MBIA INC
8-K, 1997-07-14
SURETY INSURANCE
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<PAGE>
 
                      SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

                            Washington, D.C.  20549

                                   ---------

                                   Form 8-K

                                CURRENT REPORT


                     PURSUANT TO SECTION 13 OR 15(d) OF THE
                        SECURITIES EXCHANGE ACT OF 1934


                Date of Report:      July 14, 1997



                                   MBIA Inc.
            ------------------------------------------------------ 
            (Exact name of registrant as specified in its charter)


        Connecticut                  1-9583                  06-1185706
       -------------        ------------------------     ----------------
       (State of            (Commission File Number)     (IRS Employer
        Incorporation)                                    Identification No.)


                113 King Street, Armonk, New York              10503
         -------------------------------------------        ----------
         (Address of principal executive offices)           (Zip Code)


                                (914) 273-4545
                ----------------------------------------------------
                (Registrant's telephone number, including area code)
<PAGE>
 
ITEM 7.    FINANCIAL STATEMENTS AND EXHIBITS
           ---------------------------------

        (c)   Exhibits

        1.1   Underwriting Agreement, dated July 14, 1997, among the Company, 
Lehman Brothers Inc., Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation and 
Smith Barney Inc.

        1.2   Underwriting Agreement, dated July 14, 1997, among the Company, 
Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation and Lehman Brothers Inc.

        12.1  Computation of the Ratio of Earnings to Fixed Charges for MBIA 
Inc. and Subsidiaries.


                                  Page 2 of 4
<PAGE>
 
                                   SIGNATURE


        Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, the
registrant has duly caused this report to be signed on its behalf by the 
undersigned hereunto duly authorized.



                                                MBIA INC.
                                                (Registrant)



Date:  July 14, 1997                            By /s/ Richard L. Weill
                                                  -----------------------
                                                  Name:  Richard L. Weill
                                                  Title: President


                                  Page 3 of 4
<PAGE>
 
                                 EXHIBIT INDEX
                                 -------------

Exhibit No.                             Description
- -----------                             -----------

1.1                                     Underwriting Agreement, dated
                                        July 14, 1997, among the Company,
                                        Lehman Brothers Inc., Donaldson
                                        Lufkin & Jenrette Securities
                                        Corporation and Smith Barney Inc.

1.2                                     Underwriting Agreement, dated 
                                        July 14, 1997, among the Company,
                                        Donaldson Lufkin & Jenrette
                                        Securities Corporation and Lehman
                                        Brothers Inc.

12.1                                    Computation of the Ratio of
                                        Earnings to Fixed Charges for 
                                        MBIA Inc. and Subsidiaries.


                                  Page 4 of 4

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.1

                                                               STB DRAFT 7/10/97


                                1,000,000 Shares

                                   MBIA INC.

                                  Common Stock

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                             ----------------------


                                                            July 14, 1997



LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
  SECURITIES CORPORATION
SMITH BARNEY INC.
  As representatives of the
    several underwriters
    named in Schedule I hereto
  c/o Lehman Brothers Inc.
      3 World Financial Center
      New York, New York  10285-0090

Dear Sirs:

          MBIA Inc., a Connecticut corporation (the "Company"), proposes to
issue and sell to the several Underwriters (as defined below) an aggregate of
1,000,000 shares of its common stock (par value $1.00 per share) ("Common
Stock") of the Company.  The 1,000,000 shares of Common Stock to be issued and
sold by the Company are hereinafter called the Firm Shares.

          It is understood that, subject to the conditions hereinafter stated,
the Firm Shares will be sold to the several Underwriters named in Schedule I
hereto (the "Underwriters").  Lehman Brothers Inc., Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
Securities Corporation and Smith Barney Inc. shall act as representatives (the
"Representatives") of the several Underwriters.

          The Company also proposes to issue and sell to the several
Underwriters not more than an additional 150,000 shares of its Common Stock (the
"Additional Shares"), if requested by the Underwriters as provided in Section 2
hereof.  The Firm Shares and the Additional Shares are herein collectively
called the Shares.

          1.   Registration Statement and Prospectus.  The Company has prepared
               -------------------------------------                           
and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") in
accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively called the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               2


"Act"), a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-15003) including a
prospectus relating to the Shares, which has become effective under the Act.
The registration statement as amended at the time when the Company filed with
the Commission its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1996 (the "1996 10-K"), including any documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein at such time, is hereinafter referred to as
the Registration Statement; and the prospectus (as amended or supplemented by a
prospectus supplement relating to the terms of the offering of the Shares) in
the form first used to confirm sales of Shares is hereinafter referred to as the
Prospectus.

          2.   Agreements to Sell and Purchase.  The Company hereby agrees to
               -------------------------------                               
issue and sell the Firm Shares to the several Underwriters, and each of the
Underwriters, upon the basis of the representations and warranties contained in
this Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, agrees, severally and
not jointly, to purchase from the Company at a price per share of $       (the
"Purchase Price"), the respective number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the
name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto.

          On the basis of the representations and warranties contained in this
Agreement, and subject to its terms and conditions, the Company agrees to issue
and sell to the Underwriters the Additional Shares, and the Underwriters shall
have the right to purchase, severally and not jointly, up to 150,000 Additional
Shares from the Company at the Purchase Price.  Additional Shares may be
purchased solely for the purpose of covering over-allotments made in connection
with the offering of the Firm Shares.  The Underwriters may exercise their right
to purchase Additional Shares in whole or in part from time to time by giving
written notice thereof to the Company within 30 days after the date of this
Agreement.  The Representatives shall give any such notice on behalf of the
Underwriters and such notice shall specify the aggregate number of Additional
Shares to be purchased pursuant to such exercise and the date for payment and
delivery thereof.  The date specified in any such notice shall be a business day
(i) no earlier than the Closing Date (as hereinafter defined), (ii) no later
than ten business days after such notice has been given and (iii) no earlier
than two business days after such notice has been given.  If any Additional
Shares are to be purchased, each Underwriter, severally and not jointly, agrees
to purchase from the Company the number of Additional Shares (subject to such
adjustments to eliminate fractional shares as the Representatives may determine)
which bears the same proportion to the total number of Additional Shares to be
purchased from the Company as the number of Firm Shares set forth opposite the
name of such Underwriter in Schedule I bears to the total number of Firm Shares.

          3.   Terms of Public Offering.  The Company is advised by you that the
               ------------------------                                         
Underwriters propose (i) to make a public
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               3

offering of their respective portions of the Shares as soon as in your judgment
is advisable and (ii) initially to offer the Shares upon the terms set forth in
the Prospectus.

          4.   Delivery and Payment.  Delivery to the Underwriters of and
               --------------------                                      
payment for the Firm Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters shall be made at
10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the fourth business day (the "Closing Date")
following the date hereof, at such place outside the State of New York as you
shall designate.  The Closing Date and the location of delivery of and the form
of payment for the Firm Shares may be varied by agreement between you and the
Company.

          Delivery to the Underwriters of and payment by the Underwriters for
any Additional Shares to be purchased by the Underwriters shall be made at such
place as the Representatives shall designate at 10:00 A.M., New York City time,
on the date specified in the applicable exercise notice given by you pursuant to
Section 2 (an "Option Closing Date").  Any such Option Closing Date and the
location of delivery of and the form of payment for such Additional Shares may
be varied by agreement among the Representatives and the Company.

          Certificates for the Shares shall be registered in such names and
issued in such denominations as you shall request in writing not later than two
full business days prior to the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the
case may be.  Such certificates shall be made available to you for inspection
not later than 9:30 A.M., New York City time, on the business day next preceding
the Closing Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be.  Certificates in
definitive form evidencing the Shares shall be delivered to you on the Closing
Date or an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, with any transfer taxes
thereon duly paid by the Company, for the respective accounts of the several
Underwriters, against payment of the Purchase Price therefor, at the option of
the Company made no later than 10:00 A.M. on the day prior to the Closing Date,
by in same-day funds, less one day's (or, if the Closing Date occurs on a
Friday, three days') interest at the federal funds rate in effect at 10:00 A.M.
on the day prior to the Closing Date plus fifty (50) basis points, to an account
or accounts specified by the Company.

          5.   Agreements of the Company.  The Company agrees with you:
               -------------------------                               

          (a)  To advise you promptly and, if requested by you, to confirm such
     advice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the
     Registration Statement becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the
     Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or
     supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the
     issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
     of the Registration Statement or of the suspension of qualification of the
     Shares for
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               4

     offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of any proceeding
     for such purposes, and (iv) of the happening of any event during the period
     referred to in paragraph (d) below which makes any statement of a material
     fact made in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus untrue or which
     requires the making of any additions to or changes in the Registration
     Statement or the Prospectus in order to make the statements therein not
     misleading.  If at any time the Commission shall issue any stop order
     suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement, the Company
     will make every reasonable effort to obtain the withdrawal or lifting of
     such order at the earliest possible time.

          (b)  To furnish to you, without charge, five signed copies of the
     Registration Statement as first filed with the Commission and of each
     amendment to it, including all exhibits, and to furnish to you such number
     of conformed copies of the Registration Statement as so filed and of each
     amendment to it, without exhibits, as you may reasonably and timely
     request.

