MBIA INC
S-3/A, 1995-12-15
SURETY INSURANCE
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<PAGE>
 
    
 AS FILED WITH THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION ON DECEMBER 15, 1995     
                                                     
                                                  REGISTRATION NO. 33-64861     
 
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                       SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION
                             WASHINGTON, D.C. 20549
 
                               ----------------
                                 
                              AMENDMENT NO. 1     
                                       
                                    TO     
                                    FORM S-3
                             REGISTRATION STATEMENT
                                     UNDER
                           THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933
 
                               ----------------
                                   MBIA INC.
             (EXACT NAME OF REGISTRANT AS SPECIFIED IN ITS CHARTER)
          CONNECTICUT                                06-1185706
        (STATE OR OTHER                            (IRS EMPLOYER
        JURISDICTION OF                         IDENTIFICATION NO.)
 INCORPORATION OR ORGANIZATION)
                                113 KING STREET
                             ARMONK, NEW YORK 10504
                                 (914) 273-4545
  (ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE, OF
                   REGISTRANT'S PRINCIPAL EXECUTIVE OFFICES)
                              LOUIS G. LENZI, ESQ.
                    GENERAL COUNSEL AND CORPORATE SECRETARY
                                   MBIA INC.
                                113 KING STREET
                             ARMONK, NEW YORK 10504
                                 (914) 273-4545
 (NAME, ADDRESS, INCLUDING ZIP CODE, AND TELEPHONE NUMBER, INCLUDING AREA CODE
                             OF AGENT FOR SERVICE)
 
                               ----------------
                                   COPIES TO:
        ANDREW L. SOMMER, ESQ.                  LEE MEYERSON, ESQ.
         DEBEVOISE & PLIMPTON               SIMPSON THACHER & BARTLETT
           875 THIRD AVENUE                    425 LEXINGTON AVENUE
       NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10022              NEW YORK, NEW YORK 10017
 
                               ----------------
  APPROXIMATE DATE OF COMMENCEMENT OF PROPOSED SALE TO THE PUBLIC. As soon as
practicable after the effective date of this Registration Statement.
 
  If the only securities being registered on this Form are being offered
pursuant to dividend or interest reinvestment plans, please check the following
box. [_]
 
  If any of the securities being registered on this Form are to be offered on a
delayed or continuous basis pursuant to Rule 415 under the Securities Act of
1933, other than securities offered only in connection with dividend or
interest reinvestment plans, please check the following box. [_]
 
  If this Form is filed to register additional securities for an offering
pursuant to Rule 462(b) under the Securities Act, please check the following
box and list the Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier
effective registration statement for the same offering. [_]
 
  If this Form is a post-effective amendment filed pursuant to rule 462(c)
under the Securities Act, please check the following box and list the
Securities Act registration statement number of the earlier effective
registration statement for the same offering. [_]
 
  If delivery of the prospectus is expected to be made pursuant to Rule 434,
please check the following box. [_]
                               ----------------
  THE REGISTRANT HEREBY AMENDS THIS REGISTRATION STATEMENT ON SUCH DATE OR
DATES AS MAY BE NECESSARY TO DELAY ITS EFFECTIVE DATE UNTIL THE REGISTRANT
SHALL FILE A FURTHER AMENDMENT WHICH SPECIFICALLY STATES THAT THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT SHALL THEREAFTER BECOME EFFECTIVE IN ACCORDANCE WITH SECTION 8(a) OF
THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 OR UNTIL THE REGISTRATION STATEMENT SHALL BECOME
EFFECTIVE ON SUCH DATE AS THE SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION, ACTING
PURSUANT TO SAID SECTION 8(a), MAY DETERMINE.
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<PAGE>
 
++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++
+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 December 15, 1995     
   
PROSPECTUS     
   
[LOGO] MBIA                      $75,000,000
                                    
                                 MBIA INC.     
                           % DEBENTURES DUE     , 2025
 
                                 -------------
 
                          INTEREST PAYABLE     AND
 
                                 -------------
 
  Interest on the   % Debentures due     , 2025 (the "Debentures") of MBIA Inc.
(the "Company") is payable semi-annually in arrears on      and      of each
year, commencing     , 1996. The Debentures will mature on     , 2025. The
Debentures may not be redeemed prior to maturity by the Company and are not
subject to any sinking fund.
 
  The Debentures will be represented by one global security registered in the
name of a nominee of The Depository Trust Company, as Depositary (the
"Depositary"). Beneficial interests in the global security representing the
Debentures will be shown on, and transfers thereof will be effected only
through, records maintained by the Depositary and its participants. Except as
described herein, Debentures in certificated form will not be issued in
exchange for the global security. The Debentures will trade in the Depositary's
Same-Day Funds Settlement System until maturity, and secondary market trading
activity for the Debentures will therefore settle in immediately available
funds. All payments of principal and interest will be made by the Company in
immediately available funds. See "Description of Debentures".
 
                                 -------------
 
 THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED  OR DISAPPROVED BY THE SECURITIES AND
  EXCHANGE  COMMISSION  OR  ANY  STATE  SECURITIES  COMMISSION  NOR  HAS  THE
   SECURITIES AND  EXCHANGE COMMISSION  OR  ANY STATE  SECURITIES COMMISSION
    PASSED  UPON  THE   ACCURACY  OR  ADEQUACY  OF   THIS  PROSPECTUS.  ANY
     REPRESENTATION TO THE CONTRARY IS A CRIMINAL OFFENSE.
 
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<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                            Price to  Underwriting  Proceeds to
                                            Public(1) Discount(2)  Company(1)(3)
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>       <C>          <C>
Per Debenture.............................       %          %             %
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Total.....................................   $           $            $
</TABLE>
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- --------------------------------------------------------------------------------
(1) Plus accrued interest, if any, from     , 1995 to the date of delivery.
(2) The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
    liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933. See
    "Underwriting."
(3) Before deducting expenses payable by the Company estimated at $   .
 
                                 -------------
 
  The Debentures offered by this Prospectus are offered by the Underwriters,
subject to prior sale, withdrawal, cancellation or modification of the offer
without notice, to delivery to and acceptance by the Underwriters and to
certain further conditions. It is expected that delivery of the Debentures will
be made at the offices of Lehman Brothers Inc., New York, New York on or about
     , 1995.
 
                                 -------------
 
LEHMAN BROTHERS
 
            DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
                   SECURITIES CORPORATION
                        GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
 
                                     MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
 
    , 1995
<PAGE>
 
  IN CONNECTION WITH THIS OFFERING, THE UNDERWRITERS MAY OVER-ALLOT OR EFFECT
TRANSACTIONS WHICH STABILIZE OR MAINTAIN THE MARKET PRICE OF THE DEBENTURES
OFFERED HEREBY AT A LEVEL ABOVE THAT WHICH MIGHT OTHERWISE PREVAIL IN THE OPEN
MARKET. SUCH STABILIZING, IF COMMENCED, MAY BE DISCONTINUED AT ANY TIME.
 
  THESE SECURITIES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED OR DISAPPROVED BY THE COMMISSIONER
OF INSURANCE FOR THE STATE OF NORTH CAROLINA, NOR HAS THE COMMISSIONER RULED
UPON THE ACCURACY OR ADEQUACY OF THIS DOCUMENT.
 
                             AVAILABLE INFORMATION
 
  The Company is subject to the informational requirements of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), and in accordance
therewith files reports, proxy statements and other information with the
Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission"). Such reports and proxy
and information statements and other information concerning the Company may be
inspected and copied at the public reference facilities maintained by the
Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza, Washington, D.C. 20549
and at the following regional offices of the Commission: Northwestern Atrium
Center, 500 West Madison Street, Chicago, Illinois 60661, 14th Floor; Seven
World Trade Center, Suite 1300, New York, New York 10048, and at the offices
of the New York Stock Exchange, 20 Broad Street, New York, New York 10005.
Copies of such material can be obtained by mail from the Public Reference
Section of the Commission at 450 Fifth Street, N.W., Judiciary Plaza,
Washington, D.C. 20549, at prescribed rates.
 
