SALOMON INC
424B2, 1996-05-09
SECURITY & COMMODITY BROKERS, DEALERS, EXCHANGES & SERVICES
Previous: ARTRA GROUP INC, NT 10-Q, 1996-05-09
Next: LEXINGTON MONEY MARKET TRUST, 497, 1996-05-09



<PAGE>
                                                Filed pursuant to Rule 424(b)(2)
                                                   Registration Number 333-01807
 
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT                                                     [LOGO]
(To Prospectus Dated April 5, 1996)
 
8,725,000 DECS-SM-
(DEBT EXCHANGEABLE FOR COMMON STOCK-SM-)
 
SALOMON INC
7 5/8% EXCHANGEABLE NOTES DUE MAY 15, 1999
 
(SUBJECT  TO EXCHANGE INTO SHARES OF COMMON  STOCK, PAR VALUE $.01 PER SHARE, OF
FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD.)
 
The principal amount of each of the  7 5/8% Exchangeable Notes Due May 15,  1999
(each,  a "DECS"), of Salomon Inc, a Delaware corporation (the "Company"), being
offered hereby will be  $26.625 (the last  sale price of  the common stock,  par
value  $.01 per share  (the "FSA Holdings Common  Stock"), of Financial Security
Assurance Holdings Ltd.,  a New  York corporation  ("FSA Holdings"),  on May  7,
1996,  as reported on the New York  Stock Exchange Composite Tape) (the "Initial
Price"). The DECS will mature on May 15, 1999. Interest on the DECS, at the rate
of 7 5/8% of the  principal amount per annum,  is payable quarterly on  February
15,  May 15, August 15 and November 15,  beginning August 15, 1996. The DECS are
not subject to redemption or any sinking fund prior to maturity.
 
At maturity (including as a result of acceleration or otherwise), the  principal
amount  of each DECS will be mandatorily  exchanged by the Company into a number
of shares of FSA Holdings  Common Stock (or, at  the Company's option under  the
circumstances  described herein, the  cash equivalent) at  the Exchange Rate (as
defined herein). The Exchange Rate is equal to, subject to certain  adjustments,
(a) if the Maturity Price per share of FSA Holdings Common Stock is greater than
or  equal to $32.48 per share of FSA Holdings Common Stock, 0.8197 shares of FSA
Holdings Common Stock per DECS,  (b) if the Maturity  Price is less than  $32.48
but is greater than the Initial Price, a fractional share of FSA Holdings Common
Stock  per  DECS so  that the  value thereof  at the  Maturity Price  equals the
Initial Price and (c) if the Maturity Price is less than or equal to the Initial
Price, one share  of FSA Holdings  Common Stock per  DECS. The "Maturity  Price"
means  the average Closing Price  (as defined herein) per  share of FSA Holdings
Common Stock on  the 20 Trading  Days (as defined  herein) immediately prior  to
maturity,  except as otherwise  described herein. Accordingly,  the value of the
FSA Common Stock to be received by holders of the DECS (or the cash  equivalent)
at  maturity will not  necessarily equal the principal  amount thereof. The DECS
will be unsecured obligations of the Company ranking pari passu with all of  its
other  unsecured  and unsubordinated  indebtedness.  FSA Holdings  will  have no
obligations with respect to the DECS. See "Description of the DECS."
 
SEE "RISK FACTORS RELATING TO  DECS" BEGINNING ON PAGE  S-3 FOR A DISCUSSION  OF
CERTAIN FACTORS THAT SHOULD BE CAREFULLY CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASERS.
 
Attached  hereto is a prospectus  of FSA Holdings relating  to the shares of FSA
Holdings Common Stock that may be received  by holders of DECS at maturity.  The
FSA  Holdings Common  Stock is  listed on the  New York  Stock Exchange ("NYSE")
under the symbol "FSA".
 
For a discussion of  certain United States federal  income tax consequences  for
holders of DECS, see "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Considerations."
 
"DECS"  and "Debt  Exchangeable for Common  Stock" are service  marks of Salomon
Brothers Inc.
 
THESE SECURITIES HAVE  NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY  THE SECURITIES  AND
EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR ANY  STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION  NOR HAS THE SECURITIES
<PAGE>
AND EXCHANGE  COMMISSION OR  ANY  STATE SECURITIES  COMMISSION PASSED  UPON  THE
ACCURACY   OR  ADEQUACY  OF  THIS  PROSPECTUS  SUPPLEMENT  OR  THE  ACCOMPANYING
PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                                   PRICE TO          UNDERWRITING      PROCEEDS TO
                                                   PUBLIC(1)         DISCOUNT          COMPANY(1)(2)
<S>                                                <C>               <C>               <C>
Per DECS.........................................  $26.625           $0.79             $25.835
Total (3)........................................  $232,303,125      $6,892,750        $225,410,375
- -----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from May 13, 1996 to the date of delivery.
(2) U S  WEST, Inc. has  agreed to  reimburse expenses payable  by the  Company,
    estimated at $275,000.
(3)  The Company has granted to the  Underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up
    to an aggregate of  1,071,303 additional DECS at  the Price to Public,  less
    Underwriting  Discount,  solely to  cover  over-allotments, if  any.  If the
    Underwriters exercise  such  option in  full,  the total  Price  to  Public,
    Underwriting  Discount  and Proceeds  to the  Company will  be $260,826,567,
    $7,739,079 and $253,087,488, respectively. See "Plan of Distribution."
 
The DECS are offered subject to  receipt and acceptance by the Underwriters,  to
prior  sales and to the  Underwriters' right to reject any  order in whole or in
part and to withdraw, cancel or modify the offer without notice. It is  expected
that  delivery of the DECS  will be made at the  office of Salomon Brothers Inc,
Seven World Trade Center, New York, New  York, or through the facilities of  The
Depository Trust Company, on or about May 13, 1996.
 
The Company or one or more of its subsidiaries may from time to time purchase or
acquire a position in the DECS and may, at its option, hold or resell such DECS.
Salomon  Brothers  Inc,  an indirect  wholly  owned subsidiary  of  the Company,
expects to offer and sell previously issued  DECS in the course of its  business
as  a broker-dealer. Salomon Brothers Inc may  act as principal or agent in such
transactions. This Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying Prospectus may  be
used  by the Company or any of its subsidiaries, including Salomon Brothers Inc,
in connection  with such  transactions. Such  sales,  if any,  will be  made  at
varying prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale.
 
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
                          DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
                                 SECURITIES CORPORATION
                                                                 LEHMAN BROTHERS
 
The date of this Prospectus Supplement is May 8, 1996.
<PAGE>
IN  CONNECTION WITH  THIS OFFERING,  THE UNDERWRITERS  MAY OVER-ALLOT  OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR  MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE  OF THE DECS AND  THE
FSA HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK AT LEVELS ABOVE THOSE WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN
THE  OPEN  MARKET. SUCH  TRANSACTIONS  MAY BE  EFFECTED  ON THE  NEW  YORK STOCK
EXCHANGE (WITH RESPECT TO THE FSA HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK) IN THE OVER-THE-COUNTER
MARKET OR OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT  ANY
TIME.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
    The  following  documents,  filed by  the  Company with  the  Securities and
Exchange Commission (the "Commission") pursuant to Section 13 of the  Securities
Exchange  Act of 1934,  as amended (the  "Exchange Act") (File  No. 1-4346), are
incorporated herein by reference: (i) the  Company's Annual Report on Form  10-K
for  the year ended December 31, 1995  and (ii) the Company's Current Reports on
Form 8-K dated January 23, 1996, February  1, 1996, February 12, 1996 and  April
23,  1996.  See  "Incorporation  of  Certain  Documents  By  Reference"  in  the
Prospectus of Salomon Inc accompanying this Prospectus Supplement.
 
                                      S-2
<PAGE>
                         RISK FACTORS RELATING TO DECS
 
    As  described in more detail  below, the trading price  of the DECS may vary
considerably  prior  to  maturity  (including  by  acceleration  or   otherwise,
"Maturity")  due to, among other things, fluctuations in the market price of FSA
Holdings Common Stock and other events that are difficult to predict and  beyond
the Company's control.
 
COMPARISON TO OTHER DEBT SECURITIES; RELATIONSHIP TO FSA HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK
 
    The  terms of the DECS differ from those of ordinary debt securities in that
the value of the FSA Holdings Common  Stock (or cash equivalent thereof) that  a
holder  of the DECS will receive upon mandatory exchange of the principal amount
thereof at Maturity (the "Amount Receivable  at Maturity") is not fixed, but  is
based  on the market price of the FSA  Holdings Common Stock as specified in the
Exchange Rate (as  defined under  "Description of the  DECS"). There  can be  no
assurance  that the Amount  Receivable at Maturity  will be equal  to or greater
than the principal amount of the DECS. For example, if the Maturity Price of the
FSA Holdings Common Stock is less than the Initial Price, the Amount  Receivable
at  Maturity will be less than the principal  amount paid for the DECS, in which
case an investment in the  DECS would result in a  loss and, if FSA Holdings  is
insolvent or bankrupt, could result in a total loss. Holders of DECS, therefore,
bear  the full risk of a  decline in the value of  the FSA Holdings Common Stock
prior to Maturity.
 
    In  addition,  the  opportunity  for  equity  appreciation  afforded  by  an
investment  in the  DECS is  less than  the opportunity  for equity appreciation
afforded by  an investment  in  FSA Holdings  Common  Stock because  the  Amount
Receivable at Maturity will only exceed the principal amount of such DECS if the
Maturity  Price  exceeds  the  Threshold Appreciation  Price  (as  defined under
"Description of the  DECS"), which represents  an appreciation of  22.0% of  the
Initial  Price. Moreover, holders of  the DECS will only  be entitled to receive
upon exchange  at  Maturity 81.97%  of  any appreciation  of  the value  of  FSA
Holdings  Common  Stock  in  excess of  the  Threshold  Appreciation  Price. See
"Description of  the DECS"  for  an illustration  of  the Amount  Receivable  at
Maturity  that a DECS  holder would receive at  various Maturity Prices. Because
the market  price  of  the  FSA  Holdings Common  Stock  is  subject  to  market
fluctuations,  the Amount Receivable  at Maturity may  be more or  less than the
principal amount of the DECS.
 
    It is impossible to predict whether  the price of FSA Holdings Common  Stock
will  rise  or  fall.  Trading  prices of  FSA  Holdings  Common  Stock  will be
influenced by FSA Holdings's operational results and by complex and interrelated
political, economic, financial  and other  factors that can  affect the  capital
markets  generally, the  stock exchange  on which  FSA Holdings  Common Stock is
traded and  the  market  segment of  which  FSA  Holdings is  a  part.  See  the
prospectus  relating to FSA  Holdings and to FSA  Holdings Common Stock attached
hereto. Trading prices of  FSA Holdings Common Stock  also may be influenced  if
the  Company,  another  market participant  or  a principal  shareholder  of FSA
Holdings hereafter issues securities with terms similar to those of the DECS  or
otherwise transfers shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock.
 
IMPACT OF THE DECS ON THE MARKET FOR THE FSA HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK
 
    It  is not possible to predict accurately how or whether the DECS will trade
in the secondary market or whether such  market will be liquid. Any market  that
develops for the DECS is likely to influence and be influenced by the market for
the FSA Holdings Common Stock. For example, the price of the FSA Holdings Common
Stock   could  become  more  volatile  and  could  be  depressed  by  investors'
anticipation of  the  potential  distribution into  the  market  of  substantial
additional  amounts of FSA Holdings Common Stock at the maturity of the DECS, by
possible sales of the FSA Holdings Common  Stock by investors who view the  DECS
as  a  more attractive  means of  equity  participation in  FSA Holdings  and by
hedging or arbitrage trading  activity that may develop  involving the DECS  and
the FSA Holdings Common Stock.
 
DILUTION OF FSA HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK
 
    The  Amount  Receivable at  Maturity is  subject  to adjustment  for certain
events arising from stock splits  and combinations, stock dividends and  certain
other   actions  of  FSA  Holdings  that   modify  its  capital  structure.  See
"Description of the DECS --  Dilution Adjustments; Reorganization Events."  Such
 
                                      S-3
<PAGE>
Amount  Receivable at  Maturity may  not be adjusted  for other  events, such as
offerings  of  FSA  Holdings  Common  Stock  for  cash  or  in  connection  with
acquisitions,  that may adversely affect the  price of FSA Holdings Common Stock
and, because of the  relationship of such Amount  Receivable at Maturity to  the
price  of FSA Holdings Common Stock, such  other events may adversely affect the
trading price of the DECS. There can be no assurance that FSA Holdings will  not
make  offerings of FSA  Holdings Common Stock  or take such  other action in the
future or as to the amount of such offerings, if any.
 
    In addition, until such time, if any, as the Company shall deliver shares of
FSA Holdings Common Stock to holders of the DECS at Maturity thereof, holders of
the DECS will not be entitled to any rights with respect to FSA Holdings  Common
Stock  (including, without limitation,  voting rights and  the rights to receive
any dividends or other distributions in respect thereof).
 
NO OBLIGATION ON THE PART OF U S WEST OR FSA HOLDINGS WITH RESPECT TO THE DECS
 
    In connection with the sale of the DECS offered hereby, the Company  expects
to purchase from U S WEST an exchangeable note (the "U S WEST DECS") in the same
principal  amount as  the DECS  that will obligate  U S  WEST to  deliver to the
Company at or prior to Maturity a number of shares of FSA Holdings Common  Stock
(or, at U S WEST's option under certain circumstances, the cash equivalent) that
are  expected  to have  the same  value  as the  Amount Receivable  at Maturity.
Nevertheless, the  purchase and  sale  of the  U S  WEST  DECS is  a  commercial
transaction  and does  create any rights  in, or  for the benefit  of, any third
party, including any holder of DECS. The Company has no obligation to retain the
U S WEST DECS and investors in the DECS will have no recourse to U S WEST in the
event of a default under the DECS offered hereby.
 
    The Company has  no affiliation with  either U  S WEST or  FSA Holdings  and
neither U S WEST nor FSA Holdings has any obligation with respect to the DECS or
the Amount Receivable at Maturity, including any obligation to take the needs of
the  Company or of  holders of the  DECS into consideration  for any reason. FSA
Holdings will not receive any of the  proceeds of the offering of the DECS  made
hereby   and  is  not  responsible  for,   and  has  not  participated  in,  the
determination of the time  of, prices for  or quantities of  DECS to be  issued.
Neither U S WEST nor FSA Holdings is involved with the administration or trading
of  the DECS  or the  determination or calculation  of the  Amount Receivable at
Maturity.
 
    In the event U S WEST does not perform under the U S WEST DECS, the  Company
will  be required to otherwise  acquire shares of FSA  Holdings Common Stock for
delivery to the  holders of the  DECS (or, at  the option of  the Company  where
permitted by applicable law, to pay the cash equivalent).
 
POSSIBLE ILLIQUIDITY OF THE SECONDARY MARKET
 
    It  is not  possible to  predict how  the DECS  will trade  in the secondary
market or whether such  market will be  liquid or illiquid.  DECS are novel  and
innovative  securities and there is currently  no secondary market for the DECS.
The DECS will  not be listed  or traded  on any securities  exchange or  trading
market. Accordingly, pricing information for the DECS may be difficult to obtain
and the liquidity of the DECS may be limited. The Underwriters currently intend,
but  are not obligated, to make a market  in the DECS. There can be no assurance
that a secondary  market will develop  or, if a  secondary market does  develop,
that  it will  provide the holders  of the DECS  with liquidity or  that it will
continue for the life of the DECS.
 
UNCERTAINTY OF FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
 
    No statutory, judicial  or administrative authority  directly addresses  the
characterization of the DECS or instruments similar to the DECS for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. As a result, significant aspects of the U.S. federal income
tax  consequences of  an investment in  the DECS  are not certain.  No ruling is
being requested from the Internal Revenue  Service with respect to the DECS  and
no  assurance can be given that the Internal Revenue Service will agree with the
conclusions  expressed  under   "Certain  United  States   Federal  Income   Tax
Considerations."
 
RISK FACTORS RELATING TO FSA HOLDINGS
 
    Investors  in  the DECS  should carefully  consider  the information  in the
prospectus of FSA Holdings attached hereto, including the information  contained
therein under "Risk Factors."
 
                                      S-4
<PAGE>
                                  SALOMON INC
 
    Salomon  Inc  was  incorporated in  1960  under  the laws  of  the  State of
Delaware. Salomon Inc conducts global investment banking, global securities  and
commodities  trading, and U.S. oil refining and gathering activities. Investment
banking activities are conducted by Salomon Brothers Holding Company Inc and its
subsidiaries, including  Salomon  Brothers  Inc  ("Salomon  Brothers").  Salomon
Brothers  provides  capital  raising,  advisory,  trading  and  risk  management
services to its customers,  and executes proprietary  trading strategies on  its
own  behalf. Salomon Inc's  commodities trading activities  are conducted by the
Company's  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Phibro  Inc.  and  its  subsidiaries.  Oil
refining and gathering activities are conducted by Basis Petroleum, Inc.
 
                   RECENT DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING SALOMON INC
 
    On  April 23, 1996, Salomon  Inc announced first quarter  net income of $276
million, representing  the  third  most  profitable  quarter  in  the  Company's
history.  Net  revenues (total  revenues less  interest  expense) for  the first
quarter of $1.2  billion were up  61% from  the first quarter  of 1995.  Primary
return  on equity increased from 7% in the  first quarter of 1995 to 26% in this
year's first quarter (34% excluding oil refining and production activities.)
 
    Salomon Brothers  recorded  pretax  income  of $368  million  in  the  first
quarter,  up from $60 million in the first quarter of 1995. Net revenues for the
first quarter  of $1.0  billion were  up 68%  from the  first quarter  of  1995,
principally reflecting broad based strength in sales and trading.
 
    Strong first quarter results coupled with the February 1996 issuance of $250
million of perpetual preferred stock resulted in a 12% increase in stockholders'
equity  from  year-end 1995.  Average  assets for  the  first quarter  were $191
billion.
 
    The  following  table  presents  selected  unaudited  historical   financial
information  for the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries for and as of the
three month periods ended March 31, 1996, December 31, 1995 and March 31, 1995.
 
                    UNAUDITED SELECTED FINANCIAL INFORMATION
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                   THREE MONTHS ENDED
                                                                                        ----------------------------------------
                                                                                         MARCH 31,     DECEMBER 31,   MARCH 31,
                                                                                            1996           1995          1995
                                                                                        ------------  --------------  ----------
                                                                                                 (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS)
<S>                                                                                     <C>           <C>             <C>
STATEMENT OF INCOME DATA:
Revenues:
Interest and dividends................................................................   $    1,573    $      1,859   $    1,608
Principal transactions................................................................          651             268          370
Investment banking....................................................................          181             168           22
Commissions...........................................................................           90              80           89
Other.................................................................................          (27)        --               (21)
                                                                                        ------------  --------------  ----------
Total revenues........................................................................        2,468           2,375        2,068
Interest expense......................................................................        1,275           1,549        1,325
                                                                                        ------------  --------------  ----------
Revenues, net of interest expense.....................................................        1,193             826          743
                                                                                        ------------  --------------  ----------
Noninterest expenses:
Compensation and employee-related.....................................................          556             425          431
Technology............................................................................           55              60           64
Professional services and business development........................................           44              53           45
Occupancy.............................................................................           43              45           41
Clearing and exchange fees............................................................           17              15           16
Other.................................................................................           17              (6)          12
                                                                                        ------------  --------------  ----------
Total noninterest expenses............................................................          732             592          609
                                                                                        ------------  --------------  ----------
Income before income taxes............................................................          461             234          134
Income tax expense....................................................................  185........              66           53
                                                                                        ------------  --------------  ----------
Net income............................................................................   $      276    $        168   $       81
                                                                                        ------------  --------------  ----------
                                                                                        ------------  --------------  ----------
BALANCE SHEET DATA (AS OF END OF PERIOD):
Average assets for the quarter........................................................   $  191,000    $    184,000   $  172,000
Common equity.........................................................................        4,061           3,831        3,543
Redeemable preferred equity...........................................................          560             560          700
Perpetual preferred equity............................................................          562             312          312
</TABLE>
 
                                      S-5
<PAGE>
                   FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD.
 
    FSA Holdings,  through  its  indirect  wholly  owned  subsidiary,  Financial
Security  Assurance  Inc.  ("FSA"),  is primarily  engaged  in  the  business of
providing financial guaranty insurance on asset-backed securities and  municipal
bonds.  FSA was  the first  insurance company  organized to  insure asset-backed
obligations and has been a leading insurer of asset-backed obligations (based on
number of transactions insured)  since its inception in  1985. FSA expanded  the
focus  of  its  business in  1990  to  include financial  guaranty  insurance of
municipal obligations.
 
    FSA's  underwriting  policy   is  to  insure   asset-backed  and   municipal
obligations  that would  otherwise be  investment grade  without the  benefit of
FSA's insurance.  The  asset-backed obligations  insured  by FSA  are  generally
issued  in structured  transactions and  are backed by  pools of  assets such as
residential mortgage loans, consumer or  trade receivables, securities or  other
assets  having  an  ascertainable  cash  flow  or  market  value.  The municipal
obligations insured by FSA  consist primarily of  general obligation bonds  that
are  supported by the issuers' taxing power  and special revenue bonds and other
special obligations of  state and local  governments that are  supported by  the
issuers'  ability to impose and collect fees  and charges for public services or
specific projects.  Financial  guaranty  insurance  written  by  FSA  guarantees
payment when due of scheduled payments on an issuer's obligation. In the case of
a payment default on an insured obligation, FSA is generally required to pay the
principal,  interest or  other amounts due  in accordance  with the obligation's
original payment  schedule  or,  at  its  option, to  pay  such  amounts  on  an
accelerated basis.
 
    FSA   Holdings'  business  strategy  is  to  remain  a  leading  insurer  of
asset-backed obligations and  to become  a more prominent  insurer of  municipal
obligations. FSA Holdings expects to continue to emphasize a diversified insured
portfolio   characterized  by  insurance  of  both  asset-backed  and  municipal
obligations, with  a broad  geographic  distribution and  a variety  of  revenue
sources and transaction structures.
 
    In  December  1995,  FSA  Holdings  acquired  Capital  Guaranty  Corporation
("Capital Guaranty") in a merger transaction in which Capital Guaranty became  a
direct wholly owned subsidiary of FSA Holdings (the "Merger"). Capital Guaranty,
through   its  wholly  owned  subsidiary,  Capital  Guaranty  Insurance  Company
("CGIC"),  provided  financial  guaranty   insurance  on  municipal  bonds.   In
connection with the Merger, CGIC, whose principal business is now as a reinsurer
of policies written by FSA, changed its name to "Financial Security Assurance of
Maryland Inc."
 
    For  the year  ended December  31, 1995, FSA  had gross  premiums written of
$110.7 million, of which 49% related  to insurance of municipal obligations  and
51%  related to insurance of asset-backed obligations. At December 31, 1995, FSA
had net insurance in force of $75.4 billion, of which 70% represented  insurance
on   municipal  obligations  and  30%   represented  insurance  on  asset-backed
obligations.
 
    At December 31, 1995, FSA Holdings and its subsidiaries had total assets  of
$1,490.3 million, an increase of 38.7% from December 31, 1994, and shareholders'
equity  of $777.9 million,  an increase of  42.6% from December  31, 1994, which
increases are partially the result of the Merger.
 
                         RECENT DEVELOPMENTS CONCERNING
                   FINANCIAL SECURITY ASSURANCE HOLDINGS LTD.
 
    On April 17, 1996, FSA Holdings  announced first quarter 1996 net income  of
$19.5  million, or $0.62 per share, as compared with $10.8 million, or $0.42 per
share, for the first quarter  of 1995. At March 31,  1996, FSA Holdings and  its
subsidiaries  had total assets of $1,545.2  million. The present value ("PV") of
gross premiums originated by FSA Holdings (which includes the PV of  installment
premiums)  in  the first  quarter  of 1996  was  $61.4 million,  of  which $24.2
million, or  39.4%, related  to  insurance of  municipal obligations  and  $37.2
million, or 60.6%, related to insurance of asset-backed obligations. See "Recent
Developments" in the prospectus of FSA Holdings attached hereto.
                            ------------------------
 
    For  additional information about FSA Holdings and Capital Guaranty, see the
prospectus of  FSA Holdings  attached hereto.  FSA Holdings  is subject  to  the
informational requirements of the Exchange
 
                                      S-6
<PAGE>
Act,  and  in accordance  therewith files  reports,  proxy statements  and other
information with the Commission. The prospectus of FSA Holdings attached  hereto
incorporates  the 1995 Annual Report  on Form 10-K of  FSA Holdings and the 1994
Annual Report on Form 10-K of Capital  Guaranty, the Current Report on Form  8-K
of  FSA Holdings, the description of the  FSA Holdings Common Stock contained in
FSA Holdings' Registration Statement on Form  8-A, declared effective on May  6,
1994,  the Quarterly Reports on  Form 10-Q of Capital  Guaranty for the quarters
ended March 31, June 30 and September  30, 1995, and all documents filed by  FSA
Holdings  pursuant to  Section 13(a),  13(c), 14  or 15(d)  of the  Exchange Act
subsequent to the date of such prospectus  and prior to the termination of  this
DECS  offering.  Such  documents  may  be inspected  and  copied  at  the public
reference facilities maintained by the Commission in Washington, D.C. and at its
regional offices and  at the  offices of  the NYSE,  on which  the FSA  Holdings
Common  Stock is listed. Such documents,  without exhibits, also may be obtained
by writing  to  the Secretary  of  FSA Holdings,  Financial  Security  Assurance
Holdings Ltd., 350 Park Avenue, New York, New York 10022 (telephone number (212)
826-0100).  See "Available Information" and  "Incorporation of Certain Documents
by Reference" in the prospectus of FSA Holdings attached hereto.
 