          (c)  Not to file any amendment or supplement to the Registration
     Statement or to make any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus of which
     you shall not previously have been advised or to which you shall reasonably
     object.

          (d)  On or about 10:00 A.M. New York City time on the first business
     day next succeeding the date of this Agreement, and from time to time
     thereafter for such period as in the opinion of counsel for the
     Underwriters a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection
     with sales by an Underwriter or a dealer, to furnish in New York City to
     each Underwriter and dealer as many copies of the Prospectus (and of any
     amendment or supplement to the Prospectus) as such Underwriter or dealer
     may reasonably request.

          (e)  If during the period specified in paragraph (d) any event shall
     occur as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters
     it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make
     the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the
     Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if it is
     necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law,
     forthwith to prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment
     or supplement to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus,
     as so amended or supplemented, will not in the light of the circumstances
     when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will
     comply with law, and to furnish to each Underwriter and to such dealers as
     you shall specify, such number of copies thereof as such Underwriter or
     dealers may reasonably request.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               5

     (f)  Prior to any public offering of the Shares, to cooperate with you and
     counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the registration or
     qualification of the Shares for offer and sale by the several Underwriters
     and by dealers under the state securities or Blue Sky laws of such
     jurisdictions as you may reasonably request (provided that in no event
     shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do business in any
     jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified), to continue such
     qualification in effect so long as required for distribution of the Shares
     (but in no event longer than one year from the date hereof) and to file
     such consents to service of process or other documents as may be necessary
     in order to effect such registration or qualification.

          (g)  To mail and make generally available to its stockholders as soon
     as reasonably practicable an earnings statement covering a period of at
     least twelve months after the effective date of the Registration Statement
     (but in no event commencing later than 90 days after such date) which shall
     satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.

          (h) Not to offer, sell, contract to sell, grant any option to
     purchase, or otherwise dispose of any Common Stock of the Company or any
     securities convertible into or exercisable or exchangeable for such Common
     Stock or in any other manner transfer all or a portion of the economic
     consequences associated with the ownership of any such Common Stock, except
     to the Underwriters pursuant to this Agreement, for a period of 90 days
     after the date of the Prospectus without the prior written consent of
     Lehman Brothers Inc.  Notwithstanding the foregoing, during such period (i)
     the Company may grant stock options pursuant to the Company's existing
     stock option plan, (ii) the Company may issue shares of its Common Stock
     upon the exercise of an option or warrant or the conversion of a security
     outstanding on the date hereof, including any shares of Common Stock of the
     Company sold pursuant to the preferred share purchase rights plan adopted
     by the Company on December 12, 1991 and (iii) the Company may issue up to
     an aggregate of _______ shares of Common Stock in connection with one ore
     more acquisitions of other companies or businesses.

          (i)  To use its best efforts to cause the Firm Shares and the
     Additional Shares to be approved for listing on the New York Stock
     Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.

          (j)  To use its best efforts to do and perform all things required or
     necessary to be done and performed under this Agreement by the Company
     prior to the Closing Date or any Option Closing Date, as the case may be,
     and to satisfy all conditions precedent to the delivery of the Shares.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               6

          6.  Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company
              ---------------------------------------------              
represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

          (a)  The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order
     suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect,
     and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the
     Commission.

          (b)  (i)  Each part of the Registration Statement, when such part
     became effective or at the time of filing by the Company with the
     Commission of its 1996 10-K, did not contain and each such part, as amended
     or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state a material fact required to be stated
     therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading, (ii)
     the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply and, as amended or
     supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material respects with the
     Act and (iii) the Prospectus does not contain and, as amended or
     supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue statement of a
     material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to make the
     statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which they were
     made, not misleading, except that the representations and warranties set
     forth in this paragraph (b) do not apply to statements or omissions in the
     Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon information relating to
     any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing by such Underwriter
     through you expressly for use therein.

          (c)  Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration
     statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed
     pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, complied when so filed in all material
     respects with the Act.

          (d)  The Company and each of its subsidiaries has been duly
     incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
     the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power
     and authority to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted
     and to own, lease and operate its properties, and each is duly qualified
     and is in good standing as a foreign corporation authorized to do business
     in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its ownership
     or leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the
     failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the
     business, results of operations or financial condition of the Company and
     its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

          (e)  All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other
     ownership interests in, each of the Company's
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               7

     Significant Subsidiaries, as defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X
     ("Significant Subsidiaries"), have been duly authorized and validly issued
     and are fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned by the Company, free
     and clear of any security interest, claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse
     interest of any nature.

          (f)  All the outstanding shares of capital stock of the Company have
     been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid, non-assessable
     and not subject to any preemptive or similar rights; and the Shares to be
     issued and sold by the Company hereunder have been duly authorized and,
     when issued and delivered to the Underwriters against payment therefor as
     provided by this Agreement, will be validly issued, fully paid and non-
     assessable, and the issuance of such Shares will not be subject to any
     preemptive or similar rights.

          (g)  The authorized capital stock of the Company, including the Common
     Stock, conforms as to legal matters to the description thereof contained in
     the Prospectus.

          (h)  Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is in
     violation of its respective charter or by-laws or in default in the
     performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in any
     bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any other
     agreement, indenture or instrument material to the conduct of the business
     of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the Company
     or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of
     its Significant Subsidiaries or their respective property is bound.

          (i)  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement,
     compliance by the Company with all the provisions hereof and the
     consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby will not require any
     consent, approval, authorization or other order of any court, regulatory
     body, administrative agency or other governmental body (except as such may
     be required under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states)
     and will not conflict with or constitute a breach of any of the terms or
     provisions of, or a default under, the charter or by-laws of the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries or any material agreement, indenture or other
     instrument to which it or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it
     or any of its subsidiaries or their respective property is bound, or
     violate or conflict with any laws, administrative regulations or rulings or
     court decrees applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

          (j)  Except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus, there are no
     material legal or governmental proceedings
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               8

     pending to which the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or of
     which any of their respective property is the subject, and, to the best of
     the Company's knowledge, no such proceedings are threatened or
     contemplated.  No contract or document of a character required to be
     described in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or to be filed as
     an exhibit to the Registration Statement is not so described or filed as
     required.

          (k)  Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. are independent public accountants with
     respect to the Company as required by the Act.

          (l)  The financial statements, together with related schedules and
     notes, forming part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or
     incorporated therein by reference (and any amendment or supplement
     thereto), present fairly in all material respects the consolidated
     financial position, results of operations and changes in financial position
     of the Company and its subsidiaries on the basis stated in the Registration
     Statement at the respective dates or for the respective periods to which
     they apply; such statements and related schedules and notes have been
     prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
     consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed
     therein; and the financial and statistical information and data set forth
     under the caption "Selected Consolidated Financial and Statistical Data" in
     the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) is, in all
     material respects, accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent
     with such financial statements and the books and records of the Company.

          (m)  The Company is not an "investment company" within the meaning of
     the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

          (n)  [Other than pursuant to the Amended and Restated Shareholders'
     Agreement dated as of May 21, 1987, as amended, among the Company and the
     shareholders named therein (the "Shareholders' Agreement"), no holder of
     any security of the Company has any right to require registration of shares
     of Common Stock or any other security of the Company.]


          7.   Indemnification.  (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
               ---------------                                                
harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), from and against any and
all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments caused by any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               9

(as amended or supplemented if the Company shall have furnished any amendments
or supplements thereto), or caused by any omission or alleged omission to state
therein a material fact required to be stated therein or necessary to make the
statements therein not misleading, except insofar as such losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments are caused by any such untrue statement or
omission or alleged untrue statement or omission based upon information relating
to any Underwriters furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of any
Underwriter through you expressly for use therein.

     (b)  Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration
Statement and any person controlling the Company within the meaning of Section
15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act, to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter but only with reference
to information relating to such Underwriter furnished in writing by or on behalf
of such Underwriter through you expressly for use in the Registration Statement
or the Prospectus.  The Underwriters severally confirm that the statements with
respect to the public offering of the Shares set forth on the cover page of, and
under the caption "Underwriting" in, the Prospectus are correct and constitute
the only information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the
Underwriters expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.

     (c)  In case any action shall be brought involving any person in respect of
which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the two preceding
paragraphs, such person (hereinafter the indemnified party) shall promptly
notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (hereinafter the
indemnifying party) in writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the
defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses.  Any indemnified
party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and
participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of
such counsel shall have been specifically authorized in writing by the
indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the
defense and employ counsel or (iii) the named parties to any such action
(including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would
be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.
It is understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection
with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related
actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for each of (a) all the
Underwriters and
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              10

their controlling persons (which firm shall be designated in writing by Lehman
Brothers Inc.) and (b) the Company and its controlling persons, and that all
such fees and expenses shall be reimbursed as they are incurred.  The
indemnifying party shall not be liable for any settlement of any such action
effected without the written consent of the indemnifying party but, if settled
with the written consent of the indemnifying party or if there be a final
judgment for the plaintiff, the indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold
harmless the indemnified party from and against any loss or liability by reason
of such settlement or final judgment.  No indemnifying party shall, without the
prior written consent of the indemnified party, effect any settlement of any
pending or threatened proceeding in respect of which any indemnified party is or
could have been a party and indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such
indemnified party, unless such settlement includes an unconditional release of
such indemnified party from all liability or claims that are the subject matter
of such proceeding.

