferred Securities represented by a Global Preferred Security registered in
the name of a Depositary or its nominee will be made to the Depositary or its
nominee, as the case may be, as the registered owner of the Global Preferred
Security representing such Preferred Securities. None of the Corporation, the
Property Trustee, any Paying Agent, or the Securities Registrar for such
Preferred Securities will have any responsibility or liability for any aspect of
the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial ownership
interests of the Global Preferred Security representing such Preferred
Securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any records relating to
such beneficial ownership interests.
 
     The Corporation expects that the Depositary for a series of Preferred
Securities or its nominee, upon receipt of any payment of Liquidation Amount,
Redemption Price, premium or Distributions in respect of a permanent Global
Preferred Security representing any of such Preferred Securities, immediately
will credit Participants' accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to
their respective beneficial interest in the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such
Global Preferred Security for such Preferred Securities as shown on the records
of such Depositary or its nominee. The Corporation also expects that payments by
Participants to owners of beneficial interests in such Global Preferred Security
held through such Participants will be governed by standing instructions and
customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of
customers in bearer form or registered in "street name." Such payments will be
the responsibility of such Participants.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a
Depositary for a series of Preferred Securities is at any time unwilling, unable
or ineligible to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is not
appointed by the Issuer within 90 days, the Issuer will issue individual
Preferred Securities of such series in exchange for the Global Preferred
Security representing such series of Preferred Securities. In addition, the
Issuer may at any time and in its sole discretion, subject to any limitations
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Preferred Securities,
determine not to have any Preferred Securities of such series represented by one
or more Global Preferred Securities and, in such event, will issue individual
Preferred Securities of such series in exchange for the Global Preferred
Security or Securities representing such series
 
                                       29
<PAGE>   61
 
of Preferred Securities. Further, if the Issuer so specifies with respect to the
Preferred Securities of a series, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global
Preferred Security representing Preferred Securities of such series may, on
terms acceptable to the Issuer, the Property Trustee and the Depositary for such
Global Preferred Security, receive individual Preferred Securities of such
series in exchange for such beneficial interests, subject to any limitations
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such Preferred Securities. In
any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Preferred
Security will be entitled to physical delivery of individual Preferred
Securities of the series represented by such Global Preferred Security equal in
principal amount to such beneficial interest and to have such Preferred
Securities registered in its name. Individual Preferred Securities of such
series so issued will be issued in denominations, unless otherwise specified by
the Issuer, of $25 and integral multiples thereof.
 
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENCY
 
     Payments in respect of the Preferred Securities shall be made to the
Depositary, which shall credit the relevant accounts at the Depositary on the
applicable Distribution Dates or, if any Issuer's Preferred Securities are not
held by the Depositary, such payments shall be made by check mailed to the
address of the holder entitled thereto as such address shall appear on the
Register. Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
the paying agent (the "Paying Agent") shall initially be the Property Trustee
and any co-paying agent chosen by the Property Trustee and acceptable to the
Administrative Trustees and the Corporation. The Paying Agent shall be permitted
to resign as Paying Agent upon 30 days' written notice to the Property Trustee
and the Corporation. In the event that the Property Trustee shall no longer be
the Paying Agent, the Administrative Trustees shall appoint a successor (which
shall be a bank or trust company acceptable to the Administrative Trustees and
the Corporation) to act as Paying Agent.
 
REGISTRAR AND TRANSFER AGENT
 
     Unless otherwise specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Property Trustee will act as registrar and transfer agent for the Preferred
Securities.
 
     Registration of transfers of Preferred Securities will be effected without
charge by or on behalf of each Issuer, but upon payment of any tax or other
governmental charges that may be imposed in connection with any transfer or
exchange. The Issuers will not be required to register or cause to be registered
the transfer of their Preferred Securities after such Preferred Securities have
been called for redemption.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE PROPERTY TRUSTEE
 
     The Property Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of
an Event of Default, undertakes to perform only such duties as are specifically
set forth in each Trust Agreement and, after such Event of Default, must
exercise the same degree of care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or
use in the conduct of his or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the
Property Trustee is under no obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in
it by the applicable Trust Agreement at the request of any holder of Preferred
Securities unless it is offered reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses
and liabilities that might be incurred thereby. If no Event of Default has
occurred and is continuing and the Property Trustee is required to decide
between alternative causes of action, construe ambiguous provisions in the
applicable Trust Agreement or is unsure of the application of any provision of
the applicable Trust Agreement, and the matter is not one on which holders of
Preferred Securities are entitled under such Trust Agreement to vote, then the
Property Trustee shall take such action as is directed by the Corporation and if
not so directed, shall take such action as it deems advisable and in the best
interests of the holders of the Trust Securities and will have no liability
except for its own bad faith, negligence or willful misconduct.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>   62
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
     The Administrative Trustees are authorized and directed to conduct the
affairs of and to operate the Issuers in such a way that no Issuer will be
deemed to be an "investment company" required to be registered under the
Investment Company Act or classified as other than a grantor trust for United
States federal income tax purposes and so that the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be treated as indebtedness of the Corporation for
United States federal income tax purposes. In this connection, the Corporation
and the Administrative Trustees are authorized to take any action, not
inconsistent with applicable law, the certificate of trust of each Issuer or
each Trust Agreement, that the Corporation and the Administrative Trustees
determine in their discretion to be necessary or desirable for such purposes, as
long as such action does not materially adversely affect the interests of the
holders of the related Preferred Securities.
 