    FSA Holdings  is not  affiliated  with the  Company,  will not  receive  any
proceeds  from the sale of the DECS and will have no obligations with respect to
the DECS. The  prospectus of FSA  Holdings is attached  hereto and delivered  to
prospective  purchasers  of DECS  together with  this Prospectus  Supplement and
accompanying Prospectus for convenience of reference only. The prospectus of FSA
Holdings does  not  constitute a  part  of  this Prospectus  Supplement  or  the
accompanying Prospectus, nor is it incorporated by reference herein.
 
                                      S-7
<PAGE>
                 RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN U S WEST AND FSA HOLDINGS
 
    In  connection with the sale of the DECS offered hereby, the Company expects
to purchase the U S  WEST DECS from U  S WEST. Under the terms  of the U S  WEST
DECS,  U S WEST  may deliver to the  Company a number of  shares of FSA Holdings
Common Stock (or  at U  S WEST's option  under certain  circumstances, the  cash
equivalent) that are expected to have the same value as the Amount Receivable at
Maturity.
 
    U  S  WEST  Capital Corporation,  a  wholly  owned subsidiary  of  U  S WEST
("USWCC"), currently owns approximately 15,856,910 shares of FSA Holdings Common
Stock (50.3% of the outstanding FSA Holdings Common Stock at March 1, 1996)  and
has  the right to vote 13,962,970 shares  of FSA Holdings Common Stock (41.7% of
the voting power of the outstanding equity of FSA Holdings at March 1, 1996). Of
such ownership interest, up to 9,796,303 shares may be delivered to the  Company
at  maturity (whether  by acceleration or  otherwise) of  the U S  WEST DECS. In
addition, four of the directors of FSA Holdings are officers of U S WEST or  its
affiliates. FSA Holdings is operated as a corporation independent from U S WEST,
and  while U S WEST may have some influence over FSA Holdings, U S WEST does not
consider that its ownership of FSA Holdings Common Stock affords it the power to
control the  management of  FSA Holdings.  Moreover,  because U  S WEST  is  not
required  to retain its current holdings of  shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock
in connection with the U S  WEST DECS or otherwise and  may sell some or all  of
such shares from time to time, there can be no assurance that U S WEST will have
any  influence over the actions and decisions  taken and made by FSA Holdings. A
principal shareholder of FSA Holdings has a right of first offer with respect to
the shares of FSA Holdings  Common Stock which may be  delivered by U S WEST  to
the  Company at  maturity including acceleration  of the  U S WEST  DECS. In the
event such  shareholder exercises  such option,  U  S WEST  may be  required  to
deliver  cash to the Company at maturity of the U S WEST DECS. For a description
of certain  relationships  between U  S  WEST  and FSA  Holdings,  see  "Certain
Relationships  and  Related  Transactions"  in the  prospectus  of  FSA Holdings
attached hereto.
 
    On April 29, 1996, U S WEST and FSA Holdings announced plans to enter into a
series of transactions (the  "Sale Transactions") pursuant  to which USWCC  will
sell  up to 3,700,000 shares of the  FSA Holdings Common Stock it currently owns
to FSA  Holdings, National  Westminster Bank  Plc or  an affiliate  or  designee
thereof   ("NatWest")  and  Fund  American  Enterprises  Holdings,  Inc.  ("Fund
American") at a price of  $26.50 per share. With respect  to the shares sold  by
USWCC  to NatWest, FSA Holdings will concurrently enter into a five-year forward
agreement with NatWest pursuant  to which FSA Holdings  will have the option  to
either  purchase  such shares  for  a price  of  $26.50 per  share  less certain
carrying costs or direct NatWest to sell  such shares. Assuming (i) the sale  by
USWCC  of 3,500,000  shares of  FSA Holdings Common  Stock pursuant  to the Sale
Transactions, (ii) the delivery by U S WEST of 9,796,303 shares of FSA  Holdings
Common  Stock at maturity  of the U S  WEST DECS and (iii)  the exercise by Fund
American of the options  held by Fund American  to purchase 2,560,607 shares  of
FSA  Holdings Common Stock from  USWCC, USWCC would thereafter  own no shares of
FSA Holdings Common Stock. See "Recent Developments -- The Sale Transactions" in
the prospectus of FSA Holdings attached hereto.
 
    In connection with the offering of the DECS, FSA Holdings and U S WEST  have
agreed   to  indemnify  the  Company   against  certain  liabilities,  including
liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the "Securities Act"),
and U  S  WEST has  agreed  to  pay the  expenses  of the  Company  incurred  in
connection therewith. The Company has no affiliation with either U S WEST or FSA
Holdings  and neither U S WEST nor  FSA Holdings has any obligation with respect
to the DECS. See "Risk Factors Relating to DECS -- No Obligation on the Part  of
U S WEST or FSA Holdings with Respect to the DECS."
 
                                      S-8
<PAGE>
                        PRICE RANGE AND DIVIDEND HISTORY
                          OF FSA HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK
 
    FSA Holdings Common Stock has been traded on the NYSE under the symbol "FSA"
since May 1994. The following table sets forth the high and low sales prices for
the FSA Holdings Common Stock for the calendar quarters indicated as reported on
the NYSE consolidated transaction system.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                   SALES PRICES
                                                               --------------------    DIVIDENDS
                                                                 HIGH        LOW        PAID
                                                               --------    --------    ------
<S>                                                            <C>         <C>         <C>
1994
  May 6 -- June 30..........................................   $ 22 5/8    $ 20        $0.00
  Third Quarter.............................................     22 1/2      20         0.08
  Fourth Quarter............................................     22 3/4      18 3/4     0.08
1995
  First Quarter.............................................   $ 21 5/8    $ 19        $0.08
  Second Quarter............................................     25 1/2      21 1/2     0.08
  Third Quarter.............................................     27 3/4      24 1/4     0.08
  Fourth Quarter............................................     27          24 1/2     0.08
1996
  First Quarter.............................................   $ 26 3/4    $ 24         0.08
  Second Quarter (through May 7, 1996)......................     27          25 3/8
</TABLE>
 
    As  of April 28, 1996,  there were approximately 2,100  holders of record of
FSA Holdings Common  Stock and 31,268,660  shares of FSA  Holdings Common  Stock
outstanding,  including  1,007,641 shares  held  by or  for  the account  of FSA
Holdings and its subsidiaries.
 
    For a recent sales  price of the  FSA Holdings Common  Stock, see the  cover
page  of this Prospectus Supplement.  See also "Price Range  of Common Stock and
Dividends" in the prospectus of FSA Holdings attached hereto.
 
    The Company makes no representation as  to the amount of dividends, if  any,
that FSA Holdings will pay in the future. In any event, holders of the DECS will
not be entitled to receive any dividends that may be payable on the FSA Holdings
Common  Stock until  such time  as the  Company, if  it so  elects, delivers FSA
Holdings Common Stock at  Maturity of the  DECS, and then  only with respect  to
dividends  having a  record date on  or after the  date of delivery  of such FSA
Holdings Common Stock. See "Description of the DECS."
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    The net proceeds to be received by  the Company from sales of the DECS  will
be used to purchase the U S WEST DECS.
 
                                      S-9
<PAGE>
                            DESCRIPTION OF THE DECS
 
    The  following description of the particular  terms of the DECS supplements,
and to  the  extent inconsistent  therewith  replaces, the  description  of  the
general   terms  and  provisions  of  the  Debt  Securities  set  forth  in  the
accompanying Prospectus, to which description reference is hereby made.
 
GENERAL
 
    The DECS are a series of Debt Securities (as defined in the Prospectus),  to
be  issued  under the  Senior Debt  Indenture dated  as of  December 1,  1988 as
supplemented from  time  to time,  (the  "Indenture") between  the  Company  and
Citibank, N.A., a national banking association, as Trustee (the "Trustee").
 
    The  DECS will constitute Senior Indebtedness (as defined in the Prospectus)
of the Company,  will be  unsecured and  will rank on  a parity  with all  other
unsecured  and unsubordinated indebtedness of  the Company. The aggregate number
of DECS to be issued  will be 8,725,000 plus such  additional number of DECS  as
may  be issued pursuant to  the over-allotment option granted  by the Company to
the Underwriters (see "Plan of Distribution").  The DECS will mature on May  15,
1999.  In the future, the Company may  issue additional Debt Securities or other
securities with terms similar to those of the DECS.
 
    Each DECS, which  will be issued  with a principal  amount of $26.625,  will
bear interest at the annual rate of 7.625% of the principal amount per annum (or
$2.03  per annum) from  May 13, 1996,  or from the  most recent Interest Payment
Date (as defined below) to  which interest has been  paid or provided for  until
the  principal amount thereof is exchanged at  Maturity pursuant to the terms of
the DECS. Interest on the DECS will be payable quarterly in arrears on  February
15,  May 15,  August 15 and  November 15,  commencing August 15,  1996 (each, an
"Interest Payment Date"), to the persons in whose names the DECS are  registered
at  the close  of business  on the  last day  of the  calendar month immediately
preceding such Interest Payment Date, provided that interest payable at Maturity
shall be payable to the person to whom the principal is payable. Interest on the
DECS will be computed on the basis of a 360-day year of twelve 30-day months. If
an Interest Payment Date falls on a day  that is not a Business Day (as  defined
below),  the interest payment to  be made on such  Interest Payment Date will be
made on the next succeeding  Business Day with the same  force and effect as  if
made  on such Interest Payment Date, and no additional interest will accrue as a
result of such delayed payment.
 
    At Maturity  (including  as a  result  of acceleration  or  otherwise),  the
principal  amount of each DECS will be mandatorily exchanged by the Company into
a number of shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock at the Exchange Rate (as defined
below). The "Exchange Rate" is equal to,  (a) if the Maturity Price (as  defined
below) per share of FSA Holdings Common Stock is greater than or equal to $32.48
per  share of  FSA Holdings Common  Stock (the  "Threshold Appreciation Price"),
0.8197 shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock  per DECS, (b) if the Maturity  Price
is  less than the Threshold  Appreciation Price but is  greater than the Initial
Price, a fractional  share of FSA  Holdings Common  Stock per DECS  so that  the
value  thereof (determined at the Maturity Price)  is equal to the Initial Price
and (c) if the Maturity  Price is less than or  equal to the Initial Price,  one
share  of FSA Holdings Common Stock per  DECS. ACCORDINGLY, THE VALUE OF THE FSA
HOLDINGS COMMON STOCK TO BE  RECEIVED BY HOLDERS OF  THE DECS (OR, AS  DISCUSSED
BELOW,  THE CASH EQUIVALENT TO  BE RECEIVED IN LIEU  OF SUCH SHARES) AT MATURITY
WILL NOT NECESSARILY  EQUAL THE PRINCIPAL  AMOUNT OF SUCH  DECS. The numbers  of
shares  of FSA Holdings Common  Stock per DECS specified  in clauses (a) and (c)
above of the Exchange Rate definition are hereinafter referred to as the  "Share
Components". Any shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock delivered by the Company to
the  holders of the DECS that are not affiliated with FSA Holdings shall be free
of any transfer restrictions and the holders of the DECS will be responsible for
the payment of  any and all  brokerage costs  upon the subsequent  sale of  such
shares.  No fractional  shares of  FSA Holdings Common  Stock will  be issued at
Maturity as provided  under "--  Fractional Shares"  below. Although  it is  the
Company's  current intention to  deliver shares of FSA  Holdings Common Stock at
Maturity, the Company may at its option deliver cash, in lieu of delivering such
shares of FSA Holdings  Common Stock, except where  such delivery would  violate
applicable state
 
                                      S-10
<PAGE>
law.  The amount of cash  deliverable in respect of each  DECS shall be equal to
the product  of the  number of  shares of  FSA Holdings  Common Stock  otherwise
deliverable  in respect of such  DECS on the date  of Maturity multiplied by the
Maturity Price. In  the event  the Company  elects to  deliver cash  in lieu  of
shares  at Maturity, it will  be obligated pursuant to  the Indenture to deliver
cash to all holders  of DECS except  those holders with respect  to whom it  has
determined  delivery of cash may violate applicable  state law and as to whom it
will deliver shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock. The Company does not currently
own a significant  number of shares  of FSA  Holdings Common Stock  and, in  the
event  of a default by  U S WEST under  the U S WEST  DECS, would be required to
acquire sufficient shares (in open  market transactions or otherwise), in  order
to  deliver shares where required by the  preceding sentence. On or prior to the
fourth Business Day prior to May 15, 1999, the Company will notify the  Trustee,
which  in turn will notify The Depository Trust Company, and publish a notice in
a daily newspaper of national  circulation stating whether the principal  amount
of  each DECS will be exchanged for shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock or cash;
provided, however, that  if the  Company intends  to deliver  cash, the  Company
shall  have  the right,  as a  condition to  delivery of  such cash,  to require
certification as to  the domicile  and residency  of each  beneficial holder  of
DECS. Notwithstanding the foregoing, (i) in the case of certain dilution events,
the  Exchange Rate will be subject to adjustment and (ii) in the case of certain
reorganization events, the consideration received by holders of DECS at Maturity
will be cash  or other  property. See "--  Dilution Adjustments;  Reorganization
Events" below.
 
    The  "Maturity Price" is defined  as the average Closing  Price per share of
FSA Holdings Common Stock on the 20  Trading Days immediately prior to (but  not
including)  the date of  Maturity; provided, however,  that if there  are not 20
Trading Days for the FSA Holdings  Common Stock following the 60th calendar  day
immediately  prior to, but not including, the date of maturity, "Maturity Price"
shall be defined as the market value  per share of FSA Holdings Common Stock  as
of  Maturity as  determined by a  nationally recognized  investment banking firm
retained for such purpose by the Company. The "Closing Price" of any security on
any date of determination means the closing sale price (or, if no closing  price
is reported, the last reported sale price) of such security (regular way) on the
NYSE  on such date or, if such security is not listed for trading on the NYSE on
any such  date, as  reported in  the composite  transactions for  the  principal
United  States securities exchange  on which such  security is so  listed, or if
such security  is  not  so  listed  on a  United  States  national  or  regional
securities  exchange, as  reported by  the Nasdaq  National Market,  or, if such
security is not so reported, the last quoted bid price for such security in  the
over-the-counter  market as reported by the National Quotation Bureau or similar
organization. A "Trading  Day" is defined  as a  day on which  the security  the
Closing  Price of which is being determined (A) is not suspended from trading on
any national or regional securities exchange or association or  over-the-counter
market at the close of business and (B) has traded at least once on the national
or  regional securities exchange or  association or over-the-counter market that
is the primary market for the trading of such security. "Business Day" means any
day that  is not  a Saturday,  a Sunday  or a  day on  which the  NYSE,  banking
institutions  or  trust companies  in The  City  of New  York are  authorized or
obligated by law or executive order to close.
 
    For illustrative  purposes only,  the following  chart shows  the number  of
shares  of FSA Holdings Common Stock or,  where permitted by applicable law, the
amount of cash  that a holder  of DECS would  receive for each  DECS at  various
Maturity  Prices. The  table assumes  that there will  be no  adjustments to the
Exchange Rate described under  "-- Dilution Adjustments; Reorganization  Events"
below.  There can  be no assurance  that the  Maturity Price will  be within the
range set forth below. Given the Initial Price of
 
                                      S-11
<PAGE>
$26.625 per DECS and the Threshold  Appreciation Price of $32.48, a DECS  holder
would  receive at Maturity the following number of shares of FSA Holdings Common
Stock or amount of cash (if the Company elects to pay the DECS in cash):
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
MATURITY PRICE OF   NUMBER OF SHARES OF
  FSA HOLDINGS         FSA HOLDINGS
  COMMON STOCK         COMMON STOCK        AMOUNT OF CASH
- -----------------  ---------------------  ----------------
<S>                <C>                    <C>
   $   25.000              1.0000            $  25.000
       26.625              1.0000               26.625
       30.000              0.8875               26.625
       32.480              0.8197               26.625
       34.000              0.8197               27.870
</TABLE>
 
    Interest on the DECS  will be payable, and  delivery of FSA Holdings  Common
Stock  (or, at the option  of the Company, its  cash equivalent) in exchange for
the DECS at Maturity will be made upon surrender of such DECS, at the office  or
agency  of the  Company maintained  for such  purposes; provided,  however, that
payment of interest may be made at the option of the Company by check mailed  to
the  persons in whose names the DECS are  registered at the close of business on
the last day of the calendar  month immediately preceding the relevant  Interest
Payment  Date. See  "-- Book-Entry  System." Initially  such office  will be the
principal corporate trust office of  the Trustee, in the  City and State of  New
York.
 
    The  DECS will  be transferable  at any  time or  from time  to time  at the
aforementioned office. No service charge will be made to the holder for any such
transfer except for any tax or governmental charge incidental thereto.
 
    The Company does  not currently own  a significant number  of shares of  FSA
Holdings  Common Stock.  The Indenture does  not contain any  restriction on the
ability of the Company to sell, pledge or  convey all or any portion of any  FSA
Holdings  Common Stock  that may be  acquired by  it or its  subsidiaries in the
future, and no shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock will be pledged or  otherwise
held  in escrow for use at Maturity of the DECS. Consequently, in the event of a
bankruptcy, insolvency or liquidation  of the Company  or its subsidiaries,  the
FSA Holdings Common Stock, if any, owned by the Company or its subsidiaries will
be  subject to the claims  of the creditors of  the Company or its subsidiaries,
respectively. In  addition,  as described  herein,  the Company  will  have  the
option,  exercisable in its sole discretion, to satisfy its obligations pursuant
to the mandatory exchange for the principal  amount of each DECS at Maturity  by
delivering  to holders of the  DECS either the number  of shares of FSA Holdings
Common Stock specified above  or, subject to applicable  law, cash in an  amount
equal  to the product of such number of shares multiplied by the Maturity Price.
In the event U S WEST elects to  deliver cash to the Company in satisfaction  of
the  U S WEST DECS or U S WEST defaults under the U S WEST DECS, a holder of the
DECS may be more likely to receive cash in lieu of FSA Holdings Common Stock. As
a result, there can be no assurance  that the Company will elect at Maturity  to
deliver  FSA Holdings Common Stock or, if it  so elects, that it will use all or
any portion of its then-current holdings  of FSA Holdings Common Stock, if  any,
to  make such delivery. Holders  of the DECS will not  be entitled to any rights
with respect to FSA Holdings Common Stock (including, without limitation, voting
rights and rights  to receive any  dividends or other  distributions in  respect
thereof)  until such time, if any, as the Company shall have delivered shares of
FSA Holdings Common Stock  to holders of  the DECS at  Maturity thereof and  the
applicable  record date, if  any, for the  exercise of such  rights occurs after
such date.
 
DILUTION ADJUSTMENTS; REORGANIZATION EVENTS
 
    The Exchange Rate is subject to adjustment  if FSA Holdings shall (i) pay  a
stock  dividend or make a distribution with respect to FSA Holdings Common Stock
in shares of such stock, (ii) subdivide  or split its outstanding shares of  FSA
Holdings  Common Stock,  (iii) combine  its outstanding  shares of  FSA Holdings
Common Stock into  a smaller number  of shares, (iv)  issue by  reclassification
(other  than a  reclassification upon a  Reorganization Event,  described in the
following paragraph) of its  shares of FSA Holdings  Common Stock any shares  of
common stock of FSA Holdings, (v) issue rights or warrants to all holders of FSA
Holdings  Common Stock entitling them to subscribe for or purchase shares of FSA
 
                                      S-12
<PAGE>
Holdings Common Stock at a price per share less than the market price of the FSA
Holdings Common Stock (other than rights  to purchase FSA Holdings Common  Stock
pursuant  to a plan for the reinvestment of dividends or interest) or (vi) pay a
dividend or make a distribution to all  holders of FSA Holdings Common Stock  of
evidences  of  its  indebtedness or  other  assets (excluding  any  dividends or
distributions referred to in clause (i) above, any shares of common stock issued
pursuant to a  reclassification referred  to in clause  (iv) above  or any  cash
dividends  other than  any Extraordinary Cash  Dividends (as  defined below)) or
issue to  all  holders  of FSA  Holdings  Common  Stock rights  or  warrants  to
subscribe for or purchase any of its securities (other than those referred to in
clause  (v) above). In the case of the  events referred to in clauses (i), (ii),
(iii) and (iv) above, the Exchange Rate  shall be adjusted by adjusting each  of
the  Share Components of the  Exchange Rate in effect  immediately prior to such
event so that a holder of any DECS shall be entitled to receive, upon  mandatory
exchange  of the principal  amount of such  DECS at Maturity  pursuant to either
Share Component  of the  Exchange Rate,  the number  of shares  of FSA  Holdings
Common  Stock (or, in the case of  a reclassification referred to in clause (iv)
above, the  number  of shares  of  other common  stock  of FSA  Holdings  issued
pursuant  thereto)  which such  holder of  such  DECS would  have owned  or been
entitled to  receive  immediately  following  such  event  had  such  DECS  been
exchanged  pursuant to either  Share Component of  the Exchange Rate immediately
prior to such event or any record date with respect thereto. In the case of  the
event  referred to in clause  (v) above, the Exchange  Rate shall be adjusted by
multiplying each  of  the  Share  Components of  the  Exchange  Rate  in  effect
immediately  prior to the date of issuance of the rights or warrants referred to
in clause (v) above, by a fraction,  of which the numerator shall be the  number
of  shares of FSA Holdings  Common Stock outstanding on  the date of issuance of
such rights or warrants, immediately prior to such issuance, plus the number  of
additional  shares  of FSA  Holdings Common  Stock  offered for  subscription or
purchase pursuant to such rights or warrants, and of which the denominator shall
be the number of shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock outstanding on the date  of
issuance  of such rights  or warrants, immediately prior  to such issuance, plus
the number of additional shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock which the aggregate
offering price of the  total number of  shares of FSA  Holdings Common Stock  so
offered  for subscription or purchase pursuant  to such rights or warrants would
purchase at the market price (determined as the average Closing Price per  share
of  FSA Holdings Common  Stock on the  20 Trading Days  immediately prior to the
date such rights or  warrants are issued; provided,  however, that if there  are
not  20 Trading Days for the FSA  Holdings Common Stock occurring later than the
60th calendar  day immediately  prior to,  but not  including, such  date,  such
market  price shall be determined as the  market value per share of FSA Holdings
Common Stock as of such date as determined by a nationally recognized investment
banking firm  retained  for  such  purpose  by  the  Company),  which  shall  be
determined  by multiplying such total number of  shares by the exercise price of
such rights or  warrants and  dividing the product  so obtained  by such  market
price.  To the extent that shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock are not delivered
after the expiration  of such  rights or warrants,  the Exchange  Rate shall  be
readjusted  to  the  Exchange  Rate  which would  then  be  in  effect  had such
adjustments for the issuance of such rights or warrants been made upon the basis
of delivery of only the number of  shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock  actually
delivered.  In  the case  of the  event referred  to in  clause (vi)  above, the
Exchange Rate shall be adjusted by  multiplying each of the Share Components  of
the  Exchange Rate in effect on the record date with respect to such dividend or
distribution referred  to in  clause (vi)  above,  by a  fraction of  which  the
numerator  shall be the market price per  share of the FSA Holdings Common Stock
on the record date for the determination of stockholders entitled to receive the
dividend or distribution  referred to in  clause (vi) above  (such market  price
being  determined as the average Closing Price  per share of FSA Holdings Common
Stock on the 20  Trading Days immediately prior  to such record date;  provided,
however, that if there are not 20 Trading Days for the FSA Holdings Common Stock
occurring  later  than  the 60th  calendar  day  immediately prior  to,  but not
including, such record date, such market price shall be determined as the market
value per  share  of  FSA Holdings  Common  Stock  as of  such  record  date  as
determined  by a nationally recognized investment banking firm retained for such
purpose by the Company), and of which the denominator shall be such market price
per share of FSA Holdings Common Stock less the fair market value (as determined
by the  Board  of  Directors  of  the  Company,  whose  determination  shall  be
conclusive,  and described in  a resolution adopted with  respect thereto) as of
such  record   date   of  the   portion   of   the  assets   or   evidences   of
 
                                      S-13
<PAGE>
indebtedness   so  distributed  or  of  such  subscription  rights  or  warrants
applicable to one  share of FSA  Holdings Common Stock.  An "Extraordinary  Cash
Dividend"  means, with respect to any one-year period, all cash dividends on the
FSA Holdings Common Stock during such period to the extent such dividends exceed
on a per  share basis  10% of  the average Closing  Prices of  the FSA  Holdings
Common  Stock  over such  period  (less any  such  dividends for  which  a prior
adjustment to the  Exchange Rate was  previously made). All  adjustments to  the
Exchange  Rate will be  calculated to the  nearest 1/10,000th of  a share of FSA
Holdings Common Stock (or, if there is  not a nearest 1/10,000th of a share,  to
the  next lower 1/10,000th of a share). No adjustment in the Exchange Rate shall
be required unless such adjustment would  require an increase or decrease of  at
least  one percent  therein; provided,  however, that  any adjustments  which by
reason of the foregoing are not required to be made shall be carried forward and
taken into account in any subsequent adjustment. If an adjustment is made to the
Exchange Rate pursuant to clauses (i), (ii), (iii), (iv), (v) or (vi) above,  an
adjustment shall also be made to the Maturity Price solely to determine which of
clauses  (a), (b) or (c) of the Exchange Rate definition will apply at Maturity.
The required  adjustment to  the Maturity  Price shall  be made  at Maturity  by
multiplying  the Maturity Price by the number or fraction determined pursuant to
the Exchange  Rate adjustment  procedure described  above. In  the case  of  the
reclassification  of any shares of FSA Holdings  Common Stock into any shares of
common stock of FSA Holdings other  than FSA Holdings Common Stock, such  shares
of  common stock shall be  deemed shares of FSA  Holdings Common Stock solely to
determine the Maturity Price  and to apply the  Exchange Rate at Maturity.  Each
such  adjustment  to the  Exchange Rate  and  the Maturity  Price shall  be made
successively.
 