     (d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable
to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and judgments (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the
Underwriters, respectively, from the offering of the Shares or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and
the Underwriters in connection with the statements or omissions which resulted
in such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments, as well as any other
relevant equitable considerations.  The relative benefits received by the
Company and the Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the
total net proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the
Company, and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Underwriters, bear to the total price to the public of the Shares, in each case
as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus.  The relative
fault of the Company and the Underwriters shall be determined by reference to,
among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement of a material
fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to information supplied by
the Company or the Underwriters and the parties' relative intent, knowledge,
access to information and opportunity to correct or prevent such statement or
omission.

          The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              11

Underwriters were treated as one entity for such purpose) or by any other method
of allocation which does not take account of the equitable considerations
referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.  The amount paid or payable
by an indemnified party as a result of the losses, claims, damages, liabilities
or judgments referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph shall be deemed
to include, subject to the limitations set forth above, any legal or other
expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified party in connection with
investigating or defending any such action or claim.  Notwithstanding the
provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be required to contribute any
amount in excess of the amount by which the total price at which the Shares
underwritten by it and distributed to the public were offered to the public
exceeds the amount of any damages which such Underwriter has otherwise been
required to pay by reason of such untrue or alleged untrue statement or omission
or alleged omission.  No person guilty of fraudulent misrepresentation (within
the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act) shall be entitled to contribution from
any person who was not guilty of such fraudulent misrepresentation.  The
Underwriters' obligations to contribute pursuant to this Section 7(d) are
several in proportion to the respective number of Shares purchased by each of
the Underwriters hereunder and not joint.

          8.   Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.  The several obligations
               ---------------------------------------                          
of the Underwriters to purchase the Firm Shares under this Agreement are subject
to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

          (a)  All the representations and warranties of the Company contained
     in this Agreement shall be true and correct on the Closing Date with the
     same force and effect as if made on and as of the Closing Date.

          (b)  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
     Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall
     have been commenced or shall be pending before or contemplated by the
     Commission.

          (c) (i)  Since the date of the latest balance sheet included in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall not have been any
     material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective
     material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
     the earnings, affairs or business, whether or not arising in the ordinary
     course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
     and (ii) on the Closing Date you shall have received a certificate dated
     the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of the Company, confirming
     the matters set forth in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this Section 8.

          (d)  Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
     prior to the Closing Date, there shall not
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              12

     have occurred any downgrading, nor shall any notice have been given of (A)
     any intended or potential downgrading or (B) any review or possible change
     that does not indicate the direction of a possible change, in the rating
     accorded any of the Company's securities by any "nationally recognized
     statistical rating organization", as such term is defined for purposes of
     Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act.

          (e)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
     (satisfactory to you and counsel for the Underwriters), dated the Closing
     Date, of Louis G. Lenzi, Esq., General Counsel of the Company, to the
     effect that:

                    (i)  the Company and each of its subsidiaries (other than
          MBIA Insurance Corporation ("MBIA Corp."), which is discussed below)
          has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in
          good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and
          has the corporate power and authority required to carry on its
          business as it is currently being conducted and to own, lease and
          operate its properties;

                    (ii)  the Company and each of its subsidiaries (other than
          MBIA Corp., which is discussed below) is duly qualified and is in good
          standing as a foreign corporation authorized to do business in each
          jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its ownership or
          leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the
          failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on
          the business, results of operations or financial condition of the
          Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

                    (iii)  (A) MBIA Corp. has been duly incorporated, is validly
          existing as an insurance company in good standing under the laws of
          the State of New York and (B) is duly licensed and in good standing to
          conduct its business in each state in the United States and the
          District of Columbia;

                    (iv)  all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or
          other ownership interests in, each of the Company's Significant
          Subsidiaries have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are
          fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned of record and, to the
          best knowledge of such counsel, beneficially by the Company, free and
          clear of any security interest, claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse
          interest of any nature;

                    (v)  all the outstanding shares of Common Stock have been
          duly authorized and validly issued and are
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              13

          fully paid, non-assessable and not subject to any preemptive or
          similar rights;

                    (vi)   the Shares to be issued and sold by the Company
          hereunder have been duly authorized, and when issued and delivered to
          the Underwriters against payment therefor as provided by this
          Agreement, will have been validly issued and will be fully paid and
          non-assessable, and the issuance of such Shares is not subject to any
          preemptive or similar rights;

                    (vii)  this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
          delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the
          Company enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as rights to
          indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by applicable
          law), subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
          conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating
          to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable
          principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)
          and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing;

                    (viii) the authorized capital stock of the Company,
          including the Common Stock, conforms in all material respects as to
          legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;

                    (ix)   the Registration Statement became effective under the
          Act on ________ __, 1996 and, to the knowledge of such counsel, no
          stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued and no
          proceedings for that purpose are, to the knowledge of such counsel,
          pending before or contemplated by the Commission;

                    (x)    the statements under the captions  "Description of
          Common Stock" and "Description of Capital Stock" in the Prospectus and
          Item 15 of Part II of the Registration Statement, insofar as such
          statements constitute a summary of legal matters, documents or
          proceedings referred to therein, fairly present, in all material
          respects, the information called for with respect to such legal
          matters, documents and proceedings;

                    (xi)   the execution, delivery and performance of this
          Agreement by the Company, compliance by the Company with all the
          provisions hereof and the consummation of the transactions
          contemplated hereby will not require any consent, approval,
          authorization or other order of any court, regulatory body,
          administrative agency or other governmental body under United States
          Federal law or the laws of the State of
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              14

          Connecticut or the State of New York (except as such may be required
          under the Act or other securities or Blue Sky laws) and will not
          conflict with or constitute a breach of any of the terms or provisions
          of, or a default under, the charter or by-laws of the Company or any
          of its subsidiaries or any material agreement, indenture or other
          material instrument known to such counsel to which the Company or any
          of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the Company or any of its
          subsidiaries or its respective properties are bound, or violate or
          conflict with any laws, administrative regulations or rulings or court
          decrees under United States Federal law or the laws of the State of
          Connecticut or the State of New York known to such counsel and
          applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries or its respective
          properties;

                    (xii)  after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any
          legal or governmental proceeding pending or threatened to which the
          Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their
          respective property is subject which is required to be described in
          the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and is not so described,
          or of any contract or other document which is required to be described
          in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or is required to be
          filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which is not
          described or filed as required;

                    (xiii)  the Company is not an "investment company" within
          the meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

                    (xiv)[  to the best of such counsel's knowledge, after due
          inquiry, other than pursuant to the Shareholders' Agreement, no holder
          of any security of the Company has any right to require registration
          of shares of Common Stock or any other security of the Company]; and

                    (xv)  (A) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and
          any supplement or amendment thereto (except for financial statements
          and other financial and statistical information contained or
          incorporated by reference therein as to which no opinion need be
          expressed) comply as to form in all material respects with the Act,
          and (B) such counsel believes that (except for financial statements
          and other financial and statistical information contained or
          incorporated by reference therein, as aforesaid) the Registration
          Statement at the time it became effective or at the time of filing by
          the Company with the Commission of its 1996 10-K did not contain any
          untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
          required
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              15

          to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not
          misleading, and that the Prospectus as of its date and as of the
          Closing Date, as amended or supplemented, if applicable (except for
          financial statements and other financial and statistical contained or
          incorporated by reference therein, as aforesaid) does not contain any
          untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
          necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light of the
          circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

               In giving such opinion with respect to the matters covered by
     clause (xv) such counsel may state that his opinion and belief are based
     upon his participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and
     Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and
     discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or
     verification except as specified.  Each of the opinions delivered pursuant
     to this paragraph (e) may rely as to matters of Connecticut law on the
     opinion of Day, Berry & Howard or of such other local counsel as shall be
     reasonably satisfactory to you.

          (f)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
     (satisfactory to you and counsel for the Underwriters), dated the Closing
     Date, of Debevoise & Plimpton, counsel for the Company, as to the matters
     referred to in clauses (i) (but only as to the Company), (iii)(A), (v),
     (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x) (but only as to the statements in the
     Prospectus under "Description of the Common Stock" and "Description of
     Capital Stock") and (xv) of paragraph (e) above.

               In giving such opinion with respect to the matters covered by
     clause (xv) such counsel may state that their opinion and belief are based
     upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement
     and Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and
     discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or
     verification except as specified.  Each of the opinions delivered pursuant
     to this paragraph (f) may rely as to matters of Connecticut law on the
     opinion of Day, Berry & Howard or of such other local counsel as shall be
     reasonably satisfactory to you.