     Holders of the Preferred Securities have no preemptive or similar rights.
 
     No Issuer may borrow money or issue debt or mortgage or pledge any of its
assets.
 
                              BOOK-ENTRY ISSUANCE
 
     DTC will act as securities depositary for all of the Preferred Securities
and the Junior Subordinated Debentures, unless otherwise referred to in the
Prospectus Supplement relating to an offering of Preferred Securities or Junior
Subordinated Debentures. The Preferred Securities and the Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be issued only as fully-registered securities registered in the
name of Cede & Co. (DTC's nominee). One or more fully-registered global
certificates will be issued for the Preferred Securities of each Issuer and the
Junior Subordinated Debentures, representing in the aggregate the total number
of such Issuer's Preferred Securities or aggregate principal balance of Junior
Subordinated Debentures, respectively, and will be deposited with DTC.
 
     DTC is a limited purpose trust company organized under the New York Banking
Law, a "banking organization" within the meaning of the New York Banking Law, a
member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation" within the
meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing agency"
registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange Act. DTC
holds securities that its Participants deposit with DTC. DTC also facilitates
the settlement among Participants of securities transactions, such as transfers
and pledges, in deposited securities through electronic computerized book-entry
changes in Participants' accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of securities certificates. "Direct Participants" include securities
brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations and certain
other organizations. DTC is owned by a number of its Direct Participants and by
the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc. and the
National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the DTC system is
also available to others such as securities brokers and dealers, banks and trust
companies that clear through or maintain custodial relationships with Direct
Participants, either directly or indirectly ("Indirect Participants"). The rules
applicable to DTC and its Participants are on file with the Commission.
 
     Purchases of Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures within
the DTC system must be made by or through Direct Participants, which will
receive a credit for the Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures
on DTC's records. The ownership interest of each actual purchaser of each
Preferred Security and each Junior Subordinated Debenture ("Beneficial Owner")
is in turn to be recorded on the Direct and Indirect Participants' records.
Beneficial Owners will not receive written confirmation from DTC of their
purchases, but Beneficial Owners are expected to receive written confirmations
providing details of the transactions, as well as periodic statements of their
holdings, from the Direct or Indirect Participants through which the Beneficial
Owners purchased Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures.
Transfers of ownership interests in the Preferred Securities or Junior
Subordinated Debentures are to be accomplished by entries made on the books of
Participants acting on behalf of Beneficial Owners. Beneficial Owners will not
receive certificates representing their ownership interests in Preferred
Securities or Junior
 
                                       31
<PAGE>   63
 
Subordinated Debentures, except in the event that use of the book-entry system
for the Preferred Securities of such Issuer or Junior Subordinated Debentures is
discontinued.
 
     DTC has no knowledge of the actual Beneficial Owners of the Preferred
Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures; DTC's records reflect only the
identity of the Direct Participants to whose accounts such Preferred Securities
or Junior Subordinated Debentures are credited, which may or may not be the
Beneficial Owners. The Participants will remain responsible for keeping account
of their holdings on behalf of their customers.
 
     Conveyance of notices and other communications by DTC to Direct
Participants, by Direct Participants to Indirect Participants, and by Direct
Participants and Indirect Participants to Beneficial Owners and the voting
rights of Direct Participants, Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners will
be governed by arrangements among them, subject to any statutory or regulatory
requirements as may be in effect from time to time.
 
     Redemption notices will be sent to Cede & Co. as the registered holder of
the Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures. If less than all of
an Issuer's Preferred Securities or the Junior Subordinated Debentures are being
redeemed, DTC's current practice is to determine by lot the amount of the
interest of each Direct Participant to be redeemed.
 
     Although voting with respect to the Preferred Securities or the Junior
Subordinated Debentures is limited to the holders of record of the Preferred
Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures, in those instances in which a vote
is required, neither DTC nor Cede & Co. will itself consent or vote with respect
to Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures. Under its usual
procedures, DTC would mail an omnibus proxy (the "Omnibus Proxy") to the
relevant Trustee as soon as possible after the record date. The Omnibus Proxy
assigns Cede & Co.'s consenting or voting rights to those Direct Participants to
whose accounts such Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated Debentures are
credited on the record date (identified in a listing attached to the Omnibus
Proxy).
 
     Distribution payments on the Preferred Securities or the Junior
Subordinated Debentures will be made by the relevant Trustee to DTC. DTC's
practice is to credit Direct Participants' accounts on the relevant payment date
in accordance with their respective holdings shown on DTC's records unless DTC
has reason to believe that it will not receive payments on such payment date.
Payments by Participants to Beneficial Owners will be governed by standing
instructions and customary practices and will be the responsibility of such
Participant and not of DTC, the relevant Trustee, the Issuer thereof or the
Corporation, subject to any statutory or regulatory requirements as may be in
effect from time to time. Payment of Distributions to DTC is the responsibility
of the relevant Trustee, disbursement of such payments to Direct Participants is
the responsibility of DTC, and disbursements of such payments to the Beneficial
Owners is the responsibility of Direct and Indirect Participants.
 