    In the event  of (A) any  consolidation or  merger of FSA  Holdings, or  any
surviving  entity  or  subsequent  surviving entity  of  FSA  Holdings  (an "FSA
Holdings Successor"),  with or  into  another entity  (other  than a  merger  or
consolidation  in which FSA Holdings is  the continuing corporation and in which
the FSA Holdings  Common Stock outstanding  immediately prior to  the merger  or
consolidation  is not  exchanged for cash,  securities or other  property of FSA
Holdings or another corporation), (B) any sale, transfer, lease or conveyance to
another corporation  of  the  property  of FSA  Holdings  or  any  FSA  Holdings
Successor  as an  entirety or  substantially as  an entirety,  (C) any statutory
exchange of  securities of  FSA  Holdings or  any  FSA Holdings  Successor  with
another  corporation (other than in connection  with a merger or acquisition) or
(D) any  liquidation, dissolution  or winding  up  of FSA  Holdings or  any  FSA
Holdings  Successor (any such  event, a "Reorganization  Event"), each holder of
DECS will receive at Maturity, in lieu  of shares of FSA Holdings Common  Stock,
as  described above, cash in an amount equal to (a) if the Transaction Value (as
defined below) is  greater than or  equal to the  Threshold Appreciation  Price,
0.8197 multiplied by the Transaction Value, (b) if the Transaction Value is less
than  the Threshold Appreciation  Price but greater than  the Initial Price, the
Initial Price and  (c) if the  Transaction Value is  less than or  equal to  the
Initial Price, the Transaction Value. "Transaction Value" means (i) for any cash
received in any such Reorganization Event, the amount of cash received per share
of  FSA  Holdings  Common  Stock,  (ii) for  any  property  other  than  cash or
securities received in  any such Reorganization  Event, an amount  equal to  the
market  value at Maturity  of such property  received per share  of FSA Holdings
Common Stock as  determined by  a nationally  recognized independent  investment
banking  firm  retained  for this  purpose  by  the Company  and  (iii)  for any
securities received in  any such Reorganization  Event, an amount  equal to  the
average  Closing  Price per  share of  such  securities on  the 20  Trading Days
immediately prior  to  Maturity multiplied  by  the number  of  such  securities
received for each share of FSA Holdings Common Stock; provided, however, that in
the  case of clause (iii), if there are  not 20 Trading Days for such securities
occurring later  than  the 60th  calendar  day  immediately prior  to,  but  not
including,  the date of  Maturity, Transaction Value means  the market value per
share of such securities as of Maturity as determined by a nationally recognized
independent investment banking firm  retained for such  purpose by the  Company.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, in lieu of delivering cash as provided above, the
Company  may at its  option deliver an  equivalent value of  securities or other
property received in  such Reorganization Event,  determined in accordance  with
clause  (ii) or  (iii) above,  as applicable. If  the Company  elects to deliver
securities or other property,  holders of the DECS  will be responsible for  the
payment  of any and all  brokerage and other transaction  costs upon the sale of
such
 
                                      S-14
<PAGE>
securities or other property. The kind  and amount of securities into which  the
DECS  shall  be exchangeable  after consummation  of  such transaction  shall be
subject to  adjustment  as  described in  the  immediately  preceding  paragraph
following the date of consummation of such transaction.
 
    No  adjustments will be made for certain  other events, such as offerings of
FSA Holdings  Common  Stock by  FSA  Holdings for  cash  or in  connection  with
acquisitions.
 
    The  Company is required, within ten  Business Days following the occurrence
of an event that requires an adjustment  to the Exchange Rate or the  occurrence
of  a Reorganization Event (or,  in either case, if the  Company is not aware of
such occurrence, as  soon as practicable  after becoming so  aware), to  provide
written  notice to the Trustee  and to each holder of  DECS of the occurrence of
such event including a statement in  reasonable detail setting forth the  method
by  which the adjustment to the Exchange  Rate or change in the consideration to
be received by holders of DECS following the Reorganization Event was determined
and setting forth the  revised Exchange Rate or  consideration, as the case  may
be; provided, however, that, in respect of any adjustment to the Maturity Price,
such  notice will only disclose the factor by  which the Maturity Price is to be
multiplied in order to  determine which clause of  the Exchange Rate  definition
will apply at Maturity.
 
FRACTIONAL SHARES
 
    No  fractional shares  of FSA  Holdings Common Stock  will be  issued if the
Company exchanges the DECS for shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock. If more than
one DECS shall be surrendered for exchange  at one time by the same holder,  the
number of full shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock which shall be delivered upon
exchange,  in whole or  in part, as  the case may  be, shall be  computed on the
basis of the aggregate number of DECS so surrendered at Maturity. In lieu of any
fractional share otherwise issuable in respect  of all DECS of any holder  which
are exchanged at Maturity, such holder shall be entitled to receive an amount in
cash equal to the value of such fractional share at the Maturity Price.
 
REDEMPTION
 
    The  DECS are not subject to redemption prior to Maturity and do not contain
sinking fund or other mandatory redemption provisions. The DECS are not  subject
to payment prior to the date of Maturity at the option of the holder.
 
BOOK-ENTRY SYSTEM
 
    It  is expected  that the DECS  will be  issued in the  form of  one or more
global securities (the "Global Securities") deposited with The Depository  Trust
Company  (the  "Depositary") and  registered in  the  name of  a nominee  of the
Depositary.
 
    The Depositary has advised the Company and the Underwriters as follows:  The
Depositary  is a limited-purpose  trust company organized under  the laws of the
State of  New  York,  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 Section 17A of  the Exchange Act.  The
Depositary  was created to hold securities of persons who have accounts with the
Depositary ("participants") and  to facilitate the  clearance and settlement  of
securities  transactions  among  its  participants  in  such  securities through
electronic  book-entry  changes  in   accounts  of  the  participants,   thereby
eliminating  the need for  physical movement of  certificates. Such participants
include securities  brokers and  dealers, banks,  trust companies  and  clearing
corporations.  Indirect  access to  the Depositary's  book-entry system  also is
available to others, such  as banks, brokers, dealers  and trust companies  that
clear  through or maintain  a custodial relationship  with a participant, either
directly or indirectly.
 
    Upon the issuance of a Global  Security, the Depositary or its nominee  will
credit  the respective DECS represented by  such Global Security to the accounts
of participants.  The  accounts  to  be credited  shall  be  designated  by  the
Underwriters. Ownership of beneficial interests in the Global Securities will be
limited to participants or persons that may hold interests through participants.
Ownership of beneficial interests by participants in such Global Securities will
be shown on, and the transfer of those ownership interests will be effected only
through,   records  maintained  by  the  Depositary  or  its  nominee  for  such
 
                                      S-15
<PAGE>
Global Securities. Ownership of beneficial  interests in such Global  Securities
by  persons that hold through participants will be shown on, and the transfer of
that ownership interest within such  participant will be effected only  through,
records  maintained by such participant. The  laws of some jurisdictions 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 Security.
 
    So  long as  the Depositary for  a Global  Security, or its  nominee, is the
registered owner of such  Global Security, such depositary  or such nominee,  as
the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of the DECS for all
purposes  under the Indenture.  Except as set forth  below, owners of beneficial
interests in  such Global  Securities will  not  be entitled  to have  the  DECS
registered  in their names, will not receive  or be entitled to receive physical
delivery of the DECS in definitive form and will not be considered the owners or
holders thereof under the Indenture.
 
    Payment of principal of and any interest on the DECS registered in the  name
of  or held by the Depositary  or its nominee will be  made to the Depositary or
its nominee, as the case  may be, as the registered  owner or the holder of  the
Global  Security. None  of the  Company, the  Trustee, any  Paying Agent  or any
securities registrar for the DECS will have any responsibility or liability  for
any  aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial
ownership interests  in a  Global Security  or for  maintaining, supervising  or
reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
    The  Company expects  that the  Depositary, upon  receipt of  any payment of
principal or interest  in respect of  a permanent Global  Security, will  credit
immediately  participants' accounts  with payments  in amounts  proportionate to
their respective beneficial  interests in  the principal amount  of such  Global
Security  as shown on  the records of  the Depositary. The  Company also expects
that payments by participants to owners  of beneficial interests in such  Global
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," and
will be the responsibility of such participants.
 
    A Global Security may not be transferred except as a whole by the Depositary
to  a nominee or a successor of the Depositary. If the Depositary is at any time
unwilling or unable to continue as depositary and a successor depositary is  not
appointed  by the  Company within  ninety days, the  Company will  issue DECS in
definitive registered form in exchange for the Global Security representing such
DECS. In  addition, the  Company may  at any  time and  in its  sole  discretion
determine not to have any DECS represented by one or more Global Securities and,
in  such event, will  issue DECS in definitive  form in exchange  for all of the
Global Securities representing the  DECS. Further, if  the Company so  specifies
with respect to the DECS, an owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security
representing DECS may, on terms acceptable to the Company and the Depositary for
such  Global Security, receive DECS in definitive form. In any such instance, an
owner of a beneficial interest in a Global Security will be entitled to physical
delivery in definitive form of DECS represented by such Global Security equal in
number to that  represented by such  beneficial interest and  to have such  DECS
registered in its name.
 
            CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSIDERATIONS
 
    The  following discussion is based upon the advice of the Company's counsel,
Cravath, Swaine and Moore, as to certain of the material U.S. federal income tax
consequences that may be relevant to a citizen or resident of the United States,
a corporation, partnership or other entity  created or organized under the  laws
of  the United States and an  estate or trust the income  of which is subject to
U.S. federal income taxation regardless of  its source (any of the foregoing,  a
"U.S.  person") who  is the beneficial  owner of  a DECS (a  "U.S. Holder"). All
references to "holders" (including U.S. Holders) are to beneficial owners of the
DECS. This  summary is  based  on U.S.  federal  income tax  laws,  regulations,
rulings and decisions in effect as of the date of this Prospectus Supplement (or
in  the case of certain Treasury regulations now in proposed form), all of which
are subject to change at any time (possibly with retroactive effect). As the law
is technical and  complex, the  discussion below necessarily  represents only  a
general summary.
 
                                      S-16
<PAGE>
    This  summary addresses the U.S. federal  income tax consequences to holders
who are  initial  holders of  the  DECS  and who  will  hold the  DECS  and,  if
applicable,  FSA Holdings Common Stock as  capital assets. This summary does not
address all  aspects  of federal  income  taxation that  may  be relevant  to  a
particular  holder in light of his or its individual investment circumstances or
to certain types of holders subject to special treatment under the U.S.  federal
income  tax laws, such  as dealers in securities  or foreign currency, financial
institutions,  insurance  companies,  tax-exempt  organizations  and   taxpayers
holding  the DECS  as part of  a "straddle,"  "hedge," "conversion transaction,"
"synthetic security," or  other integrated investment.  Moreover, the effect  of
any applicable state, local or foreign tax laws is not discussed.
 
    No  statutory, judicial  or administrative authority  directly addresses the
characterization of the DECS or instruments similar to the DECS for U.S. federal
income tax purposes. As a result, significant aspects of the U.S. federal income
tax consequences of an investment in the DECS are not certain and counsel to the
Company is unable to render any  opinion with respect to such tax  consequences.
No  ruling is being requested from the Internal Revenue Service (the "IRS") with
respect to the DECS and no assurance can  be given that the IRS will agree  with
the conclusions expressed herein. ACCORDINGLY, A PROSPECTIVE INVESTOR (INCLUDING
A TAX-EXEMPT INVESTOR) IN THE DECS SHOULD CONSULT ITS TAX ADVISOR IN DETERMINING
THE  TAX CONSEQUENCES OF AN INVESTMENT IN THE DECS, INCLUDING THE APPLICATION OF
STATE, LOCAL OR OTHER TAX LAWS AND THE POSSIBLE EFFECTS OF CHANGES IN FEDERAL OR
OTHER TAX LAWS.
 
    Pursuant to the terms of the Indenture,  the Company and all holders of  the
DECS  will be obligated to  treat the DECS as a  unit (the "Unit") consisting of
(i) an exchange note ("Exchange Note") which  is a debt obligation with a  fixed
principal  amount  unconditionally payable  at Maturity  equal to  the principal
amount of the DECS, bearing  interest at the stated  interest rate of the  DECS,
and (ii) a forward purchase contract (the "Purchase Contract") pursuant to which
the  holder agrees  to use  the principal  payment due  on the  Exchange Note to
purchase at Maturity the FSA Holdings Common Stock which the holder is  entitled
to  receive at that time (subject to the Company's right to deliver cash in lieu
of the FSA Holdings Common Stock). The Indenture will require that a U.S. Holder
include currently in income payments denominated as interest that are made  with
respect to the DECS, in accordance with such holder's method of accounting.
 
    Pursuant  to the  agreement to treat  the DECS as  a Unit, a  holder will be
required to allocate the purchase price  of the DECS between the two  components
of  the Unit (the Exchange Note and the Purchase Contract) on the basis of their
relative fair  market values.  The purchase  price so  allocated will  generally
constitute  the  tax basis  for each  component.  Pursuant to  the terms  of the
Indenture, the Company  and the holders  agree to allocate  the entire  purchase
price  of the DECS to the Exchange Note. Upon the sale or other disposition of a
DECS, a U.S. Holder generally will  be required to allocate the amount  realized
between  the two components of the DECS on the basis of their then relative fair
market values. A U.S. Holder  will recognize gain or  loss with respect to  each
component  equal to the  difference between the  amount realized on  the sale or
other disposition for  each such component  and the U.S.  Holder's tax basis  in
such  component. Such gain or  loss generally will be  long-term capital gain or
loss if the U.S. Holder has held the DECS for more than one year at the time  of
disposition.
 
    At  maturity, pursuant to the agreement to treat  the DECS as a Unit, on the
repayment of the Exchange Note, a  U.S. Holder will recognize long-term  capital
gain  or loss equal to  any differences between its  tax basis and the principal
amount of the Exchange Note.  (In general, a holder  who purchases the DECS  for
the  Initial Price and therefore has allocated  all of its purchase price to the
Exchange Note should not have  gain or loss on  repayment because its tax  basis
will  equal the principal  amount.) If the Company  delivers FSA Holdings Common
Stock, a U.S. Holder will recognize no additional gain or loss on the  exchange,
pursuant  to the Purchase Contract, of the principal payment due on the Exchange
Note for the FSA  Holdings Common Stock. However,  a U.S. Holder will  recognize
additional  gain or loss (which  will be short-term capital  gain or loss rather
than long-term capital gain or  loss) with respect to  cash received in lieu  of
fractional  shares. The amount of such gain  or loss recognized by a U.S. Holder
will be equal to  the difference between  the cash received  and the portion  of
 
                                      S-17
<PAGE>
the principal amount of the Exchange Note allocable to fractional shares. A U.S.
Holder  will have a tax basis in such stock equal to the principal amount of the
Exchange Note less  the amount of  the portion  of the principal  amount of  the
Exchange  Note allocable to the fractional  shares and will realize capital gain
or loss upon the sale or disposition of such stock. Alternatively, at  maturity,
if  the Company pays the DECS  in cash, a U.S. Holder  will have capital gain or
loss equal to any difference between  the principal amount of the Exchange  Note
and the amount of cash received from the Company.
 
    Due  to the absence  of authority as  to the proper  characterization of the
DECS, no assurance can be  given that the IRS will  accept or that a court  will
uphold the characterization and tax treatment described above. Proposed Treasury
regulations issued in 1994 with respect to "contingent payment" debt instruments
(the "Proposed Regulations") would provide for a different tax result under some
circumstances  for instruments with characteristics similar to the DECS, but the
Proposed Regulations would be effective only  for instruments issued 60 days  or
more after publication as final regulations. Under the Proposed Regulations, the
amount  of interest  included in  a holder's taxable  income for  any year would
generally be determined by projecting the amounts of contingent payments and the
yield on  the  instrument.  Taxable  interest  income  would  be  measured  with
reference  to the projected yield, which might  be less than or greater than the
stated interest rate under the  instrument. In the event  that the amount of  an
actual  contingent payment differed  from the projected  amount of that payment,
the difference would generally  increase or reduce  taxable interest income,  or
create  a  loss.  Because  of their  prospective  effective  date,  the Proposed
Regulations, if finalized in their current form, would not apply to the DECS. In
addition, it is unclear whether the IRS would view a single instrument that  has
"principal"  that is  entirely contingent  as debt  for U.S.  federal income tax
purposes.
 
    Even in the absence of regulations applicable  to the DECS, the DECS may  be
characterized  in a manner that results in tax consequences different from those
reflected in the agreement and described above, including treating the DECS as a
single instrument  or treating  the Purchase  Contract element  of the  DECS  as
itself  the combination  of a  forward contract and  one or  more options. Under
alternative characterizations of the DECS, it is possible, for example, that (i)
gain may be treated  as ordinary income,  instead of capital  gain, (ii) a  U.S.
Holder may be taxable upon the receipt of FSA Holdings Common Stock with a value
in  excess of the  principal amount of  the Exchange Note,  rather than upon the
sale of such stock, or (iii) all or part of the interest income on the  Exchange
Note  may be treated as nontaxable, increasing the gain (or decreasing the loss)
at Maturity  or disposition  of the  DECS (or  disposition of  the FSA  Holdings
Common Stock).
 
    The  Revenue Reconciliation Act  of 1993 added Section  1258 to the Internal
Revenue Code, which  may require certain  holders of the  DECS who have  entered
into  hedging transactions or  offsetting positions with respect  to the DECS to
recognize ordinary income rather than capital  gain upon the disposition of  the
DECS.  In addition, if the DECS  is hedged, or is itself  a hedge, the timing of
income for the DECS may be  affected. Holders should consult their tax  advisors
regarding the applicability of this legislation to an investment in the DECS.
 
NON-UNITED STATES PERSONS
 
    In the case of a holder of the DECS that is not a U.S. person, payments made
with respect to the DECS should not be subject to U.S. withholding tax; PROVIDED
that  such  holder  complies  with  applicable  certification  requirements. Any
capital gain realized upon the sale or other disposition of the DECS by a holder
that is not a U.S. person will  generally not be subject to U.S. federal  income
tax  if (i) such gain is not effectively connected with a U.S. trade or business
of such holder and  (ii) in the  case of an individual,  such individual is  not
present  in the United  States for 183 days  or more in the  taxable year of the
sale or other disposition or  the gain is not attributable  to a fixed place  of
business maintained by such individual in the United States.
 
BACKUP WITHHOLDING AND INFORMATION REPORTING
 
    A  holder of the DECS may be  subject to information reporting and to backup
withholding at a rate of 31 percent of certain amounts paid to the holder unless
such holder provides proof of an applicable
 
                                      S-18
<PAGE>
exemption or a  correct taxpayer identification  number, and otherwise  complies
with  applicable  requirements  of  the backup  withholding  rules.  Any amounts
withheld under the backup withholding rules are not an additional tax and may be
refunded  or  credited  against  the  U.S.  Holder's  U.S.  federal  income  tax
liability, provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.
 
                              ERISA CONSIDERATIONS
 
    In  addition to the  matters discussed under the  caption "ERISA Matters" in
the accompanying Prospectus, any fiduciary  of an employee benefit plan  subject
to  the fiduciary  responsibility provisions  of the  Employee Retirement Income
Security Act of 1974, as amended, or  Section 4975 of the Internal Revenue  Code
considering  the purchase  of the DECS  should consider whether  such a purchase
might be deemed to constitute a direct or indirect transaction with U S WEST  or
purchase of a security of FSA Holdings.
 
                                      S-19
<PAGE>
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
    Subject  to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement
(the "Underwriting  Agreement") among  the Company  and the  Underwriters  named
below,  for whom Salomon Brothers Inc  ("Salomon Brothers"), Donaldson, Lufkin &
Jenrette  Securities  Corporation  and  Lehman  Brothers  Inc.  are  acting   as
representatives,  the Company  has agreed to  sell to the  Underwriters, and the
Underwriters have agreed  to purchase, the  aggregate number of  DECS set  forth
opposite their names below:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                    NUMBER OF
UNDERWRITERS                                                                          DECS
- ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------  -----------
<S>                                                                                <C>
Salomon Brothers Inc.............................................................    2,908,334
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation..............................    2,908,333
Lehman Brothers Inc..............................................................    2,908,333
                                                                                   -----------
  Total..........................................................................    8,725,000
                                                                                   -----------
                                                                                   -----------
</TABLE>
 
    In the Underwriting Agreement, the several Underwriters have agreed, subject
to  the terms  and conditions  set forth  therein, that  the obligations  of the
Underwriters  are  subject  to  certain   conditions  precedent  and  that   the
Underwriters will be obligated to purchase all of the DECS offered hereby if any
of the DECS are purchased.
 
    The  Company has been advised by the Underwriters that they propose to offer
the DECS directly to the public initially at the public offering price set forth
on the cover of this Prospectus Supplement and to certain dealers at such prices
less a concession not in  excess of $.47 per  DECS. The Underwriters may  allow,
and  such dealers may  reallow, a concession not  in excess of  $.10 per DECS to
other dealers. After the initial public offering, such public offering price and
such concession and reallowance may be changed.
 
    FSA Holdings has agreed not to offer for sale, sell or contract to sell,  or
otherwise  dispose of,  or announce the  offering of, without  the prior written
consent of Salomon  Brothers, any  shares of FSA  Holdings Common  Stock or  any
securities  convertible into  or exchangeable for,  or warrants  to acquire, FSA
Holdings Common Stock for a period of 180 days after the date of this Prospectus
Supplement; PROVIDED,  HOWEVER, that  FSA Holdings  may (i)  issue FSA  Holdings
Common Stock upon exercise of options or grant options to purchase shares of FSA
Holdings  Common Stock, in either case, if such options are or were to be issued
pursuant to the 1993  Equity Participation Plan  or the Supplemental  Restricted
Stock  Plan of FSA Holdings as  in effect at the date  hereof and (ii) issue FSA
Holdings Common  Stock upon  the conversion  of securities  or the  exercise  of
warrants  outstanding  at  the  date  hereof.  U  S  WEST  has  agreed  with the
Underwriters not  to offer  for sale,  sell or  contract to  sell, or  otherwise
dispose  of, or announce the  offering of, without the  prior written consent of
Salomon Brothers, any  shares of  FSA Holdings  Common Stock  or any  securities
convertible  into  or exchangeable  for, or  warrants  to acquire,  FSA Holdings
Common Stock  for  a period  of  180 days  after  the date  of  this  Prospectus
Supplement;  PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that  such restriction  shall  not  affect the
ability of U S WEST to (i) take any such actions in connection with the offering
of the U S WEST DECS or any exchange at maturity pursuant to the terms of the  U
S  WEST DECS,  (ii) lend  shares of Common  Stock pursuant  to the  terms of the
Securities Loan  Agreement  (as defined  below),  (iii) deliver  shares  of  FSA
Holdings  Common  Stock upon  the exercise  of certain  options granted  to Fund
American or (iv) sell shares of FSA  Holdings Common Stock pursuant to the  Sale
Transactions.
 