  The indenture pursuant to which the Debentures will be issued (the
"Indenture") provides that the Company must file with the Commission and
provide to the trustee under the Indenture and to the registered holders of
the Debentures copies of the annual reports and other information, documents,
and reports specified in Sections 13 and 15 of the Exchange Act so long as the
Debentures are outstanding.
 
                                       2
<PAGE>
 
                INCORPORATION OF CERTAIN DOCUMENTS BY REFERENCE
 
  The following documents are incorporated herein by reference:
 
  (1) The Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1994.
 
  (2) The Company's Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q for each of the first three
calendar quarters of 1995 and a Form 10-Q/A dated November 30, 1995 relating to
the quarter ended June 30, 1995.
 
  Any documents filed by the Company pursuant to Sections 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 Debentures offered hereby shall be deemed to
be incorporated by reference in this Prospectus and to be a part hereof.
 
  Any statement contained in a document incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference herein, or contained in this Prospectus, shall be
deemed to be modified or superseded for purposes of this Prospectus to the
extent that a statement contained herein or in any other subsequently filed
document which also is or is deemed to be incorporated by reference herein
modifies or supersedes such statement. Any such statement so modified or
superseded shall not be deemed, except as so modified or superseded, to
constitute a part of this Prospectus.
 
  The Company will provide without charge to each person to whom this
Prospectus is delivered, upon the written or oral request of such person, a
copy of any or all of the foregoing documents incorporated herein by reference
(other than exhibits to such documents unless such exhibits are specifically
incorporated by reference into the foregoing documents). Any such request
should be directed to: Louis G. Lenzi, Esq., MBIA Inc., 113 King Street,
Armonk, New York 10504 (telephone: (914) 273-4545).
 
                                       3
<PAGE>
 
                                  THE COMPANY
 
  MBIA Inc. (the "Company") insures municipal bonds, asset-backed securities
and other non-municipal bonds through its wholly-owned subsidiary, MBIA
Insurance Corporation ("MBIA Corp."), formerly known as Municipal Bond
Investors Assurance Corporation. MBIA Corp. is the successor to the business of
Municipal Bond Insurance Association (the "Association"), a consortium of
multi-line insurers, which began writing municipal bond insurance in 1974.
Effective as of December 31, 1989, the Company purchased Bond Investors
Guaranty Insurance Company ("BIG Ins."), another financial guarantee insurance
company, through the acquisition of all of the common stock of its parent
company, Bond Investors Group, Inc. ("BIG"). Subsequently, MBIA Corp. reinsured
the net exposure on the insurance policies previously issued by BIG Ins. and
the Company contributed the common stock of BIG to MBIA Corp. On August 21,
1990, the Company changed the name of BIG Ins. to MBIA Insurance Corp. of
Illinois ("MBIA Illinois"). Subsequently, BIG was merged into MBIA Illinois. As
of September 30, 1995, the total net par amount of outstanding bonds insured by
MBIA Corp. and MBIA Illinois was $181.5 billion and the aggregate net insurance
in force was $332.7 billion.
 
  Financial guarantee insurance provides an unconditional and irrevocable
guarantee of the payment of the principal of and interest on insured
obligations when due. MBIA Corp. primarily insures obligations sold in the new
issue and secondary markets, including those held in unit investment trusts and
by mutual funds. It also provides surety bonds for debt service reserve funds.
The principal economic value of financial guarantee insurance to the entity
offering the obligations is the saving in interest costs resulting from the
difference in the market yield between an insured obligation and the same
obligation on an uninsured basis. In addition, for complex financings and for
obligations of issuers that are not well known by investors, insured
obligations receive greater market acceptance than uninsured obligations. All
obligations insured by MBIA Corp. (as well as obligations previously insured by
MBIA Illinois) are rated AAA by both Standard & Poor's Ratings Group, a
division of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc. and Fitch Investors Service, L.P.
and Aaa by Moody's Investors Service, Inc., the highest ratings assigned by
these rating agencies.
 
  MBIA Corp. derives its income from insurance premiums earned over the life of
the insured obligations and from investment income earned on assets
representing capital, retained earnings, and deferred premium revenues. As of
September 30, 1995, the Company's deferred premium revenues were $1,599
million, its shareholders' equity was $2,090 million, and its total investments
were $5,946 million and $6,138 million at book value and market value,
respectively. As of September 30, 1995, MBIA Corp.'s investment portfolio was
$3,520 million and $3,668 million at book value and market value, respectively,
and was primarily comprised of high quality fixed income securities with
intermediate maturities.
 
  In 1990, the Company formed a French company, MBIA Assurance S.A. ("MBIA
Assurance"), to assist in writing financial guarantee insurance in the
countries of the European Community. MBIA Assurance, which is a subsidiary of
MBIA Corp., writes policies insuring public infrastructure financings, asset-
backed transactions and certain obligations of financial institutions. As of
September 30, 1995, MBIA Corp. and MBIA Assurance had collectively insured 50
transactions.
 
  Over the last three years, the Company has undertaken the development of
investment management services which capitalize on its capabilities, reputation
and marketplace relationships. The Company is delivering these services through
a group of subsidiary companies. For the nine months ended September 30, 1995,
in the aggregate, these investment management ventures contributed $10 million
to revenues.
 
  The principal executive offices of the Company are located at 113 King
Street, Armonk, New York 10504. The telephone number is (914) 273-4545.
 
                                       4
<PAGE>
 
                                 CAPITALIZATION
 
  The following table sets forth the total capitalization of the Company at
September 30, 1995 and such capitalization as adjusted to give effect to the
issuance and sale of the Debentures (without giving effect to the payment of
expenses).
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                      SEPTEMBER 30, 1995
                                                ---------------------------------
                                                    ACTUAL        AS ADJUSTED
                                                --------------  -----------------
                                                         (UNAUDITED)
                                                (DOLLARS IN THOUSANDS, EXCEPT
                                                       PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                                             <C>             <C>
Long-term debt................................. $      298,872  $      373,872
                                                --------------  --------------
Shareholders' equity:
  Preferred Stock, par value $1.00 per share;
   authorized shares--10,000,000; issued and
   outstanding shares--none....................            --              --
  Common Stock, par value $1.00 per share; au-
   thorized shares--200,000,000; issued
   shares--42,077,387..........................         42,077          42,077
  Additional paid-in capital...................        722,478         722,478
  Retained earnings............................      1,212,628       1,212,628
  Cumulative translation adjustment............          2,609           2,609
  Unrealized appreciation of investments, net
   of taxes of $67,879.........................        125,075         125,075
  Treasury shares at cost (248,331 shares).....        (14,583)        (14,583)
                                                --------------  --------------
    Total shareholders' equity.................      2,090,284       2,090,284
                                                --------------  --------------
      Total capitalization.....................     $2,389,156      $2,464,156
                                                ==============  ==============
</TABLE>
 
                                       5
<PAGE>
 
             SELECTED CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL AND STATISTICAL DATA
 