     DTC may discontinue providing its services as securities depositary with
respect to any of the Preferred Securities or the Junior Subordinated Debentures
at any time by giving reasonable notice to the relevant Trustee and the
Corporation. In the event that a successor securities depositary is not
obtained, definitive Preferred Security or Junior Subordinated Debenture
certificates representing such Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated
Debentures are required to be printed and delivered. The Corporation, at its
option, may decide to discontinue use of the system of book-entry transfers
through DTC (or a successor depositary). After a Debenture Event of Default, the
holders of a majority in liquidation preference of Preferred Securities or
aggregate principal amount of Junior Subordinated Debentures may determine to
discontinue the system of book-entry transfers through DTC. In any such event,
definitive certificates for such Preferred Securities or Junior Subordinated
Debentures will be printed and delivered.
 
     The information in this section concerning DTC and DTC's book-entry system
has been obtained from sources that the Issuers and the Corporation believe to
be accurate, but the Issuers and the Corporation assume no responsibility for
the accuracy thereof. Neither the Issuers nor the
 
                                       32
<PAGE>   64
 
Corporation has any responsibility for the performance by DTC or its
Participants of their respective obligations as described herein or under the
rules and procedures governing their respective operations.
 
                           DESCRIPTION OF GUARANTEES
 
     A Guarantee will be executed and delivered by the Corporation concurrently
with the issuance by each Issuer of its Preferred Securities for the benefit of
the holders from time to time of such Preferred Securities and Common
Securities. The Bank of New York will act as indenture trustee ("Guarantee
Trustee") under each Guarantee for the purposes of compliance with the Trust
Indenture Act and each Guarantee will be qualified as an indenture under the
Trust Indenture Act. This summary of certain provisions of the Guarantees, which
summarizes the material terms thereof, does not purport to be complete and is
subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, all of the provisions
of each Guarantee, including the definitions therein of certain terms, and the
Trust Indenture Act, to each of which reference is hereby made. The form of the
Guarantee has been filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which
this Prospectus forms a part. Reference in this summary to Preferred Securities
means that Issuer's Preferred Securities to which a Guarantee relates. The
Guarantee Trustee will hold each Guarantee for the benefit of the holders of the
related Issuer's Preferred Securities and Common Securities.
 
GENERAL
 
     The Corporation will irrevocably agree to pay in full on a subordinated
basis, to the extent set forth herein, the Guarantee Payments (as defined below)
to the holders of the Trust Securities, as and when due, regardless of any
defense, right of set-off or counterclaim that such Issuer may have or assert
other than the defense of payment. The following payments with respect to the
Preferred Securities, to the extent not paid by or on behalf of the related
Issuer (the "Guarantee Payments"), will be subject to the Guarantee: (i) any
accumulated and unpaid Distributions required to be paid on such Trust
Securities, to the extent that such Issuer has funds on hand available therefor
at such time, (ii) the Redemption Price with respect to any Preferred Securities
called for redemption, to the extent that such Issuer has funds on hand
available therefor at such time, or (iii) upon a voluntary or involuntary
dissolution, winding up or liquidation of such Issuer (unless the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures are distributed to holders of such Preferred
Securities in exchange therefor), the lesser of (a) the Liquidation Distribution
and (b) the amount of assets of such Issuer remaining available for distribution
to holders of Trust Securities after satisfaction of liabilities to creditors of
such Issuer as required by applicable law. The Corporation's obligation to make
a Guarantee Payment may be satisfied by direct payment of the required amounts
by the Corporation to the holders of the applicable Trust Securities or by
causing the Issuer to pay such amounts to such holders.
 
     Each Guarantee will be an irrevocable guarantee on a subordinated basis of
the related Issuer's obligations under the Preferred Securities, but will apply
only to the extent that such related Issuer has funds sufficient to make such
payments, and is not a guarantee of collection.
 
     If the Corporation does not make interest payments on the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures held by the Issuer, the Issuer will not be able
to pay Distributions on the Preferred Securities and will not have funds legally
available therefor. Each Guarantee will rank subordinate and junior in right of
payment to all Senior Debt of the Corporation. See "-- Status of the
Guarantees." Because the Corporation is a holding company, the right of the
Corporation to participate in any distribution of assets of any subsidiary upon
such subsidiary's liquidation or reorganization or otherwise, is subject to the
prior claims of creditors of that subsidiary, except to the extent the
Corporation may itself be recognized as a creditor of that subsidiary.
Accordingly, the Corporation's obligations under the Guarantees will be
effectively subordinated to all existing and future liabilities of the
Corporation's subsidiaries, and claimants should look only to the assets of the
 
                                       33
<PAGE>   65
 
Corporation for payments thereunder. See "The Chase Manhattan Corporation."
Except as otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
Guarantees do not limit the incurrence or issuance of other secured or unsecured
debt of the Corporation, including Senior Debt, whether under the Indenture, any
other existing indenture or any other indenture that the Corporation may enter
into in the future or otherwise. See the applicable Prospectus Supplement
relating to any offering of Preferred Securities.
 
