LEHMAN BROTHERS HOLDINGS INC
424B5, 1994-10-17
SECURITY BROKERS, DEALERS & FLOTATION COMPANIES
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<PAGE>   1
                                                    Pursuant to Rule 424(b)(5) 
                                                    Registration No. 33-58548

INFORMATION CONTAINED HEREIN IS SUBJECT TO COMPLETION OR AMENDMENT. A
REGISTRATION STATEMENT RELATING TO THESE SECURITIES HAS BEEN FILED WITH THE
SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION. THESE SECURITIES MAY NOT BE SOLD NOR MAY
OFFERS TO BUY BE ACCEPTED PRIOR TO THE TIME THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT BECOMES
EFFECTIVE. THIS PROSPECTUS SHALL NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER TO SELL OR THE
SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY NOR SHALL THERE BE ANY SALE OF THESE SECURITIES
IN ANY STATE IN WHICH SUCH OFFER, SOLICITATION OR SALE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL PRIOR
TO REGISTRATION OR QUALIFICATION UNDER THE SECURITIES LAWS OF ANY SUCH STATE.
 
                  SUBJECT TO COMPLETION DATED OCTOBER 14, 1994
 
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
(TO PROSPECTUS DATED OCTOBER 14, 1994)
 
                                  $50,000,000
 
                        LEHMAN BROTHERS HOLDINGS INC.
                  INDUSTRIAL COMMODITY BASKET NOTES DUE 1996
 
     The Industrial Commodity Basket Notes Due 1996 (the "Securities") of Lehman
Brothers Holdings Inc. ("Holdings") will mature on November   , 1996 (the
"Stated Maturity Date"). Each Holder in whose name Securities are registered at
the close of business on the day preceding the Stated Maturity Date will be
entitled to receive a payment in respect of such Securities (the "Settlement
Amount") which shall, subject to certain exceptions, be calculated based on the
average of the Market Prices (as defined herein) of a basket of certain
non-financial commodities (the "Basket") for the first three Determination Days
(as defined herein) occurring between November   , 1996 and the Stated Maturity
Date, inclusively. If the average of the Market Prices of the Basket over such
Determination Days (the "Basket Maturity Value") exceeds $1,000, each Holder
will be entitled to a Settlement Amount that will be greater than the principal
amount of such Holder's Securities; if the Basket Maturity Value is $1,000 or
less, each Holder will be entitled to a Settlement Amount that will be equal to
the principal amount of such Holder's Securities. The Calculation Agent (as
defined herein) has estimated that, based on forward prices, the value of the
Basket on November   , 1994, was $1,000. Although each Holder will be entitled
to receive, on or after the Stated Maturity Date, the Settlement Amount with
respect to such Holder's Securities, there will be no payment of interest,
periodic or otherwise, with respect to the Securities. For information as to the
calculation of the Settlement Amount, which will be payable on the Stated
Maturity Date (unless accelerated upon an Event of Default or delayed due to a
Market Disruption Event), the calculation of the value of the Basket, the
composition of the Basket and certain tax consequences to holders of the
Securities, see "Description of Securities," "The Basket" and "Certain United
States Federal Income Tax Consequences" in this Prospectus Supplement. FOR OTHER
INFORMATION THAT SHOULD BE CONSIDERED BY PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS, SEE "SPECIAL
CONSIDERATIONS" IN THIS PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT.
 
     The Securities are to be issued as a series of Debt Securities under the
Senior Indenture described in the accompanying Prospectus and will constitute
"Senior Debt" of Holdings as described in the accompanying Prospectus. The
Securities may not be redeemed prior to the Stated Maturity Date and are not
subject to any sinking fund.
 
     Application will be made to list the Securities on the Luxembourg Stock
Exchange under the symbol "       ."
 
     Lehman Brothers Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings, may, but is
not obligated to, purchase and sell Securities for its own account for the
purpose of making a market in the Securities.
 
                          ---------------------------
 
   THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES
      AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION NOR HAS
        THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES
           COMMISSION PASSED UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
            PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT OR THE PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESEN-
                TATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                               Price to            Underwriting          Proceeds to
                                                Public             Discount(1)           Holdings(2)
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                           <C>                      <C>                   <C>
Per Security............................           %                    %                     %
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total...................................      $50,000,000               $                     $
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
</TABLE>
 
(1) Holdings has agreed to indemnify the Underwriter against certain
    liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. See
    "Underwriting."
(2) Before deducting other expenses payable by Holdings estimated at
    $          .
 
                          ---------------------------
 
     The Securities offered by this Prospectus Supplement are offered by the
Underwriter subject to prior sale, withdrawal, cancellation or modification of
the offer without notice, to delivery to and acceptance by the Underwriter and
to certain further conditions. The Underwriter reserves the right to reject
orders in whole or in part. It is expected that delivery of the Securities will
be made at the offices of Lehman Brothers Inc., New York, New York, on or about
November   , 1994.
 
     This Prospectus Supplement together with the accompanying Prospectus may
also be used by Lehman Brothers Inc. in connection with offers and sales of
Securities related to market making transactions, by and through Lehman Brothers
Inc., at negotiated prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of
sale or otherwise. Lehman Brothers Inc. may act as principal or agent in such
transactions.
 
                          ---------------------------
 
                                LEHMAN BROTHERS
 
November   , 1994
<PAGE>   2
 
     The Securities will originally be issued as certificates in registered
form. One hundred and eighty calendar days after the closing of the offering,
each registered holder will have the option to convert the form of such holder's
Securities from certificated to book-entry form within a forty-five calendar day
period as described herein. Ownership of converted Securities will be maintained
in book-entry form by or through the Depository. Beneficial owners of Securities
in book-entry form will not have the right to receive physical certificates
evidencing their ownership except under the limited circumstances described
herein.
 
     IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITER MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE SECURITIES
OFFERED HEREBY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH TRANSACTIONS MAY BE EFFECTED IN THE OVER-THE-COUNTER MARKET OR
OTHERWISE. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
                                       S-2
<PAGE>   3
 
                                    SUMMARY
 
     The following summary does not purport to be complete and is qualified in
its entirety by the more detailed information set forth elsewhere or
incorporated by reference in this Prospectus Supplement and the accompanying
Prospectus. Certain capitalized terms used herein have the meanings ascribed
thereto in the accompanying Prospectus. Reference is also made to the "Glossary"
appearing at the end of this Prospectus Supplement for certain defined terms
used herein and the locations of other defined terms used herein.
 
Issuer.....................  Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. ("Holdings").
 
Securities Offered.........  $50,000,000 of Industrial Commodity Basket Notes
                               Due 1996 (the "Securities"). The Securities are
                               to be issued as a series of Debt Securities under
                               the Senior Indenture described in the
                               accompanying Prospectus and will constitute
                               Senior Debt of Holdings.
 
Denominations..............  $50,000, and $10,000 increments in excess thereof.
 
Interest Payments..........  The Securities will not bear interest.
 
Stated Maturity Date.......  November   , 1996 (the "Stated Maturity Date").
 
Settlement Amount..........  Each Holder in whose name Securities are registered
                               at the close of business on the day preceding the
                               Stated Maturity Date will be entitled to receive
                               a payment (the "Settlement Amount") with respect
                               to the principal amount of Securities registered
                               to such Holder equal to such principal amount
                               multiplied by the following:
 
                                   1 + (Multiplier X (Basket Maturity 
                                                     Value -- $1,000) )
                                                    ------------------
                                                         $1,000
 
                               provided, however, if the Basket Maturity Value
                               is less than $1,000, then such Settlement Amount
                               will be equal to such principal amount. The
                               Basket Maturity Value will be equal to the sum of
                               the Settlement Prices of the Commodities included
                               in the Basket. On the date of this preliminary
                               Prospectus Supplement, the "Multiplier" equals
                               1.1082. The actual Multiplier applicable to the
                               Securities will be determined by Holdings with
                               reference to the forward prices of the
                               Commodities in the Basket on or about the date of
                               the final Prospectus Supplement and will be set
                               forth in the final Prospectus Supplement. Such
                               actual Multiplier may be less than, equal to or
                               greater than 1.1082.
 
                             Subject to the occurrence of Market Disruption
                               Events, the Settlement Price of each Commodity
                               will be equal to the average of the Market Prices
                               (determined as described herein) of such
                               Commodity for the first three Determination Days
                               occurring between November   , 1996 (the
                               "Calculation Initiation Date") and the Stated
                               Maturity Date, inclusively (such period, the
                               "Determination Period"). See "Description of
                               Securities -- Settlement Amount" in this
                               Prospectus Supplement. See also "Description of
                               Securities -- Events of Default and Acceleration"
                               for a description of the calculation of payments
                               upon any acceleration of the Maturity of the
                               Securities.
 
                             The Settlement Prices of certain of the Commodities
                               will be determined by reference to settlement
                               prices of certain contracts traded on the New
                               York Mercantile Exchange, Inc. (the "NYMEX") and
                               the London Metal Exchange (the "LME"). The
                               Settlement Prices of the balance of the
                               Commodities will be determined by reference to
                               the Fixing Prices of such Commodities reported by
                               the London Bullion
 
                                       S-3
<PAGE>   4
 
                               Market Association (the "LBM"). See "Description
                               of Securities -- Settlement Amount" in this
                               Prospectus Supplement.
 
The Basket.................  The "Basket" is made up of different quantities of
                               the following Commodities: Aluminum, Copper,
                               Crude Oil, Gold, Lead, Nickel, Silver and Zinc.
                               Ownership of Securities will not entitle any
                               Holder to invest in or to receive any of the
                               Commodities. The Basket is not equally weighted;
                               that is, on the date the Securities are issued,
                               the various Commodities will represent differing
                               percentages of the Basket Value on that date,
                               ranging from 3.5% for Lead to 30% for Gold. See
                               "Description of Securities -- Commodities" and
                               "The Basket" in this Prospectus Supplement. The
                               inclusion of a Commodity in the Basket is not a
                               recommendation to buy or sell such Commodity, and
                               neither Holdings nor any of its affiliates makes
                               any representation or warranty as to the
                               performance of the Basket or any Commodity.
 
Basket Value...............  The value of the Basket at any given time will
                               equal the sum of the current forward prices for
                               each Commodity multiplied in each case by the
                               quantity of such Commodity in the Basket (the
                               "Basket Value"). To determine the appropriate
                               forward prices for the Commodities in the Basket,
                               Holders should refer: (i) in the case of
                               Aluminum, Copper, Lead, Nickel and Zinc, to the
                               current price for the appropriate Contract on the
                               LME for delivery in November 1996 (or, with
                               respect to Lead and Nickel prior to July 1995, to
                               the estimated forward price for delivery of such
                               Commodity on or about the Calculation Initiation
                               Date), (ii) in the case of Crude Oil, to the
                               current price for the Crude Oil Contract on the
                               NYMEX for delivery in December 1996, and (iii) in
                               the case of Gold and Silver, to the estimated
                               forward price for delivery of Gold and Silver,
                               respectively, on or about the Calculation
                               Initiation Date. Lehman Brothers Inc., a
                               wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings (the
                               "Calculation Agent"), has estimated that the
                               Basket Value at the close of business on November
                                 , 1994 was $1,000. Subject to the occurrence of
                               Market Disruption Events, the Basket Maturity
                               Value will be calculated based on the average of
                               the Market Prices of the respective Commodities
                               during the first three Trading Days during the
                               Determination Period. See "Description of
                               Securities -- Settlement Amount" in this
                               Prospectus Supplement. See also "Description of
                               Securities -- Events of Default and Acceleration"
                               for a description of the calculation of payments
                               upon any acceleration of the Maturity of the
                               Securities.
 
Special Considerations.....  The Securities are subject to certain special
                               considerations. Investors should be aware that if
                               the Basket Maturity Value is equal to or less
                               than $1,000, the Settlement Amount payable with
                               respect to each Security shall be limited to the
                               principal amount of such Security, even if the
                               Basket Value as of some date or dates prior to
                               the Calculation Initiation Date may have exceeded
                               $1,000, because the Settlement Amount will be
                               calculated only on the basis of Market Prices (or
                               other prices, in the case of a Market Disruption
                               Event) during the Determination Period. Moreover,
                               there can be no assurance as to how the
                               Securities will trade in the secondary market or
                               whether such market will be liquid. The price at
                               which a Holder will be able to sell Securities
                               prior to Maturity may be at a discount from the
                               face amount thereof, if, among other things, the
                               Basket Value at such time
 
                                       S-4
<PAGE>   5
 
                               is below, equal to or not sufficiently above
                               $1,000. It is expected that the secondary market
                               for the Securities will be affected by a number
                               of factors, including the Basket Value,
                               fluctuations in interest rates, the volatility of
                               the Basket Value and the time remaining to the
                               Stated Maturity Date. See "Special
                               Considerations" in this Prospectus Supplement.
 
                             Payment of the Settlement Amount could be deferred
                               beyond the Stated Maturity Date for up to three
                               Business Days in the event that a Market
                               Disruption Event with respect to any Commodity
                               occurs during the Determination Period. In that
                               event, interest in respect of the Securities will
                               not accrue or be payable on or after the Stated
                               Maturity Date. See "Description of
                               Securities -- Settlement Amount" in this
                               Prospectus Supplement.
 
                             Holders of Securities will not, by virtue of their
                               ownership of Securities, have any right at any
                               time to invest in or receive any of the
                               Commodities, even though the return on an
                               investment in the Securities will be based on the
                               Settlement Prices of such Commodities.
 
                             The Market Prices of certain of the Commodities
                               will be determined by reference to settlement
                               prices of contracts traded on the NYMEX, a U.S.
                               commodity exchange, and the LME, a foreign
                               commodity exchange, or by reference to prices
                               reported by the LBM, an industry association of
                               bullion market participants. Trading on commodity
                               exchanges involves certain risks, and trading on
                               the LME may involve additional risks. See
                               "Special Considerations -- LME Trading," "-- LBM
                               Trading," "-- Effect of Adverse Changes in Market
                               Prices," and "-- Suspension or Material
                               Disruption of Futures Trading; Temporary
                               Distortions" in this Prospectus Supplement.
 
                             It is suggested that prospective investors who
                               consider purchasing the Securities should reach
                               an investment decision only after carefully
                               considering with their advisers the suitability
                               of an investment in the Securities in the light
                               of their particular circumstances.
 
                             Investors should also consider the tax consequences
                               of investing in the Securities. See "Certain
                               United States Federal Income Tax Consequences" in
                               this Prospectus Supplement.
 
                                       S-5
<PAGE>   6
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     The net proceeds from the sale of the Securities will be used as described
under "Use of Proceeds" in the accompanying Prospectus and to hedge market risks
affecting the value of the Settlement Amount payable with respect to the
Securities (the transactions used to hedge such market risks are herein called
the "Hedging Transactions"). For a description of the calculation of the
Settlement Amount, see "Description of Securities -- Settlement Amount" in this
Prospectus Supplement. In connection with such Hedging Transactions, Holdings or
one or more of its subsidiaries may purchase or maintain positions in a variety
of financial instruments relating to the Basket and the Commodities. Depending
on future market conditions and the actual amount of Securities outstanding from
time to time, among other things, the aggregate amount and the composition of
such positions are likely to vary over time. Holdings expects that it or its
subsidiaries may take positions in (i) futures contracts related to the
Commodities, (ii) listed or over-the-counter option contracts on the Commodities
and (iii) other derivative or synthetic instruments relating to the Commodities.
There can be no assurance that Holdings or one or more of its subsidiaries did
not or will not affect the prices of the Commodities or the Basket as a result
of its hedging activities.
 
                             SPECIAL CONSIDERATIONS
 
PAYMENT AT MATURITY
 
     If the Basket Maturity Value is equal to or less than $1,000, the
Settlement Amount payable with respect to each Security will be limited to the
principal amount of such Security. This will be true even though the Basket
Value as of some date or dates prior to the Calculation Initiation Date may have
exceeded $1,000, because the Settlement Amount will be calculated only on the
basis of Market Prices (or other prices, in the case of a Market Disruption
Event) during the Determination Period. Purchasers of Securities should
therefore be prepared to realize no "time value" return on the principal amount
of their Securities.
 
TRADING
 
     Application will be made to list the Securities on the Luxembourg Stock
Exchange under the symbol "     ." There can be no assurance as to how the
Securities will trade in the secondary market or whether such market will be
liquid. It is expected that the secondary market for the Securities will be
affected by a number of factors.
 
     The trading value of the Securities is expected to depend primarily on the
extent of the appreciation, if any, of the Basket Value over $1,000. The price
at which a Holder will be able to sell Securities prior to Maturity may be at a
discount from the principal amount thereof if, at such time, the Basket Value is
below, equal to or not sufficiently above $1,000. In addition to discounts which
could result from a decrease in the Basket Value, as discussed below, discounts
could also result from fluctuations in interest rates, decreased volatility of
the Basket Value or decreased time remaining to the Stated Maturity Date.
 
     The trading value of the Securities may be affected by a number of
interrelated factors, including those listed below. The relationship among these
factors, and how they affect the Settlement Amount, is complex. Accordingly,
investors should be aware that factors other than the Basket Value are likely to
affect the trading value of the Securities. The expected effect on the trading
value of the Securities of each of the factors listed below, assuming in each
case that all other factors are held constant, is as follows:
 
          Interest Rates.  In general, due to "time value" considerations, if
     interest rates increase, the value of the Securities is expected to
     decrease and if interest rates decrease, the value of the Securities is
     expected to increase. However, due to the complex interaction between
     interest rates, commodity prices and the performance of the economy in
     general, it is difficult to predict the impact of interest rate movements
     on the Basket Value.
 
          Volatility of the Basket Value.  An increase in the volatility of the
     Basket Value would normally have a positive impact on the trading value of
     the Securities although such impact will be diminished to
 
                                       S-6
<PAGE>   7
 
     the extent that the Basket Value is significantly less than or
     significantly greater than $1,000. Conversely, a decrease in the volatility
     of the Basket Value would normally have a negative impact on the trading
     value of the Securities although such impact will also be diminished to the
     extent that the Basket Value is significantly less than or significantly
     greater than $1,000.
 
          Time Remaining to the Stated Maturity Date.  The Securities may trade
     at a value other than that which may be inferred from the level of interest
     rates, volatility and the Basket Value. This difference may be due to
     expectations concerning interest rates, volatility and the Basket Value
     during the period prior to the Stated Maturity Date. As the time remaining
     to the Stated Maturity Date decreases, this difference in value is expected
     to decrease.
 
          Relationship Between Spot Prices and Forward Prices.  Prior to
     Maturity, the Basket Value is determined in relation to the forward prices
     for the Commodities in the Basket. Since the relationship between forward
     and spot prices depends on prevailing interest rates, supply and demand and
     other factors, the Basket Value may not always reflect movements in the
     spot prices of the Commodities.
 
There can be no assurance that the foregoing factors will affect the Basket
Value and the trading value of the Securities as described, and neither Holdings
nor any of its affiliates makes any representation or warranty as to the
performance of the Basket or as to the trading value of the Securities.
 
LME TRADING
 
     The Market Prices of certain of the Commodities will be determined by
reference to the settlement prices of contracts traded on the LME. As discussed
below, the LME is a principals' market which operates in a manner more closely
analogous to the over-the-counter physical commodity markets than the futures
markets, and certain features of U.S. futures markets are not present in the
context of LME trading. For example, there are no daily price limits on the LME,
which would otherwise restrict the extent of daily fluctuations in the prices of
LME contracts. In a declining market, therefore, it is possible that prices
would continue to decline without limitation within a Trading Day or over a
period of Trading Days. In addition, a contract may be entered into on the LME
calling for delivery on any day from one day to three months following the date
of such contract and for monthly delivery in any of the next 16 to 24 months
(depending on the Commodity) following such third month, in contrast to trading
on futures exchanges, which call for delivery in stated delivery months. As a
result, there may be a greater risk of a concentration of positions in LME
contracts on particular delivery dates, which in turn could cause temporary
aberrations in the prices of LME contracts for certain delivery dates. If such
aberrations occur during the Determination Period, the prices of the contracts
used to determine the Settlement Prices, and consequently the Settlement Amount,
could be adversely affected.
 
LBM TRADING
 
     The Settlement Prices of Gold and Silver will be determined by reference to
the Fixing Prices of such Commodities reported by the LBM. The LBM is a
self-regulatory association of bullion market participants. Although all market
making members of the LBM are supervised by the Bank of England and are required
to satisfy a capital adequacy test, the LBM itself is not a regulated entity. If
the LBM should stop operations, or if bullion trading by LBM members should
become subject to a value added tax, any other tax or any other form of
regulation currently not in place, the role of LBM price fixings for Gold and
Silver as global benchmarks for those Commodities may be affected.
 
EFFECT OF TRADING IN THE COMMODITIES AND RELATED INSTRUMENTS
 
     Holdings and its affiliates are and will be actively involved in the
trading of the Commodities, futures and forward contracts with respect to the
Commodities and other instruments and derivative products based on the
Commodities and/or the Basket (collectively, "Commodity Investments"). Holdings
and its affiliates may also issue or underwrite, or authorize unaffiliated
entities to issue or underwrite, other Commodity Invest-
 
                                       S-7
<PAGE>   8
 
ments. In addition, affiliates of Holdings are market making members of in the
LBM, ring-dealing members of the LME and clearing members of the NYMEX.
 
     Such activities with respect to Commodity Investments could adversely
affect the Basket Value, which could in turn adversely affect the value of, and
the return on, the Securities.
 
POTENTIAL CONFLICTS OF INTEREST
 
     As noted above, Holdings and its affiliates expect to engage in activities
related to Commodity Investments, for their proprietary accounts or for other
accounts under their management. Such activities could present certain conflicts
of interest. For example, the issuance of other securities indexed to the
Basket, i.e., the introduction of competing products into the marketplace, could
adversely affect the value of the Securities. To the extent that Holdings or its
affiliates serves as issuer, agent or underwriter of such securities or other
instruments, its interests with respect to such products may be adverse to those
of the Holders of Securities.
 
     Additionally, if a Market Disruption Event occurs during the Determination
Period or if the Maturity of the Securities is accelerated, the Basket Maturity
Value may be determined by reference to firm bid prices quoted by the
Calculation Agent and/or to forward prices published by members of the LBM
selected by the Calculation Agent. Finally, under certain circumstances, the
Calculation Agent may adjust the Basket or the method of determining the Market
Price of one or more of the Commodities. Such quotes, selections and adjustments
by the Calculation Agent will directly impact the Settlement Amount payable with
respect to the Securities. See "Description of Securities -- Settlement Amount,"
"-- Events of Default and Acceleration" and "-- Adjustments to the Basket and
Market Price" in this Prospectus Supplement. Conflicts of interest may arise
between the Calculation Agent's responsibilities with respect to the Securities
and its status as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings.
 
EFFECT OF ADVERSE CHANGES IN MARKET PRICES OF COMMODITIES
 
     The Basket is comprised of eight distinct Commodities, and the Market
Prices are determined by reference to futures contracts, forward contracts and
spot prices relating to such Commodities. The Basket Value, and therefore the
value of the Securities, could be adversely affected by adverse changes in the
Market Prices of one or more of the Commodities.
 
     Market Prices of the Commodities can be affected by a variety of factors,
including inflation, weather, governmental programs and policies, national and
international political and economic events, changes in interest and exchange
rates, the outbreak or cessation of war, acts of terrorism, significant
accidents, natural catastrophes, technological advances, the discovery of
significant additional sources of such Commodities and trading activity in
Commodity Investments.
 
SUSPENSION OR MATERIAL DISRUPTION OF TRADING; TEMPORARY DISTORTIONS
 
     The Market Prices of certain of the Commodities are determined by reference
to the settlement prices of contracts traded on the LME and the NYMEX and the
Market Prices of the balance of the Commodities are determined by reference to
spot prices reported by the LBM. These markets are subject to temporary
distortions or other disruptions due to conditions of illiquidity in the
markets, the participation of speculators, government regulation and
intervention and other factors. Such circumstances, particularly if they occur
during the Determination Period, could adversely affect the value of the
Securities.
 