  The selected consolidated financial data in the table below for each of the
five years in the period ended December 31, 1994 have been derived from
audited consolidated financial statements of the Company previously filed with
the Commission. The selected consolidated financial data at September 30, 1994
and 1995 and for the nine months ended September 30, 1994 and 1995 are
unaudited but in the opinion of management include all adjustments, consisting
only of normal recurring adjustments, necessary for a fair presentation. The
following information should be read in conjunction with the consolidated
financial statements and related notes of the Company included, or
incorporated by reference, in the Company's periodic reports filed under the
Exchange Act that are incorporated by reference herein. See "Incorporation of
Certain Documents by Reference."
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                                            NINE MONTHS
                                         YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31,                       ENDED SEPTEMBER 30,
                          -----------------------------------------------------------  ----------------------
                             1990        1991        1992        1993         1994        1994        1995
                          ----------  ----------  ----------  ----------   ----------  ----------  ----------
                                                                                            (UNAUDITED)
                                          (DOLLARS IN MILLIONS, EXCEPT PER SHARE DATA)
<S>                       <C>         <C>         <C>         <C>          <C>         <C>         <C>
INCOME STATEMENT DATA:
 Insurance:
 Gross premiums written.  $    211.4  $    269.2  $    368.7  $    479.3   $    360.8  $    274.4  $    269.2
 Net premiums written...       181.5       223.0       336.1       431.8        311.6       235.7       237.0
 Premiums earned........       106.7       132.2       162.9       231.3        218.3       162.9       160.6
 Net investment income..       115.3       131.6       150.5       178.9        193.9       144.2       162.9
 Net realized gains
  (losses)..............        (0.2)        2.9         9.8         9.7         10.3         9.7         8.1
 Investment management
  services:
 Income.................         --          0.6         2.3         4.7         16.2        12.0        13.7
 Net realized gains
  (losses)..............         --          --          --          0.1         (0.7)       (0.6)       (3.4)
 Income before income
  taxes.................       165.3       189.7       244.3       324.0        329.4       248.4       258.3
 Net income.............       126.6       144.7       188.7       259.0        260.2       195.7       203.1
PER SHARE DATA:
 Earnings...............  $     3.33  $     3.74  $     4.62  $     6.10   $     6.18  $     4.65  $     4.82
 Dividends:
 Declared...............        0.48        0.62        0.76        0.94         1.14        0.83       0.965
 Paid...................        0.44        0.59        0.72        0.89         1.09        0.78       0.930
 Book value.............       24.35       27.58       33.00       38.18        40.96       41.09       49.97
BALANCE SHEET DATA:
 Investments............  $  1,724.5  $  1,961.4  $  2,528.7  $  3,544.3   $  4,866.8  $  4,683.1  $  6,138.4
 Total assets...........     2,158.8     2,438.5     3,049.2     4,106.3      5,456.4     5,264.0     6,758.1
 Deferred premium
  revenue...............       902.1     1,018.6     1,196.2     1,402.8      1,512.2     1,488.5     1,598.6
 Loss and loss
  adjustment expense
  reserves..............         5.0        21.2        25.5        33.7         40.1        38.8        45.2
 Long-term debt.........       200.0       198.7       298.6       298.7        298.8       298.8       298.9
 Shareholders' equity...       931.7     1,063.3     1,382.1     1,596.4      1,704.7     1,714.2     2,090.3
SELECTED FINANCIAL
 RATIOS:
 GAAP Basis(1)(3):
 Loss ratio.............         4.7%       13.0%        3.4%        3.4%         3.7%        3.5%        5.0%
 Expense ratio..........        33.7%       30.1%       32.0%       27.4%        28.8%       28.7%       28.2%
 Combined ratio.........        38.4%       43.1%       35.4%       30.8%        32.5%       32.2%       33.2%
 SAP Basis(2)(3):
 Loss ratio.............         --         12.7%        2.4%       (3.5%)        9.8%       13.1%       (0.4%)
 Expense ratio..........        23.4%       20.4%       18.3%       17.6%        22.9%       22.0%       18.8%
 Combined ratio.........        23.4%       33.1%       20.7%       14.1%        32.7%       35.1%       18.4%
OTHER FINANCIAL DATA:
 Net par amount
  outstanding...........  $ 75,979.2  $ 90,042.9  $112,483.0  $141,386.8   $164,317.9  $159,558.7  $181,481.0
 Net debt service
  outstanding...........   157,706.5   184,604.3   223,056.1   266,784.3    304,501.6   295,227.2   332,741.1
</TABLE>
- -------
(1) The GAAP loss ratio is the provision for losses and loss adjustment
    expenses divided by net premiums earned, and the GAAP expense ratio is
    underwriting expenses (adjusted for deferred policy acquisition costs) and
    operating expenses (excluding interest expense) divided by net premiums
    earned, in each case calculated in accordance with generally accepted
    accounting principles. The combined ratio is the total of the loss and
    expense ratios (see Note 2 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of
    MBIA Inc. and Subsidiaries).
(2) The SAP loss ratio is the provision for losses and loss adjustment
    expenses divided by net premiums earned, and the SAP expense ratio is
    underwriting expenses divided by net premiums written, in each case
    calculated in accordance with statutory accounting practices. The combined
    ratio is the total of the loss and expense ratios.
(3) For a discussion of the principal differences between GAAP and SAP
    accounting, see Note 3 to the Consolidated Financial Statements of MBIA
    Inc. and Subsidiaries.
 
                                       6
<PAGE>
 
                       RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
 
  The following table sets forth the ratio of earnings to fixed charges for the
Company for the periods indicated. Earnings represent consolidated earnings
before income taxes and fixed charges. Fixed charges consist of interest and
that portion of rental expense deemed representative of the interest factor for
such rental expense. The Company had no capitalized interest for the periods
presented.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                    NINE MONTHS
                                                                       ENDED
                                          YEARS ENDED DECEMBER 31, SEPTEMBER 30,
                                          ------------------------ -------------
                                          1990 1991 1992 1993 1994  1994   1995
                                          ---- ---- ---- ---- ---- ------ ------
<S>                                       <C>  <C>  <C>  <C>  <C>  <C>    <C>
Ratio of earnings to fixed charges(1).... 10.6 11.2 12.9 13.0 13.1   13.3   13.1
</TABLE>
- --------
(1) Fixed charges do not include the amount of fixed charges associated with
    obligations insured by MBIA Corp.
 
                                USE OF PROCEEDS
 
  The net proceeds to the Company from the sale of the Debentures will be used
to provide additional capital for the future needs of the Company and MBIA
Corp. and for general corporate purposes.
 
                           DESCRIPTION OF DEBENTURES
 
  The Debentures offered hereby will represent direct unsecured obligations of
the Company and will be issued under an Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1990,
between the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee (the
"Trustee"). The Debentures will be unsecured and unsubordinated obligations of
the Company and will rank equally and ratably with other unsecured and
unsubordinated obligations of the Company.
   
  The Debentures offered hereby will be limited to $75,000,000 aggregate
principal amount and will mature on       , 2025. Each Debenture will bear
interest at the rate of   % per annum from      , 1995 or from the most recent
interest payment date to which interest has been paid or provided for, payable
semi-annually on      and       of each year, commencing     , 1996 to the
person in whose name such Debenture is registered at the close of business on
      or       , as the case may be, next preceding such interest payment date.
    
  The Debentures will not be redeemable at any time prior to maturity.
 
  The Debentures do not provide for any sinking fund.
 
  The Debentures will be subject to defeasance and covenant defeasance as
provided in Article Thirteen of the Indenture.
 
  The following statements are subject to the detailed provisions of the
Indenture, a copy of which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
of which this Prospectus is a part. References in parentheses refer to sections
of the Indenture. For the definition of certain capitalized terms used in this
Description of Debentures, see "Definitions" below. Wherever particular
provisions of the Indenture are referred to, such provisions are incorporated
by reference as a part of the statements made and the statements are qualified
in their entirety by such reference.
 