     The Corporation has, through the applicable Guarantee, the applicable Trust
Agreement, the applicable series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures
and the Indenture, taken together, fully, irrevocably and unconditionally
guaranteed all of the Issuer's obligations under the Preferred Securities. No
single document standing alone or operating in conjunction with fewer than all
of the other documents constitutes such guarantee. It is only the combined
operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a full,
irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the Issuer's obligations under the
Preferred Securities. See "Relationship Among the Preferred Securities, the
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Guarantees."
 
STATUS OF THE GUARANTEES
 
     Each Guarantee will constitute an unsecured obligation of the Corporation
and will rank subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of
the Corporation in the same manner as the Junior Subordinated Debentures.
 
     Each Guarantee will rank pari passu with all other Guarantees issued by the
Corporation. Each Guarantee will constitute a guarantee of payment and not of
collection (i.e., the guaranteed party may institute a legal proceeding directly
against the Guarantor to enforce its rights under the Guarantee without first
instituting a legal proceeding against any other person or entity). Each
Guarantee will be held for the benefit of the holders of the related Preferred
Securities. Each Guarantee will not be discharged except by payment of the
Guarantee Payments in full to the extent not paid by the Issuer or upon
distribution to the holders of the Preferred Securities of the Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debentures. None of the Guarantees places a limitation on
the amount of additional Senior Debt that may be incurred by the Corporation.
The Corporation expects from time to time to incur additional indebtedness
constituting Senior Debt.
 
AMENDMENTS AND ASSIGNMENT
 
     Except with respect to any changes which do not materially adversely affect
the rights of holders of the related Preferred Securities (in which case no vote
will be required), no Guarantee may be amended without the prior approval of the
holders of not less than a majority of the aggregate Liquidation Amount of such
outstanding Preferred Securities. The manner of obtaining any such approval will
be as set forth under "Description of Preferred Securities -- Voting Rights;
Amendment of Each Trust Agreement." All guarantees and agreements contained in
each Guarantee shall bind the successors, assigns, receivers, trustees and
representatives of the Corporation and shall inure to the benefit of the holders
of the related Preferred Securities then outstanding.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     An event of default under each Guarantee will occur upon the failure of the
Corporation to perform any of its payment or other obligations thereunder. The
holders of not less than a majority in aggregate Liquidation Amount of the
related Preferred Securities have the right to direct the time, method and place
of conducting any proceeding for any remedy available to the Guarantee Trustee
in respect of such Guarantee or to direct the exercise of any trust or power
conferred upon the Guarantee Trustee under such Guarantee.
 
     Any holder of the Preferred Securities may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation to enforce its rights under such Guarantee
without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Issuer, the Guarantee
Trustee or any other person or entity.
 
                                       34
<PAGE>   66
 
     The Corporation, as guarantor, is required to file annually with the
Guarantee Trustee a certificate as to whether or not the Corporation is in
compliance with all the conditions and covenants applicable to it under the
Guarantee.
 
INFORMATION CONCERNING THE GUARANTEE TRUSTEE
 
     The Guarantee Trustee, other than during the occurrence and continuance of
a default by the Corporation in performance of any Guarantee, undertakes to
perform only such duties as are specifically set forth in each Guarantee and,
after default with respect to any Guarantee, must exercise the same degree of
care and skill as a prudent person would exercise or use in the conduct of his
or her own affairs. Subject to this provision, the Guarantee Trustee is under no
obligation to exercise any of the powers vested in it by any Guarantee at the
request of any holder of any Preferred Securities unless it is offered
reasonable indemnity against the costs, expenses and liabilities that might be
incurred thereby.
 
TERMINATION OF THE GUARANTEES
 
     Each Guarantee will terminate and be of no further force and effect upon
full payment of the Redemption Price of the related Preferred Securities, upon
full payment of the amounts payable upon liquidation of the related Issuer or
upon distribution of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures to the holders
of the related Preferred Securities in exchange therefor. Each Guarantee will
continue to be effective or will be reinstated, as the case may be, if at any
time any holder of the related Preferred Securities must restore payment of any
sums paid under such Preferred Securities or such Guarantee.
 
GOVERNING LAW
 
     Each Guarantee will be governed by and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.
 
                  RELATIONSHIP AMONG THE PREFERRED SECURITIES,
                THE CORRESPONDING JUNIOR SUBORDINATED DEBENTURES
                               AND THE GUARANTEES
 
FULL AND UNCONDITIONAL GUARANTEE
 
     Payments of Distributions and other amounts due on the Preferred Securities
(to the extent the Issuer has funds available for the payment of such
Distributions) are irrevocably guaranteed by the Corporation as and to the
extent set forth under "Description of Guarantees." Taken together, the
Corporation's obligations under each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the Indenture, the related Trust Agreement and the related Guarantee
provide, in the aggregate, a full, irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of
payments of distributions and other amounts due on the Related Preferred
Securities. No single document standing alone or operating in conjunction with
fewer than all of the other documents constitutes such guarantee. It is only the
combined operation of these documents that has the effect of providing a full,
irrevocable and unconditional guarantee of the Issuer's obligations under the
Related Preferred Securities. If and to the extent that the Corporation does not
make payments on any series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures,
such Issuer will not pay Distributions or other amounts due on the Related
Preferred Securities. The Guarantees do not cover payment of Distributions when
the related Issuer does not have sufficient funds to pay such Distributions. In
such event, the remedy of a holder of a series of Preferred Securities is to
institute a legal proceeding directly against the Corporation pursuant to the
terms of the Indenture for enforcement of payment of amounts equal to such
Distributions to such holder. The obligations of the Corporation under each
Guarantee are subordinate and junior in right of payment to all Senior Debt of
the Corporation.
 