     If a Market Disruption Event with respect to any Commodity exists or occurs
during the first three Trading Days of the Determination Period, the Settlement
Price of such Commodity will be calculated using the Market Prices of such
Commodity on the first three Determination Days during the Determination Period.
With respect to each Commodity, a "Determination Day" means a Trading Day on
which no Market Disruption Event with respect to such Commodity has occurred.
If, due to a Market Disruption Event for any Commodity, there are less than
three Determination Days for such Commodity during the Determination Period, the
Settlement Price for such Commodity will be calculated based on the average of
(i) the Market
 
                                       S-8
<PAGE>   9
 
Price for such Commodity on each Determination Day, if any, and (ii) the firm
bid price for the relevant quantity of such Commodity quoted by the Calculation
Agent on as many of the last three Trading Days during the Determination Period
as are required to assure that the Settlement Price is based on the average of
three prices (including Market Prices and prices quoted by the Calculation
Agent) during the Determination Period. See "Description of
Securities -- Settlement Amount" in this Prospectus Supplement.
 
DEFERRAL OF SETTLEMENT DATE
 
     As discussed above under "Suspension or Material Disruption of Trading;
Temporary Distortions," if a Market Disruption Event exists or occurs with
respect to a Commodity during the first three Trading Days of the Determination
Period, the calculation of the Settlement Price of such Commodity would be
deferred until such Commodity ceased to be so affected or, if such Market
Disruption Event continued through the Determination Period, until the Stated
Maturity Date at which time the Calculation Agent would determine such
Settlement Price in the manner described herein. Because the Settlement Amount
will not be calculated until a Settlement Price for each Commodity has been
determined, it is possible that settlement of the Securities will take place up
to three Business Days after the Stated Maturity Date. See "Description of
Securities -- Settlement Amount" in this Prospectus Supplement.
 
     If a Market Disruption Event results in the deferral of the payment of the
Settlement Amount beyond the Stated Maturity Date, interest in respect of such
deferred payment will not accrue or be payable. See "Description of
Securities -- Settlement Amount" in this Prospectus Supplement.
 
POTENTIAL MODIFICATIONS OF THE BASKET AND MARKET PRICE
 
     The composition of the Basket and the method of calculating Market Prices
may be adjusted by the Calculation Agent, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings,
from time to time upon the occurrence of certain extraordinary events. By way of
example, if the terms of the Contracts used for determining the Market Price of
a Commodity are changed in a material respect by the commodity exchange upon
which the Contract trades, or if a Market Price is not available for a Commodity
for any reason, then the Calculation Agent may take such action, including
adjustments to the Basket or to the method of calculating the Market Price of
such Commodity, as it deems appropriate. See "Description of
Securities -- Adjustments to the Basket and Market Price" in this Prospectus
Supplement. Such changes could adversely affect the Basket Value and,
consequently, the value of the Securities.
 
OTHER CONSIDERATIONS
 
     An investment in the Securities may not be appropriate for all investors.
It is suggested that prospective investors who consider purchasing the
Securities should reach an investment decision only after carefully considering
with their advisers the suitability of the Securities in the light of their
particular circumstances.
 
     Investors should also consider the tax consequences of investing in the
Securities. See "Certain United States Federal Income Tax Consequences" in this
Prospectus Supplement.
 
                           DESCRIPTION OF SECURITIES
 
GENERAL
 
     The Securities are to be issued as a series of Debt Securities under the
Senior Indenture, which is more fully described in the accompanying Prospectus.
The following description of the particular terms of the Securities offered
hereby supplements, and to the extent inconsistent therewith replaces, the
description of the general terms and provisions of the Debt Securities set forth
under the heading "Description of Debt Securities" in the accompanying
Prospectus. For a description of the rights attaching to different series of
Debt Securities under the Senior Indenture, see "Description of Debt Securities"
in the accompanying Prospectus. The Securities constitute "Senior Debt" as
defined in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
                                       S-9
<PAGE>   10
 
     The aggregate principal amount of Securities to be issued will be
$50,000,000. See "Underwriting" in this Prospectus Supplement. The Securities
will be issued in denominations of $50,000, and $10,000 increments in excess
thereof. The Securities will not bear interest and will mature on November   ,
1996. Each Holder in whose name Securities are registered at the close of
business on the day preceding the Stated Maturity Date will be entitled to
receive the Settlement Amount in respect of such Securities, which shall be
calculated based on the Basket Maturity Value. If the Basket Maturity Value
exceeds $1,000, each Holder will be entitled to a Settlement Amount that shall
be greater than the principal amount of such Holder's Securities; if the Basket
Maturity Value is $1,000 or less, each Holder will be entitled to a Settlement
Amount that shall be equal to the principal amount of such Holder's Securities.
See "Settlement Amount" below.
 
     The Securities are not redeemable by Holdings or repayable at the option of
any Holder prior to the Stated Maturity Date and are not subject to any sinking
fund. Upon the occurrence of an Event of Default with respect to the Securities,
Holders of the Securities may accelerate the Maturity of the Securities, as
described under "Description of Securities -- Events of Default and
Acceleration" in this Prospectus Supplement and "Description of Debt
Securities -- Events of Default" in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
SETTLEMENT AMOUNT
 
     Each Holder in whose name Securities are registered at the close of
business on the day preceding the Stated Maturity Date will be entitled to
receive a Settlement Amount with respect to the principal amount of Securities
registered to such Holder, which Settlement Amount shall be equal to such
principal amount multiplied by the following:
 
             1 + (Multiplier X (Basket Maturity Value -- $1,000) )
                                           $1,000
 
provided, however, that if the Basket Maturity Value is less than $1,000, then
such Settlement Amount shall be equal to such principal amount. On the date of
this preliminary Prospectus Supplement, the Multiplier equals 1.1082. THE ACTUAL
MULTIPLIER APPLICABLE TO THE SECURITIES WILL BE DETERMINED BY HOLDINGS WITH
REFERENCE TO THE FORWARD PRICES OF THE COMMODITIES IN THE BASKET ON OR ABOUT THE
DATE OF THE FINAL PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND WILL BE SET FORTH IN THE FINAL
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. SUCH ACTUAL MULTIPLIER MAY BE LESS THAN, EQUAL TO OR
GREATER THAN 1.1082.
 
     The value of the Basket on the Stated Maturity Date (the "Basket Maturity
Value") will be determined by the Calculation Agent and will equal the sum of
the Settlement Prices of all of the Commodities included in the Basket. The
"Settlement Price" of each Commodity will equal the average of the Market Prices
of such Commodity for the first three Determination Days occurring during the
Determination Period. If, due to a Market Disruption Event for any Commodity,
there are less than three Determination Days for such Commodity during the
Determination Period, the Settlement Price for such Commodity will be calculated
based on the average of (i) the Market Price for such Commodity on each
Determination Day, if any, and (ii) the firm bid price for the relevant quantity
of such Commodity quoted by the Calculation Agent on as many of the last three
Trading Days during the Determination Period as are required to assure that the
Settlement Price is based on the average of three prices (including Market
Prices and prices quoted by the Calculation Agent) during the Determination
Period.
 
     The quantity of each Commodity included in the Basket is specified under
the caption "Description of Securities -- Commodities" below. The quantity of
each Commodity included in the Basket will remain constant for the term of the
Securities unless adjusted by the Calculation Agent upon the occurrence of
certain extraordinary events as set forth under "Adjustments to the Basket and
Market Price" below.
 
     "Market Price" for any day, which will be determined with respect to each
Commodity based on reasonably available information, means the following:
 
          (i) in the case of Aluminum on any day (including any Determination
     Day), the Market Price (expressed in dollars) shall be the product of (a)
     the final closing price (expressed in dollars per tonne)
 
                                      S-10
<PAGE>   11
 
     on such day of the November 1996 Aluminum Contract, as established by the
     LME and displayed on Reuters LMES, and (b)           tonnes;
 
          (ii) in the case of Copper on any day (including any Determination
     Day), the Market Price (expressed in dollars) shall be the product of (a)
     the final closing price (expressed in dollars per tonne) on such day of the
     November 1996 Copper Contract, as established by the LME and displayed on
     Reuters LMEN, and (b)      tonnes;
 
          (iii) in the case of Crude Oil, the Market Price (expressed in
     dollars) shall be the product of (a) the closing settlement price
     (expressed in dollars per barrel) on such day of the December 1996 Crude
     Oil Contract, as established by the NYMEX and displayed on Telerate page
     8810, and (b)      barrels;
 
          (iv) in the case of Gold on any Determination Day, the Market Price
     (expressed in dollars) shall be the product of (a) the London p.m. Gold
     Fixing Price (expressed in dollars per ounce) on such day reported by the
     LBM, as displayed on Reuters MTUA, and (b)      ounces; and in the case of
     Gold on any other day, the Market Price shall be an amount (expressed in
     dollars) equal to the estimated forward price on such day for      ounces
     of Gold for delivery on or about the Calculation Initiation Date, as
     estimated by the person making such determination;
 
          (v) in the case of Lead on any Determination Day and on any other day
     on and after the day that the LME first establishes prices with respect to
     the November 1996 Lead Contract (expected by Holdings to be in July 1995),
     the Market Price (expressed in dollars) shall be the product of (a) the
     final closing settlement price (expressed in dollars per tonne) on such day
     of the November 1996 Lead Contract, as established by the LME and displayed
     on Reuters LMEO, and (b)      tonnes; and in the case of Lead on any other
     day, the Market Price shall be an amount (expressed in dollars) equal to
     the estimated forward price on such day for      tonnes of Lead for
     delivery on or about the Calculation Initiation Date, as estimated by the
     person making such determination;
 
          (vi) in the case of Nickel on any Determination Day and on any other
     day on and after the day that the LME first establishes prices with respect
     to the November 1996 Nickel Contract (expected by Holdings to be in July
     1995), the Market Price (expressed in dollars) shall be the product of (a)
     the final closing price (expressed in dollars per tonne) on such day of the
     November 1996 Nickel Contract, as established by the LME and displayed on
     Reuters LMEP, and (b)      tonnes; and in the case of Nickel on any other
     day, the Market Price shall be an amount (expressed in dollars) equal to
     the estimated forward price on such day for      tonnes of Nickel for
     delivery on or about the Calculation Initiation Date, as estimated by the
     person making such determination;
 
          (vii) in the case of Silver on any Determination Day, the Market Price
     (expressed in dollars) shall be the product of (a) the London Spot Silver
     Fixing Price (expressed in dollars per ounce) on such day reported by the
     LBM and as published in the Wall Street Journal and (b)      ounces; and in
     the case of Silver on any other day, the Market Price shall be an amount
     (expressed in dollars) equal to the estimated forward price on such day for
          ounces of Silver for delivery on or about the Calculation Initiation
     Date, as estimated by the person making such determination; and
 
          (viii) in the case of Zinc on any day (including any Determination
     Day), the Market Price (expressed in dollars) shall be the product of (a)
     the final closing price (expressed in dollars per tonne) on such day of the
     November 1996 Zinc Contract, as established by the LME and displayed on
     Reuters LMEQ, and (b)      tonnes.
 
     Except as otherwise provided in this paragraph, the Settlement Amount will
be payable to the Holders of Securities on the Stated Maturity Date. As
discussed above, if a Market Disruption Event exists or occurs
 
                                      S-11
<PAGE>   12
 
with respect to a Commodity during the first three Trading Days of the
Determination Period, the calculation of the Settlement Price of such Commodity
would be deferred until such Commodity ceased to be so affected or, if such
Market Disruption Event continued through the Determination Period, until the
Stated Maturity Date at which time the Calculation Agent would determine such
Settlement Price in the manner described above. Because the Settlement Amount
will not be calculated until a Settlement Price for each Commodity has been
determined, it is possible that settlement of the Securities will take place up
to three Business Days after the Stated Maturity Date. In any event, Holders of
Securities will be entitled to receive the Settlement Amount with respect to
their Securities no later than the third Business Day after the Stated Maturity
Date. IN THE EVENT THAT PAYMENT OF THE SETTLEMENT AMOUNT IS DEFERRED BEYOND THE
STATED MATURITY DATE, INTEREST IN RESPECT OF SUCH DEFERRED PAYMENT WILL NOT
ACCRUE OR BE PAYABLE.
 
     "Market Disruption Event" with respect to any of Aluminum, Copper, Lead,
Nickel or Zinc (each, an "LME Metal") means either of the following events: (i)
the LME fails to announce official closing prices in U.S. dollars for such LME
Metal or (ii) a suspension, material limitation or termination of trading in
contracts for such LME Metal or a disruption in the trading of such LME Metal
such that the Calculation Agent determines that any Hedging Transactions in such
LME Metal at the official LME settlement prices have not been or could not be
executed. "Market Disruption Event" with respect to either Gold or Silver (each,
a "Precious Metal") means that such Precious Metal is not traded by the LBM or
is not quoted in U.S. dollars by the LBM. "Market Disruption Event" with respect
to Crude Oil means either of the following events: (i) the NYMEX fails to
announce official closing prices for Crude Oil or (ii) the termination or
suspension of, or a material limitation or disruption in, the trading of Crude
Oil on the NYMEX such that the Calculation Agent determines that any Hedging
Transactions in Crude Oil at the official NYMEX settlement price have not been
or could not be executed. For the purposes of the foregoing, a limitation on the
hours in a Trading Day and/or number of days of trading will not constitute a
Market Disruption Event if it results from a previously announced change in the
regular business hours of the relevant exchange. The Calculation Agent in its
sole discretion will be responsible for determining if a Market Disruption Event
has occurred.
 
     All percentages resulting from any calculation with respect to the
Securities will be rounded to the nearest one hundred-thousandth of a percentage
point, with five one millionths of a percentage point rounded upwards (e.g.,
9.876545% (or .09876545) would be rounded to 9.87655% (or .0987655)), and all
dollar amounts used in or resulting from such calculation will be rounded to the
nearest cent with one-half cent being rounded upwards.
 
HYPOTHETICAL SETTLEMENT AMOUNTS
 
     Set forth below is a table demonstrating the Settlement Amount with respect
to $50,000 principal amount of Securities based upon various hypothetical Basket
Maturity Values. The illustrative Settlement Amounts in the table have been
calculated with reference to the Multiplier (i.e., 1.1082) determined by
Holdings during the course of business on October 13, 1994. THE ACTUAL
MULTIPLIER APPLICABLE TO THE SECURITIES WILL BE DETERMINED BY HOLDINGS WITH
REFERENCE TO THE FORWARD PRICES OF THE COMMODITIES IN THE BASKET ON OR ABOUT THE
DATE OF THE FINAL PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND WILL BE SET FORTH IN THE FINAL
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. IF SUCH ACTUAL MULTIPLIER IS NOT EQUAL TO 1.1082, THE
TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIVE SETTLEMENT AMOUNTS SET FORTH BELOW WILL BE REVISED IN THE
FINAL PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT. IN THAT EVENT, PROSPECTIVE INVESTORS SHOULD
CONSIDER THE REVISED TABLE OF ILLUSTRATIVE SETTLEMENT AMOUNTS PRIOR TO ANY
INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES. The illustrative Settlement Amounts in the table
do not reflect any "time value" which may be reflected in the trading value, and
are not necessarily indicative of potential profit or loss, which are affected
in addition by purchase price and transaction costs. Neither Holdings nor any of
its affiliates makes any representation or warranty as to the probability or
magnitude of any increase or decrease in the Market Prices of the Commodities,
and no assurance can be given that the Market Prices of the Commodities will
increase sufficiently to cause Holders to receive a Settlement Amount in excess
of the principal amount of their
 
                                      S-12
<PAGE>   13
 
Securities. See "Settlement Amount" above for a description of the method of
calculation of the Settlement Amount.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                  HYPOTHETICAL
                                     BASKET                    SETTLEMENT
                                 MATURITY VALUE                  AMOUNT
                    -----------------------------------------  ----------
                    <S>                                        <C>
                    $1,000 or less                             $50,000.00
                     1,025...................................   51,385.25
                     1,050...................................   52,770.50
                     1,075...................................   54,155.75
                     1,100...................................   55,541.00
                     1,125...................................   56,926.25
                     1,150...................................   58,311.50
                     1,175...................................   59,696.75
                     1,200...................................   61,082.00
                     1,225...................................   62,467.25
                     1,250...................................   63,852.50
                     1,275...................................   65,237.75
                     1,300...................................   66,623.00
                     1,325...................................   68,008.25
                     1,350...................................   69,393.50
                     1,375...................................   70,778.75
                     1,400...................................   72,164.00
</TABLE>
 
COMMODITIES
 
     The commodities listed below (each, a "Commodity" and collectively, the
"Commodities") comprise the Basket and, therefore, the value of such Commodities
will affect the trading value of the Securities and the magnitude of the
Settlement Amount. Holders of Securities will not, by virtue of their ownership
of Securities, have any right at any time to invest in or to receive any of the
Commodities, even though the return on the investment in the Securities is based
on the Market Prices of such Commodities. The following table sets forth each
Commodity, the quantity of each Commodity included in the Basket, the Market
Price on November   , 1994 of each Commodity and the percentage of the Basket
Value contributed on November   , 1994 by each Commodity.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                       NOVEMBER   , 1994
                                                                  NOVEMBER   , 1994          % OF
                  COMMODITY                        QUANTITY          MARKET PRICE        BASKET VALUE
- ----------------------------------------------  ---------------   ------------------   -----------------
<S>                                             <C>               <C>                  <C>
Aluminum......................................           tonnes                               12.5%
Copper........................................           tonnes                               14.5
Crude Oil.....................................          barrels                               13.0
Gold(1).......................................           ounces                               30.0
Lead(1).......................................           tonnes                                3.5
Nickel(1).....................................           tonnes                                5.0
Silver(1).....................................           ounces                               14.0
Zinc..........................................           tonnes                                7.5
                                                                       -------              ------
                                                                        $1,000               100.0%
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) The Market Prices for Gold, Lead, Nickel and Silver were determined by the
    Calculation Agent by reference to the Lehman Brothers Inc. bid on November
      , 1994 for        ounces of Gold, for      tonnes of Lead, for      tonnes
    of Nickel and for        ounces of Silver, respectively, for delivery on
    November   , 1996.
 
     As set forth in the above table, different quantities of the various
Commodities are included in the Basket, and each Commodity represents a
different percentage of the forward value of the Basket on November   , 1994.
The respective quantities of each Commodity included in the Basket will remain
constant for the term of the Securities unless adjusted by the Calculation Agent
upon the occurrence of certain extraordinary events as set forth under
"Adjustments to the Basket and Market Price" below.
 
                                      S-13
<PAGE>   14
 
     The Basket Value, for any day, will equal the current forward prices for
each Commodity multiplied in each case by the quantity of such Commodity in the
Basket. To determine the appropriate forward prices for the Commodities in the
Basket, Holders should refer: (i) in the case of an LME Metal, to the current
price for the appropriate Contract on the LME for delivery in November 1996 (or,
with respect to Lead and Nickel prior to July 1995, to the estimated forward
price for delivery of such Commodity on or about the Calculation Initiation
Date), (ii) in the case of Crude Oil, to the current price for the Crude Oil
Contract on the NYMEX for delivery in December 1996 and (iii) in the case of a
Precious Metal, to an estimated forward price for delivery of such Precious
Metal on or about the Calculation Initiation Date. The Basket Maturity Value,
and therefore the Settlement Amount, is calculated based on the Market Prices of
the Commodities on and after the Calculation Initiation Date. See "Settlement
Amount" above.
 
  Aluminum
 
     The Market Price of Aluminum is determined by reference to the LME's "High
Grade Primary Aluminum Contract" (the "Aluminum Contract"). The price of the
Aluminum Contract is primarily affected by the global demand for and supply of
Aluminum.
 
     Demand for Aluminum is significantly influenced by the level of global
industrial economic activity. Industrial sectors which are particularly
important include the automobile, packaging and construction sectors. An
additional, but highly volatile, component of demand is adjustments to inventory
in response to changes in economic activity and/or pricing levels.
 
     The supply of Aluminum is widely spread around the world, and the principal
factor dictating the smelting of such Aluminum is the ready availability of
inexpensive power. The supply of Aluminum is also affected by current and
previous price levels, which will influence investment decisions in new
smelters. Other factors influencing supply include droughts, transportation
problems and shortages of power and raw materials.
 
  Copper
 
     The Market Price of Copper is determined by reference to the LME's
"Copper -- Grade A Contract" (the "Copper Contract"). The price of the Copper
Contract is primarily affected by the global demand for and supply of Copper.
 
     Demand for Copper is significantly influenced by the level of global
industrial economic activity. Industrial sectors which are particularly
important include the electrical and construction sectors. In recent years
demand has been supported by strong consumption from newly industrializing
countries, which continue to be in a copper-intensive period of economic growth
as they develop their infrastructure. An additional, but highly volatile,
component of demand is adjustments to inventory in response to changes in
economic activity and/or pricing levels.
 
     Apart from the United States, Canada and Australia, the majority of copper
concentrate supply (the raw material) comes from outside the Organization for
Economic Cooperation and Development countries. Chile is the largest producer of
copper concentrate. In recent years, copper supply has been affected by strikes,
financial problems and terrorist activity. Output has fallen particularly
sharply in the "African Copperbelt" and in Bougainville, Papua New Guinea.
 
  Crude Oil
 
     The Market Price of Crude Oil is determined by reference to the NYMEX's
"Light 'Sweet' Crude Oil Futures Contract" (the "Crude Oil Contract"). The Crude
Oil Contract is based on West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") crude oil delivered to
Cushing, Oklahoma. Although WTI is refined principally in the United States'
mid-continent region, it forms the basis for pricing other domestic crudes as
well as some foreign grades. The WTI spot price, in turn, is usually determined
by global (rather than regional) supply and demand conditions due to the
availability of product and crude oil pipelines that link the mid-continent to
the Gulf Coast, a major crude oil trading and refining center.
 
     Demand for petroleum products by consumers, as well as agricultural,
manufacturing and transportation industries, determines demand for Crude Oil by
refiners. Since the precursors of product demand are linked to
 
                                      S-14
<PAGE>   15
 
economic activity, Crude Oil demand will tend to reflect economic conditions.
However, other factors such as weather will also influence product and crude oil
demand.
 
     Crude Oil supply is determined by both economic and political factors. Oil
prices (along with drilling costs, availability of attractive prospects for
drilling, taxes and technology) determine exploration and development spending
which influence output capacity with a lag. In the short run, production
decisions by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries also affects
supply and prices. Oil export embargoes such as the United Nations-imposed trade
sanctions on Iraq represent another route through which political developments
move the market.
 
  Gold
 
     The Market Price of Gold is determined by reference to the London p.m. Gold
Fixing (expressed in dollars per ounce) by the LBM.
 
     Spot market Gold prices can fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous
factors, including industrial and jewelry demand, expectations with respect to
the rate of inflation, the strength of the U.S. dollar (the currency in which
the price of Gold is generally quoted) and of other currencies, interest rates,
central bank sales, forward sales by producers, global or regional political or
economic events, and production costs and disruptions in major Gold producing
regions such as South Africa and the Commonwealth of Independent States ("CIS").
The demand for and supply of Gold affect Gold prices, but not necessarily in the
same manner as supply and demand affect the prices of other Commodities. The
supply of Gold consists of a combination of new mine production and existing
stocks of bullion and formulated Gold held by governments, public and private
financial institutions, industrial organizations and private individuals. As the
amounts produced in any single year constitute a very small portion of the total
potential supply of Gold, normal variations in production do not necessarily
have a significant impact on the supply of Gold or on its price. In addition,
the price of Gold has on occasion been subject to very rapid short-term changes
due to speculative activities.
 
  Lead
 
     The Market Price of Lead is determined by reference to the LME's "Standard
Lead Contract" (the "Lead Contract"). The price of the Lead Contract is
primarily affected by the global demand for and supply of Lead.
 