    In  connection  with the  Offering made  hereby,  U S  WEST or  an affiliate
thereof (referred to  herein as the  "Lender"), and Salomon  Brothers intend  to
enter  into a Securities Loan Agreement  (the "Securities Loan Agreement") which
provides that, subject  to certain restrictions  and with the  agreement of  the
Lender,  Salomon  Brothers may  from time  to time  borrow, return  and reborrow
shares of FSA Holdings Common Stock from the Lender (the "Borrowed Securities");
PROVIDED, HOWEVER, that the  number of Borrowed Securities  at any time may  not
exceed   1,919,261  shares,  subject  to   adjustment  to  provide  antidilution
protection.  The   Securities  Loan   Agreement   is  intended   to   facilitate
market-making  activity in  the DECS by  Salomon Brothers.  Salomon Brothers may
from time to time borrow shares of FSA
 
                                      S-20
<PAGE>
Holdings Common Stock under the Securities Loan Agreement to settle short  sales
of  FSA Holdings Common Stock entered into by Salomon Brothers to hedge any long
position in the  DECS resulting  from its market-making  activities. Such  sales
will  be made  on the NYSE  or in  the over-the-counter market  at market prices
prevailing at the  time of  sale or  at prices  related to  such market  prices.
Market  conditions  will  dictate the  extent  and timing  of  Salomon Brothers'
market-making transactions in the DECS and the consequent need to borrow  shares
of  FSA Holdings Common Stock. The availability of shares of FSA Holdings Common
Stock under the Securities Loan  Agreement, if any, at  any time is not  assured
and any such availability does not assure market-making activity with respect to
the  DECS and any market-making actually engaged  in by Salomon may cease at any
time. The  foregoing  description of  the  Securities Loan  Agreement  does  not
purport  to be  complete and is  qualified in  its entirety by  reference to the
Securities Loan Agreement, a  copy of which has  been filed with the  Commission
and is hereby incorporated by reference.
 
    The  Company has granted to the  Underwriters an option, exercisable for the
30-day period after the date of this Prospectus Supplement, to purchase up to an
additional 1,071,303 DECS from the  Company, at the same  price per DECS as  the
initial  DECS to be purchased by the Underwriters. The Underwriters may exercise
such option only for the purpose  of covering over-allotments, if any,  incurred
in  connection with  the sale  of DECS  offered hereby.  To the  extent that the
Underwriters exercise such option, each Underwriter will have a firm commitment,
subject to certain conditions,  to purchase the same  proportion of the DECS  as
the  number of DECS to be purchased and offered by such Underwriter in the above
table bears  to  the  total number  of  initial  DECS to  be  purchased  by  the
Underwriters.
 
    The  DECS will  be a  new issue  of securities  with no  established trading
market. The DECS  will not be  listed or  traded on any  securities exchange  or
trading market. The Underwriters intend to make a market in the DECS, subject to
applicable  laws and regulations. However, the Underwriters are not obligated to
do so and any  such market-making may  be discontinued at any  time at the  sole
discretion  of the Underwriters without notice. Accordingly, no assurance can be
given as to the liquidity of such market.
 
    The Underwriting  Agreement provides  that the  Company will  indemnify  the
Underwriters  against  certain  liabilities,  including  liabilities  under  the
Securities Act, or contribute  to payments the Underwriters  may be required  to
make in respect thereof.
 
    Pursuant  to a  Purchase Agreement  between U  S WEST  and the  Company (the
"Purchase Agreement"),  the  Company  has  agreed,  subject  to  the  terms  and
conditions  set forth therein,  to purchase from U  S WEST a number  of U S WEST
DECS equal to the aggregate number of  DECS to be purchased by the  Underwriters
from  the Company pursuant to the  Underwriting Agreement (including any DECS to
be purchased by the  Underwriters upon exercise  of the over-allotment  option).
Pursuant  to the  terms of  the U  S WEST DECS,  U S  WEST will  be obligated to
deliver to the Company at or prior to maturity of the DECS a number of shares of
FSA Common Stock (or at U S WEST's option under certain circumstances, the  cash
equivalent)  that is expected to  have the same value  as the shares pursuant to
the DECS. Pursuant to the Purchase Agreement,  U S WEST has agreed to  reimburse
the  Company for certain expenses related to the offering of the DECS and to pay
a fee  to the  Company equal  to  two-tenths of  one percent  per annum  of  the
principal amount of the DECS until their stated maturity.
 
    Salomon  Brothers is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company. The
participation of Salomon  Brothers in the  offer and sale  of the DECS  complies
with  the requirements of Schedule E of  the By-Laws of the National Association
of Securities Dealers, Inc.  regarding the underwriting  by Salomon Brothers  of
the securities of its parent.
 
    In  the  ordinary  course of  their  respective businesses,  certain  of the
Underwriters and their  respective affiliates  have engaged  in and  may in  the
future engage in commercial and investment banking transactions with the Company
and its affiliates.
 
                                      S-21
<PAGE>
PROSPECTUS
SALOMON INC
DEBT SECURITIES
PREFERRED STOCK
DEPOSITARY SHARES
COMMON STOCK AND
WARRANTS
 
Salomon  Inc  (the  "Company") intends  to  issue  from time  to  time  (i) debt
securities ("Debt Securities"), which may be subordinated to other  indebtedness
of  the Company;  (ii) warrants ("Debt  Warrants") to  purchase Debt Securities;
(iii) shares of preferred stock, without par value (the "Preferred Stock"); (iv)
warrants to purchase shares of Preferred Stock (the "Preferred Stock Warrants");
(v) depositary shares representing entitlement to all rights and preferences  of
a  fraction of a share of Preferred Stock of a specified series (the "Depositary
Shares"); (vi)  Common Stock  of the  Company, par  value $1.00  per share  (the
"Common  Stock"); (vii) warrants to purchase shares of Common Stock (the "Common
Stock Warrants"); or (viii) warrants  ("Index Warrants") representing the  right
to receive, upon exercise, an amount in cash or a number of securities that will
be  determined  by  reference  to  prices,  yields,  levels  or  other specified
objective measures (any  such measure, an  "Index"), or changes  in an Index  or
differences  between two or more indexes  all having an aggregate initial public
offering price or  purchase price of  up to $10,000,000,000,  or the  equivalent
thereof  in one or more foreign  or composite currencies, including the European
Currency Unit ("ECU"). The  Debt Warrants, Preferred  Stock Warrants and  Common
Stock  Warrants are referred to herein  collectively as "Warrants", and the Debt
Securities, Preferred Stock, Depositary Shares,  Common Stock, the Warrants  and
the  Index  Warrants  are  referred  to  herein  collectively  as  the  "Offered
Securities". The Offered Securities may be  offered separately or as units  with
other  Offered Securities, in separate series in amounts, at prices and on terms
to be determined at or prior to the  time of sale. The sale of other  securities
under  the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part or under
a Registration Statement to which this Prospectus relates will reduce the amount
of Offered Securities which may be sold hereunder.
 
The specific  terms  of  the  Offered Securities  with  respect  to  which  this
Prospectus is being delivered will be set forth in an accompanying supplement to
this  Prospectus (a  "Prospectus Supplement"),  together with  the terms  of the
offering of the Offered Securities and the initial price and the net proceeds to
the Company from the sale thereof. The Prospectus Supplement will include,  with
regard  to the particular Offered Securities,  the following information: (i) in
the case  of  Debt Securities,  the  specific designation,  aggregate  principal
amount,   ranking,  authorized   denomination,  maturity,  rate   or  method  of
calculation of  interest and  dates for  payment thereof,  any  exchangeability,
conversion,  redemption, prepayment, or sinking fund provisions, the currency or
currency  unit  in  which  principal,  premium  or  interest  is  payable,   the
designation of the trustee acting under the applicable indenture and the initial
offering  price; (ii) in the case of Preferred Stock, the designation, number of
shares,  liquidation  preference  per  share,  initial  public  offering  price,
dividend rate (or method of calculation thereof), dates on which dividends shall
be  payable  and dates  from  which dividends  shall  accrue, any  redemption or
sinking fund provisions, any conversion  or exchange provisions and whether  the
Company  has elected  to offer  the Preferred  Stock in  the form  of Depositary
Shares; (iii) in the case of Common Stock, the number of shares and the terms of
the offering and  sale thereof; (iv)  in the  case of Warrants,  the number  and
terms  thereof,  the  designation,  description  and  the  number  of securities
issuable upon exercise, the exercise price,  the terms of the offering and  sale
thereof and where applicable, the duration and detachability thereof; (v) in the
case  of Index Warrants, the  aggregate amount and offering  price of such Index
Warrants, certain information regarding  the relevant Index  or Indexes and  the
related  assets by  reference to which  an Index is  determined (the "Underlying
Assets"), certain information regarding  exercisability and certain  information
regarding  payment  and  distribution;  and  (vi) in  the  case  of  all Offered
Securities, whether such Offered Securities will  be offered separately or as  a
unit  with other Offered Securities. The Prospectus Supplement will also contain
information, where applicable, about material  United States federal income  tax
considerations  relating to,  and any listing  on a securities  exchange of, the
Offered Securities covered by such Prospectus Supplement.
 
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 PROSPECTUS  SUPPLEMENT  OR ANY
PRICING SUPPLEMENT THERETO.  ANY REPRESENTATION  TO THE CONTRARY  IS A  CRIMINAL
OFFENSE.
 
The  Offered  Securities may  be  sold by  the  Company directly  to purchasers,
through agents designated from time to time, through underwriting syndicates led
by one or more  managing underwriters or through  one or more underwriters.  The
Company  expects that any such agents,  managing underwriters or underwriters in
the United States will include Salomon  Brothers Inc. If underwriters or  agents
are  involved  in any  offering  of the  Offered  Securities, the  names  of the
underwriters  or  agents  will  be  set  forth  in  the  applicable   Prospectus
Supplement.  If an underwriter, agent  or dealer is involved  in any offering of
the Offered  Securities,  the  underwriter's  discount,  agent's  commission  or
dealer's  purchase price  will be set  forth in,  or may be  calculated from the
information set  forth in,  the applicable  Prospectus Supplement,  and the  net
proceeds  to the Company from such offering will be the public offering price of
such Securities  less  such discount  in  the case  of  an offering  through  an
underwriter,  or  the  purchase  price  of  such  Offered  Securities  less such
commission in the case of an offering through an agent, and less, in each  case,
the  other expenses of the Company associated with the issuance and distribution
of such Offered Securities.
 
The Company or one or more of its subsidiaries may from time to time purchase or
acquire a  position in  the Offered  Securities  and may  at its  option,  hold,
resell,  cancel  or exercise,  if applicable,  such Offered  Securities. Salomon
Brothers Inc expects to offer and  sell previously issued Offered Securities  in
the  course of its business as a broker-dealer and may act as principal or agent
in such transactions. This Prospectus and the related Prospectus Supplements and
Pricing Supplements  may be  used by  the Company  or any  of its  subsidiaries,
including Salomon Brothers Inc, in connection with such transactions.
 
This Prospectus may not be used to consummate sales of Offered Securities unless
accompanied by a Prospectus Supplement.
 
- -----------------------------------------------------------
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
- -------------------------------------------------------------------
The date of this Prospectus is April 5, 1996.
<PAGE>
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
    The  Company 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"). Reports, proxy statements
and other information concerning the Company can be inspected and copied at  the
public reference facilities maintained by the Commission at Room 1024, 450 Fifth
Street,  N.W., Washington, D.C. 20549, and  at the Commission's Regional Offices
at Seven World Trade Center, 13th Floor, New York, New York 10048, and  Citicorp
Center,  500 West Madison Street, Suite 1400, Chicago, Illinois 60661. Copies of
such material can be obtained upon written request addressed to the  Commission,
Public  Reference Section,  450 Fifth Street,  N.W., Washington,  D.C. 20549, at
prescribed rates. In addition, reports,  proxy statements and other  information
concerning  the Company may  be inspected at  the offices of  the New York Stock
Exchange, Inc., 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005 and at the offices  of
the American Stock Exchange, 86 Trinity Place, New York, New York 10006.
 
    The  Company has filed with the  Commission a registration statement on Form
S-3 (herein,  together with  all amendments  and exhibits,  referred to  as  the
"Registration  Statement") under  the Securities  Act of  1933, as  amended (the
"Securities Act"), relating to the Offered Securities. This Prospectus does  not
contain  all the  information set forth  in the  Registration Statement, certain
parts of which are omitted in accordance  with the rules and regulations of  the
Commission.   For  further  information,   reference  is  hereby   made  to  the
Registration Statement and to the exhibits thereto. Statements contained  herein
concerning the provisions of certain documents are not necessarily complete, and
in  each instance, reference  is made to the  copy of such  document filed as an
exhibit to the Registration  Statement or otherwise  filed with the  Commission.
Each such statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
    The  following documents, filed by the  Company with the Commission pursuant
to Section 13 of the Exchange Act (File No. 1-4346), are incorporated herein  by
reference:  (i) the Annual Report  on Form 10-K for  the year ended December 31,
1995 (the "1995 10-K"); and (ii) the  Current Reports on Form 8-K dated  January
23, 1996, February 1, 1996 and February 12, 1996.
 
    All  documents filed by the Company pursuant  to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act subsequent to the date of this Prospectus and prior to
the termination of the offering of the Offered Securities shall be deemed to  be
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus.
 
    Any statement contained herein or in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated  by reference herein  shall be deemed to  be modified or superseded
for purposes of this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained  herein
or  in  any  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 this Prospectus.
 
    THE  COMPANY  WILL  PROVIDE WITHOUT  CHARGE  TO EACH  PERSON,  INCLUDING ANY
BENEFICIAL OWNER, TO WHOM A COPY OF THIS PROSPECTUS IS DELIVERED, ON THE WRITTEN
OR ORAL REQUEST  OF ANY  SUCH PERSON,  A COPY  OF ANY  OR ALL  OF THE  DOCUMENTS
INCORPORATED  HEREIN BY REFERENCE, EXCEPT THE EXHIBITS TO SUCH DOCUMENTS (UNLESS
SUCH EXHIBITS ARE  SPECIFICALLY INCORPORATED  BY REFERENCE  IN SUCH  DOCUMENTS).
WRITTEN  REQUESTS FOR SUCH COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE CORPORATE SECRETARY,
SALOMON INC,  SEVEN WORLD  TRADE CENTER,  NEW YORK,  NEW YORK  10048.  TELEPHONE
REQUESTS  FOR SUCH COPIES SHOULD BE DIRECTED TO THE CORPORATE SECRETARY AT (212)
783-7000.
 
                              -------------------
 
    References herein to  "U.S. dollars", "U.S.$",  "dollar" or "$"  are to  the
lawful currency of the United States.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
                                  SALOMON INC
 
    Salomon  Inc  conducts  global  investment  banking,  global  securities and
commodities trading, and U.S. oil refining and gathering activities.  Investment
banking activities are conducted by Salomon Brothers Holding Company Inc and its
subsidiaries  ("Salomon  Brothers"),  including  Salomon  Brothers  Inc. Salomon
Brothers  provides  capital  raising,  advisory,  trading  and  risk  management
services  to its customers,  and executes proprietary  trading strategies on its
own behalf. Salomon Inc's  commodities trading activities  are conducted by  the
Company's  wholly-owned  subsidiary,  Phibro  Inc.  and  its  subsidiaries.  Oil
refining and  gathering activities  are conducted  by Basis  Petroleum, Inc.  At
December 31, 1995, the Company employed 8,439 people.
 
    The  Company's principal executive offices are  located at Seven World Trade
Center, New  York, New  York 10048  (telephone (212)  783-7000). Its  registered
office  in  Delaware  is  c/o  Corporation  Trust  Center,  1209  Orange Street,
Wilmington, Delaware 19801.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
    GENERAL.  The proceeds to  be received by the Company  from the sale of  the
Offered  Securities will be used for  general corporate purposes, principally to
fund the  business  of  its operating  units  and  to fund  investments  in,  or
extensions  of credit to, its subsidiaries  and to lengthen the average maturity
of liabilities, which may include the reduction of short-term liabilities or the
refunding of maturing indebtedness.
 
    USE OF  PROCEEDS RELATING  TO  INDEX WARRANTS.   All  or  a portion  of  the
proceeds  to be received  by the Company from  the sale of  each series of Index
Warrants may  be used  by the  Company or  one or  more of  its subsidiaries  to
purchase  or maintain positions  in all or  certain of the  Underlying Assets on
which the  related  Index  is  based, or  options,  futures  contracts,  forward
contracts  or swaps,  or options  on the  foregoing, relating  to such  Index or
Underlying Assets, as the case may be, and, if applicable, to pay the costs  and
expenses of hedging any currency, interest rate or other Index-related risk with
respect  to such Index Warrants. The Company  or one or more of its subsidiaries
may also  take  hedging  positions  in  other  types  of  appropriate  financial
instruments  that may  become available  in the future.  To the  extent that the
Company or one or more of its subsidiaries has a long hedge position in, options
contracts in,  or other  derivative  or synthetic  instruments related  to,  the
Underlying  Assets or Index, the Company or  one or more of its subsidiaries may
liquidate all or a portion of its holdings at or about the time of the  maturity
of  the  Index  Warrants.  Depending  on,  among  other  things,  future  market
conditions, the aggregate amount and composition of such positions are likely to
vary over time. The remainder  of the proceeds from  the sale of Index  Warrants
will  be used by the Company or its subsidiaries for general corporate purposes,
as described above.
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
                     RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND
               EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES AND PREFERRED DIVIDENDS
 
    The following table  sets forth the  Company's ratios of  earnings to  fixed
charges  and earnings to fixed  charges and preferred dividends  for each of the
years 1995, 1994, 1993, 1992 and 1991.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                           YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,
                                                                            -----------------------------------------------------
                                                                              1995       1994       1993       1992       1991
                                                                            ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------  ---------
<S>                                                                         <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>        <C>
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges........................................       1.12       0.83*      1.32       1.25       1.16
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and
  Preferred Dividends.....................................................       1.10       0.81*      1.30       1.21       1.14
</TABLE>
 
    Such ratios were  calculated by  dividing fixed charges  and tax  equivalent
preferred  dividends into  the sum of  earnings before taxes  and fixed charges.
Fixed  charges  consist  largely  of  interest  expense,  including  capitalized
interest, and a portion of rental expense representative of the interest factor.
Tax  equivalent preferred dividends  represent the pretax  earnings necessary to
cover preferred stock dividend requirements, assuming such earnings are taxed at
the Company's consolidated effective income tax rate.
- --------------
* For the year ended December 31,  1994, earnings as defined were inadequate  to
  cover  fixed  charges and  fixed charges,  including preferred  dividends. The
  amount by which fixed  charges exceed earnings as  defined for the year  ended
  December  31,  1994  was $834  million.  The  amount by  which  fixed charges,
  including preferred dividends, exceeded earnings as defined for the year ended
  December 31, 1994 was $963 million.
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
    The Debt Securities will  constitute either senior  or subordinated debt  of
the  Company and  will be issued,  in the case  of Debt Securities  that will be
senior debt, under a senior  debt indenture (as amended  from time to time,  the
"Senior  Debt  Indenture") and,  in the  case  of Debt  Securities that  will be
subordinated debt, under a subordinated debt indenture (as amended from time  to
time,  the "Subordinated  Debt Indenture").  The Senior  Debt Indenture  and the
Subordinated Debt Indenture are  sometimes hereinafter referred to  individually
as  an "Indenture" and collectively as  the "Indentures." The institutions named
as trustees under the Indentures are  hereinafter referred to individually as  a
"Trustee"  and collectively as the "Trustees." Forms of the Indentures have been
filed with  the Commission  and are  incorporated by  reference as  part of  the
Registration  Statement. The  following summaries  of certain  provisions of the
Indentures and  the Debt  Securities do  not  purport to  be complete  and  such
summaries  are subject to the detailed provisions of the applicable Indenture to
which reference  is hereby  made  for a  full  description of  such  provisions,
including  the  definition  of certain  terms  used, and  for  other information
regarding the Debt Securities. Numerical references in parentheses below are  to
sections  in  the applicable  Indenture  or, if  no  Indenture is  specified, to
sections in  each of  the Indentures.  Wherever particular  sections or  defined
terms  of the  applicable Indenture  are referred  to, such  sections or defined
terms are incorporated herein  by reference as part  of the statement made,  and
the statement is qualified in its entirety by such reference.
 
    Unless  otherwise  provided  in the  applicable  Prospectus  Supplement, the
Trustee under  the Senior  Debt Indenture  will be  Citibank, N.A.,  a  national
banking association, under an indenture dated as of December 1, 1988, as amended
from time to time, and the Trustee under the Subordinated Debt Indenture will be
Bankers  Trust Company, a New York banking corporation, under an indenture dated
as of December 1, 1988, as amended  from time to time. Copies of the  respective
Indentures  under  which  Citibank,  N.A. and  Bankers  Trust  Company  serve as
Trustees have been filed with the  Commission and are incorporated by  reference
as part of the Registration Statement.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
GENERAL
 
    Neither  of the Indentures limits the amount  of Debt Securities that may be
issued thereunder,  and each  Indenture  provides that  Debt Securities  may  be
issued  from time  to time in  series (SECTION  301). The Debt  Securities to be
issued under either of the Indentures  will be unsecured senior or  subordinated
obligations  of the Company as set forth  below. Debt Securities of a series may
be  issuable  as  individual  securities  in  registered  form  without  coupons
("Registered  Securities") or  in bearer form  with or  without coupons attached
("Bearer Securities")  or as  one or  more global  securities in  registered  or
bearer form (each a "Global Security").
 
    Reference  is made  to the  Prospectus Supplement  for a  description of the
following terms of the  Debt Securities in respect  of which this Prospectus  is
being  delivered: (i) the title and series of such Debt Securities, whether such
Debt Securities will  be senior or  subordinated debt of  the Company and  under
which  indenture such Debt Securities are being  issued; (ii) the limit, if any,
upon the aggregate principal amount of such Debt Securities; (iii) the dates  on
which  or periods during which such Debt  Securities may be issued and the dates
on which, or the range of dates within which, the principal of (and premium,  if
any,  on) such Debt  Securities will be payable;  (iv) the rate  or rates or the
method of  determination  thereof,  at  which such  Debt  Securities  will  bear
interest,  if any; the date  or dates from which  such interest will accrue; the
dates on which such  interest will be  payable; and, in  the case of  Registered
Securities,  the Regular Record Dates for  the interest payable on such Interest
Payment Dates; (v) the obligation, if any, of the Company to redeem or  purchase
such Debt Securities pursuant to any sinking fund or analogous provisions, or at
the  option of a Holder, and the periods within which or the dates on which, the
prices at which  and the terms  and conditions upon  which such Debt  Securities
will  be  redeemed  or  repurchased,  in whole  or  in  part,  pursuant  to such
obligation; (vi) the periods within which or  the dates on which, the prices  at
which  and  the terms  and conditions  upon  which such  Debt Securities  may be
redeemed, if any, in whole or in part,  at the option of the Company; (vii)  the
terms,  if  any, upon  which  the Debt  Securities  may be  convertible  into or
exchanged for Common Stock, Preferred Stock, other Debt Securities, or  warrants
for  Debt Securities,  Preferred Stock,  Common Stock  or indebtedness  or other
securities of any kind  of the Company  or any other issuer  or obligor and  the
terms  and conditions upon which such  conversion or exchange shall be effected,
including the initial conversion  or exchange price or  rate, the conversion  or
exchange  period,  and any  other additional  provisions;  (viii) if  other than
denominations of $1,000 and any integral multiple thereof, the denominations  in
which  such Debt Securities will be  issuable; (ix) whether such Debt Securities
are to be issued  as Discount Securities  (as defined below)  and the amount  of
discount with which such Debt Securities will be issued; (x) provisions, if any,
for  the defeasance of  such Debt Securities; (xi)  whether such Debt Securities
are to be issued as Registered Securities  or Bearer Securities or both and,  if
Bearer  Securities are to  be issued, whether Coupons  will be attached thereto,
whether Bearer  Securities  of  the  series  may  be  exchanged  for  Registered
Securities having the same terms and the circumstances under which and the place
or  places at which any such exchanges, if permitted, may be made; (xii) whether
such Debt Securities are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of one  or
more  Global Securities and, if  so, the identity of  the Depositary (as defined
below) for  such Global  Security  or Securities;  (xiii)  if a  temporary  Debt
Security  is to  be issued  with respect  to such  Debt Securities,  whether any
interest thereon payable on an Interest Payment Date prior to the issuance of  a
definitive  Debt Security of the  series will be credited  to the account of the
Persons entitled thereto  on such Interest  Payment Date; (xiv)  if a  temporary
Global  Security is to be issued with respect to such Debt Securities, the terms
upon which  beneficial  interests  in  such temporary  Global  Security  may  be
exchanged  in whole or in  part for beneficial interests  in a definitive Global
Security or for  individual Debt  Securities of the  series and  the terms  upon
which  beneficial  interests in  a definitive  Global Security,  if any,  may be
exchanged for individual Debt  Securities having the same  terms; (xv) if  other
than United States dollars, the foreign or composite currency in which such Debt
Securities  are to be denominated, or in  which payment of the principal of (and
premium, if any) and any interest on  such Debt Securities will be made and  the
circumstances,  if any, when such  currency of payment may  be changed; (xvi) if
the principal of (and premium, if any)  or any interest on such Debt  Securities
are  to be payable,  at the election of  the Company or a  Holder, in a currency
other than that in which  such Debt Securities are  denominated or stated to  be
payable, the
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
periods within which, and the terms and conditions upon which, such election may
be made and the time and the manner of determining the exchange rate between the
currency  in which such Debt Securities are  denominated or stated to be payable
and the currency in which such Debt  Securities are to be paid pursuant to  such
election; (xvii) if the amount of payments of principal of (and premium, if any)
or  any interest on such Debt Securities  may be determined with reference to an
index based on  a currency  or currencies  other than  that in  which such  Debt
Securities  are stated to be payable, the  manner in which such amounts shall be
determined; (xviii) if the amount of  payments of principal of (and premium,  if
any) or any interest on such Debt Securities may be determined with reference to
an  index based on the prices, changes in prices, or differences between prices,
of  securities,  currencies,   intangibles,  goods,   articles  or   commodities
application  of a formula, the manner in which such amounts shall be determined;
(xix) any  additional  Events  of  Default (as  defined  below)  or  restrictive
covenants  provided for with  respect to such Debt  Securities; (xx) whether and
under what circumstances the Company will  pay additional interest on such  Debt
Securities  held by a  Person who is  not a U.S.  Person in respect  of any tax,
assessment or governmental charge withheld or  deducted and, if so, whether  the
Company  will  have  the  option  to  redeem  such  Debt  Securities  under such
circumstances; (xxi) whether and  under what circumstances  the Company will  be
obligated  to  redeem such  Debt Securities  if  certain events  occur involving
United  States  information  reporting   requirements;  (xxii)  the  terms   and
conditions,  if any,  upon which  such Debt  Securities series  may or  shall be
convertible into or exchangeable or exercisable  for or payable in, among  other
things,  other  securities, instruments,  contracts, currencies,  commodities or
other forms  of  property,  rights  or  interests  or  any  combination  of  the
foregoing;  and (xxiii) any other terms of such Debt Securities not inconsistent
with the provisions of the Indenture under which they are issued (SECTION 301).
 