 
                                       7
<PAGE>
 
CERTAIN COVENANTS OF THE COMPANY
 
  LIMITATIONS ON LIENS
 
  Under the Indenture, so long as Debentures are outstanding, the Company will
not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, directly or indirectly, create,
issue, assume, incur or guarantee any indebtedness for borrowed money which is
secured by a Mortgage of any nature on any of the present or future capital
stock of any Restricted Subsidiary unless the Debentures then outstanding shall
be secured equally and ratably with, or prior to, such other secured debt so
long as it is outstanding. (Section 3.6)
 
  LIMITATIONS ON DISPOSITION OF STOCK OF RESTRICTED SUBSIDIARIES
 
  Under the Indenture, so long as Debentures are outstanding, the Company will
not, and will not permit any Subsidiary to, sell, transfer or otherwise dispose
of any shares of capital stock of any Restricted Subsidiary except for (i) a
sale, transfer or other disposition of any capital stock of any Restricted
Subsidiary to a wholly-owned Subsidiary of the Company or such Subsidiary; (ii)
a sale, transfer or other disposition of the entire capital stock of any
Restricted Subsidiary for at least fair value (as determined by the Board of
Directors of the Company acting in good faith); or (iii) a sale, transfer or
other disposition of the capital stock of any Restricted Subsidiary for at
least fair value (as determined by the Board of Directors of the Company acting
in good faith) if, after giving effect thereto, the Company and its
Subsidiaries would own more than 80% of the issued and outstanding Voting Stock
of such Restricted Subsidiary. (Section 3.7)
 
  CONSOLIDATION, MERGER, SALE OR CONVEYANCE
 
  Under the Indenture, so long as Debentures are outstanding, the Company will
not consolidate with or merge with or into any other corporation or convey,
transfer or lease its properties or assets as an entirety or substantially as
an entirety to any person, unless (i) the successor or purchaser is a
corporation organized and existing under the laws of the United States of
America, any State thereof or the District of Columbia; (ii) such successor or
purchaser shall expressly assume, by supplemental indenture satisfactory in
form to the Trustee, the due and punctual payment of the principal of, premium,
if any, and interest on all the Debentures and the performance and observance
of every covenant and condition of the Company under the Indenture; and (iii)
immediately after giving effect to such 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 occurred and be continuing under the Indenture. (Section
9.1)
 
EVENTS OF DEFAULT
 
  Any one of the following events will constitute an Event of Default with
regard to Debentures under the Indenture: (i) default continued for 30 days in
payment of any instalment of interest on any of the Debentures when due; (ii)
default in payment of all or any part of the principal of the Debentures when
due and payable either at maturity, upon any redemption, by declaration or
otherwise; (iii) default continued for 60 days after notice of such default in
performance of any covenant or warranty of the Indenture by the Company in
respect of the Debentures; (iv) certain events of default with respect to
indebtedness of the Company (other than the Debentures or non-recourse
obligations of the Company) in an aggregate principal amount in excess of
$10,000,000 which default shall consist of the failure to make any payment at
maturity or shall have resulted in the acceleration of the maturity of such
indebtedness; or (v) certain events of bankruptcy, insolvency, or
reorganization of the Company or any Restricted Subsidiary. (Section 5.1) The
Company is required to file with the Trustee annually a written statement as to
the fulfillment of certain of its obligations under the Indenture. (Section
3.5) The Indenture provides that the Trustee may withhold notice to
 
                                       8
<PAGE>
 
the holders of Debentures of any default (except in payment of principal of or
premium, if any, or interest on the Debentures) if the Trustee considers it in
the interest of the holders of the Debentures to do so. (Section 5.11)
 
  The Indenture provides that (a) if an Event of Default described in clause
(i) or (ii) above shall have occurred and be continuing with regard to the
Debentures, either the Trustee or the holders of 25% in aggregate principal
amount of the Debentures then outstanding may declare the principal of such
Debentures and interest accrued thereon, if any, to be due and payable
immediately and (b) if an Event of Default described in clause (iii), (iv) or
(v) above shall have occurred and be continuing, either the Trustee or the
holders of 25% in aggregate principal amount of all Debt Securities (or in the
case of an Event of Default described in clause (iii) above, all series
affected by such Event of Default) then outstanding (voting as a single class)
may declare the principal of all Debt Securities (in the case of clause (iii)
above, limited to all series affected) then outstanding and interest accrued
thereon, if any, to be due and payable immediately. Upon certain conditions,
such declaration by the holders of Debt Securities of any series may be
annulled and past defaults which have been cured may be waived by (a) with
respect to clauses (i) or (ii) the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of Debt Securities of such series (each such series voting as a separate
class) then outstanding and (b) with respect to clauses (iii), (iv) or (v)
above, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the Debt
Securities of all series (in the case of clause (iii) above, limited to all
series affected by such default) then outstanding (voting as a single class).
(Section 5.1) Prior to a declaration of acceleration of maturity of the Debt
Securities of any series, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal
amount of the Debt Securities of each series voting separately or all series
voting as a single class, depending on the nature of the Event of Default, may
waive any Event of Default, and its consequences, except a default in the
payment of the principal of or premium, if any, or interest on any of the Debt
Securities of such series or in respect of a covenant or provision of the
Indenture which cannot be modified or amended without the consent of the holder
of each Debt Security of such series affected. (Section 5.10)
 
  Subject to the provisions of the Indenture relating to the duties of the
Trustee, the Trustee shall be under no obligation to exercise any of its rights
or powers under the Indenture at the request, order or direction of any of the
holders of Debentures, unless such holders shall have offered the Trustee
reasonable indemnity. (Section 6.2) Subject to such provision for
indemnification, the holders of a majority in aggregate principal amount of the
Debentures shall 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. (Section 5.9)
 
DEFEASANCE AND COVENANT DEFEASANCE
 
  The Indenture provides that, subject to certain conditions, the Company may
elect either (i) to be discharged from any and all obligations with respect to
the Debentures (except for the obligations to register the transfer or exchange
of the Debentures, to replace temporary or mutilated, defaced, destroyed, lost
or stolen Debentures, to maintain an office or agency for the payment of
principal and interest in respect of the Debentures, to appoint a paying agent
and, if the Company elects to act as the paying agent, to hold moneys for such
payment in trust) ("Defeasance") or (ii) to be released from its obligations
with respect to the Debentures under Sections 3.6 and 3.7 of the Indenture
(being the sections of the Indenture captioned "Limitations on Liens" and
"Limitations on Disposition of Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries" -- see
"Certain Covenants of the Company") ("Covenant Defeasance"), upon the deposit
with the Trustee (or another qualifying trustee) irrevocably in trust for such
purpose, of money and/or United States government obligations in an amount
which, in the opinion of a nationally recognized firm of independent public
accountants delivered to such trustee, would be sufficient to pay the principal
of and premium, if any, and interest on the Debentures on the scheduled due
dates therefor. (Sections 13.1 through 13.4)
 
 
                                       9
<PAGE>
 
  The Indenture provides that, to effect Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, the
Company must deliver to the Trustee an opinion of counsel to the effect that
Defeasance or Covenant Defeasance, as the case may be, will not cause the
holders of the Debentures to recognize income, gain or loss for federal income
tax purposes. In addition, in the case of Defeasance, such opinion of counsel
must state that a private letter ruling or a revenue ruling to the same effect
has been issued by the United States Internal Revenue Service or state that
since the date of the Indenture there has been a change in the applicable
federal income tax law to the same effect. (Sections 13.3 and 13.4)
 
MODIFICATION AND WAIVER
 
  The Indenture provides that the Company may enter into a supplemental
indenture or indentures for the purpose of adding to, changing or eliminating
any of the provisions of the Indenture or of any supplemental indentures or of
modifying the rights of the holders of Debt Securities issued thereunder if
approved in writing signed by the holders of not less than a majority in
aggregate principal amount of all outstanding Debt Securities affected thereby
voting as one class; provided that the consent of each holder of Debentures
affected thereby is required for any modification or alteration which (i)
extends the final maturity of any Debentures, or reduces the principal amount
thereof, or reduces the rate or extends the time of payment of interest
thereon, or reduces any amount payable on redemption thereof or impairs or
affects the right of any holder of Debentures to institute suit for the payment
thereof, or (ii) reduces the percentage in aggregate principal amount, the
consent of the holders of which is required for any such supplemental
indenture. (Section 8.2) The holders of at least a majority in aggregate
principal amount of the outstanding Debt Securities of all series (including
the Debentures) voting as one class may waive compliance by the Company with
certain covenants contained in the Indenture (being the Sections of the
Indenture captioned "Limitations on Liens;" "Limitations on Disposition of
Stock of Restricted Subsidiaries;" "Corporate Existence"). (Section 3.9)
 
BOOK-ENTRY, DELIVERY AND FORM
 
  The Debentures may be issued in the form of one or more fully registered
global securities (each, a "Registered Global Security"), which will be
deposited with, or on behalf of the depositary named in this Prospectus and
registered in the name of such depositary or its nominee. (Section 2.12)
 
  Except as set forth below, Debentures will be available for purchase in book-
entry form only in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. Upon
issuance, all Debentures will be represented by one fully registered global
security (the "Registered Global Security"). The Registered Global Security
will be deposited with, or on behalf of, The Depository Trust Company, as
Depositary, and registered in the name of the Depositary or a nominee thereof.
The Registered Global Security may be transferred, in whole but not in part, by
the Depositary to a nominee of such Depositary or by a nominee of such
Depositary to such Depositary or another nominee of such Depositary or by such
Depositary or any such nominee to a successor Depositary selected or approved
by the Company or to a nominee of such successor Depositary.
 
  The Depositary has advised the Company as follows: The Depositary is a
limited-purpose trust company organized under the Banking Law of the State of
New York, a member of the Federal Reserve System, a "clearing corporation"
within the meaning of the New York Uniform Commercial Code, and a "clearing
agency" registered pursuant to the provisions of Section 17A of the Exchange
Act. The Depositary was created to hold securities of its participants and to
facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions among its participants
in such securities through electronic computerized book-entry changes in
accounts of the participants, thereby eliminating the need for physical
movement of securities certificates. Direct participants include securities
brokers and dealers (including the Underwriters), banks, trust companies,
clearing corporations, and certain other organizations ("Direct Participants").
The Depositary is owned by a number of its Direct Participants
 
                                       10
<PAGE>
 
and by the New York Stock Exchange, Inc., the American Stock Exchange, Inc. and
the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. Access to the Depositary
book-entry system is also available to others, such as banks, brokers, dealers
and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship
with a Direct Participant, either directly or indirectly. Persons who are not
participants may beneficially own securities held by the Depositary only
through Direct Participants. The rules applicable to the Depositary and its
participants are on file with the Commission.
 
  Ownership of beneficial interests in the Debentures will be limited to
persons that have accounts with the Depositary ("Agent Members") or persons
that may hold interests through Agent Members. The Depositary has advised the
Company that upon the issuance of the Registered Global Security representing
the Debentures, the Depositary will credit, on its book-entry registration and
transfer system, the Agent Members' accounts with the respective principal
amounts of the Debentures beneficially owned by such Agent Members. Ownership
of beneficial interests in such Registered Global Security will be shown on,
and the transfer of such ownership interests will be effected only through,
records maintained by the Depositary (with respect to interests of Agent
Members) and on the records of Agent Members (with respect to interests of
persons holding through Agent Members). The laws of some states may require
that certain purchasers of securities take physical delivery of such securities
in definitive form. Such limits and such laws may impair the ability to own,
transfer or pledge beneficial interests in the Registered Global Security.
 
  So long as the Depositary, or its nominee, is the registered owner of the
Registered Global Security, the Depositary or its nominee, as the case may be,
will be considered the sole owner or Holder of the Debentures represented by
such Registered Global Security for all purposes under the Indenture. Except as
provided below, owners of beneficial interests in the Registered Global
Security will not be entitled to have the Debentures represented by such
Registered Global Security registered in their names, will not receive or be
entitled to receive physical delivery of the Debentures in definitive form and
will not be considered the owners or Holders thereof under the Indenture.
Accordingly, each Person owning a beneficial interest in the Registered Global
Security must rely on the procedures of the Depositary and, if such Person is
not an Agent Member, on the procedures of the Agent Member through which such
Person owns its interest, to exercise any rights of a Holder under the
Indenture. The Company understands that under existing industry practices, in
the event that the Company requests any action of Holders or that an owner of a
beneficial interest in the Registered Global Security desires to give or take
any action which a Holder is entitled to give or take under the Indenture, the
Depositary would authorize the Agent Members holding the relevant beneficial
interests to give or take such action, and such Agent Members would authorize
beneficial owners owning through such Agent Members to give or take such action
or would otherwise act upon the instructions of beneficial owners holding
through them.
 
  Payment of principal of, and interest on, Debentures registered in the name
of the Depositary or its nominee will be made by wire transfer of immediately
available funds on the date such payment is due to the Depositary or its
nominee, as the case may be, as the Holder of the Registered Global Security
representing such Debentures. None of the Company, the Trustee or any other
agent of the Company or 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. The Company expects that the
Depositary, upon receipt of any payment of principal or interest in respect of
the Registered Global Security, will credit the accounts of the Agent Members
with payment in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests
in such Registered Global Security as shown on the records of the Depositary.
The Company also expects that payments by Agent Members to owners of beneficial
interests in the Registered Global Security 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 Agent Members.
 
                                       11
<PAGE>
 
  If (x) the Depositary notifies the Company that it is at any time unwilling
or unable to continue as Depositary or the Depositary ceases to be a clearing
agency registered under the Exchange Act, and a successor Depositary is not
appointed by the Company within 90 days after the Company receives such notice,
or becomes aware of such condition, as the case may be, or (y) the Company
executes and delivers to the Trustee an Officers' Certificate to the effect
that the Registered Global Security shall be transferable and exchangeable, the
Registered Global Security will be transferable or exchangeable for Debentures
in definitive form of an equal aggregate principal amount without coupons and
in denominations of $1,000 and integral multiples thereof. Such definitive
Debentures shall be registered in such name or names as the Depositary shall
instruct the Trustee. It is expected that such instructions may be based upon
directions received by the Depositary from Agent Members with respect to
ownership of beneficial interests in the Registered Global Security.
 
SAME-DAY SETTLEMENT AND PAYMENT
 
  Settlement for the Debentures will be made by the Underwriters in immediately
available funds.
 
  Secondary trading in long-term notes and debentures of corporate issuers is
generally settled in clearing-house or next-day funds. In contrast, the
Debentures will trade in the Same-Day Funds Settlement System maintained by the
Depositary until maturity, and secondary market trading activity in the
Debentures will therefore be required by the Depositary to settle in
immediately available funds. No assurance can be given as to the effect, if
any, of settlement in immediately available funds on trading activity in the
Debentures.
 
CONCERNING THE TRUSTEE
 
  The Trustee, The First National Bank of Chicago, performs services for the
Company in the ordinary course of business.
 
DEFINITIONS
 
  The covenants and other provisions relating to the Debt Securities (including
the Debentures) are to be read in conjunction with the definitions contained in
the Indenture, certain of which are substantially to the following effect:
 
  "Debt Securities" means all unsecured debt securities, notes or other
evidences of indebtedness issued in one or more series that the Company may
issue from time to time in accordance with the terms of the Indenture.
 
  "Mortgage" means any mortgage, pledge, lien, security interest or other
encumbrance.
 
  "Restricted Subsidiary" means MBIA Corp. and any successor to all or
substantially all of its business, provided that such successor is a
Subsidiary.
 
  "Subsidiary" means a corporation more than 50% of the outstanding Voting
Stock of which is owned, directly or indirectly, by the Company or by one or
more other Subsidiaries, or by the Company and one or more other Subsidiaries.
 
  "Voting Stock" means, with respect to any Subsidiary, stock of any class or
classes (or equivalent interests), if the holders of the stock of such class or
classes (or equivalent interests) are ordinarily, in the absence of
contingencies, entitled to vote for the election of the directors (or persons
performing similar functions) of such corporation, even though the right so to
vote has been suspended by the happening of such a contingency.
 
 
                                       12
<PAGE>
 
                                  UNDERWRITING
 
  Subject to the terms and conditions set forth in the Underwriting Agreement
(which is filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement of which this
Prospectus is a part), the Company has agreed to sell to each of the
Underwriters named below, and each of the Underwriters has severally agreed to
purchase from the Company, the principal amount of the Debentures set forth
opposite its name below.
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                PRINCIPAL AMOUNT
   UNDERWRITERS                                                  OF DEBENTURES
   ------------                                                 ----------------
   <S>                                                          <C>
   Lehman Brothers Inc. ......................................    $
   Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation........
   Goldman, Sachs & Co. ......................................
   Merrill Lynch, Pierce, Fenner & Smith
        Incorporated..........................................
                                                                  -----------
       Total..................................................    $75,000,000
                                                                  ===========
</TABLE>
 
  Under the terms and conditions of the Underwriting Agreement, the
Underwriters are committed to take and pay for all of the Debentures if any are
taken.
 
  The Company has been advised that the Underwriters propose initially to offer
the Debentures to the public at the public offering price set forth on the
cover page of this Prospectus, and to certain dealers at such price less a
concession not in excess of  % of the principal amount. The Underwriters 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.
 
  The Company has agreed to indemnify the Underwriters against certain
liabilities, including liabilities under the Securities Act of 1933, as
amended, or to contribute to payments that the Underwriters may be required to
make in respect thereof.
 
  The Company does not intend to list the Debentures on any securities exchange
or on the NASDAQ National Market. The Company has been advised by each
Underwriter that it presently intends to make a market in the Debentures;
however, the Underwriters are not obliged to do so. Any such market-making
activity may be discontinued at any time, for any reason, without notice. If
each Underwriter ceases to act as a market maker for the Debentures for any
reason, there can be no assurance that another firm or person will make a
market in the Debentures. Accordingly, there can be no assurance that an active
market for the Debentures will develop or, if a market does develop, at what
prices the Debentures will trade.
 
  Certain of the Underwriters have provided from time to time, and expect to
provide in the future, investment banking services to the Company and its
affiliates, for which such Underwriters have received and will receive
customary fees and commissions.
 
                                 LEGAL OPINIONS
 
  The validity of the Debentures offered hereby is being passed upon for the
Company by Debevoise & Plimpton, 875 Third Avenue, New York, New York 10022,
and for the Underwriters by Simpson Thacher & Bartlett (a partnership which
includes professional corporations), 425 Lexington Avenue, New York, New York
10017. Such counsel may rely, as to matters of Connecticut law, upon the
opinion of Day, Berry & Howard, CityPlace, Hartford, Connecticut 06103,
Connecticut counsel for the Company. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett renders
services to the Company on a regular basis.
 
 
                                       13
<PAGE>
 
                                    EXPERTS
 
  The consolidated financial statements and the related consolidated financial
statement schedules of the Company appearing or incorporated by reference in
the Company's Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 1994,
have been audited by Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P., independent accountants, as set
forth in their reports thereon dated February 1, 1995 incorporated by reference
or included therein and incorporated herein by reference. Such consolidated
financial statements and financial statement schedules are incorporated herein
by reference in reliance upon such reports given upon the authority of such
firm as experts in accounting and auditing.
 
                                       14
<PAGE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
 NO DEALER, SALESPERSON OR OTHER PERSON HAS BEEN AUTHORIZED TO GIVE ANY INFOR-
MATION OR TO MAKE ANY REPRESENTATIONS NOT CONTAINED IN THIS PROSPECTUS, AND,
IF GIVEN OR MADE, SUCH INFORMATION OR REPRESENTATIONS MUST NOT BE RELIED UPON
AS HAVING BEEN AUTHORIZED BY THE COMPANY OR ANY OF THE UNDERWRITERS. THIS PRO-
SPECTUS DOES NOT CONSTITUTE AN OFFER OF ANY SECURITIES OTHER THAN THOSE TO
WHICH IT RELATES OR AN OFFER TO SELL, OR SOLICITATION OF AN OFFER TO BUY, TO
ANY PERSON IN ANY JURISDICTION WHERE SUCH AN OFFER OR SOLICITATION WOULD BE
UNLAWFUL. NEITHER THE DELIVERY OF THIS PROSPECTUS NOR ANY SALE MADE HEREUNDER
SHALL, UNDER ANY CIRCUMSTANCES, CREATE ANY IMPLICATION THAT THE INFORMATION
CONTAINED HEREIN IS CORRECT AS OF ANY TIME SUBSEQUENT TO THE DATE HEREOF.
 
                               -----------------
 
                               TABLE OF CONTENTS
 
<TABLE>
<CAPTION>
                                                                            Page
                                                                            ----
<S>                                                                         <C>
Available Information......................................................   2
Incorporation of Certain Documents by Reference............................   3
The Company................................................................   4
Capitalization.............................................................   5
Selected Consolidated Financial and Statistical Data.......................   6
Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges.........................................   7
Use of Proceeds............................................................   7
Description of Debentures..................................................   7
Underwriting...............................................................  13
Legal Opinions.............................................................  13
Experts....................................................................  14
</TABLE>
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 
                                  $75,000,000
                                      
                                    MBIA     
 
                           % DEBENTURES DUE    , 2025
 
                               -----------------
 
                                  PROSPECTUS
                                      , 1995
 
                               -----------------
 
                                LEHMAN BROTHERS
 
                         DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
                            SECURITIES CORPORATION
 
                             GOLDMAN, SACHS & CO.
 
                              MERRILL LYNCH & CO.
 
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
- -------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<PAGE>
 
                                    PART II
 
                     INFORMATION NOT REQUIRED IN PROSPECTUS
 
ITEM 14. OTHER EXPENSES OF ISSUANCE AND DISTRIBUTION.
 
  The following table sets forth the estimated expenses in connection with the
issuance and distribution of the Debentures being registered, other than
underwriting discounts and commissions:
 
<TABLE>       
      <S>                                                               <C>
      Registration Fee................................................. $ 25,863
      Trustee Fees.....................................................    7,500
      Printing.........................................................   50,000
      Accounting Fees..................................................   30,000
      Legal Fees.......................................................   40,000
      Rating Agency Fees...............................................   70,000
      Blue Sky Fees and Expenses.......................................   20,000
      Miscellaneous....................................................    6,637
                                                                        --------
          TOTAL........................................................ $250,000
                                                                        ========
</TABLE>    
 
ITEM 15. INDEMNIFICATION OF OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
 
  Section 33-320a of the Stock Corporation Act of the State of Connecticut
provides that a corporation shall indemnify a director or officer against
judgments, fines, penalties, amounts paid in settlement and reasonable expenses
actually incurred by him, including attorneys' fees, for actions brought or
threatened to be brought against him in his capacity as a director or officer,
other than actions brought by or in the right of the corporation, when it is
determined by certain disinterested parties that he acted in a manner
reasonably believed to be in the corporation's best interest. In any criminal
action or proceeding, it also must be determined that the director or officer
had no reason to believe that his conduct was unlawful. The director or officer
must also be indemnified when he is successful on the merits in the defense of
a proceeding or in circumstances where a court determines that he is fairly and
reasonably entitled to be indemnified, and the court approves the amount. In
connection with shareholder derivative suits, the director or officer may not
be indemnified unless he is finally adjudged not to have breached his duty to
the corporation or a court has determined that he is fairly and reasonably
entitled to be indemnified, and then for such amount as the court shall
determine. The statute provides that the indemnification provided thereby is
exclusive and cannot be reduced or expanded by charter, by-law or agreement,
although a corporation may procure insurance providing greater indemnification.
 
  The Company has purchased insurance providing officers and directors of the
Company (and their heirs and other legal representatives) coverage against
certain liabilities arising from any negligent act, error, omission or breach
of duty claimed against them solely by reason of their being such officers and
directors, and providing coverage for the Company against its obligation to
provide indemnification as required by the above-described statute. The
insurance policy has a $50 million aggregate policy limit for any loss or
losses during the policy year.
 