                                       35
<PAGE>   67
 
SUFFICIENCY OF PAYMENTS
 
     As long as payments of interest and other payments are made when due on
each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures, such payments will
be sufficient to cover Distributions and other payments due on the Related
Preferred Securities, primarily because (i) the aggregate principal amount of
each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures will be equal to the
sum of the aggregate stated Liquidation Amount of the Related Preferred
Securities and related Common Securities; (ii) the interest rate and interest
and other payment dates on each series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures will match the Distribution rate and Distribution and other payment
dates for the Related Preferred Securities; (iii) the Corporation shall pay for
all and any costs, expenses and liabilities of such Issuer except the Issuer's
obligations to holders of its Preferred Securities under such Preferred
Securities; and (iv) each Trust Agreement further provides that the Issuer will
not engage in any activity that is not consistent with the limited purposes of
such Issuer.
 
     Notwithstanding anything to the contrary in the Indenture, the Corporation
has the right to set-off any payment it is otherwise required to make thereunder
with and to the extent the Corporation has theretofore made, or is concurrently
on the date of such payment making, a payment under the related Guarantee.
 
ENFORCEMENT RIGHTS OF HOLDERS OF PREFERRED SECURITIES
 
     A holder of any related Preferred Security may institute a legal proceeding
directly against the Corporation to enforce its rights under the related
Guarantee without first instituting a legal proceeding against the Guarantee
Trustee, the related Issuer or any other person or entity.
 
     A default or event of default under any Senior Debt of the Corporation
would not constitute a default or Event of Default under the Indenture. However,
in the event of payment defaults under, or acceleration of, Senior Debt of the
Corporation, the subordination provisions of the Indenture provide that no
payments may be made in respect of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures until such Senior Debt has been paid in full or any payment default
thereunder has been cured or waived. Failure to make required payments on any
series of Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures would constitute an Event
of Default under the Indenture.
 
LIMITED PURPOSE OF ISSUERS
 
     Each Issuer's Preferred Securities evidence a beneficial interest in such
Issuer, and each Issuer exists for the sole purpose of issuing its Preferred
Securities and Common Securities and investing the proceeds thereof in
Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures. A principal difference between the
rights of a holder of a Preferred Security and a holder of a Corresponding
Junior Subordinated Debenture is that a holder of a Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debenture is entitled to receive from the Corporation the principal
amount of and interest accrued on Corresponding Junior Subordinated Debentures
held, while a holder of Preferred Securities is entitled to receive
Distributions from such Issuer (or from the Corporation under the applicable
Guarantee) if and to the extent such Issuer has funds available for the payment
of such Distributions.
 
RIGHTS UPON TERMINATION
 
     Upon any voluntary or involuntary termination, winding up or liquidation of
any Issuer involving the liquidation of the Corresponding Junior Subordinated
Debentures, the holders of the related Preferred Securities will be entitled to
receive, out of the assets held by such Issuer, the Liquidation Distribution in
cash. See "Description of Preferred Securities -- Liquidation Distribution Upon
Termination." Upon any voluntary or involuntary liquidation or bankruptcy of the
Corporation, the Property Trustee, as holder of the Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures, would be a subordinated creditor of the Corporation,
subordinated in right of payment to all Senior Debt as set forth in the
Indenture, but entitled to receive payment in full of principal and interest,
before any
 
                                       36
<PAGE>   68
 
stockholders of the Corporation receive payments or distributions. Since the
Corporation is the guarantor under each Guarantee and has agreed to pay for all
costs, expenses and liabilities of each Issuer (other than the Issuer's
obligations to the holders of its Preferred Securities), the positions of a
holder of such Preferred Securities and a holder of such Corresponding Junior
Subordinated Debentures relative to other creditors and to stockholders of the
Corporation in the event of liquidation or bankruptcy of the Corporation are
expected to be substantially the same.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures or the Preferred Securities may be sold
in a public offering to or through underwriters or dealers designated from time
to time. The Corporation and each Issuer may sell its Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Preferred Securities as soon as practicable after effectiveness of
the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part. The names of
any underwriters or dealers involved in the sale of the Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Preferred Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is
delivered, the amount or number of Junior Subordinated Debentures and Preferred
Securities to be purchased by any such underwriters and any applicable
commissions or discounts will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
 
     Underwriters may offer and sell Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred
Securities at a fixed price or prices, which may be changed, or from time to
time at market prices prevailing at the time of sale, at prices related to such
prevailing market prices or at negotiated prices. In connection with the sale of
Preferred Securities, underwriters may be deemed to have received compensation
from the Corporation and/or the applicable Issuer in the form of underwriting
discounts or commissions and may also receive commissions. Underwriters may sell
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities to or through dealers,
and such dealers may receive compensation in the form of discounts, concessions
or commissions from the underwriters.
 