     Demand for Lead is significantly influenced by the level of global
industrial economic activity. The automobile industrial sector is particularly
important given that the use of Lead in batteries accounts for approximately 60%
of world-wide Lead demand. In recent years, demand has stabilized following
substitution of other commodities for Lead in a number of markets -- notably
gasoline and chemicals -- in the 1970s and 1980s. An additional, but highly
volatile, component of demand is adjustments to inventory in response to changes
in economic activity and/or pricing levels.
 
     The secondary (recycling) sector is the source of approximately 50% of the
total supply of Lead and refined lead output is dominated by the developed
economies. The supply of Lead is also affected by current and previous price
levels, which will influence investment decisions in new mines and smelters. The
low prices for Lead in the early 1990s have tended to discourage such
investments.
 
  Nickel
 
     The Market Price of Nickel is determined by reference to the LME's "Primary
Nickel Contract" (the "Nickel Contract"). The price of the Nickel Contract is
primarily affected by the global demand for and supply of Nickel.
 
     Demand for Nickel is significantly influenced by the level of global
industrial economic activity. The stainless steel industrial sector is
particularly important given that the use of Nickel in the manufacture of
stainless steel accounts for approximately 60% of world-wide Nickel demand. The
stainless steel sector has growth potential as there is a trend for alloyed
steel such as stainless steel to replace non-alloyed steel as the benefits of
life-cycle costing become more clear. A number of stainless steel mills have
invested in new
 
                                      S-15
<PAGE>   16
 
capacity which indicates the likelihood of continued growth in stainless steel
production and therefore Nickel demand. An additional, but highly volatile,
component of demand is adjustments to inventory in response to changes in
economic activity and/or pricing levels.
 
     Nickel supply is dominated by Canada and the CIS. Although exports from the
CIS have increased sharply in recent years, there are indications that such
exports have now peaked. The supply of Nickel is also affected by current and
previous price levels, which will influence investment decisions in new mines
and smelters. The low prices for Nickel in the early 1990s have tended to
discourage such investments.
 
  Silver
 
     The Market Price of Silver is determined by reference to the London Spot
Silver Fixing (expressed in dollars per ounce) by the LBM.
 
     Spot market Silver prices can fluctuate widely and are affected by numerous
factors, including industrial and jewelry demand, expectations with respect to
the rate of inflation, the relative strength of the U.S. dollar (the currency in
which the price of Silver is generally quoted) and of other currencies, interest
rates, central bank sales, forward sales by producers, global or regional
political or economic events, and production costs and disruptions in major
Silver producing countries such as Mexico and Peru. The demand for and supply of
Silver affect Silver prices, but not necessarily in the same manner as supply
and demand affect the prices of other Commodities. The supply of Silver consists
of a combination of new mine production and existing stocks of bullion and
fabricated Silver held by governments, public and private financial
institutions, industrial organizations and private individuals.
 
  Zinc
 
     The Market Price of Zinc is determined by reference to the LME's "Special
High Grade Zinc Contract" (the "Zinc Contract"). The price of the Zinc Contract
is primarily affected by the global demand for and supply of Zinc.
 
     Demand for Zinc is significantly influenced by the level of global
industrial economic activity. The galvanized steel industrial sector is
particularly important given that the use of Zinc in the manufacture of
galvanized steel accounts for approximately 50% of world-wide Zinc demand. The
galvanized steel sector is in turn heavily dependent on the automobile and
construction sectors. The galvanized steel sector has growth potential as there
is a trend for coated steel such as galvanized steel to replace non-coated steel
as the benefits of life-cycle costing become more clear. A number of galvanized
steel mills have invested in new capacity which indicates the likelihood of
continued growth in galvanized steel production and therefore Zinc demand. An
additional, but highly volatile, component of demand is adjustments to inventory
in response to changes in economic activity and/or pricing levels.
 
     The supply of zinc concentrate (the raw material) is dominated by
Australia, North America and Latin America. The supply of Zinc is also affected
by current and previous price levels, which will influence investment decisions
in new mines and smelters. The low prices for Zinc in the early 1990s have
tended to discourage such investments.
                            ------------------------
 
Finally, in addition to supply and demand factors that influence settlement
prices for the Commodities as described above, psychological and speculative
forces play a major role in driving the markets for each of the Commodities.
 
ADJUSTMENTS TO THE BASKET AND MARKET PRICE
 
     The Basket and/or the method of calculating the Market Price may be
adjusted from time to time by the Calculation Agent, a wholly-owned subsidiary
of Holdings, as follows:
 
          (i) In the event that a Market Price is not available for a Commodity
     for whatever reason, including any discontinuance of trading in the
     relevant Contract by the LME or the NYMEX, then the Calculation Agent may
     take such action, including adjustments to the Basket or to the method of
     calculating such Market Price as it deems appropriate. By way of example,
     and without limitation, if a Contract which
 
                                      S-16
<PAGE>   17
 
     serves as the basis for determining the Market Price of a particular
     Commodity is discontinued by the exchange on which it traded, the
     Calculation Agent may calculate such Market Price for such Commodity by
     reference to another contract for such Commodity traded on another exchange
     or to the Lehman Brothers Inc. bid for such Commodity for delivery during
     the Determination Period.
 
          (ii) In the event that the terms of any Contract used for determining
     the Market Price of any Commodity are changed in a material respect by the
     commodity exchange upon which the contract trades, the Calculation Agent
     may take such action, including adjustments to the Basket or to the method
     of calculating the Market Price of such Commodity, as it deems appropriate.
     The Calculation Agent has informed Holdings that, to its knowledge, the
     terms of certain of the LME Metal Contracts have been adjusted several
     times since 1980 with respect to the required quality of the Commodity to
     be delivered thereunder and the location for such delivery. Although
     Holdings is not aware of any planned modification of the terms of any
     Contract, no assurance can be given that such modifications will not occur
     prior to the Stated Maturity Date.
 
     No adjustment will be made unless the Calculation Agent determines, in its
sole discretion, that such adjustment is appropriate to maintain the validity of
the Market Price as an economic benchmark for the affected Commodity within the
Basket. Such adjustments, if any, may be made by the Calculation Agent at any
time, or from time to time, on or prior to the Stated Maturity Date. No
adjustment will be made other than in accordance with the foregoing. See
"Special Considerations -- Potential Conflicts of Interest" in this Prospectus
Supplement for a description of certain conflicts of interest which may arise
between the Calculation Agent's status as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings
and its responsibilities to adjust the Basket and/or the method of calculating
the Market Price.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT AND ACCELERATION
 
     If an Event of Default with respect to the Securities shall have occurred
and be continuing, the amount payable to a Holder with respect to any Security
upon any acceleration permitted under the Senior Indenture will be equal to an
amount calculated as though the Basket Maturity Value is equal to the sum of the
Market Prices on the date of acceleration for each Commodity other than Gold and
Silver plus the Acceleration Value on the date of acceleration for each of Gold
and Silver; provided, that if the date of acceleration is not a Determination
Day for any Commodity, the Basket Maturity Value will be calculated by reference
to the bid price for the relevant quantity of such Commodity quoted on such day
by the Calculation Agent, a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings. If a bankruptcy
proceeding is commenced in respect of Holdings, the claim of the Holder of a
Security may be limited, under Section 502(b)(2) of Title 11 of the United
States Code, to the principal amount of the Security plus an additional amount,
if any, of contingent interest calculated as though the Basket Maturity Value is
equal to the sum of the Market Prices on the date of the commencement of the
proceeding for each Commodity other than Gold and Silver plus the Acceleration
Value on the date of acceleration for each of Gold and Silver; provided, that if
the date of acceleration is not a Determination Day for any Commodity, the
Basket Maturity Value will be calculated by reference to the bid price for the
relevant quantity of such Commodity quoted on such day by the Calculation Agent,
a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings. The "Acceleration Value" for each of Gold
and Silver shall be the forward price for      ounces of Gold and for
ounces of Silver, respectively, for delivery during the Determination Period, as
determined by the Calculation Agent by reference to the arithmetic mean of such
forward prices published by three members of the LBM selected by the Calculation
Agent. See "Description of Securities -- Settlement Amount" in this Prospectus
Supplement for a description of the calculation of the Settlement Amount and see
"Special Considerations -- Potential Conflicts of Interest" in this Prospectus
Supplement for a description of certain conflicts of interest which may arise
between the Calculation Agent's status as a wholly-owned subsidiary of Holdings
and its foregoing responsibilities with respect to the Securities.
 
CALCULATION AGENT
 
     All selections, adjustments and determinations made by the Calculation
Agent shall be at the sole discretion of the Calculation Agent and, in the
absence of manifest error, shall be conclusive for all purposes and binding on
Holdings and the Holders of the Securities, and the Calculation Agent shall have
no liability therefor.
 
                                      S-17
<PAGE>   18
 
                                   THE BASKET
 
GENERAL
 
     The Basket is comprised of eight distinct non-financial (i.e., physical)
Commodities, each of which falls within one of the following three general
sectors (the "Sectors"): precious metals, base metals and energy. Holdings has
included the Sectors in the Basket because it believes that, as a general
matter, the prices of commodities in these Sectors are broadly reflective of
economic recovery; that is, prices of such Commodities generally increase during
periods of economic recovery. NEITHER HOLDINGS NOR ANY OF ITS AFFILIATES MAKES
ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY AS TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE COMMODITIES OR THE
BASKET, AND NEITHER HOLDINGS NOR THE CALCULATION AGENT WILL ADJUST THE BASKET
FOR THE PURPOSE OF CAUSING OR ENCOURAGING THE PERFORMANCE INDICATED IN THE
PRECEDING SENTENCE.
 
     The specific Commodities which comprise the Basket (namely Aluminum,
Copper, Crude Oil, Gold, Lead, Nickel, Silver and Zinc) were selected by
Holdings on the basis of, among other things, their liquidity, their general
lack of seasonality and the ready availability of price information.
 
     Holdings has included in the Basket the specified quantity of each
Commodity such that, as of November   , 1994, each Sector represented not less
than 10% and not more than 50% of the Basket Value and such that no individual
Commodity represented more than 30% of the Basket Value.
 
     THE INCLUSION OF A COMMODITY IN THE BASKET IS NOT A RECOMMENDATION TO
INVEST IN OR DIVEST ANY INTEREST IN SUCH COMMODITY, AND NEITHER HOLDINGS NOR ANY
OF ITS AFFILIATES MAKE ANY REPRESENTATION OR WARRANTY TO ANY PURCHASER OF
SECURITIES AS TO THE PERFORMANCE OF THE BASKET, ANY COMMODITY OR ANY SECTOR.
 
     Holdings or its affiliates may presently or from time to time invest in, or
divest an interest in, one or more Commodity Investments, may render investment
advice to a third party with respect to one or more Commodity Investments, or
may facilitate on behalf of a third party an investment in, or a divestiture of
an interest in, one or more Commodity Investments. In the course of such
business, Holdings or its affiliates may acquire nonpublic information with
respect to such Commodity Investments and, in addition, one or more affiliates
of Holdings may produce and/or publish research reports with respect to such
Commodity Investments. Holdings does not make any representation or warranty to
any purchaser of a Security with respect to any matters whatsoever relating to
such activities.
 
     ANY PROSPECTIVE PURCHASER OF A SECURITY SHOULD UNDERSTAND THE COMMODITY
FUTURES, FORWARD AND SPOT MARKETS AND SHOULD UNDERTAKE AN INDEPENDENT
INVESTIGATION OF THE COMMODITIES SUCH AS IN ITS JUDGMENT IS APPROPRIATE TO MAKE
AN INFORMED DECISION WITH RESPECT TO AN INVESTMENT IN THE SECURITIES.
 
THE COMMODITIES MARKETS
 
     The Market Prices of certain of the Commodities (i.e., Crude Oil and the
LME Metals) are determined by reference to the settlement prices of futures and
forward contracts traded on the NYMEX and the LME, respectively, and the Market
Prices of the Precious Metals are determined by reference to spot prices on the
LBM.
 
     An exchange-traded futures contract is a bilateral agreement providing for
the purchase and sale of a specified type and quantity of a commodity or
financial instrument during a stated delivery month for a fixed price or, in the
case of a futures contract on an index, providing for the payment and receipt of
a cash settlement. By its terms, a futures contract provides for a specified
settlement month in which the commodity or financial instrument is to be
delivered by the seller (whose position is therefore described as "short") and
acquired by the purchaser (whose position is therefore described as "long") or
in which the cash settlement amount is required to be paid. Prior to the date on
which delivery is to be made under a futures contract, the exchange clearing
house will require the holders of short positions to state their intentions with
respect to delivery and, to the extent that such holders elect to make delivery
(as opposed to cash settlement), the clearing house will match them with holders
of long positions, who will then be required to accept delivery. In the vast
majority of cases, actual delivery under contracts never takes place, as
contracts are often liquidated with offsetting futures transactions prior to the
maturity of the original contract.
 
                                      S-18
<PAGE>   19
 
     No purchase price is paid or received on the purchase or sale of a futures
contract. Instead, an amount of cash or cash equivalents, which varies based on
the requirements imposed by the exchange clearing houses, but which may be as
low as 5% or less of the value of the contract, must be deposited with the
broker as "initial margin." This margin deposit collateralizes the obligations
of the parties to the futures contract to perform their obligations under such
contract. By depositing margin in the most advantageous form (which may vary
depending on the exchange, clearing house or broker involved), a market
participant may be able to earn interest on its margin funds, thereby increasing
the potential total return which may be realized from an investment in futures
contracts. Subsequent payments to and from the broker, referred to as "variation
margin," are then normally made on a daily basis as the price of the futures
contract fluctuates, thereby making existing positions in the futures contract
more or less valuable, a process known as "marking to the market."
 
     Futures contracts are traded on organized exchanges, known as "contract
markets," through the facilities of a centralized clearing house and a brokerage
firm which is a member of the clearing house. The clearing house guarantees the
performance of each clearing member which is a party to a futures contract by,
in effect, taking the opposite side of the transaction. At any time prior to the
expiration of a futures contract, subject to the availability of a liquid
secondary market, a trader may elect to close out its position by taking an
opposite position on the exchange on which the position was entered into, which
operates to terminate the position and fix the trader's profit or loss. U.S.
contract markets (including the NYMEX), as well as brokers and market
participants, are subject to regulation by the Commodity Futures Trading
Commission. Futures markets outside the U.S. are generally subject to regulation
by comparable regulatory authorities (such as the Securities and Investment
Board in the United Kingdom (the "SIB")).
 
  The NYMEX
 
     The NYMEX, located in New York City, is the principal exchange for the
trading of oil futures contracts. NYMEX began commodities trading in 1872,
organized as the Butter and Cheese Exchange of New York, and has since traded a
variety of commodity products. The establishment of energy futures on the NYMEX
occurred in 1978, with the introduction of heating oil futures contracts. NYMEX
opened trading in leaded gasoline futures in 1981, followed by the Crude Oil
Contract in March 1983 and unleaded gasoline futures in 1984.
 
  The LME
 
     The LME was established in 1877 and is the principal base-metal exchange in
the world on which contracts for delivery of copper, lead, zinc, tin, aluminum,
aluminum alloy and nickel are traded. In contrast to U.S. futures exchanges, the
LME operates as a principals' market for the trading of forward contracts, and
is therefore more closely analogous to over-the-counter physical commodity
markets than futures markets. As a result, members of the LME trade with each
other as principals and not as agents for customers, although such members may
enter into offsetting "back-to-back" contracts with their customers. In
addition, while futures exchanges permit trading to be conducted in contracts
for monthly delivery in stated delivery months, LME contracts may be established
for delivery on any day (referred to as a "prompt date") from one day to three
months following the date of contract, and for monthly delivery in any of the
next 16 to 24 months (depending on the Commodity) following such third month.
Further, because it is a principals' forward market, there are no price limits
applicable to LME contracts, and prices could decline without limitation over a
period of time. Trading is conducted on the basis of warrants that cover
physical material held in listed warehouses.
 
     The LME is not a cash cleared market; its interoffice and floor trading
procedure is combined with a clearing system operating between principals based
on bank guarantees and other forms of collateral. Both interoffice and floor
trading are covered by a matching system run by the London Clearing House, whose
role is to act as a central counterparty to trades executed between clearing
members and thereby reduce risk and settlement costs. The LME is subject to
regulation by the SIB.
 
                                      S-19
<PAGE>   20
 
     The bulk of trading on the LME is transacted through interoffice dealing
which allows the LME to operate as a 24-hour market. Trading on the floor takes
place in two sessions daily, from 11:50 am to 1:35 pm and from 3:20 to 5:00 pm,
London time. The two sessions are each broken down into two rings made up of
five minutes' trading in each contract. After the second ring of the first
session the official prices for the day are announced. Contracts may be settled
by offset or delivery and can be cleared in U.S. dollars, Pounds Sterling,
Japanese Yen and German Marks.
 
     Copper and Tin have traded on the LME since its establishment. The Copper
Contract was upgraded to High Grade Copper in November 1981 and again to today's
Grade-A Contract which began trading in June 1986. Lead and Zinc were officially
introduced in 1920, but were traded unofficially before that. The Lead Contract
has remained virtually unchanged since its reintroduction in 1952 following the
closure of the Exchange brought about by the second World War. Zinc, on the
other hand, has undergone a number of upgradings, most recently with the
introduction of the present Special High Grade Zinc Contract in June 1986.
Primary Aluminum was introduced as a 99.5% contract in December 1978 and today's
99.7% High Grade Aluminum Contract began trading in August 1987. Nickel joined
the Exchange the year after Aluminum, in April 1979. The LME share (by weight)
of world terminal market trading is over 90% of all Copper and virtually all
Aluminum, Lead, Nickel, Tin and Zinc. The LME, therefore, is well established to
reflect changes in supply and demand for these metals worldwide.
 
  The LBM
 
     The Market Prices of Gold and Silver will be determined by reference to the
"Fixing Prices" of such Commodities on the LBM. The Fixing Prices represent the
matching of orders from customers and bullion markets throughout the world.
 
     The LBM, located in London, England, was formally incorporated in 1987. The
LBM is a self-regulatory association of bullion market participants. All market
making members of the LBM are supervised by the Bank of England and are required
to satisfy a capital adequacy test. Market making members of the LBM quote spot
and forward delivery prices (in U.S. dollars per ounce) for Gold and Silver
throughout each business day. In addition, the LBM publishes the Fixing Price
for Gold in the morning and in the evening of each business day and the Fixing
Price for Silver in the afternoon of each business day.
 
HISTORICAL INFORMATION
 
     The following table sets forth for the days indicated during 1990, 1991,
1992, 1993 and 1994 (through November   , 1994) (a) in the case of Gold and
Silver, the spot prices for the days indicated (b) in the case of each of the
other Commodities, the settlement prices for the nearby Contract for such
Commodity and (c) the spot value of the Basket (i.e., the value of the Basket
calculated by reference to the spot prices and to the quantity of each Commodity
in the Basket). The spot value of the Basket has been calculated and included in
this table for the benefit of prospective investors; prospective investors
should note that the Basket Value (as such term is defined and used in this
Prospectus Supplement) is calculated by reference to forward prices for the
Commodities rather than by reference to spot prices for the Commodities. By way
of example, although the spot value of the Basket on the date hereof (as
indicated below) is $          , the Calculation Agent has estimated that the
Basket Value on the date hereof is $1,000. The historical prices of the
Commodities should not be taken as an indication of future performance, and no
assurance can be given that the prices of the Commodities will increase
sufficiently to cause the Holders of Securities to receive a
 
                                      S-20
<PAGE>   21
 
Settlement Amount in excess of the principal amount of such Securities. The
historical spot prices set forth below have been obtained from commercial data
services unaffiliated with Holdings, which services are believed by Holdings to
be reliable.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                                                              SPOT
                                                                                                                 CRUDE      VALUE OF
  DATE       GOLD(1)      SILVER(1)     ALUMINUM(2)     COPPER(2)     NICKEL(2)      LEAD(2)       ZINC(2)      OIL(3)       BASKET
- --------     --------     ---------     -----------     ---------     ----------     --------     ---------     -------     --------
<S>          <C>          <C>           <C>             <C>           <C>            <C>          <C>           <C>         <C>
  1/2/90     $399.000      $ 5.210       $1637.000      $2418.111     $ 7900.000     $721.728     $1395.000     $22.890      $
  2/1/90      415.800        5.265        1405.000       2252.523       6400.000      703.703      1300.500      22.700
  3/1/90      406.300        5.140        1532.000       2494.170       8315.000      882.450      1512.000      21.170
  4/2/90      368.400        4.940        1595.000       2758.468       8975.000      824.932      1608.000      20.480
  5/2/90      369.600        4.995        1494.000       2735.595       9300.000      798.005      1750.000      18.680
  6/1/90      363.400        5.035        1591.000       2639.728       8275.000      824.915      1745.000      17.500
  7/2/90      357.400        4.920        1530.000       2629.173       8605.000      906.915      1723.000      16.720
  8/1/90      370.600        4.830        1715.000       2867.830      10330.000      876.488      1569.000      21.540
  9/4/90      381.400        4.740        1875.000       2934.846      11135.000      867.881      1606.000      29.120
 10/1/90      396.300        4.665        1930.000       2776.095       9850.000      768.620      1382.000      37.090
 11/1/90      380.400        4.200        1922.000       2598.445       8750.000      723.309      1300.000      35.170
 12/3/90      380.600        4.120        1494.000       2497.627       8365.000      656.059      1249.500      29.150
  1/2/91      390.800        4.125        1542.000       2638.808       8325.000      621.866      1257.000      26.490
  2/1/91      364.500        3.835        1481.000       2401.600       8593.000      586.575      1180.000      21.340
  3/1/91      366.900        3.735        1540.000       2495.870       8561.000      597.870      1226.000      19.380
  4/2/91      357.500        4.015        1435.000       2453.946       9095.000      617.462      1227.000      19.700
  5/1/91      356.500        3.955        1346.000       2438.877       9040.000      588.992      1152.000      21.250
  6/3/91      363.000        4.170        1226.000       2161.978       8140.000      532.858      1052.700      21.130
  7/1/91      368.900        4.450        1316.000       2256.853       8585.000      559.771      1077.000      20.760
  8/1/91      363.400        4.055        1266.000       2260.599       8220.000      546.620      1058.000      21.270
  9/3/91      347.300        3.895        1250.500       2297.064       7786.000      531.069      1023.500      22.240
 10/1/91      353.900        4.140        1143.500       2315.438       7532.000      535.609       997.500      22.220
 11/1/91      357.700        4.105        1156.500       2375.157       7436.000      513.713       989.700      23.820
 12/2/91      368.300        4.065        1102.200       2383.392       7127.000      519.480      1218.000      21.080
  1/2/92      350.900        3.935        1117.000       2150.500       7188.000      540.430      1173.700      19.490
  2/3/92      356.400        4.150        1216.700       2159.079       7718.000      505.370      1162.500      18.960
  3/2/92      350.400        4.100        1270.000       2285.610       7592.000      518.214      1176.000      18.340
  4/1/92      344.000        4.140        1288.200       2242.890       7461.000      533.463      1278.700      19.840
  5/1/92      337.500        3.995        1288.000       2196.040       7372.000      519.955      1371.500      20.850
  6/1/92      336.800        4.030        1304.400       2216.766       7332.000      535.521      1436.000      22.030
  7/1/92      343.500        4.030        1309.700       2429.256       7485.000      611.331      1323.000      21.860
  8/3/92      354.000        3.900        1318.600       2496.076       7325.000      681.465      1358.500      21.580
  9/1/92      341.700        3.750        1294.400       2501.496       7203.000      660.339      1411.100      21.640
 10/1/92      348.500        3.730        1239.300       2310.800       6693.000      587.205      1325.200      21.830
 11/2/92      339.500        3.760        1144.200       2253.174       5964.000      484.497      1082.000      20.770
 12/1/92      334.600        3.725        1199.300       2166.601       5512.000      460.135      1075.000      19.510
  1/4/93      328.200        3.640        1238.300       2346.813       6150.000      454.052      1066.700      19.040
  2/1/93      329.700        3.665        1196.100       2217.488       5776.000      416.125      1106.500      20.310
  3/1/93      328.500        3.565        1174.200       2125.728       5907.000      409.104       992.000      20.600
  4/1/93      336.300        3.870        1128.000       2148.091       6086.000      412.766       980.500      20.520
  5/4/93      356.100        4.270        1125.500       1838.270       5953.000      415.711      1006.700      20.390
  6/1/93      377.300        4.585        1122.700       1794.435       5609.000      398.470       922.700      20.240
  7/1/93      379.000        4.710        1227.400       1922.500       5320.000      388.000       919.400      18.450
  8/2/93      405.600        5.350        1213.400       1963.500       4915.000      391.800       920.700      17.970
  9/1/93      369.100        4.800        1140.300       1967.200       4573.000      384.000       872.200      17.970
 10/1/93      354.000        4.060        1098.200       1680.200       4056.000      364.300       877.700      18.630
 11/1/93      363.200        4.200        1025.800       1604.500       4520.000      396.100       937.700      17.430
 12/1/93      373.100        4.555        1054.400       1645.200       4679.000      427.700       937.000      15.480
  1/4/94      394.100        5.200        1114.500       1733.500       5196.000      463.000       993.700      14.670
  2/1/94      381.600        5.190        1245.700       1865.200       5835.000      509.300       994.500      15.920
  3/1/94      381.300        5.340        1286.000       1848.000       5822.000      459.800       948.000      14.670
  4/5/94      384.700        5.580        1289.000       1888.000       5539.000      442.100       935.500      15.740
  5/3/94      375.100        5.240        1302.500       1951.000       5541.000      458.500       929.200      16.890
  6/1/94      386.300        5.400        1313.500       2200.000       6101.000      499.000       952.200      18.210
  7/1/94      384.600        5.350        1463.200       2365.500       6121.000      545.100       952.200      19.530
  8/1/94      383.800        5.295        1444.600       2421.000       6112.000      587.100       946.300      20.550
  9/1/94      386.000        5.425        1537.000       2498.500       6350.000      602.000      1006.500      17.450
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
(1) Expressed in dollars per ounce.
 