  The Underwriting Agreement filed as Exhibit 1.01 hereto provides for
indemnification of the Company's officers and directors by the Underwriters
under certain circumstances.
 
  The Amended and Restated Shareholders' Agreement among the Company and its
Founding Shareholders provides for indemnification of the shareholders that are
parties thereto under certain circumstances (filed as Exhibit 10.30 to the
Company's Registration Statement on Form S-1 (Registration No. 33-14474)).
 
                                      II-1
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 16. EXHIBITS AND FINANCIAL STATEMENT SCHEDULES.
 
  (A) EXHIBITS
 
<TABLE>       
     <C>       <S>                                                          <C>
      1.       Underwriting Agreement.
      1.01.    Form of Underwriting Agreement.++
      4.       Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders.
      4.01.    Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1990, between the Company
               and The First
               National Bank of Chicago, as trustee, incorporated by ref-
               erence to Exhibit 4.01 to the Company's Registration
               Statement on Form S-3 (Registration No. 33-33937).
      5.       Opinions as to Validity.
      5.01.    Opinion of Debevoise & Plimpton.
      5.02.    Opinion of Day, Berry & Howard.
     12.       Statement Re Computation of Ratios.
     12.01.    Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges.++
     23.       Consents of Experts and Counsel.
     23.01.    Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
     23.02.    Consent of Debevoise & Plimpton (contained in Exhibit
               5.01).
     23.03.    Consent of Day, Berry & Howard (contained in Exhibit
               5.02).
     24.       Powers of Attorney.
     24.01.    Powers of Attorney.++
     25.       Statement of Eligibility of Trustee.
     25.01.    Statement of Eligibility on Form T-1 under the Trust In-
               denture Act of 1939, as amended, of The First National
               Bank of Chicago.++
</TABLE>    
- --------
      
   ++ Previously filed     
 
ITEM 17. UNDERTAKINGS.
 
  (A) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that:
 
    (1) For purposes of determining any liability under the Securities Act of
  1933, the information omitted from the form of prospectus filed as part of
  this registration statement in reliance upon Rule 430A and contained in a
  form of prospectus filed by the registrant pursuant to Rule 424(b)(1) or
  (4) or 497(h) under the Securities Act shall be deemed to be part of this
  registration statement as of the time it was declared effective.
 
    (2) For the purpose of determining any liability under the Securities Act
  of 1933, each post-effective amendment that contains a form of prospectus
  shall be deemed to be a new registration statement relating to the
  securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities at that
  time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
  (B) The undersigned registrant hereby undertakes that, for purposes of
determining any liability under the Securities Act of 1933, each filing of the
registrant's annual report pursuant to Section 13(a) or Section 15(d) of the
Securities Exchange Act of 1934 that is incorporated by reference in the
registration statement shall be deemed to be a new registration statement
relating to the securities offered therein, and the offering of such securities
at that time shall be deemed to be the initial bona fide offering thereof.
 
  (C) Insofar as indemnification for liabilities arising under the Securities
Act of 1933 may be permitted to directors, officers and controlling persons of
the registrant pursuant to the foregoing
 
                                      II-2
<PAGE>
 
provisions, or otherwise, the registrant has been advised that in the opinion
of the Securities and Exchange Commission such indemnification is against
public policy as expressed in said Act and is, therefore, unenforceable. In the
event that a claim for indemnification against such liabilities (other than the
payment by the registrant of expenses incurred or paid by a director, officer
or controlling person of the registrant in the successful defense of any
action, suit or proceeding) is asserted by such director, officer or
controlling person in connection with the securities being registered, the
registrant will, unless in the opinion of its counsel the matter has been
settled by controlling precedent, submit to a court of appropriate jurisdiction
the question whether such indemnification by it is against public policy as
expressed in the Act and will be governed by the final adjudication of such
issue.
 
                                      II-3
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURES
   
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THE REGISTRANT
CERTIFIES THAT IT HAS REASONABLE GROUNDS TO BELIEVE THAT IT MEETS ALL OF THE
REQUIREMENTS FOR FILING ON FORM S-3 AND HAS DULY CAUSED THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT TO BE SIGNED ON ITS BEHALF BY THE UNDERSIGNED, THEREUNTO DULY
AUTHORIZED, IN ARMONK, NEW YORK, ON DECEMBER 15, 1995.     
 
                                          MBIA Inc.
                                          (Registrant)
 
                                                   /s/ David H. Elliott
                                          By __________________________________
                                                     DAVID H. ELLIOTT,
                                               CHAIRMAN AND CHIEF EXECUTIVE
                                                          OFFICER
 
  PURSUANT TO THE REQUIREMENTS OF THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933, THIS REGISTRATION
STATEMENT HAS BEEN SIGNED BY THE FOLLOWING PERSONS IN THE CAPACITIES AND ON THE
DATES INDICATED:
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                 SIGNATURE                            TITLE                   DATE
                 ---------                            -----                   ----
<S>                                         <C>                        <C>
           /s/ David H. Elliott             Chairman, Chief Executive  December 15, 1995
- -------------------------------------------  Officer and Director    
             DAVID H. ELLIOTT                (principal executive     
                                             officer)                 
                                                                      
                                                                      
           /s/ Richard L. Weill             President and Director     December 15, 1995
- -------------------------------------------
             RICHARD L. WEILL                                     

         /s/ Julliette S. Tehrani           Senior Vice President and  December 15, 1995
- -------------------------------------------  Chief Financial Officer
           JULLIETTE S. TEHRANI              (principal financial    
                                             officer)                
                                                                     
                                                                     
         /s/ Elizabeth B. Sullivan          Vice President and         December 15, 1995
- -------------------------------------------  Controller (principal
           ELIZABETH B. SULLIVAN             accounting officer)  
                                                                  
                                                                  
          /s/ William O. Bailey*            Director                   December 15, 1995 
- -------------------------------------------
             WILLIAM O. BAILEY                                                           

         /s/ Joseph W. Brown, Jr.*          Director                   December 15, 1995 
- -------------------------------------------
           JOSEPH W. BROWN, JR.                                                          

            /s/ David C. Clapp*             Director                   December 15, 1995 
- -------------------------------------------
              DAVID C. CLAPP                                                             
 
          /s/ Claire L. Gaudiani*           Director                   December 15, 1995
- -------------------------------------------
            CLAIRE L. GAUDIANI                      
</TABLE>    
 
                                      II-4
<PAGE>
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
                 SIGNATURE                           TITLE                  DATE
                 ---------                           -----                  ----
<S>                                         <C>                      <C>
         /s/ William H. Gray, III*          Director                 December 15, 1995
- -------------------------------------------
           WILLIAM H. GRAY, III                     

           /s/ Freda S. Johnson*            Director                 December 15, 1995
- -------------------------------------------
             FREDA S. JOHNSON                       

          /s/ Daniel P. Kearney*            Director                 December 15, 1995
- -------------------------------------------
             DANIEL P. KEARNEY                      

          /s/ James A. Lebenthal*           Director                 December 15, 1995
- -------------------------------------------
            JAMES A. LEBENTHAL                      

          /s/ Robert B. Nicholas*           Director                 December 15, 1995
- -------------------------------------------
            ROBERT B. NICHOLAS                      

         /s/ Pierre-Henri Richard*          Director                 December 15, 1995
- -------------------------------------------
           PIERRE-HENRI RICHARD                     

            /s/ John A. Rolls*              Director                 December 15, 1995
- -------------------------------------------
               JOHN A. ROLLS                        
</TABLE>    
 
          /s/ Louis G. Lenzi
*By _________________________________
            LOUIS G. LENZI
           ATTORNEY-IN-FACT
 