     Any underwriting compensation paid by the Corporation and/or the applicable
Issuer to underwriters in connection with the offering of Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Preferred Securities, and any discounts, concessions or
commissions allowed by such underwriters to participating dealers, will be
described in an accompanying Prospectus Supplement. Underwriters and dealers
participating in the distribution of Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred
Securities may be deemed to be underwriters, and any discounts and commissions
received by them and any profit realized by them on resale of such Junior
Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities may be deemed to be underwriting
discounts and commissions, under the Securities Act. Underwriters and dealers
may be entitled, under agreement with the Corporation and the applicable Issuer,
to indemnification against and contribution toward certain civil liabilities,
including liabilities under the Securities Act, and to reimbursement by the
Corporation for certain expenses.
 
     In connection with the offering of the Preferred Securities of any Issuer,
such Issuer may grant to the underwriters an option to purchase additional
Preferred Securities to cover over-allotments, if any, at the initial public
offering price (with an additional underwriting commission), as may be set forth
in the accompanying Prospectus Supplement. If such Issuer grants any
over-allotment option, the terms of such over-allotment option will be set forth
in the Prospectus Supplement for such Preferred Securities.
 
     Underwriters and dealers may engage in transactions with, or perform
services for, the Corporation and/or the applicable Issuer and/or any of their
affiliates in the ordinary course of business.
 
     The Junior Subordinated Debentures and the Preferred Securities will be new
issues of securities and will have no established trading market. Any
underwriters to whom Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities are
sold for public offering and sale may make a market in such Junior Subordinated
Debentures and Preferred Securities, but such underwriters will not be obligated
to do so and may discontinue any market making at any time without notice. Such
Junior Subordinated Debentures or Preferred Securities may or may not be listed
on a national securities
 
                                       37
<PAGE>   69
 
exchange or the Nasdaq National Market. No assurance can be given as to the
liquidity of or the existence of trading markets for any Junior Subordinated
Debentures or Preferred Securities.
 
                             VALIDITY OF SECURITIES
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, certain
legal matters will be passed upon for the Corporation by Simpson Thacher &
Bartlett (a partnership which includes professional corporations), counsel to
the Corporation, and for the Issuers by Richards, Layton & Finger, special
Delaware counsel to the Issuers and the Corporation. The validity of the
Guarantees and the Junior Subordinated Debentures will be passed upon for the
Underwriters by Sullivan & Cromwell. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett and Sullivan &
Cromwell will rely on the opinion of Richards, Layton & Finger as to matters of
Delaware law.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
     The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Corporation and
subsidiaries appearing in the Corporation's 1995 Annual Report to stockholders
set forth in the Current Report on Form 8-K dated April 16, 1996 have been
audited by Price Waterhouse LLP, independent auditors, as set forth in their
report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such
consolidated financial statements and schedules are incorporated herein by
reference in reliance upon such report given upon the authority of such firm as
experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                                       38
<PAGE>   70
 
                                    PART II.
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
   
<TABLE>
    <S>                                                                        <C>
    Registration fee under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended............  $151,515
    Blue Sky fees and expenses (including counsel fees)......................    15,000
    NASD fees................................................................    30,500
    Fees of rating agencies..................................................   200,000
    Trustees' fees and expenses..............................................    20,000
    Printing and engraving...................................................    60,000
    Accounting services......................................................    25,000
    Legal fees of Registrant's counsel.......................................   200,000
    Miscellaneous............................................................    47,985
                                                                               ----------
              Total..........................................................  $750,000
                                                                               ==========
</TABLE>
    
 
   
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF DIRECTORS AND OFFICERS.
    
 
     Pursuant to the Delaware General Corporation Law (the "DGCL"), a
corporation may indemnify any person in connection with any threatened, pending
or completed action, suit or proceeding, whether civil, criminal, administrative
or investigative (other than a derivative action by or in the right of such
corporation) who is or was a director, officer, employee or agent of such
corporation, or serving at the request of such corporation in such capacity for
another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise,
against expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid
in settlement actually and reasonably incurred in connection with such action,
suit or proceeding, if such person acted in good faith and in a manner he or she
reasonably believed to be in or not opposed to the best interests of such
corporation, and, with respect to any criminal action or proceeding, had no
reasonable cause to believe his or her conduct was unlawful.
 
     The DGCL also permits indemnification by a corporation under similar
circumstances for expenses (including attorneys' fees) actually and reasonably
incurred by such persons in connection with the defense or settlement of a
derivative action, except that no indemnification shall be made in respect of
any claim, issue or matter as to which such person shall have been adjudged to
be liable to such corporation unless the Court of Chancery or the court in which
such action or suit was brought shall determine upon application that such
person is fairly and reasonably entitled to indemnity for such expenses which
such court shall deem proper.
 
     The DGCL provides that the indemnification described above shall not be
deemed exclusive of other indemnification that may be granted by a corporation
pursuant to its By-laws, disinterested directors' vote, stockholders' vote,
agreement or otherwise.
 
     The DGCL also provides corporations with the power to purchase and maintain
insurance on behalf of any person who is or was a director, officer, employee or
agent of the corporation, or is or was serving at the request of the corporation
in a similar capacity for another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust
or other enterprise against any liability asserted against him or her in any
such capacity, or arising out of his or her status as such, whether or not the
corporation would have the power to indemnify him or her against such liability
as described above.
 