(2) Expressed in dollars per tonne.
 
(3) Expressed in dollars per barrel.
 
                                      S-21
<PAGE>   22
 
                               FORM OF SECURITIES
 
CONVERSION OPTION
 
     The Securities will initially be evidenced by certificates in fully
registered form (each, a "Certificate"). One hundred and eighty calendar days
after the closing of the offering, each Holder will have the option to convert
the form of such Holder's Securities from certificated to book-entry form within
a forty-five calendar day period (the "Conversion Option Period"). In order to
be exchanged for Securities in book-entry form (represented by a beneficial
interest in the Global Security described below), a Certificate must be
delivered to the Depository in the manner referred to below. The Conversion
Option Period is expected to run from May   , 1995, through July   , 1995.
Certificates received by the Depository for exchange during the Conversion
Option Period will be exchanged for Securities in book-entry form by the close
of business on the Business Day so received by the Depository (if received by
the Depository at its then applicable cut-off time for same day credit) or on
the following Business Day (if received by the Depository at its then applicable
cut-off time for next day credit). After the last day of the Conversion Option
Period, the Depository will not be required to accept delivery of Certificates
for exchange for book-entry Securities, but may permit Certificates to be so
exchanged on a case-by-case basis. It is anticipated that after the Conversion
Option Period, Certificates delivered to the Depository in proper form for
deposit will be accepted by the Depository for exchange for book-entry
Securities, generally within three to four Business Days after delivery to the
Depository. However, there can be no assurance that such Certificates will be
accepted for exchange. Further, there can be no assurance, with respect to
Certificates accepted for exchange, that exchange will occur within that time
period. Securities surrendered at any time for exchange for book-entry
Securities may not be delivered for transfer until such exchange has been
effected. Since Certificates are not required to be exchanged for Securities in
book-entry form, it is likely that not all Certificates will be so exchanged.
Accordingly, Holders purchasing Securities in secondary market trading after the
Conversion Option Period may wish to make specific arrangements with brokers or
other participants or indirect participants if they wish to purchase only
Securities in book-entry form and not Certificates.
 
     In order to be exchanged for a Security in book-entry form, a Certificate
must be delivered to the Depository, in proper form for deposit, by a
participant of the Depository. Accordingly, a Holder which is not a participant
must deliver its Certificate, in proper form for deposit, to such a participant
either directly or through an indirect participant or brokerage firm which
maintains an account with the participant, in order to have its Certificate
exchanged for a Security in book-entry form. Such Holders who desire to exchange
their Certificates for Securities in book-entry form should contact their
brokers or other participants or indirect participants to obtain information on
procedures for submitting their Certificates to the Depository, including the
proper form for submission and (during the Conversion Option Period) the cut-off
times for same day and next day exchange. Certificates which are held by the
Holder in nominee or "street" name may be automatically exchanged into
book-entry form by the broker or other entity in whose name such Certificates
are registered, without action of or consent by the beneficial owner of the
related Security (i.e., such beneficial owner need not deliver a Certificate).
 
     Certificates which have been exchanged into book-entry form may not be
re-exchanged for Certificates, except under the limited circumstances described
in the accompanying Prospectus under "Global Securities."
 
CERTIFICATES FOR SECURITIES
 
     The Trustee will maintain a register (the "Security Register") for
registering the ownership of and transfers of Securities represented by
Certificates. Prior to due presentment for registration of transfer, Holdings,
the Trustee, and any agent of either of them may deem and treat the person in
whose name a Certificate is registered (the "registered holder") as the absolute
owner of the Securities evidenced by such Certificate for any purpose
whatsoever, and as the person entitled to exercise the rights represented by the
Securities evidenced thereby, and neither Holdings, the Trustee, nor any agent
of either of them shall be affected by any notice to the contrary. Accordingly,
if a beneficial owner of a Security evidenced by a Certificate is not the
registered holder thereof (for example, if it holds the Certificate through a
broker holding
 
                                      S-22
<PAGE>   23
 
such Certificate in nominee or "street" name), it may exercise its rights as a
Holder only through the registered holder.
 
     The Trustee shall from time to time register the transfer of any
outstanding Certificates upon surrender thereof at the Trustee's office, duly
endorsed, or accompanied by a written instrument or instruments of transfer in
form satisfactory to the Trustee duly executed by the registered holder thereof,
by the duly appointed legal representative thereof or by its duly authorized
attorney, such signature to be guaranteed by a bank or trust company located, or
with a correspondent office, in The City of New York or by a broker or dealer
which is a member of a national securities exchange. A new Certificate shall be
issued to the transferee upon any such registration of transfer.
 
     At the option of a Holder, Certificates may be exchanged for other
Certificates, representing a like face amount of Securities upon surrender to
the Trustee at the Trustee's office of the Certificates to be exchanged.
Holdings shall thereupon execute, and the Trustee shall countersign and deliver,
one or more new Certificates representing a like principal amount of Securities.
 
     If any Certificate is mutilated, lost, stolen or destroyed, Holdings may in
its discretion execute, and the Trustee may countersign and deliver, in exchange
and substitution for and upon cancellation of the mutilated Certificate, or in
lieu of the lost, stolen or destroyed Certificate, a new Certificate of like
tenor and representing an equivalent principal amount of Securities, but only
(in the case of loss, theft or destruction) upon receipt of evidence
satisfactory to Holdings and the Trustee of such loss, theft or destruction of
such Certificate and security or indemnity, if requested, also satisfactory to
them. Applicants for substitute Certificates must also comply with such other
reasonable regulations and pay such other reasonable charges as Holdings or the
Trustee may prescribe.
 
     Payments on Securities in certificated form will be payable when due at the
office of the Trustee, Citibank, N.A., Corporate Trust Services, at 111 Wall
Street, 5th Floor, New York, New York 10043.
 
BOOK-ENTRY FORM
 
     Securities held in book-entry form will be held in the form of one or more
global certificates (the "Global Security") registered in the name of the
nominee of the depository, The Depository Trust Company ("DTC", and together
with any successor depository, the "Depository"). Holdings anticipates that the
Depository's initial nominee will be CEDE & Co. ("CEDE"). Accordingly, CEDE is
expected to be the registered holder of the Securities in book-entry form.
 
     DTC is a limited-purpose trust company which was created to hold securities
for its participating organizations ("participants") and to facilitate the
clearance and settlement of securities transactions between participants through
electronic book-entry changes in accounts of its participants. Participants
include securities brokers and dealers (including the Underwriter), 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 Securities which are held in book-entry form. Holders which own
Securities in book-entry form will not be entitled to have Securities registered
in their names, will not be considered the holders thereof under the Senior
Indenture, and will not be entitled to exchange their book-entry Securities for
definitive form Certificates, except under the limited circumstances described
below.
 
     A Holder that is not a participant will have its ownership of a Security in
book-entry form recorded on or through the records of the brokerage firm or
other entity that maintains such Holder's account. In turn, the total number of
Securities in book-entry form held by an individual brokerage firm for its
clients will be maintained on the records of the Depository in the name of such
brokerage firm (or in the name of a participant that acts as agent for the
Holder's brokerage firm if such firm is not a participant). Therefore, a Holder
must rely upon the foregoing procedures to evidence such Holder's ownership of a
Security in book-
 
                                      S-23
<PAGE>   24
 
entry form. Transfer of ownership of a Security in book-entry form may be
effected only through the Depository, and, if applicable, the brokerage firm or
other entity that maintains the selling Holder's book-entry account. The laws of
some states of the United States may require that certain purchasers of
securities take physical delivery of such securities in definitive form. Such
limits on transfer and such laws may impair the ability to own, transfer or
pledge securities in book-entry form.
 
     Neither Holdings nor the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability
for any aspect of the records relating to or payments made to beneficial owners
of book-entry securities or for maintaining, supervising or reviewing any
records relating to such beneficial owners.
 
     Holdings understands that under existing industry practices, in the event
that Holdings requests any action of Holders or that Holders which own
Securities in book-entry form desire to give or take any action which Holders
are entitled to give or take under the Senior Indenture, the Depository would
authorize the participants to give or take such action, and such participants
would authorize Holders owning through such participants to give or take such
action or would otherwise act upon the instructions of Holders owning through
them. Accordingly, each Holder which owns a Security in book-entry form must
rely on the procedures of the Depository and, if such Holder is not a
participant, on the procedures of the participant through which such Holder owns
its Security, to exercise any rights of a Holder under the Senior Indenture.
 
     Payment of the Settlement Amount with respect to Securities registered in
the name of the Depository or its nominee will be made to the Depository or its
nominee, as the case may be, as the holder of the Global Securities representing
such Securities. None of Holdings, the Trustee or any other agent of Holdings or
any agent of the Trustee will have any responsibility or liability for any
aspect of the records relating to or payments made on account of beneficial
ownership interests or for supervising or reviewing any records relating to such
beneficial ownership interests. Holdings expects that the Depository, upon
receipt of any Settlement Amount payment in respect of a Global Security, will
credit the accounts of the participants with payment in amounts proportionate to
their respective holdings in principal amount of beneficial interest in such
Global Security as shown on the records of the Depository. Holdings also expects
that payments by participants to Holders will be governed by standing customer
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.
 
     If at any time (i) the Depository notifies Holdings that it is unwilling or
unable to continue as Depository or (ii) Holdings becomes aware that the
Depository shall no longer be eligible under the Senior Indenture, Holdings
shall appoint a successor Depository. If a successor Depository for the
Securities is not appointed by Holdings within 90 days after any such event,
Holdings will issue, and the Trustee will authenticate and deliver, Securities
in definitive form in an aggregate principal amount equal to the aggregate
principal amount of the Global Securities, in denominations of $50,000, and
$10,000 increments in excess thereof. Such definitive Securities shall be
registered in such name or names as the Depository shall instruct the Trustee.
It is expected that such instructions will be based upon directions received by
the Depository from participants with respect to ownership of beneficial
interests in such Global Securities.
 
LISTING
 
     Application will be made to list the Securities on the Luxembourg Stock
Exchange under the symbol "       ."
 
                         CERTAIN UNITED STATES FEDERAL
                            INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES
 
     In the opinion of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, special counsel to Holdings,
the following discussion is an accurate summary of certain United States federal
income tax consequences of the ownership of Securities as of the date hereof.
Except where noted, it deals only with Securities held by initial purchasers as
capital assets and does not deal with special situations, such as those of
dealers in securities or currencies, financial institutions, life insurance
companies, persons holding Securities as part of a hedging or conversion
transaction
 
                                      S-24
<PAGE>   25
 
or United States Holders whose "functional currency" is not the U.S. dollar.
Furthermore, the discussion below is based upon the provisions of the Internal
Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and regulations, rulings and
judicial decisions thereunder as of the date hereof, and such authorities may be
repealed, revoked or modified so as to result in federal income tax consequences
different from those discussed below. PERSONS CONSIDERING THE PURCHASE,
OWNERSHIP OR DISPOSITION OF SECURITIES SHOULD CONSULT THEIR OWN TAX ADVISORS
CONCERNING THE FEDERAL INCOME TAX CONSEQUENCES IN LIGHT OF THEIR PARTICULAR
SITUATIONS AS WELL AS ANY CONSEQUENCES ARISING UNDER THE LAWS OF ANY OTHER
TAXING JURISDICTION.
 
     As used herein, a "United States Holder" of a Security means a Holder that
is 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
any political subdivision thereof, or an estate or trust the income of which is
subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its source. A
"Non-United States Holder" is a Holder that is not a United States Holder.
 
GENERAL
 
     There are no regulations, cases or rulings directly addressing the
treatment of securities similar to the Security other than the proposed
regulations discussed below. Although not free from doubt, Holdings believes
that the Securities should be treated as debt of Holdings for federal income tax
purposes. Accordingly, Holdings intends to treat the Securities as debt for U.S.
federal income tax purposes and file information returns with the Internal
Revenue Service (the "IRS") consistent with such treatment. The discussion that
follows is based on such approach.
 
UNITED STATES HOLDERS
 
  Taxation of the Settlement Amount
 
     Under general principles of U.S. federal income tax law, interest is
included in income as ordinary income when paid or accrued, in accordance with a
holder's regular method of accounting. Moreover, in accordance with such
principles, "contingent interest" on debt is generally not includable in income
before the amount of such interest becomes fixed. Accordingly, Holdings intends
to treat amounts payable at Maturity in excess of the principal amount of the
Securities, if any, as contingent interest includable in income by United States
Holders as ordinary income at such time.
 
     There are no regulations, cases or rulings directly applicable to the
treatment of the Securities. The IRS may contend, however, that the Securities
should be treated differently for U.S. federal income tax purposes from the
treatment described above. Moreover, there can be no assurance that regulations
that would apply different rules to the Securities from those described above
will not come into effect and apply retroactively to the Securities. In such
cases, the timing and character of a United States Holder's income could be
affected.
 
     For example, under certain proposed regulations (the "Bifurcation
Regulations"), a Security could be treated for federal income tax purposes as
two separate instruments: (1) a debt instrument of Holdings with a stated
redemption price at maturity equal to its principal amount (the "noncontingent
debt instrument") and (2) a cash settlement option based upon the value of the
Basket that must be exercised by delivering the Security (the "property right").
If the Bifurcation Regulations were to apply to the Securities, the timing of
income could be significantly accelerated. Moreover, the IRS may contend that
rules similar to proposed regulations which were released to replace the
Bifurcation Regulations, but which were withdrawn (the "Withdrawn Regulations"),
should apply to the Securities. Under the Withdrawn Regulations, United States
Holders would be required to accrue some minimum amount of interest income
currently over the life of the Security (based on the estimated value of the
Basket) with the result that all or a portion of amounts realized by a United
States Holder at Maturity or on sale of a Security would be treated as ordinary
income and not capital gain.
 
     As described above, however, Holdings intends to treat the Securities as
requiring no accrual of contingent interest by United States Holders until such
amounts are fixed and Holdings will file information returns with the IRS
consistent with such treatment.
 
                                      S-25
<PAGE>   26
 
  Sale or Exchange of Securities
 
     A United States Holder's tax basis in a Security will, in general, be the
United States Holder's cost therefor, increased by any amounts previously
included in income by the United States Holder. Upon the sale or exchange of a
Security, a United States Holder will recognize gain or loss equal to the
difference between the amount realized and the adjusted tax basis of the
Security. Although the matter is not free from doubt, under current law such
gain or loss should be treated as capital gain or loss. It is possible, however,
that the IRS could promulgate regulations that treat all or part of such gain or
loss as ordinary and that such regulations could apply retroactively to the
Securities.
 
NON-UNITED STATES HOLDERS
 
     Under present United States federal income and estate tax law, and subject
to the discussion below concerning backup withholding:
 
          (a) no withholding of United States federal income tax will be
     required with respect to the payment by Holdings or any paying agent of the
     Settlement Amount on a Security owned by a Non-United States Holder,
     provided (i) that the beneficial owner does not actually or constructively
     own 10% or more of the total combined voting power of all classes of stock
     of the Holdings entitled to vote within the meaning of section 871(h)(3) of
     the Code and the regulations thereunder, (ii) the beneficial owner is not a
     controlled foreign corporation that is related to Holdings through stock
     ownership, (iii) the beneficial owner is not a bank whose receipt of
     interest on a Security is described in section 881(c)(3)(A) of the Code and
     (iv) the beneficial owner satisfies the statement requirement (described
     generally below) set forth in section 871(h) and section 881(c) of the Code
     and the regulations thereunder;
 
          (b) no withholding of United States federal income tax will be
     required with respect to any gain or income realized by a Non-United States
     Holder upon the sale, exchange or retirement of a Security; and
 
          (c) a Security beneficially owned by an individual who at the time of
     death is a Non-United States Holder will not be subject to United States
     federal estate tax as a result of such individual's death, provided that
     such individual does not actually or constructively own 10% or more of the
     total combined voting power of all classes of stock of Holdings entitled to
     vote within the meaning of section 871(h)(3) of the Code and provided that
     the Settlement Amount with respect to such Security would not have been, if
     received at the time of such individual's death, effectively connected with
     the conduct of a United States trade or business by such individual.
 
     To satisfy the requirement referred to in (a)(iv) above, the beneficial
owner of such Security, or a financial institution holding the Security on
behalf of such owner, must provide, in accordance with specified procedures, a
paying agent of Holdings with a statement to the effect that the beneficial
owner is not a United States person, citizen or resident. Pursuant to current
temporary Treasury regulations, these requirements will be met if (1) the
beneficial owner provides his name and address, and certifies, under penalties
of perjury, that he is not a United States person, citizen or resident (which
certification may be made on an IRS Form W-8 (or successor form)) or (2) a
financial institution holding the Security on behalf of the beneficial owner
certifies, under penalties of perjury, that such statement has been received by
it and furnishes a paying agent with a copy thereof.
 
     Payments to Non-United States Holders not meeting the requirements of
paragraph (a) above and thus subject to withholding of United States federal
income tax may nevertheless be exempt from such withholding if the beneficial
owner of the Security provides Holdings with a properly executed (1) IRS Form
1001 (or successor form) claiming an exemption from withholding under the
benefit of a tax treaty or (2) IRS Form 4224 (or successor form) stating that
interest paid on the Security is not subject to withholding tax because it is
effectively connected with the owner's conduct of a trade or business in the
United States.
 
BACKUP WITHHOLDING AND INFORMATION REPORTING
 
     In general, information reporting requirements will apply to payment of the
Settlement Amount on a Security and to the proceeds of sale of a Security made
to United States Holders other than certain exempt
 
                                      S-26
<PAGE>   27
 
recipients (such as corporations). A 31 percent backup withholding tax will
apply to such payments if the United States Holder fails to provide a taxpayer
identification number or certification of foreign or other exempt status or
fails to report in full dividend and interest income.
 
     No information reporting or backup withholding will be required with
respect to payment of the Settlement Amount by Holdings or any paying agent to
Non-United States Holders if a statement described above in (a)(iv) under
"Non-United States Holders" has been received and the payor does not have actual
knowledge that the beneficial owner is a United States person.
 
     In addition, backup withholding and information reporting will not apply if
payment of the Settlement Amount on a Security is paid or collected by a foreign
office of a custodian, nominee or other foreign agent on behalf of the
beneficial owner of such Security, or if a foreign office of a broker (as
defined in applicable Treasury regulations) pays the proceeds of the sale of a
Security to the owner thereof. If, however, such nominee, custodian, agent or
broker is, for United States federal income tax purposes, a United States
person, a controlled foreign corporation or a foreign person that derives 50% or
more of its gross income for certain periods from the conduct of a trade or
business in the United States, such payments will not be subject to backup
withholding but will be subject to information reporting, unless (1) such
custodian, nominee, agent or broker has documentary evidence in its records that
the beneficial owner is not a United States person and certain other conditions
are met or (2) the beneficial owner otherwise establishes an exemption.
Temporary Treasury regulations provide that the Treasury is considering whether
backup withholding will apply with respect to such payment of the Settlement
Amount or the proceeds of a sale that are not subject to backup withholding
under the current regulations. Under proposed Treasury regulations not currently
in effect backup withholding will not apply to such payments absent actual
knowledge that the payee is a United States person.
 
     Payment of the Settlement Amount on a Security paid to the beneficial owner
of a Security by a United States office of a custodian, nominee or agent, or the
payment by the United States office of a broker of the proceeds of sale of a
Security, will be subject to both backup withholding and information reporting
unless the beneficial owner provides the statement referred to in (a)(iv) above
and the payor does not have actual knowledge that the beneficial owner is a
United States person or otherwise establishes an exemption.
 
     Any amounts withheld under the backup withholding rules will be allowed as
a refund or a credit against such Holder's U.S. federal income tax liability
provided the required information is furnished to the IRS.
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
     Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement
dated as of November   , 1994 (the "Underwriting Agreement"), Holdings has
agreed to sell to Lehman Brothers Inc. (the "Underwriter"), and the Underwriter
has agreed to purchase, $50,000,000 principal amount of the Securities.
 
     Holdings has been advised that the Underwriter proposes initially to offer
the Securities to the public at the public offering price set forth on the cover
page of this Prospectus Supplement, and to certain dealers at such price less a
concession not in excess of   % of the principal amount. The Underwriter may
allow and such dealers may reallow a concession not in excess of   % of the
principal amount to certain other dealers. After the initial public offering,
the public offering price and such concessions may be changed.
 
     Lehman Brothers Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of Holdings. The
participation of Lehman Brothers Inc. in the offer and sale of the Securities
complies with the requirements of Schedule E of the By Laws of the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. regarding underwriting securities of an
affiliate.
 
     The Underwriter has advised Holdings that it intends to make a market in
the Securities but the Underwriter is not obligated to do so and may discontinue
market making at any time without notice. No assurance can be given as to the
liquidity of the trading market for the Securities.
 
     Holdings has agreed to indemnify the Underwriter against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933.
 
                                      S-27
<PAGE>   28
 
                                    GLOSSARY
 
     Set forth below are definitions of some of the terms used in this
Prospectus Supplement and not defined in the accompanying Prospectus.
 
     "Business Day" means a day of the week which is not a day on which banking
institutions in New York, New York, are authorized or required by law to close.
 
     "Contract" means any of the Aluminum Contract, the Copper Contract, the
Crude Oil Contract, the Lead Contract, the Nickel Contract and the Zinc
Contract.
 
     "Holder" means, with respect to any certificated Security, the Person in
whose name the certificate is registered in the Security Register and, with
respect to any Global Security, any Beneficial Holder thereof to the extent of
such Beneficial Holder's interest therein.
 
     "Maturity" of any Security means the date on which the Settlement Amount of
such Security becomes due and payable as provided therein or in the Senior
Indenture, whether at Stated Maturity or by declaration of acceleration or
otherwise.
 