          (g)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion, dated the
     Closing Date, of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, counsel for the Underwriters,
     as to the matters referred to in clauses (vi), (vii), (ix), (x) (but only
     with respect to the statements in the Prospectus under "Description of
     Common Stock" and "Description of Capital Stock") and (xv) of paragraph
     (e).  In giving such opinion with respect to the matters covered by clause
     (xv) such
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              16

     counsel may state that their opinion and belief are based upon their
     participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and
     Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and
     discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or
     verification except as specified.  Each of the opinions delivered pursuant
     to this paragraph (g) may rely as to matters of Connecticut law on the
     opinion of Day, Berry & Howard or of such other local counsel as shall be
     reasonably satisfactory to you.

          (h)  You shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a letter in
     form and substance satisfactory to you, from Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.,
     independent public accountants, with respect to the financial statements
     and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement
     and the Prospectus and substantially in the form and substance of the
     letter delivered to you by Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. on the date of this
     Agreement.

          (i) The Shares shall have been approved for listing on the New York
     Stock Exchange, subject to official notice of issuance.

          (j)  The Company shall not have failed at or prior to the Closing Date
     to perform or comply with any of the agreements herein contained and
     required to be performed or complied with by the Company at or prior to the
     Closing Date.

The several obligations of the Underwriters to purchase any Additional Shares
hereunder are subject to the delivery to the Representatives on the applicable
Option Closing Date of such documents as you may reasonably request with respect
to the good standing of the Company, the due authorization and issuance of such
Additional Shares and other matters related to the issuance of such Additional
Shares.

          9.   Effective Date of Agreement and Termination.  This Agreement
               -------------------------------------------                 
shall become effective upon execution of this Agreement.

          This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date
by you by written notice to the Company if (a) any of the following has occurred
after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing
Date:  (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the
American Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or materially limited, (ii) a
general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York shall have been
declared by either Federal or New York State authorities, or (iii) there shall
have occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change
in the financial markets or other calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse; and (b) in the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              17

case of any of the events specified in (a) above, such event singly or together
with any other such event makes it, in your judgment, impracticable to market
the Shares on the terms and in the manner contemplated in the Prospectus.

          If on the Closing Date or on an Option Closing Date, as the case may
be, any one or more of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase the
Firm Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which it or they have
agreed to purchase hereunder on such date and the aggregate number of Firm
Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters, as the case may be, agreed but failed or refused to
purchase is not more than one-tenth of the total number of Shares to be
purchased on such date by all Underwriters, each non-defaulting Underwriter
shall be obligated severally, in the proportion which the number of Firm Shares
set forth opposite its name in Schedule I bears to the total number of Firm
Shares which all the non-defaulting Underwriters, as the case may be, have
agreed to purchase, or in such other proportion as you may specify, to purchase
the Firm Shares or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which such defaulting
Underwriter or Underwriters, as the case may be, agreed but failed or refused to
purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of Firm Shares
                       --------                                                 
or Additional Shares, as the case may be, which any Underwriter has agreed to
purchase pursuant to Section 2 hereof be increased pursuant to this Section 9 by
an amount in excess of one-ninth of such number of Firm Shares or Additional
Shares, as the case may be, without the written consent of such Underwriter.  If
on the Closing Date or on an Option Closing Date, as the case may be, any
Underwriter or Underwriters shall fail or refuse to purchase Firm Shares, or
Additional Shares, as the case may be, and the aggregate number of Firm Shares
or Additional Shares, as the case may be, with respect to which such default
occurs is more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Shares to be purchased
on such date by all Underwriters and arrangements satisfactory to you and the
Company for purchase of such Shares are not made within 48 hours after such
default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of any non-
defaulting Underwriter and the Company.  In any such case which does not result
in termination of this Agreement, either you or the Company shall have the right
to postpone the Closing Date or the applicable Option Closing Date, as the case
may be, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required
changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other
documents or arrangements may be effected.  Any action taken under this
paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect
of any default of any such Underwriter under this Agreement.

          10.  Fees and Expenses.  The Company agrees to pay (i) the costs
               -----------------                                          
incident to the authorization, issuance, sale and delivery of the Shares and any
taxes payable in that connection; (ii) the costs incident to the preparation,
printing and filing under the Act of the Registration Statement and any
amendments
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              18

and exhibits thereto; (iii) the costs of distributing the Registration Statement
as originally filed and each amendment thereto and any post-effective amendments
thereof (including, in each case, exhibits), the Prospectus and any amendment or
supplement to the Prospectus or any document incorporated by reference therein,
all as provided in this Agreement; (iv) the costs of reproducing and
distributing this Agreement; (v) the costs of distributing the terms of
agreement relating to the organization of the underwriting syndicate and selling
group to the members thereof by mail, telex or other means of communication;
(vi) the filing fees incident to securing any required review by the National
Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. of the terms of sale of the Shares;
(vii) any applicable listing or other fees; (viii) the fees and expenses of
qualifying the Shares under the securities laws of the several jurisdictions and
of preparing, printing and distributing a Blue Sky Memorandum (including related
fees and expenses of counsel to the Underwriters); and (ix) all other costs and
expenses incident to the performance of the obligations of the Company; provided
that, except as provided in this Section 10 and in Section 11, the Underwriters
shall pay their own costs and expenses, including the costs and expenses of
their counsel, any transfer taxes on the Shares which they may sell and the
expenses of advertising any offering of the Shares made by the Underwriters.

          11.  Miscellaneous.  Notices given pursuant to any provision of this
               -------------                                                  
Agreement shall be addressed as follows:  (a) if to the Company, to MBIA Inc.,
113 King Street, Armonk, New York 10504 and (b) if to any Underwriter or to you,
to you c/o Lehman Brothers Inc., 3 World Financial Center, New York, New York
10285-0090, Attention: Syndicate Department, or in any case to such other
address as the person to be notified may have requested in writing.

          The respective indemnities, contribution agreements, representations
and warranties of the Company and of the several Underwriters set forth in or
made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and
effect, and will survive regardless of (i) any investigation, or statement as to
the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or by or on behalf
of the Company, the officers or directors of the Company or any controlling
person of the Company, (ii) acceptance of the Shares and payment for them
hereunder and (iii) termination of this Agreement.

          If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters because of
any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to
fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse
the several Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              19

          Except as otherwise provided, this Agreement has been and is made
solely for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company, the
Underwriters, any controlling persons referred to herein and their respective
successors and assigns, all as and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and
no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement.  The term "successors and assigns" shall not include a purchaser of
any of the Shares from any of the several Underwriters merely because of such
purchase.

          This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.

          This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
<PAGE>
 
          Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
between the Company and the several Underwriters.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       MBIA INC.


                                       By____________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:


LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
  SECURITIES CORPORATION
SMITH BARNEY INC.

Acting severally on behalf of
  themselves and the several
  Underwriters named in
  Schedule I hereto

By LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.


   By__________________________
     Name:
     Title:
<PAGE>
 
                                   SCHEDULE I
                                   ----------



                                                Number of Firm Shares
U.S. Underwriters                                  to be Purchased
- -----------------                               ---------------------

Lehman Brothers Inc. . . . . . . . . . . . . .
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
  Securities Corporation . . . . . . . . . . .
Smith Barney Inc.  . . . . . . . . . . . . . .
 
 
                                                  __________________
Total                                                   1,000,000

<PAGE>
 
                                                                     EXHIBIT 1.2

                                                               STB DRAFT 7/10/97


                                  $100,000,000

                                   MBIA INC.

                            __% Debentures Due 20__

                             UNDERWRITING AGREEMENT
                             ----------------------


                                                            July 14, 1997



DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
  SECURITIES CORPORATION
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.
  c/o Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette
        Securities Corporation
      140 Broadway
      New York, New York  10005

Dear Sirs:

          MBIA Inc., a Connecticut corporation (the "Company"), proposes to
issue and sell to you (the "Underwriters") $100,000,000 principal amount of its
__% Debentures Due 20__ (the "Securities").  The Securities are to be issued
pursuant to the provisions of an Indenture dated as of August 1, 1990 (the
"Indenture") between the Company and The First National Bank of Chicago, as
trustee (the "Trustee").

          1.   Registration Statement and Prospectus.  The Company has prepared
               -------------------------------------                           
and filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "Commission") in
accordance with the provisions of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and
the rules and regulations of the Commission thereunder (collectively called the
"Act"), a registration statement on Form S-3 (File No. 333-15003) including a
prospectus relating to the Securities, which has become effective under the Act.
The registration statement as amended at the time when the Company filed with
the Commission its Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31,
1996 (the "1996 10-K"), including any documents incorporated or deemed to be
incorporated by reference therein at such time, is hereinafter referred to as
the Registration Statement; and the prospectus (as amended or supplemented by a
prospectus supplement relating to the terms of the offering of the Securities)
in the form first used to confirm sales of Securities is hereinafter referred to
as the Prospectus.