    Unless otherwise  indicated in  the applicable  Prospectus Supplement,  Debt
Securities  will be  issued only  as Registered  Securities in  denominations of
$1,000 and any  integral multiple  thereof and will  be payable  only in  United
States dollars (SECTION 302).
 
    If  Bearer Securities  are issued, the  Federal income  tax consequences and
other special  considerations  applicable  to such  Bearer  Securities  will  be
described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
 
    If  the amount  of payments  of principal  of (and  premium, if  any) or any
interest on Debt Securities is determined with reference to any type of index or
formula or changes in prices of particular securities, currencies,  intangibles,
goods,  articles or commodities,  the Federal income  tax consequences, specific
terms and other information with respect to such Debt Securities and such  index
or  formula, securities, currencies, intangibles, goods, articles or commodities
will be described in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
 
    If the principal of (and premium, if any) or any interest on Debt Securities
are payable in  a foreign  or composite currency,  the restrictions,  elections,
Federal  income  tax consequences,  specific  terms and  other  information with
respect to  such Debt  Securities and  such currency  will be  described in  the
Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
 
    Debt  Securities may  be sold at  a substantial discount  below their stated
principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate that at the time  of
issuance  is below market rates ("Discount  Securities"). Debt Securities may be
variable rate  debt securities  that may  be exchangeable  for fixed  rate  debt
securities.  Federal income  tax consequences  and other  special considerations
applicable to  any such  Debt Securities  will be  described in  the  Prospectus
Supplement relating thereto.
 
    Unless  otherwise  provided  in the  applicable  Prospectus  Supplement, the
principal of (and premium, if any) and  any interest on Debt Securities will  be
payable  (in the case of Registered Securities) at the corporate trust office or
agency of the applicable Trustee  in the City and State  of New York or (in  the
case  of Bearer  Securities) at  the principal  London office  of the applicable
Trustee; provided, however,  that payment of  interest on Registered  Securities
may  be made  at the  option of the  Company by  check mailed  to the Registered
Holders thereof or, if so provided  in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,  at
the  option of a Holder by wire transfer to an account designated by such Holder
(SECTION 307). Except as
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
otherwise provided  in the  applicable Prospectus  Supplement, no  payment on  a
Bearer  Security will be made by  mail to an address in  the United States or by
wire transfer  to an  account maintained  by the  Holder thereof  in the  United
States.
 
    Unless   otherwise  provided   in  the   applicable  Prospectus  Supplement,
Registered Securities may  be transferred  or exchanged at  the corporate  trust
office  or agency of the  applicable Trustee in the City  and State of New York,
subject to the  limitations provided  in the applicable  Indenture, without  the
payment of any service charge, other than any tax or governmental charge payable
in connection therewith (SECTION 305). Bearer Securities will be transferable by
delivery.  Provisions with respect to the  exchange of Bearer Securities will be
described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
    All moneys  paid  by the  Company  to a  Paying  Agent for  the  payment  of
principal  of (and premium,  if any) or  any interest on  any Debt Security that
remain unclaimed  at the  end of  two  years after  such principal,  premium  or
interest  shall have become due  and payable will be  repaid to the Company, and
the Holder  of  such Debt  Security  or  any Coupon  appertaining  thereto  will
thereafter look only to the Company for payment thereof (SECTION 1204).
 
    Unless  otherwise  indicated in  the  applicable Prospectus  Supplement, the
covenants contained in the  Indenture and the Debt  Securities would not  afford
Holders  protection  in  the  event  of  a  highly  leveraged  or  other similar
transaction that may adversely affect Holders.
 
GLOBAL SECURITIES
 
    Debt Securities having the same issue date and the same terms may be  issued
in  whole or in part in  the form of one or  more Global Securities that will be
deposited with, or on behalf of,  a depositary (the "Depositary") identified  in
the  Prospectus Supplement relating  to such Debt  Securities. Global Securities
may be issued in  either registered or  bearer form and  in either temporary  or
definitive  form. Unless and until  it is exchanged in whole  or in part for the
individual Debt Securities  represented thereby,  a Global Security  may not  be
transferred  except as a whole  by the Depositary for  such Global 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 such Depositary or any such  nominee
to  a successor of such Depositary or  a nominee of such successor (SECTIONS 303
AND 305).
 
    The specific terms of  the depositary arrangement with  respect to any  Debt
Securities  of a series will be  described in the Prospectus Supplement relating
to such series. The Company anticipates that the following provisions will apply
to all depositary arrangements for Debt Securities.
 
    Upon the  issuance of  a Global  Security, the  Depositary for  such  Global
Security  will credit, on  its book-entry registration  and transfer system, the
respective principal amounts  of the individual  Debt Securities represented  by
such  Global Security  to the accounts  of institutions that  have accounts with
such  Depositary  ("participants").  The  accounts  to  be  credited  shall   be
designated  by  the  underwriters  of  such Debt  Securities  or,  if  such Debt
Securities are offered and sold directly by  the Company or through one or  more
agents,  by  the  Company  or  such agent  or  agents.  Ownership  of beneficial
interests in a Global Security will  be limited to participants or Persons  that
may  hold  beneficial interests  through  participants. Ownership  of beneficial
interests in  a Global  Security will  be shown  on, and  the transfer  of  that
ownership  will be effected  only through, records  maintained by the Depositary
for such  Global  Security or  by  participants  or Persons  that  hold  through
participants.  The  laws  of  some states  require  that  certain  purchasers of
securities take physical delivery of such securities. Such limits and such  laws
may limit the market for beneficial interests in a Global Security.
 
    So  long as  the Depositary for  a Global  Security, or its  nominee, is the
owner of such Global Security, such Depositary or such nominee, as the case  may
be,  will  be  considered the  sole  Holder  of the  individual  Debt Securities
represented by  such  Global  Security  for all  purposes  under  the  Indenture
governing  such Debt Securities. Except as set forth below, owners of beneficial
interests in  a  Global  Security will  not  be  entitled to  have  any  of  the
individual Debt Securities represented by such Global
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
Security  registered in their names, will not  receive or be entitled to receive
physical delivery of  any such Debt  Securities and will  not be considered  the
Holders thereof under the Indenture governing such Debt Securities.
 
    Subject  to  the restrictions  discussed under  "Limitations on  Issuance of
Bearer Securities  and Bearer  Warrants" below,  payments of  principal of  (and
premium, if any) and any interest on individual Debt Securities represented by a
Global  Security will be made to the Depositary  or its nominee, as the case may
be, as the Holder of such Global Security. None of the Company, the Trustee  for
such  Debt Securities, any Paying Agent or  the Security Registrar for such Debt
Securities will  have any  responsibility or  liability for  any aspect  of  the
records  relating to or payments made on account of beneficial interests in such
Global Security  or  for  maintaining,  supervising  or  reviewing  any  records
relating to such beneficial interests.
 
    The  Company  expects  that the  Depositary  for any  Debt  Securities, upon
receipt of  any  payment of  principal,  premium or  interest  in respect  of  a
definitive Global Security representing any of such Debt Securities, will credit
immediately  participants' accounts  with payments  in amounts  proportionate to
their respective beneficial  interests in  the principal amount  of such  Global
Security  as shown on the  records of such Depositary.  The Company also expects
that payments by participants to owners  of beneficial interests in such  Global
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", and
will be the responsibility of such participants. Receipt by owners of beneficial
interests  in a temporary  Global Security of payments  of principal, premium or
interest in respect thereof will be subject to the restrictions discussed  under
"Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Securities and Bearer Warrants" below.
 
    If the Depositary for any Debt Securities is at any time unwilling or unable
to  continue as depositary  and a successor  depositary is not  appointed by the
Company within ninety days, the Company will issue individual Debt Securities in
exchange  for  the  Global  Security   or  Securities  representing  such   Debt
Securities.  In addition, the Company may at any time and in its sole discretion
determine not to have certain Debt Securities represented by one or more  Global
Securities and, in such event, will issue individual Debt Securities in exchange
for  the  Global  Security  or  Securities  representing  such  Debt Securities.
Further, if the  Company so specifies  with respect to  any Debt Securities,  an
owner  of  a beneficial  interest in  a Global  Security representing  such Debt
Securities may, on terms acceptable to  the Company and the Depositary for  such
Global  Security,  receive  individual  Debt  Securities  in  exchange  for such
beneficial interest. In any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest  in
a  Global  Security will  be entitled  to physical  delivery of  individual Debt
Securities represented by such Global Security equal in principal amount to such
beneficial interest and to have such Debt Securities registered in its name  (if
the  Debt  Securities are  issuable as  Registered Securities).  Individual Debt
Securities  so  issued  will   be  issued  (i)   as  Registered  Securities   in
denominations, unless otherwise specified by the Company, of $1,000 and integral
multiples  thereof if the Debt Securities are issuable as Registered Securities,
(ii) as Bearer Securities in the denomination or denominations specified by  the
Company  if the Debt  Securities are issuable  as Bearer Securities  or (iii) as
either Registered or Bearer Securities, if  the Debt Securities are issuable  in
either  form (SECTION  305). See,  however, "Limitations  on Issuance  of Bearer
Securities and Bearer Warrants" below for a description of certain  restrictions
on  the  issuance of  individual Bearer  Securities  in exchange  for beneficial
interests in a Global Security.
 
SENIOR DEBT
 
    The Debt Securities and Coupons that will constitute part of the senior debt
of the Company will be issued under the Senior Debt Indenture and will rank PARI
PASSU with all other unsecured debt of the Company except subordinated debt.
 
SUBORDINATED DEBT
 
    The  Debt  Securities  and  Coupons   that  will  constitute  part  of   the
subordinated  debt of  the Company  will be  issued under  the Subordinated Debt
Indenture   and   will   be   subordinate   and   junior   in   the   right   of
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
payment,  to the  extent and in  the manner  set forth in  the Subordinated Debt
Indenture, to all "Senior  Indebtedness" of the  Company. The Subordinated  Debt
Indenture  defines  "Senior  Indebtedness"  as  the  following  indebtedness  or
obligations, whether outstanding  at the  date of such  Indenture or  thereafter
incurred,  assumed, guaranteed  or otherwise  created, unless  in the instrument
creating or evidencing any such indebtedness or obligation or pursuant to  which
the  same is outstanding it is provided  that such indebtedness or obligation is
not superior in  right of payment  to the subordinated  Debt Securities and  any
appurtenant Coupons: (a) all indebtedness of the Company (including indebtedness
of  others  guaranteed  by  the  Company),  other  than  the  subordinated  Debt
Securities and  any  appurtenant Coupons  and  other than  the  debt  securities
issuable  under the indenture dated  as of July 1,  1986 between the Company and
Bank of New York,  as trustee, that  (i) is for money  borrowed, (ii) arises  in
connection  with  the acquisition  of  any business,  properties,  securities or
assets of any kind, other than in the ordinary course of the Company's  business
as  heretofore conducted or  (iii) is secured, in  whole or in  part, by real or
personal property,  (b) obligations  of the  Company (including  obligations  of
others  guaranteed  by  the  Company)  as lessee  under  leases  required  to be
capitalized on  the  balance  sheet  of  the  lessee  under  generally  accepted
accounting  principles and leases of property or assets made as part of any sale
and  lease-back   transaction   and  (c)   amendments,   renewals,   extensions,
modifications   and   refundings  of   any   such  indebtedness   or  obligation
(SUBORDINATED DEBT INDENTURE, SECTION 101). The subordinated Debt Securities and
any appurtenant Coupons will  not be superior  in right of  payment to the  debt
securities  issuable under the  indenture dated as  of July 1,  1986 between the
Company and Bank of New York,  as trustee (SUBORDINATED DEBT INDENTURE,  SECTION
1601).
 
    In  the  event  (a) of  any  insolvency  or bankruptcy  proceedings,  or any
receivership,  liquidation,  reorganization  or  other  similar  proceedings  in
respect  of the Company or a substantial part of its property, or (b) that (i) a
default shall have  occurred with respect  to the payment  of principal of  (and
premium, if any) or any interest on or other monetary amounts due and payable on
any  Senior Indebtedness, or (ii) there shall  have occurred an event of default
(other than a default in the payment of principal, premium, if any, or interest,
or  other  monetary  amounts  due  and  payable)  with  respect  to  any  Senior
Indebtedness,  as defined therein or  in the instrument under  which the same is
outstanding, permitting the holder or holders thereof to accelerate the maturity
thereof (with notice or lapse of time, or both), and such event of default shall
have continued beyond the period of grace, if any, in respect thereof, and  such
default  or event of  default shall not have  been cured or  waived or shall not
have ceased to exist, or (c) that  the principal of and accrued interest on  the
subordinated  Debt Securities issued under the Subordinated Debt Indenture shall
have been declared due and payable upon an Event of Default pursuant to  Section
502  thereof and such declaration shall not  have been rescinded and annulled as
provided therein, then  the holders of  all Senior Indebtedness  shall first  be
entitled  to receive payment of the full  amount due thereon, or provision shall
be made for such payment in money or money's worth, before the Holders of any of
the subordinated Debt Securities or  Coupons issued under the Subordinated  Debt
Indenture  are entitled to receive a payment on account of the principal of (and
premium, if any)  or any  interest on the  indebtedness evidenced  by such  Debt
Securities  or such Coupons (SUBORDINATED DEBT INDENTURE, SECTION 1601). If this
Prospectus is being delivered in connection  with a series of subordinated  Debt
Securities,  the  related Prospectus  Supplement will  set  forth the  amount of
Senior Indebtedness outstanding as of the most recent practicable date.
 
LIMITATION ON LIENS
 
    The Senior Debt Indenture provides that  the Company will not, and will  not
permit  any Restricted Subsidiary to, incur,  issue, assume, guarantee or suffer
to exist any indebtedness for borrowed money if the payment of such indebtedness
is secured by a pledge of, lien on  or security interest in any shares of  stock
of  any Restricted  Subsidiary without effectively  providing for  the equal and
ratable securing of the payment of the Debt Securities issued thereunder (SENIOR
DEBT INDENTURE, SECTION 1205).  The term "Restricted  Subsidiary" is defined  in
the Senior Debt Indenture to mean each of Salomon Brothers Inc, Phibro Inc. and,
with  respect  to  the  Company's  Medium-Term Notes  Series  D  and  E, Philipp
Brothers, Inc. and any Subsidiary of the Company owning, directly or indirectly,
any of  the common  stock  of, or  succeeding to  any  substantial part  of  the
business now conducted by, any of such corporations.
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
    The  following will constitute  Events of Default  under each Indenture with
respect to any series of Debt  Securities issued thereunder: (i) default in  the
payment  of the principal of (and premium, if any, on) any Debt Security of such
series when due; (ii) default for 30 days in the payment of any interest on  any
Debt Security of such series or of any related Coupon when due; (iii) default in
the  deposit of any  sinking fund payment, when  and as due by  the terms of any
Debt Security  of such  series; (iv)  default in  the performance  of any  other
covenant  in such Indenture, continued for  60 days after written notice thereof
by the applicable Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount  of
the  Debt Securities of such series then  Outstanding; and (v) certain events of
bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization (SECTION 501). Any additional Events of
Default provided with respect to a series  of Debt Securities will be set  forth
in  the applicable Prospectus Supplement. No Event  of Default with respect to a
particular series of Debt Securities  issued under either Indenture  necessarily
constitutes  an  Event of  Default  with respect  to  any other  series  of Debt
Securities.
 
    Each Indenture provides that if an Event of Default specified therein  shall
occur  and be  continuing with  respect to  a series  of Debt  Securities issued
thereunder, either the  Trustee thereunder  or the Holders  of at  least 25%  in
principal  amount of  the Debt  Securities of  such series  then Outstanding may
declare the principal of and all accrued interest on all Debt Securities of such
series (or, in the case of Discount Securities, an amount equal to such  portion
of  the principal amount thereof as will  be specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement) to be due and payable. In  certain cases, the Holders of a  majority
in  principal amount of the Debt Securities then Outstanding of a series may, on
behalf of  the Holders  of all  such  Debt Securities,  rescind and  annul  such
declaration and its consequences (SECTION 502).
 
    Each  Indenture  contains  a  provision  entitling  the  Trustee thereunder,
subject to the duty of such Trustee  during the continuance of a default to  act
with the required standard of care, to be indemnified by the Holders of the Debt
Securities or any Coupons of any series thereunder before proceeding to exercise
any  right or  power under  such Indenture  with respect  to such  series at the
request of such Holders (SECTION 603). Each Indenture provides that no Holder of
a Debt  Security  or any  Coupon  of any  series  thereunder may  institute  any
proceeding,  judicial or otherwise, to enforce such Indenture except in the case
of failure of the Trustee thereunder, for 60 days, to act after it receives  (i)
written notice of such default, (ii) a written request to enforce such Indenture
by  the  Holders of  at  least 25%  in aggregate  principal  amount of  the Debt
Securities then  Outstanding  of  such  series  (and  the  Trustee  receives  no
direction  inconsistent with such written request from the Holders of a majority
in aggregate principal amount  of the Debt Securities  then outstanding of  such
series) and (iii) an offer of reasonable indemnity (SECTION 507). This provision
will  not prevent any Holder of any such Debt Security from enforcing payment of
the principal thereof (and premium, if any, thereon) and any interest thereon or
of any such Coupon  from enforcing payment thereof  at the respective due  dates
thereof  (SECTION 508). The Holders of  a majority in aggregate principal amount
of the  Debt Securities  then Outstanding  of any  series may  direct the  time,
method  and place of conducting any proceedings  for any remedy available to the
applicable Trustee or  of exercising  any trust or  power conferred  on it  with
respect  to the Debt Securities of such series. However, such Trustee may refuse
to follow any direction that conflicts  with law or the applicable Indenture  or
that would be unjustly prejudicial to Holders not joining therein (SECTION 512).
 
    Each  Indenture provides  that the Trustee  thereunder will,  within 90 days
after the occurrence of a default with respect to any series of Debt  Securities
thereunder  known to it, give  to the Holders of  Debt Securities and Coupons of
such series notice of such default, unless such default shall have been cured or
waived; but, except in the case of a default in the payment of the principal  of
(and  premium, if any) or any interest on  any Debt Security or of any Coupon of
such series or in the  payment of any sinking  fund installment with respect  to
Debt  Securities of such  series, the Trustee shall  be protected in withholding
such notice if it determines in good  faith that the withholding of such  notice
is  in the interest of the Holders  of such Debt Securities and Coupons (SECTION
602).
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
    The  Company  will  be  required  to  file  annually  with  each  Trustee  a
certificate  of  an appropriate  officer of  the  Company as  to the  absence of
certain defaults  under the  terms  of the  appropriate Indenture  (SENIOR  DEBT
INDENTURE, SECTION 1206; SUBORDINATED DEBT INDENTURE, SECTION 1205).
 
MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
 
    Each  Indenture  contains provisions  for convening  meetings of  Holders to
consider matters affecting their interests (ARTICLE NINE).
 
    Modifications of and amendments to each Indenture may be made by the Company
and the Trustee  thereunder with the  consent of  the Holders of  a majority  in
principal  amount of the Debt Securities  then Outstanding of each series issued
thereunder  that  is  affected  by   such  modification  or  amendment,   voting
separately;  provided,  however, that  no  such modification  or  amendment may,
without the consent  of the Holder  of each Outstanding  Debt Security  affected
thereby:  (i) change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any installment
of interest or additional amounts payable on, any Debt Security or Coupon;  (ii)
reduce the principal amount (including the amount payable on a Discount Security
upon  the acceleration of  the Maturity thereof)  of, or any  interest on or any
premium payable upon redemption of, or  additional amounts payable on, any  Debt
Security  or  Coupon;  (iii)  change  the  currency  or  composite  currency  of
denomination or payment of  the principal of  (and premium, if  any, on) or  any
interest  or additional  amounts payable  on any  Debt Security  or Coupon; (iv)
impair the right to institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with
respect to  any  Debt Security  or  Coupon; (v)  reduce  the percentage  of  the
principal  amount of the Outstanding Debt  Securities of any series, the consent
of the  Holders  of which  is  required for  modification  or amendment  of  the
applicable   Indenture  with  respect  to  waiver  of  compliance  with  certain
provisions of the applicable Indenture or waiver of certain defaults; (vi) limit
the Company's obligation to  maintain a Paying Agent  outside the United  States
for  Bearer Securities; or (vii)  limit the obligation of  the Company to redeem
certain Bearer  Securities  if  certain events  occur  involving  United  States
information reporting requirements (SECTION 1102).
 
    The  Subordinated Debt Indenture may  not be amended to  alter or impair the
subordination of the subordinated Debt Securities issued thereunder without  the
consent  of each  holder of  Senior Indebtedness  then outstanding (SUBORDINATED
DEBT INDENTURE, SECTION 1107).
 
    The Holders  of a  majority  in principal  amount  of the  Outstanding  Debt
Securities  of each series may,  on behalf of all  Holders of Debt Securities of
that series,  waive, insofar  as that  series is  concerned, compliance  by  the
Company  with certain restrictive provisions  of the applicable Indenture before
the time for such compliance (SENIOR DEBT INDENTURE, SECTION 1207;  SUBORDINATED
DEBT  INDENTURE, SECTION 1206). The Holders of a majority in principal amount of
the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series may, on behalf of all Holders  of
Debt  Securities of  that series,  waive any  past default  under the applicable
Indenture with respect to  Debt Securities of that  series, except a default  in
the  payment of the  principal of (and premium,  if any) or  any interest on any
such Debt Security or in the payment of  any Coupon of that series and except  a
default  in respect of a covenant or  provision the modification or amendment of
which would require the consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt  Security
affected thereby (SECTION 513).
 
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND TRANSFER OR LEASE OF ASSETS
 
    Each  Indenture provides that the Company  may not consolidate with or merge
into any  corporation, or  transfer  or lease  its  assets substantially  as  an
entirety  to any Person,  unless (i) the successor  corporation or transferee or
lessee (the "Successor Corporation") is  a corporation organized under the  laws
of  the United States  or any political subdivision  thereof; (ii) the Successor
Corporation assumes the Company's obligations under the applicable Indenture and
on the Debt  Securities and any  Coupons issued thereunder;  (iii) after  giving
effect to the transaction no Event of Default and no event that, after notice or
lapse of time, or both, would become an Event of Default shall have occurred and
be  continuing; (iv)  the Successor Corporation  waives any right  to redeem any
Bearer Security under
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
circumstances in which  the Successor  Corporation would be  entitled to  redeem
such  Bearer Security but  the Company would  not have been  so entitled if such
consolidation, merger, transfer or lease had not occurred; and (v) certain other
conditions are met (SECTION 1001).
 
DEFEASANCE
 
    If so specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement with respect to Debt
Securities of any series that are  Registered Securities payable only in  United
States  dollars, the Company, at its option, (i) will be discharged from any and
all obligations in  respect of the  Debt Securities of  such series (except  for
certain  obligations to register the transfer  or exchange of Debt Securities of
such series, replace stolen, lost or  mutilated Debt Securities of such  series,
maintain  paying agencies and hold moneys for payment in trust) or (ii) will not
be subject  to provisions  of  the applicable  Indenture described  above  under
"Limitation  on  Liens"  and "Consolidation,  Merger  and Transfer  or  Lease of
Assets" with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, in each case if  the
Company deposits with the applicable Trustee, in trust, money or U.S. Government
Obligations  that through the payment of  interest thereon and principal thereof
in accordance with their terms will provide money in an amount sufficient to pay
all the  principal  of (and  premium,  if any)  and  any interest  on  the  Debt
Securities  of such series on the dates such payments are due in accordance with
the terms of such Debt Securities. To  exercise any such option under either  of
the  Indentures, the Company is required to deliver to the applicable Trustee an
opinion of counsel  to the effect  that (1) the  deposit and related  defeasance
would  not cause the Holders of the  Debt Securities of such series to recognize
income, gain or  loss for  Federal income  tax purposes and,  in the  case of  a
discharge pursuant to clause (i) above, a ruling to such effect received from or
published  by the United  States Internal Revenue  Service, and (2)  if the Debt
Securities of such series are then listed  on the New York Stock Exchange,  such
Debt  Securities would  not be delisted  from the  New York Stock  Exchange as a
result of  the exercise  of such  option (SECTIONS  1501 AND  1502).  Defeasance
provisions, if any, with respect to any other Debt Securities of any series will
be described in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
REPLACEMENT DEBT SECURITIES
 
    Unless otherwise provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, if a Debt
Security  of any series or  any related Coupon is  mutilated, destroyed, lost or
stolen, it  may be  replaced at  the corporate  trust office  or agency  of  the
applicable  Trustee in the City and State of New York (in the case of Registered
Securities) or at the principal London office of the applicable Trustee (in  the
case  of  Bearer Securities  and Coupons)  upon  payment by  the Holder  of such
expenses as  may  be incurred  by  the Company  and  the applicable  Trustee  in
connection  therewith and the  furnishing of such evidence  and indemnity as the
Company and such Trustee may require. Mutilated Debt Securities and Coupons must
be surrendered before  new Debt  Securities (with  or without  Coupons) will  be
issued (SECTION 306).
 