     "Trading Day" shall mean a calendar day on which the NYMEX, the LME, the
LBM and any other exchange, the trading prices of which will be used to
determine the Market Price of any Commodity, is scheduled to be open for
business and all of the Commodities are scheduled to be available for trading.
 
     In addition, definitions for the following terms are set forth in this
Prospectus Supplement at the pages indicated:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   DEFINED TERM                                   PAGE
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------
    <S>                                                                          <C>
    Acceleration Value.........................................................   S-17
    Aluminum Contract..........................................................   S-14
    Basket.....................................................................   S-4
    Basket Maturity Value......................................................   S-10
    Basket Value...............................................................   S-4
    Bifurcation Regulations....................................................   S-25
    Calculation Agent..........................................................   S-4
    Calculation Initiation Date................................................   S-3
    CEDE.......................................................................   S-23
    Certificate................................................................   S-22
    CIS........................................................................   S-15
    Code.......................................................................   S-25
    Commodity..................................................................   S-13
    Commodity Investments......................................................   S-7
    Conversion Option Period...................................................   S-22
    Copper Contract............................................................   S-14
    Crude Oil Contract.........................................................   S-14
    Depository.................................................................   S-23
    Determination Day..........................................................   S-8
    Determination Period.......................................................   S-3
    DTC........................................................................   S-23
    Fixing Prices..............................................................   S-20
    Global Security............................................................   S-23
    Hedging Transactions.......................................................   S-6
    Holdings...................................................................   S-3
    indirect participants......................................................   S-23
    IRS........................................................................   S-25
    Lead Contract..............................................................   S-15
    LBM........................................................................   S-4
</TABLE>
 
                                      S-28
<PAGE>   29
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                   DEFINED TERM                                   PAGE
    ---------------------------------------------------------------------------  ------
    <S>                                                                          <C>
    LME........................................................................   S-3
    LME Metal..................................................................   S-12
    Market Disruption Event....................................................   S-12
    Market Price...............................................................   S-10
    Multiplier.................................................................   S-3
    Nickel Contract............................................................   S-15
    noncontingent debt instrument..............................................   S-25
    Non-United States Holder...................................................   S-25
    NYMEX......................................................................   S-3
    participants...............................................................   S-23
    Precious Metal.............................................................   S-12
    property right.............................................................   S-25
    registered holder..........................................................   S-22
    Sectors....................................................................   S-18
    Securities.................................................................   S-3
    Security Register..........................................................   S-22
    Settlement Amount..........................................................   S-3
    Settlement Price...........................................................   S-10
    SIB........................................................................   S-19
    Stated Maturity Date.......................................................   S-3
    Underwriter................................................................   S-27
    Underwriting Agreement.....................................................   S-27
    United States Holder.......................................................   S-25
    Withdrawn Regulations......................................................   S-25
    WTI........................................................................   S-14
    Zinc Contract..............................................................   S-16
</TABLE>
 
                                      S-29
<PAGE>   30
 
                         LEHMAN BROTHERS HOLDINGS INC.
 
               DEBT SECURITIES, DEBT WARRANTS, CURRENCY WARRANTS,
                   INDEX WARRANTS AND INTEREST RATE WARRANTS
                            ------------------------
 
    Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. ("Holdings"), may offer from time to time (i)
unsecured debt securities (the "Debt Securities") consisting of debentures,
notes and/or other evidences of indebtedness, (ii) warrants to purchase Debt
Securities ("Debt Warrants"), (iii) warrants entitling the holders thereof to
receive from Holdings, upon exercise, the cash value of the right to purchase
("Currency Call Warrants") and to sell ("Currency Put Warrants" and, together
with the Currency Call Warrants, the "Currency Warrants") a certain amount of
one currency or currency unit for a certain amount of a different currency or
currency unit, all as shall be designated by Holdings at the time of offering,
(iv) warrants entitling the holders thereof to receive from Holdings, upon
exercise, an amount in cash determined by reference to decreases ("Index Put
Warrants") or increases ("Index Call Warrants") in the level of a specified
index (an "Index") which may be based on one or more U.S. or foreign stocks,
bonds or other securities, one or more U.S. or foreign interest rates, one or
more currencies or currency units, or any combination of the foregoing, or
determined by reference to the differential between any two Indices ("Index
Spread Warrants" and, together with the Index Put Warrants and the Index Call
Warrants, the "Index Warrants") and (v) warrants entitling the holders thereof
to receive from Holdings, upon exercise, an amount in cash determined by
reference to decreases ("Interest Rate Put Warrants") or increases ("Interest
Rate Call Warrants" and, together with the Interest Rate Put Warrants, the
"Interest Rate Warrants") in the yield or closing price of one or more specified
debt instruments issued either by the United States government or by a foreign
government (the "Debt Instrument"), in the interest rate or interest rate swap
rate established from time to time by one or more specified financial
institutions (the "Rate") or in any specified combination of Debt Instruments
and/or Rates, for aggregate proceeds of up to U.S.$618,062,720, or the
equivalent thereof in one or more foreign currencies or foreign currency units
(such amount being the aggregate proceeds to Holdings from all Debt Securities,
Debt Warrants, Currency Warrants, Index Warrants and Interest Rate Warrants
(collectively, the "Securities") issued and the exercise price of any Debt
Securities issuable upon the exercise of any Debt Warrants). The Securities may
be offered either together or separately and in one or more series in amounts,
at prices and on terms to be determined at the time of the offering. Unless
otherwise specified in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Securities will
be sold for, and the Debt Warrants, Currency Warrants, Index Warrants or
Interest Rate Warrants (collectively, the "Warrants") will be exercisable in,
United States dollars, and the principal of and interest, if any, on the Debt
Securities and the cash payments, if any, in respect of the Currency Warrants,
the Index Warrants and the Interest Rate Warrants will be payable in United
States dollars. If this Prospectus is being delivered in connection with the
offering and sale of Debt Securities, the specific designation, priority,
aggregate principal amount, the currency or currency unit for which the Debt
Securities may be purchased, the currency or currency unit in which the
principal and interest, if any, is payable, the rate (or method of calculation)
and time of payment of interest, if any, authorized denominations, maturity, any
redemption terms, any listing on a securities exchange and the initial public
offering price, a discussion of certain United States federal income tax,
accounting or other special considerations applicable thereto and any other
terms in connection with such offering and sale are set forth in an applicable
Prospectus Supplement. If this Prospectus is being delivered in connection with
the offering and sale of Warrants, the specific designation, aggregate number of
warrants, the currency or currency unit for which the warrants may be purchased,
the currency or currency unit in which the cash settlement value or the exercise
price, if applicable, is payable, the method of calculation of the cash
settlement value, if applicable, the date on which such warrants become
exercisable and the expiration date, provisions, if any, for the automatic
exercise and/or cancellation prior to the expiration date, the initial public
offering price, a discussion of certain United States federal income tax,
accounting or other special considerations applicable thereto and any other
terms in connection with such offering and sale will be set forth in an
applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
    The Debt Securities and the Debt Warrants may be issued in registered form
or bearer form with, in the case of Debt Securities, coupons attached. The
Currency Warrants, Index Warrants and Interest Rate Warrants will be issued in
registered form only. In addition, all or a portion of the Securities of a
series may be issued in global form. Debt Securities in bearer form will be
offered only outside the United States to non-United States persons and to
offices located outside the United States of certain United States financial
institutions. See "Description of Debt Securities -- Limitations on Issuance of
Bearer Securities."
 
    Discussions of certain United States federal income taxation consequences to
holders of Securities and certain of the risks associated with an investment in
Securities will be set forth in the applicable 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 COM-
              MISSION OR ANY STATE SECURITIES COMMISSION PASSED
                    UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS
                        PROSPECTUS. ANY REPRESENTATION
                             TO THE CONTRARY IS A
                              CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
                            ------------------------
 
    The Securities will be sold either through underwriters, dealers or agents,
or directly by Holdings. The applicable Prospectus Supplement sets forth the
names of any underwriters or agents (which may include Lehman Brothers Inc., a
subsidiary of Holdings ("Lehman Brothers")) involved in the sale of the
Securities in respect of which this Prospectus is being delivered, the proposed
amounts, if any, to be purchased by underwriters and the compensation, if any,
of such underwriters or agents.
 
    This Prospectus together with the applicable Prospectus Supplement may also
be used by Lehman Brothers, in connection with offers and sales of Securities
related to market making transactions, by and through Lehman Brothers, at
negotiated prices related to prevailing market prices at the time of sale or
otherwise. Lehman Brothers may act as principal or agent in such transactions.
 
                            ------------------------
October 14, 1994
<PAGE>   31
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
     Holdings is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934 (the "Exchange Act") and in accordance therewith files
reports and other information with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the
"SEC"). Such reports and information may be inspected and copied at the public
reference facilities maintained by the SEC at 450 Fifth Street, N.W.,
Washington, D.C. 20549, and at the following Regional Offices of the SEC: New
York Regional Office, 7 World Trade Center, New York, New York 10048; and
Chicago Regional Office, Suite 1400, Northwestern Atrium Center, 500 W. Madison
Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661-2511; and copies of such material can be
obtained from the Public Reference Section of the SEC, Washington, D.C. 20549,
at prescribed rates. Holdings' Common Stock and 8 3/4% Notes Due 2002 are listed
on the New York Stock Exchange, Inc. (the "Exchange") and Holdings' $55 Million
Serial Zero Coupon Senior Notes Due May 16, 1998, FT-SE Eurotrack 200 Index Call
Warrants Expiring June 4, 1996, Japanese Yen Bear Warrants Expiring September
15, 1995, 7 1/4% Oracle Yield Enhanced Equity Linked Debt SecuritiesSM Due 1996,
6 1/2% Amgen Yield Enhanced Equity Linked Debt Securities Due 1997, Japanese Yen
Bear Warrants Expiring March 5, 1996, Global Telecommunications Stock Upside
Note SecuritiesSM Due 2000 and 9 1/8% Micron Yield Enhanced Equity Linked Debt
Securities Due 1997 are listed on the American Stock Exchange, Inc. and reports
and other information concerning Holdings may also be inspected at the offices
of the Exchange at 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005 and at the offices
of the American Stock Exchange, Inc., 86 Trinity Place, New York, New York
10006.
 
     Holdings has filed with the SEC 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"). This Prospectus does not contain all of the information set
forth in the Registration Statement, certain parts of which are omitted in
accordance with the rules and regulations of the SEC. For further information,
reference is hereby made to the Registration Statement.
 
                            ------------------------
 
                      DOCUMENTS INCORPORATED BY REFERENCE
 
     The following documents previously filed by Holdings with the SEC pursuant
to the Exchange Act are hereby incorporated by reference in this Prospectus:
 
          (1) Holdings' Annual Report on Form 10-K for the fiscal year ended
              December 31, 1993.
 
          (2) Holdings' Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q for the quarters ended
              March 31, 1994 and June 30, 1994.
 
          (3) Holdings' Current Reports on Form 8-K dated February 24, 1994,
              April 14, 1994, April 26, 1994, June 7, 1994, June 15, 1994, July
              29, 1994, September 2, 1994 and September 22, 1994.
 
     Each document filed by Holdings pursuant to Section 13(a), 13(c), 14 or
15(d) of the Exchange Act after the date of this Prospectus and prior to the
termination of the offering of the Securities offered by an applicable
Prospectus Supplement shall be deemed to be incorporated by reference into this
Prospectus from the date of filing of such document. Any statement contained in
a document incorporated or deemed to be incorporated by reference herein shall
be deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of the Registration
Statement and this Prospectus to the extent that a statement contained herein,
in an applicable Prospectus Supplement 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 the
Registration Statement or this Prospectus.
 
     Holdings will provide without charge to each person, including any
beneficial owner of any Security, to whom a copy of this Prospectus is
delivered, upon the written or oral request of any such person, a copy of any or
all of the documents which are incorporated herein by reference, other than
exhibits to such documents (unless such exhibits are specifically incorporated
by reference into such documents). Requests should be directed to Mary J. Capko,
the Controller's Office, Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc., 3 World Financial
Center, 27th Floor, New York, New York 10285 (telephone (212) 526-0660).
 
                                        2
<PAGE>   32
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
     Lehman Brothers Holdings Inc. (together with its consolidated subsidiaries
hereinafter referred to as the "Company" unless the context otherwise requires)
is one of the leading global investment banks serving institutional, corporate,
government and high net worth individual clients and customers. The Company's
worldwide headquarters in New York and regional headquarters in London and Tokyo
are complemented by offices in additional locations in the United States,
Europe, the Middle East, Latin America and the Asia Pacific region.
 
     The Company's business includes capital raising for clients through
securities underwriting and direct placements; corporate finance and strategic
advisory services; merchant banking; securities sales and trading; institutional
asset management; research; and the trading of foreign exchange, derivative
products and certain commodities. The Company acts as a market maker in all
major equity and fixed income products in both the domestic and international
markets. Lehman Brothers is a member of all principal securities and commodities
exchanges in the United States, as well as the National Association of
Securities Dealers, Inc. ("NASD"), and holds memberships or associate
memberships on several principal international securities and commodities
exchanges, including the London, Tokyo, Hong Kong, Frankfurt and Milan stock
exchanges.
 
     Holdings was incorporated in Delaware on December 29, 1983. Holdings'
principal executive offices are located at 3 World Financial Center, New York,
New York 10285 (telephone (212) 526-7000).
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
     Except as otherwise may be set forth in an applicable Prospectus Supplement
accompanying this Prospectus, Holdings intends to apply the net proceeds from
the sale of the Securities for general corporate purposes.
 
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
     The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges of
the Company for each of the five years in the period ended December 31, 1993 and
for six months ended June 30, 1994:
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                              SIX MONTHS ENDED
         YEAR ENDED DECEMBER 31,                  JUNE 30,
- -----------------------------------------    ------------------
1989     1990     1991     1992     1993            1994
- -----    -----    -----    -----    -----    ------------------
<S>      <C>      <C>      <C>      <C>            <C>
1.01       *      1.03       *      1.00           1.04
</TABLE>
 
- ---------------
* Earnings were inadequate to cover fixed charges and would have had to increase
  approximately $766 million and $247 million in order to cover the deficiencies
  for the periods ended December 31, 1990 and December 31, 1992, respectively.
 
     In computing the ratio of earnings to fixed charges, "earnings" consist of
earnings from continuing operations before income taxes and fixed charges.
"Fixed charges" consist principally of interest expense and one-third of office
rentals and one-fifth of equipment rentals, which are deemed to be
representative of the interest factor.
 
                                        3
<PAGE>   33
 
                         DESCRIPTION OF DEBT SECURITIES
 
     The Debt Securities will constitute either Senior Debt (as defined below)
or Subordinated Debt (as defined below) of Holdings. The Debt Securities
constituting Senior Debt will be issued under an indenture, dated as of
September 1, 1987, between Holdings and Citibank, N.A., Trustee, as supplemented
and amended by Supplemental Indentures dated as of November 25, 1987, as of
November 27, 1990, as of September 13, 1991 and as of October 4, 1993 (the
"Senior Indenture"), and the Debt Securities constituting Subordinated Debt will
be issued under an indenture between Holdings and Chemical Bank, Trustee (the
"Subordinated Indenture"). The Senior Indenture and the Subordinated Indenture
are hereinafter collectively referred to as the "Indentures" and, individually,
as an "Indenture". Each Indenture will incorporate by reference certain Standard
Multiple-Series Indenture Provisions, filed with the SEC on July 30, 1987 and as
amended and refiled with the SEC on November 16, 1987. This Prospectus contains
descriptions of all material provisions of the Indentures. The summary of such
provisions of the Indentures does not purport to be complete; copies of such
Indentures are filed as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus is a part. All articles and sections of the applicable Indenture, and
all capitalized terms set forth below, have the meanings specified in the
applicable Indenture.
 
GENERAL
 
     Neither Indenture limits the amount of debentures, notes or other evidences
of indebtedness which may be issued thereunder. Each Indenture provides that
Debt Securities may be issued from time to time in one or more series. Since
Holdings, as a holding company, does not have any significant assets other than
the equity securities of its subsidiaries, its cash flow and consequent ability
to service its debt, including the Debt Securities, are dependent upon the
earnings of its subsidiaries and the distribution of those earnings to Holdings,
or upon loans or other payments of funds by those subsidiaries to Holdings.
Holdings' subsidiaries, including Lehman Brothers, are separate and distinct
legal entities and will have no obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any
interest or principal on the Debt Securities or to make any funds available
therefor, whether by dividends, loans or other payments. Dividends, loans and
other payments by Lehman Brothers are restricted by net capital and other rules
of various regulatory bodies. See "Capital Requirements." The payment of
dividends by Holdings' subsidiaries is contingent upon the earnings of those
subsidiaries and is subject to various business considerations in addition to
net capital requirements and contractual restrictions.
 
     Since the Debt Securities will be obligations of a holding company, the
ability of holders of the Debt Securities to benefit from any distribution of
assets of any subsidiary upon the liquidation or reorganization of such
subsidiary is subordinate to the prior claims of present and future creditors of
such subsidiary.
 
     Reference is made to the applicable Prospectus Supplement for the following
terms and other information with respect to the Debt Securities being offered
thereby: (1) the title of such Debt Securities and whether such Debt Securities
will be Senior Debt or Subordinated Debt; (2) any limit on the aggregate
principal amount of such Debt Securities; (3) whether the Debt Securities are to
be issuable as Registered Securities or Bearer Securities or both, and if Bearer
Securities are issued, whether Bearer Securities may be exchanged for Registered
Securities and the circumstances and places for such exchange, if permitted; (4)
whether the Debt Securities are to be issued in whole or in part in the form of
one or more temporary or permanent global Debt Securities ("Global Securities")
in registered or bearer form and, if so, the identity of the depositary, if any,
for such Global Security or Securities; (5) the date or dates (or manner of
determining the same) on which such Debt Securities will mature; (6) the rate or
rates (or manner of determining the same) at which such Debt Securities will
bear interest, if any, and the date or dates from which such interest will
accrue; (7) the dates (or manner of determining the same) on which such interest
will be payable and the Regular Record Dates for such Interest Payment Dates for
Debt Securities which are Registered Securities, and the extent to which, or the
manner in which, any interest payable on a temporary or permanent global Debt
Security on an Interest Payment Date will be paid if other than in the manner
described under "Global Securities" below; (8) any mandatory or optional sinking
fund or analogous provisions; (9) each office or agency where, subject to the
terms of the applicable Indenture as described below under "Payment and Paying
Agents", the principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on the Debt
Securities will be payable and each office or agency where, subject to the terms
of the applicable Indenture as described below under
 
                                        4
<PAGE>   34
 
"Denominations, Registration and Transfer," the Debt Securities may be presented
for registration of transfer or exchange; (10) the date, if any, after which,
and the price or prices in the currency or currency unit in which, such Debt
Securities are payable pursuant to any optional or mandatory redemption
provision; (11) any provisions for payment of additional amounts for taxes and
any provision for redemption, in the event the Company must comply with
reporting requirements in respect of a Debt Security or must pay such additional
amounts in respect of any Debt Security; (12) the terms and conditions, if any,
upon which the Debt Securities of such series may be repayable prior to maturity
at the option of the holder thereof (which option may be conditional) and the
price or prices in the currency or currency unit in which such Debt Securities
are payable; (13) the denominations in which any Debt Securities which are
Registered Securities will be issuable if other than denominations of $1,000 and
any integral multiple thereof, and the denomination or denominations in which
any Debt Securities which are Bearer Securities will be issuable if other than
the denomination of $5,000; (14) the currency, currencies or currency units for
which such Debt Securities may be purchased and the currency, currencies or
currency units in which the principal of and interest, if any, on such Debt
Securities may be payable; (15) any index used to determine the amount of
payments of principal of and premium, if any, and interest, if any, on such Debt
Securities; and (16) other terms of the Debt Securities. (Section 301).
 
     If any of the Debt Securities are sold for foreign currencies or foreign
currency units or if the principal of or interest, if any, on any series of Debt
Securities is payable in foreign currencies or foreign currency units, the
restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms and other information
with respect to such issue of Debt Securities and such currencies or currency
units will be set forth in an applicable Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
 
     One or more series of Debt Securities may be sold at a substantial discount
below their stated principal amount, bearing no interest or interest at a rate
which at the time of issuance is below market rates. Federal income tax
consequences and special considerations applicable to any such series will be in
an applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
SENIOR DEBT
 
     The Debt Securities constituting part of the senior debt of Holdings (the
"Senior Debt") will rank equally with all other unsecured debt of Holdings
except Subordinated Debt.
 
SUBORDINATED DEBT
 
     The Debt Securities constituting part of the subordinated debt of Holdings
(the "Subordinated Debt") will be subordinate and junior in the right of
payment, to the extent and in the manner set forth in the Subordinated
Indenture, to all present or future Senior Debt. "Senior Debt" is defined to
mean (a) any indebtedness for money borrowed or evidenced by bonds, notes,
debentures or similar instruments, (b) indebtedness under capitalized leases,
(c) any indebtedness representing the deferred and unpaid purchase price of any
property or business, and (d) all deferrals, renewals, extensions and refundings
of any such indebtedness or obligation; except that the following does not
constitute Senior Debt: (i) indebtedness evidenced by the Subordinated Debt,
(ii) indebtedness which is expressly made equal in right of payment with the
Subordinated Debt or subordinate and subject in right of payment to the
Subordinated Debt, (iii) indebtedness for goods or materials purchased in the
ordinary course of business or for services obtained in the ordinary course of
business or indebtedness consisting of trade payables or (iv) indebtedness which
is subordinated to any obligation of Holdings of the type specified in clauses
(a) through (d) above. The effect of clause (iv) is that Holdings may not issue,
assume or guaranty any indebtedness for money borrowed which is junior to the
Senior Debt and senior to the Subordinated Debt. (Subordinated Indenture Section
1401).
 
     Upon the failure to pay the principal or premium, if any, on Senior Debt
when due or upon the maturity of any Senior Debt by lapse of time, acceleration
or otherwise, all principal thereof, interest thereon, if any, and other amounts
due in connection therewith shall first be paid in full, before any payment is
made on account of the principal, premium, if any, or interest, if any, on the
Subordinated Debt or to acquire any of the Subordinated Debt or on account of
the redemption, sinking fund or analogous provisions in the Subordinated
 
                                        5
<PAGE>   35
 
Indenture. (Subordinated Indenture Section 1402). Upon any distribution of
assets of Holdings pursuant to any dissolution, winding up, liquidation or
reorganization of Holdings, payment of the principal, premium, if any, and
interest, if any, on the Subordinated Debt will be subordinated, to the extent
and in the manner set forth in the Subordinated Indenture, to the prior payment
in full of all Senior Debt. (Subordinated Indenture Section 1403). By reason of
such subordination, in the event of insolvency, creditors of Holdings who are
holders of Senior Debt may recover more ratably than the holders of Subordinated
Debt.
 
DENOMINATIONS, REGISTRATION AND TRANSFER
 
     Unless otherwise provided with respect to a series of Debt Securities, the
Debt Securities will be issuable as Registered Securities without coupons and in
denominations of $1,000 or any integral multiple thereof. Debt Securities of a
series may be issuable in whole or in part in the form of one or more Global
Securities, as described below under "Global Securities." One or more Global
Securities will be issued in a denomination or aggregate denominations equal to
the aggregate principal amount of Debt Securities of the series to be
represented by such Global Security or Securities. If so provided with respect
to a series of Debt Securities, Debt Securities of such series will be issuable
solely as Bearer Securities with coupons attached or as both Registered
Securities and Bearer Securities. (Section 201).
 
     In connection with the sale during the "restricted period" as defined in
Section 1.163-5(c)(2)(i)(D)(7) of the United States Treasury Regulations
(generally, the first 40 days after the closing date and, with respect to unsold
allotments, until sold) no Bearer Security shall be mailed or otherwise
delivered to any location in the United States (as defined under "Limitations on
Issuance of Bearer Securities"). A Bearer Security in definitive form (including
interests in a permanent Global Security) may be delivered only if the Person
entitled to receive such Bearer Security furnishes written certification, in the
form required by the applicable Indenture, to the effect that such Bearer
Security is not owned by or on behalf of a United States person (as defined
under "Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Securities"), or, if a beneficial
interest in such Bearer Security is owned by or on behalf of a United States
person, that such United States person (i) acquired and holds the Bearer
Security through a foreign branch of a United States financial institution, (ii)
is a foreign branch of a United States financial institution purchasing for its
own account or resale (and in either case, (i) or (ii), such financial
institution agrees to comply with the requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B)
or (C) of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the "Code"), and the
regulations thereunder) or (iii) is a financial institution purchasing for
resale during the restricted period only to non-United States persons outside
the United States (Sections 303, 304). See "Global Securities -- Bearer Debt
Securities" and "Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Securities."
 
     Registered Securities of any series (other than a Global Security) will be
exchangeable for other Registered Securities of the same series and of a like
aggregate principal amount and tenor of different authorized denominations. In
addition, if Debt Securities of any series are issuable as both Registered
Securities and as Bearer Securities, at the option of the Holder upon request
confirmed in writing, and subject to the terms of the applicable Indenture,
Bearer Securities (with all unmatured coupons, except as provided below, and all
matured coupons in default) of such series will be exchangeable into Registered
Securities of the same series of any authorized denominations and of a like
aggregate principal amount and tenor. Unless otherwise indicated in an
applicable Prospectus Supplement, any Bearer Security surrendered in exchange
for a Registered Security between a Regular Record Date or a Special Record Date
and the relevant date for payment of interest shall be surrendered without the
coupon relating to such date for payment of interest and interest will not be
payable in respect of the Registered Security issued in exchange for such Bearer
Security, but will be payable only to the Holder of such coupon when due in
accordance with the terms of the applicable Indenture. (Section 305). Except as
provided in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, Bearer Securities will not be
issued in exchange for Registered Securities.
 
     Debt Securities may be presented for exchange as provided above, and
Registered Securities (other than a Global Security) may be presented for
registration of transfer (with the form of transfer endorsed thereon duly
executed), at the office of the Security Registrar or at the office of any
transfer agent designated by Holdings for such purpose with respect to any
series of Debt Securities and referred to in an applicable Prospectus
Supplement, without service charge and upon payment of any taxes and other
governmental
 
                                        6
<PAGE>   36
 
charges as described in each Indenture. Such transfer or exchange will be
effected upon the Security Registrar or such transfer agent, as the case may be,
being satisfied with the documents of title and identity of the person making
the request. Holdings has appointed each Trustee as Security Registrar under the
applicable Indenture. (Section 305). If a Prospectus Supplement refers to any
transfer agents (in addition to the Security Registrar) initially designated by
Holdings with respect to any series of Debt Securities, Holdings may at any time
rescind the designation of any such transfer agent or approve a change in the
location through which any such transfer agent acts, except that, if Debt
Securities of a series are issuable only as Registered Securities, Holdings will
be required to maintain a transfer agent in each Place of Payment for such
series and, if Debt Securities of a series are issuable as Bearer Securities,
Holdings will be required to maintain (in addition to the Security Registrar) a
transfer agent in a Place of Payment for such series located outside the United
States. Holdings may at any time designate additional transfer agents with
respect to any series of Debt Securities. (Section 1002).
 
     In the event of any redemption in part, Holdings shall not be required to
(i) issue, register the transfer of or exchange Debt Securities of any series
during a period beginning at the opening of business 15 days before any
selection of Debt Securities of that series to be redeemed and ending at the
close of business on (A) if Debt Securities of the series are issuable only as
Registered Securities, the day of mailing of the relevant notice of redemption
and (B) if Debt Securities of the series are issuable as Bearer Securities, the
day of the first publication of the relevant notice of redemption or, if Debt
Securities of the series are also issuable as Registered Securities and there is
no publication, the mailing of the relevant notice of redemption; (ii) register
the transfer of or exchange any Registered Security, or portion thereof, called
for redemption, except the unredeemed portion of any Registered Security being
redeemed in part; or (iii) exchange any Bearer Security called for redemption,
except to exchange such Bearer Security for a Registered Security of that series
and like tenor which is immediately surrendered for redemption. (Section 305).
 
PAYMENT AND PAYING AGENTS
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of principal of (and premium, if any) and any interest on Bearer Securities will
be payable, subject to any applicable laws and regulations, at the offices of
such Paying Agents outside the United States as Holdings may designate from time
to time, at the option of the Holder, by check or by transfer to an account
maintained by the payee with a bank located outside the United States. (Sections
307 and 1002). Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus
Supplement, payment of interest on Bearer Securities on any Interest Payment
Date will be made only against surrender of the coupon relating to such Interest
Payment Date. (Section 1001). No payment of interest on a Bearer Security will
be made unless on the earlier of the date of the first such payment by Holdings
or the delivery by Holdings of the Bearer Security in definitive form (including
interests in a permanent Global Security) (the "Certification Date"), a written
certificate in the form and to the effect described under "Denominations,
Registration and Transfer" is provided to Holdings. No payment with respect to
any Bearer Security will be made at any office or agency of Holdings in the
United States or by check mailed to any address in the United States or by
transfer to an account maintained with a bank located in the United States.
Notwithstanding the foregoing, payment of principal of (and premium, if any) and
interest on Bearer Securities denominated and payable in U.S. dollars will be
made at the office of Holdings' Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The
City of New York if, and only if, payment of the full amount thereof in U.S.
dollars at all offices or agencies outside the United States is illegal or
effectively precluded by exchange controls or other similar restrictions.
(Section 1002).
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, payment
of principal of (and premium, if any) and any interest on Registered Securities
(other than a Global Security) will be made at the office of such Paying Agent
or Paying Agents as Holdings may designate from time to time, except that at the
option of Holdings payment of any interest may be made (i) by check mailed to
the address of the Person entitled thereto as such address shall appear in the
Security Register or (ii) by wire transfer to an account maintained by the
Person entitled thereto as specified in the Security Register. (Sections 305,
307, 1002). Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement,
payment of any instalment of interest on
 
                                        7
<PAGE>   37
 
Registered Securities will be made to the Person in whose name such Registered
Security is registered at the close of business on the Regular Record Date for
such interest payment. (Section 307).
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the
principal office of each Trustee under the applicable Indenture in The City of
New York will be designated as Holdings' sole Paying Agent for payments with
respect to Debt Securities which are issuable solely as Registered Securities
and as Holdings' Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York,
for payments with respect to Debt Securities (subject to the limitations
described above in the case of Bearer Securities) which may be issuable as
Bearer Securities. Any Paying Agents outside the United States and any other
Paying Agents in the United States initially designated by Holdings for the Debt
Securities will be named in an applicable Prospectus Supplement. Holdings may at
any time designate additional Paying Agents or rescind the designation of any
Paying Agents or approve a change in the office through which any Paying Agent
acts, except that, if Debt Securities of a series are issuable only as
Registered Securities, Holdings will be required to maintain a Paying Agent in
each Place of Payment for such series, and if Debt Securities of a series may be
issuable as Bearer Securities, Holdings will be required to maintain (i) a
Paying Agent in the Borough of Manhattan, The City of New York for payments with
respect to any Registered Securities of the series (and for payments with
respect to Bearer Securities of the series in the circumstances described above,
but not otherwise), and (ii) a Paying Agent in a Place of Payment located
outside the United States where Debt Securities of such series and any coupons
appertaining thereto may be presented and surrendered for payment; provided that
if the Debt Securities of such series are listed on The Luxembourg Stock
Exchange (the "Stock Exchange") or any other stock exchange located outside the
United States and such stock exchange shall so require, Holdings will maintain a
Paying Agent in Luxembourg or any other required city located outside the United
States, as the case may be, for the Debt Securities of such series. (Section
1002).
 
     All moneys paid by Holdings to a Paying Agent for the payment of principal
of (and premium, if any) or interest on any Debt Security which remain unclaimed
at the end of two years after such principal, premium or interest shall have
become due and payable will be repaid to Holdings and the Holder of such Debt
Security or any coupon will thereafter look only to Holdings for payment
thereof. (Section 1003).
 
LIMITATION ON LIENS
 
     So long as any Debt Securities remain outstanding, unless an applicable
Prospectus Supplement relating thereto provides otherwise, Holdings will not,
and will not permit any Designated Subsidiary (as defined below), directly or
indirectly, to create, issue, assume, incur or guarantee any indebtedness for
money borrowed which is secured by a mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest
or other encumbrance of any nature on any of the present or future common stock
of a Designated Subsidiary unless the Debt Securities and, if Holdings so
elects, any other indebtedness of Holdings ranking at least pari passu with the
Debt Securities, shall be secured equally and ratably with (or prior to) such
other secured indebtedness for money borrowed so long as it is outstanding.
(Section 1005).
 
     The term "Designated Subsidiary" means any present or future consolidated
subsidiary of Holdings, the consolidated net worth of which constitutes at least
5% of the consolidated net worth of Holdings. As of July 31, 1994, Holdings'
Designated Subsidiaries were Lehman Brothers, Lehman Commercial Paper Inc.,
Lehman Government Securities Inc., Lehman Brothers Holdings PLC, Lehman Brothers
UK Holdings Limited, Lehman Brothers International (Europe), Lehman Brothers
Japan Inc., Lehman Funding Corp., Lehman Brothers Financial Products Inc., and
LB I Group Inc.
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
     Except as may otherwise be set forth in an applicable Prospectus Supplement
relating to a series of Debt Securities, the following are Events of Default
under the Indenture with respect to Debt Securities of such series: (a) failure
to pay principal of or premium, if any, on any Debt Security of that series when
due; (b) failure to pay interest, if any, on any Debt Security of that series
and any related coupons when due, continued for 30 days; (c) failure to deposit
any sinking fund payment or analogous obligation, when due, continued for 30
days, in respect of any Debt Security of that series; (d) failure to perform any
other covenant
 
                                        8
<PAGE>   38
 
of Holdings in the Indenture (other than a covenant included in the applicable
Indenture solely for the benefit of a series of Debt Securities other than that
series), continued for 90 days after written notice as provided in the
Indenture; (e) certain events in bankruptcy, insolvency or reorganization in
respect of Holdings; and (f) any other Event of Default provided with respect to
Debt Securities of that series. (Section 501). An Event of Default with respect
to a particular series of Debt Securities does not necessarily constitute an
Event of Default with respect to any other series of Debt Securities issued
under the same or another Indenture. The Trustee may withhold notice to the
Holders of any series of Debt Securities of any default with respect to such
series (except in the payment of principal, premium or interest, if any) if it
considers such withholding to be in the interests of such Holders. (Section
602).
 
     If an Event of Default with respect to Debt Securities of any series at the
time outstanding occurs and is continuing, unless the principal of all of the
Debt Securities of such series shall have already become due and payable, either
the Trustee or the Holders of at least 25% in principal amount of the
outstanding Debt Securities of that series may declare the principal amount (or,
if the Debt Securities of that series are Original Issue Discount Securities,
such portion of the principal amount as may be specified in the terms of the
series) of all the Debt Securities of that series to be due and payable
immediately. At any time after a declaration of acceleration with respect to
Debt Securities of any series has been made, but before a judgment or decree
based on acceleration has been obtained and entered, the Holders of a majority
in principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of that series may, under
certain circumstances, rescind and annul such acceleration. (Section 502). For
information as to waiver of defaults, see "Meetings, Modification and Waiver."
 
     Each Indenture provides that the Trustee will be under no obligation,
subject to the duty of the Trustee during default to act with the required
standard of care, to exercise any of its rights or powers under such Indenture
at the request or direction of any of the Holders, unless such Holders shall
have offered to the Trustee reasonable indemnity. (Section 603). Subject to such
provisions for indemnification of the Trustee, the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of any series will have the
right to direct the time, method and place of conducting any proceeding for any
remedy available to the Trustee, or exercising any trust or power conferred on
the Trustee, with respect to the Debt Securities of that series. (Section 512).
 
     Holdings will be required to furnish to each Trustee annually a statement
as to the performance by Holdings of certain of its obligations under the
applicable Indenture and as to any default in such performance. (Section 1006).
 
SATISFACTION AND DISCHARGE
 
     Except as may otherwise be set forth in an applicable Prospectus Supplement
relating to a series of Debt Securities, each Indenture provides that Holdings
shall be discharged from its obligations under the Debt Securities of such
series (with certain exceptions) at any time prior to the Stated Maturity or
redemption thereof when (a) Holdings has irrevocably deposited with the
applicable Trustee, in trust, (i) sufficient funds in the currency or currency
unit in which the Debt Securities of such series are payable to pay the
principal of (and premium, if any), and interest, if any, to Stated Maturity (or
redemption) on, the Debt Securities of such series, or (ii) such amount of
direct obligations of, or obligations the principal of and interest, if any, on
which are fully guaranteed by, the government which issued the currency in which
the Debt Securities of such series are payable, and which are not subject to
prepayment, redemption or call, as will, together with the predetermined and
certain income to accrue thereon without consideration of any reinvestment
thereof, be sufficient to pay when due the principal of (and premium, if any),
and interest, if any, to Stated Maturity (or redemption) on, the Debt Securities
of such series, or (iii) such combination of such funds and securities as
described in (i) and (ii), respectively, as will, together with the
predetermined and certain income to accrue on any such securities as described
in (ii), be sufficient to pay when due the principal of (and premium, if any),
and interest, if any, to Stated Maturity (or redemption) on, the Debt Securities
of such series and (b) Holdings has paid all other sums payable with respect to
the Debt Securities of such series and (c) certain other conditions are met.
Upon such discharge, the Holders of the Debt Securities of such series shall no
longer be entitled to the benefits of the Indenture, except for certain rights,
including registration of transfer
 
                                        9
<PAGE>   39
 
and exchange of the Debt Securities of such series and replacement of lost,
stolen or mutilated Debt Securities, and shall look only to such deposited funds
or obligations for payment. (Sections 401 and 403).
 
DEFEASANCE OF CERTAIN OBLIGATIONS
 
     If the terms of the Debt Securities of any series so provide, Holdings may
omit to comply with the restrictive covenants in Section 801 ("Company May
Consolidate, Etc., Only on Certain Terms"), Section 1005 ("Limitations on Liens
on Common Stock of Designated Subsidiaries") and any other specified covenant
and any such omission with respect to such Sections shall not be an Event of
Default with respect to the Debt Securities of such series, if (a) Holdings has
irrevocably deposited with the applicable Trustee, in trust, (i) sufficient
funds in the currency or currency unit in which the Debt Securities of such
series are payable to pay the principal of (and premium, if any), and interest,
if any, to Stated Maturity (or redemption) on, the Debt Securities of such
series, or (ii) such amount of direct obligations of, or obligations the
principal of and interest, if any, on which are fully guaranteed by, the
government which issued the currency in which the Debt Securities of such series
are payable and which are not subject to prepayment, redemption or call, as
will, together with the predetermined and certain income to accrue thereon
without consideration of any reinvestment thereof, be sufficient to pay when due
the principal of (and premium, if any), and interest, if any, to Stated Maturity
(or redemption) on, the Debt Securities of such series or, (iii) such
combination of such funds and securities as described in (i) and (ii),
respectively, as will, together with the predetermined and certain income to
accrue on any such securities as described in (ii), be sufficient to pay when
due the principal of (and premium, if any), and interest, if any, to Stated
Maturity (or redemption) on, the Debt Securities of such series and (b) certain
other conditions are met. The obligations of Holdings under the Indenture with
respect to the Debt Securities of such series, other than with respect to the
covenants referred to above shall remain in full force and effect. (Section
1009).
 
MEETINGS, MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
 
     Modifications and amendments of either Indenture may be made by Holdings
and the applicable Trustee with the consent of the Holders of not less than
66 2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of each series
issued under such Indenture affected by such modification or amendment;
provided, however, that no such modification or amendment may, without the
consent of the Holder of each Outstanding Debt Security affected thereby, (a)
change the Stated Maturity of the principal of, or any instalment of principal
of or interest, if any, on, any Debt Security, (b) reduce the principal amount
of, or the premium, if any, or interest, if any, on, any Debt Security, (c)
change any obligation of Holdings to pay additional amounts, (d) reduce the
amount of principal of an Original Issue Discount Security payable upon
acceleration of the Maturity thereof, (e) adversely affect the right of
repayment or repurchase, if any, at the option of the Holder, (f) reduce the
amount, or postpone the date fixed for, any payment under any sinking fund or
analogous provision, (g) change the currency or currency unit of payment of
principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Debt Security, (h)
change or eliminate the right, if any, to elect payment in a coin or currency or
currency unit other than that in which Debt Securities which are Registered
Securities are denominated or stated to be payable, (i) impair the right to
institute suit for the enforcement of any payment on or with respect to any Debt
Security, (j) reduce the percentage in principal amount of Outstanding Debt
Securities of any series, the consent of the Holders of which is required for
modification or amendment of the applicable Indenture or for waiver of
compliance with certain provisions of the applicable Indenture or for waiver of
certain defaults, (k) reduce the requirements contained in either Indenture for
quorum or voting, or (l) change any obligation of Holdings to maintain an office
or agency in the places and for the purposes required in the applicable
Indenture. (Section 902).
 
     The Holders of not less than a majority in principal amount of the
Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may on behalf of the Holders of all
Debt Securities of that series waive, insofar as that series is concerned,
compliance by Holdings with certain restrictive provisions of the applicable
Indenture. (Section 1007). The Holders of not less than a majority in principal
amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of any series may on behalf of the
Holders of all Debt Securities of that series and any coupons appertaining
thereto waive any past default under the applicable Indenture with respect to
that series, except a default in the
 
                                       10
<PAGE>   40
 
payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest, if any, on any Debt
Security of that series or in the payment of any sinking fund instalment or
analogous obligation or in respect of a provision which under the applicable
Indenture cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the Holder of
each Outstanding Debt Security of that series affected. (Section 513).
 
     Each Indenture contains provisions for convening meetings of the Holders of
Debt Securities of a series if Debt Securities of that series are issuable as
Bearer Securities. A meeting may be called at any time by the applicable
Trustee, and also, upon request, by Holdings or Holders of at least 10% in
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of such series, in any such
case upon notice given in accordance with "Notices" below. (Section 1302).
Except as limited by the proviso in the second preceding paragraph, any
resolution presented at a meeting or adjourned meeting at which a quorum is
present may be adopted by the affirmative vote of the Holders of a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series; provided,
however, that, except as limited by the proviso in the second preceding
paragraph, any resolution with respect to any consent or waiver which may be
given by the Holders of not less than 66 2/3% in principal amount of the
Outstanding Debt Securities of a series may be adopted at a meeting or an
adjourned meeting at which a quorum is present only by the affirmative vote of
66 2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that series;
and provided, further, that, except as limited by the proviso in the second
preceding paragraph, any resolution with respect to any request, demand,
authorization, direction, notice, consent, waiver or other action which may be
made, given or taken by the Holders of a specified percentage, which is less
than a majority, in principal amount of Outstanding Debt Securities of a series
may be adopted at a meeting or adjourned meeting duly reconvened at which a
quorum is present by the affirmative vote of the Holders of such specified
percentage in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of that
series. Any resolution passed or decision taken at any meeting of Holders of
Debt Securities of any series duly held in accordance with the applicable
Indenture will be binding on all Holders of Debt Securities of that series and
the related coupons. The quorum at any meeting called to adopt a resolution, and
at any reconvened meeting, will be persons holding or representing a majority in
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of a series; provided,
however, that if any action is to be taken at such meeting with respect to a
consent or waiver which may be given by the Holders of not less than 66 2/3% in
principal amount of the Outstanding Debt Securities of a series, the persons
holding or representing 66 2/3% in principal amount of the Outstanding Debt
Securities of such series will constitute a quorum (Section 1304).
 
CONSOLIDATION, MERGER AND SALE OF ASSETS
 
     Holdings may, without the consent of any Holders of Outstanding Debt
Securities, consolidate or merge with or into, or transfer or lease its assets
substantially as an entirety to, any Person, and any other Person may
consolidate or merge with or into, or transfer or lease its assets substantially
as an entirety to, Holdings, provided that (i) the Person (if other than
Holdings) formed by such consolidation or into which Holdings is merged or which
acquires or leases the assets of Holdings substantially as an entirety is
organized under the laws of any United States jurisdiction and assumes Holdings'
obligations on the Debt Securities and under the Indenture, (ii) after giving
effect to the transaction, no Event of Default, and no event which, after notice
or lapse of time or both, would become an Event of Default, shall have happened
and be continuing, and (iii) certain other conditions are met. (Section 801).
 
NOTICES
 
     Except as may otherwise be set forth in an applicable Prospectus Supplement
relating to a series of Debt Securities, notices to Holders of Bearer Securities
will be given by publication in a daily newspaper in the English language of
general circulation in The City of New York and in London, and so long as such
Bearer Securities are listed on the Stock Exchange and the Stock Exchange shall
so require, in a daily newspaper of general circulation in Luxembourg or, if not
practical, elsewhere in Western Europe. Such publication is expected to be made
in The Wall Street Journal, the Financial Times and the Luxemburger Wort.
Notices to Holders of Registered Securities will be given by mail to the
addresses of such Holders as they appear in the Security Register. (Sections 101
and 106).
 
                                       11
<PAGE>   41
 
TITLE
 
     Title to any temporary global Debt Security or permanent global Debt
Security in bearer form or any Bearer Securities and any coupons appertaining
thereto will pass by delivery. Holdings, each Trustee and any agent of Holdings
or the applicable Trustee may treat the bearer of any Bearer Security and the
bearer of any coupon and the registered owner of any Registered Security as the
absolute owner thereof (whether or not such Debt Security or coupon shall be
overdue and notwithstanding any notice to the contrary) for the purpose of
making payment and for all other purposes. (Section 308).
 
REPLACEMENT OF DEBT SECURITIES AND COUPONS
 
     Any mutilated Debt Security or a Debt Security with a mutilated coupon
appertaining thereto will be replaced by Holdings at the expense of the Holder
upon surrender of such Debt Security to the applicable Trustee. Debt Securities
or coupons that become destroyed, stolen or lost will be replaced by Holdings at
the expense of the Holder upon delivery to the applicable Trustee of the Debt
Security and coupons or evidence of the destruction, loss or theft thereof
satisfactory to Holdings and the applicable Trustee; in the case of any coupon
which becomes destroyed, stolen or lost, such coupon will be replaced by
issuance of a new Debt Security in exchange for the Debt Security to which such
coupon appertains. In the case of a destroyed, lost or stolen Debt Security or
coupon an indemnity satisfactory to the applicable Trustee and Holdings may be
required at the expense of the Holder of such Debt Security or coupon before a
replacement Debt Security will be issued. (Section 306).
 
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEES
 
     Business and other relationships (including other trusteeships) between, on
the one hand, Holdings and its affiliates and, on the other hand, the Trustee
under the Indenture pursuant to which any of the Debt Securities to which an
applicable Prospectus Supplement accompanying this Prospectus relates are
described in such Prospectus Supplement.
 
LIMITATIONS ON ISSUANCE OF BEARER SECURITIES
 
     In compliance with United States federal tax laws and regulations, Bearer
Securities may not be offered or sold during the restricted period (as defined
under "Denominations, Registration and Transfer"), or delivered in definitive
form in connection with a sale during the restricted period, in the United
States or to United States persons other than to (a) the United States office of
(i) an international organization (as defined in Section 7701 (a)(18) of the
Code), (ii) a foreign central bank (as defined in Section 895 of the Code), or
(iii) any underwriter, agent, or dealer offering or selling Bearer Securities
during the restricted period (a "Distributor") pursuant to a written contract
with the issuer or with another Distributor, that purchases Bearer Securities
for resale or for its own account and agrees to comply with the requirements of
Section 165 (j)(3)(A), (B), or (C) of the Code, or (b) the foreign branch of a
United States financial institution purchasing for its own account or for
resale, which institution agrees to comply with the requirements of Section 165
(j)(3)(A), (B), or (C) of the Code. In addition, a sale of a Bearer Security may
be made during the restricted period to a United States person who acquired and
holds the Bearer Security on the Certification Date through a foreign branch of
a United States financial institution that agrees to comply with the
requirements of Section 165(j)(3)(A), (B) or (C) of the Code. Any Distributor
(including an affiliate of a Distributor) offering or selling Bearer Securities
during the restricted period must agree not to offer or sell Bearer Securities
in the United States or to United States persons (except as discussed above) and
must employ procedures reasonably designed to ensure that its employees or
agents directly engaged in selling Bearer Securities are aware of these
restrictions.
 
     Bearer Securities and their interest coupons will bear a legend
substantially 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 Section 165(j) and 1287(a) of the
Internal Revenue Code."
 
                                       12
<PAGE>   42
 
     Purchasers of Bearer Securities may be affected by certain limitations
under United States tax laws. See the applicable Prospectus Supplement for a
summary of material U.S. federal income tax consequences to United States
persons investing in Bearer Securities.
 
     As used herein, "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 and an estate or trust the income of
which is subject to United States federal income taxation regardless of its
source, and "United States" means the United States of America (including the
States and the District of Columbia) and its possessions including Puerto Rico,
the U.S. Virgin Islands, Guam, American Samoa, Wake Island and the Northern
Mariana Islands. The term "Non-United States Holder" means any Holder which is
not an United States person.
 
                            DESCRIPTION OF WARRANTS
 
     The Debt Warrants, Currency Warrants, Index Warrants and Interest Rate
Warrants are to be issued under separate warrant agreements (each a "Warrant
Agreement" and respectively a "Debt Warrant Agreement", a "Currency Warrant
Agreement", an "Index Warrant Agreement" and an "Interest Rate Warrant
Agreement") to be entered into between Holdings and one or more banks or trust
companies, as warrant agent (each a "Warrant Agent" and respectively a "Debt
Warrant Agent", a "Currency Warrant Agent", an "Index Warrant Agent" and an
"Interest Rate Warrant Agent"), all as shall be set forth in the Prospectus
Supplement relating to the Warrants being offered thereby. A form of each type
of Warrant Agreement, including a form of warrant certificate representing each
type of Warrant (each a "Warrant Certificate" and respectively a "Debt Warrant
Certificate", a "Currency Warrant Certificate", an "Index Warrant Certificate"
and an "Interest Rate Warrant Certificate"), reflecting the alternative
provisions that may be included in the Warrant Agreements to be entered into
with respect to particular offerings of Warrants, are incorporated by reference
as exhibits to the Registration Statement of which this Prospectus is a part.
The descriptions contained herein of the Warrant Agreements and the Warrant
Certificates and summaries of certain provisions of the Warrant Agreements and
the 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
applicable Warrant Agreements and the Warrant Certificates, including the
definitions therein of certain terms not otherwise defined in this Prospectus.
Wherever particular sections of, or terms defined in, the Warrant Agreements are
referred to, such sections or defined terms are incorporated herein by
reference.
 
     The particular terms of each issue of Warrants, as well as any
modifications or additions to the general terms of the applicable Warrant
Agreement or Warrant Certificate, will be described in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to such Warrants. Accordingly, for a description of the terms of a
particular issue of Warrants, reference must be made to the Prospectus
Supplement relating thereto and to the descriptions set forth below.
 
DEBT WARRANTS
 
     Holdings may issue, together with Debt Securities, Currency Warrants, Index
Warrants or Interest Rate Warrants, or separately, Debt Warrants for the
purchase of Debt Securities. If any of the Debt Warrants are sold for foreign
currencies or foreign currency units or if any series of Debt Warrants is
exercisable in foreign currencies or foreign currency units, the restrictions,
elections, tax consequences, specific terms and other information with respect
to such issue of Debt Warrants and such currencies or currency units will be set
forth in an applicable Prospectus Supplement relating thereto.
 
     If so specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, the Debt Warrants
may, in certain circumstances, be cancelled by Holdings prior to their
expiration date and the holders thereof will be entitled to receive only the
applicable Cancellation Amount. The Cancellation Amount may be either a fixed
amount or an amount that varies during the term of the Debt Warrants in
accordance with a schedule or formula.
 
                                       13
<PAGE>   43
 
  General
 
     The Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of any Debt Warrants
offered thereby, the Debt Warrant Agreement relating to such Debt Warrants and
the Debt Warrant Certificates representing such Debt Warrants, including the
following: (1) the title of such Debt Warrants; (2) the aggregate amount of such
Debt Warrants; (3) the initial offering price of such Debt Warrants; (4) the
exercise price; (5) the currency or currency unit in which the initial offering
price and/or the exercise price of such Debt Warrants is payable; (6) whether
the Debt Warrants are to be issuable in registered or bearer form or both, and
if in bearer form, whether such Debt Warrants may be exchanged for Debt Warrants
in registered form and the circumstances and places for such exchange, if
permitted; (7) if applicable, the title and terms of related Debt Securities
with which such Debt Warrants are issued, the number of such Debt Warrants
issued with each such Debt Security and the date, if any, on and after which
such Debt Warrants and such Debt Securities will be separately transferable; (8)
the title, aggregate principal amount and terms of the Debt Securities
purchasable upon exercise of all of such Debt Warrants; (9) the principal amount
of Debt Securities purchasable upon exercise of each Debt Warrant and the price
at which such principal amount of Debt Securities may be purchased upon such
exercise; (10) the date on which the right to exercise such Debt Warrants shall
commence and the date (the "Debt Warrant Expiration Date") on which such right
shall expire; (11) any minimum number of Debt Warrants which must be exercised
at any one time, other than upon automatic exercise; (12) the maximum number, if
any, of such Debt Warrants that may, subject to election by Holdings, be
exercised by all owners (or by any person or entity) on any day; (13) any
provisions for the automatic exercise of such Debt Warrants; (14) whether and
under what circumstances such Debt Warrants may be cancelled by Holdings prior
to expiration; (15) any other procedures and conditions relating to the exercise
of such Debt Warrants; (16) the identity of the Debt Warrant Agent; (17) any
national securities exchange on which such Debt Warrants will be listed; (18)
provisions, if any, for issuing such Debt Warrants in certificated form; (19) if
applicable, a discussion of certain United States federal income tax, accounting
or other special considerations applicable thereto; and (20) any other terms of
the Debt Warrants.
 
     Debt Warrant Certificates will be exchangeable for new Debt Warrant
Certificates of different denominations and, if in registered form, may be
presented for registration of transfer and Debt Warrants may be exercised at the
corporate trust office of the Debt Warrant Agent or any other office indicated
in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto (Section 3.1). Prior to the
exercise of Debt Warrants, holders of Debt Warrants will not be entitled to
payments of principal of (or 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 (Section 4.1).
 
  Exercise of Debt Warrants
 
     Unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement, each Debt Warrant
will entitle the holder thereof to purchase for cash such principal amount of
Debt Securities at such exercise price as shall in each case be set forth in, or
be determinable as set forth in, the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Debt
Warrants offered thereby (Sections 2.1). Debt Warrants may be exercised at any
time up to the close of business on the Debt Warrant Expiration Date specified
in the Prospectus Supplement relating to the Debt Warrants offered thereby.
After the close of business on the Debt Warrant Expiration Date (or such later
date to which such Debt Warrant Expiration Date may be extended by Holdings),
unexercised Debt Warrants will become void (Section 2.2).
 
     Debt Warrants may be exercised as set forth in the Prospectus Supplement
relating to the Debt Warrants offered thereby. Upon receipt of payment and the
Debt Warrant Certificate properly completed and duly executed at the corporate
trust office of the Debt Warrant Agent or any other office indicated in the
Prospectus Supplement, Holdings will, as soon as practicable, forward to the
person entitled thereto the Debt Securities purchasable upon such exercise. If
fewer than all of the Debt Warrants represented by such Debt Warrant Certificate
are exercised, a new Debt Warrant Certificate will be issued for the remaining
amount of Debt Warrants (Section 2.3).
 
                                       14
<PAGE>   44
 
  Other Information
 
     Other important information concerning Debt Warrants is set forth below
under "Certain Items Applicable to All Warrants -- Modifications", "-- Merger,
Consolidation, Sale or Other Dispositions", "-- Enforceability of Rights by 
Beneficial Owner; Governing Law" and "-- Unsecured Obligations of a Holding 
Company".
 
CURRENCY WARRANTS
 
     Holdings may issue, together with Debt Securities, Debt Warrants, Index
Warrants or Interest Rate Warrants, or separately, Currency Warrants (a) in the
form of Currency Put Warrants, entitling the owners thereof to receive from
Holdings the Currency Warrant Cash Settlement Value (as shall be defined in the
Prospectus Supplement) of the right to sell a specified amount of one currency
(whether U.S. dollars or a foreign currency or foreign currency unit) (a "Base
Currency") for a specified amount of a different currency (whether U.S. dollars
or a foreign currency or foreign currency unit) (a "Reference Currency"), (b) in
the form of Currency Call Warrants, entitling the owners thereof to receive from
Holdings the Currency Warrant Cash Settlement Value of the right to purchase a
specified amount of a Base Currency for a specified amount of a Reference
Currency, or (c) in such other form as shall be specified in the related
Prospectus Supplement. The Prospectus Supplement for an issue of Currency
Warrants will set forth the formula pursuant to which the Currency Warrant Cash
Settlement Value will be determined, including any multipliers, if
applicable.
 
     The Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of any Currency Warrants
offered thereby, the Currency Warrant Agreement relating to such Currency
Warrants and the Currency Warrant Certificates representing such Currency
Warrants, including the following: (1) the title of such Currency Warrants; (2)
the aggregate amount of such Currency Warrants; (3) the initial offering price
of such Currency Warrants; (4) the exercise price, if any; (5) the currency or
currency unit in which the initial offering price, the exercise price, if any,
and the Currency Warrant Cash Settlement Value of such Currency Warrants is
payable; (6) the Base Currency and the Reference Currency for such Currency
Warrants; (7) whether such Currency Warrants shall be Currency Put Warrants,
Currency Call Warrants or otherwise; (8) the formula for determining the
Currency Warrant Cash Settlement Value, if applicable, of each Currency Warrant;
(9) whether and under what circumstances a minimum and/or maximum expiration
value is applicable upon the expiration or exercise of such Currency Warrants;
(10) the effect or effects, if any, of the occurrence of a Market Disruption
Event or Force Majeure Event; (11) the date on which the right to exercise such
Currency Warrants shall commence and the date (the "Currency Warrant Expiration
Date") on which such right shall expire; (12) any minimum number of Currency
Warrants which must be exercised at any one time, other than upon automatic
exercise; (13) the maximum number, if any, of such Currency Warrants that may,
subject to election by Holdings, be exercised by all owners (or by any person or
entity) on any day; (14) any provisions for the automatic exercise of such
Currency Warrants other than at expiration; (15) whether and under what
circumstances such Currency Warrants may be cancelled by Holdings prior to their
expiration date; (16) any other procedures and conditions relating to the
exercise of such Currency Warrants; (17) the identity of the Currency Warrant
Agent; (18) any national securities exchange on which such Currency Warrants
will be listed; (19) provisions, if any, for issuing such Currency Warrants in
certificated form; (20) if such Currency Warrants are not issued in book-entry
form, the place or places at which payments in respect of such Currency Warrants
are to be made by Holdings; (21) if applicable, a discussion of certain United
States federal income tax, accounting or other special considerations applicable
thereto; and (22) any other terms of the Currency Warrants.
 
     Other important information concerning Currency Warrants is set forth below
under "Certain Items Applicable to All Warrants -- Modifications", "-- Merger,
Consolidation, Sale or Other Dispositions", "-- Enforceability of Rights by
Beneficial Owner; Governing Law" and "-- Unsecured Obligations of a Holding
Company" and "Certain Items Applicable to Currency Warrants, Index Warrants and
Interest Rate Warrants -- Exercise of Warrants", "-- Market Disruption and Force
Majeure Events" and "-- Settlement Currency", "-- Listing".
 
                                       15
<PAGE>   45
 
INDEX WARRANTS
 
     Holdings may issue, together with Debt Securities, Debt Warrants, Currency
Warrants or Interest Rate Warrants, or separately, Index Warrants (a) in the
form of Index Put Warrants, entitling the owners thereof to receive from
Holdings the Index Cash Settlement Value (as shall be defined in the Prospectus
Supplement) in cash, which amount will be determined by reference to the amount,
if any, by which the Fixed Amount (as shall be defined in the Prospectus
Supplement) at the time of exercise exceeds the Index Value (as shall be defined
in the Prospectus Supplement), (b) in the form of Index Call Warrants, entitling
the owners thereof to receive from Holdings the Index Cash Settlement Value in
cash, which amount will be determined by reference to the amount, if any, by
which the Index Value at the time of exercise exceeds the Fixed Amount, (c) in
the form of Index Spread Warrants, entitling the owners thereof to receive from
Holdings the Index Cash Settlement Value in cash, which amount will be
determined by reference to the amount, if any, by which the Reference Index
Value (as shall be defined in the Prospectus Supplement) at the time of exercise
exceeds the Base Index Value (as shall be defined in the Prospectus Supplement)
or (d) in such other form as shall be specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement. The Prospectus Supplement for an issue of Index Warrants will set
forth the formula pursuant to which the Index Cash Settlement Value will be
determined, including any multipliers, if applicable.
 
     The Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of Index Warrants offered
thereby, the Index Warrant Agreement relating to such Index Warrants and the
Index Warrant Certificate representing such Index Warrants, including the
following: (1) the title of such Index Warrants; (2) the aggregate amount of
such Index Warrants; (3) the initial offering price of such Index Warrants; (4)
the exercise price, if any; (5) the currency or currency unit in which the
initial offering price, the exercise price, if any, and the Index Cash
Settlement Value of such Index Warrants is payable; (6) the Index or Indices for
such Index Warrants, which may be based on one or more U.S. or foreign stocks,
bonds, or other securities, one or more U.S. or foreign interest rates, one or
more currencies or currency units, or any combination of the foregoing, and may
be a preexisting U.S. or foreign index compiled and published by a third party
or an index based on one or more securities, interest rates or currencies
selected by Holdings solely in connection with the issuance of such Index
Warrants, and certain information regarding such Index or Indices and the
underlying securities, interest rates or currencies (including, to the extent
possible, the policies of the publisher of the Index with respect to additions,
deletions and substitutions of such securities, interest rates or currencies);
(7) whether such Index Warrants shall be Index Put Warrants, Index Call
Warrants, Index Spread Warrants or otherwise; (8) the method of providing for a
substitute Index or Indices or otherwise determining the amount payable in
connection with the exercise of such Index Warrants if any Index changes or
ceases to be made available by its publisher; (9) the formula for determining
the Index Cash Settlement Value, if applicable, of each Index Warrant; (10)
whether and under what circumstances a minimum and/or maximum expiration value
is applicable upon the expiration or exercise of such Index Warrants; (11) the
effect or effects, if any, of the occurrence of a Market Disruption Event or
Force Majeure Event; (12) the date on which the right to exercise such Index
Warrants shall commence and the date (the "Index Warrant Expiration Date") on
which such right shall expire; (13) any minimum number of Index Warrants which
must be exercised at any one time, other than upon automatic exercise; (14) the
maximum number, if any, of such Index Warrants that may, subject to election by
Holdings, be exercised by all owners (or by any person or entity) on any day;
(15) any provisions for the automatic exercise of such Index Warrants other than
at expiration; (16) whether and under what circumstances such Index Warrants may
be cancelled by Holdings prior to their expiration date; (17) any provisions
permitting a Holder to condition any notice of exercise on the absence of
certain specified changes in the Index Value, the Base Index Value or the
Reference Index Value after the date of exercise; (18) any other procedures and
conditions relating to the exercise of such Index Warrants; (19) the identity of
the Index Warrant Agent; (20) any national securities exchange on which such
Index Warrants will be listed; (21) provisions, if any, for issuing such Index
Warrants in certificated form; (22) if such Index Warrants are not issued in
book-entry form, the place or places at which payments in respect of such Index
Warrants are to be made by Holdings; (23) if applicable, a discussion of certain
United States federal income tax, accounting or other special considerations
applicable thereto; and (24) any other terms of such Index Warrants.
 
                                       16
<PAGE>   46
 
     Other important information concerning Index Warrants is set forth below
under "Certain Items Applicable to All Warrants -- Modifications", "-- Merger,
Consolidation, Sale or Other Dispositions", "-- Enforceability of Rights by
Beneficial Owner; Governing Law" and "-- Unsecured Obligations of a Holding
Company" and "Certain Items Applicable to Currency Warrants, Index Warrants and
Interest Rate Warrants -- Exercise of Warrants", "-- Market Disruption and Force
Majeure Events", "-- Settlement Currency", "-- Listing".
 
INTEREST RATE WARRANTS
 
     Holdings may issue, together with Debt Securities, Debt Warrants, Currency
Warrants or Index Warrants or, separately, Interest Rate Warrants (a) in the
form of Interest Rate Put Warrants, entitling the owners thereof to receive from
Holdings the Interest Rate Cash Settlement Value (as shall be defined in the
Prospectus Supplement) in cash, which amount will be determined by reference to
the amount, if any, by which the Spot Amount (as shall be defined in the
Prospectus Supplement) is less than the Strike Amount (as shall be defined in
the Prospectus Supplement) on the applicable valuation date following exercise,
(b) in the form of Interest Rate Call Warrants, entitling the owners thereof to
receive from Holdings the Interest Rate Cash Settlement Value in cash, which
amount will be determined by reference to the amount, if any, by which the Spot
Amount on the applicable valuation date following exercise exceeds the Strike
Amount or (c) in such other form as shall be specified in the related Prospectus
Supplement. The Prospectus Supplement for an issue of Interest Rate Warrants
will set forth the formula pursuant to which the Interest Rate Cash Settlement
Value will be determined, including any multipliers, if applicable. The Strike
Amount may either be a fixed yield, price or rate of a Debt Instrument, a Rate
or any combination of Debt Instruments and/or Rates or a yield, price or rate
that varies during the term of the Interest Rate Warrants in accordance with a
schedule or formula. The Debt Instrument will be one or more instruments
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement issued either by the United
States government or by a foreign government. The Rate will be one or more
interest rates or interest rate swap rates established from time to time by one
or more financial institutions specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement.
 
     The Prospectus Supplement will describe the terms of Interest Rate Warrants
offered thereby, the Interest Rate Warrant Agreement relating to such Interest
Rate Warrants and the Interest Rate Warrant Certificate representing such
Interest Rate Warrants, including the following: (1) the title of such Interest
Rate Warrants, (2) the aggregate amount of such Interest Rate Warrants; (3) the
initial offering price of such Interest Rate Warrants; (4) the exercise price,
if any; (5) the currency or currency unit in which the initial offering price,
the exercise price, if any, and the Interest Rate Cash Settlement Value of such
Interest Rate Warrants is payable; (6) the Debt Instrument (which may be one or
more debt instruments issued either by the United States government or by a
foreign government), the Rate (which may be one or more interest rates or
interest rate swap rates established from time to time by one or more specified
financial institutions) or the other yield, price or rate utilized for such
Interest Rate Warrants, and certain information regarding such Debt Instrument
or Rate; (7) whether such Interest Rate Warrants shall be Interest Rate Put
Warrants, Interest Rate Call Warrants or otherwise; (8) the Strike Amount, the
method of determining the Spot Amount and the method of expressing movements in
the yield or closing price of the Debt Instrument or in the level of the Rate as
a cash amount in the currency in which the Interest Rate Cash Settlement Value
of such Warrants is payable; (9) the formula for determining the Interest Rate
Cash Settlement Value, if applicable, of each Interest Rate Warrant; (10)
whether and under what circumstances a minimum and/or maximum expiration value
is applicable upon the expiration or exercise of such Interest Rate Warrants;
(11) the effect or effects, if any, of the occurrence of a Market Disruption
Event or Force Majeure Event; (12) the date on which the right to exercise such
Interest Rate Warrants shall commence and the date (the "Interest Rate Warrant
Expiration Date") on which such right shall expire; (13) any minimum number of
Interest Rate Warrants which must be exercised at any one time, other than upon
automatic exercise; (14) the maximum number, if any, of such Interest Rate
Warrants that may, subject to election by Holdings, be exercised by all owners
(or by any person or entity) on any day; (15) any provisions for the automatic
exercise of such Interest Rate Warrants other than at expiration; (16) whether
and under what circumstances such Interest Rate Warrants may be cancelled by
Holdings prior to their expiration date; (17) any provisions permitting a Holder
to condition any notice of exercise on the absence of certain specified changes
in the Spot Amount after the date
 
                                       17
<PAGE>   47
 
of exercise; (18) any other procedures and conditions relating to the exercise
of such Interest Rate Warrants; (19) the identity of the Interest Rate Warrant
Agent; (20) any national securities exchange on which such Interest Rate
Warrants will be listed; (21) provisions, if any, for issuing such Interest Rate
Warrants in certificated form; (22) if such Interest Rate Warrants are not
issued in book-entry form, the place or places at which payments in respect of
such Interest Rate Warrants are to be made by Holdings; (23) if applicable, a
discussion of certain United States federal income tax, accounting or other
special considerations applicable thereto; and (24) any other terms of such
Interest Rate Warrants.
 
     Other important information concerning Interest Rate Warrants is set forth
below under "Certain Items Applicable to All Warrants -- Modifications",
"-- Merger, Consolidation, Sale or Other Dispositions", "-- Enforceability of
Rights by Beneficial Owner; Governing Law" and "-- Unsecured Obligations of a
Holding Company" and "Certain Items Applicable to Currency Warrants, Index
Warrants and Interest Rate Warrants -- Exercise of Warrants", "-- Market
Disruption and Force Majeure Events", "-- Settlement Currency", "-- Listing".
 
CERTAIN ITEMS APPLICABLE TO ALL WARRANTS
 
  Modifications
 
     Each Warrant Agreement and the terms of each issue of Warrants may be
amended by Holdings and the applicable Warrant Agent, without the consent of the
beneficial owners or the registered holders, for the purpose of curing any
ambiguity, or of curing, correcting or supplementing any defective or
inconsistent provision contained therein, or in any other manner which Holdings
may deem necessary or desirable and which will not adversely affect the
interests of the beneficial owners of the then outstanding unexercised Warrants
in any material respect (Section 6.1).
 
     Holdings and each Warrant Agent also may modify or amend the applicable
Warrant Agreement and the terms of the related Warrants, with the consent of the
beneficial owners of not less than a majority in number of the then outstanding
unexercised Warrants affected, provided that no such modification or amendment
that reduces the amount receivable upon exercise, cancellation or expiration,
shortens the period of time during which the Warrants may be exercised or
otherwise materially and adversely affects the exercise rights of the beneficial
owners of the Warrants or reduces the percentage number of outstanding Warrants
the consent of whose beneficial owners is required for modification or amendment
of the applicable Warrant Agreement or the terms of the Warrants may be made
without the consent of the beneficial owners affected thereby (Section 6.1).
 
  Merger, Consolidation, Sale or Other Dispositions
 
     If at any time there is a merger or consolidation involving Holdings or a
sale, transfer, conveyance or other disposition of all or substantially all of
the assets of Holdings, then in any such event the successor or assuming
corporation shall succeed to and be substituted for Holdings, with the same
effect as if it had been named in the applicable Warrant Agreement and in the
applicable Warrants as Holdings. Holdings shall thereupon be relieved of any
further obligation under such Warrant Agreement or under such Warrants, and, in
the event of any such merger, consolidation, sale, transfer, conveyance or other
disposition, Holdings as the predecessor corporation may thereupon or at any
time thereafter be dissolved, wound up or liquidated (Section 6.2 of the Debt
Warrant Agreement and Section 3.2 of each other Warrant Agreement).
 
  Enforceability of Rights by Beneficial Owner; Governing Law
 
     Each Warrant Agent will act solely as an agent of Holdings in connection
with the issuance and exercise of the applicable Warrants and will not assume
any obligation or relationship of agency or trust for or with any owner of a
beneficial interest in any Warrant or with the registered holder thereof
(Section 5.2). A Warrant Agent shall have no duty or responsibility in case of
any default by Holdings in the performance of its obligations under the
applicable Warrant Agreement or Warrant Certificate including, without
limitation, any duty or responsibility to initiate any proceedings at law or
otherwise or to make any demand upon Holdings (Section 5.2). Beneficial owners
may, without the consent of the applicable Warrant Agent, enforce by
 
                                       18
<PAGE>   48
 
appropriate legal action, on their own behalf, their right to exercise their
Warrants, to receive Debt Securities, in the case of Debt Warrants, and to
receive payment, if any, for their Warrants, in the case of Currency Warrants,
Index Warrants or Interest Rate Warrants (Section 4.2 of the Debt Warrant
Agreement and Section 3.1 of each other Warrant Agreement). Except as may
otherwise be provided in the Prospectus Supplement relating thereto, each issue
of Warrants and the applicable Warrant Agreement will be governed by and
construed in accordance with the law of the State of New York (Section 6.5).
 
  Unsecured Obligations of a Holding Company
 
     The Warrants are unsecured obligations of Holdings and, therefore, changes
in the perceived creditworthiness of Holdings may be expected to affect trading
prices in Warrants. Since Holdings, as a holding company, does not have any
significant assets other than the equity securities of its subsidiaries, its
cash flow and consequent ability to satisfy its financial obligations, including
Warrants, are dependent upon the earnings of its subsidiaries and the
distribution of those earnings to Holdings, or upon loans or other payments of
funds by those subsidiaries to Holdings. Holdings' subsidiaries, including
Lehman Brothers, are separate and distinct legal entities and will have no
obligation, contingent or otherwise, to pay any amount in respect of Warrants or
to make any funds available therefor, whether by dividends, loans or other
payments. Dividends, loans and other payments by Lehman Brothers are restricted
by net capital and other rules of various regulatory bodies. See "Capital
Requirements." The payment of dividends by Holdings' subsidiaries is contingent
upon the earnings of those subsidiaries and is subject to various business
considerations in addition to net capital requirements and contractual
restrictions. Additionally, since Warrants will be obligations of a holding
company, the ability of holders of Warrants to benefit from any distribution of
assets of any subsidiary upon the liquidation or reorganization of such
subsidiary is subordinate to the prior claims of present and future creditors of
such subsidiary.
 
CERTAIN ITEMS APPLICABLE TO CURRENCY WARRANTS, INDEX WARRANTS AND INTEREST RATE
WARRANTS
 
  Exercise of Warrants
 
     Except as may otherwise be provided in the applicable Prospectus Supplement
relating thereto, (a) each Currency Warrant, Index Warrant and Interest Rate
will entitle the owner, upon payment of the exercise price, if any, to the
applicable Cash Settlement Value of such Warrant, on the applicable Exercise
Date, in each case as such terms will further be defined in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement relating thereto (Section 2.2) and (b) if not exercised
prior to 1:30 p.m., New York City time, on the Business Day preceding the
applicable Warrant Expiration Date, the Warrants will be deemed automatically
exercised on such Warrant Expiration Date (Section 2.3). As described below,
Currency Warrants, Index Warrants and Interest Rate Warrants may also be deemed
to be automatically exercised if they are delisted. Procedures for exercise of
the Currency Warrants, Index Warrants and Interest Rate Warrants will be set out
in the applicable Prospectus Supplement.
 
  Market Disruption and Force Majeure Events
 
     If so specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement, following the
occurrence of a Market Disruption Event or Force Majeure Event (as each term
shall be defined therein), the Cash Settlement Value of a Currency Warrant, an
Index Warrant or an Interest Rate Warrant may be determined on a different basis
than under normal exercise of a Warrant or the determination of the applicable
Cash Settlement Value. In addition, if so specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, Currency Warrants, Index Warrants and Interest Rate Warrants may, in
certain circumstances, be cancelled by Holdings prior to their expiration date
and the holders thereof will be entitled to receive only the applicable
Cancellation Amount. The Cancellation Amount may be either a fixed amount or an
amount that varies during the term of the Warrants in accordance with a schedule
or formula.
 
                                       19
<PAGE>   49
 
  Settlement Currency
 
     Currency Warrants, Index Warrants and Interest Rate Warrants will be
settled only in U.S. dollars (unless settlement in a foreign currency is
specified in the applicable Prospectus Supplement and is permissible under
applicable) law and accordingly will not require or entitle an owner to sell,
deliver, purchase or take delivery of the currency, security or other instrument
underlying such Warrants. If any of the Currency Warrants, Index Warrants or
Interest Rate Warrants are sold for, or if the exercise price, if any, is
payable in, foreign currencies or foreign currency units or if the amount
payable by Holdings in respect of any series of Currency Warrants, Index
Warrants or Interest Rate Warrants is payable in foreign currencies or foreign
currency units, the restrictions, elections, tax consequences, specific terms
and other information with respect to such issue of Warrants and such currencies
or currency units will be set forth in an applicable Prospectus Supplement
relating thereto.
 
  Listing
 
     Unless otherwise provided in the Prospectus Supplement, each issue of
Currency Warrants, Index Warrants and Interest Rate Warrants will be listed on a
national securities exchange, as specified in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement, subject only to official notice of issuance, as a pre-condition to
the sale of any such Warrants. It may be necessary in certain circumstances for
such national securities exchange to obtain the approval of the SEC in
connection with any such listing. In the event that the such Warrants are
delisted from, or permanently suspended from trading on, such exchange, and, at
or prior to such delisting or suspension, such Warrants shall not have been
listed on another national securities exchange, any such Warrants not previously
exercised will be deemed automatically exercised on the date such delisting or
permanent trading suspension becomes effective (Section 2.3). The applicable
Cash Settlement Value to be paid in such event will be as set forth in the
applicable Prospectus Supplement. Holdings will notify holders of such Warrants
as soon as practicable of such delisting or permanent trading suspension. The
applicable Warrant Agreement will contain a covenant of Holdings not to seek
delisting of such Warrants from, or permanent suspension of their trading on,
such exchange (Section 2.4 of the Currency Warrant Agreement and the Interest
Rate Warrant Agreement and Section 2.5 of the Index Warrant Agreement).
 
                               GLOBAL SECURITIES
 
     The Securities of a series 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
depository (a "Depository") identified in the Prospectus Supplement relating to
such series. Global Securities representing Debt Securities or Debt Warrants may
be issued in either registered or bearer form. Global Securities representing
Currency Warrants, Index Warrants or Interest Rate Warrants will be issued in
registered form only. Global Securities may be issued in either temporary or
permanent form.
 
     The specific terms of the depository arrangement with respect to any
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 depository arrangements.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Prospectus Supplement,
Securities which are to be represented by a Global Security in registered form
to be deposited with or on behalf of a Depository will be registered in the name
of such Depository or its nominee. Upon the issuance of a Global Security in
registered form, the Depository for such Global Security will credit the
respective principal amounts, in the case of Debt Securities, and the respective
number of warrants, in the case of Warrants represented by such Global Security
to the accounts of institutions that have accounts with such Depository or its
nominee ("participants"). The accounts to be credited shall be designated by the
underwriters or agents of such Securities or by Holdings, if such Securities are
offered and sold directly by Holdings. Ownership of beneficial interests in such
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
that ownership interest will be effected only through, records maintained by the
Depository or its nominee for such Global Security. Ownership of beneficial
interests in 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
 
                                       20
<PAGE>   50
 
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 Depository for a Global Security in registered form, or its
nominee, is the registered owner of such Global Security, such Depository or
such nominee, as the case may be, will be considered the sole owner or holder of
the Securities represented by such Global Security for all purposes under the
applicable Indenture, in the case of Debt Securities, or under the applicable
warrant agreement, in the case of Warrants, governing such Securities. Except as
set forth below, owners of beneficial interests in such Global Security will not
be entitled to have Securities of the series represented by such Global Security
registered in their names, will not receive or be entitled to receive physical
delivery of Securities of such series in definitive form and will not be
considered the owners or holders thereof under the applicable Indenture, in the
case of Debt Securities, or under the applicable warrant agreement, in the case
of Warrants.
 
     Payments in respect of Securities registered in the name of or held by a
Depository or its nominee will be made to the Depository or its nominee, as the
case may be, as the registered owner or the holder of the Global Security. None
of Holdings, the applicable Trustee or Warrant agent, any Paying Agent or any
Security Registrar for such Securities 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.
 
     Holdings expects that the Depository for a permanent Global Security in
registered form, upon receipt of any payment in respect of a permanent Global
Security, will credit immediately participants' accounts with payments in
amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in such Global
Security as shown on the records of such Depository. Holdings 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 in registered form may not be transferred except as a
whole by the Depository for such Global Security to a nominee of such Depository
or by a nominee of such Depository to such Depository or another nominee of such
Depository or by such Depository or any such nominee to a successor of such
Depository or a nominee of such successor. If a Depository for a permanent
Global Security in registered form is at any time unwilling or unable to
continue as Depository and a successor Depository is not appointed by Holdings
within 90 days, Holdings will issue Securities in definitive registered form in
exchange for the Global Security representing such Securities. In addition,
Holdings may at any time and in its sole discretion determine not to have any
Securities in registered form represented by one or more Global Securities and,
in such event, will issue Securities in definitive form in exchange for all of
the Global Securities representing such Securities. Further, if Holdings so
specifies with respect to the Securities of a series, an owner of a beneficial
interest in a Global Security representing Securities of such series may, on
terms acceptable to Holdings and the Depository for such Global Security,
receive Securities of such series 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 Securities of the series represented by such
Global Security equal in principal amount, in the case of Debt Securities, or
number, in the case of Warrants, to such beneficial interest and to have such
Securities registered in its name (if the Securities of such series are issuable
as registered securities). Unless otherwise specified by Holdings, Securities of
such series so issued in definitive form will be issued either as registered or
bearer securities (if the Securities of such series are issuable in such form)
and in authorized denominations, in the case of Debt Securities, or in
authorized numbers, in the case of Warrants, as specified in the applicable
Prospectus Supplement. See, however, "Description of Debt
Securities -- Limitations on Issuance of Bearer Securities" above for a
description of certain restrictions on the issuance of a Bearer Security in
definitive form in exchange for an interest in a Global Security.
 
BEARER DEBT SECURITIES
 
     If so specified in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, pending the
availability of a permanent Global Security, all or any portion of the Debt
Securities of a series which may be issuable as bearer securities will
 
                                       21
<PAGE>   51
 
initially be represented by one or more temporary Global Securities, 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
Euro-clear System ("Euro-clear") and Centrale de Livraison de Valeurs
Mobilieres, S.A. ("CEDEL") for credit to the designated accounts. The interests
of the beneficial owner or owners in such a temporary Global Security in bearer
form will be exchangeable for definitive Debt Securities (including interests in
a permanent Global Security in bearer form), representing Debt Securities having
the same interest rate and Stated Maturity, but only upon written certification
in the form and to the effect described under "Description of Debt
Securities-Denominations, Registration and Transfer" unless such certification
has been provided on an earlier interest payment date. The beneficial owner of a
Debt Security represented by a temporary Global Security in bearer form or a
permanent Global Security in bearer form may, on or after the applicable
exchange date and upon 30 days' notice to the applicable Trustee given through
Euro-clear or CEDEL, exchange its interest for definitive bearer Debt Securities
or, if specified in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, definitive registered
Debt Securities of any authorized denomination. No bearer Debt Security
delivered in exchange for a portion of a temporary Global Security or a
permanent Global Security shall be mailed or otherwise delivered to any location
in the United States in connection with such exchange.
 
     Unless otherwise specified in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, interest
in respect of any portion of such a temporary Global Security in bearer form
payable in respect of an Interest Payment Date occurring prior to the issuance
of a permanent Global Security in bearer form will be paid to each of Euro-clear
and CEDEL with respect to the portion of the temporary Global Security in bearer
form held for its account. Each of Euro-clear and CEDEL will undertake in such
circumstances to credit such interest received by it in respect of a temporary
Global Security in bearer form to the respective accounts for which it holds
such temporary Global Security in bearer form as of the relevant Interest
Payment Date, but only upon receipt in each case of written certification, in
the form and to the effect described under "Description of Debt
Securities-Denomination, Registration and Transfer."
 
                             UNITED STATES TAXATION
 
     A summary of the material U.S. federal income tax consequences to U.S.
persons investing in Securities will be set forth in the applicable Prospectus
Supplement. The summary of U.S. federal income tax consequences 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 Securities are urged to consult their own
tax advisors prior to any acquisition of Securities.
 
                              CAPITAL REQUIREMENTS
 
     As registered broker-dealers, Lehman Brothers and certain of Holdings'
other subsidiaries (the "Regulated Subsidiaries") are subject to the SEC's net
capital rule (Rule 15c3-1, the "Net Capital Rule"), promulgated under the
Exchange Act. The Exchange monitors the application of the Net Capital Rule by
Lehman Brothers. The Exchange or the NASD, as the case may be, monitors the
application of the Net Capital Rule by the Regulated Subsidiaries. Lehman
Brothers and such Regulated Subsidiaries compute net capital under the
alternative method of the Net Capital Rule which requires the maintenance of
minimum net capital, as defined. A broker-dealer may be required to reduce its
business if its net capital is less than 4% of aggregate debit balances and may
also be prohibited from expanding its business or paying cash dividends if
resulting net capital would be less than 5% of aggregate debit balances. In
addition, the Net Capital Rule does not allow withdrawal of subordinated capital
if net capital would be less than 5% of such debit balances.
 
     The Net Capital Rule also limits the ability of broker-dealers to transfer
large amounts of capital to parent companies and other affiliates. Under the Net
Capital Rule equity capital can not be withdrawn from a broker-dealer without
the prior approval of the SEC when net capital after the withdrawal would be
less than 25% of its securities positions haircuts (which are deductions from
capital of certain specified percentages of the market value of securities to
reflect the possibility of a market decline prior to disposition). In addition,
the Net Capital Rule requires broker-dealers to notify the SEC and the
appropriate self-regulatory organization two business days before a withdrawal
of excess net capital if the withdrawal would exceed the greater of
 
                                       22
<PAGE>   52
 
$500,000 or 30% of the broker-dealer's excess net capital, and two business days
after a withdrawal that exceeds the greater of $500,000 or 20% of excess net
capital. Finally, the Net Capital Rule authorizes the SEC to order a freeze on
the transfer of capital if a broker-dealer plans a withdrawal of more than 30%
of its excess net capital and the SEC believes that such a withdrawal would be
detrimental to the financial integrity of the firm or would jeopardize the
broker-dealer's ability to pay its customers.
 
     Compliance with the Net Capital Rule could limit those operations of Lehman
Brothers and the Regulated Subsidiaries that require the intensive use of
capital, such as underwriting and trading activities and the financing of
customer account balances, and also could restrict Holdings' ability to withdraw
capital from Lehman Brothers and the Regulated Subsidiaries which in turn could
limit Holdings' ability to pay dividends, repay debt and redeem or purchase
shares of its outstanding capital stock.
 
     The Company is subject to other domestic and international regulatory
requirements with which it is required to comply.
 
                              PLAN OF DISTRIBUTION
 
     Holdings may sell Securities in any one or more of the following ways: (i)
through, or through underwriting syndicates managed by, Lehman Brothers alone or
with one or more other underwriters; (ii) through one or more dealers or agents
(which may include Lehman Brothers); or (iii) directly to one or more
purchasers. The specific managing underwriter or underwriters or agent or agents
with respect to the offer and sale of Securities are set forth on the cover of a
Prospectus Supplement relating to such Securities and the members of the
underwriting syndicate, if any, are named in such Prospectus Supplement. Only
the underwriters or agents so named in a Prospectus Supplement are underwriters
or agents, respectively, in connection with such Securities. The applicable
Prospectus Supplement also describes the discounts and commissions to be allowed
or paid to the underwriters or agents, all other items constituting underwriting
or agency compensation, the discounts and commissions to be allowed or paid to
dealers, if any, and the exchanges, if any, on which such Securities will be
listed.
 
     Securities acquired by any underwriter will be acquired for its 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. The obligations of the underwriters to purchase
such Securities will be subject to certain conditions precedent, and the
underwriters will be obligated to purchase all such Securities if any of such
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. To the extent, if any, that Securities to be purchased by Lehman Brothers,
as underwriter, are not resold by it or are not resold at the public offering
price set forth in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, the funds derived from
such offering by the Company on a consolidated basis may be reduced.
 
     If so indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement, Holdings will
authorize the underwriters named therein to solicit offers by certain
institutional investors to purchase Securities providing for payment and
delivery on a future date specified in an applicable Prospectus Supplement.
There may be limitations on the minimum amount which may be purchased by any
such institutional investor or on the portion of the aggregate proceeds to
Holdings of the particular Securities which may be sold pursuant to such
arrangements. Institutional investors to which such offers may be made, when
authorized, include commercial and savings banks, insurance companies, pension
funds, educational charitable institutions and such other institutions as may be
approved by Holdings. The obligations of any such purchasers pursuant to such
delayed delivery and payment arrangements will not be subject to any conditions
except (i) the purchase by an institution of the particular Securities shall not
at the time of delivery be prohibited under the laws of any jurisdiction in the
United States to which such institution is subject, and (ii) Holdings shall have
sold to such underwriters all of such Securities less the amount of such
securities covered by such arrangements. Underwriters named therein will not
have any responsibility in respect of the validity of such arrangements or the
performance of Holdings or such institutional investors thereunder.
 
                                       23
<PAGE>   53
 
     Each distributor of Bearer Securities will agree that it will not offer or
sell during the restricted period, directly or indirectly, Bearer Securities in
the United States or to United States persons (other than as discussed under
"Description of Debt Securities -- Limitations on Issuance of Bearer
Securities") and in connection with the sale of Bearer Securities during the
restricted period, will not deliver definitive Bearer Securities within the
United States. See "Description of Debt Securities -- Limitations on Issuance of
Bearer Securities."
 
     Each underwriter or agent will represent and agree that (i) it has not
offered or sold and will not offer or sell in the United Kingdom, by means of
any document, any Securities other than to persons whose ordinary business it is
to buy or sell shares or debentures, whether as principal or agent (except in
circumstances which do not constitute an offer to the public within the meaning
of the Companies Act 1985); (ii) it has complied and will comply with all
applicable provisions of the Financial Services Act 1986 with respect to
anything done by it in relation to the Securities in, from or otherwise
involving the United Kingdom; and (iii) it has only issued or passed on and will
only issue or pass on to any person in the United Kingdom any document received
by it in connection with the issue of the Securities if that person is of a kind
described in Article 9(3) of the Financial Services Act 1986 (Investment
Advertisements) (Exemptions) Order 1988.
 
     The underwriters and agents named in an applicable Prospectus Supplement
may be entitled under agreements entered into with Holdings to indemnification
by Holdings against certain civil liabilities, including liabilities under the
Securities Act, or to contribution with respect to payments which the
underwriters and agents may be required to make in respect thereof. The
underwriters and agents may engage in transactions with, or perform services
for, Holdings in the ordinary course of business.
 
     Holdings has been advised by Lehman Brothers that Lehman Brothers may from
time to time purchase and sell Securities in the secondary market. Each offering
of Securities and any market-making activities by Lehman Brothers with respect
to Securities will be conducted in compliance with the requirements of Schedule
E of the By-Laws of the NASD regarding an NASD member firm's participation in
distributing its affiliate's securities. Lehman Brothers may act as principal or
agent in such transactions. This Prospectus may be used by Lehman Brothers 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. Lehman Brothers
is not obligated to make a market in any Securities and may discontinue any
market-making activities at any time without notice. No assurance can be given
that there will be a secondary market for the Securities.
 
                                 ERISA MATTERS
 
     Each of Holdings and Lehman Brothers may be considered a "party in
interest" within the meaning of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of
1974, as amended ("ERISA"), and a "disqualified person" under corresponding
provisions of the Code, with respect to certain employee benefit plans. Certain
transactions between an employee benefit plan and a party in interest or
disqualified person may result in "prohibited transactions" within the meaning
of ERISA and the Code. ANY EMPLOYEE BENEFIT PLAN PROPOSING TO INVEST IN THE
SECURITIES SHOULD CONSULT WITH ITS LEGAL COUNSEL.
 
                                 LEGAL OPINIONS
 
     Unless otherwise indicated in an applicable Prospectus Supplement relating
to offered Securities, the validity of the Securities offered hereby will be
passed upon for Holdings by David Marcus, Esq., General Counsel of Holdings and
for the underwriters or agents by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (a partnership
which includes professional corporations), 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New
York 10017. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett acts as counsel in various matters for
Holdings, Lehman Brothers and certain of their subsidiaries.
 
                                       24
<PAGE>   54
 
                            INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS
 
     The consolidated financial statements and schedules of the Company for the
years ended December 31, 1993, December 31, 1992 and December 31, 1991,
appearing in the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended
December 31, 1993 have been audited by Ernst & Young, independent auditors, as
set forth in their report thereon included therein and incorporated herein by
reference. Such consolidated financial statements and schedules are, and audited
financial statements included in subsequently filed documents will be,
incorporated herein by reference in reliance upon the reports of Ernst & Young
pertaining to such financial statements (to the extent covered by consents filed
with the Securities and Exchange Commission) given upon the authority of such
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.













































                                       25
<PAGE>   55
 
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  NO DEALER, SALESMAN OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY
INFORMATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS OTHER THAN THOSE CONTAINED IN THIS
PROSPECTUS AND THE ACCOMPANYING PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT AND, IF GIVEN OR MADE,
SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON AS HAVING BEEN
AUTHORIZED. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS AND THE ACCOMPANYING
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER OR THEREUNDER SHALL UNDER ANY
CIRCUMSTANCES CREATE AN IMPLICATION THAT THERE HAS BEEN NO CHANGE IN THE AFFAIRS
OF HOLDINGS SINCE THE DATE HEREOF. NEITHER THIS PROSPECTUS NOR THE ACCOMPANYING
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT CONSTITUTES AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION BY ANYONE IN ANY
JURISDICTION IN WHICH SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT AUTHORIZED OR IN WHICH
THE PERSON MAKING SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION IS NOT QUALIFIED TO DO SO OR TO
ANYONE TO WHOM IT IS UNLAWFUL TO MAKE SUCH OFFER OR SOLICITATION.
                            ------------------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                        PAGE
                                        ----
<S>                                     <C>
PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
Summary...............................   S-3
Use of Proceeds.......................   S-6
Special Considerations................   S-6
Description of Securities.............   S-9
The Basket............................  S-18
Form of Securities....................  S-22
Certain United States Federal Income
  Tax Consequences....................  S-24
Underwriting..........................  S-27
Glossary..............................  S-28
PROSPECTUS
Available Information.................     2
Documents Incorporated by Reference...     2
The Company...........................     3
Use of Proceeds.......................     3
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges....     3
Description of Debt Securities........     4
Description of Warrants...............    13
Global Securities.....................    20
United States Taxation................    22
Capital Requirements..................    22
Plan of Distribution..................    23
ERISA Matters.........................    24
Legal Opinions........................    24
Independent Accountants...............    25
</TABLE>
 
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                                  $50,000,000
 
                                LEHMAN BROTHERS
 
                                 HOLDINGS INC.
 
                          INDUSTRIAL COMMODITY BASKET
 
                                 NOTES DUE 1996
 
                          ---------------------------
 
                             PROSPECTUS SUPPLEMENT
 
                               NOVEMBER   , 1994
 
                          ---------------------------
 
                                LEHMAN BROTHERS
 
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