          2.   Agreements to Sell and Purchase.  The Company hereby agrees to
               -------------------------------                               
issue and sell the Securities to the Underwriters, and each of the Underwriters,
upon the basis of the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               2


representations and warranties contained in this Agreement, and subject to its
terms and conditions, agrees, severally and not jointly, to purchase from the
Company the respective principal amounts of Securities set forth opposite the
name of such Underwriter in Schedule I hereto, at _______% of the principal
amount (the "Purchase Price") plus accrued interest, if any, from July 18, 1997
to the date of payment and delivery.

          3.   Terms of Public Offering.  The Company is advised by you that the
               ------------------------                                         
Underwriters propose (i) to make a public offering of their respective portions
of the Securities as soon as in their judgment is advisable and (ii) initially
to offer the Securities upon the terms set forth in the Prospectus.

          4.   Delivery and Payment.  Delivery to the Underwriters of and
               --------------------                                      
payment for the Securities to be purchased by the Underwriters shall be made at
10:00 A.M., New York City time, on the fourth business day (the "Closing Date")
following the date hereof, at such place outside the State of New York as you
shall designate.  The Closing Date and the location of delivery of and the form
of payment for the Securities may be varied by agreement between you and the
Company.

          Certificates for the Securities shall be registered in such names and
issued in such denominations as you shall request in writing not later than two
full business days prior to the Closing Date.  Such certificates shall be made
available to you for inspection not later than 9:30 A.M., New York City time, on
the business day next preceding the Closing Date.  Certificates in definitive
form evidencing the Securities shall be delivered to you on the Closing Date
with any transfer taxes thereon duly paid by the Company, for the respective
accounts of the several Underwriters, against payment of the Purchase Price
therefor in same-day funds to the order of the Company.

          5.   Agreements of the Company.  The Company agrees with you:
               -------------------------                               

          (a)  To advise you promptly and, if requested by you, to confirm such
     advice in writing, (i) when any post-effective amendment to the
     Registration Statement becomes effective, (ii) of any request by the
     Commission for amendments to the Registration Statement or amendments or
     supplements to the Prospectus or for additional information, (iii) of the
     issuance by the Commission of any stop order suspending the effectiveness
     of the Registration Statement or of the suspension of qualification of the
     Securities for offering or sale in any jurisdiction, or the initiation of
     any proceeding for such purposes, and (iv) of the happening of any event
     during the period referred to in paragraph (d) below which makes any
     statement of a material fact made in the Registration Statement or the
     Prospectus untrue or which requires the making of any additions to or
     changes in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus in order to make
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               3

     the statements therein not misleading.  If at any time the Commission shall
     issue any stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
     Statement, the Company will make every reasonable effort to obtain the
     withdrawal or lifting of such order at the earliest possible time.

          (b)  To furnish to you, without charge, five signed copies of the
     Registration Statement as first filed with the Commission and of each
     amendment to it, including all exhibits, and to furnish to you such number
     of conformed copies of the Registration Statement as so filed and of each
     amendment to it, without exhibits, as you may reasonably and timely
     request.

          (c)  Not to file any amendment or supplement to the Registration
     Statement or to make any amendment or supplement to the Prospectus of which
     you shall not previously have been advised or to which you shall reasonably
     object.

          (d)  On or about 10:00 A.M. New York City time on the first business
     day next succeeding the date of this Agreement, and from time to time
     thereafter for such period as in the opinion of counsel for the
     Underwriters a prospectus is required by law to be delivered in connection
     with sales by an Underwriter or a dealer, to furnish in New York City to
     each Underwriter and dealer as many copies of the Prospectus (and of any
     amendment or supplement to the Prospectus) as such Underwriter or dealer
     may reasonably request.

          (e)  If during the period specified in paragraph (d) any event shall
     occur as a result of which, in the opinion of counsel for the Underwriters
     it becomes necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus in order to make
     the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances when the
     Prospectus is delivered to a purchaser, not misleading, or if it is
     necessary to amend or supplement the Prospectus to comply with any law,
     forthwith to prepare and file with the Commission an appropriate amendment
     or supplement to the Prospectus so that the statements in the Prospectus,
     as so amended or supplemented, will not in the light of the circumstances
     when it is so delivered, be misleading, or so that the Prospectus will
     comply with law, and to furnish to each Underwriter and to such dealers as
     you shall specify, such number of copies thereof as such Underwriter or
     dealers may reasonably request.

          (f)  Prior to any public offering of the Securities, to cooperate with
     you and counsel for the Underwriters in connection with the registration or
     qualification of the Securities for offer and sale by the several
     Underwriters and by dealers under the state securities or Blue Sky laws of
     such jurisdictions as you may reasonably request
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               4

     (provided that in no event shall the Company be obligated to qualify to do
     business in any jurisdiction where it is not now so qualified), to continue
     such qualification in effect so long as required for distribution of the
     Securities (but in no event longer than one year from the date hereof) and
     to file such consents to service of process or other documents as may be
     necessary in order to effect such registration or qualification.

          (g)  To mail and make generally available to its security holders as
     soon as reasonably practicable an earnings statement covering a period of
     at least twelve months after the effective date of the Registration
     Statement (but in no event commencing later than 90 days after such date)
     which shall satisfy the provisions of Section 11(a) of the Act.

          (h) During the period beginning on the date hereof and continuing to
     and including the Closing Date, not to offer, sell, contract to sell or
     otherwise dispose of any debt securities of the Company substantially
     similar to the Securities, or warrants to purchase or securities
     convertible into any such debt securities, without your prior written
     consent.

          (i)   To pay all costs, expenses, fees and taxes incident to (i) the
     preparation, printing, filing and distribution under the Act of the
     Registration Statement (including financial statements and exhibits), (ii)
     the printing and delivery of the Prospectus and all amendments or
     supplements to it during the period specified in paragraph (d), (iii) the
     printing and delivery of this Agreement, the Preliminary and Supplemental
     Blue Sky Memoranda and all other agreements, memoranda, correspondence, and
     other documents printed and delivered in connection with the offering of
     the Securities (including in each case any disbursements of counsel for the
     Underwriters relating to such printing and delivery), (iv) the registration
     or qualification of the Securities for offer and sale under the securities
     or Blue Sky laws of the several states (including in each case the fees and
     disbursements of counsel for the Underwriters relating to such registration
     or qualification and memoranda relating thereto), (v) filings and clearance
     with the National Association of Securities Dealers, Inc. in connection
     with the offering, (vi) furnishing such copies of the Registration
     Statement, the Prospectus and all amendments and supplements thereto as may
     be requested for use in connection with the offering and sale of the
     Securities by the Underwriters or by dealers to whom securities may be
     sold.

          (j)  To use its best efforts to do and perform all things required or
     necessary to be done and performed under
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               5

     this Agreement by the Company prior to the Closing Date and to satisfy all
     conditions precedent to the delivery of the Securities.

          6.   Representations and Warranties of the Company.  The Company
               ---------------------------------------------              
represents and warrants to each Underwriter that:

          (a)  The Registration Statement has become effective; no stop order
     suspending the effectiveness of the Registration Statement is in effect,
     and no proceedings for such purpose are pending before or threatened by the
     Commission.

          (b)  (i)  Each part of the Registration Statement, when such part
     became effective or at the time of filing by the Company with the
     Commission of its 1996 10-K, as the case may be, did not contain and each
     such part, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any
     untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
     required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein
     not misleading, (ii) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus comply
     and, as amended or supplemented, if applicable, will comply in all material
     respects with the Act and (iii) the Prospectus does not contain and, as
     amended or supplemented, if applicable, will not contain any untrue
     statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact necessary to
     make the statements therein, in the light of the circumstances under which
     they were made, not misleading, except that the representations and
     warranties set forth in this paragraph (b) do not apply to statements or
     omissions in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus based upon
     information relating to any Underwriter furnished to the Company in writing
     by such Underwriter expressly for use therein.

          (c)  Each preliminary prospectus filed as part of the registration
     statement as originally filed or as part of any amendment thereto, or filed
     pursuant to Rule 424 under the Act, complied when so filed in all material
     respects with the Act.

          (d)  The Company and each of its subsidiaries has been duly
     incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in good standing under
     the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and has the corporate power
     and authority to carry on its business as it is currently being conducted
     and to own, lease and operate its properties, and each is duly qualified
     and is in good standing as a foreign corporation authorized to do business
     in each jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its ownership
     or leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the
     failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on the
     business, results of operations or financial
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               6

     condition of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole.

          (e)  All of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or other
     ownership interests in, each of the Company's Significant Subsidiaries, as
     defined in Rule 1-02 of Regulation S-X ("Significant Subsidiaries"), have
     been duly authorized and validly issued and are fully paid and non-
     assessable, and are owned by the Company, free and clear of any security
     interest, claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse interest of any nature.

          (f)  The Indenture has been duly authorized, executed and delivered by
     the Company, has been duly qualified under the Trust Indenture Act of 1939,
     as amended (the "Trust Indenture Act"), and is a valid and legally binding
     agreement of the Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with
     its terms, subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
     conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to
     or affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles
     (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied
     covenant of good faith and fair dealing.