NOTICES
 
    Unless  otherwise  provided  in the  applicable  Prospectus  Supplement, any
notice required to be given to a Holder of a Debt Security of any series that is
a Registered Security  will be mailed  to the  last address of  such Holder  set
forth  in the applicable Security Register. Any notice required to be given to a
Holder of a Debt Security that is a Bearer Security will be published in a daily
morning newspaper of general circulation in the city or cities specified in  the
Prospectus Supplement relating to such Bearer Security (SECTION 105).
 
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEES
 
    The  Company and  certain of its  subsidiaries maintain lines  of credit and
have other customary banking relationships with Citibank, N.A. and Bankers Trust
Company,  and  certain  of  their  respective  affiliates,  and  may  have  such
relationships with other Trustees and their affiliates.
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
                         DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED STOCK
 
    The  following description  of the terms  of the Preferred  Stock sets forth
certain general  terms  and provisions  of  the  Preferred Stock  to  which  any
Prospectus  Supplement may relate.  The particular terms  of the Preferred Stock
offered by  any Prospectus  Supplement and  the extent,  if any,  to which  such
general  terms do not  apply to such  Preferred Stock will  be described in such
Prospectus Supplement. The description of the  terms of the Preferred Stock  set
forth below and in any Prospectus Supplement does not purport to be complete and
is  subject  to and  qualified in  its  entirety by  reference to  the Company's
Certificate of Incorporation, as  amended (the "Certificate of  Incorporation"),
including  the Certificate  of Designations (the  "Certificate of Designations")
relating to  the  applicable  series  of Preferred  Stock.  The  Certificate  of
Incorporation  and any  such Certificate  of Designations  have been  or will be
filed as an exhibit to or will be incorporated by reference in the  Registration
Statement of which this Prospectus forms a part.
 
GENERAL
 
    As  of  the  date of  this  Prospectus,  the Company  is  authorized  by its
Certificate of  Incorporation  to  issue  (unless  otherwise  indicated  in  the
Prospectus  Supplement) 5,000,000 shares of  preferred stock, without par value,
which may be issued from time to time in one or more series and, subject to  the
provisions  of  the Certificate  of Incorporation  applicable  to all  series of
preferred stock, shall  have such designations,  voting powers, preferences  and
relative,  participating, optional or other  special rights, and qualifications,
limitations or restrictions  thereof, as shall  be stated in  the resolution  or
resolutions  providing for the  issue thereof adopted by  the Company's Board of
Directors (the "Board of Directors") or a duly authorized committee thereof.
 
    As of the  date of this  Prospectus, there  are 560,000 shares  of Series  A
Cumulative  Convertible  Preferred  Stock, 225,000  shares  of  9.50% Cumulative
Preferred Stock, Series C, 400,000 shares of 8.08% Cumulative Preferred,  Series
D  and 500,000  shares of  8.40% Cumulative  Preferred Stock,  Series E,  of the
Company outstanding. The 8.40% Cumulative  Preferred Stock, Series E, the  8.08%
Cumulative  Preferred  Stock, Series  D, the  9.50% Cumulative  Preferred Stock,
Series C and the Series A Cumulative Convertible Preferred Stock rank on  parity
as  to the payment of dividends and the distribution of assets upon liquidation,
dissolution or  winding up.  There are  currently reserved  for issuance  up  to
2,500,000  shares  of  Series  B Junior  Participating  Preferred  Stock  of the
Company, which shares are issuable upon the exercise of certain preferred  share
purchase rights (collectively, the "Rights"). The Rights will become exercisable
only  if a person or group acquires  or (unless exercisability is delayed by the
Board of Directors) announces an offer to acquire 20% or more (which  percentage
may  be reduced to not less than 10% by the Board of Directors prior to the time
the Rights become exercisable) of the outstanding shares of Common Stock of  the
Company. Shares of Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock issued upon the
exercise  of the Rights will rank junior to all shares of any other class of the
Company's preferred stock,  including the Preferred  Stock offered hereby,  with
respect  to  the  payment  of  dividends and  the  distribution  of  assets upon
liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
 
    The Preferred Stock  shall have  the dividend,  liquidation, redemption  and
voting  rights  set forth  below unless  otherwise  specified in  the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. Reference is made  to the Prospectus Supplement  relating
to  the particular series of Preferred Stock offered thereby for specific terms,
including: (i) the designation, stated value and liquidation preference of  such
Preferred  Stock  and the  number  of shares  offered;  (ii) the  initial public
offering price at which such shares will  be issued; (iii) the dividend rate  or
rates  (or method of calculation), the date  or dates from which dividends shall
accrue, and  whether  such  dividends  shall  be  cumulative,  noncumulative  or
partially  cumulative and, if cumulative or partially cumulative, the dates from
which dividends shall commence to cumulate; (iv) any redemption or sinking  fund
provisions;  (v) the  amount that  shares of  such series  shall be  entitled to
receive in  the event  of any  liquidation,  dissolution or  winding up  of  the
Company;  (vi) the terms and conditions, if  any, on which shares of such series
shall be convertible into or exchangeable for shares of stock of any other class
or classes, or other series of the same class, of the Company; (vii) the  voting
rights,  if any,  of shares  of such series  in addition  to those  set forth in
"Voting Rights" below; (viii) the
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
status as to reissuance or sale of shares of such series redeemed, purchased  or
otherwise  reacquired, or surrendered to the  Company on conversion or exchange;
(ix) the conditions and restrictions, if any, on the payment of dividends or  on
the  making  of other  distributions on,  or the  purchase, redemption  or other
acquisition by the  Company or any  subsidiary, of  the Common Stock  or of  any
other  class of stock of the Company ranking junior to the shares of such series
as to dividends  or upon liquidation;  (x) the conditions  and restrictions,  if
any,  on the creation of  indebtedness of the Company,  or any subsidiary, or on
the issue of  any additional  stock ranking  on a parity  with or  prior to  the
shares  of  such  series as  to  dividends  or upon  liquidation;  and  (xi) any
additional dividend,  liquidation, redemption,  sinking or  retirement fund  and
other  rights,  preferences, privileges,  limitations  and restrictions  of such
Preferred Stock.
 
    The Preferred  Stock will,  when issued,  be fully  paid and  nonassessable.
Unless  otherwise specified in the  applicable Prospectus Supplement, the shares
of each series of  Preferred Stock will  upon issuance rank on  a parity in  all
respects  with  the  outstanding shares  of  the Company's  Series  A Cumulative
Convertible Preferred Stock, the 9.50% Cumulative Preferred Stock, Series C, the
8.08% Cumulative  Preferred  Stock, Series  D,  the 8.40%  Cumulative  Preferred
Stock, Series E and each other then-outstanding series of Preferred Stock of the
Company other than the Series B Junior Participating Preferred Stock, which when
issued will rank junior to all shares of any other class of the Preferred Stock.
The  Preferred  Stock  will  have  no preemptive  rights  to  subscribe  for any
additional securities which may be issued by the Company.
 
DIVIDENDS
 
    The holders of the Preferred Stock, before any dividends may be declared  or
paid  to the holders of shares of the Common Stock or of any other capital stock
of the  Company ranking  junior to  the Preferred  Stock as  to the  payment  of
dividends,  will be entitled  to receive, when  and as declared  by the Board of
Directors or a duly authorized committee thereof, out of the net profits or  net
assets of the Company legally available therefor, dividends payable quarterly on
March  31, June 30, September 30  and December 31 of each  year at such rates as
will be specified  in the applicable  Prospectus Supplement. Such  rates may  be
fixed  or variable or  both. If variable,  the formula used  for determining the
dividend rate  for each  dividend period  will be  specified in  the  applicable
Prospectus  Supplement. Dividends  will be payable  to the holders  of record as
they appear on the stock  transfer records of the  Company on such record  dates
(not more than 60 days prior to a dividend payment date) as will be fixed by the
Board  of Directors  or a duly  authorized committee thereof.  Dividends will be
paid in the form of cash.
 
    Dividends on  any series  of Preferred  Stock may  be cumulative,  partially
cumulative   or  noncumulative,  as  specified   in  the  applicable  Prospectus
Supplement. If the Board of Directors fails  to declare a dividend payable on  a
dividend   payment  date  on  any  Preferred   Stock  for  which  dividends  are
noncumulative ("Noncumulative  Preferred  Stock"),  then  the  holders  of  such
Noncumulative  Preferred  Stock will  have  no right  to  receive a  dividend in
respect of the dividend period relating  to such dividend payment date, and  the
Company  will have no  obligation to pay  the dividend accrued  for such period,
whether or not dividends on such  Noncumulative Preferred Stock are declared  or
paid  on  any future  dividend  payment dates.  If  dividends on  any  series of
Preferred Stock are not paid in full or declared in full and sums set apart  for
the  payment thereof, then no  dividends shall be declared  and paid on any such
stock unless declared and paid ratably on all shares of each series of Preferred
Stock then outstanding, including  dividends accrued or in  arrears, if any,  in
proportion to the respective amounts that would be payable per share if all such
dividends were declared and paid in full.
 
    The  Prospectus  Supplement relating  to a  series  of Preferred  Stock will
specify the conditions and restrictions, if any, on the payment of dividends  or
on  the making of other  distributions on, or the  purchase, redemption or other
acquisition by the  Company or any  subsidiary of,  the Common Stock  or of  any
other  class of stock of the Company ranking junior to the shares of such series
as  to  dividends  or  upon  liquidation  and  any  other  preferences,  rights,
restrictions  and qualifications that are  not inconsistent with the Certificate
of Incorporation.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
LIQUIDATION RIGHTS
 
    Upon any  liquidation, dissolution  or winding  up of  the Company  (whether
voluntary  or involuntary)  the holders of  Preferred Stock will  be entitled to
receive out  of the  assets of  the Company  available for  distribution to  its
stockholders, whether from capital, surplus or earnings, the amount specified in
the  applicable  Prospectus  Supplement  for  such  series,  together  with  all
dividends accrued and unpaid before any distribution of the assets will be  made
to  the holders of Common  Stock or any other class  or series of shares ranking
junior to such Preferred Stock upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up,  and
will  be entitled to no other or  further distribution. If upon any liquidation,
dissolution or winding  up of the  Company, the assets  distributable among  the
holders  of the Preferred Stock  shall be insufficient to  permit the payment in
full to the holders of  the Preferred Stock of all  amounts payable to all  such
holders,  then  the entire  assets  of the  Company  thus distributable  will be
distributed ratably among the  holders of the Preferred  Stock in proportion  to
the  respective amounts  that would  be payable  per share  if such  assets were
sufficient to permit payment in full.
 
    Neither the  consolidation,  merger or  other  business combination  of  the
Company with or into any other individual, firm, corporation or other entity nor
the  sale, lease,  exchange or conveyance  of all  or any part  of the property,
assets or  business  of  the  Company  will  be  deemed  to  be  a  liquidation,
dissolution or winding up of the Company.
 
REDEMPTION
 
    If  so specified in the Prospectus Supplement, any series of Preferred Stock
may be redeemable, in whole or in part, at the option of the Company or pursuant
to a retirement or sinking fund or otherwise, on terms and at the times and  the
redemption  prices specified  in the  applicable Prospectus  Supplement. If less
than all shares of a series of Preferred Stock at the time outstanding are to be
redeemed, the shares of such series to be redeemed will be selected pro rata  or
by  lot, in  such manner  as may  be prescribed  by resolution  of the  Board of
Directors.
 
    Notice of any  redemption of Preferred  Stock at the  option of the  Company
shall  be given  by publication  in a  newspaper of  general circulation  in the
Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York, such publication to be made not less
than 30 nor more  than 60 days  prior to the redemption  date. A similar  notice
will  be mailed by the Company, postage prepaid,  not less than 30 nor more than
60 days prior to  such redemption date, addressed  to the respective holders  of
record of shares of Preferred Stock at the addresses shown on the stock transfer
records  of the Company, but the mailing of  such notice will not be a condition
of such redemption. In order to facilitate the redemption of shares of Preferred
Stock, the Board of  Directors may fix  a record date  for the determination  of
shares  of Preferred Stock to be redeemed, and such record date will be not more
than 60 days nor less than 30 days prior to the redemption date.
 
    Prior to the redemption date, the Company will deposit money for the payment
of the redemption  price with  a bank  or trust  company doing  business in  the
Borough  of Manhattan, The City of New York, and having a capital and surplus of
at least $10,000,000.  Unless the  Company fails to  make such  deposit, on  the
redemption date, all dividends on the Preferred Stock called for redemption will
cease  to  accrue and  all  rights of  the holders  of  such Preferred  Stock as
stockholders of  the  Company shall  cease,  except  the right  to  receive  the
redemption  price  (but without  interest).  Unless otherwise  specified  in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement, any monies so deposited which remain unclaimed
by the  holders of  such Preferred  Stock  at the  end of  six years  after  the
redemption  date will become the property of, and  be paid by such bank or trust
company to, the Company.
 
CONVERSION RIGHTS
 
    The terms and conditions, if any, on which shares of the Preferred Stock are
convertible into any other class of  the Company's securities will be set  forth
in  the  Prospectus Supplement  relating thereto.  Such  terms will  include the
designation of  the  security  into  which  such  shares  are  convertible,  the
conversion  price, the  conversion period,  provisions as  to whether conversion
will be at  the option of  the holder or  the Company, the  events requiring  an
adjustment  of the conversion  price and provisions  affecting conversion in the
event of the redemption  of the Preferred  Stock. In the  case of conversion  of
 
                                       15
<PAGE>
the  Preferred Stock into Common Stock or into any other security of the Company
for which there exists an established public trading market at the time of  such
conversion,  such terms  may include provisions  under which the  amount of such
security to  be  received  by  the  holders of  the  Preferred  Stock  would  be
calculated according to the market price of such security as of a time stated in
the Prospectus Supplement.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
 
    Except  as indicated below or in  the applicable Prospectus Supplement or as
otherwise from time to time required by law, holders of the Preferred Stock will
have no voting rights.
 
    So long as  any shares  of Preferred  Stock are  outstanding, without  first
obtaining  the consent or approval of the  holders of at least two-thirds of the
number of then-outstanding shares  of Preferred Stock, and  all other series  of
the  Company's preferred  stock (the  Preferred Stock  and such  other series of
preferred stock collectively,  the "Outstanding Preferred  Stock"), voting as  a
single  class, given in person or by proxy  at a meeting at which the holders of
such shares are entitled to  vote separately as a  class, the Company will  not:
(i)  authorize shares of any  class or series of  stock having any preference or
priority  as  to  dividends  or  upon  liquidation  ("Senior  Stock")  over  the
Outstanding  Preferred Stock; (ii) reclassify any shares of stock of the Company
into shares  of Senior  Stock; (iii)  authorize any  security exchangeable  for,
convertible into or evidencing the right to purchase any shares of Senior Stock;
(iv)  amend, alter or repeal the Certificate of Incorporation to alter or change
the preferences, rights or  powers of the Outstanding  Preferred Stock so as  to
affect  the  Outstanding Preferred  Stock adversely  unless any  such amendment,
alteration or repeal would alter or change the preferences, rights or powers  of
one  or more, but not  all, of the series of  the Outstanding Preferred Stock at
the time outstanding, in which case the consent or approval of the holders of at
least two-thirds of the number of the outstanding shares of each such series  so
affected  will be required in lieu of (or if such consent is required by law, in
addition to) the consent or  approval of the holders  of at least two-thirds  of
the  number of shares of  Outstanding Preferred Stock voting  as a class; or (v)
effect the voluntary liquidation, dissolution or  winding up of the Company,  or
the  sale, lease or exchange of all or substantially all of the assets, property
or business of the Company, or the  merger or consolidation of the Company  with
or into any other corporation (except a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company);
PROVIDED,  HOWEVER,  that no  separate vote  of the  holders of  the Outstanding
Preferred Stock  as  a class  will  be  required in  the  case of  a  merger  or
consolidation  or a sale, exchange or conveyance  of all or substantially all of
the assets,  property  or  business  of the  Company  (such  transactions  being
referred  to as a "reorganization") if (A) the resulting, surviving or acquiring
corporation after such reorganization  will have no  stock either authorized  or
outstanding  (except such stock  of the Company  as may have  been authorized or
outstanding immediately  preceding such  reorganization, or  such stock  of  the
resulting,  surviving  or acquiring  corporation as  may  be issued  in exchange
therefor) ranking prior to, or on a parity with, the Outstanding Preferred Stock
or the stock  of the  resulting, surviving  or acquiring  corporation issued  in
exchange  therefor and (B) each holder  of shares of Outstanding Preferred Stock
immediately preceding such reorganization will receive in exchange therefor  the
same  number of shares of stock, with substantially the same preferences, rights
and powers, of the resulting, surviving or acquiring Corporation.
 
    Unless the  Company obtains  the consent  or approval  of the  holders of  a
majority  of shares of  the Outstanding Preferred  Stock, given in  person or by
proxy at a  meeting at which  the holders of  such shares are  entitled to  vote
separately  as  a  class,  the  Company may  not  amend  the  provisions  of the
Certificate of Incorporation in order to  increase the amount of the  authorized
preferred  stock or to authorize any other stock ranking prior to or on a parity
with the  Outstanding Preferred  Stock  either as  to  payment of  dividends  or
distribution of assets upon liquidation, dissolution or winding up.
 
    Each  share of Preferred  Stock will be  entitled to one  vote on matters on
which holders of the Preferred Stock are  entitled to vote. Since each share  of
Outstanding  Preferred Stock will be  entitled to one vote,  the voting power of
any series of Preferred  Stock on matters  on which holders  of such series  and
holders of other series of Outstanding Preferred Stock are entitled to vote as a
single class will depend on the number of shares of Outstanding Preferred Stock,
not the aggregate liquidation preference or initial offering price of the shares
of such series.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>
                        DESCRIPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
 
    The  following summary and  the summary in any  Prospectus Supplement of the
terms and provisions of the Depositary  Shares and Depositary Receipts does  not
purport  to  be complete  and is  subject to  and qualified  in its  entirety by
reference to  the  Deposit  Agreement  relating  to  the  applicable  series  of
Preferred  Stock,  which  has  been  or  will  be  filed  as  an  exhibit  to or
incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus
is a part.
 
GENERAL
 
    The Company  may, at  its option,  elect to  offer fractional  interests  in
shares  of Preferred Stock, rather  than full shares of  Preferred Stock. In the
event such option is exercised, the Company  will provide for the issuance by  a
depositary  of depositary receipts ("Depositary Receipts") evidencing depositary
shares  ("Depositary  Shares").  Each   Depositary  Receipt  will  represent   a
fractional interest (to be specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement) in
a  share of a particular  series of the Preferred  Stock as more fully described
below.
 
    In the event  that the  Company offers fractional  shares of  any series  of
Preferred  Stock, such shares of the Preferred  Stock, if any, will be deposited
under a separate deposit agreement (a "Deposit Agreement") among the Company,  a
bank or trust company selected by the Company and having its principal office in
the  United  States  and having  a  combined  capital and  surplus  of  at least
$50,000,000 (the  "Depositary")  and  the  holders from  time  to  time  of  the
Depositary   Receipts  issued  by  the  Depositary  thereunder.  The  applicable
Prospectus Supplement will  set forth the  name and address  of the  Depositary.
Subject  to the terms of the Deposit Agreement, each owner of a Depositary Share
will be entitled, in proportion to the applicable fractional interest in a share
of Preferred  Stock underlying  such Depositary  Share, to  all the  rights  and
preferences  of the Preferred Stock  underlying such Depositary Share (including
dividend, voting, redemption and liquidation rights).
 
    Pending the  preparation of  definitive  engraved Depositary  Receipts,  the
Depositary  may,  upon  the  written  order  of  the  Company,  issue  temporary
Depositary Receipts  substantially  identical  to  (and  entitling  the  holders
thereof  to all the rights pertaining to) the definitive Depositary Receipts but
not  in  definitive  form.  Definitive  Depositary  Receipts  will  be  prepared
thereafter without unreasonable delay, and temporary Depositary Receipts will be
exchangeable for definitive Depositary Receipts at the Company's expense.
 
DIVIDENDS AND OTHER DISTRIBUTIONS
 
    The   Depositary  will   distribute  all   cash  dividends   or  other  cash
distributions received  in respect  of  the Preferred  Stock deposited  under  a
Deposit  Agreement to the record holders  of Depositary Shares representing such
Preferred Stock in proportion to the numbers of such Depositary Shares owned  by
such  holders on the  relevant record date. The  Depositary will distribute only
such amount, however, as can be distributed without attributing to any holder of
Depositary Shares a fraction of one  cent, and any balance not so  distributable
will be held by the Depositary (without liability for interest thereon) and will
be  added to and treated as part of  the next sum received by the Depositary for
distribution to record holders of Depositary Receipts then outstanding.
 
    In the event of a  distribution other than in  cash in respect of  Preferred
Stock  deposited under a  Deposit Agreement, the  Depositary will distribute the
property received by it to the record holders of the Depositary Shares  entitled
thereto,  in proportion,  as nearly  as may  be practicable,  to the  numbers of
Depositary Shares owned by such holders on the relevant record date, unless  the
Depositary  determines that  it is  not feasible  to make  such distribution, in
which case the  Depositary may,  with the approval  of the  Company, adopt  such
method  as  it  deems equitable  and  practicable to  effect  such distribution,
including the sale of  such property and distribution  of the net proceeds  from
such sale to such holders.
 
                                       17
<PAGE>
    Each  Deposit Agreement will also contain  provisions relating to the manner
in which any subscription or similar rights offered by the Company to holders of
the Preferred  Stock  deposited  under  such  Deposit  Agreement  will  be  made
available to holders of Depositary Shares.
 
REDEMPTION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
 
    If  the Preferred  Stock deposited under  a Deposit Agreement  is subject to
redemption in whole or in part,  the related Depositary Shares will be  redeemed
from  the proceeds received by the Depositary as a result of any such redemption
of such Preferred  Stock held by  the Depositary. Whenever  the Company  redeems
shares  of Preferred Stock held by the Depositary, the Depositary will redeem as
of the same  redemption date the  number of Depositary  Shares representing  the
shares  of Preferred Stock so  redeemed. The Depositary will  mail the notice of
redemption not less than 30  and not more than 60  days prior to the date  fixed
for redemption to the record holders of the Depositary Shares to be so redeemed.
The  redemption  price per  Depositary  Share will  be  equal to  the applicable
fraction of  the  redemption  price  per share  payable  with  respect  to  such
Preferred  Stock. If less than all the Depositary Shares are to be redeemed, the
Depositary Shares to be redeemed will be selected  by lot or pro rata as may  be
determined by the Depositary.
 
    Notice  of redemption having  been given as described  above, from and after
the date fixed for  redemption, unless the Company  shall have failed to  redeem
the shares of Preferred Stock so called for redemption, the Depositary Shares so
called for redemption will no longer be deemed to be outstanding, and all rights
of  the holders of  such Depositary Shares  will cease, except  for the right to
receive the monies payable upon such redemption and any money or other  property
to  which  the  holders  of  such  Depositary  Shares  were  entitled  upon such
redemption,  upon  surrender  to  the  Depositary  of  the  Depositary  Receipts
evidencing such Depositary Shares.
 
CONVERSION OF DEPOSITARY SHARES
 
    If  the Preferred Stock  deposited under a  Deposit Agreement is convertible
into any other class of the Company's securities, the related Depositary  Shares
also  will have such conversion  rights. The terms and  conditions on which such
Depositary Shares are convertible will be set forth in the Prospectus Supplement
relating thereto. The conversion price per Depositary Share will be equal to the
applicable fraction  of  the  conversion  price per  share  applicable  to  such
Preferred Stock.
 
VOTING RIGHTS
 
    As  soon as practicable after receipt of  notice of any meeting at which the
holders of the Preferred Stock deposited under a Deposit Agreement are  entitled
to  vote, the Depositary will  mail the information contained  in such notice of
meeting to  the holders  of the  Depositary Shares  relating to  such  Preferred
Shares  as  of the  record date  for such  meeting. Each  such record  holder of
Depositary Shares will be entitled,  subject to any applicable restrictions,  to
instruct  the Depositary as to  the exercise of the  voting rights pertaining to
the amount of the Preferred Stock represented by such record holder's Depositary
Shares. The Depositary will endeavor, insofar as practicable, to vote the amount
of the Preferred Stock represented by such Depositary Shares in accordance  with
any  such instructions, and the Company will  agree to take all action which may
be deemed necessary by the  Depositary in order to  enable the Depositary to  do
so.  The  Depositary will  abstain  from voting  shares  of the  Preferred Stock
deposited under  a Deposit  Agreement to  the extent  that it  does not  receive
specific  instructions from the  holders of Depositary  Shares representing such
Preferred Stock.
 