                                      II-5
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
 
<TABLE>   
<CAPTION>
 EXHIBITS                         DESCRIPTION                          PAGE NO.
 <C>      <S>                                                          <C>
  1.      Underwriting Agreement.
  1.01.   Form of Underwriting Agreement.++
  4.      Instruments Defining the Rights of Security Holders.
  4.01.   Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1990, between the Company and The
          First National Bank of Chicago, as trustee, incorporated by reference
          to Exhibit 4.01 to the Company's Registration Statement on Form S-3
          (Registration No. 33-33937).
  5.      Opinions as to Validity.
  5.01.   Opinion of Debevoise & Plimpton.
  5.02.   Opinion of Day, Berry & Howard.
 12.      Statement Re Computation of Ratios.
 12.01.   Computation of Ratios of Earnings to Fixed Charges.++
 23.      Consents of Experts and Counsel.
 23.01.   Consent of Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.
 23.02.   Consent of Debevoise & Plimpton (contained in Exhibit
          5.01).
 23.03.   Consent of Day, Berry & Howard (contained in Exhibit
          5.02).
 24.      Powers of Attorney.
 24.01.   Powers of Attorney.++
 25.      Statement of Eligibility of Trustee.
 25.01.   Statement of Eligibility and Qualification on Form T-1 under the
          Trust Indenture Act of 1939, as amended, of The First National Bank
          of Chicago.++
</TABLE>    
- --------
     
  ++ Previously filed.     

<PAGE>
 
                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.01

                     [Letterhead of DEBEVOISE & PLIMPTON]


                                                               December 15, 1995

MBIA Inc.
113 King Street
Armonk, New York 10504

            Registration Statement of Form S-3
                  Registration No. 33-64861
            ----------------------------------

Ladies and Gentlemen:

        We have acted as counsel to MBIA Inc., a Connecticut corporation (the 
"Company"), in connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities 
and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as 
amended (the "Act"), of the Registration Statement (No. 33-64861) on Form S-3, 
as amended (the "Registration Statement"), and the prospectus included therein 
(the "Prospectus"), relating to the proposed issuance by the Company of 
$75,000,000 aggregate principal amount of Debentures due December __, 2025 (the 
"Debentures") under an Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1990 (the "Indenture"), 
between the Company and the First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee.

        In so acting, we have examined and relied upon the originals, or copies 
certified or otherwise identified to our satisfaction, of such records, 
documents and other instruments as in our judgment are necessary or 
appropriate to enable us to render the opinion expressed below. Our
<PAGE>
 
MBIA Inc.                              2                       December 15, 1995


opinion assumes that the Indenture will remain in substantially the form 
incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.01 to the Registration Statement.

        Based on the foregoing, we are of the opinion that, when (a) the terms, 
                                                                  -
issuance, execution and delivery by the Company of any Debentures have been duly
authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and as contemplated 
by the Indenture, and (b) such Debentures have been duly executed and delivered
                       -
by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and sold as contemplated by each of
the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the Indenture, such Debentures
will be validly issued and will constitute valid and binding obligations of the
Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, except
as may be limited by applicable bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization,
moratorium or similar laws affecting the rights of creditors generally and by
general principles of equity.

        In rendering the opinion expressed above, we have relied as to all 
matters involving the law of the State of Connecticut on the opinion of Day, 
Berry & Howard, Connecticut counsel for the Company, dated today and addressed 
to you.

        We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the 
Registration Statement and to the use of our name under the heading "Legal 
Opinions" in the Prospectus. In giving such consent, we do not thereby concede 
that we are within the category of persons whose consent is required under 
Section 7 of the Act or the Rules and Regulations of the Commission thereunder.

                                                Very truly yours,
                                                
                                                /s/ Debevoise & Plimpton

<PAGE>

                                                                    EXHIBIT 5.02
                                                                                
                      [Letterhead of Day, Berry & Howard]

                                        December 15, 1995


MBIA Inc.
113 King Street
Armonk, New York 10504

Re:   MBIA Inc.
      Registration Statement on Form S-3
      Registration No. 33-64861
      _________________________

Dear Ladies and Gentlemen:

      We have acted as special Connecticut counsel to MBIA Inc., a Connecticut 
corporation (the "Company"), as to certain matters of Connecticut law in 
connection with the preparation and filing with the Securities and Exchange 
Commission (the "Commission") under the Securities Act of 1933, as amended (the 
"Act"), of the above referenced Registration Statement on Form S-3, as amended 
(the "Registration Statement") and the prospectus included therein (the 
"Prospectus"), relating to the proposed issuance by the Company of $75,000,000 
aggregate principal amount of Debentures due __________, 2025 (the "Debentures")
on terms to be determined at the time of offering.  The Debentures will be 
issued under an Indenture, dated as of August 1, 1990 (the "Indenture"), between
the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago, as Trustee.

      We have examined the Company's Certificate of Incorporation and By-Laws, 
both as amended and restated to date, records of the corporate proceedings of 
the Board of Directors of the Company with respect to the Debentures, the 
Registration Statement and the offering contemplated thereby and such other 
documents, and have made such examination of law, as we have deemed relevant and
necessary in order to render our opinion.

      We have also examined and relied upon the form of the Indenture
incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.01 to the Registration Statement, the
governing law of which is expressly stated to be that of the State of New York.
For purposes of the opinion set forth below, we have assumed that the Indenture
constitutes, and the Debentures, when duly
<PAGE>
 
MBIA Inc.
December 15, 1995
Page 2

issued, will constitute, legal, valid and binding obligations of the Company 
under the laws of the State of New York (as to which we express no opinion). Our
opinion assumes that the Indenture will remain in substantially the form 
incorporated by reference as Exhibit 4.01 to the Registration Statement.

        In rendering the opinion set forth below, we have assumed the corporate 
authority of the Trustee to enter into and perform the Indenture and the due 
authorization, execution and delivery of the Indenture by the Trustee.

        Based on and subject to the foregoing, we are of the opinion that when
(a) the terms, issuance, execution and delivery by the Company of the Debentures
have been duly authorized by all necessary corporate action of the Company and
as contemplated by the Indenture and (b) the Debentures have been duly executed
and delivered by the Company, authenticated by the Trustee and sold as
contemplated by each of the Registration Statement, the Prospectus and the
Indenture, and assuming that the terms of the Debentures are in compliance with
the Indenture, the Debentures will be validly issued and will constitute valid
and binding obligations of the Company, enforceable against the Company in
accordance with their terms, except that (i) enforcement of the Debentures may
be limited by bankruptcy, insolvency, reorganization, moratorium or similar laws
affecting the enforcement of creditors' rights generally and (ii) enforceability
of the Debentures may be limited by general principles of equity.

        Our opinion expressed above is limited to the laws of the State of 
Connecticut.

        Messrs. Debevoise and Plimpton and Messrs. Simpson Thacher & Bartlett 
may rely upon this opinion as though it were addressed to them on the date 
hereof.

        We hereby consent to the filing of this opinion as an exhibit to the 
Registration Statement and to the reference to our firm in the Prospectus under 
the caption "Legal Opinions." In giving such consent, we do not thereby admit 
that we are in the category of persons whose consent is required under Section 7
of the Act, or the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder.


                                                Very truly yours,

                                            /s/ Day, Berry & Howard

<PAGE>
 
                                                                   EXHIBIT 23.01

                        CONSENT OF INDEPENDENT ACCOUNTANTS



We consent to the incorporation by reference in this registration statement on 
Form S-3 (File No. 33-64861) of MBIA Inc. and Subsidiaries (the "Company") 
of:

1. Our report dated February 1, 1995, on our audits of the consolidated
   financial statements of the Company as of December 31, 1994 and 1993 and for
   each of the three years in the period ended December 31, 1994, which report
   is incorporated by reference into the Company's 1994 Annual Report on Form 
   10-K.

2. Our report dated February 1, 1995 on our audits of the financial statement
   schedules of the Company, which report is included in the Company's 1994
   Annual Report on Form 10-K.

We also consent to the reference to our firm under the caption "Experts".

                                        Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.

New York, New York
December 14, 1995


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