          (g)  The Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when
     executed and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the
     Indenture and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance
     with the terms of this Agreement, will be valid and legally binding
     obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture and
     enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms, subject to
     the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent conveyance,
     reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting
     creditors' rights generally, general equitable principles (whether
     considered in a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of
     good faith and fair dealing.

          (h)  The Securities conform as to legal matters to the description
     thereof contained in the Prospectus.

          (i)  Neither the Company nor any of its Significant Subsidiaries is in
     violation of its respective charter or by-laws or in default in the
     performance of any obligation, agreement or condition contained in any
     bond, debenture, note or any other evidence of indebtedness or in any other
     agreement, indenture or instrument material to the conduct of the business
     of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole, to which the Company
     or any of its Significant Subsidiaries is a party or by which it or any of
     its Significant Subsidiaries or their respective property is bound.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               7

          (j)  The execution, delivery and performance of this Agreement, the
     Indenture and the Securities by the Company, compliance by the Company with
     all the provisions hereof and thereof and the consummation of the
     transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will not require any consent,
     approval, authorization or other order of any court, regulatory body,
     administrative agency or other governmental body (except as such may be
     required under the securities or Blue Sky laws of the various states) and
     will not conflict with or constitute a breach of any of the terms or
     provisions of, or a default under, the charter or by-laws of the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries or any material agreement, indenture or other
     instrument to which it or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which it
     or any of its subsidiaries or their respective property is bound, or
     violate or conflict with any laws, administrative regulations or rulings or
     court decrees applicable to the Company or any of its subsidiaries.

          (k)  Except as otherwise set forth in the Prospectus, there are no
     material legal or governmental proceedings pending to which the Company or
     any of its subsidiaries is a party or of which any of their respective
     property is the subject, and, to the best of the Company's knowledge, no
     such proceedings are threatened or contemplated.  No contract or document
     of a character required to be described in the Registration Statement or
     the Prospectus or to be filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement
     is not so described or filed as required.

          (l)  Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P. are independent public accountants with
     respect to the Company as required by the Act.

          (m)  The financial statements, together with related schedules and
     notes, forming part of the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or
     incorporated therein by reference (and any amendment or supplement
     thereto), present fairly in all material respects the consolidated
     financial position, results of operations and changes in financial position
     of the Company and its subsidiaries on the basis stated in the Registration
     Statement at the respective dates or for the respective periods to which
     they apply; such statements and related schedules and notes have been
     prepared in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles
     consistently applied throughout the periods involved, except as disclosed
     therein; and the financial and statistical information and data set forth
     under the caption "Selected Consolidated Financial and Statistical Data" in
     the Prospectus (and any amendment or supplement thereto) is, in all
     material respects, accurately presented and prepared on a basis consistent
     with such financial statements and the books and records of the Company.
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               8

          (n)  The Company is not an "investment company" within the meaning of
     the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended.

          (o)  [Other than pursuant to the Amended and Restated Shareholders'
     Agreement dated as of May 21, 1987, as amended, among the Company and the
     shareholders named therein (the "Shareholders' Agreement"), no holder of
     any security of the Company has any right to require registration of any
     security of the Company.]

          7.   Indemnification.  (a)  The Company agrees to indemnify and hold
               ---------------                                                
harmless each Underwriter and each person, if any, who controls any Underwriter
within the meaning of Section 15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Securities
Exchange Act of 1934, as amended (the "Exchange Act"), from and against any and
all losses, claims, damages, liabilities and judgments caused by any untrue
statement or alleged untrue statement of a material fact contained in the
Registration Statement or the Prospectus (as amended or supplemented if the
Company shall have furnished any amendments or supplements thereto), or caused
by any omission or alleged omission to state therein a material fact required to
be stated therein or necessary to make the statements therein not misleading,
except insofar as such losses, claims, damages, liabilities or judgments are
caused by any such untrue statement or omission or alleged untrue statement or
omission based upon information relating to any Underwriters furnished in
writing to the Company by or on behalf of any Underwriter expressly for use
therein.

     (b)  Each Underwriter agrees, severally and not jointly, to indemnify and
hold harmless the Company, its directors, its officers who sign the Registration
Statement and any person controlling the Company within the meaning of Section
15 of the Act or Section 20 of the Exchange Act to the same extent as the
foregoing indemnity from the Company to each Underwriter but only with reference
to information relating to such Underwriter furnished in writing by or on behalf
of such Underwriter expressly for use in the Registration Statement or the
Prospectus.  The Underwriters severally confirm that the statements with respect
to the public offering of the Securities set forth on the cover page of, and
under the caption "Underwriting" in, the Prospectus are correct and constitute
the only information furnished in writing to the Company by or on behalf of the
Underwriters expressly for use in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus.


     (c)  In case any action shall be brought involving any person in respect of
which indemnity may be sought pursuant to either of the two preceding
paragraphs, such person (hereinafter the indemnified party) shall promptly
notify the person against whom such indemnity may be sought (hereinafter the
indemnifying party) in writing and the indemnifying party shall assume the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                               9

defense thereof, including the employment of counsel reasonably satisfactory to
such indemnified party and payment of all fees and expenses.  Any indemnified
party shall have the right to employ separate counsel in any such action and
participate in the defense thereof, but the fees and expenses of such counsel
shall be at the expense of such indemnified party unless (i) the employment of
such counsel shall have been specifically authorized in writing by the
indemnifying party, (ii) the indemnifying party shall have failed to assume the
defense and employ counsel or (iii) the named parties to any such action
(including any impleaded parties) include both the indemnified party and the
indemnifying party and representation of both parties by the same counsel would
be inappropriate due to actual or potential differing interests between them.
It is understood, however, that the indemnifying party shall not, in connection
with any one such action or separate but substantially similar or related
actions in the same jurisdiction arising out of the same general allegations or
circumstances, be liable for the fees and expenses of more than one separate
firm of attorneys (in addition to any local counsel) for each of (a) the
Underwriters and their controlling persons (which firm shall be designated in
writing by Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation) and (b) the
Company and its controlling persons, and that all such fees and expenses shall
be reimbursed as they are incurred.  The indemnifying party shall not be liable
for any settlement of any such action effected without the written consent of
the indemnifying party but, if settled with the written consent of the
indemnifying party or if there be a final judgment for the plaintiff, the
indemnifying party agrees to indemnify and hold harmless the indemnified party
from and against any loss or liability by reason of such settlement or final
judgment.  No indemnifying party shall, without the prior written consent of the
indemnified party, effect any settlement of any pending or threatened proceeding
in respect of which any indemnified party is or could have been a party and
indemnity could have been sought hereunder by such indemnified party, unless
such settlement includes an unconditional release of such indemnified party from
all liability or claims that are the subject matter of such proceeding.

     (d)  If the indemnification provided for in this Section 7 is unavailable
to an indemnified party or insufficient in respect of any losses, claims,
damages, liabilities or judgments referred to therein, then each indemnifying
party, in lieu of indemnifying such indemnified party, shall contribute to the
amount paid or payable by such indemnified party as a result of such losses,
claims, damages, liabilities and judgments (i) in such proportion as is
appropriate to reflect the relative benefits received by the Company and the
Underwriters, respectively, from the offering of the Securities or (ii) if the
allocation provided by clause (i) above is not permitted by applicable law, in
such proportion as is appropriate to reflect not only the relative benefits
referred to in clause (i) above but also the relative fault of the Company and
the Underwriters in connection with the
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              10

statements or omissions which resulted in such losses, claims, damages,
liabilities or judgments, as well as any other relevant equitable
considerations.  The relative benefits received by the Company and the
Underwriters shall be deemed to be in the same proportion as the total net
proceeds from the offering (before deducting expenses) received by the Company
and the total underwriting discounts and commissions received by the
Underwriters, bear to the total price to the public of the Securities, in each
case as set forth in the table on the cover page of the Prospectus.  The
relative fault of the Company and the Underwriters shall be determined by
reference to, among other things, whether the untrue or alleged untrue statement
of a material fact or the omission to state a material fact relates to
information supplied by the Company or the Underwriters and the parties'
relative intent, knowledge, access to information and opportunity to correct or
prevent such statement or omission.

          The Company and the Underwriters agree that it would not be just and
equitable if contribution pursuant to this Section 7(d) were determined by pro
rata allocation (even if the Underwriters were treated as one entity for such
purpose) or by any other method of allocation which does not take account of the
equitable considerations referred to in the immediately preceding paragraph.
The amount paid or payable by an indemnified party as a result of the losses,
claims, damages, liabilities or judgments referred to in the immediately
preceding paragraph shall be deemed to include, subject to the limitations set
forth above, any legal or other expenses reasonably incurred by such indemnified
party in connection with investigating or defending any such action or claim.
Notwithstanding the provisions of this Section 7, no Underwriter shall be
required to contribute any amount in excess of the amount by which the total
price at which the Securities underwritten by it and distributed to the public
were offered to the public exceeds the amount of any damages which such
Underwriter has otherwise been required to pay by reason of such untrue or
alleged untrue statement or omission or alleged omission.  No person guilty of
fraudulent misrepresentation (within the meaning of Section 11(f) of the Act)
shall be entitled to contribution from any person who was not guilty of such
fraudulent misrepresentation.  The Underwriters' obligations to contribute
pursuant to this Section 7(d) are several in proportion to the respective number
of Securities purchased by each of the Underwriters hereunder and not joint.

 

          8.   Conditions of Underwriters' Obligations.  The several obligations
               ---------------------------------------                          
of the Underwriters to purchase the Securities under this Agreement are subject
to the satisfaction of each of the following conditions:

          (a)  All the representations and warranties of the Company contained
     in this Agreement shall be true and
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              11

     correct on the Closing Date with the same force and effect as if made on
     and as of the Closing Date.

          (b)  No stop order suspending the effectiveness of the Registration
     Statement shall have been issued and no proceedings for that purpose shall
     have been commenced or shall be pending before or contemplated by the
     Commission.

          (c) (i)  Since the date of the latest balance sheet included in the
     Registration Statement and the Prospectus, there shall not have been any
     material adverse change, or any development involving a prospective
     material adverse change, in the condition, financial or otherwise, or in
     the earnings, affairs or business, whether or not arising in the ordinary
     course of business, of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole,
     and (ii) on the Closing Date you shall have received a certificate dated
     the Closing Date, signed by an executive officer of the Company, confirming
     the matters set forth in paragraphs (a), (b), and (c) of this Section 8.

          (d)  Subsequent to the execution and delivery of this Agreement and
     prior to the Closing Date, there shall not have occurred any downgrading,
     nor shall any notice have been given of (A) any intended or potential
     downgrading or (B) any review or possible change that does not indicate the
     direction of a possible change, in the rating accorded any of the Company's
     securities by any "nationally recognized statistical rating organization",
     as such term is defined for purposes of Rule 436(g)(2) under the Act.

          (e)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
     (satisfactory to you and counsel for the Underwriters), dated the Closing
     Date, of Louis G. Lenzi, Esq., General Counsel of the Company, to the
     effect that:

                    (i)  the Company and each of its subsidiaries (other than
          MBIA Insurance Corporation ("MBIA Corp."), which is discussed below)
          has been duly incorporated, is validly existing as a corporation in
          good standing under the laws of its jurisdiction of incorporation and
          has the corporate power and authority required to carry on its
          business as it is currently being conducted and to own, lease and
          operate its properties;

                    (ii)  the Company and each of its subsidiaries (other than
          MBIA Corp., which is discussed below) is duly qualified and is in good
          standing as a foreign corporation authorized to do business in each
          jurisdiction in which the nature of its business or its ownership or
          leasing of property requires such qualification, except where the
          failure to be so qualified would not have a material adverse effect on
          the business, results of operations or financial
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              12

          condition of the Company and its subsidiaries, taken as a whole;

                    (iii)  (A) MBIA Corp. has been duly incorporated, is validly
          existing as an insurance company in good standing under the laws of
          the State of New York and (B) is duly licensed and in good standing to
          conduct its business in each state in the United States and the
          District of Columbia;

                    (iv)  all of the outstanding shares of capital stock of, or
          other ownership interests in, each of the Company's Significant
          Subsidiaries have been duly and validly authorized and issued and are
          fully paid and non-assessable, and are owned of record and, to the
          best knowledge of such counsel, beneficially by the Company, free and
          clear of any security interest, claim, lien, encumbrance or adverse
          interest of any nature;

                    (v)  (A) the Indenture has been duly authorized, executed
          and delivered by the Company, has been duly qualified under the Trust
          Indenture Act and is a valid and legally binding agreement of the
          Company enforceable against the Company in accordance with its terms,
          subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
          conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating
          to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable
          principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)
          and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing, and (B) the
          Securities have been duly authorized by the Company and, when executed
          and authenticated in accordance with the provisions of the Indenture
          and delivered to and paid for by the Underwriters in accordance with
          the terms of this Agreement, will constitute valid and legally binding
          obligations of the Company entitled to the benefits of the Indenture
          and enforceable against the Company in accordance with their terms,
          subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
          conveyance, reorganization, moratorium and other similar laws relating
          to or affecting creditors' rights generally, general equitable
          principles (whether considered in a proceeding in equity or at law)
          and an implied covenant of good faith and fair dealing;

                    (vi)  this Agreement has been duly authorized, executed and
          delivered by the Company and is a valid and binding agreement of the
          Company enforceable in accordance with its terms (except as rights to
          indemnity and contribution hereunder may be limited by applicable
          law), subject to the effects of bankruptcy, insolvency, fraudulent
          conveyance, reorganization,
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              13

          moratorium and other similar laws relating to or affecting creditors'
          rights generally, general equitable principles (whether considered in
          a proceeding in equity or at law) and an implied covenant of good
          faith and fair dealing;

                    (vii)  the Securities conform in all material respects as to
          legal matters to the description thereof contained in the Prospectus;

                    (viii)  the Registration Statement became effective under
          the Act on _______ __, 1996 and, to the knowledge of such counsel, no
          stop order suspending its effectiveness has been issued and no
          proceedings for that purpose are, to the knowledge of such counsel,
          pending before or contemplated by the Commission;

                    (ix)  the statements under the captions "Description of
          Debentures" and "Description of Debt Securities" in the Prospectus and
          Item 15 of Part II of the Registration Statement, insofar as such
          statements constitute a summary of legal matters, documents or
          proceedings referred to therein, fairly present, in all material
          respects, the information called for with respect to such legal
          matters, documents and proceedings;

                    (x)  the execution, delivery and performance of this
          Agreement, the Indenture and the Securities by the Company, compliance
          by the Company with all the provisions hereof and thereof and the
          consummation of the transactions contemplated hereby and thereby will
          not require any consent, approval, authorization or other order of any
          court, regulatory body, administrative agency or other governmental
          body under United States Federal law or the laws of the State of
          Connecticut or the State of New York (except as such may be required
          under the Act, the Trust Indenture Act or other securities or Blue Sky
          laws) and will not conflict with or constitute a breach of any of the
          terms or provisions of, or a default under, the charter or by-laws of
          the Company or any of its subsidiaries or any material agreement,
          indenture or other material instrument known to such counsel to which
          the Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or by which the
          Company or any of its subsidiaries or its respective properties are
          bound, or violate or conflict with any laws, administrative
          regulations or rulings or court decrees under United States Federal
          law or the laws of the State of Connecticut or the State of New York
          known to such counsel and applicable to the Company or any of its
          subsidiaries or its respective properties;
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              14

                    (xi)  after due inquiry, such counsel does not know of any
          legal or governmental proceeding pending or threatened to which the
          Company or any of its subsidiaries is a party or to which any of their
          respective property is subject which is required to be described in
          the Registration Statement or the Prospectus and is not so described,
          or of any contract or other document which is required to be described
          in the Registration Statement or the Prospectus or is required to be
          filed as an exhibit to the Registration Statement which is not
          described or filed as required;

                    (xii)  the Company is not an "investment company" within the
          meaning of the Investment Company Act of 1940, as amended;

                    (xiii)  [to the best of such counsel's knowledge, after due
          inquiry, other than pursuant to the Shareholders' Agreement, no holder
          of any security of the Company has any right to require registration
          of any security of the Company]; and

                    (xiv)  (A) the Registration Statement and the Prospectus and
          any supplement or amendment thereto (except for financial statements
          and other financial and statistical information contained or
          incorporated by reference therein as to which no opinion need be
          expressed) comply as to form in all material respects with the Act,
          and (B) such counsel believes that (except for financial statements
          and other financial and statistical information contained or
          incorporated by reference therein, as aforesaid) the Registration
          Statement at the time it became effective and at the time of filing by
          the Company with the Commission of its 1996 10-K did not contain any
          untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material fact
          required to be stated therein or necessary to make the statements
          therein not misleading, and that the Prospectus as of its date and as
          of the Closing Date, as amended or supplemented, if applicable (except
          for financial statements and other financial and statistical contained
          or incorporated by reference therein, as aforesaid) does not contain
          any untrue statement of a material fact or omit to state a material
          fact necessary in order to make the statements therein, in the light
          of the circumstances under which they were made, not misleading.

          In giving such opinion with respect to the matters covered by clause
     (xv) such counsel may state that his opinion and belief are based upon his
     participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and
     Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and
     discussion of the contents thereof, but are without
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              15

     independent check or verification except as specified.  Each of the
     opinions delivered pursuant to this paragraph (e) may rely as to matters of
     Connecticut law on the opinion of Day, Berry & Howard or of such other
     local counsel as shall be reasonably satisfactory to you.

          (f)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion
     (satisfactory to you and counsel for the Underwriters), dated the Closing
     Date, of Debevoise & Plimpton, counsel for the Company, as to the matters
     referred to in clauses (i) (but only as to the Company), (iii)(A), (v),
     (vi), (vii), (viii), (ix), (x) (but only as to the statements in the
     Prospectus under "Description of Debentures" and "Description of Debt
     Securities") and (xv) of paragraph (e) above.