WITHDRAWAL OF STOCK
 
    Upon surrender  of  Depositary  Receipts  at the  principal  office  of  the
relevant  Depositary (unless the related  Depositary Shares have previously been
called for  redemption),  and  subject  to the  terms  of  the  related  Deposit
Agreement,  the owner of the Depositary  Shares evidenced thereby is entitled to
delivery of whole shares of Preferred Stock and all money and other property, if
any, represented by such  Depositary Shares. Partial  shares of Preferred  Stock
will  not be issued. If the Depositary Receipts delivered by the holder evidence
a  number  of  Depositary  Shares  in   excess  of  the  number  of   Depositary
 
                                       18
<PAGE>
Shares  representing  the  number  of  whole shares  of  Preferred  Stock  to be
withdrawn, the relevant Depositary will deliver to such holder at the same  time
a  new Depositary  Receipt evidencing such  excess number  of Depositary Shares.
Holders of  shares of  Preferred Stock  thus withdrawn  will not  thereafter  be
entitled  to  deposit  such  shares  under a  Deposit  Agreement  or  to receive
Depositary Shares therefor. The Company does  not expect that there will be  any
public  trading market  for the  Preferred Stock,  except as  represented by the
Depositary Shares.
 
AMENDMENT AND TERMINATION OF THE DEPOSIT AGREEMENT
 
    The form  of Depositary  Receipt evidencing  any Depositary  Shares and  any
provision  of a  Deposit Agreement  may at  any time  and from  time to  time be
amended by  agreement  between the  Company  and the  Depositary.  However,  any
amendment  which  materially and  adversely alters  the  rights of  the existing
holders of Depositary  Shares will not  be effective unless  such amendment  has
been  approved by the  holders of at  least a majority  of the Depositary Shares
then outstanding  under  such Deposit  Agreement.  Each Deposit  Agreement  will
provide  that each holder  of Depositary Shares  at the time  any such amendment
becomes effective which continues to hold such Depositary Shares will be  deemed
to have consented to such amendment and will be bound thereby. No such amendment
may  impair the right, subject to the terms of the related Deposit Agreement, of
any owner  of any  Depositary  Shares issued  under  such Deposit  Agreement  to
surrender   the  Depositary  Receipt  evidencing  such  Depositary  Shares  with
instructions to the  Depositary to  deliver to the  holder the  whole shares  of
Preferred  Stock represented by  such Depositary Shares and  all money and other
property, if any, represented thereby, except in order to comply with  mandatory
provisions  of  applicable law.  A Deposit  Agreement may  be terminated  by the
Company or the Depositary only if (i) all outstanding Depositary Shares relating
thereto have  been redeemed  or (ii)  there  has been  a final  distribution  in
respect  of the Preferred  Stock of the  relevant series in  connection with any
liquidation, dissolution or winding up of the Company and such distribution  has
been distributed to the holders of the related Depositary Shares.
 
CHARGES OF DEPOSITARY
 
    The  Company will pay all transfer  and other taxes and governmental charges
arising solely from the  existence of the  depositary arrangements. The  Company
will  pay charges of  any Depositary in  connection with the  initial deposit of
Preferred Stock and the initial issuance  of the relevant Depositary Shares  and
any  redemption of such  Preferred Stock. Holders of  Depositary Shares will pay
other transfer  and  other taxes  and  governmental charges  and  certain  other
charges  as  are provided  in the  relevant  Deposit Agreement  to be  for their
accounts.
 
MISCELLANEOUS
 
    Each Depositary will  forward to the  holders of the  Depositary Shares  all
reports  and  communications  from  the  Company  which  are  delivered  to such
Depositary and which the Company  is required to furnish  to the holders of  the
Preferred Stock. In addition, each Depositary will make available for inspection
by  holders of the Depositary Shares at the principal office of such Depositary,
and at such other places as it may from time to time deem advisable, any reports
and communications  received  from  the  Company  which  are  received  by  such
Depositary as the holder of Preferred Stock.
 
    Neither any Depositary nor the Company will assume any obligation or will be
subject  to any liability under a Deposit Agreement to holders of the Depositary
Shares other  than  for  its  negligence  or  willful  misconduct.  Neither  any
Depositary  nor the Company will be liable if  it is prevented or delayed by law
or any circumstance  beyond its control  in performing its  obligations under  a
Deposit  Agreement. The  obligations of the  Company and any  Depositary under a
Deposit Agreement will be limited to  performance in good faith of their  duties
thereunder,  and they  will not  be obligated to  prosecute or  defend any legal
proceeding in  respect  of  any  Depositary Shares  or  Preferred  Stock  unless
satisfactory  indemnity is furnished. The Company and any Depositary may rely on
written advice of  counsel or  accountants, on information  provided by  persons
presenting  Preferred Stock for  deposit, holders of  Depositary Shares or other
persons believed in good faith to be  competent to give such information and  on
documents  believed to be  genuine and to  have been signed  or presented by the
proper party or parties.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>
RESIGNATION AND REMOVAL OF DEPOSITARY
 
    A  Depositary may resign at any time  by delivering to the Company notice of
its election to do so,  and the Company may at  any time remove any  Depositary,
any  such  resignation or  removal  to take  effect  upon the  appointment  of a
successor Depositary  and its  acceptance of  such appointment.  Such  successor
Depositary  must be  appointed within  60 days after  delivery of  the notice of
resignation or removal and must be a bank or trust company having its  principal
office in the United States of America and having a combined capital and surplus
of at least $50,000,000.
 
FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
 
    Owners  of  the Depositary  Shares will  be treated  for Federal  income tax
purposes as  if they  were owners  of the  Preferred Stock  represented by  such
Depositary Shares.
 
BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT FOR PREFERRED STOCK AND DEPOSITARY SHARES
 
    The  Preferred Stock or  Depositary Shares may be  issued in certificated or
book-entry form, as specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement. Preferred
Stock or Depositary Shares issued in book-entry form from the perspective of the
beneficial owners thereof (the "Shareholders") will  be issued in the form of  a
single  global stock certificate or Depositary Receipt registered in the name of
the nominee of the depository, The Depository Trust Company ("DTC", which  term,
as  used herein, includes any successor  or alternate depository selected by the
Company).
 
    DTC is a limited-purpose trust company which was created to hold  securities
for  its participating organizations (the  "Participants") and to facilitate the
clearance and settlement of securities transactions between Participants in such
securities  through   electronic  book-entry   changes   in  accounts   of   its
Participants.  Participants include  securities brokers  and dealers,  banks and
trust companies, clearing corporations  and certain other organizations.  Access
to  DTC's system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers and
trust companies that clear through or  maintain a custodial relationship with  a
Participant,  either directly  or indirectly  ("Indirect Participants"). Persons
who are  not Participants  may  beneficially own  securities  held by  DTC  only
through Participants or Indirect Participants.
 
    DTC's  nominee for all purposes will be  considered the sole owner or holder
of the Preferred Stock or Depositary  Shares held in book-entry form. Owners  of
beneficial  interests in the global stock certificate or Depositary Receipt will
not be entitled to have Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares registered in their
names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of Preferred
Stock or Depositary  Shares in definitive  form and will  not be considered  the
holders thereof under the Certificate of Incorporation or any Deposit Agreement.
 
    Neither  the  Company nor  the Depository  will  have any  responsibility or
liability for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made on  account
of  beneficial ownership interests in the global stock certificate or Depositary
Receipt, or for maintaining,  supervising or reviewing  any records relating  to
such beneficial ownership interests.
 
    A  Shareholder's ownership of  Preferred Stock or  Depositary Shares will be
recorded on or through the  records of the brokerage  firm or other entity  that
maintains  such Shareholder's  account. In turn,  the total number  of shares of
Preferred Stock or Depositary  Shares held by an  individual brokerage firm  for
its  clients  will be  maintained on  the records  of  DTC in  the name  of such
brokerage firm or other  entity (or in  the name of a  Participant that acts  as
agent for the Shareholder's brokerage firm or other entity if such firm or other
entity  is  not a  Participant).  Therefore, a  Shareholder  must rely  upon the
records of such brokerage  firm or other entity  to evidence such  Shareholder's
ownership  of Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares. Transfer of ownership of any
Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares may be effected only through the  brokerage
firm or other entity that maintains a Shareholder's account.
 
    Dividends  or other distributions  payable in respect  of Preferred Stock or
Depositary Shares will be paid by the Company or the Depositary, as the case may
be, to DTC. DTC will be responsible for crediting the amount of payments that it
receives from the Company or the Depositary, as the case may be, to the accounts
of the  Participants  in  accordance  with each  of  their  respective  standard
procedures.
 
                                       20
<PAGE>
Each  Participant  will  be  responsible for  disbursing  such  payments  to the
Shareholders that it represents and to  each brokerage firm or other entity  for
which  it  acts as  agent.  Each such  brokerage firm  or  other entity  will be
responsible for disbursing funds to the  Shareholders that it represents. It  is
suggested  that  any  purchaser of  Preferred  Stock or  Depositary  Shares with
accounts  at  more  than  one  brokerage  firm  or  other  entity  only   effect
transactions  in the Preferred Stock or  Depositary Shares through the brokerage
firm or firms or other entity  or entities that hold such purchaser's  Preferred
Stock or Depositary Shares.
 
    If  DTC is  at any  time unwilling  or unable  to continue  as depository in
respect of a global certificate or Depositary Receipt and a successor depository
is not appointed by the Company or the Depositary, as the case may be, within 90
days, the Company will issue Preferred  Stock or Depositary Shares, as the  case
may  be, in  definitive form  in exchange  for the  global stock  certificate or
Depositary Receipt. In addition,  the Company may at  any time determine not  to
have  the Preferred  Stock or  Depositary Shares  represented by  a global stock
certificate or Depositary Receipt, as the case may be, and, in such event,  will
issue  Preferred Stock or  Depositary Shares in definitive  form in exchange for
such global  stock certificate  or Depositary  Receipt. In  either instance,  an
owner  of a  beneficial interest in  the global stock  certificate or Depositary
Receipt will be entitled to have  Preferred Stock or Depositary Shares equal  in
aggregate  amount to such beneficial interest registered in its name and will be
entitled to physical delivery  of such Preferred Stock  or Depositary Shares  in
definitive  form. The  registered owner  of such  Preferred Stock  or Depositary
Shares will be entitled to receive  the dividends or other distributions or,  if
applicable,  the redemption price payable in  respect of such Preferred Stock or
Depositary Shares, upon surrender of  such Preferred Stock or Depositary  Shares
to  the Company or  the Depositary, as the  case may be,  in accordance with the
procedures set forth in the  Certificate of Incorporation or Deposit  Agreement,
respectively.
 
                          DESCRIPTION OF COMMON STOCK
 
    As   of  the  date   of  this  Prospectus,   the  Company's  Certificate  of
Incorporation authorizes the  issuance of  250,000,000 shares  of Common  Stock,
$1.00 par value per share. As of December 31, 1995, 106,447,726 shares of Common
Stock were outstanding.
 
    The  following description of the capital stock of the Company is subject to
the detailed provisions of the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and bylaws
as currently in effect (the "Bylaws").  This description does not purport to  be
complete  or to give full effect to the  terms of the provisions of statutory or
common law and is subject to, and qualified in its entirety by reference to, the
Certificate of Incorporation and the Bylaws, each of which has been filed as  an
exhibit to or will be incorporated by reference in the Registration Statement of
which this Prospectus is a part.
 
    Subject  to the rights of the holders of any outstanding shares of preferred
stock, holders of Common Stock are entitled to receive such dividends, in  cash,
securities,  or property, as may  from time to time be  declared by the Board of
Directors. Subject to the provisions of  the Bylaws with respect to the  closing
of  the transfer  books and the  fixing of a  record date, holders  of shares of
Common Stock are  entitled to one  vote per share  of Common Stock  held on  all
matters  requiring a vote  of the holders of  Common Stock. In  the event of any
liquidation, dissolution  or winding  up  of the  Company, either  voluntary  or
involuntary,  after payment  shall have  been made  to the  holders of preferred
stock of the full amount to which they shall be entitled, the holders of  Common
Stock shall be entitled to share ratably, according to the number of shares held
by  them, in  all remaining  assets of  the Company  available for distribution.
Shares of Common Stock are not  redeemable and have no subscription,  conversion
or preemptive rights.
 
    The  outstanding shares  of Common  Stock are listed  on the  New York Stock
Exchange and trade under the symbol  "SB". The transfer agent and registrar  for
the Common Stock is First Chicago Trust Company.
 
                                       21
<PAGE>
                            DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
 
    The  following description of  the terms of the  Warrants sets forth certain
general terms and provisions of the Warrants to which any Prospectus  Supplement
may  relate.  The particular  terms of  the Warrants  offered by  any Prospectus
Supplement and the extent, if any, to which such general provisions may apply to
the Warrants so offered will be described in the Prospectus Supplement  relating
to such Warrants.
 
    The  Company  may  issue  Warrants  for  the  purchase  of  Debt Securities,
Preferred Stock  or  Common  Stock.  Warrants may  be  issued  independently  or
together  with Debt Securities,  Preferred Stock or Common  Stock offered by any
Prospectus Supplement and may be attached  to or separate from any such  Offered
Securities.  Each series  of Warrants  will be  issued under  a separate warrant
agreement (a "Warrant Agreement") to be  entered into between the Company and  a
bank or trust company, as warrant agent (the "Warrant Agent"). The Warrant Agent
will  act  solely as  the  agent of  the  Company under  the  applicable Warrant
Agreement and in connection with the certificates for the Warrants (the "Warrant
Certificates"), if any, of  such series, and will  not assume any obligation  or
relationship  of  agency  or trust  for  or  with any  holders  of  such Warrant
Certificates or beneficial  owners of Warrants.  Copies of the  form of  Warrant
Agreement,   including  the  respective  forms  of  Warrant  Certificates,  have
previously been filed with the Commission  and are incorporated by reference  as
part   of  the  Registration  Statement.  The  following  summaries  of  certain
provisions of the forms  of Warrant Agreements and  Warrant Certificates do  not
purport  to be complete and are subject  to, and are qualified in their entirety
by reference to, all  the provisions of the  Warrant Agreements and the  Warrant
Certificates.
 
DEBT WARRANTS
 
    Reference  is  hereby  made to  the  Prospectus Supplement  relating  to the
particular series of  Debt Warrants, if  any, offered thereby  for the terms  of
such Warrants, including, where applicable: (i) the title of such Debt Warrants;
(ii)  the aggregate number of  such Debt Warrants; (iii)  the offering price, if
any; (iv)  the currency  or currencies  in which  such Debt  Warrants are  being
offered;   (v)  the   designation,  aggregate  principal   amount,  currency  or
currencies, denominations  and other  terms  of the  series of  Debt  Securities
purchasable  upon  exercise  of  such Debt  Warrants;  (vi)  if  applicable, the
designation and terms  of the  series of Debt  Securities with  which such  Debt
Warrants  are being offered and  the number of such  Debt Warrants being offered
with each such Debt Security; (vii) if  applicable, the date on and after  which
such   Debt  Warrants  and  the  related  series  of  Debt  Securities  will  be
transferable separately;  (viii) the  principal amount  of the  Debt  Securities
purchasable  upon exercise of each such Debt  Warrant and the price at which and
currency or currencies in which such principal amount of Debt Securities may  be
purchased  upon such exercise (which price may be payable in cash, securities or
other property); (ix) the date on which the right to exercise such Debt Warrants
shall commence and the  date (the "Expiration Date")  on which such right  shall
expire;  (x) whether such Warrants are to  be issuable as Registered Warrants or
Bearer Warrants (each, as  defined below); (xi) whether  such Debt Warrants  are
extendable and the period or periods of such extendability; (xii) the terms upon
which  any  Bearer  Warrants of  such  series  may be  exchanged  for Registered
Warrants of such  series; (xiii) whether  such Debt Warrants  will be issued  in
certificated  or  uncertificated form;  (xiv) United  States Federal  income tax
consequences; (xv) the antidilution  provisions of such  Debt Warrants, if  any;
(xvi)  the  redemption  or call  provisions,  if  any, applicable  to  such Debt
Warrants; (xvii) any  additional terms  of the Debt  Warrants, including  terms,
procedures  and limitations relating to the  exchange of such Debt Warrants; and
(xviii) any  other  terms  of  such Debt  Warrants  not  inconsistent  with  the
applicable Warrant Agreement.
 
    Warrants   for  Debt  Securities   will  be  issuable   in  registered  form
("Registered Warrants") and may be issuable in bearer form ("Bearer  Warrants").
Registered  Warrants of any series will be exchangeable into Registered Warrants
of the same  series representing in  the aggregate the  number of Debt  Warrants
surrendered  for exchange. Warrant Certificates, to the extent exchangeable, may
be presented  for  exchange,  and  Registered  Warrants  may  be  presented  for
transfer,  at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent for such series of
Debt Warrants  (or  any other  office  indicated in  the  Prospectus  Supplement
relating  to such series of Debt Warrants).  Prior to the exercise of their Debt
Warrants, holders of
 
                                       22
<PAGE>
Debt Warrants will not have any of the rights of Holders of the Debt  Securities
of  the series  purchasable upon such  exercise, including the  right to receive
payments of principal of,  premium, if any,  or interest, if  any, on, the  Debt
Securities purchasable upon such exercise, or to enforce any of the covenants in
the  applicable Indenture. Bearer Warrants will be transferable by delivery. The
applicable Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of exchange  applicable
to any Bearer Warrants.
 
    Each Debt Warrant will entitle the holder thereof to purchase such principal
amount  of the related series of Debt Securities at such exercise price as shall
in each case  be set forth  in, or calculable  as set forth  in, the  Prospectus
Supplement relating to such Debt Warrant. Registered Warrants of a series may be
exercised at the corporate trust office of the Warrant Agent for such series (or
any other office indicated in the Prospectus Supplement relating to such series)
at  any time prior to 5:00 P.M.,  New York City time (unless otherwise indicated
in the related Prospectus Supplement), on  the Expiration Date set forth in  the
Prospectus  Supplement relating to such series of Debt Warrants. After the close
of business on the Expiration Date relating to such series of Debt Warrants  (or
such  later date to which such Expiration  Date may be extended by the Company),
unexercised Debt Warrants of such series will become void.
 
    Registered Warrants  of  a  series  may be  exercised  by  delivery  to  the
appropriate  Warrant Agent of payment, as  provided in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to  such series  of Debt  Warrants, of  the consideration  required  to
purchase  the principal amount of the series of Debt Securities purchasable upon
such exercise, together  with certain information  as set forth  on the  reverse
side  of  the  Warrant  Certificate evidencing  such  Debt  Warrants.  Such Debt
Warrants will be  deemed to  have been exercised  upon receipt  of the  exercise
price,  subject to the  receipt of the Warrant  Certificate evidencing such Debt
Warrants within  five business  days.  Upon receipt  of  such payment  and  such
Warrant  Certificate,  properly completed  and duly  executed, at  the corporate
trust office of the appropriate Warrant Agent (or any other office indicated  in
the  Prospectus Supplement  relating to  such series  of Warrants),  the Company
will, as soon  as practicable,  issue and deliver  the principal  amount of  the
series  of  Debt  Securities  purchasable upon  such  exercise.  Only Registered
Securities will be issued and delivered upon exercise of Registered Warrants. If
fewer than all  of the  Debt Warrants represented  by a  Registered Warrant  are
exercised,  a  new  Registered Warrant  will  be  issued and  delivered  for the
remaining amount of Warrants. Special provisions relating to the exercise of any
Bearer Warrants will be described in the related Prospectus Supplement.
 
STOCK WARRANTS
 
    The Prospectus  Supplement relating  to any  particular issue  of  Preferred
Stock  Warrants or Common Stock  Warrants will describe the  terms of such Stock
Warrants, including the following:  (i) the title of  such Stock Warrants;  (ii)
the  aggregate number of such Stock Warrants;  (iii) the offering price for such
Stock Warrants,  if  any; (iv)  the  currency or  currency  units in  which  the
offering  price, if any, and the exercise price are payable; (v) the designation
and terms of the  Common Stock or Preferred  Stock purchasable upon exercise  of
such  Stock  Warrants; (vi)  if applicable,  the designation  and terms  of such
Offered Securities with which such Stock  Warrants are issued and the number  of
such Stock Warrants issued with each such Offered Security; (vii) if applicable,
the  date  from  and  after  which such  Stock  Warrants  and  any  such Offered
Securities issued therewith will be  transferable separately; (viii) the  number
of  shares of  Common Stock  or Preferred Stock  purchasable upon  exercise of a
Stock Warrant and the price at which such shares may be purchased upon exercise;
(ix) the date on which the right to exercise such Stock Warrants shall  commence
and  the Expiration Date;  (x) if applicable,  the minimum or  maximum amount of
such Stock Warrants that  may be exercised  at any one  time; (xi) whether  such
Stock  Warrants are extendable and the  period or periods of such extendability;
(xii) United States  federal income  tax consequences;  (xiii) the  antidilution
provisions  of  such  Stock  Warrants,  if any;  (xiv)  the  redemption  or call
provisions, if any applicable to such Stock Warrants; (xv) any additional  terms
of  the Stock Warrants, including terms,  procedures and limitations relating to
the exchange of such  Stock Warrants; and  (xvi) any other  terms of such  Stock
Warrants not inconsistent with the applicable Warrant Agreement.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>
                         DESCRIPTION OF INDEX WARRANTS
 
    The  following description  of the  terms of  the Index  Warrants sets forth
certain general  terms  and  provisions  of the  Index  Warrants  to  which  any
Prospectus  Supplement may  relate. The particular  terms of  the Index Warrants
offered by  any Prospectus  Supplement and  the extent,  if any,  to which  such
general  provisions  do not  apply  to the  Index  Warrants so  offered  will be
described in such Prospectus Supplement.
 
    Each series of Index Warrants will be issued under a separate index  warrant
agreement  (each, an "Index  Warrant Agreement") to be  entered into between the
Company and  a bank  or trust  company,  as warrant  agent (the  "Index  Warrant
Agent"),  all as described  in the Prospectus Supplement  relating to such Index
Warrants. A single bank or trust company may act as Index Warrant Agent for more
than one series of Index  Warrants. The Index Warrant  Agent will act solely  as
the  agent of the Company under the  applicable Index Warrant Agreement and will
not assume any obligation  or relationship of  agency or trust  for or with  any
owners  of such Index Warrants.  A copy of the  form of Index Warrant Agreement,
including  the  form   of  index   warrant  certificate   (the  "Index   Warrant
Certificate,"   or,  if  issued  in  global  form,  the  "Index  Warrant  Global
Certificate"), is filed  as an exhibit  to or incorporated  by reference in  the
Registration  Statement. The  following summaries  of certain  provisions of the
Index Warrants and  the form of  Index Warrant  Agreement do not  purport to  be
complete  and are subject to,  and are qualified in  their entirety by reference
to, all of the provisions of the  Index Warrant Agreement and the Index  Warrant
Certificate or Index Warrant Global Certificate.
 
GENERAL
 
    The Index Warrant Agreement does not limit the number of Index Warrants that
may be issued thereunder. The Company will have the right to "reopen" a previous
series of Index Warrants and to issue additional Index Warrants of such series.
 
    Each  Index Warrant  will entitle the  holder (each, a  "Holder") to receive
from the Company, upon exercise, including any automatic exercise, an amount  in
cash  or a number of securities that  will be determined by reference to prices,
yields, levels  or  other specified  objective  measure (any  such  measure,  an
"Index"), or changes in an Index or differences between two or more Indexes. The
assets  by reference to  which an Index is  determined (the "Underlying Assets")
may be one or  more specified securities  or securities indexes  or one or  more
foreign  currencies or foreign  currency indexes, or  a combination thereof. The
Prospectus Supplement for a series of Index Warrants will set forth the  formula
or  methodology pursuant  to which  the amount  payable or  distributable on the
Index Warrants will be determined by reference to the relevant Index or Indexes.
 
    Certain Index  Warrants will,  if specified  in the  Prospectus  Supplement,
entitle  the  Holder to  receive from  the Company,  upon automatic  exercise at
expiration and under certain other circumstances, a minimum or maximum amount.
 