     The Restated Certificate of Incorporation of the Corporation provides that,
to the fullest extent that the DGCL as from time to time in effect permits the
limitation or elimination of the liability of directors, no director of the
Corporation shall be personally liable to the Corporation or its stockholders
for monetary damages for breach of fiduciary duty as a director.
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>   71
 
     The Corporation's Restated Certificate of Incorporation empowers the
Corporation to indemnify any director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation or any other person who is serving at the Corporation's request in
any such capacity with another corporation, partnership, joint venture, trust or
other enterprise (including, without limitation, an employee benefit plan) to
the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL as from time to time in effect, and
any such indemnification may continue as to any person who has ceased to be a
director, officer, employee or agent and may inure to the benefit of the heirs,
executors and administrators of such a person.
 
     The Corporation's Restated Certificate of Incorporation also empowers the
Corporation by action of its Board of Directors, notwithstanding any interest of
the directors in the action, to purchase and maintain insurance in such amounts
as the Board of Directors deems appropriate to protect any director, officer,
employee or agent of the Corporation or any other person who is serving at the
Corporation's request in any such capacity with another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including, without
limitation, an employee benefit plan) against any liability asserted against him
or incurred by him in any such capacity arising out of his status as such
including, without limitation, expenses, judgments, fines (including any excise
taxes assessed on a person with respect to any employee benefit plan) and
amounts paid in settlement) to the fullest extent permitted under the DGCL as
from time to time in effect, whether or not the Corporation would have the power
or be required to indemnify any such individual under the terms of any agreement
or by-law or the DGCL.
 
     In addition, the Corporation's By-laws require indemnification to the
fullest extent permitted under applicable law, as from time to time in effect.
The By-laws provide a clear and unconditional right to indemnification for
expenses (including attorneys' fees), judgments, fines and amounts paid in
settlement actually and reasonably incurred by any person in connection with any
threatened, pending or completed investigation, claim, action, suit or
proceeding, whether civil, administrative or investigative (including, to the
extent permitted by law, any derivative action) by reason of the fact that such
person is or was serving as a director, officer, employee or agent of the
Corporation or, at the request of the Corporation, of another corporation,
partnership, joint venture, trust or other enterprise (including, without
limitation, an employee benefit plan). The By-laws specify that the right
indemnification so provided is a contract right, set forth certain procedural
and evidentiary standards applicable to the enforcement of a claim under the
By-laws, entitle the persons to be indemnified to be reimbursed for the expenses
of prosecuting any such claim against the Corporation and entitle them to have
all expenses incurred in advance of the final disposition of a proceeding paid
by the Corporation. Such provisions, however, are intended to be in furtherance
and not in limitation of the general right to indemnification provided in the
By-laws, which right of indemnification and of advancement of expenses is not
exclusive.
 
     The Corporation's By-laws also provide that the Corporation may enter into
contracts with any director, officer, employee or agent of the Corporation in
furtherance of the indemnification provisions in the By-laws, as well as create
a trust fund, grant a security interest or use other means (including, without
limitation, a letter of credit) to ensure payment of amounts indemnified.
 
     Reference is made to the Underwriting Agreement, the form of which is filed
as Exhibit 1 to this Registration Statement.
 
     Under the Trust Agreement, the Corporation will agree to indemnify each of
the Trustees of the Issuer or any predecessor Trustee for the Issuer, and to
hold the Trustee harmless against, any loss, damage, claims, liability or
expense incurred without negligence or bad faith on its part, arising out of or
in connection with the acceptance or administration of the Trust Agreements,
including the costs and expenses of defending itself against any claim or
liability in connection with the exercise or performance of any of its powers or
duties under the Trust Agreements.
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>   72
 
   
ITEM 17.  UNDERTAKINGS.
    
 
     Each of the undersigned Registrants hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, each
filing of a Registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section
15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference
in this Registration Statement shall be deemed to be a new registration
statement relating to the securities offered herein, and the offering of such
securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering
thereof.
 
     Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities Act
of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of each
Registrant pursuant to the provisions described under Item 15 above, or
otherwise, each Registrant has been advised that in the opinion of the
Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against public policy
as expressed in the Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the event that a
claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the payment by
each Registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer or
controlling person of each Registrant in the successful defense of any action,
suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or controlling person
in connection with the securities being registered, each Registrant will, unless
in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been settled by the controlling
precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction the question whether
such indemnification by it is against public policy as expressed in the Act and
will be governed by the final adjudication of such issue.
 
Each of the undersigned Registrants hereby also undertakes:
 
     (1) to file, during any period in which offers or sales are being made, a
post-effective amendment to this Registration Statement:
 
          (i) to include any prospectus required by Section 10(a)(3) of the
     Securities Act of 1933;
 
          (ii) to reflect in the prospectus any facts or events arising after
     the effective date of this Registration Statement (or the most recent
     post-effective amendment thereto) which, individually or in the aggregate,
     represent a fundamental change in the information set forth in this
     Registration Statement. Notwithstanding the foregoing, any increase or
     decrease in volume of securities offered (if the total dollar value of
     securities offered would not exceed that which was registered) and any
     deviation from the low or high end of the estimated maximum offering range
     may be reflected in the form of prospectus filed with the Commission
     pursuant to Rule 424(b) if, in the aggregate, the changes in volume and
     price represent no more than a 20% change in the maximum aggregate offering
     price set forth in the "Calculation of Registration Fee" table in the
     effective registration statement; and
 
          (iii) to include any material information with respect to the plan of
     distribution not previously disclosed in this Registration Statement or any
     material change to such information in this Registration Statement;
 
provided, however, that paragraphs (1)(i) and (1)(ii) do not apply if the
information required to be included in a post-effective amendment by those
paragraphs is contained in periodic reports filed by a Registrant pursuant to
Section 13 or Section 15(d) of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that are
incorporated by reference in this Registration Statement.
 
     (2) that, for the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities
Act of 1933, each such post-effective amendment shall be deemed to be a new
registration statement relating to the securities offered therein, and the
offering of such securities at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona
fide offering thereof.
 
     (3) to remove from registration by means of a post-effective amendment any
of the securities being registered which remain unsold at the termination of the
offering.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>   73
 
     (4) to provide to the underwriter at the closing specified in the
underwriting agreement certificates in such denominations and registered in such
names as required by the underwriter to permit prompt delivery to each
purchaser.
 
     (5) That, for the purposes of determining any liability under the
Securities Act of 1933:
 
          (i) The information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part
     of this Registration Statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in
     the form of prospectus filed by the Registrants pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1)
     or (4) or 487(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of
     this Registration Statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
          (ii) Each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
     shall be deemed to be a new Registration Statement relating to the
     securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
     time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>   74
 
                                   SIGNATURES
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, the
Registrant certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all
of the requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to
the Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned,
thereunto duly authorized, in The City of New York, State of New York, on the 8
day of April, 1997.
    
 
                                          THE CHASE MANHATTAN CORPORATION
 
                                          By:             ANTHONY J. HORAN
 
                                          --------------------------------------
                                                   Corporate Secretary
 
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Amendment
to the Registration Statement has been signed by the following persons in the
capacities and on the dates indicated.
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              SIGNATURE                               CAPACITY                      DATE
- -------------------------------------    -----------------------------------  ----------------
 
<C>                                      <S>                                  <C>
                     *                   Chairman of the Board, Chief            April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------      Executive Officer and Director
          Walter V. Shipley                (Principal Executive Officer)
 
                     *                   President, Chief Operating Officer      April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------      and Director
         Thomas G. Labrecque
                     *                   Vice Chairman of the Board and          April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------      Director
      William B. Harrison, Jr.
 
                     *                   Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
        Frank A. Bennack, Jr.
 
                     *                   Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
         Susan V. Berresford
 
                     *                   Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
          M. Anthony Burns
 
                     *                   Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
         H. Laurance Fuller
 
                     *                   Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
          Melvin R. Goodes
</TABLE>
    
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>   75
 
   
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
              SIGNATURE                               CAPACITY                      DATE
- -------------------------------------    -----------------------------------  ----------------
 
<C>                                      <S>                                  <C>
 
                            *            Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
         William H. Gray III
 
                                         Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
           George V. Grune
 
                            *            Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
           Harold S. Hook
 
                            *            Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
          Helene L. Kaplan
 
                            *            Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
         J. Bruce Llewellyn
 
                            *            Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
        Edmund T. Pratt, Jr.
 
                            *            Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
          Henry B. Schacht
 
                            *            Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
          Andrew C. Sigler
 
                            *            Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
          John R. Stafford
 
                            *            Director                                April 8, 1997
- -------------------------------------
         Marina v.N. Whitman
 
                            *            Chief Financial Officer                 April 8, 1997
                                           (Principal Financial Officer)
- -------------------------------------
           Peter J. Tobin
 
                            *            Controller                              April 8, 1997
                                           (Principal Accounting Officer)
- -------------------------------------
         Joseph L. Sclafani
</TABLE>
    
 
- ---------------
 
   
* Anthony J. Horan hereby signs this Amendment to the Registration Statement on
  Form S-3 on April 8, 1997 on behalf of each of the indicated persons for whom
  he is attorney-in-fact pursuant to a power of attorney filed herein.
    
 
   
                                            By:     /s/ ANTHONY J. HORAN
    
                                              ----------------------------------
                                                       Anthony J. Horan
                                                     Corporate Secretary
 
                                      II-6
<PAGE>   76
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Chase Capital I
certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of New York, and State of New York on the 8th day
of April, 1997.
    
 
                                          CHASE CAPITAL I
 
                                          By: The Chase Manhattan Corporation,
                                              as Depositor
 
                                          By: Peter J. Tobin
 
                                          --------------------------------------
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Chase Capital
II certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of New York, and State of New York on the 8th day
of April, 1997.
    
 
                                          CHASE CAPITAL II
 
                                          By: The Chase Manhattan Corporation,
                                              as Depositor
 
                                          By: Peter J. Tobin
 
                                          --------------------------------------
 
   
     Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, Chase Capital
III certifies that it has reasonable grounds to believe that it meets all the
requirements for filing on Form S-3 and has duly caused this Amendment to the
Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto
duly authorized, in the City of New York, and State of New York on the 8th day
of April, 1997.
    
 
                                          CHASE CAPITAL III
 
                                          By: The Chase Manhattan Corporation,
                                              as Depositor
 
                                          By: Peter J. Tobin
 
                                          --------------------------------------
 
                                      II-7


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