               In giving such opinion with respect to the matters covered by
     clause (xv) such counsel may state that their opinion and belief are based
     upon their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement
     and Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and
     discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or
     verification except as specified.  Each of the opinions delivered pursuant
     to this paragraph (f) may rely as to matters of Connecticut law on the
     opinion of Day, Berry & Howard or of such other local counsel as shall be
     reasonably satisfactory to you.

          (g)  You shall have received on the Closing Date an opinion, dated the
     Closing Date, of Simpson Thacher & Bartlett, counsel for the Underwriters,
     as to the matters referred to in clauses (vi), (vii), (ix), (x) (but only
     with respect to the statements in the Prospectus under "Description of
     Debentures" and "Description of Debt Securities") and (xv) of paragraph
     (e).  In giving such opinion with respect to the matters covered by clause
     (xv) such counsel may state that their opinion and belief are based upon
     their participation in the preparation of the Registration Statement and
     Prospectus and any amendments or supplements thereto and review and
     discussion of the contents thereof, but are without independent check or
     verification except as specified.  Each of the opinions delivered pursuant
     to this paragraph (g) may rely as to matters of Connecticut law on the
     opinion of Day, Berry & Howard or of such other local counsel as shall be
     reasonably satisfactory to you.

          (h)  You shall have received on and as of the Closing Date a letter,
     in form and substance satisfactory to you, from Coopers & Lybrand L.L.P.,
     independent public accountants, with respect to the financial statements
     and certain financial information contained in the Registration Statement
     and the Prospectus and substantially in the form
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              16

     and the substance of the letter delivered to you by Coopers & Lybrand
     L.L.P. on the date of this Agreement.

          (i)  The Company shall not have failed at or prior to the Closing Date
     to perform or comply with any of the agreements herein contained and
     required to be performed or complied with by the Company at or prior to the
     Closing Date.

          9.   Effective Date of Agreement and Termination.  This Agreement
               -------------------------------------------                 
shall become effective upon the execution of this Agreement.

          This Agreement may be terminated at any time prior to the Closing Date
by you by written notice to the Company if (a) any of the following has occurred
after the execution and delivery of this Agreement and prior to the Closing
Date:  (i) trading in securities generally on the New York Stock Exchange or the
American Stock Exchange shall have been suspended or materially limited, (ii) a
general moratorium on commercial banking activities in New York shall have been
declared by either Federal or New York State authorities, or (iii) there shall
have occurred any material outbreak or escalation of hostilities or any change
in the financial markets or other calamity or crisis that, in your judgment, is
material and adverse; and (b) in the case of any of the events specified in (a)
above, such event singly or together with any other such event makes it, in your
judgment, impracticable to market the Securities on the terms and in the manner
contemplated in the Prospectus.

          If on the Closing Date either of the Underwriters shall fail or refuse
to purchase the Securities which it or they have agreed to purchase hereunder on
such date and the aggregate number of Securities which such defaulting
Underwriter agreed but failed or refused to purchase is not more than one-tenth
of the total number of Securities to be purchased on such date by all
Underwriters, the non-defaulting Underwriter shall be obligated to purchase the
Securities which such defaulting Underwriter agreed but failed or refused to
purchase on such date; provided that in no event shall the number of Securities
                       --------                                                
which either Underwriter has agreed to purchase pursuant to Section 2 hereof be
increased pursuant to this Section 9 by an amount in excess of one-ninth of such
number of Securities without the written consent of such Underwriter.  If on the
Closing Date either Underwriter shall fail or refuse to purchase Securities and
the aggregate number of Securities with respect to which such default occurs is
more than one-tenth of the aggregate number of Securities to be purchased on
such date by all Underwriters and arrangements satisfactory to you and the
Company for purchase of such Securities are not made within 48 hours after such
default, this Agreement will terminate without liability on the part of the non-
defaulting Underwriter and the Company.  In any such case which does not result
in termination of this Agreement, either you or the Company shall have the right
to postpone the Closing
<PAGE>
 
                                                                              17

Date, but in no event for longer than seven days, in order that the required
changes, if any, in the Registration Statement and the Prospectus or any other
documents or arrangements may be effected.  Any action taken under this
paragraph shall not relieve any defaulting Underwriter from liability in respect
of any default of any such Underwriter under this Agreement.
 

          10.  Miscellaneous.  Notices given pursuant to any provision of this
               -------------                                                  
Agreement shall be addressed as follows:  (a) if to the Company, to MBIA Inc.,
113 King Street, Armonk, New York 10504 and (b) if to you, to you c/o Donaldson,
Lufkin & Jenrette Securities Corporation, 277 Park Avenue, New York, New York
10172, Attention:  Syndicate Department, or in any case to such other address as
the person to be notified may have requested in writing.

          The respective indemnities, contribution agreements, representations
and warranties of the Company and of the several Underwriters set forth in or
made pursuant to this Agreement shall remain operative and in full force and
effect, and will survive regardless of (i) any investigation, or statement as to
the results thereof, made by or on behalf of any Underwriter or by or on behalf
of the Company, the officers or directors of the Company or any controlling
person of the Company, (ii) acceptance of the Securities and payment for them
hereunder and (iii) termination of this Agreement.

          If this Agreement shall be terminated by the Underwriters because of
any failure or refusal on the part of the Company to comply with the terms or to
fulfill any of the conditions of this Agreement, the Company agrees to reimburse
the several Underwriters for all out-of-pocket expenses (including the fees and
disbursements of counsel) reasonably incurred by them.

          Except as otherwise provided, this Agreement has been and is made
solely for the benefit of and shall be binding upon the Company, the
Underwriters, any controlling persons referred to herein and their respective
successors and assigns, all as and to the extent provided in this Agreement, and
no other person shall acquire or have any right under or by virtue of this
Agreement.  The term "successors and assigns" shall not include a purchaser of
any of the Securities from any of the several Underwriters merely because of
such purchase.

          This Agreement shall be governed and construed in accordance with the
laws of the State of New York.

          This Agreement may be signed in various counterparts which together
shall constitute one and the same instrument.
<PAGE>
 




          Please confirm that the foregoing correctly sets forth the agreement
between the Company and the several Underwriters.

                                       Very truly yours,

                                       MBIA INC.


                                       By____________________________
                                         Name:
                                         Title:



DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
  SECURITIES CORPORATION
LEHMAN BROTHERS INC.

By DONALDSON, LUFKIN & JENRETTE
     SECURITIES CORPORATION


   By__________________________
     Name:
     Title:
<PAGE>
 


                                   SCHEDULE I
                                   ----------
 
                                                 Principal
                                                  Amount
                                              of Securities
               Underwriter                   To Be Purchased
               -----------                   ----------------
 
Donaldson, Lufkin & Jenrette Securities        $
 Corporation
Lehman Brothers Inc.                           $
                                               ------------
 
               Total.....................      $100,000,000
                                               ============
 

<PAGE>
                                                                EXHIBIT 12.1
 
                           MBIA INC AND SUBSIDIARIES
             COMPUTATION OF THE RATIO OF EARNINGS TO FIXED CHARGES
                       (IN THOUSANDS EXCEPT FOR RATIOS)


              THE INFORMATION APPEARING BELOW PRESENTS HISTORICAL
                CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL RESULTS FOR THE COMPANY.

<TABLE> 
<CAPTION>                                                                                                         
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
                                                1991          1992           1993           1994             1995           1996
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
<S>                                         <C>           <C>            <C>             <C>             <C>            <C> 
Earnings                                            
   Operating income before taxes             $ 189,732    $  244,261     $  324,035      $  329,422      $  345,030     $  408,130
   Interest Expense                             18,565        20,523         26,900          27,159          28,439         33,462
   Portion of rentals deemed to be interest          -             -              -               -               -              - 
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------  
   Earnings                                  $ 208,297    $  264,784     $  350,935      $  356,581      $  373,469     $  441,582
                                          ========================================================================================
Fixed Charges
   Interest Expense                          $ 18,565     $   20,523     $   26,900      $   27,159      $   28,439     $  13,462
   Portion of Rentals deemed to be interest         -              -              -               -               -             -
                                          ----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
   Fixed Charges                             $ 18,565     $   20,523     $   26,900      $   27,159      $   28,439     $  33,462
                                          ========================================================================================
   Ration of earnings to fixed charges           11.2           12.9           13.0            13.1            13.1          13.2
                                          ========================================================================================


<CAPTION> 
                                                          Three Months Ended
                                                  -----------------------------------
                                                      March 1997       March 1996
                                                  ---------------  ------------------
<S>                                                 <C>               <C>
Earnings                                           
   Operating income before taxes                    $  115,101        $   98,574
   Interest Expense                                      8,557             8,137
   Portion of rentals deemed to be interest                  -                 -
                                                  ---------------  ------------------
   Earnings                                         $  123,658        $  106,711       
                                                  ===============  ==================
Fixed Charges
   Interest Expense                                 $    8,557        $    8,137
   Portion of Rentals deemed to be interest                  -                 -
                                                  ---------------  ------------------
   Fixed Charges                                    $    8,557        $    8,137
                                                  ===============  ==================
   Ratio of earnings to fixed charges                     14.5              13.1
                                                  ===============  ==================                                           
</TABLE> 


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