    The Prospectus Supplement applicable  to any series  of Index Warrants  will
set  forth  any  circumstances in  which  the  payment or  distribution,  or the
determination of  the payment  or distribution,  on the  Index Warrants  may  be
postponed and the period for which such payment or distribution or determination
may  be  postponed.  Conversely, the  Index  Warrants  may be  subject  to early
exercise or cancellation  in certain circumstances  described in the  applicable
Prospectus  Supplement. The amount due, or the means by which the amount due, on
the Index Warrants may  be determined after any  such delay or postponement,  or
early  exercise or cancellation  will be set forth  in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
 
    Unless otherwise  specified in  the  applicable Prospectus  Supplement,  the
Company  will be under no obligation to,  nor will it, purchase or take delivery
of or sell  or deliver any  securities or currencies  (including the  Underlying
Assets),  other than the payment  of any cash or  distribution of any securities
due on the Index Warrants, from or to Holders pursuant to the Index Warrants.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>
    Unless otherwise specified in the Prospectus Supplement, the Index  Warrants
will  be  deemed  to  be  automatically  exercised  upon  expiration.  Upon such
automatic exercise, Holders will be entitled  to receive in cash or  securities,
depending  on the terms of the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the cash amount
or the number of securities due, if any, on such exercise of the Index Warrants.
 
    Reference is  hereby  made to  the  Prospectus Supplement  relating  to  the
particular  series of Index Warrants offered thereby for the terms of such Index
Warrants, including, where applicable:  (i) the aggregate  number of such  Index
Warrants;  (ii) the offering  price of such  Index Warrants; (iii)  the Index or
Indexes by reference  to which payment  or distribution on  such Index  Warrants
will  be determined; (iv)  certain information regarding  the Underlying Assets;
(v) the amount due, or the means by  which the amount due may be calculated,  on
exercise   of  the  Index  Warrants,   including  automatic  exercise,  or  upon
cancellation; (vi) the date on which  the Index Warrants may first be  exercised
and  the date on which  they expire; (vii) any  minimum number of Index Warrants
exercisable at any one  time; (viii) any maximum  number of Index Warrants  that
may,  subject to the Company's election, be  exercised by all Holders (or by any
person or  entity)  on any  day;  (ix) any  provisions  permitting a  Holder  to
condition  an exercise  of Index  Warrants; (x)  the method  by which  the Index
Warrants may be exercised; (xi) the currency in which the Index Warrants will be
denominated and in  which payments on  the Index  Warrants will be  made or  the
securities  that may be distributed in respect  of the Index Warrants; (xii) the
method of  making any  foreign currency  translation applicable  to payments  or
distributions  on  the Index  Warrants;  (xiii) the  method  of providing  for a
substitute Index  or Indexes  or  otherwise determining  the amount  payable  in
connection  with the  exercise of Index  Warrants if  an Index changes  or is no
longer available; (xiv) the time  or times at which  amounts will be payable  in
respect  of such Index  Warrants following exercise  or automatic exercise; (xv)
any national securities exchange on, or self-regulatory organization with, which
such Index Warrants will be listed; (xvi) any provisions for issuing such  Index
Warrants  in certificated form; (xvii) if such  Index Warrants are not issued in
book-entry form, the place or places at and the procedures by which payments  or
distributions on the Index Warrants will be made; and (xviii) any other terms of
such Index Warrants.
 
    Prospective  purchasers of Index Warrants should  be aware of special United
States federal income tax considerations  applicable to instruments such as  the
Index  Warrants.  The Prospectus  Supplement relating  to  each series  of Index
Warrants will describe  such tax  considerations. The summary  of United  States
federal income tax considerations contained in the Prospectus Supplement will be
presented  for informational purposes only, however, and will not be intended as
legal or tax advice to  prospective purchasers. Prospective purchasers of  Index
Warrants are urged to consult their own tax advisors prior to any acquisition of
Index Warrants.
 
BOOK-ENTRY PROCEDURES AND SETTLEMENT FOR INDEX WARRANTS
 
    Subject  to the rules  of the Depository, and  unless otherwise specified in
the Prospectus Supplement, the Index Warrants offered thereby will be issued  in
the  form of a  single Index Warrant  Global Certificate that  will be deposited
with, or on behalf of, a  depository (the "Depository"), which shall be,  unless
otherwise  specified  in the  applicable  Prospectus Supplement,  the Depository
Trust Company, New York, New York ("DTC"). Index Warrants will be registered  in
the  name of the Depository or a nominee  of the Depository. Unless and until it
is exchanged in whole or in  part for the individual Index Warrants  represented
thereby,  an Index Warrant Global Certificate may not be transferred except as a
whole by the Depository to  a nominee of the Depository  or by a nominee of  the
Depository  to the  Depository or  another nominee of  the Depository  or by the
Depository or any such nominee to a successor of the Depository or a nominee  of
such successor.
 
    The  Company anticipates  that the  following provisions  will apply  to all
depository arrangements.
 
    Upon the issuance  of an  Index Warrant Global  Certificate, the  Depository
will  credit, on its book-entry registration and transfer system, the respective
numbers of  the individual  Index  Warrants represented  by such  Index  Warrant
Global  Certificate to the accounts of  institutions that have accounts with the
Depository ("participants"). The accounts to be credited shall be designated  by
the  underwriters of such Index Warrants or,  if such Index Warrants are offered
and sold directly by the Company or through
 
                                       25
<PAGE>
one or  more agents,  by  the Company  or such  agent  or agents.  Ownership  of
beneficial  interests in an Index Warrant  Global Certificate will be limited to
participants or persons that may hold beneficial interests through participants.
Ownership of beneficial interests in an Index Warrant Global Certificate will be
shown on, and  the transfer  of that ownership  will be  effected only  through,
records  maintained by the Depository for  such Index Warrant Global Certificate
or by participants or persons that  hold through participants. The laws of  some
states  require that certain purchasers of  securities take physical delivery of
such securities. Such limits and such  laws may limit the market for  beneficial
interests in an Index Warrant Global Certificate.
 
    The  Depository's nominee for all purposes will be considered the sole owner
or holder  of the  Index Warrants  under the  related Index  Warrant  Agreement.
Except  as set forth below, owners of  beneficial interests in the Index Warrant
Global Certificate will  not be  entitled to have  any of  the individual  Index
Warrants  represented  by such  Index Warrant  Global Certificate  registered in
their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical delivery of any
such Index Warrants, and  will not be considered  the holders thereof under  the
related Index Warrant Agreement.
 
    Neither the Company nor the Index Warrant Agent will have any responsibility
or  liability  for  any  aspect  of  the  records  relating  to  or  payments or
distributions made on  account of  beneficial ownership interests  in the  Index
Warrant  Global  Certificate or  for maintaining,  supervising or  reviewing any
records relating to such beneficial ownership interests.
 
    If the  Depository  is  at any  time  unwilling  or unable  to  continue  as
depository  and a successor depository is not appointed by the Company within 90
days, the Company will issue  individual Index Warrant Certificates in  exchange
for  the Index Warrant Global  Certificate. In addition, the  Company may at any
time and in  its sole discretion  determine not to  have certain Index  Warrants
represented  by an  Index Warrant  Global Certificate  and, in  such event, will
issue  individual  Index  Warrant  Certificates  in  exchange  for  such  Global
Certificate.  Further, if  the Company  so specifies  with respect  to any Index
Warrants, an  owner  of  a  beneficial  interest  in  an  Index  Warrant  Global
Certificate  may, on  such terms acceptable  to the Company  and the Depository,
receive individual Index Warrant  in exchange for  such beneficial interest.  In
any such instance, an owner of a beneficial interest in the Index Warrant Global
Certificate will be entitled to have Index Warrants equal in aggregate number to
such beneficial interest registered in its name and will be entitled to physical
delivery  of such  Index Warrants. The  registered owner of  such Index Warrants
will be  entitled  to receive  any  amounts payable  in  respect of  such  Index
Warrants,  upon surrender of such  Index Warrants to the  Index Warrant Agent in
accordance with the procedures set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.
 
LISTING
 
    Unless otherwise indicated in the Prospectus Supplement, the Index  Warrants
will  be  listed on  a national  securities exchange  or with  a self-regulatory
organization, the rules and regulations of  which are filed with the  Commission
pursuant   to   Section  19(b)   of   the  Exchange   Act   (a  "Self-Regulatory
Organization"), in each case  as specified in the  Prospectus Supplement. It  is
expected  that such Self-Regulatory Organization will  cease trading a series of
Index Warrants as of  the close of  business on the  related expiration date  of
such Index Warrants.
 
MODIFICATION
 
    The  Index Warrant Agreement and the terms of the related Index Warrants may
be amended by the Company  and the Index Warrant  Agent, without the consent  of
the holders of any Index Warrants, for the purpose of curing any ambiguity or of
curing,  correcting  or supplementing  any  defective or  inconsistent provision
contained therein,  maintaining  the  listing  of such  Index  Warrants  on  any
national  securities exchange or with  any other Self-Regulatory Organization or
registration of  such Index  Warrants  under the  Exchange Act,  permitting  the
issuance  of individual  Index Warrant  certificates to  Holders, reflecting the
issuance by  the Company  of additional  Index Warrants  of the  same series  or
reflecting  the appointment of a successor  depository, or for any other purpose
which the Company may deem necessary or desirable and which will not  materially
and adversely affect the interests of the Holders.
 
                                       26
<PAGE>
    The  Company and the Index Warrant Agent  also may modify or amend the Index
Warrant Agreement and the terms of the related Index Warrants, with the  consent
of  the holders of  not less than a  majority in number  of the then outstanding
Warrants affected by such modification or amendment, for any purposes; PROVIDED,
HOWEVER, that no such  modification or amendment that  changes the amount to  be
paid  or the securities to  be distributed to the Holder  or the manner in which
such amount is to be  determined, shortens the period  of time during which  the
Index  Warrants may be exercised, or  otherwise materially and adversely affects
the exercise  rights  of  the holders  of  the  Index Warrants  or  reduces  the
percentage  of the  number of  outstanding Index  Warrants the  consent of whose
holders is required for modification or amendment of the Index Warrant Agreement
or the terms of the related Index  Warrants, may be made without the consent  of
each Holder affected thereby.
 
MERGER, CONSOLIDATION, SALE OR OTHER DISPOSITION
 
    If at any time there is a merger or consolidation involving the Company or a
sale,  transfer, conveyance (other than by way of lease) or other disposition of
all or substantially all  of the assets  of the Company,  then the successor  or
assuming  corporation will succeed  to and be substituted  for the Company under
the Index Warrant Agreement and the related Index Warrants, with the same effect
as if it had been  named in such Index Warrant  Agreement and Index Warrants  as
the  Company. The Company  will thereupon be relieved  of any further obligation
under such  Index Warrant  Agreement and  Index  Warrants and  may at  any  time
thereafter be dissolved, wound up or liquidated.
 
ENFORCEABILITY OF RIGHTS BY HOLDERS
 
    Any  Holder may, without the consent of the Index Warrant Agent or any other
Holder, enforce  by appropriate  legal action  on his  own behalf  his right  to
exercise, and to receive payment for, his Index Warrants.
 
SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS RELATING TO INDEX WARRANTS
 
    The  Index Warrants involve  a high degree of  risk, including risks arising
from fluctuations in the values of the Underlying Assets, risks relating to  the
Index  or Indexes by which  payments or distributions on  the Index Warrants are
calculated, general risks applicable  to the securities  or currency markets  on
which  the  Underlying Assets  are  traded and,  in  the case  of  certain Index
Warrants, foreign exchange,  interest rate, issuer  and other risks.  Purchasers
should  recognize that their Index Warrants,  other than Index Warrants having a
minimum expiration value, may expire worthless. Purchasers should be prepared to
sustain a total  loss of the  purchase price  of their Index  Warrants, and  are
advised  to consider carefully the information  set forth herein and under "Risk
Factors Relating to the Index Warrants" in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
Prospective purchasers of the Index Warrants should be experienced with  respect
to  options and options transactions and understand the risks of the Index (and,
if applicable, foreign  currency transactions), and  should reach an  investment
decision   only  after  careful  consideration,  with  their  advisers,  of  the
suitability of  the  Index  Warrants  in light  of  their  particular  financial
circumstances,  the  information set  forth herein  under "Description  of Index
Warrants," and the information regarding the  Index Warrants, the Index and  the
Underlying Assets set forth in the Prospectus Supplement.
 
        LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCE OF BEARER SECURITIES AND BEARER WARRANTS
 
    In compliance with United States Federal income tax laws and regulations the
Company  and any underwriter,  agent or dealer participating  in the offering of
any Bearer Security will agree that, in connection with the original issuance of
such Bearer Security and during the period  ending 40 days after the issue  date
of  such  Bearer Security,  they will  not  offer, sell  or deliver  such Bearer
Security, directly or indirectly, to a U.S.  Person or to any person within  the
United States, except to the extent permitted under U.S. Treasury regulations.
 
    Bearer  Securities will bear  a legend to the  following effect: "Any United
States Person who holds this obligation will be subject to limitations under the
United States income tax  laws, including the  limitations provided in  Sections
165(j)  and 1287(a) of the  Internal Revenue Code." The  sections referred to in
the
 
                                       27
<PAGE>
legend provide that, with certain exceptions, a United States taxpayer who holds
Bearer  Securities will not be  allowed to deduct any  loss with respect to, and
will not  be  eligible for  capital  gain treatment  with  respect to  any  gain
realized  on a sale,  exchange, redemption or other  disposition of, such Bearer
Securities.
 
    As used herein, "United States" means  the United States of America and  its
possessions,  and  "United States  Person" means  a citizen  or resident  of the
United States, a corporation, partnership  or other entity created or  organized
in  or under the laws of the United States,  or an estate or trust the income of
which is subject  to United  States Federal  income taxation  regardless of  its
source.
 
    Pending  the  availability of  a  definitive Global  Security  or individual
Bearer Securities, as  the case  may be, Debt  Securities that  are issuable  as
Bearer  Securities may  initially be  represented by  a single  temporary Global
Security, without interest coupons, to be deposited with a common depositary  in
London  for  Morgan Guaranty  Trust  Company of  New  York, Brussels  Office, as
operator of the  Euroclear System  ("Euroclear"), and Centrale  de Livraison  de
Valeurs Mobilieres S.A. ("CEDEL") for credit to the accounts designated by or on
behalf  of the  purchasers thereof. Following  the availability  of a definitive
Global Security in bearer form,  without coupons attached, or individual  Bearer
Securities  and subject to  any further limitations  described in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement, the  temporary Global Security  will be exchangeable  for
interests  in  such definitive  Global Security  or  for such  individual Bearer
Securities, respectively,  only  upon  receipt of  a  "Certificate  of  Non-U.S.
Beneficial  Ownership". A  "Certificate of  Non-U.S. Beneficial  Ownership" is a
certificate to  the effect  that a  beneficial interest  in a  temporary  Global
Security  or Bearer Warrant is owned by a person that is not a U.S. Person or is
owned by or through a financial  institution in compliance with applicable  U.S.
Treasury regulations. In no event will a definitive Bearer Security be delivered
to  a  purchaser without  the receipt  of a  Certificate of  Non-U.S. Beneficial
Ownership. No Bearer Security will be delivered  in or to the United States.  If
so  specified in the  applicable Prospectus Supplement,  interest on a temporary
Global Security will be paid to each of Euroclear and CEDEL with respect to that
portion of such temporary  Global Security held for  its account, but only  upon
receipt  as of the relevant  Interest Payment Date of  a Certificate of Non-U.S.
Beneficial Ownership.
 
    Limitations on the  offer, sale,  delivery and exercise  of Bearer  Warrants
(including  a requirement that a Certificate of Non-U.S. Beneficial Ownership be
delivered upon exercise of a Bearer Warrant) will be described in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to such Bearer Warrants.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
    The Company may sell  Offered Securities in any  of three ways: (i)  through
underwriters  or  dealers; (ii)  directly to  one or  more purchasers;  or (iii)
through agents. The applicable Prospectus Supplement will set forth the terms of
the offering of any Offered Securities, including the names of any underwriters,
the purchase price of  such Offered Securities and  the proceeds to the  Company
from  such  sale,  any  underwriting  discounts  and  other  items  constituting
underwriters' compensation, any initial public offering price, any discounts  or
concessions allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers, any securities exchanges on
which such Offered Securities may be listed and any restrictions on the sale and
delivery of Offered Securities in bearer form.
 
    If  underwriters  are  used in  the  sale,  the Offered  Securities  will be
acquired by the underwriters for their own  account and may be resold from  time
to  time in  one or more  transactions, including negotiated  transactions, at a
fixed public offering price or at varying prices determined at the time of sale.
Such Offered Securities may be offered to the public either through underwriting
syndicates represented by  managing underwriters  or by  underwriters without  a
syndicate.  The Company expects that  such managing underwriters or underwriters
in the United  States will include  Salomon Brothers Inc.  Unless otherwise  set
forth   in  the  applicable  Prospectus   Supplement,  the  obligations  of  the
underwriters to  purchase such  Offered Securities  will be  subject to  certain
conditions    precedent,    and    the    underwriters    will    be   obligated
 
                                       28
<PAGE>
to purchase all of such Offered Securities if any of such Offered Securities are
purchased. Any initial public  offering price and  any discounts or  concessions
allowed or reallowed or paid to dealers may be changed from time to time.
 
    Offered  Securities may  also be  offered and sold,  if so  indicated in the
Prospectus Supplement, in connection with a remarketing upon their purchase,  in
accordance  with a redemption  or repayment pursuant  to their terms,  by one or
more firms ("remarketing firms") acting as principals for their own accounts  or
as agents for the Company. Any remarketing firm will be identified and the terms
of  its  agreement,  if any,  with  the  Company and  its  compensation  will be
described in the Prospectus  Supplement. Remarketing firms may  be deemed to  be
underwriters in connection with the Offered Securities remarketed thereby.
 
    Offered  Securities  may also  be sold  directly by  the Company  or through
agents designated by the Company  from time to time.  Any agent involved in  the
offer  or sale of Offered Securities will  be named, and any commissions payable
by the Company to  such agent will  be set forth,  in the applicable  Prospectus
Supplement.  Unless otherwise indicated in the applicable Prospectus Supplement,
any such  agent  will  act on  a  best  efforts  basis for  the  period  of  its
appointment.
 
    If  so indicated in  the applicable Prospectus  Supplement, the Company will
authorize agents, underwriters or dealers to solicit offers by certain specified
institutions to purchase  Offered Securities  at the public  offering price  set
forth  in  such Prospectus  Supplement  pursuant to  delayed  delivery contracts
providing for payment and delivery on a future date specified in such Prospectus
Supplement. Such contracts will be subject only to those conditions set forth in
the applicable Prospectus  Supplement, and such  Prospectus Supplement will  set
forth the commissions payable for solicitation of such contracts.
 
    Any  underwriters, dealers  or agents  participating in  the distribution of
Offered Securities  may  be deemed  to  be  underwriters and  any  discounts  or
commissions  received by them on the sale or resale of Offered Securities may be
deemed to be underwriting  discounts and commissions  under the Securities  Act.
Agents  and underwriters may be entitled  under agreements entered into with the
Company to indemnification  by the  Company against  certain civil  liabilities,
including  liabilities under the Securities Act, or to contribution with respect
to payments that the agents or underwriters  may be required to make in  respect
thereof.  Agents and  underwriters may be  customers of,  engage in transactions
with, or perform  services for, the  Company or its  affiliates in the  ordinary
course of business.
 
    Salomon  Brothers Inc is an indirect wholly owned subsidiary of the Company.
Salomon Brothers Inc's participation in the offer and sale of Offered Securities
complies with the  requirements of  Schedule E of  the By-Laws  of the  National
Association  of Securities Dealers,  Inc. regarding the  underwriting by Salomon
Brothers Inc of securities  of its parent.  Salomon Brothers Inc  may act as  an
underwriter  in an  "at the market"  equity offering pursuant  to Rule 415(a)(4)
under the Securities Act and may make a market in the Offered Securities but  is
not obligated to do so.
 
                                 ERISA MATTERS
 
    The  Employee Retirement Income Security Act  of 1974, as amended ("ERISA"),
imposes certain  restrictions  on  employee benefit  plans  ("Plans")  that  are
subject  to ERISA and on persons who are fiduciaries with respect to such Plans.
In accordance  with ERISA's  general fiduciary  requirements, a  fiduciary  with
respect  to  any  such Plan  who  is  considering the  purchase  of  the Offered
Securities on behalf  of such  Plan should  determine whether  such purchase  is
permitted  under the governing Plan documents and is prudent and appropriate for
the Plan  in view  of its  overall  investment policy  and the  composition  and
diversification  of its portfolio. Other provisions of ERISA and Section 4975 of
the Internal Revenue  Code of 1986,  as amended (the  "Code"), prohibit  certain
transactions  involving  the  assets of  a  Plan  and persons  who  have certain
specified relationships to the Plan ("parties in interest" within the meaning of
ERISA or "disqualified persons" within the meaning of Section 4975 of the Code).
Thus, a Plan fiduciary considering the purchase of the Offered Securities should
consider whether such  a purchase  might constitute  or result  in a  prohibited
transaction under ERISA or Section 4975 of the Code.
 
                                       29
<PAGE>
    The  Company, directly or through its affiliates, may be considered a "party
in interest" or  a "disqualified  person" with respect  to many  Plans that  are
subject  to ERISA. The purchase of Offered  Securities by a Plan that is subject
to  the  fiduciary  responsibility  provisions   of  ERISA  or  the   prohibited
transaction  provisions  of  Section  4975  of  the  Code  (including individual
retirement accounts and other plans described in Section 4975(e)(1) of the Code)
and with respect to which the Company  is a party in interest or a  disqualified
person  may  constitute or  result in  a prohibited  transaction under  ERISA or
Section 4975 of the Code, unless  such Offered Securities are acquired  pursuant
to   and  in  accordance  with  an  applicable  exemption,  such  as  Prohibited
Transaction  Class   Exemption  ("PTCE")   84-14  (an   exemption  for   certain
transactions determined by an independent qualified professional asset manager),
PTCE  91-38  (an exemption  for certain  transactions involving  bank collective
investment funds), PTCE  90-1 (an exemption  for certain transactions  involving
insurance  company pooled  separate accounts), or  PTCE 95-60  (an exemption for
certain transactions involving insurance company general accounts). ANY  PENSION
OR  OTHER  EMPLOYEE BENEFIT  PLAN PROPOSING  TO  ACQUIRE ANY  OFFERED SECURITIES
SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS COUNSEL.
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
    The financial statements  and related  schedules included in  the 1995  10-K
have  been audited  by Arthur Andersen  LLP, independent  public accountants, as
indicated in  their  reports  with  respect thereto,  and  are  incorporated  by
reference  in this  Prospectus in  reliance upon the  authority of  said firm as
experts in accounting and auditing in giving said reports.
 
                                 LEGAL OPINIONS
 
    Certain legal matters relating to the Securities will be passed upon for the
Company by Cravath, Swaine &  Moore, New York, New York,  and for any agents  or
underwriters by Cleary, Gottlieb, Steen & Hamilton, New York, New York.
 
                                       30
<PAGE>
NO  DEALER, SALESPERSON  OR ANY  OTHER PERSON  HAS BEEN  AUTHORIZED TO  GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE  ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN  THOSE CONTAINED IN  THIS
PROSPECTUS  SUPPLEMENT AND THE PROSPECTUS IN CONNECTION WITH THE OFFER CONTAINED
HEREIN AND, IF GIVEN  OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION  OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT  BE
RELIED  UPON  AS HAVING  BEEN  AUTHORIZED BY  THE  COMPANY OR  ANY UNDERWRITERS.
NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF  THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND  THE PROSPECTUS NOR  ANY
SALE  MADE HEREUNDER SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT
THERE HAS BEEN NO  CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS  OF THE COMPANY SINCE  THE DATES AS  OF
WHICH  INFORMATION IS  GIVEN IN THIS  PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT  AND THE PROSPECTUS.
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  ANY PERSON TO  WHOM IT IS  UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH
OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
 
                             ---------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                    PAGE
                                                    -----
<S>                                              <C>
                   PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
  Reference....................................         S-2
Risk Factors Relating to DECS..................         S-3
Salomon Inc....................................         S-5
Recent Developments Concerning Salomon Inc.....         S-5
Financial Security Assurance Holdings Ltd......         S-6
Recent Developments Concerning Financial
  Security Assurance Holdings Ltd..............         S-6
Relationship Between U S WEST and FSA
  Holdings.....................................         S-8
Price Range and Dividend History of FSA
  Holdings Common Stock........................         S-9
Use of Proceeds................................         S-9
Description of the DECS........................        S-10
Certain United States Federal Income Tax
  Considerations...............................        S-16
ERISA Considerations...........................        S-19
Plan of Distribution...........................        S-20
 
                         PROSPECTUS
Available Information..........................           2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by
  Reference....................................           2
Salomon Inc....................................           3
Use of Proceeds................................           3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges and Earnings
  to Fixed Charges and Preferred Dividends.....           4
Description of Debt Securities.................           4
Description of Preferred Stock.................          13
Description of Depositary Shares...............          17
Description of Common Stock....................          21
Description of Warrants........................          22
Description of Index Warrants..................          24
Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Securities
  and Bearer Warrants..........................          27
Plan of Distribution...........................          28
ERISA Matters..................................          29
Experts........................................          30
Legal Opinions.................................          30
</TABLE>
 
8,725,000 DECS-SM-
 
(DEBT EXCHANGEABLE FOR
COMMON STOCK-SM-)
 
SALOMON INC
 
7 5/8% EXCHANGEABLE NOTES
DUE MAY 15, 1999
SALOMON BROTHERS INC
 
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
                            SECURITIES CORPORATION
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
DATED MAY 8, 1996


© 2022 IncJournal is not affiliated with or endorsed by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission